State v. Bradburn

2019 Ohio 2484

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 24, 2019
• Docket: 17-19-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Bradburn, 2019-Ohio-2484.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 17-19-01

v.

RANDY L. BRADBURN, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Shelby County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 18CR000078

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: June 24, 2019

APPEARANCES:

Justin G. Griffis for Appellant

Heath H. Hegemann for Appellee Case No. 17-19-01

SHAW, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Randy L. Bradburn (“Bradburn”), appeals the

December 10, 2018 Judgment Entry of Sentence issued by the Shelby County Court

of Common Pleas journalizing his conviction after entering a guilty plea to one

count of Rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), and sentencing him to life in

prison without the possibility of parole. On appeal, Bradburn argues that the

sentence imposed by the trial court is not supported by the record and is clearly and

convincingly contrary to law. Bradburn also claims that his counsel was ineffective

during the sentencing hearing.

Procedural Background

{¶2} On March 8, 2018, the Shelby County Grand Jury returned a three-

count indictment against Bradburn alleging that he committed two counts of Rape

in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), a felony of the first degree, and one count of

Gross Sexual Imposition, in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), a felony of the third

degree. The charges stemmed from allegations that Bradburn engaged in sexual

conduct with a female relative, who was under the age of ten.

{¶3} On March 23, 2018, the trial court ordered a competency examination

to determine whether Bradburn is competent to stand trial and on May 23, 2018, the

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trial court found Bradburn competent to stand trial based upon a psychological

evaluation report admitted by joint stipulation at a hearing.1

{¶4} On September 28, 2018, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement,

Bradburn entered a plea of guilty to one count of first degree felony Rape as charged

in the indictment. As a result of the plea agreement, the remaining two counts listed

in the indictment were dismissed. Sentencing was scheduled for a later date

pending the completion of a pre-sentence investigation.

{¶5} On November 14, 2018, the trial court granted a motion to continue the

sentencing hearing filed by Bradburn. In this motion, Bradburn requested that a

second pre-sentence investigation be conducted on the basis that he did not feel

comfortable answering the questions regarding the underlying rape offense posed

by the female interviewer. Accordingly, the trial court permitted a second pre-

sentencing investigation of Bradburn to be completed by a male interviewer.

{¶6} On December 10, 2018, Bradburn appeared for sentencing. Due to the

nature of the conviction, the discretion of the trial court in imposing the sentence

was limited because the statute required the trial court to impose a life sentence upon

Bradburn. Thus, the only issue before the trial court was whether Bradburn would

1 The trial court also granted defense counsel’s request that a second evaluation be completed to determine Bradburn’s sanity at the time the offenses were committed. The record indicates that a status conference was held on August 13, 2018 after the completion of the this second evaluation of Bradburn. However, there was no transcript of that hearing included with the record on appeal and similarly the report from the second evaluation was also not included with the record on appeal.

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be eligible for parole after fifteen years or whether he would be sentenced to life in

prison without the possibility of parole. After stating its findings on the record, the

trial court sentenced Bradburn to a prison term of life without the possibility of

parole and classified him as a Tier III sex offender.

{¶7} Bradburn filed this appeal, asserting the following assignments of error.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE SENTENCING COURT IS CONTRARY TO LAW BECAUSE IT FAILS TO REFLECT CONSIDERATION OF THE PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OF FELONY SENTENCING CONTAINED IN REVISED CODE § 2929.11 OR THE SERIOUSNESS AND RECIDIVISM FACTORS OF REVISED CODE § 2929.12.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

THE SENTENCING COURT FAILED TO CONSIDER THE PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OF FELONY SENTENCING IN R.C. § 2929.11 AND § 2929.12 AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN SENTENCING MR. BRADBURN TO THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3

DEFENSE COUNSEL RENDERED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

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First and Second Assignments of Error

{¶8} In his first and second assignments of error, Bradburn claims that the

trial court erred in imposing the maximum sentence of life without the possibility

of parole. Specifically, Bradburn argues that the trial court failed to give adequate

consideration to the sentencing factors contained in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12,

and to other factors in favor of mitigation in fashioning its sentence.

Legal Standard

{¶9} As a point of clarification, we note that the standard of review for felony

sentences is provided by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516,

2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 9-23. “The court hearing an appeal [of a felony sentence] shall

review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or modification

given by the sentencing court.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). “Applying the plain language

of R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), * * * an appellate court may vacate or modify a felony

sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that the

record does not support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the

sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” Marcum at ¶ 1. Thus, insofar as Bradburn

argues that the trial court abused its discretion in applying the statutory factors, this

is no longer the applicable standard of review. See State v. Tammerine, 6th Dist.

Lucas No. L-13-1081, 2014-Ohio-425, ¶ 15-16 (recognizing that sentences are

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reviewed pursuant to R.C. 2953.08 and not under the abuse of discretion standard);

see also State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 10, 16.

{¶10} 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 postrelease control, and sentences

the defendant within the permissible statutory range.” State v. Aburas, 12th Dist.

Clermont No. CA2017-10-054, 2018-Ohio-1984, ¶ 9. When exercising this

discretion in felony cases, the statutory principles of sentencing found in R.C.

2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 must be considered. State v. Saunders, 7th Dist. Jefferson

No. 17 JE 0015, 2018-Ohio-3612, at ¶ 9, citing State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St.3d 54,

2006-Ohio-855, ¶ 38. Yet, the court is not required to place a specific finding on

the record when considering the principles and purposes of sentencing under R.C.

2929.11. State v. Wilson, 129 Ohio St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, ¶ 31. Moreover,

“The Code does not specify that the sentencing judge must use specific language or

make specific findings on the record in order to evince the requisite consideration

of the applicable seriousness and recidivism factors.” State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d

208, 215 (2000).

{¶11} Here, the trial court specifically stated on the record and in its

judgment entry that it considered the principles and purposes of sentencing in R.C.

2919.11 and the recidivism factors in R.C. 2919.12 when it sentenced Bradburn to

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life in prison without parole, which is permissible by statute for Bradburn’s Rape

conviction. See 2907.02(B). Despite Bradburn’s argument on appeal, the record

also reflects that the trial court considered other mitigating factors, such as

Bradburn’s low intellectual capacity, when pronouncing its sentence. Throughout

the case the trial court had reviewed the reports from psychological examinations of

Bradburn and in speaking to Bradburn at sentencing acknowledged that “there’s no

question that you have some mental health issues that contribute to your conduct.”

(Doc. No. 162 at 13).

{¶12} However, the trial court also highlighted Bradburn’s criminal history

which included a 2000 conviction for Child Molestation in Indiana and a conviction

in 2017 for Criminal Child Enticement, in addition to his underlying conviction of

the Rape of a child under ten, whom he lived with in a relative’s home.2 The PSIs

also indicated that Bradburn had received counseling in the past after his prior sex

offenses, but nevertheless continued to victimize children. Moreover, Bradburn’s

PSIs demonstrated that he had been unsuccessfully terminated from court

supervision with respect to his last case, which immediately preceded the underlying

offenses comprising the case sub judice. The record further indicates that Bradburn

admitted to law enforcement that he has urges that he is unable to control, and that

2 The record indicates Bradburn was also charged, in a separate case contemporaneous to the instant case, with ten counts of Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor based upon pictures and videos obtained from his cell phone which depicted pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual conduct with adults. These charges were dismissed in exchange for Bradburn pleading guilty to one count of Rape in this case.

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instead of taking responsibility for his conduct, Bradburn repeatedly attempted to

justify his actions to the PSI interviewers. Thus, both PSI interviewers found it

extremely likely that Bradburn would reoffend and harm more children and as a

result both recommended that the trial court impose upon Bradburn a sentence of

life in prison without the possibility of parole.

{¶13} The trial court stated its reasoning on the record for choosing to impose

the maximum sentence at sentencing.

[B]ased upon the history that I have found here, it appears very likely to this court that if you ever get out of prison, you would likely reoffend, and this Court believes that it has an obligation to attempt to protect the public, in particular young children, from any possibility that you might be in a position to reoffend. So taking all those things into consideration, it will be the order of this court that you be ordered to serve life without the possibility of parole at ODRC.

(Doc. No. 162 at 13). Based on the foregoing, we find that Bradburn’s sentence is

not clearly and convincingly contrary to law because the prison term is within the

statutory range and the record fully supports the trial court’s sentencing decision to

impose the maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Accordingly, Bradburn’s first and second assignments of error are overruled.

Third Assignment of Error

{¶14} In his third assignment of error, Bradburn claims that his trial counsel

was ineffective at sentencing because “defense counsel failed to have him examined

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by a mental health professional and have the mental health professional provide

expert testimony at sentencing for purposes of mitigation.” (Appt. Br. at 17).

{¶15} To prove an allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel, Bradburn

must satisfy a two-prong test. First, Bradburn must establish that counsel’s

performance has fallen below an objective standard of reasonable representation.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984); State v.

Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus. Second, Bradburn

must demonstrate that he was prejudiced by counsel’s performance. Id. To show

that he has been prejudiced by counsel’s deficient performance, Bradburn must

prove that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of his sentencing would have been

different. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d at paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶16} The extent to which counsel presents mitigation evidence at a

sentencing hearing is generally a matter of trial strategy. State v. Cossack, 7th Dist.

Mahoning No. 08 MA 161, 2009-Ohio-3327, ¶ 36, citing State v. Stiles, 3d Dist.

Allen No. 1-08-12, 2009-Ohio-89, citing State v. Were, 118 Ohio St.3d 448, 2008-

Ohio-2762, ¶ 241. It is well-established that tactical or strategic trial decisions, even

if unsuccessful, do not generally constitute ineffective assistance. See State v.

Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 558 (1995). Defense counsel has a duty to investigate

mitigating circumstances in order to make informed tactical decisions about what

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information would be most helpful to his or her client. State v. Conway, 10 Dist.

Franklin No. No. 05AP-76, 2005-Ohio-6377, ¶ 28, citing State v. Johnson, 24 Ohio

St.3d 87, 90 (1986). The decision to forego the presentation of additional mitigating

evidence does not itself constitute proof of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Johnson at 91.

{¶17} Here, the record demonstrates that the trial court had reviewed the

reports related to the psychological examinations of Bradburn and was therefore

aware of his intellectual limitations. However, it should be noted that the

psychological report submitted with the record on appeal revealed that the mere

existence of Bradburn’s cognitive impairments was not in of itself conclusive in

examining his conduct. Specifically, the expert examiner observed that Bradburn

“over-aggregates these impairments” and “although [his] scores on an intelligence

test were below-average, Mr. Bradburn’s adaptive functioning is at a level above

what would be expected based on the measured level of cognitive disability. Thus,

he does not meet criteria to be termed ‘intellectually disabled.’ ” (Doc. No. 161,

Joint Ex. I). Moreover, at sentencing, defense counsel made a thorough argument

in favor of mitigation, highlighting Bradburn’s cognitive challenges, the

cooperation Bradburn gave to law enforcement during the investigation of the

offenses, and his expression of remorse for the trauma his conduct caused the victim.

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Accordingly, counsel asked that the trial court impose a prison term of life, giving

Bradburn the possibility of being considered for parole at some point in the future.

{¶18} Based on the record before us, Bradburn has failed to demonstrate that

his counsel’s decision not to obtain expert testimony to speak to Bradburn’s

cognitive limitations at sentencing fell below an objective standard of reasonable

representation. There is nothing in the record to suggest that trial counsel failed to

investigate mitigating circumstances in order to make informed tactical decisions

about what information would be most helpful to Bradburn. Rather, the trial court

already had access to two psychological reports on Bradburn, and therefore, it is

purely speculative on Bradburn’s part that an additional expert examination would

have provided new evidence to persuade the trial court to impose a life sentence

instead of a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Accordingly, we find no

merit to Bradburn’s arguments that his counsel was ineffective at sentencing on this

basis. The third assignment of error is therefore overruled.

{¶19} Based on the foregoing, the assignments of error are overruled and the

judgment and sentence of the trial court is affirmed.

PRESTON and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.

/jlr

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