State v. White

[Cite as State v. White, 2016-Ohio-2941.] Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 103351 STATE OF OHIO PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT vs. STEVE WHITE DEFENDANT-APPELLEE JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-14-588304-A BEFORE: Stewart, J., E.T. Gallagher, P.J., and Boyle, J. RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: May 12, 2016 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT Timothy J. McGinty Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Daniel T. Van Assistant County Prosecutor Justice Center, 8th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, OH 44113 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Robert L. Tobik Cuyahoga County Public Defender John T. Martin Assistant Public Defender 310 West Lakeside Avenue, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44113 MELODY J. STEWART, J.: {¶1} On August 14, 2014, defendant-appellee Steve White was indicted on charges of rape and kidnapping stemming from conduct that occurred 20 years earlier in August 1994. White pleaded guilty to one count of rape in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining charges and the trial court sentenced him to a six-year prison term and postrelease control in accordance with the sentencing provisions of 2011 Am.Sub.H.B. No. 86 (H.B. 86). {¶2} The state argues on appeal that the trial court erred when it sentenced White under the current sentencing law, H.B. 86, rather than the sentencing laws in effect at the time of the offense. We have previously reviewed this assigned error and have consistently held that a defendant in White’s position is to be sentenced under the sentencing provisions of H.B. 86. State v. Brown, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102377, 2015-Ohio-4372; State v. Bell, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102141, 2015-Ohio-4178; State v. Owens, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102276, 2015-Ohio-3881; State v. Girts, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101075, 2014-Ohio-5545; State v. Jackson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100877, 2014-Ohio-5137. The state acknowledges this court’s settled position and concedes that it appeals only to preserve the assigned error pending the resolution of State v. Thomas, 143 Ohio St.3d 1463, 2015-Ohio-3733, 37 N.E.3d 1249. Accordingly, the assignment of error is overruled. {¶3} Judgment affirmed. It is ordered that appellee recover of said appellant 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. A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. ______________________________________________ MELODY J. STEWART, JUDGE EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J., and MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR