Court Opinion

ID: 2702166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:47:10.4249+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:47.026493
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Kopilchak, 2013-Ohio-5016.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                      No. 98984

                                      STATE OF OHIO
                                                      PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                vs.

                              GREGORY KOPILCHAK
                                                      DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                            JUDGMENT:
                                             AFFIRMED

                                    Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                      Case No. CR-560951

        BEFORE: Boyle, J., Stewart, A.J., and McCormack, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED:                       November 14, 2013
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Brian R. McGraw
1370 Ontario Street
Suite 2000
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: James Hofelich
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 8th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, J.:

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Gregory Kopilchak, appeals his sentence. He raises

two assignments of error for our review:

       1. The trial court erred and abused its discretion in imposing a $10,000 fine
       when it failed to investigate Kopilchak’s ability to pay the fine.

       2. The trial court erred and abused its discretion in imposing a maximum
       sentence of eight years.

       {¶2} Finding no merit to his appeal, we affirm.

                       Procedural History and Factual Background

       {¶3} Kopilchak pleaded guilty to an amended indictment to one count of

burglary when the victim was present, a second-degree felony, in violation of R.C.

2911.12(A)(1). As part of his plea, he agreed to pay $70 in restitution to the victim.

       {¶4} The charges arose after Kopilchak, in a severely intoxicated state from both

drugs and alcohol, broke into the 86-year-old victim’s apartment while she was sleeping

and stole her flat screen television, cell phone, portable CD player, $73, two credit cards,

jewelry box with several irreplaceable rings, earrings, and necklaces, and her house keys.

       {¶5} The trial court sentenced Kopilchak to eight years in prison for the single

count of second-degree-felony burglary. The trial court further imposed a $10,000 fine

and ordered Kopilchak to pay $70 in restitution to the victim. The trial court also

notified Kopilchak that he would be subject to a mandatory term of three years of

postrelease control upon his release from prison. It is from this judgment that Kopilchak

appeals.
                                       $10,000 Fine

       {¶6} In his first assignment of error, Kopilchak argues that the trial court abused

its discretion when it failed to determine if Kopilchak was indigent and had the ability to

pay the $10,000 fine.

       {¶7} Subsequent to his sentencing hearing but prior to his appeal, Kopilchak

moved the court to suspend the $10,000 fine because he was indigent. The trial court

granted Kopilchak’s motion and waived the $10,000 fine.

       {¶8} Accordingly, Kopilchak’s first assignment of error is moot.

                                     Maximum Sentence

       {¶9} In his second assignment of error, Kopilchak argues that the trial court erred

and abused its discretion when it sentenced him to the maximum sentence of eight years.

       {¶10} We do not review felony sentences under an abuse-of-discretion standard.

R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). Rather, we may “increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence *

* * or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for

resentencing” if we determine that “the record clearly and convincingly * * * does not

support the sentencing court’s findings under [various provisions]; [or] [t]hat the sentence

is otherwise contrary to law.” Id.

       {¶11} There are no longer any specific findings or reasons a court must give in

order to impose maximum sentences. State v. Calliens, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97034,

2012-Ohio-703, ¶ 28; State v. Rose, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-11-214,
2012-Ohio-5607, ¶ 82. Thus, we must determine if Kopilchak’s sentence was otherwise

contrary to law.

       {¶12} The court’s only guide in this case was the purposes and principles of felony

sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the serious and recidivism factors set forth in

R.C. 2929.12. R.C. 2929.11(A) provides that

       The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from
       future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender using the
       minimum sanctions that the court determines accomplish those purposes
       without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government
       resources.

       {¶13} Under R.C. 2929.12(A), trial courts must consider a nonexhaustive list of

factors, including the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, the likelihood of recidivism,

and “any other factors that are relevant to achieving those purposes and principles of

sentencing.”

       {¶14} There is still no “mandate,” however, for the sentencing court to engage in

any factual findings under R.C. 2929.11 or 2929.12. State v. Jones, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2012-03-049,     2013-Ohio-150,     ¶   49,   citing   Rose,   12th   Dist.   Butler   No.

CA2011-11-214, 2012-Ohio-5607, ¶ 78; State v. Putnam, 11th Dist. Lake No.

2012-L-026, 2012-Ohio-4891, ¶ 9. Instead, the “trial court still has the discretion to

determine whether the sentence satisfies the overriding purpose of Ohio’s sentencing

structure.” Jones at ¶ 49.

       {¶15} In this case, the trial court explained the purposes and principles of

sentencing. It stated that when sentencing the defendant, it first looks to the defendant’s
“extensive felony history.” It noted that Kopilchak had “a criminal history that dates

back to 1979.”      It reviewed Kopilchak’s criminal history, which included several

convictions for theft and disorderly conduct, aggravated robbery, resisting arrest,

burglary, and multiple community control violations. The trial court further indicated

that Kopilchak had a “capias issued right now” for another disorderly conduct charge.

       {¶16} The trial court then stated that it considered the victim impact statement in

his case. It explained that the victim, an 86-year-old woman, was “terrified to go to sleep

and leave her house, because [Kopilchak] chose to spend [his] days drinking and taking

drugs rather than being a productive member of society.” The trial court stated that the

victim is “only looking for $70 in restitution, but she has about $10,000 in loss in damage

that [Kopilchak] caused her.” The trial court noted that the victim “suffered serious

financial as well as serious psychological harm,” and that the victim was “unbelievably

traumatized.”

       {¶17} The trial court considered the fact that Kopilchak had reported that he had

gone to an inpatient drug treatment program six times, but then continued to use drugs

once he was released. The trial court indicated that it believed Kopilchak could stop

using drugs, however, because he did not use them in the military or when he was

previously incarcerated.    The trial court stated that it did not consider Kopilchak’s

“voluntary intoxication” to be a mitigating factor.

       {¶18} The trial court further stated:

             I found it very telling you seem to spend your days over at the
       Metricks Motel drinking. When your girlfriend gets home, she goes out
      and buys drugs for you. You spend the day pounding down a bottle of
      liquor with your neighbor, your neighbor passes out, you decide to go for a
      walk and start breaking into people’s houses. * * * You have not only
      disgraced the flag you once wore in uniform, you have used up all your
      goodwill with this court.

      {¶19} After a review of the record, we find Kopilchak’s sentence is not clearly and

convincingly contrary to law. Thus, his second assignment of error is overruled.

      {¶20} Judgment affirmed.

      It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.

      The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

      It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common

pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having

been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated.     Case remanded to the trial court

for execution of sentence.

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

MARY J. BOYLE, JUDGE

MELODY J. STEWART, A.J., and
TIM McCORMACK, J., CONCUR