Court Opinion

ID: 9882744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:19:24.511581+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:48.660260
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Spencer, 2023-Ohio-3359.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO,                                      :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,                :
                                                              No. 112058
                 v.                                 :

LAVELLE SPENCER,                                    :

                 Defendant-Appellant.               :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 21, 2023

          Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                   Case Nos. CR-20-651837-A and CR-21-663458-A

                                              Appearances:

                 Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
                 Attorney, and John F. Hirschauer and Tasha L. Forchione,
                 Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for appellee.

                 Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Public Defender, and
                 Rick L. Ferrara, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J.:

                Defendant-appellant, Lavelle Spencer (“Spencer”), appeals from his

sentence and classification as a Tier III sex offender. He raises the following

assignments of error for review:
      1. Appellant has been subjected to cruel and unusual punishment in
      violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States and Ohio
      Constitutions by virtue of his Tier III sex offender registration.

      2. The trial court erred when it failed to discuss or apply all factors for
      sentencing youth offenders as adults.

      3. The trial court erred when it found S.B. 201 to be constitutional and
      imposed an indefinite sentence pursuant to S.B. 201.

             After careful review of the record and relevant case law, we affirm.

                      I. Procedural and Factual History

             Following bindover proceedings in the juvenile court, Spencer was

named in a 34-count indictment in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-20-651837-A, charging

him with eight counts of aggravated robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), with

one- and three-year firearm specifications (Counts 1, 6, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21, 30); eight

counts of robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), with one- and three-year

firearm specifications (Counts 2, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, 22, 31); six counts of having

weapons while under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2) (Counts 5, 9, 13,

20, 25, 34); four counts of grand theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), with one-

and three-year firearm specifications (Counts 8, 12, 23, 32); and single counts of

attempted grand theft in violation of R.C. 2923.02 and 2913.02(A)(1), with one- and

three-year firearm specifications (Count 3); assault in violation of R.C. 2903.13(A)

(Count 4); theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) (Count 24); rape in violation of

R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), with one- and three-year firearm specifications (Count 26);

gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1), with one- and three-year

firearm specifications (Count 27); kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2),
with a sexual motivation specification and one- and three-year firearm

specifications (Count 28); kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4), with a

sexual motivation specification and one- and three-year firearm specifications

(Count 29); and failure to comply in violation of R.C. 2921.331(B), with one- and

three-year firearm specifications (Count 33).

            The indictment stemmed from allegations that Spencer engaged in a

crime spree in Cleveland, Ohio between the dates of November 11, 2019, to

December 6, 2019. During this time period, it was alleged that Spencer participated

in multiple armed carjackings, robberies, and the sexual assault of a female victim.

            During the pendency of Case No. CR-20-651837-A, Spencer was named

in a one-count indictment in Cuyahoga C.P. No CR-21-663458-A, charging him with

escape in violation of R.C. 2921.34(A)(1). The charge stemmed from allegations that

Spencer fled a rehabilitation facility on May 15, 2021, after he was deemed

competent to stand trial in Case No. CR-20-651837-A.

            On August 17, 2022, Spencer expressed his desire to withdraw his

previously entered pleas of not guilty and accept the terms of a negotiated plea

agreement with the state. In Case No. CR-20-651837-A, Spencer pleaded guilty to

six counts of aggravated robbery, with one-year firearm specifications, as amended

in Counts 1, 6, 10, 14, 21, and 30 of the indictment; a single count of rape, with a

three-year firearm specification, as amended in Count 26 of the indictment; and a

single count of having weapons while under disability, as charged in Count 34 of the

indictment. Spencer also pleaded guilty to the sole count of escape charged in Case
No. CR-21-663458-A. In exchange for his guilty pleas, the remaining counts were

nolled.

            At the time of sentencing, the trial court imposed an aggregate prison

term of 12 to 15 years in Case No. CR-20-651837-A, to run consecutive to a two-year

term of imprisonment in Case No. CR-21-663458-A. Spencer was further classified

as a Tier III sex offender pursuant to the Adam Walsh Act (“AWA”).

             Spencer now appeals from his sentence and classification under the

AWA.

                              II. Law and Analysis

                      A. Sexual-Offender Classification

             In the first assignment of error, Spencer argues that “Ohio’s sex-

offender classification system, as applied to those committing crimes as juveniles, is

unconstitutional as cruel and unusual punishment.” Spencer contends that because

he was 16 years old at the time the rape offense was committed, his lifetime

registration requirements as a Tier III sexual offender are “punitive and

unconstitutionally excessive.”

              “A party may challenge a statute as unconstitutional on its face or as

applied to a particular set of facts.” Harrold v. Collier, 107 Ohio St.3d 44, 2005-

Ohio-5334, 836 N.E.2d 1165, ¶ 37, citing Belden v. Union Cent. Life Ins. Co., 143

Ohio St. 329, 55 N.E.2d 629 (1944), paragraph four of the syllabus. A facial

challenge asserts that there is no conceivable set of circumstances in which the

statute would be valid. Id. An as-applied challenge, on other hand, alleges that
application of the statute in a particular factual context is unconstitutional. Yajnik

v. Akron Dept. of Health, Hous. Div., 101 Ohio St.3d 106, 2004-Ohio-357, 802

N.E.2d 632, ¶ 14, citing Ada v. Guam Soc. of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 506

U.S. 1011, 113 S.Ct. 633, 121 L.Ed.2d 564 (1992) (Scalia, J., dissenting).

              This court reviews constitutional challenges de novo. State v. Brown,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109979, 2021-Ohio-4130, ¶ 22. In so doing, “we must

acknowledge that legislative enactments are entitled to a strong presumption of

constitutionality.” State ex rel. Ohio Congress of Parents & Teachers v. State Bd. of

Edn., 111 Ohio St.3d 568, 2006-Ohio-5512, 857 N.E.2d 1148, ¶ 20. Thus, “if at all

possible, statutes must be construed in conformity with the Ohio and the United

States Constitutions.” State v. Collier, 62 Ohio St.3d 267, 269, 581 N.E.2d 552

(1991).

              The current version of R.C. Chapter 2950 is a “comprehensive Tiered

registration system that classifies offenders based on the offense committed[.]”

State v. J.M., 9th Dist. Summit No. 29874, 2021-Ohio-2668, ¶ 7, citing State v.

Bodyke, 126 Ohio St.3d 266, 2010-Ohio-2424, 933 N.E.2d 753, ¶ 18-28.

R.C. Chapter 2950 presumes that adults who commit certain sexually-oriented

offenses automatically pose a future threat to public safety. Thus, sex offenders are

classified as Tier I, II, or III offenders based solely on the offense committed.

R.C. 2950.01(E)-(G). In turn, the duration of the offender’s obligation to register his

personal information, as well as the frequency with which he must report to

authorities, depends on his level of classification. R.C. 2905.04 through 2950.07.
              A   Tier   III   sex-offender   classification   is   mandatory    under

R.C. 2950.01(G) for those convicted of certain sexually -oriented offenses. Relevant

to this appeal, a person who pleads guilty to rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02 is

automatically classified as a Tier III sex offender. See R.C. 2950.01(G)(1)(a). A Tier

III sex offender is subject to several lifetime requirements and duties as default

sanctions. The sex offender must (1) register in person and verify his or her address

every 90 days; (2) abide by the residency requirements; and (3) submit to

community notification by the appropriate sheriff, all of which are punitive

sanctions. See State v. Williams, 129 Ohio St.3d 344, 2011-Ohio-3374, 952 N.E.2d

1108.

              Preliminarily, we note that Spencer did not object to his sentence, nor

did he raise a constitutional challenge to his classification as a Tier III sex offender

at the sentencing hearing.      “‘It is well established that “the question of the

constitutionality of a statute must generally be raised at the first opportunity and, in

a criminal prosecution, this means in the trial court.”’” State v. Jenkins, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 109323, 2021-Ohio-123, ¶ 21, quoting State v. Alexander, 12th Dist.

Butler No. CA2019-12-204, 2020-Ohio-3838, ¶ 8, quoting State v. Buttery, 162

Ohio St.3d 10, 2020-Ohio-2998, 164 N.E.3d 294, ¶ 7. An appellate court will

generally “‘not consider any error which counsel for a party complaining of the trial

court’s judgment could have called but did not call to the trial court’s attention at

the time such error could have been avoided or corrected by the trial court.’” State

v. Martin, 2016-Ohio-922, 61 N.E.3d 537, ¶ 12 (8th Dist.), quoting State v. Awan,
22 Ohio St.3d 120, 122, 489 N.E.2d 277 (1986). Applying the foregoing, we find

Spencer forfeited the constitutional challenges to the application of adult sex-

offender registration requirements under R.C. Chapter 2950 to him.

              With that stated, however, we recognize that this court has the

discretion to review a forfeited constitutional challenge to a statute for plain error.

State v. Dames, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109090, 2020-Ohio-4991, ¶ 14, citing State

v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-Ohio-4034, 19 N.E.3d 900, ¶ 16. To

demonstrate plain error “we require a showing that there was an error, that the error

was plain or obvious, that but for the error the outcome of the proceeding would

have been otherwise, and that reversal must be necessary to correct a manifest

miscarriage of justice.” Buttery at ¶ 7. The burden of demonstrating plain error is

on the party asserting it. Quarterman at ¶ 16, citing State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St. 3d

502, 2007-Ohio-4642, 873 N.E.2d 306, ¶ 17.

              The constitutional challenges set forth by Spencer in this appeal are

not unique. As previously recognized by this court, “‘once a juvenile offender has

been bound over to adult criminal court, the juvenile is no longer a “child” pursuant

to R.C. 2152.02(C)(4) and is subject to adult penalties.’” State v. Golson, 2017-Ohio-

4438, 93 N.E.3d 238, ¶ 18 (8th Dist.), quoting Martin at ¶ 19 (8th Dist.), citing State

v. Walls, 96 Ohio St.3d 437, 2002-Ohio-5059, 775 N.E.2d 829; State v. Curtis, 3d

Dist. Allen No. 1-15-55, 2016-Ohio-6978, ¶ 72. In this case, Spencer was not

classified as a Tier III sex offender in the juvenile court; but in the adult criminal

court. Once Spencer was transferred to the adult criminal court, he was no longer a
“child” for purposes of juvenile rehabilitation and was lawfully subject to the adult

sex-offender classification. Under analogous circumstances, Ohio courts, including

this court, have routinely held “that an automatic sex offender classification of a

juvenile bound over to the adult court does not constitute cruel and unusual

punishment.” Golson at ¶ 27, citing Martin at ¶ 18-20; see also State v. Stidam,

2016-Ohio-7906, 74 N.E.3d 787 (4th Dist.); State v. Powers, 9th Dist. Summit

No. 30025, 2022-Ohio-2233, ¶ 25 (“This Court cannot conclude that the application

of R.C. 2950.01 et seq. is unconstitutional with respect to Mr. Powers.”).

              At this time, we are bound by the precedent of this court and find no

basis to deviate from our prior conclusions until otherwise directed to do so by the

Ohio Supreme Court. Thus, we find Spencer has not demonstrated plain error.

Because Spencer was no longer a child, the trial court had no discretion and was

required to classify Spencer as a Tier III sex offender as part of his criminal sentence

based on his rape conviction under R.C. 2907.02. R.C. 2950.01(G)(1)(a). Therefore,

even if Spencer had objected to the constitutionality of applying R.C. Chapter 2950

to him, the outcome would not have been different.

              The first assignment of error is overruled.

                               B. Youth Offenders

              In the second assignment of error, Spencer argues the trial court erred

by imposing a prison term without fully discussing or applying the relevant factors

for sentencing youth offenders as adults.
              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. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that an appellate court may increase,

reduce, modify, or vacate and remand a felony sentence if the court clearly and

convincingly finds either that the record does not support the sentencing court’s

findings, or the sentence is otherwise “contrary to law.”

              When formulating a sentence for a criminal offense, a trial court is

directed to consider specific factors outlined under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Under

R.C. 2929.11(A), “the sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the

offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the

offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both.”

Similarly, R.C. 2929.12 contains a lengthy list of factors that must be considered

“regarding the offender, the offense, or the victim” to determine whether the

offender’s conduct is more serious or less serious than conduct normally

constituting the offense and to determine whether the offender is more or less likely

to commit future crimes.

              Significantly, however, “R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 are not fact-finding

statutes and although the trial court must ‘consider’ the factors, it is not required to

make specific findings on the record regarding its consideration of those factors,

even when imposing a more-than-minimum sentence.” State v. Artis, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 111298, 2022-Ohio-3819, ¶ 13, citing State v. Pate, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 109758, 2021-Ohio-1089, ¶ 6. “Indeed, consideration of the factors is presumed
unless the defendant affirmatively shows otherwise.” Id., citing State v. Wright,

2018-Ohio-965, 108 N.E.3d 1109, ¶ 16 (8th Dist.). “Furthermore, a trial court’s

statement in its sentencing journal entry that it considered the required statutory

factors is sufficient to fulfill its obligations under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.” Id.,

citing State v. Sutton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 102300 and 102302, 2015-Ohio-

4074, ¶ 72; State v. Clayton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99700, 2014-Ohio-112, ¶ 9.

              Relevant     to   the   circumstances      presented    in   this   case,

R.C. 2929.19(B)(1)(b), effective on April 12, 2021, requires the trial court to consider

additional mitigating factors when, as here, the offender was under the age of 18 at

the time the subject offense was committed. The statute provides, in relevant part:

      (1) At the sentencing hearing, the court, before imposing sentence, shall
      do all of the following:

      ***

      (b) If the offense was committed when the offender was under eighteen
      years of age, in addition to other factors considered, consider youth and
      its characteristics as mitigating factors, including:

      (i) The chronological age of the offender at the time of the offense and
      that age’s hallmark features, including intellectual capacity,
      immaturity, impetuosity, and a failure to appreciate risks and
      consequences;

      (ii) The family and home environment of the offender at the time of the
      offense, the offender’s inability to control the offender’s surroundings,
      a history of trauma regarding the offender, and the offender’s school
      and special education history;

      (iii) The circumstances of the offense, including the extent of the
      offender’s participation in the conduct and the way familial and peer
      pressures may have impacted the offender’s conduct;
      (iv) Whether the offender might have been charged and convicted of a
      lesser offense if not for the incompetencies associated with youth, such
      as the offender’s inability to deal with police officers and prosecutors
      during the offender’s interrogation or possible plea agreement or the
      offender’s inability to assist the offender’s own attorney;

      (v) Examples of the offender’s rehabilitation, including any subsequent
      growth or increase in maturity during confinement.

              It has been recognized that “the mandate of R.C. 2929.19, that the trial

court consider specific factors, is sufficiently similar to the language of R.C. 2929.11

and R.C. 2929.12.” State v. Spears, 2023-Ohio-187, 305 N.E.3d 1261, ¶ 40 (5th

Dist.). Thus, consistent with the case law governing the trial court’s obligations

under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, the Fifth District has recognized that “the trial court

need not specify findings regarding the factors listed in R.C. 2929.19(B)(1)(b).” Id.,

see also State v. Watson, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 22-COA-027, 2023-Ohio-1469. We

are persuaded by the Fifth District’s analysis. Thus, our review is limited to whether

the record “affirmatively shows the court failed to consider those factors.” Id.

              In this case, the trial court made the following statements on the

record concerning Spencer’s youth:

      Mr. Spencer, I do take into consideration your age, I do take into
      consideration your mental health issues and your life circumstances,
      but the victims were very clear and echoed to this court the second that
      you had the opportunity to escape that mental institution where we’re
      trying to give you rehabilitation, we were trying to work with you, you
      plotted and escaped and then you ran and you hid from the police. And
      you tried to escape even more. Your mother is right. You do know right
      from wrong. And you knew each time this is wrong. And when you
      were using credit cards after raping people and stealing from them,
      there are going to be severe consequences. * * * I cannot believe this
      conduct, 30 years being in this business I cannot believe that your
      conduct and your spree and your buddies going around and
      committing all of these offenses. You’ve ruined so many things, your
      actions not only ruined their lives, ruined your life, they ruined all of
      ours in society. That’s what you’ve done. * * * It’s unconscionable what
      you did.

Tr. 95-96.

              After careful consideration, we find the trial court adequately

complied with its obligation to carefully consider Spencer’s “youth and its

characteristics as mitigating factors” before imposing a sentence. Here, the record

reflects that in formulating Spencer’s sentence, the trial court expressly considered

the circumstances of Spencer’s offenses, as well as Spencer’s individual

circumstances, including his age and maturity, his mental and intellectual capacity,

his home life, and his ability to appreciate the risks and associated consequences of

his conduct. The trial court went on to consider the overriding principles and

purposes of felony sentencing, and “the relevant sentencing guidelines provided in

R.C. 2929.11, 2929.12, 2929.13, as well as 2929.19.” (Tr. 96-97.) Under these

circumstances, we are unable to conclude that Spencer’s sentence is clearly and

convincingly contrary to law.

              The second assignment of error is overruled.

                           C. The Reagan Tokes Law

              In the third assignment of error, Spencer argues the trial court erred

in sentencing him to an indefinite sentence under the Reagan Tokes Law. Spencer

contends that the Reagan Tokes Law violates constitutional guarantees of both

substantive and procedural due process, the separation-of-powers doctrine, and the

right to trial by jury. In State v. Hacker, Slip Opinion No. 2023-Ohio-2535, the Ohio
Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Law.              The

arguments presented in this case do not present novel issues or any new theory

challenging the constitutional validity of any aspect of the Reagan Tokes Law left

unaddressed by the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in Hacker.

              The third assignment of error is overruled.

              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.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, P.J., and
MICHELLE J. SHEEHAN, J., CONCUR