Court Opinion

ID: 2706137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 22:45:02.97711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:11.835139
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Harmon, 2012-Ohio-903.]

STATE OF OHIO                    )                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                 )ss:                 NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                 )

STATE OF OHIO                                         C.A. No.    25756

        Appellee

        v.                                            APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                      ENTERED IN THE
GEORGE F. HARMON. JR.                                 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                      COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellant                                     CASE No.   CR 10 07 1974

                                DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: March 7, 2012

        BELFANCE, Judge.

        {¶ 1} George Harmon appeals his convictions for kidnapping, felonious assault,

domestic violence, and arson. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse and remand.

                                                 I.

        {¶ 2} In 2010, a jury found Mr. Harmon guilty of two counts of kidnapping, two counts

of domestic violence, and one count each of felonious assault and arson. The trial court merged

the kidnapping convictions for the purposes of sentencing and proceeded to sentence Mr.

Harmon to an aggregate term of thirteen years in prison.

        {¶ 3} Mr. Harmon has appealed, raising a single assignment of error for our review.

                                                II.

                                        ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

        THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT IMPOSED SEPARATE SENTENCES
        FOR OFFENSES THAT AROSE FROM THE SAME CONDUCT, WERE NOT
        COMMITTED SEPARATELY OR WITH A SEPARATE ANIMUS, AND
                                                 2

       SHOULD HAVE BEEN MERGED FOR SENTENCING PURPOSES UNDER
       R.C. 2941.25.

       {¶ 4} Mr. Harmon argues that the trial court erred by sentencing him for allied offenses

of similar import.    Specifically, Mr. Harmon argues that his convictions for kidnapping,

felonious assault, and domestic violence should have been merged for the purposes of

sentencing.

       {¶ 5} In State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St. 3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, the Ohio Supreme

Court held that “[w]hen determining whether two offenses are allied offenses of similar import

subject to merger under R.C. 2941.25, the conduct of the accused must be considered.” Id. at

syllabus. The State concedes that the trial court did not consider Johnson when it sentenced Mr.

Harmon. In light of our precedent, it is appropriate to remand this case so that the trial court can

apply Johnson in the first instance. See, e.g., State v. Creel, 9th Dist. No. 25476, 2011–Ohio–

5893, ¶ 4.

       {¶ 6} Mr. Harmon’s assignment of error is sustained.

                                                III.

       {¶ 7} Mr. Harmon’s assignment of error is sustained.            Mr. Harmon’s sentence is

reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                                               Judgment reversed,
                                                                              and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
                                                3

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed to Appellee.

                                                    EVE V. BELFANCE
                                                    FOR THE COURT

WHITMORE, P.J.
DICKINSON, J.
CONCUR

APPEARANCES:

MELISSA M. PRENDERGAST, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN DIMARTINO, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.