Court Opinion

ID: 2689561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 19:39:37.016182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:02.257539
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Paster, 2014-Ohio-3231.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                   COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                               JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 100458

                                       STATE OF OHIO
                                                       PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                 vs.

                                  MICHAEL N. PASTER
                                                       DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                          JUDGMENT:
            CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED; SENTENCE REVERSED
                AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING

                                    Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                    Case No. CR-13-573090

        BEFORE:          Kilbane, J., Celebrezze, P.J., and E.A. Gallagher, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED:                      July 24, 2014
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

John B. Gibbons
2000 Standard Building
1370 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
Holly Welsh
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center - 8th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J.:

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Michael Paster (“Paster”), appeals his convictions and

sentence.   For the reasons set forth below, we affirm his convictions, reverse his

sentence, and remand for resentencing.

       {¶2} In April 2013, Paster was charged in a five-count indictment. Counts 1 and

2 charged him with importuning. Count 3 charged him with compelling prostitution.

Count 4 charged him with attempted unlawful conduct with a minor. Count 5 charged

him with possession of criminal tools.1 The charges arise from an online investigation

conducted by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”), where

one of its officers posed online as a 15-year-old girl.

       {¶3} The matter proceeded to a bench trial in July 2013, at which the following

evidence was adduced.

       {¶4} On March 29, 2013, Beth Holmes (“Holmes”), an investigator with ICAC,

observed an ad posted on craigslist.com under the “casual encounters” section, titled

“Looking to have some A$$ fun-m4w-35[.]” Holmes responded to the ad using the

email address of her undercover profile, Janelle Bentley (“Bentley”). Holmes, posing as

Bentley, exchanged email addresses with Paster, who was later determined to be the

person who placed the craigslist ad. Holmes also exchanged cell phone numbers with

Paster. Holmes provided Paster an undercover cell phone number. The two of them

corresponded by text message from March 29, 2013 to April 2, 2013. During that time,

       1Each   of the counts carried a forfeiture specification.
Paster texted a picture of himself to Holmes, and Holmes, posing as Bentley, sent a

picture of herself manipulated to make her look younger. Paster made several requests

of Bentley to engage in various sexual acts. Holmes, posing as Bentley, texted Paster on

two occasions that she was 15 years old. Paster, who was 37 years old at the time, asked

Bentley to meet in person so that they can engage in sexual activity. He offered a “prize

of $100.” They arranged to meet on April 2, 2013, at a video store in Parma, Ohio and

then drive somewhere to have sex. When Paster arrived at the location, Holmes, posing

as Bentley, texted Paster, asking if he just pulled into the parking lot. Paster responded,

“yeah.” Officers then asked Paster to step out of his vehicle and arrested him. Officers

seized Paster’s cell phone and his wallet, which contained $18 and two condoms.

       {¶5} Jeff Rice, a forensic examiner with ICAC, testified that he conducted an

exam of Paster’s cell phone and found text messages exchanged between Paster and

Holmes, posing as Bentley.

       {¶6} A review of the trial transcript reveals that the court found Paster guilty of

both counts of importuning, attempted unlawful conduct with a minor, and possession of

criminal tools, all with corresponding forfeiture specifications, and not guilty of

compelling prostitution. The corresponding journal entry, however, states that the trial

court found Paster “not guilty of possessing criminal tools [R.C.] 2923.24(A) with

forfeiture specification(s) (2941.1417) as charged in Count(s) 5 of the indictment.”
       {¶7} At sentencing, the trial court sentenced Paster on Counts 1 and 4.2 The

trial court merged Counts 1 and 2, and the state elected to proceed with sentencing on

Count 1. The trial court sentenced Paster to 12 months on Count 1 and 16 months on

Count 4, to be served consecutively for a total of 28 months in prison.

       {¶8} Paster now appeals, raising the following three assignments of error for

review.

                                Assignment of Error One

       The trial court committed plain error by imposing consecutive terms of
       incarceration.

                                Assignment of Error Two

       The trial court erred by failing to grant [Paster’s] motion for judgment of
       acquittal pursuant to [Crim.R. 29(A)] on each count of the indictment.

                                Assignment of Error Three

       The trial court erred by permitting the introduction of business records of
       Craigslist, Facebook, and telephone records without the legally required
       [authentication] of these records.

                                         Sentence

       {¶9} This court has addressed the standard of review used by appellate courts

when reviewing challenges to the imposition of consecutive sentences in State v. Venes,

2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453 (8th Dist.). In Venes, we held that the standard of

       2 The trial court did not impose a sentence on Count 5 at the sentencing
hearing or in the corresponding docket entry.
review set forth by the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23,

2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, was no longer valid. We stated:

      In [Kalish], the supreme court considered the relevant standard of review in
      the post-Foster era in which the findings necessary to impose consecutive
      sentences under former R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) had been declared
      unconstitutional. A plurality of the court held that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) was
      inapplicable because it expressly related to “findings” that had been
      abrogated as unconstitutional. Instead, the plurality set forth the following
      method of reviewing criminal sentences: (1) is the sentence contrary to
      law and (2) if not, was it an abuse of discretion. Id. at ¶ 14-19.

      Kalish, as is any plurality opinion, is of “questionable precedential value.”
      See Kraly v. Vannewkirk, 69 Ohio St.3d 627, 633, 635 N.E.2d 323 (1994).
      Nevertheless, panels of this court have found it persuasive, at least insofar
      as it was applied to sentencing in the post-Foster era. See, e.g., State v.
      Martinez, 8th Dist. [Cuyahoga] No. 96222, 2011-Ohio-5832, ¶ 6, fn. 1.

      The post-Foster era ended with the enactment of H.B. 86 and the revival of
      statutory findings necessary for imposing consecutive sentences under R.C.
      2929.14(C)(4). By reviving the requirement for findings as a predicate for
      imposing consecutives, the ground offered by Kalish for rejecting the
      standard of review set forth in former R.C. 2953.08 — that it could not
      stand as a standard of review for a statute that improperly required findings
      of fact before imposing consecutive sentences — was nullified. With the
      basis for the decision in Kalish no longer valid, and given that Kalish had
      questionable precedential value in any event, we see no viable reasoning for
      continuing to apply the standard of review used in that case. Henceforth,
      we review consecutive sentences using the standard of review set forth in
      R.C. 2953.08.

Venes at ¶ 8-10.

      {¶10} R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides two bases for a reviewing court to overturn the

imposition of consecutive sentences: the sentence is “otherwise contrary to law,” or the

reviewing court clearly and convincingly finds that “the record does not support the

sentencing court’s findings” under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
       {¶11} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) now requires that a trial court engage in a three-step

analysis in order to impose consecutive sentences. First, the trial court must find that the

sentence is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender.

Second, the trial court must find that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public.

Third, the trial court must find that at least one of the following applies: (a) the offender

committed one or more of the multiple offenses while awaiting trial or sentencing, while

under a sanction imposed pursuant to R.C. 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18, or while under

postrelease 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 offenses 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; or (c) the offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that

consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the

offender. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c).

       {¶12} “In making these findings, a trial court is not required to use ‘talismanic

words,’ however, it must be clear from the record that the trial court actually made the

findings required by statute.”      State v. Marton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99253,

2013-Ohio-3430, citing Venes at ¶ 14, 17; State v. Goins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98256,

2013-Ohio-263, ¶ 10.
       {¶13} Paster contends that the trial court’s discussion was insufficient to satisfy the

findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) when it imposed his sentence.                   While we

acknowledge that the trial court gave thorough consideration to the presentence

investigation report, letters from Paster’s ex-wife, girlfriend, and various family members,

and the contents of Paster’s texts, we agree with Paster that the trial court must make

separate and distinct findings when it imposes consecutive sentences. See Venes at ¶ 17.

       {¶14} A review of the record in the instant case does not reflect that the trial court

conducted the appropriate analysis required under R.C. 2929.14(C) in sentencing Paster

to consecutive terms. The trial court made no reference or mention of the findings

necessary to support consecutive sentences. The term “consecutive” was not discussed

by the trial court until the court imposed the sentence. Therefore, the trial court erred in

imposing consecutive sentences without making the requisite findings.

       {¶15} Accordingly, the first assignment of error is sustained.

                                Sufficiency of the Evidence

       {¶16} In the second assignment of error, Paster challenges his convictions, arguing

that there was insufficient evidence to sustain them.

       {¶17} The Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Diar, 120 Ohio St.3d 460,

2008-Ohio-6266, 900 N.E.2d 565, ¶ 113, explained the standard for sufficiency of the

evidence as follows:

       Raising the question of whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support
       the jury verdict as a matter of law invokes a due process concern. State v.
       Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541.
        In reviewing such a challenge, “[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after
       viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any
       rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
       proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d
       259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v.
       Virginia (1979), 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560.

                                        Importuning

       {¶18} Paster first challenges his importuning convictions in violation of R.C.

2907.07(D)(2), which provides that:

       No person shall solicit another by means of a telecommunications device *
       * * to engage in sexual activity with the offender when the offender is
       eighteen years of age or older and * * * [t]he other person is a law
       enforcement officer posing as a person who is thirteen years of age or older
       but less than sixteen years of age, the offender believes that the other person
       is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age or is
       reckless in that regard, and the offender is four or more years older than the
       age the law enforcement officer assumes in posing as the person who is
       thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age.

       {¶19} Paster claims the evidence does not demonstrate that he solicited sexual

activity from a minor female. We disagree.

       {¶20} In the instant case, the record demonstrates that Paster, who was 37 years

old at the time, sent multiple sexually explicit text messages to Bentley. Holmes, posing

as Bentley, texted Paster on two occasions that she was 15 years old, texted him that he

was twice her age, and made references that she was a virgin. Holmes testified that she

“received several text messages as to what [Paster] wanted to do, how [he] wanted to

engage in sexual activity with a 15-year-old.”

       {¶21} When reviewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the state, we find

sufficient evidence to sustain his importuning convictions.
                    Attempted Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor

       {¶22} Paster next challenges his attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

conviction, in violation of R.C. 2923.02(A) and 2907.04(A), which provide that:

       No person, purposely or knowingly, and when purpose or knowledge is
       sufficient culpability for the commission of an offense, shall engage in
       conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the offense.

       No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in sexual
       conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender, when the
       offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less
       than sixteen years of age, or the offender is reckless in that regard.

       {¶23} Paster argues that his act of       driving to the video store in Parma is

insufficient to demonstrate a “substantial step” to complete the offense of attempted

unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

       {¶24} In State v. Schaefer, 155 Ohio App.3d 448, 2003-Ohio-6538, 801 N.E.2d

872, ¶ 14 (2d Dist.), the Second Appellate District held that the defendant’s act of driving

to meet a person who he believed was a 14-year-old girl he had solicited over the internet

for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity was a substantial step in the commission of

the offense of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and that the act of driving to the

arranged meeting spot on the date and time planned was strongly corroborative of his

criminal purpose. See also State v. Tarbay, 157 Ohio App.3d 261, 2004-Ohio-2721, 810

N.E.2d 979 (1st Dist.); State v. Bonness, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96557, 2012-Ohio-474,

discretionary appeal not allowed, 132 Ohio St.3d 1482, 2012-Ohio-3334, 971 N.E.2d

960.
         {¶25} Likewise, in the instant case, Paster’s act of driving to the video store, the

arranged meeting place, on the date that he had agreed to meet Bentley for the purpose of

engaging in the sexual activity that they had discussed in text messages is corroborative of

Paster’s specific intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor, and it thereby

constituted a substantial step in committing the offense of unlawful sexual conduct with a

minor.

         {¶26} Accordingly, we find sufficient evidence to sustain Paster’s attempted

unlawful sexual conduct with a minor conviction.

                                Possession of Criminal Tools

         {¶27} Lastly, within this assigned error, Paster argues that there was insufficient

evidence to sustain his possession of criminal tools conviction in violation of R.C.

2923.24(A). A review of the trial docket, however, reveals that the trial court found

Paster “not guilty of possessing criminal tools [R.C.] 2923.24(A) with forfeiture

specification(s) (2941.1417) as charged in Count(s) 5 of the indictment.” Furthermore,

the trial court’s sentencing entry only contains a sentence for Counts 1 and 4. It is well

settled that a court speaks through its journal entries. State v. Brooke, 113 Ohio St.3d

199, 2007-Ohio-1533, 863 N.E.2d 1024, ¶ 47, citing Kaine v. Marion Prison Warden, 88

Ohio St.3d 454, 2000-Ohio-381, 727 N.E.2d 907.

         {¶28} The journal entries in the instant case state that Paster was found not guilty

of possession of criminal tools. A review of the record reveals that the state did not

object to the “not guilty” finding at the trial court, nor did the state file a cross-appeal
with this court, challenging the “not guilty” finding. Therefore, Paster’s sufficiency

argument regarding possession of criminal tools is moot.

       {¶29} Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.

                                 Authentication of Records

       {¶30} In the third assignment of error, Paster argues the trial court erred by

permitting the introduction of the craigslist ad, Facebook account printouts, and cell

phone records.    He contends that these records are business records that were not

properly authenticated before they were admitted into evidence.

       {¶31} We note that “‘[t]he admission or exclusion of relevant evidence rests within

the sound discretion of the trial court.’” State v. Pruitt, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98080,

2012-Ohio-5418, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Hamilton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 86520,

2006-Ohio-1949.

       {¶32} Evid.R. 901 governs authentication and provides a liberal standard for the

authentication of telephone calls.     Pruitt at ¶ 11, citing State v. Teague, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 90801, 2009-Ohio-129.           Under Evid.R. 901(A), the requirement of

authentication for evidence to be admissible “is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support

a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.” This court has stated:

       Circumstantial evidence, as well as direct, may be used to show
       authenticity. Moreover, the threshold standard for authenticating evidence
       pursuant to Evid.R. 901(A) is low, and “does not require conclusive proof
       of authenticity, but only sufficient foundational evidence for the trier of fact
       to conclude that * * * [the evidence] is what its proponent claims it to be.”

(Citations omitted.) Pruitt at ¶ 11, quoting Teague.
       {¶33} In the instant case, all of the documents were authenticated by direct

testimony of the individuals who generated them. Holmes testified that she printed the

craigslist ad and the Facebook accounts. Holmes also identified her own cell phone

records between herself and Paster.       Rice testified that he generated a list of text

messages after analyzing Paster’s cell phone. Based on this direct testimony, we find

that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting these documents into evidence.

       {¶34} Therefore, the third assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶35} Accordingly, we affirm Paster’s convictions, reverse his sentence, and

remand for a resentencing hearing.

       It is ordered that appellee and appellant share the 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. The defendant’s conviction having

been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated.

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

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

MARY EILEEN KILBANE, JUDGE

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCURS;
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J., DISSENTS (SEE SEPARATE OPINION)

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J., DISSENTING:
       {¶36} I concur with the majority’s affirmance of appellant’s convictions, but

respectfully dissent from its position that the trial court did not conduct the appropriate

analysis required under R.C. 2929.14(C).

       {¶37} As stated by the majority, R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires the trial court to

find that a consecutive sentence is “necessary to protect the public from future crime or to

punish the offender,” that consecutive sentences are “not disproportionate to the

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public,”

and the existence of one of the three statutory factors set forth in R.C.

2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c), which are as follows: (a) the offender committed one or more of the

multiple offenses while awaiting trial or sentencing, while under a sanction imposed

pursuant to R.C. 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18, or while under postrelease 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 offenses 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; or (c) the offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive

sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.

       {¶38} In the case at hand, the trial court stated the following with respect to

imposing consecutive sentences:

       This court is running counts 1 and 2 3 consecutive because of the
       seriousness of this crime, because to do otherwise would demean the

       3 The   trial court subsequently corrected its statement that it was running
       seriousness of this offense, and because this court finds that the public does
       need to be protected from you.

       ***

       We will run them consecutive because one sentence alone would not protect
       the public from this behavior and the seriousness would be seriously
       demeaned otherwise.

       {¶39} In my view, the trial court’s statements satisfied the mandates of R.C.

2929.14(C)(4).    Although the trial court did not use the term “disproportionate,” it

emphasized (1) the need to protect the public from future crime, (2) that a consecutive

term was necessary give the seriousness of appellant’s conduct, and (3) that a single

prison term would not adequately reflect the seriousness of appellant’s conduct.        I

believe these findings are all that the statute requires.

       {¶40} Accordingly, I would overrule appellant’s first assignment of error and

affirm his sentence.

Counts 1 and 2 consecutively and clarified that because Counts 1 and 2 were allied
offenses, the court was running Counts 1 and 4 consecutively.