Court Opinion

ID: 2705059
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 22:31:24.587395+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:10.638707
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Watson, 2014-Ohio-2373.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:               NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                        C.A. No.     26777

        Appellee

        v.                                           APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                     ENTERED IN THE
DENNIS J. WATSON                                     COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                     COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellant                                    CASE No.   CR 11 05 1219(A)

                                 DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: June 4, 2014

        MOORE, Presiding Judge.

        {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant, Dennis Watson, appeals from his convictions in the Summit

County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms in part and reverses in part.

                                                I.

        {¶2}     After his infant daughter sustained multiple injuries and died, Mr. Watson was

indicted on two counts of felony murder, four counts of child endangering, and three counts of

felonious assault. Within two months of his original indictment, Mr. Watson’s first court-

appointed attorney withdrew from representation, and the court appointed new counsel. Mr.

Watson’s new counsel, Thomas DiCaudo, represented Mr. Watson throughout the remainder of

the proceedings. Shortly before trial, however, Attorney DiCaudo broke his leg and was unable

to appear on Mr. Watson’s behalf. Attorney DiCaudo asked his law partner, Reid Yoder, to

consult with Mr. Watson and offer to act as substitute counsel. Attorney Yoder then consulted

with Mr. Watson.
                                                  2

       {¶3}       On the day the matter was set for trial, Attorney Yoder appeared with Mr. Watson

and informed the court that Mr. Watson was prepared to plead guilty to one count of felony

murder and one count of child endangering. The State agreed to dismiss the remaining charges

against Mr. Watson in exchange for his plea. After the court conducted a colloquy on the record,

Mr. Watson pleaded guilty to one count of felony murder and one count of child endangering.

The court sentenced Mr. Watson to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years.

       {¶4}       Mr. Watson now appeals from his convictions and raises two assignments of error

for our review.

                                                 II.

       {¶5}       Before turning to Mr. Watson’s assignments of error, we note that the State’s

brief has drawn our attention to a post-release control error in Mr. Watson’s sentencing entry.

The sentencing entry provides that Mr. Watson “shall be supervised on post-release control by

the Adult Parole Authority for a mandatory period of 5 years after being released from prison.”

(Emphasis omitted.) Because felony murder is a special felony, Mr. Watson was not subject to

post-release control on his felony murder conviction. See State v. Wright, 9th Dist. Summit No.

24610, 2009-Ohio-6081, ¶ 6. He was, however, subject to post-release control on his child

endangering conviction, a second-degree felony. See id. Second-degree felonies that are not

felony sex offenses are only subject to three years of post-release control. R.C. 2967.28(B)(2).

Because Mr. Watson’s sentencing entry imposes five years of post-release control upon him, that

portion of his entry is void. See State v. Lollis, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26607, 2014-Ohio-684, ¶

42. See also McGee v. McGee, 168 Ohio App.3d 512, 2006-Ohio-4417, ¶ 7 (9th Dist.) (“A trial

court has the inherent authority to set aside a void judgment sua sponte.”). The trial court’s

judgment is reversed, in part, on that basis and “the matter is remanded to the trial court so that
                                                 3

the sentencing entry may be corrected.” Lollis at ¶ 42, quoting State v. Brown, 9th Dist. Wayne

No. 11CA0054, 2013-Ohio-2945, ¶ 62.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

       THE COURT ERRED IN NOT REQUIRING TRIAL COUNSEL TO BE
       PRESENT AT THE PLEA/SENTENCING HEARING AND THUS
       ALLOWING A “STAND IN” LAWYER TO APPEAR ON [MR.] WATSON’S
       BEHALF AT SAID HEARING AND IN REVIEW OF THE TOTALITY OF
       THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS CASE, MR. WATSON’S PLEA WAS NOT
       KNOWINGLY,   INTELLIGENTLY, AND      VOLUNTARILY    GIVEN
       PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF CRIM.R. 11(C)(2)[.]

       {¶6}    In his first assignment of error, Mr. Watson argues that his guilty plea must be

vacated because it was not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered. We disagree.

       {¶7}    To be valid, “a plea [must be] knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made.”

State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748, ¶ 25. Crim.R. 11(C) applies to guilty pleas

entered in felony cases.

       Under this rule, the trial judge may not accept a plea of guilty * * * without
       addressing the defendant personally and (1) “[d]etermining that the defendant is
       making the plea voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the charges and
       of the maximum penalty involved, and, if applicable, that the defendant is not
       eligible for probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the
       sentencing hearing,” (2) informing the defendant of the effect of the specific plea
       and that the court may proceed with judgment and sentencing after accepting it,
       and ensuring that the defendant understands these facts, and (3) informing the
       defendant that entering a plea of guilty * * * waives the constitutional rights to a
       jury trial, to confrontation, to compulsory process, and to the requirement of proof
       of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and determining that the defendant
       understands that fact.

Clark at ¶ 27, quoting Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(c). Literal compliance with the rule is preferred, but

not necessarily required. Clark at ¶ 29. “If a trial court fails to literally comply with Crim.R. 11,

reviewing courts must engage in a multitiered analysis to determine whether the trial judge failed

to explain the defendant’s constitutional or nonconstitutional rights and, if there was a failure, to

determine the significance of the failure and the appropriate remedy.” Id. at ¶ 30.
                                                 4

       {¶8}    If a trial judge fails to explain one of the constitutional rights set forth in Crim.R.

11(C)(2)(c), the defendant’s plea is invalid. Id. at ¶ 31. Conversely, a trial court’s failure to

explain a nonconstitutional right triggers a substantial compliance analysis. Id. “Under this

standard, a slight deviation from the text of the rule is permissible; so long as the totality of the

circumstances indicates that ‘the defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea

and the rights he is waiving,’ the plea may be upheld.” Id., quoting State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d

106, 108 (1990). If the court fails to substantially comply with Crim.R. 11 in explaining a

nonconstitutional right, “reviewing courts must determine whether the trial court partially

complied or failed to comply with the rule.” (Emphasis sic.) Clark at ¶ 32. Partial compliance

will result in a vacation of the plea only if the defendant demonstrates prejudice as a result of the

partial compliance. Id. A complete failure to comply with the rule will result in a vacation of

the plea, regardless of whether prejudice has been shown. Id.

       {¶9}    The only particular portion of Crim.R. 11 that Mr. Watson cites on appeal is

Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b), which requires a court to inform a defendant of the effect of his guilty plea.

Crim.R. 11(B)(1) defines the effect of a guilty plea as “a complete admission of the defendant’s

guilt.” Mr. Watson argues that, due to the terminology the court employed, it failed to properly

advise him of the effect of his plea in conformance with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b).

       {¶10} During the plea colloquy, the following exchange took place:

       THE COURT: You understand the allegations contained in the indictment and
       what the State is accusing you of doing?

       [MR. WATSON]: Yes, ma’am.

       THE COURT: And you understand if you plead guilty to these offenses, you are
       making a complete admission that you committed the allegations contained in
       those two counts of the indictment?

       [MR. WATSON]: Yes, ma’am.
                                                 5

       THE COURT: You understand if you plead guilty, the Court may enter a
       judgment of guilt against you and proceed to sentence you in accordance with the
       law?

       [MR. WATSON]: Yes, ma’am.

Mr. Watson argues that the court failed to ensure that he understood the effect of his plea

because the court described his guilty plea as a complete admission of the allegations contained

in his indictment rather than a complete admission of his guilt. Mr. Watson’s argument appears

to be that the court was required to use the precise language contained in Crim.R. 11. Yet, a

defendant’s right to be informed of the effect of his plea is a nonconstitutional right subject to a

substantial compliance standard. Clark at ¶ 31. Even assuming that the foregoing exchange did

not constitute literal compliance with Crim.R. 11, Mr. Watson’s plea was valid so long as the

court substantially complied with the rule in informing him of the effect of his plea. Id. Mr.

Watson has not offered any argument with regard to substantial compliance.             See App.R.

16(A)(7). Consistent with our precedent, we decline to construct an argument on his behalf. See

Cardone v. Cardone, 9th Dist. Summit No. 18349, 1998 WL 224934, *8 (May 6, 1998) (“If an

argument exists that can support this assignment of error, it is not this court’s duty to root it

out.”). Mr. Watson has not shown that his plea was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily

entered due to the trial court’s failure to comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b). See State v. Jones,

9th Dist. Wayne No. 12CA0024, 2012-Ohio-6150, ¶ 30.

       {¶11} Mr. Watson’s primary argument on appeal is that his plea “was not voluntary and

in fact was a result of duress and undue influence” because he had substitute counsel with him

when he entered into it. According to Mr. Watson, he would have been more apt to discuss any

concerns he had about his guilty plea with Attorney DiCaudo because the two had a well-

established attorney-client relationship with one another by the date of trial. Mr. Watson argues
                                                 6

that his lack of rapport with substitute counsel (Attorney Yoder), combined with the fact that he

entered into his plea on the date the matter was set for trial, resulted in his involuntary agreement

to the plea.

        {¶12} There is no evidence in the record that Mr. Watson expressed any concern with

regard to having Attorney Yoder act as substitute counsel. The trial court specifically asked Mr.

Watson at the beginning of the plea hearing whether he “consented to Mr. Yoder representing

[him] * * * in Mr. DiCaudo’s absence” and Mr. Watson replied affirmatively. Attorney Yoder

noted that he had read Mr. Watson’s entire file and had spoken repeatedly with Mr. Watson and

the victim’s mother. He also noted that, even before he had agreed to act as substitute counsel,

he was familiar with the case because his law partner, Attorney DiCaudo, had discussed the case

with him and he had helped Attorney DiCaudo find experts to review the medical records in the

case during discovery. Mr. Watson never gave any indication that he did not want Attorney

Yoder to act as his counsel or that he did not want to proceed with the plea hearing. Yet, he

argues that the record contains evidence of the involuntary nature of his plea in that (1) he did

not express satisfaction with the advice he received from his lawyers when the court asked him

to do so, (2) he raised arguments in his post-conviction filings that evidenced his dissatisfaction

with his attorneys, and (3) he raised arguments in his post-conviction filings that he would have

known were waived, had he understood the effect of a guilty plea.

        {¶13} When the trial court asked Mr. Watson whether he was “[s]atisfied with the

advice and competence of [his] lawyers,” he responded, “I honestly don’t even know how to

answer that.” The trial court then went on to explain, however, that it was asking whether he had

enough time to talk with Attorney Yoder, whether he understood what was happening, and

whether he was in agreement with going forward with his plea. Mr. Watson then responded
                                                7

affirmatively. He never expressed any dissatisfaction with the performance of his attorneys at

the plea hearing. Moreover, in accepting a plea, a trial court is not obligated to ask a defendant

whether he is satisfied with his counsel’s representation. State v. McCraney, 9th Dist. Summit

No. 26161, 2012-Ohio-3146, ¶ 9. “While trial courts may make that inquiry of defendants, it is

not required by Crim.R. 11 * * *.” Id.

       {¶14} As to his post-conviction filings, Mr. Watson has not set forth any authority in

support of the proposition that arguments raised in post-conviction filings can be evidence of a

defendant’s knowledge or willingness to enter into a plea at the plea stage. See App.R. 16(A)(7).

Further, even assuming that Mr. Watson’s post-conviction filings bear some kind of relationship

to the nature of his plea, they are not in the record. As discussed in Mr. Watson’s second

assignment of error, this Court is confined to the record on appeal. See State v. Huffman, 9th

Dist. Lorain No. 09CA009585, 2011-Ohio-397, ¶ 4.

       {¶15} The record reflects that the trial court personally addressed Mr. Watson at the plea

colloquy. Mr. Watson stated that he was 32 years old, had a GED, and had taken a few college

courses. He agreed that no one had forced him to plead guilty or had promised him anything in

exchange for his plea. He further agreed that he understood the allegations against him, that he

was admitting to those allegations, and that his plea would result in the court finding him guilty

and proceeding to sentence him. The court notified Mr. Watson of all of the penalties he faced,

and Mr. Watson stated that he understood each penalty. The court also notified Mr. Watson of

each constitutional right he was foregoing by pleading guilty, and Mr. Watson responded each

time that he understood he was foregoing the pertinent right. At the end of the colloquy, Mr.

Watson pleaded guilty to felony murder and child endangering. The record does not support Mr.
                                                 8

Watson’s assertion that his plea was involuntarily entered or the product of duress or undue

influence. As such, Mr. Watson’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                   ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE LOWER COURT HAD NO JURISDICTION TO RULE ON MR.
       WATSON’S PRO SE MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL,
       MOTION FOR EXPERT ASSISTANCE, AND PETITION TO VACATE OR
       SET ASIDE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION OR SENTENCE FILED ON
       FEBRUARY 22, 2013 BECAUSE AN APPEAL WAS PENDING IN THIS
       COURT OF APPEALS THEREFORE DIVESTING THE TRIAL COURT OF
       ANY FURTHER JURISDICTION[.]

       {¶16} In his second assignment of error, Mr. Watson argues that the trial court erred by

ruling on several motions that he filed after he had already filed his notice of appeal.

Specifically, he argues that the court was divested of jurisdiction to rule on his motion for the

appointment of counsel, his motion for expert assistance, and his petition to vacate or set aside

the court’s judgment. The record on appeal, however, does not contain any of the foregoing

motions. To the extent Mr. Watson filed those motions and the trial court ruled on them, he

never sought to amend his notice of appeal and supplement the record with the court’s rulings.

“As in any appeal, * * * this Court’s review is limited to the record on appeal, and it is the

appellant’s responsibility to ensure that the record is provided.” Huffman, 2011-Ohio-397, at ¶

4. Because Mr. Watson’s second assignment of error is premised upon matters outside of this

Court’s record, it is overruled.

                                                III.

       {¶17} Mr. Watson’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the matter is remanded

for correction of the sentencing entry as it relates to the matter of the imposition of post-release

control.
                                                 9

                                                                        Judgment affirmed in part,
                                                                                 reversed in part,
                                                                             and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed to Appellant.

                                                     CARLA MOORE
                                                     FOR THE COURT

CARR, J.
HENSAL, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

RICHARD P. KUTUCHIEF, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.