Court Opinion

ID: 4692523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-03 15:16:46.598416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:16.769235
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Percy, 2021-Ohio-1876.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO,                                    :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,              :
                                                            No. 109502
                 v.                               :

SURFIN PERCY,                                     :

                 Defendant-Appellant.             :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART,
                           AND VACATED IN PART
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: June 3, 2021

          Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                              Case No. CR-18-630140-A

                                            Appearances:

                 Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
                 Attorney, and Ronnie Ducoff, Assistant Prosecuting
                 Attorney, for appellee.

                 Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Public Defender, and
                 Paul A. Kuzmins, Assistant Public Defender, for
                 appellant.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J.:

                Defendant-appellant, Surfin Percy (“Percy”), appeals his sentence and

claims the following errors:
      1. The trial court failed to comply with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) when it
      imposed consecutive terms of incarceration.

      2. The trial court erred in ordering the appellant to pay $1,000 in fines.

      3. The trial court erred in forcing the appellant to forfeit any interest
      he had in a personal property that was unrelated to the crimes alleged.

             Finding some merit to the appeal, we affirm the trial court’s judgment

in part, reverse it in part, and vacate the forfeiture order.

                        I. Facts and Procedural History

             Percy pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual

imposition, and one count of child endangering. The charges were filed after B.P., a

minor child, revealed that Percy had raped and assaulted her on multiple occasions.

             At sentencing, the state asked the court to order consecutive sentences

on the two rape convictions, to be served concurrently with the sentences on the

gross sexual imposition and child endangering counts. (Tr. 25.) Defense counsel

asked for the two rape convictions to be served concurrently with each other and

with the sentences imposed on the other convictions, but acknowledged that Percy’s

sentence was ultimately within the court’s discretion. (Tr. 25.)

             The court sentenced Percy to 60 months on the gross sexual imposition

conviction, eight years on the child endangering conviction, and 11 years on each of

the rape convictions. The court ordered the 11-year prison terms on the two rape

convictions to be served consecutively to each other but concurrently with the child

endangering and gross sexual imposition convictions, for an aggregate 22-year

prison sentence. The court also ordered Percy to pay $250 in court costs on each of
his four convictions for a total of $1,000 in court costs, classified him as a Tier III

sex offender, and imposed five years of mandatory postrelease control. Finally, the

court ordered forfeiture of a police badge and a work identification card. Percy now

appeals the sentence and forfeiture order.

                              II. Law and Analysis

                           A. Consecutive Sentences

             In the first assignment of error, Percy argues the trial court erred by

imposing consecutive sentences without making the findings required by R.C.

2929.14(C)(4) for the imposition of consecutive sentences.

            We review felony sentences under the standard set forth in R.C.

2953.08(G)(2). State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d

1231, ¶ 16. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that when reviewing felony sentences, a

reviewing court may overturn the imposition of consecutive sentences where the

court “clearly and convincingly” finds that (1) “the record does not support the

sentencing court’s findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4),” or (2) “the sentence is

otherwise contrary to law.” The imposition of consecutive sentences is contrary to

law if a trial court fails to make the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). State

v. Morris, 2016-Ohio-7614, 73 N.E.3d 1010, ¶ 24 (8th Dist.), citing State v. Bonnell,

140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 37.

             R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides that in order to impose consecutive

sentences, the trial court must find that consecutive sentences are (1) necessary to

protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender, (2) that such
sentences would not be disproportionate to the seriousness of the conduct and to

the danger the offender poses to the public, and (3) that one of the following applies:

      (a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while
      the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction
      imposed pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the
      Revised Code, or was under postrelease control for a prior offense.

      (b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one
      or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the
      multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single
      prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the
      courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s
      conduct.

      (c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
      consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future
      crime by the offender.

             Compliance with R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires the trial court to make the

statutory findings at the sentencing hearing, which means that “‘the [trial] court

must note that it engaged in the analysis’ and that it ‘has considered the statutory

criteria and specifie[d] which of the given bases warrants its decision.’” Bonnell at

¶ 26, quoting State v. Edmonson, 86 Ohio St.3d 324, 326, 715 N.E.2d 131 (1999).

Further, the reviewing court must be able to discern that the record contains

evidence to support the findings. State v. Davis, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102639,

2015-Ohio-4501, ¶ 21, citing Bonnell at ¶ 29. A trial court is not, however, required

to state its reasons to support its findings, nor is it required to precisely recite the

statutory language, “provided that the necessary findings can be found in the record

and are incorporated in the sentencing entry.” Bonnell at ¶ 37.
               Where the trial court made the requisite consecutive sentencing

findings, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) requires this court to affirm an order of consecutive

service unless we “clearly and convincingly” find that the record does not support

the court’s findings in support of consecutive sentences. State v. Simmons, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 107144, 2019-Ohio-459, ¶ 11. This is a deferential standard of review.

State v. Venes, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453, ¶ 21 (8th Dist.).

               In sentencing Percy to consecutive prison terms, the trial court stated,

in relevant part:

      Each rape will be sentenced consecutively, and the Court makes the
      following finding with reference to his sentence.

      The Court finds that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the
      public from future crimes.

      The Court finds that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to
      the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.

      The Court finds that consecutive sentences are necessary to punish the
      offender, and the Court finds that consecutive sentences are not
      disproportionate to the danger the offender poses to the public and to
      his family.

      In arriving at the necessity to impose consecutive sentences, the Court
      further finds that the danger that was imposed to this young person was
      so great that it warranted consecutive sentences.

(Tr. 41-42.)

               The trial court found that consecutive sentences were necessary to

protect the public and to punish Percy. The court also found that consecutive

sentences were not disproportionate to the seriousness of Percy’s conduct and to the
danger he poses to the public. However, the trial court failed to make the third

finding.

              The third finding may be one of three alternatives. Because Percy had

no prior criminal history and was not under supervision when the alleged crimes

occurred, the only possible alternative was a finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b).

As previously stated, that section provides:

      At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or
      more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the
      multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single
      prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the
      courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s
      conduct.

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b). “The statute requires the trial court to find both that (1) the

offenses were committed as one or more courses of conduct, and (2) the harm

caused was so great or unusual that a single prison term is not an adequate reflection

on the seriousness of the conduct.” State v. McKinney, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

106377, 2019-Ohio-1118, ¶ 60.

              Although the court found that the “danger that was imposed” on the

victim “was so great that it warranted consecutive sentences[,]” the court failed to

also find that the offenses were committed as one or more courses of conduct as

required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b). Therefore, the trial court failed to make the third

finding required for the imposition of consecutive sentences.

              The first assignment of error is sustained.
                                  B. $1,000 Fine

      {¶ 16} In the second assignment of error, Percy argues the trial court erred in

ordering him to pay $1,000 in fines because he is indigent.

      {¶ 17} We review a trial court’s imposition of fines for an abuse of discretion.

State v. Peters, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108068, 2019-Ohio-4461, ¶ 15. “A court

abuses its discretion when a legal rule entrusts a decision to a judge’s discretion and

the judge’s exercise of that discretion is outside of the legally permissible range of

choices.” State v. Hackett, Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-6699, ¶ 19.

      {¶ 18} R.C. 2929.18(A) allows a trial court to impose fines on an offender,

who has committed a felony as part of a sentence. And, “‘Ohio law does not prohibit

a court from imposing a fine on an indigent defendant.’” State v. Hampton, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103992, 2016-Ohio-5419, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Williams, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92419, 2009-Ohio-5964, ¶ 8. See also State v. Ramos, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 92357, 2009-Ohio-3064; and State v. Roark, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

84992, 2005-Ohio-1980.

      {¶ 19} However, before imposing fines on an indigent defendant, the trial

court must “consider the offender’s present and future ability to pay the amount of

the sanction or fine.” R.C. 2929.19(B)(5). Although there are no express factors that

must be taken into consideration, nor specific findings that must be made by the

court on the record, there must be some evidence in the record that the trial court

considered the defendant’s ability to pay. State v. Hauser, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

103880, 2016-Ohio-7710, ¶ 26, citing State v. Schneider, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
96953, 2012-Ohio-1740, ¶ 10. “‘The possibility of working while in prison is one

factor that a trial court can use in determining an inmate’s ability to pay financial

sanctions.’” State v. Nitsche, 2016-Ohio-3170, 66 N.E.3d 135, ¶ 55 (8th Dist.),

quoting State v. Western, 2015-Ohio-627, 29 N.E.3d 245, ¶ 57 (2d Dist.).

      {¶ 20} Under R.C. 2929.18(A)(3), a trial court may sentence a defendant to

the following financial sanctions:

      (a) For a felony of the first degree, not more than twenty thousand
      dollars;

      (b) For a felony of the second degree, not more than fifteen thousand
      dollars;

      (c) For a felony of the third degree, not more than ten thousand dollars;

      (d) For a felony of the fourth degree, not more than five thousand
      dollars[.]

              The trial court ordered Percy to pay fines of $250 on each of his four

felony convictions for a total of $1,000 in fines. In doing so, the court observed that

the fines of $250 on each of his convictions was “a minimal fine.” (Tr. 58.) The trial

court also noted that Percy has “22-years to work it off.” (Tr. 58.) Thus, the court

found that Percy was capable of working off his fines, that he had plenty of time to

work them off, and that the fines were minimal. The court was authorized to impose

fines, and the amount of the fines was well within the range of financial sanctions

permitted by R.C. 2929.18(A)(3). And, because the court considered Percy’s ability

to pay fines while incarcerated, we cannot say that the trial court abused its

discretion by imposing fines totaling $1,000.
               The second assignment of error is overruled.

                                    C. Forfeiture

               In the third assignment of error, Percy argues the trial court erred in

granting forfeiture of a police badge and work identification card that were in his

possession. He contends the forfeiture order should be reversed because the

government failed to comply with the criminal forfeiture provisions of R.C.

2981.04(A) and because the items were not involved in the commission of any of the

offenses at issue in this case.

               Criminal forfeiture proceedings are governed by R.C. 2981.04, which

states, in relevant part, that property may be forfeited “only if the complaint contains

a specification” that identifies the following information, to the extent it is

reasonably known:

      (a) The nature and extent of the alleged offender’s or delinquent child’s
      interest in the property;

      (b) A description of the property;

      (c) If the property is alleged to be an instrumentality, the alleged use or
      intended use of the property in the commission or facilitation of the
      offense.

R.C. 2981.04(A)(1).

               However, R.C. 2981.04(A)(2) permits the forfeiture of property even

if it is not charged in the indictment as a forfeiture specification as long as it was “not

reasonably foreseen to be subject to forfeiture at the time of filing the indictment”

and “if the prosecutor, upon discovering the property to be subject to forfeiture, gave
prompt notice of this fact to the alleged offender * * * under Criminal Rule 7(E)

* * *.” Crim.R. 7(E) governs bills of particulars, which are intended to, among other

things, “‘inform the defendant of the charge against him with sufficient precision to

allow him to prepare his defense’” and “‘to minimize surprise at trial[.]’” United

States v. Davis, 854 F.3d 1276, 1293 (11th Cir.2017), quoting United States v.

Warren, 772 F.2d 827, 837 (11th Cir. 1985).

              The state did not attach a forfeiture specification to any of the charges

brought against Percy. Instead, the state filed a motion for forfeiture three days after

the parties had reached a plea agreement, and forfeiture was not an agreed-upon

term. Thus, Percy had no notice of the forfeiture claim when he agreed to plead

guilty. Moreover, the state never filed a Crim.R. 7(E) bill of particulars notifying

Percy of its intent to seek forfeiture as required by R.C. 2981.04(A)(2). Therefore,

the state failed to provide Percy with prompt notice of the forfeiture as required by

R.C. 2981.04(A)(2), and the trial court erred in granting forfeiture.

              The third assignment of error is sustained.

              The trial court’s judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Percy’s convictions and the imposition of fines are affirmed. However, the forfeiture

order is vacated, and the case is remanded to the trial court for the limited purpose

of addressing the consecutive-sentence requirements set forth in R.C.

2929.14(C)(4).

      It is ordered that appellee and appellant share 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.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

LISA B. FORBES, P.J., and
EMANUELLA D. GROVES, J., CONCUR