[Cite as State v. Galinari, 2022-Ohio-2559.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-210149 TRIAL NO. B-1802762 Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N. DEVIN GALINARI, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: July 27, 2022
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Ron Springman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Timothy J. McKenna, for Defendant-Appellant. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
BOCK, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Devin Galinari challenges the trial court’s
imposition of consecutive sentences and maintains that the trial court failed to make
a finding of proportionality as required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). We disagree and affirm
the trial court’s judgment.
I. Facts and Procedure
{¶2} In the midst of a mental-health crisis, Galinari used an aluminum bat to
damage the windows of a church and car windshields in a nearby dealership parking
lot. Galinari carried the bat to a Steak ‘n Shake and chased three teenagers through the
restaurant. He struck one of the teenagers in the abdomen before they were able to
lock themselves in a small storage room. The restaurant manager, Ronald Bradley,
attempted to intervene. Galinari struck Bradley in the head repeatedly, causing severe
head trauma.
{¶3} Galinari was arrested and charged with multiple counts of felonious
assault and vandalism, and one count of attempted murder. Initially, the trial court
found Galinari incompetent to stand trial. After he was “restored to competency,” he
pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11, and two
counts of vandalism in violation of R.C. 2909.05.
{¶4} At the sentencing hearing, the court acknowledged Galinari’s history of
mental-health and addiction issues, his inability to make choices, and the need to both
punish Galinari and protect the public. Beginning with the two vandalism counts, the
court imposed two 12-month concurrent sentences. For the two felonious-assault
counts, the court imposed two six-year sentences. The two six-year sentences were
imposed consecutive to each other and the two concurrent 12-month sentences. All
told, the court imposed an aggregate 13-year term of incarceration. 2 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶5} At the hearing, the sentencing court informed Galinari that “consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public or punish the offender and not
disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the danger the
offender poses to the public.” Next, the court told Galinari that “the harm caused by
two or more of the offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any
offense committed as part of one or more courses of conduct would adequately reflect
the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.”
{¶6} In its sentencing entry, the court repeated its imposition of an aggregate
13-year term of incarceration comprised of two concurrent 12-month sentences
consecutive to two consecutive six-year sentences. Next, the trial court found that
consecutive sentences
ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT [THE] PUBLIC AND TO PUNISH
THE DEFENDANT, AND ARE NOT DISPROPORTIONATE TO
SERIOUSNESS OF THE DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT AND THE
DANGER THE DEFENDANT POSES TO THE PUBLIC. FURTHER,
SPECIFICALLY, THE COURT FINDS THAT 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 DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT.
{¶7} Galinari appeals and challenges the imposition of consecutive sentences
in a single assignment of error. 3 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
II. Law and Analysis
{¶8} Appellate review of consecutive sentences is governed by R.C.
2953.08(G)(2). See State v. Marshall, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-190748 and C-
190758, 2021-Ohio-816, ¶ 48, citing State v. Gwynne, 158 Ohio St.3d 279, 2019-Ohio-
4761, 141 N.E.3d 169, ¶ 16. This court may modify or vacate a trial court’s decision to
impose consecutive sentences if we clearly and convincingly find that “the record does
not support the sentencing court’s findings” under R.C. 2929.14 or “the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a)-(b).
{¶9} In Ohio, there is a statutory presumption of concurrent sentences for
defendants convicted of multiple offenses. State v. McKinney, 1st Dist. Hamilton No.
C-210276, 2022-Ohio-849, ¶ 11. To overcome that presumption, a sentencing court
must make the “mandatory sentencing findings” prescribed by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
Id.; see State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 23.
The court must articulate these statutory findings at the time it imposes the sentences.
Bonnell at ¶ 26. This “affords notice to the offender and to defense counsel.” Id. at ¶
29, citing Crim.R. 32(A)(4). The court must incorporate these findings into a journal
entry. Id. at ¶ 37.
{¶10} But the court is not obligated to state its reasoning for imposing
consecutive sentences. Id. at ¶ 27. Instead, “the record must contain a basis upon
which a reviewing court can determine that the trial court made the findings required
by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).” Id. at ¶ 28. Absent this requirement, “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).
4 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶11} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) demands three separate findings by the trial court—
necessity, proportionality, and offender- or offense-specific findings. See R.C.
2929.14(C)(4) and 2929.14(C)(4)(a). Galinari limits the scope of his appeal to the
proportionality finding required by the statute.
{¶12} Relevant here, R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires the trial court to find “that
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s
conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public.” After all, criminal
sentences, like all punishments, must comport with the “ ‘precept of justice that
punishment for crime should be graduated and proportioned to [the] offense.’ ”
Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010), quoting
Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349, 367, 30 S.Ct. 544, 54 L.Ed. 793 (1910).
{¶13} Without an “explicit finding that consecutive sentences are not
disproportionate,” the sentence must be vacated and remanded for resentencing. State
v. Beasley, 153 Ohio St.3d 497, 2018-Ohio-493, 108 N.E.3d 1028, ¶ 255 and 262. The
record must contain an intelligible proportionality finding, because “a statement made
by the trial court cannot be used to discern more than one of the required findings.”
State v. Jackson, 1st Dist.
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[Cite as State v. Galinari, 2022-Ohio-2559.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-210149 TRIAL NO. B-1802762 Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N. DEVIN GALINARI, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: July 27, 2022
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Ron Springman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Timothy J. McKenna, for Defendant-Appellant. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
BOCK, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Devin Galinari challenges the trial court’s
imposition of consecutive sentences and maintains that the trial court failed to make
a finding of proportionality as required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). We disagree and affirm
the trial court’s judgment.
I. Facts and Procedure
{¶2} In the midst of a mental-health crisis, Galinari used an aluminum bat to
damage the windows of a church and car windshields in a nearby dealership parking
lot. Galinari carried the bat to a Steak ‘n Shake and chased three teenagers through the
restaurant. He struck one of the teenagers in the abdomen before they were able to
lock themselves in a small storage room. The restaurant manager, Ronald Bradley,
attempted to intervene. Galinari struck Bradley in the head repeatedly, causing severe
head trauma.
{¶3} Galinari was arrested and charged with multiple counts of felonious
assault and vandalism, and one count of attempted murder. Initially, the trial court
found Galinari incompetent to stand trial. After he was “restored to competency,” he
pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11, and two
counts of vandalism in violation of R.C. 2909.05.
{¶4} At the sentencing hearing, the court acknowledged Galinari’s history of
mental-health and addiction issues, his inability to make choices, and the need to both
punish Galinari and protect the public. Beginning with the two vandalism counts, the
court imposed two 12-month concurrent sentences. For the two felonious-assault
counts, the court imposed two six-year sentences. The two six-year sentences were
imposed consecutive to each other and the two concurrent 12-month sentences. All
told, the court imposed an aggregate 13-year term of incarceration. 2 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶5} At the hearing, the sentencing court informed Galinari that “consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public or punish the offender and not
disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the danger the
offender poses to the public.” Next, the court told Galinari that “the harm caused by
two or more of the offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any
offense committed as part of one or more courses of conduct would adequately reflect
the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.”
{¶6} In its sentencing entry, the court repeated its imposition of an aggregate
13-year term of incarceration comprised of two concurrent 12-month sentences
consecutive to two consecutive six-year sentences. Next, the trial court found that
consecutive sentences
ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT [THE] PUBLIC AND TO PUNISH
THE DEFENDANT, AND ARE NOT DISPROPORTIONATE TO
SERIOUSNESS OF THE DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT AND THE
DANGER THE DEFENDANT POSES TO THE PUBLIC. FURTHER,
SPECIFICALLY, THE COURT FINDS THAT 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 DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT.
{¶7} Galinari appeals and challenges the imposition of consecutive sentences
in a single assignment of error. 3 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
II. Law and Analysis
{¶8} Appellate review of consecutive sentences is governed by R.C.
2953.08(G)(2). See State v. Marshall, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-190748 and C-
190758, 2021-Ohio-816, ¶ 48, citing State v. Gwynne, 158 Ohio St.3d 279, 2019-Ohio-
4761, 141 N.E.3d 169, ¶ 16. This court may modify or vacate a trial court’s decision to
impose consecutive sentences if we clearly and convincingly find that “the record does
not support the sentencing court’s findings” under R.C. 2929.14 or “the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a)-(b).
{¶9} In Ohio, there is a statutory presumption of concurrent sentences for
defendants convicted of multiple offenses. State v. McKinney, 1st Dist. Hamilton No.
C-210276, 2022-Ohio-849, ¶ 11. To overcome that presumption, a sentencing court
must make the “mandatory sentencing findings” prescribed by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
Id.; see State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 23.
The court must articulate these statutory findings at the time it imposes the sentences.
Bonnell at ¶ 26. This “affords notice to the offender and to defense counsel.” Id. at ¶
29, citing Crim.R. 32(A)(4). The court must incorporate these findings into a journal
entry. Id. at ¶ 37.
{¶10} But the court is not obligated to state its reasoning for imposing
consecutive sentences. Id. at ¶ 27. Instead, “the record must contain a basis upon
which a reviewing court can determine that the trial court made the findings required
by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).” Id. at ¶ 28. Absent this requirement, “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).
4 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶11} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) demands three separate findings by the trial court—
necessity, proportionality, and offender- or offense-specific findings. See R.C.
2929.14(C)(4) and 2929.14(C)(4)(a). Galinari limits the scope of his appeal to the
proportionality finding required by the statute.
{¶12} Relevant here, R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires the trial court to find “that
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s
conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public.” After all, criminal
sentences, like all punishments, must comport with the “ ‘precept of justice that
punishment for crime should be graduated and proportioned to [the] offense.’ ”
Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59, 130 S.Ct. 2011, 176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010), quoting
Weems v. United States, 217 U.S. 349, 367, 30 S.Ct. 544, 54 L.Ed. 793 (1910).
{¶13} Without an “explicit finding that consecutive sentences are not
disproportionate,” the sentence must be vacated and remanded for resentencing. State
v. Beasley, 153 Ohio St.3d 497, 2018-Ohio-493, 108 N.E.3d 1028, ¶ 255 and 262. The
record must contain an intelligible proportionality finding, because “a statement made
by the trial court cannot be used to discern more than one of the required findings.”
State v. Jackson, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-180245 and C-180246, 2019-Ohio-3299,
¶ 33. Doing so “removes one of the separate statutorily required findings for
consecutive sentences.” Beasley at ¶ 257.
{¶14} In Beasley, the trial court stated at the sentencing hearing and in its
sentencing entry that “the offenses were committed either while you were at large or
awaiting trial and that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public.” Id.
at ¶ 254. There was “nothing in these statements to indicate that the court made a
finding on proportionality.” Id. at ¶ 259. This was insufficient in light of Bonnell,
necessitating resentencing. Id. at ¶ 260 and 262. 5 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶15} At the sentencing hearing in Jackson, the trial court “noted the
seriousness of Jackson’s conduct and the danger she posed to the public,” and “stated
that he considered ‘the sentencing factors under 2929 of the Ohio Revised Code.’ ”
Jackson at ¶ 33. We said that “[t]he court did not discuss proportionality, and the only
way to discern proportionality would be from the other statements about harm and
danger to the public.” Id. at ¶ 35. But those “statements cannot be the sole bases used
to discern proportionality.” Id. Therefore, we vacated the imposition of consecutive
sentences and remanded for resentencing. Id. at ¶ 45.
{¶16} Galinari maintains that the trial court failed to make the findings
required by the statute—that consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the
serious nature of the offenses and the danger to the public. See R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
Galinari analogizes the trial court’s sentencing colloquy and sentencing entry to
Beasley and Jackson.
{¶17} But his reliance on Beasley and Jackson is misplaced. Unlike the courts
in Beasley and Jackson, the trial court explicitly addressed proportionality at the
sentencing hearing and in its entry. While R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires neither a rigid
form of statutory findings nor “talismanic incantation,” the trial court repeated the
language of the statute when making its findings. See Jackson, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos.
C-180245 and C-180246, 2019-Ohio-3299, at ¶ 27.
{¶18} At the sentencing hearing, the court found that consecutive sentences
were “not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the danger
the offender poses to the public.” Likewise, its subsequent judgment entry states that
consecutive sentences “ARE NOT DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF
THE DEFENDANT’S CONDUCT AND THE DANGER THE DEFENDANT POSES TO
THE PUBLIC.” 6 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶19} These findings satisfied the proportionality requirements of R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). Therefore, we overrule Galinari’s assignment of error.
III. Conclusion
{¶20} The trial court made the statutory finding of proportionality required
by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) during the sentencing hearing and in its sentencing entry. As a
result, we overrule Galinari’s assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Judgment affirmed.
ZAYAS, P.J., and CROUSE, J., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its entry on the date of the release of this opinion.