State v. Davis

2010 Ohio 5294
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided October 21, 2010·No. 10CA9·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT WASHINGTON COUNTY

State of Ohio, : Case No. 10CA9 Plaintiff-Appellee, :

v. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

Geoffrey A. Davis, :

Defendant-Appellant. : Released 10/21/10

APPEARANCES:1

Geoffrey A. Davis, Noble Correctional Institute, Caldwell, Ohio, pro se.

Chandra L. Ontko, Cambridge, Ohio, for appellant.

Harsha, J.

{¶1} In 2005 Geoffrey Davis was convicted and sentenced for felonious assault and abduction. Later, the trial court resentenced Davis after it became clear that his sentencing entry failed to properly indicate that a period of post-release control was “mandatory,” rather than discretionary. Davis’ appointed counsel has reviewed the record of the resentencing hearing and can discern no meritorious claims for appeal. Accordingly, under Anders v. California (1967), 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, counsel has moved to withdraw and presented us with two potential assignments of error. Additionally, Davis has filed a pro se brief setting forth additional proposed assignments of error.

{¶2} First, appointed counsel suggests that Davis was prejudiced when the court refused to allow him to confer privately with his attorney at the start of the

1 The State did not enter an appearance or file a brief in this case.

Washington App. No. 10CA9 2

resentencing hearing. Davis implies that his constitutional right to the assistance of counsel was violated. However, the resentencing hearing was limited to imposing a statutorily required term of post-release control, i.e., it was purely ministerial in nature. Consequently, this resentencing hearing was not a “critical stage” of the proceedings at which Davis could arguably claim a denial of the right to counsel. Accordingly, this potential assignment of error lacks arguable merit.

{¶3} Next, appointed counsel suggests that the court erred when it reimposed the same sentence it previously imposed upon Davis. Appointed counsel suggests that the failure to include the word “mandatory” in the earlier judgment entry concerning post-release control made that sentence void. Thus, counsel argues the trial court did not realize that the new resentencing hearing was not merely a “formality” but rather a de novo hearing where the court could have considered sentencing Davis anew. However, pursuant to R.C. 2929.191 and the Supreme Court of Ohio’s analysis of that statute in State v. Singleton, 124 Ohio St.3d 173, 2009-Ohio-6434, 920 N.E.2d 958, Davis’ earlier sentence was not void and could be properly “corrected” through the procedures set forth in that statute. Consequently, this potential assignment of error is also without arguable merit.

{¶4} In his two additional pro se proposed assignments of error, Davis contends that the trial court abused its discretion for various reasons and that trial counsel was ineffective. Many of these arguments appear to be directed to Davis’ unrelated and unsuccessful attempts to petition for post-conviction relief. Those issues are not properly within the scope of this appeal of his resentencing proceedings. His

Washington App. No. 10CA9 3

remaining arguments concerning ineffective assistance of counsel are meritless based on res judicata and our conclusion that no arguable errors occurred at the resentencing.

{¶5} Finally, after independently reviewing the record we agree with appointed counsel’s assessment that the record contains no potential assignments of error with arguable merit.

{¶6} Consequently, we grant appointed counsel’s request to withdraw, find this appeal wholly frivolous under Anders, and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

I. Summary of the Facts

{¶7} Davis was indicted in 2004 on one count of felonious assault and one count of abduction. After a jury convicted him of these crimes in 2005, the court sentenced him to concurrent terms of imprisonment. In his first direct appeal, we rejected his claim that his conviction for felonious assault was against the manifest weight of the evidence. However, we agreed that his sentencing was unconstitutional in light of State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, and ordered that he be resentenced. See State v. Davis, Washington App. No. 05CA50, 2006-Ohio- 3549.

{¶8} In 2006 the court conducted a resentencing hearing and imposed the same sentence it had previously issued, i.e., seven and four years to be served concurrently. Davis appealed from this judgment entry, claiming that the imposition of “non-minimum” sentences violated certain rights under the constitution. We rejected these arguments and affirmed the judgment of the trial court. See State v. Davis, Washington App. No. 06CA39, 2007-Ohio-1281.

Washington App. No. 10CA9 4

{¶9} In 2009, Davis filed a motion for resentencing because the judgment entry of conviction from the first resentencing failed to state that post-release control was “mandatory.” Instead, the judgment entry stated that “a post release control period of three (3) years may be imposed by the Parole Board.” (Emphasis added.) In fact, Davis’ convictions required mandatory post-release control. Accordingly, the trial court scheduled another “resentencing hearing.” At this hearing, the trial court imposed the same sentence and later issued a nearly identical judgment entry to that used in the first resentencing. However, this entry stated that post-release control was mandatory. Davis has appealed from this judgment entry.

II. Anders Procedure

{¶10} In Anders, the United States Supreme Court held that if counsel determines after a conscientious examination of the record that the case is wholly frivolous, counsel should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw. Id. at 744. Counsel must accompany the request with a brief identifying anything in the record that could arguably support the appeal. Counsel also must furnish the client with a copy of the brief and request to withdraw and allow the client sufficient time to raise any matters that the client chooses. Once these requirements have been satisfied, the appellate court must then fully examine the proceedings below to determine if an arguably meritorious issue exists. If so, the court must appoint new counsel and decide the merits of the appeal. If the appellate court determines that the appeal is frivolous, it may grant counsel’s request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements or may proceed to a decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id.

Washington App. No. 10CA9 5

{¶11} Here, appointed counsel satisfied the requirements set forth in Anders.

Additionally, Davis has filed a pro se brief setting forth additional proposed assignments of error. Accordingly, we will examine appointed counsel’s proposed assignments of error, the proposed assignments of error raised by Davis, and the entire record to determine if this appeal is wholly frivolous.

III. Potential Assignments of Error

{¶12} Appointed counsel raises the following potential assignments of error:

1. THE DEFENDANT ALLEGES THAT THE TRIAL COURT’S DENIAL OF THE DEFENDANT’S ABILITY TO CONSULT WITH HIS ATTORNEY PRIOR TO HIS RESENTENCING HEARING PREJUDICED HIM AND PREVENTED HIM FROM ASSISTING HIS COUNSEL WITH HIS DEFENSE AND PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COURT REGARDING SENTENCING.

2. THE DEFENDANT ALLEGES THAT THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE TO USE THE SPECIFIC WORD “MANDATORY” IN EXPLAINING TO THE DEFENDANT THE CONSEQUENCE OF POST RELEASE CONTROL MADE HIS ORIGINAL SENTENCE VOID.

{¶13} Davis adds the following additional proposed assignments of error:

3. TRIAL COURT ABUSED THEIR DISCRETION. [Sic.]

4. APPELLANT WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

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