Court Opinion

ID: 9401258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-12 15:10:26.936457+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:51.048890
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Lambert, 2023-Ohio-1939.]

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                             SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 MAHONING COUNTY

                                          STATE OF OHIO,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                                  v.

                                      GLENN C. LAMBERT,

                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                        OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                         Case No. 22 MA 0080

                                   Criminal Appeal from the
                       Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio
                                     Case No. 21 CR 10

                                         BEFORE:
                David A. D’Apolito, Cheryl L. Waite, Carol Ann Robb, Judges.

                                              JUDGMENT:
                                                Affirmed.

 Atty. Gina DeGenova, Mahoning County Prosecutor, and Atty. Edward A. Czopur,
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 21 West Boardman Street, 6th Floor, Youngstown,
 Ohio 44503, for Plaintiff-Appellee and

 Atty. Martin E. Yavorcik, 940 Windham, Suite 7, Boardman, Ohio 44512, for Defendant-
 Appellant.

                                         Dated: June 12, 2023
                                                                                                       –2–

    D’Apolito, P.J.

         {¶1}   Appellant, Glenn C. Lambert, appeals from the July 1, 2022 judgment of the
Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas sentencing him to a total prison term of 16
years for sexual battery and gross sexual imposition and labeling him a Tier III Sex
Offender following a guilty plea. On appeal, Appellant asserts his plea was not made in
a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary manner because the trial court did not adequately
explain the difference between consecutive and concurrent sentences.                           Finding no
reversible error, we affirm.

                             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

         {¶2}   On January 14, 2021, Appellant was indicted by the Mahoning County
Grand Jury on 13 counts: counts one through three and count 11, rape, felonies of the
first degree in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (B); counts four and five, gross
sexual imposition, felonies of the third degree in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4) and
(C)(2); counts six through eight, rape, felonies of the first degree in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(2) and (B); counts nine and ten, gross sexual imposition, felonies of the fourth
degree in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1) and (C)(1); and counts 12 and 13, compelling
prostitution, felonies of the third degre in violation of R.C. 2907.21(A)(1) and (C).1
Appellant retained counsel, pled not guilty at his arraignment, and waived his right to a
speedy trial.
         {¶3}   Appellant subsequently entered into plea negotiations with Appellee, the
State of Ohio. A change of plea hearing was held on May 6, 2022. Appellant withdrew
his former not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea to amended counts one and 11, sexual
battery, felonies of the second degree in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(1) and (B); and
count four, gross sexual imposition, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
2907.05(A)(4) and (C)(2).

1The charges stem from Appellant’s involvement in sexual activity, sexual contact and/or sexual conduct
with four victims beginning in 2018: (1) I.L., d.o.b. 1/25/2007; (2) A.W., d.o.b. 12/7/2013; (3) N.L., d.o.b.
8/2/1991; and (4) T.L., d.o.b. 2/17/1979.

Case No. 22 MA 0080
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       {¶4}   The written plea form, which Appellant went over with his counsel and
affixed his signature, explained the State would be seeking a total prison term of 20 years.
(5/10/2022 Plea of Guilty, p. 4). The plea form further explained Appellant could receive
eight years on each of the two sexual battery counts as well as five years on the gross
sexual imposition count. (Id. at p. 2).
       {¶5}   Similarly, during the plea hearing, the trial court informed Appellant as
follows: that if the court accepted his plea, it could proceed to judgment and sentence; on
amended counts one and 11 (sexual battery), he could go to prison for up to eight years
on each count and fined $15,000; and on count four (gross sexual imposition), there is a
maximum sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $10,000. (5/6/2022 Plea Hearing
Tr., p. 7). Appellant replied to the trial judge that he understood the explanation of his
potential maximum sentences. (Id.) The court proceeded again to inform Appellant the
State would be seeking a total prison term of 20 years. (Id. at p. 7-8). Appellant replied
he understood that as well as understood his counsel would argue for a lesser sentence.
(Id.) The judge asked Appellant if he had any questions about the plea. (Id. at p. 9).
Appellant responded, “No.” (Id.)
       {¶6}   The trial court accepted Appellant’s guilty plea after finding it was made in
a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary manner pursuant to Crim.R. 11 and dismissed all of
the remaining counts. (5/10/2022 Judgment Entry). The court ordered a PSI and deferred
sentencing. (Id.)
       {¶7}   At the sentencing hearing, pursuant to the plea hearing and Crim.R. 11
agreement, the State again argued for a 20-year sentence. (6/28/2022 Sentencing
Hearing Tr., p. 4). Defense counsel argued for a lesser, unspecified term and Appellant
apologized for his actions. (Id. at p. 9-19). The trial judge stated that “consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public, to punish [Appellant]; that they are, in fact,
not disproportionate, and that the harm was so great or unusual that a single term does
not adequately reflect the seriousness of [Appellant’s] conduct[.]” (Id. at p. 23).
       {¶8}   On July 1, 2022, the trial court sentenced Appellant to eight years on
amended count one (sexual battery) and eight years on amended count 11 (sexual
battery), to be served consecutively, and five years on count four (gross sexual
imposition), to be served concurrently, for a total prison term of 16 years, with 530 days

Case No. 22 MA 0080
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of jail-time credit. The court stated, pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), that “consecutive
sentences are necessary in order to protect the public, to punish [Appellant], that
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate, and that the harm was so great or
unusual that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct.”
(7/1/2022 Sentencing Entry, p. 2). The court labeled Appellant a Tier III Sex Offender
and subjected him to five years of mandatory post-release control.
      {¶9}   Appellant filed a timely appeal and raises one assignment of error.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

      THE FAILURE OF THE TRIAL COURT TO ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN THE
      DIFFERENCE        BETWEEN        CONSECUTIVE          AND     CONCURRENT
      SENTENCES        RESULTED        IN   APPELLANT        NOT     ENTERING       A
      KNOWING, INTELLIGENT, AND VOLUNTARY GUILTY PLEA IN
      VIOLATION OF HIS DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AND
      FOURTEENTH          AMENDMENTS           TO     THE      UNITED       STATES
      CONSTITUTION AND SECTION SIXTEEN, ARTICLE ONE OF THE OHIO
      CONSTITUTION.

      {¶10} In his sole assignment of error, Appellant argues his guilty plea was not
made in a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary manner because the trial court did not
adequately explain the difference between consecutive and concurrent sentences.
      {¶11} Guilty pleas are governed by Crim.R. 11(C), which states in part:

      (2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a plea
      of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest without first
      addressing the defendant personally either in-person or by remote
      contemporaneous video in conformity with Crim.R. 43(A) and doing all of
      the following:

      (a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with
      understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty

Case No. 22 MA 0080
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       involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation or
       for the imposition of community control sanctions at the sentencing hearing.

       (b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant
       understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,
       upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.

       (c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands
       that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront
       witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining
       witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to prove the
       defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the
       defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.

Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(c).

       {¶12} The notice requirements for constitutional rights, outlined within Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(c), are reviewed for strict compliance. See State v. Howell, 7th Dist. Monroe No.
17 MO 0018, 2019-Ohio-1806, ¶ 6; State v. Daviduk, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 17 MA 0167,
2019-Ohio-1132, ¶ 14.
       {¶13} The notice requirements for non-constitutional rights, outlined within
Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(b), are reviewed for substantial compliance.            Howell at ¶ 7.
Regarding these non-constitutional rights, “scrupulous adherence to Crim.R. 11(C) is not
required; instead, the trial court must substantially comply with its mandates.” State v.
Root, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 32, 2007-Ohio-7202, ¶ 14, citing State v.
Nero (1990), 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108. “Substantial compliance means that under the
totality of the circumstances, the defendant subjectively understands the implications of
his plea and the rights he is waiving.” Id. “Furthermore, a defendant who challenges his
guilty plea on the basis that it was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made must
show a prejudicial effect.” Nero at 108. “The test is whether the plea would have
otherwise been made.” Id.

Case No. 22 MA 0080
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       {¶14} In this case, the record reveals the trial court strictly complied with the
constitutional notice provisions as well as substantially complied with the non-
constitutional notice provisions under Crim.R. 11.
       {¶15} Regarding the constitutional provisions, pursuant to Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c),
Appellant was informed that by entering a guilty plea he was waiving the right to a trial by
jury, the right to confront witnesses against him, the right to subpoena witnesses to testify
on his behalf, and the right to require the State to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt. (5/6/2022 Plea Hearing Tr., p. 4-6). Appellant was also advised that if he chose to
go to trial he could not be compelled to testify and if he chose not to testify, his choice
could not be commented on. (Id. at p. 6).
       {¶16} Regarding     the   non-constitutional   provisions,   pursuant    to   Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(a)-(b), Appellant was additionally informed of the charges against him to which
he was pleading guilty and indicated he understood the nature of the charges. (Id. at p.
5). The trial court informed Appellant that on counts one and 11, he could go to prison
for up to eight years on each count and a maximum fine of $15,000. (Id. at p. 7). The
court informed Appellant that on count four, there is a maximum sentence of five years
with a maximum fine of $10,000. (Id.) Thus, the court was clear as to the maximum
sentences on each count and Appellant revealed his understanding of the potential
sentences he faced. (Id.) Appellant was then informed he was not eligible for probation.
(Id.) The court also informed Appellant that upon acceptance of the plea, it could proceed
to judgment and sentence. (Id.) The court then accepted Appellant’s guilty plea on the
basis that it determined the plea was entered into knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
(Id. at p. 11).
       {¶17} Appellant argues the trial court failed to inform him in the plea form and at
the plea hearing of the maximum aggregate sentence by virtue of not explaining that his
sentences could be ordered consecutively to one another.             This same argument,
however, was rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court and this court.

       In State v. Johnson, 40 Ohio St.3d 130, 532 N.E.2d 1295 (1988), the Ohio
       Supreme Court considered whether a defendant is required to be informed
       of the aggregate total prison term he or she faces. The Johnson Court
       clarified that when a defendant enters a guilty plea to multiple offenses,

Case No. 22 MA 0080
                                                                                          –7–

       “neither the United States Constitution nor the Ohio Constitution requires
       that in order for a guilty plea to be voluntary a defendant must be told the
       maximum total of the sentences h[e] faces(.)” Id. at 133. Further, the Court
       considered whether the failure to inform a defendant of an aggregate total
       prison term violated Crim.R. 11(C). Id. The Johnson Court ultimately
       concluded that a trial court properly complies with Crim.R. 11(C) by
       informing the defendant of the maximum sentence faced for each of the
       individual charged crimes. Johnson, at 134. Specifically, “(f)ailure to inform
       a defendant (* * *) that the court may order him to serve any sentences
       imposed consecutively, rather than concurrently, is not a violation of Crim.R.
       11(C)(2) and does not render the plea involuntary.” Id. at syllabus.

State v. Novoa, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 19 MA 73, 2021-Ohio-3585, ¶ 20.

       {¶18} The record establishes the trial court properly advised Appellant of the
applicable maximum penalties for each crime, i.e., eight years on each of the two second
degree felony offenses (sexual battery) and five years on the third degree felony offense
(gross sexual imposition). See R.C. 2929.14(A)(2)(b) and (3)(a).
       {¶19} As stated, the written plea form explained the State would be seeking a total
prison term of 20 years. (5/10/2022 Plea of Guilty, p. 4). The plea form further explained
Appellant could receive eight years on each of the two sexual battery counts as well as
five years on the gross sexual imposition count. (Id. at p. 2).
       {¶20} Likewise, during the plea hearing, the trial court informed Appellant as
follows: that if the court accepted his plea, it could proceed to judgment and sentence; on
amended counts one and 11 (sexual battery), he could go to prison for up to eight years
on each count and fined $15,000; and on count four (gross sexual imposition), there is a
maximum sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $10,000. (5/6/2022 Plea Hearing
Tr., p. 7). Appellant replied to the trial judge he understood the explanation of his potential
maximum sentences. (Id.) The court proceeded again to inform Appellant the State
would be seeking a total prison term of 20 years. (Id. at p. 7-8). Appellant replied he
understood that as well as understood his counsel would argue for a lesser sentence.

Case No. 22 MA 0080
                                                                                        –8–

(Id.) The judge asked Appellant if he had any questions about the plea. (Id. at p. 9).
Appellant responded, “No.” (Id.)
       {¶21} Accordingly, the record reveals Appellant was aware his sentences could
be ordered consecutively as he acknowledged the State would be seeking a 20-year
prison term, which could only result from consecutive sentences since the maximum
penalty for any one offense was eight years.         Appellant’s guilty plea was entered
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.    The trial court strictly complied with the
constitutional notice provisions as well as substantially complied with the non-
constitutional notice provisions under Crim.R. 11. Appellant fails to establish any resulting
prejudice. Appellant’s 16-year sentence was authorized by law. See R.C. 2953.08(D);
R.C. 2929.14(A)(2)(b) and (3)(a).

                                      CONCLUSION

       {¶22} For the foregoing reasons, Appellant’s sole assignment of error is not well-
taken. The July 1, 2022 judgment of the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas
sentencing Appellant to a total prison term of 16 years for sexual battery and gross sexual
imposition and labeling him a Tier III Sex Offender following a guilty plea is affirmed.

Waite, J., concurs.

Robb, J., concurs.

Case No. 22 MA 0080
[Cite as State v. Lambert, 2023-Ohio-1939.]

         For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, the assignment of error
 is overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the
 Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs to be waived.
         A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate
 in this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that
 a certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into
 execution.

                                        NOTICE TO COUNSEL

         This document constitutes a final judgment entry.