Court Opinion

ID: 4420864
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-07-29 14:47:52.821078+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:37.388932
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Liles, 2019-Ohio-3029.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                                CASE NO. 1-18-69

        v.

JERRY R. LILES,                                            OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CR2018 0304

                                       Judgment Affirmed

                               Date of Decision: July 29, 2019

APPEARANCES:

        Andrea M. Brown for Appellant

        Jana E. Emerick for Appellee
Case No. 1-18-69

PRESTON, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Jerry R. Liles (“Liles”), appeals the December 11,

2018 judgment of sentence of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. For the

reasons that follow, we affirm.

       {¶2} On July 11, 2018, Liles’s vehicle was stopped by an officer of the Lima

Police Department after the officer observed Liles commit a marked-lanes violation

as he traveled along East Kibby Street in Lima, Ohio. (Doc. No. 2). Following

field-sobriety testing, Liles was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under

the influence of alcohol or drugs (“OVI”). (Id.). After Liles was arrested, an

inventory search of his vehicle uncovered prescription pills located in the center

console. (Id.).

       {¶3} On August 16, 2018, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Liles on two

counts: Count One of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of

abuse, or a combination of them in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), (G)(1)(d), a

fourth-degree felony, and Count Two of aggravated possession of drugs in violation

of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(1)(a), a fifth-degree felony. (Doc. No. 4). Count One of

the indictment included a specification for a mandatory additional prison term for

felony OVI violation under R.C. 2941.1413(A). (Id.). On August 27, 2018, Liles

appeared for arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the counts and specification of

the indictment. (Doc. No. 11).

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       {¶4} A change of plea hearing was held on September 12, 2018. (Doc. No.

17); (Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 1). Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Liles

withdrew his not guilty pleas and pleaded guilty to Counts One and Two. (Doc.

Nos. 16, 17); (Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 19-20). In exchange, the State agreed to

recommend dismissal of the specification to Count One. (Doc. Nos. 16, 17); (Sept.

12, 2018 Tr. at 1-4). The trial court accepted Liles’s guilty pleas, found him guilty,

and ordered a presentence investigation. (Doc. No. 17); (Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 20).

The trial court also dismissed the specification to Count One. (Doc. No. 17); (Sept.

12, 2018 Tr. at 20). A sentencing hearing was scheduled for October 22, 2018.

(Doc. No. 17).

       {¶5} On September 18, 2018, Liles filed a motion to withdraw his guilty

pleas. (Doc. No. 20). In support of his motion, Liles maintained that “he does not

drink or use drugs and thus has a defense to the charge.” (Id.). On November 9,

2018, the State filed a memorandum in opposition to Liles’s motion to withdraw his

guilty pleas. (Doc. No. 25).

       {¶6} A hearing on Liles’s motion to withdraw his guilty pleas was held on

November 16, 2018. (Doc. No. 27); (Nov. 16, 2018 Tr. at 1). On November 21,

2018, the trial court denied Liles’s motion. (Doc. No. 27).

       {¶7} On December 11, 2018, the trial court sentenced Liles to two years of

community control on Count One and two years of community control on Count

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Case No. 1-18-69

Two, to be served concurrently. (Doc. No. 31). The trial court also sentenced Liles

to 66 days in the Allen County Jail with credit for 66 days served. (Id.). Finally,

the trial court ordered Liles to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program,

and it suspended Liles’s driver’s license for three years. (Id.).

         {¶8} Liles filed a notice of appeal on December 18, 2018. (Doc. No. 32).

He raises one assignment of error.

                                        Assignment of Error

         The trial court erred in not allowing defendant-appellant to
         withdraw his guilty plea pursuant to Crim.R. 32.1 when the trial
         court failed to substantially comply with the requirements of
         Crim.R. 11(C)(2).

         {¶9} In his assignment of error, Liles argues that the trial court abused its

discretion by denying his presentence motion to withdraw his guilty pleas.

Specifically, Liles argues that “the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 colloquy * * * evidences

that his change of plea was not made knowingly and intelligently based upon the

trial court’s failure to inform [him] of all of the potential penalties he faced with

respect to the OVI charge.”1 (Appellant’s Brief at 5). He contends that if he had

been properly informed of all of the potential penalties, “he may have elected to not

enter into the plea deal and plead guilty.” (Id. at 10). Thus, he argues, the trial court

abused its discretion by refusing to allow him to withdraw his guilty pleas. (Id.).

1
  Liles does not challenge the sufficiency of the Crim.R. 11 colloquy as it pertains to his plea to the charge
of aggravated possession of drugs. (See Appellant’s Brief at 5). However, he argues that because his “plea
to that charge was part of the negotiated plea deal, [his] plea as to both charges should be vacated.” (Id.).

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Case No. 1-18-69

       {¶10} Crim.R. 32.1 provides a defendant may file a presentence motion to

withdraw a guilty plea. Generally, “presentence motion[s] to withdraw * * * guilty

plea[s] should be freely and liberally granted.” State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St. 3d 521, 527

(1992). However, “[a] defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a

guilty plea prior to sentencing.” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus. As a result, a

“trial court must conduct a hearing to determine whether there is a reasonable and

legitimate basis for the withdrawal of the plea.” Id.

       {¶11} When reviewing a trial court’s denial of a presentence motion to

withdraw a guilty plea, this court considers several factors, including: (1) whether

the withdrawal will prejudice the prosecution; (2) the representation afforded to the

defendant by counsel; (3) the extent of the hearing held pursuant to Crim.R. 11; (4)

the extent of the hearing on the motion to withdraw the plea; (5) whether the trial

court gave full and fair consideration of the motion; (6) whether the timing of the

motion was reasonable; (7) the stated reasons for the motion; (8) whether the

defendant understood the nature of the charges and potential sentences; and (9)

whether the accused was perhaps not guilty or had a complete defense to the

charges. State v. Lane, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-10-10, 2010-Ohio-4819, ¶ 21, citing

State v. Griffin, 141 Ohio App. 3d 551, 554 (7th Dist.2001). “None of the factors is

determinative on its own and there may be numerous additional aspects ‘weighed’

in each case.” State v. North, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-14-18, 2015-Ohio-720, ¶ 16,

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Case No. 1-18-69

citing Griffin at 554 and State v. Fish, 104 Ohio App. 3d 236, 240 (1st Dist.1995),

overruled on other grounds, State v. Sims, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-160856, 2017-

Ohio-8379. See State v. Zimmerman, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 09AP-866, 2010-

Ohio-4087, ¶ 13 (“Consideration of the factors is a balancing test, and no one factor

is conclusive.”), citing Fish at 240.

       {¶12} Ultimately, “[t]he decision to grant or deny a presentence motion to

withdraw a guilty plea is within the sound discretion of the trial court.” Xie at

paragraph two of the syllabus. “Therefore, appellate review of a trial court’s

decision to deny a presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is limited to whether

the trial court abused its discretion.” State v. Keehn, 3d Dist. Henry No. 7-14-05,

2014-Ohio-3872, ¶ 14, citing State v. Nathan, 99 Ohio App. 3d 722, 725 (3d

Dist.1995), citing State v. Smith, 49 Ohio St. 2d 261 (1977). An abuse of discretion

is more than a mere error in judgment; it suggests that a decision is unreasonable,

arbitrary, or unconscionable. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St. 2d 151, 157-158 (1980).

“When applying this standard, a reviewing court may not simply substitute its

judgment for that of the trial court.” Keehn at ¶ 14, citing State v. Adams, 3d Dist.

Defiance No. 4-09-16, 2009-Ohio-6863, ¶ 33.

       {¶13} Although each of the nine factors referenced above are considered

when reviewing a trial court’s denial of a presentence motion to withdraw a guilty

plea, Liles’s argument on appeal is based entirely on the third and eighth factors—

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Case No. 1-18-69

the extent of the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 colloquy and the degree to which the

Crim.R. 11 colloquy aided his understanding of the potential sentences he was

facing. Accordingly, the standards generally governing guilty pleas and Crim.R. 11

colloquies inform our determination of whether the third and eighth factors weigh

in Liles’s favor. See State v. Hill, 7th Dist. Carroll No. 12 CA 881, 2013-Ohio-

2552, ¶ 19-25.

      {¶14} “All guilty pleas must be made knowingly, voluntarily, and

intelligently.” State v. Moll, 3d Dist. Defiance Nos. 4-14-17 and 4-14-18, 2015-

Ohio-926, ¶ 9, citing State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St. 3d 525, 527 (1996). “‘Crim.R.

11(C) is intended to ensure that guilty pleas are entered knowingly, intelligently,

and voluntarily.’” Id., quoting State v. Cortez, 3d Dist. Hancock Nos. 5-07-06 and

5-07-07, 2007-Ohio-6150, ¶ 16, citing State v. Windle, 4th Dist. Hocking No.

03CA16, 2004-Ohio-6827, ¶ 7. Crim.R. 11(C) provides:

      (2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a

      plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest

      without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the

      following:

      (a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily,

      with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum

      penalty involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible

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Case No. 1-18-69

       for probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at

       the sentencing hearing.

       (b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

       understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the

       court, upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and

       sentence.

       (c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant

       understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury

       trial, to confront witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory

       process for obtaining witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to

       require the state to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable

       doubt at a trial at which the defendant cannot be compelled to testify

       against himself or herself.

Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)-(c).     “A trial court must strictly comply with Crim.R.

11(C)(2)(c) and orally advise a defendant before accepting a felony plea that the

plea waives the defendant’s constitutional rights.” State v. Montgomery, 3d Dist.

Putnam No. 12-13-11, 2014-Ohio-1789, ¶ 11, citing State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St. 3d
176, 2008-Ohio-5200, ¶ 31. “‘When a trial court fails to strictly comply with this

duty, the defendant’s plea is invalid.’” Id., quoting Veney at ¶ 31. “A trial court,

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Case No. 1-18-69

however, is required to only substantially comply with the non-constitutional

notifications in Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b).” Id., citing Veney at ¶ 14-17.

        {¶15} Under the substantial-compliance standard, “a slight deviation from

the text of the rule is permissible.” State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St. 3d 239, 2008-Ohio-

3748, ¶ 31. “[S]o long as the totality of the circumstances indicates that ‘the

defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea and the rights he is

waiving,’ the plea may be upheld.” Id., quoting State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St. 3d 106,

108 (1990). “‘Furthermore, a defendant who challenges his guilty plea on the basis

that it was not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made must show a

prejudicial effect. * * * The test is whether the plea would have otherwise been

made.’” Montgomery at ¶ 12, quoting Nero at 108.

        {¶16} Liles argues that the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 colloquy was defective

because the trial court failed to discuss all of the maximum penalties involved for a

fourth-degree felony violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a). The penalties for fourth-

degree felony OVI are spelled out in R.C. 4511.19(G)(1), which provides in relevant

part:

        (d) [A]n offender who, within twenty years of the offense,

        previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to five or more

        violations of [R.C. 4511.19(A) or (B) or other equivalent offenses] is

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Case No. 1-18-69

      guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. The court shall sentence the

      offender to all of the following:

      (i)   If the sentence is being imposed for a violation of [R.C.

      4511.19(A)(1)(a)], * * * in the discretion of the court, either a

      mandatory term of local incarceration of sixty consecutive days in

      accordance with [R.C. 2929.13(G)(1)] or a mandatory prison term of

      sixty consecutive days in accordance with [R.C. 2929.13(G)(2)] if the

      offender is not convicted of and does not plead guilty to [an R.C.

      2941.1413 specification]. If the court imposes a mandatory term of

      local incarceration, it may impose a jail term in addition to the sixty-

      day mandatory term, the cumulative total of the mandatory term and

      the jail term for the offense shall not exceed one year * * *. If the

      court imposes a mandatory prison term * * * it also may sentence the

      offender to a definite prison term that shall be not less than six months

      and not more than thirty months * * *. If the court imposes a

      mandatory prison term or mandatory prison term and additional prison

      term, in addition to the term or terms so imposed, the court also may

      sentence the offender to a community control sanction for the offense,

      but the offender shall serve all of the prison terms so imposed prior to

      serving the community control sanction.

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Case No. 1-18-69

        ***

        (v) In all cases, if the vehicle is registered in the offender’s name,

        criminal forfeiture of the vehicle involved in the offense in accordance

        with [R.C. 4503.234]. * * *

        (vi) In all cases, the court shall order the offender to participate with

        a community addiction services provider authorized by [R.C.

        5119.21], subject to [R.C. 4511.19(I)], and shall order the offender to

        follow the treatment recommendations of the services provider.

R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i), (v)-(vi).2

        {¶17} Liles argues that the trial court’s discussion of the maximum penalties

for fourth-degree felony OVI was deficient in three respects. First, Liles claims that

the trial court failed to adequately explain the maximum penalties possible under

R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i). Second, Liles argues that the trial court failed to inform

him that under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(v), his vehicle would be criminally forfeited.

Finally, Liles contends that in the Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy, the trial court implied

that it had discretion to order him into drug and alcohol treatment when in fact such

treatment was mandatory. We address each of Liles’s contentions in turn.

2
 In addition, R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d) requires that the trial court impose a mandatory fine of $1,350-$10,500
and a mandatory class two license suspension. See R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(iii)-(iv). Here, Liles
acknowledges that “the trial court did advise [him] of the mandatory fine and the mandatory driver’s license
suspension prior to him entering his change of plea.” (Appellant’s Brief at 9).

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Case No. 1-18-69

       {¶18} First, we consider Liles’s argument regarding the trial court’s failure

to fully explain the maximum penalties possible under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i).

Liles argues that the plea colloquy was insufficient because he was not informed

that “an additional jail term could be imposed, in addition to the 60-day local

incarceration term, with the total jail term not to exceed one year.” (Appellant’s

Brief at 8). Furthermore, he contends that he was not informed that if the trial court

“imposed a sixty-day mandatory prison term, that an additional definite term of * *

* not more than thirty months could also be imposed.” (Id.). He notes that he was

instead told that “he could be sentenced to up to thirty months in prison, sixty days

of which was mandatory.”        (Id.).   Finally, Liles argues that the “trial court

incorrectly informed [him] that he could be sentenced to a term of community

control and community control could also include up to a hundred and eighty days

in the local jail.” (Id.).

       {¶19} Liles’s argument is without merit. Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) requires the

trial court to determine whether a defendant is entering his plea with an

understanding of the maximum penalty involved; by its terms, Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)

does not require the trial court to determine whether the defendant is aware of every

lesser penalty that could be imposed. Under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i), one year of

local incarceration was not the maximum penalty Liles was facing. Therefore, the

                                         -12-
Case No. 1-18-69

trial court’s failure to apprise Liles that he could be sentenced to up to one year of

local incarceration does not affect the sufficiency of the Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy.

       {¶20} Furthermore, we find that Liles has not demonstrated that he was

prejudiced by the trial court’s alleged misstatement of the maximum penalty

possible under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i). Liles argues that he was not correctly

instructed that he could be sentenced to a mandatory term of 60 days in prison plus

an additional discretionary definite term of 30 months in prison, resulting in an

aggregate maximum term of approximately 32 months. First, we note that, contrary

to Liles’s interpretation of R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i), there is a long-standing body

of case law holding that the maximum possible sentence for fourth-degree felony

OVI is 30 months in prison, inclusive of the mandatory 60-day prison term. See

State v. Bailey, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2006-G-2734, 2007-Ohio-6160, ¶ 14, citing

State v. Gourley, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2006-01-003, 2007-Ohio-1221, ¶ 14;

State v. Knopf, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 05AP-1201, 2006-Ohio-3806, ¶ 5. However,

Liles’s interpretation of R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i) is not an unreasonable one. Thus,

for the sake of Liles’s argument, we assume without deciding that the maximum

term of imprisonment for fourth-degree felony OVI is 30 months plus 60 days and

that the trial court failed to inform Liles of this fact.

       {¶21} Even so, Liles has failed to demonstrate any prejudice arising from the

trial court’s error. See Bailey at ¶ 15-16. Far from being sentenced to a term of

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Case No. 1-18-69

imprisonment approaching 32 months, Liles received two years of community

control and 66 days of local incarceration, with time-served credit for the entire 66

days. Thus, as Liles’s sentence was less than the actual potential maximum and

well within the maximum as stated by the trial court, Liles did not suffer any actual

prejudice. Id. at ¶ 15 (finding no actual prejudice where the sentence imposed for

fourth-degree felony OVI was “less than the actual maximum potential sentence and

within the limit of the maximum sentence as stated by the trial judge”). “Where the

appellant has failed to demonstrate prejudice and where the sentence imposed does

not exceed the misstated maximum sentence, appellate courts have upheld pleas to

a [fourth-degree felony OVI conviction] despite the appellant being misinformed

about the actual maximum penalty.” Id. at ¶ 16, citing Gourley at ¶ 5-14 and State

v. Tackett, 3d Dist. Shelby No. 17-01-06, 2001 WL 934431, *1-2 (Aug. 17, 2001).

       {¶22} Moreover, Liles incorrectly argues that the trial court erred by

informing him that he could be sentenced to a term of community control, which

could also eventually include up to 180 days’ incarceration.            Under R.C.

2929.13(A)(1), a trial court may impose “an additional community control sanction

or combination of community control sanctions under [R.C. 2929.16 or 2929.17]”

for a fourth-degree felony OVI offense for which sentence is imposed under R.C.

2929.13(G)(1). “If the court imposes upon the offender a community control

sanction and the offender violates any condition of the community control sanction,

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Case No. 1-18-69

the court may take any action prescribed in [R.C. 2929.15(B)] relative to the

offender, including imposing a prison term on the offender pursuant to [R.C.

2929.15(B)].” R.C. 2929.13(A)(1). Under R.C. 2929.15(B)(1)(c)(ii), “for any

technical violation of the conditions of a community control sanction imposed for a

felony of the fourth degree that is not an offense of violence and is not a sexually

oriented offense or for any violation of law committed while under a community

control sanction imposed for such a felony that consists of a new criminal offense

and that is not a felony,” the offender may be given a prison term not exceeding 180

days. Thus, the trial court accurately advised Liles with respect to community

control and potential incarceration in connection with a community control sanction.

Altogether, the trial court’s discussion of the maximum penalties under R.C.

4511.19(G)(1)(d)(i) was not so lacking as to undermine the knowing and voluntary

nature of Liles’s plea.

       {¶23} Next, we consider Liles’s argument that the trial court’s plea colloquy

was deficient because there was no discussion of the criminal vehicle forfeiture

required under R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d)(v). Indeed, the trial court failed to include a

discussion of criminal vehicle forfeiture in its Crim.R. 11 colloquy. However,

because the State did not seek forfeiture of Liles’s vehicle, the trial court did not

actually order Liles’s vehicle forfeited. Where a trial court fails to advise a

defendant of some facet of a maximum penalty but otherwise substantially complies

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with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a), the defendant cannot show prejudice if the trial court does

not actually impose the component of the maximum sentence that it did not discuss.

See State v. Taylor, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101609, 2015-Ohio-1643, ¶ 17-19,

citing State v. Simmons, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 99513 and 100552, 2013-Ohio-

5026, ¶ 7 (finding no prejudice where the trial court failed to advise the defendant

that the trial court could impose a fine but where it did not actually impose a fine).

Therefore, the trial court’s failure to discuss vehicle forfeiture does not impair an

otherwise extensive Crim.R. 11 colloquy.

       {¶24} Finally, we consider Liles’s argument that the Crim.R. 11 colloquy

was defective because the trial court suggested that it had discretion to send Liles to

treatment when such treatment was in fact mandatory. At the change of plea

hearing, the trial court stated that it “could order [Liles] into treatment and

counseling.” (Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 7). Thus, we agree with Liles that the trial

court’s statement implied that it had discretion to order him into treatment and

counseling. Nevertheless, the trial court’s statement ensured that Liles entered his

plea with the knowledge that alcohol and drug treatment was among the maximum

penalties. Liles has failed to demonstrate that he would not have entered his plea

had he known that he would be required to attend counseling. As a result, Liles has

failed to establish that he was prejudiced by the trial court’s misstatement in a

manner that rendered his plea unknowing and unintelligent.

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       {¶25} In sum, although the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 plea colloquy was less

than perfect, the trial court’s advisements were sufficient to put Liles on notice of

most of the maximum penalties and where the trial court’s discussion of a maximum

penalty was inaccurate or absent, Liles was not prejudiced as such penalties were

not actually imposed. Furthermore, the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 colloquy was

otherwise thorough as the trial court discussed the nature of the charges against

Liles, the effect of his guilty pleas, and the full range of constitutional rights he was

waiving by pleading guilty. (See Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 3-5, 11-13). The trial court

also ensured that Liles was not coerced into pleading guilty, that he was not

intoxicated, and that he had the opportunity to confer with his counsel. (Id. at 14-

17). Finally, at the hearing on his motion to withdraw, Liles’s counsel even

acknowledged that the trial court’s Crim.R. 11 colloquy was thorough, and he did

not argue that Liles should be permitted to withdraw his pleas because of flaws in

the colloquy. (Nov. 16, 2018 Tr. at 3). Therefore, we find that the third and eighth

factors do not weigh in Liles’s favor.

       {¶26} However, as indicated above, our review of the trial court’s decision

to deny Liles’s motion to withdraw requires this court to review each of the factors.

We begin by identifying those factors that weigh in Liles’s favor. At the trial court

level, the State conceded that allowing Liles to withdraw his guilty pleas would not

prejudice the prosecution and that Liles’s motion “was made within a reasonable

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time * * *.” (Doc. No. 25). On appeal, the State has not reconsidered this position,

and after examining the record, we have found no cause to second-guess the State’s

concession. Therefore, we find that the first and sixth factors weigh in Liles’s favor.

       {¶27} Yet, we find that the remaining factors do not weigh in Liles’s favor.

As to the second factor, we find that Liles was afforded competent legal

representation throughout the proceedings in the trial court. With respect to the

adequacy of the legal representation provided to Liles, we indulge in a strong

presumption that his trial counsel performed competently. See State v. Calhoun, 86
Ohio St. 3d 279, 289 (1999), citing Vaughn v. Maxwell, 2 Ohio St. 2d 299 (1965) and

State v. Jackson, 64 Ohio St. 2d 107, 110-111 (1980). The record contains no

evidence rebutting this presumption. Instead, the record reflects that Liles received

high-quality legal representation. Liles was represented by counsel both at the

change of plea hearing and at the hearing on his motion to withdraw, and Liles’s

trial counsel actively participated in both hearings. (See Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 2, 21-

22); (See Nov. 16, 2018 Tr. at 2-14). Perhaps most importantly, Liles’s trial

counsel’s efforts during plea negotiations secured Liles a favorable plea agreement.

In exchange for Liles’s guilty pleas, the State agreed to request dismissal of the R.C.

2941.1413(A) specification. (See Doc. Nos. 16, 17); (Sept. 12, 2018 Tr. at 1-4).

The trial court ultimately granted the State’s request, and as a result, Liles avoided

the possibility of a mandatory additional term of one to five years’ imprisonment.

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See R.C. 2941.1413(A).       The favorable negotiated plea agreement is further

evidence that Liles was represented by competent trial counsel. See State v.

Williams, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-18-06, 2018-Ohio-3615, ¶ 13, citing State v.

Ferdinandsen, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-16-08, 2016-Ohio-7172, ¶ 31. Thus, we find

that the second factor does not weigh in Liles’s favor.

       {¶28} In addition, we find that neither the fourth factor nor the fifth factor

weighs in Liles’s favor. In response to Liles’s motion, the trial court conducted a

full, separate hearing. (See Nov. 16, 2018 Tr. at 1). At the hearing, Liles was able

to completely explain his stated reasons for seeking to withdraw his guilty pleas,

and he was able to speak and to present witnesses and other evidence on his behalf.

(See id. at 4-12). At the close of the hearing, the trial court remarked that it had

“already begun to review the transcript of the plea hearing” and that it planned to

“review all the evidence [that had] been presented * * * in light of the law.” (Id. at

14). Five days after the hearing, the trial court issued a thorough six-page decision

outlining the standards governing presentence motions to withdraw guilty pleas,

applying those standards to Liles’s motion to withdraw, and ultimately denying

Liles’s motion after specifically finding that Liles’s “stated reasons for wanting to

withdraw his plea [were] not believable.” (Doc. No. 27). Thus, the trial court

conducted a comprehensive hearing on Liles’s motion, and it gave full and fair

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Case No. 1-18-69

consideration to Liles’s reasons to withdraw his guilty pleas. See Williams at ¶ 14.

Consequently, the fourth and fifth factors do not weigh in Liles’s favor.

       {¶29} Lastly, we consider whether the seventh and ninth factors weigh in

Liles’s favor. In this case, because Liles’s stated reason for seeking to withdraw his

guilty pleas is that he has a defense to the charges against him, we will consider the

seventh and ninth factors together. In his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas, Liles

“maintain[ed] that he does not drink or use drugs and thus has a defense to the

charge[s].” (Doc. No. 20). In rejecting Liles’s stated grounds for his motion to

withdraw, the trial court noted that the “credibility of the assertions in the motion to

withdraw the plea and [Liles’s] protestation of innocence [are] * * * in serious

question.” (Doc. No. 27). The trial court found that Liles’s “stated reasons for

wanting to withdraw his plea are not believable and there is no credible basis to

determine that [Liles] was perhaps not guilty or had a complete defense to the

charges.” (Id.).

       {¶30} The record supports the trial court’s determinations. At the hearing on

his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas, Liles insisted that he does not drink alcohol.

(Nov. 16, 2018 Tr. at 6). He testified that he was a “changed man,” but that he

decided to plead guilty simply because he “wanted to get out” of jail. (Id. at 5).

Liles stated that he wanted to withdraw his guilty pleas so that he could “tell the

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truth” about his sobriety and allow the jury to decide whether he was innocent. (Id.

at 5-6).

       {¶31} However, on cross-examination, Liles admitted that he visited two

bars in Lima on the day of the alleged offense.           (Id. at 8-9).   He further

acknowledged that he consumed one shot of liquor at one of the bars he visited. (Id.

at 9-10). Nevertheless, Liles continued to maintain that he does not drink alcohol.

(Id. at 9-10). Furthermore, although Liles testified that he does not use drugs other

than those prescribed to him, he acknowledged that he was in possession of Vicodin

when his vehicle was stopped. (Id. at 10). Finally, despite conceding that he had

purchased the Vicodin pill from his neighbor, he claimed that he “didn’t use it.” (Id.

at 10-11).

       {¶32} Thus, Liles’s defense and claims of innocence were completely

undermined by his testimony. Although an admission to consuming one shot of

liquor is far from conclusive proof that a person operated a vehicle in violation of

R.C. 4511.19, where a defense to a violation of R.C. 4511.19 is predicated on total

abstinence from drugs or alcohol, evidence of anything less than total abstinence

fatally undercuts that defense. Furthermore, Liles’s claim that he does not use drugs

is completely irrelevant to the charge of aggravated possession of drugs, especially

given that he admitted to purchasing Vicodin from his neighbor.

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       {¶33} “In weighing the ninth factor, ‘the trial judge must determine whether

the claim of innocence is anything more than the defendant’s change of heart about

the plea agreement.’” State v. Davis, 5th Dist. Richland No. 15CA6, 2015-Ohio-

5196, ¶ 19, quoting State v. Davison, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2008-CA-00082, 2008-

Ohio-7037, ¶ 45, citing State v. Kramer, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 01-CA-107, 2002-

Ohio-4176, ¶ 58. “‘A change of heart or mistaken belief about pleading guilty is

not a reasonable basis for withdrawal of a guilty plea.’” State v. Jones, 7th Dist.

Mahoning No. 09 MA 50, 2011-Ohio-2903, ¶ 20, quoting State v. Smith, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 94419, 2010-Ohio-5784, ¶ 9.           Claims of innocence must be

substantiated. North, 2015-Ohio-720, at ¶ 26-27. Here, because the evidence

directly contradicts, rather than substantiates, Liles’s claim of innocence, Liles’s

claim of innocence appears to be more in the nature of a mere change of heart.

Therefore, we find that the seventh and ninth factors do not weigh in Liles’s favor.

       {¶34} In conclusion, although we find that the first and sixth factors weigh

in Liles’s favor, we find that the remaining factors weigh against Liles. Therefore,

we conclude that, based on the totality of the circumstances, Liles did not have a

reasonable and legitimate basis to withdraw his guilty pleas. See Williams, 2018-

Ohio-3615, at ¶ 20, quoting Jones at ¶ 20 (“‘When none of the * * * factors weigh

heavily in the defendant’s favor regarding the presentence withdrawal of a guilty

plea, a strong inference arises that the plea is being withdrawn merely because of a

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change of heart about entering the plea.’”), quoting State v. Moore, 7th Dist.

Columbiana No. 06 CO 74, 2008-Ohio-1039, ¶ 13. Accordingly, we conclude that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Liles’s motion to withdraw his

guilty pleas.

       {¶35} Liles’s assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶36} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                                 Judgment Affirmed

SHAW and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.

/jlr

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