State v. Ashcraft

2021 Ohio 3842, 180 N.E.3d 630
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 28, 2021
Docket21CA000002
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2021 Ohio 3842 (State v. Ashcraft) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Ashcraft, 2021 Ohio 3842, 180 N.E.3d 630 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

COURT OF APPEALS KNOX COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J. -vs- : : Case No. 21CA000002 : MICHAEL P. ASHCRAFT : : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Knox County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 20CR03- 0050

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: October 28, 2021

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:

CHIP MCCONVILLE TODD W. BARSTOW KNOX COUNTY PROSECUTOR 261 West Johnstown Road 117 East High St. Suite 204 Suite 234 Columbus, OH 43230 Mount Vernon, OH 43050 [Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Michael P. Ashcraft appeals the January 22, 2021

sentencing entry of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-Appellee is the

State of Ohio.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} On November 1, 2013, Defendant-Appellant Michael P. Ashcraft was

convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony.

{¶3} On March 9, 2020, the Knox County Grand Jury indicted Defendant-

Appellant Michael P. Ashcraft on one count of Failure to Provide Change of Address, a

third-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2950.05(F)(1). The indictment stated that Ashcraft

was previously convicted for a violation of R.C. 2950.05(F)(1) on June 1, 2018. As this

appeal relates solely to sentencing, a recitation of the underlying facts giving rise to the

indictment are unnecessary for the disposition of this appeal.

{¶4} Ashcraft entered a guilty plea to the charge on December 22, 2020. During

the plea colloquy, the trial court informed Ashcraft of the maximum penalty:

THE COURT: * * * I want you to understand that the maximum penalty you

face on the charge of failure to provide a change of address in this case, a

third degree felony is, a maximum penalty is a basic prison term of no less

than three years. And in addition to any sanction or penalty imposed for the

charged offense, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 2950.99, and as

a third degree felony it carries with it a definite term of imprisonment of six

MR. MCCONVILLE: Nine. [Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

THE COURT: Nine.

MR. MCCONVILLE: Twelve.

THE COURT: Twelve.

MR. MCCONVILLE: Eighteen.

THE COURT: Eighteen.

MR. MCCONVILLE: Twenty-four, 30 or 36 months.

THE COURT: Right, okay. So in addition to the – thank you. In addition to

the basic prison term of no less than three years, you could also get up to

36 months of additional time. Do you understand that?

(T. 5-6). Ashcraft answered affirmatively and counsel for Ashcraft did not object to the

trial court’s explanation of the maximum penalty. The trial court accepted the plea and

found Ashcraft guilty. The matter was set for a sentencing hearing after the completion of

a presentence investigation.

{¶5} The trial court held the sentencing hearing on January 21, 2021. Prior to

sentencing, the trial court noted for the record that Ashcraft had pleaded guilty to a

violation of R.C. 2950.05(F)(1), which was subject to R.C. 2929.13(C). (T. 3). The State

asked the trial court to adopt the joint recommended sentence in the case. (T. 3). Counsel

for Ashcraft stated, “Your Honor, there’s not much we can say in terms of trying to

minimize the sentence, but I’ve read the presentence investigation. The prosecutor’s

recommendation is a, what appears to be a statutory minimum sentence, so thank you.”

(T. 3). After considering the purposes and principles of sentencing, the trial court ordered

Ashcraft to “serve a definite term of imprisonment for three years plus nine months on [Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

count one. Mr. Ashcraft’s given credit for 168 days served towards his sentence.” (T. 4).

Counsel for Ashcraft did not object to the sentence.

{¶6} The trial court filed the Sentencing Entry on January 22, 2021, which stated

that Ashcraft was to “serve a definite term of imprisonment of three (3) years and nine (9)

months, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 2950.99(A)(2)(b).” It is from this

Sentencing Entry that Ashcraft now appeals.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶7} Ashcraft raises one Assignment of Error:

{¶8} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BY

SENTENCING HIM TO A PRISON TERM THAT WAS CONTRARY TO LAW AS IT WAS

NOT AUTHORIZED BY OHIO’S SENTENCING STATUTES. (T. 1/22/21; R. Judgment

Entry 1/22/21).

ANALYSIS

{¶9} Ashcraft contends in his sole Assignment of Error that his sentence of 45

months for a violation of R.C. 2950.05(F) was contrary to law under the language of R.C.

2950.99.

Standard of Review

{¶10} R.C. 2953.08 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. [Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

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:

(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.

“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, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶11} A sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law where the trial

court “considers the principles and purposes of R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors listed

in R.C. 2929.12, properly imposes post release control, and sentences the defendant

within the permissible statutory range.” State v. Morris, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 20-COA-

015, ¶ 90 quoting State v. Dinka, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2019-03-022 and CA2019-

03-026, 2019-Ohio-4209, ¶ 36. [Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3842.]

{¶12} Criminal sentencing is “a creature of the legislature[.]” State v. Farris, 6th

Dist. Erie No. E-20-019, 2021-Ohio-2135, 2021 WL 2624129, ¶ 8 quoting State v.

Anderson, 143 Ohio St.3d 173, 2015-Ohio-2089, 35 N.E.3d 512, ¶ 13, citing Wilson v.

State, 5 N.E.3d 759 (Ind. 2014). Trial courts may only impose “sentences that are

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Young
2024 Ohio 5564 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2024)
State v. Ashcraft
2022 Ohio 4611 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2022)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2021 Ohio 3842, 180 N.E.3d 630, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ashcraft-ohioctapp-2021.