Court Opinion

ID: 9368250
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-03 15:07:59.146286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:08.531374
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex rel. Boyd v. Tone, 2023-Ohio-323.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                 SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                       ERIE COUNTY

State of Ohio, ex rel., Deonta Boyd                    Court of Appeals No. E-23-001

        Relator

v.

Judge Tygh M. Tone                                     DECISION AND JUDGMENT

        Respondent                                     Decided: February 1, 2023

                                                   *****

        Deonta Boyd, Pro se.

        Kevin J. Baxter, Erie County Prosecuting Attorney, and
        Gerhard R. Gross, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Respondent.

                                                   *****

        DUHART, J.

        {¶ 1} This matter is before the court on the complaint for writ of mandamus filed

by relator, Deonta Boyd, on January 3, 2023. Boyd requests that we “issue a writ of

mandamus ordering [respondent,] Judge [Tygh] Tone[,] to void and vacate the June 5,
2006 Judgment Entry of Pleas and Judgment Entries on Case Nos. 2005-CR-103 and

2005-CR-643, [sic] and to conduct a proper review of the motion to withdraw as counsel,

since Judge Tone never ruled on said motion.” For the reasons that follow, we deny the

writ.

                                  Relevant Background

        {¶ 2} Boyd was indicted, in case No. 2004-CR-643, in Erie County, on aggravated

burglary. On March 10, 2005, Boyd was indicted, in case No. 2005-CR-103, in Erie

County, then on March 28, 2005, the indictment charging Boyd with, inter alia,

aggravated murder with specification of aggravating circumstances was amended to

reflect the proper spelling of Boyd’s first name.

        {¶ 3} At Boyd’s arraignments in case Nos. 2004-CR-643 and 2005-CR-103, he

was represented by counsel, and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.

        {¶ 4} On June 5, 2005, in case No. 2005-CR-103, Boyd’s trial counsel filed a

motion to withdraw as counsel due to a conflict, as counsel represented Boyd’s step-

father, and the step-father was a material witness for the state against Boyd. At a hearing

held on June 15, 2005, Boyd’s trial counsel orally requested to withdraw as counsel in

case No. 2004-CR-643. On June 22, 2005, the trial court granted the motion to withdraw

as counsel, filed in case No. 2005-CR-103, and the trial court also permitted Boyd’s

counsel to withdraw as counsel, in case No. 2004-CR-643. Two attorneys were then

appointed by the court to represent Boyd in both cases. Thereafter,

2.
             In 2006, [Boyd] was represented by two attorneys when he agreed to

      enter guilty pleas to reduced charges of aggravated murder, with a firearm

      specification, felonious assault, and aggravated burglary. The trial court

      sentenced [Boyd] [on June 5, 2006,] to consecutive terms of imprisonment

      of life with eligibility for parole after 20 years, 3 years for the firearm

      specification conviction, and 8 years for the aggravated burglary

      conviction. [Boyd] did not appeal the judgment of conviction and

      sentencing despite having been notified of his right to a limited appeal.

             [Boyd] filed his first post-sentence motion to withdraw his guilty

      plea in 2007, which was denied by the trial court. [Boyd] did not appeal

      from this decision. On January 27, 2020, [Boyd] filed a second motion to

      withdraw his guilty plea asserting his plea was not intelligently, voluntarily,

      or knowingly made because he did not understand the maximum penalties

      involved and had not been notified of his constitutional right to compulsory

      process. The trial court denied the motion on March [12], 2020, on the

      ground that [Boyd] had not demonstrated a manifest injustice had occurred.

      (Emphasis added.)

State v. Boyd, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-20-006, 2020-Ohio-6866, ¶ 2-3.

      {¶ 5} Boyd appealed the trial court’s March 12, 2020 denial of his motion to

withdraw plea. Id. at ¶ 1. We found Boyd’s arguments could have been raised on direct

3.
appeal, and the issues could have been or were raised in his first motion to withdraw

guilty plea and could have been asserted on appeal from the judgment denying his first

motion to withdraw guilty plea. Id. at ¶ 7. We further found any arguments Boyd could

have raised concerning the entry of his guilty plea were barred under the doctrine of res

judicata, and his second motion to withdraw guilty plea should have been dismissed on

that ground. Id. We affirmed the trial court’s judgment, but on different grounds. Id.

       {¶ 6} Now, Boyd has filed a complaint for writ of mandamus seeking a proper

review of the motion to withdraw as counsel, as he claims Judge Tone never ruled on the

motion. Boyd further claims Judge Tone had no jurisdiction to accept Boyd’s plea or to

sentence Boyd since Boyd was deprived of his counsel of choice. Boyd submits he

brings his writ on the authority of State ex rel. Ogle v. Hocking Cty. Common Pleas

Court, 167 Ohio St.3d 181, 2021-Ohio-4453, 190 N.E.3d 594.

                                             Law

                                         Mandamus

       {¶ 7} To be entitled to a writ of mandamus, the relator must demonstrate he has a

clear legal right to the relief, that the respondent has a clear legal duty to provide that

relief, and the relator has no adequate remedy at law. State ex rel. Culgan v. Collier, 135

Ohio St.3d 436, 2013-Ohio-1762, ¶ 7.

4.
                                     Right to Counsel

       {¶ 8} The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a

criminal defendant the right to counsel for his defense. Accord Ohio Constitution, Article

I, Section 10. “[One] element of [that] right is the right of a defendant who does not

require appointed counsel to choose who will represent him.” United States v. Gonzalez-

Lopez, 548 U.S. 140, 144, 126 S.Ct. 2557, 165 L.Ed.2d 409 (2006). If a defendant has

the ability to retain a qualified attorney, the Sixth Amendment generally protects his

choice of counsel. Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered v. United States, 491 U.S. 617, 625,

109 S.Ct. 2646, 105 L.Ed.2d 528 (1989). A court commits structural error when it

wrongfully denies a defendant his counsel of choice, thus a defendant need not

demonstrate further prejudice. Gonzalez-Lopez at 150.

       {¶ 9} Though fundamental, the constitutional right to one’s counsel of choice is

not absolute. Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 159, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 100 L.Ed.2d

140 (1988). Trial courts have an “independent interest in ensuring that criminal trials are

conducted within the ethical standards of the profession and that legal proceedings appear

fair to all who observe them.” Id. at 160. Hence, an actual conflict of interest and “a

showing of a serious potential for conflict” justify a trial court’s removal of a defendant’s

counsel of choice. Id. at 164. A trial court’s pretrial ruling removing a criminal

defendant’s retained counsel of choice is subject to immediate appeal. State v.

Chambliss, 128 Ohio St.3d 507, 2011-Ohio-1785, 947 N.E.2d 651, syllabus.

5.
                                         Ogle case

       {¶ 10} In Ogle, 167 Ohio St.3d 181, 2021-Ohio-4453, 190 N.E.3d 594, the case

upon which Boyd relies in his complaint, Ogle filed, inter alia, a complaint for a writ of

mandamus alleging the trial court judge had no jurisdiction to hold a sentencing hearing,

because Ogle had not waived her right to counsel. Id. at ¶ 6. The attorney for the judge

and trial court filed a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss, which the appellate court

granted. Id. at ¶ 7, 8, 10. Ogle appealed. Id. at ¶ 9.

       {¶ 11} The attorney for the judge and trial court requested that the Supreme Court

affirm the dismissal of Ogle’s complaint for failure to state a claim, arguing Ogle never

asserted her Sixth Amendment right to counsel and therefore waived it. Id. at ¶ 16. The

attorney also asserted Ogle’s claim was barred by res judicata, either because she raised

the issue in her direct appeal or she raised the issue unsuccessfully in a federal habeas

corpus proceeding. Id. at ¶ 15.

       {¶ 12} The Supreme Court found res judicata is an affirmative defense and it is not

a proper basis for dismissal for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

Id. The court further found Ogle had expressly asserted her Sixth Amendment right to

counsel, so she pled a colorable claim that she did not waive her right to counsel. Id. at ¶

16. In addition, the court noted the judge “may (or may not) have a meritorious res

judicata defense, but that issue is premature at this stage of the proceedings.” Id. at ¶ 19.

6.
The court reversed the appellate court’s judgment dismissing Ogle’s mandamus

complaint, and remanded the case for further proceedings. Id. at ¶ 21.

                                        Res Judicata

       {¶ 13} Under the doctrine of res judicata, an existing final judgment binding the

parties is conclusive as to all claims that were or could have been litigated in a first

lawsuit. Grava v. Parkman Twp., 73 Ohio St.3d 379, 381-382, 653 N.E.2d 226 (1995).

The doctrine of res judicata involves both claim preclusion, also called estoppel by

judgment, and issue preclusion, traditionally known as collateral estoppel. Id. As to

claim preclusion, a final judgment or decree, rendered on the merits by a court of

competent jurisdiction, is a complete bar to any subsequent action on the same claim

between the same parties or those in privity with the parties. Id. at 381, citing Norwood

v. McDonald, 142 Ohio St. 299, 52 N.E.2d 67 (1943), paragraph one of the syllabus. “In

the absence of a patent and unambiguous lack of jurisdiction, a court having general

subject-matter jurisdiction can determine its own jurisdiction, and a party contesting that

jurisdiction has an adequate remedy by appeal.” State ex rel. Plant v. Cosgrove, 119

Ohio St.3d 264, 2008-Ohio-3838, 893 N.E.2d 485, ¶ 5.

                                          Analysis

       {¶ 14} Upon review, Boyd did not file direct appeals from his initial convictions,

but he has filed several postconviction pleadings. As set forth above, we affirmed the

trial court’s denial of Boyd’s second motion to withdraw his guilty plea, as we found his

7.
arguments were barred by the doctrine of res judicata. Boyd, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-20-006,

2020-Ohio-6866, at ¶ 7.

       {¶ 15} Now, Boyd seeks an order to compel Judge Tone to rule on the motion to

withdraw as counsel. We find Boyd is not entitled to this relief, as the trial court did rule

on the motion: on June 22, 2005, the trial court granted the June 5, 2005 motion to

withdraw as counsel, in case No. 2005-CR-103, and on that same day, the trial court

permitted Boyd’s counsel to withdraw as counsel, in case No. 2004-CR-643. We further

find Boyd could have raised, on direct appeals, issues related to the withdrawal of his

trial counsel, and since Boyd failed to file direct appeals of his convictions, in case Nos.

2004-CR-643 and 2005-CR-103, any issues concerning the withdrawal of his trial

counsel are precluded by res judicata. Accordingly, we deny Boyd’s complaint for writ

of mandamus, and dismiss the action.

                                                                                 Writ denied.

Thomas J. Osowik, J.                            ____________________________
                                                        JUDGE
Christine E. Mayle, J.
                                                ____________________________
Myron C. Duhart, P.J.                                   JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                                ____________________________
                                                        JUDGE

8.
          This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
     Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
          version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
                   http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

9.