Court Opinion

ID: 3161673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-10 22:07:17.819569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:56:11.642353
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Wilson, 2015-Ohio-5143.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                                   EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                                  JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                          No. 102645

                                             STATE OF OHIO

                                                        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                                  vs.

                                         DERRELL L. WILSON

                                                        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                              JUDGMENT:
                                               AFFIRMED

                                      Criminal Appeal from the
                               Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                     Case No. CR-14-585131-A

        BEFORE: Boyle, J., Celebrezze, A.J., and McCormack, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 10, 2015
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Thomas A. Rein
700 West St. Clair Avenue
Suite 212
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Marcus A. Henry
        Eric L. Foster
Assistant County Prosecutors
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, J.:

       {¶1}    Defendant-appellant, Derrell L. Wilson, appeals his conviction and sentence,

raising the following two assignments of error:

               I. Appellant did not enter his guilty plea knowingly, intelligently, or
       voluntarily because the trial court failed to properly inform him of the maximum
       penalties as required by Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a).

              II. The trial court committed reversible error when it ordered restitution
       without sufficient, competent evidence in the record.

       {¶2}    For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       A. Procedural History and Facts

       {¶3}    In May 2014, Wilson was indicted on two counts: aggravated burglary and

felonious assault.   Four months later, following a plea agreement reached with the state, Wilson

ultimately pleaded guilty to an amended Count 2 for aggravated assault. The state moved to

nolle Count 1, which was granted by the trial court. Prior to accepting Wilson’s guilty plea, the

trial court engaged in a plea colloquy, advising Wilson of his constitutional rights and informing

him of the penalties that he faced for a fourth-degree felony. The trial court ultimately accepted

Wilson’s guilty plea and then referred Wilson for a presentence investigation.

       {¶4}    At sentencing, the trial court first heard from the victim.    The victim explained

that Wilson attacked him, breaking his jaw.    According to the victim, he had to have surgery but

his “jaw is still messed up” as a result of Wilson’s actions.   He further testified that he incurred

$28,337.86 in medical bills that were not covered by insurance. Defense counsel addressed the

court and urged the court to impose community control sanctions instead of a prison term,

emphasizing Wilson’s remorse for his actions, his positive work history, and his lack of any prior

felony convictions. Defense counsel stated the following as to the restitution requested:

               With respect to the restitution, your Honor, obviously Derrell understands
           that this is going to be his responsibility as well now and he wants to do what he

           can.    Obviously working at Rally’s this isn’t something he’s going to be able to

           pay next week but he wants to take responsibility, he wants to make this right.

           {¶5}     Wilson then addressed the court, expressing his remorse and urging the court to be

lenient.

           {¶6} The trial court ultimately imposed 18 months of community controlled sanctions.

As part of the community controlled sanctions, the trial court sentenced Wilson to 120 days in

jail with 30 days suspended. Of the 90 days to be served, the trial court ordered that Wilson

serve the first 30 days in jail and then the remaining 60 days could be served on the weekends.

The trial court also ordered that Wilson pay restitution in the amount of $28,337.86.

           {¶7}     From this order, Wilson appeals.

           B.     Guilty Plea

           {¶8}     In his first assignment of error, Wilson argues that his conviction should be

reversed because the trial court failed to inform him of the maximum penalty before accepting

his guilty plea.      Specifically, he argues that the trial court’s failure to inform him of restitution

at the time of his guilty plea rendered his plea less than knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily

made. We disagree.

           {¶9}     Under Crim.R. 11(C)(2), a trial court “shall not accept a plea of guilty * * *

without first addressing the defendant personally and * * * determining that the defendant is

making the plea voluntarily, with understanding * * * of the maximum penalty involved * * *.”

This section of Crim.R. 11 does not involve constitutional requirements; therefore, a reviewing

court must determine whether there was substantial compliance. State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St. 3d
176, 2008-Ohio-5200, 897 N.E.2d 621, ¶ 14-17. “Substantial compliance means that under the
totality of the circumstances the defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea

and the rights he is waiving.” State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).

       {¶10} Furthermore, a defendant must show prejudice before a plea will be vacated for a

trial court’s error involving Crim.R. 11(C) procedure when nonconstitutional aspects of the

colloquy are at issue. Veney at ¶ 14-17. The test for prejudice is whether the plea would have

otherwise been made. Id. at ¶ 15.

       {¶11}     Although the trial court failed to inform Wilson of restitution at the time of the

plea hearing, Wilson has failed to demonstrate or even allege any prejudicial effect of the trial

court’s alleged error. And under such circumstances, Ohio courts have consistently rejected any

claim to vacate a plea.      See, e.g., State v. Schmidt, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2012-P-0034,

2015-Ohio-2450, ¶ 21 (plea not vacated where trial court failed to advise defendant of the correct

maximum fine where defendant failed to demonstrate any prejudice arising out of the error);

State v. Soltis, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92574, 2009-Ohio-6636, ¶ 22 (plea not vacated where

defendant presented no evidence nor argued that he would not have entered his plea if he had

known of the consequences of violating postrelease control); State v. Alfarano, 1st Dist.

Hamilton No. C-011030, 2008-Ohio-3476 (no prejudice found and plea not vacated where

defendant made no allegation he would not have pled guilty if he had known the mandatory term

of postrelease control was five years, not three years as advised by the trial court).

       {¶12} Nothing in the record suggests that Wilson would not have entered his plea had he

been told that he would have to pay restitution. To the contrary, aside from not objecting to the

imposition of restitution, Wilson expressly indicated his desire to pay the restitution amount.

Notably, this representation was made prior to the trial court imposing any sentence and after the

full amount of restitution had been disclosed by the victim. Based on these facts, we find no
basis to conclude that Wilson’s plea would not have otherwise been made if he knew that he

would have to pay restitution at the time of the plea.

        {¶13} Accordingly, the first assignment of error is overruled.

        C.   Restitution Order

        {¶14} In his second assignment of error, Wilson argues that the trial court erred when it

ordered restitution without sufficient, competent evidence in the record. We disagree.

        {¶15} R.C. 2929.18 governs restitution and provides that financial sanctions may include:

                 Restitution by the offender to the victim of the offender’s crime * * * in an

        amount based on the victim’s economic loss. * * * If the court imposes restitution,

        at sentencing, the court shall determine the amount of restitution to be made by

        the offender. If the court imposes restitution, the court may base the amount of

        restitution it orders on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a

        presentence investigation report, * * * and other information, provided that the

        amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of the economic

        loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of

        the offense. If the court decides to impose restitution, the court shall hold a

        hearing on restitution if the offender, victim, or survivor disputes the amount.

Id. at (A)(1).

        {¶16} A trial court has “discretion to order restitution in appropriate case.” State v.

Lalain, 136 Ohio St. 3d 248, 2013-Ohio-3093, 994 N.E.2d 423, ¶ 27. The restitution ordered,

however, cannot be greater than the amount of economic loss suffered as a direct and proximate

result of the commission of the offense.        Id. at ¶ 24. “If the record contains competent,

credible evidence establishing the amount of loss sustained by the victim, then the trial court
does not abuse its discretion in awarding restitution.” State v. Jones, 10th Dist. Franklin No.

15AP-45, 2015-Ohio-3983, ¶ 13.

       {¶17} Prior to ordering restitution, the trial court heard from the victim at sentencing,

who specifically identified the amount of medical expenses incurred as a result of Wilson’s

commission of the underlying offense. Notably, Wilson never disputed the stated amount of the

victim’s medical expenses.    Nor did Wilson dispute that the medical expenses were the direct

and proximate result of his crime.   Thus, relying on the victim’s testimony, the trial court acted

well within its discretion in ordering Wilson to pay restitution that covered the costs of the

victim’s medical expenses. See Jones at ¶ 14 (“A victim’s testimony alone is sufficient to

establish economic loss for a restitution order.”); see also State v. Tabasso, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 98248, 2013-Ohio-3721, ¶ 15 (victim’s testimony regarding accumulated medical bills and

lost wages established value of loss and amount of restitution awarded the victim).

       {¶18} Wilson argues, however, that the victim’s testimony was contradicted by the

prosecutor at sentencing who “stated that there is a Cleveland Clinic bill and ‘the bill is I think

20,000-some-odd dollars and change.’” Wilson contends that this contradiction coupled with the

lack of any documentary evidence undermines the restitution award. We disagree. As stated

above, “a restitution order may be supported by the victim’s testimony alone without

documentary corroboration.” Jones at ¶ 16. And further, the record reveals that the victim

submitted a written statement corroborating his claim of medical bills. While this written

statement was not made part of the record on appeal, we note that defense counsel never objected

to the victim’s testimony. Nor did defense counsel challenge the submission of the written

statement, which the victim offered as corroboration.       Accordingly, based on the victim’s

testimony alone, we find that the trial court acted well within its discretion in awarding
restitution.

        {¶19} The second assignment of error is overruled.

        {¶20} Judgment affirmed.

        It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant 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. 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.

MARY J. BOYLE, JUDGE

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., A.J., and
TIM McCORMACK, J., CONCUR