[Cite as State v. Shepherd, 2012-Ohio-5415.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 97962
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
ELIJAH SHEPHERD
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED;
SENTENCE VACATED IN PART;
REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-550339
BEFORE: Boyle, P.J., Jones, J., and Kilbane, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: November 21, 2012
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
John T. Castele
614 West Superior Avenue
Suite 1310
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Ma’rion D. Horhn
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, P.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Elijah Shepherd, appeals his conviction and sentence.
He raises six assignments of error for our review:
[1.] The defendant was deprived of his right to a speedy trial as
guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution, and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
[2.] The trial court erred in allowing recorded telephone
conversations into evidence without the recordings being properly
authenticated.
[3.] Defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel by the
failure of defense counsel to request an instruction on the inferior degree
offense of aggravated assault or present an argument for self-defense.
[4.] The trial court erred when it received a jury question and
answered it without consulting counsel and outside the presence of
defendant.
[5.] The defendant’s sentence was contrary to law in that the
defendant claims he was given a much longer sentence for rejecting a plea
bargain and exercising his right to a jury trial.
[6.] The defendant was deprived [of] his right to a fair trial by the
cumulative effect of all errors, even if any one of those errors may be ruled
as harmless.
{¶2} After a review of the record and pertinent law, we affirm Shepherd’s
convictions, but find his sentence to be contrary to law in part. We vacate those portions
of his sentence that are contrary to law.
Procedural History and Factual Backround
{¶3} On May 24, 2011, Shepherd was indicted on three counts: two counts of
felonious assault, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and (A)(2), with one- and three-year
firearm specifications, and one count of having a weapon while under a disability, in
violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(3). The indictment arose from allegations that on the night
of January 29, 2011, Shepherd shot Gregory Dotson at the Spot II Lounge after the two
got into an argument over $100.
{¶4} After failed plea negotiations, Shepherd waived his right to a jury trial on
the charge of having a weapon while under a disability, and that count was tried to the
court. The remaining charges were tried to a jury, where the following facts were
presented.
{¶5} The state presented six witnesses: (1) Dotson, the victim; (2) Michael
Stewart, a security worker at the Spot II Lounge, where the shooting took place; (3)
Racquel Jernigan, Dotson’s fiancée who was at the bar with Dotson on the night of the
shooting; (4) Aaron Reese, a police officer who responded to the scene; (5) Michael Hale,
a detective assigned to the case; and (6) Jeffrey Ustin, a doctor who treated Dotson at
MetroHealth Hospital.
{¶6} Dotson testified that he had been friends with Shepherd for 16 years, since
they were children. In January 2011, Dotson sold drugs for a living. Sometime near
the end of January, Dotson sold Shepherd “a bad package” of crack cocaine for $1,100.
Shepherd wanted his money back. Dotson agreed that the crack was not good and
agreed to give Shepherd his money back. Shepherd sent a woman to get his money from
Dotson. Dotson said he gave the woman $1,100 to give to Shepherd, but Shepherd said
that he only received $1,000. Dotson and Shepherd argued over the $100, but Dotson
ultimately agreed to give Shepherd another $100 because they were friends. Dotson did
not give Shepherd the $100 at that point.
{¶7} The next time Dotson saw Shepherd was a few days later, on January 29,
2011, at the Spot II Lounge. Dotson went to the bar with Jernigan and her cousin.
Dotson shook Shepherd’s hand, and Shepherd asked Dotson for the $100. Dotson said
that he only had about $50 to $75 on him, so he told Shepherd to come to his house to get
the money when they left the bar. Shepherd told Dotson that he did not have a way to
get to Dotson’s house.
{¶8} Dotson walked to the other side of the bar to order a couple of drinks.
Shepherd approached Dotson again, and said, “[y]ou ordering drinks, but you can’t give
me the $100.” At that point, Dotson and Shepherd began arguing about the money.
Dotson walked outside to have a cigarette. Shepherd followed Dotson outside. Dotson
said there were also other people outside who he did not know. According to Dotson,
Shepherd was “making everybody in an uproar.” Dotson got angry that everyone was
giving him advice and that Shepherd was making a big deal out of $100. Dotson asked
Shepherd if he had his gun on him; Shepherd replied that he did not. Dotson then asked
Shepherd if he wanted to fight him “over [the] $100.” As Dotson approached Shepherd
to fight him, Shepherd shot Dotson. Dotson said that Shepherd “wasn’t even three arm
reach” from him when Shepherd shot him. Shepherd shot Dotson two times, in his leg
and his abdomen. Dotson said that as he tried to stand, his leg broke. Jernigan took
Dotson to the hospital.
{¶9} Stewart testified that he provided security at the Spot II Lounge on
weekends. He was outside the bar when Dotson and Shepherd began fighting. He
heard Dotson ask Shepherd if he had a gun and heard Shepherd reply that he did not have
a gun. Stewart saw Dotson take off his coat and run toward Shepherd. When Dotson
got approximately one foot from Shepherd, Stewart saw Shepherd shoot Dotson.
{¶10} Jernigan testified that she went to the bar with Dotson and her cousin. She
heard Dotson and Shepherd fighting and heard the shots, but she did not see Shepherd
shoot Dotson. Jernigan said that Dotson told her that Shepherd shot him.
{¶11} The jury found Shepherd guilty of two counts of felonious assault with the
firearm specifications, and the trial court found him guilty of having a weapon while
under a disability. The trial court merged the felonious assault counts and sentenced
Shepherd to seven years for felonious assault, three years for the firearm specifications,
and three years for having a weapon while under a disability, all to be served
consecutively, for an aggregate sentence of 13 years in prison. The trial court further
notified Shepherd that he would be subject to five years of mandatory postrelease control
upon his release from prison. We note that five years of postrelease control is incorrect.
Shepherd should have received three years of mandatory postrelease control under R.C.
2967.28 (we will address this issue in Shepherd’s fifth assignment of error where he
challenges his sentence). It is from this judgment that Shepherd appeals.
Speedy Trial
{¶12} In his first assignment of error, Shepherd contends that his constitutional
and statutory speedy trial rights were violated.
{¶13} The right to a speedy trial is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution, made obligatory on the states by the
Fourteenth Amendment. The Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section 10, guarantees an
accused this same right. State v. MacDonald, 48 Ohio St.2d 66, 68, 357 N.E.2d 40
(1976). Although the United States Supreme Court declined to establish the exact
number of days within which a trial must be held, it recognized that states may prescribe a
reasonable period of time consistent with constitutional requirements. Barker v. Wingo,
407 U.S. 514, 523, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). In response to this authority,
Ohio enacted R.C. 2945.71, which designates specific time requirements for the state to
bring an accused to trial.
{¶14} When reviewing a speedy trial question, the appellate court must count the
number of delays chargeable to each side and then determine whether the number of days
not tolled exceeded the time limits under R.C. 2945.71. State v. Barnett, 12th Dist. No.
CA2002-06-011, 2003-Ohio-2014, ¶ 7. Further, this court must construe the statutes
strictly against the state when reviewing the legal issues in a speedy trial claim.
Brecksville v. Cook, 75 Ohio St.3d 53, 55, 661 N.E.2d 706 (1996).
{¶15} The time to bring a defendant to trial can be extended for any of the reasons
enumerated in R.C. 2945.72, including (1) “[a]ny period of delay occasioned by the
neglect or improper act of the accused,” (2) “any period of delay necessitated by reason of
a plea in bar or abatement, motion, proceeding, or action made or instituted by the
accused,” or (3) “the period of any continuance granted on the accused’s own motion, and
the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own
motion.” R.C. 2945.72(D), (E), and (H).
{¶16} R.C. 2945.71(C)(2) provides that a person against whom a felony charge is
pending shall be brought to trial within 270 days after the person’s arrest. For purposes
of computing time under R.C. 2945.71(C)(2), each day the accused is held in jail in lieu
of bail on the pending charge shall be counted as three days. See R.C. 2945.71(E). This
“triple-count” provision reduces a defendant’s speedy trial time to 90 days if the
defendant is incarcerated the entire time preceding trial. State v. Dankworth, 172 Ohio
App.3d 159, 2007-Ohio-2588, 873 N.E.2d 902, ¶ 31 (2d Dist.). Shepherd was in held in
jail in lieu of bond during the pendency of his case and, thus, the triple-count provision
applies.
{¶17} Shepherd was arrested on May 12, 2011. Generally, when computing how
much time has run against the state under R.C. 2945.71, we begin with the day after the
accused was arrested. State v. Broughton, 62 Ohio St.3d 253, 260, 581 N.E.2d 541
(1991). Thus, Shepherd’s speedy trial time began to run on May 13, 2011.
{¶18} Fifteen days passed until the first tolling event, which occurred on May 27,
when Shepherd filed a demand for discovery. While the speedy-trial clock is not tolled
indefinitely by such a motion, it is tolled for a reasonable time. State v. Sanchez, 110
Ohio St.3d 274, 2006-Ohio-4478, 853 N.E.2d 283, ¶ 27. The state responded on June 6,
2011, well within a reasonable time. Thus, Shepherd’s speedy trial time was tolled for
those ten days, bringing Shepherd’s speedy trial time to 25 days.
{¶19} The state also moved for discovery on the same day it responded to
Shepherd’s motion. Shepherd never responded to the state’s discovery request. “The
failure of a criminal defendant to respond within a reasonable time to a prosecution
request for reciprocal discovery constitutes neglect that tolls the running of speedy-trial
time pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(D).” State v. Palmer, 112 Ohio St.3d 457,
2007-Ohio-374, 860 N.E.2d 1011, paragraph one of the syllabus. What is a reasonable
amount of time, however, is for the trial court to determine based on the particular
circumstances of the case. Id. at paragraph three of the syllabus. Nonetheless, it is not
necessary for us to remand to the trial court because we will not toll any time against him
for not responding to the state’s motion; but other events toll the time. See State v.
Ferrell, 8th Dist. No. 93003, 2010-Ohio-2882, ¶ 30.
{¶20} On June 7, the docket indicates that a pretrial was held and continued to
June 16 at the request of defendant. Thus, Shepherd’s speedy trial time was tolled during
this time, and as of June 16, Shepherd’s speedy trial time remained at 25 days.
{¶21} On June 9, Shepherd filed a pro se “motion to deny consent to any
continuances at defendant’s request and to move this court to set a trial date.” He filed
several other pro se motions throughout the pendency of his case. A defendant who is
represented by counsel, however, is not permitted to file pro se motions. State v. Lenard,
8th Dist. Nos. 96975 and 97570, 2012-Ohio-1636, fn. 1, citing State v. Dudas, 11th Dist.
Nos. 2007-L-140 and 2007-L-141, 2008-Ohio- 3262, ¶ 92. Thus, Shepherd’s pro se
motions do not toll his speedy trial time (although as of June 7, his speedy trial time was
being tolled due to his request for a continuance until June 16). Further, “[a] defendant’s
right to be brought to trial within the time limits expressed in R.C. 2945.71 may be
waived by his counsel for reasons of trial preparation and the defendant is bound by the
waiver even though the waiver is executed without his consent.” State v. McBreen, 54
Ohio St.2d 315, 376 N.E.2d 5 (1978), syllabus.
{¶22} On June 16, a pretrial was held and continued to June 23 at the request of
defendant. On June 23, a pretrial was held and continued to July 12 at the request of
defendant. On July 12, a pretrial was held and continued to August 1 at the request of
the defendant. On August 1, however, there is no journal entry indicating that the trial
court held a pretrial. Thus, defendant’s speedy trial time was tolled up to August 1.
Time is charged against the state for ten days, from August 1 to August 10, bringing
Shepherd’s speedy trial time to 35 days.
{¶23} The docket indicates that on August 10, which was the trial date, the state
requested a continuance until August 30 to compel a witness to appear. Dotson, the
state’s main witness, failed to appear for trial, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A
motion to continue that is filed by the state may toll speedy trial time so long as the trial
record affirmatively demonstrates the necessity for a continuance and the reasonableness
thereof. State v. Myers, 97 Ohio St.3d 335, 2002-Ohio-6658, 780 N.E.2d 186, ¶ 41. A
prosecuting attorney’s motion to continue based on the unavailability of a witness acts to
extend the speedy trial provisions if the length of the delay is reasonable. We conclude
that the prosecutor’s request for a continuance and the length of delay were both
reasonable and act to toll Shepherd’s speedy trial time.
{¶24} On August 30, the docket indicates that the trial court held a pretrial. But it
simply states “Nunc pro tunc entry as of and for 08/01/2011. Pretrial held 08/30/2011.
Trial set for 08/10/2011 at 09:00 a.m. at the request of defendant.” This entry is not
clear. If the trial court was attempting to place an entry on the docket for August 1, it
could not do so. A nunc pro tunc order that a court later enters on the docket cannot
relate back to an earlier date because an order nunc pro tunc is not available to make the
record reflect orders the court should have made but did not. State v. Robinson, 2d Dist.
No. 2007-CA-32, 2008-Ohio-2897, ¶ 14.
{¶25} The next docket entry is August 31. Thus, we will count one day toward
Shepherd’s speedy trial time for August 30 because the court did not indicate what
occurred on August 30, if anything (it had been the date the trial was supposed to occur
after the state’s request to compel its witness). As of August 31, Shepherd’s speedy trial
time was 36 days.
{¶26} On August 31, the trial court held a hearing. The docket indicates that the
state was prepared to go to trial, but the trial court granted defense counsel’s motion to
withdraw as Shepherd’s counsel. The trial court then appointed new counsel for
Shepherd, and the case was continued at the request of defendant to September 15.
Speedy trial time is tolled by any period of delay necessitated by the accused’s lack of
counsel, provided that such delay is not occasioned by any lack of diligence in providing
counsel to an indigent accused upon his request as required by law. R.C. 2945.72(C).
Ferrell, 8th Dist. No. 93003, 2010-Ohio-2882, at ¶ 37.
{¶27} Shepherd argues that the trial court abused its discretion in appointing new
counsel because he objected to new counsel being appointed. But the record reflects that
Shepherd did not object to new counsel being appointed as he claims. Defense counsel
made his oral request to withdraw, stating that he and Shepherd had irreconcilable
differences. The trial court asked Shepherd if he objected. Shepherd replied, “[i]f I
object, then what?” The trial court explained what could happen if Shepherd objected.
The trial court then asked Shepherd if he had any other questions. Shepherd replied that
he did not. The trial court then granted defense counsel’s motion to withdraw, which
was entirely within its discretion to do so. State v. Griffin, 2d Dist. No. 24001,
2012-Ohio-503, ¶ 12, citing State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 516, 747 N.E.2d 765 (2001).
{¶28} The docket further indicates that Shepherd’s new defense counsel filed a
series of discovery motions on September 2. The state did not respond until November.
Again, Shepherd’s speedy trial time was tolled for a reasonable amount of time, which is
30 days, as we stated previously. Thus, Shepherd’s speedy trial time was tolled until
October 2.
{¶29} Further, Shepherd requested to continue a scheduled pretrial six more times:
on September 15, September 20, September 28, October 18, November 2, and November
21 (continued to the date of trial). During this time, all time was tolled due to
Shepherd’s continuances except from October 11 (when there is no docketed entry
continuing the pretrial) to October 18 (the next docketed pretrial). For this time, seven
days is charged to the state, bringing Shepherd’s speedy trial time to 43 days. The
November 21 continuance took Shepherd’s case up to the date of his trial in December.
{¶30} Accordingly, we conclude that Shepherd’s statutory speedy trial rights were
not violated as it was well within the 90-day period.
{¶31} Regarding Shepherd’s constitutional speedy trial rights, we find no
violation. Shepherd was arrested in May 2011 and brought to trial in December 2011.
As this court recently stated, until a defendant has met the “threshold requirement” of a
“presumptively prejudicial” delay, we do not even get to the constitutional analysis set
forth in the seminal case, Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101
(1972). State v. Duncan, 8th Dist. No. 97208, 2012-Ohio-3683, ¶ 8. Courts have
generally found postaccusation delay to be “presumptively prejudicial” as it approaches
one year. Id. at ¶ 9, citing Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 651, 112 S.Ct. 2686,
120 L.Ed.2d 520 (1992). Here, seven months had elapsed. We do not find seven
months to be presumptively prejudicial and, thus, Shepherd has not met the threshold
requirement. Therefore, his constitutional speedy trial rights have not been violated.
{¶32} Shepherd’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Recorded Telephone Conversations
{¶33} In his second assignment of error, Shepherd argues that the trial court erred
when it permitted recorded telephone conversations to be played to the jury without
properly being authenticated. He contends that the state “attempted to authenticate these
recordings through the testimony of Gregory Dotson, even though [Dotson] was not one
of the parties on the phone call.” The call was recorded from the county jail and was
allegedly between Shepherd and his brother.
{¶34} The decision to admit or exclude evidence rests within the trial court’s
sound discretion. State v. McGuire, 80 Ohio St.3d 390, 400-401, 686 N.E.2d 1112
(1997). Thus, a reviewing court will not reverse the trial court’s decision absent an
abuse of discretion. State v. Apanovitch, 33 Ohio St.3d 19, 25, 514 N.E.2d 394 (1987).
The term “abuse of discretion” implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable,
unconscionable, or arbitrary. State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157-158, 404 N.E.2d
144 (1980). Furthermore, “[w]hen applying the abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing
court is not free to merely substitute its judgment for that of the trial court.” In re Jane
Doe 1, 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 137-138, 566 N.E.2d 1181 (1991).
{¶35} Evid.R. 901 provides in relevant part:
(A) General provision. The requirement of authentication or identification
as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient
to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.
(B) Illustrations. By way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation,
the following are examples of authentication or identification conforming
with the requirements of this rule:
***
(5) Voice identification. Identification of a voice, whether heard firsthand
or through mechanical or electronic transmission or recording, by opinion
based upon hearing the voice at any time under circumstances connecting it
with the alleged speaker.
(6) Telephone conversations. Telephone conversations, by evidence that a
call was made to the number assigned at the time by the telephone company
to a particular person or business, if (a) in the case of a person,
circumstances, including self-identification, show the person answering to
be the one called, or (b) in the case of a business, the call was made to a
place of business and the conversation related to business reasonably
transacted over the telephone.
{¶36} In State v. Thompson, 8th Dist. No. 96929, 2012-Ohio-921, ¶ 27-29, this
court explained:
Evid.R. 901 governs the authentication of demonstrative evidence,
including recordings of telephone conversations. The threshold for
admission is quite low, and the proponent of the evidence need only submit
“evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what
its proponent claims.” Evid.R. 901(A). “[T]he proponent must present
foundational evidence that is sufficient to constitute a rational basis for a
jury to decide that the primary evidence is what its proponent claims it to
be.” State v. Tyler, 196 Ohio App.3d 443, 2011-Ohio-3937, 964 N.E.2d 12
(4th Dist.) ¶ 25, citing State v. Payton, 4th Dist. No. 01-CA2606, 2002 Ohio
App. LEXIS 496 (Jan. 25, 2002). A proponent may demonstrate
genuineness or authenticity through direct or circumstantial evidence. Id.,
citing State v. Williams, 64 Ohio App.2d 271, 274, 413 N.E.2d 1212 (8th
Dist.1979).
For a recorded telephone call to be admissible, the recording must be
“authentic, accurate, and trustworthy.” Tyler at ¶ 26, citing State v. Were,
118 Ohio St.3d 448, 2008-Ohio-2762, 890 N.E.2d 263. But, because
“conclusive evidence as to authenticity and identification need not be
presented to justify allowing evidence to reach the jury,” the evidence
required to establish authenticity need only be sufficient to afford a rational
basis for a jury to decide that the evidence is what its proponent claims it to
be. State v. Bell, 12th Dist. No. CA2008-05-044, 2009-Ohio-2335, ¶ 17,
30.
Thus, in this case, to establish that the audio recording was what the
state claimed it to be, namely, recordings of jailhouse conversations * * *,
the state was not required to “prove beyond any doubt that the evidence is
what it purports to be.” State v. Moshos, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-06-008,
2010-Ohio-735, ¶ 12, citing State v. Aliff, 4th Dist. No. 99CA8, 2000 Ohio
App. LEXIS 1676 (Apr. 12, 2000). Instead, the state needed only to
demonstrate a “reasonable likelihood” that the recording was authentic.
Bell at ¶ 30, citing Evid.R. 901(B)(1). Such evidence may be supplied by,
but is not limited to, the testimony of a witness with knowledge, voice
identification, or by evidence that a call was made to the number assigned at
the time by the telephone company to a particular person. See Evid.R.
901(B)(1), (5), and (6); Moshos at ¶ 14; State v. Small, 10th Dist. No.
06AP-1110, 2007-Ohio-6771, ¶ 38.
{¶37} In Thompson, the defendant argued that the witness who identified a voice
on the jailhouse recording was not sufficient to authenticate the recording because the
state did not establish through proper police testimony “the process by which they
retrieved the recordings accurately reproduced and copied the original conversations.”
Id. at ¶ 30. This court disagreed, stating:
Evid. R. 901 provides for two methods by which a trial court may
find that these phone conversations are admissible. Evid.R. 901(B)(9)
provides that a sound recording may be authenticated through evidence that
demonstrates a process or system used that produces an “accurate result.”
And Evid.R. 901(B)(5) provides for authentication by voice identification
“whether heard firsthand or through mechanical or electronic transmission
or recording.” Consequently, it was not necessary that [the police officers]
testify to the procedure by which they reproduced and copied [the
defendant’s] jailhouse phone calls.
Id. at ¶ 31.
{¶38} Here, the state played the recorded telephone conversation during Dotson’s
testimony. Dotson testified that he recognized Shepherd’s voice as the “louder” person
on the call. Dotson testified that he had known Shepherd since they were children. He
further testified that he had spoken to Shepherd on the telephone many times. Dotson
said that he knew Shepherd very well and was familiar with his voice. Thus, the state
provided foundational evidence that was sufficient to constitute a rational basis for the
jury to decide that the voice on the recording was Shepherd’s voice.
{¶39} Shepherd’s argument that the state should have also submitted testimony of
an employee of the county jail to establish “how and when these recordings were made”
is unpersuasive. Evid.R. 901(B) states that a voice on a recorded telephone conversation
can be identified by someone who is familiar with the voice on the recorded call. The
state did that here through Dotson’s testimony. Further, we note that any break in the
chain of custody goes to the weight afforded to the evidence, not to its admissibility.
Columbus v. Marks, 118 Ohio App. 359, 194 N.E.2d 791 (10th Dist.1963); State v. Mays,
108 Ohio App.3d 598, 671 N.E.2d 553 (8th Dist.1996).
{¶40} Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
when it admitted the recorded telephone conversation. Shepherd’s second assignment of
error is overruled.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶41} In his third assignment of error, Shepherd argues that his trial counsel was
ineffective (1) for failing to request an instruction on the inferior degree offense of
aggravated assault, and (2) for failing to present an argument for self-defense.
{¶42} To sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must
show: (1) counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness; and
(2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the outcome of the
proceeding would have been different when considered in relation to the totality of the
evidence before the court. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052,
80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984).
{¶43} With regard to the first prong, counsel is entitled to a strong presumption
that his or her conduct falls within the vast range of reasonable professional assistance.
The defendant must therefore overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances,
the challenged action “might be considered sound trial strategy.” Id. at 689. Strategic
and tactical decisions fall squarely within the scope of professionally reasonable
judgment. Id. at 699.
{¶44} With respect to the second prong, the defendant must demonstrate that he or
she was prejudiced by “a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.”
Id. at 694. The inquiry is whether counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the
defendant of a proceeding whose results are reliable, i.e., “whether counsel’s conduct so
undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be
relied on as having produced a just result.” Id. at 686.
{¶45} Any questions regarding the ineffectiveness of counsel must be viewed in
light of the evidence against the defendant with a strong presumption that counsel’s
conduct is within the broad range of professional assistance. State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio
St.3d 136, 142-143, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).
{¶46} The offense of aggravated assault is an inferior degree of felonious assault
because its elements are identical to or contained within the offense of felonious assault,
coupled with the additional presence of one or both mitigating circumstances of sudden
passion or a sudden fit of rage brought on by serious provocation occasioned by the
victim. State v. Deem, 40 Ohio St.3d 205, 533 N.E.2d 294 (1988), paragraph four of the
syllabus. In other words, aggravated assault is the same conduct as felonious assault but
its nature and penalty are mitigated by provocation. Id., citing State v. Scott, 10th Dist.
No. 00AP-868, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 1420 (Mar. 27, 2001). A defendant bears the
burden of proving the mitigating factor by a preponderance of the evidence. State v.
Rhodes, 63 Ohio St.3d 613, 590 N.E.2d 261 (1992), syllabus.
{¶47} In order to prove the affirmative defense of self-defense, a defendant must
establish: (1) that he was not at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the affray, (2)
that he had a bonafide belief that he was in imminent danger of bodily harm and that his
only means of escape from such danger was in the use of such force, and (3) that he did
not violate any duty to retreat or avoid the danger. State v. Belanger, 190 Ohio App.3d
377, 2010-Ohio-5407, 941 N.E.2d 1265, ¶ 4 (3d Dist.). If defendant “fails to prove any
one of these elements by a preponderance of the evidence he has failed to demonstrate
that he acted in self-defense.” State v. Jackson, 22 Ohio St.3d 281, 284, 490 N.E.2d 893
(1986).
{¶48} After reviewing the record, we conclude that defense counsel’s performance
was not deficient for failing to request jury instructions on aggravated assault and for
failing to present a self-defense argument. Aggravated assault and self-defense were
inconsistent with Shepherd’s theory at trial that he had left the bar by the time Dotson was
shot.
{¶49} During his opening statement, defense counsel explained to the jury that
Shepherd was at the Spot II Lounge when Dotson and his girlfriend came in the bar.
Defense counsel stated that Dotson walked up to Shepherd and they discussed the $100.
Defense counsel told the jury that Shepherd and Dotson “finally reached an accord, an
agreement,” and that “[his] client then walked out of the bar and left.” Defense counsel
went on to tell the jury, “My client has no further explanation as to what happened. He
was not there. He was not the shooter, and he is not guilty of this particular offense.”
{¶50} Moreover, other transcript testimony lends insight as to why defense counsel
preceded on the theory that Shepherd was not present during the shooting. On the day of
trial, before the trial court called the jury, it asked defense counsel, “[h]as your client
given any consideration to a plea in this case?” Defense counsel responded, “[y]our
Honor, I have talked to him in depth about the possibility of pleading. He said he was
not there. He did not do it. I told him that I thought it was in his best interest to
consider a plea and [he] still hasn’t.”
{¶51} Defendant interjected that his counsel never discussed a plea with him. The
state then stepped in and stated that on the previous day it had, in fact, offered a plea deal
to Shepherd, where he would plead guilty to aggravated assault with a one-year gun
specifications, as well as having a weapon while under a disability, and the remaining
charges and specifications would be nolled. Defense counsel then explained for the
record that he did speak to his client about the potential plea. Defense counsel further
explained that Shepherd’s sister also tried to get him to take the plea deal. Shepherd told
the court that he did talk to his sister, but said they got into an argument and he “asked for
her to be removed.”
{¶52} The trial court stated:
I’m not going to invade the attorney/client privilege, but I have talked to
your attorney and the prosecutor on numerous occasions about this case.
This case is probably one of the more heavily pretried cases that I have had
in 21 years that I have been a judge * * *. On repeated occasions I have
asked your present counsel and I asked your former counsel if they have
discussed plea bargains with you. In both instances both attorneys on
numerous occasions have told me, yes, and you have completely rejected
any discussion of plea bargain at any time.
{¶53} The trial court then stated, “Now, that’s what they have told me, okay.
There is the potential of a plea bargain here today. Did you hear that?” Shepherd
replied that he had. The court then asked him, “[a]re you interested in a plea bargain?”
Shepherd replied, “[n]ot the one that she is — no.” The trial court then called the jury.
{¶54} Accordingly, Shepherd was not deprived of his right to effective counsel.
His third assignment of error is overruled.
Ex Parte Communications with the Jury
{¶55} In his fourth assignment of error, Shepherd argues that the trial court erred
when it answered a jury question without consulting counsel and outside of his presence.
{¶56} The Fifth Amendment to the federal constitution, enforceable against the
states through the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits the various states from depriving any
person “of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Similarly, the Ohio
Constitution, Article I, Section 10, mandates that “[i]n any trial, in any court, the party
accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel.” As the
constitutional principle of due process has evolved on both the state and federal levels,
the courts have broadened its guarantees to mandate the presence of the defendant, absent
waiver of his rights or other extraordinary circumstances, at every stage of his trial. See
State v. Grisafulli, 135 Ohio St. 87, 19 N.E.2d 645 (1939); Jones v. State, 26 Ohio St. 208
(1875). In Ohio, the expanded scope of the Due Process Clause, at least in criminal
proceedings, had been embodied in Crim.R. 43(A) which provides, in pertinent part, that
a “the defendant must be physically present at every stage of the criminal proceeding and
trial[.]”
{¶57} With these principles in mind and citing to cases from the mid-to- late1800s,
the Ohio Supreme Court held that “[a] defendant in a criminal case has a right to be
present when, pursuant to a request from the jury during its deliberations, the judge
communicates with the jury regarding [the jury] instructions.” State v. Abrams, 39 Ohio
St.2d 53, 313 N.E.2d 823 (1974), paragraph one of the syllabus. Thus, “‘[a] court or
judge has no right to communicate with the jury respecting the charge of the court, after
the jury has retired, except publicly, and in the presence of the accused. To do so is good
cause for a new trial.’” Abrams at 55, quoting Kirk v. State, 14 Ohio 511 (1846).
{¶58} The Ohio Supreme Court has made clear, however, that erroneous
communications between the trial court and the jury constitute good cause for a new trial
only if the communications prejudiced the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Abrams at 56;
State v. Jenkins, 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 233-237, 473 N.E.2d 264 (1984). In Bostic v.
Connor, 37 Ohio St.3d 144, 524 N.E.2d 881 (1988), the Ohio Supreme Court explained
that courts have found “a defendant or party” was “prejudiced by an ex parte
communication between a judge and jury [when it] involved the possibility that the jury’s
verdict might have been influenced by the judge’s response.” Id. at 149-150.
{¶59} Just before the trial court read the jury’s verdict in the presence of the state,
Shepherd, his counsel, and the jury, it stated on the record:
I would like to put one thing on the record. There was one question
during deliberations, and the question is as follows: Are we to choose
between the gun charges, firearm specifications R.C. 2941.141 and R.C.
2941.145, question, or do we choose a verdict on all charges?
And my response was to them in writing was: Return a verdict on
both counts and all gun specifications.
{¶60} When reading the question into the record, the trial court did not state
whether it had discussed the jury’s question with defense counsel or the state before it
gave its response to the jury. Shepherd’s counsel did not object, however, when the trial
court read the jury question into the record before the verdict. Nor did Shepherd’s
counsel move for a new trial based on the trial court’s purported ex parte communication
with the jury.
{¶61} In State v. Chinn, 85 Ohio St.3d 548, 568, 709 N.E.2d 1166 (1999), the
Ohio Supreme Court explained in an appeal of right involving a death penalty sentence:
Appellant contends that he is entitled to a new trial because there is
nothing in the record to indicate that appellant and defense counsel were
present on two occasions involving communications between the trial court
and the jury. However, we are unwilling to presume that appellant and his
attorneys were not present during the times in question. Rather, “the
record must affirmatively indicate the absence of a defendant or his counsel
during a particular stage of the trial.” (Emphasis added.) The record does
not affirmatively so indicate and, therefore, we reject appellant’s tenth
proposition of law.
(Emphasis sic and internal citation omitted.)
{¶62} Here, the record does not affirmatively establish that Shepherd or his
counsel were absent when the trial court responded to the jury’s question. If anything,
the fact that defense counsel did not object would lend more support to the presumption
that defense counsel knew about the jury question and either participated in fashioning a
response or did not object to the trial court’s response.
{¶63} Shepherd does not argue that the trial court’s response influenced the jury’s
verdict in any way, nor does he explain how he was prejudiced by the trial court’s answer;
he merely contends that because he was not present, he was deprived of a fair trial. He
cites to two Tenth District cases in support of his argument, State v. Sales, 10th Dist. No.
02AP-175, 2002-Ohio-6563, and State v. Wade, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-774,
2004-Ohio-3975, claiming they stand for the proposition that because the appellate court
could not determine from the record “if the defendant or counsel was present when the
trial court answered a jury’s question,” a new trial was warranted.
{¶64} If, however, Sales and Wade stood for what Shepherd contends they do, they
would violate the Ohio Supreme Court’s holding in Chinn, 85 Ohio St.3d 548, 568, 709
N.E.2d 1166, that the record must affirmatively establish the absence of a defendant or
his counsel during a particular stage of the trial. See Chinn, supra. After a thorough
review of these cases, however, we conclude that they do not conflict with Chinn, nor do
they stand for Shepherd’s purported proposition.
{¶65} In Sales and Wade, the Tenth District found that the record did affirmatively
establish the absence of the defendants and their counsel. In both cases, the trial court
went on the record as it received each jury question, read the question into the record, and
indicated its response on the record. The Tenth District court distinguished Chinn, and
found that because the transcript indicated the presence of defendant and counsel at
different points throughout the trial, but did not do so with respect to the jury questions,
the record affirmatively established the absence of appellant and his counsel by its
silence. Wade at ¶ 24; Sales at ¶ 13. (We note that in Shepherd’s case, because the trial
court did not read the question into the record in real time as it occurred, we cannot make
the same inference that the Tenth District did in Wade and Sales.) Rather, the Tenth
District reversed both cases for a new trial because of several substantive issues it found
with respect to the trial court’s responses to the jury in the absence of the defendants, i.e.,
it therefore found that the defendants were prejudiced by the trial court’s responses in
their absence. Thus, we conclude that Sales and Wade are not analogous to the facts of
this case.
{¶66} Accordingly, Shepherd’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Vindictive Sentence
{¶67} In his fifth assignment of error, Shepherd claims that his sentence was
contrary to law because the trial court punished him for exercising his right to go to trial.
{¶68} In State v. Stradford, 8th Dist. No. 95116, 2011-Ohio-1566, this court
explained:
“A defendant is guaranteed the right to a trial and should never be
punished for exercising that right or for refusing to enter a plea agreement.”
State v. Evans, 8th Dist. No. 85396, 2007-Ohio-3278, ¶10, citing State v.
O’Dell, 45 Ohio St.3d 140, 147, 543 N.E.2d 1220 (1989). It is improper to
sentence a defendant more severely simply because he exercised his right to
trial. Columbus v. Bee, 67 Ohio App.2d 65, 425 N.E.2d 404 (1979). The
United States Supreme Court has held that a trial court violates the Due
Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment when it imposes a harsher
sentence motivated by vindictive retaliation. N. Carolina v. Pearce, 395
U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969).
“The court cannot punish an accused for rejecting an offered plea
bargain and electing to proceed to trial.” State v. Paul, 8th Dist. No.
79596, 2002 Ohio App. LEXIS 551, *39-40, quoting O’Dell supra,
paragraph two of the syllabus. Vindictiveness on the part of a sentencing
court is not presumed merely because the sentence imposed is harsher than
one offered in plea negotiations. State v. Mitchell, 117 Ohio App.3d 703,
691 N.E.2d 354 (8th Dist.1997). To determine whether a court acted with
vindictiveness, we look to see whether the record affirmatively shows
retaliation as a result of the rejected plea bargain. Paul, supra, citing State
v. Warren, 125 Ohio App.3d 298, 307, 708 N.E.2d 288 (8th Dist.1998).
There must be some positive evidence that portrays a vindictive purpose on
the court’s part. State v. Finley, 2d Dist. No. 19654, 2004-Ohio-661, ¶42.
Stradford at ¶ 23-24.
{¶69} Moreover, as we stated in Paul:
Vindictiveness is one thing; imposing a sentence greater than that
discussed in plea negotiations is another thing. When an accused rejects
the offer of a plea bargain, elects to exercise the right to trial, and is found
guilty, the court is not required to impose sentence within the parameters
discussed in the rejected plea bargain. The incentive within a plea bargain
is a reduced sentence in exchange for avoiding the time and expense of
trial. Santobello v. New York (1971), 404 U.S. 257, 260, 30 L. Ed. 2d 427,
92 S. Ct. 495. It would be counterintuitive to think that the court is
somehow bound to the sentence limits discussed in the plea negotiations,
even though it had been rejected by the accused.
Id. at *40.
{¶70} Shepherd’s arguments (that the trial court was vindictive) relate to the plea
offer that he rejected in August 2011, when he was represented by his first attorney (this
is not the same plea deal that he rejected on the day of his December 2011 trial). At an
August 31, 2011 hearing, the state informed the trial court that it had reached a plea deal
with Shepherd, where he would plead guilty to aggravated assault with a one-year gun
specification, and all other charges and specifications would be nolled. The trial court
complied with Crim.R. 11 and informed Shepherd of his constitutional rights. When the
trial court explained to Shepherd that he could face a maximum sentence of two and
one-half years in prison, Shepherd replied, “They told me 18 months. That’s what I was
promised today if I copped out today.” The trial court explained to Shepherd that it
would not sentence him to 18 months because the case involved the use of a firearm and
someone getting shot. It further explained to Shepherd that he had a prior record and that
he would receive 18 months for the aggravated assault and one year for the gun
specification, for a total of two and one-half years in prison. Shepherd told the trial court
that if he did not get 18 months, he did not want to enter into the plea.
{¶71} After Shepherd was found guilty of all counts, the trial court sentenced
Shepherd to an aggregate sentence of 13 years in prison. There is nothing in the record
to affirmatively demonstrate that the trial court gave Shepherd a greater sentence because
he exercised his right to a trial. At the August 31, 2011 plea hearing, the state was
offering a deal to Shepherd where he would plead guilty to aggravated assault, which is a
fourth degree felony, plus a one year gun specification. As the trial court told Shepherd
at the plea hearing, the maximum he could receive for that plea would have been 18
months for the aggravated assault and one year for the gun specification, or two and
one-half years. Shepherd, however, did not agree to that plea deal.
{¶72} After going to trial, however, Shepherd was convicted of two counts of
felonious assault, felonies of the second degree, with the one- and three-year firearm
specifications, as well as having a weapon while under a disability, a felony of the third
degree. When he was sentenced, Shepherd was facing a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Thus, the plea offer made by the state contained a possible maximum sentence that was
significantly less than the maximum sentence Shepherd was facing if convicted of all
charges and specifications, which he was.
{¶73} Further, the court sat through the trial and heard the testimony presented.
During the course of receiving evidence, a trial judge may well gain “a fuller appreciation
of the nature and extent of the crimes charged” as well as receiving “insights into [the
offender’s] moral character and suitability for rehabilitation.” State v. Mitchell, 117
Ohio App.3d 703, 706, 691 N.E.2d 354 (8th Dist.1997), citing Alabama v. Smith, 490
U.S. 794, 104 L.Ed.2d 865, 109 S.Ct. 2201 (1989).
{¶74} The trial court sat through a trial where it heard evidence of a senseless
shooting over $100. Shepherd fired his gun at Dotson several times in the parking lot of
a bar, where a crowd of people had gathered. This senseless shooting resulted in Dotson
being seriously injured. One of the bullets hit Dotson’s femur, causing it to fracture into
“multiple pieces.” That bullet still remained in his leg. The other bullet went through
Dotson’s abdomen, perforating his colon and lodging in his spine, where it still remained.
Because of Shepherd’s actions, doctors had to remove part of Dotson’s colon and had to
place a metal rod in his leg. At the time of sentencing, Dotson was still going through
rehabilitation.
{¶75} Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court was not vindictive when it
sentenced Shepherd.
H.B. 86 and Postrelease Control
{¶76} In his fifth assignment of error, Shepherd argued that his sentence was
contrary to law because the trial court was vindictive when sentencing him. Although
we do not agree that the trial court was vindictive, we do find his sentence to be contrary
to law.
{¶77} Shepherd was sentenced in January 2012. He was therefore subject to the
amendments in H.B. 86. State v. Blackburn, 8th Dist. Nos. 97811 and 97812,
2012-Ohio-4590, ¶ 30. The trial court, however, failed to apply the H.B. 86 amendments
when sentencing Shepherd to consecutive sentences. The consecutive portion of
Shepherd’s sentence is therefore contrary to law.
{¶78} An appellate court must conduct a meaningful review of the trial court’s
sentencing decision. State v. Johnson, 8th Dist. No. 97579, 2012-Ohio-2508, ¶ 6, citing
State v. Hites, 3d Dist. No. 6-11-07, 2012-Ohio-1892, ¶ 7. Specifically, R.C.
2953.08(G)(2) provides that our review of consecutive sentences is not an abuse of
discretion. An appellate court must “review the record, including the findings
underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing court.” Id. If an
appellate court clearly and convincingly finds either that (1) “the record does not support
the sentencing court’s findings under [R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)]” or (2) “the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law,” then “the appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise
modify a sentence * * * or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the
sentencing court for resentencing.” Id.
{¶79} H.B. 86 revived the provision under S.B. 2 that required trial courts to make
findings before imposing consecutive sentences. Blackburn at ¶ 32. R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), as revived, now requires that a trial court engage in a three-step analysis in
order to impose consecutive sentences. First, the trial court must find that “consecutive
service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender.”
Id. Next, the trial court must find that “consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to
the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the
public.” Id. Finally, the trial court must find that at least one of the following applies:
(1) the offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while awaiting trial or
sentencing, while under a sanction, or while under postrelease control for a prior offense;
(2) at least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of
conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the offenses was so great or unusual that
no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses of
conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s conduct; or (3) the
offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are
necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender. Id.
{¶80} In each step of this analysis, the statutory language directs that the trial court
must “find” the relevant sentencing factors before imposing consecutive sentences. R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). In making these findings, a trial court is not required to use “talismanic
words to comply with the guidelines and factors for sentencing.” State v. Brewer, 1st
Dist. No. C-000148, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5455, *10 (Nov. 24, 2000). But it must be
clear from the record that the trial court actually made the findings required by statute.
See State v. Pierson, 1st Dist. No. C-970935, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 3812 (Aug. 21,
1998). A trial court satisfies this statutory requirement when the record reflects that the
court has engaged in the required analysis and has selected the appropriate statutory
criteria. See State v. Edmonson, 86 Ohio St.3d 324, 326, 715 N.E.2d 131 (1999).
{¶81} Under H.B. 86, however, a trial court is not required to articulate and justify
its findings at the sentencing hearing when it imposes consecutive sentences as it had to
do under S.B. 2. Blackburn at ¶ 35. This is because the General Assembly deleted the
former R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) in H.B. 86, which was the provision in S.B. 2 that had
required sentencing courts to state their reasons for imposing consecutive sentences on
the record. As we explained in Blackburn, a trial court is free to express and justify its
reasons, of course, but it does not commit reversible error if it fails to do so, as long as it
has made the required findings. Id. at ¶ 35.
{¶82} Here, the trial court failed to make any express findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). In fact, the trial court seemed to be completely unaware of the
amendments enacted in H.B. 86. The trial court did discuss Shepherd’s prior criminal
history, which could equate to making two of the findings, namely (1) that “consecutive
service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender,” and
(2) that the offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender. The trial
court, however, failed to make the mandatory finding that “consecutive sentences are not
disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the
offender poses to the public.”
{¶83} Thus, the portion of the trial court’s judgment ordering that Shepherd’s
sentence for felonious assault be served consecutive to his sentence for having a weapon
while under a disability is contrary to law and vacated.
{¶84} We further note that when sentencing Shepherd on the weapons disability
count, the trial court incorrectly stated at the sentencing hearing that the “maximum
penalty there is 5 years” because it is a third degree felony. The trial court informed
Shepherd that it would “not impose the maximum penalty, but [it would] impose a penalty
of 3 years.” H.B. 86, however, reduced the sentencing range for some third degree
felonies, including a weapons disability charge. The new range for this offense is “nine,
twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty, or thirty-six months.” R.C. 2929.14(A)(3)(b).
Because Shepherd was sentenced after the effective date of H.B. 86, he was entitled to the
benefit of the newly enacted lower ranges.
{¶85} Section 4 of H.B. 86 states that the amendments “apply to a person who
commits an offense specified or penalized under those sections on or after the effective
date of this section and to a person to whom division (B) of section 1.58(B) of the
Revised Code makes the amendments applicable.” R.C. 1.58(B) provides that “[i]f the
penalty, forfeiture, or punishment for any offense is reduced by a reenactment or
amendment of a statute, the penalty, forfeiture, or punishment, if not already imposed,
shall be imposed according to the statute as amended.” Pursuant to H.B. 86 and R.C.
1.58, Shepherd was entitled to the benefit of these amendments because the “penalty,
forfeiture, or punishment” was “not already imposed” as of September 30, 2011.
Nonetheless, we recognize that the trial court sentenced Shepherd to three years for this
offense, which equals 36 months, and is, therefore, not contrary to law.
{¶86} We do, however, find the portion of Shepherd’s sentence relating to
postrelease control to be contrary to law. The trial court advised Shepherd that he would
be subject to five years of mandatory postrelease control upon his release from prison.
But under R.C. 2967.28(B)(2), Shepherd is only subject to a mandatory three years of
postrelease control. Accordingly, the postrelease control portion of Shepherd’s sentence
is contrary to law and vacated.
{¶87} We vacate only those portions of Shepherd’s sentence that are contrary to
law. We remand this case to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing to consider
whether consecutive sentences are appropriate under H.B. 86, and if so, to enter the
proper findings on the record. We note that the sentencing ranges for each offense (i.e.,
seven years for felonious assault and three years for weapons disability) remain intact.
We further instruct the trial court to properly notify Shepherd that he will be subject to a
mandatory three years of postrelease control upon his release from prison.
Cumulative Error
{¶88} In his sixth assignment of error, Shepherd maintains that the cumulative
nature and impact of the errors that occurred at his trial, when taken as whole, deprived
him of a fair trial. Shepherd’s argument is unpersuasive. Because we have found error
only with respect to Shepherd’s sentence, we do not agree that he was deprived of a fair
trial. Shepherd’s sixth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶89} Convictions affirmed; sentence affirmed in part and vacated in part;
consecutive portion of sentence and postrelease control vacated. This case is remanded
for a new sentencing hearing on those portions that are vacated.
It is ordered that appellee and appellant share 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 a new sentencing hearing.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MARY J. BOYLE, PRESIDING JUDGE
LARRY A. JONES, SR., J., and
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J., CONCUR
State v. Shepherd
Combined Opinion