Court Opinion

ID: 2701017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:28:14.817778+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:44.668458
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Haughawout, 2012-Ohio-2585.]

                           STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                       SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                   )
                                                 )   CASE NO. 11 JE 24
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                      )
                                                 )
        - VS -                                   )          OPINION
                                                 )
THOMAS HAUGHAWOUT,                               )
                                                 )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.                     )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                            Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas
                                                     Court, Case No. 11 CR 25.

JUDGMENT:                                            Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee:                              No Brief Filed.

For Defendant-Appellant:                             Thomas Haughawout, Pro-se
                                                     601-384 7A 42
                                                     Belmont Correctional Inst.
                                                     P.O. Box 540
                                                     St. Clairsville, OH 43950-0540

JUDGES:
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich

                                                     Dated: June 4, 2012

DeGenaro, J.
                                                                                      -2-

       {¶1}   Pro-se Defendant-Appellant, Thomas Haughawout, appeals the August 8,
2011 judgment of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion to
waive court costs, fines and fees without a hearing. Haughawout contends that the court
abused its discretion in overruling his motion because his indigency is a matter of record
and therefore he should not be obligated to pay costs in this matter.
       {¶2}   Haughawout's argument is meritless.        The payment of the costs of
supervision, confinement and prosecution was ordered as part of Haughawout's
sentencing entry from which he did not file an appeal. Any attempt to challenge the
imposition of those sanctions in this appeal is barred by res judicata because
Haughawout could have, but did not, raise this issue on direct appeal. Accordingly, the
judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
                             Facts and Procedural History
       {¶3}   On February 24, 2011, Haughawout was charged by complaint with two
counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, fourth-degree felonies
(R.C. 2907.322(A)(5)), and two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, also
fourth-degree felonies (R.C. 2907.321(A)(5)). He filed an affidavit of indigency and
counsel was appointed to represent him. Haughawout consented to be prosecuted by a
Bill of Information pursuant to Crim.R. 7 and R.C. 2941.021. The Bill of Information, filed
that same day, only included two counts, both for pandering sexually oriented matter
involving a minor, fourth-degree felonies (R.C. 2907.322(A)(5)).
       {¶4}   Haughawout's combined plea and sentencing hearing was held on March
30, 2011. A transcript of this hearing was not included in the record on appeal. On April
1, 2011, the trial court issued a judgment entry convicting Haughawout, upon his guilty
plea, of the two counts contained in the Bill of Information and sentencing him to 12
months on each count to be served consecutively for an aggregate term of two years
imprisonment, along with five years of mandatory post-release control. The entry noted
that Haughawout had entered into a negotiated plea with the State and that the court was
imposing the sentence jointly recommended by the parties. The trial court ordered
Haughawout to pay the costs of supervision, confinement and prosecution as authorized
                                                                                       -3-

by law, including fees permitted pursuant to R.C. 2929.18(A)(4). No fine was ordered.
Haughawout did not file an appeal from the sentencing entry.
         {¶5}   On July 27, 2011, Haughawout filed a pro-se motion to "motion to waive
court costs, fines and fees," in which he asserted he was unable to pay the court costs as
ordered because he lacked the financial resources to do so. He filed another affidavit of
indigency to accompany this motion. The trial court overruled Haughawout's motion to
waive costs without a hearing on August 8, 2011. The State has not filed an appellee's
Brief.
                                  Motion to Waive Costs
         {¶6}   In his sole assignment of error, Haughawout asserts:
         {¶7}   "The trial court abused its discretion when it denied Haughawout's motion to
waive court costs, fines and fees."
         {¶8}   First, the record reveals that the trial court did not impose any fines upon
Haughawout, only costs and fees as follows: "Defendant is ordered to reimburse the
State of Ohio and the County of Jefferson for costs of supervision, confinement and
prosecution as authorized by law, including fees permitted pursuant to R.C.
2929.18(A)(4). This order of reimbursement is a judgment enforceable pursuant to law by
the parties in whose favor they are entered." A cost bill was filed that same day.
Haughawout did not move the trial court to waive costs until nearly four months later, on
July 27, 2011.
         {¶9}   Haughawout asserts that because his indigence was a matter of record, the
trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion to waive costs. In State v. White,
103 Ohio St.3d 580, 2004-Ohio-5989, 817 N.E.2d 393, the Ohio Supreme Court held that
R.C. 2947.23 requires a court to assess costs against all convicted defendants, including
indigent defendants. White at ¶ 8. The court also recognized that a court may waive
payment of costs by indigent defendants. White at ¶ 8, 14; State v. Threatt, 108 Ohio
St.3d 277, 843 N.E.2d 164, 2006-Ohio-905, ¶ 1.
         {¶10} Pursuant to Threatt, any request by an indigent defendant to waive payment
of costs must be made by motion at sentencing. In the absence of a motion for waiver at
                                                                                       -4-

that time, the issue is waived and a subsequent challenge to the obligation to pay costs is
barred by res judicata:

       Costs are assessed at sentencing and must be included in the sentencing
       entry. R.C. 2947.23. Therefore, an indigent defendant must move a trial
       court to waive payment of costs at the time of sentencing. If the defendant
       makes such a motion, then the issue is preserved for appeal and will be
       reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Otherwise, the issue is
       waived and costs are res judicata. Threatt at ¶ 23.

       {¶11} Under Threatt, Haughawout's motion to waive costs is barred by res
judicata. Nothing in the record demonstrates that Haughawout moved the trial court to
waive costs during the sentencing. A transcript of the sentencing hearing was not
included in the appellate record, and it is Haughawout's burden to provide this court with a
complete record. State v. Carr, 7th Dist. No. 01 CA 162, 2003-Ohio-331, ¶ 23, citing
App.R. 9(B). In addition there was no written motion made at the time of sentencing to
waive costs. And in any event, Haughawout does not assert in his recitation of the
procedural history of this case that he moved to waive costs at the time of sentencing.
Thus, pursuant to Threatt, Haughawout has waived appellate review of this issue.
       {¶12} Because Haughawout's sole assignment of error is barred by res judicata,
the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
Vukovich, J., concurs.