Court Opinion

ID: 9882485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:10:31.859892+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:59.333094
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Simpson, 2023-Ohio-3207.]

                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                          THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                               ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                               CASE NO. 1-22-79

        v.

CHRISTINE A. SIMPSON,                                     OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                           Trial Court No. CR 2021 0406

                                      Judgment Affirmed

                          Date of Decision: September 11, 2023

APPEARANCES:

        Kenneth J. Rexford for Appellant

        John R. Willamowski, Jr. for Appellee
Case No. 1-22-79

MILLER, P.J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Christine A. Simpson (“Simpson”), appeals the

decision of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas denying her motion to

suppress blood test results. Simpson also appeals that court’s December 1, 2022

judgment of sentence. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       {¶2} On October 17, 2021, Simpson was driving at a high rate of speed the

wrong way on a one-way street. Her vehicle collided with another vehicle at the

intersection of Union and North Streets in Lima, Allen County, Ohio. The other

vehicle, which had four occupants, slid onto its side after being struck by Simpson’s

vehicle. All four of the occupants in the other vehicle sustained injuries. This

included the front passenger, who sustained a severe injury to her head that required

portions of her ear to be removed, her head to be stitched and stapled, and the drilling

of posts and studs into her skull to support a prosthetic ear. That victim was later

diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, wears a prosthetic ear, and has difficulty

hearing. Another passenger suffered a concussion and a major skull fracture.

       {¶3} On the same day as the collision, a judge of the Allen County Court of

Common Pleas issued a search warrant based on an affidavit submitted by one of

the investigating officers. Among other things, the search warrant stated that

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Simpson was in the custody of the Lima Police Department at St. Rita’s Medical

Center and that on her property or person:

       THERE IS NOW BEING CONCEALED CERTAIN PROPERTY,
       NAMELY Whole Blood, Blood Serum, Blood Plasma or Urine,
       containing what is believed to be a prohibited amount of Alcohol, and
       possibly other drugs, in violation of the State of Ohio’s OVI statute,
       and per se legal limit for the metabolites of the above referenced
       drugs.

       WHICH ARE EVIDENCE OF THE CRIME OF OPERATION
       WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG OF
       ABUSE (ORC 4511.19A1a) and AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR
       ASSAULT (ORC 2903.08a1A)

       ***

       YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO SEARCH FORTHWITH
       THE PERSON NAMED FOR THE PROPERTY SPECIFIED,
       SERVING THIS WARRANT AND MAKING THE SEARCH AT
       ANY TIME IN THE DAYTIME OR NIGHT, THE COURT
       FINDING THAT REASONABLE CAUSE HAS BEEN SHOWN
       AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THIS SEARCH
       WARRANT AT TIMES OTHER THAN DAYTIME, AND IF THE
       PROPERTY BE FOUND THERE TO SEIZE IT, LEAVING A
       COPY OF THIS WARRANT AND A RECEIPT FOR THE
       PROPERTY TAKEN, AND PREPARE A WRITTEN INVENTORY
       OF THE PROPERTY SEIZED AND RETURN THIS WARRANT
       AND BRING THE PROPERTY BEFORE ME WITHIN THREE (3)
       DAYS OF THIS DATE, AS REQUIRED BY LAW.

       {¶4} An Inventory and Receipt for Property Seized by Search Warrant, dated

October 17, 2021, indicated that two vials of blood were taken from Simpson. The

blood was tested, and the toxicology report indicated it had a blood alcohol content

of 0.12%.

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Case No. 1-22-79

         {¶5} On December 15, 2021, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Simpson

on four counts: three counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence of

alcohol (“OVI”), pursuant to R.C. 4511.19, and one count of aggravated vehicular

assault, pursuant to R.C. 2903.08(A)(1)(a) & (B)(1). On January 13, 2022, a

superseding indictment charged Simpson with seven counts: three counts of OVI,

pursuant to R.C. 4511.19, and four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, pursuant

to R.C. 2903.08(A)(1)(a) & (B)(1). On December 20, 2021 and again on February

11, 2022, Simpson entered a written plea of not guilty to the original indictment and

superseding indictment, respectively.

         {¶6} On January 5, 2022, Simpson filed a motion to suppress the blood

testing results. In support of her motion, Simpson argued that the testing was done

without a warrant and/or was beyond the warrant’s authorization. More specifically,

she argued that, despite a command in the warrant that the blood be brought before

the common pleas judge within three days, it appeared that the police department

sent the blood to the toxicology lab for testing and did not bring the blood to the

judge.

         {¶7} On March 9, 2022, following a hearing, the trial court denied Simpson’s

motion to suppress. The trial court concluded that the ability to test the blood was

implicit in the warrant. Additionally, the trial court concluded that “the command

that the seized evidence be returned to the court in accordance with the law,

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Case No. 1-22-79

specifically allows for law enforcement to retain this evidence and have it tested if

needs be.” (Mar. 9, 2022 Judgment Entry at 5). The trial court also said that

“[r]eading the warrant along with the applicable law reveals that the command is to

serve the warrant and prepare an inventory and receipt indicating what property was

taken within three days.” (Id. at 4).

       {¶8} On October 20, 2022, Simpson entered pleas of No Contest to two of

the four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, preserving her right to appeal the

suppression denial. Each of the two counts Simpson pleaded to concerned one of

the two victims whose injuries are specifically mentioned above. The other counts

were dismissed pursuant to the plea negotiations.

       {¶9} On November 30, 2022, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. The

judge sentenced Simpson to consecutive mandatory terms of 60 months of

imprisonment for one count and 36 months of imprisonment for the other count.

This resulted in an aggregate imprisonment term of 96 months (eight years). The

next day, the trial court filed its Judgment Entry of Sentencing. This appeal

followed.

II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶10} On December 27, 2022, Simpson timely filed a notice of appeal. She

raises the following two assignments of error for our review:

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                            First Assignment of Error

       The Trial Court erred in denying the defense motion to suppress
       the fruits of an unlawful search of Defendant’s blood.

                           Second Assignment of Error

       The Trial Court erred in sentencing Ms. Simpson to consecutive
       sentences.

III. DISCUSSION

       A. First Assignment of Error

       {¶11} In her first assignment of error, Simpson contends that, “[b]ecause law

enforcement did not deliver the blood to the judge within three days and did not

secure additional authorization for transfer of custody of that blood and then

testing/searching of the blood itself, the testing of the blood exceeded the scope of

the warrant and was thus warrantless.”         (Appellant’s Brief at 5).   Therefore,

according to Simpson, “the denial of her motion to suppress violated her rights

guaranteed to her both by the Ohio Constitution and the United States Constitution.”

(Id.). She asserts the trial court erroneously denied her motion to suppress and asks

that we reverse that decision with instruction to suppress the blood test results.

                i. Standard of Review for a Motion to Suppress

       {¶12} “Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question

of law and fact.” State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797

N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. At a suppression hearing, the trial court assumes the role of trier of

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Case No. 1-22-79

fact and, as such, is in the best position to evaluate the evidence and the credibility

of witnesses. Id. See State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 552, 651 N.E.2d 965

(1995). When reviewing a ruling on a motion to suppress, “an appellate court must

accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible

evidence.” Burnside at ¶ 8, citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d

583 (1982). With respect to the trial court’s conclusions of law, however, our

standard of review is de novo, and we must independently determine whether the

facts satisfy the applicable legal standard. Id., citing State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio

App.3d 706, 707 N.E.2d 539 (4th Dist.1997).

                                ii. Applicable Law

       {¶13} “The provisions of Section 14, Article I of the Ohio Constitution are

essentially the same” as the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

State v. Davis, 56 Ohio St.2d 51, 56, 381 N.E.2d 641 (1978), fn. 4; see also State v.

Emerson, 134 Ohio St.3d 191, 2012-Ohio-5047, 981 N.E.2d 787, ¶ 15. Both

constitutional provisions prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures, and they have

the essential purpose to safeguard the privacy and security of individuals against

arbitrary invasions by governmental officials. State v. Eads, 2020-Ohio-2805, 154

N.E.3d 538, ¶ 10 (1st Dist.). Specifically, the Fourth Amendment states: “The right

of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against

unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall

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Case No. 1-22-79

issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly

describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Fourth

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Ohio Constitution states: “The right of

the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, against

unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue,

but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing

the place to be searched, and the person and things to be seized.” Ohio Constitution,

Article I, Section 14.

                    iii. Analysis Regarding the Blood Testing

       {¶14} Initially, it is important to understand what Simpson is challenging and

what she is not. Simpson does not argue that the affidavit submitted by law

enforcement in support of the warrant failed to establish probable cause that

Simpson committed an OVI offense. She also does not argue that the judge erred

in finding probable cause existed to issue the search warrant, including its command

to search Simpson and seize her blood. Additionally, she does not argue that there

was any error in the actual blood tests or their results. She does not assert the blood

testing procedures were unreasonable. Instead, she argues “the warrant authorized

seizure of the blood but did not specifically authorize search of the blood,” i.e.,

testing the blood for the presence of alcohol. (Emphasis sic.) (Appellant’s Brief at

5).

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Case No. 1-22-79

       {¶15} We disagree with Simpson’s argument. The trial court did not commit

error by denying Simpson’s motion to suppress the blood testing results. Courts

from around the country have examined this issue in similar cases and have reached

the same conclusion we do. In fact, caselaw cited by Simpson in support of her

position consists solely of a state of Washington intermediate appellate court

opinion that she acknowledges was reversed by the Washington Supreme Court on

this particular issue. In that case, the Washington Supreme Court explained that the

warrant authorized extraction of a blood sample from the defendant, “indicating

probable cause existed to believe his blood contained evidence of DUI.” State v.

Martines, 184 Wash.2d 83, 93, 355 P.3d 1111 (Wash.2015). The court continued:

       The purpose of the warrant was to draw a sample of blood from
       [defendant] to obtain evidence of DUI. It is not sensible to read the
       warrant in a way that stops short of obtaining that evidence. A warrant
       authorizing a blood draw necessarily authorizes blood testing,
       consistent with and confined to the finding of probable cause. The
       only way for the State to obtain evidence of DUI from a blood sample
       is to test the blood sample for intoxicants.

(Emphasis added.) Id.

       {¶16} Other cases support this result too. A federal appeals court addressed

a defendant’s argument that, although extraction of his blood was permissible, the

subsequent testing of his blood was improper. United States v. Snyder, 852 F.2d

471, 473 (9th Cir.1988). The appeals court rejected the argument, explaining that

“[t]he flaw in [defendant’s] argument is his attempt to divide his arrest, and the

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Case No. 1-22-79

subsequent extraction and testing of his blood, into too many separate incidents,

each to be given independent significance for fourth amendment purposes.” Id.

“The only justification for the seizure of defendant’s blood was the need to obtain

evidence of alcohol content.”      Id. at 474.     “The right to seize the blood”

encompassed “the right to conduct a blood-alcohol test at some later time.” Id. The

appeals court concluded that the trial court correctly denied the defendant’s motion

to suppress the blood test results. Id.; see also State v. Frescoln, 911 N.W.2d 450,

455-56 (Iowa App.2017) (holding that, “[a]lthough the warrant does not explicitly

state that the blood sample would be subject to chemical testing, the stated reason

for obtaining the blood sample was its relevance to an [operating while intoxicated]

OWI investigation,” and “a commonsense reading of the warrant implies the blood

sample would be subjected to chemical testing”).

       {¶17} We agree with these courts and “apply a commonsense reading to the

warrant,” which leads us to “conclude it authorized not merely the drawing and

storing of a blood sample but also the toxicology tests performed to detect the

presence of drugs or alcohol.” Martines, 18 Wash.2d at 93; see also State v.

Maniaci, 2017-Ohio-8270, 87 N.E.3d 236, ¶ 25 (3d Dist.) (warrants and their

supporting documents are to be read in a commonsense fashion, not

hypertechnically). Simpson does not provide any legal authority to support a

different interpretation under the Ohio Constitution, and we do not find a different

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Case No. 1-22-79

interpretation is justified. See generally State v. Hoover, 123 Ohio St.3d 418, 2009-

Ohio-4993, 916 N.E.2d 1056, ¶ 14 (“R.C. 4511.19(A)(2) contains references to R.C.

4511.191, Ohio’s implied-consent statute. As part of obtaining the privilege to drive

in Ohio, a driver implicitly consents to a search, through means of a chemical test,

to determine the amount of intoxicating substances in the driver’s body upon the

driver’s arrest for DUI”); State v. Emerson, 134 Ohio St.3d 191, 2012-Ohio-5047,

981 N.E.2d 787, ¶ 22 (a defendant has no reasonable expectation of privacy in the

scientific analysis of her DNA profile extracted from a lawfully obtained DNA

sample). The search warrant here, issued to search Simpson for her blood and seize

it based on probable cause that she committed an OVI offense, permitted testing the

collected blood for alcohol or drugs.

    iv. Analysis Regarding the Command to Bring the Blood to the Judge

       {¶18} The last paragraph of the search warrant reads, in relevant part:

       YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO SEARCH FORTHWITH
       THE PERSON NAMED FOR THE PROPERTY SPECIFIED
       [NAMELY, BLOOD] * * * AND IF THE PROPERTY BE FOUND
       THERE TO SEIZE IT, LEAVING A COPY OF THIS WARRANT
       AND A RECEIPT FOR THE PROPERTY TAKEN, AND PREPARE
       A WRITTEN INVENTORY OF THE PROPERTY SEIZED AND
       RETURN THIS WARRANT AND BRING THE PROPERTY
       BEFORE ME WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS OF THIS DATE, AS
       REQUIRED BY THE LAW.

       {¶19} Simpson complains law enforcement did not deliver the blood to the

judge within three days, as directed by the warrant. To us, it appears that the “bring

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Case No. 1-22-79

the property before me within three (3) days of this date” language was antiquated

language that amounted to nothing more than surplusage in the search warrant.

Without speculating on the origin of this language in the search warrant, we note

that R.C. 2933.26 requires that, “[w]hen a warrant is executed by the seizure of

property or things described therein, such property or things shall be kept by the

judge, clerk, or magistrate to be used as evidence.” However, this statute has been

superseded by Crim.R. 41(D)(1), which states in relevant part: “[p]roperty seized

under a warrant shall be kept for use as evidence by the court which issued the

warrant or by the law enforcement agency which executed the warrant.” (Emphasis

added.) Crim.R. 41(D)(1); see also Havel v. Villa St. Joseph, 131 Ohio St.3d 235,

2012-Ohio-552, 963 N.E.2d 1270, ¶ 2 (“[p]rocedural rules promulgated pursuant to

the Modern Courts Amendment supersede conflicting statutes that affect procedural

matters * * *”). It would make little sense to bring blood to the trial court judge.1

As the trial court judge stated:

         As a practical matter these days, most courts in Ohio do not have
         secure evidence rooms that would accommodate the incredibly large
         numbers of items seized during the execution of search warrants nor
         do courts have the type of equipment necessary to properly preserve

1
  To the extent that the language was included in error, “[t]he United States Supreme Court has made clear
that technical defects in a warrant do not call for or permit exclusion of what the search produces.” State v.
Ridenour, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 09CA13, 2010-Ohio-3373, ¶ 21 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also
State v. Moore, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28640, 2021-Ohio-1114, ¶ 35, 44 (rejecting defendant-appellant’s
argument that the search warrant authorizing law enforcement to obtain his blood sample “as soon as possible
(within 3 hours of operation of vehicle)” was illegally executed because the blood sample was taken five
hours after he operated his vehicle; “strict compliance with the three-hour time frame in the search warrant
would have made it impossible to execute the warrant since the warrant was signed … approximately four
and a half hours after the automobile accident”).

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Case No. 1-22-79

       biological evidence, particularly blood. Thus, law enforcement
       agencies, including those in Allen County, are expected to keep these
       items for the court.

(Mar. 9, 2022 Judgment Entry at 4-5).

       {¶20} Regardless, the basis for Simpson’s appeal is a violation of her rights

under the Ohio Constitution and United States Constitution, and we do not find a

constitutional violation here. State v. Ridenour, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 09CA13, 2010-

Ohio-3373, ¶ 29, 33 (affirming denial of a motion to suppress where “the state’s

noncompliance with Crim.R. 41 did not violate [defendant-appellant’s] Fourth

Amendment rights”). Simpson does not challenge issuance of the warrant (e.g., that

there was no probable cause) or the reasonableness of the search of her person and

the seizure of her blood. Instead, her challenge relates to law enforcement’s failure

to comply with a portion of the warrant’s text (even if inclusion of that text makes

little practical sense). Yet, that particular challenge does not address constitutional

issues. As set forth above, the Ohio Constitution and U.S. Constitution prohibit

unreasonable searches and seizures. Emerson, 134 Ohio St.3d 191, 2012-Ohio-

5047, 981 N.E.2d 787, at ¶ 15. They do not mandate that property be returned to a

judge, let alone mandate a time to return such property to a judge. In fact, neither

does Criminal Rule 41 mandate that property be returned to a judge within three

days. Crim.R. 41.

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Case No. 1-22-79

        {¶21} “The exclusionary rule applies to constitutional violations, not

statutory ones” or ones that involve procedures set forth in a particular warrant

regarding the time and place to bring seized property.2 State v. Campbell, 170 Ohio

St.3d 278, 2022-Ohio-3626, 211 N.E.3d 1174, ¶ 3; see also Ridenour at ¶ 29, 33;

State v. Winningham, 2013-Ohio-4872, 1 N.E.3d 501, ¶ 16-19 (1st Dist.) (where the

warrant included a 30-day timeframe to conduct the search instead of the three-day

time frame set forth in Crim. R. 41, the violation did not rise to the level of

constitutional error and, therefore, the recovered property did not need to be

suppressed; “the exclusionary rule … will not ordinarily be applied to evidence

which is the product of police conduct violative of state law but not violative of

constitutional rights”) (internal quotation marks omitted).

        {¶22} Simpson’s first assignment of error is overruled.

        B. Second Assignment of Error

        {¶23} In her second assignment of error, regarding sentencing, Simpson

takes issue only with the trial court’s “course of conduct” finding, made pursuant to

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b). She contends the trial court erred in finding that the two

offenses of aggravated vehicular assault were committed as part of a “course of

conduct” and, therefore, consecutive sentencing was improper.

2
  Even though we find no constitutional violation in this case, it may behoove law enforcement and
prosecutors to review their standard warrant language to eliminate any antiquated verbiage and ensure
compliance with Crim.R. 41.

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Case No. 1-22-79

               i. Standard of Review for Consecutive Sentencing

       {¶24} An appellate court deciding an appeal based on felony sentencing

“shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or

modification given by the sentencing court.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). “The appellate

court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed under

[R.C. 2953.08] or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing

court for resentencing.” Id. However, the appellate court may take such action only

“if it clearly and convincingly finds” either (a) in cases where the sentencing court

made findings under R.C. 2929.13(B), R.C. 2929.13(D), R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(e),

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), or R.C. 2929.20(I), that the record does not support the

sentencing court’s findings under that statutory subsection; or (b) “[t]hat the

sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” Id.

       {¶25} Thus, an appellate court may reverse a sentence “only if it determines

by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the trial court’s

findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.”

State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1. Clear

and convincing evidence is the measure or degree of proof that “‘will produce in the

mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be

established.’” Id. at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d

118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus. It requires more than a preponderance

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of the evidence, but less than the extent of proof beyond a reasonable doubt required

for conviction in criminal cases.3 Id.

                                         ii. Applicable Law

         {¶26} When a person is sentenced to imprisonment for having committed

multiple offenses, the presumption is that those sentences will be imposed

concurrently, not consecutively. R.C. 2929.41(A). However, R.C. 2929.14(C)

provides an exception:

         (4) 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:

         (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.

3
  If we were to apply the standards from the Ohio Supreme Court’s relatively recent opinion in State v.
Gwynne, 2022-Ohio-4607 (issued on December 23, 2022 in case number 2021-1033), then the result of this
particular appeal would be the same: overruling the second assignment of error. However, a motion for
reconsideration was filed in Gwynne on January 3, 2023, and that motion is still pending as of the date of our
opinion in this case.

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       (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).

       {¶27} Thus, R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires a trial court to make specific

findings on the record before it may impose consecutive sentences. Id.; see also

State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 36-37.

First, the court must find “that the consecutive service is necessary to protect the

public from future crime or to punish the offender.” R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). Second,

the 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.   Third, the court must find at least one of the factors in R.C.

2929.14(C)(4)(a), (b), or (c) applies. Id.

       {¶28} Additionally, in order to impose consecutive terms of imprisonment,

“a trial court must state the required findings [from R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)] at the

sentencing hearing” and also “incorporate the statutory findings into the sentencing

entry.” State v. Sharp, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-01, 2014-Ohio-4140, ¶ 50, citing

Bonnell at ¶ 29. However, the trial court “has no obligation to state reasons to

support its findings.” Bonnell at ¶ 37. “Nor is it required to give a talismanic

incantation of the words of the statute, provided that the necessary findings can be

found in the record and are incorporated into the sentencing entry.” Id.

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                                   iii. Analysis

       {¶29} At the sentencing hearing, the trial judge found that the two counts of

aggravated vehicular assault did not merge because they involved separate victims.

(Nov. 30, 2022 Tr. at 41). One count involved the front passenger victim who

suffered serious head injuries, while the other count related to the victim who

suffered a concussion and a major skull fracture. (Id. at 16, 22-23, 26, 41, 46-47).

In accordance with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), the trial judge then found that “consecutive

service is necessary to protect the public from future crime” and “to punish the

offender,” as well as that “consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the

seriousness of [Simpson’s] conduct and to the danger she poses to the public.” (Id.

at 47). Finally, in accordance with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b), the trial judge also found

that at least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more

courses of conduct and that 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 the course of conduct adequately reflects the

seriousness of her conduct. (Id.). The trial judge incorporated those findings into

the judgment entry of sentencing. (Dec. 1, 2022 Judgment Entry at 2, 4).

       {¶30} Simpson concedes that “[s]he caused very serious harm to two young

adults” because of her “driving drunk” while “driving the wrong way on a one-way

street, speeding excessively while doing so, and running into an intersection without

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any recognition of what she was doing.”        (Appellant’s Brief at 12; see also

Presentence Investigation Report; Nov. 30, 2022 Tr. at 39-40). However, according

to Simpson, the “course of conduct” finding was erroneous because “[t]he act

causing both injuries was the same, instantaneous,” and “a single act cannot

logically form the entirety of a ‘course of conduct.’” (Appellant’s Brief at 12).

Simpson asserts that consecutive sentences require consecutive bad acts, not a single

bad act with multiple victims. She further contends that “the record clearly and

convincingly does not support the consecutive-sentence findings,” so we “should

modify the sentence to concurrent sentencing” in accordance with R.C.

2953.08(G)(2)(a).

       {¶31} The phrase “course of conduct” is not defined in R.C. 2929.14.

However, other cases have explained its meaning. In a case very similar to this one,

the Second District Court of Appeals explained that, in order to find two offenses

were part of a single course of conduct, a trial court must discern some connection,

common scheme, pattern, or psychological thread that ties the offenses together.

State v. Lambert, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2018-CA-28, 2019-Ohio-2837, ¶ 33. “A

course of conduct may be established by factual links such as time, location,

weapon,” similar motivation, or cause of death or injury, for example. Id.; see also

State v. Summers, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2013 CA 16, 2014-Ohio-2441, ¶ 14-15.

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Case No. 1-22-79

       {¶32} Here, there were “multiple offenses”: two counts of aggravated

vehicular assault, each relating to a different victim. And, these two offenses were

committed as part of one course of conduct with ties connecting the two offenses

together. These included factual links such as time, location, and cause of injury—

in addition to Simpson driving drunk, traveling at a high rate of speed, and driving

the wrong way on a one-way street when crashing into the other vehicle. Lambert

at ¶ 33. Therefore, we conclude that the record supports the trial court’s finding that

“multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct,” in

accordance with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b).

       {¶33} Additionally, caselaw supports this result. For example, in Lambert,

the appellate court affirmed consecutive prison terms for one count of aggravated

vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated vehicular assault, with each count

relating to a different victim. Lambert at ¶ 2-3, 33-34. Both of those offenses arose

from a collision in which “one victim died and another was severely injured as a

consequence of [defendant-appellant’s] actions in disregarding traffic regulations

while operating a vehicle without a valid license and when under the influence of

alcohol.” Id.; see also State v. Mayberry, 2014-Ohio-4706, 22 N.E.3d 222, ¶ 31-32

(2d Dist.) (affirming consecutive sentencing for aggravated vehicular homicide and

aggravated vehicular assault caused by the defendant, who ran a red light while

driving with a suspended license and impaired by marijuana, colliding with another

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Case No. 1-22-79

vehicle, killing its driver and paralyzing its passenger).      In another case, the

defendant-appellant made an argument similar to Simpson’s argument: “if there

had only been one occupant of the” vehicle that he struck (while driving at an

excessive rate of speed and under the influence of drugs), then his “behavior would

be the same but he would have only had one sentence.” State v. Glaze, 9th Dist.

Lorain No. 18CA011289, 2020-Ohio-53, ¶ 2, 11, 15, 18, 41. The appellate court

rejected that argument, explaining:

       While [defendant-appellant] maintains that his sentence would have
       been different if L.V. had not had passengers in her vehicle on the date
       of the incident, the unfortunate facts of this case are that [defendant-
       appellant’s] conduct resulted in two people losing their lives and a
       third person suffering serious injuries. [Defendant-appellant] has not
       pointed this Court to any authority indicating that a trial court errs by
       imposing consecutive sentences when a defendant causes a collision
       that injures or kills multiple passengers in the same vehicle. This
       Court’s own research reveals otherwise. See, e.g., State v.
       Lambert, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2018-CA-28, 2019-Ohio-2837, ¶
       34; State v. Owens, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1215, 2016-Ohio-3092,
       ¶ 34; State v. Long, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2000-09-022, 2001 WL
       433371, *2-3 (Apr. 30, 2001). Under these circumstances, the record
       supports the trial court’s decision to impose consecutive sentences.

Id. at ¶ 43.

       {¶34} Therefore, the trial court did not err in sentencing Simpson to

consecutive sentences, including that it did not err in finding a “course of conduct”

under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b). The trial court stated the required findings from R.C.

2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and incorporated the statutory findings into

the sentencing entry. (Nov. 30, 2020 Tr. at 40-47; Dec. 1, 2022 Judgment Entry).

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Case No. 1-22-79

We do not “clearly and convincingly” find either that the sentencing court’s findings

under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) are unsupported by the record or “[t]hat the sentence is

otherwise contrary to law.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).

IV. CONCLUSION

         {¶35} For the foregoing reasons, Simpson’s assignments of error are

overruled. Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars

assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the Allen County Court of Common

Pleas.

                                                                Judgment Affirmed

ZIMMERMAN and POWELL, J.J., concur.

** Judge Stephen W. Powell of the Twelfth District Court of Appeals, sitting
by Assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

/jlr

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