State v. Burmeister

2020 Ohio 1048

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 20, 2020
• Docket: S-19-027
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Burmeister, 2020-Ohio-1048.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT SANDUSKY COUNTY

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. S-19-027

Appellee Trial Court No. 18CR1055

v.

Amber R. Burmeister DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: March 20, 2020

*****

Beth A. Tischler, Sandusky County Prosecuting Attorney, and Joseph H. Gerber, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Brett A. Klimkowsky, for appellant.

SINGER, J.

{¶ 1} Appellant, Amber Burmeister, appeals the May 15, 2019 judgment of the

Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas sentencing her to a six-month jail term after

she pled guilty to one charge of breaking and entering. Because appellant’s sentence is not contrary to law, the trial court properly considered the purposes and principles of

sentencing, and the sentence was not excessive.

{¶ 2} Appellant brings forth one assignment of error for our review:

The trial court’s sentence of appellant is excessive and violates the

law.

{¶ 3} On September 28, 2018, appellant was indicted for breaking and entering, a

felony of the fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2911.13(A) and one count of grand theft, a

felony of the third degree in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1).

{¶ 4} Appellant and appellee entered into a plea agreement in which appellant

would plead guilty to the charge of breaking and entering. In exchange, the charge of

grand theft would be dismissed. These charges stem from appellant’s participation with

two other individuals breaking into storage units while appellant served as a lookout.

Firearms were stolen from these storage units. Appellant entered a guilty plea and a

presentence investigation was completed. On May 15, 2019, appellant was sentenced by

the trial court to a six-month term in jail and was ordered to pay $2,471.48 in restitution

to the victim.

{¶ 5} We review felony sentences as set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v

Tammerine, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1081, 2014-Ohio-425, ¶ 11. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)

provides that an appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence or

may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing if

2. it clearly and convincingly finds that either the record does not support the sentencing

court’s findings or that the sentence is contrary to law.

{¶ 6} A trial court may impose any sentence that falls within the sentencing range

for the degree of felony involved. R.C. 2929.12(A); 2929.13 (A); 2929.14(A); State v.

Salman, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-17-1223, 2018-Ohio-3516, ¶ 4. An appellate court must

determine whether the sentence is supported by clear and convincing evidence and

whether the sentence is contrary to law. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2); Salman at ¶ 4. Appellant

contends that his sentence was contrary to law because the trial court failed to comply

with R.C. 2929.12(C)(4) for failing to consider mitigating factors in this case. Salman at

¶ 4.

{¶ 7} The trial court must use its discretion to impose the appropriate sentence

which achieves the purposes of protecting the public and punishing the defendant, while

imposing a sentence that does not unnecessarily burden state or local government

resources. R.C. 2929.11(A); 2929.12(A); 2929.13(A); Salman at ¶ 5. “To achieve the

purposes of felony sentencing, the court may consider the need for incapacitating the

defendant, methods of deterrence, rehabilitation, restitution, the seriousness of the

defendant’s conduct, and mitigating factors.” Salman at ¶ 5, citing R.C. 2929.11(A) and

2929.12.

{¶ 8} There is no requirement that the trial court make specific findings to reflect

its consideration of applicable statutory factors. Id., citing State v. O’Dell, 45 Ohio St.3d

140, 147, 543 N.E.2d 1220 (1989). “Absent an affirmative showing to the contrary, we

3. presume the court properly considered the relevant factors set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12.” Id.

{¶ 9} Appellant’s argument centers on whether the trial court properly imposed a

sentence that was reasonably calculated to achieve the purposes and principles of

sentencing. Appellant argues that the sentence imposed by the trial court was excessive

as compared to the crime that was committed and based on her attempts to recover from

her drug addiction.

{¶ 10} First, we find that appellant’s sentence is not contrary to law. The six-

month term fell within applicable statutory range for a felony of the fifth degree. R.C.

2929.14. This term is about half as long as the maximum sentence that appellant faced.

{¶ 11} The trial court also properly considered the principles and purposes found

in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. The trial court stated on the record and in its journal entry

that it considered the purposes and principles of sentencing.

{¶ 12} Appellant argues that the trial court did not properly consider the purposes

of sentencing because it did not, in her view, properly balance the principles and purposes

of sentencing. Appellant argues that the trial court did not properly consider the purposes

of sentencing because appellant is a single mother that was actively seeking help for her

drug addiction. Appellant fails to provide any evidence that the trial court did not

consider the purposes and principles of sentencing or that the trial incorrectly applied

those principles. Appellant merely argues that because of the mitigating factors,

appellant should have received a lighter sentence. We cannot find that the trial court did

4. not properly weigh the factors or failed to impose a sentence that is reasonably calculated

to achieve the purposes of sentencing.

{¶ 13} We find that appellant’s sentence was supported by the record and that

appellant has failed to present clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. Appellant

had a history of drug abuse, admitted to the allegations, and was charged with a felony

charge that involved the theft of a firearm. Appellant failed to make a showing that the

trial court improperly considered the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.

{¶ 14} Therefore, appellant’s assignment of error is found not well-taken. The

judgment of the Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellant is

ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.

Judgment affirmed.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________ JUDGE Arlene Singer, J. _______________________________ Christine E. Mayle, J. JUDGE CONCUR. _______________________________ JUDGE

This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

5.