Court Opinion

ID: 2735757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-22 19:08:04.552127+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:21:38.659339
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. White, 2014-Ohio-4153.]
                           STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                 )    CASE NO. 13 JE 33
                                              )
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE                    )
                                              )
VS.                                           )    OPINION
                                              )
SHANNON L. WHITE                              )
                                              )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT                   )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                          Criminal Appeal from the Court of
                                                   Common Pleas of Jefferson County,
                                                   Ohio
                                                   Case No. 13 CR 1

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee:                            Atty. Jane M. Hanlin
                                                   Prosecuting Attorney
                                                   Atty. Frank J. Bruzzese
                                                   Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                   Jefferson County Justice Center
                                                   16001 State Route 7
                                                   Steubenville, Ohio 43952

For Defendant-Appellant:                           Atty. Bernard C. Battistel
                                                   P.O. Box 803
                                                   Steubenville, Ohio 43952

JUDGES:

Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
                                                   Dated: September 18, 2014
[Cite as State v. White, 2014-Ohio-4153.]
WAITE, J.

        {¶1}     Appellant Shannon L. White appeals his conviction and three-year

prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to two counts of endangering children.

Appellant argues that his counsel was ineffective for allowing him to plead to the

more serious charge of endangering children, a second degree felony, when the

original charge was unlawful sexual conduct, a third degree felony.         The record

indicates that Appellant changed his plea to avoid being classified a Tier II sex

offender because the charge of endangering children carries no such designation. A

defendant may negotiate to plead guilty to a different charge than is listed in the

indictment, and an appeal of such a negotiated plea will usually be rejected on

grounds of invited error. State v. Rohrbaugh, 126 Ohio St.3d 421, 2010-Ohio-3286,

934 N.E.2d 920, ¶10. Because there was no error in allowing the indictment to be

amended, there is no basis to the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

        {¶2}     Appellant also contends that the prison sentence was too severe due to

allegedly incorrect findings made by the trial judge.     Appellant contends that the

judge improperly found two factors that made the crime more serious than usual:

that Appellant facilitated the offense by his relationship with the victim, and that the

victim suffered serious physical harm. The record shows that Appellant did have a

prior relationship with the child and was still considered a family friend when the

crime was committed. The record also shows that the child suffered serious physical

harm by being exposed to Appellant’s sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).            In

addition, the judge imposed only slightly more than the minimum sentence in this
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case, and the record thoroughly supports the sentence. The judgment of the trial

court is affirmed.

                                 Case Background

        {¶3}   On January 9, 2013, Appellant was indicted by the Jefferson County

Grand Jury on two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, R.C. 2907.04(A),

(B)(3), third-degree felonies with a possible penalty of 12 to 60 months in prison on

each count. He was accused of having had sexual contact with a 15-year old minor

female child on August 28, 2012 and October 1, 2012 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He

pleaded not guilty and counsel was appointed.

        {¶4}   Plea negotiations were held that involved changing the charge to a

charge of endangering children, a second degree felony, so that Appellant could

avoid being designated a Tier II sexual offender. Appellant agreed in a written plea

agreement to plead guilty to two counts of endangering children, and the charges

were amended, via a joint motion to amend the indictment, by the filing of a

superseding Bill of Information. The state agreed to recommend a two-year prison

term.

        {¶5}   The change of plea hearing took place on August 27, 2013. The court

reviewed the new plea with Appellant and all parties were aware of the new Bill of

Information and agreed that it would supersede the indictment. The court accepted

the new plea and the case proceeded immediately to sentencing. Both the state and

Appellant's counsel noted that the element of serious physical harm was present in

this case because the victim was exposed to Appellant's STDs which required
                                                                                      -3-

hospital treatment. (Tr., p. 14.) The prosecutor noted that Appellant had a prior

relationship with the child that facilitated the offense, and that the age of the victim

was an aggravating factor.        Appellant acknowledged that he was a friend of the

victim's family and had driven the victim to school. (Tr., p. 36.) The two instances of

sexual contact took place at the victim's home and outside her school.              The

prosecutor mentioned that the victim was 15 years old and consented to the sexual

encounter, “as much as a 15 year old can consent,” and that there was no force,

trickery or intoxication used to commit the crime. (Tr., p. 31.) The prosecution stated

that Appellant had previous felony convictions for aggravated burglary, drug

trafficking, and possession of drugs.

       {¶6}   The court concluded that the more serious sentencing factors

outweighed the less serious factors, particularly in that the victim was 15 years old

and did not have the capacity to consent to the crime, that she had to be hospitalized

for treatment for STDs, that Appellant had a prior relationship with the victim, and that

Appellant had served two prior prison terms of 9 and 3 years. The court sentenced

Appellant to three years in prison on each count to be served concurrently. The

judgment entry was filed on August 28, 2013, and this timely appeal followed.

                          ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

       THE     IMPOSITION         OF    THE    THREE      YEAR      TERM      OF

       INCARCERATION         IS    CONTRARY      TO    O.R.C.   §2929.11    AND

       §2929.12.
                                                                                      -4-

      {¶7}   Appellant's argument is that the trial court improperly weighed two

sentencing factors against him that are not supported by the record. He believes that

if the judge had not used those factors the sentence might have been less severe.

Appellant is particularly concerned with two factors mentioned in R.C. 2929.12. First,

R.C. 2929.12(B)(2) states: “(2) The victim of the offense suffered serious physical,

psychological, or economic harm as a result of the offense.” The court found that the

victim suffered serious physical harm by being exposed to STDs and because she

needed to be hospitalized to receive treatment. Second, R.C. 2929.12(B)(6) states:

“(6) The offender's relationship with the victim facilitated the offense.”    The court

found that Appellant’s relationship with both the victim and the victim's family

facilitated the crime. Appellant does not believe either of these are supported by the

record. Our review of the record reveals that Appellant is mistaken.

      {¶8}   Appellate courts review felony sentences using a two-fold analysis:

“First, they must examine the sentencing court's compliance with all applicable rules

and statutes in imposing the sentence to determine whether the sentence is clearly

and convincingly contrary to law.     If this first prong is satisfied, the trial court's

decision shall be reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard.” State v. Kalish,

120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, ¶4 (O'Connor, J., plurality

opinion), citing State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470.

      {¶9}   A sentencing court must consider the principles and purposes of

sentencing found in R.C. 2929.11 and the seriousness and recidivism factors listed in

R.C. 2929.12.    State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St .3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, ¶38.           The
                                                                                       -5-

sentencing court need not make findings regarding these statutes in order to impose

the maximum prison term. We have held that a silent record raises the rebuttable

presumption that the sentencing court considered the statutory sentencing criteria.

State v. James, 7th Dist. No. 07 CO 47, 2009-Ohio-4392, ¶50. Only if the record

affirmatively shows that the trial court failed to consider the principles and purposes

of sentencing will a sentence be reversed on this basis, unless the sentence is

strikingly inconsistent with relevant considerations. Id.

       {¶10} Appellant does not argue that the sentence is contrary to law, but only

that it constitutes an abuse of discretion. An abuse of discretion means more than an

error of judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157, 404 N.E.2d 144 (1980).

Thus, in the felony sentencing context, “[a]n abuse of discretion can be found if the

sentencing court unreasonably or arbitrarily weighs the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and

R.C. 2929.12.” State v. Heverly, 7th Dist. No. 09 CO 4, 2010-Ohio-1005, ¶34.

       {¶11} The record reflects that Appellant had some type of STDs and that the

victim needed to be hospitalized to be examined and treated for exposure to those

diseases. (Tr., pp. 13-14, 31, 33.) The record also indicates that the victim suffered

psychological trauma from the crime. (Tr., p. 35.) Obviously, some types of STDs

can be life-threatening, and the transmission or attempted transmission of such

diseases is a physical act harmful to the victim. Also, it is not inherent in the crime of

endangering children (this being the charge that Appellant was convicted of) that the

crime would involve a sexual assault or that the sexual assault would result in
                                                                                     -6-

exposure to STDs. Thus, the court properly considered the victim's exposure to

Appellant's STDs as a type of serious physical harm, and a type of harm that

enhanced the seriousness of the crime.

      {¶12} Appellant contends that exposure to STDs was not physical harm

because the victim did not actually contract any disease. The fact that the victim did

not ultimately contract any diseases is not crucial in resolving this matter because the

sexual assault in and of itself brought the charge of endangering children to a higher

degree of seriousness.      If Appellant had pleaded guilty to the original charge of

unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, there may have been an argument to be made

regarding whether the victim's exposure to STDs should have been an enhancing

factor at sentencing.    Since he did not plead guilty to a sexual offense, but to

endangering children, the inherent physical harm that accompanies unlawful sexual

conduct was automatically an enhancing sentencing factor rather than being a

necessary element of the crime. The exposure to STDs that required hospital care

further enhanced what was already serious physical harm. There is also evidence of

severe psychological harm, which is yet another enhancing factor pursuant to R.C.

2929.12(B)(2), so any error in the court's use of Appellant's STDs as an enhancing

factor would be harmless.

      {¶13} The record reflects that Appellant's counsel agreed that exposure to

Appellant's STDs constituted serious physical harm.          (Tr., p. 14.)    Appellant

additionally fails in this assignment of error because the alleged error was invited by

Appellant's own counsel. “The doctrine of invited error estops an appellant, in either
                                                                                     -7-

a civil or criminal case, from attacking a judgment for errors the appellant induced the

court to commit. Under that principle, a party cannot complain of any action taken or

ruling made by the court in accordance with the party's own suggestion or request.”

Royse v. Dayton, 2d Dist. No. 24172, 2011-Ohio-3509, ¶11, citing State v. Woodruff,

10 Ohio App.3d 326, 327, 462 N.E.2d 457 (2d Dist.1983).

      {¶14} The record also shows that Appellant knew the victim's family, was a

friend of the family, spent time in the victim's home, and drove the victim to school.

(Tr., p. 34.) One of the crimes even took place at the school, and the other in the

victim's home. Appellant contended that his relationship with the family had ended

years ago and was no longer active, but the victim's mother stated that her daughter

“looked at him as mommy's friend and he took advantage of that.” (Tr., p. 34.)

      {¶15} We note that the court imposed a prison term only slightly greater than

the minimum prison term available, so any R.C. 2929.12 factor that might tend to

make the crime appear more serious than normal or any factor indicating a likelihood

of recidivism would support the sentence that was imposed.              Appellant fully

acknowledged that he had juvenile and adult criminal records and that he had spent

several years in prison. Appellant also showed little remorse by verbally attacking

the victim's mother at the sentencing hearing and by accusing the victim of facilitating

the crime by lying about her age. (Tr., pp. 35-36.) These are all R.C. 2929.12 factors

that support imposing more than a minimum prison term in this case.

      {¶16} The record reflects the trial court's consideration of the factors found in

R.C. 2929.12, and there was no abuse of discretion in considering Appellant's
                                                                                 -8-

relationship with the victim or the fact that he exposed the victim to STDs.

Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                           ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

       DEFENSE COUNSEL RECOMMENDING AND/OR SUGGESTING A

       PLEA OF GUILTY TO A MORE SERIOUS CHARGE RESULTED IN

       PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND INNEFFECTIVE [SIC] ASSISTANCE OF

       COUNSEL.

       {¶17} Appellant argues that his counsel committed ineffective assistance of

counsel by allowing Appellant to plead guilty to a higher degree of crime than was

contained in the original indictment. Appellant's original charge was a third degree

felony, and the charge to which he pleaded guilty was a second degree felony.

Appellant argues that this violates Crim.R. 7(D), which allows the court to amend an

indictment at any time provided no change is made in the name or identity of the

crime charged. Appellant concludes that competent counsel would not have allowed

him to plead to a crime in violation of Crim.R. 7(D).

       {¶18} To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant

must show not only that counsel's performance was deficient, but also that he was

prejudiced by that deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct.

2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, (1984); see also, State v. Williams, 99 Ohio St.3d 493, 2003-

Ohio-4396, 794 N.E.2d 27, ¶107. “Deficient performance” means performance falling

below an objective standard of reasonable representation.       “Prejudice,” in this
                                                                                    -9-

context, means a reasonable probability that but for counsel's errors the result of the

proceeding would have been different. Strickland at 687-688, 694.

      {¶19} Since the argument in this assignment of error is ineffective assistance

of counsel and not simply an alleged violation of Crim.R. 7(D), the first question is

whether counsel made any error that demonstrates deficient performance.            The

alleged error raises questions as to counsel’s knowledge of the law regarding the

amendment of indictments. However, the law in this area is not fully settled. In 2008,

the Ohio Supreme Court determined in State v. Davis, 121 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-

Ohio-4537, 903 N.E.2d 609, that “Crim.R. 7(D) does not permit the amendment of an

indictment when the amendment changes the penalty or degree of the charged

offense[.]” Id. at syllabus. In Davis, the prosecutor amended an indictment before

trial to raise the degree of an aggravated trafficking in drugs offense from a fourth

degree to a second degree felony. The case went to trial and the defendant was

convicted, but the conviction was reversed due to the indictment error.

      {¶20} The Ohio Supreme Court partially reversed Davis only two years later in

Rohrbaugh, which held that, despite Crim.R. 7(D), a defendant may negotiate to

plead guilty to a different charge than is listed in the indictment, and an appeal of

such a negotiated plea will be rejected on grounds of invited error.      Rohrbaugh,

supra. Rohrbaugh acknowledged that an amendment to a higher degree of crime

technically amounts to a violation of Crim.R. 7(D). Id. at ¶8. But because the error in

Rohrbaugh was created by the defendant as part of the plea bargain process, the

Ohio Supreme Court determined that the error was not reversible.           Id. at ¶10.
                                                                                  -10-

Rohrbaugh held that “[a] defendant may plead guilty to an indictment that was

amended to change the name or identity of the charged crime when the defendant is

represented by counsel, has bargained for the amendment, and is not prejudiced by

the change.” Id. at syllabus. Although Rohrbaugh does not specifically state that the

modified charge may be of a higher degree, its holding pertains to any modification of

the charges in an indictment. Nevertheless, no caselaw directly supports the state's

position that an indictment may be amended to a higher degree charge as part of the

plea bargain process.

      {¶21} Appellant's counsel, in an effort to gain an advantage for his client, did

not raise or challenge this ambiguity in the law. Instead, he decided to agree with the

prosecutor that the indictment could be amended from unlawful sexual conduct to

endangering children so that Appellant would not be designated a sex offender,

which carries numerous reporting and registration requirements pursuant to R.C.

Chapter 2950.      Since the prosecutor was willing to change the offense to

endangering children and because doing so achieved the goal of his client, defense

counsel arranged for the indictment to be changed. Counsel used an ambiguity in

the law to his client's benefit. Thus, ineffective assistance of counsel cannot be

established by the record. Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                     Conclusion

      {¶22} Appellant challenges both the length of his sentence and the conviction

itself (via a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel). The record supports the

sentence.   The trial court correctly found that a variety of R.C. 2929.12 factors
                                                                                -11-

applied in this case to warrant a sentence higher than recommended in the plea

agreement.    Also, there is no ineffective assistance because defense counsel

allowed the indictment to be amended in a way that took advantage of an ambiguity

in Crim.R. 7(D), while providing a desired benefit to Appellant. Hence, counsel was

actually quite effective in representing his client. The two assignments of error are

overruled and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Donofrio, J., concurs.

DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.