Court Opinion

ID: 4239388
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-25 20:26:19.502304+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:27.230155
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Allen, 2018-Ohio-305.]

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                    TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State of Ohio,                                     :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,               :
                                                                         No. 17AP-341
v.                                                 :                  (C.P.C. No. 11CR-2601)

Chiclelyn Allen,                                  :                 (REGULAR CALENDAR)

                 Defendant-Appellant.              :

                                           D E C I S I O N

                                     Rendered on January 25, 2018

                 On brief: Michael DeWine, Attorney General, and
                 Joseph A. Koltak, for appellee. Argued: Joseph A. Koltak.

                 On brief: Yeura R. Venters, Public Defender, and
                 Robert D. Essex, for appellant. Argued: Robert D. Essex.

                   APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

KLATT, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Chiclelyn Allen, appeals from a judgment entry of
conviction and sentence entered by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Because
the trial court did not err when it revoked appellant's intervention in lieu of conviction
plan, found appellant guilty pursuant to her plea, and sentenced her to community
control with conditions, we affirm.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
        {¶ 2} On May 17, 2011, appellant was indicted on one count of theft (R.C.
2913.02(A)(B)), a fourth-degree felony. On December 23, 2011, appellant moved for
No. 17AP-341                                                                                            2

intervention in lieu of conviction pursuant to R.C. 2951.041. Appellant asserted that a
gambling addiction was a major factor in the commission of the crime.
        {¶ 3} Following a hearing on June 28, 2012, the trial court found appellant
eligible for intervention in lieu, granted her motion, and stayed further prosecution. In an
entry dated June 29, 2012, the trial court noted that appellant had voluntarily entered a
guilty plea and had agreed to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the court.1
Although the record contains a form signed by the prosecutor and appellant's counsel
indicating that restitution of $21,859.22 had been ordered, the trial court's June 29, 2012
entry for intervention in lieu of conviction did not list restitution as a condition of the
intervention plan. However, the transcript of the June 28, 2012 hearing indicates that
restitution in the approximate amount of $21,000 was discussed and appellant's counsel
stated that appellant wanted $8,000 purportedly owed to her by the state to be paid
toward reducing the restitution amount. (June 28, 2012 Tr. at 2-3.)
        {¶ 4} Although the record does not indicate how the omission of restitution from
the entry came to the trial court's attention, on May 12, 2015, the trial court filed an
amended entry for intervention in lieu that is identical to June 29, 2012 entry except that
it added a condition requiring "[t]he defendant shall pay restitution in the amount of
$21,859.22 to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, c/o Ohio Attorney General,
150 East Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215."
        {¶ 5} On January 24, 2016, the state filed a request for revocation of appellant's
treatment in lieu plan based upon appellant's failure to make any restitution payments.
The state alleged that appellant still owed restitution in the amount of $21,859.22. The
trial court held a hearing on the motion for revocation on February 29, 2016. Trial
counsel for appellant stipulated to probable cause based upon appellant's admitted failure
to pay any restitution. However, appellant's counsel advised the court that appellant had
secured employment and would be able to make payments towards the restitution
requirement including a $300 payment that week.                    Appellant stated that she was
employed in a four-year apprenticeship program with Labor Local 310 in Cleveland, Ohio,
and was earning a minimum of $15.02 per hour. (Feb. 29, 2016 Tr. at 2-3.) At appellant's

1 The transcript of the June 28, 2012 hearing reflects that appellant entered a guilty plea to the lesser-

included offense of theft as a felony 5 pursuant to a notification of plea offer from the state. (June 28,
2012 Tr. at 5.)
No. 17AP-341                                                                                               3

request, the trial court continued the hearing to allow appellant the opportunity to show
progress towards satisfying the restitution requirement.
        {¶ 6} The matter came on for further hearing on April 13, 2017.                          The state
requested the trial court to revoke the treatment in lieu plan and impose sentence.
Appellant's counsel stipulated to probable cause for the revocation of the treatment in lieu
plan. Appellant's counsel also stipulated that appellant had made no payments towards
restitution. (Apr. 13, 2017 Tr. at 3.) Apparently, appellant had complied with all terms
and conditions of the treatment in lieu plan except for the restitution requirement.
        {¶ 7} By judgment entry filed April 13, 2017, the trial court revoked the treatment
in lieu plan, found appellant guilty pursuant to the previous plea, and placed appellant on
community control for two years with conditions, including the obligation to pay
restitution.2 The trial court further indicated that if appellant violated the terms of
community control, she will receive a six-month prison term.
        {¶ 8} Appellant appeals assigning the following error:
                The trial court committed reversible error by revoking
                Defendant-Appellant's treatment in lieu status, placing her on
                community control, and ordering her to pay restitution
                without holding a hearing to determine her ability to pay.

II. LEGAL ANALYSIS
        {¶ 9} Appellant makes two arguments in support of her assignment of error.
First, appellant argues the trial court could not revoke the treatment in lieu plan based
solely upon appellant's failure to pay restitution. Second, appellant argues the trial court
erred when it placed appellant on community control and imposed conditions, including
restitution, without holding a hearing and determining appellant's ability to pay. Both
arguments are unpersuasive.
        A. REVOCATION OF INTERVENTION IN LIEU
        {¶ 10} Intervention in lieu of conviction ("Intervention") is a voluntary program
created by statute that allows a trial court, upon the request of the offender, to stay a

2 The judgment entry reflects that appellant was convicted of theft, a felony of the fourth degree. As
previously noted, it appears that during the June 20, 2012 hearing on appellant's request for Intervention,
appellant pled guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Nevertheless, the sentence imposed by the trial
court is authorized regardless of whether the conviction is a fourth or fifth-degree felony. Appellant has
not challenged her conviction in this appeal.
No. 17AP-341                                                                               4

criminal proceeding and order an offender to a period of rehabilitation if the offender
meets specified eligibility requirements, which include the offender's guilty plea to the
criminal offense. R.C. 2951.041(A) and (B). If the trial court finds the offender is eligible
for Intervention and grants the offender's request, the court shall accept the offender's
plea of guilty, stay the criminal proceeding, establish an intervention plan for the
offender, and order the offender to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the
court. R.C. 2951.041(C) and (D). The terms and conditions imposed by the trial court
may include restitution. R.C. 2951.041(D). If an offender complies with the terms and
conditions and successfully completes the intervention plan, the trial court shall dismiss
the criminal proceedings against the offender without an adjudication of guilt or criminal
conviction.   R.C. 2951.041(E).     If the offender does not successfully complete the
intervention plan or fails to comply with its terms and conditions, the trial court shall,
after holding a hearing, enter a finding of guilty and shall impose an appropriate sanction
under R.C. Chapter 2929. R.C. 2951.041(F).
       {¶ 11} Here, following an indictment for theft, appellant requested Intervention.
The trial court found appellant eligible and granted her request for Intervention. The trial
court accepted appellant's guilty plea, established an intervention plan, and imposed
certain terms and conditions. One of the conditions was restitution in the amount of
$21,859.22. Appellant expressly agreed to the terms and conditions of the intervention
plan as required by R.C. 2951.041(B)(9). At the time the trial court granted appellant's
request for Intervention, appellant's counsel represented that appellant intended to apply
$8,000 owed to her by the state of Ohio to her restitution obligation.
       {¶ 12} Approximately eight months after the restitution condition was added to the
entry for Intervention, the probation department moved to revoke appellant's
intervention plan because she failed to make any payments towards restitution. The trial
court held a hearing and appellant stipulated to probable cause. Appellant represented to
the court that she was employed in an apprenticeship program that paid a minimum of
$15.02 an hour. Appellant reiterated her intent to make restitution and requested a
continuance of the hearing to give her additional time to demonstrate her willingness to
comply with the terms of her intervention plan, including restitution. The trial court
granted her request and continued the hearing.
No. 17AP-341                                                                                          5

       {¶ 13} Approximately 14 months later, the trial court held a second revocation of
Intervention hearing. Again, appellant stipulated to probable cause. Appellant also
stipulated that she had not made any payments towards restitution.                      Nevertheless,
appellant's counsel requested the trial court to find that appellant successfully completed
the intervention plan. The trial court refused. Because of appellant's failure to comply
with the restitution condition of the intervention plan, the trial court revoked
Intervention, accepted appellant's guilty plea and imposed sentence as required by R.C.
2951.041(F).
       {¶ 14} Appellant has cited no case authority holding that Intervention cannot be
revoked for an offender's failure to satisfy a restitution condition without first
determining the offender's ability to pay restitution.             Nor have we found any case
authority supporting that proposition. Moreover, such a proposition is inconsistent with
the voluntary nature and purpose of Intervention.
       {¶ 15} Appellant principally relies on cases that involve the revocation of probation
for failure to pay restitution and the resulting imposition of a prison term.3 These cases
are inapplicable to the revocation of Intervention, which is a voluntary statutory
rehabilitation program designed to give an offender the opportunity to address issues that
contributed to the commission of the offense and to avoid a criminal conviction as long as
the offender successfully completes the intervention plan and complies with its terms and
conditions. In this case, appellant requested Intervention and expressly agreed to the
restitution condition.      R.C. 2951.041(D) expressly permitted the trial court to make
restitution a condition of Intervention.             Appellant had more than a reasonable
opportunity to make some effort towards restitution. Although employed, appellant made
no payments towards restitution. Due to the appellant's failure to comply with the
restitution condition, the trial court was required to revoke Intervention, enter a finding
of guilty pursuant to appellant's plea, and impose an appropriate sanction under R.C.
Chapter 2929. R.C. 2951.041(F). The trial court complied with the requirements of R.C.

3 E.g., Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660 (1983) (revocation of probation); State v. Scott, 6 Ohio App.3d
39 (2d Dist.1982) (revocation of probation); State v. Walden, 54 Ohio App.3d 160 (2d Dist.1988)
(revocation of probation); Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471 (1972) (revocation of parole or probation);
United States v. Reed, 573 F.2d 1020 (8th Cir.1978) (revocation of probation); Black v. Romano, 471 U.S.
606 (1985) (revocation of probation).
No. 17AP-341                                                                              6

2951.041 when it revoked appellant's Intervention.       Therefore, we reject appellant's
argument that the trial court erred when it revoked Intervention.
       B. RESTITUTION AS A CONDITION OF COMMUNITY CONTTROL
       {¶ 16} Appellant also argues that the trial court erred when it imposed restitution
as a condition of community control without determining appellant's ability to pay. We
disagree.
       {¶ 17} First, the premise of appellant's argument is not supported by the record.
The judgment entry expressly states that the trial court considered appellant's present and
future ability to pay the financial sanctions as required by R.C. 2929.18(A) and
2929.19(B)(5). Second, the transcripts of the first revocation hearing and the subsequent
sentencing hearing also reflect that appellant's present and future ability to pay was
considered by the trial court.
       {¶ 18} For example, appellant stated during the sentencing hearing that she was
still owed $9,000 by the state that could be put towards restitution. (Apr. 13, 2017 Tr. at
6.)   Appellant further stated she was currently employed in a labor apprenticeship
program and had earned a number of certificates including asbestos, lead abatement, and
culinary arts. Id. at 7. During the previous revocation hearing, appellant stated the four-
year apprenticeship program in which she was enrolled paid her a minimum of $15.02 per
hour. (Feb. 29, 2016 Tr. at 3.) Given this employment, her counsel also expressly
represented to the trial court that appellant could make payments toward restitution. Id.
at 2. However, 14 months after the first revocation hearing, appellant still had failed to
make any payments towards restitution. This failure bothered the trial court.
              THE COURT: Okay. You didn't make any attempt to make
              any of the restitution, ma'am, and that's one of the problems
              in this case. And these folks work with people to make things
              easier, and you didn't make an effort.

(Apr. 13, 2017 Tr. at 8.)
       {¶ 19} We also note that when determining a defendant's present and future ability
to pay, there are no express factors that must be considered, or specific findings that must
be made. State v. Conway, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-1120, 2004-Ohio-5067, ¶ 7. There
merely must be some evidence in the record that the trial court considered the
defendant's present and future ability to pay the sanction. Id. Here, there is ample
No. 17AP-341                                                                              7

evidence in the record on which the trial court could rely in assessing appellant's present
and future ability to pay restitution. Again, the trial court's judgment entry reflects that
the trial court considered appellant's present and future ability to pay restitution when it
imposed restitution as a condition of community control.
       {¶ 20} For these reasons, we overrule appellant's sole assignment of error, and
affirm the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
                                                                       Judgment affirmed.

                                TYACK and SADLER, JJ., concur.