Court Opinion

ID: 2696978
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 15:46:28.226057+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:28.821091
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Riggans, 2010-Ohio-1254.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                           CASE NO. 1-09-56

   PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

  v.

WILLIE RIGGANS,                                             OPINION

   DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CR2009 0021

       Judgment Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Cause Remanded

                             Date of Decision: March 29, 2010

APPEARANCES:

        Willie Riggans, Appellant

        Jana E. Emerick, for Appellee
Case No. 1-09-56

PRESTON, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Willie J. Riggans (hereinafter “Riggans”), pro

se, appeals the trial court’s judgment entry of conviction and sentencing. We

affirm Riggans’ conviction but remand this matter for the trial court to correct its

judgment entry relative to post-release control pursuant to R.C. 2929.191.

       {¶2} On January 15, 2009, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Riggans

on two (2) counts, including: count one (1) of aggravated trafficking in drugs,

within the vicinity of a juvenile, in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), (C)(1)(c), a

second degree felony; and count two (2) of aggravated trafficking in drugs in

violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), (C)(1)(c). (Doc. No. 1).

       {¶3} On March 20, 2009, Riggans entered a plea of not guilty at

arraignment. (Doc. Nos. 4, 6, 8).

       {¶4} On May 5, 2009, a final pre-trial was held wherein Riggans executed

a negotiated plea of guilty to the charges in the indictment. (Doc. Nos. 28, 31).

That same day, Riggans appeared before the trial court, withdrew his previously

tendered not guilty plea, and entered guilty pleas to both charges in the indictment.

(May 6, 2009 JE, Doc. No. 32). The trial court thereafter sentenced Riggans to

four (4) years of incarceration on count one (1) and two (2) years incarceration on

count two (2). (Id.). The trial court ordered that the terms on counts one (1) and

two (2) be served consecutively to each other for a total aggregate term of six (6)

years incarceration, and the trial court further ordered that the sentence imposed in

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Case No. 1-09-56

this case run consecutive to the term imposed in Riggans’ previous case, case no.

CR2007 0254. (Id.).

       {¶5} On October 23, 2009, Riggans filed a notice of appeal. (Doc. No.

39). On October 28, 2009, Riggans filed a motion for delayed appeal with this

Court, which we granted on November 20, 2009.

       {¶6} Riggans now appeals raising two assignments of error for our

review.

                       ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I

       THE TRIAL COURT’S CONDUCT AND DIRECT
       PARTICIPATION IN THE PLEA NEGOTIATION PROCESS
       RENDERED APPELLANT’S PLEA INVOLUNTARY.

       {¶7} In his first assignment of error, Riggans argues that his guilty pleas

were involuntary because “the record demonstrates that the trial court, and

Riggans, were essentially the only parties involved in the plea negotiations.”

(Appellant’s Brief at 10). Riggans further asserts that that the trial court judge

“lost his composure, and became hostile towards [him]” when he asked to dismiss

his counsel for ineffective assistance. (Id. at 7). Riggans argues that “it would be

difficult to say that [he] was not influenced by the judge’s attitude, demeanor, and

coercive language.” (Id. at 10). We disagree.

       {¶8} Although strongly discouraged by the Ohio Supreme Court, a trial

judge’s participation in plea negotiations does not render a defendant’s plea

invalid per se under the Ohio and United States Constitutions. State v. Byrd

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Case No. 1-09-56

(1980), 63 Ohio St.2d 288, 293-94, 407 N.E.2d 1384.           Nonetheless, “a trial

judge’s participation in the plea bargaining process must be carefully scrutinized

to determine if the judge’s intervention affected the voluntariness of the

defendant’s guilty plea.” Id. Ordinarily, a plea should be found involuntary under

the Fifth Amendment and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution “if the

judge’s active conduct could lead a defendant to believe he cannot get a fair trial

because the judge thinks that a trial is a futile exercise or that the judge would be

biased against him at trial.” Id.

       {¶9} As an initial matter, the trial court’s involvement in the plea

negotiations sub judice—which was limited to providing the State and the

defendant with a range of sentence it would impose—was qualitatively different

than the trial court’s involvement found objectionable in Byrd, supra. The trial

court judge in Byrd solicited an unrequested meeting with the defendant’s mother

and sister through a deputy sheriff who was also a friend of the defendant’s

family. 63 Ohio St.3d at 289-90. At this meeting, the trial court judge informed

the defendant’s mother and sister that the defendant would face a predominantly

white jury, and, if convicted, the defendant would be sentenced to death by the

electric chair. Id. The trial court judge told the defendant’s mother that it would

be wise for her to get the defendant to plead guilty so that he would not be

sentenced to death. Id. The defendant’s sister indicated that the trial court judge

asked them to go to the jail and have the defendant sign a plea agreement. Id.

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Case No. 1-09-56

       {¶10} After talking with his mother and sister, the defendant met with the

trial court judge in chambers along with a sheriff’s deputy, a probation officer, and

an assistant prosecutor. Id. at 290. The defendant was not provided with counsel

nor was he advised to obtain counsel. Id. The trial court judge negotiated a plea

bargain with the prosecutor, and, thereafter, informed the defendant that it was a

“pretty good” deal. Id. The trial court judge also informed the defendant that, if he

declined to plead guilty, he would face a lengthy trial. Id. The trial court judge

further informed the defendant that he would decide the sentence in the event the

jury convicted him of aggravated murder. Id. During this meeting, the trial court

also enlisted the aid of the deputy sheriff, a friend of the defendant’s family, in

convincing the defendant to plead guilty. Id. Aside from all of this, the trial court

judge twice noted during the meeting that the defendant was “kind of in the air all

the time” or half asleep due to his drug problems. Id.

       {¶11} The Ohio Supreme Court, reviewing this record, concluded that the

trial court judge’s conduct in all probability led the defendant to conclude that he

would not receive a fair trial and that proceeding to trial was futile. Id. at 294. The

Court further noted that the defendant was exposed to a coercive environment to

induce his change of plea because the trial judge used authority figures, family,

and family friends to persuade the defendant to plead guilty. Id. In addition to

that, at the time of the meeting, the defendant was addicted to methodone and was

not provided an attorney. Id.

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Case No. 1-09-56

       {¶12} The trial court’s involvement in the plea negotiations here was

limited to its indication to the parties that “it would not sentence [Riggans] over

seven (7) years” if he pled guilty to the charges pursuant to the plea agreement.

(May 5, 2009 Tr. at 2). This involvement is much less coercive than that of the

trial court judge in Byrd.     Furthermore, a defendant’s plea is not rendered

involuntary merely because the trial court promised a particular sentence; rather,

the defendant’s plea may be rendered involuntary when the trial court fails to

impose the promised sentence. Akron v. Hendon, 9th Dist. No. 22791, 2006-Ohio-

1038, ¶13-14 (trial court’s indication that it would give defendant credit for time

served was not impermissible involvement in plea negotiations); State v. Walker

(1989), 61 Ohio App.3d 768, 770, 573 N.E.2d 1158. The trial court sentenced

Riggans to an aggregate total of six (6) years, which was within the range stated

by the trial court; and therefore, Riggans’ plea was not involuntary on that basis.

(May 6, 2009 JE, Doc. No. 32).

       {¶13} Additionally, nothing in the record here indicates that the trial court

judge thought a trial was futile; in fact, the trial court judge suggested that, if

Riggans was not satisfied with the plea agreement, the matter could proceed to

trial as previously scheduled. (May 5, 2009 Tr. at 16, 19-20). See State v. Bizzell,

(Sept. 29, 2000), 2nd Dist. Nos. 18055, 98-CR-2537, at *2 (noting that the trial

court reminded the defendant he could abandon his agreement and proceed to

trial). Furthermore, the record does not reveal any bias against Riggans, as he

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Case No. 1-09-56

suggests. The trial court judge specifically noted on the record that he was not

“upset” at Riggans, but merely “disappointed” with Riggans, and, again,

reaffirmed Riggans’ right to proceed to trial. (Id. at 14). Furthermore, the trial

court provided Riggans with a twenty-six (26) minute recess to further discuss the

plea agreement with his attorney before accepting his change of plea. (Id. at 16-

17). After Riggans further discussed the plea agreement with his attorney and the

trial court explained that the terms imposed in this case would be consecutive to

the sentence imposed in his previous case, Riggans indicated that he was satisfied

with counsel and that he wanted to change his pleas to guilty. (Id. at 21-23).

       {¶14} On the basis of the record before us, we cannot conclude that

Riggans’ plea was involuntary; and therefore, his first assignment of error is

overruled.

                         ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO
       PROPERLY STATE APPELLANT’S MANDATORY POST-
       RELEASE CONTROL OBLIGATIONS IN THE JUDGMENT
       ENTRY OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE.

       {¶15} In his second assignment of error, Riggans argues that the trial court

erred by notifying him in its journal entry that he was subject to “up to” three

years of post-release control. Riggans argues that this matter must be remanded

for resentencing. The State concedes that the trial court’s entry is in error and the

matter must be remanded.

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Case No. 1-09-56

       {¶16} Riggans pled guilty to a second degree felony and a third degree

felony. R.C. 2967.28(B) provides, in pertinent part:

       (B) Each sentence to a prison term for a felony of the * * *
       second degree * * * shall include a requirement that the offender
       be subject to a period of post-release control imposed by the
       parole board after the offender’s release from imprisonment. * *
       * Unless reduced by the parole board pursuant to division (D) of
       this section when authorized under that division, a period of
       post-release control required by this division for an offender
       shall be of one of the following periods:
       ***
       (2) For a felony of the second degree that is not a felony sex
       offense, three years;

(Emphasis added). At the combined change of plea and sentencing hearing the

trial court twice informed Riggans that he would be subject to “a period of three

(3) years” post-release control. (May 5, 2009 Tr. at 5, 46). However, the trial

court’s judgment entry states that “[u]pon completion of the prison term, the

defendant shall be subject to such further period of supervision under POST

RELEASE CONTROL as the parole board may determine pursuant to law (up to

three (3) years).” (May 6, 2009 JE, Doc. No. 32) (emphasis added). It appears that

the trial court incorporated into its judgment entry the post-release control

provided for third, fourth, and fifth degree felonies as provided in R.C. 2967.28(C)

of “up to three years.” Since Riggans pled guilty to a second degree felony, R.C.

2967.28(B) governs and provides that the period of post-release control “shall be”

“three years,” not “up to three years.” As such, the trial court’s judgment entry of

sentence is in error.   Since Riggans was sentenced after July 11, 2006, the

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Case No. 1-09-56

effective date R.C. 2929.191 (H.B. 137), this matter must be remanded for the trial

court to correct its sentence in accordance with R.C. 2929.191. State v. Singleton,

124 Ohio St.3d 173, 2009-Ohio-6434, 920 N.E.2d 958, paragraph two of the

syllabus.

       {¶17} Riggans’ second assignment of error is, therefore, sustained.

       {¶18} Accordingly, we affirm Riggans’ conviction but remand this matter

for the trial court to correct its judgment entry relative to post-release control

pursuant to R.C. 2929.191.

                        Affirmed in part, Reversed in part, and Cause Remanded

WILLAMOWSKI, P.J., and ROGERS, J., concur.

/jnc

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