Court Opinion

ID: 4358917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-15 19:42:09.218435+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:30.080335
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Underwood, 2019-Ohio-67.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                  EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                     COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                                 JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                         No. 106597

                                              STATE OF OHIO

                                                         PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                   vs.

                                       JAMES UNDERWOOD

                                                         DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                               JUDGMENT:
                                                AFFIRMED

                                   Criminal Appeal from the
                            Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                 Case Nos. CR-16-605940-B, CR-16-608270-A, CR-16-608459-A,
                    CR-16-608959-B, CR-16-608977-B, and CR-16-609456-B

        BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., Boyle, P.J., and Keough, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 10, 2019

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Thomas A. Rein
820 West Superior Avenue, Suite 800
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Khalilah A. Lawson
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:

       {¶1} Appellant James Underwood seeks to challenge the sentence imposed by the trial

court in each of the six underlying felony cases. Upon review, we affirm.
        Background

        {¶2} Appellant entered a plea pursuant to a plea agreement involving six cases that

proceeded together to sentencing, to wit:                      Cuyahoga C.P. Nos. CR-16-605940-B,

CR-16-608270-A,             CR-16-608459-A,             CR-16-608959-B,            CR-16-608977-B,             and

CR-16-609456-B. Initially, a notice of appeal was filed in one of those cases, Cuyahoga C.P.

No. CR-16-608977-B. Appellant was granted leave to file a delayed appeal in the other cases,

which were sua sponte consolidated herein for purposes of appeal.1

        {¶3} The record reflects that the state and appellant reached a plea agreement involving

the six cases. At a hearing held on January 19, 2017, the assistant prosecutor outlined the plea

agreement on the record. Pursuant to the plea agreement, appellant agreed to plead guilty to a

number of felony offenses in the six cases, most of which included a firearm specification, with

the remaining counts being nolled.

        {¶4} Before accepting appellant’s guilty pleas, the trial court engaged in a Crim.R. 11

colloquy with appellant. After appellant entered his guilty pleas to various counts under the plea

agreement, the trial court dismissed any remaining counts in the cases.

        {¶5} The trial court held a sentencing hearing on March 2, 2017.                          The following

sentences were imposed in each case:

                 •        Case No. CR-16-605940-B: attempted grand theft, a
                          felony of the fourth degree — 12 months.

                 •        CR-16-608270-A: having weapons while under disability, a felony
                          of the third degree, with forfeiture specification(s) — 24 months.

                 •        CR-16-608459-A: aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree
                          with a three-year firearm specification — 8 years plus 3 years on

1
   The parties were afforded the opportunity to file supplemental briefing. As no additional briefing was filed, the
case is considered heard and submitted upon the initial briefing of the parties.
                           the firearm specification; and having weapons while under
                           disability, a felony of the third degree — 24 months concurrent;
                           total of 11 years.
                   •       CR-16-608959-B: aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree,
                           with a three-year firearm specification; felonious assault, a felony
                           of the second degree, with a three-year firearm specification; and
                           aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree, with a three-year
                           firearm specification. On each base count — 8 years concurrent,
                           plus 3 years on each of the three firearm specifications (run
                           consecutive for 9 years on the firearm specifications); total of 17
                           years.

                   •       CR-16-608977-B: aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree,
                           with a three-year firearm specification — 8 years plus 3 years on
                           the firearm specification; total of 11 years.2

                   •       CR-16-609456-B: two counts of aggravated robbery involving

                           different victims, felonies of the first degree, each with a one-year

                           firearm specification. On each base count, 8 years concurrent,

                           plus 1 year on each of the two firearm specifications (run

                           consecutive for 2 years on the firearm specifications); total of 10

                           years.

         {¶6} The court imposed a prison sentence in each case, with the base count(s) run

concurrent within and between cases, and the firearm specification(s), which were to be served

prior to and consecutive to the base count, run consecutive within and between cases. The total

aggregate term of imprisonment imposed for all six cases was 25 years — 8 years total on base

2
   We note that in Cuyahoga C.P. CR-16-608977-B, the trial court sentenced appellant to 11 years in prison,
consisting of 8 years on the underlying aggravated robbery charge to be served prior to and consecutive to 3 years on
the firearm specification. Although the trial court originally issued a journal entry indicating the aggravated robbery
charge included a one-year firearm specification, it later issued a nunc pro tunc entry correcting the clerical error and
properly indicating the charge had a three-year firearm specification, to which appellant had pled guilty and was
properly sentenced.
counts plus 17 years on all firearm specifications. The court also imposed postrelease control in

the cases.

       Legal Analysis

       {¶7} Although the state argues that there was an agreed sentence that is not subject to

review pursuant to R.C. 2953.08(D)(1), the record lacks sufficient clarity to find a jointly

recommended sentence was made in this matter. It appears from the court’s statements that the

judge had agreed in a conversation with defense counsel and the prosecutor in chambers to cap

the aggregate sentence for the six cases at 25 years maximum. The judge conveyed this to

appellant at the plea hearing and again at the time of sentencing. However, when the plea

agreement was outlined on the record, nothing was stated with regard to a jointly recommended

sentence and appellant never expressed that he had accepted an agreed sentence as part of the

plea deal. Parties are advised to clearly articulate a jointly recommended sentence, if applicable,

when placing the plea agreement on the record.

       {¶8} We further observe that we are not permitted to consider the sentences for each

offense together as a whole because the “‘sentencing package’ doctrine, by which federal courts

may consider multiple offenses as a whole and impose an overarching sentence, is not applicable

in Ohio’s state courts.” State v. Paige, 153 Ohio St. 3d 214, 2018-Ohio-813, 103 N.E.3d 800, ¶

8, citing State v. Saxon, 109 Ohio St. 3d 176, 2006-Ohio-1245, 846 N.E.2d 824, ¶ 10.

       {¶9} Under his sole assignment of error, appellant claims that the record fails to clearly

and convincingly support the imposition of more than the minimum sentence. He claims that

the imposition of more than the minimum sentence was not supported under R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12.
       {¶10} Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), “an appellate court may vacate or modify a felony

sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that the record does

not support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is otherwise

contrary to law.” A sentence is not considered clearly and convincingly contrary to law “‘where

the trial court considers the purposes and principles of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 as well as

the seriousness and recidivism factors listed in R.C. 2929.12, properly applies post-release

control, and sentences a defendant within the permissible statutory range.’” State v. Lenard, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105998, 2018-Ohio-3365, ¶ 79, quoting State v. A.H., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 98622, 2013-Ohio-2525, ¶ 10.

       {¶11} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “‘[t]rial 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 sentence.’”

 Emphasis added. State v. Sergent, 148 Ohio St. 3d 94, 2016-Ohio-2696, 69 N.E.3d 627, ¶ 34,

quoting State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, paragraph seven of

the syllabus. Appellate courts are to afford deference to a trial court’s broad discretion in

making sentencing decisions. State v. Rahab, 150 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2017-Ohio-1401, 80 N.E.3d
431, ¶ 10.     Although some sentences do not require the findings that R.C. 2953.08(G)

specifically addresses, it is fully consistent for appellate courts to review those sentences that are

imposed solely after consideration of the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 under a standard

that is equally deferential to the sentencing court. State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516,

2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 23.

       {¶12} The applicable version of R.C. 2929.11 provides that a felony sentence shall be

reasonably calculated to achieve two overriding purposes: (1) “to protect the public from future
crime by the offender and others,” and (2) “to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions

the court determines will achieve those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on

state or local government resources.” R.C. 2929.11(A).3 Further, the sentence imposed for a

felony must be “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.” R.C. 2929.11(B).

        {¶13} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.12, a court sentencing a felony offender “has discretion to

determine the most effective way to comply with the purposes and principles of sentencing”

outlined in the statute. R.C. 2929.12(A). In exercising that discretion, the sentencing court

must consider the seriousness, recidivism, and other mitigating factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.

Id.

        {¶14} Although the trial court must consider the purposes and principles of sentencing as

well as the factors in R.C. 2929.12, the court is not required to use particular language or make

specific findings on the record regarding its consideration of those factors. State v. Wilson, 129
Ohio St. 3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 31. Further, “[an] appellant’s sentence is

not contrary to law simply because he disagrees with the way in which the trial court weighed the

factors under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 and applied these factors in crafting an appropriate

sentence.” State v. Frazier, 2017-Ohio-8307, 98 N.E.3d 1291, ¶ 28 (8th Dist.).

        {¶15} Here, appellant complains that the trial court gave no explanation for imposing

more than the minimum sentence. However, the trial court was not required to make any

3
  There are now three overriding purposes set forth in R.C. 2929.11(A). See S.B. 66, Section 1, effective October
29, 2018.
findings. Appellant also argues that he is not likely to reoffend and that he demonstrated

genuine remorse by apologizing at the sentencing hearing.

       {¶16} Appellant fails to demonstrate that the trial court failed to consider the purposes

and principles of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the seriousness and recidivism

factors in R.C. 2929.12. In fact, the record reflects otherwise.

       {¶17} At the sentencing hearing, the trial court indicated it had reviewed the presentence

investigation report. Also, a psychiatric evaluation had been conducted. The trial court heard

from defense counsel, the assistant prosecutor, and appellant.        Defense counsel presented

mitigating factors and acknowledged that a number of the cases involved the use of a firearm, the

nature of the cases involved, and the psychological scarring to the victims. The assistant

prosecutor indicated the victims were “very traumatized” by appellant’s actions. Appellant

apologized for his actions. Appellant’s mother and the mother of one of his children also

addressed the court. Prior to imposing sentence, the trial court stated that it had considered “the

purposes and principles set forth in felony sentencing[.]” The sentencing journal entries also

state that “the court considered all required factors of the law. The court finds that prison is

consistent with the purpose of R.C. 2929.11.”

       {¶18} Appellant has failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the

record does not support the sentences imposed under the relevant statutes, or that his sentences

were contrary to law. We overrule appellant’s sole assignment of error.

       {¶19} Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.      The       court

finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas

court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed,

any bail pending appeal is terminated.    Case remanded to the trial court for execution of

sentence.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR