Court Opinion

ID: 2702318
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:49:35.018985+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:27.771005
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Wilson, 2013-Ohio-3915.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                   COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                               JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                        No. 99331

                                      STATE OF OHIO
                                                                PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                vs.

                                    BRYAN K. WILSON
                                                            DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                             JUDGMENT:
                                              AFFIRMED

                                    Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                      Case No. CR-558514

        BEFORE: E.T. Gallagher, J., Stewart, A.J., and Rocco, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 12, 2013
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Richard Agopian
The Hilliard Building
1415 West 9th St., 2nd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Andrew J. Santoli
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J.:

        {¶1}   Defendant-appellant Bryan Wilson (“Wilson”) appeals his consecutive

sentences. We find no merit to the appeal and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

        {¶2} On July 31, 2011, Wilson and his brother, Spencer Jordan (“Jordan”), went

on a double date with T.K. and her sister H.K. The two couples decided to stay the night

in a hotel because Wilson and Jordan lived some distance away from the two women.

Everyone except H.K., who was pregnant, consumed alcohol. During the night, Wilson

fondled T.K. while she was asleep and had sexual conduct with H.K. against her will.

Consequently, Wilson was charged with rape, kidnapping, and sexual battery.

        {¶3} Pursuant to a plea bargain, Wilson pleaded guilty to sexual battery against

T.K. and attempted rape of H.K. The court sentenced Wilson to a one-year prison term

for the sexual battery conviction and a four-year prison term for the attempted rape

conviction, to be served consecutively for an aggregate five-year prison term. This

appeal followed.

        {¶4} In his sole assignment of error, Wilson argues the trial court erred when it

sentenced him to consecutive prison terms. He contends the imposition of consecutive

sentences was contrary to law because the trial court failed to comply with the sentencing

provisions set forth in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), as amended by Am.Sub.H.B. No. 86 (“H.B.

86”).

        {¶5} R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), as amended by H.B. 86, states that when reviewing

prison sentences, “[t]he appellate court’s standard for review is not whether the
sentencing court abused its discretion.” Instead, the statute states that if we “clearly and

convincingly” find that, (1) “the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings

under [R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)]” or that, (2) “the sentence is otherwise contrary to law,” then

we “may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence * * * or [we] may vacate the

sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for re-sentencing.” State v.

Goins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98256, 2013-Ohio-263, ¶ 6, quoting R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).

       {¶6} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), as amended by H.B. 86, requires a sentencing judge to

make certain findings before imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Richmond, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98915, 2013-Ohio-2887, ¶ 11. First, the trial court must find that

“consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the

offender.” R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). 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.” Id. Finally, 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 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.

       (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.

       (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).

       {¶7} There is no provision in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), requiring a sentencing court to

articulate reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. Goins at ¶ 11. Nevertheless, trial

courts may state their reasons on the record if they choose, and their reasons may assist

the appellate court in determining whether a court made the required findings. This court

has construed the trial court’s discussion of relevant facts or reasons as an expression of

certain required findings. For example, in State v. Walker, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

97648, 2012-Ohio-4274, we stated:

       The trial court did not make an express finding under R.C. 2929.14(C). It
       did discuss Dwayne’s criminal history, which could equate to making two
       of the findings, namely (1) that consecutive sentences are necessary to
       protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender, and (2) that
       the offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive
       sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the
       offender. Id. at ¶ 86.1
       {¶8} Although the appellate court may detect findings in the trial court’s

statements on the record, it may not infer findings from elsewhere in the record. For

example, in State v. Redd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98064, 2012-Ohio-5417, the state

argued that an appellate court should infer from the record that the trial court made two

mandatory findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), because the underlying facts of the case

       1 See also State v. Graves, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98559, 2013-Ohio-2197, ¶
12; State v. Redd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98064, 2012-Ohio-5417; State v.
Shepherd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97962, 2012-Ohio-5415; State v. Blackburn, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 97811 and 97812, 2012-Ohio-4590; and State v. Lebron, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97773, 2012-Ohio-4156.
were well known to the trial court. The state asserted that it could be inferred from the

record that the trial court found “‘consecutive service [was] necessary to protect the

public from future crime or to punish the offender’ because ‘the injuries caused by the

appellant are so serious, that it cannot be contested that incarceration is a proper

punishment in this case.’” Id. at ¶ 17. The state also argued we could infer from the

record that the trial court found consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger of the public because “[i]t is hard

to imagine any amount of prison time being disproportionate to the seriousness of such an

offense.” Id. at ¶ 17. This court rejected the state’s argument and stated that the trial

court must make findings on the record and that findings cannot be inferred from other

facts in the record. Id.

       {¶9} Therefore, this court has consistently held that the court’s discussion of

relevant facts at the sentencing hearing may be construed as findings. The statutory

language in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) itself “does not have magical powers.” State v.

Kuykendall, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2004-12-111, 2005-Ohio-6872, ¶ 24. Rather,

the requirements of R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) are designed to ensure that the trial court engaged

in the required analysis. Id. This holding comports with this court’s uniform statement

that trial courts are not required to use “talismanic words to comply with the guidelines

and factors for sentencing” as long as it is clear from the record that the trial court

actually made the required statutory findings. Goins at ¶ 10.2

       2    See   also     State   v.   Matthews,   8th   Dist.   Cuyahoga   No.   97916,
          {¶10} At the sentencing hearing in this case, the court noted that the victim

initiated the double date through text messages, suggested that Wilson and his brother get

a hotel, and therefore facilitated the offense.          Nevertheless, in considering the

seriousness of the offense, the court stated: “I do find that the victims suffered, both of

them, serious physical and psychological harm based on their statements contained in the

PSI,” and that Wilson’s longstanding relationship with the victims facilitated the offenses.

          {¶11} The record reflects that the court also found that consecutive sentences were

necessary to protect the public. In this regard, the court stated that although Wilson

showed genuine remorse, he had a criminal history and “ha[s] not responded favorable

[sic] to sanctions previously imposed in the adult or juvenile court.” In sum, the court

stated:

          I am able to impose consecutive sentences, if necessary, to protect the
          public or punish the offender and not disproportionate — and I need to
          make the following findings: * * * I find that the harm was so great or
          unusual that a single term does not adequately reflect [sic] seriousness of
          the conduct.

          Again, my stated reasoning for that is that there were two victims. The
          incidents did not happen at the same time. There were separate incidents

2012-Ohio-5174, ¶ 48; State v. Trotter, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99014,
2013-Ohio-2538, ¶ 9; State v. Thompson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98955,
2013-Ohio-2534, ¶ 3 (specific words not required); Graves, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
98559, 2013-Ohio-2197, ¶ 12; Redd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98064, 2012-Ohio-5417;
Shepherd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97962, 2012-Ohio-5415; Blackburn, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga Nos. 97811 and 97812, 2012-Ohio-4590; Lebron, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
97773, 2012-Ohio-4156; and Walker, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97648,
2012-Ohio-4274.
       that occurred. And I do find that your criminal history shows the
       consecutive terms are needed to protect the public.

       {¶12} It is clear the trial court made the requisite findings that “consecutive service

is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender” and that

Wilson’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)

and 2929.14(C)(4)(c).

       {¶13} However, Wilson argues the trial court failed to make a finding with respect

to proportionality. He asserts that the court’s mention of the word “disproportionate”

was not sufficient to make the necessary finding that “consecutive sentences are not

disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.”         R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).

However, read in context, it is clear the court meant that it is the court’s duty to ensure

that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offense,

because the judge immediately followed the word “disproportionate” with a statement

that the court must “find that the harm was so great or unusual that a single term does not

adequately reflect [sic] seriousness of the conduct.”

       {¶14} As previously stated, the court found the offenses more serious than other

similarly situated offenders based on the victims’ statements and the fact that there were

two separate offenses committed against two victims. The court also noted there was a

period of time between the commission of the two offenses during which Wilson had the

opportunity to consider his conduct and nevertheless chose to sexually assault the second

victim, who was pregnant.
       {¶15} Moreover, Wilson never raised proportionality as an issue in the trial court.

In order to support a contention that a sentence is disproportionate to sentences imposed

upon other offenders, the defendant must raise this issue before the trial court and present

some evidence, however minimal, in order to provide a starting point for analysis and to

preserve the issue for appeal.       State v. Lang, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92099,

2010-Ohio-433, ¶ 21.

       {¶16} Wilson has also failed to provide this court with any explanation or evidence

as to why or how his sentence is disproportionate.                   A defendant alleging

disproportionality in felony sentencing has the burden of producing evidence to “indicate

that his sentence is directly disproportionate to sentences given to other offenders with

similar records who have committed these offenses.”           State v. Breeden, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 84663, 2005-Ohio-510, ¶ 81.

       {¶17} The trial court made all the findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).

       {¶18} Therefore, the sole assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶19} Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from 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 convictions having

been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the common

pleas 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 T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

MELODY J. STEWART, A.J., and
KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., CONCURS
WITH SEPARATE OPINION

KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., CONCURRING

       {¶20} At sentencing, the trial court emphasized the fact that Wilson molested

two victims in this case in two separate incidents. In my opinion, it is evident that the

trial court found that, on these facts, consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to

the seriousness of Wilson’s conduct and were not disproportionate to the danger that

Wilson posed to the public. Wilson is not entitled to a “volume discount” at sentencing

just because these two separate assaults against two different victims were part of the

same indictment.    While the trial court could have been clearer in connecting this

finding to the language in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), the connection was sufficiently made, and

so I concur.

       {¶21} But I wish to highlight my concern about an ongoing and troublesome issue

with respect to how the state is dealing with consecutive sentences.     In my view, if the

state believes that a consecutive sentence is appropriate in a given case, the best practice

would be to provide the trial court with a sentencing memorandum that includes the

required statutory findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) with citations to the record
supporting each required finding.          Another suitable alternative would be for the state to

orally articulate at the sentencing hearing the R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) factors along with

citations to the record that support these factors.              But while the state may desire a

consecutive sentence, all too often, it does little at the trial-court level to assist the trial

court in determining whether a consecutive sentence is supported by the record.

         {¶22} Then, on appeal, the state regularly defends a consecutive sentence by

leaning heavily on the idea that the trial court is not required to use “‘talismanic words to

comply with the guidelines and factors for sentencing.’”3 State v. Goins, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 98256, 2013-Ohio-263, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Brewer, 1st Dist. Hamilton

No. C-000148, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5455 (Nov. 24, 2000). I find it unacceptable for

the state to prop up its position on appeal by parroting the “talismanic words” language

when it has failed to provide the trial court with a sentencing memorandum in the first

place.

         {¶23} All too often, we are forced to reverse consecutive sentences because the

trial court has not adequately set forth that consecutive sentences were not

disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and were not

disproportionate to the danger the offender posed to the public.                     See, e.g., State v.

         3My  impression is that our “talismanic words” jurisprudence in sentencing cases is akin to the
substantial-compliance doctrine in plea colloquy cases. That is, a slight deviation from the text of
the rule is permissible; so long as the totality of the circumstances indicate that the trial court actually
made the findings required by statute. Compare State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-
Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 31 (substantial compliance doctrine at a plea colloquy) with Goins at
¶ 10 (talismanic words at a sentencing cases).
Graves, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98559, 2013-Ohio-2197, ¶ 15; State v. Lebron, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 97773, 2012-Ohio-4156, ¶ 15; State v. Shepherd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

97962, 2012-Ohio-5415, ¶ 82.     If the state did more to assist the trial court at sentencing

on the front end, we would most likely see a significant reduction in the number of cases

being sent back (at great expense to the public) to the trial court on remand.