Court Opinion

ID: 4170414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-19 16:17:26.219676+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:26.967188
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hale, 2017-Ohio-2844.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                    MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                     JUDGES:
                                                  Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee                        Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                                  Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-
                                                  Case No. CT2016-0048
NICHOLAS A. HALE

        Defendant-Appellant                       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common
                                               Pleas, Case No. CR2015-0325

JUDGMENT:                                      Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                        May 16, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                         For Defendant-Appellee

D. MICHAEL HADDOX                              DAVID A. SAMS
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY                           Box 40
GERALD V. ANDERSON II                          West Jefferson, Ohio 43162
ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR
27 North Fifth Street, P.O. Box 189
Zanesville, Ohio 43702-0189
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                2

Wise, John, J.

      {¶1}   Appellant Nicholas Hale, Jr. appeals his sentence entered in the

Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas following a jury trial and a finding of guilty on

15 felonies and 13 gun specifications.

      {¶2}   Appellee is the State of Ohio.

                      STATEMENTS OF THE FACTS AND CASE

      {¶3}   On October 7, 2015, Appellant, Nicholas Hale, was indicted on the following

charges:

      Count 1- Aggravated Burglary (F1) w/ gun specification

      Count 2 - Felonious Assault (F2) w/gun specification

      Count 3 - Felonious Assault (F2) w/gun specification

      Count 4 - Discharging Firearm into Habitation (F2)

      Count 5 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 6 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 7 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 8 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 9 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 10 - Kidnapping w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 11- Felonious Assault w/firearm specification (F2)

      Count 12- Felonious Assault w/firearm specification (F2)

      Count 13 - Aggravated Burglary w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 14 - Aggravated Robbery w/firearm specification (F1)

      Count 15 - Having Weapons Under Disability (F3)
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                 3

       {¶4}   These charges stem from events which took place on October 27, 2015,

October 28th and October 29th, 2015: The relevant facts are as follows:

       {¶5}   Counts 1, 2, and 3 involved the burglary of the home of Cody Cain on

October 27, 2015. During the burglary, Appellant assaulted Cain, striking him about

the head and face with the butt of Appellant's gun.

       {¶6}   On October 28, 2015, Appellant and Cody Cain's argument over drug

money continued, and Appellant shot at Cain while he was in the street. Appellant's shot

missed Cain, and instead hit the residence of Crystal Krause. (Count 4)

       {¶7}   The remaining counts arose from events which occurred on the following

day, October 29, 2015, when Appellant invaded the home of Tammy Zumbro and

demanded money allegedly owed to him for drugs. James Kirby was also in the home

and Appellant assaulted Ms. Zumbro with his gun, knocking out 4 of her teeth, and struck

both she and Mr. Kirby with a 2x4 piece of wood while holding them both hostage.

       {¶8}   Hours later, Susan Dupler, another resident, returned home and found the

house locked. After being let in, Appellant grabbed Ms. Dupler, put a gun to her head and

threatened to kill her. All three victims were held hostage for hours.

       {¶9}   Appellant locked Ms. Zumbro and Mr. Kirby in a laundry room and took a

nap. While Appellant was asleep, Ms. Dupler retreated to a back bedroom and snuck out

a window, ran to a neighboring house and called the police. Appellant continued this

hostage situation for a few more hours while in a standoff with the police. Eventually,

Appellant allowed Ms. Zumbro and Mr. Kirby to exit the residence. Officers tear-gassed

the residence, and Appellant exited and surrendered to the police.

       {¶10} On August 2, 2016, a jury trial commenced in this matter.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                    4

       {¶11} On August 4, 2016, Appellant was found guilty on all counts.

       {¶12} On August 5, 2016, a sentencing hearing was held. At sentencing, the

prosecutor stated that Appellant invaded people's homes to collect $200, shot up a

woman's home, savagely beat, kidnapped, and robbed three people who did nothing

wrong to him. Once apprehended, Appellant continued his criminal behavior, assaulting

guards in the jail, vandalized the jail, planned escapes, worked with his brother to destroy

evidence, and had his brother go out and threaten witnesses and victims, who live in fear

based on what he's done. (Sentencing Hearing, p. 4).

       {¶13} The trial court also heard from defense counsel and Appellant, who related

mitigating factors for the judge to consider. The trial court then read two victim impact

letters, one written by Ms. Krause, the other by Ms. Dupler. The trial court then reviewed

Appellant's criminal history, noting that Appellant was currently serving time for a

conviction for assaulting a corrections officer while in jail on this case, and that he also

had a pending vandalism charge. The trial court noted that Appellant's criminal

convictions began when he was ten years old and continued to the present day.

       {¶14} On August 4, 2016, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate

prison sentence of 51 years:

       Count 1- Aggravated Burglary w/ gun spec: 11 yrs + 3

       Count 2 - Felonious Assault w/firearm spec: 8 yrs + 3

       Count 3 - Felonious Assault w/firearm spec: 8 yrs + 3

       Count 4 - Discharging Firearm into Habitation: 8 yrs

       Count 5 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: 11 yrs +3

       Count 6 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: 11 yrs + 3
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                 5

      Count 7 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: 11 yrs + 3

      Count 8 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: merged w/5, 6 &7

      Count 9 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: merged w/5, 6 & 7

      Count 10 - Kidnapping w/firearm spec: merged w/5, 6 & 7

      Count 11- Felonious Assault w/firearm spec: 8 yrs + 3

      Count 12- Felonious Assault w/firearm spec: 8 yrs + 3

      Count 13 - Aggravated Burglary w/firearm spec- 11 yrs + 3

      Count 14 - Aggravated Robbery w/firearm spec: 11 yrs + 3

      Count 15 - Having Weapon Under Disability: 3 yrs

      {¶15} Counts 1, 2 and 3 were concurrent with each other, but consecutive to

everything else, and the specifications in 2 and 3 consecutive to each other and to

everything else. Counts 5, 6 and 7 were concurrent with each other, but consecutive to

everything else, and the specifications consecutive to each other and to everything else.

Count 8, 9 and 10 were merged with counts 5, 6 and 7, and the state elected on 5, 6 and

7. Counts 11 and 12 were concurrent with each other, but consecutive to everything else,

and the specifications consecutive to each other and to everything else. (Sentencing

Hearing, p. 11-18).

      {¶16} Appellant now appeals, setting forth the following assignments of error:

                             ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

      {¶17} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED UNDER R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) WHEN

IMPOSING CONSECUTIVE TERMS TOTALING 51 YEARS.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                 6

      {¶18} II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED UNDER R.C. 2941.25 WHEN IMPOSING

CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR THE FELONIOUS ASSAULT COUNTS OF 11 AND 12

AND THE KIDNAPPING COUNTS OF 5, 6 AND 7.

      {¶19} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED UNDER R.C. 2941.25 WHEN IMPOSING

CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR MULTIPLE GUN SPECIFICATIONS ATTENDANT TO

CONCURRENT UNDERLYING TERMS.”

                                             I.

      {¶20} In his First Assignment of Error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred

in imposing consecutive sentences pursuant to R.C. §2929.14(C)(4). We disagree.

      {¶21} R.C. §2929.14(C)(4) reads:

             (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
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                     7

        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.

       {¶22} Appellant does not argue that the trial court failed to make the requisite

findings pursuant to R.C. §2929.14(C)(4), rather Appellant argues that the length of his

sentence is disproportionate to the actual physical harm to the victims and that the length

of his sentence is tantamount to a life sentence.

       {¶23} Upon review, we find that the physical harm is only one of the factors for the

trial court to consider in imposing sentence. R.C. §2929.12(B)(2). The trial court also

considered the number of victims, Appellant's conduct and the violent nature of the

crimes, the physical and psychological harm caused to the victims and Appellant's lengthy

criminal history. The trial court specifically found that the harm caused to multiple victims

was so great or unusual that no single sentence would adequately reflect the seriousness

of the conduct.

       {¶24} Based on the record in this case, we do not find that the trial court abused

its discretion in imposing consecutive sentences herein.

       {¶25} Appellant’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                8

                                           II.

      {¶26} In Appellant's Second Assignment of Error he argues that the trial court

erred in failing to merge Counts 11 and 12 (Felonious Assault) with Counts 5, 6 and 7

(Kidnapping). We disagree.

      {¶27} Appellant maintains the trial court failed to find these charges were allied

offenses of similar import, arguing that they were part of the same break-in and had the

same financial motive.

      {¶28} R.C. §2941.25, Multiple counts, states:

             (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to

       constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or

       information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant

       may be convicted of only one.

             (B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses

       of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses

       of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus

       as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such

       offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.

      {¶29} In State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015–Ohio–995, 34 N.E.2d 892, the

Ohio Supreme Court revised its allied-offense jurisprudence,

             1. In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar

       import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must evaluate three

       separate factors-the conduct, the animus, and the import.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                      9

              2. Two or more offenses of dissimilar import exist within the meaning

        of R.C. 2941.25(B) when the defendant's conduct constitutes offenses

        involving separate victims or if the harm that results from each offense is

        separate and identifiable.

       {¶30} The Court further explained,

              A trial court and the reviewing court on appeal when considering

        whether there are allied offenses that merge into a single conviction under

        R.C. 2941.25(A) must first take into account the conduct of the defendant.

        In other words, how were the offenses committed? If any of the following

        is true, the offenses cannot merge and the defendant may be convicted

        and sentenced for multiple offenses:

              (1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or significance—in other

        words, each offense caused separate, identifiable harm,

              (2) the offenses were committed separately, and

              (3) the offenses were committed with separate animus or motivation.

        ***

              An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate

        convictions. The conduct, the animus, and the import must all be

        considered.

       {¶31} Upon review of the record, we find Appellant failed to object at sentencing

as to Counts 11 and 12 and Counts 5, 6, and 7 being allied offenses.

       {¶32} When an accused fails to seek the merger of his or her convictions as allied

offenses of similar import in the trial court, the accused forfeits his or her allied offenses
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                        10

claim for appellate review. State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385. “[F]orfeiture is the failure

to timely assert a right or object to an error, and * * * ‘it is a well-established rule that “an

appellate court will not consider any error which counsel for a party complaining of the

trial court's judgment could have called but did not call to the trial court's attention at a

time when such error could have been avoided or corrected by the trial court.” ’ ” Id. at ¶

21.

       {¶33} Further, this Court finds that the offenses of kidnapping and felonious

assault in this case were not allied offenses requiring merger.

       {¶34} The offense of kidnapping is defined in R.C. §2905.01(A)(1), in relevant

part, as follows:

              (A) No person, by force, threat, or deception, * * * by any means,

       shall remove another from the place where the other person is found or

       restrain the liberty of the other person, for any of the following purposes:

              (1) To hold for ransom, or as a shield or hostage;

       {¶35} The offense of felonious assault is defined in R.C. §2903.11(A)(1), which

provides,

              (A) No person shall knowingly …

              (1) Cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn;

       {¶36} We find that the acts of holding the victims hostage for hours is separate

and distinct from the acts of hitting one of the victims with the butt of the gun and two of

the victims in the head with a 2x4 board.

       {¶37} We find no error in the trial court not merging the counts for purposes of

sentencing.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                  11

      {¶38} Appellant’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                            III.

      {¶39} In his Third and final Assignment of Error, Appellant argues that the trial

court erred in imposing consecutive sentences for the multiple firearm specifications. We

disagree.

      {¶40} Here, the trial court ordered the firearm specifications on seven (7) of the

counts to run consecutively.

      {¶41} R.C. §2929.14(B)(1)(g) provides:

             If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to two or more felonies,

      if one or more of those felonies are aggravated murder, murder, attempted

      aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, felonious

      assault, or rape, and if the offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a

      specification of the type described under division (B)(1)(a) of this section in

      connection with two or more of the felonies, the sentencing court shall

      impose on the offender the prison term specified under division (B)(1)(a) of

      this section for each of the two most serious specifications of which the

      offender is convicted or to which the offender pleads guilty and, in its

      discretion, also may impose on the offender the prison term specified under

      that division for any or all of the remaining specifications.” (emphasis

      added).

      {¶42} Appellant argues that the specifications should have followed how the

attendant charges were sentences.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0048                                                  12

      {¶43} Upon review of the cases cited by Appellant, we find that those cases

involved the merger of allied offenses, not how specifications to counts running

concurrent or consecutive should run.

      {¶44} Based on the number of victims, the number of serious crimes committed

by Appellant, and the violent nature of those crimes, we find no abuse of discretion in the

trial court's imposition of consecutive sentences on seven firearm specifications in this

matter.

      {¶45} Appellant’s Third Assignment of Error is overruled.

      {¶46} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of

Muskingum County, Ohio, is affirmed.

By: Wise, John, J.

Gwin, P. J., and

Baldwin, J., concur.

JWW/d 0425