Court Opinion

ID: 2693803
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 22:06:37.61493+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:15.095216
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2012-Ohio-3499.]

                           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                              SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 MONTGOMERY COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO                                      :
                                                   :     Appellate Case No. 24849
        Plaintiff-Appellee                         :
                                                   :     Trial Court Case No. 11-CR-1437
v.                                                 :
                                                   :
ERIC L. HENDERSON                                  :     (Criminal Appeal from
                                                   :     (Common Pleas Court)
        Defendant-Appellant                        :
                                                   :
                                                ...........

                                                OPINION

                             Rendered on the 3rd day of August, 2012.

                                                ...........

MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by ANDREW T. FRENCH, Atty. Reg. #0069384, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, P.O.
Box 972, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45422
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

VICTOR A. HODGE, Atty. Reg. #0007298, Public Defender’s Office, 117 South Main Street,
Suite 400, Dayton, Ohio 45422
       Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                            .............

FAIN, J.

                {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Eric L. Henderson appeals from his conviction and
                                                                                           2

sentence, following a guilty plea, on two counts of Non-Support of Dependents, felonies of the

fourth degree, in violation of R.C. 2919.21(B), having previously been convicted of

Non-Support. Each count involved a different child.

                {¶ 2} Henderson was sentenced to community control sanctions.              The

sanctions included a requirement that he “complies with the Montgomery County Support

Enforcement Agency in SETS# * * * and SETS # * * * .” Or, in other words, that he pay his

court-ordered child support. They also included requirements that he pay restitution, in the

amount of $12,205.80 to Ohio Child Support Payment Central, in a monthly amount to be

determined by that agency, and in the amount of $8,040.60 to Ohio Child Support Payment

Central, also in a monthly amount to be determined by that agency.

                {¶ 3} Henderson contends that: (1) the above-mentioned requirements are not

permitted community control sanctions; (2) the trial court erred by delegating its judicial

authority to Ohio Child Support Payment Central, an administrative agency; and (3) the trial

court erred by creating a criminal penalty for acts (failure to pay child support) that are

statutorily enforceable by contempt proceedings.

                {¶ 4} We conclude that: (1) the requirement that Henderson pay his

court-ordered child support is a proper community control sanction; (2) the trial court did not

delegate its authority to determine whether that requirement was violated; and (3) the trial

court did not create a criminal penalty for Henderson’s future failure to pay child support,

because the penalty that would be imposed if his community control sanctions were vacated

would be a consequence of his criminal conviction in this case. Accordingly, the judgment of

the trial court is Affirmed.
                                                                                            3

                I. Henderson Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Non-Support,

                       and Community Control Sanctions Are Imposed

                {¶ 5} Henderson was charged with four counts of Non-Support of a

Dependent, in violation of R.C. 2919.21(B), having previously been convicted of

Non-Support. The first two counts involved the same child, but different two-year time

periods. The third and fourth counts involved another child, again with different two-year

time periods.

                {¶ 6} Henderson pled guilty to two counts, each involving a different child,

but the same time period, and the remaining counts were dismissed.             Henderson was

sentenced to community control sanctions for a period not to exceed five years. The third-,

fourth-, and ninth-numbered sanctions were as follows:

                3.    A requirement that the offender pays restitution in the amount of

       $12,205.80 to Ohio Child Support Payment Central, in an amount to be determined by

       that agency;

                4. A requirement that the offender pays restitution in the amount of $8,040.60

       to Ohio Child Support Payment Central, in an amount to be determined by that agency;

                9. A requirement that the offender complies with the Montgomery County

       Support Enforcement Agency in SETS# 7003535866 and SETS# 7003465320[.]

                {¶ 7} After all thirteen enumerated sanctions, the judgment entry continued as

follows: “to be monitored by the Montgomery County Division of Criminal Justice Services.

If you violate any condition of this sanction, or if you violate any law, the court can impose a
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longer time under the same sanction, impose a more restrictive sanction, or a prison term of 11

months CRC each count; concurrent to each.” (Underlining and bold in original.)

                {¶ 8} The second page of the judgment entry contained a line for restitution.

That line contained the following: “$12,205.80; $8040.60.” The judgment entry specified

that restitution was payable to Ohio Child Support Payment Central.

                {¶ 9} From his sentence, Henderson appeals.

    II. The Trial Court Did Not Err by Requiring Henderson to Pay Court-Ordered

            Child Support as a Condition of his Community Control Sanctions

       {¶ 10} Henderson’s First Assignment of Error is as follows:

                THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING APPELLANT TO MAKE

       PAYMENTS, OTHER THAN RESTITUTION, ON ACCOUNTS MAINTAINED BY

       THE MONTGOMERY CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

       {¶ 11}     Henderson contends that the requirement, as part of his community control

sanctions, that he pay court-ordered child support, constitutes a financial sanction that is not

authorized, because it exceeds the scope of financial sanctions authorized by R.C. 2929.18.

That statute authorizes as a financial sanction: “Restitution by the offender to the victim of the

offender’s crime or any survivor of the victim, in an amount based on the victim’s economic

loss.” R.C. 2929.18(A)(1). Therefore, Henderson argues, although he could be required to

pay the child support that he was convicted of not having paid, he cannot be required to pay

child support, the non-payment of which was not the basis of his conviction, including, of

course, future child support.
                                                                                            5

       {¶ 12} We have recognized a distinction between restitution, ordered unconditionally

as part of a criminal sanction, and conditions of community control sanctions requiring the

payment of court-ordered support. In State v. Craft, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2001-CA-128,

2002-Ohio-5127, a case cited by Henderson, we said at p. 2, “ * * * we see no meaningful

distinction between conditions of probation and conditions in community control sanctions.”

In each instance, an offender is spared incarceration, subject to a condition, the violation of

which will result in the imposition of a prison sentence for the criminal act of which the

offender was convicted.

       {¶ 13} In State v. Hubbell, 2d Dist. Darke No. 1617, 2004-Ohio-398, ¶ 11-13, we

made a distinction between the payment of court-ordered child support as restitution and the

payment of court-ordered child support as a condition of community control:

       We turn, therefore, to whether the trial court properly required Hubbell to pay

restitution in the amount of $49,264.33. At this juncture, we find it significant whether the

trial court imposed restitution as a condition of Hubbell's community control sanctions or, on

the other hand, as a part of his sentence for the two years of nonsupport. In general,

“[r]estitution is limited to the actual loss caused by the offender's criminal conduct for which

he was convicted. ‘Thus, restitution can be ordered only for those acts that constitute the

crime for which the defendant was convicted and sentenced.’ ” State v. Hicks, Butler App.

No. CA2002-08-198, 2003-Ohio-7210 (quoting State v. Hafer (2001), 144 Ohio App.3d 345,

348, 760 N.E.2d 56, 2001-Ohio-2412 ). In Sutherland, we held that a trial court does not

have the authority to force a defendant to pay restitution on damages which did not result from

the criminal acts to which he had pled guilty. Sutherland, supra (reversing a trial court
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ordering the defendant to pay restitution for an arson at a church when he was neither charged

nor convicted of that arson); see also State v. Agbesua (Jan. 5, 2001), Greene App.

No.2000CA23. Thus, if a trial court requires a defendant to pay restitution as a part of his

sentence for felony nonsupport of dependents, the court is limited to the amount of arrearage

that accrued within the time period included in the indictment. We emphasize, however, that

this limitation in criminal sentencing in no way relieves the offender of his duty to pay his

child support arrearage in the court that has issued the underlying child support orders.

       As for community control sanctions, a court may impose conditions that relate to the

interest of doing justice, rehabilitate the offender, and insure his good behavior. See State v.

Jones (1990), 49 Ohio St.3d 51, 550 N.E.2d 469; State v. Craft, Greene App.

No.2001-CA-128, 2002-Ohio-5127 (applying Jones and noting that “we see no meaningful

distinction between conditions of probation and conditions in community control sanctions”).

The supreme court has held that in determining whether a condition of probation satisfies that

test, “courts should consider whether the condition (1) is reasonably related to rehabilitating

the offender, (2) has some relationship to the crime of which the offender was convicted, and

(3) relates to conduct which is criminal or reasonably related to future criminality and serves

the statutory ends of probation.” Jones, 49 Ohio St.3d at 53, 550 N.E.2d 469. Under R.C.

2929.15 and R.C. 2929.18, the trial court may impose financial sanctions as a condition of

community control, including but not limited to restitution and fines. In our judgment, the

requirement that an offender of felony nonsupport of dependents make payments on his total

arrearage would satisfy the Jones criteria, even though such an amount goes beyond a

permissible amount of restitution. E.g., Herring, supra; Lizanich, supra; State v. Karnes
                                                                                                     7

       (Mar. 29, 2001), Athens App. No. 99CA042. (Emphasis added.)

       {¶ 14} Henderson argues that the above-quoted passage from Hubbell is distinguishable

because the condition of Henderson’s community control sanctions goes beyond the payment of

child-support arrearages – it includes the payment of court-ordered child support in the future. We

see no material distinction.    Henderson’s payment of court-ordered child support is reasonably

related to his rehabilitation from the offense of non-support, of which he was convicted; it also bears a

reasonable relationship, at least, to the offense of which he was convicted; and it is arguably

reasonably related to future criminality. For these reasons, the requirement that he pay court-ordered

child support as it becomes due in the future is a reasonable condition of his community control

sanctions.

       {¶ 15} In Hubbell, supra, ¶ 25-26, we reversed an order to pay support corresponding to time

periods outside the scope of that defendant’s conviction as not proper restitution, when the order

expressly denominated the ordered payment as restitution. By contrast, in the case before us, the

general requirement to pay court-ordered support is expressly denominated as a condition of

community control, not as restitution. Restitution, in two specified amounts, was separately ordered.

 Henderson does not contend that this order of restitution does not correspond to the time periods of

the offenses to which he pled guilty. Indeed, the provision for restitution in the total amount of

$20,246.40 (the sum of $12,205.80 plus $8,040.60) was reflected in the written guilty plea that

Henderson tendered in open court, indicating that he agreed to pay restitution in that amount.

               {¶ 16} Henderson’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.

                      III. The Trial Court Did Not Delegate its Judicial Authority
                                                                                            8

                                to an Administrative Agency

       {¶ 17} Henderson’s Second Assignment of Error is as follows:

               THE       TRIAL COURT         ERRED    IN   DELEGATING        ITS    JUDICIAL

       AUTHORITY TO OTHER ENTITIES.

       {¶ 18} Henderson contends that by providing that the payment schedule for the

payment of restitution be arranged by Ohio Child Support Payment Central, the trial court

impermissibly delegated its authority to regulate the payment of restitution to an

administrative agency. Henderson argues alternatively, and somewhat inconsistently, that

this provision is meaningless because the Ohio Child Support Payment Central is just a

repository for the payment of support, with payments from obligors coming in, and payments

to obligees going out.

       {¶ 19} Henderson cites two cases in support of his argument that the trial court

impermissibly delegated its authority.    One of these is Cangemi v. Cangemi, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 84678, 2005-Ohio-772. In that case, “the trial court allowed the parties to

have a private judge hear and decide their [divorce] case and agreed to ‘rubber-stamp’ his

decision in an effort to make that decision appealable to [the 8th District Court of Appeals.]”

Id., ¶ 24. That is not what happened here.

       {¶ 20} The other case Henderson cites is State v. Fair, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

8081, 1983 WL 2500 (October 14, 1983). In that case, the trial court expressly delegated to a

police detective the “sole discretion” to determine whether the defendant complied with the

terms of a plea agreement requiring his cooperation with the police.         Id., p.1.   It was

expressly “agreed that the Defendant realizes that no other hearing will be held on the
                                                                                              9

reasonableness of Detective Taylor’s action.” Id., p.2. By contrast, in the case before us, the

trial court has not abdicated its responsibility, ultimately, to determine whether its restitution

order has been complied with. If a dispute arises whether Henderson has complied with the

trial court’s order of restitution, he will have an opportunity to be heard by the trial court,

including the opportunity to present any defenses available to him.

       {¶ 21} Henderson makes a similar argument with respect to the requirement, as a

condition of his community control sanction, that he pay court-ordered child support. Again,

if the State should claim that he has failed this condition, and seek to have his community

control sanctions revoked, the trial court would hold a hearing at which Henderson could

dispute that claim, and present any defenses available to him.

       {¶ 22} As the State points out, one court of appeals has held, and another has stated

in dictum, that although a trial court may make the payment of court-ordered child support a

condition of probation, pursuant to R.C. 3113.04(A) it is the child support enforcement

agency, not the court, that should determine the amounts of periodic support due. State v.

Lizanich, 93 Ohio App.3d 706, 711, 639 N.E.2d 855 (10th Dist. 1994); State v. Williams, 12th

Dist. Butler No. CA97-10-202, 1998 WL 265006 (May 26, 1998), p. 4.

       {¶ 23} Henderson’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.

           IV. By Requiring Henderson to Pay Court-Ordered Child Support,

             as a Condition of Community Control Sanctions, the Trial Court

         Has Not Created a Criminal Penalty for the Violation of that Condition

       {¶ 24} Henderson’s Third Assignment of Error is as follows:
                                                                                             10

               THE TRIAL COURT HAS ENCROACHED UPON THE POWERS OF THE

       LEGISLATURE BY JUDICIALLY CREATING A CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR

       VIOLATIONS WHICH ARE STATUTORILY ENFORCEABLE BY CONTEMPT

       PROCEEDINGS.

       {¶ 25} Henderson argues that by making the payment of his court-ordered child

support a condition of his community control sanctions, the trial court has “effectively

criminalize[d] conduct for which the legislature has prescribed a contempt remedy.” But as

the State points out, when community control sanctions are vacated because the offender has

failed to comply with the conditions thereof, the new sentence imposed is not punishment for

the failure to comply with the conditions of community control; it is punishment for the crime

of which the offender was convicted.

       {¶ 26} In State v. Black, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24005, 2011-Ohio-1273, a

defendant had his community control sanctions, imposed as a sentence for non-support,

revoked because of his failure to comply with the requirement that he support his dependents.

He argued that the prohibition against double jeopardy precluded his being convicted of

criminal non-support based upon the same failure to provide support that had led to the

revocation of his community control sanctions. We rejected that argument, holding that “ * *

* upon finding that a community control violation occurred based on a violation of law, the

trial court's imposition of a prison sentence is not a punishment for the new offense but, rather,

is a ‘continuing consequence of the original conviction.’ ” Id. ¶ 13.

       {¶ 27} Even when a term of incarceration is imposed for violation of a requirement of

post-release control, that term of incarceration is deemed attributable to the original
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conviction, not to the act constituting the violation of post-release control. State v. Martello,

97 Ohio St.3d 398, 2002-Ohio-666, 780 N.E.2d 250, ¶ 26.

        {¶ 28} We agree with the State that Henderson’s criminal conduct consists of the two

counts of Non-Support of Dependents to which he pled guilty, not potential violations of the

conditions of the community control sanctions to which he was sentenced.

        {¶ 29} Henderson’s Third Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                        V. Conclusion

        {¶ 30} All of Henderson’s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment

of the trial court is Affirmed.

                                        .............

FROELICH and FRENCH, JJ., concur.

(Hon. Judith L. French, Tenth District Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment of the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio).

Copies mailed to:

Mathias H. Heck
Andrew T. French
Victor A. Hodge
Hon. Michael Tucker