Court Opinion

ID: 6496952
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-30 19:11:18.090025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:49:29.738211
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Gumm, 2022-Ohio-2287.]

                           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                               SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                     ERIE COUNTY

State of Ohio                                    Court of Appeals No. E-21-044

        Appellee                                 Trial Court No. 2020-CR-0106

v.

Leslie Gumm                                      DECISION AND JUDGMENT

        Appellant                                Decided: June 30, 2022

                                           *****

        Kevin J. Baxter, Erie County Prosecuting Attorney, and
        Kristin R. Palmer, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

        Loretta Riddle, for appellant.

                                           *****

        PIETRYKOWSKI, J.

        {¶ 1} Appellant, Leslie Gumm, appeals from a judgment entered by the Erie

County common pleas court, sentencing him on two counts of burglary and five counts of

grand theft when property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance. For the reasons that

follow, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.
                              Statement of the Case and Facts

      {¶ 2} Appellant was indicted by an Erie County grand jury on May 21, 2020, on

multiple counts, including:

      Count 1: Burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2) and (D), a second-

      degree felony, with a firearm specification;

      Count 2: Burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2) and (D), a second-

      degree felony, with a firearm specification;

      Count 3: Burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2) and (D), a second-

      degree felony, with a firearm specification;

      Count 4: Failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, in

      violation of R.C. 2921.331(B) and (C)(5)(a)(ii), a third-degree felony;

      Count 5: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

      ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

      felony;

      Count 6: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

      ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

      felony;

      Count 7: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

      ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

      felony;

2.
     Count 8: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

     ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

     felony;

     Count 9: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

     ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

     felony;

     Count 10: Grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous

     ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), a third-degree

     felony;

     Count 11: Grand theft, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a

     fourth-degree felony;

     Count 12: Theft, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a fifth-

     degree felony;

     Count 13: Petty theft, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a

     first-degree misdemeanor;

     Count 14: Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of

     R.C. 2923.16(B) and (I), a fourth-degree felony.

     Count 15: Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of

     R.C. 2923.16(B) and (I), a fourth-degree felony.

     Count 16: Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of

     R.C. 2923.16(B) and (I), a fourth-degree felony.

3.
       Count 17: Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of

       R.C. 2923.16(B) and (I), a fourth-degree felony.

       Count 18: Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of

       R.C. 2923.16(B) and (I), a fourth-degree felony.

       {¶ 3} A change of plea hearing was held on September 22, 2021. There, the

prosecutor began by misstating that appellant would be entering pleas of guilty to “Count

1, one count of burglary in violation of 2911.12(A)(2) and (D), felony of the third degree;

Count 2, another count of burglary under the same code section, likewise a felony of the

third degree.” In fact, appellant was to enter pleas of guilty to two counts of burglary in

violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(3), and not R.C. 2911.12 (A)(2) as was charged in the

indictment. The state then accurately stated that it was dismissing Count 3 (for burglary,

in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2) and (D), a second-degree felony, with a firearm

specification).

       {¶ 4} Next, the prosecutor misstated that appellant would be entering a plea of

“guilty to Count 4, grand theft when the property is a firearm or a dangerous ordnance in

violation of 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), felony of the third degree.” In fact, appellant was

charged in Count 4 with failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, in

violation of R.C. 2921.331(B) and (C)(5)(a)(ii), a third-degree felony.

       {¶ 5} Thereafter, the state accurately provided that appellant would plead guilty to

Counts 6, 7, 8, and 9, all of which charged appellant with grand theft when the property is

a firearm or dangerous ordnance. Next, however, the state inaccurately stated that

4.
appellant would plead guilty to “Count 10, grand theft in violation of 2913.02(A)(1) and

(B)(2), that is a felony of the fourth degree.” Here, the state was apparently referring to

Count 11, rather than Count 10, as Count 10 contained a charge for grand theft when the

property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance. Similarly, the state inaccurately provided

that appellant would plead guilty to “Count 11 * * * one count of theft in violation of

2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), felony of the fifth degree.” Here, the state was apparently

referring to Count 12, rather than Count 11, as Count 11 contained the charge for grand

theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a felony of the fourth degree.

       {¶ 6} Finally, the state inaccurately stated that it was dismissing “Count 12, which

is one count of petty theft.” In fact, it was Count 13 that charged appellant with petty

theft. Count 12 charged appellant with fifth-degree felony theft.

       {¶ 7} Next came the following confusing exchange -- replete with factual

inaccuracies concerning the nature and number of the counts being discussed, together

with some clear misunderstanding about applicable penalties -- among the prosecutor, the

court, and defense counsel:

              [The prosecutor]: I believe the Defendant has been made aware of

       the possible penalties associated with pleas to a felony of the third degree

       would include a period of incarceration of 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, or 36 months,

       and a fine of up to $10,000 on each of the counts, which are Counts 4, 5, 6,

       7, 8, 9. As to a fourth degree felony, I believe he understands the possible

       penalties would be a period of incarceration – oh, wait a minute, I’m sorry.

5.
     On those other Counts, 1 and 2, are felonies of the third degree, which by

     the plea sheet – but I’m not sure that’s correct.

            The Court: Yes, I think – so 10 – on the front page of the plea sheet

     it says felony of the fourth – where it says felony of the fourth degree it

     says Counts 10 and 11, 11 should be an F5.

            [The prosecutor]: Right.

            The Court: So underneath there – and I’m going to cross that out on

     the original and initial it and place the number 11 under – by the felony of

     the fifth degree.

                                              ***

            [The prosecutor]: And the burglaries, the F3s I’m not sure why

     they’d have a 60 month sentence on any of them.

            [Defense counsel]: One to five years.

            [The prosecutor]: They were?

            [Defense counsel]: It’d be the one to five not the 9, 36. That’s my

     understanding of those.

            The Court: They’re high tier threes.

            [The prosecutor]: And those counts are – okay. So on Counts 1 and

     2 they are the higher tier felonies of the third degree that would carry

     possible penalties of 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 54, 60 months. Count 10 – the

     four –penalties for a fourth degree felony would include 6 months to 18

6.
      months in prison in 30-day increments. And then, Count 11, which is a

      felony of the fifth degree, would have a possible penalty of 6, 12, 18 – 6, 7,

      8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months in prison, and a fine of up to $2,500.

             I believe the total possible penalty would be 30.5 years; the total

      possible fines would be $87,500, none of which are mandatory.

                                               ***

      {¶ 8} In a similar way, the trial court’s colloquy with appellant contained

numerous errors concerning the charges to which appellant was pleading and their

corresponding count numbers:

             The Court: All right. You’re pleading to two high tier felonies of the

      third degree in Counts 1 and 2. Those carry with it potential sentences of

      anywhere from 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 54, or 60 months, and a fine of up to

      $10,000 on each of those counts; do you understand that?

             [Appellant]: Yes, Your Honor.

             The Court: All right. So then on Counts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, those are

      low tier felonies of the third degree, they all carry with it potential

      sentences of anywhere from 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, or 36 months, and a fine of

      up to $10,000; do you understand that?

             [Appellant]: Yes.

             The Court: All right. So then you’re also pleading to a felony of the

      fourth degree in Count 10, that carries with it a potential sentence of

7.
     anywhere from 6 to 18 months, and a fine of up to $5,000; do you

     understand that?

            [Appellant]: Yes, Your Honor.

            The Court: And on Count 11, that’s a felony of the fifth degree,

     carries with it a potential sentence of anywhere from 6 to 12 months, and a

     fine of up to $2,500; do you understand that?

            [Appellant]: Yes.

            The Court: So the maximum time the Court could sentence you to

     would be 30.5 years, which is 366 months, and a maximum fine of up to

     $87,500; do you understand that?

            [Appellant]: Yes.

                                               ***

            The Court: All right. Then Mr. Gumm, how do you plead to the

     charge contained in Count 1, as amended is burglary, a felony of the third

     degree?

            [Appellant]: Guilty.

            The Court: And as to Count 2, the charge as amended also is

     burglary, a felony of the third degree?

            [Appellant]: Guilty.

            The Court: And as to Count 4, the charge is grand theft when the

     property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree?

8.
           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: And as to Count 5, the charge is grand theft when the

     property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree?

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: And as to Count 6, the charge is grand theft when the

     property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree?

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: And as to Count 7, the charge is grand theft when the

     property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance –

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: -- a felony of the third degree? I’m sorry.

           [Appellant]: Guilty, Your Honor.

           The Court: And as to Count 8, grand theft when the property is a

     firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree?

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: And as to Count 9, the charge is grand theft when the

     property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree?

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

           The Court: And as to Count 10, the charge is grand theft, a felony of

     the fourth degree?

           [Appellant]: Guilty.

9.
              The Court: And as to Count 11, the charge is theft, a felony of the

       fifth degree?

              [Appellant]: Guilty, Your Honor.

              The Court: At this time, the Court finds that the defendant was

       advised of his Constitutional rights, that he made a knowing, intelligent,

       and voluntary waiver of those rights. The plea – the pleas of guilty are

       accepted and ordered filed, and a finding of guilty is made as to Counts 1,

       2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. The remaining counts the Court would enter a

       Nolle Prosequi, and schedule the matter for sentencing * * *.

       {¶ 9} Thus, appellant pleaded guilty to ten charges: (1) two amended counts of

burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2)1 and (D), third-degree felonies; (2) six

counts of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, in violation

of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4), third-degree felonies; (3) one count of grand theft, in

violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a fourth-degree felony; and (4) one count of

theft, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(2), a fifth-degree felony. At the plea

hearing and in the subsequent judgment entry, the state agreed to dismiss Counts 3 and

12. According to the state, however, the remaining counts were mistakenly not

dismissed.

1
  The plea sheet and plea hearing appear to have mistakenly referenced R.C.
2911.12(A)(2) from the indictment, rather than R.C. 2911.12(A)(3), which corresponds to
the amended third-degree felony to which appellant pleaded guilty.

10.
       {¶ 10} On October 6, 2021, a sentencing hearing was held, and the court sentenced

appellant as follows:

              [I]t will be the judgment and sentence of the Court today that you be

       remanded back into the custody of the Erie County Sheriff and conveyed to

       the institution for a period of 60 months on Count 1: 60 months on Count 2;

       30 months on Count 4; 30 months on Count 5; 30 months on Count 6; 30

       months on Count 7; 30 months on Count 8; 30 months on Count 9; 16

       months on Count 10; and 10 months on Count 11. Counts – Counts 1 and 2

       would run consecutive, but concurrent to Counts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and

       – 11; and Counts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 will run concurrent for a total

       sentence of ten years in the institution with credit for time served. * * *

       {¶ 11} Thus, the trial court sentenced appellant to: (1) 60 months in prison on each

of the burglary counts; (2) 30 months in prison on each of six counts of grand theft when

the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance; (3) 16 months in prison on the grand

theft count; and (4) 10 months in prison on the theft count. The court ordered the

sentences for the burglary counts to run consecutively to one another, but concurrent to

the remaining counts, for a total sentence of 10 years.

       {¶ 12} On October 12, 2021, the trial court entered a nunc pro tunc judgment

entry, which amended the guilty plea to reflect that the two burglary counts to which

appellant had pleaded guilty were violations of R.C. 2911.12(A)(3), rather than R.C.

2911.12(A)(2). The nunc pro tunc entry also dismissed Counts 4, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

11.
and 18 of the indictment, as well as Counts 11 and 12 to which appellant had previously

pleaded guilty. The judgment entry reflects that defense counsel consented to the entry,

but it was not signed by appellant.

           {¶ 13} On October 13, 2021, the trial court issued a judgment entry on appellant’s

sentencing. Pursuant to that entry, the trial court sentenced appellant to: (1) 60 months in

prison on each of the two burglary counts in Counts 1 and 2; and (2) 30 months in prison

on each of just five -- rather than the original six -- counts of grand theft when the

property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, specifically on Counts 5 through 9. The

court ordered the sentences imposed for Counts 1 and 2 to run consecutively, the

sentences imposed for Counts 5-9 to run concurrently, and the sentences imposed for

Counts 1 and 2 to run concurrent with the sentences imposed for Counts 5-9. Thus,

appellant was sentenced to an aggregate term of 10 years on prison. In addition, the trial

court stated that “[t]he Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with leave of Court on good cause

shown thereupon entered a NOLLE PROSEQUI as to Count Nos. 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

15, 16, 17, and 18 and the firearm specification of the indictment filed herein * * *.” It is

from this final judgment entry that appellant now appeals.

                                     Assignments of Error

           {¶ 14} Appellant asserts the following assignments of error on appeal:

      I.      APPELLANT’S GUILTY PLEA WAS NOT KNOWINGLY,

              INTELLIGENTLY, AND VOLUNTARILY MADE WHEN IN OPEN

              COURT HE PLED TO CERTAIN COUNTS AND REVISED CODE

12.
                SECTIONS, BUT THE PLEA WAS LATER NUNC PRO TUNCED IN

                WRITING WITHOUT A NEW IN-COURT PLEA HEARING.

      II.       APPELLANT’S 60 MONTHS SENTENCE ON COUNTS ONE AND TWO

                IN VIOLATION OF R.C. 2911.12(A)(3) AND GOVERNED BY R.C.

                2929.14(A)(3)(A) IS CONTRARY TO LAW AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY

                LAW. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TRIAL COURT’S SENTENCE IS VOID.

      III.      APPELLANT RECEIVED CONSTITUTIONALLY INEFFECTIVE

                ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL WHEN HIS TRIAL COUNSEL FAILED TO

                MAKE OBJECTIONS TO PLAIN ERROR.

      IV.       THE TRIAL COURT HAD A PERSONAL PREJUCICE AND BIAS

                REGARDING THE CRIMINAL OFFENSES THAT APPELLANT PLED TO

                AND SENTENCED APPELLANT HARDER AS A RESULT AND

                VIOLATED APPELLANT’S DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION

                RIGHTS

                                               Analysis

             {¶ 15} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that his guilty plea was not

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered into because the nunc pro tunc judgment

entry amended his plea to “different counts and different revised code sections,” he was

not aware of the amendments, and no additional plea hearing was held.

             {¶ 16} “When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal case, the plea must be made

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily[;] [f]ailure on any of those points renders

13.
enforcement of the plea unconstitutional under both the United States Constitution and

the Ohio Constitution.” State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d 525, 527, 660 N.E.2d 450 (1996).

In determining whether a plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made, this

court “examines the totality of the circumstances through a de novo review of the record

to ensure that the trial court complied with constitutional and procedural safeguards.”

State v. Parks, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-18-1138, 2019-Ohio-2366, ¶ 10, citing State v.

Meade, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 17CA3816, 2018-Ohio-3544, ¶ 6.

       {¶ 17} Crim.R. 11(C) sets forth the procedure that a trial court must follow in

accepting pleas of guilty and no contest in felony cases. Crim.R. 11(C)(2) provides:

       (2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a plea

       of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first

       addressing the defendant personally * * * and doing all of the following:

       (a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with

       understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty

       involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation

       or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the sentencing

       hearing.

       (b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

       understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,

       upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.

14.
       (c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands

       that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront

       witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining

       witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to prove the

       defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the

       defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.

       {¶ 18} When a criminal defendant seeks to have his conviction reversed on appeal,

the traditional rule is that he must establish that an error occurred in the trial-court

proceedings and that he was prejudiced by that error. State v. Dangler, 162 Ohio St.3d 1,

2020-Ohio-2765, 164 N.E.3d 286, ¶ 13. An exception to the prejudice requirement of

this rule in the context of a criminal plea occurs where a trial court completely fails to

comply with a portion of Crim.R. 11(C). Id. at ¶ 15, citing State v. Sarkozy, 117 Ohio

St.3d 86, 2008-Ohio-509, 881 N.E.2d 1224, ¶ 22, wherein court held that a trial court

“had completely failed to comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)’s requirement that it explain

the maximum penalty when the court made no mention of postrelease control in the plea

colloquy, despite the fact the defendant was subject to a mandatory five years of

postrelease control”).

       {¶ 19} In the instant case, appellant’s claim involves the trial court’s determination

pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a), that appellant made his guilty plea voluntarily, with

understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty involved. Our

review of the record reveals significant confusion at the plea hearing both as to the counts

15.
to which appellant was pleading and as to the counts that the state would be dismissing.

The state alleges that this was due to an “incomplete plea sheet.” In addition, the state

alleges that both the plea sheet and the plea hearing mistakenly referenced R.C.

2911.12(A)(2), which was the code section under which appellant was charged in the

indictment, rather than R.C. 2911.129(A)(3), which set forth the offense to which

appellant ultimately pleaded guilty. Finally, the nunc pro tunc judgment that was issued

“to correct the mistakes at the plea and sentencing hearings” sets forth a completely

different sentence from the one described at the sentencing hearing, with different terms

of imprisonment applied to different counts. There is nothing in the record to suggest

that appellant agreed to, or was even aware of, these changes. Even the state concedes

that “[d]ue to the significant confusion that resulted from the mistakes in the initial plea

sheet, the State agrees that Appellant’s plea should be vacated.” Under the circumstances

of this case, we find that the trial court completely failed to comply with Crim.R.

(C)(2)(a) inasmuch as it could not reasonably have determined that appellant made the

plea voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum

penalty involved. Appellant’s plea is clearly invalid. Accordingly, appellant’s first

assignment of error is found well-taken.

       {¶ 20} Given our disposition of appellant’s first assignment of error, appellant’s

remaining assignments of error are rendered moot.

16.
       {¶ 21} The judgment of the Erie County common pleas court is reversed. The

matter is remanded for proceedings consistent with this decision. Appellee is ordered to

pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.

                                                                        Judgment reversed
                                                                            and remanded.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J.                       ____________________________
                                                       JUDGE
Christine E. Mayle, J.
                                               ____________________________
Myron C. Duhart, P.J.                                  JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                               ____________________________
                                                       JUDGE

       This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
  Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
       version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
                http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

17.