State v. Catlett

[Cite as State v. Catlett, 2016-Ohio-7260.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-16-10

v.

ROBERT D. CATLETT, III, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. CR20150347

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: October 11, 2016

APPEARANCES:

Joseph A. Benavidez for Appellant

Jana E. Emerick for Appellee
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SHAW, P.J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Robert D. Catlett, III (“Catlett”), appeals the

February 16, 2016 judgment entry of sentencing issued by the Allen County Court

of Common Pleas journalizing his convictions by guilty plea to one count of

Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, in violation of R.C. 2903.06 (A)(1)(a)&(B)(2)(a),

a felony of the second degree, and to one count of Failure to Stop After an Accident,

in violation of R.C. 4549.02(A)&(B), a felony of the third degree. As a result of the

convictions, the trial court sentenced Catlett to the maximum prison terms on each

count of eight years and thirty-six months, respectively. The trial court further

ordered the prison terms to run consecutively. On appeal, Catlett challenges the

trial court’s imposition of maximum, consecutive sentences.

Statement of the Case

{¶2} On September 17, 2015, the Allen County Grand Jury returned a three

count indictment against Catlett charging him on Count One, Aggravated Vehicular

Homicide, in violation of R.C. 2903.06 (A)(1)(a)&(B)(2)(a), a felony of the second

degree, Count Two, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, in violation of R.C. 2903.06

(A)(2)(a), a felony of the third degree; and Count Three, Failure to Stop After an

Accident, in violation of R.C. 4549.02(A)&(B), a felony of the third degree. The

charges stemmed from allegations that on May 31, 2015, Catlett was operating a

vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverage and caused a collision with

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a motorcycle which resulted in the death of the motorcyclist, Aaron L. Ehrnsberger.

The indictment further alleged that Catlett failed to stop after causing the accident

and fled the scene. Catlett subsequently appeared for arraignment and pled not

guilty on all counts.

{¶3} On January 4, 2016, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Catlett

withdrew his previously tendered pleas of not guilty and pled guilty to Count One

Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Count Three Failure to Stop After an Accident

as charged in the indictment. The prosecution agreed to dismiss Count Two

Aggravated Vehicular Homicide in exchange for Catlett’s guilty pleas. The trial

court notified Catlett that the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide charge to which he

pled guilty carried with it a mandatory prison term. The trial court also apprised

Catlett of the possible prison terms associated with each charge and the potential of

consecutive sentences prior to accepting his guilty pleas. The trial court ordered a

pre-sentence investigation be completed before sentencing.

{¶4} On February 16, 2016, Catlett appeared for sentencing. Prior to

imposing its sentence, the trial court reviewed the pre-sentence investigation, which

included written statements from the victim’s family, and heard oral statements

from the prosecutor, defense counsel, Catlett and the victim’s brother. The trial

court then imposed the maximum prison term of eight years on Count One,

Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a second degree felony, and the maximum prison

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term of thirty-six months on Count Three, Failure to Stop After an Accident, a third

degree felony, with the terms to be served consecutively.

{¶5} Catlett subsequently filed this appeal.

Appeal

{¶6} On appeal, Catlett challenges the trial court’s imposition of maximum

and consecutive sentences for his Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Failure to

Stop After an Accident convictions.

Maximum Sentences

{¶7} Pursuant to the Supreme Court of Ohio’s recent holding in State v.

Marcum,—Ohio St.3d—, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 7, this court will review a felony

sentence using the standard set forth in R.C. 2953.08. Section 2953.08 of the

Revised Code governs appeals based on felony sentencing guidelines. Subsection

(G)(2) sets forth this court’s standard of review as follows:

(2) The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of
this section shall review the record, including the findings
underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing
court.

The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a
sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the
sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for
resentencing. The appellate court’s standard for review is not
whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate
court may take any action authorized by this division if it clearly
and convincingly finds either of the following:

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(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.

{¶8} The Supreme Court in Marcum also declared that “it is fully consistent

for appellate courts to review those sentences that are imposed solely after

consideration of the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 under a standard that is

equally deferential to the sentencing court. That is, an appellate court may vacate

or modify any sentence that is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law only if

the appellate court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not

support the sentence.” Marcum at ¶ 23.

{¶9} Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof which

is more than a mere “preponderance of the evidence,” but not to the extent of such

certainty as is required “beyond a reasonable doubt” in criminal cases, and which

will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the

facts sought to be established. Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, (1954),

paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶10} Revised Code Chapter 2929 governs sentencing. Revised Code

2929.11 provides, in pertinent part, that the “overriding purposes of felony

sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and

to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines

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accomplish those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or

local government resources.” R.C. 2929.11(A). In advancing these purposes,

sentencing courts are instructed to “consider the need for incapacitating the

offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the

offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both.”

Id.

{¶11} Meanwhile, R.C. 2929.11(B) states that felony sentences must be

“commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct

and its impact upon the victim” and also be consistent with sentences imposed in

similar cases. In accordance with these principles, the trial court must consider the

factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12(B)-(E) relating to the seriousness of the offender’s

conduct and the likelihood of the offender’s recidivism. R.C. 2929.12(A).

Regarding the imposition of the maximum sentences, there is no statutory

requirement for findings in order to impose such a sentence, and a trial court has the

discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range. “Trial courts have

full discretion to impose a prison sentence within the statutory range and are no

longer required to make findings or give their reasons for imposing maximum * * *

sentences.” State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, paragraph seven of

the syllabus.

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{¶12} In its judgment entry of sentencing, the trial court stated that it had

considered the statutes related to sentencing, specifically citing R.C. 2929.11 and

R.C. 2929.12. (Doc. No. 36). The trial court also stated that it considered the pre-

sentence investigation and the victim impact statements, and determined that it had

“plenty of time” to think about the case. (Feb. 16, 2016, Sent. Hrg. Tr. at 6). The

trial court discussed the fact that Catlett was under the influence of alcoholic

beverage at the time he caused the collision with the victim’s motorcycle and that

instead of stopping after the accident Catlett fled the jurisdiction to Florida, evading

law enforcement and failing to take responsibility for the consequences of his

conduct which resulted in the death of an individual. The trial court reviewed

Catlett’s criminal history and noted that he had been convicted of operating a vehicle

while under the influence in 2010 and did not respond favorably to the sanctions

previously imposed.

Consecutive Sentences

{¶13} The imposition of consecutive sentences is governed by R.C.

2929.14(C)(4), which 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:

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(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 post-
release 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.

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).

{¶14} Here, the trial court specifically found in its judgment entry of

sentencing that “the consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from

future crime or to punish the defendant and that consecutive sentences are not

disproportionate to the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct and to the danger the

defendant poses to the public.” (Doc. No. 36 at 3). The trial court also found that

“[a]t 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 defendant’s conduct.” (Id.).

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{¶15} Based on the foregoing, we conclude the Appellant has not shown, by

clear and convincing evidence that the record does not support the trial court’s

imposition of the maximum sentences for Catlett’s Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

and Failure to Stop After an Accident convictions. In addition, the record reflects

that the trial court properly made the statutory findings necessary to impose

consecutive sentences. Accordingly, we do not find the sentence entered by the trial

court contrary to law and overrule Catlett’s assignment of error.

{¶16} For all these reasons, the assignment of error is overruled and the

judgment entry of conviction and sentence is affirmed.

Judgment Affirmed

WILLAMOWSKI and ROGERS, J.J., concur.

/jlr

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