[Cite as State v. Crawford, 2018-Ohio-1188.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 105738
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
JOHN CRAWFORD
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-15-596358-A
BEFORE: Jones, J., McCormack, P.J., and Keough, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 29, 2018 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Myriam A. Miranda P.O. Box 40222 Bay Village, Ohio 44140
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O’Malley Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Mary Weston Assistant County Prosecutor The Justice Center, 9th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 LARRY A. JONES, SR., J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant John Crawford (“Crawford”) appeals his conviction and
sentence for sexual battery, rape, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Finding no
merit to the appeal, we affirm.
{¶2} In 2015, Crawford was charged in a 18-count indictment with multiple counts
of rape, kidnapping, complicity to commit rape, and unlawful sexual conduct with a
minor. The matter proceeded through a long and arduous pretrial process related to
Crawford’s desire to switch attorneys. Crawford finally agreed to plead guilty to one
count of sexual battery, with the named victim J.G.; one count of rape, with the named
victim L.R.; and one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, with the named
victim S.T. As part of the plea agreement, Crawford agreed to be classified as a sexual
predator for purposes of his sex offender registration duties under Megan’s Law, and was
advised that upon his release from prison he will have to register as a sex offender every
90 days for the rest of his life. Crawford also agreed that he would not be eligible for
judicial or any other type of early release.
{¶3} During the plea hearing, the state explained that Crawford’s convictions for
sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor were subject to the sexual
offender registration requirements under Megan’s Law because the crimes occurred
before January 1, 2008. The state further explained that his conviction for rape was
subject to the registration requirements under the Adam Walsh Act because the crime
occurred after January 1, 2008. {¶4} The trial court engaged in a colloquy with Crawford and informed him of his
constitutional rights, the nature of the charged offenses, and the consequences of the plea
agreement, including the maximum possible penalties. The trial court advised Crawford
of: (a) the right to counsel; (b) the right to a trial by jury; (c) the right to confront
witnesses; (d) the right to compulsory process via the subpoena power; (e) the right to
have the state prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt; and (f) the right not to testify
against himself.
{¶5} When asked, Crawford informed the court that he understood his rights and
the penalties that he was facing, he could read and write, and he was not under the
influence of any drugs, medication, or alcohol. He further stated he had not been
promised anything, threatened, or coerced in connection with the plea, and was satisfied
with the representation of his attorney.
{¶6} At the sentencing hearing, the trial court reviewed the state’s sentencing
memorandum, which requested the maximum possible penalty and informed the parties
that the maximum possible penalty was 17½ years incarceration, not 18½ years as had
been indicated at the time of the plea.
{¶7} J.G. was present in court at the time of the sentencing. The state told the
court that J.G. had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the
assault, suffered from nightmares and had trouble sleeping, and still needed counseling
more than ten years after the assault occurred in 2004. The state read into the record
J.G.’s and L.R.’s victim impact statements. J.G. described herself as “broken” and emotionally damaged. L.R.’s statement noted that she suffered to this day as a result of
the assault, had difficulty communicating and having relationships with males, was afraid
of the dark, crowds, and cars that looked like Crawford’s, and could not talk about the
assault with her family or therapist.
{¶8} The court stated that it had considered the record, the presentence
investigation report, the statements made at the sentencing hearing, the state’s sentencing
memorandum, the victim impact statements, and all other information provided to the
court.
{¶9} In sentencing Crawford, the trial court stated the following:
My role here today is to punish you for the crimes that you pled to, to protect the public from future crimes.
***
The court must and has formulated its decision based upon the overriding principles and purposes of felony sentencing, namely to protect the public from future crime by the defendant and to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions the court determines accomplishes those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government.
To achieve these purposes, the court has considered the need for
incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. This court has also considered
the seriousness and recidivism factors relevant to the offense and the
offender. * * * The court has considered the offender’s conduct is more
serious than conduct normally constituting the offense, because of the
physical and mental injuries suffered by the victim[s] of the offense, due to
the conduct of the offender, was exacerbated because of the physical and mental condition or age of the victims. The victims of the offenses suffered
serious physical, psychological harm as a result of the offense.
* * * You have a lengthy history of committing such crimes and have admittedly stated that you’ve “wronged a thousand women.” You have a high likelihood to re-offend.
The court must and has insured that the sentence being imposed does not demean the seriousness of the crime and the impact that it has on the victims, and is consistent with other similar offenses committed by like offenders.
* * * The court has determined that a prison sentence is necessary to protect the public and does not demean the seriousness of the offense.
{¶10} The trial court imposed a maximum, consecutive sentence of 17½ years
and made the following findings in support of consecutive sentences:
Your sentences are consecutive because the court finds that your history demonstrates a consecutive sentence is necessary to protect the public. A single term is not sufficient to protect the public from you, and will demean the seriousness of the crime. The harm that you caused is so severe that it has to be punished in this manner. With regard to the consecutive sentences, the court made that finding and sentenced you to consecutive sentences in order to punish you and your conduct and protect the public from future crime, and a consecutive sentence is not disproportionate to the seriousness of the conduct and the danger imposed by you, and that your history demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public.
{¶11} Crawford filed a notice of appeal. In his appeal he raises the following
assignments of error for our review:
I: The trial court erred when it proceeded on an indictment that was void for vagueness, which did not provide sufficient notice to Appellant in violation of his constitutional and statutory rights.
II: The trial court erred when it arbitrarily chose to sentence Appellant in count one under the new sentencing provisions while, at the same time, applying Megan’s Law registration requirements.
III: The sentence imposed was not supported by the record and is contrary to law as it violates the ex post facto clauses of the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions.
IV: Appellant’s plea was not entered in accordance with Crim. R. 11.
{¶12} In the first assignment of error, Crawford challenges his indictment by
arguing that it was void for vagueness because it failed to give him proper notice as to the
offenses he was accused of and their consequences. Specifically, Crawford claims that
because Count 1 of the indictment, which charged him with the rape of J.G., gave a date
range of December 22, 2004, to May 26, 2014, it was too vague for him to know the
specific date of his alleged offense.
{¶13} In Ohio, a person accused of a felony is entitled to receive an indictment
setting forth the “nature and cause of the accusation pursuant to Section 10, Article I of
the Ohio Constitution and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
State v. Sellards, 17 Ohio St.3d 169, 170, 478 N.E.2d 781 (1985).
{¶14} Our review of the indictment shows that the date range of the offenses in the
18-count indictment spans from December 22, 2004, to May 26, 2014. Counts 1 and 2
state that the date of the offenses was “[o]n or about December 22, 2004.” Counts 3, 4,
5, 6, and 7 state that the date of the offenses was “[o]n or about April 1, 2005.” Counts
9, 10, 11, 17 and 18 state that the date of the offenses was “[o]n or about May 26, 2014.”1
{¶15} The indictment clearly states that Count 1 was alleged to have occurred on
1 Counts 12 – 16 name another defendant, Yvon Norton. or about December 22, 2004. Crawford’s argument is without merit and the first
assignment of error is accordingly overruled.
{¶16} In the second assignment of error, Crawford contends that the trial court
erred when it sentenced him under “new sentencing provisions instead of the provisions
of S.B. 2” for Count 1. This argument centers around Crawford’s contention in the first
assignment of error that the date range assigned to Count 1 spanned from December 22,
2004 to May 26, 2014.
{¶17} Effective July 1, 1997, Ohio enacted Megan’s Law. Under Megan’s Law,
an offender who had been sentenced to a prison term for a sexually oriented crime is
required to register as a sex offender. In re Von, 146 Ohio St.3d 448, 2016-Ohio-3020,
57 N.E.3d 1158, ¶ 14. Effective January 1, 2008, Ohio enacted the Adam Walsh Act,
which repealed Megan’s Law. Id. at ¶ 15. Only offenders who commit their
underlying offense(s) on or after the effective date of the Adam Walsh Act can be
constitutionally subjected to its requirements. Id. at ¶ 17.
{¶18} As we discussed in the first assignment of error, the date Count 1 was
alleged to have occurred was on or about December 22, 2004. The trial court classified
Crawford under Megan’s Law, not the Adam Walsh Act, for that crime. Therefore, the
trial court did not err in classifying Crawford under the law that was applicable at the time
of his offense. We further note that Crawford, as part of his plea agreement, agreed to
be classified as a sexual predator under Megan’s Law.
{¶19} Crawford also argues that the trial court should have sentenced him under Am.Sub.S.B. No. 2 (“S.B. 2”) instead of the new sentencing provisions because his crime
occurred prior to the enactment of the new sentencing provisions under Am.Sub.H.B. 86
(“H.B. 86”). We disagree.
{¶20} R.C. 1.58(B) provides: “If the penalty, forfeiture, or punishment for any
offense is reduced by a reenactment or amendment of a statute, the penalty, forfeiture, or
punishment, if not already imposed, shall be imposed according to the statute as
amended.” H.B. 86 contains uncodified law addressing the effect of R.C. 1.58(B) on its
new sentencing provisions. The uncodified law of H.B. 86 provides for the application
of R.C. 1.58(B), specifying that if the potential sentence for an offense was reduced under
H.B. 86, then R.C. 1.58(B) would apply to give the benefit of the reduced sentence to
offenders who had not yet been sentenced.
{¶21} In Count 1, Crawford pleaded guilty to an amended charge of sexual battery,
a felony of the third degree, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Under S.B. 2,
Crawford could have been sentenced to a term of one to five years in yearly increments
for that crime. Under H.B. 86, Crawford was subject to imprisonment for 12, 18, 24, 30,
36, 42, 48, 54, or 60 months in prison. Thus, Crawford was subject to less time in prison
under H.B. 86 if he was given more than the minimum sentence of 12 months, e.g.,
Crawford could have been sentenced to 18 months under H.B. 86 instead of two years
under S.B. 2, or to 30 months under H.B. 86 instead of three years under S.B. 2, and so
on.
{¶22} Since the passage of H.B. 86, Ohio courts have routinely held that defendants in positions like Crawford who committed crimes prior to H.B. 86’s effective
date of September 30, 2011, but were penalized after its effective date, are to be
sentenced under the H.B. 86 amendments. State v. Jackson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
100877, 2014-Ohio-5137, ¶ 35, citing State v. Limoli, 140 Ohio St.3d 188,
2014-Ohio-3072, 16 N.E.3d 641; see also State v. Frost, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102376,
2015-Ohio-4493; but see State v. Johnson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26788, 2013-Ohio-4680,
¶ 8 (holding that an offender who had committed a first-degree felony after the effective
date of S.B. 2, but prior to the effective date of H.B. 86, and who was sentenced after the
effective date of H.B. 86, faced a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, not an
11-year sentence under H.B. 86).
{¶23} Thus, we find that the trial court did not err in sentencing Crawford under
the sentencing provisions of H.B. 86.
{¶24} The second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶25} In the third assignment of error, Crawford claims that his sentence was
contrary to law.
{¶26} When reviewing Crawford’s felony sentence, this court may increase,
reduce, modify a sentence, or vacate and remand for resentencing if we clearly and
convincingly find that the record does not support the sentencing court’s statutory
findings under R.C. 2929.14(B)(2), or the sentence is contrary to law. R.C.
2953.08(G)(2). A sentence is contrary to law if (1) the sentence falls outside the
statutory range for the particular degree of offense, or (2) the trial court failed to consider the purposes and principles of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the
sentencing factors in R.C. 2929.12. State v. Hinton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102710,
2015-Ohio-4907, ¶ 10, citing State v. Smith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100206,
2014-Ohio-1520, ¶ 13.
{¶27} Courts have “full discretion” to impose a sentence within the applicable
statutory range. State v. Collier, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95572, 2011-Ohio-2791, ¶ 15,
citing State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, paragraph
seven of the syllabus. Therefore, a sentence imposed within the statutory range is
“presumptively valid” if the court considered the applicable sentencing factors. Id.
{¶28} Crawford contends that the court failed to consider the minimum sentence
necessary under R.C. 2929.11(A). We disagree.
{¶29} R.C. 2929.11(A) provides:
A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and other and to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court determines accomplish those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government resources. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution of the victim of the offense, the public, or both.
{¶30} This court has held that “[a]lthough the trial court must consider the
principles and purposes of sentencing as well as the mitigating factors, the court is not
required to use particular language or make specific findings on the record regarding its
consideration of those factors.” State v. Carter, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103279, 2016-Ohio-2725, ¶ 15.
{¶31} Our review of the record confirms the trial court considered the factors and
the principles and purposes of sentencing. The trial court stated at the sentencing
hearing and in the sentencing journal entry that it considered the required statutory
factors. The court noted that it considered the record, statements made during the
sentencing hearing, the presentence investigation report, victim impacts statements, and
“all other information provided and relied upon” before passing sentence. Before
determining that a prison sentence was necessary to protect the public and did not demean
the seriousness of the offenses, the court stated that it had considered: (1) the need for
incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation; (2) the seriousness and recidivism factors
relevant to the offense and Crawford; (3) the victims of the offenses suffered serious
physical, psychological harm as a result of the offense; (4) Crawford’s conduct was more
serious than conduct normally constituting the offense because of the physical and mental
injuries suffered by the victim of the offense; (5) the crimes spanned over a long time
period; and (6) Crawford’s criminal history.
{¶32} Finally, Crawford contends that the trial court did not support its reasoning
as to why it was imposing consecutive sentences. But Crawford concedes that the trial
court made the necessary findings to impose consecutive sentences. As mentioned, a
trial court is not required to use magic words in sentencing an offender to consecutive
sentences. In this case, the trial court determined that consecutive sentences were
appropriate because Crawford’s criminal history demonstrated that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public; a single term was not sufficient to protect the public
and would demean the seriousness of the crime; the harm that he caused was so severe
that consecutive sentences were necessary; consecutive sentences were necessary in order
to punish Crawford; and, finally, consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the
seriousness of the conduct and the danger he imposed.
{¶33} In light of the above, Crawford’s sentence was supported by the record and
was not contrary to law. Further, the trial court did not err in sentencing him to
consecutive sentences. The third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶34} In the fourth assignment of error, Crawford claims that his plea was not
entered in accordance with Crim.R. 11. We disagree.
{¶35} Under both the United States and Ohio Constitutions, a guilty plea must be
made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily to be valid. State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d
525, 527, 660 N.E.2d 450 (1996). Therefore, before accepting a defendant’s guilty plea,
the trial court must address the defendant personally to inform the defendant of the
constitutional rights he or she is waiving by pleading guilty. Crim.R. 11(C)(2). The
court must also determine that the defendant understands the nature of the charges, the
maximum penalty, and the effects of the plea. Id.; State v. Montgomery, 148 Ohio St.3d
347, 2016-Ohio-5487, 71 N.E.3d 180, ¶ 41.
{¶36} There are two levels of compliance with Crim.R. 11(C): strict and
substantial. A court must strictly comply with the rule when explaining the defendant’s
constitutional rights or the plea is invalid under the presumption that it was not knowingly and voluntarily entered. State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893
N.E.2d 462, ¶ 31. For nonconstitutional rights, substantial compliance is sufficient. Id.
“Substantial compliance means that under the totality of the circumstances the defendant
subjectively understands the implications of his [or her] plea and the rights he [or she] is
waiving.” State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).
{¶37} In this case, the transcript establishes that the trial court engaged in a full
and complete colloquy with Crawford concerning his plea, as required by Crim.R. 11(C).
The trial court strictly complied with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) by providing explanations of
each of the constitutional rights Crawford waived by entering a plea, and Crawford
indicated that he understood each right and, by pleading guilty, that he was waiving those
rights.
{¶38} The trial court also substantially complied with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b).
The court ensured that Crawford knew the degree of the offense, the maximum penalty
and fine for the offense, the sex offender classification attached to the offense, and the
consequences of being classified as a sex offender. Although Crawford was mistakenly
told that he faced an 18½-year-term of imprisonment, when the maximum term he faced
was 17½ years, Crawford has not shown how this mistake prejudiced him. Moreover,
this court has routinely held that such a misstatement does not prejudice a defendant.
State v. Richmond, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104713, 2017-Ohio-2656, ¶ 22; see also State
v. Davis, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101338, 2015-Ohio-178. If the trial court had
informed Crawford that the maximum penalty he could receive for his crimes was 18½ years in prison and then sentenced him to that maximum, our analysis would be different
and we would be more inclined to find prejudice. See Richmond at ¶ 21.
{¶39} The record demonstrates that the trial court complied with the requirements
of Crim.R. 11(C)(2) and, based on the totality of the circumstances, Crawford understood
the implications of his plea and the rights he waived. We find, therefore, that
Crawford’s guilty pleas were made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently and his
fourth and final assignment of error is overruled.
{¶40} The trial court did not err in proceeding on the indictment as charged,
accepting Crawford’s guilty pleas, in classifying Crawford as a sexual predator, or in
sentencing him to 17½ years in prison.
{¶41} Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having
been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court
for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
LARRY A. JONES, SR., JUDGE TIM McCORMACK, P.J., and KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR