Court Opinion

ID: 4575027
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-10-09 14:10:51.509092+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:43.170075
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Velliquette, 2020-Ohio-4855.]

                           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                               SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                    LUCAS COUNTY

State of Ohio                                           Court of Appeals No. L-19-1232

      Appellee                                          Trial Court No. CR0201902337

v.

Dyllan Velliquette                                      DECISION AND JUDGMENT

      Appellant                                         Decided: October 9, 2020

                                                 *****

      Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
      Alyssa Breyman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

      Autumn D. Adams, for appellant.

                                                 *****

      ZMUDA, P.J.

                                            I. Introduction

      {¶ 1} This matter is before the court on appeal from the August 30, 2019

judgment, denying the motion to suppress of appellant Dyllan Velliquette, and the

September 12, 2019 judgment, sentencing appellant to an aggregate prison term of 3 to
4 ½ years in prison, ordered consecutive to the balance of post release control remaining

for a separate conviction. We affirm as to the trial court’s ruling on appellant’s motion to

suppress, and dismiss regarding sentencing, finding the issue is not ripe for review.

                         II. Facts and Procedural Background

       {¶ 2} On June 17, 2019, appellant and two co-defendants, Gustavo Tapia and

Darrien Davis, forced their way into a home, pointed a gun at one of the occupants and

demanded cash and access to a safe. The three fled after another occupant called for

help. Later in the evening, police stopped a vehicle driven by S.W.,1 with Tapia and

Davis as passengers. S.W. cooperated with the investigation and admitted that she waited

outside in the car while appellant, Tapia, and Davis were inside the victims’ home. She

also told police where she had dropped appellant off afterwards, at appellant’s mother’s

home. Police went to his mother’s house and conducted a search with her consent,

locating dark clothing and a firearm possibly connected to the incident.

       {¶ 3} Police later apprehended appellant and took him to the Safety Building for

an interview. Prior to the interview, Detective Kaczmarek asked appellant his name and

date of birth. He also asked appellant where he was currently staying, and appellant

indicated he stayed at both his mother’s and father’s homes and verified his mother’s

address. Detective Kaczmarek advised appellant of his Miranda rights, went over the

waiver of rights form, and appellant signed the waiver.

1
 S.W. was identified in the record as a witness, subpoenaed for the September 9 trial
date.

2.
       {¶ 4} At the start of the interview, Detective Kaczmarek noted appellant looked ill,

and asked appellant how he was feeling. Appellant told the detective that he had been

roofing all day and was tired. Aside from appellant’s weariness, the detective did not

note any other conditions that suggested intoxication. Appellant spoke without slurring

and gave thought-out answers to the detective’s questions. Appellant admitted he was

with Tapia, Davis, and S.W. the evening of the incident but denied involvement in any

crime. After learning that police searched his mother’s home with her consent, appellant

asked for an attorney and ended the interview.

       {¶ 5} On August 2, 2019, appellant was indicted on one count of aggravated

robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) and (C), a felony of the first degree, and one

count of aggravated burglary in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(2) and (B), a felony of the

first degree.2 Each count included a firearm specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145(A),

(B), (C), and (F). Appellant was arraigned on August 7, with appointed counsel, and

entered a plea of not guilty. Appellant also filed a motion to suppress his statements from

his police interview, arguing he was too intoxicated to properly waive his Miranda rights

and the detective elicited an incriminating statement prior to having him sign the waiver.

2
 The case is designated as a “re-indictment of CR 19-2106.” Appellant was initially
charged by indictment on June 26, 2019 in Lucas Common Pleas case No. CR
201902106 with a single count of aggravated burglary with a firearm specification. That
case was dismissed by nolle prosequi at the request of the state on August 21, 2019, at the
matter proceeded in the new case, now on appeal.

3.
Additionally, appellant argued that he was improperly coerced into giving statements,

rendering his statements involuntary.

         {¶ 6} On August 26, 2019, the trial court held a hearing on the motion to suppress,

and determined appellant was not too intoxicated to make a knowing and intelligent

waiver of his Miranda rights, noting appellant’s ability to respond to questions and

terminate the questioning by asking for a lawyer. The trial court further found that

Detective Kaczmarek’s questions about where appellant was staying were identifying

questions, typical of preliminary questions preceding an interrogation, and appellant

again identified his mother’s house as his house after signing the Miranda waiver.

Finally, the trial court determined that any misrepresentation by Detective Kaczmarek,

regarding the number of people confessing to the crime, did not render appellant’s

statements involuntary.

         {¶ 7} On September 9, 2019, the scheduled trial date, appellant entered a no

contest plea to aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, with the state dismissing the

firearm specifications. The parties agreed to a jointly recommended sentence of 3 to 4.5

years.

         {¶ 8} On September 11, 2019, the trial court held a sentencing hearing, and over

appellant’s objection to the imposition of indefinite sentencing under the Reagan Tokes

law, imposed the jointly recommended sentence of a minimum term of 3 years in prison

and a maximum term of 4.5 years in prison on each count, and ordered the sentences to

be served concurrently to each other, but consecutively to any remaining time imposed as

4.
post release control in a prior conviction.3 The trial court further determined that each

count was an offense of violence pursuant to R.C. 2901.01(A)(9)(a)-(d), and imposed

post release control as to each count for the 5-year mandatory period, with proper notice

to appellant.

       {¶ 9} From this judgment, appellant filed a timely appeal.

                                III. Assignments of Error

       {¶ 10} In his appeal, appellant raises the following issues as error for our

review:

                I. The Trial Court erred in denying Appellant’s Motion to Suppress.

                II. The Reagan Tokes Act is unconstitutional.

                                       IV. Analysis

       {¶ 11} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues his statements to police

should have been suppressed, as he did not make a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary

waiver of his rights prior to speaking with police. The statements at issue include

preliminary information supplied by appellant regarding where he lived and admissions

during the interview regarding his activities with Tapia, Davis, and S.W.

3
  The trial court did not impose any post release control time in the prior case, Lucas
County Common Pleas case No. CR 201502822, and therefore, indicating that time
would be consecutive is merely a statement of applicable law. Pursuant to R.C.
2929.141(A)(1), “[a] prison term imposed for the violation shall be served consecutively
to any prison term imposed for the new felony.”

5.
       {¶ 12} Our review of the trial court’s decision, denying appellant’s motion to

suppress “presents a mixed question of law and fact.” State v. Wesson, 137 Ohio St. 3d
309, 2013-Ohio-4575, 999 N.E.2d 557, ¶ 40, quoting State v. Burnside,100 Ohio St.3d

152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. We must accept the trial court’s factual

findings if they are supported by competent credible evidence, and “independently

determine, without deference to the conclusion of the trial court, whether the facts satisfy

the applicable legal standard.” Wesson at ¶ 40, quoting Burnside at ¶ 8.

       {¶ 13} Prior to a custodial interrogation, the Fifth Amendment requires that a

suspect “receive Miranda warnings to protect against self-incrimination.” Wesson at ¶

34, citing Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 478-479, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694

(1966). As a result, the prosecution may not use statements obtained through a custodial

interrogation that lacked the requisite Miranda safeguards. State v. Dailey, 53 Ohio St. 3d
88, 90, 559 N.E.2d 459 (1990), citing Miranda at 444.

       {¶ 14} In this case, after some preliminary, biographical questions, appellant

waived his rights, executed a waiver form, and spoke with the detective. After the

detective informed appellant that police had searched his mother’s home with her

consent, appellant ended the interview by asking for a lawyer. Appellant now challenges

the admissibility of his preliminary statements, made prior to being advised of his

Miranda rights, as well as the validity of his written waiver and the use of statements

made after he executed the waiver form.

6.
      {¶ 15} As to the first category of statements, appellant argues that eliciting his

address prior to advising him of his Miranda rights was improper, because where he

stayed was used against him as incriminating information. In rejecting this argument, the

trial court reviewed the recorded interview and determined the preliminary questions,

including where appellant was staying, were “simply general, identifying questions which

are asked of all individuals in custody prior to conducting an interview.” We agree.

      {¶ 16} Identifying questions, like the ones asked in this case, do not require

Miranda warnings, as they are not asked to elicit an incriminating response. See State v.

Hale, 119 Ohio St. 3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 32-33, citing

Pennsylvania v. Muniz, 496 U.S. 582, 601, 110 S. Ct. 2638, 110 L. Ed. 2d 528 (1990),

quoting United States v. Horton, 873 F.2d 180, 181, fn. 2 (8th Cir.1989). Here, Detective

Kaczmarek testified that he identified himself to appellant and then asked appellant

identifying questions, including name and address, which was routine “in case we have to

do a follow up investigation, or if we have to serve a subpoena through the court system.”

      {¶ 17} Appellant spelled out his name and confirmed his mother’s address, and

after noting this information, the detective proceeded to inform appellant of his Miranda

rights. After waiving those rights and speaking with the detective, appellant again

referred to his mother’s home as a place where he stayed. Therefore, appellant’s address

as “incriminating” information, was conveyed both before and after appellant was given

the Miranda warning, diminishing any argument relative to the preliminary, biographical

7.
questions. Accordingly, we find no basis to suppress appellant’s preliminary statement

regarding his address.

       {¶ 18} As to statements made after appellant executed the waiver form, appellant

argues his waiver was invalid because he was too intoxicated to make a knowing,

intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his rights. He also argues that Detective Kaczmarek

improperly coerced admissions by misstating the number of co-defendants who confessed

and implicated appellant.

       {¶ 19} “An accused's signed waiver form is strong proof that such waiver was

valid.” State v. Nields, 93 Ohio St. 3d 6, 14, 75 2 N.E.2d 859 (2001), citing State v.

Clark, 38 Ohio St. 3d 252, 261, 527 N.E.2d 844 (1988); North Carolina v. Butler, 441
U.S. 369, 373, 99 S. Ct. 1755, 60 L. Ed. 2d 286 (1979). However, if a defendant

challenges the validity of the waiver, the state bears the burden of demonstrating, by a

preponderance of the evidence, that the waiver was knowingly, intelligently, and

voluntarily made. Wesson at ¶ 34, citing Miranda at 475; Colorado v. Connelly, 479
U.S. 157, 168-169, 107 S. Ct. 515, 93 L. Ed. 2d 473 (1986); see also State v. Reynolds,

2017-Ohio-1478, 89 N.E.3d 235 ¶ 64, (6th Dist.), citing State v. Gumm, 73 Ohio St. 3d
413, 429, 653 N.E.2d 253 (1995).

       {¶ 20} “[T]he touchstone of an involuntary confession is police misconduct and

the defendant’s mental condition is merely one factor in the totality of the circumstances

to be considered in determining constitutional voluntariness.” Reynolds at ¶ 69. While

appellant argues he was too intoxicated to voluntarily consent to questioning, our analysis

8.
focuses on the totality of the circumstances, including “the age, mentality, and prior

criminal experience of the accused; the length, intensity, and frequency of interrogation;

the existence of physical deprivation or mistreatment; and the existence of threat or

inducement.” State v. Dixon, 101 Ohio St. 3d 328, 2004-Ohio-1585, 805 N.E.2d 1042, ¶

25; State v. Edwards, 49 Ohio St. 2d 31, 358 N.E.2d 1051 (1976), paragraph two of the

syllabus.

       {¶ 21} At hearing, Detective Kaczmarek testified that appellant did not exhibit

confusion or any comprehension issues. Indeed, as he read through the waiver form,

appellant asked for verification regarding his right to stop the interview at any time.

Detective Kaczmarek described appellant’s demeanor as “fairly tired, sweaty, and at the

time maybe uninterested.” Appellant exhibited no other signs suggesting intoxication.

Based on appellant’s appearance and responses to the questioning, the detective indicated

the absence of slurred speech or nodding off during questioning, and instead

characterized appellant’s responses as “very thought out.” After Detective Kaczmarek

told appellant that police had searched his mother’s home, appellant requested an

attorney, exercising his right to end the questioning. The video of appellant during

questioning supports Detective Kaczmarek’s recollections. Accordingly, considering the

totality of the circumstances, appellant’s mental state was not impaired, and his Miranda

waiver was clearly voluntary.

       {¶ 22} Additionally, the record clearly supports the conclusion that appellant’s

will was not overcome by Detective Kaczmarek’s misrepresentation regarding the

9.
number of individuals who had confessed. Prior to questioning appellant, Detective

Kaczmarek indicated that S.W. had already identified all participants in the burglary and

robbery, and his questions regarding appellant’s location on the night of June 17 were

asked to “figure out a timeline throughout the night as to location of all of the individuals

involved in this incident[.]” Appellant’s mother, furthermore, had already told police that

appellant was staying at her home that night and police recovered a firearm at the house.

       {¶ 23} Appellant argues, however, that Detective Kaczmarek coerced his

confession by telling him that “they” confessed and implicated him, rather than indicating

only “she,” or S.W. confessed. At the suppression hearing, Detective Kaczmarek

acknowledged saying “they” instead of “she,” but also testified that appellant did not

confess in response, stating appellant gave no reaction to his statement.

       {¶ 24} “The tactic of lying to a suspect about the evidence is not in itself sufficient

to render a confession involuntary.” State v. Ford, 158 Ohio St. 3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539,

140 N.E.3d 616, ¶ 196, citing Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731, 737-739, 89 S. Ct. 1420, 22
L. Ed. 2d 684 (1969); State v. Bays, 87 Ohio St. 3d 15, 22-23, 716 N.E.2d 1126 (1999)

(additional citation omitted.). Here, appellant identifies no involuntary statement that

police elicited through assertions regarding the number of people who had already

confessed, implicating appellant. Furthermore, there was no confession. Accordingly,

we find no misrepresentations that overcame appellant’s will and caused him to make

involuntary statements.

10.
       {¶ 25} Because the facts demonstrate a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver,

with no interrogation prior to the Miranda waiver and no inappropriate deception, we

find appellant’s first assignment of error not well-taken.

       {¶ 26} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that R.C. 2967.271, the

Reagan Tokes law reinstituting indefinite sentences, is unconstitutional as a violation of

the separation of powers doctrine and his due process rights. The Reagan Tokes law was

enacted in 2018 and became effective on March 22, 2019. R.C. 2901.011. Appellant

joined the state in recommending this sentence, while also preserving a general,

unarticulated constitutional objection to the sentence at the time of sentencing.

       {¶ 27} A jointly recommended sentence precludes review under R.C.

2953.08(D)(1), beyond what is “authorized by law.” (Citation omitted) State v. Sergent,

148 Ohio St. 3d 94, 2016-Ohio-2696, 69 N.E.3d 627, ¶ 11. “A sentence is authorized by

law when ‘it is within the statutory range of possible sentences and does not exceed the

maximum term authorized for the offense.’” (Citation omitted) State v. Nguyen, 6th

Dist. Lucas No. L-05-1369, 2007-Ohio-2034, ¶ 30. Here, appellant does not dispute the

jointly recommended sentence, but rather, he challenges the constitutionality of the

authority granted to prison officials to extend his sentence up to the maximum term

imposed by the trial court.

       {¶ 28} Under the Reagan Tokes law, a trial court imposing a prison term for a

non-life, first or second degree felony, for offenses committed after the effective date of

the law, must select a minimum prison term, which is then used in calculating the

11.
maximum prison term through the statutory formula. Based on conduct while

incarcerated, the institution may rebut the presumption in favor of the minimum prison

term and extend an offender’s incarceration up to the maximum prison term. The statute

provides, in part:

              (B) When an offender is sentenced to a non-life felony indefinite

       prison term, there shall be a presumption that the person shall be released

       from service of the sentence on the expiration of the offender's minimum

       prison term or on the offender's presumptive earned early release date,

       whichever is earlier.

              (C) The presumption established under division (B) of this section is

       a rebuttable presumption that the department of rehabilitation and

       correction may rebut as provided in this division. Unless the department

       rebuts the presumption, the offender shall be released from service of the

       sentence on the expiration of the offender's minimum prison term or on the

       offender's presumptive earned early release date, whichever is earlier. The

       department may rebut the presumption only if the department determines,

       at a hearing, that one or more of the following applies:

              (1) Regardless of the security level in which the offender is

       classified at the time of the hearing, both of the following apply:

              (a) During the offender's incarceration, the offender committed

       institutional rule infractions that involved compromising the security of a

12.
      state correctional institution, compromising the safety of the staff of a state

      correctional institution or its inmates, or physical harm or the threat of

      physical harm to the staff of a state correctional institution or its inmates, or

      committed a violation of law that was not prosecuted, and the infractions or

      violations demonstrate that the offender has not been rehabilitated.

               (b) The offender's behavior while incarcerated, including, but not

      limited to the infractions and violations specified in division (C)(1)(a) of

      this section, demonstrate that the offender continues to pose a threat to

      society.

               (2) Regardless of the security level in which the offender is

      classified at the time of the hearing, the offender has been placed by the

      department in extended restrictive housing at any time within the year

      preceding the date of the hearing.

               (3) At the time of the hearing, the offender is classified by the

      department as a security level three, four, or five, or at a higher security

      level.

               (D)(1) If the department of rehabilitation and correction, pursuant to

      division (C) of this section, rebuts the presumption established under

      division (B) of this section, the department may maintain the offender's

      incarceration in a state correctional institution under the sentence after the

      expiration of the offender's minimum prison term or, for offenders who

13.
      have a presumptive earned early release date, after the offender's

      presumptive earned early release date. The department may maintain the

      offender's incarceration under this division for an additional period of

      incarceration determined by the department. The additional period of

      incarceration shall be a reasonable period determined by the department,

      shall be specified by the department, and shall not exceed the offender's

      maximum prison term.

             (2) If the department maintains an offender's incarceration for an

      additional period under division (D)(1) of this section, there shall be a

      presumption that the offender shall be released on the expiration of the

      offender's minimum prison term plus the additional period of incarceration

      specified by the department as provided under that division or, for

      offenders who have a presumptive earned early release date, on the

      expiration of the additional period of incarceration to be served after the

      offender's presumptive earned early release date that is specified by the

      department as provided under that division. The presumption is a rebuttable

      presumption that the department may rebut, but only if it conducts a

      hearing and makes the determinations specified in division (C) of this

      section, and if the department rebuts the presumption, it may maintain the

      offender's incarceration in a state correctional institution for an additional

      period determined as specified in division (D)(1) of this section. Unless the

14.
      department rebuts the presumption at the hearing, the offender shall be

      released from service of the sentence on the expiration of the offender's

      minimum prison term plus the additional period of incarceration specified

      by the department or, for offenders who have a presumptive earned early

      release date, on the expiration of the additional period of incarceration to be

      served after the offender's presumptive earned early release date as

      specified by the department.

             The provisions of this division regarding the establishment of a

      rebuttable presumption, the department's rebuttal of the presumption, and

      the department's maintenance of an offender's incarceration for an

      additional period of incarceration apply, and may be utilized more than one

      time, during the remainder of the offender's incarceration. If the offender

      has not been released under division (C) of this section or this division prior

      to the expiration of the offender's maximum prison term imposed as part of

      the offender's non-life felony indefinite prison term, the offender shall be

      released upon the expiration of that maximum term.

R.C. 2967.271(B) - (D).

      {¶ 29} As to each of appellant’s arguments, regarding the possibility of hearings

and an extended term, appellee, the state of Ohio, argues such a possibility may never be

realized, and appellant’s challenge is therefore not ripe for review. We previously

reached this same conclusion in State v. Maddox, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-19-1253, 2020-

15.
Ohio-4702, ¶ 13, citing decisions from the Fifth District Court of Appeals, dismissing

such challenges as not ripe for review. See State v. Manion, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No.

2020 AP 03 0009, 2020-Ohio-4230 and State v. Downard, 5th Dist. Muskingum No.

CT2019-0079, 2020-Ohio-4227.

       {¶ 30} We note that other jurisdictions have implicitly determined the issue to be

ripe for review by addressing the constitutional challenge to the Regan Tokes provisions

regarding future, possible extensions of a prison term beyond the presumed minimum

term. The Second District Court of Appeals found the law constitutional in State v.

Barnes, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28613, 2020-Ohio-4150, State v. Leet, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 28670, 2020-Ohio-4592, and State v. Ferguson, 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 28644, 2020-Ohio-4153. The Twelfth District Court of Appeals also determined the

law was constitutional in State v. Guyton, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-203, 2020-

Ohio-3837, State v. Rodgers, 12th Dist. No. Butler CA2019-11-194, 2020-Ohio-4102,

and State v. Morris, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-12-205, 2020-Ohio-4103.4

       {¶ 31} Pursuant to Section 3(B)(4), Article IV of the Ohio Constitution,

“[w]henever the judges of a court of appeals find that a judgment upon which they have

agreed is in conflict with a judgment pronounced upon the same question by any other

court of appeals of the state, the judges shall certify the record of the case to the supreme

4
 The Fourth District Court of Appeals deemed the issue not preserved for appeal, based
on the appellant’s failure to raise the issue in the trial court and failure to assert any plain
error argument in the direct appeal. See State v. Conant, 4th Dist. Adams No.
20CA1108, 2020-Ohio-4319.

16.
court for review and final determination.” The Ohio Supreme Court set forth three

requirements that must be met in order for a case to be certified:

              First, the certifying court must find that its judgment is in conflict

       with the judgment of a court of appeals of another district and the asserted

       conflict must be “upon the same question.” Second, the alleged conflict

       must be on a rule of law-not facts. Third, the journal entry or opinion of the

       certifying court must clearly set forth that rule of law which the certifying

       court contends in in conflict with the judgment on the same question by

       other district courts of appeals.

Whitelock v. Gilbane Bldg. Co., 66 Ohio St. 3d 594, 596, 613 N.E.2d 1032 (1993).

       {¶ 32} Based on our precedent, we find the issue of constitutionality regarding

potential extensions to appellant’s presumed minimum prison term to be not ripe for

review. We do, however, recognize that our determination of an appealable issue

regarding the constitutionality of Reagan Tokes provisions governing ODRC review

pursuant to R.C. 2967.271(B)-(D) is in conflict with the decisions of the Second and

Twelfth District Courts of Appeals. We therefore sua sponte certify the conflict to the

Supreme Court of Ohio for review and final determination regarding whether the Reagan

Tokes sentencing provisions are ripe for review in a direct appeal.

                                       V. Conclusion

       {¶ 33} For the forgoing reasons, we affirm, in part, the judgments of the Lucas

County Court of Common Pleas of August 30, 2019 and September 12, 2019, and

17.
dismiss, in part, regarding the constitutional challenge to R.C. 2967.271. The parties are

directed to S.Ct. Prac.R. 8.01 for direction on how to proceed with respect to the certified

conflict. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.

                                                                Affirmed, in part, and
                                                                dismissed, in part.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J.                        _______________________________
                                                            JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
                                                _______________________________
Gene A. Zmuda, P.J.                                         JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                                _______________________________
                                                            JUDGE

           This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
      Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
           version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
                    http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

18.