Court Opinion

ID: 9929100
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-01 18:09:27.538596+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:09:07.605034
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Williamson, 2024-Ohio-327.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                    MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                  :    JUDGES:
                                                :    Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
        Plaintiff - Appellee                    :    Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
                                                :    Hon. Andrew J. King, J.
-vs-                                            :
                                                :
SHAWN L. WILLIAMSON                             :    Case No. CT2023-0049
                                                :
        Defendant - Appellant                   :    OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                             Appeal from the Muskingum County
                                                     Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                                     CR2023-0174

JUDGMENT:                                            Affirmed in part; Reversed and
                                                     Remanded in part

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                    January 31, 2024

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                               For Defendant-Appellant

RONALD L. WELCH                                      CHRIS BRIGDON
Prosecuting Attorney                                 8138 Somerset Rd
Muskingum County, Ohio                               Thornville, Ohio 43076

By: John Connor Dever
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Muskingum County, Ohio
27 North Fifth Street., P.O. Box 189
Zanesville, Ohio 43702
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                2

Baldwin, J.

       {¶1}   The appellant appeals his sentence after pleading guilty to multiple

offenses. Appellee is the State of Ohio.

                     STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND THE CASE

       {¶2}   On or about February 23, 2023, the appellant stole a motor vehicle from

victim #1; law enforcement officers observed the appellant driving the stolen vehicle, and

a chase ensued. Officers subsequently located the stolen vehicle, abandoned. The

appellant was not apprehended at that time.

       {¶3}   In the early morning hours of March 2, 2023, the appellant walked into the

home of victim #2, asked to see a woman who did not live there, and left after victim #2

demanded he leave. The appellant returned and attempted to regain entry into victim #2’s

home, but was unable to do so. Later that same morning, law enforcement officers

received a call from victim #3, who heard banging on her door and discovered that her

car keys were missing from the table in her living room. She heard her vehicle “peel out”

of the driveway, and reported it stolen. Officers later learned that her car keys on the table

were attached to her wallet, the cash on her table was missing, and her back door had

been kicked in and the door frame broken.

       {¶4}   Later that morning, victim #4 called law enforcement and reported that he

was sitting on his couch when the appellant attempted to force his way into his home,

broke the door frame, and then threw a brick through the front window. The appellant was

yelling for a woman named Jessica Ross as he was forcefully trying to enter the victim’s

home. Ross left victim #4’s home with the appellant in the car that had been stolen from

victim #3.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                             3

       {¶5}    The appellant was subsequently spotted by law enforcement driving a

stolen Mercedes-Benz at a high rate of speed. It was later learned that the Mercedes-

Benz belonged to victim #5, and was stolen when the appellant broke into her garage. A

high speed chase ensued, at times reaching speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour.

During the chase the appellant ran vehicles off the road, failed to stop or yield at stop

signs, and the debris from the vehicle he was operating caused damage to a vehicle

owned by victim #6.

       {¶6}    Ultimately the appellant abandoned the Mercedes-Benz and ran off on foot.

Law enforcement officers located the appellant, and as they approached him he removed

a black hand-gun from his waistband and held it to his own head. Officers attempted to

persuade the appellant to drop his weapon, but he got away and proceeded to trespass

onto the property of yet another victim, enter a Ford Explorer in which the keys were

located, and steal the Ford. He was cut off by law enforcement when he tried to flee the

area, and again fled on foot. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Unit was called in

to assist, but to no avail.

       {¶7}    Law enforcement officers thereafter received reports that the appellant was

knocking on doors asking for water and a ride. The appellant was, finally, apprehended

by a deputy sheriff and his K-9 partner.

       {¶8}    The appellant was indicted on March 15, 2023, on nineteen counts in

connection with this crime spree, to which he pleaded not guilty at his March 22, 2023

arraignment. The parties negotiated a plea agreement, and the matter came before the

trial court on May 15, 2022, for a change of plea hearing at which the appellant pleaded

guilty to the following:
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                  4

          •   Count one, receiving stolen property in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A),

              a felony of the fourth degree;

          •   Count three, trespass in a habitation, as amended, in violation of

              R.C. 2911.12(B), a felony of the fourth degree;

          •   Count four, burglary, with a repeat violent offender specification, in

              violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(1), a felony of the second degree;

          •   Counts five and nine, grand theft of a motor vehicle in violation of

              R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), a felony of the fourth degree;

          •   Count twelve, failure to comply risk of harm, as amended, in violation

              of R.C. 2921.331(B), a felony of the third degree;

          •   Count thirteen, obstruction of official business with a firearm

              specification in violation of R.C. 2921.31(A), a felony of the fifth

              degree;

          •   Count fifteen, having weapons under disability, as amended, in

              violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), a felony of the third degree;

          •   Count seventeen, grand theft of a motor vehicle, as amended, in

              violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), a felony of the fourth degree; and,

          •   Count eighteen, robbery, as amended, with a one-year firearm

              specification and a repeat violent offender specification, in violation

              of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), a felony of the second degree.

       {¶9}   The appellee moved to dismiss the remaining charges pursuant to the terms

of the parties’ plea agreement, which the trial court granted.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                  5

      {¶10} The sentencing hearing took place on June 26, 2023, at which the following

exchange took place between the trial court and the appellant:

      THE COURT: In looking at your history, I have seen histories like this

      before. Your criminal history goes back to age 8 when you were sent to

      Avondale for setting a pharmacy on fire. From that time on, you’ve been the

      system, Juvenile, DYS, everywhere. Some would say the system failed.

      Some would say you failed. I would say there’s a little bit if each in there,

      but the system did not help you.

             Since becoming an adult you have felonies also. One in 2016, which

      is attempted felonious assault on a peace officer, failure to comply, a fleeing

      charge, and a misdemeanor history throughout your entire adult life, then

      this crime spree.

             And it’s also my understanding you’re on post-release control right

      now. Is that correct?

      THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir

      THE COURT: But you know better. You know that anything that I give you

      on PRC must be served consecutively to everything else.

             So what’s an appropriate sentence? 10 years, 20 years, 40 years?

      All that is in the range in here. But you’ve been in and out of the system so

      much that there’s no little amount or large amount that’s going to make

      much difference at this point in time until you maybe see a light and get

      some help and get out of this rotating wheel that you’re on of going to prison,

      getting out, going to prison, getting out, going to jail, getting out.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                6

            In regards to the Counts 1, 3, 5, 9, and 17, which is your felonies of

     the fourth degree, the Court would impose an 18-month sentence on each

     to be served concurrently with each other. And Count 4 is a felony of the

     second degree and a RVO spec is on that count. The Court will impose a

     6-year sentence on the felony of the second degree in that count.

            In Count 12, which is a felony of the third degree, the Court will

     impose a 24-month sentence which is a 2-year sentence, which must be

     served consecutively to any other sentence you receive. And the Court will

     impose a 5-year license suspension.

            In regards to Count 13, the Court will impose a 12-month sentence,

     impose a 1-year mandatory consecutive sentence for the firearm

     specification which will be consecutive to all sentences and mandatory time.

            Count 15, the Court will impose a 36-month sentence. And in Count

     18, the Court will impose an 8-year sentence with an indefinite term of up

     to 4 - - well, we'll get in to the indefinite term here in a second. The Court

     will impose 2 years on the mandatory consecutive which will make that a

     total of 10 years on that case. That's on the RVO specification. There is a

     1-year mandatory consecutive sentence on the gun specification.

            The Court having sentenced you to 8 years on the indefinite

     sentence, that makes the indefinite sentence to a possible 12 years with the

     4-year leeway. There's also, then, two mandatory consecutive 1 year

     sentences which will make that a total of 14 at this point in time. There's

     also a consecutive sentence for the 6 years imposed on the Count 4 which
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                           7

      will make it up to a 20 possible sentence or 20 -- excuse me -- that's 23

      years, I believe. My math's screwing up here -- 22 years.

      {¶11} The trial court did not make any specific findings with regard to the repeat

violent offender specifications contained in counts four and eighteen.

      {¶12} The appellant filed a timely appeal and sets forth the following three

assignments of error:

      {¶13} “I. SHOULD THIS HONORABLE COURT REMAND THIS MATTER FOR

RE-SENTENCING BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN SENTENCING THE

APPELLANT TO THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SENTENCE IN CONTRAVENTION OF

FACTORS FOUND IN OF R.C. §2929.14.”

      {¶14} “II. SHOULD THIS HONORABLE COURT REMAND THIS MATTER FOR

RE-SENTENCING BECAUSE THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT MAKING THE

APPROPRIATE FINDING REGARDING THE REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDER

SPECIFICATIONS AND DID NOT DISCUSS REASONS FOR CONSECUTIVE

SENTENCES.”

      {¶15} “III. SHOULD THIS HONORABLE COURT REMAND THIS MATTER FOR

RE-SENTENCING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC FINDING REGARDING

COUNT 13 REGARDING THE NON-MANDATORY PORTION OF THE COUNT

(OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS F4), RATHER ONLY A FINDING REGARDING

THE FIREARM SPECIFICATION.”

                               STANDARD OF REVIEW

      {¶16} Felony sentences are reviewed under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v. Goings,

6th Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1103, 2014-Ohio-2322, 2014 WL 2480615, ¶ 20. An appellate
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                  8

court may increase, modify, or vacate and remand a judgment only if it clearly and

convincingly finds either “(a) the record does not support the sentencing court's findings

under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14,

or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant” or

“(b) the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Yeager, 6th Dist. Sandusky No.

S-15-025, 2016-Ohio-4759, 2016 WL 3573887, ¶ 7, citing R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).

                                        ANALYSIS

                     Assignment of Error Numbers One and Three

       {¶17} We will address assignments of error numbers one and three together, as

they are interrelated. The appellant argues in assignment error number one that the trial

court erred because it did not discuss the required findings regarding the imposition of

consecutive sentences and state the reasons for doing so. He argues in assignment of

error number three that the trial court did not clearly pronounce that the prison time

imposed for count 13 was to run concurrently.

       {¶18} R.C. 2929.11 provides in pertinent part:

       (A)    A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the

       overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony

       sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and

       others, to punish the offender, and to promote the effective rehabilitation of

       the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines

       accomplish those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on

       state or local government resources. To achieve those purposes, the

       sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender,
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                    9

     deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the

     offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or

     both.

     (B)     A sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably calculated to

     achieve the three overriding purposes of felony sentencing set forth in

     division (A) of this section, commensurate with and not demeaning to the

     seriousness of the offender's conduct and its impact upon the victim, and

     consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar

     offenders.

     {¶19} R.C. 2929.12 provides:

     (A)     Unless otherwise required by section 2929.13 or 2929.14 of the

     Revised Code, a court that imposes a sentence under this chapter upon an

     offender for a felony has discretion to determine the most effective way to

     comply with the purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in section

     2929.11 of the Revised Code. In exercising that discretion, the court shall

     consider the factors set forth in divisions (B) and (C) of this section relating

     to the seriousness of the conduct, the factors provided in divisions (D) and

     (E) of this section relating to the likelihood of the offender's recidivism, and

     the factors set forth in division (F) of this section pertaining to the offender's

     service in the armed forces of the United States and, in addition, may

     consider any other factors that are relevant to achieving those purposes and

     principles of sentencing.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                   10

     (B)    The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

     regarding the offender, the offense, or the victim, and any other relevant

     factors, as indicating that the offender's conduct is more serious than

     conduct normally constituting the offense:

     (1)    The physical or mental injury suffered by the victim of the offense

     due to the conduct of the offender was exacerbated because of the physical

     or mental condition or age of the victim.

     (2)    The victim of the offense suffered serious physical, psychological, or

     economic harm as a result of the offense.

     (3)    The offender held a public office or position of trust in the community,

     and the offense related to that office or position.

     (4)    The offender's occupation, elected office, or profession obliged the

     offender to prevent the offense or bring others committing it to justice.

     (5)    The offender's professional reputation or occupation, elected office,

     or profession was used to facilitate the offense or is likely to influence the

     future conduct of others.

     (6)    The offender's relationship with the victim facilitated the offense.

     (7)    The offender committed the offense for hire or as a part of an

     organized criminal activity.

     (8)    In committing the offense, the offender was motivated by prejudice

     based on race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

     (9)    If the offense is a violation of section 2919.25 or a violation of section

     2903.11, 2903.12, or 2903.13 of the Revised Code involving a person who
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                 11

     was a family or household member at the time of the violation, the offender

     committed the offense in the vicinity of one or more children who are not

     victims of the offense, and the offender or the victim of the offense is a

     parent, guardian, custodian, or person in loco parentis of one or more of

     those children.

     (C)    The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

     regarding the offender, the offense, or the victim, and any other relevant

     factors, as indicating that the offender's conduct is less serious than conduct

     normally constituting the offense:

     (1)    The victim induced or facilitated the offense.

     (2)    In committing the offense, the offender acted under strong

     provocation.

     (3)    In committing the offense, the offender did not cause or expect to

     cause physical harm to any person or property.

     (4)    There are substantial grounds to mitigate the offender's conduct,

     although the grounds are not enough to constitute a defense.

     (D)    The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

     regarding the offender, and any other relevant factors, as factors indicating

     that the offender is likely to commit future crimes:

     (1)    At the time of committing the offense, the offender was under release

     from confinement before trial or sentencing; was under a sanction imposed

     pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code; was

     under post-release control pursuant to section 2967.28 or any other
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                               12

     provision of the Revised Code for an earlier offense or had been

     unfavorably terminated from post-release control for a prior offense

     pursuant to division (B) of section 2967.16 or section 2929.141 of the

     Revised Code; was under transitional control in connection with a prior

     offense; or had absconded from the offender's approved community

     placement resulting in the offender's removal from the transitional control

     program under section 2967.26 of the Revised Code.

     (2)    The offender previously was adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant

     to Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant

     to Chapter 2152. of the Revised Code, or the offender has a history of

     criminal convictions.

     (3)    The offender has not been rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree after

     previously being adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant to Chapter 2151.

     of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant to Chapter 2152.

     of the Revised Code, or the offender has not responded favorably to

     sanctions previously imposed for criminal convictions.

     (4)    The offender has demonstrated a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse

     that is related to the offense, and the offender refuses to acknowledge that

     the offender has demonstrated that pattern, or the offender refuses

     treatment for the drug or alcohol abuse.

     (5)    The offender shows no genuine remorse for the offense.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                 13

       (E)    The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

       regarding the offender, and any other relevant factors, as factors indicating

       that the offender is not likely to commit future crimes:

       (1)    Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been

       adjudicated a delinquent child.

       (2)    Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been convicted

       of or pleaded guilty to a criminal offense.

       (3)    Prior to committing the offense, the offender had led a law-abiding

       life for a significant number of years.

       (4)    The offense was committed under circumstances not likely to recur.

       (5)    The offender shows genuine remorse for the offense.

       (F)    The sentencing court shall consider the offender's military service

       record and whether the offender has an emotional, mental, or physical

       condition that is traceable to the offender's service in the armed forces of

       the United States and that was a contributing factor in the offender's

       commission of the offense or offenses.

       {¶20} The appellant’s arguments are unpersuasive and do not establish that the

trial court failed to comply with R.C. 2929.11(A) or properly weigh the factors set forth in

R.C. 2929.12, particularly since the appellant has a criminal history containing a

significant number of criminal offenses committed prior to the offenses herein, and had

not led a law-abiding life for many years prior to the offenses herein. Furthermore, the

offenses committed by the appellant were not committed under circumstances not likely

to recur.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                14

        {¶21} This court recently addressed sentencing issues in State v. Worden, 5th

Dist. Muskingum No. CT2022-0030, 2022-Ohio-4648:

              R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b) does not provide a basis for an appellate court

        to modify or vacate a sentence based on its view that the sentence is not

        supported by the record under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. State v. Jones,

        163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, ¶39. The Ohio

        Supreme Court further elucidated in State v. Toles, 166 Ohio St.3d 397,

        2021-Ohio-3531, 186 N.E.3d 784, ¶10, “R.C. 2953.08, as amended,

        precludes second-guessing a sentence imposed by the trial court based on

        its weighing of the considerations in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.’’

Id. at ¶27.

        {¶22} The appellant argues that the trial court erred because it did not engage in

factfinding on the record before imposing the maximum prison terms. We disagree. As

set forth by the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St. 3d 54, 2006-Ohio-

855, 846 N.E.2d 1, “. . . trial courts have full discretion to impose a prison sentence within

the statutory range and are no longer required to make findings or give their reasons for

imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than the minimum sentences.” Id. at ¶ 37.

Further, this Court stated in State v. Hobby, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 11 COA 41, 2012-Ohio-

2420:

              Under Ohio law, judicial fact-finding is no longer required before a

        court imposes consecutive or maximum prison terms. See State v. Foster,

        109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006–Ohio–856, 845 N.E.2d 470; State v. Mathis, 109

        Ohio St.3d 54, 2006–Ohio–855, 846 N.E.2d 1. Instead, the trial court is
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                      15

       vested with discretion to impose a prison term within the statutory range.

       See Mathis, at ¶ 36. In exercising its discretion, the trial court must “carefully

       consider the statutes that apply to every felony case [including] R.C.

       2929.11, which specifies the purposes of sentencing, and R.C. 2929.12,

       which provides guidance in considering factors relating to the seriousness

       of the offense and recidivism of the offender [and] statutes that are specific

       to the case itself.” Id. at ¶ 37, 846 N.E.2d 1. Thus, post-Foster, “there is no

       mandate for judicial fact-finding in the general guidance statutes. The court

       is merely to ‘consider’ the statutory factors.” Foster at ¶ 42. State v. Rutter,

       5th Dist. No .2006–CA–0025, 2006–Ohio–4061, 2006 WL 2257068; State

       v. Delong, 4th Dist. No. 05CA815, 2006–Ohio–2753, 2006 WL 2257068, ¶

       7–8. Therefore, post-Foster, trial courts are still required to consider the

       general guidance factors in their sentencing decisions.

Id. at ¶ 34.

       {¶23} In the case sub judice, the sentence imposed by the trial court on the

charges to which the appellant pleaded guilty complies with the applicable sentencing

statutes. The sentence was within the statutory sentencing range. The appellant has not

shown that the trial court imposed the sentence based on impermissible considerations,

for example, considerations that fall outside those that are contained in R.C. 2929.11 and

R.C. 2929.12. The record contains evidence supporting the trial court's findings based

upon the applicable law, and the trial court is not required to engage in judicial fact-finding

or list the statutory factors in support if its sentence so long as the sentence is within the

applicable statutory range. The trial court did not err in imposing sentence upon the
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                               16

appellant, and we find no basis for concluding that the trial court’s decision constitutes an

abuse of discretion.

       {¶24} The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are, inter alia, to punish the

offender and to protect the public from future crime by the offender. The appellant’s

presentence investigation established that he had a significant criminal history. The

sentence imposed by the trial court achieves the aforesaid statutory purposes, as it

punishes the appellant for his offenses and protects the public from future crime by the

appellant. To achieve those purposes, the trial court properly considered the need for

incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime. The

appellant engaged in a crime-spree that resulted in an indictment on sixteen felony

charges and three misdemeanor charges. In addition, the appellant has a significant

history of criminal behavior. R.C. 2929.12 gives the trial court discretion to determine the

most effective way to comply with the purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in

R.C. 2929.11. In this case the trial court considered the general guidance factors in its

sentencing decision; it is not required to make findings or give their reasons for imposing

maximum, consecutive, or more than the minimum sentences.

       {¶25} Furthermore, the appellant’s argument that the matter should be reversed

and remanded because the trial court did not clearly pronounce that the prison time for

count thirteen was to run concurrently to the other counts must also fail; when a person

is sentenced for having committed multiple offenses, the presumption is that those

sentences will be imposed concurrently, not consecutively. See, R.C. 2929.41(A).

       {¶26} The appellant’s assignments of error numbers one and three are therefore

overruled.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                    17

                           Assignment of Error Number Two

       {¶27} In his second assignment of error the appellant argues that the trial court

erred when it did not make the appropriate finding regarding the repeat violent offender

specifications and did not discuss reasons for consecutive sentences. We agree in part

and disagree in part.

       {¶28} R.C. 2929.14(B)(2) authorizes trial courts to impose repeat-violent offender

prison time, and states in pertinent part:

       (2)(a) If division (B)(2)(b) of this section does not apply, the court may

       impose on an offender, in addition to the longest prison term authorized or

       required for the offense or, for offenses for which division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a)

       of this section applies, in addition to the longest minimum prison term

       authorized or required for the offense, an additional definite prison term of

       one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten years if all of the

       following criteria are met:

       (i)    The offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the

       type described in section 2941.149 of the Revised Code that the offender

       is a repeat violent offender.

       (ii)   The offense of which the offender currently is convicted or to which

       the offender currently pleads guilty is . . . any felony of the second degree

       that is an offense of violence and the trier of fact finds that the offense

       involved an attempt to cause or a threat to cause serious physical harm to

       a person or resulted in serious physical harm to a person.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                   18

     (iii)   The court imposes the longest prison term for the offense or the

     longest minimum prison term for the offense, whichever is applicable, that

     is not life imprisonment without parole.

     (iv)    The court finds that the prison terms imposed pursuant to division

     (B)(2)(a)(iii) of this section and, if applicable, division (B)(1) or (3) of this

     section are inadequate to punish the offender and protect the public from

     future crime, because the applicable factors under section 2929.12 of the

     Revised Code indicating a greater likelihood of recidivism outweigh the

     applicable factors under that section indicating a lesser likelihood of

     recidivism.

     (v)     The court finds that the prison terms imposed pursuant to division

     (B)(2)(a)(iii) of this section and, if applicable, division (B)(1) or (3) of this

     section are demeaning to the seriousness of the offense, because one or

     more of the factors under section 2929.12 of the Revised Code indicating

     that the offender's conduct is more serious than conduct normally

     constituting the offense are present, and they outweigh the applicable

     factors under that section indicating that the offender's conduct is less

     serious than conduct normally constituting the offense.

     (b) The court shall impose on an offender the longest prison term authorized

     or required for the offense or, for offenses for which division (A)(1)(a) or

     (2)(a) of this section applies, the longest minimum prison term authorized

     or required for the offense, and shall impose on the offender an additional
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                  19

     definite prison term of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or

     ten years if all of the following criteria are met:

     (i) The offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the type

     described in section 2941.149 of the Revised Code that the offender is a

     repeat violent offender.

     (ii) The offender within the preceding twenty years has been convicted of

     or pleaded guilty to three or more offenses described in division (CC)(1) of

     section 2929.01 of the Revised Code, including all offenses described in

     that division of which the offender is convicted or to which the offender

     pleads guilty in the current prosecution and all offenses described in that

     division of which the offender previously has been convicted or to which the

     offender previously pleaded guilty, whether prosecuted together or

     separately.

     (iii) The offense or offenses of which the offender currently is convicted or

     to which the offender currently pleads guilty is aggravated murder and the

     court does not impose a sentence of death or life imprisonment without

     parole, murder, terrorism and the court does not impose a sentence of life

     imprisonment without parole, any felony of the first degree that is an offense

     of violence and the court does not impose a sentence of life imprisonment

     without parole, or any felony of the second degree that is an offense of

     violence and the trier of fact finds that the offense involved an attempt to

     cause or a threat to cause serious physical harm to a person or resulted in

     serious physical harm to a person.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                 20

       (c) For purposes of division (B)(2)(b) of this section, two or more offenses

       committed at the same time or as part of the same act or event shall be

       considered one offense, and that one offense shall be the offense with the

       greatest penalty.

       (d) A sentence imposed under division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this section shall

       not be reduced pursuant to section 2929.20, division (A)(2) or (3) of section

       2967.193 or 2967.194, or any other provision of Chapter 2967. or Chapter

       5120. of the Revised Code. The offender shall serve an additional prison

       term imposed under division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this section consecutively to

       and prior to the prison term imposed for the underlying offense.

       (e) When imposing a sentence pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this

       section, the court shall state its findings explaining the imposed sentence.

       {¶29} In this case, the appellant pleaded guilty to burglary with a repeat violent

offender specification in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(1), a felony of the second degree

(count four); and, robbery as amended, with a one-year firearm specification and a repeat

violent offender specification, in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), a felony of the second

degree (count eighteen). The trial court did not, however, establish on the record the

requisite facts relating to whether these offenses involved an “attempt to cause or a threat

to cause serious physical harm to a person” or “resulted in serious physical harm to a

person.” With regard to this portion of the appellant’s assignment of error number two, we

reverse the trial court’s imposition of repeat-violent-offender prison time and remand the

matter in order for the trial court to make the requisite findings of fact regarding the repeat

violent offender specifications.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                                21

         {¶30} The appellant also submits in assignment of error number two that the trial

court erred when it did not discuss its reasons for consecutive sentences. For the reasons

set forth in our discussion of assignments of error numbers one and three, we disagree

with this portion of appellant’s assignment of error number two and find it to be without

merit.

                                      CONCLUSION

         {¶31} Based upon the foregoing, we find that appellant’s assignments of error

numbers one and three are without merit and are overruled.

         {¶32} Further, we find that the second portion of appellant’s assignment of error

number two, that the trial court erred in not discussing its reasons for consecutive

sentences, is without merit and is overruled.

         {¶33} Finally, we find that the first portion of appellant’s second assignment of

error, that the trial court erred when it did not make the required findings of fact regarding

serious physical harm in connection with the imposition of repeat violent offender prison

time, to have merit. We therefore remand this matter to the trial court for the narrow

purpose of addressing the serious physical harm issue as it relates to the appellant’s

guilty plea to the repeat violent offender specifications contained in counts four and

eighteen.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2023-0049                                         22

       {¶34} Based upon the foregoing, the judgment of the Muskingum County Court of

Common Pleas is affirmed in part, and is reversed and remanded in part for proceedings

consistent with this opinion.

By: Baldwin, J.

Delaney, P.J. and

King, J. concur.