Court Opinion

ID: 2700803
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:25:37.989702+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:58.047971
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Poole, 2013-Ohio-1434.]
                             STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY

                                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                            SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                    )
                                                  )   CASE NO. 12 MA 108
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                       )
                                                  )
        - VS -                                    )         OPINION
                                                  )
MARCUS POOLE,                                     )
                                                  )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.                      )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                             Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas
                                                      Court, Case No. 94 CR 336.

JUDGMENT:                                             Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee:                               Attorney Paul J. Gains
                                                      Prosecuting Attorney
                                                      Attorney Ralph M. Rivera
                                                      Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                      21 W. Boardman St., 6th Floor
                                                      Youngstown, OH 44503

For Defendant-Appellant:                              Marcus Poole, Pro-se
                                                      #300-531
                                                      Trumbull Correctional Institute
                                                      5701 Burnett Road
                                                      P.O. Box 901
                                                      Leavittsburg, OH 44430

JUDGES:
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite

                                                      Dated: March 25, 2013
[Cite as State v. Poole, 2013-Ohio-1434.]
DeGenaro, P.J.
        {¶1}     Pro-se Defendant-Appellant, Marcus Poole, appeals the decision of the
Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion for strict compliance and
for determination of jurisdiction. On appeal, he first argues that the trial court exceeded
its jurisdiction because the firearm specifications in the indictment identified him by an
incorrect name and because the trial court imposed an improper sentence on these
specifications. Second, he contends that the indictment and sentencing entry were not
properly filed and thus, the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
        {¶2}     Poole's arguments are meritless. First, the trial court properly amended the
indictment to correct the wrong name in the firearm specifications. Even if the trial court
had not amended the indictment, Poole is challenging the sufficiency of the indictment;
not only is the issue waived on appeal and barred by res judicata; the trial court properly
sentenced Poole on the firearm specifications as charged in the indictment. Second, both
the indictment and sentencing entry were time-stamped and contain no jurisdictional
defects. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
                                   Facts and Procedural History
        {¶3}     On April 22, 1994, the Mahoning County Grand Jury indicted Poole on two
counts of aggravated murder (R.C. 2903.01(A)(C)), with two firearm specifications ( R.C.
2941.141 and R.C. 2929.71(A)). Although the two counts of aggravated murder named
Poole correctly, the firearm specifications charged a "Marcus Easterly." On May 31,
1994, the State filed a "motion to correct specification," requesting that the court amend
the indictment to reflect the correct name of the defendant pursuant to Crim.R. 7(D). The
trial court sustained the State's motion to amend the indictment on June 10, 1994.
        {¶4}     Poole was subsequently convicted following a jury trial of the two counts of
aggravated mrder with the two accompanying firearm specifications. In a November 3,
1994 judgment entry, the trial court imposed two consecutive terms of life imprisonment.
The court also sentenced Poole to three years of actual incarceration on each of the two
firearm specifications, to be served prior to and consecutive to the terms of life
imprisonment, and consecutive to each other. On direct appeal, this court affirmed.
State v. Poole, 116 Ohio App.3d 513, 688 N.E.2d 591 (7th Dist.1996); discretionary
                                                                                        -2-

appeal dismissed; State v. Poole, 78 Ohio St.3d 1453, 677 N.E.2d 814 (1997).
         {¶5}   On May 9, 2012, Poole filed a pro-se motion "for strict compliance and for
determination of jurisdiction with the trial court," which we have construed as arguing that
the trial court's November 3, 1994 sentencing entry failed to comply with Crim.R. 32(C)
and State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St.3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330, 893 N.E.2d 163. He also
claimed that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the indictment was not properly
filed by the clerk of courts. The trial court denied Poole's motion for strict compliance and
for determination of jurisdiction finding the sentencing entry complied with Crim.R. 32(C)
and Baker.      Further, the trial court found that Poole's arguments concerning the
indictment were barred by res judicata as he should have raised them during his direct
appeal; moreover that Poole failed to present anything to establish his indictment was
defective or that it was not properly filed by the clerk of courts.
                              Sufficiency of the Indictment
         {¶6}   In his first of two assignments of error, Poole argues:
         {¶7}   "Trial court exceeded its jurisdiction when it tried convicted and sentence
[sic.] defendant on an un-indicted firearm specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145 (3)
year."
         {¶8}   Poole asserts because his sentences for the firearm specifications are void
the convictions and sentences must be vacated and the case reversed for a new trial. He
argues the firearm specifications in the indictment identify him by the wrong name, and
the trial court imposed three years of actual incarceration on each firearm specification
pursuant to R.C. 2941.145, when the specification in the indictment, R.C. 2941.141,
provides for a one-year sentence.
         {¶9}   The State filed a motion to amend the indictment to correct this defect
pursuant to Crim.R. 7(D), which the trial court sustained. "Under Crim.R. 7(D), a court
may amend an indictment 'at any time' if the amendment does not change 'the name or
identity of the crime charged.'" State v. Davis, 121 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-4537, 903
N.E.2d 609, ¶1. Poole has not challenged the trial court's decision to amend the
indictment, and neither party acknowledged this amendment in their briefs. Moreover, the
                                                                                           -3-

amendment was proper, as it did not change the name or the identity of the charged
offenses. Thus, Poole's argument is meritless.
       {¶10} Poole additionally argues that the identification error in the indictment is
jurisdictional, such that the judgment is void and may be attacked at any time, including in
a collateral proceeding. In response, the State contends that Poole is barred from raising
this issue on appeal because he did not specifically raise it in his motion for strict
compliance and for determination of jurisdiction. Moreover, the State claims that Poole's
argument is barred by res judicata.
       {¶11} The Ohio Supreme Court has recognized that when a defendant challenges
an indictment for identifying the defendant by an incorrect name, the defendant
challenges the sufficiency of the indictment, not the jurisdiction of the sentencing court.
State ex rel. Simpson v. Lazaroff, 75 Ohio St.3d 571, 664 N.E.2d 937 (1996). Thus,
because Poole is not raising a jurisdictional error, it appears that he should have raised
his argument prior to trial pursuant to Crim.R. 12(C)(2). See State v. Jones, 6th Dist. No.
L-09-1181, 2009-Ohio-6498, ¶15; State v. Bragwell, 7th Dist. No. 06-MA-140, 2008-Ohio-
3406, ¶14-15. Poole neither raised this issue prior to trial nor did he specifically raise it in
his motion before the trial court; thus, he is precluded from raising this issue now on
appeal.
       {¶12} Moreover, Poole's argument is barred by res judicata. "Under the doctrine
of res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars the defendant from raising and litigating
in any proceeding, except an appeal from that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack
of due process that the defendant raised or could have raised at the trial which resulted in
that judgment of conviction or on an appeal from that judgment." State v. Davis, 7th Dist.
No. 11-MA-53, 2012-Ohio-4112, ¶8, citing State v. Perry, 10 Ohio St.2d 175, 180, 226
N.E.2d 104 (1967). Because Poole is challenging the sufficiency of the indictment, this
information was available to him prior to the original judgment or during direct appeal;
however, he failed to present this argument at either opportunity, and it is thus barred by
res judicata.
       {¶13} Poole next argues the trial court erred in imposing three years instead of
                                                                                        -4-

one year on each firearm specification; by doing so the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction
and thus the firearm specifications are void and subject to collateral attack.
       {¶14} "[I]mposing a sentence outside the statutory range, contrary to the statute, is
outside a court's jurisdiction, thereby rendering the sentence void ab initio." State v.
McCall, 7th Dist. No. 12 MA 57, 2012-Ohio-5604, ¶17, quoting State v. Payne, 114 Ohio
St.3d 502, 2007-Ohio-4642, 873 N.E.2d 306, ¶29, fn. 3. While Poole argues that the trial
court sentenced him on each firearm specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145, the record
lacks any evidence that the trial court sentenced Poole according to this statute. Poole
was indicted for firearm specifications pursuant to Former R.C. 2929.71(A), which
provides:

       (A) The court shall impose a term of actual incarceration of three years in
       addition to imposing a life sentence pursuant to section 2907.02, 2907.12,
       or 2929.02 of the Revised Code or an indefinite term of imprisonment
       pursuant to section 2929.11 of the Revised Code, if all of the following
       apply:

       (1) The offender is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, any felony other than a
       violation of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code.

       (2) The offender also is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, a specification
       charging him with having a firearm on or about his person or under his
       control while committing the felony. * * *

Id.
       {¶15} Former R.C. 2941.141(A) provides the term of actual incarceration under
R.C. 2929.71(A) can only be imposed if the indictment contains a proper firearm
specification in the following form:

       "SPECIFICATION (or, SPECIFICATION TO THE FIRST COUNT), The
       Grand Jurors * * * further find and specify that (set forth that the offender
                                                                                         -5-

       had a firearm on or about his person or under his control while committing
       the offense)."

Id.
       {¶16} Here, the indictment contains the proper language for the firearm
specification pursuant to Former R.C. 2941.141(A).           Thus, the trial court properly
sentenced Poole to three years of actual incarceration on each firearm specification
pursuant to Former R.C. 2929.71(A) and Former R.C. 2941.141(A), as set forth in the
indictment. Accordingly, Poole’s first assignment of error is meritless.
                             Compliance with Crim.R. 32(C)
       {¶17} Poole asserts in his second assignment of error:
       {¶18} "Whether, and in light of the holding in State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St. 3d 197,
and Crim.R. 32(C), the failure of the trial court to properly file, time-stamp, and journalize
either the: *INDICTMENT (including the JOURNAL ENTRY finding guilt and imposing
sentence) the trial court ever possessed competent subject matter or personal jurisdiction
over the defendant."
       {¶19} In Baker, the Ohio Supreme Court held that a judgment of conviction
complies with Crim.R. 32(C) and constitutes a final appealable order when it sets forth
four elements. Id. at syllabus. The Court recently modified Baker in State v. Lester, 130
Ohio St.3d 303, 2011-Ohio-5204, 958 N.E.2d 142, by holding that "[a] judgment of
conviction is a final order subject to appeal under R.C. 2505.02 when it sets forth (1) the
fact of the conviction, (2) the sentence, (3) the judge's signature, and (4) the time stamp
indicating the entry upon the journal by the clerk. (Crim.R. 32(C), explained; State v.
Baker, 119 Ohio St.3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330, 893 N.E.2d 163, modified.)"                 Id. at
paragraph one of the syllabus.
       {¶20} Poole contends the judgment entry of sentence was not properly filed, time-
stamped or journalized in violation of Crim.R. 32(C). However, the November 3, 1994
judgment entry contains a time-stamp from the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts;
specifies that Poole was found guilty following a jury trial of two counts of aggravated
                                                                                           -6-

murder with firearm specifications; sets forth his sentence; and contains the trial judge's
signature. Thus, the judgment entry of conviction was a valid, final appealable order in
compliance with Crim.R. 32(C).
       {¶21} As to the indictment, the jurisdiction of the trial court "vests by the return of a
valid indictment." State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. No. 21738, 2007-Ohio-4885, ¶23. The trial
court found that Poole's argument concerning whether the indictment was time-stamped
was barred by res judicata. However, Poole is asserting that the trial court lacked subject
matter jurisdiction and thus rendered a void sentence, to which the doctrine of res
judicata would not apply. See McCall at ¶14, 16. Not only does res judicata bar Poole's
argument, it lacks merit. The indictment in the record contains a time-stamp from the
Mahoning County Clerk of Courts, which is evidence that the indictment was properly
filed. See Zanesville v. Rouse, 126 Ohio St.3d 1, 2010-Ohio-2218, 929 N.E.2d 1044, ¶8-
9, judgment vacated in part on reconsideration on other grounds, 126 Ohio St.3d 1227,
2010-Ohio-3754, 933 N.E.2d 260. Thus, the indictment was properly filed and the trial
court obtained jurisdiction over the matter. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in
overruling Poole's motion for strict compliance and for determination of jurisdiction, and
Poole’s second assignment of error is meritless.
       {¶22} In conclusion, Poole's arguments are meritless. The trial court properly
amended the indictment to correct the wrong name in the firearm specifications and the
court properly sentenced Poole on these specifications as charged in the indictment.
Furthermore, both the indictment and sentencing entry were time-stamped and contain no
jurisdictional defects. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
Waite, J., concurs.