Court Opinion

ID: 5136461
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-20 17:10:35.921973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:55.908778
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Prince, 2021-Ohio-4475.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                               CASE NO. 1-21-14

        v.

LEON T. PRINCE,                                           OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CR2018 0320

                                      Judgment Affirmed

                          Date of Decision:   December 20, 2021

APPEARANCES:

        Chima R. Ekah for Appellant

        Jana E. Emerick for Appellee
Case No. 1-21-14

ZIMMERMAN, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Leon T. Prince (“Prince”), appeals the April 7,

2021 judgment entry of sentencing of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas.

For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       {¶2} On September 13, 2018, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Prince

on five criminal counts including: Counts One and Two, Rape in violation of R.C.

2907.02(A)(2), (B), both first-degree felonies; Count Three, Kidnapping in

violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4), (C)(1), a first-degree felony; Count Four, Robbery

in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), (B), a second-degree felony; and Count Five,

Felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), (D)(1)(a), a second-degree

felony. (Doc. No. 1). On September 21, 2018, Prince appeared for arraignment and

entered pleas of not guilty. (Doc. No. 12).

       {¶3} On February 27, 2020, Prince withdrew his former not guilty plea and

entered plea of guilty under a negotiated plea agreement. (Feb. 27, 2020 Tr. at 1-

26, Doc. No. 133); (Doc. Nos. 104, 106, 107, 108, 109). Prince pleaded guilty to

Count Three (Kidnapping) in the indictment in exchange for the dismissal of all

remaining counts.      (Feb. 27, 2020 Tr. at 23-26); (Doc. Nos. 108, 109).

Contemporaneously, Prince was arraigned on a Bill of Information (“BOI”) wherein

he tendered guilty pleas to two criminal counts of Sexual battery in violation of R.C.

2907.03(A)(2), both third-degree felonies. (Id.); (Doc. Nos. 107, 108, 109). At the

                                          -2-
Case No. 1-21-14

change-of-plea hearing, the trial court determined that none of Prince’s offenses

merged for the purposes of sentencing. (Id. at 26). Thereafter, the trial court ordered

the preparation of the presentence-investigation report (“PSI”). (Id.).

         {¶4} On April 6, 2020, the trial court sentenced Prince. (Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at

28, Doc. No. 134); (Doc. No. 117). The trial court again determined that Counts

One and Two of the BOI and Count Three in the indictment did not merge for the

purposes of sentencing. (Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 23-24) (Id.). Thereafter, the trial court

sentenced Prince to a prison term of 60 months (each) under Counts One and Two

and 5 years under Count Three with all prison terms to be served consecutive to one

another. (Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 28); (Doc. No. 117). The judgment entry of sentencing

was filed on April 7, 2020.1 (Doc. No. 117).

         {¶5} Prince filed a motion for leave to file a delayed appeal and his notice of

appeal on April 21, 2021, which we granted on June 22, 2021. (Doc. No. 123);

(Case No. 1-21-14, Doc. Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7). He raises two assignments of error, which

we will address together.

                                    Assignment of Error No. I

         The Trial Court Committed Plain Error By Failing To Merge The
         Two Sexual Batteries For Purposes Of Sentencing (Sentencing Tr.
         pg. 23, tab 11-15).

1
  Prince was not notified of his right to appeal at the sentencing hearing under Crim.R. 32(B)(2) nor did the
judgment entry contain an advisement of rights under Crim.R. 32(B)(3). (Case No. 1-21-14, Doc. No. 7).
(See Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 29-30, Doc. No. 134); (Doc. No. 117).

                                                    -3-
Case No. 1-21-14

                           Assignment of Error No. II

       The Trial Court Committed Plain Error By Failing To Merge The
       Kidnapping With The Sexual Batteries For Purposes Of
       Sentencing (Sentencing Tr. pg. 23, tab 11-15).

       {¶6} In his first assignment of error, Prince argues that his offenses are

subject to merger. Specifically, Prince argues that the trial court should have

merged his Sexual-battery offenses pursuant to R.C. 2941.25 because they are not

dissimilar in import or significance. In his second assignment of error, Prince

asserts that his Kidnapping offense merges with his Sexual-battery offenses because

they lack separate and identifiable harm, and they were committed with the same

animus as his Sexual-battery convictions.

                                Standard of Review

       {¶7} R.C. 2941.25, Ohio’s multiple-count statute, prohibits the imposition of

multiple sentences for allied offenses of similar import. It provides:

       (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
       constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the
       indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses,
       but the defendant may be convicted of only one.

       (B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses
       of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more
       offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a
       separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain
       counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of
       all of them.

R.C. 2941.25(A)-(B).

                                         -4-
Case No. 1-21-14

       {¶8} Whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import is a question of

law that this court reviews de novo. State v. Frye, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-17-30, 2018-

Ohio 894, ¶ 128, citing State v. Stall, 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-10-12, 2011-Ohio-

5733, ¶ 15, citing State v. Brown, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-10-31, 2011-Ohio-1461, ¶

36, citing State v. Loomis, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2002-A-0102, 2005-Ohio-1103,

¶ 8. When applying a de novo standard of review, we must independently determine

whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard without deference to the

determinations of the trial court. State v. Johnson, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-13-45, 2014-

Ohio-4750, ¶ 12, citing State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶

8, citing State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio App.3d 706, 710 (4th Dist.1997), superseded

by state regulation on other grounds, State v. Schmehl, 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2-05-

33, 2006-Ohio-1143, ¶ 22.

       {¶9} Here, Prince failed to preserve this issue for appeal at the trial court

level. Thus, we review it for plain error. State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-

Ohio-2459, ¶ 3 (“An accused’s failure to raise the issue of allied offenses of similar

import in the trial court forfeits all but plain error * * *.”). “The burden of

demonstrating plain error is on the party asserting it.” State v. Quarterman, 140

Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-Ohio-4034, ¶ 16, citing State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St.3d 502,

2007-Ohio-4642, ¶ 17.

                                         -5-
Case No. 1-21-14

                                      Analysis

       {¶10} Indeed, “[s]eparate convictions are permitted under R.C. 2941.25 for

allied offenses if we answer affirmatively to just one of the following three

questions: (1) Were the offenses dissimilar in import or significance? (2) Were they

committed separate? And (3) Were they committed with a separate animus or

motivation?” State v. Bailey, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-140129, 2015-Ohio-2997, ¶

76, citing State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, paragraph three of the

syllabus.

       {¶11} The Supreme Court of Ohio held that “for purposes of R.C.

2941.25(A), a conviction is a determination of guilt and the ensuing sentence.”

State v. Whitfield, 124 Ohio St.3d 319, 2010-Ohio-2, ¶ 13, superseded by state

statute on other grounds, United States v. Mackey, S.D.Ohio No. 3:04cr00096, 2014

WL 6606434, *2 (Nov. 20, 2014), fn. 4. Certainly, recognizing “R.C. 2941.25(A)’s

mandate that a defendant may be ‘convicted’ of only one allied offense is a

protection against multiple sentences rather than multiple convictions.” Id. at ¶ 18.

Because “a defendant may be found guilty of allied offenses but not sentenced on

them,” “[t]he defendant is not ‘convicted’ for purposes of R.C. 2941.25(A) until the

sentence is imposed.” Id. at ¶ 17, 24. Therefore, merger of allied offenses occurs

at sentencing. Id. at ¶ 18. Importantly, Prince was convicted and sentenced for two

                                         -6-
Case No. 1-21-14

counts of Sexual battery and one count of Kidnapping. (Feb. 27, 2020 Tr. at 25-

26); (Apr. 6, 2021 Tr. at 22-29); (Doc. Nos. 133, 134).

                       Merger of the Sexual-battery offenses

       {¶12} Here, Prince argues that the Sexual-battery offenses constituted one

act for the purposes of merger, and thus, the trial court should have merged both

offenses for the purposes of sentencing.

       {¶13} Courts generally hold that different forms of “[s]exual conduct” are

committed separately and with a separate animus. See State v. Jordan, 2d Dist.

Champaign No. 2016-CA-17, 2017-Ohio-5827, ¶ 10-11 (touching breasts and

vaginal area were separate acts, each with a distinct significance or import, even

when committed near in time); State v. Parker, 2d Dist. Clark No. 10CA0074, 2011-

Ohio-1418, ¶ 114 (offenses involving different, distinct types of sexual activity

constitute separate crimes and their merger is not required); State v. Harvey, 3d Dist.

Hancock No. 5-10-05, 2010-Ohio-5408, ¶ 21; State v. Nicholas, 66 Ohio St.3d 431,

435 (1993) (vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, and digital penetration are “three

separate crimes involving distinct sexual activity. * * * Since each constitutes a

separate crime with a separate animus, they do not constitute allied offenses of

similar import.”).

       {¶14} In the case before us, the trial court determined that the Sexual-battery

offenses involved “two separate identifiable instances of sexual conduct in different

                                           -7-
Case No. 1-21-14

orifices of the body [i.e., separate acts].” (Apr. 6, 2021 Tr. at 23); (Doc. No. 134).

(Feb. 27, 2020 Tr. at 26) (finding that “Sexual [b]atteries, as I understand the

information I have, involved distinct sexual acts and separate identifiable harm”);

(Doc. No. 133).

       {¶15} Upon our review, we agree with the trial court that Prince’s sexual acts

were committed separately, notwithstanding that they occurred close in time.

Indeed, Prince’s act of forcing the victim to perform fellatio on him followed by

his act of forcing the victim to have intercourse (with him) demonstrates distinct

and separate acts that occurred in a close proximity of time during an extended

assault on the victim. (See PSI). See also State v. Brown, 3d Dist. Marion No.

9-09-15, 2009-Ohio-5428, ¶ 46, quoting State v. Austin, 138 Ohio App.3d 547,

549-550 (3d Dist.2000). These facts establish two separate crimes that do not

constitute allied offenses of similar import. Thus, each Sexual-battery offense

involved separate, but identifiable harm. Therefore, Prince has not met his burden

by demonstrating that the trial court committed plain error in its determination that

his Sexual-battery offenses should not merge for the purposes of sentencing.

              Merger of the Sexual-battery and Kidnapping offenses

       {¶16} Next, we turn to Prince’s argument that the Sexual-battery and

Kidnapping offenses should merge since those offenses involve the same animus or

motivation of “[s]exual conduct” because the Kidnapping offense was “merely

                                         -8-
Case No. 1-21-14

incidental” to the Sexual-battery offenses. See State v. Logan, 60 Ohio St.2d 126

(1979).2 (Appellant’s Brief at 9, 11).

        {¶17} Because it is dipositive of Prince’s arguments related to both

assignments of error, we need only address his argument that all of his findings of

guilt involve the same animus or motivation of “[s]exual conduct”.

        The term ‘animus’ means ‘“purpose or, more properly, immediate
        motive.”’ State v. Ramey, 2d Dist., 2015-Ohio-5389[], ¶ 70, quoting
        State v. Grissom, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25750, 2014-Ohio-857,
        2014 WL 895426, ¶ 40, quoting State v. Logan, 60 Ohio St.2d 126,
        131[] (1979).[] “‘Where an individual’s immediate motive involves
        the commission of one offense, but in the course of committing that
        crime he must * * * commit another, then he may well possess but a
        single animus, and in that event may be convicted of only one crime.’”
        Id., quoting Logan at 131[].

        “‘Like all mental states, animus is often difficult to prove directly, but
        must be inferred from the surrounding circumstances.’” Id. at ¶ 71,
        quoting Logan at 131[]. “‘Thus[,] the manner in which a defendant
        engages in a course of conduct may indicate distinct purposes.’” Id.,
        quoting State v. Whipple, 1st Dist., 2012-Ohio-2938, [] ¶ 38. “‘Courts
        should consider what facts appear in the record that “distinguish the
        circumstances or draw a line of distinction that enables a trier of fact
        to reasonably conclude separate and distinct crimes were
        committed.”’” Id., quoting Whipple at ¶ 38, quoting State v. Glenn,
        8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94425, 2012-Ohio-1530, 2012 WL 1142561,
        ¶ 9.

Frye, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-17-30, 2018-Ohio 894, ¶ 131-132.

2
  “Although the ‘two-step’ analysis prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Logan has been overruled,
the court’s discussion of animus remains relevant under the current tripart test in Ruff.” Frye, 2018-Ohio-
894, ¶ 131, fn. 2, citing State v. Lundy, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105117, 2017-Ohio-9155, ¶ 26.

                                                   -9-
Case No. 1-21-14

       {¶18} The first step we must take in reaching a determination is to resolve

whether the offenses of Sexual battery and Kidnapping can both be committed by

the same act. To commit the offense of Sexual battery as charged in the indictment

of this case, Prince must have committed the following conduct under R.C. 2907.03,

which provides in pertinent part:

       (A) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another, not the
       spouse of the offender, when * * *

       ***

       (2) The offender knows that the other person’s ability to appraise the
       nature of or control the other person’s own conduct is substantially
       impaired.

R.C. 2907.03(A)(2). To commit the offense of Kidnapping, Price must have

committed the following conduct under R.C. 2905.01, which states in relevant part:

       (B) No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a
       victim under the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any
       means, shall remove another from the place where the other person is
       found or restrain the liberty of the other person, for any of the
       following purposes:

       ***

       (4) To engage in sexual activity, as defined in section 2907.01 of the
       Revised Code, with the victim against the victim’s will;

(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2905.01(A)(4).

       {¶19} “[I]mplicit with every rape * * * is a kidnapping.” Logan, 60 Ohio

St.2d at 130. Indeed, Sexual battery under R.C. 2907.03(A)(2) is a lesser included

                                       -10-
Case No. 1-21-14

offense of rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(1). State v. Stricker, 10th Dist. Franklin No.

03AP-746, 2004-Ohio-3557, ¶ 33. Because the merger statute directs us to take into

account the defendant’s conduct when deciding whether to merge allied offenses

our inquiry is driven by a fact-specific analysis. State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114,

2015-Ohio-995, ¶ 26.

       {¶20} In State v. Logan, the Supreme Court of Ohio established guidelines

for evaluating whether kidnapping and rape are committed with a separate animus.

Logan, 60 Ohio St.2d at 134-135. If the restraint or movement of the victim is

“merely incidental” to the underlying rape, then no separate animus exists; however,

if prolonged restraint, secretive confinement, or substantial movement occurs, then

a separate animus exists to support separate convictions. Id. at the syllabus; see

State v. Merz, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-200485, 2021-Ohio-2093, ¶ 11 (“In

simplistic terms, the Logan guidelines examine the significance of the restraint or

movement of the victim: whether it was ‘merely incidental’ to the other crime or

whether it was substantial enough (either in execution or in increased risk) that it

attains independent significance.”).

       {¶21} According to our review of the record, Prince enticed the victim to his

house (under the guise) that he was going to cook her a birthday dinner. (Apr. 6,

2020 Tr. at 6); (Doc. No. 134). However, after becoming agitated with her while at

his home, Prince struck her in the face knocking out her front teeth. (See id. at 15,

                                        -11-
Case No. 1-21-14

18); (Id.). (See also PSI). At that time, Prince ordered the victim to sit in a chair

and threatened to kill her if she moved. (See PSI). He, then, left the house to go to

neighbor’s home. (Id.). While Prince was at the neighbor’s house, the victim called

911. (See Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 12); (Doc. No. 134); (PSI). However, the operator

was unable to locate her since the call came from a cellphone and because the victim

abruptly disconnected the call. (See id. at 12); (Id.); (Id.).

         {¶22} After Prince returned to the home, he saw police officers from his

window searching neighboring houses. (See id.); (Id.); (Id.). This is when Prince

forced the victim into his basement where he sexually assaulted her twice. (See id.);

(Id.); (Id.). See also R.C. 2907.01(A). After the sexual assaults, Prince “walked”

the victim back to her apartment where he forced her give him her debit card and

PIN.3 (See PSI).

         {¶23} Significantly, after Prince was arrested, he admitted to the detective

that he physically assaulted the victim and forced her to remain in his house.4 (PSI).

Moreover, at his sentencing hearing Prince stated the following during an exchange

between Prince and the trial judge:

         [Trial Court]              Was that because the Police were in the area?

3
  Once Prince left the victim’s apartment, she called 911 a second time. (PSI).
4
  Importantly, Prince did not dispute the information contained in the PSI as to any purported factual
inaccuracies under R.C. 2951.03(B); rather he argued what he perceived as factual inaccuracies at the
sentencing hearing. (See Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 13-19). Prince asserted that the sexual acts involved a
consensual-sexual encounter with no restraint of liberty and that the use of the victim’s debit card was agreed
upon by Prince and the victim. (See id.).

                                                    -12-
Case No. 1-21-14

       [Prince]             No. That happened after I had hit her, left her in
                            the house, came back with crack, and then I
                            happened to look out the window and I seen
                            some cops and I asked her, “Do you know
                            anything about these cops?” She said “No.” I
                            said, “Well, hell,”-excuse me-I said, “Well, let’s
                            go on back down to the basement.” That’s where
                            we went. Cause, see, I didn’t know she had
                            called the Police when I left her in the house by
                            herself. So, when I came back I seen the Police
                            outside and I asked her, “Do you know anything
                            about the cops outside?” She said, “No.” So, I
                            said, “Well, shoot, let’s go on back down to the
                            basement.”

(Apr. 6, 2020 Tr. at 16); (Doc. No. 134).

       {¶24} Importantly, Prince’s dealings with the victim lasted six hours. (Id. at

8); (Id.). This was not a static event. Even if we assume without deciding that the

Kidnapping offense commenced at the moment that Prince ordered the victim to be

seated in the chair (under the threat of death), and that his animus was sexually

motivated, we do, nonetheless, conclude that his argument still lacks merit. Indeed,

the event continuously evolved over the course of the six hours and (by Prince’s

own admission to detectives) his animus for the prolongation of the Kidnapping

event was financially motivated. (See PSI). Moreover, Prince admitted to the trial

court during his sentencing hearing that his animus for the Kidnapping offense

ultimately evolved into an attempt to evade detection by law enforcement. (See Apr.

6, 2020 Tr. at 16, 19); (Doc. No. 134). See also State v. Stone, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 92949, 2010-Ohio-3308, ¶ 23.

                                        -13-
Case No. 1-21-14

       {¶25} Because Prince’s Sexual-battery and Kidnapping offenses involved

separate animus, we conclude that the trial court did not commit plain error by

reaching a determination that the Sexual-battery and Kidnapping offenses did not

merge for the purposes of sentencing.

       {¶26} Accordingly, Prince’s first and second assignments of error are

overruled.

       {¶27} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                                Judgment Affirmed

MILLER and SHAW, J.J., concur.

/jlr

                                        -14-