Court Opinion

ID: 2689553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 19:39:32.316537+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:02.143766
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Totty, 2014-Ohio-3239.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                   COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                               JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 100788

                                       STATE OF OHIO
                                                      PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                vs.

                                            JASON TOTTY
                                                      DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                             JUDGMENT:
                                              AFFIRMED

                                      Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                            Case Nos. CR-11-546751-B, CR-12-562375-A,
                               CR-13-570986-A and CR-13-574821-A

        BEFORE: E.A. Gallagher, P.J., McCormack, J., and E.T. Gallagher, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: July 24, 2014
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Steve W. Canfil
2000 Standard Building
1370 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: James M. Price
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ALSO LISTED:

Jason Totty
Inmate No. A650647
Belmont Correctional Institution
68518 Bannock Uniontown Road
St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, P.J.:

       {¶1} Appellant Jason Totty (“Totty”) appeals his convictions from the Cuyahoga

County Court of Common Pleas.

       {¶2} Totty’s attorney filed an Anders brief and seeks to withdraw as counsel.

Totty has not filed a brief setting forth any assignments of error.

       {¶3} After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial

court and grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.

       {¶4} Appellant was charged with crimes that occurred over a 28-month period in

four separate cases with multiple-count indictments.       He entered pleas of guilty to an

amended charge in Count 2 of aggravated robbery with a one year firearm specification

and a forfeiture specification in CR-11-546751; having a weapon while under disability

with a forfeiture specification in CR-12-562375; burglary as amended in CR-13-570986

and robbery with a one year firearm specification and a forfeiture specification as

amended in Count 2 of CR-13-574821. Both counsel agreed that none of these charges

would be subject to merger.

       {¶5} Appellant was thoroughly advised of his constitutional rights, the potential

penalties and the provisions of postrelease control prior to his pleas. He was then

referred for a presentence investigation report.

       {¶6} The matter was called for sentencing during which time Totty expressed his

feeling that he was not “comfortable with this plea” and claimed to be innocent of the

charges.   He did not,   however, specifically seek to withdraw his pleas.    At that time,
the trial court explored the issue and, ultimately, the appellant stated “[y]our honor, I

accept the plea.”

       {¶7} Sentence was then imposed in each case with all sentences, but for the

firearm specifications, to be served concurrent to one another for an aggregate sentence of

five years.   The court then reiterated the mandatory postrelease control provisions of five

years in CR-11-546751, three years in CR-13-570986 and CR-13-574821 and a

discretionary three years postrelease control term in CR-12-562375.

       {¶8} Based upon the belief that no prejudicial error occurred below and that any

grounds for appeal would be wholly frivolous, Totty’s counsel has filed a motion to

withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493

(1967).     Anders and State v. Duncan, 57 Ohio App.2d 93, 385 N.E.2d 323 (8th

Dist.1978), set forth the procedure to be followed by counsel who desires to withdraw due

to the lack of a non-frivolous claim on appeal.     In Anders, the United States Supreme

Court held that, if after a conscientious examination of the case, counsel determines the

appeal to be wholly frivolous, he may advise the court and request permission to

withdraw.     Anders at 744.   That request must be accompanied by a brief identifying

anything in the record that could arguably support the appeal.   Id.

       {¶9} Counsel must also furnish the client with a copy of the brief and the request

to withdraw and allow the client sufficient time to raise any matters that he chooses. Id.

 Once these requirements have been satisfied, the appellate court must then conduct a full

examination of the proceeding held below to determine if the appeal is indeed frivolous.
Id.   If the appellate court determines that the appeal is frivolous, it may grant counsel’s

request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements,

or it may proceed to a decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.

       {¶10} Totty’s counsel, in his no-merit brief, identified the following potential

assignments of error: Totty was not advised of his Crim.R. 11 rights at the time of his

guilty pleas, Totty was improperly sentenced, Totty’s offenses were allied and should

have merged, Totty was not advised about the imposition of postrelease control, Totty

was not advised concerning fines and court costs, Totty was not informed of the forfeiture

of property prior to his plea and Totty stated that he was reluctant to go forward with his

guilty pleas.

       I. Crim.R. 11

       {¶11} Crim.R. 11 requires that a defendant be apprised of his rights before

entering a guilty plea in order to ensure that those rights being waived by his guilty plea

are being waived knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.

       {¶12} Totty was advised of each of his constitutional rights and further advised

that there was a presumption of prison time with respect to the aggravated robbery charge

and that the one-year gun specification sentences must be served consecutively to any

other sentences imposed. Further, Totty stated that he was satisfied with his counsel’s

representation. We find no merit to this potential assignment of error.

       II. Forfeiture

       {¶13} When a defendant voluntarily enters into a plea agreement, he voluntarily
agrees to the forfeiture of seized property.   State v. Eppinger, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

95685, 2011-Ohio-2404, ¶ 11.

       {¶14} Totty voluntarily entered into this plea agreement. He was advised that he

would forfeit seized property as part of the plea bargain.    Therefore, Totty voluntarily

agreed to the forfeiture of seized property, and we find no merit to this potential

assignment of error.

       III. Totty’s Stated Reluctance to Change His Plea

       {¶15} During the sentencing hearing, appellant indicated that he was reluctant to

go forward.   He stated that he had been fighting one of the charges for three years “for a

reason” and that he “had nothing to do with that * * *. ”

       {¶16} The trial court responded to this properly, questioning Totty as to his

willingness to enter into a plea at all, and having Totty confer with counsel.       After

conferring with counsel, Totty stated that he accepted the plea and then once again stated

that he was willing to go forward with the proceedings. Therefore, Totty’s guilty plea

was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, and we find no merit to this potential assignment

of error.

       IV. Postrelease Control

       {¶17} Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) requires a trial court, at the time of a defendant’s plea,

to advise the defendant of any mandatory postrelease control period. State v. Poole, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96921, 2012-Ohio-2622, ¶ 10, citing State v. Perry, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 82085, 2003-Ohio-6344, ¶ 11. Totty was advised that he would be subject
to a mandatory five years of postrelease control in one case, mandatory three years of

postrelease control in two cases and the possibility of three years of postrelease control in

the fourth case.   He was advised of the conditions of postrelease control as well as the

penalties for violation of that control. Therefore, we find no merit to this potential

assignment of error.

        V. Sentencing

        {¶18} This court no longer applies the abuse of discretion standard of State v.

Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, when reviewing a felony

sentence. State v. A.H., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98622, 2013-Ohio-2525, ¶ 7. Instead, 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.

        {¶19} 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. A.H. at ¶ 10,

citing Kalish.

       {¶20} The record in this case reflects that the trial court did, in fact, consider R.C.

2929.11 in sentencing appellant. The trial court’s November 19, 2013 journal entry

clearly indicates that the court considered “all required factors of law.” Furthermore, the

sentencing transcript reflects that the trial court specifically considered the principles and

purposes of felony sentencing found in R.C. 2929.11. Appellant’s potential argument that

the trial court failed to consider R.C. 2929.11 is without merit.

       {¶21} Totty was sentenced to a term of incarceration totaling five years.      He was

sentenced to the statutory minimum sentence for aggravated robbery, plus one year for the

firearm. Totty’s sentence for the charges of burglary, robbery, and having weapons

while under disability were all ordered to be served concurrently to the sentence for

aggravated robbery.    The robbery charge carried a one-year gun specification that was

ordered to be served consecutive to any other sentence, bringing the total to five years.

His sentence being completely within the statutory mandates, we find no merit to this

potential assignment of error.

       V. Allied Offenses

       {¶22} Counsel, at the time of the plea, indicated that there was no issue of merger

in these cases. In the journal entry of November 19, 2013, the trial court found that
there should be no merger of cases or counts. Because all counts occurred on separate

dates and involved separate fact patterns and circumstances, we find no merit to this

potential assignment of error.

       VI. Fines and Costs

       {¶23} The trial court’s journal entry of November 19, 2013, reflects that fines and

court costs were waived; therefore, we find no merit to this potential assignment of error.

       {¶24} In accordance with this court’s duty under Anders to conduct an independent

review of the entire record, we have found no potential assignment of error not raised by

Totty’s counsel.   Therefore, any appeal would be wholly frivolous, and we grant the

motion to withdraw.

       {¶25} The judgment of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant 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.     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.

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE
TIM McCORMACK, J., and
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER J., CONCUR