[Cite as State v. Alexander, 2014-Ohio-510.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-130171
TRIAL NO. B-1201830
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
O P I N I O N.
vs. :
WALTER ALEXANDER, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Cause
Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: February 14, 2014
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Rachel Lipman
Curran, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee State of Ohio,
Hastings & Hastings LLC and Robert R. Hastings, Jr., for Defendant-
Appellant.
Please note: this case has been removed from the accelerated calendar.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
D E W INE , Judge.
{¶1} The trial court in this case erred by imposing consecutive
sentences without first making the findings required by law. As a consequence,
we must vacate the sentences and remand for resentencing.
{¶2} Walter Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of sexual
imposition, two counts of attempted rape, and one count of burglary. The trial
court sentenced him to 60 days for sexual imposition and to five years for each of
the remaining three counts. The court ordered that the sentences for attempted
rape be concurrent with each other but consecutive to the sentence for burglary.
The aggregate prison term was 10 years and two months.
{¶3} In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Alexander asserts that the
trial court erred when it imposed consecutive sentences without first having
made the findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). The transcript of the
sentencing hearing demonstrates that while the trial court provided some
explanation for its sentence, it did not make the statutorily-mandated findings.
We therefore sustain the sole assignment of error. We reverse the judgment of
the trial court to the extent that it ordered consecutive sentences. The matter is
remanded so that the trial court can determine whether consecutive sentences
are appropriate and, if so, to make the proper findings on the record. In all other
respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and cause remanded.
D INKELACKER , P.J., and F ISCHER , J., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this
opinion.
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