Court Opinion

ID: 4155357
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-24 17:12:08.716894+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:28.923868
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Baker, 2017-Ohio-1074.]

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

State of Ohio                                    Court of Appeals No. L-15-1295
                                                                      L-15-1324
        Appellee

v.                                               Trial Court No. CR0201501062

John David Baker

        Appellant                                DECISION AND JUDGMENT

                                                 Decided: March 24, 2017

                                            *****

        Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
        Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

        Molly S. Blythe, for appellant.

                                            *****

        PIETRYKOWSKI, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, John David Baker, appeals the May 12, 2015 judgment

of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas which, following his guilty pleas to

trafficking in marijuana and tampering with evidence as well as a post-release control
violation, sentenced him to a concurrent sentence of 18 months, and 784 days for the

post-release control violation to be served consecutively to the felony convictions. For

the reasons set forth herein, we affirm.

       {¶ 2} On January 13, 2015, appellant and co-defendant Tiara Kendig, were

indicted on several drug-related charges. As to appellant, he was indicted on one count

of trafficking in marijuana, R.C. 2925.03(A)(2) and (C)(3)(b), one count of possession of

marijuana, R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(3)(a) and (B), three counts of possession of drugs,

R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(2)(a), aggravated possession of drugs, R.C. 2925.11(A) and

(C)(1)(a), tampering with evidence, R.C. 2921.12(A)(1) and (B), and illegal use or

possession of drug paraphernalia, R.C. 2915.14(C)(1) and (F). The charges stemmed

from a controlled drug buy by a confidential informant and subsequent execution of a

search warrant at appellant’s residence. Appellant entered not guilty pleas to the charges.

       {¶ 3} On March 27, 2015, appellant withdrew his not guilty pleas and entered a

plea of guilty to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a fourth degree felony, and one

count of tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. The remaining six counts were

to be dismissed. Appellant also admitted to a post-release control violation. Following

the court’s May 12, 2015 judgment entry, this consolidated appeal followed.

       {¶ 4} In counsel’s appellate brief, under procedures announced in Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493 (1967), counsel indicates that

she has thoroughly examined the record, discussed the case with appellant, and is unable

to find meritorious grounds for appeal. Following Anders procedure, appellate counsel

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filed a brief setting forth potential grounds for appeal and has also filed a motion to

withdraw as counsel.

         {¶ 5} Counsel notified appellant of her inability to find meritorious grounds for

appeal and provided appellant with copies of both the Anders brief and her motion to

withdraw. Counsel advised appellant of his right to file his own appellate brief.

Appellant has not filed an additional brief.

         {¶ 6} In her Anders brief, counsel has asserted three potential assignments of

error:

                Potential First Assignment of Error: Knowing, Voluntary, Intelligent

         Plea and Crim.R.11.

                Potential Second Assignment of Error: Ineffective Assistance of

         Counsel- Failure to Challenge Search Warrant.

                Potential Third Assignment of Error: Jurisdiction of Lucas County

         Court of Common Pleas to Sentence Wood County Post Release Control

         Violation.

         {¶ 7} Appellant’s counsel’s first potential assignment of error examines whether

appellant’s guilty pleas were knowing, voluntary, and intelligent as required under

Crim.R. 11(C). The rule provides, in part:

                In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a

         plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest

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       without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the

       following:

              (a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily,

       with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum

       penalty involved, and, if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for

       probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the

       sentencing hearing.

              (b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

       understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,

       upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.

              (c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant

       understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial,

       to confront witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for

       obtaining witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to

       prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the

       defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.

       {¶ 8} The underlying purpose of Crim.R. 11(C) is to insure that certain

information is conveyed to the defendant which would allow him or her to make a

voluntary and intelligent decision regarding whether to plead guilty. State v. Ballard, 66
Ohio St. 2d 473, 479-480, 423 N.E.2d 115 (1981). With respect to constitutional rights, a

trial court must strictly comply with the dictates of Crim.R. 11(C). State v. Colbert, 71

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Ohio App.3d 734, 737, 595 N.E.2d 401 (11th Dist.1991). However, a trial court need not

use the exact language found in that rule when informing a defendant of his constitutional

rights. Ballard at paragraph two of the syllabus. Rather, a trial court must explain those

rights in a manner reasonably intelligible to the defendant. Id.

       {¶ 9} For nonconstitutional rights, scrupulous adherence to Crim.R. 11(C) is not

required; the trial court must substantially comply, provided no prejudicial effect occurs

before a guilty plea is accepted. State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St. 2d 86, 364 N.E.2d 1163

(1977). “Substantial compliance means that under the totality of the circumstances the

defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea and the rights he is

waiving.” State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).

       {¶ 10} Upon careful review of the transcript of the March 26, 2015 plea hearing,

we find that the trial court fully complied with Crim.R. 11(C) prior to accepting

appellant’s plea. As to appellant’s constitutional rights, the court informed appellant of

his right to trial by jury, right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, right to

compulsory process, the right to proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the right to remain

silent, and appellant’s limited appeal right.

       {¶ 11} Appellant was also informed of the nature of the charges to which he was

admitting, the maximum penalties involved, and post-release control requirements. The

court further confirmed that no promises or threats were made to get appellant to enter his

pleas, that he was satisfied with counsel’s advice and representation, and that appellant

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believed that entering the pleas was in his best interest. Accordingly, we reject

appellant’s counsel’s first potential assignment of error.

       {¶ 12} Appellant’s counsel’s second potential assignment of error contends that

trial counsel was ineffective by failing to file a motion to suppress the evidence obtained

upon execution of the search warrant. Counsel specifically points to the probable cause

affidavit as well as the timing of the search.

       {¶ 13} We first note that to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant

must demonstrate “(1) deficient performance of counsel, i.e., performance falling below

an objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been

different.” State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St. 3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 204,

citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674

(1984). “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

the outcome.” Id. at 694. When, however, a defendant enters a guilty plea or no contest

plea, he waives the right to claim that he was prejudiced by constitutionally ineffective

counsel, unless the conduct complained of is shown to have prevented the defendant from

making a knowing and voluntary plea. State v. Barnett, 73 Ohio App. 3d 244, 248-249,

596 N.E.2d 1101 (2d Dist.1991).

       {¶ 14} Opposing appellant’s counsel’s claims, the state first notes that by entering

a guilty plea, appellant has waived all errors except those relating to the knowing and

voluntary nature of his plea and sentence. Further, the probable cause affidavit, though

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attached to appellant’s brief, is not contained in the record and, thus, not reviewable on

appeal.

       {¶ 15} As to the effect of appellant’s guilty plea, we agree that “‘a defendant who

pleads guilty generally waives the right to make allegations of ineffective assistance of

counsel * * * for failure to move for suppression unless he alleges that the error caused

the plea to be less than knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.’” State v. Arnold, 2d Dist.

Clark Nos. 2014-CA-23, 2014-CA-24, 2014-CA-25, 2014-CA-26, 2015-Ohio-1580, ¶ 10,

quoting State v. Jackson, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13 MA 121, 2014-Ohio-2249, ¶ 17.

       {¶ 16} We further agree that our review of appellant’s claims is limited to the

materials contained in the record of the trial court proceedings. However, even a cursory

review of the argument demonstrates that it lacks merit. The affidavit at issue clearly

provides probable cause and supports the court’s issuance of the search warrant. The

affidavit sets forth the location, the extensive experience and basis of the officer’s

knowledge, the timeliness of the information, and the positive marijuana testing that was

conducted.

       {¶ 17} We further reject appellant’s counsel’s contention that the warrant was not

valid because it was not executed within three days as required under Crim.R. 41(C).

The warrant was issued on Friday, September 26, 2014, and was executed on Tuesday,

September 30. We agree that Crim.R. 41(C), provides that a search warrant “shall

command the officer to search, within three days, the person or place named * * *.”

However, Crim.R. 45(A) states:

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             In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these

      rules, by the local rules of any court, by order of court, or by any applicable

      statute, the date of the act or event from which the designated period of

      time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so

      computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal

      holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which

      is not Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. When the period of time

      prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays,

      Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in computation.

      {¶ 18} Crim.R. 45(A) has repeatedly been applied to computing time for the

execution of search warrants under Crim.R. 41(C). See State v. Coleman, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 91058, 2009-Ohio-1611; State v. Hill, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18875,

2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 5939 (Dec. 28, 2001); State v. Mansor, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-85-

197, 1986 Ohio App. LEXIS 5564 (Feb. 7, 1986).

      {¶ 19} Finally, we find no error in trial counsel’s failure to challenge the judge

who issued the search warrant containing a waiver of the requirement that the officers

“knock and announce” before entry into the home. Such waiver may be appropriate

where the court

             determines there is probable cause to believe that, if the law

      enforcement officers or other authorized individuals who execute the

      warrant are required to comply with the statutory precondition for

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       nonconsensual entry, they will be subjected to a risk of serious physical

       harm and to believe that the address of the dwelling house or other building

       to be searched is the correct address in relation to the criminal offense or

       other violation of law underlying the issuance of the warrant. R.C.

       2933.231.

       {¶ 20} In the present matter, we again note that the affidavit in support of the

search warrant is not part of the appellate record. However, a cursory review of the

materials shows that the officer was informed that appellant possessed a firearm and after

reviewing his criminal history, was made aware of several prior convictions involving

violence. Further, a pit bull was known to be present on the property.

       {¶ 21} Based on the foregoing, we conclude that appellant’s counsel has not

demonstrated that trial counsel’s representation was deficient. Thus, we find appellant’s

counsel’s second potential assignment of error not well-taken.

       {¶ 22} Appellant’s counsel’s third and final potential assignment of error

questions the jurisdiction of the trial court to impose a sentence for appellant’s Wood

County post-release control violation stemming from his conviction in this case. Counsel

admits that R.C. 2929.141(A) provides that upon conviction or a plea of guilty to a felony

by an individual on post-release control,

              the court may terminate the term of post-release control, and the

       court may do either of the following regardless of whether the sentencing

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       court or another court of this state imposed the original prison term for

       which the person is on post-release control:

              (1) In addition to any prison term for the new felony, impose a

       prison term for the post-release control violation.

       {¶ 23} Upon review, we agree that the trial court had the authority to impose a

prison term for the Wood County post-release control violation. Appellant’s counsel’s

third potential assignment of error is not well-taken.

       {¶ 24} Upon our own independent review of the record as required by Anders, we

find no other grounds for a meritorious appeal. This appeal is, therefore, found to be

without merit and is wholly frivolous. Appellant’s counsel’s motion to withdraw is found

well-taken and is hereby granted. The judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common

Pleas is affirmed. Pursuant to App.R. 24, appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this

appeal. The clerk is ordered to serve all parties with notice of this decision.

                                                                        Judgment affirmed.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J.                        _______________________________
                                                            JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
                                                _______________________________
James D. Jensen, P.J.                                       JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                                _______________________________
                                                            JUDGE

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           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/.

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