Court Opinion

ID: 9882920
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:21:56.417838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:58.898502
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Pack, 2023-Ohio-3200.]

                                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                           CLERMONT COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO,                                   :

        Appellee,                                 :     CASE NOS. CA2022-12-087
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     - vs -
                                                  :            OPINION
                                                                9/11/2023
 RICKY LEE PACK,                                  :

        Appellant.                                :

              APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                Case Nos. 2019 CR 00748, 2019 CR 01046 and 2021 CR 00187

Mark J. Tekulve, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney, and Nicholas Horton, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Denise S. Barone, for appellant.

        HENDRICKSON, J.

        {¶ 1} Appellant, Ricky Lee Pack, appeals the judgment of the Clermont County

Court of Common Pleas revoking his community control in three cases and sentencing him

to an aggregate prison term of 54 months. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.

        {¶ 2} On August 1, 2019, appellant was indicted in the Clermont County Court of

Common Pleas Case No. 2019 CR 00748 ("Case No. 748") on one count of possession of
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a fentanyl-related compound in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a felony of the fifth degree. He

was subsequently indicted on October 22, 2019 in the Clermont County Court of Common

Pleas Case No. 2019 CR 01046 ("Case No. 1046") on aggravated possession of drugs

(methamphetamine), possession of heroin, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, and

possession of drugs (tramadol), fourth-degree felonies in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A). On

November 26, 2019, appellant pled guilty as charged in Case No. 748 and, in Case No.

1046, pled guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of drugs

(tramadol). Appellant was sentenced in December 2019 on both cases to a four-year term

of community control, which included conditions that he participate in and successfully

complete all programing at the Community Corrections Center (CCC), follow through with

all recommended follow-up treatments, refrain from drug and alcohol use, and report to and

comply with the directives of the probation department. Appellant was advised that failure

to comply with the terms of his community control could result in the revocation of his

community control and the imposition of consecutive 12-month prison terms imposed on

each possession count in Case No. 1046, which would be served consecutively to a 12-

month prison term imposed in Case No. 748.

       {¶ 3} On September 10, 2020, appellant's probation officer filed an affidavit of

community control violation, alleging that appellant violated his probation in Case Nos. 748

and 1046 by (1) failing to report as directed, (2) failing to follow the probation department's

verbal and written commands, (3) failing to participate in and successfully complete

recommended substance abuse treatment and counseling at Brightview upon his release

from the CCC, and (4) admitting he would test positive for methamphetamine on two

occasions. Appellant entered an admission to the foregoing violations and, on December

28, 2020, the trial court continued appellant on community control in both cases. However,

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as an additional term of community control, the court ordered that appellant attend

Brightview for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

       {¶ 4} A month later, on January 28, 2021, appellant's probation officer filed another

affidavit of community control violation, alleging that appellant violated his probation in Case

Nos. 748 and 1046 by (1) committing a theft offense, (2) failing to report as directed, (3)

failing to follow the probation department's verbal and written commands, and (4) failing to

contact or engage in treatment at Brightview following his release from jail in December

2020. The allegation that appellant committed a theft offense was dismissed and appellant

entered an admission to the remaining violations.         On March 3, 2021, the trial court

continued appellant on community control in both cases, but added as an additional term

of his community control that appellant participate in and successfully complete all available

programming at Turtle Creek Halfway House.

       {¶ 5} On March 11, 2021, in Clermont County Court of Common Pleas Case No.

2021 CR 00187 ("Case No. 187"), appellant was indicted on one count of complicity to

grand theft of a motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 2923.03 and 2913.02(A)(1), a felony of the

fourth degree. Appellant pled guilty to the charge and on June 4, 2021, was sentenced to

four years of community control. As a condition of his community control, appellant was

ordered to successfully complete all available programming at Turtle Creek. Appellant was

advised that the failure to comply with the terms of his community control could result in the

revocation of his community control and the imposition of an 18-month prison term, which

would be run consecutively to any prison term already being served or that was being

imposed at that time.

       {¶ 6} A little over a month later, on July 12, 2021, appellant's probation officer filed

an affidavit of community control violation in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187. The affidavit

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alleged that appellant had failed to follow the probation department's verbal and written

commands and had failed to successfully complete treatment at Turtle Creek as he had

absconded from the halfway house on July 7, 2021. A bench warrant was issued for

appellant's arrest.

       {¶ 7} More than a year later, appellant was arrested and brought before the

common pleas court on the community control violations and for an arraignment in a fourth

criminal case. Appellant entered an admission to the community control violations and the

court held a sentencing hearing on December 6, 2022. At this hearing, appellant's counsel

addressed the court, stating that appellant wanted him to raise the issue of competency or

not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) "so that these cases are continued for another day

while there is that evaluation process." Counsel told the court that he had explained to

appellant that he could not ethically file a motion that he knew had no merit. He indicated

he had spoken with appellant "probably five times" about the most recent probation

violations and sentencing and appellant had made repeated requests that counsel seek

competency and NGRI evaluations. However, counsel indicated that nothing during his

conversations with appellant indicated appellant had any competency issues that needed

addressed by the court.      Counsel stated, "[appellant] is an intelligent individual who

understands his avenues, in my opinion, of strategy. I have no issues with [appellant's]

intelligence or competency." Counsel then stated that he would have filed for a competency

or a NGRI evaluation if he "reasonably, even remotely felt that was an issue," but he did

not.

       {¶ 8} The court, in turn, noted that the issue of appellant wanting a competency

evaluation had initially arisen at an earlier pretrial hearing.    In response to appellant

personally raising the issue of competency, the trial court indicated the following:

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             THE COURT: I listened to the recording. I listened to my
             conversation with Mr. Pack, and certainly, my review of the
             interaction that we had, there's no indication whatsoever of any
             issues of competency.

             ***

             [Appellant's counsel] has been counsel for many years with the
             Public Defender. Certainly, he's filed competency, NGRI
             motions on behalf of clients before. He's had extensive contact
             and discussion with Mr. Pack. I certainly would believe based
             on the record here, and I can't recall the specifics, but I believe
             that it was mentioned last time and either on the record or in
             pretrial or in chambers, and that the court went back and
             listened to his admissions to these probation violations.

             I didn't see anything in any record that would indicate to the
             Court at any point in time that he had an issue with competency
             that the Court needed to sua sponte address. His counsel's
             indicated he has no issues. It appears to be a delay tactic at
             this time. It appears to be simply a delay tactic on behalf of Mr.
             Pack.

The court found no reason to delay sentencing on the community control violations and

proceeded to revoke appellant's community control in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187.

      {¶ 9} In revoking appellant's community control, the trial court specifically

referenced the principles and purposes of felony sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 and the

seriousness and recidivism factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12. After considering these

statutes and noting appellant's lengthy criminal history, his multiple community control

violations, and his act of absconding for over a year, the court found that "prison is

consistent with the purposes [and] principles of sentencing here. Community control is no

longer consistent. He's no longer amenable." With respect to Case No. 748, the court

imposed a 12-month sentence. It imposed two consecutive 12-month prison terms in Case

No. 1046 and an 18-month prison term in Case No. 187. The sentences in all three cases

were run consecutively to one another, for an aggregate prison term of 54 months. In

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imposing consecutive sentences, the trial court made the necessary findings under R.C.

2929.14(C)(4).

        {¶ 10} Appellant appealed the revocation of his community control, raising two

assignments of error for review.

        {¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 1:

        {¶ 12} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF RICKY LEE PACK BY

REFUSING TO ENTERTAIN HIS ORAL MOTION TO BE FOUND NOT GUILTY BY

REASON OF INSANITY.

        {¶ 13} Although the caption of appellant's first assignment of error alleges prejudice

as a result of the trial court's refusal to consider his oral motion to be found not guilty by

reason of insanity, the body of appellant's first assignment of error solely raises an

ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Specifically, appellant argues his trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to file a motion for a competency evaluation or a motion to enter a

NGRI plea to the community control violations. We limit our analysis to a discussion of

appellant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim.1

        {¶ 14} "In order to prevail on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, a defendant

1. We note that our review is limited to the proceedings on appellant's most recent community control
violations. To the extent that appellant seeks to challenge his trial counsel's failure to file a motion for a
competency evaluation or for an NGRI evaluation as it related to the guilty pleas he entered in November
2019 in Case Nos. 748 and 1046 or in April 2021 in Case No. 187 on the respective possession and grand
theft offenses, his arguments are untimely and barred. See App.R. 4(A)(1) (noting that a party who wishes to
appeal from an order that is final must "file the notice of appeal * * * within 30 days of that entry"); State v.
Jordan, Slip Opinion No. 2023-Ohio-2666, ¶ 37 (noting that "once a trial court's order becomes final and
appealable, a party must either appeal the order or forgo any challenge to it"). Final judgment entries, each
entitled "Judgment Entry Sentencing Defendant to Community Control," were filed on January 2, 2022 in Case
Nos. 748 and 1046 and on June 4, 2021 in Case No. 187. Appellant did not file a notice of appeal seeking to
challenge any of the judgment entries sentencing appellant to community control within the timeframe
specified by App.R. 4. This court, therefore, is without jurisdiction to consider a challenge to the guilty pleas
entered in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187. Jones at ¶ 37. Accordingly, our review is limited to appellant's
admission to the July 2021 allegations that he violated his community control by absconding from Turtle Creek
Halfway House and failing to follow the probation department's verbal and written commands.

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must prove that counsel's performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced

by counsel's deficient performance." State v. Davis, 159 Ohio St.3d 31, 2020-Ohio-309, ¶

10, citing State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142 (1989) and Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). "Thus, the defendant must demonstrate that

counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that there

exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error, the result of the proceeding

would have been different." Id., citing Bradley at paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.

"'A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the

outcome.'" Bradley at 142, quoting Strickland at 694. The failure to satisfy either the

deficiency prong or the prejudice prong of the test is fatal to a claim of ineffective assistance

of counsel. State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389 (2000).

       {¶ 15} "NGRI is an affirmative defense that a defendant must prove by a

preponderance of the evidence." State v. Magee, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2019-11-083,

2020-Ohio-4351, ¶ 14, citing State v. Monford, 190 Ohio App.3d 35, 2010-Ohio-4732, ¶ 70

(10th Dist.). "A person is 'not guilty by reason of insanity' relative to a charge of an offense

only if the person proves, in the manner specified in section 2901.05 of the Revised Code,

that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know, as a result of a

severe mental disease or defect, the wrongfulness of the person's acts."                    R.C.

2901.01(A)(14).

       {¶ 16} "[T]he standard for competency is different, in that it relates to the defendant's

present mental condition and his ability to understand the nature of the proceedings against

him and to assist his counsel in his defense." Monford at ¶ 69. A defendant is presumed

to be competent unless it is demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that he is

incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against him or of

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presently assisting in his defense. R.C. 2945.37(G); State v. Murphy, 173 Ohio App.3d

221, 2007-Ohio-4535, ¶ 28 (12th Dist.).

       {¶ 17} Having reviewed the record in the present case, we find that appellant's

ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails on both the deficiency prong and the prejudice

prong. There is nothing in the record to suggest that appellant was incompetent or that he

was not guilty by reason of insanity at the time he violated the terms of his community

control. Rather, based on defense counsel's representations and the trial court's dialogue

with appellant at the community control violation hearing and at sentencing, the record

suggests the contrary. Appellant was capable of understanding the nature and objective of

the violation proceedings against him, capable of assisting his defense, and capable of

making an informed, voluntary, and intelligent decision to enter an admission to the

violations. Counsel was therefore not deficient for not requesting a competency or NGRI

evaluation when such a request would have been frivolous. "An attorney is not ineffective

for failing to make a futile or frivolous request." State v. White, 12th Dist. Madison Nos.

CA2021-05-007 and CA2021-05-008, 2022-Ohio-2182, ¶ 14. See also State v. Powers,

12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2021-06-026, 2021-Ohio-4357, ¶ 19 ("Defense counsel

appeared to have no reasoned basis to conclude appellant was incompetent to stand trial

and counsel is not ineffective for not raising a futile issue").

       {¶ 18} Furthermore, appellant cannot demonstrate he was prejudiced by counsel's

decision not to request NGRI and competency evaluations. The record demonstrates

appellant only wanted the evaluations to delay proceedings on his community control

violations and not because he was experiencing an inability to understand the nature of the

proceedings, to assist in his defense, or because, at the time of the commission of the

offenses, he did not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, the

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wrongfulness of his acts.

       {¶ 19} Appellant's first assignment of error is therefore overruled.

       {¶ 20} Assignment of Error No. 2:

       {¶ 21} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF RICKY LEE PACK BY

ORDERING HIM TO SERVE A PRISON TERM.

       {¶ 22} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by

ordering him to serve an excessive prison term for what he contends "amounts to, basically,

low-degree felonies" for which "[t]he only victim in his cases is society at large; there is no

specific victim."

       {¶ 23} "We review the trial court's sentencing decision for a community control

violation under the standard of review set forth by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)." State v. Roberts,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-02-025, 2019-Ohio-4205, ¶ 5.                 Pursuant to R.C.

2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court can modify or vacate a sentence only if it clearly and

convincingly finds either of the following:

              (a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's
              findings under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division
              (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section
              2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;

              (b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

"A sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law where the trial court 'considers

the principles and purposes of R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors listed in R.C. 2929.12,

properly imposes postrelease control, and sentences the defendant within the permissible

statutory range.'" State v. Haruyama, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-03-030, 2022-Ohio-

4225, ¶ 8, quoting State v. Ahlers, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-06-100, 2016-Ohio-2890,

¶ 8.

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       {¶ 24} Appellant does not argue that the trial court improperly imposed consecutive

sentences under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) or argue that the findings made by the trial court in

imposing consecutive sentences were not supported by the record. See, e.g., State v.

Gwynne, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-4607.             Instead, he limits his argument to the

contention that "[t]he trial court failed to follow the purposes and principles of R.C. 2929.11

when sentencing Ricky Lee Pack, as well as the factors in R.C. 2929.12," which he alleges

resulted in an excessive sentence.

       {¶ 25} "R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) does not permit an appellate court to conduct an

independent review of a trial court's sentencing findings under R.C. 2929.12 or its

adherence to the purposes of felony sentencing under R.C. 2929.11." (Emphasis added.)

State v. Bryant, 168 Ohio St.3d 250, 2022-Ohio-1878, ¶ 21, citing State v. Jones, 163 Ohio

St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, ¶ 41-42. The supreme court reached this conclusion in Jones

after noting that nothing within the statute permits an appellate court to "independently

weigh the evidence in the record and substitute its judgment for that of the trial court

concerning the sentence that best reflects compliance with R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12."

Jones at ¶ 42. See also State v. Lopez-Cruz, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-07-068, 2023-

Ohio-257, ¶ 7.

       {¶ 26} Given the supreme court's holding in Jones, we are precluded from reviewing

a felony sentence where, as here, appellant's sole contention is that the trial court

improperly considered the factors of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 in imposing a sentence.

Lopez-Cruz at ¶ 7. See also State v. Skorich, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-22-1233, 2023-Ohio-

2993, ¶ 14-15. Instead, our review is limited to determining whether the sentence imposed

is contrary to law. Having reviewed the record in the present case, we find that the

aggregate 54-month sentence imposed on appellant was not excessive and was not clearly

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and convincingly contrary to law as the court took into consideration all relevant statutory

factors set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 prior to issuing its decision, properly imposed

postrelease control, and sentenced appellant within the permissible statutory range for each

of the fourth- and fifth-degree felonies for which he was convicted. Appellant's second

assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

       {¶ 27} Judgment affirmed.

       S. POWELL, P.J., and M. POWELL, J., concur.

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