Court Opinion

ID: 4278716
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-25 20:48:11.311817+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:27.069428
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Barker, 2018-Ohio-2044.]

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

STATE OF OHIO                                      :
                                                   :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                        :  C.A. CASE NO.: 27472
                                                   :
 v.                                                :  T.C. NO. 12-CR-477
                                                   :
 KEVIN J. BARKER                                   :  (Criminal Appeal from
                                                   :  Common Pleas Court)
         Defendant-Appellant                       :
                                                   :
                                              ...........

                                             OPINION

                              Rendered on the 25th day of May, 2018.

                                              ...........

MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by ANDREW FRENCH, Atty. Reg. No. 69384, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, 301 W. Third Street, Fifth
Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422
       Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

JAMES SWEENEY, Atty. Reg. No. 86402, 341 S. Third Street, Suite 100, Columbus,
Ohio 43215
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

KEVIN J. BARKER, #679074, London Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 69, London, Ohio
43140
      Defendant-Appellant, pro se

                                             .............
                                                                                         -2-

DONOVAN, J.

       {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Kevin J. Barker, appeals a decision of the Montgomery

County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, as it relates to his “Motion to Correct

Void Sentence and/or Judgment” which he originally filed on March 8, 2016.              On

September 30, 2016, the trial court sustained in part and overruled in part Barker’s motion,

finding that it had failed to properly state its reasons for imposing consecutive sentences

in his underlying convictions. On February 7, 2017, the trial court issued an Amended

Termination Entry in which it stated its findings for imposing consecutive sentences.

Barker filed a timely notice of appeal with this Court on February 22, 2017.

       {¶ 2} In June of 2012, Barker was indicted on one count of engaging in a pattern

of corrupt activity, two counts of promoting prostitution, and three counts of possession

of criminal tools. After a jury trial in March of 2013, Barker was convicted of all charges.

The trial court sentenced Barker to an aggregate sentence of eight years in prison.

       {¶ 3} Barker appealed, raising claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and that

his convictions were based on insufficient evidence and against the manifest weight of

the evidence. We rejected Barker’s arguments and affirmed his convictions. State v.

Barker, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25732, 2014–Ohio–1269 (Barker I). See also State v.

Barker, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25722 (Decision and Final Judgment Entry, May 17,

2013) (dismissing appeal as duplicative of Case No. 25732). In September of 2015,

Barker sought to reopen his direct appeal, but we denied his application as untimely.

       {¶ 4} Also on March 8, 2016, Barker filed a motion in the trial court pursuant to

Crim.R. 36 and App.R. 9(E) to correct the trial record. Barker’s motion asserted that the

trial court had failed to (1) state its position on whether the two violations of R.C.
                                                                                        -3-

2907.22(A)(2) (promoting prostitution) involved “alternative means” or “multiple acts,” and

(2) rule on whether the playing of an audio recording precluded a detective from testifying

about the content of the recording. On August 9, 2016, the trial court overruled as

untimely Barker's motion to correct the record. We subsequently affirmed the decision

of the trial court in State v. Barker, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27252, 2017-Ohio-6994.

       {¶ 5} As previously stated, on March 8, 2016, Barker filed a “Motion to Correct Void

Sentence and/or Judgment” which the trial court sustained in part and overruled in part

on September 30, 2016. A resentencing hearing was held on November 2, 2016, and

an amended termination entry was filed by the trial court on November 10, 2016. Barker

appealed, and we issued an opinion dismissing his appeal and finding that the trial court

did not have jurisdiction to issue the amended termination entry because Barker had

another appeal pending at the time. State v. Barker, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27358,

December 27, 2016, Decision and Final Judgment Entry.

       {¶ 6} In our opinion in CA No. 27358, we stated that once Barker’s appeal was

dismissed, “the trial court may re-enter the Amended Termination Entry” and “Barker may

then file a new appeal from that order.” Thereafter, the trial court filed a second amended

termination entry on February 7, 2017, whereupon Barker filed the instant appeal.

       {¶ 7} On July 26, 2017, Barker’s appointed counsel submitted a brief pursuant to

Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), in which

counsel states that after a review of the record of the proceedings before the trial court,

he was unable to locate any arguably meritorious issues for appeal. This Court notified

Barker of his counsel’s submission and provided him an opportunity to file a pro se brief.

Barker filed his pro se appellate brief on August 23, 2017. The State filed its responsive
                                                                                        -4-

brief on December 19, 2017, and Barker filed a reply brief on January 12, 2018.

                                          Anders Standard

       {¶ 8} Anders outlines the procedure counsel must follow to withdraw as counsel

due to the lack of any meritorious grounds for appeal. In Anders, the United States

Supreme Court held that if appointed counsel, after a conscientious examination of the

case, determines the appeal to be wholly frivolous, he or she should advise the court of

that fact and request permission to withdraw. Anders at 744. This request, however,

must be accompanied by a brief identifying anything in the record that could arguably

support the appeal. Id. Further, counsel must also furnish the client with a copy of the

brief, and allow the client sufficient time to file his or her own brief, pro se. Id.

       {¶ 9} Once the appellant's counsel satisfies these requirements, this court must

fully examine the proceedings below to determine if any arguably meritorious issues exist.

Id. If we determine that the appeal is wholly frivolous, we may grant counsel's request

to withdraw and dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements, or we

may proceed to a decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.

       {¶ 10} In the instant case, appointed counsel fully complied with the requirements

of Anders, and Barker has filed a pro se brief in which he asserts five assignments error.

Id. at 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493.

       {¶ 11} Because they are interrelated, we will discuss assignments of error I-IV

together as follows:

       {¶ 12} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO VACATE APPELLANT’S

CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES, AND EXCEEDED ITS JURISDICTION TO IMPOSE

SENTENCES UPON THE APPELLANT, BASED ON UN-INDICTED OFFENSES,
                                                                        -5-

THEREBY VIOLATING APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO INDICTMENT BY GRAND JURY,

INFORMED NATURE OF CHARGES, DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND FAIR TRIAL,

JURY TRIAL AND DOUBLE JEOPARDY, AS GUARANTEED BY THE 5TH, 6TH AND

14TH AMENDEMENT[S], UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; SECTION 5, 10 AND 16,

ARTICLE 1, OHIO CONSTITUTION.”

      {¶ 13} “THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY FAILING TO

PROVIDE JURY ‘UNANIMITY’ INSTRUCTIONS FOR ‘MULTIPLE ACT’ CASE,

RESULTED IN A VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW

AND FAIR TRIAL, DOUBLE JEOPARDY AND JURY TRIAL, AS GUARANTEED BY THE

5TH, 6TH AND 14TH AMENDEMENT[S], UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; SECTION

5, 10 AND 16, ARTICLE 1, OHIO CONSTITUTION, CRIM.R. 31(A) AND R.C.

2941.25(A).”

      {¶ 14} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING STATE’S MOTION TO

UTILIZE   CO-CONSPIRATOR’S   STATEMENTS,     RESTRICTING    DEFENDANT’S

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF CO-CONSPIRATOR’S AND STATE’S KEY WITNESS DET.

ST. CLAIR, RESULTED IN A VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS

OF LAW AND FAIR TRIAL, COMPULSORY PROCESS AND CONFRONTATION OF

ADVERSE WITNESS,     AS   GUARANTEED    BY   THE   5TH,   6TH   AND   14TH

AMENDEMENT[S], UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; SECTION 5, 10 AND 16,

ARTICLE 1, OHIO CONSTITUTION.”

      {¶ 15} “THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN FAILING TO MERGE

ALLIED OFFENSES, RESULTING IN A VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO DUE

PROCESS AND DOUBLE JEOPARDY, AS GUARANTEED BY THE 5TH, 6TH AND
                                                                                               -6-

14TH AMENDEMENT[S], UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; SECTION 5, 10 AND 16,

ARTICLE 1, OHIO CONSTITUTION.”

       {¶ 16} For ease of discussion, Barker’s first four assignments can be categorized

as follows: 1) his indictment was defective and therefore insufficient to serve as a basis

for his convictions; 2) the trial court erred when it failed to properly instruct the jury; 3) the

trial court erred when it granted the State’s motion to utilize statements made by co-

conspirators and when it limited defense counsel’s cross-examination of certain

witnesses; and 4) the trial court erred when it failed to merge his convictions as allied

offenses.

       {¶ 17} Upon review, we find res judicata applicable. The doctrine bars re-litigation

of matters that either were raised in a prior appeal or could have been raised in a prior

appeal. State v. McCoy, 2d Dist. Greene No. 04CA112, 2005–Ohio–6837, ¶ 15. Even if

Barker’s first four assignments of error address new arguments that he did not raise

previously, he could have raised them in his direct appeal in Barker I. Therefore, any

issues regarding the original indictment, the jury instructions, the admission and/or

exclusion of evidence by the trial court, and the merger of allied offenses are barred by

res judicata.

       {¶ 18} Barker argues that res judicata does not apply in the instant case because

his original termination entry was void since the trial court failed to include the requisite

findings for the imposition of consecutive sentences. However, errors in the imposition

of consecutive sentences, such as the failure to make the required statutory findings,

render the sentences voidable, rather than void. State v. Bowshier, 2d Dist. Clark No.

2015–CA–53, 2016–Ohio–1416, ¶ 16 (“the Supreme Court of Ohio ‘has declined to find
                                                                                         -7-

sentences void based on the court's failure to comply with certain sentencing statutes,

including the consecutive sentencing statute.’ ”).

       {¶ 19} Here, the trial court’s failure to include the requisite findings for the

imposition of consecutive sentences did not render the original sentencing entry void, but

merely voidable. Accordingly, res judicata still applies to all of the other aspects of the

merits of Barker’s convictions, including the determination of guilt and the lawful elements

of the ensuing sentence. See State v. Fischer, 128 Ohio St.3d 92, 2010-Ohio-6238, 942

N.E.2d 332, syllabus ¶ 3.

       {¶ 20} Barker’s assignments of error I-IV are without arguable merit.

       {¶ 21} Barker’s fifth and final assignment of error is as follows:

       {¶ 22} “APPELLANT’S COUNSEL’S DEFICIENT PERFORMANCE AT TRIAL

AND RE-SENTENCING HEARING RESULTED IN A VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S

RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, AS GUARANTEED BY THE 6TH

AMENDEMENT, UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; SECTION 10, ARTICLE 1.”

       {¶ 23} In his fifth assignment, Barker contends that he received ineffective

assistance during his trial when counsel failed to object to the indictment and the jury

instructions given by the trial court. Barker also argues that his counsel was deficient for

failing to object to witness testimony and for not properly cross-examining certain

witnesses.

       {¶ 24} Initially, we note that Barker could have and did raise arguments regarding

his trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness in his direct appeal. The record establishes

that in Barker I, we considered and rejected Barker’s arguments regarding his trial

counsel’s examination of witnesses. Id. at ¶¶ 22-25. Accordingly, Barker's argument is
                                                                                          -8-

barred by res judicata. “Any ineffective assistance claim relating to matters contained

within the record should be brought through a direct appeal.” State v. Lane, 2d Dist.

Greene No. 2014–CA–54, 2015-Ohio-2712, ¶ 13, citing State v. Wilson, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 23129, 2013-Ohio-180, ¶ 47–48. “ ‘If an alleged constitutional error

[such as ineffective assistance of counsel] could have been raised and fully litigated on

direct appeal, the issue is res judicata and may not be litigated in a post[-]conviction

proceeding.’ ” Id., quoting State v. Franklin, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19041, 2002-Ohio-

2370, ¶ 9, citing State v. Perry, 10 Ohio St.2d 175, 180, 226 N.E.2d 104 (1967).

       {¶ 25} In the instant case, it is clear that Barker could have raised the issue of his

counsel’s ineffectiveness on direct appeal, as counsel's failure to object to the indictment,

jury instructions, and witness testimony does not rely on evidence outside the record.

Therefore, the argument made by Barker regarding counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness at

trial are barred by res judicata. State v. Hawley, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25897, 2014-

Ohio-731, ¶ 10.

       {¶ 26} Barker also argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his

resentencing hearing on November 2, 2016. Specifically, Barker argues that his counsel

“had no knowledge of trial facts, or rulings of law” and failed to object to imposition of a

fine and court costs without considering his present or future ability to pay.

       {¶ 27} In order to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Barker must establish

that his trial counsel's performance was both deficient and prejudicial. Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v. Bradley,

42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141–142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). With respect to deficiency, Barker

must show that his counsel's performance “fell below an objective standard of
                                                                                           -9-

reasonableness.” Strickland at 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052. With respect to prejudice, Barker

must show that there is a reasonable probability that but for his counsel's unprofessional

errors, the outcome of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct.

2052.

        {¶ 28} In the instant case, the trial court held the resentencing hearing for the sole

purpose of stating on the record its reasons for imposing consecutive sentences.

Knowledge of all the facts underlying the indictment or the specific legal rulings made at

trial were not necessary for counsel’s representation of Barker at the resentencing. At

the resentencing hearing defense counsel stated as follows:

               Defense Counsel: *** In preparing for today’s hearing I looked over

        – I reviewed all of the pleadings, read all of the pleadings, including the

        Second District Court of Appeals, post-conviction relief, all the motions that

        were filed.

Tr. 23.    We note that this would include access to Barker’s pre-sentence

investigation report (PSI).

        {¶ 29} Moreover, we note that Barker did not argue on direct appeal that the

imposition of consecutive sentences was contrary to law or not supported by the record.

Barker also did not challenge the trial court’s imposition of a fine and court costs in his

direct appeal.    As previously stated, the trial court’s sole purpose of holding the

resentencing hearing was to provide its basis for imposing consecutive sentences, and

res judicata applies to all of the other aspects of the merits of Barker’s convictions,

including the determination of guilt and the lawful elements of the ensuing sentence.

Fischer, 128 Ohio St.3d 92, 2010-Ohio-6238, 942 N.E.2d 332, syllabus ¶ 3. Thus, we
                                                                                     -10-

find that Barker did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel at his resentencing

hearing.

       {¶ 30} Barker’s fifth assignment of error is without arguable merit.

                                           Conclusion

       {¶ 31} Barker’s appointed counsel states in the Anders brief that he extensively

reviewed the record, including the transcript of the resentencing hearing and our prior

opinions issued in this case, and he concluded that he could not make any meritorious

arguments on Barker’s behalf. We also note that counsel did not present any potentially

meritorious assignments of error for our consideration.

       {¶ 32} Pursuant to our responsibilities under Anders, we have conducted an

independent review of the entire record. Having done so, we agree with the assessment

of appointed counsel that there are no arguably meritorious issues to present on appeal.

       {¶ 33} Therefore, no potential assignments of error with arguable merit having

been found, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

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

FROELICH, J. and HALL, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Andrew French
James Sweeney
Kevin J. Barker
Hon. Barbara P. Gorman