Court Opinion

ID: 2700180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:15:10.41268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:09.412779
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Banks, 2011-Ohio-2983.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                      LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                      JUDGES:
                                                   Hon. John W. Wise, P. J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee                         Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
                                                   Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs-
                                                   Case No. 10 CA 111
BYRON L. BANKS

        Defendant-Appellant                        OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common
                                               Pleas, Case No. 08 CR 727

JUDGMENT:                                      Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                         June 17, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                         For Defendant-Appellant

KENNETH W. OSWALT                               J. MATTHEW DAWSON
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY                            35 South Park Place
CHRISTOPHER A. REAMER                           Suite 10
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR                            Newark, Ohio 43055
20 South Second Street, Fourth Floor
Newark, Ohio 43055
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                           2

Wise, P. J.

       {¶1}   Defendant-appellant Byron L. Banks appeals the Licking County Court of

Common Pleas’ denial of his motion for continuance of trial.

       {¶2}   Plaintiff-Appellee is the State of Ohio.

                        STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS

       {¶3}   In April, 2009, Appellant was convicted for drug related felonies and

sentenced to nine years. In June, 2010, Appellant's conviction was reversed and

remanded for new trial due to this Court having found Appellant did not make a

knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of counsel at his April, 2009, trial. State v.

Banks, Licking App. 09-CA-57, at ¶32. The appellate attorney was appointed by the trial

court to represent Appellant in the retrial.

       {¶4}   On July 12, 2010, a status conference was held, at which Appellant was

present with his court-appointed attorney.

       {¶5}   On September 16, 2010, Appellant's case was scheduled for jury trial.

Prior to trial, Appellant moved the court for a continuance of the trial so he could obtain

a new attorney. Appellant's counsel explained that late in the afternoon of September

15, 2010, he was in contact with another attorney who appellant's family had consulted

with regarding representing Appellant. (T. at 6). Appellant's counsel related that he did

not believe the other attorney had received any type of retainer from Appellant's family

and the other attorney would take the case only if proper financial arrangements could

be made. Id. The trial court denied a motion to continue stating it was untimely, that the

case had already been set for jury trial three times, including dates set prior to the first

trial, and that no other attorney had filed a notice of appearance in the case. (T. at 8).
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                        3

       {¶6}   Appellant then asserted that his attorney had not informed him of the trial

date until September 14, 2010, two days prior to trial. (T. at 10). In response, Appellant's

counsel informed the trial court that the trial date was set on July 12, 2010, the date of

status conference, and though he could not specifically recall notifying his client on July

12, 2010, he believed that he would have notified Appellant on that date. (T. at 12).

Appellant's counsel also informed the trial court that he had met with Appellant a week

prior to September 16, 2010, and that Appellant had been told of the trial date during

that meeting. (T. at 11). Appellant later confirmed he had known of the trial since his

meeting with his attorney the week prior. (T. at 12-13).

       {¶7}   Appellant ultimately elected to proceed with his court-appointed attorney

rather than attempt to represent himself. (T. at 17). The matter proceeded to trial and

Appellant was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to seven and one-half years in

prison. During sentencing Appellant apologized to his attorney for his earlier attempt to

acquire a new attorney and thanked the trial judge for having appointed his attorney. (T.

at 349).

       {¶8}   It is from the denial of his motion for continuance that Appellant now

appeals, raising the following assignments of error:

                              ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶9}   “I. WHETHER OR NOT THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION

BY DENYING THE DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE.

       {¶10} “II. WHETHER OR NOT COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE BY FAILING TO

INFORM DEFENDANT OF HIS TRIAL DATE.”

                                             I.
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                       4

      {¶11} In Appellant’s first assignment of error, Appellant argues that the trial court

erred in his motion for continuance. We disagree.

      {¶12} The decision to grant or deny a continuance is entrusted to the broad,

sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent an abuse of

discretion. State v. Unger (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 423 N.E.2d 1078.

      {¶13} Among the factors to be considered by the court in determining whether

the continuance was properly denied are: (1) the length of the requested delay, (2)

whether other continuances had been requested and granted, (3) the convenience or

inconvenience to the parties, witnesses, counsel and court, (4) whether the delay was

for legitimate reasons or whether it was “dilatory, purposeful or contrived”, (5) whether

the defendant contributed to the circumstances giving rise to the request, (6) whether

denying the continuance will result in an identifiable prejudice to the defendant's case,

and (7) the complexity of the case. Powell v. Collins (6th Cir.2003), 332 F.3d 376, 396;

State v. Unger (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 67-68, 423 N.E.2d 1078, 1080; State v. Wheat,

Licking App. No.2003-CA-00057, 2004-Ohio-2088 at ¶ 16.

      {¶14} After careful examination of the record, we find that the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in denying Appellant's request for a continuance. Appellant did not

move the trial court for a continuance of his trial until the morning of trial. A jury had

been summoned and witnesses had been subpoenaed and were present. The trial date

in this case had been set for over two months. The record clearly shows that Appellant's

counsel was not deprived of an opportunity to prepare for trial.

      {¶15} The trial court had an interest in controlling its own docket and ensuring

the prompt and efficient administration of justice. See Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d at 67, 423
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                         5

N.E.2d 1078; Gorham, 2007-Ohio-6028 at ¶ 12. The trial court clearly felt that Appellant

was adequately represented by competent counsel and that there was no reason to

delay the trial. As such, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it

denied the motion to continue the trial.

       {¶16} Based on the foregoing, we find Appellant’s first assignment of error not

well-taken and hereby overrule same.

                                             II.

       {¶17} In his second assignment of error, Appellant argues that his trial court was

ineffective for failing to give him adequate notice of his trial date. We disagree.

       {¶18} A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel requires a two-prong analysis.

The first inquiry is whether counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonable representation involving a substantial violation of any of defense counsel's

essential duties to Appellant. The second prong is whether Appellant was prejudiced by

counsel's ineffectiveness. Lockhart v. Fretwell (1993), 506 U.S. 364, 113 S.Ct. 838;

Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052; State v. Bradley (1989),

42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373.

       {¶19} In order to warrant a finding that trial counsel was ineffective, the petitioner

must meet both the deficient performance and prejudice prongs of Strickland and

Bradley. Knowles v. Mirzayance (2009), --- U.S. ----, 129 S.Ct. 1411, 1419, 173 L.Ed.2d

251.

       {¶20} To show deficient performance, Appellant must establish that “counsel's

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. This requires showing that counsel
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                       6

made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed

the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 687, 104

S.Ct. at 2064. Counsel also has a duty to bring to bear such skill and knowledge as will

render the trial a reliable adversarial testing process. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

at 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052 at 2065.

      {¶21} “Thus, a court deciding an actual ineffectiveness claim must judge the

reasonableness of counsel's challenged conduct on the facts of the particular case,

viewed as of the time of counsel's conduct. A convicted defendant making a claim of

ineffective assistance must identify the acts or omissions of counsel that are alleged not

to have been the result of reasonable professional judgment. The court must then

determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified acts or omissions

were outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance. In making that

determination, the court should keep in mind that counsel's function, as elaborated in

prevailing professional norms, is to make the adversarial testing process work in the

particular case. At the same time, the court should recognize that counsel is strongly

presumed to have rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in

the exercise of reasonable professional judgment.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668 at 689,104 S .Ct. at 2064.

      {¶22} In light of “the variety of circumstances faced by defense counsel [and]

the range of legitimate decisions regarding how best to represent a criminal defendant,”

the performance inquiry necessarily turns on “whether counsel's assistance was

reasonable considering all the circumstances.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                       7

at 689,104 S.Ct. at 2064. At all points, “[j]udicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must

be highly deferential.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 at 689,104 S.Ct. at 2064.

        {¶23} Appellant must further demonstrate that he suffered prejudice from his

counsel's performance. See Strickland, 466 U.S., at 691 (“An error by counsel, even if

professionally unreasonable, does not warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal

proceeding if the error had no effect on the judgment”). To establish prejudice, “[t]he

defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's

unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A

reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the

outcome.” Id. at 694. To prevail on his ineffective-assistance claim, Appellant must

show, therefore, that there is a “reasonable probability” that the trier of fact would not

have found him guilty.

        {¶24} In this case, the sole reason Appellant cites in support of his argument

that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel is that his counsel failed to give

him adequate notice of the trial date. However, Appellant admitted that he had known

of the scheduled trial since at least the prior week.   He informed trial court that he had

met and conferred with his attorney on at least three occasions, that his attorney was

well-versed in the facts surrounding his case and that he liked his attorney. Appellant

has failed to show that the outcome of the trial would have been different or how he was

prejudiced by his attorney’s alleged failure to give him more advanced notice of the trial

date.

        {¶25} In this case sub judice, we do not find that Appellant was deprived of a fair

trial. Having reviewed the sole argument Appellant cites in support of his claim that he
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                                     8

was denied effective assistance of counsel, we find Appellant was not prejudiced by

defense counsel's representation. The result of the trial was not unreliable nor were the

proceedings fundamentally unfair because of the performance of defense counsel.

      {¶26} Accordingly, Appellant has failed to demonstrate that there exists a

reasonable probability that the result of his case would have been different and because

we have found no instances of error in this case, we find Appellant has not

demonstrated that he was prejudiced by trial counsel's performance.

      {¶27} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

      {¶28} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of

Licking County, Ohio, is affirmed.

By: Wise, P. J.

Edwards, J., and

Delaney, J., concur.

                                            ___________________________________

                                            ___________________________________

                                            ___________________________________

                                                                JUDGES
JWW/d 0525
Licking County, Case No. 10 CA 111                                            9

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                         FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                              :
                                           :
       Plaintiff-Appellee                  :
                                           :
-vs-                                       :         JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                           :
BYRON L. BANKS                             :
                                           :
       Defendant-Appellant                 :         Case No. 10 CA 111

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio, is affirmed.

       Costs assessed to Appellant.

                                           ___________________________________

                                           ___________________________________

                                           ___________________________________

                                                              JUDGES