State v. Croom

[Cite as State v. Croom, 2014-Ohio-2315.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO :

Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 25949

v. : T.C. NO. 10CR2215

ANTHONY L. CROOM : (Criminal appeal from
Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :

:
..........

OPINION

Rendered on the 30th day of May , 2014.

..........

CARLEY J. INGRAM, Atty. Reg. No. 0020084, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 301 W.
Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

J. ALLEN WILMES, Atty. Reg. No. 0012093, 7821 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45414
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

..........

DONOVAN, J.

{¶ 1} This matter is before the Court on the Notice of Appeal of Anthony

Croom,
[Cite as State v. Croom, 2014-Ohio-2315.]
filed October 15, 2013. On February 29, 2012, Croom was convicted, following a trial by

jury, of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, and two counts of felonious assault, with

multiple firearm specifications. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole,

plus an additional consecutive three-year term. The trial court ordered Croom to pay

restitution in the amount of $7,757.96 to Mary Hurd, the grandmother of the victim,

Anthony Hurd, and restitution in the amount of $2,534.00 to Thomas Hurd, the victim’s

father. On August 2, 2013, this Court affirmed Croom’s conviction, but found that the trial

court committed plain error in imposing restitution, since there was “no evidence in the

record that the trial court considered Croom’s present or future ability to pay the restitution;

the trial court merely ordered Croom to make restitution.” State v. Croom, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25094, 2013-Ohio-3377, ¶ 95. We note that this Court also determined

that “the trial court erred by assessing the costs of extradition against Croom,” due to his

indigency. Croom, ¶ 98. The record reflects that Croom appealed this Court’s decision to

the Ohio Supreme Court, which declined jurisdiction1. Croom herein appeals from the trial

court’s decision, following a hearing upon remand, to again impose restitution in the amount

of $7,757.96 to Mary Hurd and restitution in the amount of $2,534.00 to Thomas Hurd.

{¶ 2} In remanding the matter for the trial court to re-consider the issue of

restitution, this Court noted as follows:

The State argues that Croom can be employed in an institutional work

program, and that any funds therefrom can be used to pay the restitution. We

conclude that this argument is inconsistent with the requirement of R.C.

1
The record reflects that the Ohio Supreme Court sent a cost bill in the
amount of $113.00 to Croom.
 3

2929.19(B)(5); under this argument, because all inmates can work for pay,

they should automatically be subject to paying restitution. This would render

superfluous the requirement that the trial court determine ability to pay.

Therefore, we conclude that the possibility of working while in prison is one

factor that a trial court can use in determining an inmate’s ability to pay

financial sanctions.

In the case before us, we find no evidence in the record that the trial

court considered Croom’s present or future ability to pay the restitution; the

trial court merely ordered Croom to make restitution. Nothing in the record

suggests that Croom is anything other than a 43-year old indigent without any

assets with which to pay the ordered restitution. The Pre-Sentence

Investigation Report, which Croom declined to participate in, does not set

forth any assets. Nor does the record indicate the level of Croom’s

education. While there is evidence in the record that he has worked as a

“chef” in the past, there is no indication that he had any training or education

in that field. Furthermore, Croom was sentenced to a term of life without

parole, making it unlikely that he will be employed in the future. While it is

possible that he can be employed while in prison, there is nothing in the

record upon which to reach this conclusion. * * *

{¶ 3} The record reflects that counsel was appointed to represent Croom on

September 19, 2013, and a hearing was scheduled for September 24, 2013 on the issue of

restitution. The State filed “State’s Memorandum with Respect to Ability to Pay
 4

Restitution,” which is time-stamped September 23, 2013 2:31:05 PM. The State asserted as

follows:

***

Because inmates are allowed to work in programs and receive

compensation for that work, and also because it has been specifically

contemplated that restitution could be taken from those wages, there is clearly

an ability for a working inmate to make payments towards restitution, even

one who will be incarcerated for the rest of his life.

The defendant began his prison sentence on February 24, 2012. Since

then, he has consistently worked in the prisons as shown by his institutional

summary (Exhibit “A”). Prior to being arrested for the murder of Anthony

Hurd, the evidence at trial showed that the defendant had worked as a chef at

a Bravo restaurant in Indiana. Prior to that, the evidence at trial showed that

this defendant had worked in the Indiana prison system (and this is one of the

ways he came into contact with the various inmates to whom he made

admissions).

The defendant - whose date of birth is December 29, 1968 - appears to

be a healthy 44 year-old man who is able to hold jobs in prison. Even

though he has been sentenced to incarceration for the remainder of his life,

this should not excuse him from paying restitution. In fact, this sentence will

give him plenty of time to contribute to his restitution Order from his wages.

***
[Cite as State v. Croom, 2014-Ohio-2315.]
{¶ 4} Exhibit A is an Institutional Summary Report, dated September 18, 2013. It

lists the jobs Croom has performed, their departments and locations within the Corrections

Reception Center, as well as the start and end dates for each job. The report reflects that

since February 24, 2012, Croom has held the following jobs for varying lengths of time:

“Porter,” “Veg Prep Room Wkr,” “Food Service Worker,” and “Reception.” The report

reflects that Croom was in “Segregation” three times for a total of 26 days.

{¶ 5} Croom filed a “Motion to Waive Imposition of Financial Sanctions,” which

is time-stamped September 23, 2013, 7:10:45 PM. Attached to the motion is a one page

supporting memorandum and Croom’s Affidavit of Indigency, which lists no assets or

income. At the restitution hearing, counsel for Croom stated, “It’s my understanding that

[Croom] gets paid about $17 a month to do this work, and even that right now, he gets none

of it because it goes toward the court costs that have been imposed.” Defense counsel then

directed the court’s attention to State v. Russell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23454,

2010-Ohio-4765, upon which he relied in his motion, and the following exchange occurred:

***

MR. LACHMAN: * * *

So I believe the mandate of the Second District is very clear given a

situation where the Defendant in this case has been sentenced to the rest of

his life in prison. He does not as a matter of law have a present or future

ability to pay, and therefore this Court should not order restitution in this

matter.

THE COURT: Excuse me one second. Ms. Auzene, can you get - -

on my desk there is the Second District’s opinion on this matter.
 6

Mr. Lachman, it would have been real helpful to me if you had given

me a courtesy copy of what you filed because I have not read and I don’t

know exactly what you’re talking about. And the fact that you filed it today

and didn’t give me a copy doesn’t give me much assistance in rendering the

decision.

I did read the decision of the Second District Court of Appeals and it

did - - and my understanding of that was that they ordered me to look at this

Defendant’s apparent present ability to - - apparent present ability in which to

see whether or not - - thank you, but I really don’t have time to read it.

MR. LACHMAN: Your Honor, I was just appointed on this matter

late last week. I apologize.

THE COURT: Well, and I understand that, but, you know.

MR. LACHMAN: I understand.

THE COURT: But you could have helped me if you - - because you

came up here this morning before we took a break. I had time. I could have

read this. I could have digested it and I could have not been making a

decision off, you know, from the hip at this point, you know. And it just

doesn’t help me when you cite from something you filed and didn’t let me

know about.

MR. LACHMAN: Sorry, Your Honor.

THE COURT: I mean that’s, you know, I can look through it, but

the Second District told me that we needed to review the Defendant’s
 7

apparent present ability to earn money. It’s my understanding that this

Defendant is still at the corrections reception center because of his abilities.

And to earn money, he’s got various jobs. That’s what the State has

provided me showing that he’s had various jobs and has elected that that’s

what he wants to do, so he is working. He has the ability to earn money.

A jury has decided that this Defendant did commit the homicide of

which I find to be a very intentional and brutal act. And I think that the

family is entitled to have some kind of restitution for economic loss.

So based upon the fact that the Defendant has an apparent present

ability to earn money, albeit not as much as he might like to, and the fact that

he has - - appears to be of sound body and has no exhibiting of any injuries

and is able to work, the Court is going to affirm everything in the termination

entry, but order that the Defendant must pay complete restitution for

economic loss to Mary Hurd, H-U-R-D, in the amount of $7,757.96 and to

Thomas A. Hurd for economic loss in the amount of $2,534.00 based on his

present and future ability to pay.

MR. LACHMAN: Your Honor, if I may, I just - - can we just - - the

record clarify that the document provided by the State does not indicate how

much he gets paid?

THE COURT: I’m sorry.

MR. LACHMAN: Can we clarify - - can we just make that the record

does reflect - -
 8

THE COURT: Defendant’s motion does reflect that amount.2 The

Defendant’s - -

MR. LACHMAN: No, no, no. My point is that you talk about that

you have a report. It doesn’t show what he makes. And I think that is a

relevant analysis (sic) just to say he works.

THE COURT: Well, the fact that he works means that he should be

able to pay for the wrong that he did. It was an intentional act. He chose to

kill someone. He came from Indiana and did this horrible act. And I’m

saying he should pay for it. And he’s working, so restitution should be

ordered.

***

{¶ 6} Croom asserts one assignment of error herein as follows:

“THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR AND ABUSED ITS

DISCRETION BY CONCLUDING THAT APPELLANT HAD THE PRESENT OR

FUTURE ABILITY TO PAY RESTITUTION HEREIN.”

{¶ 7} We initially note that on February 28, 2014, the State filed a “Motion for

Leave to Exceed Page Limitation,” and the supporting memorandum thereof provides in part

that in “order to respond to all of Appellant’s arguments, counsel for the State has not been

able to prepare a brief that does not exceed twenty-five pages in length.” This Court

granted the State’s motion. The State’s subsequently filed 33 page brief, however, is a copy

2
The trial court indicated that she did not read Croom’s motion. Neither it
nor the State’s motion indicate Croom’s earnings.
 9

of the brief the State filed in Croom’s direct appeal; it is addressed to the ten initial

assignments of error that Croom raised therein. We note that on direct appeal, Croom’s

tenth assignment of error was addressed in part to the issue of restitution, which resulted in

the remand. Thus, we are at a loss as to why the State filed essentially the same brief a

second time, addressing primarily assignments of error we had previously overruled, rather

than producing a new brief addressing the current solitary assignment of error. We

discourage the State from engaging in this practice in the future, since the practical effect

herein is that no responsive brief has been filed by the State.

{¶ 8} R.C. 2929.18(A)(1) permits a trial court to order an offender to pay

restitution to a victim's survivors to compensate for the victim's economic loss. R.C.

5145.16(A) provides: “The department of rehabilitation and correction shall establish work

programs in some form for as many prisoners as possible who are in the custody of the

department * * * .” R.C. 5145.16(C) provides that the department of rehabilitation and

correction “* * * in establishing and administering the work programs * * *” may “(8)

Allocate the earnings of the prisoners” with “(b) Up to twenty-five percent of the earnings

to be distributed * * * (i) To the victims of the prisoner’s offenses for restitution.” Ohio

Adm Code 5120-3-01(B) provides that “Inmate labor opportunities and job assignments fall

within the following categories: (1) ‘Inmate labor assignment’ * * *(2) ‘Private employment’

* * * (3) ‘OPI assignments’ * * * (4) ‘Work program assignments’ * * * .” Ohio Adm.

Code 5120-3-01 contemplates full-time, part time, and temporary assignments. Ohio

Adm. Code 5120-3-08 governs inmate compensation for work program assignments and

related matters, and it identifies seven inmate categories, each with a corresponding
 10

compensation rate. The rates range from zero to $24.00 dollars a month.

{¶ 9} As he did below, Croom asserts that the matter herein is analogous to

Russell. Therein, this Court concluded that the trial court erred in ordering restitution of

more than $15,000.00 without considering Russell’s ability to pay it. This Court noted:

* * * Under R.C. 2929.19(B)(6), a trial court must consider an

offender’s present and future ability to pay before imposing a financial

sanction such as restitution. “The trial court does not need to hold a hearing

on the issue of financial sanctions, and there are no express factors that the

court must take into consideration or make on the record.” State v. Culver,

160 Ohio App.3d 172, 826 N.E.2d 367, 2005-Ohio-1359, ¶ 57. A trial court

need not even state that it considered an offender’s ability to pay. State v.

Parker, Champaign App. No. 03CA0017, 2004-Ohio-1313, ¶ 42. However,

the record should contain some evidence that the trial court considered the

offender’s ability to pay. In Parker, we upheld financial sanctions where the

record included documentation of a defendant’s financial affairs, including a

presentence investigation report, and the record demonstrated that the trial

court had considered the report for sentencing purposes.

* * * With regard to Russell’s present ability to pay, the record

contains no testimony about his having any significant assets. He was living

in an apartment at the time of the instant offenses, and he was working as a

barber in California at the time of his arrest. He filed an affidavit of indigency

in the proceedings below, and he was represented by the Ohio Public
 11

Defender’s office. Although a presentence investigation report was filed in

this case, it contains no additional information about Russell’s financial

affairs. Therefore, nothing in the record supports an inference3 that the trial

court considered his present ability to pay restitution of more than $15,000.

With regard to Russell’s future ability to pay, trial testimony

established that he once operated his own barber shop. Moreover, the record

reflects that the trial court considered the presentence investigation report at

sentencing. The report indicated that Russell was twenty-nine years old at

the time of the instant offenses. It further indicated that he was a licensed

barber. The report also revealed that Russell had obtained a GED and had

completed one and one-half years of college. Finally, the report

characterized him as being in good physical and mental health. While these

facts suggest that Russell might be employable, we note that he received a

sentence of forty and one-half years to life in prison. As a result, Russell

will be approximately seventy years old, at least, if he ever has the good

fortune to be released from prison. In light of this fact, we cannot infer that

the trial court considered Russell’s future ability to pay when it ordered

restitution of more than $15,000. Cf. State v. Napper, Ross App. No.

06CA2885, 2006-Ohio-6614, ¶ 16 (reversing a restitution order where it was

3
“Where the trial court fails to make an explicit finding on a defendant's
relative ability to pay, this court has observed that a trial court's consideration of
this issue may be ‘inferred from the record under appropriate circumstances.’ * *
*.” State v. Rose, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24196, 2011-Ohio-3616, ¶ 11.
 12

unclear how a defendant with no assets and a prison sentence of fifty-one

years to life would have the ability to pay). * * * Russell, ¶ 62-64.

{¶ 10} In State v. Garrett, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25426, 2013-Ohio-3035, this

Court reversed and vacated a restitution order where Garrett received a 16 year sentence, to

be served concurrently to an aggregate term of 30 years to life that was imposed in another

matter. The restitution ordered was in the amount of $1,274.00, and the trial court

acknowledged at sentencing that “‘it’s a lot of speculation’ regarding Garrett’s future ability

to pay.” Id., ¶ 9. This Court reasoned as follows: “While the State asserts that ‘Garrett will

have the opportunity to earn wages for work while in the institution, and approved sources

may deposit funds into his account,’ from which restitution may be paid, this argument is

highly speculative and ignores the statutory mandate in R.C. 2929.19(B)(5) that the trial

court determine ability to pay.” Id.

{¶ 11} This Court herein remanded this matter to the trial court to reconsider the

issue of restitution, namely Croom’s present and future ability to pay it. The transcript

reflects that the trial court considered Exhibit A in imposing restitution, and its judgment

entry of conviction provides that it considered the presentence investigation report. Exhibit

A reflects that Croom had multiple work program assignments. It does not, however, set

forth the amount of compensation that Croom received or his inmate category, nor does it

indicate whether his jobs were full time or part time. Croom was not receiving pay while in

segregation. Defense counsel indicated his “understanding that [Croom] gets paid about

$17 a month to do this work, and even that right now, he gets none of it because it goes

toward the court costs that have been imposed.”
 13

{¶ 12} The presentence investigation report provides, “[i]n light of Mr. Croom’s

unwillingness to participate in the PSI interview, a PSI report could not be completed.” The

report provides that Croom’s adult felony record includes an eight year sentence in 1987

for forgery and burglary; a 160 month sentence in 1994 for possession of a firearm by a

felon, and that his subsequent supervised release was revoked due to a parole violation,

resulting in an 18 month sentence; and that he was sentenced to a six year term in 2007 for

possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. The report contains no information about

Croom’s level of education, assets, employment history, work experience, or physical and

mental health. In other words, nothing in the report suggests that Croom has a present and

future ability to pay restitution.

{¶ 13} We additionally note that the trial court’s decision seems to be based at

least in part on the nature of Croom’s offense and the Hurds’ economic loss, and not

Croom’s ability to pay; the trial court found the homicide “to be a very intentional and brutal

act,” and noted that “the family is entitled to have some kind of restitution for economic

loss.” The court further again stressed that the offense “was an intentional act. He chose to

kill someone. He came from Indiana and did this horrible act. And I’m saying he should

pay for it.” Croom’s mens rea, the Hurds’ economic loss, and the fact that Croom traveled

from another jurisdiction to commit his offense here have no bearing on Croom’s present

and future ability to pay restitution in the amount of $10, 291.96. Most significantly, in the

course of chastising defense counsel regarding his purported failure to timely provide her

with a “courtesy copy” of his motion, the trial court indicated that she did not “have time to

read” the short motion, that she did not know what defense counsel was talking about when
 14

he discussed Russell, and that accordingly, she was making her decision “from the hip at this

point.”

{¶ 14} Finally, we conclude that our decision herein is not inconsistent with this

Court’s decision in State v. Fischer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25618, 2013-Ohio-4817.

Therein, this Court affirmed an order of restitution in the amount of $6,025.18, imposed

upon a defendant serving a sentence of fifty years. There was no suggestion in Fischer, as

here, that the trial court’s decision imposing restitution was based upon factors that bore no

relation to his present and future ability to pay, nor that the trial court admittedly and

arbitrarily rendered judgment “from the hip.” As noted by the Fourth District, “courts have

no discretion to apply an improper analysis or process in deciding an issue even where they

may have discretion in the ultimate decision of the merits.” State v. Haney, 180 Ohio

App.3d 554, 2009-Ohio-149, 906 N.E.2d 472 (4th Dist.). An “[a]buse of discretion” has

been defined as an attitude that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Huffman v.

Hair Surgeons, Inc., 19 Ohio St.3d 83, 482 N.E.2d 1248 (1985). A decision is unreasonable

if there is no sound reasoning process that would support that decision. AAAA Enterprises,

Inc. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 553 N.E.2d

597 (1990); Feldmiller v. Feldmiller, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24989, 2012-Ohio-4621, ¶

7. It seems incongruous to find that appellant could afford to make restitution in the amount

of $10,291.96 but is indigent and unable to pay court costs. We note no court costs were

assessed. No indication appears in the record that appellant has an independent external

means of support. As in Garrett, Croom faces a life sentence with no probability of release,

and we note that the amount of restitution imposed on Croom is much greater than that
 15

imposed upon Garrett. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the trial court’s decision

is not supported by a sound reasoning process, and that the court accordingly abused its

discretion in imposing restitution.

{¶ 15} Croom’s assigned error is sustained, and the court’s restitution order is

reversed and vacated. The matter is remanded to the trial court for the sole purpose for the

trial court to enter an order vacating restitution.

..........

FAIN, J., concurs.

HALL, J., concurring in judgment by separate opinion:

{¶ 16} In this case, on this record, I concur in judgment.

{¶ 17} Nevertheless, I suggest that the result here should not be considered as a

signal that an offender serving a very long prison term will inevitably be absolved from

having to pay restitution to the victim of his or her offense. Prisoners can work, even

though their compensation is very modest. Furthermore, the amount they may be required to

pay toward restitution is already limited by Ohio Administrative Code Section

5120-3-09(A)(2) which provides that: “Up to twenty-five per cent of the net earnings may be

used for restitution of the victim(s) of the inmate's offense(s), if the inmate voluntarily

requests or is under court order to make restitution.” Therefore, just because an offender is

serving a very long prison sentence does not automatically result in an exclusion from the

obligation to pay restitution.

..........

Copies mailed to:
 16

Carley J. Ingram
J. Allen Wilmes
Hon. Frances E. McGee