State v. Collins

2022 Ohio 3872

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Collins, 2022-Ohio-3872.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-22-29

v.

DONALD L. COLLINS, III, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. CR 2021 0195

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: October 31, 2022

APPEARANCES:

Linda Gabriele for Appellant

Jana E. Emerick for Appellee Case No. 1-22-29

ZIMMERMAN, P.J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Donald L. Collins, III (“Collins”), appeals the

March 24, 2022 judgment entry of sentence of the Allen County Court of Common

Pleas. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶2} On July 14, 2021, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Collins on

seven counts: Counts One and Two of Rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2),

(B), first-degree felonies; Count Three of felonious assault in violation of R.C.

2903.11(A)(1), (D)(1)(a), a second-degree felony; Count Four of aggravated

burglary in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(1), (B), a first-degree felony; Count Five

of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2), (C)(1), a first-degree felony;

Count Six of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(3), (C)(1), a first-degree

felony; and Count Seven of attempted murder in violation of R.C. 2923.02(A),

2903.02(A), (D), and 2929.02(B), a first-degree felony. On July 22, 2022, Collins

appeared for arraignment and entered pleas of not guilty to the counts alleged in the

indictment.

{¶3} On February 16, 2022, Collins withdrew his pleas of not guilty and

entered guilty pleas, under a negotiated-plea agreement, to Count Three and to

(amended) Counts One, Two, Four, and Five. In exchange for his change of pleas,

the State agreed to amend Count One to sexual battery in violation of R.C.

2907.03(A)(1), a third-degree felony; Count Two to attempted rape in violation of

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R.C. 2923.02 and 2907.02(A)(2), a second-degree felony; Count Four to burglary

in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(1), a second-degree felony; and Count Five of

abduction in violation of R.C. 2905.02(A)(2), a third-degree felony. Further, as part

of the agreement, the State agreed to dismiss Counts Six and Seven and the parties

agreed that the offenses are not allied offenses of similar import. The trial court

accepted Collins’s guilty pleas, found him guilty, dismissed Counts Six and Seven,

and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

{¶4} On March 24, 2022, the trial court sentenced Collins to 60 months in

prison on Count One, to a minimum term of 8 years in prison to a maximum term

of 12 years in prison on Counts Two, Three, and Four, respectively, and to 36

months in prison on Count Five. (Doc. No. 38). The trial court ordered Collins to

serve the prison terms consecutively for an aggregate sentence of a minimum of 32

years in prison to a maximum term of 36years in prison. The trial court also

classified Collins as a Tier II sex offender.

{¶5} On April 22, 2022, Collins filed his notice of appeal. He raises one

assignment of error for our review.

Assignment of Error

The Maximum Sentence Imposed By The Trial Court Was Excessive And Contrary To Law.

{¶6} In his sole assignment of error, Collins challenges the maximum

sentences imposed by the trial court and challenges the trial court’s order that he

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serve the sentences consecutively. Specifically, Collins contends that his sentence

is contrary to law because the trial court failed to consider the purposes and

principles of felony sentencing when imposing his sentence. Further, Collins argues

that the trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences in this case without

making the required findings under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and because the record does

not support those findings.

Standard of Review

{¶7} Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court will reverse a sentence

“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.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002,

¶ 1. Clear and convincing evidence is that “‘which will produce in the mind of the

trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.’” Id.

at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the

syllabus.

Analysis

{¶8} First, we will address Collins’s argument challenging the maximum

sentences imposed by the trial court for his sexual-battery, attempted-rape,

felonious-assault, burglary, and abduction convictions. “It is well-established that

the statutes governing felony sentencing no longer require the trial court to make

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certain findings before imposing a maximum sentence.” State v. Maggette, 3d Dist.

Seneca No. 13-16-06, 2016-Ohio-5554, ¶ 29, citing State v. Dixon, 2d Dist. Clark

No. 2015-CA-67, 2016-Ohio-2882, ¶ 14 (“Unlike consecutive sentences, the trial

court was not required to make any particular ‘findings’ to justify maximum prison

sentences.”) and State v. Hinton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102710, 2015-Ohio-4907,

¶ 9 (“The law no longer requires the trial court to make certain findings before

imposing a maximum sentence.”). Rather, “‘trial courts have full discretion to

impose any sentence within the statutory range.’” State v. Smith, 3d Dist. Seneca

No. 13-15-17, 2015-Ohio-4225, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Noble, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-

14-06, 2014-Ohio-5485, ¶ 9, citing State v. Saldana, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-12-09,

2013-Ohio-1122, ¶ 20.

{¶9} In this case, as second-degree felonies, attempted rape, felonious

assault, and burglary carry a non-mandatory, indefinite sanction of two-years to

eight-years of imprisonment. R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), (B), 2923.02(E), 2903.11(A)(1),

(D)(1)(a), 2911.12(A)(1), (D), 2929.14(A)(2)(a), and 2929.144(B)(1). See also

R.C. 2929.13(F). Further, as third-degree felonies, sexual battery and abduction

carry a non-mandatory, definite sanction of 12-months to 60-months of

imprisonment and of 9-months to 36-months imprisonment, respectively. R.C.

2907.03(A)(1), (B), 2905.02(A)(2), (C), and 2929.14(3). See also R.C. 2929.13(F).

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{¶10} “[A] sentence imposed within the statutory range is ‘presumptively

valid’ if the [trial] court considered applicable sentencing factors.” Maggette at ¶

31, quoting State v. Collier, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95572, 2011-Ohio-2791, ¶ 15.

Because the trial court sentenced Collins to a minimum term of 8 years in prison to

a maximum term of 12 years in prison as to his attempted-rape, felonious-assault,

and burglary convictions, respectively, the trial court’s sentence as to those

convictions is within the statutory range and is appropriately calculated. Likewise,

because the trial court sentenced Collins to 60 months in prison as to his sexual-

battery conviction and to 36 months in prison as to his abduction conviction, the

trial court’s sentence as to those convictions falls within the statutory range.

{¶11} R.C. 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, to punish the offender, and to promote the effective rehabilitation of the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines 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.’” Smith, 2015-Ohio-4225, at ¶ 10, quoting R.C.

2929.11(A). “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

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

similar cases.” Id., quoting R.C. 2929.11(B). “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.” Id., citing R.C. 2929.12(A). “‘A sentencing court has broad discretion

to determine the relative weight to assign the sentencing factors in R.C. 2929.12.”

Id. at ¶ 15, quoting State v. Brimacombe, 195 Ohio App.3d 524, 2011-Ohio-5032, ¶

18 (6th Dist.), citing State v. Arnett, 88 Ohio St.3d 208, 215 (2000).

{¶12} “Although the trial court must consider the purposes and principles of

felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors listed in R.C.

2929.12, the sentencing court is not required to ‘state on the record that it considered

the statutory criteria or discuss[ed] them.’” Maggette at ¶ 32, quoting State v.

Polick, 101 Ohio App.3d 428, 431 (4th Dist.1995). “A trial court’s statement that

it considered the required statutory factors, without more, is sufficient to fulfill its

obligations under the sentencing statutes.” Id., citing State v. Abrams, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 103786, 2016-Ohio-4570, citing State v. Payne, 114 Ohio St.3d 502,

2007-Ohio-4642, ¶ 18.

{¶13} At Collins’s sentencing hearing and in its sentencing entry, the trial

court considered the R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 factors. (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 16-

20); (Doc. No. 38). Nevertheless, Collins contends that the trial court abused its

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discretion by sentencing him to a maximum term of imprisonment without

considering “mitigating factors when imposing the maximum sentence.”

(Appellant’s Brief at 13). Specifically, Collins contends that his sentence is contrary

to law because “the factors that the trial court used to support its position did not

rise to the level of negating the relevant mitigating factors.” (Id.).

{¶14} Collins’s argument is without merit. Importantly, the Supreme Court

of Ohio recently directed Ohio’s courts of appeal that R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a)

“clearly does not provide a basis for an appellate court to modify or vacate a

sentence if it concludes that the record does not support the sentence under R.C.

2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 because * * * R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 are not

among the statutes listed in the provision.” State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242,

2020-Ohio-6729, ¶ 31. As a result, this court may not modify or vacate a felony

sentence based on a finding by clear and convincing evidence that the record does

not support the trial court’s findings under R.C. 2929.11 or 2929.12. State v. Reed,

3d Dist. Union No. 14-20-16, 2021-Ohio-1623, ¶ 19, citing Jones at ¶ 32-39.

Consequently, “‘when reviewing felony sentences that are imposed solely after

considering the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12, we shall no longer

analyze whether those sentences are unsupported by the record. We simply must

determine whether those sentences are contrary to law.’” Id., quoting State v.

Dorsey, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28747, 2021-Ohio-76, ¶ 18.

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{¶15} Thus, when imposing a felony sentence, “it is ‘[t]he trial court [that]

determines the weight afforded to any particular statutory factors, mitigating

grounds, or other relevant circumstances.’” State v. McKennelly, 12th Dist. Butler

No. CA2017-04-055, 2017-Ohio-9092, ¶ 15, quoting State v. Steger, 12th Dist.

Butler No. CA2016-03-059, 2016-Ohio-7908, ¶ 18, citing State v. Stubbs, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 13AP-810, 2014-Ohio-3696, ¶ 16. “The fact that the trial court chose

to weigh various sentencing factors differently than how appellant would have

weighed them does not mean the trial court erred in imposing appellant’s sentence.”

Id.

{¶16} In this case, the trial court concluded that Collins failed to overcome

the presumption in favor of prison (as to Counts Two, Three, and Four) and that a

prison term is consistent with the purposes and principles of felony sentencing. That

is, after weighing the seriousness and recidivism factors, the trial court determined

that Collins’s conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting sexual

battery, attempted rape, felonious assault, burglary, and abduction and that he is

likely to commit future crimes.

{¶17} In particular, assessing the seriousness of Collins’s conduct, the trial

court found that the victim suffered serious physical and psychological harm as a

result of the offenses; that Collins’s relationship with the victim facilitated the

offenses; and that the victim was a family or household member at the time of the

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violations. (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 17); (Doc. No. 38). See R.C. 2929.12(B)(2), (6),

(9). Applying the factors under R.C. 2929.12(C)—indicating that Collins’s conduct

is less serious than conduct normally constituting the offenses—the trial court

acknowledged Collins’s psychological history and history of alcohol abuse. (Mar.

24, 2022 at 17-18). However, the trial court ultimately found that none of the factors

under R.C. 2929.12(C) applied in this case.

{¶18} Assessing whether Collins was likely to commit future crimes, the trial

court found that Collins has a history of criminal convictions, that he has not

responded favorably to sanctions previously imposed for those criminal convictions,

and that he has demonstrated a pattern of alcohol abuse that is related to the offense.

(Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 18); (Doc. No. 38). See R.C. 2929.12(D)(2)-(4). Specifically,

the trial court found that Collins was convicted of a prior-felony offense in 2010,

prior-misdemeanor offenses, and that he was “unsuccessfully terminated from

different probationary [programs] and a drug court program.” (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at

18). Applying the factors under R.C. 2929.12(E)—indicating that Collins is not

likely to commit future crimes—the trial court found Collins shows genuine remorse

for the offense. (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 18); (Doc. No. 38). See R.C. 2929.12(F)(5).

{¶19} Thus, based on our review of the record, we conclude the trial court

did not abuse its discretion by imposing a maximum-prison term even though

Collins would have weighed the R.C. 2929.12 factors differently. Therefore,

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because his sentence is within the sentencing range and the trial court considered

the purposes and principles of felony sentencing set forth under R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12, Collins’s sentence is not contrary to law.

{¶20} Collins further argues that the trial court erred by imposing

consecutive sentences. “Except as provided in * * * division (C) of section 2929.14,

* * * a prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment shall be served

concurrently with any other prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment

imposed by a court of this state, another state, or the United States.” R.C.

2929.41(A). R.C. 2929.14(C) provides:

(4) * * * [T]he 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:

(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.

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(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.

{¶21} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires a trial court to make specific findings on

the record before imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Hites, 3d Dist. Hardin

No. 6-11-07, 2012-Ohio-1892, ¶ 11; State v. Peddicord, 3d Dist. Henry No. 7-12-

24, 2013-Ohio-3398, ¶ 33. Specifically, the trial court must find: (1) consecutive

sentences are necessary to either protect the public or punish the offender; (2) the

sentences would not be disproportionate to the offense committed; and (3) one of

the factors in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a), (b), or (c) applies. Id.; Id. Further, the trial

court must state the required findings at the sentencing hearing prior to imposing

consecutive sentences and incorporate those findings into its sentencing entry. State

v. Sharp, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-01, 2014-Ohio-4140, ¶ 50, citing State v.

Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, ¶ 29. A trial court “has no obligation

to state reasons to support its findings” and is not “required to give a talismanic

incantation of the words of the statute, provided that the necessary findings can be

found in the record and are incorporated into the sentencing entry.” Bonnell at ¶ 37.

{¶22} Here, Collins argues that the trial court “failed to make the necessary

findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)” and that “the record ‘clearly and

convincingly’ does not support the trial court’s findings made pursuant to R.C.

2929.14(C)(4).” (Appellant’s Brief at 15). Collins’s argument is without merit.

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Rather, based on our review of the record, we conclude that the trial court made the

statutorily required findings before imposing consecutive sentences at Collins’s

sentencing hearing and incorporated those findings into its sentencing entry.

{¶23} Specifically, at Collins’s sentencing hearing and in its sentencing

entry, the trial court found that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the

public from future crime and to punish Collins. (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 21); (Doc.

No. 38). The trial court further found that consecutive sentences are not

disproportionate to the seriousness of Collins’s conduct and to the danger that he

poses to the public. (Id.); (Id.). Compare State v. Ray, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

107450, 2019-Ohio-1346, ¶ 37.

{¶24} As to the factors under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)-(c), the trial court found

that “these multiple offenses were committed as part of a course of conduct” and

that “the harm caused by these series of offenses is so great and unusual that no

single prison term for any one of the offenses committed would adequately reflect

the seriousness of [Collins’s] conduct.” (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 22). See R.C.

2929.14(C)(4)(b). The trial court incorporated that finding into its sentencing entry

by reciting the language of R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b). (See Doc. No. 38).

{¶25} Moreover, the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences is

supported by the record. Here, Collins pleaded guilty to five offenses in this case.

In exchange for his change of pleas, the State agreed to dismiss two first-degree-

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felony charges and amend four of the five charges to which Collins pleaded guilty.

Accord State v. Lough, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2019-CA-66, 2021-Ohio-230, ¶ 11.

Significantly, the State agreed to amend four first-degree felonies to lesser-degree

felonies—that is, the State agreed to amend Counts One and Two of rape to sexual

battery as a third-degree felony and to attempted rape as a second-degree felony,

respectively; Count Four of aggravated burglary to burglary as a second-degree

felony; and Count Five of kidnapping to abduction as a third-degree felony.

{¶26} Furthermore, at Collins’s March 24, 2022 sentencing hearing, the trial

court was provided with a lengthy statement in open court from the victim outlining

Collins’s conduct underlying the offenses in this case. Based on the victim’s

statement, it is evident that Collins committed the offenses as part of an ongoing

course of conduct. See State v. VanWinkle, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2016-CA-25, 2017-

Ohio-7642, ¶ 21. Likewise, based on the victim’s detailed account of Collins’s

conduct, the trial court emphasized that it has “been doing this for a long time and

[has] seen some horrendous events, horrendous terrible things that people do to

other people” but that “[i]n terms of the type of offenses here that the defendant

[pleaded] guilty to [sic] and was convicted of it’s hard to imagine anything more

serious.” (Mar. 24, 2022 Tr. at 16-17). See State v. Moon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

99748, 2014-Ohio-384, ¶ 9. Therefore, the record supports the trial court’s findings

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

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{¶27} Accordingly, there is not clear and convincing evidence that the record

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

that Collins’s sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

{¶28} Thus, Collins’s assignment of error is overruled.

{¶29} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Judgment Affirmed

MILLER and SHAW, J.J., concur.

/jlr

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