State v. Johnson

[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2017-Ohio-7775.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. L-16-1268

Appellee Trial Court No. CR0201502931

v.

Michael Johnson DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: September 22, 2017

*****

Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Karin L. Coble, for appellant.

*****

JENSEN, P.J.
I. Introduction

{¶ 1} This is an appeal filed pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87

S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Appellant, Michael Johnson, appeals the judgment of

the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, imposing an agreed-upon sentence of 18
years in prison following his guilty plea to one count of involuntary manslaughter and

one count of robbery. Finding no error in the proceedings below, we affirm the trial

court’s judgment.

II. Facts and Procedural Background

{¶ 2} The facts of this case were succinctly summarized by the state during the

suppression hearing as follows:

[O]n November 5, 2015, * * * Scott Witkowski was working as a

laborer on an apartment complex. It’s the State’s view of the case that he

saw his car being stolen, that he attempted to stop that from happening, and

was run over and ultimately killed in the defense of his car. The police

department gathered evidence and ultimately led to [appellant], who was

placed under arrest.

{¶ 3} Following his arrest, appellant was indicted on one count of murder in

violation of R.C. 2903.02(B) and 2929.02, a felony of the first degree. Appellant

subsequently filed a motion to suppress, which was denied by the trial court.

Approximately one month later, appellant entered into a plea agreement with the state in

which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter in violation of

R.C. 2903.04(A) and (C), a felony of the first degree, and one count of robbery in

violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2) and (B), a felony of the second degree.1 As part of the

1
Appellant waived his right to an indictment on the additional robbery charge.

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plea agreement, appellant and the state jointly agreed to a sentence of 11 years on the

involuntary manslaughter count and seven years on the robbery count, to be served

consecutively for a total sentence of 18 years. Prior to accepting appellant’s guilty plea,

the trial court engaged appellant in a thorough Crim.R. 11 colloquy. After appellant was

advised of his rights under Crim.R. 11, the trial court accepted appellant’s guilty plea and

found appellant guilty. The court then continued the matter for sentencing and ordered

the preparation of a presentence investigation report.

{¶ 4} At sentencing, the trial court reviewed the presentence investigation report,

considered statements in mitigation from appellant and his defense counsel, and

permitted the reading of a victim impact statement. Thereafter, the trial court ordered

appellant to serve 11 years in prison on the involuntary manslaughter count and seven

years on the robbery count, to be served consecutively for an aggregate prison term of 18

years. In so doing, the trial court stated:

Sentencing hearing having been held pursuant to the Revised Code

2929.19. The Defendant was afforded all rights pursuant to Criminal Rule

32. The Court has considered the record, oral statements, any victim

impact statement in the reports, as well as the principles and purposes of

sentencing under Revised Code 2929.11, has balanced the seriousness and

recidivism factors under 2929.12.

***

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 The Court finds that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect

the public from future crime or to punish the Defendant and [are] not

disproportionate to the seriousness of the Defendant’s conduct, or the

danger the Defendant poses. The Court further finds that the harm caused

was so great, that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed

as part of any course of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the

offender’s conduct.

{¶ 5} The trial court memorialized the foregoing findings in its November 3, 2016

sentencing entry. Appellant’s timely notice of appeal was filed and appellate counsel was

appointed.

{¶ 6} Appointed counsel submits that she has thoroughly reviewed the record and

researched the legal issues presented, but finds no error in the proceedings below.

Consequently, counsel seeks leave to withdraw from appellant’s representation under

Anders, supra.

{¶ 7} Anders and State v. Duncan, 57 Ohio App.2d 93, 385 N.E.2d 323 (8th

Dist.1978), set forth the procedure to be followed by appointed counsel who desires to

withdraw for want of a meritorious, appealable issue. In Anders, the United States

Supreme Court held that if counsel, after a conscientious examination of the case,

determines it to be wholly frivolous, he should so advise the court and request permission

to withdraw. Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493. This request,

however, must be accompanied by a brief identifying anything in the record that could

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arguably support the appeal. Id. Furthermore, counsel must furnish his client with a

copy of the brief and request to withdraw from representation, and allow the client

sufficient time to raise any matters that he chooses. Id.

{¶ 8} Once these requirements are satisfied, the appellate court must then conduct

a full examination of the proceedings held below to determine if the appeal is indeed

frivolous. If the appellate court determines that the appeal is frivolous, it may grant

counsel’s request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional

requirements, or it may proceed to a decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.

{¶ 9} Here, counsel has identified two potential assignments of error for our

review:

Proposed Assignment of Error One: Appellant’s guilty plea was

involuntary and unknowing.

Proposed Assignment of Error Two: Appellant’s sentence is either

contrary to law or is not clearly and convincingly supported by the record.

III. Analysis

A. Acceptance of Appellant’s Plea

{¶ 10} In her first proposed assignment of error, appellate counsel suggests that

the trial court erred in accepting appellant’s guilty plea because the plea was involuntary

and unknowing.

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 {¶ 11} Relevant here, Crim.R. 11(C) provides, in pertinent part:

(2) In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or

a plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest

without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the

following:

(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily,

with understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum

penalty involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for

probation or for the imposition of community control sanctions at the

sentencing hearing.

(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,

upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.

(c) Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant

understands that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial,

to confront witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for

obtaining witnesses in the defendant’s favor, and to require the state to

prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the

defendant cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.

{¶ 12} In State v. Rinehart, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-11-030, 2013-Ohio-3372,

¶ 17-18, we explained:

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 The underlying purpose of Crim.R. 11(C) is to insure that certain

information is conveyed to the defendant which would allow him or her to

make a voluntary and intelligent decision regarding whether to plead guilty.

State v. Ballard, 66 Ohio St.2d 473, 479-480, 423 N.E.2d 115 (1981). With

respect to constitutional rights, a trial court must strictly comply with the

dictates of Crim.R. 11(C). State v. Colbert, 71 Ohio App.3d 734, 737, 595

N.E.2d 401 (11th Dist.1991). However, a trial court need not use the exact

language found in that rule when informing a defendant of his

constitutional rights. Ballard, supra, paragraph two of the syllabus.

Rather, a trial court must explain those rights in a manner reasonably

intelligible to the defendant. Id.

For nonconstitutional rights, scrupulous adherence to Crim.R. 11(C)

is not required; the trial court must substantially comply, provided no

prejudicial effect occurs before a guilty plea is accepted. State v. Stewart,

51 Ohio St.2d 86, 364 N.E.2d 1163 (1977). “Substantial compliance means

that under the totality of the circumstances the defendant subjectively

understands the implications of his plea and the rights he is waiving.” State

v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).

{¶ 13} We have carefully reviewed the transcript from the plea hearing and we

conclude that the trial court strictly complied with the constitutional aspects of Crim.R.

11(C) and substantially complied with the non-constitutional aspects of Crim.R. 11(C).

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Thus, we find that appellant’s guilty plea was knowing and voluntary, and we reject

appellate counsel’s suggestion to the contrary.

{¶ 14} Accordingly, we find appellate counsel’s first proposed assignment of error

not well-taken.

B. Sentencing

{¶ 15} In her second proposed assignment of error, appellate counsel suggests that

the trial court erred in imposing appellant’s sentence.

{¶ 16} Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an 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 if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the

following:

(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings

under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of

section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code,

whichever, if any, is relevant;

(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

{¶ 17} Notably, R.C. 2953.08(D)(1) limits our review of the imposition of an

agreed-upon sentence as follows: “A sentence imposed upon a defendant is not subject to

review under this section if the sentence is authorized by law, has been recommended

jointly by the defendant and the prosecution in the case, and is imposed by a sentencing

judge.” Here, the sentence imposed by the trial court was recommended jointly by

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appellant and the state. Thus, the only issue for our consideration is whether the sentence

was authorized by law.

{¶ 18} Under R.C. 2929.14(A), a trial court may impose a sentence of up to 11

years for a felony of the first degree or up to eight years for a felony of the second degree.

In this case, the trial court imposed a prison sentence of 11 years as the involuntary

manslaughter count, which was a felony of the first degree, and seven years as to the

robbery count, which was a felony of the second degree. Therefore, we conclude that the

sentence was authorized by law.

{¶ 19} Accordingly, appellate counsel’s second proposed assignment of error is

not well-taken.

{¶ 20} In accordance with Anders, supra, appointed counsel has requested

permission to withdraw from this case. She has provided a certification verifying that she

made a conscientious review of the case, found the appeal to be wholly frivolous, filed a

brief on appellant’s behalf identifying proposed assignments of error, and mailed the

brief to appellant along with a letter informing him that he has the right to file his own

brief. Appellant did not file a brief. Counsel’s motion to withdraw is found well-taken

and is hereby granted.

IV. Conclusion

{¶ 21} This court, as required under Anders, has undertaken our own examination

of the record to determine whether any issue of arguable merit is presented for appeal.

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We have found none. Accordingly, we grant the motion of appellant’s counsel to

withdraw.

{¶ 22} The judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24. The clerk is

ordered to serve all parties with notice of this decision.

Judgment affirmed.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
James D. Jensen, P.J.
_______________________________
Christine E. Mayle, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE

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