Court Opinion

ID: 9363780
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-17 17:09:17.747142+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:34.184647
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Penwell, 2023-Ohio-120.]

                                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                             WARREN COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO,                                    :

        Appellee,                                  :     CASE NO. CA2022-05-026

                                                   :            OPINION
     - vs -                                                      1/17/2023
                                                   :

 JEREMY PENWELL,                                   :

        Appellant.                                 :

      CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                           Case No. 21CR38501

David P. Fornshell, Warren County Prosecuting Attorney, and Kirsten A. Brandt, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

The Law Office of Wendy R. Calaway, Co., LPA, and Wendy R. Calaway, for appellant.

        PIPER, J.

        {¶ 1} Appellant, Jeremy Penwell, appeals the verdict of guilty and sentence he

received in the Warren County Court of Common Pleas.

        {¶ 2} On September 14, 2021, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Aleksandre Begheluri

was driving a car-hauler truck on his way to have the vehicle inspected. While driving,

Aleksandre noticed that a chain for the trailer ramp was hanging loose on the passenger
                                                                       Warren CA2022-05-026

side. Aleksandre parked his truck in the middle emergency lane of Grandin Road and exited

his truck to secure the chain. While he was outside the vehicle, Aleksandre was struck and

killed by another vehicle. The vehicle that struck him did not stop.

       {¶ 3} Police obtained surveillance recordings from several nearby businesses

which showed a black Honda Pilot driving by Aleksandre's truck near the time of the

collision.   Throughout the day, officers canvassed the area for similar vehicles.         At

approximately 4:00 p.m., Officer Kyle Treon and Sergeant Chris Wall observed a black

Honda Pilot at a nearby gas station near where Aleksandre had been struck and killed.

They observed that the vehicle had been damaged in multiple places. As they were

examining the vehicle, Penwell came out of the gas station. Sergeant Wall explained why

they were looking at his vehicle and described the nature of their investigation. Penwell

denied any involvement telling the officers that "he doesn't even come that way to work."

The officers did not observe any indication that Penwell was impaired at that time and were

not able to establish any link between Penwell's vehicle and the collision. Therefore, they

took Penwell's name and license plate number and allowed him to leave.

       {¶ 4} That evening, the local news reported on the hit-and-run, including that the

suspect had been driving a black SUV. Shortly thereafter the police department began

receiving information from citizens about the Honda Pilot and Penwell. Alex Webb told

authorities that he had an interaction with an individual in a black Honda Pilot shortly after

7:00 a.m. at a BP gas station. Webb reported that he observed a black Honda Pilot parked

and running at a gas pump with the driver's door cracked open. He stated that the driver,

who he later identified as Penwell, was "slouched over" in the driver's seat seemingly asleep

with his eyes closed.    Based upon his experience, Webb believed that Penwell was

overdosing or passed out on drugs. Around the same time, another man banged on the

hood of Penwell's Honda Pilot. Penwell did not react. Webb and the unidentified man

                                            -2-
                                                                       Warren CA2022-05-026

approached Penwell together. Penwell offered the excuse that he had been up late the

night before helping his grandfather clean a shed. Penwell then exited his car and went

into the gas station while Webb returned to his vehicle and drove to work. Penwell drove

off shortly thereafter.

       {¶ 5} Several of Penwell's coworkers also offered their observations of Penwell's

condition the morning of September 14.           James Britton saw Penwell arrive at their

construction site off State Route 48 at approximately 8:15 a.m. As Penwell was talking to

another coworker, Britton overheard Penwell say that he had hit a "semi" on the way into

work. Britton also believed that Penwell "seemed messed up * * * like he was on an opiate

of some sort." Britton described that Penwell was falling asleep standing up, nodding off,

and slurring his words. Britton indicated that he had seen individuals that were "dope sick,"

meaning that the person was experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opiates, and that

Penwell did not appear dope sick. To the contrary, Britton stated that Penwell seemed to

sober up and become more coherent as the day went on.

       {¶ 6} Another coworker, Jason Breaker, also saw Penwell the morning of the fatal

collision. Breaker stated that he was in a home being constructed and was about to hang

cabinets when he saw Penwell. Penwell said that he had hit a semi on Grandin Avenue on

his way to work. Breaker, who had a prior heroin addiction, believed that Penwell was high

and was a "little out of it." Breaker testified Penwell was "slurring his words a little bit. Eyes

kind of down. Just wasn't real alert or awake." Based upon his experience, Breaker testified

that Penwell was acting like someone under the influence of opiates and was not dope sick.

Later, Breaker observed a dent on the driver's side of Penwell's vehicle between the wheel

and the door. At lunch time, Breaker observed Penwell try to pry the dent out with a prybar,

which was partially successful.

       {¶ 7} After receiving information identifying Penwell as a person of interest, law

                                              -3-
                                                                   Warren CA2022-05-026

enforcement obtained a search warrant for Penwell's vehicle and arrested him. Testing of

swabs from the driver's side front bumper showed the presence of Aleksandre's DNA.

      {¶ 8} In an interview with Detective Quillan Short, Penwell said that he was 15

minutes late to work that morning, arriving at approximately 7:45 a.m. He stated that he

normally took the Zoar Road exit off of I-71. Detective Short advised him that no such exit

existed. When asked if he had ever exited I-71 at Kings Island and traveled across Grandin

Road, Penwell said he was not familiar with that road. When asked if he had struck anything

that morning, Penwell responded that his vehicle had been struck by something, but he did

not know what it was and that he did not stop because he was running late to work. Penwell

denied using any illegal drugs, specifically heroin, that day. Penwell claimed that he was

dope sick because he had not been paid and therefore was unable to buy heroin. Penwell

admitted to prying out a dent in the driver's side door because the door would not open

correctly. On the way to the jail, Penwell told Detective Short that he drove across Grandin

Road that morning when it was still dark out and that he could not see what he hit but

thought maybe it was an animal.

      {¶ 9} While in jail, Penwell made phone calls containing incriminating information.

In a recorded jail phone call with his grandfather, Penwell stated that he did not know what

had happened that morning because he blacked out or "fell out" and was "dead at the

wheel." In another recorded jail phone call, Penwell reported that he could not remember

what happened and that the "shit" had Xanax in it that scrambled his brain.

      {¶ 10} The Warren County Grand Jury indicted Penwell for (1) aggravated vehicular

homicide under R.C. 2903.06(A)(1)(a), a second-degree felony, (2) aggravated vehicular

homicide under R.C. 2903.06(A)(2)(a), a third-degree felony, (3) failure to stop after an

accident under R.C. 4549.02(A)(1)(a), a third-degree felony, and (4) operating a vehicle

under the influence under R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), a first-degree misdemeanor. Following a

                                           -4-
                                                                                  Warren CA2022-05-026

jury trial, Penwell was found guilty as charged.

        {¶ 11} The trial court sentenced Penwell to a six-to-nine-year prison term on the

second-degree felony count of aggravated vehicular homicide and a 12-month prison term

on the count of failure to stop after an accident. The remaining offenses were merged. The

trial court ordered the terms be served consecutively for a total prison term of seven-to-ten

years. Penwell now appeals, raising three assignments of error for review.

        {¶ 12} Assignment of Error No. 1:

        {¶ 13} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONVICTING APPELLANT BASED ON

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND IN CONVICTING HIM AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.

        {¶ 14} In his first assignments of error, Penwell argues that his conviction is based

on insufficient evidence and the jury's verdict was against the manifest weight of the

evidence.1

        {¶ 15} The concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the evidence are

legally distinct. State v. Wright, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-08-152, 2014-Ohio-985, ¶ 10.

Nonetheless, as this court has observed, a finding that a conviction is supported by the

manifest weight of the evidence is also dispositive of the issue of sufficiency. State v. Jones,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-03-049, 2013-Ohio-150, ¶ 19.                        "Because sufficiency is

required to take a case to the jury, a finding that a conviction is supported by the weight of

the evidence must necessarily include a finding of sufficiency." State v. Hart, 12th Dist.

Brown No. CA2011-03-008, 2012-Ohio-1896, ¶ 43.

        {¶ 16} A manifest weight challenge scrutinizes the proclivity of the greater amount of

1. Penwell only presents argument as to Counts 1 and 3, aggravated vehicular homicide involving the use of
drugs and failure to stop after an accident. Penwell does not present argument on Count 2 involving
aggravated vehicular homicide (recklessly). Therefore, we will not address Count 2 in any detail except to
note that Count 2 is also supported by the manifest weight of the evidence. We further note that the trial court
merged Count 2 with Count 1.

                                                     -5-
                                                                      Warren CA2022-05-026

credible evidence, offered at a trial, to support one side of the issue over another. State v.

Barnett, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-09-177, 2012-Ohio-2372, ¶ 14. In assessing whether

a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, a reviewing court examines the

entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility

of the witnesses, and determines whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of

fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction

must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State v. Morgan, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2013-

08-146 and CA2013-08-147, 2014-Ohio-2472, ¶ 34.

       {¶ 17} Penwell was convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide in violation of R.C.

2903.06(A)(1)(a), which prohibits any person, "while operating * * * a motor vehicle," from

"caus[ing] the death of another * * * [a]s the proximate result of committing a violation of

division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code." Pursuant to R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a),

no person shall operate a vehicle if, at the time of the operation, "[t]he person is under the

influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them."

       {¶ 18} Penwell was also convicted of failure to stop after an accident in violation of

R.C. 4549.02(A)(1)(a), which provides, in the case of a motor vehicle accident or collision

on a public road or highway, "the operator of the motor vehicle, having knowledge of the

accident or collision, immediately shall stop the operator's motor vehicle at the scene of the

accident or collision." A person acts knowingly "regardless of purpose, when the person is

aware that the person's conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a

certain nature." R.C. 2901.22(B). "A person has knowledge of circumstances when the

person is aware that such circumstances probably exist." Id; State v. Jones, 12th Dist.

Butler No. CA2019-06-095, 2020-Ohio-857, ¶ 16.

       {¶ 19} Penwell contests his convictions under two theories. First, he claims that

there was no evidence that he was driving his vehicle under the influence. He asserts there

                                             -6-
                                                                  Warren CA2022-05-026

was no toxicology testing, field sobriety tests, or eyewitness testimony. Second, Penwell

argues there was no evidence that he knew that he had been in an accident at the time he

struck the victim.

       {¶ 20} Following a thorough review of the evidence, we find Penwell's convictions

are supported by the manifest weight of the evidence and are not based upon insufficient

evidence. At trial, Penwell did not contest that he hit Aleksandre and that the impact from

his vehicle caused Aleksandre's death. Rather, he argued that he was not driving under

the influence of drugs. Penwell claimed that he was dope sick and tired from staying up all

night helping his grandfather and that Aleksandre was not visible to him, which was

impacted by the sun being in his eyes.

       {¶ 21} However, the state presented testimony that, if believed, established that

Penwell was under the influence of drugs and knew that he had been in an accident at the

time he struck the victim. The state presented evidence from Alex Webb who observed

Penwell slouched over, asleep at the wheel, in his black Honda Pilot sometime between

7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. that morning. Webb noticed that Penwell did not react when

another person banged on the hood of Penwell's vehicle. Webb had seen this behavior

before and believed that Penwell was overdosing or passed out on drugs. In other words,

Penwell was not dope sick as he suggested. Rather, Penwell exhibited visible signs of

impairment while at the gas station.

       {¶ 22} The state then presented evidence that the collision that killed Aleksandre

occurred after Penwell left the gas station while he was driving to his work site. Upon

reaching his work site, Penwell's coworkers, Breaker and Britton, observed that Penwell

was under the influence. Breaker was a former heroin addict and is familiar with the

meaning of dope sick. Breaker testified that Penwell appeared intoxicated on opiates when

he arrived at work that morning. He described Penwell as "slurring his words a little bit.

                                           -7-
                                                                      Warren CA2022-05-026

Eyes kind of down. Just wasn't real alert or awake." Breaker stated that Penwell did not

exhibit symptoms of being dope sick. Britton also testified that Penwell appeared to be

under the influence of opiates. He described him as "falling asleep standing up, pretty

much. He was nodding out sort of" and slurring his words.

       {¶ 23} This testimony was further corroborated by Penwell's own statements. In a

recorded jail phone call with his grandfather Penwell stated that he could not remember the

accident and that "[i]t's blacked out of my mind. It's blacked out. I dunno. I fell out." During

his testimony, Penwell admitted that the term "fell out" refers to being under the influence

of opiates, but still denied that he was under the influence of drugs. Instead, he testified

that was going through withdrawals. Yet, in another recorded jail phone call describing why

he could not remember the accident, Penwell told his cousin "shit had Xanax in it.

Scrambled my brain a lot." Whether Penwell's denial on the stand was more believable

than his statements made in the recorded jail phone calls was a credibility determination

best weighed by the trier of fact. State v. Vunda, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2012-07-130

and CA2013-07-113, 2014-Ohio-3449, ¶ 45.

       {¶ 24} Contrary to his suggestion otherwise, the state presented ample evidence to

support a finding that Penwell was under the influence of a drug of abuse when he struck

and killed Aleksandre. The state was not required to prove its case with blood, breath, or

field sobriety tests, nor did the state need to present evidence of a witness having observed

Penwell using drugs that day. State v. Robinson, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-19-79, 2020-Ohio-

4880, ¶ 22-24; State v. Sanford, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 18CA011308, 2021-Ohio-1619, ¶ 25.

While a toxicology report may be probative that one was driving under the influence, the

facts contained in such a report "would be by no means necessary in the prosecution of

those offenses." Sanford at ¶ 25 (Emphasis in original). Such is the case as here where

Penwell was observed by several people as being impaired and behind the wheel of a

                                             -8-
                                                                     Warren CA2022-05-026

vehicle well before he was identified as a suspect. In fact, the testimony from Penwell's

coworkers indicated that Penwell arrived at work under the influence and then sobered up

or became more coherent as the day went on. Penwell's statements to his grandfather and

to his co-worker corroborate Penwell's impaired driving, a fact bolstered by his misleading

and untruthful statements to law enforcement.

       {¶ 25} We further find the evidence supports the conclusion that Penwell had

knowledge of the accident and therefore his conviction for failing to stop after an accident

is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence and is not based upon insufficient

evidence. The state presented evidence that Breaker told a coworker that he had hit a

"semi" on his way into work and was seen prying a dent out of his vehicle during his lunch

break. Penwell further admitted to Detective Short that he knew his vehicle had struck

something that morning but that he did not stop because he was running late to work but

thought he may have hit an animal.

       {¶ 26} Additionally, the jury may make reasonable inferences from the fact that

Penwell attempted to mislead law enforcement as to the damage on his vehicle and the

route he travelled to work. Denying he was on the road where the accident occurred only

to have it proved he was, significantly diminished Penwell's credibility with the jury.

Indicating to law enforcement he may have hit an animal, but previously telling a co-worker

he hit a semi, similarly gives Penwell little credibility.

       {¶ 27} While Penwell's version of events may differ from those of the state, "'[w]hen

conflicting evidence is presented at trial, a conviction is not against the manifest weight of

the evidence simply because the jury believed the prosecution testimony'" for it is entirely

appropriate for the jury to believe the testimony of some witnesses while disregarding the

testimony of others. State v. Sias, 12th Dist. Madison Nos. CA2010-01-001 and CA2010-

02-003, 2010-Ohio-3566, ¶ 18, quoting State v. Lloyd, Warren Nos. CA2007-04-052,

                                                -9-
                                                                      Warren CA2022-05-026

CA2007-04-053, 2008-Ohio-3383. Since his convictions are supported by the manifest

weight of the evidence and are not based upon insufficient evidence, Penwell's first

assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶ 28} Assignment of Error No. 2:

       {¶ 29} APPELLANT       WAS      DEPRIVED       OF    HIS   RIGHT     TO    EFFECTIVE

ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AND FOURTEEN [sic]

AMENDMENT AND RELATED OHIO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

       {¶ 30} In his second assignment of error, Penwell alleges he received ineffective

assistance of counsel.

       {¶ 31} To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, an appellant must

establish (1) that his trial counsel's performance was deficient; and (2) that such deficiency

prejudiced the defense to the point of depriving the appellant of a fair trial. State v. Taylor,

12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2018-11-021, 2019-Ohio-3437, ¶ 16, citing Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, (1984). Trial counsel's performance will

not be deemed deficient unless it "fell below an objective standard of reasonableness."

Strickland at 688. To show prejudice, the appellant must prove there exists "a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would

have been different." Id. at 694. An appellant's failure to satisfy one prong of the Strickland

test negates a court's need to consider the other. Vunda, 2014-Ohio-3449 at ¶ 54.

                                       Authentication

       {¶ 32} First, Penwell argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to

the testimony of Officer Chris Kaufholz. Specifically, he claims that Officer Kaufholz testified

about unauthenticated video evidence, which was later introduced in evidence. During trial,

Officer Kaufholz testified that he arrived on scene shortly after the accident occurred, finding

the victim unresponsive in the roadway. The victim's vehicle was still running and was

                                             - 10 -
                                                                         Warren CA2022-05-026

parked in the middle emergency lane. Officer Kaufholz identified several photographs of

the scene, testifying that the photographs fairly and accurately represented what he saw on

September 14, 2021.

       {¶ 33} Officer Kaufholz conducted further investigation by responding to local

businesses to see if their security cameras had captured the accident scene. One of those

businesses was Elite Automotive. Officer Kaufholz testified that he reviewed some of the

video at Elite Automotive and took custody of a copy of the security footage. He later

watched the video at the station on a larger screen. The same video was subsequently

played during trial and Officer Kaufholz testified that it fairly and accurately represented the

video that he collected the day of the accident.

       {¶ 34} Penwell's counsel did not object to this testimony. On appeal, Penwell claims

the video evidence was inadmissible because no one from Elite Automotive authenticated

the video and Officer Kaufholz's testimony was not a proper basis for authentication

because he "testified that he only viewed the video at the source to verify camera angles."

Therefore, Penwell argues that the state did not present evidence required to demonstrate

a sufficient showing of the reliability of the process or system that produced the evidence.

Penwell further argues that this error was compounded because Officer Kaufholz enhanced

the video at the police department. Officer Kaufholz testified that when the video was

played on the larger screen at the police department that he could see the suspect's vehicle

swerve slightly after impact.

       {¶ 35} Following review, we find Penwell's counsel was not deficient because the

evidence was properly authenticated, and any objection should have been overruled. State

v. Kremer, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2017-07-115 and CA2017-07-116, 2018-Ohio-3339,

¶ 27 (it is not deficient for counsel not to raise a meritless issue).

       {¶ 36} This court has previously acknowledged that photographic and video

                                              - 11 -
                                                                      Warren CA2022-05-026

evidence is generally authenticated in two ways. One way is a person with knowledge may

state that the photograph or video represents a fair and accurate depiction of the actual

item at the time the picture was taken. Evid.R. 901(B)(1); State v. Freeze, 12th Dist. Butler

No. CA2011-11-209, 2012-Ohio-5840, ¶ 66.              In authenticating evidence through this

method, there is no need to call the witness who took the photographs as long as a witness

with knowledge can testify that the photograph is a fair and accurate depiction. State v.

Mick, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2011-08-017, 2012-Ohio-1598, ¶ 32.

       {¶ 37} An additional way to authenticate photographic or video evidence is under the

"silent witness" theory. Freeze at ¶ 67, citing Midland Steel Prods. Co. v. U.A.W. Local 486,

61 Ohio St.3d 121 (1991).

              Under the silent witness theory, the photographic evidence is a
              'silent witness' which speaks for itself, and is substantive
              evidence of what it portrays independent of a sponsoring
              witness. Therefore, photographic evidence may be admitted
              upon a sufficient showing of the reliability of the process or
              system that produced the evidence. Expert witness testimony is
              not required to demonstrate reliability.

Id. (citations omitted). In Midland, the Ohio Supreme Court found that a surveillance video

tape was properly authenticated when a witness' testimony regarding the layout of the area

corresponded with the video and the witness was the custodian of the video and testified

that the video had not been altered. Midland at 130.

       {¶ 38} Upon review, we find the state satisfied the threshold for authentication under

either theory of authentication. In this case, Officer Kaufholz testified that he arrived at the

scene of the accident shortly after the accident occurred. When he arrived, Officer Kaufholz

observed the scene, including Aleksandre's truck and trailer in the emergency lane.

Aleksandre's body had been knocked out of his shoes and blood had spilled all over the

roadway. He was then presented with various photographs of the scene, which Officer

Kaufholz testified were fair and accurate depictions of the scene when he arrived. Officer

                                             - 12 -
                                                                   Warren CA2022-05-026

Kaufholz further testified he obtained video footage from nearby businesses, including Elite

Automotive. He explained that he watched some of the footage inside Elite Automotive to

see how the cameras were angled. We disagree with Penwell's suggestion that Officer

Kaufholz only looked at the angle of the cameras. Officer Kaufholz testified that he checked

to see that the cameras were angled properly and was able to capture the scene. Officer

Kaufholz also testified that he was able to observe Aleksandre's vehicle pull onto the road

and was also able to observe when the 9-1-1 caller arrived on the scene.

      {¶ 39} Contrary to Penwell's suggestion otherwise, Officer Kaufholz testified that the

video shown at trial fairly and accurately depicted the video he collected from Elite

Automotive and also fairly and accurately depicted what he viewed while at the police

department. While Officer Kaufholz testified that the video was fair and accurate, the trial

court could also have reasonably determined that the video provided was reliable under the

silent witness theory, as the footage was consistent with testimony elicited by the state.

Freeze, 2012-Ohio-5840 at ¶ 70; State v. Spencer, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 19CA6, 2019-

Ohio-3800, ¶ 17.

      {¶ 40} We further find no merit to Penwell's claim that Officer Kaufholz "enhanced"

the video. Officer Kaufholz merely testified that he used the zoom feature and played the

video on a larger screen. There is no evidence that Officer Kaufholz manipulated or

changed the video. Accordingly, we find that the video evidence was properly authenticated

and admissible.

      {¶ 41} We further note that Penwell's counsel may not have objected to this evidence

based upon trial strategy, which would not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. At

trial, Penwell's counsel argued that the sun, and not drug impairment, contributed to the

collision and referred to the video from Elite Automotive on a number of occasions. This

court has repeatedly held that trial strategy, even debatable strategy, is not a basis for

                                           - 13 -
                                                                     Warren CA2022-05-026

finding ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Woody, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2019-

01-001, 2020-Ohio-621, ¶ 10. Accordingly, Penwell's counsel was not ineffective for failing

to object to the admission of the video. State v. Davis, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28923,

2021-Ohio-1833, ¶ 24.

                                    Reagan Tokes Law

       {¶ 42} Penwell also argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the

trial court's imposition of an indefinite sentence pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Law. This

court has previously rejected an identical argument. State v. Hodgkin, 12th Dist. Warren

No. CA2020-08-048, 2021-Ohio-1353, ¶ 17. Furthermore, for reasons set forth in more

detail in Penwell's third assignment of error, this court has consistently held that the Reagan

Tokes Law is constitutional and therefore, any objection would have been meritless.

Kremer, 2018-Ohio-3339 at ¶ 27. Accordingly, we find that trial counsel was not ineffective

for failing to challenge the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Law.

       {¶ 43} In light of the foregoing, we find Penwell's second assignment of error is

without merit and is therefore overruled.

       {¶ 44} Assignment of Error No. 3:

       {¶ 45} THE SENTENCE IMPOSED WAS CONTRARY TO LAW.

       {¶ 46} In his third assignment of error, Penwell argues his sentence is contrary to

law. An appellate court reviews the imposed sentence according to R.C. 2953.08(G)(2),

which governs all felony sentences. State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-

1002, ¶ 1. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that an appellate court can modify or vacate a

sentence only if the appellate court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the record

does not support the trial court's findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is

otherwise contrary to law. State v. Singh, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2021-12-158, 2022-Ohio-

3385, ¶ 83.

                                            - 14 -
                                                                     Warren CA2022-05-026

                                    Reagan Tokes Law

       {¶ 47} Penwell first challenges the constitutionality of Ohio's indefinite sentencing

structure as set forth in R.C. 2967.271.        However, as previously noted, the record

demonstrates that Penwell never raised this issue with the trial court. It is well established

that the question of the constitutionality of a statute must be raised at the first opportunity

and, in a criminal prosecution, this means in the trial court. State v. Teasley, 12th Dist.

Butler No. CA2020-01-001, 2020-Ohio-4626, ¶ 9. Consequently, by not first raising the

issue with the trial court, Penwell's arguments challenging the constitutionality of R.C.

2967.271 are forfeited and will not be heard for the first time on appeal. Id.

       {¶ 48} We further note that the arguments raised by Penwell have been previously

considered and rejected by this court. State v. Bloodworth, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2021-

08-073, 2022-Ohio-1899, ¶ 50. Specifically, this court has already determined that the

Reagan Tokes Law does not run afoul of an offender's due process rights as guaranteed

by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I,

Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution. State v. Henderson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2020-

11-072, 2021-Ohio-3564, ¶ 13-16; State v. Jackson, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2020-07-077,

2021-Ohio-778, ¶ 12-15; State v. Guyton, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-203, 2020-Ohio-

3837, ¶ 7-17. We have also determined that the Reagan Tokes Law does not violate the

separation-of-powers doctrine. State v. Suder, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA2020-06-034

and CA2020-06-035, 2021-Ohio-465, ¶ 25; State v. Castro, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2022-

04-016, 2022-Ohio-4327, ¶ 13. For the reasons previously expressed in the above-cited

cases, we find that the Reagan Tokes Law is not unconstitutional.

                                  Consecutive sentences

       {¶ 49} Next, Penwell challenges the trial court's imposition of consecutive sentences.

When imposing consecutive sentences, a sentencing court is required "to make the findings

                                            - 15 -
                                                                    Warren CA2022-05-026

mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and incorporate its findings into

its sentencing entry." State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, syllabus. R.C.

2929.14(C)(4) states:

             If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for
             convictions of multiple offenses, the court may require the
             offender to serve the prison terms consecutively if the court finds
             that the consecutive service is necessary to protect the public
             from future crime or to punish the offender and that consecutive
             sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the
             offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the
             public, and if the court also finds any of the following:

             (a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses
             while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a
             sanction imposed pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or
             2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post-release control
             for a prior offense.

             (b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part
             of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two
             or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or
             unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses
             committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately
             reflects the seriousness of the offender's conduct.

             (c) The offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
             consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from
             future crime by the offender.

      {¶ 50} "When imposing consecutive sentences, a trial court must state the required

findings as part of the sentencing hearing, and by doing so it affords notice to the offender

and to defense counsel." Bonnell at ¶ 29, citing Crim.R. 32(A)(4). "[A] word-for-word

recitation of the language of the statute is not required," though, "and as long as the

reviewing court can discern that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and can

determine that the record contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences

should be upheld." Id.

      {¶ 51} The supreme court has recently stated that consecutive sentence findings are

not simply threshold findings that, once made, permit any amount of consecutively stacked

                                           - 16 -
                                                                    Warren CA2022-05-026

individual sentences.   State v. Gwynne, Slip No. 2022-Ohio-4607, ¶ 1.           Rather, the

consecutive sentence findings must be made in consideration of the aggregate term to be

imposed. Id. Appellate review of these findings does not require an appellate court to defer

to the sentencing court's findings in any manner. Id. Instead, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) requires

appellate courts to review the record de novo and decide whether the record clearly and

convincingly does not support the consecutive-sentence findings. Id.

      {¶ 52} In this case, the trial court ordered that Penwell's sentence for failure to stop

after an accident be served consecutively to his conviction for aggravated vehicular

homicide. On appeal, Penwell states that the trial court checked a box in the sentencing

entry indicating that the offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct.

However, Penwell notes that this finding was not made at the sentencing hearing. Penwell

does not otherwise contest the consecutive nature of his prison sentence. The state

concedes the disparity between the sentencing entry and the court's findings at the

sentencing hearing but maintains that the issue can be corrected with a nunc pro tunc entry.

      {¶ 53} Following review, we agree that there is a disparity between the findings made

at the sentencing hearing and the trial court's sentencing entry. During the sentencing

hearing, the trial court stated that "consecutive sentences are necessary in this case in

order to punish the offender and protect the public from future crime, and are not

disproportionate to the conduct or danger posed by the Defendant." The trial court further

referenced Penwell's criminal history and found based on the factors present before the

court, that consecutive sentencing was necessary.        Despite making these findings at

sentencing, the trial court checked the box on the sentencing entry indicating a different

finding supporting consecutive sentences.

      {¶ 54} Therefore, the trial court should issue a nunc pro tunc entry to correct its

mistake so that the sentencing entry accurately reflects its pronouncements at the

                                            - 17 -
                                                                Warren CA2022-05-026

sentencing hearing. State v. Caldwell, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-04-032, 2022-Ohio-

4035, ¶ 25. Aside from the need for a nunc pro tunc entry, Penwell's remaining arguments

are overruled.

      {¶ 55} Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for the limited

purpose of issuing a nunc pro tunc sentencing entry.

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

                                          - 18 -