Court Opinion

ID: 2702494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:52:26.479132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:33.159098
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Richmond, 2013-Ohio-2887.]
                       [Please see vacated opinion at 2013-Ohio-2333.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                       No. 98915

                                     STATE OF OHIO
                                                     PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                               vs.

                             DEMETRIUS RICHMOND
                                                     DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                               JUDGMENT:
                            AFFIRMED IN PART,
                     REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED

                                   Criminal Appeal from the
                            Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                     Case No. CR-540291

        BEFORE: S. Gallagher, P.J., Keough, J., and E.T. Gallagher, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: July 3, 2013
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Paul Mancino, Jr.
75 Public Square
Suite 1016
Cleveland, OH 44113-2098

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

By: William Leland
       Daniel T. Van
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys
The Justice Center, 8th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

ON RECONSIDERATION1

      1
         The original decision in this appeal, State v. Richmond, 8th Dist. No.
98915, 2013-Ohio-2333, released June 6, 2013, is hereby vacated. This opinion,
issued upon reconsideration, is the court’s journalized decision in this appeal. See
App.R. 22(C); see also S.Ct.Prac.R. 7.01.
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, P.J.:

       {¶1} Appellant Demetrius Richmond appeals from the sentence that was imposed

by the trial court following a remand for merger of offenses in State v. Richmond, 8th

Dist. No. 96155, 2011-Ohio-6450 (Richmond I). For the reasons stated herein, we affirm

Richmond’s sentence, except with regard to the repeat violent offender specification,

which we remand for a limited sentencing hearing.

       {¶2} In July 2010, Richmond was charged under an 11-count indictment with

offenses that arose from Richmond’s physical and sexual abuse of his girlfriend’s son

over a period of several years. The charges included domestic violence, multiple counts

of endangering children, felonious assault, rape, and kidnapping. The indictment also

included sexually violent predator, repeat violent predator, and sexual motivation

specifications. Richmond was found guilty of all counts and sentenced to an aggregate

term of 28 years in prison.

       {¶3} On direct appeal in Richmond I, this court affirmed in part, reversed in part,

and remanded for a limited sentencing hearing to address the issues of merger of allied

offenses and court costs. The underlying facts of the case are detailed in Richmond I and

incorporated herein.
       {¶4} Richmond also filed a petition for postconviction relief relating to his speedy

trial rights that was denied by the trial court. This court affirmed that ruling in State v.

Richmond, 8th Dist. No. 97616, 2012-Ohio-2511.

       {¶5} Upon remand from Richmond I, the state elected to merge Counts 1 through 3

into Count 1, Counts 4 through 7 into Count 7, and Counts 8 through 11 into Count 8.

The trial court sentenced Richmond to eight years on Count 1, felonious assault, plus an

additional ten years for the repeat violent offender specification; a consecutive ten-year

sentence on Count 8, rape; and a concurrent five-year sentence on Count 7. The court

imposed an aggregate term of 28 years in prison, included mandatory 5 years of

postrelease control, imposed court costs, and classified Richmond as a Tier III sex

offender.

       {¶6} Richmond timely filed this appeal from the sentence imposed upon remand.

He raises nine assignments of error for our review. His first assignment of error provides

as follows:

       I. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed
       consecutive sentence in violation of statutory law.

       {¶7} Richmond asserts that the trial court was statutorily precluded from imposing

consecutive sentences.    He asserts that none of the provisions that authorize consecutive

sentences are applicable and, therefore, his sentence is not authorized by law. At the

time of Richmond’s sentencing in August 2012, R.C. 2929.41(A), provided as follows:

       Except as provided in division (B) of this section, division (E) of section

       2929.14, or division (D) or (E) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, a
      prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment shall be served

      concurrently with any other prison term, jail term, or sentence of

      imprisonment imposed by a court of this state, another state, or the United

      States. Except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section, a jail term or

      sentence of imprisonment for misdemeanor shall be served concurrently

      with a prison term or sentence of imprisonment for felony served in a state

      or federal correctional institution.

      {¶8} This court has previously found the statute’s failure to reflect the

renumbering of the judicial fact-finding requirements for consecutive sentencing from

R.C. 2929.14(E) to R.C. 2929.14(C) is a typographical error. State v. Simonoski, 8th

Dist. No. 98496, 2013-Ohio-1031, ¶ 6; State v. Walker, 8th Dist. No. 97648,

2012-Ohio-4274, ¶ 81, fn. 2; State v. Ryan, 8th Dist. No. 98005, 2012-Ohio-5070, 980
N.E.2d 553. “In fact, the legislature made its intent clear by recently amending the

section in September 2012, to change the (E) to (C).” Simonoski at ¶ 7.

      {¶9} Accordingly, we overrule Richmond’s first assignment of error.

      {¶10} Richmond’s second assignment of error provides as follows:

      II. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed
      consecutive sentences without appropriate findings.

      {¶11} Richmond claims that the trial court failed to comply with H.B. 86 when it

imposed consecutive sentences and asserts that the trial court was required to make

specific findings pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides that a

court may issue consecutive prison terms if the court finds (1) “the consecutive service is
necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender,” (2) “that

consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s

conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public,” and (3) one of three

enumerated factors applies to the offender. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)–(c).

       {¶12} Richmond acknowledges that the trial court found the requirements for

consecutive sentences were met, but complains that the court failed to articulate specific

findings. We find no merit to this argument. Although R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), as amended

by H.B. 86, requires the court to make certain findings before issuing consecutive prison

terms, “a sentencing judge need only make the required statutory findings under R.C.

2929.14(C)(4) — there is no need for the court to state the reasons underlying those

findings.” State v. Jarrett, 8th Dist. No. 98759, 2013-Ohio-1663, ¶ 5. As this court

recognized in Simonoski, 8th Dist. No. 98496, 2013-Ohio-1031, at ¶ 20:

       There was no reason for the court to state its reasons for the findings. The
       General Assembly deleted R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) in H.B. 86. This was the
       provision in S.B. 2 that had required sentencing courts to state their reasons
       for imposing consecutive sentences on the record. Accordingly, a trial
       court is not required to articulate and justify its findings at the sentencing
       hearing. Thus, although a trial court is free to articulate or justify its
       findings, there is no statutory requirement that it do so. State v. Goins, 8th
       Dist. No. 98256, 2013-Ohio-263, ¶ 11.
       {¶13} In any event, a review of the record herein shows that the trial court

articulated its findings:

       [E]ither pre or post H.B. 86, [the] Court does find the harm was so great
       that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct.

              And, [defense counsel], you indicated that these weren’t the worst
       type of offenses. There was nothing about the victim’s behavior, a young
       boy, that would have provoked anyone to harm him. However, your client
       not only threw him out of the shower, breaking his arm, he refused to give
       him the medical attention he needed afterwards for it. He then committed a
       rape offense sometime later.

             And, the offense of rape, anal rape of a child is, in this Court’s
       opinion, the worst form of the offense of rape.

              So, I think the behavior in this case clearly justifies consecutive

       sentences, necessary to protect the public from future crime by this

       Defendant and to punish his conduct. And is not disproportionate with

       other sentences. * * * 28 years for anal rape and broken arm of a young

       victim is certainly appropriate.

       {¶14} Because the trial court made appropriate findings in compliance with R.C.

2929.14(C), we overrule Richmond’s second assignment of error.

       {¶15} Richmond’s third assignment of error provides as follows:

       III. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed
       maximum consecutive sentences along with an additional sentence for
       repeat violent offender specification and failing to make the required
       statutory findings.

       {¶16} The trial court imposed a sentence of eight years on Count 1 for felonious

assault, which was a maximum sentence, plus an additional ten years on the repeat violent

offender specification. Richmond argues that the trial court failed to make the necessary

findings for imposing the sentence on the repeat violent offender specification.

       {¶17} We recognize that the state initially conceded that the trial court erred.

However, in a motion for reconsideration of this court’s original opinion, the state raised

concerns regarding the validity of the reenacted “findings” required for the imposition of
additional prison time for repeat violent offenders under R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(a)(iv) and

(v) as enacted under H.B. 86. We issue this revised opinion to provide clarity on the

process moving forward to ensure both this opinion and State v. Warren, 8th Dist. No.

97837, 2012-Ohio-4721, are not misunderstood on this subject.

       {¶18} The state reads the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State v. Hodge, 128
Ohio St. 3d 1, 2010-Ohio-6320, 941 N.E.2d 768 (putting the ball back in the legislature’s

hands with respect to required “findings”), to be narrowly confined to consecutive

sentences. Thus, it views the enactment in H.B. 86 reviving the required “findings” for

repeat violent offenders to be unconstitutional pursuant to State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St. 3d
1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470.

       {¶19} The state failed to raise this issue in the trial court below and failed to raise

this issue in the initial appeal. Arguably, R.C. 2953.08(B) authorizes the state to appeal

sentences that are “contrary to law.” Whether the renewed “findings” requirement for

repeat violent offenders under H.B. 86 runs afoul of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S.
466, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000), or Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296,

124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2004), and is thus “contrary to law,” is an argument for

another day.

      {¶20}    Because     the   constitutionality of    the   revised   portions   of   R.C.

2929.14(B)(2)(a)(iv) and (v) following the enactment of H.B. 86 was not raised by

Richmond or properly asserted by the state, we have limited our review and need not
reach an ultimate determination of the issue. We shall proceed to address the trial court’s

compliance with the requirements of R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(a).

       {¶21} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(a), in addition to the longest prison term

authorized for the offense, the sentencing court may impose an additional definite prison

term of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten years for the repeat

violent offender specification, if all of the following criteria are met:

       (i) The offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the
       type described in section 2941.149 of the Revised Code that the offender is
       a repeat violent offender.

       (ii) The offense of which the offender currently is convicted or to which the
       offender currently pleads guilty is * * * any felony of the first degree that is
       an offense of violence and the court does not impose a sentence of life
       imprisonment without parole.

       (iii) The court imposes the longest prison term for the offense that is not life

       imprisonment without parole.

       (iv) The court finds that the prison terms imposed * * * are inadequate to
       punish the offender and protect the public from future crime, because the
       applicable factors under section 2929.12 of the Revised Code indicating a
       greater likelihood of recidivism outweigh the applicable factors under that
       section indicating a lesser likelihood of recidivism.

       (v) The court finds that the prison terms imposed * * * are demeaning to the

       seriousness of the offense, because one or more of the factors under section

       2929.12 of the Revised Code indicating that the offender's conduct is more

       serious than conduct normally constituting the offense are present, and they

       outweigh the applicable factors under that section indicating that the
       offender's conduct is less serious than conduct normally constituting the

       offense.

       {¶22} In this case, Richmond was convicted of felonious assault, a first-degree

felony that is an offense of violence, and its accompanying repeat violent offender

specification.    The trial court sentenced Richmond to the maximum term of

imprisonment on the felonious assault count. Because the trial court failed to address the

finding requirements of R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(a)(iv) and (v), we must reverse and remand

for a resentencing hearing on the repeat violent offender specification only. See State v.

Warren, 8th Dist. No. 97837, 2012-Ohio-4721, ¶ 12.

       {¶23} Richmond’s fourth assignment of error provides as follows:

       IV. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed a
       maximum consecutive sentence based upon an unconstitutional judicial
       fact-finding.

       {¶24} Richmond claims the trial court’s statements with regard to his conduct

against the young victim constituted unconstitutional judicial fact-finding. The subject

statements are contained in the dialogue set forth under the second assignment of error

and were made in the context of justifying the court’s findings supporting the imposition

of consecutive sentences. While trial courts are no longer required to articulate reasons

for imposing consecutive sentences, they are free to do so. State v. Goins, 8th Dist. No.

98256, 2013-Ohio-263, ¶ 11. Accordingly, we overrule Richmond’s fourth assignment

of error.

       {¶25} Richmond’s fifth assignment of error provides as follows:
       V. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed
       maximum consecutive sentences based upon contradicting findings.

       {¶26} Richmond claims the trial court failed to make the requisite considerations

under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. He further claims that a contradiction is present in the

court’s journal entry that contains the remark “not worst type of offenses.”

       {¶27} R.C. 2929.11(A) provides that when a trial court sentences an offender for a

felony conviction, it must be guided by the “overriding purposes of felony sentencing.”

Those purposes are “to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others

and to punish the offender.” R.C. 2929.11(B) requires a felony sentence to be reasonably

calculated to achieve the purposes set forth under R.C. 2929.11(A), commensurate with

and not demeaning to the seriousness of the crime and its impact on the victim and

consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.

R.C. 2929.12 provides a nonexhaustive list of factors a trial court must consider when

determining the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood that the offender will

commit future offenses.

       {¶28} In this case, the transcript reflects that the trial court found consecutive

sentences were necessary to protect the public from future crime by Richmond and to

punish his conduct. The court also found the sentence was not disproportionate to other

sentences. The court also stated in its journal entry that “prison is consistent with the

purpose of R.C. 2929.11.”

       {¶29} Although the journal entry contains the statement “not worst type of

offenses,” it is apparent from the transcript that the trial court found otherwise. At the
sentencing hearing, the trial court disagreed with defense counsel’s position that “these

weren’t the worst type of offenses.” Upon reviewing Richmond’s conduct against the

young victim, the court specifically found that “the offense of rape, anal rape of a child is,

in this Court’s opinion, the worst form of the offense of rape.” Upon remand, the trial

court may amend the sentencing entry nunc pro tunc to reflect that which transpired at the

sentencing hearing.

       {¶30} Upon the record before us, we cannot conclude that the sentence was

improper or contrary to law. Richmond’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶31} Richmond’s sixth assignment of error provides as follows:

       VI. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court failed to
       consider defendant’s situation in imposing maximum sentences.

       {¶32} Richmond claims that the trial court should have considered his behavior

during the intervening period from his original sentencing and his resentencing. The

record reflects that both defense counsel and Richmond were afforded the opportunity to

address the court and offer circumstances for the court’s consideration. Further, there is

nothing in the record to support Richmond’s assertion. Under similar circumstances, we

found no merit to a similar argument in State v. Sutton, 8th Dist. No. 97132,

2012-Ohio-1054, ¶ 31.

       {¶33} Richmond also complains that the trial court imposed the sentence without a

presentence investigation report. Crim.R. 32.2(A) provides that “in felony cases the

court shall, and in misdemeanor cases may, order a presentence investigation and report

before granting probation.”     The trial court did not impose probation and was not
obligated to order a presentence investigation report prior to imposing a prison term. See

State v. Davis, 8th Dist. No. 95722, 2011-Ohio-1377, ¶ 9; R.C. 2951.03.

      {¶34} Accordingly, we reject Richmond’s sixth assignment of error.

      {¶35} Richmond’s seventh assignment of error provides as follows:

      VII. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court imposed a
      five year sentence for endangering children on count seven.

      {¶36} Richmond argues that his sentence for endangering children under

R.C. 2919.22(B)(4) should have been for a felony of the third degree, rather than second

degree, because there was no finding that the child was under the age of 18.

      {¶37} R.C. 2919.22(B)(4) provides as follows:

      No person shall do any of the following to a child under eighteen years of
      age: * * * (4) Repeatedly administer unwarranted disciplinary measures to
      the child, when there is a substantial risk that such conduct, if continued,
      will seriously impair or retard the child’s mental health or development.

A violation of this section is a felony of the second degree if “the violation results in

serious physical harm to the child involved.” R.C. 2919.22(E)(3).

      {¶38} Under R.C. 2919.22(B)(4), the victim being under 18 years old is an element

of the crime. It is not an aggravating factor for purposes of elevating the offense, as

argued by Richmond.

      {¶39} Our review reflects that the jury was properly instructed on Count 7 for

endangering children, which included that the victim was a child under 18. Because the

jury verdict reflected serious physical harm, Richmond was found guilty of the offense as
a felony of the second degree. Therefore, his five-year sentence on this count was

properly imposed. Richmond’s seventh assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶40} Richmond’s eighth assignment of error provides as follows:

       VIII. Defendant was denied due process of law when the court failed to
       properly consider a waiver of court costs as defendant was indigent.

       {¶41} “[A] trial court may assess court costs against a convicted indigent

defendant” who has been convicted of a felony. State v. White, 103 Ohio St. 3d 580,

2004-Ohio-5989, 817 N.E.2d 393, ¶ 8. Further, while waiver of court costs against an

indigent defendant is permissible, it is not required. Id. at ¶ 14; State v. Perry, 8th Dist.

No. 97696, 2012-Ohio-3573, ¶ 10. The decision to impose costs will not be reversed

absent an abuse of discretion. Perry at ¶ 12.

       {¶42} In imposing court costs in this case, the trial court indicated that Richmond

would be in prison for 28 years and would be earning $16 a month in pay. Insofar as

Richmond claims that the court failed to notify him that the failure to make timely

payments could result in an order that he perform community service, such an advisement

would have been impractical given Richmond’s lengthy prison term. Further, then R.C.

2947.23(A)(1)(a) had indicated “the failure to give this notice does not affect the court’s

ability to require community service and, effective March 22, 2013, the trial court is no

longer required to give this notice to offenders who receive a prison sentence. See 2012

Sub.H.B. 247.” State v. Haney, 2d Dist. No. 25344, 2013-Ohio-1924, ¶ 21.

       {¶43} Finding no abuse of discretion or error by the trial court, we overrule

Richmond’s eighth assignment of error.
       {¶44} Richmond’s ninth assignment of error provides as follows:

       IX. Defendant was denied due process of law and subjected to multiple
       punishments when the court failed to grant defendant appropriate jail time
       credit.

       {¶45} Richmond argues that the trial court failed to give him appropriate jail-time

credit, reflecting the time between his original sentencing and the time of his

resentencing. After this appeal was filed, Richmond filed a motion for jail-time credit

that was granted by the trial court and has rendered this assignment of error moot.

       {¶46} In conclusion, we affirm the judgment of the trial court except with regard

to the repeat violent offender specification. Because the trial court failed to address the

finding requirements of R.C. 2929.14(B)(2)(a)(iv) and (v), we must reverse and remand

for a resentencing hearing on the repeat violent offender specification only.

       {¶47} Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part; case remanded.

       It is ordered that appellant and appellee share the 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.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., and
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR