Court Opinion

ID: 9890123
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-12 15:09:33.160454+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:03:23.879932
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Casiano, 2023-Ohio-3711.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO,                                      :

                 Plaintiff-Appellant,               :
                                                             No. 112449
                 v.                                 :

JOSE LUGO-CASIANO,                                  :

                 Defendant-Appellee.                :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: VACATED AND REMANDED
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: October 12, 2023

          Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                              Case No. CR-22-670779-A

                                              Appearances:

                 Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
                 Attorney, Kristen Hatcher, Assistant Prosecuting
                 Attorney, for appellant.

                 Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Public Defender,
                 Jonathan Sidney, Assistant Public Defendant, for
                 appellee.

ANITA LASTER MAYS, A.J.:

                   Plaintiff-appellant state of Ohio appeals the sentence imposed on

defendant-appellant Jose Lugo-Casiano (“Lugo-Casiano”) on the ground that the
sentence is contrary to law. We vacate the sentences and remand for resentencing

pursuant to this opinion.

I.   Facts and Procedural History

              On or about May 21, 2020, Lugo-Casiano eluded a traffic stop while

operating a Suzuki ATV accompanied by a female passenger and other bikers. The

participants gathered to ride together in response to a public Instagram post. Lugo-

Casiano was not an organizer.

              On June 6, 2022, Lugo-Casiano was indicted on six counts:

      Count 1:   Failure to comply, a low tier felony of the third degree, in
                 violation of R.C. 2921.331(B).

      Count 2:   Inducing panic, a felony of the fourth degree, in violation of
                 R.C. 2917.31(A)(3).

      Count 3:   Inducing panic, a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of
                 R.C. 2917.31(A)(3).

      Count 4: Aggravated riot, a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of
               R.C. 2917.02(A)(1).

      Count 5: Disrupting public services, a felony of the fourth degree, in
               violation of R.C. 2909.04(A)(2).

      Count 6:   Obstructing official business, a felony of the fifth degree, in
                 violation of R.C. 2921.31(A).

              After discovery and pretrials, on December 13, 2022, Lugo-Casiano

pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 5 as indicted, and the remaining counts were nolled.

              At sentencing, the state advised the court that

      [t]he bikers involved in the activity almost struck a zone car. A
      Cleveland police helicopter tracked the defendant’s movements. He
      drove on the RTA train tracks including crossing the Cuyahoga River
      on the train trestle from about West 65th and Madison until he was
      detained by officers at West 38th and Freas by those RTA tracks. While
      driving on the RTA tracks the RTA services had to be suspended in that
      area for approximately 30 minutes.

(Sentencing Hearing tr. 14.)

              The state also informed the court that Lugo-Casiano had a previous

failure to comply. The defense explained that Lugo-Casiano successfully completed

community control in that case and the failure to comply violation in the prior case

was not associated with conduct similar to that involved in the instant case. Defense

counsel presented a mitigation video of Lugo-Casiano’s family mitigation factors.

Lugo-Casiano apologized to the court and advised he had forfeited his ATV and

would not possess ATVs or bikes.

              Lugo-Casiano was sentenced to a six-month prison term on Count 5,

disrupting public services.1 On Count 1, failure to control, Lugo-Casiano received a

36-month suspended sentence and a Class Two driver’s license suspension until

February 13, 2026, with six points imposed against his license. The $10,000 fine on

Count 1 and $2,500 fine on Count 5 were suspended. Court costs were waived.

              Prior to adjournment, the state inquired, “[w]ith the failure to

comply, isn’t that technically consecutive?” (Sentencing Hearing tr. 21.) The trial

court responded, “If I were to impose prison terms in both it must be served

consecutively but I’m suspending the prison sentence as to the failure to comply

      1 At the time of oral arguments in this case, Lugo-Casiano had completed the six-

month prison term for Count 5.
count.” (Sentencing Hearing tr. 21.) The state replied, “I just wanted to verify that.

Thank you.” (Sentencing Hearing tr. 21.)

               The state appeals.

II. Assignment of Error

               The state presents a single assignment of error:

      The trial court’s imposition of a suspended prison sentence and an
      incorrect driver’s license suspension term constitutes error.

III. Discussion

      A. Standard of Review

               We first address Lugo-Casiano’s contention that the state must

demonstrate plain error for failure to object before the trial court. State v. Tate, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 111141 and 111142, 2022-Ohio-4745, ¶ 20.

               The state’s appeal is authorized by R.C. 2953.08(B)(2) which provides

that the state may appeal as a matter of right a sentence that is contrary to law.

State v. Whittenburg, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109700, 2022-Ohio-803, ¶ 5, citing

State v. Underwood, 124 Ohio St.3d 365, 2010-Ohio-1, 922 N.E.2d 923, ¶ 21.

               “A sentence imposed contrary to law constitutes plain error and we

may review it for plain error.” Id. at ¶ 6, citing State v. Walters, 4th Dist. Adams

No. 15CA1009, 2016-Ohio-5783, ¶ 2 (“[A]lthough appellant did not object to the

imposition of the sentence at the sentencing hearing, the sentence imposed by the

trial court was not authorized by law and contrary to law, and therefore constituted

plain error.”); and State v. Ayers, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-371, 2014-Ohio-276,

¶ 15 (“[W]here the trial court failed to make the requisite findings required by
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) before imposing consecutive sentences, appellant’s sentence was

contrary to law and constituted plain error.”).

               R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) governs this court’s review of a felony sentence.

State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, ¶ 27, citing

State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 21. The

statute provides that an appellate court “may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify

a sentence” “or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter * * * for

resentencing” if it “clearly and convincingly finds” either of the following:

      “(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; [or]

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

Jones at ¶ 12, quoting R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a)-(b).

               The state also adds that Lugo-Casiano’s sentence is voidable and a

direct appeal is the sole means available to the state to correct the trial court’s error.

State v. Harper, 160 Ohio St.3d 480, 2020-Ohio-2913, 159 N.E.3d 248, ¶ 43.

      B. Analysis

      1. Suspended Sentence

               It is axiomatic that a court may “impose sentences only as provided

by statute.” State v. Williams, 148 Ohio St.3d 403, 2016-Ohio-7658, 71 N.E.3d 234,

¶ 22, citing State v. Fischer, 128 Ohio St.3d 92, 2010-Ohio-6238, 942 N.E.2d 332,

¶ 21-22.   This tenet “‘reflects a fundamental understanding of constitutional

democracy’ that the power to define criminal offenses and prescribe punishment is
vested in the legislative branch of government[.]” Id., quoting id. See also State v.

Hitchcock, 157 Ohio St.3d 215, 2019-Ohio-3246, 134 N.E.3d 164, ¶ 18 (“[I]n Ohio,

judges have no inherent power to create sentences, and the only sentence that a trial

judge may impose is that provided for by statute.”).

              “‘[F]elony 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,

¶ 23, 35 N.E.3d 512, quoting State v. Berry, 2012-Ohio-4660, 980 N.E.2d 1087, ¶ 21

(3d Dist.). Under R.C. 2929.19(B), prison terms and community-control sanctions

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

of conviction. Anderson, 2015-Ohio-2089 at ¶ 23-31; Berry, 2012-Ohio-4660 at ¶

21. As a result, current felony sentencing statutes do not allow a sentencing court to

suspend a prison term or make community control a condition of a suspended

prison term. See id.

              Further,

      pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)[4] and 2929.15(B), a trial court sentencing
      an offender to a community control sanction must, at the time of the
      sentencing, notify the offender of the specific prison term that may be
      imposed for a violation of the conditions of the sanction, as a
      prerequisite to imposing a prison term on the offender for a subsequent
      violation.

State v. Duncan, 2016-Ohio-5559, 61 N.E.3d 61, ¶ 19 (12th Dist.), citing State v.

Brooks, 103 Ohio St.3d 134, 2004-Ohio-4746, ¶ 29, 814 N.E.2d 837.
              Lugo-Casiano counters that a community-control sanction can be

imposed concurrently to a prison term on a separate count, citing State v. Paige, 153

Ohio St.3d 214, 2018-Ohio-813, 103 N.E.3d 800, ¶ 1. Lugo-Casiano also adds that

pursuant to R.C. 2925.15(A)(1), there is no minimum period of community control

and the sanction may not exceed five years.

              As this court has recognized,

      the purpose of the community control statute is not to sentence a
      defendant to a specific prison term and then suspend or reserve that
      prison term. [State v. Berry, 2012-Ohio-4660, 980 N.E.2d 1087, ¶ 25
      (3d Dist.)]. Rather, the purpose of the statute is to notify the defendant
      of a specific prison term that may be imposed if the defendant violates
      community control. Brooks, [103 Ohio St.3d 134, 2004-Ohio-4746,
      814 N.E.2d 837,] at ¶ 23 (R.C. 2929.19[(B)(4)] notification puts the
      defendant on notice of the specific prison term he [or she] faces if he
      [or she] violates community control); Berry at ¶ 25. In other words,
      when a defendant is sentenced to community control on a count of
      conviction and notified at that time of the specific prison term he faces
      should he violate his community control, the defendant is only
      sentenced to community control sanctions and is not sentenced to that
      prison term. Id.; Brooks at ¶ 21 (while R.C. 2929.19[(B)(4)] requires
      the judge to state the specific prison term the offender faces in the event
      of a community control violation, that term is not necessarily what the
      offender will receive if a violation occurs).

State v. Lenhart, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108938, 2020-Ohio-2727, ¶ 21, quoting

Duncan, 2016-Ohio-5559, 61 N.E.3d 61, at ¶ 21.

              In this case, the trial court stated on the record and in the sentencing

entry that a 36-month suspended sentence was imposed on the Count 1 failure to

control. Thus, the sentence is contrary to law. We observe that the trial court

indicated at the plea hearing that the trial court “may consider placing you on

community control sanctions, also known as probation, for up to five years instead
of prison.” (Plea Hearing tr. 26.) He was also informed that violation of community

control could result in a more restrictive sentence, including prison. Lugo-Casiano

responded that he understood.

                The suspended sentence is vacated and the case is remanded for

resentencing.

      2. License suspension

                The trial court imposed a Class 2 suspension under R.C. 2921.331(B)

and 2921.331(E). This case was Lugo-Casiano’s second failure to comply. The state

argues that this sentence is also contrary to law.

                R.C. 2921.331 provides in pertinent part:

      (B) No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as willfully to elude or
      flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a
      police officer to bring the person’s motor vehicle to a stop. * * *

      (5) (a) A violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the third
      degree if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds any of the following by
      proof beyond a reasonable doubt: * * *

      (ii) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a
      substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property. * * *

      (E) In addition to any other sanction imposed for a felony violation of
      division (B) of this section, the court shall impose a class two
      suspension from the range specified in division (A)(2) of section
      4510.02 of the Revised Code. In addition to any other sanction
      imposed for a violation of division (A) of this section or a misdemeanor
      violation of division (B) of this section, the court shall impose a class
      five suspension from the range specified in division (A)(5) of section
      4510.02 of the Revised Code. If the offender previously has been found
      guilty of an offense under this section, in addition to any other
      sanction imposed for the offense, the court shall impose a class one
      suspension as described in division (A)(1) of that section. The court
      shall not grant limited driving privileges to the offender on a
      suspension imposed for a felony violation of this section. The court
      may grant limited driving privileges to the offender on a suspension
      imposed for a misdemeanor violation of this section as set forth in
      section 4510.021 of the Revised Code. No judge shall suspend the first
      three years of suspension under a class two suspension of an offender’s
      license, permit, or privilege required by this division on any portion of
      the suspension under a class one suspension of an offender’s license,
      permit, or privilege required by this division.

(Emphasis added.)

               R.C. 4510.02(A)(1) provides:

      (A) when a court elects or is required to suspend the driver’s license,
      commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit,
      probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege of any
      offender from a specified suspension class, for each of the following
      suspension classes, the court shall impose a definite period of
      suspension from the range specified for the suspension class:

      (1) For a class one suspension, a definite period for the life of the person
      subject to the suspension.

               Lugo-Casiano rejoins that the parties mutually agreed on a Class 2

suspension as reflected by the record and that the state invited the error which is not

subject to reversal. “Under the invited error doctrine, a party is not ‘permitted to

take advantage of an error which he himself invited or induced the trial court to

make.’” State v. Robinson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 107598, 2020-Ohio-98, ¶ 10,

quoting State ex rel. Bitter v. Missig, 72 Ohio St.3d 249, 254, 648 N.E.2d 1355

(1995).

               The trial court was informed during the plea hearing that Lugo-

Casiano had a prior failure to comply in 2018 to which he pleaded guilty, a low tier

third-degree felony.
      State:     Your Honor, if I may, would the court advise as to the
                 [current] failure to comply count, the mandatory license
                 suspension, as well as the six points on the license [?]. * * *

      Court:     Yes. * * *

                 You understand that as a condition of the plea, I should say
                 as required by law, I must impose a six points penalty against
                 you, six points against your license, with this conviction?

      Lugo-Casiano: Yes, Your Honor.

      Court:     Remind me please, [Mr. Prosecutor], as to the fine. * * * the
                 range.

      State:     I believe it’s $10,000 maximum fine. And there’s also a class
                 two license suspension in addition to the six points.

      Court:     $10,000 maximum fine, a class two license suspension, six
                 points against license.

(Sentencing Hearing tr. 24-25.)

               At the sentencing hearing, the following discussion occurred:

      Court:       Remind me of the range of Class 2 license suspension.

      State:       Your Honor, I can pull that for you in two seconds.

      Court:       Thank you.

      Counsel:     Your Honor, I believe it is three to life.

      Court:       Thank you.

      State:       And that is correct, your Honor. A definite period of three
                   years to life.

(Sentencing Hearing tr. 16.)

               At the sentencing, the trial court stated, “I am hereby suspending

your Ohio driver’s license for three years as a class 2 suspension. I am also imposing
six points against your Ohio driver’s license.” (Sentencing tr. 20.) The state posed

no objection.

                R.C. 2921.331(E) and 4510.02(A)(1) provide that a Class One driver’s

license suspension is mandatory for the second failure to comply that is a felony.

“[W]hen a sentence fails to include a mandatory provision * * * such a sentence is

‘contrary to law.’” State v. Underwood, 124 Ohio St.3d 365, 2010-Ohio-1, 922

N.E.2d 923, ¶ 21. Further to the invited-error argument, it is observed that defense

counsel also confirmed the three-year suspension was correct.

                We vacate the sentences for the failure to comply and driver’s license

suspension as contrary to law and remand the case to the court for resentencing.

      It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee 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.

___________________________________
ANITA LASTER MAYS, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J., and
MICHAEL JOHN RYAN, J., CONCUR