Court Opinion

ID: 4552839
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-03 19:10:39.04775+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:21.845886
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Jordan, 2020-Ohio-3928.]

                           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                              FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                    ADAMS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                 :
                               :
     Plaintiff-Appellee,       :    Case No. 19CA1105
                               :
     vs.                       :
                               :    DECISION AND
LAWRENCE JORDAN,               :    JUDGMENT ENTRY
                               :
     Defendant-Appellant.      :
_____________________________________________________________
                          APPEARANCES:

Brian T. Goldberg, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant.

David Kelley, Adams County Prosecutor, and Kris. D. Blanton, Assistant Adams
County Prosecutor, West Union, Ohio, for Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________

Smith, P.J.

        {¶1} This is an appeal from an Adams County Common Pleas Court

judgment of conviction and sentence. Appellant, Lawrence Jordan, was convicted

and sentenced by the trial court after he entered a guilty plea to one count of rape, a

first-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2). On appeal, Jordan contends

1) that the trial court erred to his prejudice by sentencing him to prison for a term

of incarceration and also issuing a no-contact order; and 2) that the trial court erred

by imposing a ten-year prison sentence that was not supported by the record.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               2

      {¶2} Because the Supreme Court of Ohio has clearly stated that a no-contact

order is a community control sanction and that a trial court is prohibited from

imposing a prison term and a community control sanction for the same offense,

Jordan’s first assignment of error is sustained. Thus, the no-contact-order portion

of his sentence is hereby vacated. However, because we conclude that Jordan has

failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that his prison sentence is

not supported by the record or is otherwise contrary to law, his second assignment

of error is overruled. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is vacated in part

and affirmed in part.

                                       FACTS

      {¶3} On October 22, 2019, Jordan entered into a negotiated guilty plea to

one count of rape, a first-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), in

exchange for the dismissal of two additional felony counts: Count one, rape, a

first-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), which alleged Jordan

engaged in sexual conduct with a minor under the age of thirteen; and Count three,

gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4),

which alleged Jordan had sexual contact with a minor under the age of thirteen.

Jordan pled guilty to Count two of the indictment, which alleged he engaged in

sexual conduct with a minor and did so by purposely compelling the minor to

submit by force or threat of force.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               3

      {¶4} The allegations of the indictment all related to the same minor, the

child of Jordan’s girlfriend, and stemmed from an incident that occurred between

December 22, 2018, and December 24, 2018. Although Jordan initially denied any

wrongdoing when he was first interviewed, he later admitted that while the child

was laying in the bed next to him, he “started rubbing her on her panties” and then

a few minutes after that he began to “rub inside of her panties.” He further

admitted that he intentionally and purposely used his finger to minimally penetrate

her vagina, knowing that she was only eleven years old. He admitted that he used

force by having his arm around the child and holding her in position.

      {¶5} After accepting Jordan’s plea, on November 12, 2019, the trial court

sentenced Jordan to ten years in prison. In addition to the prison term, the trial

court ordered Jordan to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family.

Defense counsel objected to the no-contact order, arguing the court was prohibited

from imposing both a prison term and a no-contact order. The trial court duly

noted the objection and also noted that defense counsel was “legally correct.”

Nevertheless, the trial court overruled the objection and expressed its disagreement

with the idea that a defendant should be able to contact a victim. The trial court

stated “[t]his may be an opportunity to revisit, um, that ideology.” Thereafter,

Jordan filed his timely appeal, setting forth two assignments of error for our

review.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                                  4

                           ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

      I.     THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF MR.
             JORDAN BY SENTENCING HIM TO PRISON FOR A
             TERM OF INCARCERATION, AND ISSUING A NO-
             CONTACT ORDER.

      II.    THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING A TEN-YEAR
             PRISON SENTENCE THAT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY
             THE RECORD.”

                           ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

      {¶6} In his first assignment of error, Jordan contends the trial court erred to

his prejudice by sentencing him to prison for a term of incarceration and also

issuing a no-contact order. Jordan argues that the sentence imposed by the trial

court is contrary to law because it is unlawful for a trial court to impose a both a

prison sentence and a no-contact order for the same offense. Despite the fact that

the trial court conceded below that imposing both a prison term and a no-contact

order for the same offense was prohibited, it still imposed both. On appeal, the

State urges this Court not to follow binding precedent of the Supreme Court of

Ohio on this legal issue, arguing that “the abilities of those incarcerated within the

Ohio Department of Corrections to make contact with the outside world has

significantly increased” since the Supreme Court of Ohio spoke on this issue.

Because Jordan argues that his felony sentence is contrary to law, we begin with a

look at the standard of review that appellate courts must apply when reviewing

felony sentences.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                                 5

                                 Standard of Review

      {¶7} When reviewing felony sentences, appellate courts must apply the

standard of review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v. Graham, 4th Dist.

Adams No. 17CA1046, 2018-Ohio-1277, ¶ 13, citing State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio

St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1, 22-23. Under R.C.

2953.08(G)(2), “[t]he appellate court's standard for review is not whether the

sentencing court abused its discretion.” Instead, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) specifies that

an appellate court may increase, reduce, modify, or vacate and remand a

challenged felony sentence if the court clearly and convincingly finds either:

      (a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's findings

      under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or

      (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the

      Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;

      (b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

Moreover, although R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a) does not mention R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12, the Supreme Court of Ohio has determined that the same standard of

review applies to those statutes. Graham, supra, at ¶ 14, citing Marcum at ¶ 23

(although “some sentences do not require the findings that R.C. 2953.08(G)[2][a]

specifically addresses[,] * * * it is fully consistent for appellate courts to review

those sentences that are imposed solely after consideration of the factors in R.C.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                                6

2929.11 and 2929.12 under a standard that is equally deferential to the sentencing

court”); State v. Butcher, 4th Dist. Athens No. 15CA33, 2017-Ohio-1544, ¶ 84.

Consequently, “an appellate court may vacate or modify any sentence that is not

clearly and convincingly contrary to law only if the appellate court finds by clear

and convincing evidence that the record does not support the sentence.” Marcum

at ¶ 23; Butcher at ¶ 84; see also State v. Jones, 2018-Ohio-498, 105 N.E.3d 702

(8th Dist.) (court of appeals recently resolved intradistrict conflict by applying

Marcum at ¶ 23 to hold that appellate courts can review the record to determine

whether the considerations set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 support a

sentence).

      {¶8} “ ‘Once the trial court considers R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, the burden

is on the defendant to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the record

does not support his sentence.’ ” Graham, supra, at ¶ 15, quoting State v. Akins-

Daniels, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103817, 2016-Ohio-7048, ¶ 9; State v. O'Neill, 3d

Dist. Allen No. 1-09-27, 2009-Ohio-6156, ¶ 9, fn. 1 (“The defendant bears the

burden to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that the sentence is not

supported by the record, that the sentencing statutes' procedure was not followed,

or there was not a sufficient basis for the imposition of a prison term; or that the

sentence is contrary to law.”); State v. Leonhart, 4th Dist. Washington No.

13CA38, 2014-Ohio-5601, ¶ 5 (“because [appellant] failed to establish by clear
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                             7

and convincing evidence either that the record does not support the trial court's

findings or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law, these assignments of

error are meritless.”). “Clear and convincing evidence is ‘that measure or degree

of proof which is more than a mere “preponderance of the evidence,” but not to the

extent of such certainty as is required “beyond a reasonable doubt” in criminal

cases, and which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or

conviction as to the facts sought to be established.’ ” State ex rel. Husted v.

Brunner, 123 Ohio St.3d 288, 2009-Ohio-5327, 915 N.E.2d 1215, ¶ 18, quoting

Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118, paragraph three of the

syllabus (1954).

                                   Legal Analysis

      {¶9} “ ‘[C]urrent felony sentencing statutes, contained primarily in R.C.

2929.11 to 2929.19, require trial courts to impose either a prison term or

community control sanctions on each count.’ ” State v. Anderson, 143 Ohio St.3d

173, 2015-Ohio-2089, 35 N.E.3d 512, ¶ 23, quoting State v. Berry, 2012-Ohio-

4660, 980 N.E.2d 1087, ¶ 21 (3d Dist.) (Other citations omitted.) Further, the

Second District Court of Appeals has recently explained as follows:

      * * * the Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “as a general rule, when

      a prison term and community control are possible sentences for a

      particular felony offense, absent an express exception, the court must
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               8

      impose either a prison term or a community-control sanction or

      sanctions.”

State v. Caserta, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28300, 2019-Ohio-1798, ¶ 6, quoting

State v. Anderson at ¶ 31.

      {¶10} Moreover, as noted in Caserta, “[m]any courts, including the

Supreme Court of Ohio, have recognized that a no-contact order is a community

control sanction.” Caserta at ¶ 7, citing Anderson at ¶ 17, in turn citing State v.

Snyder, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-12-38, 2013-Ohio-2046, ¶ 55; see also State v.

Schwartz, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-12-060, 2013-Ohio-3958, ¶ 9-12; State v.

Marcum, 4th Dist. Hocking Nos. 11CA8 and 11CA10, 2012-Ohio-572, ¶ 11; State

v. Simms, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2009-02-005, 2009-Ohio-5440, ¶ 25; State v.

Loveless, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2002CA16, 2002-Ohio-5380, ¶ 18. For

example, in Anderson the trial court sentenced the defendant to prison terms on

both his rape and kidnapping offenses. Anderson at ¶ 2. The trial court also

ordered that Anderson have no contact with the victim. Id. Upon review,

however, the Supreme Court of Ohio vacated the no-contact order portion of the

sentence, holding that “[b]ecause a court cannot impose a prison term and a

community-control sanction for the same offense, and no exception allows

otherwise, * * * the trial court erred in imposing the no-contact order.” Id. at ¶ 32.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               9

      {¶11} In light of the Anderson holding, the Caserta court found that the

imposition of both a no-contact order and a prison sentence for the same offense

was contrary to law and, as such, the court modified the sentence to vacate the no-

contact order. Caserta at ¶ 9. The Eleventh District Court of Appeals has

interpreted Anderson to require the same result. See State v. Colburn, 11th Dist.

Lake No. 2018-L-071, 2018-Ohio-5180, ¶ 34. Even prior to the release of the

Anderson decision, the Third District Court of Appeals vacated a no-contact order

portion of a sentence based upon its holding that a no-contact order is a form of

community control and, further, that “ ‘community control sanctions and prison

terms are mutually exclusive and cannot be imposed at the same time on the same

count of conviction.’ ” State v. Walton, 3d Dist. Wyandot Nos. 16-12-13, 16-12-

14, 2013-Ohio-2147, ¶ 7-8, quoting State v. Hartman, 3d Dist. Van Wert No. 15-

10-11, 2012-Ohio-874, ¶ 7 and R.C. 2929.19(B).

      {¶12} In light of the foregoing, we conclude the Anderson holding is

dispositive of the issue raised in the present appeal and mandates that we sustain

Appellant's first assignment of error. The trial court was not permitted to impose

both a prison sentence and a no-contact order upon Jordan for a single rape

offense. Thus, the sentence imposed by the trial court was contrary to law.

Although we understand the trial court’s frustration and acknowledge the State’s

concerns with respect to the advances in technology which permit access to victims
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                             10

by those who are incarcerated, we are bound by the precedent set by the Supreme

Court of Ohio on this legal issue. Accordingly, consistent with the holding in State

v. Anderson, supra, we hereby modify the judgment of the trial court by vacating

the no-contact portion of Jordan’s sentence.

                           ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

      {¶13} In his second assignment of error, Jordan contends the trial court

erred by imposing a ten-year prison sentence that was not supported by the record.

Although he concedes that the ten-year prison sentence was within the statutory

range for the offense, he argues it was excessive based upon the record in this case.

The State points to the fact that the sentence imposed was within the statutory

range and argues there is nothing in the record to indicate the trial court neglected

to follow the dictates of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Thus, the State argues Jordan

has failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the ten-year prison

sentence is not supported by the record or is otherwise contrary to law.

       {¶14} As set forth above, we have already determined that the no-contact

order that was imposed upon Jordan was contrary to law. As such, it has been

vacated. The portion of the sentence that now remains is the ten-year prison

sentence, which Appellant claims was excessive. We apply the same standard of

review set forth under our analysis of Jordan’s first assignment of error to the

argument raised under this assignment of error.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               11

      {¶15} During the sentencing hearing, in mitigation of punishment, defense

counsel argued that although Jordan had a prior criminal history, all the charges

were misdemeanors. Counsel also noted that Jordan had been employed by the

same employer for twenty-two years at the time of his arrest. Counsel further

argued that Jordan’s criminal conduct did not constitute the worst form of the

offense because Jordan only minimally penetrated the child’s vagina with his

finger.

      {¶16} However, the record before us indicates that Jordan pled guilty and

was sentenced on a first-degree felony rape charge that involved a minor child

under the age of thirteen which also involved the use of force. The child was the

eleven-year-old daughter of Jordan’s girlfriend. She had crawled into bed with

Jordan and her mother after sleeping most of the night in another room. According

to Jordan’s own admission, when the child laid her head on his shoulder to try to

go back to sleep, Jordan took that opportunity to digitally penetrate the child’s

vagina while using his arm to hold her in place. The encounter lasted several

minutes.

      {¶17} In addition to considering all of the principles and purposes of felony

sentencing as applied to the facts before it, the trial court took into consideration a

pre-sentence investigation report and listened to victim impact statements that were

read in open court. The statements, which were written by the minor child and
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               12

both of her parents, detailed the emotional trauma the child had endured since the

offense occurred. Prior to imposing sentence the judge made several statements

regarding his experience dealing with victims of sexual abuse, commenting that

such abuse results in damage that lasts into adulthood. The trial court

acknowledged that the maximum sentence for the offense was an eleven-year

prison term and stated that because Jordan admitted to the offense, he would not

impose the maximum. The court further noted, however, that Jordan exhibited no

remorse. The trial court was clearly frustrated by the fact that Jordan failed to

mention the harm done to the child when he made his statement at sentencing,

instead only apologizing to his family for putting them through these events.

      {¶18} Although Jordan concedes on appeal that the prison term imposed by

the trial court was within the statutory range, he argues that “the trial court did not

adequately consider the statutory sentencing factors.” Contrary to Jordan’s

argument, however, the trial court expressly stated that it considered the principles

and purposes of felony sentencing contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 and it

went through each sentencing factor on the record. It appears the court placed

great weight on certain factors. For instance, the trial court found that the injury to

the victim was worsened by the physical or mental condition or age of the victim,

noting that the victim was only eleven years old at the time. The court also noted

Jordan had five prior misdemeanor criminal convictions and that he demonstrated
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                                  13

no remorse, “let alone genuine remorse[,]” for the current offense. The court

further noted that Jordan held a position of trust as to the child in that he was “the

trusted boyfriend of the mother.” The court also found that “[t]he relationship with

the victim [] facilitated the offense that fin [sic] was dating the victim’s mother at

the time of the incident.” Finally, the trial court specifically referenced the fact

that the Ohio Risk Assessment System indicated Jordan had a low risk of re-

offending, but it appears the court placed more emphasis on the harm done to the

victim than the risk of recidivism.

      {¶19} Despite the fact that it made several findings during the sentencing

hearing, the trial court had no obligation to make specific findings concerning the

various seriousness and recidivism factors contained in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.

See State v. Pierce, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 18CA4, 2018-Ohio-4458, ¶ 10, citing

State v. Robinson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 13CA18, 2015-Ohio-2635, ¶ 38 (“[T]he

trial court was not required to make findings or give reasons for imposing more

than the minimum sentence.”). Furthermore, this Court has observed as follows

regarding the deferential review that applies to felony sentencing:

      “It is important to understand that the ‘clear and convincing’ standard

      applied in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is not discretionary. In fact, R.C.

      2953.08(G)(2) makes it clear that ‘[t]he appellate court's standard for

      review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion.’ As a
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               14

      practical consideration, this means that appellate courts are prohibited

      from substituting their judgment for that of the trial judge.

      It is also important to understand that the clear and convincing standard

      used by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) is written in the negative. It does not say

      that the trial judge must have clear and convincing evidence to support

      its findings. Instead, it is the court of appeals that must clearly and

      convincingly find that the record does not support the court's findings.

      In other words, the restriction is on the appellate court, not the trial

      judge. This is an extremely deferential standard of review.”

      State v. Pierce at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Venes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

      98682, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453, ¶ 20-21.

      {¶20} In light of the foregoing, we cannot conclude that Jordan has met his

burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not

support his ten-year prison sentence for a first-degree felony rape conviction that

involved the use of force on an eleven-year-old minor. Nor can we conclude that

the prison sentence is contrary to law. Accordingly, this assignment of error is

overruled and the prison sentence imposed by the trial court is affirmed.

                                  CONCLUSION

      {¶21} Having sustained Jordan’s argument that the no-contact portion of his

felony sentence was contrary to law, this Court has modified the judgment of the
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               15

trial court to vacate the no-contact order. However, having found no merit

Jordan’s argument that his ten-year prison sentence was excessive, the remaining

portion of Jordan’s sentence is affirmed, as are all other aspects of the trial court’s

judgment.

             JUDGMENT VACATED IN PART AND AFFIRMED IN PART.
Adams App. No. 19CA1105                                                               16

                               JUDGMENT ENTRY

     It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE VACATED IN PART AND
AFFIRMED IN PART and costs be assessed to Appellant.
      The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
    It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Adams County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
       IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON
BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR
THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days
upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow
Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during
the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it
will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure
of the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the
forty-five day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses
the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of
such dismissal.
       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Hess, A.J., Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
Abele, J., Concurs in Judgment and Opinion with Opinion.
                                        For the Court,
                                        __________________________________
                                        Jason P. Smith
                                        Presiding Judge
                             NOTICE TO COUNSEL
      Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the
date of filing with the clerk.