Court Opinion

ID: 4119145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-27 16:11:18.184382+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:45.869417
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Blackburn, 2017-Ohio-306.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                     CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                       :
                                                     :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                          :   Appellate Case No. 2016-CA-4
                                                     :
 v.                                                  :   Trial Court Case Nos. 2015-CR-239
                                                     :   and 2016-CR-31
 SHAWN M. BLACKBURN                                  :
                                                     :   (Criminal Appeal from
         Defendant-Appellant                         :   Common Pleas Court)
                                                     :

                                                ...........

                                               OPINION

                           Rendered on the 27th day of January, 2017.
                                         ...........

KEVIN TALEBI, Atty. Reg. No. 0069198, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Champaign
County Prosecutor’s Office, 200 North Main Street, Urbana, Ohio 43078
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

SEAN J. VALLONE, Atty. Reg. No. 0064053, 5 Irongate Park Drive, Suite A, Centerville,
Ohio 45459
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                               .............

WELBAUM, J.
                                                                                         -2-

       {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Shawn M. Blackburn, appeals from the conviction and

sentence he received in the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas after pleading

guilty to possession of heroin in Case No. 2015-CR-239 and aggravated possession of

drugs and possession of heroin in Case No. 2016-CR-31. In proceeding with the appeal,

Blackburn’s assigned counsel filed a brief under the authority of Anders v. California, 386

U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), indicating there are no issues with

arguable merit to present on appeal. After conducting a review as prescribed by Anders,

we also find no issues with arguable merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court

will be affirmed.

                           Facts and Course of Proceedings

       {¶ 2} On November 12, 2015, in Case No. 2015-CR-239, the Champaign County

Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Blackburn with one count of possessing

heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A),(C)(6)(a) and one count of aggravated possession

of drugs, to wit, Percocet/Oxycodone, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A),(C)(1)(a), both fifth-

degree felonies. The charges arose after officers conducted a consensual search of a

vehicle occupied by Blackburn and his significant other, Josiah Thrasher, and discovered

drug paraphernalia indicative of intravenous heroin use. Following the discovery of the

drug paraphernalia, Blackburn admitted to officers that he would test positive for opiates,

that he had used heroin four days earlier, and that had swallowed two unprescribed

Percocet tablets.

       {¶ 3} Blackburn initially pled not guilty to the charges in Case No. 2015-CR-239
                                                                                         -3-

and was released on bond. The conditions of Blackburn’s bond included being a law-

abiding citizen; not obtaining, possessing, or using illegal drugs; and having no contact

with his co-defendant, Thrasher. The matter was set for trial on February 23, 2016.

       {¶ 4} Prior to the date of trial, on February 4, 2016, Blackburn was indicted in

Champaign County Case No. 2016-CR-31 for one count of aggravated possession of

drugs, to wit, methamphetamine, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A),(C)(1)(a), and one count

of possessing heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A),(C)(6)(a), both fifth-degree felonies.

Blackburn was also charged with possessing drug abuse instruments in violation of R.C.

2925.12(A), a second-degree misdemeanor, and illegal use or possession of drug

paraphernalia in violation of R.C. 2925.14(C)(1), a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

       {¶ 5} The charges in Case No. 2016-CR-31 arose after the boyfriend of

Blackburn’s mother called the authorities accusing Thrasher of stealing prescription

medication from him. Blackburn was present during the officer’s investigation of the

matter and he admitted to using heroin and methamphetamine with Thrasher the previous

night. After Blackburn’s confession, both Blackburn and Thrasher became very ill from

the drugs they had used, so the officers transported both men to the hospital for treatment.

       {¶ 6} Following his indictment in Case No. 2016-CR-31, on February 5, 2016,

Blackburn withdrew his not guilty plea in Case No. 2015-CR-239 and pled guilty to

possessing heroin in exchange for the State dismissing the charge for aggravated

possession of drugs (Percocet/Oxycodone). The same day, Blackburn also pled guilty

in Case No. 2016-CR-31 to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine) and

possession of heroin in exchange for the State dismissing the misdemeanor counts for

possessing drug abuse instruments and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
                                                                                         -4-

       {¶ 7} As part of the plea agreement, the State agreed to recommend a

presentence investigation report (“PSI”) and the imposition of community control

sanctions. Blackburn also agreed to stipulate that his offenses in Case No. 2016-CR-31

are not allied offenses of similar import and that the sentences for those offenses would

not merge.

       {¶ 8} After conducting a plea colloquy in compliance with Crim.R. 11, the trial court

accepted Blackburn’s guilty pleas in both cases. The trial court then ordered a PSI and

scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 7, 2016. Blackburn was thereafter denied

bond and was confined in jail pending the date of his sentencing.

       {¶ 9} At the beginning of the sentencing hearing, the trial court noted that

Blackburn had been engaging in prohibited communications with Thrasher via jail letters

that Blackburn wrote under a different name. The trial court marked the letters as Court

Exhibit I and advised that it would consider the letters along with the information in the

PSI for purposes of sentencing. Thereafter, the trial court heard statements from each

counsel and questioned Blackburn regarding his jail correspondence with Thrasher,

which Blackburn admitted was prohibited by the first shift corrections officer that passes

out the mail.

       {¶ 10} During the course of the sentencing hearing, the trial court considered that

Blackburn had a 2013 felony conviction for burglary in Union County for which he was

serving five years of community control. The court considered that Blackburn’s probation

officer in Union County had ordered Blackburn not to have contact with Thrasher in

August 2015, but later discovered that Blackburn had been using drugs with Thrasher in

September 2015. Additionally, the trial court considered that Blackburn continued to use
                                                                                         -5-

drugs with Thrasher through January 2016 despite the order from his probation officer

and the no contact order provided by the trial court following his November 2015

indictment in Case 2015-CR-239.

       {¶ 11} Based on this information, the trial court made findings under R.C.

2929.13(B)(1)(b) that provided the court with discretion to impose a prison term for

Blackburn’s fifth-degree felony offenses. Specifically, the trial court found that Thrasher

violated the conditions of his bond by not being a law-abiding citizen, using illegal drugs,

and having contact with Thrasher.        The trial court also found that Blackburn had

committed the offenses while under community control in Union County and that his

offenses were committed as part of organized criminal activity with Thrasher and other

individuals. See R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(b)(iii),(ix), and (xi).

       {¶ 12} Continuing, the trial court found that Blackburn’s offenses were rendered

less serious by the fact that he had acted under strong provocation from his relationship

with Thrasher. However the court found that Blackburn’s offenses were rendered more

serious due to him committing the offenses as part of organized criminal activity,

committing the offenses while on community control, and committing his offenses with

Thrasher despite the no contact order.

       {¶ 13} The trial court also found that recidivism was likely due to Blackburn

committing the offenses while on community control, being previously adjudicated a

delinquent child, having a history of criminal convictions, and not responding favorably to

sanctions previously imposed or being rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree. The court

also considered that Blackburn had exhibited no genuine remorse, had refused treatment

for drug abuse, and that he had continued to have contact with Thrasher despite the
                                                                                           -6-

negative effects their relationship had on him. The trial court also found that recidivism

was likely due to Blackburn’s family enabling his drug use and due to Blackburn previously

rejecting the orders of his Union County probation officer. The trial court also noted that

Blackburn had scored high on the Ohio Risk Assessment System.

       {¶ 14} After considering all these factors, the trial court imposed a 10-month prison

term for possessing heroin in Case No. 2015-CR-239 and an 11-month prison term for

each count of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of heroin in Case No.

2016-CR-31. The trial court ordered all the prison terms to be served consecutively for

a total prison sentence of 32 months. In ordering consecutive sentences, the trial court

made all the required consecutive-sentence findings in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and

incorporated those findings into its sentencing entry.

       {¶ 15} In addition to a prison sentence, the trial court suspended Blackburn’s

driver’s license for an aggregate term of 12 months. After considering his present and

future ability to pay, the trial court also imposed an aggregate fine of $750 plus court

costs, and ordered payment of appointed counsel fees, which the court expressly stated

were not to be collected as court costs, but separately collected by the clerk of court

through a civil action.

       {¶ 16} The trial court then disapproved Blackburn for placement in intensive

program prison for reasons it had discussed on the record including the nature and

circumstances surrounding Blackburn’s offenses, Blackburn’s criminal history, his

conduct while on bond, and his repeated association with Thrasher against the orders of

multiple court officials, which resulted in multiple instances of drug use while participating

in drug treatment services.     The court also recommended that Blackburn serve risk
                                                                                         -7-

reduction sentencing and awarded him 41 days of jail time credit for Case No. 2015-CR-

239.

       {¶ 17} Blackburn thereafter filed a notice of appeal from his conviction and

sentence in both Case Nos. 2015-CR-239 and 2016-CR-31 and requested the

appointment of appellate counsel. Following the appointment of counsel, we permitted

the record to be supplemented with the PSI and granted an extension of time for

Blackburn to file his appellate brief. Blackburn’s appellate counsel then filed an Anders

brief indicating there were no issues with arguable merit to present on appeal.           In

response, we notified Blackburn that his counsel found no meritorious claim for review

and granted him 60 days to file a pro se brief assigning any errors. Blackburn did not file

a pro se brief.

                                    Law and Analysis

       {¶ 18} Our task in this case is to conduct an independent review of the record as

prescribed by Anders, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493. In Anders cases,

the appellate court must conduct a thorough examination of the proceedings to determine

if the appeal is actually frivolous, and if it is, the court may “grant counsel’s request to

withdraw and then dismiss the appeal without violating any constitutional requirements,

or the court can proceed to a decision on the merits if state law requires it.” State v.

McDaniel, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2010 CA 13, 2011-Ohio-2186, ¶ 5, citing Anders at

744. “If we find that any issue presented or which an independent analysis reveals is not

wholly frivolous, we must appoint different appellate counsel to represent the defendant.”

(Citation omitted.) State v. Marbury, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19226, 2003-Ohio-3242,
                                                                                            -8-

¶ 7. “Anders equates a frivolous appeal with one that presents issues lacking in arguable

merit. An issue does not lack arguable merit merely because the prosecution can be

expected to present a strong argument in reply, or because it is uncertain whether a

defendant will ultimately prevail on that issue on appeal.” Id. at ¶ 8, citing State v. Pullen,

2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19232, 2002-Ohio-6788, ¶ 4.               Rather, “[a]n issue lacks

arguable merit if, on the facts and law involved, no responsible contention can be made

that it offers a basis for reversal.” Id.

       {¶ 19} In this case, Blackburn’s appellate counsel indicated that he has found no

deficiencies or improprieties in Blackburn’s plea or sentence, and provided no potential

assignment of error for our review. In conducting our independent review of the record

as required by Anders, we also find no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Therefore, the

judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

DONOVAN, P.J. and HALL, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Kevin Talebi
Sean J. Vallone
Shawn M. Blackburn
Hon. Nick A. Selvaggio