Court Opinion

ID: 2696782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 15:43:47.960449+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:27.919391
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v Ward, 2011-Ohio-254.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                              CASE NO. 13-10-11

        v.

ROBERT L. WARD,                                          OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                 Appeal from Seneca County Common Pleas Court
                           Trial Court No. 09 CR 0284

                                     Judgment Affirmed

                           Date of Decision: January 24, 2011

APPEARANCES:

        Drew A. Hanna for Appellant

        Rhonda L. Best for Appellee
Case No. 13-10-11

ROGERS, P.J.

       {¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Robert Ward, appeals from the judgment of

the Court of Common Pleas of Seneca County sentencing him to a prison term of

ten years and six months, imposing an eight-year license suspension, and ordering

$1,213.30 in restitution to the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH

Enforcement Unit. On appeal, Ward argues that the trial court erred in convicting

him of multiple offenses of trafficking in drugs where those offenses were allied

offenses of similar import; in allowing the introduction of laboratory reports of

evidence where a chain of custody for the evidence was not established; in

considering the State’s unproven and prejudicial statements and allowing the

improper introduction of his prior convictions at sentencing; and, in sentencing

him to maximum, consecutive sentences. Based on the following, we affirm the

judgment of the trial court.

       {¶2} In December 2009, the Seneca County Grand Jury indicted Ward on

Count One: trafficking in drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(2)(a), a

felony of the fifth degree; Count Two: aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation

of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(1)(a), a felony of the fourth degree; Count Three:

aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(1)(a), a

felony of the fourth degree; Count Four: aggravated trafficking in drugs in

violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(1)(a), a felony of the fourth degree; Count

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Five: trafficking in drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(2)(c), a felony of

the fourth degree; Count Six: trafficking in marijuana in violation of R.C.

2925.03(A)(1),(C)(3)(b), a felony of the fourth degree; Count Seven: trafficking in

marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(3)(b), a felony of the fourth

degree;   Count   Eight:   trafficking   in    marijuana   in   violation   of   R.C.

2925.03(A)(1),(C)(3)(b), a felony of the fourth degree; and, Count Nine:

complicity to trafficking in marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1),(C)(3)(b)

and R.C. 2923.03(A)(2),(F), a felony of the fourth degree. The details included in

the indictment were as follows: Count One involved the sale of Hydrocodone, a

Schedule III controlled substance, on February 11, 2009; Count Two involved the

sale of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, on February 11, 2009;

Count Three involved the sale of Codeine, a Schedule II controlled substance, on

February 11, 2009; Count Four involved the sale of Oxycodone, a Schedule II

controlled substance, on February 12, 2009; Count Five involved the sale of

Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, on February 19, 2009; Counts

Six, Seven, and Eight involved the sale of marijuana on March 29, 2009; and,

Count IX involved the sale of marijuana on March 30, 2009. The indictment arose

from multiple controlled buys between Ward and a confidential informant over the

course of two months.

                                         -3-
Case No. 13-10-11

       {¶3} In January 2010, Ward entered a not guilty plea to all counts in the

indictment.

       {¶4} In March 2010, the case proceeded to a jury trial, at which Detective

Charles Boyer with the Tiffin Police Department testified that he assisted in

conducting a controlled drug purchase involving Ward and a confidential

informant on February 11, 2009; that the confidential informant purchased from

Ward one Oxycontin tablet, four Vicodin tablets, and fourteen Tylenol III’s; that

he bagged and labeled the drugs collected from the confidential informant and

transported them to the evidence room in the Tiffin Police Department to await

testing at the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (“BCI”); that

there could have been twelve and not fourteen Tylenol III’s, but there were three

different substances recovered; that he assisted in another controlled purchase

involving Ward on February 12, 2009, in which the confidential informant

purchased drugs from Ward; that he assisted in three separate controlled purchases

involving Ward on March 29, 2009; that he assisted in a controlled purchase

involving Ward on March 30, 2009; that the confidential informant purchased one

ounce of marijuana from Ward on that day; and, that he received the marijuana

from the confidential informant after the purchase, placed it into a plastic bag,

initialed it, and dated it.

                                       -4-
Case No. 13-10-11

       {¶5} Subsequently, Detective Boyer indentified evidence submittal sheets

from the February 11, February 12, February 19, March 29, and March 30, 2009

purchases that indicated the various prescription drugs and marijuana were given

to either Detective Shawn Vallery, Officer David Horn, or Detective Don Joseph

for transportation to BCI for analysis. Detective Boyer further testified that all

evidence submittal sheets are taken with the drugs to BCI; that, after the drugs

have been analyzed, an officer picks up the drugs and receives the evidence

submittal sheet back from BCI; and, that all evidence submittal sheets in this case

had been in the police department’s custody since they were received back from

BCI.

       {¶6} Furthermore, Detective Boyer testified regarding the drugs obtained

during the February 11, February 12, February 19, and the three March 29

purchases that he received the drugs from Detective Armstrong, placed them in the

evidence room, and received them back directly from the transporting officer after

they had been analyzed by BCI, and that he also received the drugs from the

March 30 purchase, sealed them in an evidence bag, and received them back after

they had been analyzed by BCI.

       {¶7} Detective Matthew Armstrong of the Fostoria Police Department

testified that the analysis from BCI revealed that the Vicodin tablets purchased

from Ward contained Hydrocodone, the Tylenol tablets contained Codeine, and

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Case No. 13-10-11

the Oxycontin tablet contained Oxycodone; that the Percocet tablets purchased on

February 12, 2009, were found by BCI to contain Oxycodone; that the drugs

purchased in all three instances on March 29, 2009, were found by BCI to be

marijuana; that a controlled purchase involving Ward was made on February 19,

2009; that, during this incident, the confidential informant purchased Percocet

tablets from Ward; that, after the purchase, he took the pills from the confidential

informant, placed them into an evidence bag, and turned them over to Detective

Boyer; and, that a subsequent testing of the pills by BCI revealed them to contain

Oxycodone.

      {¶8} Additionally, Detective Armstrong testified that he collected the

drugs purchased by the confidential informant during the February 11, February

12, and March 29 operations; that he placed those drugs into evidence and labeled

them; that he gave all the drugs to Detective Boyer, with the exception of the

drugs purchased during the first operation on March 29, which he gave to

Detective Joseph; and, that after the drugs that were purchased on February 11 and

12 were analyzed by BCI, he transported them back to the evidence room.

      {¶9} Detective Shawn Vallery of the Tiffin Police Department testified

that he transported four evidence bags to the BCI office in Bowling Green for

analysis, and that he was given those bags by Detective Boyer. Additionally, he

                                        -6-
Case No. 13-10-11

indentified four evidence submittal sheets he was given when he transferred the

evidence to BCI.

       {¶10} Detective David Horn of the Tiffin Police Department testified that

he transported two evidence bags to the BCI office in Bowling Green for analysis;

that Detective Boyer gave him those two bags; and, that he also transported the

evidence bags back to the police station and gave them to Detective Boyer.

Detective Horn additionally identified two evidence submittal sheets he was given

by BCI when he transferred the evidence bags to them.

       {¶11} Detective Donald Joseph of the Seneca County Sherriff’s Office

testified that he transported evidence to BCI in Bowling Green for analysis, and he

identified the evidence submittal sheet that he received from BCI upon the transfer

of the evidence. Additionally, Detective Joseph testified that he transported four

evidence bags from BCI in Bowling Green to the police station, and that he gave

the evidence bags to Detective Boyer.

       {¶12} Jennifer Acurio testified that she was a forensic scientist with BCI;

that she tested thirty-five white tablets related to the February 19, 2009 drug

purchase and found them to contain Hydrocodone; that, after she tested the tablets,

she inserted them into a bag and placed the bag in a vault until law enforcement

retrieved them; that the substances are always stored in a locked vault that only the

evidence technicians and chemists can access; that an electronic log is kept of

                                         -7-
Case No. 13-10-11

every person who enters the vault; that she had a chain of custody that tracked the

piece of evidence, but not a list of everyone that went into the vault; that,

according to the chain of custody log on the Hydrocodone tablets, the tablets were

first received by Elaine Dierksheide in the Bowling Green office; that, from there,

Rhonda Boston transferred the evidence from the Bowling Green office to the

Richfield office to be analyzed; that Carrie Maxwell, an evidence technician in the

Richfield office, received the evidence from Boston and placed it in the vault; that,

from there, she handled and analyzed the evidence; that Maxwell then placed the

evidence into a box in the vault to be sent back to Bowling Green; that Jeff Lynn

transported the evidence back to the Bowling Green office; that Judy Wilhelm, an

evidence technician in the Bowling Green office, was the next person to handle the

evidence; that Dierksheide then returned it to the police department; and, that she

placed a seal on the container after she had examined the evidence, and that same

seal was still in place.

       {¶13} Keith Taggart testified that he was a forensic scientist with the

Richfield BCI office; that he tested the Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Codeine

from the February 11 controlled purchase; that the drugs were originally received

by Dierksheide at the Bowling Green office and transported to the Richfield office

by Laura Risdon; that those drugs were received by the Richfield office on April

6, 2009; the he removed the drugs from the property room for testing on April 8,

                                         -8-
Case No. 13-10-11

2009, and returned them on April 11, 2009; that Marti Manke then gave the drugs

to Vicky Lilly for transportation to the Bowling Green office; that he also tested

the Oxycodone from the February 12 controlled purchase; that BCI uses an

electronic tracking procedure to record every person who handles evidence; and,

that every piece of evidence BCI receives is kept according to this procedure.

       {¶14} Kelsey Degen testified that she was a forensic scientist with the

Bowling Green office of BCI; that she examined the marijuana involved in the

three March 29, 2009 purchases and the purchase on March 30, 2009; that these

substances were received at BCI by Judy Wilhelm, who scanned them into the

database and placed them in the property room; that she took the substances out of

the property room on June 4, 2009, and returned them on June 10, 2009; and, that,

after she tested the substances, Wilhelm gave the substances back to the police

officers who transported them back to the police station.

       {¶15} During the proceedings, the trial court dismissed Count Three of the

indictment.

       {¶16} At the close of the presentation of evidence, the State moved for the

introduction of all forty-one exhibits used during trial. Ward objected to the

introduction of all the drugs and the evidence submittal sheets entered as exhibits

on the grounds that a proper chain of custody was not established for the drugs;

that an evidence custodian from BCI failed to testify regarding BCI’s handling of

                                        -9-
Case No. 13-10-11

the drugs; and, that an evidence log was not introduced for the drugs or the

evidence submittal sheets.     The trial court overruled Ward’s objections and

admitted all the exhibits with the exception of the drugs pertaining to dismissed

Count Three of the indictment.

       {¶17} Thereafter the jury returned a guilty verdict on all the remaining

counts of the indictment.

       {¶18} Subsequently, the matter proceeded to a sentencing hearing, at which

the State argued as follows:

       In considering the purposes of felony sentencing under R.C.
       2929.11 * * * the State asks the court to consider the drug
       problem that’s been going on in Fostoria for a number of years
       and is in [sic] increasingly growing worse. * * * The defendant
       has been a huge part of this Fostoria drug problem with
       trafficking illegal drugs of many different forms.

       ***

       In reviewing the seriousness and recidivism factors under
       Revised Code Section 2929.12, the State would like to point out
       to the court the defendant’s history of criminal convictions. In
       Seneca County, the defendant’s criminal history began in 1985
       when he was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a
       minor; in 1986 he was convicted of assault; in 1987 he was
       convicted of a felony charge of receiving stolen property. In
       1994 he was convicted of corruption of a minor, a felony of the
       third degree. The defendant was placed on probation for that
       offense and violated probation and ended up doing a year and a
       half in prison based on that violation.

       In 1999, this court sentenced the defendant to prison for two
       felony charges, being domestic violence and breaking and
       entering. The defendant also has an OVI from 1985 and 1990

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Case No. 13-10-11

        from the Fostoria Municipal Court, an OVI from the Tiffin
        Municipal Court in 1991 and 1992. In 2003 the defendant was
        convicted on OVI in Findlay Municipal Court. Defendant also
        has convictions from Jackson, Ohio. He was convicted of
        domestic violence in 2004 and 2005 in Jackson. During the time
        on probation for those domestic violence convictions, the
        defendant violated his probation at least three times. He was
        also convicted of OVI in Jackson in 2005 and 2007; of theft in
        Jackson in 2006 again violating his probation in 2007.

        He was convicted in the state of Virginia for petty larceny in
        1997. He also has convictions from the state of Florida from
        Polk County in 1986 for criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and
        loitering. From [another] county, he had battery convictions
        from 1988.

(Sentencing Tr., pp. 2-6).

        {¶19} Additionally, Detective Armstrong stated the following at the

sentencing hearing:

        I’d like to start mentioning a few names, Andy Nordholt, Austin
        Stallnecker, Danny Aiello, Donald Hoffman, these are names of
        just a few of the people here in Seneca County who have all died
        in the past year from prescription pill overdoses.          Law
        enforcement has seen a continual rise in these types of deaths
        and they have been occurring at a rate of approximately one
        death every two months.

(Id. at p. 8).

        {¶20} Thereafter, the trial court sentenced Ward to a twelve-month prison

term on Count One and an eighteen-month prison term each on Counts Two, Four,

Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine, with the sentences in Counts One and Two to be

served concurrently with each other, but consecutively to all other sentences, for a

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Case No. 13-10-11

total prison term of 126 months. Additionally, the trial court ordered that Ward

pay $1,213.30 in restitution to the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH

Enforcement Unit.

      {¶21} It is from his conviction and sentence that Ward appeals, presenting

the following assignments of error for our review.

                           Assignment of Error No. I

      IT IS ERROR FOR THE COURT TO CONVICT THE
      DEFENDANT OF MULTIPLE TRAFFICKING COUNTS
      WHERE THE CONDUCT INVOLVED CONSTITUTED
      ALLIED OFFENSES OF SIMILAR IMPORT.

                           Assignment of Error No. II

      IT IS ERROR FOR THE COURT TO ALLOW THE
      INTRODUCTION OF LAB REPORTS LINKING THE
      DEFENDANT TO THE SALE OF CONTROLLED
      SUBSTANCES WHEN A CHAIN OF CUSTODY HAS NOT
      BEEN PROPERLY ESTABLISHED.

                          Assignment of Error No. III

      IT IS ERROR FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER IMPROPER
      STATEMENTS MADE BY THE STATE AND BY
      DETECTIVE ARMSTRONG IN DETERMINING AN
      APPROPRIATE SENTENCE.

                           Assignment of Error No. IV

      IT IS ERROR FOR THE COURT TO SENTENCE THE
      APPELLANT/DEFENDANT TO MAXIMUM CONSECUTIVE
      SENTENCES BASED ON SENTENCING CONSIDERATIONS
      MANDATED BY O.R.C. 2929.11-12.

                                       -12-
Case No. 13-10-11

                             Assignment of Error No. I

       {¶22} In his first assignment of error, Ward argues that the trial court erred

in convicting him on multiple trafficking counts where those counts were allied

offenses of similar import. Specifically, Ward contends that Counts One and Two

of the indictment should have merged because they involved the sale of similar

Schedule II drugs in one single transaction, and that Counts Six, Seven, and Eight

of the indictment should have merged because they all involved the sale of

marijuana on the same date. We disagree.

       {¶23} We initially note that Ward failed to raise the issue of allied offenses

in the trial court, thus waiving all but plain error on this issue. Crim.R. 52(B);

State v. Holdcroft, 3d Dist. No. 16-06-07, 2007-Ohio-586, ¶18. In order to have

plain error under Crim.R. 52(B), there must be an error, the error must be an

“obvious” defect in the trial proceedings, and the error must have affected

“substantial rights.” State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 2002-Ohio-68. Plain

error is to be used “with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and

only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” Id. Plain error exists only in

the event that it can be said that “but for the error, the outcome of the trial would

clearly have been otherwise.” State v. Biros, 78 Ohio St.3d 426, 431, 1997-Ohio-

204; see State v. Johnson, 3d Dist. No. 2-98-39, 1999-Ohio-825.

                                        -13-
Case No. 13-10-11

       {¶24} R.C. 2941.25 governs multiple count indictments and provides as

follows:

       (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.

       {¶25} R.C. 2941.25 requires a two-step analysis. First, we must determine

whether the offenses in the indictment constitute allied offenses of similar import

under R.C. 2941.25(A). In making this determination, “Courts are required to

compare the elements of offenses in the abstract without considering the evidence

in the case, but are not required to find an exact alignment of the elements.

Instead, if, in comparing the elements of the offenses in the abstract, the offenses

are so similar that the commission of one offense will necessarily result in

commission of the other, then the offenses are allied offenses of similar import.”

State v. Cabrales, 118 Ohio St.3d 54, 2008-Ohio-1625, paragraph one of the

syllabus.

       {¶26} If a determination is made that the offenses are allied offenses of

similar import, the next step requires a determination of whether the crimes were

                                       -14-
Case No. 13-10-11

committed separately or whether there was a separate animus for the crimes. See

State v. Roberts, 180 Ohio App.3d 666, 2009-Ohio-298, ¶13, citing Cabrales, 118

Ohio St.3d 54, at ¶14. If such a finding is made, the defendant can be convicted of

the offenses. State v. Brown, 3d Dist. No. 9-09-15, 2009-Ohio-5428, ¶44, citing

State v. Blankenship (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 116.

       {¶27} Moreover, where a defendant is convicted on multiple counts for the

sale of drugs, with each count involving a separate and distinct drug, including

where the drugs are contained within different schedules, there is no conviction on

allied offenses of similar import. State v. Lingerfelt, 9th Dist. No. 4051, 1987 WL

9342. Because the type of drug involved in a trafficking offense is an element of

the crime, State v. Heidelburg, 12th Dist. No. CA2008-11-141, 2009-Ohio-5520,

¶11, citing State v. Headley (1983), 6 Ohio St.3d 475, the commission of one

offense of trafficking in a certain type of drug will not result in the commission of

another offense of trafficking in a different type of drug.

       {¶28} Here, Ward’s conviction on trafficking in drugs in Count One of the

indictment involved the sale of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance,

on February 11, 2009, and his conviction on aggravated trafficking in drugs on

Count Two of the indictment involved the sale of Oxycodone, a Schedule II

controlled substance, on February 11, 2009. Each of these drugs was purchased in

one transaction, as testified to by Detective Boyer; however, the drugs were of

                                         -15-
Case No. 13-10-11

different types. Because each conviction involved a different type of drug, the

commission of one offense cannot result in the commission of the other offense.

Consequently, we find that these are not allied offenses.

       {¶29} Additionally, Ward was convicted of trafficking in marijuana on

Counts Six, Seven, and Eight of the indictment. Although these three sales of

marijuana all took place on March 29, 2009, they were three separate sales, as

testified to by Detective Boyer and Detective Armstrong. Consequently, because

the three convictions stemmed from three separate transactions, and, therefore, a

separate animus existed for each, we find that they are not allied offenses.

       {¶30} Accordingly, we overrule Ward’s first assignment of error.

                            Assignment of Error No. II

       {¶31} In his second assignment of error, Ward argues that the trial court

erred in permitting the introduction of lab reports identifying the drugs in the case

where a proper chain of custody was not established. Specifically, Ward contends

that the BCI custody logs did not contain any identifying entries of who handled

the evidence and when they handled it, and that the testimony from the BCI

forensic scientists as to the chain of custody of the evidence was based upon

speculation and assumptions. We disagree.

       {¶32} The admission of evidence is within the trial court’s discretion and

will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion which is materially

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Case No. 13-10-11

prejudicial. State v. Rollison, 3d Dist. No. 9-09-51, 2010-Ohio-2162, ¶32, citing

State v. Martin (1985), 19 Ohio St.3d 122, 129. A trial court will be found to have

abused its discretion when its decision is contrary to law, unreasonable, not

supported by the evidence, or grossly unsound. See State v. Boles, 2d Dist. No.

23037, 2010-Ohio-278, ¶¶17-18, citing Black’s Law Dictionary (8 Ed.Rev.2004)

11. When applying the abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing court may not

simply substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. State v. Nagle (2000),

11th Dist. No. 99-L-089, 2000 WL 777835, citing Blakemore v. Blakemore

(1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219.

       {¶33} Evid.R. 901 provides that “[t]he requirement of authentication or

identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence

sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent

claims.”   “A chain of custody is part of the authentication and identification

mandate set forth in the rule, and the State has the burden of establishing the chain

of custody of a specific piece of evidence before it can be admitted at trial.” State

v. Gomez, 3d Dist. No. 16-04-10, 2005-Ohio-1606, ¶20, citing State v. Brown

(1995), 107 Ohio App.3d 194, 200. In establishing a chain of custody for the

authentication or identification of evidence, a strict chain of custody is not

required, but merely the presentation of evidence to ‘“establish that it is

reasonably certain that substitution, alteration or tampering did not occur.’”

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Case No. 13-10-11

Brown, 107 Ohio App.3d at 200, quoting State v. Blevins (1987), 36 Ohio App.3d

147, 150. Accordingly, once a reasonable chain of custody has been established,

any breaks within the chain go to the weight to be given to the evidence, not its

admissibility.   State v. Garcia, 3d Dist. No. 5-01-12, 2001-Ohio-2262, citing

Brown, supra.

       {¶34} In the case at bar, Detective Armstrong testified that he collected the

drugs purchased by the confidential informant during the February 11, 12, and 19,

2009 operations, and all three operations on March 29, 2009; that he placed those

drugs into evidence and labeled them; and, that he gave all the drugs to Detective

Boyer, with the exception of the drugs purchased during the first operation on

March 29, which he gave to Detective Joseph.

       {¶35} Detective Boyer testified that he collected the drugs from the

confidential informant during the March 30, 2009 operation; that he received the

drugs from Detective Armstrong from the operations on February 11, 12, and 19,

2009, and all three operations on March 29, 2009; that he placed all of these drugs

into evidence; and, that he received these drugs back from the transporting officer

after they had been analyzed by BCI. Additionally, Detective Boyer identified the

evidence submittal sheets from all drug purchase operations on February 11,

February 12, February 19, March 29, and March 30, 2009, which indicated that the

                                       -18-
Case No. 13-10-11

drugs collected from each operation were transported to BCI for analysis by

Detective Vallery, Officer Horn, or Detective Joseph.

      {¶36} Moreover, Detectives Vallery and Joseph, and Officer Horn all

testified to the respective drugs they transported to BCI for analysis, including an

indication from all three that they received the drugs from Detective Boyer, and an

identification of the evidence submittal sheets associated with each piece of

evidence transported. Additionally, Officer Horn testified that he transported two

evidence bags to the police station from BCI, and Detective Joseph testified that

he transported four evidence bags to the police station from BCI, with both

indicating they gave the drugs to Detective Boyer upon arrival.

      {¶37} Finally, each chemist from BCI who analyzed the drugs involved in

this case testified to their chain of custody while in BCI’s possession. Acurio

testified to each person who handled the Hydrocodone from the February 19, 2009

purchase that was received in the Bowling Green office; Taggart testified to each

person who handled the Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Codeine received by BCI

from the February 11, 2009 purchase, and that he also tested the drugs received

from the February 12, 2009 purchase; and, Degen testified to the drugs received

from all March 29, 2009 purchases and the March 30, 2009 purchase, including

who handled the drugs in the office, when she took them out of the property room

for testing, and when she placed them back into the property room.

                                       -19-
Case No. 13-10-11

           {¶38} Based on the testimony presented, we find that a clear and sufficient

chain of custody was established for each of the drugs admitted into evidence,

such that it appears ‘“reasonably certain that substitution, alteration or tampering

did not occur.’” Brown, 107 Ohio App.3d at 200, quoting Blevins, 36 Ohio

App.3d at 150. While there may have been some information missing from the

chain, such as each person at BCI who handled the drugs from the February 12

purchase, we find these discrepancies go to the weight to be given to the evidence,

not its admissibility.

           {¶39} Accordingly, we overrule Ward’s second assignment of error.

                                       Assignment of Error No. III

           {¶40} In his third assignment of error, Ward argues that the trial court

improperly considered unproven and prejudicial statements posited by the State at

sentencing.         Specifically, he contends that the State failed to prove his prior

convictions mentioned at sentencing, as required by R.C. 2945.75(B)(1), and that

the State and Detective Armstrong made several assertions of unproven facts at

sentencing in violation of U.S. v. Booker (2005), 543 U.S. 2201 and R.C.

2930.13(C). We disagree.

           {¶41} Initially, we note that Ward cites to Booker, 543 U.S. 220, in his

claim that the State presented unproven facts used at his sentencing, specifically

1
    We note that Appellant’s brief incorrectly listed the citation to Booker as 453 U.S. 220.

                                                      -20-
Case No. 13-10-11

the statement that Ward was part of the expanding drug problem in Fostoria.

However, Booker has no application in this situation as it addressed the issue of

fact-finding by the trial judge as opposed to a jury. Further, the Supreme Court of

Ohio, in State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, declared portions of

the felony sentencing statutes to be unconstitutional, specifically those portions

requiring judicial fact finding before imposition of sentences, pursuant to the

United States Supreme Court’s decisions in Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000), 530

U.S. 466; Blakely v. Washington (2004), 542 U.S. 296; and Booker, 543 U.S. 220.

Specifically, Foster held that “[t]rial courts [now] have full discretion to impose a

prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to make

findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than

the minimum sentences.” Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, at paragraph seven of the

syllabus. Consequently, any argument that unproven facts were used at sentencing

must fail, as there is no longer a fact finding requirement when sentencing, and the

trial court has full discretion when sentencing, constrained only by the dictates of

R.C. 2929.11, 2929.12, 2929.13, and the unsevered portions of R.C. 2929.14. See

State v. Rockwood, 3d Dist. No. 2-07-31, 2008-Ohio-738, ¶9.

       {¶42} Additionally, Ward claims that the statements made by Detective

Armstrong referencing individuals in the community who had died as a result of a

prescription drug overdose exceeded that which is permitted under a victim impact

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Case No. 13-10-11

statement pursuant to R.C. 2930.13(C).         However, R.C. 2930.13(C) has no

application here, as Detective Armstrong was not a victim of Ward’s crimes, but

one of the lead detectives investigating the case. Moreover, R.C. 2929.19(A)

permits the court to allow any person with “information relevant to the imposition

of sentence in the case” to make a statement. Thus, there was no error in the trial

court permitting Detective Armstrong to make a statement regarding the

consequences of Ward’s offenses on the community.

       {¶43} Finally, we find no merit to Ward’s argument that the State failed to

properly prove his prior convictions at sentencing. While R.C. 2945.75(B)(1)

provides that “a certified copy of the entry of judgment in such prior conviction

together with evidence sufficient to identify the defendant named in the entry as

the offender in the case at bar, is sufficient to prove such prior conviction,” the

section only pertains to when “it is necessary to prove a prior conviction.” R.C.

2945.75(B)(1). Here, there was no necessity that Ward’s prior convictions be

proven as an element of an offense or to statutorily enhance the degree of an

offense. The State was offering the prior convictions as pertinent information to

the felony sentencing factors contained in R.C. 2929.12. Furthermore, Ward cites

us to no authority finding that a defendant’s prior convictions offered at sentencing

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Case No. 13-10-11

for purposes of R.C. 2929.12 factors requires sufficient proof of the conviction. 2

         {¶44} Accordingly, we overrule Ward’s third assignment of error.

                                    Assignment of Error No. IV

         {¶45} In his fourth assignment of error, Ward asserts that the trial court

erred in sentencing him to maximum consecutive sentences.                               Specifically, he

argues that, when comparing the facts of the case to the sentencing factors under

R.C. 2929.11 through R.C. 2929.12 and Ohio’s drug sentencing guidelines, the

trial court should not have imposed maximum consecutive sentences, and that his

sentence is not consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by

similar offenders pursuant to R.C. 2929.11. We disagree.

         {¶46} An appellate court must conduct a meaningful review of the trial

court’s sentencing decision. State v. Daughenbaugh, 3d Dist. No. 16-07-07, 2007-

Ohio-5774, ¶8, citing State v. Carter, 11th Dist. No. 2003-P-0007, 2004-Ohio-

1181. A meaningful review means “that an appellate court hearing an appeal of a

felony sentence may modify or vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the

trial court for re-sentencing if the court clearly and convincingly finds that the

record does not support the sentence or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to

2
  Although Ward cites to State v. McCoy (1993), 89 Ohio App.3d 479, and State v. Arnold, 8th Dist. No.
79280, 2002 WL 93423, as an assertion that there are two other ways that convictions can be proven, which
he contends were also not followed in this case, these cases also refer to situations where a prior conviction
is an element of the offense or is used to statutorily enhance a sentence.

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Case No. 13-10-11

law.”3 Daughenbaugh, 2007-Ohio-5774, at ¶8, citing Carter, 2004-Ohio-1181, at

¶44; R.C. 2953.08(G).

        {¶47} As mentioned in our disposition of Ward’s third assignment of error,

pursuant to the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, the

trial court has full discretion to sentence an offender to any term of imprisonment

within the statutory range without a requirement that it make findings or give

reasons for imposing the maximum sentence, more than the minimum sentence, or

ordering sentences to be served consecutively.                      Id. at paragraph one of the

syllabus.

        {¶48} R.C. 2929.11, 2929.12, 2929.13, and the unsevered portions of R.C.

2929.14 govern sentencing. State v. Petrik, 3d Dist. No. 3-10-06, 2010-Ohio-

3671, ¶29, citing Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, at ¶36. R.C. 2929.11(A) and (B)

provide as follows:

        (A) A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be
        guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The
        overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the
        public from future crime by the offender and others and to
        punish the offender. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing
        court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender,
        deterring the offender and others from future crime,
        rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to the victim
        of the offense, the public, or both.

3
  We note that the Supreme Court of Ohio’s plurality opinion in State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-
Ohio-4912, established a two-part test utilizing an abuse of discretion standard for appellate review of
felony sentencing decisions under R.C. 2953.08(G). While we cite to this Court’s precedential clear and
convincing review standard adopted by three dissenting Justices in Kalish, we note that our decision in this
case would be identical under the Kalish plurality’s two-part test.

                                                   -24-
Case No. 13-10-11

       (B) A sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably
       calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes of felony
       sentencing set forth in division (A) of this section, commensurate
       with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender’s
       conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with
       sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar
       offenders.

Additionally, when sentencing an offender, the trial court must consider the

factors set forth under R.C. 2929.12(B), (C), (D), and (E) relating to the

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the likelihood of the offender’s

recidivism. R.C. 2929.12(A); see also State v. Ramos, 3d Dist. No. 4-06-24, 2007-

Ohio-767, ¶25. However, the trial court is not required to make specific findings

of its consideration of the factors. State v. Kincade, 3d Dist. No. 16-09-20, 2010-

Ohio-1497, ¶8, citing State v. Amett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 2000-Ohio-302.

       {¶49} In the case at bar, the trial court stated in its judgment entry of

sentencing that it considered the factors set forth under R.C. 2929.12 and R.C.

2929.13, along with the principles and purposes of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11.

Although we agree with Ward that many of the factors indicating the seriousness

of the offender’s conduct under R.C. 2929.12(B) are inapplicable to the facts of

this case, those are not the exclusive factors for the trial court to consider. Both

R.C. 2929.12(B) and (D) indicate the trial court can consider “any other relevant

factors” in making the determination of whether the offender’s conduct is more

serious than conduct normally constituting the offense or whether the offender is

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Case No. 13-10-11

likely to commit future crimes.       Moreover, some of the factors under R.C.

2929.12(D) are present in this case, indicating that Ward is likely to commit future

crimes, as evidenced by Ward’s multiple previous convictions

       {¶50} Consequently, because we find that the trial court considered the

appropriate sentencing factors under R.C. 2929.11, 2929.12, and 2929.13, because

the trial court has the discretion to sentence an offender to any term of

imprisonment within the statutory range, and to order sentences to be served

concurrently or consecutively, and because Ward has an extensive prior criminal

history, evidencing a likelihood of recidivism under R.C. 2929.12(D), we find no

error in the trial court’s imposition of Ward’s sentence.

       {¶51} Accordingly, we overrule Ward’s fourth assignment of error.

       {¶52} 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

PRESTON, J., concurs.

/jlr

WILLAMOWSKI, J., Concurring Separately.

       {¶53} I concur fully with the majority opinion, however write separately to

emphasize that the appropriate standard of review was applied. The standard of

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Case No. 13-10-11

review for sentences was set forth in the plurality opinion of Kalish, supra. In

Kalish, four panel members noted that R.C. 2953.08(G) requires that appellate

courts require appellants to meet a clearly and convincingly contrary to law

standard of review when reviewing a sentence.4 For example, if the sentencing

court imposed consecutive sentences, as in this case, the standard of review would

be whether appellant has shown that the sentence was clearly and convincingly

contrary to law. However, if the appeal is based upon the proper application of the

factors in R.C. 2929.12, four panel members in Kalish would require review using

an abuse of discretion standard as specifically set forth in R.C 2929.12.5

          {¶54} In his fourth assignment of error, Ward alleges that the trial court

erred by sentencing him to maximum consecutive sentences because his sentence

is not consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar

offenders. Ward argues that the trial court’s sentence does not comply with R.C.

2929.11. Ward does not argue that the trial court incorrectly applied the factors

set forth in R.C. 2929.12(B), which would require a review using an abuse of

discretion standard. Thus, the clearly and convincingly standard used to review

this case, as set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is the proper standard of review

herein.

4
    Justices Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, Lanzinger, and Judge Willamowski, sitting by assignment, all
reached this conclusion.
5
   Justices O’Connor, Moyer, O’Donnell, and Judge Willamowski, sitting by assignment, concurred in this
position, although the first three would use both standards of review in all cases.

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