Court Opinion

ID: 2705673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 22:39:12.759729+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:55:43.870463
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Bushner, 2012-Ohio-5996.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:                NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                         C.A. No.     26532

        Appellee

        v.                                            APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                      ENTERED IN THE
RAYMOND BUSHNER                                       COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                      COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellant                                     CASE No.   CR 11 12 3301

                                 DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: December 19, 2012

        CARR, Judge.

        {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant, Raymond Bushner, now appeals from his convictions in the

Summit County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms in part and reverses in part.

                                                 I.

        {¶2}     Bushner and seven other people were involved in an affray that took place at the

apartment of Cory Prettyman. Bushner had been staying at the apartment for a brief period of

time at Prettyman’s invitation. On October 30, 2011, Bushner and Prettyman fought and several

other individuals, one of whom brought a gun, were notified of the fight and came to the

apartment. The witness accounts of what then happened varied, but the end result was that

Bushner shot one of the unarmed individuals who came to the apartment and then fled.

        {¶3}     A grand jury indicted Bushner on counts of felonious assault, domestic violence,

having weapons while under disability, tampering with evidence, and intimidation of a crime

victim or witness. The felonious assault, having weapons while under disability, and tampering
                                                 2

with evidence counts also included attendant firearm specifications. The matter proceeded to a

jury trial, and the jury found Bushner guilty on all of the counts and specifications. The trial

court then sentenced Bushner to 18 years in prison1 and ordered his sentence to run

consecutively with a related case for a total of 18 years, 6 months in prison.

       {¶4}    Bushner now appeals from his convictions and raises seven assignments of error

for our review. For ease of analysis, we consolidate several of the assignments of error.

                                                 II.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR
       WHEN IT DENIED BUSHNER’S MOTION TO DISMISS THE COUNT OF
       HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY CHARGE.

       {¶5}    In his first assignment of error, Bushner argues that the trial court erred by not

dismissing his weapons under disability charge. Based upon our review of the record, we must

remand the matter for further proceedings.

       {¶6}    Relevant to this appeal, the weapons under disability statute provides that “no

person shall knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance, if * * *

[t]he person * * * has been convicted of any felony offense of violence * * *.”                 R.C.

2923.13(A)(2).    An “offense of violence” means a violation of any of the Ohio felonies

enumerated in R.C. 2901.01(A)(9)(a) as well as “[a] violation of an existing * * * law of * * *

any other state * * * substantially equivalent to any section, division, or offense listed in

[subsection] (A)(9)(a) * * *.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(9)(b).

1
  The trial court sentenced Bushner to six months in prison on his domestic violence count.
Although it does not affect the finality of Bushner’s sentence, this Court notes that the trial court
failed to include the six-month sentence in its calculations in arriving at Bushner’s total sentence
of 18 years.
                                                 3

        [I]n order to determine whether an out-of-state conviction is substantially
        equivalent to a listed Ohio offense, a court must initially look only to the fact of
        conviction and the elements of the relevant criminal statutes, without considering
        the particular facts disclosed by the record of conviction. If the out-of-state
        statute defines the offense in such a way that the court cannot discern from a
        comparison of the statutes whether the offenses are substantially equivalent, a
        court may go beyond the statutes and rely on a limited portion of the record in a
        narrow class of cases where the factfinder was required to find all the elements
        essential to a conviction under the listed Ohio statute. To do so, courts are
        permitted to consult a limited range of material contained in the record, including
        charging documents, plea agreements, transcripts of plea colloquies, presentence
        reports, findings of fact and conclusions of law from a bench trial, jury
        instructions and verdict forms, or some comparable part of the record.

State v. Lloyd, 132 Ohio St.3d 135, 2012-Ohio-2015, ¶ 31. The State bears the burden of

proving that an out-of-state offense is the substantial equivalent of the Ohio offense upon which

it seeks to rely. Id. at ¶ 46.

        {¶7}    In seeking to prove that Bushner had been convicted of a felony offense of

violence, the State relied upon a 2006 conviction for false imprisonment that Bushner received in

Florida. The subdivision of the false imprisonment statute under which Bushner was convicted

reads as follows:

        (a) The term “false imprisonment” means forcibly, by threat, or secretly
        confining, abducting, imprisoning, or restraining another person without lawful
        authority and against her or his will.

        (b) Confinement of a child under the age of 13 is against her or his will within the
        meaning of this section if such confinement is without the consent of her or his
        parent or legal guardian.

Fla.Stat. 787.02(1)(a)-(b).      The State argued that the foregoing offense was substantially

equivalent to the offense of abduction in Ohio. The abduction statute provides that:

        (A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly do any of the
        following:

        (1) By force or threat, remove another from the place where the other person is
        found;
                                                 4

        (2) By force or threat, restrain the liberty of another person under circumstances
        that create a risk of physical harm to the victim or place the other person in fear;

        (3) Hold another in a condition of involuntary servitude.

R.C. 2905.02(A)(1)-(3). The trial court agreed with the State that false imprisonment in Florida

is substantially equivalent to abduction in Ohio and refused to dismiss Bushner’s charge for

having weapons while under disability.        The trial court based its decision strictly upon a

comparison of the statutory language used by the Florida false imprisonment and Ohio abduction

statutes.

        {¶8}   Bushner argued in the court below that his false imprisonment conviction was

substantially equivalent to the Ohio offense of unlawful restraint.        The trial court rejected

Bushner’s argument on the basis that abduction in Ohio is substantially similar to false

imprisonment in Florida. The court never discussed why unlawful restraint was not substantially

equivalent to false imprisonment in Florida. In reliance upon the trial court’s pre-trial ruling, the

only piece of evidence that the State introduced at trial to prove Bushner’s disability was a copy

of his judgment entry from his conviction in Florida.

        {¶9}   Ohio’s unlawful restraint statute provides that “[n]o person, without privilege to

do so, shall knowingly restrain another of the other person’s liberty.” R.C. 2905.03(A). The key

elements of the offense, therefore, are the (1) unlawful and (2) knowing act of (3) restraining

another. While the language of Florida’s false imprisonment statute is somewhat confusing, the

repeated use of the word “or” in the statute plainly conveys that an offender may commit false

imprisonment through a variety of methods. See Fla.Stat. 787.02(1)(a). Specifically, false

imprisonment in Florida “means forcibly, by threat, or secretly confining, abducting,

imprisoning, or restraining another person without lawful authority and against her or his will.”

(Emphasis added.) Id. By its plain language, therefore, the Florida false imprisonment statute
                                                  5

encompasses the crime of unlawfully restraining another against his or her will. On its face, that

portion of the false imprisonment statute is substantially equivalent to the crime of unlawful

restraint in Ohio. See Lloyd, 132 Ohio St.3d 135, 2012-Ohio-2015, at ¶ 31 (court first must

conduct strict comparison of the elements of two offenses to determine whether they are

substantially similar).

       {¶10} Because the Florida false imprisonment statute is phrased in the alternative, the

trial court was correct that the Ohio abduction statute, on its face, is also substantially equivalent

to Florida’s false imprisonment statute. That is because the false imprisonment statute includes

unlawfully and forcibly abducting another against his or her will. Fla.Stat. 787.02(1)(a). Accord

R.C. 2905.02(A)(1) (defining abduction as unlawfully, knowingly, and forcibly removing

another from a place). The problem here is that, based solely on a strict textual comparison of

the elements of the statutes at issue, more than one Ohio statute is substantially equivalent to the

crime of false imprisonment in Florida. As such, it was not possible for the trial court to discern

which Ohio offense was the substantial equivalent of false imprisonment in this particular case

without going beyond the plain language of the statutes. The court should have consulted other

materials to learn the underlying factual basis for Bushner’s false imprisonment conviction; that

is, whether the conviction pertained to forcible abduction or simply restraint. See Lloyd at ¶ 31.

       {¶11} Bushner’s weapons under disability conviction required the State to prove that, at

the time he had a weapon, Bushner was under disability for a Florida offense that was

substantially equivalent to an offense of violence in Ohio. R.C. 2923.13(A)(2). While abduction

is an offense of violence in Ohio, unlawful restraint is not. See R.C. 2901.01(A)(9)(a)-(b).

Accordingly, if Bushner’s Florida conviction arose from actions that would have amounted to

unlawful restraint in Ohio, his weapons under disability conviction cannot stand. If his Florida
                                                 6

conviction arose from actions that would have amounted to abduction in Ohio, however, the trial

court reached the correct result (albeit on different grounds). Because the record only contains a

copy of the judgment entry from Bushner’s Florida conviction, one cannot discern the underlying

nature of Bushner’s Florida conviction. On appeal, the State concedes that it is not possible to

discern the underlying nature of the conviction and requests that this Court remand the matter for

a hearing. Based on our review of the record, we agree that the matter must be remanded. As

such, we must remand the matter to the trial court for a hearing so that it can receive evidence

and arguments on the nature of Bushner’s Florida conviction. See State v. McMullen, 8th Dist.

Nos. 97475 & 97476, 2012-Ohio-2629, ¶ 22-23. Bushner’s first assignment of error is sustained

on that basis.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR BY
       REFUSING TO GIVE PROPER SELF-DEFENSE JURY INSTRUCTIONS
       UNDER THE CASTLE DOCTRINE, R.C. 2901.09.

       {¶12} In his second assignment of error, Bushner argues that the trial court erred in its

self-defense instructions to the jury. Specifically, he argues that the trial court did not properly

instruct the jury on the duty to retreat. We disagree.

       {¶13} Bushner acknowledges that he did not object to the court’s jury instructions and

that a plain error standard applies. Generally, a defendant’s failure to object to an allegedly

erroneous jury instruction limits any review of the alleged error to a review for plain error. State

v. Johnson, 9th Dist. No. 25525, 2011-Ohio-3941, ¶ 20. Under Crim.R. 52(B), “[p]lain errors or

defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the

attention of the court.” “Notice of plain error under Crim.R. 52(B) is to be taken with the utmost
                                                 7

caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.”

State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.

          {¶14} To establish self-defense in circumstances involving the application of deadly

force, a defendant must prove that he: “(1) * * * was not at fault in creating the situation giving

rise to the affray; (2) * * * ha[d] a bona fide belief that he was in imminent danger of death or

great bodily harm and that his only means of escape from such danger was in the use of such

force; and (3) * * * [did] not [] violate[] any duty to retreat or avoid the danger.” State v.

Westfall, 9th Dist. No. 10CA009825, 2011-Ohio-5011, ¶ 19, quoting State v. Tucker, 9th Dist.

No. 06CA0035-M, 2006-Ohio-6914, ¶ 4. Yet, a person has no duty to retreat from his own

home. Tucker at ¶ 4. Accord R.C. 2901.09(B). A person also has no duty to retreat from a

home in which the person is residing “either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as a

guest.”      State v. Walker, 9th Dist. No. 97648, 2012-Ohio-4274, ¶ 61, quoting R.C.

2901.05(D)(3).

          {¶15} In certain instances, a presumption of self-defense may arise. A defendant is

entitled to such a presumption if he used deadly force against a person who was “in the process

of unlawfully and without privilege to do so entering, or ha[d] unlawfully and without privilege

to do so entered, the residence * * * occupied by the [defendant].” R.C. 2901.05(B)(1). The

presumption of self-defense is a rebuttable one.        R.C. 2901.05(B)(3).      Specifically, the

presumption would not apply if the victim had a right to be in the residence or if, at the time he

used deadly force, the defendant was not lawfully in the residence. R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)-(3).

          {¶16} “The difference between the [c]astle [d]octrine and the rebuttable presumption of

self-defense lies in the legal status of the victim.” State v. Lewis, 8th Dist. No. 97211, 2012-

Ohio-3684, ¶ 18. If the victim had a right to be in a residence at the time the defendant used
                                                 8

deadly force, the defendant would not be entitled to the presumption of self-defense. Id. at ¶ 19.

Even so, the defendant still would be entitled to a castle doctrine instruction (that he had no duty

to retreat from the residence) if he was lawfully occupying the residence at the time he used the

deadly force. Id. It would then be the defendant’s burden to prove the remaining elements of

self-defense by a preponderance of the evidence. See Westfall, 2011-Ohio-5011, at ¶ 19, quoting

Tucker, 2006-Ohio-6914, at ¶ 4.

       {¶17} The trial court instructed the jury on the presumption of self-defense, the duty to

retreat, and the elements of self-defense. With regard to the presumption of self-defense, the

court instructed that Bushner was not entitled to such a presumption if (1) the victim was

lawfully present in the residence when Bushner shot him, or (2) if Bushner was not lawfully

present in the residence. See R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)-(3). Bushner argues that the court committed

plain error in its instructions because it never instructed the jury on the castle doctrine. Bushner

argues that, by not informing the jury that he had no duty to retreat from the residence he was

occupying, the court denied him the opportunity to prove self-defense in the event that the jury

found that the victim was lawfully at the residence when Bushner shot him. In support of his

argument, Bushner relies upon State v. Lewis. This case is distinguishable from Lewis, however,

because the court here specifically instructed the jury that “[a] person who is lawfully in that

person’s residence has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense.”            See R.C.

2901.09(B). Compare Lewis at ¶ 17 (“The trial court did not instruct the jury on the [c]astle

[d]octrine as codified in R.C. 2901.09.”). Thus, the record reflects that the court set forth the

castle doctrine for the jury in its instructions. Although the court included the castle doctrine

instruction after the instruction on the presumption of self-defense rather than after the

instruction on the elements of self-defense, we cannot conclude that the court’s ordering of the
                                                9

instructions amounted to plain error. See generally State v. Geter-Gray, 9th Dist. No. 25374,

2011-Ohio-1779, ¶ 17-18. Bushner’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR BY
       SENTENCING BUSHNER TO CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES IN VIOLATION
       OF R.C. 2929.41(A).

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV

       BUSHNER WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE
       ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT TRIAL WHEN HIS TRIAL COUNSEL
       FAILED TO ARGUE THAT THE TRIAL COURT’S IMPOSITION OF
       CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES WAS CONTRARY TO LAW.

       {¶18} In his third assignment of error, Bushner argues that the trial court erred by

imposing consecutive sentences on him. In his fourth assignment of error, he argues that his trial

counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the court’s imposition of consecutive sentences. We

disagree with both propositions.

       {¶19} Trial courts have “full discretion * * * to sentence defendants within the bounds

prescribed by statute.” State v. Evans, 9th Dist. No. 09CA0049-M, 2010-Ohio-3545, ¶ 32, citing

State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, paragraphs one through seven of the syllabus.

Appellate courts apply a two-step approach in reviewing the sentence that a trial court has

imposed upon a defendant. Evans at ¶ 32, quoting State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-

Ohio-4912, ¶ 4. “First, they must examine the sentencing court’s compliance with all applicable

rules and statutes in imposing the sentence to determine whether the sentence is clearly and

convincingly contrary to law. If this first prong is satisfied, the trial court’s decision shall be

reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard.” Kalish at ¶ 4. Because Bushner only argues

that the trial court failed to comply with a statute in sentencing him, we need only consider

whether his sentence is clearly and convincingly contrary to law.
                                               10

       {¶20} Bushner argues that the trial court erred by sentencing him because, pursuant to

R.C. 2929.41(A), it was prohibited from imposing consecutive sentences upon him.              R.C.

2929.41(A) creates a presumption that a sentencing court will impose concurrent sentences if an

offender is sentenced on more than one offense. In State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-

Ohio-856, the Supreme Court severed R.C. 2929.41(A) and held that “judicial fact-finding is not

required before imposition of consecutive prison terms.”       Foster at paragraph four of the

syllabus. Several years later, the Supreme Court clarified Foster after the United States Supreme

Court issued a federal sentencing decision in Oregon v. Ice, 555 U.S. 160 (2009). See State v.

Hodge, 128 Ohio St.3d 1, 2010-Ohio-6320. In doing so, the Supreme Court held that “the

consecutive-sentencing statutes severed by Foster * * * remain null and of no effect absent an

affirmative act of the General Assembly.” Hodge at ¶ 36.

       {¶21} In response to Hodge, the General Assembly enacted 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. 86, 2011

Ohio Laws File 29, thereby revising several of the statutes addressed in Foster and Hodge. In

particular, the General Assembly struck, and then reinserted the language from R.C. 2929.41(A)

severed by Foster. The General Assembly also struck and then reinserted the language in R.C.

2929.14(E)(4), another statutory subsection Foster had severed because it required a court to

make certain findings before imposing consecutive sentences. See Foster at paragraph four of

the syllabus. In doing so, the General Assembly renumbered R.C. 2929.14’s subdivisions so

that, while the content remained the same, former subdivision (E)(4) became subdivision (C)(4).

       {¶22} Former R.C. 2929.41(A), as enacted by 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. 86, provided:

       Except as provided in division (B) of this section, division (E) of section 2929.14,
       or division (D) or (E) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, a prison term * * *
       shall be served concurrently with any other prison term * * * imposed by a court
       of this state * * *.
                                                11

(Emphasis added.) In enacting the foregoing statute, the General Assembly simply struck the

language of the old statute and reinserted it verbatim, without changing any of the subsections

listed within it. It did so despite the fact that it had simultaneously renumbered R.C. 2929.14,

thereby moving the content of R.C. 2929.14(E) to R.C. 2929.14(C).

       {¶23} Bushner argues that the court erred by imposing consecutive prison terms upon

him because none of the exceptions set forth at the beginning of former R.C. 2929.41(A) applied

to him. With regard to the exception contained in former R.C. 2929.14(E), as enacted by 2011

Am.Sub.H.B. 86, Bushner argues that the exception did not apply to him because it “involves a

trial court imposing sentencing upon a conviction for specific types of murder or sex offenses.”

Bushner essentially seeks to take advantage of a typographical error that the General Assembly

made in enacting 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. 86. Since the bill’s enactment, the General Assembly

revised R.C. 2929.41(A) again so that it now properly refers to R.C. 2929.14(C) instead of R.C.

2929.14(E).

       {¶24} This Court will not reverse Bushner’s consecutive sentences on the basis of a

typographical error when the legislature’s intent in enacting 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. 86 was clear.

See State v. Walker, 8th Dist. No. 97648, 2012-Ohio-4274, ¶ 81, fn.2 (R.C. 2929.14(C) applied

where, despite typographical error on the part of the General Assembly, its intent in reviving

R.C. 2929.41(A) was clear). In sentencing Bushner, the trial court need only have complied with

R.C. 2929.14(C), the subsection to which the General Assembly intended to refer in striking and

reinserting the language of R.C. 2929.41(A). See id.

       {¶25} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides that a court may issue consecutive prison terms if

the court finds (1) “the consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or

to punish the offender,” (2) “that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the
                                               12

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public,” and (3)

one of three enumerated factors applies to the offender. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c). This Court

has held that “although the General Assembly has expressed an intent that a trial court impose

consecutive sentence[s] only if it first finds that certain conditions exist, [in enacting 2011

Am.Sub.H.B. 86,] the General Assembly [] eliminated the requirement that the court codify

those findings in its sentencing entry.” State v. Just, 9th Dist. No. 12CA0002, 2012-Ohio-4094,

¶ 49. Even so, the court here specifically wrote in its sentencing entry that it was imposing

consecutive sentences because it found that Bushner’s “criminal history shows that consecutive

terms are needed to protect the public.” See R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c). Thus, the court set forth one

of the three enumerated factors for the imposition of consecutive sentences. The record does not

support Bushner’s claim that the trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences upon

him. Bushner’s third assignment of error lacks merit.

       {¶26} Bushner also argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his

counsel did not object when the trial court imposed consecutive sentences without complying

with R.C. 2929.41(A). We have already determined, however, that the court did not err by

imposing consecutive sentences. As such, “his ineffective assistance of counsel argument also

must fail, as it is premised upon the same error.” State v. El–Jones, 9th Dist. No. 26136, 2012-

Ohio-4134, ¶ 45. His fourth assignment of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V

       THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND PLAIN ERROR BY
       SENTENCING BUSHNER TO MULTIPLE FIREARM SPECIFICATIONS
       UNDER R.C. 2941.145, AS THEY WERE PART OF THE SAME ACT OR
       TRANSACTION.
                                               13

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VI

       BUSHNER WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE
       ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT TRIAL WHEN HIS TRIAL COUNSEL
       FAILED TO ARGUE THAT THE TRIAL COURT’S IMPOSITION OF
       MULTIPLE FIREARM SPECIFICATIONS UNDER R.C. 2941.145 WERE
       PART OF THE SAME ACT OR TRANSACTION.

       {¶27} In his fifth assignment of error, Bushner argues that the trial court erred by

sentencing him on multiple firearm specifications when the specifications arose as part of the

same act or transaction. In his sixth assignment of error, he argues that his trial counsel was

ineffective for not objecting to the court’s imposition of multiple sentences on the firearm

specifications. We disagree with both propositions.

       {¶28} Because Bushner argues that the court made a legal error in imposing his

sentence, we incorporate the standard of review set forth in his third assignment of error. As

such, we review his sentence to determine whether it is clearly and convincingly contrary to law.

Evans, 2010-Ohio-3545, at ¶ 32, quoting Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, at ¶ 4.

       {¶29} A court must impose a three-year prison term upon an offender who is convicted

of a felony and an attendant firearm specification under R.C. 2941.145.                      R.C.

2929.14(B)(1)(a)(ii). Bushner was convicted of three firearm specifications linked to his felony

convictions for felonious assault, having weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence.

The trial court sentenced Bushner to three-year consecutive terms on the specifications arising

from his felonious assault and tampering convictions and merged the specification arising from

his weapons under disability conviction with those sentences. Bushner argues that the court

erred by sentencing him on multiple specifications because the felonies underlying them were

“committed as part of the same act or transaction.” R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(b).

       {¶30} R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(b) provides:
                                                14

       Except as provided in division (B)(1)(g) of this section, a court shall not impose
       more than one prison term on an offender under division (B)(1)(a) of this section
       for felonies committed as part of the same act or transaction.

(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(g) contains the following directive:

       If an offender is convicted of * * * two or more felonies, if one or more of those
       felonies [is] * * * felonious assault * * *, and if the offender is convicted of * * *
       a specification [under R.C. 2941.145] in connection with two or more of the
       felonies, the sentencing court shall impose on the offender the prison term
       specified under division (B)(1)(a) of this section for each of the two most serious
       specifications of which the offender is convicted * * * and, in its discretion, also
       may impose on the offender the prison term specified under that division for any
       or all of the remaining specifications.

(Emphasis added.) Accordingly, a trial court must impose at least two prison terms for firearm

specifications if the conditions set forth in R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(g) apply. The court then also

could, in its discretion, impose additional prison terms for any other remaining firearm

specifications. Id.

       {¶31} Bushner was convicted of four felonies and one of those felonies was felonious

assault. He also was convicted of three firearm specifications, pursuant to R.C. 2941.145. Thus,

Bushner’s convictions satisfied all of the conditions set forth in R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(g), and the

trial court was required to impose at least two prison terms upon him for his firearm

specifications by virtue of that statute. The trial court did so. Bushner’s sentence is not contrary

to law on the basis Bushner alleges. As such, his fifth assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶32} Bushner also argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his

counsel did not object when the trial court imposed multiple sentences on his firearm

specifications. We have already determined, however, that the trial court did not err by imposing

multiple sentences. As such, “his ineffective assistance of counsel argument also must fail, as it

is premised upon the same error.” El–Jones, 2012-Ohio-4134, at ¶ 45. His sixth assignment of

error is overruled.
                                                15

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VII

       THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE TRIAL COURT’S ERRORS DENIED
       BUSHNER A FAIR TRIAL.

       {¶33} In his seventh assignment of error, Bushner argues that cumulative errors in the

proceeding deprived him of his right to a fair trial. We disagree.

       {¶34} Cumulative error exists only where the errors during trial actually “deprive[d] a

defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial.” State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191 (1987),

paragraph two of the syllabus. “‘[T]here can be no such thing as an error-free, perfect trial, and

* * * the Constitution does not guarantee such a trial.’” State v. Hill, 75 Ohio St.3d 195, 212

(1996), quoting United States v. Hasting, 461 U.S. 499, 508-509 (1983). Moreover, “errors

cannot become prejudicial by sheer weight of numbers.” Hill at 212.

       {¶35} {¶ 73} After reviewing the record, we cannot say that Bushner’s trial was plagued

with numerous errors or that his constitutional right to a fair trial was violated. Therefore,

Bushner’s seventh assignment of error is overruled.

                                                III.

       {¶36} Bushner’s first assignment of error is sustained on the limited basis set forth

therein. His remaining assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit County

Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the cause is remanded for

further proceedings consistent with the foregoing opinion.

                                                                       Judgment affirmed in part,
                                                                                reversed in part,
                                                                            and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
                                                16

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed equally to both parties.

                                                     DONNA J. CARR
                                                     FOR THE COURT

WHITMORE, P. J.
DICKINSON, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

NEIL P. AGARWAL, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.