Court Opinion

ID: 3180562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-25 22:27:34.721146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:18:34.206597
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Selmon, 2016-Ohio-723.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                     RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                      JUDGES:
                                                   Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P. J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee                         Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
                                                   Hon. John W. Wise, J.
-vs-
                                                   Case No. 15 CA 83
KENYAN SELMON

        Defendant-Appellant                        OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common
                                               Pleas, Case No. 06 CR 248D

JUDGMENT:                                      Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                         February 25, 2016

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                         For Defendant-Appellant

BAMBI COUCH PAGE                               KENYAN SELMON
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY                           PRO SE
DANIEL M. ROGERS                               Richland Correctional Institution
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR                           Post Office Box 8107
38 South Park Street                           1001 Olivesburg Road
Mansfield, Ohio 44902                          Mansfield, Ohio 44905
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                         2

Wise, J.

         {¶1}   Defendant-Appellant Kenyan Selmon appeals the August 27, 2015,

decision of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas, dismissing his “Motion for

Revised Sentencing Entry”.

         {¶2}   Plaintiff-Appellee is the State of Ohio.

         {¶3}   This case comes to us on the accelerated calendar pursuant to App.R.

21(A).

                         STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

         {¶4}   On April 24, 2006, following a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of two

counts of Intimidation of a Crime Victim, two counts of Retaliation Against a Crime Victim,

and Perjury, all third degree felonies. By Judgment Entry filed April 28, 2006, the trial

court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate prison term of twelve years.

         {¶5}   Appellant filed a direct appeal to this Court in 06 CA 52, wherein he raised

three (3) Assignments of Error. First, Appellant argued that the manifest weight of the

evidence did not support his conviction for Retaliation. Second, Appellant argued that the

trial court erred when it denied his Rule 29 Motion for Judgment of Acquittal. Third,

Appellant argued that the trial court erred when it denied his Motion for Mistrial. In the

06 CA 52 appeal, Appellant did not assign as error any possible defects in the Sentencing

Entry.

         {¶6}   By Opinion and Entry filed March 28, 2007, this Court overruled all three (3)

of Appellant's Assignments of Error in 06 CA 52 and affirmed Appellant's convictions and

sentence. On May 9, 2007, Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal of this Court's decision in

06 CA 52 with the Ohio Supreme Court. On August 10, 2007, the Ohio Supreme Court
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                         3

dismissed Appellant's appeal. State v. Selmon, 114 Ohio St. 3d 1483, 2007-Ohio-3699,

870 N.E.2d 734.

       {¶7}     On January 23, 2008, Appellant filed with the trial court a "Motion to Vacate

Fines, Costs and Fees and/or Defer payment of Such Fines, Costs and Fees until

Defendant's Release From Custody".

       {¶8}     On March 21, 2008, the trial court denied Appellant's request to vacate his

fines, costs and fees, but stayed payment of those fines, costs and fees until his release

from custody.

       {¶9}     On January 8, 2009, Appellant filed a "Motion for Re-entry Court

Consideration" with the trial court.

       {¶10} On February 4, 2009, the trial court overruled Appellant's "Motion for Re-

entry Court Consideration."

       {¶11} Following the trial court's denial of his "Motion for Re-entry Court

Consideration," Appellant filed for a "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus" with the Court of

Appeals for the Northern District of Ohio. In his "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus,"

Appellant raised four (4) arguments, with his first two (2) arguments mirroring his first and

third Assignments of Error in 06 CA 52. First, Appellant argued that the evidence did not

support his conviction for Retaliation. Second, Appellant argued that the Trial Court erred

when it failed to grant a mistrial or provide a curative jury instruction. Third, Appellant

argued that his appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance when it failed to raise

trial counsel's ineffectiveness. Fourth, Appellant argued that his appellate counsel

provided ineffective assistance when it failed to raise an argument entitling Appellant to

a remand hearing.
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                          4

       {¶12} On August 14, 2009, the Court of Appeals for the Northern District of Ohio

denied Appellant's "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus." Selmon v. Wilson, 2009 U.S.

Dist., LEXIS 71896 (N.D. Ohio Aug. 14, 2009).

       {¶13} On June 30, 2010, Appellant filed a "Motion for Void Judgment" with the trial

court, arguing that the failure to specify the restitution amount rendered the April 28, 2006,

Sentencing Entry void.

       {¶14} On September 9, 2010, the trial court dismissed Appellant's "Motion for

Void Judgment" as an untimely petition for post-conviction relief asserting claims barred

by res judicata.

       {¶15} On May 17, 2011, Appellant filed his first "Motion for Judicial Release" with

the trial court.

       {¶16} On June 23, 2011, the trial court overruled Appellant's "Motion for Judicial

Release" due to Appellant being ineligible for judicial release at that time.

       {¶17} On May 25, 2012, Appellant filed a "Motion to Correct Void Sentence" and

a "Motion for Revised Sentencing Entry" with the trial court. In these Motions, Appellant

raised the same claims he raised in his "Motion for Void Judgment," namely that the failure

to specify the restitution amount rendered the April 28, 2006 Sentencing Entry void.

       {¶18} On June 4, 2012, with his May 25th motions still pending in the trial court,

Appellant filed a "Motion to Dismiss Appeal" in 06 CA 52 with this Court. In his "Motion to

Dismiss Appeal," Appellant argued that the failure to specify the restitution amount

prevented the April 28, 2006, Sentencing Entry from being a final, appealable order.

Consequently, Appellant argued, this Court did not have jurisdiction to rule upon the

merits of his appeal in 06 CA 52.
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                          5

         {¶19} On July 2, 2012, this Court denied Appellant's "Motion to Dismiss Appeal" in 06

CA 52.

         {¶20} On September 18, 2012, the trial court overruled Appellant's May 25th

Motions, once again determining that the motions were untimely petitions for post-

conviction relief asserting claims barred by res judicata.

         {¶21} On February 8, 2013, Appellant filed a second "Motion for Judicial Release"

with the trial court.

         {¶22} On April 4, 2013, the trial court overruled Appellant's second "Motion for

Judicial Release."

         {¶23} On November 12, 2013, Appellant filed a third motion for judicial release

with the trial court captioned as a "Response to Reconsider Motion for Relief,".

         {¶24} On December 12, 2013, the trial court overruled Appellant's "Response to

Reconsider Motion for Relief.

         {¶25} On June 22, 2015, Appellant filed a "Motion for Revised Sentencing Entry"

with the trial court, asserting the same claims he raised in his "Motion for Void Judgment"

and his May 25th Motions.

         {¶26} On August 27, 2015, the trial court dismissed Appellant's "Motion for

Revised Sentencing Entry" as yet another untimely petition for post-conviction relief

asserting claims barred by res judicata.

         {¶27} It is from this dismissal Appellant now appeals, raising the following

assignments of error:
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                      6

                                   ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶28} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DID NOT SPECIFY THE

AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION AT SENTENCING."

       {¶29} "II. TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN                             THEY

RECLASSIFIED DEFENDANT’S MOTION AS A POST CONVICTION RELIEF."

       {¶30} “III. THE TRIAL COURT'S SENTENCING ENTRY IS NOT A FINAL

APPEALABLE ORDER AS DEFINED IN OHIO REVISED CODE 2505."

                                            I., III.

       {¶31} Because Appellant’s First and Third Assignments of Error both challenge

the Sentencing Entry from April 28, 2006, as not being a final appealable order, we shall

address said assignments of error together.

       {¶32} Appellant argues that because the April 28, 2006, Sentencing Entry does

not specify the amount of restitution, such entry is not a final appealable order.

       {¶33} Upon review, we find that this issue could have been raised on direct appeal

and is therefore barred under the doctrine of res judicata. “Under the doctrine of res

judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars the defendant from raising and litigating in

any proceeding, except an appeal from that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack

of due process that the defendant raised or could have raised at the trial which resulted

in that judgment of conviction or on appeal from that judgment.” State v. Perry, 10 Ohio

St.2d 175, 226 N.E.2d 104 (1967).

       {¶34} As the issues raised by Appellant could have been raised in his direct

appeal, they are therefore barred by the doctrine of res judicata. We therefore find that

the trial court did not err in dismissing Appellant's motion.
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                         7

       {¶35} Appellant’s First and Third Assignments of Error are overruled.

                                                II.

       {¶36} In his Second Assignment of Error, Appellant argues that the trial court

erred in classifying his Motion for Revised Sentencing as an untimely petition for post-

conviction relief. We disagree.

       {¶37} “Where a criminal defendant subsequent to his or her direct appeal, files a

motion seeking vacation or correction of his or her sentence on the basis that his or her

constitutional rights have been violated, such a motion is a petition for post[-]conviction

relief as defined in R.C. 2953.21.” State v. Reynolds, 79 Ohio St. 3d 158 (1997), syllabus.

       {¶38} In dismissing Appellant’s motion, the trial court began by stating that

Appellant had previously filed the same motion on May 25, 2012, which was overruled by

the trial court on September 18, 2012. Appellant did not appeal this denial.

       {¶39} R.C. §2953.21(A)(2) governs the time within a petition for post-conviction

relief must be filed and provides as follows:

       Except as otherwise provided in section 2953.23 of the Revised Code, a

       petition under division (A)(1) of this section shall be filed no later than three

       hundred sixty five days after the date on which the trial transcript is filed in

       the court of appeals in the direct appeal of the judgment of conviction or

       adjudication * * *.

       {¶40} In this case, the trial transcript in Appellant's direct appeal was filed on

August 14, 2006. Appellant therefore had until February 12, 2007, within which to file his

petition for post-conviction relief. Appellant filed his petition on June 22, 2015. 2014.

Appellant’s petition is not within the three hundred sixty five (365) days after the date on
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                          8

which the trial transcript was filed with this Court in his direct appeal and thus not in

compliance with the time frame as specified in R.C. §2953 .21(A)(2).

       {¶41} However, pursuant to R.C. §2953.23(A), the court may consider an untimely

petition for post-conviction relief:

       (A) Whether a hearing is or is not held on a petition filed pursuant to section

       2953.21 of the Revised Code, a court may not entertain a petition filed after

       the expiration of the period prescribed in division (A) of that section * * *

       unless division (A)(1) or (2) of this section applies:

       (1) Both of the following apply:

       (a) Either the petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably prevented

       from the discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must rely to present

       the claim for relief, or, subsequent to the period prescribed in division (A)(2)

       of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code or to the filing of an earlier petition,

       the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or state right

       that applies retroactively to the petitioner's situation, and the petition asserts

       a claim based on that right.

       (b)The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for

       constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found that

       petitioner was guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted or,

       if the claim challenges a sentence of death . . .

       ***

       {¶42} In this case, Appellant makes no allegations in his motion as to any new

evidence or new facts. These matters were all contained in the trial record and thus,
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                         9

Appellant cannot show that he was unavoidably prevented from the discovery of the facts

upon which he relies on for relief or that this is newly-discovered evidence. Appellant does

not set forth any argument in his brief as to the delay in filing, why he meets the exception

requirements contained in R.C. §2953.23(A)(1) or (A)(2), or how the petition otherwise

complies with R.C. §2953.23(A)(1) or (A)(2). As such, Appellant has failed to meet his

burden under R.C. §2953.23(A)(1) or (A)(2) to file an untimely petition for post-conviction

relief.

          {¶43} In addition, as set forth above, any errors as to these issues could have

been raised on direct appeal and are therefore barred under the doctrine of res judicata.

“Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars the defendant from

raising and litigating in any proceeding, except an appeal from that judgment, any defense

or any claimed lack of due process that the defendant raised or could have raised at the

trial which resulted in that judgment of conviction or on appeal from that judgment.” State

v. Perry, 10 Ohio St. 2d 175, 226 N.E.2d 104 (1967). Conversely, issues properly raised

in a post-conviction petition are those that could not have been raised on direct appeal

because the evidence supporting the issues is outside the record. State v. Millanovich,

42 Ohio St. 2d 46, 325 N.E.2d 540 (1975). Appellant's arguments do not raise any issues

that are dependent upon evidence outside the record.

          {¶44} Upon review, we find that Appellant has not satisfied the R.C.

2953.23(A)(1)(a) requirement that he was unavoidably prevented from discovery of the

facts upon which he relies to present his claims for post-conviction relief. Appellant does

not offer any evidence which was not already in the record before the trial court. Further,
Richland County, Case No. 15 CA 83                                                   10

the issues raised by Appellant could have been raised in his direct appeal and are

therefore res judicata.

       {¶45} We find that the trial court did not err in denying Appellant's petition to

correct sentence. Appellant’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.

       {¶46} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of

Richland County, Ohio, is affirmed.

By: Wise, J.

Farmer, P. J., and

Gwin, J., concur.

JWW/d 0219