Court Opinion

ID: 9955503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-28 17:12:25.987153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:03.772068
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Sims, 2024-Ohio-1161.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO,                                   :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,             :
                                                           No. 112860
                 v.                              :

DONNIE SIMS,                                     :

                 Defendant-Appellant.            :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: DISMISSED
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 28, 2024

          Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                              Case No. CR-19-638997-A

                                           Appearances:

                 Allison S. Breneman, for appellant.

MICHAEL JOHN RYAN, J.:

                Defendant-appellant Donnie Sims was convicted in a trial by jury of

13 counts of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), three counts of gross sexual

imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), ten counts of illegal use of a minor in

nude material or performance in violation of R.C. 2907.323(A)(2), three counts of

child endangering in violation of R.C. 2919.22(B)(1), three counts of having weapons

while under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), three counts of attempted
rape in violation of R.C. 2923.02 and 2907.02(A)(1)(b), one count of kidnapping in

violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4), and two counts of felonious assault in violation of

R.C. 2903.11(A)(1). The court further found him guilty of notice of prior conviction,

repeat violent offender, and sexually violent predator specifications and sentenced

him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

             Appellant filed a direct appeal alleging his convictions were not

supported by sufficient evidence, were against the manifest weight of the evidence,

and that his counsel was ineffective. A panel of this court determined there was

insufficient evidence to support two of the attempted rape convictions and vacated

those convictions. State v. D.S., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109346, 2021-Ohio-1725,

¶ 79. On May 22, 2023, the trial court held a hearing at which it dismissed the two

attempted rape convictions.       Appellant filed a notice of appeal of the order

dismissing the convictions.

             Counsel appointed to represent appellant in the instant appeal has filed

a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493

(1967), and requested leave to withdraw as counsel. Anders held that where, after a

conscientious examination of the case, appellate counsel is unable to find any

meritorious issues for review, counsel may inform the court and request permission

to withdraw from the case. Id. at 744. In addition, the request must be accompanied

by a brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal.

A copy of counsel’s brief should be furnished to the indigent defendant and time

allowed for him or her to raise any points that he or she chooses; the court — not
counsel — then proceeds, after a full examination of all the proceedings, to decide

whether the case is wholly frivolous. If it so finds it may grant counsel’s request to

withdraw and dismiss the appeal. Id. If this court determines that one or more legal

points have merit, the defendant will be afforded counsel to argue the appeal. Id.

             In its brief on appeal, appellant’s counsel stated that she had carefully

reviewed the trial record, examined the relevant case and statutory law, and

determined that the trial court did not commit any errors that prejudiced the

defendant. This court gave appellant the opportunity to file a pro se brief, but

appellant did not do so.

            We have carefully reviewed the record and counsel’s brief, and agree

the appeal is wholly frivolous and without merit. Further, we find no reversible error

in the record. The requirements in Anders having been satisfied, the appeal is

dismissed and counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted.

      It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27

of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

________________________
MICHAEL JOHN RYAN, JUDGE

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J., and
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR