State v. Bivens

550 N.E.2d 497, 49 Ohio App. 3d 75, 1988 Ohio App. LEXIS 2612
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 13, 1988
Docket664
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 550 N.E.2d 497 (State v. Bivens) 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. Bivens, 550 N.E.2d 497, 49 Ohio App. 3d 75, 1988 Ohio App. LEXIS 2612 (Ohio Ct. App. 1988).

Opinions

Stephenson, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction and sentence entered by the Highland County Court of Common Pleas following the entry of a guilty plea by Shawn Bivens, appellant herein, to a charge of possession of burglary tools, which offense is proscribed by R.C. 2923.24(A) and is a fourth degree felony. The following errors are assigned:

Assignment of Error No. I
“The trial court committed prejudicial error in failing to follow the sentencing guidelines under the Revised Code.”
Assignment of Error No. II
“The trial court abused it’s [sic] discretion by leading defendant to believe that he would be considered favorably for probation if he had no prioe [sic] felony record and then not giving defendant probation or even a minimum sentence.”

On October 31,1986, the Highland County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging appellant with the offenses of possession of burglary tools in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A), a fourth degree felony, and tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1). At arraignment appellant entered pleas of not guilty to *76 each charge and trial was set for December 18, 1986.

Before trial commenced on December 18, 1986, a plea bargain was entered into whereby the appellant would withdraw his plea of not guilty to the offense of possession of burglary tools, and the tampering with evidence charge would be dismissed with prejudice. Additionally, the prosecution would recommend that a probation report be prepared and that appellant be placed on probation. Pursuant to the agreement, the court accepted the guilty plea with respect to the possession of burglary tools and dismissed the tampering with evidence count and referred appellant for a presentence probation report.

On February 23, 1987, appellant appeared at a sentencing hearing. The court advised him it had received the probation report. Appellant’s counsel then stated that appellant had no prior felony record and that, although appellant had had problems in the past with fighting and drinking, he had now stopped drinking. The appellant was offered the opportunity to but did not make a statement. The court without stating any reasons or that the court had considered the criteria of R.C. 2929.13 respecting definite sentences for third and fourth degree felonies imposed a sentence of one year in the Ohio State Reformatory.

We note at the outset that since the indictment charged appellant with a fourth degree felony and did not contain a specification as required by R.C. 2929.11(G) and 2941.143, an indefinite sentence was precluded and pursuant to R.C. 2929.11(D)(2) a sentence of six months, one year or eighteen months could be imposed.

Appellant argues the court abused its discretion in imposing a one-year sentence without consideration of the sentencing criteria in R.C. 2929.12(B). However, that section applies only when determining the minimum sentence when an indefinite sentence is imposed. Instead, R.C. 2929.13 applies and reads as follows:

“(A) The following do not control the court’s sentencing decision, but shall be considered in favor of imposing a shorter term of imprisonment when determining the term of imprisonment for a felony of the third or fourth degree for which a definite term of imprisonment is imposed:
“(1) The offense was the result of circumstances unlikely to recur;
“(2) The victim of the offense induced or facilitated it;
“(3) There are substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the offense, though not sufficient to establish a defense;
“(4) The offender acted under strong provocation;
“(5) The offender has no history of prior delinquency or criminal activity, or has led a law-abiding life for a substantial time before commission of the present offense;
“(6) The offender is likely to respond quickly to correctional or rehabilitative treatment.
“(B) The following do not control the court’s sentencing decision, but shall be considered in favor of imposing a longer term of imprisonment when determining the term of imprisonment for a felony of the third or fourth degree for which a definite term of imprisonment is imposed:
“(1) The defendant, by the duties of his office or by his position, was obligated to prevent the particular offense committed or to bring the offenders committing it to justice;
‘ ‘(2) The defendant held public office at the time of the offense, and the offense related to the conduct of that office;
“(3) The defendant utilized his professional reputation or position in the community to commit the offense, *77 or to afford him an easier means of committing it, in circumstances where his example probably would influence the conduct of others.
“(C) The criteria listed in divisions (A) and (B) of this section do not limit the matters that may be considered in determining the term of imprisonment to be imposed for a felony of the third or fourth degree for which a definite term of imprisonment is imposed.”

While a trial court has a broad discretion in imposing sentence, it has been held that statutory sentencing criteria must be considered by the sentencing court. State v. Yontz (1986), 33 Ohio App. 3d 342, 515 N.E. 2d 1012; State v. Cable (1985), 24 Ohio App. 3d 88, 24 OBR 158, 493 N.E. 2d 285. There is no requirement, however, that the court state in the record that it considered such criteria. State v. Koons (1984), 14 Ohio App. 3d 289, 14 OBR 345, 470 N.E. 2d 922. However, if it can be demonstrated that the court did not consider the criteria, a reversal is required. Cincinnati v. Clardy (1978), 57 Ohio App. 2d 153, 11 O.O. 3d 137, 385 N.E. 2d 1342.

A presentence report was furnished to the court pursuant to Crim. R. 32.2(B), which rule reads as follows:

“The report of the presentence investigation shall state the defendant’s prior criminal record, the circumstances of the offense, and such information about defendant’s social history, employment record, financial ability and means, personal characteristics, family situation, and present physical and mental condition, as may be helpful in imposing or modifying sentence or providing rehabilitative or correctional treatment, and shall state such other information as may be required by the court. Whenever the court, probation officer, or investigator considers it advisable, the investigation may include a physical and mental examination of the defendant.”

The presentence report was not included in the record on appeal nor was a request made for its inclusion. In State v. Koons, supra, at 290, 14 OBR at 347, 470 N.E. 2d at 924, the court stated the following when the presen-tence report was not in the record:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
550 N.E.2d 497, 49 Ohio App. 3d 75, 1988 Ohio App. LEXIS 2612, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bivens-ohioctapp-1988.