Court Opinion

ID: 2697726
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:13:48.312445+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:31.274728
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Riley, 2012-Ohio-1086.]

                        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ATHENS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                 :
                                               :
      Plaintiff-Appellee,                      : Case No. 11CA14
                                               :
      vs.                                      : Released: March 12, 2012
                                               :
JASON W. RILEY,                                : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
                                               : ENTRY
      Defendant-Appellant.                     :
                                         APPEARANCES:

Bradley P. Koffel, The Koffel Law Firm, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.

Keller J. Blackburn, Athens County Prosecutor, and Sabrina J. Ennis, Athens
County Assistant Prosecutor, Athens, Ohio, for Appellee.

McFarland, J.:

      {¶1} Appellant Jason Riley (“Riley”) pled guilty to aggravated vehicular

homicide and aggravated vehicular assault. The trial court sentenced Riley to four

years and eleven months total, to run consecutively to his sentences from other

cases. Riley raises two assignments of error, arguing 1) the trial court erred by

failing to merge the two counts as allied offenses of similar import, and 2) the trial

court erred by disapproving of Riley’s participation in a transitional control

program, pursuant to R.C. 2967.26, in its sentencing entry. Having reviewed the

record, we find the trial court did not err, and we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                                 2

                                       FACTS

      {¶2} In the late hours of November 14, 2009 and into the next morning,

Riley and his girlfriend, Stephanie Gaddis (“Gaddis”), and his cousin, Howard

Holcomb (“Holcomb”), were drinking at a bar. The three left the bar, with Riley

driving. Admittedly travelling at an excessive rate of speed, Riley lost control of

the vehicle and veered from the roadway. Holcomb suffered serious injuries, as

did Riley. Unfortunately, Gaddis passed away.

      {¶3} Riley pled guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide and

one count of aggravated vehicular assault. The trial court sentenced Riley to four

years and eleven months total, to be served consecutively to his sentences on two

other cases. Riley now appeals.

                             ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

      I.     “The trial court erred when it failed to merge the defendant’s

             convictions.”

      II.    “The trial court erred by including in the sentencing entry a provision

             that the defendant is not to be considered or released on transitional

             control.”

                                  I. Allied Offenses

      {¶4} In his first assignment of error, Riley argues the trial court erred in

failing to merge his convictions for aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                             3

vehicular assault. Riley contends while there were two separate victims, both

crimes occurred as the result of a single act and should have merged at sentencing.

We disagree.

       {¶5} When determining whether multiple offenses should have merged

under R.C. 2941.25, “[o]ur standard of review is de novo.” State v. Buckta (Nov.

12, 1996), 4th Dist. No. 96 CA 3. See, also, Coleman v. Davis, 4th Dist. No.

10CA5, 2011-Ohio-506, at ¶ 16 (“We review questions of law de novo.”), quoting

State v. Elkins, 4th Dist. No. 07CA1, 2008-Ohio-674, at ¶ 12, quoting Cuyahoga

Cty. Bd. of Commrs. v. State, 112 Ohio St.3d 59, 2006-Ohio-6499, 858 N.E.2d

330, at ¶ 23.

       {¶6} R.C. 2941.25 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.”
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                               4

        {¶6} As the Supreme Court explained in State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d

153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061, under R.C. 2941.25, “the court must

determine prior to sentencing whether the offenses were committed by the same

conduct.” Johnson at ¶ 47. The initial question is whether it is possible to commit

the two offenses with the same conduct. Johnson at ¶ 48. If so, we must then look

to the facts of the case and determine whether the two offenses actually were

committed by the same conduct, “i.e., ‘a single act, committed with a single state

of mind.’” Johnson at ¶ 49, quoting State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-

Ohio-4569, 895 N.E.2d 149, at ¶ 50. “If the answer to both questions is yes, then

the offenses are allied offenses of similar import and will be merged.” Johnson at

¶ 50.

        {¶7} “Conversely, if the court determines that the commission of one

offense will never result in the commission of the other, or if the offenses are

committed separately, or if the defendant has separate animus for each offense,

then, according to R.C. 2941.25(B), the offenses will not merge.” Johnson at ¶ 51.

Here, Riley’s crimes are of dissimilar import and do no not merge.

        {¶8} State v. Jones (1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 116, 480 N.E.2d 408, discussed

the issue of whether a defendant could be convicted of multiple counts of

aggravated vehicular homicide resulting from a single collision. The relevant

inquiry is “whether the legislature intended the relevant statute[s] to authorize
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                              5

multiple convictions.” Jones at 117. While General Assembly has amended the

statutes proscribing aggravated vehicular homicide (R.C. 2903.06) and aggravated

vehicular assault (R.C. 2903.08) since Jones, their legislative intent and import

remain the same.

      {¶9} R.C. 2903.08 punishes a person for operating a motor vehicle and

causing “serious physical harm to another person.” R.C. 2903.06 punishes a

person for operating a motor vehicle and causing “the death of another.” The

import of each statute is the harm the operator of the motor vehicle caused a

specific person. When there is a single victim, the harm the operator caused the

victim is the same when the victim sustains serious physical harm as it is if the

victim dies from said physical harm. That is, the serious physical harm Riley

caused Gaddis merged into her death.

      {¶10} However, when the operator causes serious physical harm to two

persons and the second person dies, the harm amongst the two victims is not the

same. The harm the operator caused to each victim has its own unique import. If

“crimes are perpetrated against different victims they are crimes of ‘dissimilar

import.’” State v. Scheutzman, 4th Dist. No. 07CA22, 2008-Ohio-6096, at ¶ 13.

Here, the serious physical harm Riley caused Holcomb is separate and distinct

from Gaddis’ death. The two crimes are of dissimilar import and do not merge

under R.C. 2941.25(B).
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                                  6

      {¶11} Therefore, we overrule Riley’s first assignment of error.

                         II. Disapproval of Transitional Control

      {¶12} In his second assignment of error, Riley argues the trial court’s

disapproval of his participation in a transitional control program within its

sentencing entry was both premature and improper. Rather, Riley believes the trial

court should have waited until the adult parole authority (“APA”) sent notice of its

intent to place Riley into transitional control, pursuant to R.C. 2967.26(A)(2), to

disapprove of Riley entering transitional control. We disagree.

      {¶13} Normally, whether a prisoner would be eligible for transitional control

is uncertain because his eligibility is partially based upon his behavior while

incarcerated. The APA would assess the prisoner’s eligibility when his remaining

sentence nears 180 days. Ohio Adm.Code 5120-12-01(F) provides, “In order to be

eligible for transitional control transfer pursuant to section 2967.26 of the Revised

Code, a prisoner must meet all of the following minimum criteria: * * * (8)

Prisoners shall not have a designated security level of level 3, level 4 or level 5.

(9) Prisoners shall not be currently confined in any institution control status as a

result of any disciplinary action.” (Emphasis added.) Thus, on appeal, whether a

prisoner would qualify for a transitional control transfer at a later date would be

uncertain because his designated security level and whether he was confined in

institutional control at that later date are unknown. Without knowing whether a
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                                    7

prisoner is eligible for transitional control, this Court cannot determine whether the

trial court’s entry disapproving of the prisoner’s transfer to transitional control has

resulted in prejudice to the prisoner; the issue would be unripe for review. See,

State v. Moss, 186 Ohio App.3d 787, 2010-Ohio-1135, 930 N.E.2d 838 (discussing

ripeness).

         {¶14} However, in this case, Riley is already disqualified from being

transferred to transitional control. Specifically, to be eligible for transfer to

transitional control, a prisoner “shall not have any past or current convictions for *

* * aggravated vehicular assault, section 2903.08, * * * or aggravated vehicular

homicide, section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.” Ohio Adm.Code 5120-12-

01(F)(12). This is exactly to what Riley pled: aggravated vehicular assault, under

R.C. 2903.08(A)(2)(b), and aggravated vehicular homicide, under R.C.

2903.06(A)(2)(a). Consequently, Riley is ineligible for transitional control and the

trial court’s disapproval is moot. Thus, we overrule Riley’s second assignment of

error.

                                                          JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.

Harsha, J., concurring.

         {¶15} I concur in the judgment because I conclude the two offenses are

crimes of similar import, i.e., it is possible to commit both by the same conduct.

However, I also conclude they were not actually committed with a single state of
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                          8

mind, i.e., Riley possessed a separate animus toward each victim although the

crimes were committed at the same time. See R.C. 2941.25(B) and 1973

Legislative Service Commission comments to 1972 Am.Sub.H.B. No. 511, cited in

Johnson, supra, at footnote 2. In all other regards, I concur in judgment and

opinion.
Athens App. No. 11CA14                                                               9

                                  JUDGMENT ENTRY

      It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the Appellee
recover of 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
Athens County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.

       IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON
BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR
THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days
upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow
Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during
the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it
will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure
of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the
forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses
the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of
such dismissal.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
       Exceptions.

Abele, P.J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
Harsha, J.: Concurs with Concurring Opinion.

                                 For the Court,

                                 BY: _________________________
                                     Matthew W. McFarland, Judge

                               NOTICE TO COUNSEL
      Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the
date of filing with the clerk.