Court Opinion

ID: 2747132
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-31 02:47:00.41421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:02:46.392156
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2014-Ohio-4826.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                   TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State of Ohio,                                      :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,                :
                                                                    No. 14AP-336
v.                                                  :            (C.P.C. No. 13CR-4487)

Brandon D. Johnson,                                 :           (REGULAR CALENDAR)

                 Defendant-Appellant.               :

                                              D E C I S I O N

                                    Rendered on October 30, 2014

                 Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Barbara A.
                 Farnbacher, for appellee.

                 Yeura R. Venters, Public Defender, and David L. Strait, for
                 appellant.

                  APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

O'GRADY, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Brandon D. Johnson, appeals his sentence for one
count of receiving stolen property. For the following reasons, we reverse the portion of
appellant's sentence imposing restitution.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
        {¶ 2} On August 23, 2013, appellant was indicted for one count of receiving stolen
property, in violation of R.C. 2913.51.            According to the state, appellant caused an
automobile accident in a stolen vehicle. Appellant pled guilty to the offense as charged.
        {¶ 3} At the sentencing hearing, the state requested that appellant pay $6,256.53
in restitution directly to the owner of the stolen vehicle's automobile insurance company.
No. 14AP-336                                                                               2

Appellant opposed the restitution request. The trial court directed appellant to pay the
requested restitution to the insurance company, and later journalized the same in
appellant's sentencing entry. This appeal timely followed.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
       {¶ 4} Appellant raises one assignment of error for our review:
              The trial court committed reversible error by ordering
              Defendant-Appellant to pay restitution to an insurance
              company.

III. DISCUSSION
       {¶ 5} In his sole assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred when it
ordered him to pay restitution to an insurance company. Generally, we review restitution
orders using an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Blay, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-245,
2012-Ohio-62, ¶ 6, citing State v. Simmons, 8th Dist. No. 96208, 2011-Ohio-6074, ¶ 66,
citing State v. Mobley-Melbar, 8th Dist. No. 92314, 2010-Ohio-3177, ¶ 37. However,
when a trial court is asked to determine to whom restitution can be awarded, we apply a
de novo standard of review. State v. Christian, 2d Dist. No. 25256, 2014-Ohio-2672,
¶ 110; State v. Johnson, 2d Dist. No. 24288, 2012-Ohio-1230, ¶ 11; State v. Vancleef, 10th
Dist. No. 13AP-703, 2014-Ohio-2144, ¶ 6 ("Statutory interpretation is a question of law
that we review de novo."); State v. Willig, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-925, 2010-Ohio-2560,
¶ 14, quoting McGeehan v. State Bur. of Workers' Comp., 10th Dist. No. 00AP-648 (Dec.
28, 2000), quoting State v. Sufronko, 105 Ohio App.3d 504, 506 (4th Dist.1995) (" 'When
an appellate court is called upon to review a trial court's interpretation and application of
a statute, the "appellate court conducts a de novo review, without deference to the trial
court's determination." ' ").
       {¶ 6} R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) authorizes a trial court to impose restitution in order to
compensate for a victim's economic loss. "If the court imposes restitution, the court shall
order that the restitution be made to the victim in open court, to the adult probation
department that serves the county on behalf of the victim, to the clerk of courts, or to
another agency designated by the court." (Emphasis added.) R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). In
other words, there are four possible payees to whom the trial court may order restitution
be paid under R.C. 2929.18(A)(1): (1) the victim or survivor of the victim, (2) the
No. 14AP-336                                                                                           3

adult probation department that serves the county on behalf of the victim, (3) the clerk of
courts, or (4) another agency designated by the court. State v. Bartholomew, 119 Ohio
St.3d 359, 2008-Ohio-4080, ¶ 11; State v. Colon, 185 Ohio App.3d 671, 2010-Ohio-492,
¶ 5 (2d Dist.); State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. No. 23167, 2010-Ohio-109, ¶ 20.
        {¶ 7} The state maintains that the insurance company constitutes a victim in this
matter because the company suffered harm when it paid for the damage appellant caused
to its insured's vehicle. We note the record before this court does not establish the
insurance company in fact paid any amount of money in this case. In any event, we
acknowledge there may be instances when an insurance company is the victim of a crime.
However, we reject the notion that an insurance company becomes a victim simply
because, pursuant to a contract, the company agreed to and in fact reimbursed its insured
for losses caused by criminal conduct. See Colon at ¶ 6 (finding homeowner's insurer was
not a victim of aggravated arson for purposes of R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) even though it paid
for repairs to its insured's home); State v. Stover, 9th Dist. No. 13CA0035, 2014-Ohio-
2572, ¶ 31-32 (finding vehicle owner's insurer was not a victim under R.C.
2929.18(A)(1)).1
        {¶ 8} The state does not contend the insurance company qualifies as any of the
other payees listed under R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). For instance, the state does claim an
insurance company is an agency designated by the court. Nonetheless, the state argues
restitution to an insurer is not expressly prohibited by R.C. 2929.18(A)(1), and trial courts
have discretion to order restitution to a third-party payee such as the insurance company
in this case. The state relies on Bartholomew and State v. Burns, 6th Dist. No. L-11-
1192, 2012-Ohio-4191, to support its position.
        {¶ 9} However, R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) plainly states that "[i]f the court imposes
restitution, the court shall order that the restitution be made" to one of the four categories
of payees. (Emphasis added.) Such language leaves no room for payment of restitution
pursuant to R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) to an entity that does not fit one of the enumerated
categories. See State v. Christman, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-03-007, 2009-Ohio-6555, ¶ 18

1 Even if the insurance company could be considered a "victim" under these circumstances, we question

whether its losses, which were contractually bargained for, would qualify as an economic loss, i.e., an
economic detriment suffered by a victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of an offense,
for purposes of R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). See R.C. 2929.01(L).
No. 14AP-336                                                                                          4

("[T]he current version of R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) does not authorize restitution to third
parties other than those enumerated in the statute. * * * A state reparations fund, for
example, is a permissible agency designated by the trial court that may receive restitution.
* * * A private insurance company is not.").
       {¶ 10} The Supreme Court of Ohio's decision in Bartholomew does not compel a
different conclusion. In that case, the defendant pled guilty to one count of rape of a
minor under 13 years of age. Id. at ¶ 2. The trial court ordered the defendant to pay
restitution to the Ohio reparations fund,2 which had reimbursed the victim for counseling
expenses. Id. at ¶ 2, 4. The Third District reversed the restitution order. Id. at ¶ 3.
However, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the Third District. Id. at ¶ 17.
       {¶ 11} The Supreme Court recognized R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) contains "four possible
payees for whose benefit a trial court may order that restitution be paid." Id. at ¶ 11. The
Supreme Court characterized the issue before it as whether the reparations fund fit into
the fourth category of payees, i.e., whether it was an " 'agency designed by the court.' " Id.
at ¶ 9, quoting R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). The Supreme Court found the reparations fund was
such an agency. Id. Contrary to what the state suggests, the Supreme Court did not find a
trial court has discretion to order a defendant to pay restitution under R.C. 2929.18(A)(1)
to a third party that does not fit into one of the enumerated categories of payees. That
issue was not before the Supreme Court. Rather, the issue before the Supreme Court was
whether the reparations fund fit into one of the specifically designated payee categories
under R.C. 2929.18(A) such that the trial court could, in its discretion, order restitution be
paid to the fund. See id. at ¶ 14 (Noting that a trial court, under the current version of
R.C. 2929.18(A), "retains the discretion to order that restitution be paid to certain third
parties, namely, an adult probation department, the clerk of courts, or another agency
designed by the court." (Emphasis added.)).
       {¶ 12} In Burns, the defendant was indicted for his actions as business manager of
a school district, which resulted in the theft of approximately $650,000 from the school
district. Id. at ¶ 2. As part of a plea agreement, the defendant agreed to pay an amount of
restitution to be determined by the probation department. Id. at ¶ 3. At the sentencing

2 The order actually referred to "the Attorney General's Victims of Crime [fund]," but the Supreme Court
interpreted this language as a reference to the Ohio reparations fund. Bartholomew at ¶ 4.
No. 14AP-336                                                                                 5

hearing, the trial court ordered the defendant to pay restitution to three entities, including
two insurance companies that made disbursements to the school district after the theft.
Id. at ¶ 4. The defendant did not object to the restitution order at the time of sentencing.
Id. On appeal, the defendant argued an order of restitution to the insurance companies
was contrary to law. Id. at ¶ 8. The state maintained the defendant's argument was
barred by R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) because the order of restitution was jointly recommended.
Id. The Sixth District agreed with the state's position. Id.
       {¶ 13} Under R.C. 2953.08(D)(1), a defendant may not appeal a sentence that is
contrary to law if (1) he and the state agreed to the sentence, (2) the trial court imposed
the agreed sentence, and (3) the sentence is authorized by law. Id. at ¶ 9; State v.
Underwood, 124 Ohio St.3d 365, 2010-Ohio-1, ¶ 16. In Burns, the Sixth District found
each of these requirements had been satisfied. Regarding whether the sentence was
authorized by law, the Sixth District found that "although the sentence may be contrary to
law in that it orders restitution to the insurance companies, it is nonetheless authorized by
law because it complies with applicable mandatory sentencing provisions." Id. at ¶ 14.
The court reasoned the restitution order was authorized by law, in part, because R.C.
2929.18(A)(1) did not contain a mandatory prohibition against restitution to third parties
and other courts had approved of restitution orders to third parties when part of a
negotiated plea agreement. Id. at ¶ 20.
       {¶ 14} However, in this case appellant did not agree to the restitution order, so
R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) is not applicable. Therefore, the state's reliance on the Burns court's
interpretation of the phrase "authorized by law" in that statute is misplaced.
       {¶ 15} For the foregoing reasons, we find the trial court erred in this case by
ordering appellant to pay restitution to the insurance company.
       {¶ 16} The state asks that, if we find error, we remand this matter with instructions
to the trial court to order appellant to pay restitution to the owner of the stolen vehicle for
the full amount of the cost of the damage to his vehicle, including the owner's out-of-
pocket expenses and the amount paid by his insurance company. The state cites no
authority in support of its request. More importantly, the only issue before this court for
consideration is whether the trial court erred when it ordered appellant to pay restitution
No. 14AP-336                                                                           6

to the insurance company—not whether the trial court should order restitution to the
owner or for what amount of loss.
       {¶ 17} For these reasons, appellant's assignment of error is sustained.
IV. CONCLUSION
       {¶ 18} Having sustained appellant's assignment of error, we reverse the portion of
the judgment imposing restitution to the stolen vehicle owner's insurance company.
Because appellant does not otherwise challenge his conviction or the remainder of his
sentence, we affirm those portions of the court's judgment. We remand this case to the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings consistent with this
decision.
                                                              Judgment affirmed in part;
                                                   reversed in part; and cause remanded.

                           KLATT and DORRIAN, JJ., concur.