Court Opinion

ID: 4405126
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-10 17:48:52.932751+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:24:23.536099
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Miller, 2019-Ohio-2290.]

                                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                         LAKE COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO,                                    :      OPINION

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,              :
                                                         CASE NO. 2018-L-133
        - vs -                                    :

OTIS S. MILLER,                                   :

                 Defendant-Appellant.             :

Criminal Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2017 CR
001304.

Judgment: Affirmed.

Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Prosecutor, and Jennifer A. McGee, Assistant
Prosecutor, Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490,
Painesville, OH 44077 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Vanessa R. Clapp, Lake County Public Defender, and Melissa Ann Blake, Assistant
Public Defender, 125 East Erie Street, Painesville, OH 44077 (For Defendant-
Appellant).

CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.

        {¶1}     Appellant, Otis. S. Miller, appeals from his judgment of the Lake County

Court of Common Pleas, sentencing him to an aggregate term of 12 years

imprisonment. We affirm.

        {¶2}     The instant matter arose from a lengthy investigation by the Lake County

Narcotics Agency (“LCNA”) which culminated in one of the largest drug arrests in the
county’s recent history. On November 14, 2017, LCNA conducted a controlled drug buy

from appellant. During the buy, appellant sold a confidential informant an ounce of

methamphetamine in exchange for $900.             Agents subsequently secured a search

warrant for appellant’s residence.     The search resulted in the seizure of cocaine,

methamphetamine, marijuana, alprazolam, methadone, as well as firearms and

ammunition.

       {¶3}   Appellant was indicted on a total of 14 charges, 12 of which were felonies.

All counts included forfeiture specifications and seven included major drug offender

specifications. Appellant originally pleaded not guilty, but withdrew the plea and entered

pleas of guilty to one count of trafficking in cocaine, a felony of the first degree and one

count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree. After holding a

hearing, appellant was sentenced to 10 years on the trafficking in cocaine charge and

two years on the aggravated trafficking in drugs charge. The trial court ordered the

sentences to be served consecutively for an aggregate prison term of 12 years. He now

appeals and assigns the following as error:

       {¶4}   “The trial court erred by sentencing the defendant-appellant to mandatory

and consecutive prison sentences totaling 12 years.”

       {¶5}   An appellate court generally reviews felony sentences under the standard

of review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), which states:

       {¶6}   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.

       {¶7}   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

                                              2
              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:

       {¶8}   (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;

       {¶9}   (b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

       {¶10} Appellate courts “‘may vacate or modify any sentence that is not clearly

and convincingly contrary to law’” only when the appellate court clearly and convincingly

finds that the record does not support the sentence. State v. Wilson, 11th Dist. Lake No.

2017-L-028, 2017-Ohio-7127, ¶18, quoting State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-

Ohio-1002, ¶23.

       {¶11} The Ohio Supreme Court has held, R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 do not

require judicial fact-finding.   State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856,

¶42; State v. Macko, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2016-L-022, 2017-Ohio-253, ¶75. “Rather,

in sentencing a defendant for a felony, a court is merely required to consider the

purposes and principles of sentencing in R.C. 2929.11 and the statutory * * * factors

in R.C. 2929.12.” Macko, supra, citing Foster, supra.

       {¶12} Appellant asserts his sentence was contrary to law because the trial court

either ignored or discounted factors under R.C. 2929.12 that made his behavior less

serious and recidivism less likely. Specifically, he contends the record supports he had

no previous history of drug dealing and he expressed genuine remorse. He notes that

he was a drug addict, which could be deemed a valid mitigating factor. Appellant

submits the offenses and/or his conduct were committed under circumstances not likely

to recur. And, appellant argues, the trial court’s consideration of the amount of drugs

                                             3
that were seized was problematic because the quantity of the drugs was an element

inherent one of the offenses to which he pleaded and should not be a sentencing

consideration. We do not agree with appellant’s position. On record, the court stated:

      {¶13} This Court did review the presentence report and investigation that
            was completed in this matter. I’ve considered the particular facts
            and circumstances of the offenses involved here, the nature of the
            Defendant’s conduct.

      {¶14} I have considered everything that’s been said here today by [the
            attorneys for both parties]. I also did receive as I indicated several
            letters on behalf of the Defendant over the last month and I’ve read
            and considered all those.

      {¶15} This is all considered in light of the purposes and principles of
            felony sentencing which are set forth in 292911 [sic] of the Revised
            Code.

      {¶16} Now as for the factors in 292912 [sic], the Court finds, as for factors
            indicating the conduct is more serious, the Defendant did act as
            part of [an] organized criminal activity in dealing with these drugs
            over this period of time.

      {¶17} Other relevant factors indicating the conduct is more serious is that
            the sheer number, excuse me, the sheer amount of drugs involved
            here. As indicated, one of the larger drug busts we’ve had here in
            Lake County in some time. The Defendant was a major, a major
            drug dealer, by his own words. Started doing this four years ago
            and within three months he became the biggest drug dealer in Lake
            County. For the last three and a half years before his arrest, he
            was the biggest dealer in Lake County here. By his own - - his own
            words.

      {¶18} No factors indicate the conduct is less serious.

      {¶19} Factors indicating recidivism is more likely, there is a history of
            juvenile delinquency adjudications, as well as convictions as an
            adult. While none of the convictions, there are no prior convictions
            for felonies, nonetheless the prior criminal record, not counting
            juvenile, it goes back twenty-four years. Starting in 1994. Right
            when Defendant, literally the day after his eighteenth birthday; his
            first criminal offense.

                                           4
       {¶20} There were multiple misdemeanor offenses throughout the years.
             Including five OVI offenses. It’s not part of his criminal record but
             then you get to traffic - - and I don’t care about other traffic stuff, but
             there’s five OVI convictions as well over this period of time. So
             there’s a lengthy record here over a substantial length of time;
             twenty-four years again. The defendant continually, may not be
             felonious conduct, but nonetheless criminal conduct.

       {¶21} He has not responded favorably to previously imposed sanctions.
             There are multiple probation violations over the years for different
             offenses that the Defendant was put on the probation for in
             municipal courts.

       {¶22} Other relevant factors indicating recidivism is more likely, two bond
             violations in this particular case. The Defendant was originally out
             on bond and violated because he failed to comply with the initial
             condition of GPS. The Court then at that time of his plea reinstated
             the bond and within a very short period of time Mr. Miller violated by
             using; tested positive.

       {¶23} Picked up an additional [charge] while he was out on bond for
             resisting arrest while they were attempting to arrest him on the
             warrant for this Court.

       {¶24} No factors indicating recidivism is less likely.

       {¶25} The court explicitly stated it considered the R.C. 2929.12 factors. It also

considered the presentence investigation report, his defense attorney’s statements, as

well as his statements. In so doing, the court evaluated and weighed appellant’s drug

use, his drug addiction, the genuineness of his remorse, and, in light of the facts and

circumstances, whether appellant was likely to reoffend. Simply because the trial court

did not find the factors identified by appellant to militate in favor of a less severe

sentence does not imply the sentence is contrary to law. To the contrary, the sentences

were within the statutory range and there is nothing in the record to suggest the trial

court ignored the factors appellant identifies on appeal.

                                              5
       {¶26} Furthermore, the trial court was free to consider the quantity of the drugs

seized from appellant’s residence.     Such a consideration is “well within the court’s

bailiwick and is relevant as ‘any other factor * * * indicating the offender’s conduct is

more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense.” State v. Hull, 11th Dist.

No. 2016-L-035, 2017-Ohio-157, ¶42. Despite appellant’s assertions, we conclude the

trial court properly considered the R.C. 2929.12 factors and his sentence was not

contrary to law.

       {¶27} Next, although not argued in the body of appellant’s brief, his assignment

of error challenges the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences.

       {¶28} Further, R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides, in relevant part, as follows regarding

consecutive felony sentences:

       {¶29} If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions
             of multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the
             prison terms consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive
             service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to
             punish the offender and 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 if the court also
             finds any of the following:

       {¶30} (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.

       {¶31} (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.

                                            6
       {¶32} (c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
             consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from
             future crime by the offender.

       {¶33} “In order to impose consecutive terms of imprisonment, a trial court is

required to make the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing

hearing and incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry * * * [.]” State v. Bonnell,

140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, ¶37. Otherwise, the sentence is contrary to law.

Id. The trial court has no obligation, however, to engage in a “word-for-word recitation”

of the language in the statute or to set forth its reasons to support its findings, as long

as they are discernible in the record. Id. at ¶28-29. “[A]s long as the reviewing court can

discern that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and can determine that the

record contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences should be

upheld.” Id. at ¶29.

       {¶34} The trial court found:

       {¶35} [C]onsecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future
             crime and to punish the offender, that they are not disproportionate
             to the seriousness of his conduct and to the danger he poses to the
             public and that at least two of these multiple offenses, there were
             two, both of them were committed as a part of one or more courses
             of conduct and the harm caused by two or more of the offenses so
             committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for
             any of the offenses committed as a part of any of the courses of
             conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of his conduct. The
             Court also notes the offender’s history of criminal conduct
             demonstrates, and the type of offenses are necessary to protect the
             public from future crime by the offender.

       {¶36} The foregoing findings are compliant with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and are

reasonably supported by the record. We therefore hold the trial courts imposition of a

12-year term of imprisonment is not contrary to law.

       {¶37} Appellant’s assignment of error is without merit.

                                            7
      {¶38} For the reasons discussed in this opinion, the judgment of the Lake

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

MATT LYNCH, J.,

MARY JANE TRAPP, J.,

concur.

                                        8