Court Opinion

ID: 4502268
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-28 19:09:44.174849+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:11.948048
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Mobarak, 2020-Ohio-249.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State of Ohio,                                     :
                                                                   No. 18AP-540
                Plaintiff-Appellee,                :            (C.P.C. No. 12CR-5582)
                                                                        and
v.                                                 :                No. 18AP-551
                                                                (C.P.C. No. 12CR-3864)
Soleiman Mobarak,                                  :
                                                               (REGULAR CALENDAR)
                Defendant-Appellant.               :

                                             D E C I S I O N

                                   Rendered on January 28, 2020

                On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Seth L.
                Gilbert, for appellee. Argued: Seth L. Gilbert.

                On brief: The Behal Law Group, LLC, and Robert J. Behal,
                for appellant. Argued: Robert J. Behal.

                  APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

BRUNNER, J.
        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Soleiman Mobarak, appeals from a Franklin County
Court of Common Pleas decision and entry denying his postconviction relief petition,
denying his amendment to his postconviction relief petition, and granting the motions to
revoke bond and enforce sentence filed by plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio. For the
following reasons, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
        {¶ 2} From March to July 2012, undercover police officers purchased packages
from a convenience store owned by Mobarak containing synthetic cathinones, commonly
known as "bath salts," and synthetic marijuana, known as "spice." (June 12, 2018 Decision
at 3, citing Tr. at 4.) On August 3, 2012, Mobarak was indicted on two counts of aggravated
trafficking in drugs and two counts of aggravated trafficking in spice, in violation of R.C.
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                               2

2925.03, in Franklin C.P. No. 12CR-3864. On October 31, 2012, Mobarak was indicted for
nine other charges of trafficking and/or possession of drugs, in violation of R.C. 2925.11,
2925.03, and 2923.32, in Franklin C.P. No. 12CR-5582. Eleven of the charges in the two
indictments were for possession and/or trafficking of a-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone ("a-
PVP"), a controlled substance analog ("CSA").1
        {¶ 3} Case No. 12CR-3864 was joined to the trial of case No. 12CR-5582, and the
counts in the indictments were renumbered.2 The State alleged the bath salts were CSAs,
as defined by R.C. 3719.01(HH)(1). On February 1, 2013, Mobarak filed a motion to dismiss,
arguing that the definition of a CSA in R.C. 3719.01(HH)(1), enacted October 17, 2011, is
unconstitutionally vague because it contains two undefined terms and fails to provide
adequate notice of the proscribed activity. The trial court overruled the motion but did not
file an entry. The jury returned guilty verdicts, and on June 6, 2014, the trial court
sentenced Mobarak to consecutive terms of incarceration totaling 35 years of mandatory
confinement without parole. Mobarak filed an appeal to this Court.
        {¶ 4} While his direct appeal was pending, on December 19, 2014, Mobarak filed a
postconviction petition under R.C. 2953.21. In the petition, Mobarak alleged that under
State v. Smith, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-154, 2014-Ohio-5303, CSAs were not criminalized until
H.B. No. 334 became effective in December 2012, which is after the time frame contained
in Mobarak's indictment. The State filed an answer and motion to dismiss Mobarak's
postconviction petition on December 22, 2014.
        {¶ 5} In Smith, the defendant operated several stores. In August 2012, Smith was
indicted on two counts of "trafficking in spice" and three counts of aggravated trafficking in
drugs, a-PVP. (Franklin C.P. No. 12CR-3898.) Smith at ¶ 2. In October 2012, Smith was
indicted on five counts of aggravated possession of drugs and five counts of trafficking in
drugs involving a-PVPs. (Franklin C.P. No. 12CR-5477.) Smith filed a motion to dismiss in
both cases arguing that at the relevant times of the indictments, sale or possession of a CSA
were not defined as criminal offenses under Ohio law. The trial court granted the motions
to dismiss. On appeal, this Court concluded that during the period from February through

1 "Controlled-substance analogs are synthetic drugs that are chemically similar to and have the same effects

as naturally occurring controlled substances." State v. Shalash, 148 Ohio St. 3d 611, 2016-Ohio-8358, ¶ 1.
2 Case No. 12CR-5582 is the primary case number. Case No. 12CR-3864 is "closed" according to the clerk's

docket. The parties have filed documents in both case numbers.
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                          3

July 2012 when the defendant was alleged to have possessed and sold a-PVP, R.C. 2925.03
and 2925.11 did not adequately state a positive prohibition and provide a penalty for
violation of such prohibition on the sale or possession of CSAs. Therefore, the acts Smith
was alleged to have committed were not clearly defined as criminal offenses under the law
as it existed at that time. This Court affirmed the trial court's granting the motions to
dismiss.3 The State of Ohio filed a notice of appeal from the Smith decision to the Supreme
Court of Ohio on March 12, 2015.
          {¶ 6} In his direct appeal, Mobarak raised the Smith issue. Relying on Smith, we
determined that possession and trafficking of CSAs had not yet been criminalized at the
time of Mobarak's offenses and sustained his first assignment of error and did not address
his second, third, and fourth assignments of error, finding them rendered moot. State v.
Mobarak, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-517, 2015-Ohio-3007 ("Mobarak I"). The State of Ohio filed
a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Ohio and a motion to stay. The Supreme Court
denied the motion to stay and Mobarak was released from prison. The Supreme Court
declined to accept jurisdiction over the Smith case on August 26, 2015.
          {¶ 7} After this Court's decision in Mobarak I, the Twelfth District Court of Appeals
decided State v. Shalash, 12th Dist. No. CA2014-12-146, 2015-Ohio-3836, and determined
that CSAs were criminalized by H.B. No. 64, which was effective in October 2011. The
Twelfth District certified a conflict between Shalash, 2015-Ohio-3836, Smith, State v.
Mohammad, 10th Distr. No. 14AP-662, 2015-Ohio-1234, and Mobarak I from this Court.
The Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction in Mobarak I and held it for a ruling on the
conflict.     The Supreme Court of Ohio determined that even though CSAs were not
specifically proscribed by R.C. Title 29 for behavior occurring during 2011 up to and
through February 2012, other provisions of the Revised Code incorporated CSAs into R.C.
Title 29. The court concluded that H.B. No. 64 criminalized CSAs, effective October 2011.
See State v. Shalash, 148 Ohio St. 3d 611, 2016-Ohio-8358.
          {¶ 8} On December 27, 2016, the Supreme Court reversed Mobarak I on the
authority of Shalash and remanded the matter to this Court to consider Mobarak's second,
third, and fourth assignments of error. See State v. Mobarak, 150 Ohio St. 3d 26, 2016-

3   This Court also followed Smith in State v. Mohammad, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-662, 2015-Ohio-1234.
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                             4

Ohio-8372 ("Mobarak II"). On remand, this Court affirmed Mobarak's convictions and
sentence. State v. Mobarak, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-517, 2017-Ohio-7999 ("Mobarak III").
          {¶ 9} During this time, Mobarak's postconviction petition remained pending. On
February 23, 2017, Mobarak sought leave to amend his postconviction petition to add a
second claim arguing that the trial court denied him due process by failing to hold a prompt
hearing on his original postconviction petition. He also argues that he was denied equal
protection on the grounds that the facts of his case and the facts in the Smith case are
identical, however, Smith is not incarcerated.4 The State filed a motion to dismiss the
petitions and a motion to revoke bond and enforce sentence.
          {¶ 10} On June 12, 2018, the trial court denied both Mobarak's original
postconviction petition and his amended postconviction petition, granted the state's
motion to dismiss the petitions and granted the State's motion to revoke bond and enforce
sentence. Mobarak filed a timely appeal.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
          {¶ 11} Mobarak appeals and assigns the following assignment of error for our
review:
                The trial judge's flagrant and complete inaction in the face of a
                statutory duty amounted to a violation of Mr. Mobarak's right
                to due process of law and was an abuse of the trial judge's
                discretion.

III. ANALYSIS
          {¶ 12} In his assignment of error, Mobarak argues that the trial judge's inaction on
his postconviction petition was an abuse of discretion and violated Mobarak's due process
rights.
          {¶ 13} A petition for postconviction relief is governed by R.C. 2953.21, which
provides:
                (A)(1)(a) Any person who has been convicted of a criminal
                offense or adjudicated a delinquent child and who claims that
                there was such a denial or infringement of the person's rights
                as to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio
                Constitution or the Constitution of the United States, any
                person who has been convicted of a criminal offense and
                sentenced to death and who claims that there was a denial or
4 Mobarak's assignment of error only raises a due process violation but he also argues an equal protection
violation.
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                5

              infringement of the person's rights under either of those
              Constitutions that creates a reasonable probability of an altered
              verdict, and any person who has been convicted of a criminal
              offense that is a felony and who is an offender for whom DNA
              testing that was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81
              of the Revised Code or under former section 2953.82 of the
              Revised Code and analyzed in the context of and upon
              consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the
              person's case as described in division (D) of section 2953.74 of
              the Revised Code provided results that establish, by clear and
              convincing evidence, actual innocence of that felony offense or,
              if the person was sentenced to death, establish, by clear and
              convincing evidence, actual innocence of the aggravating
              circumstance or circumstances the person was found guilty of
              committing and that is or are the basis of that sentence of
              death, may file a petition in the court that imposed sentence,
              stating the grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the court
              to vacate or set aside the judgment or sentence or to grant other
              appropriate relief. The petitioner may file a supporting affidavit
              and other documentary evidence in support of the claim for
              relief.

       {¶ 14} The postconviction relief process is a collateral civil attack on a criminal
judgment, not an appeal of the judgment. State v. Steffen, 70 Ohio St. 3d 399, 410 (1994).
"It is a means to reach constitutional issues which would otherwise be impossible to reach
because the evidence supporting those issues is not contained" in the trial court record.
State v. Murphy, 10th Dist. No. 00AP-233 (Dec. 26, 2000).
       {¶ 15} A petitioner is not automatically entitled to an evidentiary hearing on a
postconviction relief petition. State v. Jackson, 64 Ohio St. 2d 107, 110 (1980). R.C.
2953.21(D) provides that "[b]efore granting a hearing on a petition filed under division (A)
of this section, the court shall determine whether there are substantive grounds for relief."
Thus, the petitioner must first provide evidence that demonstrates a cognizable claim of
constitutional error. State v. Brime, 10th Dist. No. 19AP-446, 2019-Ohio-4343, ¶ 8, citing
State v. Ibrahim, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-355, 2014-Ohio-5307, ¶ 9. "The evidence must
demonstrate that the denial or infringement of the petitioner's rights renders the
petitioner's conviction and sentence void or voidable under the Ohio and/or United States
Constitutions." State v. Hoover-Moore, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-788, 2008-Ohio-2020, ¶ 8,
citing State v. Hessler, 10th Dist. No. 01AP-1011, 2002-Ohio-3321, ¶ 33. A postconviction
relief petition may be denied without an evidentiary hearing where the petition and
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                                       6

supporting materials do not demonstrate substantive grounds for relief. Brime at ¶ 8, citing
State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St. 3d 279, 282-83 (1999).
        {¶ 16} We have acknowledged that "in reviewing a petition for postconviction relief
filed pursuant to R.C. 2953.21, a trial court should give due deference to affidavits sworn to
under oath and filed in support of the petition, but may, in the sound exercise of discretion,
judge their credibility in determining whether to accept the affidavits as true statements of
fact." (Internal quotations omitted.) State v. Canada, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-7, 2016-Ohio-
5948, ¶ 17. The trial court's factual findings are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. State
v. Campbell, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-147, 2003-Ohio-6305, ¶ 14.                             However, we review
questions of law de novo. State v. Kane, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-781, 2017-Ohio-7838, ¶ 9.
        {¶ 17} Mobarak argues that the trial court's delay in holding a "prompt hearing"
regarding his postconviction petition resulted in a denial of his due process rights. He
claims that the delay "cost Mr. Mobarak his freedom." R.C. 2953.21(F); Mobarak's brief at
12.5
        {¶ 18} Mobarak filed his original and amended petitions and his appeal documents
in both case Nos. 12CR-5582 and 12CR-3864. Mobarak was not convicted of any crime in
case No. 12CR-3864, and the clerks' docket shows the case is closed. The petition and its
amendment were improperly filed in that case number and, therefore, the dismissal of the
petitions in that case number is hereby affirmed.
        {¶ 19} As stated, a petitioner is not automatically entitled to an evidentiary hearing
on a postconviction relief petition. Jackson at 110. Under R.C. 2953.21(D),6 a petitioner
bears the initial burden of providing evidence that demonstrates a cognizable claim of
constitutional error. Brime at ¶ 8. In this case, the petition did not demonstrate substantive
grounds for relief.
        {¶ 20} Mobarak's original postconviction petition was barred by res judicata. "Res
judicata is applicable in all postconviction relief proceedings." (Emphasis sic.) State v.
Szefcyk, 77 Ohio St. 3d 93, 95 (1996). The Supreme Court stated:

5 R.C. 2953.21(F) provides: "Unless the petition and the files and records of the case show the petitioner is not
entitled to relief, the court shall proceed to a prompt hearing on the issues even if a direct appeal of the case is
pending."
6 R.C. 2953.21(D) provides: "The court shall consider a petition that is timely filed under division (A)(2) of this

section even if a direct appeal of the judgment is pending. Before granting a hearing on a petition filed under
division (A) of this section, the court shall determine whether there are substantive grounds for relief."
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                 7

              Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment of
              conviction bars a convicted defendant who was represented by
              counsel from raising and litigating in any proceeding except an
              appeal from the judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of
              due process that was raised or could have been raised by the
              defendant at the trial, which resulted in that judgment of
              conviction, or an appeal from that judgment.

(Emphasis sic.) Id. at syllabus.
       {¶ 21} In his postconviction petition, Mobarak alleged that under Smith, CSAs were
not criminalized until H.B. No. 334 became effective in December 2012, which is after the
time period indicated in his indictment. Mobarak also raised the Smith issue in his direct
appeal. Mobarak I. An issue that could have been raised and was raised in a direct appeal
is barred by res judicata in a postconviction petition. See State v. Reynolds, 79 Ohio St. 3d
158, 161 (1997) ("[A] defendant cannot raise an issue in a motion for postconviction relief if
he or she could have raised the issue on direct appeal."). Thus, Mobarak did not meet his
initial burden of providing evidence that demonstrates a cognizable claim of constitutional
error, and he was not entitled to a hearing on his postconviction petition. A trial court is
not required to hold a hearing on a postconviction petition when the claims raised are
barred by res judicata. State v. Watts, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-196, 2016-Ohio-7072, ¶ 10.
       {¶ 22} Not only was Mobarak's original postconviction petition barred by res
judicata, but his amended petition also fails. R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a) defines the grounds for
which a petitioner can seek postconviction relief and includes three types of claims that are
available in a postconviction petition: (1) a person convicted of a criminal offense who
claims a denial or infringement of rights such as to render the judgment is void or voidable
under the Ohio or the U.S. Constitution; (2) a person sentenced to death who claims that a
denial or infringement of rights under either the Ohio or U.S. Constitution creates a
reasonable probability of an altered verdict; or (3) a person convicted of a felony who claims
that the judgment or sentence should be set aside because DNA evidence establishes actual
innocence by clear and convincing evidence.
       {¶ 23} Mobarak's claim that he was denied a prompt hearing is not contained within
any of these categories under R.C. 2953.21 and an amendment to a petition for
postconviction relief claiming such does not cure its failure under R.C. 2953.21. Mobarak's
Nos. 18AP-540 and 18AP-551                                                                 8

argument that the trial court did not hold a prompt hearing and enter a judgment according
to the requirements of Smith is an inappropriate claim for postconviction relief.
       {¶ 24} Mobarak claims that he should not have to file a mandamus or procedendo
action to seek redress for his claims. But when the essence of Mobarak's complaint is the
absence of a ruling on his postconviction petition, he must utilize the appropriate action for
redress of his grievance. A postconviction petition will not provide him the relief he states
that he seeks.
       {¶ 25} In State ex rel. Sherrills v. Common Pleas, 72 Ohio St. 3d 461 (1995), the
Supreme Court stated that "[a] writ of procedendo is appropriate when a court has either
refused to render a judgment or has unnecessarily delayed proceeding to judgment." See
also State ex rel. Gopp v. Wiest, 141 Ohio St. 3d 88, 2014-Ohio-4557, ¶ 3 ("A writ of
procedendo is proper when a court has refused to enter judgment or has unnecessarily
delayed proceeding to judgment."); State ex rel. Roberts v. Marsh, 142 Ohio St. 3d 481,
2014-Ohio-5242, ¶ 3 ("A writ of procedendo is proper when a court has refused to enter
judgment or has unnecessarily delayed proceeding to judgment."); State ex rel. Dehler v.
Sutula, 74 Ohio St. 3d 33, 35 (1995) ("Although mandamus will lie in cases of a courts undue
delay in entering judgment, procedendo is more appropriate, since 'an inferior court[']s
refusal or failure to timely dispose of a pending action is the ill a writ of procedendo is
designed to remedy.' State ex rel. Levin v. Sheffield Lake, (1994), 70 Ohio St. 3d 104, 110.");
State ex rel. Lowe v. Common Pleas Court, Stark Cty., 49 Ohio St. 2d 168, 168-69 (1977).
No amendment to Mobarak's postconviction petition is sufficient to raise his contentions
that he was denied a prompt hearing, and his allegations regarding any constitutional rights
violations are not properly before us. Mobarak's assignment of error is overruled.
IV. CONCLUSION
       {¶ 26} For the foregoing reasons, Mobarak's sole assignment of error is overruled
and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
                                                                        Judgment affirmed.

                     DORRIAN and LUPER SCHUSTER, JJ., concur.