[Cite as State v. Goins, 2024-Ohio-1559.]
COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : Hon. Andrew J. King, J. -vs- : : DONALD GOINS, JR. : Case No. CT 2023-0055 : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the County Court, Case No. CRB2300317(A), (B), and (C)
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: April 23, 2024
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN CONNOR DEVER W. JEFFREY MOORE 27 North Fifth Street 33 South Grant Avenue P.O. Box 189 Columbus, OH 45662 Zanesville, OH 43702 Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 2
King, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Donald Goins, Jr., appeals his June 30, 2023
sentence by the Court of Common Pleas of Muskingum County, Ohio. Plaintiff-Appellee
is the state of Ohio. We affirm the trial court.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} On June 30, 2023, Goins pled guilty to one count of violating a protection
order in violation of R.C. 2919.27, one count of domestic violence in violation of R.C.
2919.25, and one count of aggravated menacing in violation of R.C. 2903.21. The
charges arose from text messages sent by Goins to a woman he was involved with in a
long-term relationship.
{¶ 3} By sentencing entry filed June 30, 2023, the trial court sentenced Goins to
ten days for violating the protection order, ten days for the domestic violence, and thirty
days for the aggravated menacing, to be served consecutively for a total sentence of fifty
days.
{¶ 4} Goins filed an appeal with the following assignment of error:
I
{¶ 5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT SENTENCED THE APPELLANT
TO CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND AGGRAVATED
MENACING PURSUANT TO THE MERGER DOCTRINE. ADDITIONALLY,
APPELLANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE WHEN HE FAILED TO RAISE A
DOUBLE JEOPARDY ARGUMENT AT SENTENCING."
I Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 3
{¶ 6} In his sole assignment of error, Goins claims the trial court erred in
sentencing him to consecutive sentences on the domestic violence and aggravated
menacing counts under the merger doctrine. He further claims his counsel was ineffective
for failing to raise a double jeopardy argument at sentencing. We disagree with Goins's
arguments.
{¶ 7} Appellate review of an allied-offense question is de novo. State v. Miku, 5th
Dist. Stark No. 2017 CA 00057, 2018-Ohio-1584, ¶ 70, appeal not allowed, 154 Ohio
St.3d 1479, 2019-Ohio-173, 114 N.E.3d 1207 (2019), quoting State v. Williams, 134 Ohio
St.3d 482, 2012-Ohio-5699, 983 N.E.2d 1245, ¶ 12.
{¶ 8} We note Goins did not object to his sentence during the sentencing hearing.
As held by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-
Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 3:
An accused's failure to raise the issue of allied offenses of similar
import in the trial court forfeits all but plain error, and a forfeited error is not
reversible error unless it affected the outcome of the proceeding and
reversal is necessary to correct a manifest miscarriage of justice.
Accordingly, an accused has the burden to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the convictions are for allied offenses of similar import
committed with the same conduct and without a separate animus; absent
that showing, the accused cannot demonstrate that the trial court's failure
to inquire whether the convictions merge for purposes of sentencing was
plain error. Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 4
{¶ 9} R.C. 2941.25 governs multiple counts and protects a defendant's rights
under the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions by
prohibiting convictions of allied offenses of similar import:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or
information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may
be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses
of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of
the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as
to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶ 10} As held by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114,
2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 25:
A trial court and the reviewing court on appeal when considering
whether there are allied offenses that merge into a single conviction under
R.C. 2941.25(A) must first take into account the conduct of the defendant.
In other words, how were the offenses committed? If any of the following is
true, the offenses cannot merge and the defendant may be convicted and Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 5
sentenced for multiple offenses: (1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or
significance—in other words, each offense caused separate, identifiable
harm, (2) the offenses were committed separately, or (3) the offenses were
committed with separate animus or motivation.
{¶ 11} "An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate convictions.
The conduct, the animus, and the import must all be considered." Id. at ¶ 31.
{¶ 12} Goins was convicted of domestic violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(C)
which states: "No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household
member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or
household member." He was also convicted of aggravated menacing in violation of R.C.
2903.21(A) which states in part: "No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that
the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other
person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family."
{¶ 13} Goins argues his convictions for domestic violence and aggravated
menacing are offenses of similar import because the commission of domestic violence is
"essentially" the commission of aggravated menacing. Appellant's Brief at 9. He argues
for domestic violence the state was required to prove "he knowingly caused the victim to
believe he would cause imminent harm to her"; for aggravated menacing the state was
required to prove he "knowingly caused the victim to believe that he would cause serious
physical harm to her." (Emphasis sic.) Id. What Goins leaves out is aggravated
menacing also includes knowingly causing another to believe that the offender will cause
serious physical harm to the "property of the other person." Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 6
{¶ 14} Admittedly, the facts of the charges are not clear as the transcript
references of what the prosecutor and defense counsel said are "INAUDIBLE" at times.
But we are able to ascertain that: 1) the victim feared Goins; 2) she was scared he would
do her substantial physical harm; 3) Goins sent her threatening text messages (more than
one); 4) he threatened to harm the victim; and 5) he threatened to burn her property. June
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[Cite as State v. Goins, 2024-Ohio-1559.]
COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : Hon. Andrew J. King, J. -vs- : : DONALD GOINS, JR. : Case No. CT 2023-0055 : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the County Court, Case No. CRB2300317(A), (B), and (C)
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: April 23, 2024
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN CONNOR DEVER W. JEFFREY MOORE 27 North Fifth Street 33 South Grant Avenue P.O. Box 189 Columbus, OH 45662 Zanesville, OH 43702 Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 2
King, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Donald Goins, Jr., appeals his June 30, 2023
sentence by the Court of Common Pleas of Muskingum County, Ohio. Plaintiff-Appellee
is the state of Ohio. We affirm the trial court.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} On June 30, 2023, Goins pled guilty to one count of violating a protection
order in violation of R.C. 2919.27, one count of domestic violence in violation of R.C.
2919.25, and one count of aggravated menacing in violation of R.C. 2903.21. The
charges arose from text messages sent by Goins to a woman he was involved with in a
long-term relationship.
{¶ 3} By sentencing entry filed June 30, 2023, the trial court sentenced Goins to
ten days for violating the protection order, ten days for the domestic violence, and thirty
days for the aggravated menacing, to be served consecutively for a total sentence of fifty
days.
{¶ 4} Goins filed an appeal with the following assignment of error:
I
{¶ 5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT SENTENCED THE APPELLANT
TO CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND AGGRAVATED
MENACING PURSUANT TO THE MERGER DOCTRINE. ADDITIONALLY,
APPELLANT'S TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE WHEN HE FAILED TO RAISE A
DOUBLE JEOPARDY ARGUMENT AT SENTENCING."
I Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 3
{¶ 6} In his sole assignment of error, Goins claims the trial court erred in
sentencing him to consecutive sentences on the domestic violence and aggravated
menacing counts under the merger doctrine. He further claims his counsel was ineffective
for failing to raise a double jeopardy argument at sentencing. We disagree with Goins's
arguments.
{¶ 7} Appellate review of an allied-offense question is de novo. State v. Miku, 5th
Dist. Stark No. 2017 CA 00057, 2018-Ohio-1584, ¶ 70, appeal not allowed, 154 Ohio
St.3d 1479, 2019-Ohio-173, 114 N.E.3d 1207 (2019), quoting State v. Williams, 134 Ohio
St.3d 482, 2012-Ohio-5699, 983 N.E.2d 1245, ¶ 12.
{¶ 8} We note Goins did not object to his sentence during the sentencing hearing.
As held by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-
Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 3:
An accused's failure to raise the issue of allied offenses of similar
import in the trial court forfeits all but plain error, and a forfeited error is not
reversible error unless it affected the outcome of the proceeding and
reversal is necessary to correct a manifest miscarriage of justice.
Accordingly, an accused has the burden to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the convictions are for allied offenses of similar import
committed with the same conduct and without a separate animus; absent
that showing, the accused cannot demonstrate that the trial court's failure
to inquire whether the convictions merge for purposes of sentencing was
plain error. Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 4
{¶ 9} R.C. 2941.25 governs multiple counts and protects a defendant's rights
under the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions by
prohibiting convictions of allied offenses of similar import:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or
information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may
be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses
of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of
the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as
to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶ 10} As held by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114,
2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 25:
A trial court and the reviewing court on appeal when considering
whether there are allied offenses that merge into a single conviction under
R.C. 2941.25(A) must first take into account the conduct of the defendant.
In other words, how were the offenses committed? If any of the following is
true, the offenses cannot merge and the defendant may be convicted and Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 5
sentenced for multiple offenses: (1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or
significance—in other words, each offense caused separate, identifiable
harm, (2) the offenses were committed separately, or (3) the offenses were
committed with separate animus or motivation.
{¶ 11} "An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate convictions.
The conduct, the animus, and the import must all be considered." Id. at ¶ 31.
{¶ 12} Goins was convicted of domestic violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(C)
which states: "No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household
member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or
household member." He was also convicted of aggravated menacing in violation of R.C.
2903.21(A) which states in part: "No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that
the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other
person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family."
{¶ 13} Goins argues his convictions for domestic violence and aggravated
menacing are offenses of similar import because the commission of domestic violence is
"essentially" the commission of aggravated menacing. Appellant's Brief at 9. He argues
for domestic violence the state was required to prove "he knowingly caused the victim to
believe he would cause imminent harm to her"; for aggravated menacing the state was
required to prove he "knowingly caused the victim to believe that he would cause serious
physical harm to her." (Emphasis sic.) Id. What Goins leaves out is aggravated
menacing also includes knowingly causing another to believe that the offender will cause
serious physical harm to the "property of the other person." Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 6
{¶ 14} Admittedly, the facts of the charges are not clear as the transcript
references of what the prosecutor and defense counsel said are "INAUDIBLE" at times.
But we are able to ascertain that: 1) the victim feared Goins; 2) she was scared he would
do her substantial physical harm; 3) Goins sent her threatening text messages (more than
one); 4) he threatened to harm the victim; and 5) he threatened to burn her property. June
30, 2023 T. at 8-9.
{¶ 15} As explained in Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892,
at ¶ 26: "[A] defendant's conduct that constitutes two or more offenses against a single
victim can support multiple convictions if the harm that results from each offense is
separate and identifiable from the harm of the other offense." We find Goins's conduct
resulted in separate and identifiable harm: threatening text messages to harm her to
support the offense of domestic violence and threatening text messages to harm her
property to support the offense of aggravated menacing. Because we answer in the
affirmative that the "offenses are dissimilar in import or significance" under Ruff, the
offenses cannot merge.
{¶ 16} We have reviewed the cases cited by Goins in support of his argument to
merge the offenses of domestic violence and aggravated menacing and find them to be
distinguishable. State v. Pate, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-130109, C-130110, C-130112,
2013-Ohio-3470, ¶ 10 (state relied upon the same conduct, threatening victim with a gun,
to support both offenses); State v. Jones, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-20-1060, 2020-Ohio-
5477, ¶ 8 (both charges arose out of a single event threatening the victim with harm
causing her to be afraid for her safety); Ohio v. Hill, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106542, 2018-
Ohio-4327, ¶ 3 (state agreed on merger based on the facts). Muskingum County, Case No. CT 2023-0055 7
{¶ 17} Because Goins has failed to demonstrate plain error, we find he has not
shown prejudice by his counsel's failure to object at the time of sentencing. We find no
reasonable probability that the result would have been different if counsel had raised the
merger issue. Accordingly, we find no merit to Goins's ineffective assistance of counsel
claim.
{¶ 18} Upon review, we find the offenses were committed separately and the
record does not reflect plain error nor ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court
did not err in sentencing Goins to consecutive sentences as R.C. 2941.25 does not apply
in this case.
{¶ 19} The judgment of the County Court of Muskingum County, Ohio is hereby
affirmed.
By King, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Baldwin, J. concur.