Court Opinion

ID: 2764461
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-24 15:07:29.734655+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:37.434864
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Cason, 2014-Ohio-5676.]

                           STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY

                                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                )
                                              )   CASE NO. 13 JE 37
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                   )
                                              )
        - VS -                                )         OPINION
                                              )
CARL J. CASON, Jr.,                           )
                                              )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.                  )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                         Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas
                                                  Court, Case Nos. 13 CR 140 and
                                                  13 CR 141

JUDGMENT:                                         Sentence Affirmed in Part;
                                                  Reversed and Remanded In Part
                                                  for Determination of Costs.

APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee:                           Attorney Jane Hanlin
                                                  Prosecuting Attorney
                                                  Attorney Frank J. Bruzzese
                                                  Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                  16001 State Route 7
                                                  Steubenville, OH 43952

For Defendant-Appellant:                          Attorney Timothy Young
                                                  Office of the Ohio Public Defender
                                                  Attorney Valerie Kunze
                                                  Assistant State Public Defender
                                                  250 E. Broad Street, Suite 1400
                                                  Columbus, OH 43215

JUDGES:
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
                                                  Dated: December 18, 2014
[Cite as State v. Cason, 2014-Ohio-5676.]
DeGenaro, P.J.
        {¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Carl Cason, Jr. appeals the October 10, 2013
judgment of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas asserting the trial court
erred when it failed to address court costs in open court but imposed them in the
sentencing entry. Because Cason's argument is meritorious, the trial court's judgment
is reversed and the matter remanded for the trial court to conduct a limited
resentencing hearing to address the issue of court costs.
        {¶2} In his sole assignment of error, Cason asserts:
        {¶3} "The trial court erred when it failed to address the imposition of court costs
in open court, but included such costs in the sentencing entry. R.C. 2949.092."
        {¶4} The trial court found Cason was indigent. Despite that finding, Cason
asserts the trial court stated at the sentencing hearing that it would not impose
restitution and fines, but then imposed court costs in the sentencing entry, which was
not addressed in open court. The State concedes the error and the validity of this
argument based upon a series of Ohio cases.
        {¶5} In State v. White, 103 Ohio St. 3d 580, 2004-Ohio-5989, 817 N.E.2d 393
the Court held that R.C. 2947.23 requires a trial court to assess costs against all criminal
defendants, and to do so even if the defendant is indigent. Id. at ¶8. "A trial court may
waive the payment of court costs only upon statutory authority and only if the defendant
moves for waiver of costs at the time of sentencing." State v. Clevenger, 114 Ohio St. 3d
258, 2007-Ohio-4006, 871 N.E.2d 589, ¶11. However, "a court errs in imposing court
costs without so informing a defendant in court, but that the error does not void the
defendant's entire sentence. Instead, upon remand, the trial court must address the
defendant's motion for waiver of payment of court costs." State v. Joseph, 125 Ohio
St.3d 76, 2010-Ohio-954, 926 N.E.2d 278, ¶1.
        {¶6} As the trial court did not address court costs at the sentencing hearing and
deprived Cason with the opportunity to move for a waiver, Cason's assignment of error
is meritorious.
                                                                                       -2-

       {¶7} Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court regarding court costs is
reversed, and the matter is remanded for the trial court to conduct a limited resentencing
hearing on the issue of court costs and potential waiver of same.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
Vukovich, J., concurs.