Court Opinion

ID: 2700279
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:16:33.687363+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:19.550185
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Whetstone, 2011-Ohio-1957.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                      LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                   :      JUDGES:
                                                :
                                                :      Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                       Plaintiff-Appellee       :      Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                                                :      Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs-                                            :
                                                :      Case No. 2010 CA 00132
MICHAEL E. WHETSTONE                            :
                                                :
                                                :
                       Defendant-Appellant      :      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                            Appeal from the Licking County Court of
                                                    Common Pleas, Case No. 08 CR 691

JUDGMENT:                                           AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                             April 19, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant:                                         For Appellee:

JUSTIN T. RADIC                                        KENNETH W. OSWALT
57 E. Main St.                                         LICKING COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Newark, OH 43055
                                                       EARL L. FROST
                                                       20 S. Second St., 4th Floor
                                                       Newark, OH 43055
[Cite as State v. Whetstone, 2011-Ohio-1957.]

Delaney, J.

           {¶1}    Defendant-Appellant Michael E. Whetstone appeals the May 25, 2010

resentencing entry of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-Appellee is

the State of Ohio.

           {¶2}    This case comes to us on the accelerated calendar. App. R. 11.1, which

governs accelerated calendar cases, provides in pertinent part:

           {¶3}    “(E) Determination and judgment on appeal.

           {¶4}    “The appeal will be determined as provided by App.R. 11.1. It shall be

sufficient compliance with App.R. 12(A) for the statement of the reason for the court's

decision as to each error to be in brief and conclusionary form.

           {¶5}    “The decision may be by judgment entry in which case it will not be

published in any form.”

           {¶6}    This appeal shall be considered in accordance with the aforementioned

rule.

                                      STATEMENT OF THE CASE1

           {¶7}    On October 16, 2008, Appellant was indicted by the Licking County Grand

Jury on one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation of R.C.

2925.03(A)(1)(C)(1)(c) and/or R.C. 2925.03(A)(2)(C)(1)(c); one count of aggravated

possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(1)(b); one count of aggravated

possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(1)(a); and one count of

possession of drug paraphernalia in violation of R.C. 2925.14(C)(1).

1
    A statement of the facts is unnecessary for the disposition of this appeal.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                   3

       {¶8}   Appellant pled no contest to all four counts of the indictment. The trial

court found Appellant guilty and sentenced Appellant to three years on count one, three

years on count two, and eight months on count three, to run consecutively with each

other and consecutively to a sentence imposed in another case. The court also

sentenced Appellant to three years of postrelease control, and granted the forfeiture

specification carried by the first three counts. The court did not sentence Appellant on

count four, a misdemeanor count.

       {¶9}   Appellant appealed the sentencing entry to this Court in State v.

Whetstone, Licking App. No. 2009 CA 00111, 2010-Ohio-1835. This Court determined

that the sentencing entry was not a final, appealable order because the trial court

convicted Appellant on count four, but did not sentence Appellant on count four. We

dismissed the appeal for lack of a final, appealable order and remanded the matter to

the trial court for resentencing. In our opinion, we stated:

       {¶10} “We find the order appealed from is not a final appealable order.

Accordingly, we must dismiss the appeal and return the matter to the trial court. The trial

court should conduct a new plea and sentencing hearing and should clarify the plea and

sentence in count one, which presently is expressed as “and/or” and, as appellant

argues, is problematic.” Id. at ¶ 8.

       {¶11} The trial court held a resentencing hearing on May 24, 2010. During the

opening remarks of Appellant’s counsel, he stated to the trial court that the sentencing

hearing was a de novo proceeding; therefore, counsel argued that State v. Cabrales,

118 Ohio St.3d 54, 2008-Ohio-1625, was applicable to the trial court’s determination of
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                      4

sentence as to counts one and two. Counsel argued that Appellant’s sentences on

counts one and two should be merged as allied offenses of similar import.

       {¶12} Appellant was given an opportunity to address the court and he exercised

his allocution rights.

       {¶13} The trial court stated that it had considered Appellant’s presentence

investigation report prepared for the case and the purposes and principles of sentencing

set out under R.C. 2929.11, as well as the seriousness and recidivism factors under

R.C. 2929.12. The trial court noted Appellant’s lengthy criminal history, particularity with

drug abuse. The trial court stated:

       {¶14} “ I will find those two counts should merge and, on that basis, I’ll impose a

term of five years in the state penitentiary on the first count pursuant to a violation of (A)

(1)(C)(1)(c) merging them with the ag (sic) possession – rather with the aggravated

possession of drugs, methamphetamine, same meth, Count No. 2. On Count No. 3,

aggravated possession of MDMA, I’ll impose a term of eight months in the state

penitentiary. On Count 4 I’ll impose a term of 30 days at the Licking County Justice

Center. Also grant the forfeiture specification as set out in the original sentencing entry.

I’ll order those sentences run consecutive with each other and consecutive with

sentence on 07 CR 381. * * *” Re-sentencing transcript, p. 9.

       {¶15} Thus, a total prison term of five years and eight months was imposed.

       {¶16} The trial court did not inform Appellant of his right to appeal under Crim.R.

32(B)(2) and (3).

       {¶17} The trial court issued the sentencing entry on May 25, 2010. It is from this

sentencing entry that Appellant now appeals.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                  5

                              ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

       {¶18} Appellant raises one Assignment of Error:

       {¶19} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT PROVIDING APPELLANT WITH

A DE NOVO REVIEW AT HIS RESENTENCING HEARING.”

                                            I.

       {¶20} Appellant argues that the trial court failed to conduct a de novo sentencing

hearing when it resentenced Appellant. We disagree.

       {¶21} R.C. 2929.19 states:

       {¶22} “(A) The court shall hold a sentencing hearing before imposing             a

sentence under this chapter upon an offender who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to

a felony and before resentencing an offender who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to

a felony and whose case was remanded pursuant to section 2953.07 or 2953.08 of the

Revised Code. At the hearing, the offender, the prosecuting attorney, the victim or the

victim’s representative in accordance with section 2930.14 of the Revised Code, and

with the approval of the court, any other person may present information relevent to the

imposition of the sentence in the case. The court shall inform the offender of the verdict

of the jury or finding of the court and ask the offender whether the offender has anything

to say as to why sentence should not be imposed upon the offender.

       {¶23} “(B)(1) At the sentencing hearing, the court, before imposing sentence,

shall consider the record, any information presented at the hearing by any person

pursuant to division (A) of this section, and if one was prepared, the presentence

investigation report made pursuant to section 2951.03 of the Revised Code or Criminal
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                  6

Rule 32.2, and any victim impact statement made pursuant to section 2947.051

[2947.05.1] of the Revised Code.”

       {¶24} In State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, 846 N.E.2d 1, at

¶37, the Ohio Supreme Court stated, “any case that is remanded for a ‘resentencing’

anticipates a sentencing hearing de novo, yet the parties may stipulate to the existing

record and waive the taking of additional evidence.”

       {¶25} “When a case is remanded for resentencing, the trial court must conduct a

complete sentencing hearing and must approach resentencing as an independent

proceeding complete with all applicable procedures.” State v. Riley, 184 Ohio App.3d

211, 2009-Ohio-3227, ¶ 15 (citations omitted).

       {¶26} Appellant argues that he was not given a de novo sentencing hearing

based solely on this statement from the trial court at the conclusion of Appellant’s

resentencing:

       {¶27} “So, it’s one year less than you had before only because I couldn’t give

you that much. Otherwise, I would have given you more.” (T. 11).

       {¶28} Appellant likens the trial court’s statement to the resentencing

proceedings conducted in State v. Cook, Cuyahoga App. No. 90487, 2008-Ohio-4246

and State v. Gaston, Portage App. Nos. 2006-P-0071, 2006-P-0072, 2007-Ohio-6251.

In those cases, the appellate courts found that the defendants were not given de novo

sentencing hearings upon remand.

       {¶29} In Cook, the resentencing proceeding was held before a different judge

rather than the original sentencing judge. The trial court in Cook stated that although it

appeared that the defendant was attempting to turn his life around, the judge did not
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                   7

know anything about the case and was reluctant to change the defendant’s original

sentence. The trial court resentenced the defendant to his original sentence. Cook at

¶4. The Eighth District Court of Appeals found error because the trial court merely

referred to the original judge’s decision and indicated that no change in Cook’s original

sentence would be made regardless of what was presented at the hearing. Id. at ¶10.

       {¶30} The defendant in Gaston was before the trial court for resentencing

pursuant to a Foster remand. The trial court expressly stated that in all cases on

remand under Foster, he was consistent in not increasing or decreasing the penalty; he

was stating that no matter what was presented in mitigation, he would still impose the

original sentence. Gaston at ¶23. The case was remanded for resentencing because

the trial court, in effect was relying on prior, now void proceeding in imposing “the same”

sentence, and did not afford the defendant a de novo sentencing hearing. Id. at ¶25.

       {¶31} Upon a review of the entire record in this case, we find Cook and Gaston

to be inapplicable to these facts. The trial court in the case sub judice conducted a de

novo sentencing hearing.     The trial court considered the presentence investigation

report that was prepared in the case, the Appellant’s criminal history, and other pending

warrants. The trial court found merger was appropriate as to counts one and two and

sentenced Appellant accordingly. While the trial court expressed a desire to impose a

longer sentence on Appellant, he did not impose the original sentence regardless of

anything presented at the resentencing.

       {¶32} Appellant’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                                     8

       {¶33} While Appellant does not delineate this as a separate Assignment of

Error, Appellant also argues the trial court erred in not informing Appellant of his right to

appeal under Crim.R. 32(B)(2) and (3).

       {¶34} The record shows that the trial court did not inform Appellant of his right to

appeal under Crim.R. 32(B)(2) and (3); however, we find that Appellant has failed to

show prejudice. Appellant filed an appeal in this matter and is represented by counsel.

Accordingly, we find no reversible error.      See State v. Middleton, Preble App. No.

CA2004-01-003, 2005-Ohio-681, ¶25.

       {¶35} Appellant finally requests this Court to order the trial court to correct a de

minimis error in the May 25, 2010 sentencing entry. The sentencing entry states that

Appellant “previously entered pleas of guilty to the charges.” Appellant entered pleas of

no contest and was found guilty by the trial court. We find this matter is more properly

raised before the trial court.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 00132                                          9

       {¶36} Accordingly, the judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas

is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Hoffman, J. concur.

                                     HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                     HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                     HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
[Cite as State v. Whetstone, 2011-Ohio-1957.]

               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR LICKING COUNTY, OHIO

                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                     :
                                                  :
                                                  :
                       Plaintiff-Appellee         :
                                                  :
-vs-                                              :   JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                                  :
                                                  :
MICHAEL E. WHETSTONE                              :
                                                  :   Case No. 2010 CA 00132
                                                  :
                       Defendant-Appellant

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the

Licking County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs assessed to Appellant.

                                                HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                                HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                                HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN