State v. Gonzalez

952 N.E.2d 502, 193 Ohio App. 3d 385
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 31, 2011
DocketNos. L-10-1168 and L-10-1169
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 952 N.E.2d 502 (State v. Gonzalez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Gonzalez, 952 N.E.2d 502, 193 Ohio App. 3d 385 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

Pietrykowski, Judge.

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Antonio Gonzalez, is before this court appealing the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas’ May 24 and June 1, 2010 judgments resentencing him to a total of 38 years of imprisonment following his guilty pleas, pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford (1970), 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160, 27 L.Ed.2d 162, to four counts of rape of a minor and felonious assault. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

{¶ 2} This is the third time that an appeal has been perfected in this case. A brief overview of the necessary facts is as follows. Appellant was indicted on June 17, 2005, on four counts of rape stemming from an incident with his five-year-old niece. Following confirmation that appellant was HIV positive, a [390]*390separate indictment was filed charging appellant with one count of felonious assault. Appellant entered not-guilty pleas in both cases.

{¶ 3} On November 9, 2005, appellant entered an Alford plea to the lesser included rape charges, which did not carry a mandatory life sentence. Appellant also entered an Alford plea to the felonious-assault charge. On January 17, 2006, appellant was sentenced to maximum, consecutive sentences for a total of 48 years of imprisonment.

{¶ 4} On appeal, this court affirmed appellant’s convictions but, pursuant to State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-856, 845 N.E.2d 470, remanded the matter for resentencing. See State v. Gonzalez, 6th Dist. No. L-06-1048, 2006-Ohio-6458, 2006 WL 3525390 {“Gonzalez I ”).

{¶ 5} Relying on State v. Foster, appellant filed motions to withdraw his plea in both cases. Appellant contended that because his sentence had been vacated, his motion should be treated as a presentence motion and the more liberal standard applied.

{¶ 6} At appellant’s May 25, 2007 resentencing, the trial court first denied appellant’s motions to withdraw his plea. The court then ordered that two of the imprisonment terms for the rape convictions be served concurrently, thus reducing the total sentence from 48 to 38 years. Appellant again appealed.

{¶ 7} On appeal, appellant’s counsel requested that he be permitted to withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California (1967), 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493. Upon review, we agreed that there were no meritorious issues for review and affirmed appellant’s sentence. See State v. Gonzalez, 6th Dist. No. L-07-1202, 2008-Ohio-6175, 2008 WL 5050386 {“Gonzalez II”).

{¶ 8} On December 9, 2008, appellant, pro se, filed a motion to vacate or set aside his conviction and sentence on the rape counts, arguing that the indictment failed to specify the mens rea for the offenses. Appellant argued that the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State v. Colon, 118 Ohio St.3d 26, 2008-Ohio-1624, 885 N.E.2d 917, required that the indictment specify the reckless mental state.

{¶ 9} On August 31, 2009, appellant, represented by counsel, filed a motion to correct his “void” sentences in the rape and felonious-assault cases. Appellant based his arguments on the Supreme Court of Ohio cases of State v. Baker, 119 Ohio St.3d 197, 2008-Ohio-3330, 893 N.E.2d 163, and State v. Bezak, 114 Ohio St.3d 94, 2007-Ohio-3250, 868 N.E.2d 961. As to Baker, appellant argued that the final judgment entry was void because it failed to include that the matter was resolved by way of a plea. As to Bezak, appellant contended that his sentence was void because the trial court failed to properly notify him of his postreleasecontrol obligations. The state opposed the motion.

[391]*391{¶ 10} On May 24 and June 1, 2010, the trial court entered nunc pro tunc judgment entries that addressed the Baker issue, denied appellant’s 2007 motions to withdraw his guilty pleas, and reiterated that appellant was notified of his postrelease-control obligations. This appeal followed.

{¶ 11} Appellant raises 14 assignments of error for the court to consider:

{¶ 12} “I. The sentences for each of the four counts of Rape in Case No. CR-2005-2306 are void for failure to properly impose post release control, as a result of which they should be deemed void and the matter remanded for a de novo re-sentencing.

{¶ 13} “II. The sentence for the Felonious Assault in Case No. CR-2005-2477 is void for failure to properly impose post release control, as a result of which it should be deemed void and the matter remanded for de novo re-sentencing.

{¶ 14} “III. The Trial Court improperly denied the motion of the defense to withdraw all pleas in Case No. CR-2005-2306 by ruling on these with no standard or an improper standard rather than the pre-sentencing standard, such that remand for reconsideration of these motions is required.

{¶ 15} “IV. The trial court improperly denied the motion of the defense to withdraw plea is Case No. CR-2005-2477 by ruling on these with no standard or an improper standard rather than the pre-sentencing standard, such that remand for reconsideration of these motions is required.

{¶ 16} “V. The pleas as to the four Rape counts in Case No. CR-2005-2306 were not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.

{¶ 17} “VI. The plea as to the Felonious Assault count in Case No. CR-2005-2477 was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.

{¶ 18} “VII. The Indictment in Case No. CR-2005-2306 was too vague, so as to deny to Mr. Gonzalez due process of law, including the right to presentment and the right to protection from twice being in jeopardy for the same offense.

{¶ 19} “VIII. The four counts of Rape in Case No. CR-2005-2306 should have been merged as one single conviction, and the one count of Felonious Assault in Case No. CR-2005-2477 should have been merged into the same.

{¶ 20} “IX. Mr. Gonzalez was denied the effective assistance of counsel.

{¶ 21} “X. The Alford pleas as to all four counts of Rape in Case No. CR-2005-2306 were improperly accepted for lack of review of the weight of the evidence and for lack of a real reduction of degree of the charge.

{¶ 22} “XI. The Alford plea to one count of Felonious Assault in Case No. CR-2005-[2477] was improperly accepted for lack of review of the weight of the evidence and for lack of reduction of degree of the charge.

[392]*392{¶ 23} “XII. Mr. Gonzalez’s sentences are unconstitutional because they violate his rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

{¶ 24} “XIII. The indictment in Case No. CR-2005-2306 violated the Colon doctrine.

{¶ 25} “XIV. R.C. 2903.11(B)(3) is unconstitutional for violation of the federal right to Equal Protection.”

{¶ 26} Appellant’s first and second assignments of error contend that the trial court’s failure to properly notify him of his postrelease-control obligations in either the January 13, 2006 or May 25, 2007 judgment entries renders his sentences void. Appellant makes this argument in reliance on State v. Bezak, 114 Ohio St.3d 94, 2007-Ohio-3250, 868 N.E.2d 961. Appellant argues that the matter should be remanded for a de novo sentencing hearing.

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Bluebook (online)
952 N.E.2d 502, 193 Ohio App. 3d 385, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-gonzalez-ohioctapp-2011.