Court Opinion

ID: 3182582
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-03 21:28:50.703357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:20.471029
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Nunez, 2016-Ohio-812.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                   EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                                  JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                          No. 102946

                                           STATE OF OHIO

                                                      PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                vs.

                                           VICTOR NUNEZ

                                                      DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                            JUDGMENT:
                                             AFFIRMED

                                      Criminal Appeal from the
                               Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                     Case No. CR-09-522573-A

        BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., Kilbane, P.J., and McCormack, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 3, 2016
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Robert L. Tobik
Cuyahoga County Public Defender
By: John T. Martin
Assistant Public Defender
Courthouse Square, Suite 200
310 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: T. Allan Regas
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:

       {¶1}    Appellant Victor Nunez appeals the sentence imposed upon his resentencing.

Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

       {¶2} In 2009, Nunez was found guilty of three counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping,

one count of aggravated burglary, and one count of intimidation. Nunez was sentenced to a total

aggregate prison term of 22 years on these counts. On appeal, this court found that Nunez was

improperly convicted and sentenced for allied offenses with regard to counts of rape and

kidnapping. State v. Nunez, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93971, 2010-Ohio-5589, ¶ 40-41 (“Nunez

I”). As a result, the case was remanded for a new sentencing hearing. Id. at ¶ 42.

       {¶3} At the new sentencing hearing, the state elected to have the kidnapping under Count

10 merge into the rape under Count 9, and the kidnapping under Count 13 merge into the rape

under Count 12. Following merger of the allied offenses, the trial court sentenced appellant on

the remaining counts. Nunez’s total aggregate prison term remained 22 years. With regard to

running the sentences concurrently or consecutively, the trial court stated as follows:

              As it relates on count seven, the aggravated burglary, a felony of the first
       degree, the Court is sentencing the defendant to four years on that count.

               On count eight, the rape, a felony of the first degree, the Court is
       sentencing the defendant to eight years, and that will be consecutive to count
       seven.
               On count nine, also rape, a felony of the first degree, as well the merger of
       count 10, the kidnapping, but the election is to count nine, the Court will sentence
       the defendant to eight years, and that will be consecutive to count seven and count
       eight.

              In addition, on count 11, the intimidation, a felony of the third degree, the
       Court sentences the defendant to two years, and that will be consecutive to counts
       seven and nine.

              On count 12, the rape, a felony of the first degree, the Court will sentence
       the defendant to eight years, and that will be concurrent with all of the remaining
       counts the Court has sentenced the defendant on. As well, I’ll note that the
       kidnapping was merged with that count as well.

       ***

               Your total aggregate sentence again is 22 years, which is the identical

       sentence that I gave to you at your sentencing hearing.

(Emphasis added.) The trial court also imposed five years of mandatory postrelease control and

classified appellant as a Tier III sex offender.

       {¶4} Nunez was granted a writ of habeas corpus in federal court, which instructed that

Nunez be granted leave to take a delayed appeal. Consistent therewith, this court granted

Nunez’s motion for leave to file a delayed appeal.

       {¶5} Nunez raised two assignments of error in his appellate brief and an additional two

assignments of error in his supplemental brief that was filed with leave of court. Although the

supplemental assignments of error are represented as supplemental to the original assignments of

error, we shall address each assignment of error that has been raised in this appeal.

       {¶6} Under his first assignment of error, Nunez argues that the trial court erred in

imposing consecutive sentences without making the required findings as required under R.C.

2929.14(C). Nunez relies on the current version of the statute as amended by Am.Sub.H.B. 86,

effective September 30, 2011. This version of the statute is simply not applicable in this case.

       {¶7} The resentencing hearing occurred on December 28, 2010, prior to the effective date

of H.B. 86. The pre-H.B. 86 statutory requirement under R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) for trial courts to

make specific factual findings prior to imposing consecutive sentences was rendered

unconstitutional and severed from the statute in State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1,

2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, ¶ 99. In Foster, the court further stated, “trial courts have full
discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no longer required to

make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than the

minimum sentences.” Id. at ¶ 100.

         {¶8} The Ohio Supreme Court also held that the United States Supreme Court in Oregon

v. Ice, 555 U.S. 160, 129 S.Ct. 711, 172 L.Ed.2d 517 (2009), did not revive the former

consecutive-sentencing statutory provisions that were held unconstitutional in Foster and that

“the consecutive-sentencing statutes severed by Foster * * * remain null and of no effect absent

an affirmative act of the General Assembly.”            State v. Hodge, 128 Ohio St.3d 1,

2010-Ohio-6320, 941 N.E.2d 768, ¶ 36-37. In response, the General Assembly enacted H.B. 86,

effective September 28, 2012, which revived the requirement for a trial court to make specific

findings on the record, as set forth in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), when imposing consecutive sentences.

 See State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 20-23.

         {¶9} In this case, Nunez’s resentencing hearing occurred on December 28, 2010, prior to

the effective date of H.B. 86. At that time, trial judges were not mandated to make statutory

findings as a prerequisite to imposing consecutive sentences. See Foster at ¶ 99; Hodge at ¶

36-37.    The trial court therefore was not required to make the findings contained in R.C.

2929.14(C) before imposing consecutive sentences. See State v. Johnson, 2015-Ohio-96, 27

N.E.3d 9, ¶ 63 (8th Dist.); State v. Calliens, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97034, 2012-Ohio-703, ¶ 28

(recognizing that the provisions of H.B. 86 are not applicable to individuals who were sentenced

prior to the September 30, 2011 effective date). The first assignment of error is overruled.

         {¶10} Under his second assignment of error, Nunez claims that the sentence imposed on

Count 11 must run concurrently with that imposed on Count 8 and that the trial court erred in
imposing a sentence via its journal entry that had not been pronounced in open court. We find

no merit to his argument.

       {¶11} As an initial matter, we recognize that Nunez is challenging the consecutive nature

of a sentence imposed upon resentencing. In Ohio, appellate courts lack authority to vacate an

entire sentence when only a portion of that sentence is subject to being remanded. State v.

Huber, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98206, 2012-Ohio-6139, ¶ 17, citing State v. Wilson, 129 Ohio

St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 15. Moreover, a court does not have authority to

review an entire multiple-offense sentence when only a portion of that sentence was found to be

in error. Wilson at ¶ 15. Thus, following a remand based only on an allied-offenses sentencing

error, the hearing on remand is limited to the issue found to be in error on appeal. See id. The

determination of guilt remains the law of the case, and the scope of a new sentencing hearing is

limited to the state’s selection of which offenses it wants to pursue for sentencing, merger of the

offenses accordingly, and the court’s imposition of a sentence that is appropriate for the

remaining offense or offenses. Id. at ¶ 18.

       {¶12} Nevertheless, where a matter is remanded for the merger of allied offenses, the

consecutive nature of the sentence, if so imposed, is no longer intact because it is only after the

judge has imposed a separate prison term for each offense that the judge may consider whether

the offender shall serve those terms concurrently or consecutively. Huber at ¶ 24, citing State v.

Saxon, 109 Ohio St.3d 176, 2006-Ohio-1245, 846 N.E.2d 824, ¶ 9. Thus, at a resentencing

hearing in such a case, the trial court must first sentence the defendant on the merged offense or

offenses before it may consider whether the prison terms should be served consecutively or

concurrently. Huber at ¶ 24.
       {¶13} In Nunez I, we remanded the matter for a new sentencing hearing with respect to

the allied offenses. Nunez, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93971, 2010-Ohio-5589, ¶ 44. At the

sentencing hearing, the trial court first had to impose a prison term upon the state’s elected

offenses before the court could determine whether Nunez should serve consecutive or concurrent

prison terms. Therefore, we shall review the challenge raised herein.

       {¶14} Where a sentence is ambiguous as to whether a consecutive or concurrent term

applies, a court must resolve the ambiguity in favor of the defendant. State v. Downey, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 99685, 2013-Ohio-4924. However, the failure to explicitly use the word

“consecutive” does not necessarily create an ambiguity or require that a sentence run

concurrently.    See State v. Bass, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 12AP-622 and 12AP-623,

2013-Ohio-4503, ¶ 36-37.

       {¶15} Although the trial court did not specifically state in pronouncing its sentence that

the term on Count 11 was to run “consecutive” to the term on Count 8, it clearly indicated that it

was imposing a sentence consistent with the original sentencing, which ran those counts

consecutive. As stated by the trial court:

                The State is asking for the same sentence that was imposed at the original

       sentencing in the case. I think it’s important to note that for the kidnapping

       sentences, that those run concurrent at the original sentencing, so by merging them

       today, it does not affect the original sentence of the aggravated burglary

       consecutive to the rapes consecutive to the intimidation.

The court further indicated:

              Your total aggregate sentence again is 22 years, which is the identical
       sentence that I gave to you at your sentencing hearing.
                * * * [Y]ou are receiving an identical sentence to the sentence that I gave
        to you at the time of your sentencing hearing.

        {¶16} Consistent with the sentence imposed upon the record, the court’s journal entry

states in part:

        THE COURT IMPOSES A PRISON SENTENCE AT THE LORAIN

        CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF 22 YEAR(S). 4 YEARS ON COUNT 7; 8

        YEARS ON COUNTS 8, 9, AND 12; 2 YEARS ON COUNT 11. STATE OF

        OHIO PURSUANT TO COURT OF APPEALS ELECTS TO MERGE COUNT

        10 INTO COUNT 9 AND COUNT 13 INTO COUNT 12. COUNTS 7, 8, 9, AND

        11 TO RUN CONSECUTIVE TO EACH OTHER; COUNT 12 TO RUN

        CONCURRENT WITH ALL OTHER COUNTS. * * *

        {¶17} After a thorough review, we find that there is no ambiguity in the record and that

the court’s sentencing entry is consistent with the court’s decision at the sentencing hearing.

The second assignment of error is overruled.

        {¶18} Under his third assignment of error, Nunez claims the trial court erred in failing to

merge Counts 8 and 9, both of which were rape counts against the same victim, J.L. Appellant

maintains that in Nunez I, the court determined that these were allied offenses committed with a

single animus and that the determination is the law of the case. Our review reflects otherwise.

        {¶19} In Nunez I, the court set forth the facts underlying the subject offenses involving

J.L. as follows:

                J.L. and N.J. both testified that at around 3:30 a.m. on February 14, 2009,
        they were sitting in J.L.’s apartment talking when J.L. received a phone call from
        appellant, who indicated that he and his wife were outside and needed J.L. to let
        them in. After opening the apartment door, J.L. saw appellant, but his wife was
        not there. J.L. attempted to shut the door, but appellant forced his way inside the
        apartment.
               J.L. testified that she went to her bedroom to avoid appellant, but he
       followed her. He came into her bedroom and began “ripping” her clothes off.
       She told him to stop, but he threw her on the bed and held her there. He pulled
       her hair and repeatedly asked whether she would like her cousin to watch what he
       was doing. J.L. testified that, at one point, appellant used his knees to hold her
       down and repeatedly shoved his penis into her mouth. She was unable to escape
       because of the force appellant was exerting against her. Appellant then changed
       positions and engaged in vaginal intercourse with her.

(Emphasis added.) Nunez I, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93971, 2010-Ohio-5589, ¶ 6-7.

       {¶20} Counts 8 and 9 were charges of rape arising from the oral and vaginal rape of J.L.

Count 10 arose from appellant’s kidnapping of J.L. It has been recognized that rape involving

different types of sexual activity, such as vaginal intercourse, digital penetration, and oral rape,

arise from distinct conduct and are not considered allied offenses, even when committed during

the same sexual assault.      See, e.g., State v. Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. 140199,

2015-Ohio-3968, ¶ 59-60; State v. Ferrell, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100659, 2014-Ohio-4377, ¶

33; State v. Adams, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-783, 2014-Ohio-1809, ¶ 11-12; State v.

Trotter, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97064, 2012-Ohio-2760, ¶ 45.

       {¶21} In Nunez I, the court found only that the offenses of rape and kidnapping are allied

offenses:

               We first address Counts 12 and 13, rape and kidnapping respectively,
       related to the offense committed against N.J. It is well established that rape and
       kidnapping are allied offenses. State v. Walton, Cuyahoga App. No. 93659,
       2010-Ohio-3875, ¶ 8, citing [State v. Blankenship, 38 Ohio St.3d 116, 117, 526
       N.E.2d (1988)]. There is nothing in the record that indicates appellant kidnapped
       and raped N.J. with a separate animus. He engaged in one continuous course of
       action, and thus he could be sentenced for only one of the two allied offenses.

               Appellant was also convicted and sentenced for two counts of rape and

       one count of kidnapping for the offenses committed against J.L. As addressed

       above, rape and kidnapping are allied offenses. Similarly, the evidence reveals
       that appellant committed these offenses with a single animus, and thus he was

       improperly convicted and sentenced for allied offenses.

              This matter must be remanded to the trial court for a new sentencing
       hearing where the state shall choose which charge it wishes to proceed under.

(Emphasis added.) Nunez I at¶ 40-42.

       {¶22} Contrary to appellant’s argument, there was no determination that the separate rape

counts constituted allied offenses of similar import. The court’s analysis and holding in Nunez I

related to the merger of rape and kidnapping. There was no discussion of merger of the multiple

rape counts. The court’s directive for the state to “choose which charge it wishes to proceed

under” followed from the determination that rape and kidnapping are allied offenses. Upon

remand, the state elected that the kidnapping under Count 10 merge into the rape under Count 9.

The trial court followed the directive of Nunez I and merged these offenses and proceeded to

sentencing on the remaining count. No objections were made. Finding no error occurred, we

overrule appellant’s third assignment of error.

       {¶23} Under his fourth assignment of error, appellant claims trial counsel was ineffective

at the resentencing by failing to argue that Counts 8, 9, and 10 were allied to each other and must

merge into a single count. In order to substantiate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel,

the appellant must show “(1) deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling below

an objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable

probability that but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been different.”

State v. Perez, 124 Ohio St.3d 122, 2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104, ¶ 200, citing Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v.

Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.
The defendant has the burden of proving his counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Perez at ¶

223.

       {¶24} As determined above, in Nunez I, the court determined only that rape and

kidnapping are allied offenses subject to merger. The resentencing hearing was limited to the

state’s election of which of these offenses it wished to pursue for sentencing, the merger of the

allied offenses accordingly, the court’s imposition of a sentence for the remaining offenses, and

the court’s determination of whether the prison terms should be served consecutively or

concurrently. As appellant has shown neither deficient performance of counsel nor resulting

prejudice, he has failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel. The fourth assignment of

error is overruled.

       {¶25} Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant 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. The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed,

any bail pending appeal is terminated.      Case remanded to the trial court for execution of

sentence.

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

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J., and
TIM McCORMACK, J., CONCUR