[Cite as State v. Pettaway, 2015-Ohio-226.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
SENECA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 13-14-20
v.
CHESTER PETTAWAY, JR., OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Seneca County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 12-CR-0201
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: January 26, 2015
APPEARANCES:
Scott B. Johnson for Appellant
Angela M. Boes for Appellee
Case No. 13-14-20
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Chester Pettaway, Jr. (“Pettaway”), brings this
appeal from the judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Seneca County, Ohio,
denying his motion to withdraw a plea of guilty and sentencing him to twenty-four
months in prison for one count of possession of cocaine with specifications and
one count of possessing criminal tools. Pettaway demands reversal of his
convictions, alleging that the trial court erred in denying his motion to withdraw
and that his trial counsel was ineffective. For the reasons that follow, we affirm
the trial court’s judgment.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} Pettaway was indicted on October 24, 2012, on one count of
possession of cocaine, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(4)(c), a felony of the
third degree, with specifications, and one count of possessing criminal tools, in
violation of R.C. 2923.24(A),(C), a felony of the fifth degree. (R. at 1.) The
indictment was a result of a search warrant executed at Pettaway’s residence.
(Bond and Arraignment Hr’g Tr. at 3-4, Mar. 7, 2013.) Upon his arrest on March
6, 2013, Pettaway retained an attorney, Gene P. Murray (“attorney Murray” or
“Mr. Murray”), and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. (See R. at 6-7.) He
was released on personal recognizance bond. (See R. at 7-10.)
{¶3} On March 13, 2013, the State filed its Answer to Discovery. (R. at
11.) The State indicated that it was providing “[a] copy of all lab or hospital
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reports, books, papers, documents, photographs, tangible objects, buildings or
places”; “[a]ll reports from peace officers, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and
federal law enforcement officers”; “[a]ny item stamped ‘counsel only’ provided to
counsel for the Defendant”; “a list of all witnesses of the state”; and “a report from
an expert witness,” in particular, BCI Laboratory Report # 12-21234. (Id.) The
State also listed Pettaway’s record of convictions as part of the disclosure. (Id.)
{¶4} It appears that a pretrial hearing was scheduled for May 15, 2013, but
on May 14, 2013, attorney Murray filed a motion to continue, citing medical
reasons. (R. at 12.) The trial court granted a continuance and the next recorded
appearance was on July 2, 2013, when the parties were in the trial court “for plea
date.” (See R. at 13, 14; Plea Date Hr’g Tr. at 2, July 2, 2013.) There was no
resolution of the case at that time and a jury trial was scheduled for September 16,
2013. (R. at 14; Plea Date Hr’g Tr. at 2.) On July 22, 2013, the State moved for a
continuance of the trial date, citing the unavailability of “an essential witness,”
Officer Matt Armstrong, who “was the lead case manager.” (R. at 15.) The State
noted that “the speedy trial time (not considering any tolling events) [was]
November 29, 2013.” (Id.) The trial was then scheduled for November 21, 2013.
(R. at 16.) On November 8, 2013, the state filed “a continuance to its Answer to
Discovery previously filed in this case,” providing the defense with “One (1) CD
containing cell phone analysis.” (R. at 22.)
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{¶5} Four days before the scheduled trial date, on November 18, 2013,
Pettaway appeared before the trial court “proposing to withdraw [his] former not
guilty plea and enter a plea of guilty” to the offenses charged in the indictment.
(Plea of Guilty Hr’g Tr. at 2, Nov. 18, 2013.) The trial court conducted the plea
colloquy. Among other questions, the trial court asked,
THE COURT: Do you understand the nature of each of these
charges and the possible defense that you might have?
MR. PETTAWAY: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Are you entering this plea, these pleas
voluntarily and of your own free will?
MR. PETTAWAY: Yes, sir.
***
THE COURT: Any promises other than the Sentence
Recommendation which we have already reviewed?
MR. PETTAWAY: No, sir.
(Id. at 8-9.) After satisfying itself that Pettaway was competent and was entering
the plea voluntarily and of his own free will, the trial court accepted Pettaway’s
plea of guilty. (Id. at 5, 8, 10.) The trial court ordered a presentence investigation
report and continued sentencing to a later date. (Id. at 11-12; R. at 24.)
{¶6} The sentencing was scheduled for January 17, 2014, but it was
continued upon Pettaway’s motion and rescheduled to February 10, 2014. (R. at
27-28.) On February 6, 2014, Pettaway filed a motion to withdraw the guilty plea
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based upon a defect in the wording of the indictment, concerning sentence
applicable to possession of cocaine. (R. at 29.) The parties appeared in court on
February 10, 2014, the date scheduled for a sentencing hearing. (See Mot.
Withdraw Hr’g Tr., Feb. 10, 2014; R. at 31.) But because of the recent motion to
withdraw, the trial court again continued the sentencing date and scheduled the
motion to withdraw for a hearing on February 27, 2014. (Id.) On February 25,
2014, the State amended the indictment, correcting the penalty portion for
possession of cocaine. (R. at 34, 36.)
{¶7} On the date scheduled for a hearing on the motion to withdraw,
Pettaway appeared in court and informed the trial court that he was no longer
satisfied with attorney Murray’s representation. (R. at 37.) The trial court
relieved attorney Murray from his representation and appointed a different
attorney for Pettaway. At that hearing, the State moved for a revocation of
Pettaway’s bond “so that he is available to meet with his attorney,” which would
help with a speedy resolution of this case. (Mot. Withdraw Att’y Hr’g at 4-5, Feb.
27, 2014.) The State alleged that Pettaway “continue[d] to just draw things out”
and that his requests were made in the last-minute rather than in advance of
hearings. (Id.) Attorney Murray explained that he was responsible for the delays
due to his illnesses and his involvement in other matters. (Id. at 5.) The trial court
continued the bond and scheduled a hearing on the motion to withdraw guilty plea.
(R. at 37.)
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{¶8} On April 25, 2014, the parties appeared in the trial court, with
Pettaway being represented by his new attorney, Francis Marley. (Motions Hr’g
Tr., Apr. 25, 2014.) Attorney Marley indicated that the previously-filed motion to
withdraw guilty plea was moot due to the amendment of the indictment. (Id. at 3.)
Therefore, the motion to withdraw guilty plea was withdrawn. (R. at 43.) The
trial court scheduled this case for sentencing on May 29, 2014. (R. at 44.)
{¶9} On May 28, 2014, one day before the scheduled sentencing hearing,
Pettaway filed a one-paragraph motion “to set aside his guilty plea.” (R. at 47.)
The sole reason for this request was Pettaway’s assertion that his prior attorney,
Mr. Murray, never provided him with discovery. (Id.) Pettaway alleged that
“[h]aving read the discovery recently provided to him, Defendant now realizes he
has a viable defense to the charges against him.” (Id.) As a result of this filing,
the trial court again continued the sentencing and scheduled a hearing on the
motion to withdraw guilty plea for June 9, 2014. (Continuance of Sentencing Hr’g
Tr., May 29, 2014; R. at 50.)
{¶10} After a hearing on Pettaway’s second motion to withdraw the plea of
guilty, the trial court denied the motion, finding that Pettaway’s assertions do not
give rise to any defense. (R. at 53, Op. & J. Entry, June 10, 2014.) Following his
sentencing, Pettaway filed the instant appeal, alleging two assignments of error for
our review.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA IN THAT
HIS PLEA WAS NOT KNOWINGLY PROFFERED
BECAUSE HE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO HIS
DISCOVERY MATERIAL BY HIS RETAINED ATTORNEY
PRIOR TO TRIAL DATE AND WAS TOLD BY THIS
ATTORNEY THAT HE COULD WITHDRAW HIS PLEA
LATER.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO
THE COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANT PROVIDED
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
Second Assignment of Error—
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶11} In the second assignment of error, Pettaway alleges that his first trial
attorney, Mr. Murray, provided ineffective assistance to him prior to and at the
plea stage or the proceedings. In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, a criminal defendant must first show that the counsel’s
performance was deficient in that it fell “below an objective standard of
reasonable representation.” State v. Keith, 79 Ohio St.3d 514, 534, 684 N.E.2d 47
(1997). Second, the defendant must show “that the deficient performance
prejudiced the defense so as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial.” Id., citing
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674
(1984). In order to demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must prove a reasonable
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probability that the result of the trial would have been different but for his or her
counsel’s errors. Id.
{¶12} A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is waived by a guilty
plea, unless the counsel’s conduct affected the voluntary nature of the plea. State
v. Mata, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-04-54, 2004-Ohio-6669, ¶ 13, citing State v. Spates,
64 Ohio St.3d 269, 272, 1992-Ohio-130, 595 N.E.2d 351 (1992).
When a criminal defendant has solemnly admitted in open court that
he is in fact guilty of the offense with which he is charged, he may
not thereafter raise independent claims relating to the deprivation of
constitutional rights that occurred prior to the entry of the guilty
plea. He may only attack the voluntary and intelligent character of
the guilty plea by showing that the advice he received from counsel
was not within the standards set forth in McMann [v. Richardson
(1970), 397 U.S. 759, 90 S.Ct. 1441, 25 L.Ed.2d 763].”
Spates at 272. Based on this standard, we must determine whether Mr. Murray’s
assistance was indeed deficient so as to result in Pettaway’s plea not being
voluntary or intelligent. In reviewing Pettaway’s allegations we must, however,
“indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range
of reasonable professional assistance.” State v. Cassano, 96 Ohio St.3d 94, 2002-
Ohio-3751, 772 N.E.2d 81, ¶ 108, quoting Strickland at 669. Thus, we must be
highly deferential in our scrutiny of Mr. Murray’s performance. State v. Walker,
90 Ohio App.3d 352, 359, 629 N.E.2d 471 (3d Dist.1993), quoting Strickland at
689.
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{¶13} Pettaway alleges that Mr. Murray acted below an objective standard
of reasonable representation and caused his plea to become involuntary by failing
to “provide him or allow him to see the discovery material in this case, even up to
and including the fourth day prior to the continued trial date”; and “counseled
[Pettaway] to change his pleas to ‘guilty’ as a way to buy more time so that
[Pettaway] could see the discovery and to could [sic] avoid a potential bond
revocation.” (App’t Br. at 17.) Because the burden is on Pettaway to show that
Mr. Murray’s performance was deficient and that his plea was involuntary, we
start with reviewing evidentiary support for Pettaway’s allegations. See Matta at ¶
14.
(1) Evidentiary Support for Pettaway’s Allegations
of Failure to Provide Discovery
{¶14} At the hearing on his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, Pettaway
testified that Mr. Murray never shared with him “the information he obtained by
way of discovery from the State of Ohio.” (Mot. Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at
6, June 9, 2014.) Pettaway testified that although he had requested discovery from
Mr. Murray multiple times, his counsel had various excuses. (Id. at 7-8.)
According to Pettaway, he first saw the discovery on April 25, 2014, which was
five months after he had entered his guilty plea. (Id. at 7.)
{¶15} The only support for Pettaway’s claims that Mr. Murray failed to
provide him with the discovery comes from his own self-serving testimony, which
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refers to facts outside of the record. There is absolutely no support in the record
for Pettaway’s claim that he had not seen discovery in this case. The record
indicates that Mr. Murray was provided discovery by the State on March 13, 2013,
and additional discovery on November 8, 2013. Apart from Pettaway’s claims,
made one day before his second scheduled sentencing hearing, there is no
indication anywhere in the record that Mr. Murray had failed to show the
discovery to Pettaway. During his multiple hearings and court appearances,
Pettaway did not indicate to the trial court that he had not seen the discovery. On
the contrary, when asked by the trial court at the plea hearing whether he
understood the nature of the charges against him and the possible defenses that he
might have, he answered in the affirmative. (Plea of Guilty Hr’g Tr. at 8, Nov. 18,
2013.) He did not inform the trial court at the plea hearing that he had not seen the
discovery in this case.
{¶16} When Pettaway requested a new attorney, he did not inform the trial
court that the reason for his dissatisfaction with Mr. Murray was failure to see the
discovery in this case. (See Mot. Withdraw Atty Hr’g Tr. at 5, Feb. 27, 2014.) On
April 25, 2013, when Pettaway appeared with his new attorney on the hearing
regarding the first motion to withdraw, he did not inform the trial court that he still
had not seen the discovery in this case. (See Motions Hr’g Tr., Apr. 25, 2014.)
The fact that Pettaway did not assert Mr. Murray’s failure to provide him with
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discovery until the second motion to withdraw weighs against truthfulness of this
assertion.
{¶17} Without any additional support in the record, we cannot find
ineffective assistance based on Pettaway’s unsupported allegations of failure to see
discovery, which refer to facts outside of the record.
(2) Evidentiary Support for Pettaway’s Allegations
of the Plea Being Involuntary
{¶18} Pettaway’s claim of the plea being involuntary is that he was misled
by attorney Murray, who had promised to file a motion to withdraw his guilty
plea. But there is no indication in the record that Pettaway was misled or that his
plea was entered involuntarily.
{¶19} Regarding the circumstances surrounding his plea, Pettaway testified
that on November 18, 2013, Mr. Murray informed him about additional charges
filed against him in other cases. (Mot. Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at 8, June 9,
2014.) Those other charges would result in Pettaway’s bond being revoked. (Id.)
According to Pettaway, Mr. Murray suggested a strategy “to buy some time” and
avoid being “reprimanded to jail until the jury, until the trial.” (Id. at 8-9.) The
“strategy” required that Pettaway “take the plea,” which would “set the sentencing
date back a couple months” and give his attorney “reasonable time to figure out
what’s wrong with the discovery.” (Id. at 9.) Then, a week before the sentencing
date, Mr. Murray would “put in a motion to take [Pettaway’s] plea back.” (Id.)
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Pettaway testified that he did not want to take the plea but he did so because he
“just didn’t want to go to jail that day.” (Id. at 9.) He stated, “So in order for me
not to go to jail that day basically I had to take that plea. So trust to him that he
was gonna do what he said he was gonna do I took the plea.” (Id. at 9-10.) At the
hearing on the motion to withdraw, Pettaway confirmed that he had understood his
rights and the plea agreement when he entered it in November 2013. (Mot.
Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at 14-16, June 9, 2014.)
{¶20} Pettaway further testified that on February 6, 2014, Mr. Murray did
file the promised motion to withdraw a guilty plea, but then informed him that the
motion would likely be overruled. (Id. at 10.) Upon Pettaway’s dissatisfaction,
Mr. Murray allegedly suggested another strategy. (Id.)
So he said what you can do is fire me. He said, I won’t hold nothing
against you. I won’t hold no bad blood against you. If you fire me
and take your plea back they gotta give you a new lawyer and they
gotta start it all over again.
(Id.) Upon this purported advice, Pettaway “fired Mr. Murray for
misrepresentation.” (Id.)
{¶21} Pettaway’s testimony about the circumstances surrounding his
entering the plea of guilty contradicts his claims of the involuntary nature of his
plea. Rather, it supports a finding that his decision to enter the plea was a
conscious decision, which was motivated by Pettaway’s desire to stay out of jail.
Pettaway’s statements that he took the plea in order to avoid going to jail confirm
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that he knowingly made the decision to enter the plea agreement, as an alternative
to immediate incarceration.
{¶22} Contrary to his later assertions that Mr. Murray had promised to file
a motion to withdraw his plea, Pettaway told the trial court that no promises other
than the sentence recommendation had been made to him. (Plea of Guilty Hr’g Tr.
at 8, Nov. 18, 2013.) We additionally note that even if such promise had been
made by Mr. Murray, it was fulfilled by the filing of the first motion to withdraw
on February 6, 2014. (R. at 29.) There is no testimony that Mr. Murray made a
promise to Pettaway that he would be successful in withdrawing the guilty plea.
{¶23} Considering all of the above, and applying a “strong presumption
that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance,” we find that Pettaway has failed to satisfy his burden of proving
ineffective assistance of counsel, which would result in his guilty plea being
involuntary. See Cassano, 96 Ohio St.3d 94, 2002-Ohio-3751, 772 N.E.2d 81, at ¶
108; Matta, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-04-54, 2004-Ohio-6669, at ¶ 14. Accordingly,
we overrule the second assignment of error.
First Assignment of Error—Denial of Pettaway’s
Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea
{¶24} In the first assignment of error, Pettaway alleges that he should have
been allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and that the trial court erred in finding
otherwise because a motion to withdraw guilty plea made before sentencing
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should be freely granted. See State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 526, 584 N.E.2d
715 (1992). The Ohio Supreme Court held, however, that under Crim.R. 32.1 “[a]
defendant does not have an absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea prior to
sentencing.” Id., at paragraph one of the syllabus. Instead, it is within the sound
discretion of the trial court to determine, upon a hearing, “whether there is a
reasonable and legitimate basis” for the pre-sentencing withdrawal of the plea.
Id., at paragraphs one and two of the syllabus. Accordingly, our review of the trial
court’s judgment in this case is under an abuse of discretion standard. State v.
Francis, 104 Ohio St.3d 490, 2004-Ohio-6894, 820 N.E.2d 355, ¶ 32; State v.
Maney, 2013-Ohio-2261, 993 N.E.2d 422, ¶ 17 (3d Dist.).
{¶25} Because “[a]n abuse of discretion is more than an error in judgment;”
we will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court, and will only reverse
the trial court’s decision if it was “unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.”
Maney at ¶ 17, citing State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157–158, 404 N.E.2d
144 (1980); State v. Liles, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-10-28, 2010-Ohio-5799, ¶ 17,
citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
Under this standard, the appellate courts in Ohio look at the following,
nonexclusive, list of factors in their review of the trial court’s decision on a motion
to withdraw a plea:
(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
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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.
Maney at ¶ 18, citing State v. Griffin, 141 Ohio App.3d 551, 554, 752 N.E.2d 310
(7th Dist.2001), and State v. Fish, 104 Ohio App.3d 236, 240, 661 N.E.2d 788 (1st
Dist.1995); Liles at ¶ 16. None of the factors is determinative on its own and there
may be numerous additional aspects “weighed” in each case. Griffin at 554;
accord Fish at 240. Therefore, we look at the totality of the circumstances
presented in this case when arriving at our decision today.
(1) Prejudice to the Prosecution
{¶26} The trial court found that withdrawal of the plea would prejudice the
prosecution. (R. at 53, Op. & J. Entry.) Challenging the trial court’s finding of
prejudice, Pettaway focuses on the State’s assertion and the trial court’s finding
that it would be “extremely difficult” to secure the presence of one of the State’s
key witnesses, Detective Matt Armstrong, who has moved “several hours away.”
(See id.) Disputing the extent of prejudice stemming from Detective Armstrong’s
limited availability, Pettaway alleges that the trial court’s finding was incorrect.
{¶27} Nevertheless, the trial court’s finding of prejudice was not based
solely on the difficulty in securing detective Armstrong. Rather, the trial court
noted that considering multiple delays and continuances of the pretrial proceedings
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and the trial date, as well as the fact that the plea was entered shortly before the
scheduled trial date, “it would be highly prejudicial, unreasonable, and unfair to
allow the Defendant to withdraw his guilty plea and require the State of Ohio to
now again secure its witnesses and prepare for trial within such a limited time
when it was at the Defendant’s request to enter such a plea.” (Id.) We do not find
an abuse of discretion in the trial court’s finding that the prosecution would suffer
prejudice from Pettaway’s withdrawal of his plea. Additionally, although
Pettaway disputes the extent of this prejudice, he does not assert a complete lack
of prejudice to the prosecution.
(2) Representation Afforded by Counsel
{¶28} Pettaway’s claims of ineffective assistance are analyzed in detail in
our discussion of the second assignment of error above, where we found no
evidence that Mr. Murray’s performance was deficient so as to affect the voluntary
nature of Pettaway’s plea. The trial court, having had an opportunity to observe
Mr. Murray’s conduct, found that Mr. Murray “zealously represented” his client.
(R. at 53, Op. & J. Entry.) Furthermore, the trial court noted that “[a]t the time of
entering his guilty pleas, defendant advised the court that he was satisfied with Mr.
Murray’s representation and never voiced any complaint or dissatisfaction with his
attorney’s representation until February 27, 2014.” (Id.) The trial court remarked
that even at the time of discharging Mr. Murray, Pettaway “did not provide this
Court with any specific or legitimate complaint in terms of representation.” (Id.)
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{¶29} During the hearing, Pettaway indicated to the trial court that on
February 6, attorney Murray admitted “on the record” “that he didn’t represent
[Pettaway] to the best of his ability.” (Mot. Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at 16,
June 9, 2014.) Yet, no transcript of a February 6 hearing or any proceedings on
that date appears in the record. On February 27, 2014, attorney Murray made a
statement opposing the State’s motion to revoke Pettaway’s bond, explaining
reasons for delays and continuances, and blaming his illness, as well as
involvement in another case. (Mot. Withdraw Atty Hr’g Tr. at 5, Feb. 27, 2014.)
There is no statement from attorney Murray admitting that his performance as
Pettaway’s attorney was deficient.
{¶30} We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s findings. Apart
from the self-serving testimony, which refers to facts outside of the record, there is
no evidence that the representation provided by Mr. Murray requires that Pettaway
be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.
(3) and (4) Crim.R. 11 Hearing and Hearing
on the Motion to Withdraw Plea
{¶31} These two elements are not challenged by Pettaway, as he concedes
that his “rights and the ramifications of entering a plea were discussed thoroughly
with Defendant during the Crim.R. 11 hearing” (R. at 53, Op. & J. Entry), and that
“every opportunity was given to the Defendant to present any evidence or
witnesses to buttress his claim that he had not been afforded the opportunity to
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inspect his discovery by his prior attorney and to explain the circumstances
surrounding the plea he was seeking to withdraw.” (App’t Br. at 12-13.)
(5) Trial Court’s Consideration of the
Motion to Withdraw
{¶32} Pettaway does not allege that the trial court failed to fully consider
his motion to withdraw. Rather, he states that “it is not clear” whether this
element of the analysis is satisfied. (App’t Br. at 15.) In particular, Pettaway
points out that the “ten-page Opinion” of the trial court “is nearly entirely word for
word identical to the State’s response to the Defendant’s motion.” (Id. at 13.) He
does note several differences, where the trial court modified the language or
offered additional explanation. (Id. at 14-15.)
{¶33} We cannot conclude that the trial court’s use and adoption of the
reasoning proffered by the State means that the trial court failed to give proper
consideration to Pettaway’s arguments. See Westside Property Owners v.
Schlesinger, 597 F.2d 1214, 1216 (9th Cir.1979), fn. 3 (“Although this court has
warned of the dangers of summarily adopting the proposed findings of the
victorious party, See Industrial Building Materials, Inc. v. Interchemical Corp.,
437 F.2d 1336, 1339-40 (9th Cir. 1971), if the content of the district court’s
opinion is not erroneous, we do not believe the Source of that opinion should taint
it. Moreover, we note that in this case the district court carefully modified the
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Government’s arguments as it felt proper, thereby dispelling the fear that the
district court too readily accepted the victors’ words.”).
(6) Timing of the Motion
{¶34} The trial court found that, considering all of the events in these
proceedings, multiple continuances, prior last-minute filings, which required
additional continuances, and the fact that it was Pettaway’s second attempt to
withdraw his plea, the timing of the motion was unreasonable. Pettaway concedes
that the timing of his motion to withdraw the guilty plea does not weigh in his
favor. (App’t Br. at 15.) Although Pettaway justifies the delay in filing the
motion by the change of attorneys and the alleged failure to see discovery, we do
not find an abuse of discretion in the trial court’s finding that the timing of the
motion one day before the rescheduled sentencing was unreasonable.
(7) Reasons for the Motion
{¶35} The trial court found that Pettaway’s reasoning and justification for
his desire to withdraw the plea “indicate[d] he likely ha[d] merely a ‘change of
heart,’ ” which is “ ‘insufficient grounds for allowing the withdrawal of a guilty
plea.’ ” (R. at 53, quoting State v. Broderdorp, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-11-11,
2011-Ohio-4894, ¶ 25.) We recognize that Pettaway’s alleged reasons in support
of his request to withdraw his guilty plea align with Pettaway’s claims for
ineffective assistance of counsel, which we have analyzed and rejected above.
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Therefore, we agree with the trial court that this factor does not weigh in favor of
granting Pettaway’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
(8) Understanding the Nature of the
Charges and Potential Sentences
{¶36} Pettaway does not allege that he did not have a full understanding of
the nature of the charges or the potential sentences that he was facing when he
entered the plea of guilty. The record supports the trial court’s finding that during
the Crim.R. 11 hearing, his “rights and the ramifications of entering a plea were
discussed thoroughly.” (R. at 53; see also Plea of Guilty Hr’g Tr. at 8-9, Nov. 18,
2013.) At the hearing on the motion to withdraw, Pettaway confirmed that he had
understood his rights and the plea agreement when he entered it in November
2013. (Mot. Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at 14-16, June 9, 2014.) Therefore,
this element does not weigh in favor of granting the motion to withdraw.
(9) Claim of Innocence or a Complete Defense
{¶37} In his Brief on appeal, Pettaway does not allege that he was innocent
or that he had a complete defense to the charges. In the trial court, however,
Pettaway claimed that upon reviewing the discovery, he realized that the State had
insufficient evidence to convict him. During the hearing on the motion to
withdraw, Pettaway testified that “basically the State doesn’t even have anything.”
(Mot. Withdraw Guilty Plea Hr’g Tr. at 23, June 9, 2014.) He claimed that the
State lacked probable cause for the search warrant because in his understanding,
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“you can’t get the search warrant off a hearsay” or a “covert operation on
somebody else.” (Id.) Pettaway also alleged that the evidence was improperly
collected. (Id. at 26.)
{¶38} In rebuttal of these allegations, the State offered testimony of
detective Charles W. Boyer from the Tiffin Police Department, who was assigned
to the Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH enforcement unit. (Id. at 31.)
Detective Boyer testified about multiple evidentiary clues that supported their
application for a search warrant, including Pettaway’s criminal history; curbside
“trash pull,” consistent with drug trafficking; complaints from neighbors of drug
trafficking, which were consistent with the evidence found; and a controlled
purchase operation involving another person, which provided evidence against
Pettaway. (Id. at 38-39.) Detective Boyer then testified about execution of the
search warrant at Pettaway’s residence, where crack cocaine, money, drug
paraphernalia, and contraband were found and collected. (Id. at 39-48.) Detective
Boyer testified that Pettaway was briefly interviewed at the time of the execution
of the warrant and admitted that he lived in the residence. (Id. at 49.) Detective
Boyer further testified about the procedure used in collecting, documenting, and
inventorying the evidence in this case. (Id. at 43-50.) He testified that one of the
bills found among the money collected from the apartment was a marked twenty-
dollar bill, which had been used in a previous controlled drug purchase involving
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Case No. 13-14-20
another person. (Id. at 50-51.) The data from a cell phone collected through the
search was consistent with drug trafficking. (Id. at 52.)
{¶39} Based on that testimony, the trial court found that Pettaway’s
assertions do not give rise to any defense. (R. at 53.) These findings are
supported by the record before us. Moreover, no irregularities in search
procedures are apparent from the record and Pettaway seems to have abandoned
this theory on appeal because he makes no arguments regarding illegality of the
search. In fact, Pettaway’s Brief does not specifically explain how this element of
analysis would favor withdrawal of the plea. Pettaway has failed to show that he
was innocent or had a complete defense to the charges.
{¶40} Concluding, the analysis of the nine factors does not show that
Pettaway had a reasonable and legitimate basis for the plea withdrawal or that the
trial court abused its discretion in overruling his motion to withdraw the guilty
plea. Accordingly, Pettaway’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Conclusion
{¶41} Having reviewed the arguments, the briefs, and the record in this
case, we find no error prejudicial to Appellant in the particulars assigned and
argued. The judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Seneca County, Ohio is
therefore affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
SHAW and PRESTON, J.J., concur.
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