State v. Denney

2021 Ohio 798

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 15, 2021
• Docket: 20CA010
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Denney, 2021-Ohio-798.]

COURT OF APPEALS HOLMES COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, P. J. Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. John W. Wise, J. Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J. -vs- Case No. 20CA010 BRENT A. DENNEY

Defendant-Appellant OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 18CRB322

JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 15, 2021

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

ROBERT K. HENDRIX DAVID M. HUNTER ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR 244 West Main Street 164 East Jackson Street Loudonville, Ohio 44842 Millersburg, Ohio 44654 Holmes County, Case No. 20CA010 2

Wise, John, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Brent A. Denney appeals the decision of the Holmes

County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion to withdraw guilty plea.

{¶2} Plaintiff-Appellee State of Ohio did not file a brief in this matter. Pursuant to

App.R. 18(C), in determining the appeal, we may accept Appellant's statement of the facts

and issues as correct, and reverse the judgment if Appellant's brief reasonably appears

to sustain such action. See State v. S.H., 5th Dist. Guernsey No. 10CA000023, 2010-

Ohio-5741, ¶ 17; State v. McLeod, 5th Dist. Knox No. 2011-CA-22, 2012-Ohio-1797, ¶ 2.

Therefore, we presume the validity of Appellant's statement of facts and issues.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶3} On October 7, 2019, the Holmes County Grand Jury indicted Appellant

Brent A. Denney on one count of Burglary, in violation of R.C. §2911.12(A)(2), with a

Firearm Specification, in violation of R.C. §2941.141(A); one count of Grand Theft when

the Property is a Firearm or Dangerous Ordinance, in violation R.C. §2913.02(A)(1), with

a Firearm Specification, in violation of R.C. §2941.141(A); one count of Grand Theft of a

Motor Vehicle, in violation of R.C. §2913.02(A)(1), one count of Theft, in violation of R.C.

§2913.02(A)(1), and one count of Safecracking, in violation of R.C. §2911.31(A), with a

Firearm Specification, in violation of R.C. §2941.141(A).

{¶4} On January 28, 2020, Appellant appeared in court and entered a plea of

guilty, based upon plea negotiations, to Burglary, in violation of R.C. §2911.12(A)(2), with

a Firearm Specification, in violation of R.C. §2941.141(A), and Grand Theft of a Motor

Vehicle, in violation of R.C. §2913.02(A)(1). The remaining charges were to be dismissed

by the State. Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 3

{¶5} The negotiated plea provided that Appellant agreed to "enter a plea of guilty

to ... Burglary with a Firearm Specification … Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle in violation

of R.C. §2913.02(A)(1)." (January 28, 2020, T. at 2).

{¶6} In exchange for the State dismissing the remaining charges, Appellant

agreed that he would “cooperate with all local, state and federal authorities, ... testify

truthfully in all hearings and trials against all defendants and accomplices.” A Joint

Sentencing recommendation of four (4) years and eleven (11) months was also made on

the condition that all the stolen firearms were recovered prior to sentencing as a result of

Appellant’s cooperation. (January 28, 2020, T. at 2).

{¶7} The trial court advised Appellant that "[i]f neither one of those two (2) things

happen there's no agreement. So even your plea can be uh, the court would withdraw

your plea based upon that notification and proof from the State of Ohio that you did not

cooperate." (January 28, 2020, T. at 3).

{¶8} The trial court thereafter advised Appellant of his Constitutional Rights.

(January 28, 2020, T. at 5-9).

{¶9} The matter was scheduled for sentencing at a later date and the trial court

ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation to be completed.

{¶10} On May 14, 2020, the parties appeared for sentencing. At that time the trial

court was advised that "no weapons have been returned and the officer who did a diligent

investigation in, in Richland County regarding the information given to him by Mr. Denny

[sic] determined that the information was not accurate." (May 14, 2020, T. at 2). Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 4

{¶11} Counsel for Appellant requested a continuance of the sentencing so that

Appellant could testify truthfully against his co-defendant. That request was denied. (May

14, 2020, T. at 2).

{¶12} The trial court stated, "What I told Mr. Malone was that, that I'm going to

proceed to sentencing do you want to attempt to withdraw your plea that's fine uh, but I'm

going to deny that motion but I'll let you state in the record why you want to do that ... "

(May 14, 2020, T. at 2).

{¶13} Defense counsel indicated to the trial court that "Mr. Denny [sic] is

requesting to withdraw his plea uh, the criminal rule [sic] say that it should be free of the

granted [sic] the reason in this case is 1, Mr. Denny [sic] did try to get information that he

had to get the firearms returned and 2. He would like to show the Court that when his co-

defendant does go to trial if it proceeds to trial, he would testify uh, truthfully in that and

we’d like to have the Court consider that at sentencing. So that is why he is requesting to

withdraw his plea. He’d also like to be heard on why he wants to withdraw his plea Your

Honor." (May 14, 2020, T. at 3).

{¶14} Appellant indicated to the trial court that he "would like a chance to withdraw

my plea to actually um, I guess argue the charges themselves about (unintelligible) likely

to present issues on the Burglary um, and the Theft." (May 14, 2020, T. at 4).

{¶15} The trial court denied the motion for withdrawal of the guilty plea. (May 14,

2020, T. at 4).

{¶16} The trial court then proceeded to sentence Appellant to six (6) years in

prison on the Burglary charge, plus one (1) year in prison on the Firearm Specification, Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 5

eighteen (18) months on the Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle charge, with the eighteen

months to run concurrently. (May 14, 2020, T. at 9).

{¶17} Appellant now appeals, assigning the following error for review:

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶18} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO

WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA PRIOR TO SENTENCING.”

I.

{¶19} In Appellant’s sole assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred

in denying motion to withdraw his guilty plea made prior to sentencing. We agree.

{¶20} Crim.R. 32.1, which governs the withdrawal of a guilty plea, provides:

A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest may be made only

before sentence is imposed; but to correct manifest injustice the court after

sentence may set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the

defendant to withdraw his or her plea.

{¶21} While the rule establishes a fairly strict standard for deciding a post-

sentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea, it provides no guidelines for deciding a

presentence motion. State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 526, 584 N.E.2d 715 (1992).

{¶22} The Ohio Supreme Court has stated pre-sentence motions to withdraw a

guilty plea “should be freely and liberally granted.” Id. at 584, 584 N.E.2d 715. That does

not mean, however, a defendant has an absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea prior to

sentencing. Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus. There must be “a reasonable and

legitimate basis for withdrawal of the plea.” Id. The decision to grant or deny a

presentence plea withdrawal motion is within the trial court's sound discretion. Id. An Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 6

abuse of discretion exists where the reasons given by the court for its action are clearly

untenable, legally incorrect, or amount to a denial of justice, or where the judgment

reaches an end or purpose not justified by reason and the evidence. State v. Firouzmandi,

5th Dist. Licking No. 2006-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-5823, ¶ 54.

{¶23} “A trial court must conduct a hearing to determine whether there is a

reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal of the plea.” Xie at paragraph one of

the syllabus. The factors to be considered when making a decision on a motion to

withdraw a guilty plea are as follows: (1) prejudice to the state; (2) counsel's

representation; (3) adequacy of the Crim.R. 11 plea hearing; (4) extent of the plea

withdrawal hearing; (5) whether the trial court gave full and fair consideration to the

motion; (6) timing; (7) the reasons for the motion; (8) the defendant's understanding of

the nature of the charges and the potential sentences; and (9) whether the defendant was

perhaps not guilty or has a complete defense to the charge. State v. Cuthbertson, 139

Ohio App.3d 895, 898-899, 746 N.E.2d 197 (7th Dist. 2000), citing State v. Fish, 104 Ohio

App.3d 236, 661 N.E.2d 788 (1st Dist.1995). No one Fish factor is absolutely conclusive.

Cuthbertson, supra.

{¶24} “In considering these factors, the trial court employs a balancing test; no

single factor is dispositive.” Warrix at ¶ 30, citing State v. Preston, 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 25393, 2013-Ohio-4404, ¶ 20. However, “[t]he ultimate question for the trial court is

whether there is a ‘reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal of the plea.’ ” Id.,

quoting Xie at 527. A change of heart or mistaken belief about the plea is not a reasonable

basis requiring a trial court to permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea. State v.

Maddickes, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2013-CA-7, 2013-Ohio-4510, ¶ 15. However, in Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 7

considering whether to allow withdrawal of the plea, it is not simply sufficient for the trial

court to find that the Crim.R. 11 colloquy satisfied the requirements of that rule and the

United States and Ohio Constitutions; if it were, even a presentence plea could never be

withdrawn. Id.

{¶25} Here, the State has not claimed that it would be prejudiced by the

withdrawal of the plea. We will not presume that the State will suffer any prejudice in the

withdrawal of an offender’s motion when the State fails to articulate any such prejudice.

State v. Bingham, 2019-Ohio-3324, 141 N.E.3d 614, ¶ 13 (3d Dist.). Because the State

failed to identify any prejudice it would suffer had the trial court granted Appellant’s motion

to withdraw, this factor weighs in favor of Appellant.

{¶26} Further, at the plea hearing, the trial court itself informed Appellant that it

would withdraw the plea upon notification from the State of Ohio that Appellant had failed

to cooperate with the terms as set forth in the plea agreement. (January 28, 2020, T at

3). We find that this factor also weighs in favor of Appellant.

{¶27} Additionally, we do not find that the trial court provided a meaningful hearing

on Appellant’s oral motion to withdraw his plea. At the beginning of the sentencing

hearing, the trial court informed Appellant:

THE COURT: Okay, alright and so uh, my understanding that your

interpretation is that you want me to continue this case so you could show

that you could truthfully testify against your co-defendant. What I told Mr.

Malone was that, that I’m going to proceed to sentencing do you want to

attempt to withdraw your plea that’s fine uh, but I’m going to deny that

motion but I’ll let you state in the record why you want to do that uh, because Holmes County, Case No. 20CA10 8

my understanding in the agreement and I totally agree with the State was

that these weapons were the reason you were going to get leniency was by

returning of these weapons. *** (May 14, 2020, T. at 2).

{¶28} The trial court never considered Appellant’s motion, informing him that he

was denying the motion before it even heard any argument in support of the motion. As

a result, we find that Appellant did not receive the full extent of the hearing necessary to

provide support for his motion or consideration of said motion. This factor, therefore,

weighs in favor of Appellant.

{¶29} Upon review, in this case, we find the trial court abused its discretion in

denying Appellant’s motion which should have been freely and liberally granted,

particularly under these circumstances.

{¶30} Appellant’s sole assignment of error is sustained.

{¶31} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Holmes County, Ohio, is

reversed and this matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the law and

this opinion.

By: Wise, John, J. Baldwin, P. J., and Wise, Earle, J., concur.

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