State v. Ross

[Cite as State v. Ross, 2018-Ohio-2297.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 106167

STATE OF OHIO

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

vs.

LEON ROSS, III

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED

Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-17-616793-A

BEFORE: Laster Mays, J., Boyle, P.J., and Blackmon, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: June 14, 2018
-i-
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Edward F. Borkowski, Jr.
P.O. Box 609151
Cleveland, Ohio 44109

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

By: Scott C. Zarzycki
Mary M. Frey
Assistant County Prosecutors
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J.:

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Leon Ross, III (“Ross”), appeals his sentence and asks this

court to remand to the trial court for resentencing. We affirm.

{¶2} Ross pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, in

violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1); and one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony, in violation of

R.C. 2913.02(A)(1). The trial court sentenced Ross to 6 years imprisonment for the aggravated

robbery count and 12 months for the theft. The trial court ordered that the two sentences be

served concurrently with each other, but consecutively to two unrelated prior cases.1

I. Facts

{¶3} The facts in this case were recited at the sentencing hearing by the assistant county

prosecutor. He stated,

They were — the victim and the defendant were friends. They knew each other
prior to this robbery. This wasn’t a stranger robbery. The victim sought out the
defendant to purchase some marijuana and he was car jacked. Similar facts to
his other case that he had already — that he had already pled guilty to. This
happened in November so it predated his other cases just to make the [c]ourt
aware of that. And so we’re asking for the appropriate sentence, so this is a
separate and distinct aggravated robbery from another similar aggravated robbery,
both with guns. Thanks.

(Tr. 26.)

{¶4} During the sentencing hearing, the trial court engaged in a lengthy conversation with

Ross regarding his criminal behavior and the effects his behavior has on the community. The

trial court, while discussing the unrelated cases, focused on that fact that those cases also

1
On April 18, 2017, appellant was sentence to a 5-year term of imprisonment on Cuyahoga C.P. No.
CR-17-613974 and to a 15-month term of imprisonment on Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-17-613248. The sentences
were ran concurrent to each other for a total of 5 years imprisonment.
involved the possession of guns by Ross. Ross filed this appeal assigning two errors for our

review:

I. The trial court erred by failing to make the required findings pursuant to
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) before imposing a consecutive sentence; and

II. The trial court erred by failing to merge allied offenses.

II. Consecutive Sentences

{¶5} In Ross’s first assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred by failing to

make the required findings required under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) before imposing consecutive

sentences involving an existing sentence in an unrelated case.

We review felony sentences under the standard set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).
State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 16.
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides that when reviewing felony sentences, a reviewing
court may overturn the imposition of consecutive sentences where the court
“clearly and convincingly” finds 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.”

State v. Blevins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105023, 2017-Ohio-4444, ¶ 13.

{¶6} The consecutive sentence statute, Ohio R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), provides:

If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of multiple
offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison terms
consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is necessary to protect
the public from future crime or to punish the offender and that consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and
to the danger the offender poses to the public, and if the court also finds any of the
following:

(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the
offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant
to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under
postrelease control for a prior offense.

(b) 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 multiple offenses
so committed 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.

(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.

{¶7} Accordingly,

[i]mposing consecutive prison terms for multiple convictions, therefore, is
appropriate upon making certain findings as enumerated in this statute. When
the trial court does so, however, it must state its reasons on the record. See R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(c). Failure to sufficiently state these reasons on the record
constitutes reversible error. See State v. Albert, 124 Ohio App.3d 225, 705
N.E.2d 1274 (1997); see also, State v. Gary, 141 Ohio App.3d 194, 750 N.E.2d
640 (2001).

State v. Glass, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 81275, 2003-Ohio-1505, ¶ 17.

{¶8} The trial court is not required to recite the language from R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)

verbatim.

This court has set forth the current law relating to consecutive sentences in State
v. Venes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98682, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453. 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,” however, it
must be clear from the record that the trial court actually made the findings
required by statute. Venes at ¶ 14, 17; see also State v. Pierson, 1st Dist.
Hamilton No. C-970935, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 3812 (Aug. 21, 1998).

(Emphasis added.) State v. Marton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99253, 2013-Ohio-3430, ¶ 13.

{¶9} The journal entry stated that,

[t]he court imposes prison terms consecutively finding that consecutive service is
necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish defendant; that the
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of defendant’s
conduct and to the danger defendant poses to the public; and that, defendant’s
history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary
to protect the public from future crime by defendant.

See journal entry No. 100014863 dated (Aug. 8, 2017).
 {¶10} After a review of the record, we find that the trial court made the necessary

findings to support consecutive sentencing. The trial court referenced Ross’s criminal history of

pointing guns at people in four previous cases. (Tr. 30.) With reference to protecting the

public from future crime, the trial court stated that Ross’s thinking was flawed and hopefully he

would get programming in jail so that his thinking would not be flawed in the future. The trial

court referenced that if this is done it may “help make our neighborhoods safe again.” (Tr. 34.)

The trial court referenced that the whole community knows that Ross was out carrying a gun

and “doing all this” for four previous occasions and then doing it a fifth time. (Tr. 30.)

{¶11} The record also reflects that the trial court addressed the disproportionate factor

and the danger Ross poses to the public. Specifically, the trial court stated:

COURT: You’re the one that makes it dangerous, aren’t you? You’re the
boogy man. You’re the guy walking around with the gun, holding
other people up, aren’t you? What makes —

ROSS: Yes, your Honor.

COURT: What else makes your neighborhood dangerous other than people
walking around with guns pointing them at people. Tell me.
Because I don’t know anything else that’s as dangerous as that.

***

I’d be thinking that you are ready to kill me.

***

You know, you’re the person that makes your community
dangerous. No matter what anyone might think, it’s not the guy
sitting on the corner smoking a joint. He’s not making the
community dangerous. It’s the guy pointing the gun * * *.

(Tr. 28-30.)
 {¶12} In essence, the record reflects that the trial court stated that Ross is a danger to the

community because of his violent behavior, and that the community is safer with him in prison.

(Tr. 32, 34.) Therefore, we find that all appropriate findings were made on the record and that

the consecutive sentence is not contrary to the law.

{¶13} Ross’s first assignment of error is overruled.

II. Allied Offenses

{¶14} In Ross’s second assignment of error, he contends that the trial court erred by

failing to address the issue of allied offenses where Ross was sentenced on multiple convictions

and merger was a possibility. Specifically, Ross argues that the trial court should have

independently reviewed the issue of allied offenses regarding aggravated robbery and theft where

a sentencing agreement was not reflected on the record and a possibility of merger existed; and

Ross should have only been sentenced on one of the offenses. “We review a trial court’s R.C.

2941.25 allied offenses determination under a de novo standard. State v. Williams, 134 Ohio

St.3d 482, 2012-Ohio-5699, 983 N.E.2d 1245, ¶ 28.” State v. Grayson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

Nos. 105081 and 105082, 2017-Ohio-7175, ¶ 17.

Rather than compare the elements of two offenses to determine whether they are
allied offenses of similar import, the analysis must focus on the defendant’s
conduct to determine whether one or more convictions may result because an
offense may be committed in a variety of ways and the offenses committed may
have different import. No bright-line rule can govern every situation.

As a practical matter, when determining whether offenses are allied offenses of
similar import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must ask three
questions when defendant’s conduct supports multiple offenses: (1) Were the
offenses dissimilar in import or significance? (2) Were they committed
separately? and (3) Were they committed with separate animus or motivation?
An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate convictions. The
conduct, the animus, and the import must all be considered.

State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 30-31.
 {¶15} After a review of the record, Ross did not raise an allied offense issue or otherwise

object to the sentences imposed by the trial court. Rather, Ross argues for the first time on

appeal that his convictions for aggravated robbery and theft are allied offenses of similar import

that should have merged for sentencing. By failing to seek the merger of his convictions as

allied offenses of similar import in the trial court, Ross has forfeited his allied offenses claim,

except to the extent it constitutes plain error. See State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385,

2015-Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 21-25, citing State v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464,

2014-Ohio-4034, 19 N.E.3d 900, ¶ 15-16.

Crim.R. 52(B) affords appellate courts discretion to correct “[p]lain errors or
defects affecting substantial rights” notwithstanding the accused’s failure to meet
his obligation to bring those errors to the attention of the trial court. However,
the accused bears the burden of proof to demonstrate plain error on the record,
Quarterman at ¶ 16, and must show “an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal rule”
that constitutes “an ‘obvious’ defect in the trial proceedings.” State v. Barnes,
94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 2002 Ohio 68, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002). However, even if
the error is obvious, it must have affected substantial rights * * *.

Rogers at ¶ 22.

{¶16} We must first address Ross’s contention that the trial court should have inquired

regarding the possibility of the aggravated robbery and theft being allied offenses. This issue

has been determined by the Ohio Supreme Court.

{¶17} After a conflict was certified, the Ohio Supreme Court reversed its judgment that

was based on the holding that a trial court has a duty to inquire about allied offenses if defense

counsel failed to raise the issue at sentencing. Rogers at ¶ 6. Thus, Ross’s argument fails

regarding the trial court’s duty to inquire.

{¶18} We now turn to the issue of whether Ross’s substantial rights were affected. The

facts are limited in this matter as stated by the prosecutor, however, the record reveals that Ross
pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery when he used a weapon to steal $40 from the victim. Ross

then pleaded guilty to theft for stealing the victim’s car. R.C. 2941.25(B) states,

[w]here the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar
import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or
similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the
indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the
defendant may be convicted of all of them.

{¶19} This case is similar to State v. Hilliard, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102214,

2015-Ohio-3142. In Hilliard, there was nothing in the record that outlined the specific facts

that led to his kidnapping or aggravated murder convictions. There was nothing in the record

that detailed how the kidnapping was committed, whether the victim was restrained, moved,

threatened, or deceived. The Hilliard court determined that “[t]he ‘very limited facts’” in the

record regarding Hilliard’s conduct during the incident are insufficient for us to perform an

analysis under Ruff of whether the kidnapping and aggravated murder offenses are allied offenses

of similar import. Id. at ¶ 22.

{¶20} This case is also analogous to the 2013 Rogers case in which the facts were also

limited. There is nothing in the record that details how the robbery happened, how much time

elapsed between the theft of the car or any other facts. The Hilliard court following Rogers

stated,

[U]nless a defendant shows, based on the record, a reasonable probability that his
convictions are for allied offenses of similar import committed with the same
conduct and without a separate animus, he cannot demonstrate that the trial
court’s failure to inquire whether the convictions merged for sentencing was plain
error.

Id. at ¶ 27.

{¶21} The record in this case, as in Rogers and Hilliard, contain insufficient facts to

determine whether Ross’s aggravated robbery and theft convictions involve allied offenses of
similar import. Following the decisions held in Rogers and Hilliard, Ross failed to meet his

burden of demonstrating a reasonable probability that his convictions constituted allied offenses

of similar import. Hilliard at ¶ 28. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not commit plain

error in failing to merge Ross’s convictions.

{¶22} According to the record, Ross first deprived the victim of the $40 and then stole the

car. We distinguish these facts from the situation if Ross stole the victim’s car, and the $40 was

in the car at the time of the robbery. Then an argument could be made that the two offenses

would be allied.

{¶23} Ross’s second assignment of error is overruled.

{¶24} Judgment is affirmed.

It is ordered that the appellee recover from 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. The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed,

any bail pending appeal is terminated.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

___________________________________________
ANITA LASTER MAYS, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., CONCUR