Court Opinion

ID: 2701666
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:39:10.878044+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:13.284471
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Snider, 2014-Ohio-2184.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                   COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                               JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 100319

                                       STATE OF OHIO
                                                    PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                              vs.

                                         JOHN SNIDER
                                                    DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                    JUDGMENT:
                              REVERSED AND REMANDED

                                     Criminal Appeal from the
                              Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                     Case No. CR-12-568969

        BEFORE: E.A. Gallagher, J., Rocco, P.J., and Keough, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED:                     May 22, 2014
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Joseph Medici
Jay Milano
Milano Pasch Medici
2639 Wooster Road
Rocky River, Ohio 44116

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Brett Kyker
Assistant County Prosecutor
8th Floor, Justice Center
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J.:

         {¶1} Defendant-appellant John Snider appeals his sentence that was rendered in

the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Snider argues that the trial court erred in

imposing consecutive sentences without making required findings and that the imposition

of consecutive sentences was not supported by the record. Finding merit to the instant

appeal, we reverse and remand.

         {¶2} On May 20, 2013, Snider pleaded guilty to three counts of pandering

sexually oriented matter involving a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(2), 17 counts

of pandering in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(1) and one count of possession of criminal

tools.

         {¶3} The trial court imposed two-year prison terms for each of the three

violations of R.C. 2907.322(A)(2) and ordered these terms to be served consecutively.

The trial court also sentenced Snider to two-year prison terms on the remaining counts of

pandering and a one-year prison term for possession of criminal tools.         These counts

were ordered to be served concurrently.        Snider appeals asserting the following two

assignments of error:

         I. The trial court’s sentence was contrary to the law in imposing consecutive
         sentences persuant [sic] to ORC 2929.14 & ORC 2953.08.

         II. The trial court’s sentence was not supported by the record in the case
         persuant [sic] to ORC 2929.14 & ORC 2953.08.

        {¶4} When reviewing a felony sentence, we follow the standard of review set
forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), which provides in relevant part:

         The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section
      shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or
      modification given by the sentencing court.

      The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence
      that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand
      the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court’s
      standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its
      discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this
      division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following:

      (a) That the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings under
      division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of
      section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code,
      whichever, if any, is relevant;

      (b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

Id.

      {¶5} A sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law where the trial

court considers the purposes and principles of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 as well as

the seriousness and recidivism factors listed in R.C. 2929.12, properly applies postrelease

control and sentences a defendant within the permissible statutory range. State v. A.H.,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98622, 2013-Ohio-2525, ¶ 10, citing State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio

St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124.

      {¶6} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) authorizes the court to require an offender to serve

multiple prison terms consecutively for convictions on multiple offenses. Consecutive

sentences can be imposed if the court finds that (1) a consecutive sentence is necessary to

protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender and (2) that consecutive

sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the

danger the offender poses to the public. In addition to these two factors, the court must
find any of the following:

       (a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the
       offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed
       pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or
       was under post-release control for a prior offense.

       (b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or
       more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the
       multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single
       prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses
       of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.

       (c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
       consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime
       by the offender.

Id.

       {¶7} In the present case, the record reflects that the trial court failed to make the

findings required to impose consecutive sentences pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). The

state concedes this error.

       {¶8} Additionally, Snider argues that certain factual findings referenced by the

trial court at sentencing were incorrect and did not support the imposition of consecutive

sentences or any of the findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). However, this court has

previously refused to review the propriety of hypothetical R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) findings

that a trial court did not, in fact, make. State v. Finney, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99646,

2014-Ohio-1054, ¶ 5. As we explained in Finney, this would be “putting the cart before

the horse.”   The lack of the required findings prior to imposing consecutive sentences is

error, and we must vacate Snider’s sentence and remand for resentencing.           State v.

Venes, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453 (8th Dist.).
       {¶9} Snider’s first assignment of error is sustained and we find his second

assignment of error to be moot at this time.

       {¶10} Snider’s sentence is vacated, and this cause is remanded to the trial court to

consider whether consecutive sentences are appropriate under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), and if

so, to enter the proper findings on the record.

       {¶11} Reversed and remanded to the lower court for resentencing consistent with

this opinion.

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

       The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common

pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.

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

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

KENNETH A. ROCCO, P.J., and
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR