Court Opinion

ID: 4282997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-08 19:45:43.930096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:57.465764
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Jones, 2018-Ohio-2219.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      GREENE COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                    :
                                                  :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                       :   Appellate Case No. 2017-CA-27
                                                  :
 v.                                               :   Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-299
                                                  :
 MATTHEW L. JONES                                 :   (Criminal Appeal from
                                                  :   Common Pleas Court)
         Defendant-Appellant                      :
                                                  :

                                             ...........

                                            OPINION

                              Rendered on the 8th day of June, 2018.

                                             ...........

NATHANIEL R. LUKEN, Atty. Reg. No. 0087864, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Greene
County Prosecutor’s Office, 61 Greene Street, Xenia, Ohio 45385
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

MARSHALL G. LACHMAN, Atty. Reg. No. 0076791, 75 North Pioneer Boulevard,
Springboro, Ohio 45066
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                            .............
                                                                                           -2-

TUCKER, J.

         {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Matthew Jones, was, on June 10, 2016, indicted on one

count of discharging a firearm at or into a habitation in violation of R.C. 2923.161(A)(1),

a felony of the second degree, with an attached three year firearm specification under

R.C. 2941.145, and one count of having weapons under disability in violation of R.C.

2923.13(A)(3), a felony of the third degree. Jones was appointed counsel, and the case

was scheduled for a jury trial on August 29, 2016.               Jones, prior to the trial’s

commencement, orally requested the appointment of new counsel. The trial court, as

reflected by an entry and order filed on August 29, 2016, granted Jones’ request for

alternate counsel. Jones, also on August 29, executed a waiver of his statutory speedy

trial rights, and the August 29 trial date was vacated.

         {¶ 2} New trial counsel (hereinafter trial counsel) was appointed with trial counsel,

on October 11, 2016, filing a motion seeking the suppression of two out-of-court

identifications. The trial court conducted a hearing on the motion on January 4, 2017,

with the trial court, on January 13, 2017, issuing a written decision overruling the

suppression motion.

         {¶ 3} A jury trial was scheduled to begin on January 23, 2017. However, Jones,

on January 20, entered a negotiated plea. Jones pleaded guilty to both indicted counts

with the State dismissing the firearm specification. It was further agreed that Jones

would receive a concurrent1 prison term with the State recommending a six year prison

1
    The court and the parties used the terms “merger for purposes of sentencing” and a
                                                                                            -3-

term. Jones, it is noted, was, based upon a previous second degree felony conviction,

required, based upon his plea to a second degree felony, to serve a prison term. Jones,

given this, was seeking a minimum two year prison term. Sentencing, at Jones’ request,

was scheduled on January 24, with this quick turnaround preventing the completion of a

Presentence Investigation Report (PSI).

       {¶ 4} The trial court, after each attorney spoke and Jones was provided an

allocution opportunity, announced a five year prison term on the improper discharge count

and a two year prison term on the weapons under disability count, to be served, as

agreed, concurrently. Jones, after the sentence had been pronounced, stated that he

“wasn’t going to take five or six years[,]” and that trial counsel “told [him] that [he] wasn’t

going to get five or six years.” The trial court, at this juncture, completed the sentencing

hearing and then informed Jones that “another attorney [will] come and talk to [you] about

[your] status and whether [you want to file] a motion to vacate the plea.”

“concurrent sentence” interchangeably as it relates to the disposition of the having
weapons while under disability count. A defendant may be found guilty at trial or enter
guilty pleas to allied offenses of similar import, but he may be sentenced, and, thus,
convicted, only on one of the offenses, with it being the State’s choice regarding the
offense upon which a sentence is imposed. In this circumstance, the offense upon which
no sentence is imposed is said to merge into the second offense. The net effect is that
a defendant is convicted of one of the allied offenses of similar import. This being said,
it is apparent in this case that the term “merger for purposes of sentencing” was used to
convey the agreement that Jones would receive a concurrent sentence on the having
weapons while under disability count. The parties, as noted, used the terms “merger for
sentencing purposes” and a “concurrent sentence” interchangeably, there was not a
discussion suggesting the offenses are allied offenses of similar import, and there is not
a valid argument they are of similar import. Further, the State, at sentencing, was not
asked to choose the offense upon which Jones would be sentenced, the trial court orally
imposed a concurrent sentence, and the sentencing entry imposes a concurrent
sentence. In short, there is no arguably meritorious appellate argument that the parties
agreed the two offenses would be treated as allied offenses of similar import or that Jones’
sentence violates such an agreement.
                                                                                            -4-

       {¶ 5} New counsel was appointed to represent Jones regarding his desire to

vacate his guilty plea. New counsel did not file a written motion seeking vacation of the

plea with the trial court, it seems, accepting Jones’ protest at the sentencing as an oral

Crim.R. 32.1 motion to vacate the guilty plea.

       {¶ 6} The trial court, on April 5, 2017, conducted a hearing regarding the vacation

motion. Jones testified and the State presented the testimony of Jones’ trial counsel.

Jones’ testimony reiterated and expanded upon his contention that he informed trial

counsel that if his sentence was going to be five or six years, he preferred a jury trial, that

trial counsel “specifically [informed me the judge] wasn’t going to give me five or six years

– specifically told me that[,]” and that he was “manipulated” into accepting the negotiated

plea agreement. Jones, when confronted with his negative response to the Crim.R. 11

question concerning whether he had been promised anything in addition to the plea

agreement placed on the record, testified he so responded “because I wasn’t supposed

to say anything during that time.” Jones further explained his silence by testifying that

trial counsel indicated that the trial judge and he were college classmates who have

known each other for over thirty years and that the trial judge would not lie to him. Jones

testified that he, based upon the relationship between trial counsel and the judge,

concluded that the trial judge, despite the Crim.R. 11 discussion to the contrary, had

informed trial counsel that the prison term would be less than five years.

       {¶ 7} Trial counsel’s testimony regarding the plea discussions he had with Jones

sets forth a significantly different version of events. Trial counsel testified that he did not

inform Jones that his prison term would be less than five years. Further, trial counsel,

when asked to respond to Jones’ testimony concerning his relationship with the trial
                                                                                            -5-

judge, indicated that in response to Jones’ inquiry he truthfully informed Jones that the

trial judge and he had been law school classmates, but that he “was also truthful…

regard[ing]… the fact that there were no assurances made as to what sentence he would

get.” Trial counsel did testify he informed Jones that, “given his conversations with the

Court and [the assistant prosecuting attorney] [he] did not feel it likely he would get more

than five years…” Trial counsel also testified that he “repeatedly” informed Jones that

“the Judge is not going to tell us in advance what he’s going to do with your sentence. I

know you want me to tell you what he’s going to do but I can’t.” Trial counsel further

testified that Jones wanted “me to assure him he wasn’t going to get five or six years…

[but] I made it very clear that I could not assure him of that; however [I informed him] I felt

that [the plea agreement] was the best way to resolve the case based upon what I knew

about the case.” Jones, according to trial counsel’s testimony, “ultimately agreed” with

this assessment and entered the plea as discussed.

       {¶ 8} Trial counsel, turning to the sentencing hearing, testified that before the

hearing Jones was “uneasy and he was agitated[,]” indicating he thought he was going to

be sentenced to five years. Jones, however, did not inform trial counsel that he wanted

to withdraw his guilty plea, and the record, as already noted, reflects that Jones did not

express a desire to withdraw his plea until the five year prison sentence was pronounced.

       {¶ 9} The trial court, on April 5, 2017, filed a written decision overruling Jones’

motion. The trial court stated, in pertinent part, “there is absolutely no evidence to

suggest [that Jones] has met his burden of manifest injustice. Indeed, the transcript of

the plea proceeding is replete (sic) that [Jones] entered his plea knowingly, intelligently,

and voluntarily.” This appeal followed.
                                                                                            -6-

       {¶ 10} We appointed appellate counsel who, on November 13, 2017, filed a brief

under the authority of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493

(1967) stating “[a]fter diligent review… counsel has discovered no non-frivolous issues

for appeal.” Appellate counsel, consistent with his duties under Anders, identified and

reviewed four potential assignments of error as follows: (1) the trial court did not comply

with Crim.R.11 when accepting Jones’ guilty plea; (2) Jones’ sentence is contrary to law;

(3) the trial court erred by overruling Jones’ motion to withdraw his guilty pleas; and (4)

trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel. Appellate counsel, as part of the

Anders brief and by a separately filed motion, requested permission to withdraw as Jones’

counsel.

       {¶ 11} We, on November 22, 2017, informed Jones of the Anders filing and that

within sixty days of November 22 he had the right to file a pro se brief. Jones did not file

a brief.

       {¶ 12} Appellate counsel’s first potential assignment of error is as follows:

              THE     TRIAL    COURT       FAILED     TO    COMPLY       WITH     THE

              REQUIREMENTS OF CRIMINAL RULE 11 IN ACCEPTING

              [JONES’] GUILTY PLEA.

       {¶ 13} Appellate counsel’s focus is whether there is a non-frivolous argument that

the trial court’s failure to advise Jones that by pleading guilty he forfeited his right to

appeal any pretrial rulings (including the motion to suppress) made the plea less than

knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.      Appellate counsel correctly notes that Crim.R.

11(C)(2)(b) requires the trial court to inform the defendant of the effect of his plea, but the

defendant, as part of this discussion, does not have to be informed that by pleading guilty
                                                                                          -7-

he is waiving his right to appeal any pretrial rulings. State v. Portis, 2d Dist. Clark No.

2013-CA-53, 2014-Ohio-3641, ¶ 12; State v. Satterwhite, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

23142, 2009-Ohio-6593. The rationale for this conclusion is that “[t]he information that

a guilty plea is a complete admission of guilt, along with the other information required by

Crim.R. 11, assures that defendants enter pleas with knowledge of the rights they would

forego and creates a record by which appellate courts can determine whether pleas are

entered voluntarily.” State v. Griggs, 103 Ohio St.3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, 814 N.E.2d

51, ¶ 11, citing State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 107, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990); State v.

Ballard, 66 Ohio St.2d 473, 479-480, 423 N.E.2d 115 (1981).

       {¶ 14} However, if the trial court says anything that could create confusion

concerning the defendant’s appellate rights or if the defendant indicates such confusion,

this, could, of course, undermine the Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b) effect of plea discussion and

render the plea less than voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Portis at ¶ 12.

       {¶ 15} The trial court, turning to this case, informed Jones that a guilty plea acted

as a complete admission of the conduct to which he was entering a plea with Jones

indicating he understood this. Further, the trial court made no statements that could

have caused Jones to be confused about his appellate rights, and Jones said nothing that

indicated such confusion.     Additionally, the trial court otherwise fully complied with

Crim.R. 11. We, accordingly, conclude there is not a potentially meritorious appellate

argument that the trial court’s failure to inform Jones that his guilty plea acted to waive

his right to appeal any pretrial rulings violated Crim.R. 11 or otherwise interfered with the

knowing, voluntary, and intelligent nature of the plea. We further conclude that there is

not a potentially worthy appellate argument that the trial court failed in any other way to
                                                                                            -8-

comply with Crim.R. 11 or that Jones’ plea was not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently

entered into.

       {¶ 16} Appellate counsel’s second potential assignment of error is as follows:

       THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE TRIAL COURT WAS CONTRARY TO

       LAW OR CONSTITUTED AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

       {¶ 17} We initially note, contrary to the suggestion contained in the potential

assignment of error, that we do not review felony sentences under an abuse of discretion

standard. Instead, as explained in State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-

1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, an appellate court, given the plain language of R.C. 2953.08(G)(2),

“may vacate or modify a felony 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.” Marcum at ¶ 1. “This is a very

deferential standard of review, as the question is not whether the trial court had clear and

convincing evidence to support its findings, but rather, whether we clearly and

convincingly find the record fails to support the trial court’s findings.” State v. Cochran,

2d Dist. Clark No. 2016-CA-33, 2017-Ohio-217, ¶ 7. (Citations omitted.)

       {¶ 18} A trial court may impose any sentence which is within the authorized

statutory range, and the trial court, in so doing, is not required to state its findings or set

forth its reasoning for imposing a particular sentence.            State v. Scott, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 27445, 2017-Ohio-9316, ¶ 44, citing State v. King, 2013-Ohio-2021, 992

N.E.2d 491 (2d Dist.). This being said, the trial court “must consider the statutory policies

that apply…, including those set out in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12.” Scott at ¶ 44.

(Citations omitted.)
                                                                                       -9-

      {¶ 19} Turning to the pending case, Jones’ five year prison term is within the

statutory range, and there is no non-frivolous argument that the sentence is otherwise

contrary to law.   We also conclude there is not a potentially meritorious appellate

argument that we could find by clear and convincing evidence that the trial court did not

consider R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 when imposing Jones’ sentence. The trial

court stated such consideration, and there is simply nothing about this mid-range,

mandatory sentence that would suggest otherwise.

      {¶ 20} Appellate counsel’s third suggested error is the following:

      THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING [JONES’] MOTION TO

      VACATE HIS GUILTY PLEA.

      {¶ 21} We first note there is not a potentially worthy argument that the trial court

erred by using the manifest injustice standard when evaluating whether Jones’ Crim.R.

32.1 motion should be granted. Crim.R. 32.1 provides that a motion to withdraw a guilty

plea “may be made only before sentence is imposed, but to correct manifest injustice the

court after sentence may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant

to withdraw his or her plea.” We have consistently held that the manifest injustice

standard is triggered when the defendant, as here, voices a desire to withdraw a guilty

plea upon learning of the sentence, whether this knowledge is gained just before or during

the sentencing hearing. State v. Haney, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25344, 2013-Ohio-

1924; State v. Sylvester, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22289, 2008-Ohio-2901; State v.

Fugate, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21574, 2007-Ohio-26. As we stated in Fugate, “[t]he

manifest injustice standard is aimed at cases where a defendant pleads guilty without

knowing what his sentence will be, finds out that his sentence is worse than he had hoped
                                                                                         -10-

and expected, and then seeks to vacate his plea.” Id. at ¶ 10. We similarly stated in

State v. Simpson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24266, 2011-Ohio-6181 that “a defendant

cannot test the sentencing waters and then move to vacate his plea just before sentencing

if he receives an unpleasant surprise.” Id. at ¶ 8. (Citation omitted.)

       {¶ 22} We further conclude there is not a potentially meritorious argument that the

trial court, under the manifest injustice standard, erred by overruling Jones’ plea vacation

motion. We first note that a trial court’s Crim.R. 32.1 decision is reviewed under the

deferential abuse of discretion standard. State v. Mogle, 2d Dist. Darke Nos. 2013-CA-

4, 2013-CA-5, 2013-Ohio-5342. (Citations omitted.)

       {¶ 23} We, in analogous circumstances, have had the opportunity to review

whether a manifest injustice has occurred. In State v. McComb, 2d Dist. Montgomery

Nos. 22570, 22571, 2008-Ohio-295, the Defendant, Davion McComb, upon being

informed that he was receiving a two year prison term instead of the expected, at least

from his perspective, community control sanctions (CCS) sentence, sought to withdraw

his guilty plea. McComb asserted that his attorney informed him that at worst he would

be sentenced to CCS with a potential CCS condition being completion of the MonDay

program. McComb’s counsel denied such a promise, but did indicate that he informed

McComb that CCS was probable.

       {¶ 24} We stated the following concerning a manifest injustice evaluation when a

defendant, following interaction with counsel, arrives at a mistaken conclusion concerning

the severity of his sentence:

       The reason for the belief is key. If defense counsel caused the belief, what

       counsel exactly said must be examined. A manifest injustice does not
                                                                                         -11-

       necessarily arise merely because counsel is wrong about the sentence that

       is actually imposed. Only if counsel promised the defendant that a guilty

       plea will result in a lower sentence than is actually imposed would a

       manifest injustice potentially result. (Citation omitted.) If counsel simply

       made a prediction, there would be no manifest injustice. (Citation omitted.)

       In other words, counsel’s erroneous advice and incorrect speculation

       regarding the sentence that is likely to be imposed potentially results in a

       manifest injustice only if counsel said that a guilty plea will result in a

       particular sentence, but not if counsel said that it probably will result.

       (Emphasis in original.)

McComb at ¶ 9.

       {¶ 25} We, based upon the circumstances giving rise to McComb’s mistaken

sentencing belief, concluded that McComb did not establish a manifest injustice justifying

vacation of his guilty plea. We explained that McComb’s attorney did not promise a

lesser sentence, but, instead, reasonably “speculated” that he would receive a lesser

sentence, but that McComb’s reliance on his counsel’s speculation did not constitute

manifest injustice. Id. at ¶ 17.

       {¶ 26} In State v. Mogle, 2013-Ohio-5342, we came to a different manifest injustice

conclusion.   Mogle’s counsel, based upon a misunderstanding concerning the trial

court’s sentencing intention, informed Mogle that he would receive a CCS sentence. The

trial court, instead, imposed a prison term. Additionally, the trial court did not ask Mogle

during the Rule 11 discussion if he had received any promises other than those contained

in the plea form. And, finally, Mogle wrote a letter which he brought to the sentencing
                                                                                        -12-

hearing wherein he attempted to verify the purported CCS assurance. The trial court

overruled the motion.

       {¶ 27} We noted, speaking generally, that the reason for a defendant’s mistaken

sentencing belief is the critical inquiry stating that “[i]f the Defense Attorney told the

Defendant what he speculated the sentence would be, and the attorney was mistaken,

there is no manifest injustice. If the Defense Attorney promised the Defendant what the

sentence would be and he is sentenced to more, manifest injustice is potentially present.”

Id. at ¶ 26, citing State v. McComb.

       {¶ 28} We concluded, with the above framework in mind, that the trial court’s denial

of the vacation motion was an abuse of discretion stating as follows:

       Although the plea form states no other promises were made, the weight of

       the evidence heavily favors Mogle’s motion.           Mogle proved by a

       preponderance of the evidence that he relied on a promise for a community

       control sentence and demonstrated manifest injustice…

Mogle at ¶ 27.

       {¶ 29} The trial court, turning back to the pending case, accepted trial counsel’s

testimony regarding the plea discussions between Jones and trial counsel.             Trial

counsel, based upon his testimony, did not promise Jones that he would receive a certain

sentence, and counsel’s ruminations regarding the trial court’s probable sentence proved

accurate.   Under these circumstances, there is not, as already stated, a potentially

meritorious argument that the trial court erred by overruling Jones' Crim.R. 32.1 motion

to vacate his guilty plea.

       {¶ 30} Appellate counsel’s final possible assignment of error is as follows:
                                                                                          -13-

       [JONES] WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED RIGHT

       TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

       {¶ 31} The Anders brief notes that “the record contains little to raise any issue of

ineffective assistance of counsel[,]” but the brief does posit that a potential non-frivolous

argument is that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance because Jones, at least

arguably, pleaded guilty without realizing that his plea eliminated his ability to appeal

pretrial rulings. This is the repackaging of the suggested first assignment of error, and,

as already discussed, such an argument, on this record, would be frivolous.

       {¶ 32} Appellate counsel finally suggests that trial counsel’s sentencing

representations could constitute ineffective assistance.       This is the repackaging of

appellate counsel’s third suggested assignment of error, and, as already discussed, such

an argument, on this record, would be frivolous.

       {¶ 33} In short, there is nothing on this record that would give rise to a potentially

meritorious argument that trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel.

       {¶ 34} We, in addition to the discussed issues, have, consistent with our duty under

Anders, reviewed the entire record with this review including the Anders brief, the plea

and sentencing transcripts, and the sentencing entry. This review has not revealed any

arguably meritorious appellate issues.

       {¶ 35} We have found no non-frivolous issues for appellate review. Counsel’s

motion to withdraw is granted. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

                                      .............
                                      -14-

WELBAUM, P.J. and HALL, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Nathaniel R. Luken
Marshall G. Lachman
Matthew L. Jones
Hon. Michael A. Buckwalter