Court Opinion

ID: 9377013
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-06 17:07:24.725975+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:11.190274
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Strange, 2023-Ohio-495.]

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                 FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                       ADAMS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                   :    Case No. 22CA1156

        Plaintiff-Appellee,                      :

        v.                                       :    DECISION AND
                                                      JUDGMENT ENTRY
PRISCILLA STRANGE,                               :

        Defendant-Appellant.                     :    RELEASED 2/17/2023

______________________________________________________________________
                            APPEARANCES:

Christopher Bazeley, Cincinnati, Ohio, for appellant.

David Kelley, Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, and Austin Ervin, Adams County
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, West Union, Ohio, for appellee.
______________________________________________________________________
Hess, J.

       {¶1}      Priscilla Strange appeals the trial court’s judgment finding that she was in

violation of the terms and conditions of community control, revoking her community control,

and imposing her prison term and a $250 fine. She contends that the trial court erred when

it imposed the fine without first holding a hearing on whether she had the ability to pay.

       {¶2}      We reject her argument. The trial court is not required to hold a hearing on

whether she has the ability to pay. It is sufficient if the record shows that the trial court

considered her present and future ability to pay. Here, the trial court discussed her work

history, age, lack of physical limitations or disabilities, and her potential earnings while in

prison and determined that she had the ability to pay the $250 fine. We overrule her

assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                   I.        PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                                 2

       {¶3}      In February 2022, Strange was indicted with one count of aggravated

possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a fifth-degree felony, and one count

of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree felony.

Strange pleaded guilty to both offenses and was placed on community control for a term

of three years. In August 2022, the Adams County Probation Department filed a motion to

revoke community control, alleging that Strange had violated community control by failing

to reside at her stated residence, failing to report to probation, admitting to

methamphetamine use, and failing to report to the drug rehabilitation treatment program.

The trial court found probable cause that Strange had violated certain terms of community

control, revoked her community control, and imposed a 10-month prison term for

aggravated drug possession and a 24-month prison term for tampering with evidence, to

be served concurrently for a total prison term of 24 months.1 The trial court also imposed

a $250 fine and stated that in the event Strange failed to pay it, the court may order her to

perform community service until the judgment is paid. In imposing the fine, the trial court

found, “the defendant has the past, present, and future income ability and/or potential to

satisfy all financial sanctions as imposed.”

       {¶4}     The trial court considered Strange’s income earning abilities several times

throughout the course of the criminal proceedings. At the initial sentencing hearing, which

was postponed to allow Strange to resolve outstanding bench warrants, Strange informed

the court that she had applied for a job as an electrical assistant – a job she learned about

from her father, which would start at between $15 to $17 an hour. At the subsequent

sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered her to pay the cost of prosecution and

1 This was a modification of her original sentence which had imposed consecutive terms for a total prison
term of 34 months.
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                     3

supervision fees after finding that Strange was young, had no physical limitations, had

previous work experience at Wendy’s and McDonald’s, and would be obtaining her GED.

The trial court stated, “So, for these reasons the court finds, she has the past present

future [sic] earning income ability to satisfy these financial sanctions.” At the revocation

hearing, the trial court imposed the additional $250 fine in addition to costs and fees, after

finding that she had the past, present, and future income earning ability to satisfy the

financial sanctions.

        [S]he was previously employed at Wendy’s at the end of 2021. Uh, there
        are ample jobs in, uh, food and beverage if she wishes to return to that. Uh,
        she’s a, uh, young lady of, uh, 26 will be 27 in October[.] [S]he’ll be able to,
        uh, earn her GED while in prison. She’ll be able to earn $17 to $22 per
        month while also in prison. For all these reasons the court finds that she
        has the past, present, and future earning income ability to, to satisfy these
        financial sanctions.

       {¶5}    Strange appealed the $250 fine.

                               II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

       {¶6}    Strange assigns the following error for our review:

        1.     The trial court erred when it imposed a fine of $250.

                                    III. LEGAL ANALYSIS

                                A. Felony Sentencing Review

                          1. Standard of Review & Statutory Fines

       {¶7}    We review felony sentences under the standard set forth in R.C.

2953.08(G)(2):

        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
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                       4

        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.

       {¶8}     We may vacate or modify a felony sentence if we clearly and convincingly

find that the record does not support the trial court's findings. State v. Layne, 4th Dist.

Adams No. 20CA1116, 2021-Ohio-255, ¶ 6. “ ‘This is an extremely deferential standard of

review.’ ” Id. at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Pierce, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 18CA4, 2018-Ohio-

3943, ¶ 8. Clear and convincing evidence is proof that is more than a “mere preponderance

of the evidence” but not of such certainty as “beyond a reasonable doubt,” and produces

in the mind a “firm belief or conviction” as to the facts sought to be established. State v.

Conant, 4th Dist. Adams No. 20CA1108, 2020-Ohio-4319, ¶ 42; see also State v. Hughes,

4th Dist. Adams No. 21CA1127, 2021-Ohio-3127, ¶ 37-38.

       {¶9}     R.C. 2929.18(A) allows the trial court to sentence a felony offender “to any

financial sanction or combination of financial sanctions authorized under this section” and

includes fines of up to $10,000 for third-degree felonies and up to $2,500 for fifth-degree

felonies. Under R.C. 2929.18(E), the trial court may hold a hearing to determine the

offender’s ability to pay: “A court that imposes a financial sanction upon an offender may

hold a hearing if necessary to determine whether the offender is able to pay the sanction

or is likely in the future to be able to pay it.”

       {¶10} “In reviewing a trial court's imposition of a financial sanction, we apply the

standard set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b), inquiring whether the imposition of the
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                     5

financial sanction is clearly and convincingly contrary to law.” State v. Dwyer, 2d Dist.

Greene No. 2021-CA-16, 2022-Ohio-490, ¶ 53.

       Before a court may impose a financial sanction, it is required to consider the
       defendant's present and future ability to pay. R.C. 2929.19(B)(5). There are
       no specific factors the trial court must consider in its analysis, nor must it
       make any specific findings. State v. Freeman, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
       180090, 2018-Ohio-4973, ¶ 10; State v. Percy, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
       109502, 2021-Ohio-1876, ¶ 19. “The record should, however, contain
       ‘evidence that the trial court considered the offender's present and future
       ability to pay before imposing [a financial sanction.]’ ” State v. Culver, 160
       Ohio App.3d 172, 2005-Ohio-1359, 826 N.E.2d 367, ¶ 57 (2d Dist.), quoting
       State v. Robinson, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-04-12, 2004-Ohio-5346, ¶ 17.
       “As long as the record contains some indication that the court considered
       the offender's present and future ability to pay, the court's imposition of a
       financial sanction is not contrary to law.” State v. McCants, 1st Dist.
       Hamilton No. C-190143, 2020-Ohio-3441, ¶ 12.

Id.; State v. Holland, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 17CA8, 2018-Ohio-4975, ¶ 9-11.

                                      2. Legal Analysis

       {¶11} In her sole assignment of error, Strange challenges the trial court's

imposition of a $250 fine. Strange acknowledges that the trial court “may” hold a hearing

to determine her ability to pay but is not required to. Holland at ¶ 9 (a hearing is not

required, but the record must show that the trial court considered the issue). Nevertheless,

she argues that the Ohio minimum wage is currently $9.30 and she will have three children

in her care and custody, which places her at 70% of the federal poverty level. She also

argues that, although the trial court believed she would earn $17 to $22 per month in

prison, she could also earn as little as $3 per month.

       {¶12} However, the record shows that the trial court considered Strange’s

previous work history, her job prospects, the fact that she was in her mid-twenties without

any disabilities or physical limitations, her ability to earn her GED, and her probable

earnings while in prison. Based on these considerations, the trial court expressly stated
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                   6

that it believed Strange “has the past, present, and future earning income ability to, to

satisfy these financial sanctions.”

       {¶13} There is nothing in the record to indicate that there is anything preventing

Strange’s future ability to pay a $250 fine. She was 26 years old at the time her community

service was revoked, making her approximately 28 years old upon release from prison.

She has many years to become gainfully employed in order to pay a $250 fine. Therefore,

Strange has failed to meet her burden of establishing that the trial court's imposition of a

$250 fine was clearly and convincingly contrary to law. Accordingly, her sole assignment

of error is overruled and the decision of the trial court is affirmed.

                                      IV. CONCLUSION

       {¶14} We overrule Strange’s assignment of error and affirm her conviction.

                                                                    JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Adams App. No. 22CA1156                                                                   7

                                   JUDGMENT ENTRY

         It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that appellant shall pay the
costs.

         The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

    It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Court of
Common Pleas, Adams County, to carry this judgment into execution.

       IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS
BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is
temporarily continued for a period not to exceed 60 days upon the bail previously posted.
The purpose of a continued stay is to allow appellant to file with the Supreme Court of
Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay
is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the 60-day
period, or the failure of the appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of
Ohio in the 45-day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
appeal prior to expiration of 60 days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such
dismissal.

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Smith, P.J. & Wilkin, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

                                          For the Court

                                          BY: ________________________
                                              Michael D. Hess, Judge

                                 NOTICE TO COUNSEL

       Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with
the clerk.