Court Opinion

ID: 4386191
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-11 14:37:41.274973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:59.233862
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Williams, 2019-Ohio-1348.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                   EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                                  JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                          No. 107416

                                               STATE OF OHIO

                                                          PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                    vs.

                                       DARRYL W. WILLIAMS

                                                          DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                                JUDGMENT:
                                                 AFFIRMED

                                      Criminal Appeal from the
                               Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                     Case No. CR-17-622120-A

        BEFORE: S. Gallagher, P.J., Laster Mays, J., and Sheehan, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: April 11, 2019
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Edward M. Heindel
2200 Terminal Tower
50 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Melissa Riley
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, P.J.:

       {¶1} Darryl Williams appeals his conviction for a first-degree rape, in which he claims

the trial court failed to consider the principles and purposes of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 or

the sentencing factors under R.C. 2929.12 and failed to make the required findings under R.C.

2929.14(C)(4). In addition, Williams claims his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary

because the court “should have done more to fully explain the rights” he was waiving. As part

of the plea, Williams agreed that his sentence imposed on the rape count would be served

consecutive to a sentence in another case he was already serving. We affirm.

       {¶2} In support of appellate review of his sentence, Williams cites R.C. 2953.08(G)(2),

implicitly relying on State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶

23. Williams’s conviction stems from a rape committed in 1998, and as a result, the maximum

term of imprisonment for the first-degree offense is ten years. He contends that the trial court
failed to consider the sentencing factors and the principles and purposes of sentencing because if

the court had, Williams’s remorse and conduct in the ensuing years would have demonstrated

that a shorter prison term would have sufficed. Williams has not demonstrated error.

       {¶3} Under R.C. 2953.08(A)(1), maximum sentences imposed for one offense are

appealable. That statutory section sets forth the boundaries of appellate review over felony

sentences and establishes a deferential standard of review of the findings necessary to impose

certain sentences. Under division (G)(2) of that statutory section, however, appellate courts are

only permitted to review certain findings or whether a sentence is contrary to law. Id. (appellate

court may reverse a sentence if the record does not support the findings under R.C. 2929.13(B) or

(D), R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(e) or (C)(4), R.C. 2929.20(I), or if the sentence is contrary to law).

       {¶4} In this case, the trial court specifically considered the sentencing factors and the

principles of sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. The trial court expressly stated that

all relevant seriousness and recidivism factors and Williams’s history of criminal conduct and

remorse as set forth by trial counsel during the sentencing hearing were considered.             The

sentence is not contrary to law.         State v. Borden, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-18-015,

2019-Ohio-424, ¶ 13; State v. Wilson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106862, 2019-Ohio-150, ¶ 8.

Further, Williams does not argue that the record does not support the sentence under the standard

announced in Marcum. App.R. 16(A)(7).

       {¶5} Williams next contends that the trial court failed to make the findings necessary to

the imposition of consecutive service of the prison term. Generally under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4),

the trial court is required to make findings before imposing consecutive sentences. Williams,

however, agreed to serve his term of imprisonment in such a manner, relieving the trial court of
the need to justify the discretionary imposition of consecutive sentences by making the findings

under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).

        {¶6} Consecutive-sentence findings are not required when the state and the defendant

jointly recommend a sentence that includes nonmandatory consecutive sentences.                             State v.

Sergent, 148 Ohio St. 3d 94, 2016-Ohio-2696, 69 N.E.3d 627, ¶ 14. Even in the absence of the

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) findings, a consecutive sentence is authorized by law when the defendant

agrees to serve a term of imprisonment imposed upon a felony offense consecutive to another

term. Id. A “joint recommendation to impose consecutive sentences eliminates the need for a

trial judge to make the consecutive-sentence findings set out in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and that such

a sentence, once imposed, is not subject to review.” Id., citing State v. Porterfield, 106 Ohio

St.3d 5, 2005-Ohio-3095, 829 N.E.2d 690, and R.C. 2953.08(D)(1).                            “Once a defendant

stipulates that a particular sentence is justified, the sentencing judge no longer needs to

independently justify the sentence.” Porterfield at ¶ 25.

        {¶7} The only difference between Sergent and the current case is the fact that Williams

did not agree to serve a specific sentence on the underlying conviction. He agreed to permit the

trial court discretion to impose any sentence within the range for the first-degree felony, but he

agreed to serve that term consecutive to a term of imprisonment imposed in another case.1 This

distinction is of little consequence. Although the base sentence is potentially reviewable under

        1
            “A plea agreement is a contract between the state and a criminal defendant and is subject to contract-law
principles.” State v. Grove, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103042, 2016-Ohio-2721, ¶ 36, citing State v. Butts, 112 Ohio
App.3d 683, 686, 679 N.E.2d 1170 (8th Dist.1996); Baker v. United States, 781 F.2d 85, 90 (6th Cir.1986). In
exchange for dismissing several counts, Williams agreed to serve any sentence within the range for the first-degree
felony rape offense consecutive to another sentence he was already serving. Despite the fact that the agreed
sentencing range was any permissible sentence for that offense, the state offered a deal in exchange for dismissing
several counts that could have increased Williams’s sentencing exposure. In light of the contract principles at play,
especially given the parties’ agreement, R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) should preclude any challenge to the sentence imposed
in this case. The state, however, did not discuss this concept in its appellate briefing. Under App.R. 16(A)(7), we
shall not consider the argument either.
R.C. 2953.08(A)(1), the consecutive nature of that sentence is not. Sergent at ¶ 30. The state

agreed to dismiss several charges in exchange for Williams’s agreement to plead guilty to the

rape knowing that any sentence imposed would be consecutively served. Williams received the

benefit of the bargain and, in doing so, relieved the trial court of the need to justify the

consecutive sentence. The sentence imposed and the manner in which it is served is authorized

by law and not subject to appellate review.

       {¶8} Finally, Williams claims his guilty plea was not knowing and voluntary because the

trial court “should have done more to fully explain the rights” Williams was waiving. This

specific argument was made and rejected in State v. Russell, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 107215,

2019-Ohio-704. The same analysis applies with equal force to this case.

       {¶9} “When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal case, the plea must be made

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.”       State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St. 3d 525, 527,

1996-Ohio-179, 660 N.E.2d 450. The standard of review for determining whether a plea was

knowing, intelligent, and voluntary within the meaning of Crim.R. 11 for nonconstitutional

issues is substantial compliance and strict compliance for constitutional issues. State v. Nero, 56
Ohio St. 3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990), citing State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St. 2d 86, 92-93,

364 N.E.2d 1163 (1977).        “Substantial compliance means that under the totality of the

circumstances the defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea and the rights

he is waiving.” Nero. In addition, when challenging his guilty plea based on the trial court’s

lack of substantial compliance, a defendant must also show a prejudicial effect — that the plea

would not have been otherwise entered but for the error. State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St. 3d 239,

2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 32, citing Nero at 108.
       {¶10} Williams has not demonstrated prejudice, let alone has he argued that the trial

court’s plea colloquy was not in compliance with the criminal rule. His sole argument is that the

trial court should have done more than was required. “Although it is always possible to provide

more information to a defendant during the plea colloquy, the failure to do so is not a basis for

reversal if the trial court otherwise complies with Crim.R. 11.” Russell at ¶ 9. As in Russell,

Williams has not suggested, let alone demonstrated, that the trial court erred.

       {¶11} We affirm.

       It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant 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.       Case remanded to the trial court for execution of

sentence.

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

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE

ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., and
MICHELLE J. SHEEHAN, J., CONCUR