Court Opinion

ID: 2745122
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-23 16:08:58.223161+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:47:46.619863
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Ray, 2014-Ohio-4689.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                   COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                               JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 101142

                                          STATE OF OHIO
                                                     PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                               vs.

                                           LUCIEN RAY
                                                     DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                            JUDGMENT:
                                             AFFIRMED

                                     Criminal Appeal from the
                              Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                    Case No. CR-11-553541-A

        BEFORE: Boyle, A.J., S. Gallagher, J., and Stewart, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: October 23, 2014
FOR APPELLANT

Lucien Ray, pro se
Inmate No. 622-365
Marion Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 57
Marion, Ohio 43301

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Adam M. Chaloupka
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, A.J.:

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Lucien Ray, appeals from the trial court’s decision

denying his motion to correct his sentence. Finding no merit to the appeal, we affirm.

                               Procedural History and Facts

       {¶2} In November 2011, Ray pleaded guilty to an amended indictment of

aggravated   vehicular    assault,   a   second-degree   felony    in   violation   of   R.C.

2903.08(A)(1)(a), and driving while under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor in

violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(g). One month later, the trial court sentenced Ray to

eight years in prison on the aggravated vehicular assault count and six months on the

driving while under the influence count, ordering that the terms be run concurrently.

       {¶3} Ray never filed a timely direct appeal of his conviction and sentence.         In

October 2013, Ray filed a motion to file a delayed appeal that was denied by this court.

       {¶4} On February 20, 2014, Ray filed a “motion to correct sentence,” arguing

that the “trial court erred by considering the necessary factors set forth in Ohio Revised

Code 2929.11 and 2929.12.” In his motion, Ray argued that the trial court considered

inaccurate and irrelevant information in imposing a maximum sentence of eight years.

Specifically, Ray contended that the presentence investigation report indicated that he

was sentenced to eight years in prison in an underlying case, which the trial judge

mentioned at sentencing, but that he actually only served two years in that case.

       {¶5} The state opposed Ray’s motion, arguing that the trial court lacked

jurisdiction to alter a final judgment and that Ray failed to point to any statutory basis to
modify or vacate the sentence.    The state further argued that Ray’s motion had no merit

as evidenced by the sentencing transcript.

       {¶6} The trial court subsequently denied Ray’s motion. From that order, Ray

appeals, raising the following single assignment of error: “Trial court erred by not

considering the necessary factors set forth in Ohio Revised Code 2929.11 and 2929.12.”

                             Final Judgment and Res Judicata

       {¶7} Ray challenges his sentence on the grounds that the trial court failed to

consider and properly apply R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 when it imposed the sentence.

This is the same argument that Ray relied on in his underlying motion to correct his

sentence.   The state counters, however, that the trial court properly denied Ray’s motion

because the trial court lacked authority to alter the sentence based on the grounds set forth

in Ray’s motion. The state further argues that Ray’s motion is barred by res judicata.

We agree.

       {¶8} The Ohio Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that “‘trial courts lack

authority to reconsider their own valid final judgments in criminal cases.”’         State v.

Raber, 134 Ohio St. 3d 350, 2012-Ohio-5636, 982 N.E.2d 684, ¶ 20, citing State ex rel.

White v. Junkin, 80 Ohio St. 3d 335, 338, 686 N.E.2d 267 (1997). Indeed, “absent

statutory authority, a trial court is generally not empowered to modify a criminal sentence

by reconsidering its own final judgment.”         State v. Carlisle, 131 Ohio St. 3d 127,

2011-Ohio-6553, 961 N.E.2d 671, ¶ 1.          And although trial courts retain continuing

jurisdiction to correct a void sentence and to correct a clerical error in a judgment, neither
of these exceptions apply in this case. See Raber at ¶ 20.        Accordingly, because the

trial court lacked the authority to modify Ray’s sentence based on the grounds asserted in

his motion, the trial court properly denied it. See State v. Petitto, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 99893, 2013-Ohio-5435 (trial court lacked authority to modify defendant’s sentence

from consecutive sentences to concurrent sentences pursuant to defendant’s motion after

the trial court issued its final order).

       {¶9} Moreover, the record reveals that Ray never filed a direct appeal from the

trial court’s final order.   Consequently, Ray’s challenge of his sentence is barred by the

doctrine of res judicata.

       {¶10} 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 that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of due
       process that “was raised or could have been raised” by the defendant at trial,
       which resulted in that judgment of conviction, or on an appeal from that
       judgment.

State v. Jalloh, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-411, 2014-Ohio-2730, ¶ 7, quoting State v.

Perry, 10 Ohio St. 2d 175, 226 N.E.2d 104 (1967). “‘Although res judicata does not

preclude review of a void sentence, the doctrine ‘still applies to other aspects of the

merits of a conviction, including the determination of guilt and the lawful elements of the

ensuing sentence.’” Jalloh at ¶ 7, quoting State v. Fischer, 128 Ohio St. 3d 92,

2010-Ohio-6238, 942 N.E.2d 332, paragraph three of the syllabus. Because Ray is not

challenging his sentencing as being void, nor is there any evidence that his sentence is

void, the doctrine of res judicata applies in this case.   See Petitto (applying res judicata
to defendant’s attack of sentence when defendant failed to raise the argument in a timely

direct appeal).

       {¶11} In this case, Ray failed to file a timely direct appeal after the trial court

issued its final order of conviction and sentence on December 19, 2011.      Ray’s present

claim that the trial court failed to properly consider R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 could have

and should have been raised in a timely filed appeal from the December 19, 2011

judgment. Consequently, the claim is now barred by the doctrine of res judicata.

       {¶12} We are further not persuaded by Ray’s claim that res judicata should not

apply because the trial court never informed him of his right to appeal.     Ray has never

raised this argument in the trial court below, and therefore has not preserved the issue for

appellate review.       See State v. Petkovic, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97548,

2012-Ohio-4050, ¶ 54.

                                R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12

       {¶13} Even if we did not apply the doctrine of res judicata to Ray’s claim, his

argument still has no merit.

       {¶14} The trial court has the full discretion to impose any term of imprisonment

within the statutory range, but it must consider the sentencing purposes in R.C. 2929.11

and the guidelines contained in R.C. 2929.12. State v. Holmes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

99783, 2014-Ohio-603, ¶ 8.

       {¶15} The sentencing transcript attached to his motion to correct his sentence

reveals that the trial court clearly considered R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 prior to imposing
his sentence.    Indeed, although not required, the trial court set forth on the record its

detailed consideration and application of the statutes.   Specifically, the trial court stated

the following:

              The overriding purposes and principles of felony sentencing as set
       forth in 2929.11 of the Revised Code is to protect the public from future
       crimes by you, to punish you and to do so with the least governmental
       resources. The court is required to consider the factors set forth in
       2929.12 of the Revised Code as it relates to recidivism, meaning the
       likelihood of you re-offending and also the seriousness of your conduct.

                With respect to whether you were likely or unlikely to
                      re-offend, this court finds that the 2929.12
                      factors governing recidivism weigh in favor of
                      you being a risk, a high risk of re-offending, as
                      the Ohio risk assessment score that was done is
                      part of the presentence report.

              Your record goes back to 19 — well, your first arrest for drugs was
       in 1986. You were not charged. I won’t consider something that is not a
       conviction. The same thing in 1989, possession of cocaine. You were
       released without being formally charged. In 1990, you’re arrested for drug
       abuse. You were convicted. You were sent to Lorain Correctional after
       having violated probation. That was in case number 250953.

              In case 252642, again a drug abuse case, you were placed on
       probation. You violated. You picked up case number 263581, that being
       a drug trafficking case, and you were sentenced to prison. Then in another
       drug abuse case, 256993, you were placed on probation.

               These cases were — we’re now going to the ‘90s. Drug trafficking,
       1998, 368082, you entered a guilty plea to a felony of the 2nd degree. You
       were sent to prison for 8 years. I don’t know the disposition of the 1998
       domestic violence. In 2003, in case number 446034, you were charged
       with drug trafficking. That case was dismissed over the objection of the
       state of Ohio and you were discharged.

              In 2006, you were convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent
       to distribute cocaine and marijuana. This would have been the federal
       case for which you are currently on federal supervised release. On
      September 25, 2010, you were charged with DUI. It was amended to
      physical control. Convicted. Then you pick up this case.

             The statutory sentencing factors that indicate, pursuant to 2929.12, a
      likelihood of you re-offending include your record of convictions, your
      record of probation violations and the fact that you were on supervised
      release at the time of committing this offense. Also, there’s a clear pattern
      of drug and alcohol abuse which you have not acknowledged.

              As a matter of fact, to the contrary, you’ve said you haven’t —
      including this presentence report, you said you haven’t had a drink in 21
      years, despite the facts in this case. Statutorily, that renders you more
      likely to re-offend. You’ve expressed remorse today. I will note that you
      didn’t when you were interviewed by the Probation Department.

              With respect to factors, pursuant to 2929.12, that would indicate an
      unlikelihood of you re-offending, if an offender shows remorse for an
      offense and it is genuine, that may mitigate in favor of recidivism being
      unlikely. That’s the only thing that I can note, statutorily speaking. I do
      find — and I make this finding on the record — that the recidivism factors
      set forth by statute clearly indicate that you are a high risk of re-offending.
              Moving on to the seriousness factors, as set forth in 2929.12, as well,
      this court makes the finding that indeed this conduct was as serious as it
      gets. I believe that the state is correct: This does represent the worst form
      of the offense. Thank God that Ms. Reilly is here to talk about her
      injuries. Because in this type of impact, certainly she could have been
      killed because of your conduct. You should not have been behind the
      wheel of a car.

             This court finds that anything other than the maximum term of

      incarceration would demean the seriousness of the offense.           I believe

      statutorily that there is a clear finding that the recidivism and seriousness

      factors way in favor of you being highly likely to re-offend and that this

      conduct is as serious as it gets in this type of an offense.

      {¶16} As for Ray’s claim that the trial court erroneously stated that he was

sentenced to eight years in prison on a previous separate case (Cuyahoga C.P. No.
CR-98-368082), we note that the trial court was simply referencing what the presentence

investigation report stated. Although Ray’s eight-year sentence in Cuyahoga C.P. No.

CR-98-368092 was vacated and modified to two years, the record does not support Ray’s

claim that the trial court based his underlying sentence in this case on the fact that he

served eight years in the other case.    To the contrary, the trial court focused on Ray’s

entire lengthy criminal history and his pattern of re-offending as evidenced by his

numerous criminal cases. Accordingly, we find no merit to Ray’s claim that the trial

court failed to consider the necessary factors prior to sentencing.

       {¶17} Ray’s single assignment of error has no merit.

       {¶18} Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant the costs herein taxed.

       The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common

pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

MARY J. BOYLE, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., and
MELODY J. STEWART, J., CONCUR