[Cite as State v. Huffman, 2017-Ohio-4097.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MIAMI COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 2016-CA-16 : v. : T.C. NO. 16-CR-358 : BRYAN K. HUFFMAN : (Criminal Appeal from : Common Pleas Court) Defendant-Appellant : :
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the ___2nd ___ day of _____June_____, 2017.
PAUL M. WATKINS, Atty. Reg. No. 0090868, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 201 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
SEAN J. VALLONE, Atty. Reg. No. 0064053, 5 Irongate Park Drive, Suite A, Centerville, Ohio 45459 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} Bryan K. Huffman pled guilty in the Miami County Court of Common Pleas to
possession of heroin, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)/(C)(6)(a), a felony of the fifth degree.
The trial court sentenced him to 11 months in prison, suspended his driver’s license for -2-
one year, and ordered him to pay “restitution”1 of $125 to the Troy Police Department and
court costs of $257. Huffman appeals from his conviction.
{¶ 2} According to the record, on May 26, 2016, Officer Shane Marker of the Troy
Police Department responded to a residence on a report that a male was unconscious
and barely breathing. Marker was led into a room adjacent to the living room, where he
found Huffman in a chair, slumped over the armrest toward the floor. Marker
straightened Huffman and observed Huffman’s lips turning blue; Marker relocated
Huffman to the living room and placed him in a seated position. The officer observed a
bulge in the front right pocket of Huffman’s jeans shorts that Marker recognized as a
hypodermic syringe. The Troy Fire Department arrived and administered Naloxone,
after which Huffman became coherent, was able to speak, and was able to keep himself
seated upright. Huffman denied that the syringe was his and refused to talk to the police.
Officer Marker collected the syringe, and Huffman was taken to the hospital for treatment.
{¶ 3} On May 27, 2016, Huffman was charged by complaint with possession of
heroin, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a fifth-degree felony. On August 1, 2016,
Huffman waived grand jury consideration of the charge in writing and in open court. He
agreed to proceed by bill of information, waived his right to one day’s notice of the bill of
information, and pled guilty to the charge as stated in the bill of information. After a
presentence investigation, the trial court sentenced him to 11 months in prison,
suspended his driver’s license for one year, ordered him to pay court costs of $257, and
because the offense was a drug abuse offense, ordered him to pay $125 to the Troy
1 The record reflects that this “restitution” represented the cost of drug analysis, which may be assessed against a drug abuse offender, pursuant to R.C. 2925.511. -3-
Police Department.
{¶ 4} On appeal, Huffman’s counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), indicating that he found
no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Counsel indicated that Huffman’s primary concern
was that he was not provided an opportunity for drug treatment. By entry, we informed
Huffman that his attorney had filed an Anders brief on his behalf and granted him 60 days
from that date to file a pro se brief. To date, no pro se brief has been filed.
{¶ 5} As stated above, Huffman states as a potential error that the trial court did
not place him on community control with drug treatment. He asserts that the trial court’s
comment at sentencing that a prison term was appropriate to prevent him from dying of
a drug overdose was “fallacious as he could obtain substances in prison.” Huffman
acknowledges in his appellate brief that he had “died” twice from overdoses and had been
revived by medical personnel.
{¶ 6} In reviewing felony sentences, appellate courts must apply the standard of
review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), rather than an abuse of discretion standard. See
State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 9. Under
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court may increase, reduce, or modify a sentence, or it
may vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing, only if it “clearly and convincingly”
finds either (1) that the record does not support certain specified findings or (2) that the
sentence imposed is contrary to law.
{¶ 7} In sentencing Huffman, the trial court made a finding under R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b), which provides the trial court with discretion to impose a prison term for
a fifth degree felony offense that is not an offense of violence or qualifying assault offense -4-
under certain circumstances. Specifically, the trial court found that community control
was not mandatory, because Huffman was on probation at the time of the offense, R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b)(xi), and had previously served a prison term for a felony, R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b)(x).
{¶ 8} In imposing a prison sentence, the trial court summarized its reasoning, as
follows:
So, Mr. Huffman, here’s the bottom line. I’m sending you to prison for your
own good. You’re not going to end up dead on my watch and quite frankly
the only way I can guarantee that is to incarcerate you. As I indicated,
you’ve been given every opportunity by the court system to get help, and
yet you have failed to deal with your addiction. Multiple times services and
assistance have been offered to you; you have not taken full advantage of
those. So I’m going to make sure that you are clean for the next eleven
months. And at that point * * * you will be in the position to take charge of
your life, because no one wants to see you end up dead, so use your time
wisely while you’re in prison, and make a commitment to breaking the cycle
of your addiction that you’ve clearly demonstrated. You’ve got to do this
for yourself, sir. So after weighing the factors, the Court finds the
defendant is not currently amenable to Community Control Sanction, that a
prison sentence is consistent with the purposes and principles of
sentencing.
{¶ 9} Upon review of the presentence investigation report, we find no arguably
meritorious claim that the trial court erred in imposing an 11-month prison sentence. -5-
Huffman was 29 years old at sentencing, and he had an extensive history of juvenile and
adult misdemeanor offenses. Huffman had been placed on supervision on ten
occasions; in each instance, the supervision was revoked, and Huffman served a jail
sentence. In 2010, Huffman’s community control related to two Shelby County cases
was revoked, and he served a prison sentence.
{¶ 10} Moreover, the presentence investigation report indicated that Huffman had
previously received substance abuse assessment and been provided opportunities for
treatment. Huffman did not successfully complete those programs, and the report stated
that he had an “unreceptive attitude toward treatment.” The PSI includes the following
comments regarding substance abuse treatment:
MCRC Discharge Summary, dated 6/23/16, indicates that the
Defendant was terminated from treatment due to a Miami Co. Municipal
Court probation revocation and incarceration. The Discharge Summary
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
[Cite as State v. Huffman, 2017-Ohio-4097.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MIAMI COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 2016-CA-16 : v. : T.C. NO. 16-CR-358 : BRYAN K. HUFFMAN : (Criminal Appeal from : Common Pleas Court) Defendant-Appellant : :
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the ___2nd ___ day of _____June_____, 2017.
PAUL M. WATKINS, Atty. Reg. No. 0090868, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 201 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
SEAN J. VALLONE, Atty. Reg. No. 0064053, 5 Irongate Park Drive, Suite A, Centerville, Ohio 45459 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} Bryan K. Huffman pled guilty in the Miami County Court of Common Pleas to
possession of heroin, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)/(C)(6)(a), a felony of the fifth degree.
The trial court sentenced him to 11 months in prison, suspended his driver’s license for -2-
one year, and ordered him to pay “restitution”1 of $125 to the Troy Police Department and
court costs of $257. Huffman appeals from his conviction.
{¶ 2} According to the record, on May 26, 2016, Officer Shane Marker of the Troy
Police Department responded to a residence on a report that a male was unconscious
and barely breathing. Marker was led into a room adjacent to the living room, where he
found Huffman in a chair, slumped over the armrest toward the floor. Marker
straightened Huffman and observed Huffman’s lips turning blue; Marker relocated
Huffman to the living room and placed him in a seated position. The officer observed a
bulge in the front right pocket of Huffman’s jeans shorts that Marker recognized as a
hypodermic syringe. The Troy Fire Department arrived and administered Naloxone,
after which Huffman became coherent, was able to speak, and was able to keep himself
seated upright. Huffman denied that the syringe was his and refused to talk to the police.
Officer Marker collected the syringe, and Huffman was taken to the hospital for treatment.
{¶ 3} On May 27, 2016, Huffman was charged by complaint with possession of
heroin, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a fifth-degree felony. On August 1, 2016,
Huffman waived grand jury consideration of the charge in writing and in open court. He
agreed to proceed by bill of information, waived his right to one day’s notice of the bill of
information, and pled guilty to the charge as stated in the bill of information. After a
presentence investigation, the trial court sentenced him to 11 months in prison,
suspended his driver’s license for one year, ordered him to pay court costs of $257, and
because the offense was a drug abuse offense, ordered him to pay $125 to the Troy
1 The record reflects that this “restitution” represented the cost of drug analysis, which may be assessed against a drug abuse offender, pursuant to R.C. 2925.511. -3-
Police Department.
{¶ 4} On appeal, Huffman’s counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), indicating that he found
no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Counsel indicated that Huffman’s primary concern
was that he was not provided an opportunity for drug treatment. By entry, we informed
Huffman that his attorney had filed an Anders brief on his behalf and granted him 60 days
from that date to file a pro se brief. To date, no pro se brief has been filed.
{¶ 5} As stated above, Huffman states as a potential error that the trial court did
not place him on community control with drug treatment. He asserts that the trial court’s
comment at sentencing that a prison term was appropriate to prevent him from dying of
a drug overdose was “fallacious as he could obtain substances in prison.” Huffman
acknowledges in his appellate brief that he had “died” twice from overdoses and had been
revived by medical personnel.
{¶ 6} In reviewing felony sentences, appellate courts must apply the standard of
review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), rather than an abuse of discretion standard. See
State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 9. Under
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court may increase, reduce, or modify a sentence, or it
may vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing, only if it “clearly and convincingly”
finds either (1) that the record does not support certain specified findings or (2) that the
sentence imposed is contrary to law.
{¶ 7} In sentencing Huffman, the trial court made a finding under R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b), which provides the trial court with discretion to impose a prison term for
a fifth degree felony offense that is not an offense of violence or qualifying assault offense -4-
under certain circumstances. Specifically, the trial court found that community control
was not mandatory, because Huffman was on probation at the time of the offense, R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b)(xi), and had previously served a prison term for a felony, R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(b)(x).
{¶ 8} In imposing a prison sentence, the trial court summarized its reasoning, as
follows:
So, Mr. Huffman, here’s the bottom line. I’m sending you to prison for your
own good. You’re not going to end up dead on my watch and quite frankly
the only way I can guarantee that is to incarcerate you. As I indicated,
you’ve been given every opportunity by the court system to get help, and
yet you have failed to deal with your addiction. Multiple times services and
assistance have been offered to you; you have not taken full advantage of
those. So I’m going to make sure that you are clean for the next eleven
months. And at that point * * * you will be in the position to take charge of
your life, because no one wants to see you end up dead, so use your time
wisely while you’re in prison, and make a commitment to breaking the cycle
of your addiction that you’ve clearly demonstrated. You’ve got to do this
for yourself, sir. So after weighing the factors, the Court finds the
defendant is not currently amenable to Community Control Sanction, that a
prison sentence is consistent with the purposes and principles of
sentencing.
{¶ 9} Upon review of the presentence investigation report, we find no arguably
meritorious claim that the trial court erred in imposing an 11-month prison sentence. -5-
Huffman was 29 years old at sentencing, and he had an extensive history of juvenile and
adult misdemeanor offenses. Huffman had been placed on supervision on ten
occasions; in each instance, the supervision was revoked, and Huffman served a jail
sentence. In 2010, Huffman’s community control related to two Shelby County cases
was revoked, and he served a prison sentence.
{¶ 10} Moreover, the presentence investigation report indicated that Huffman had
previously received substance abuse assessment and been provided opportunities for
treatment. Huffman did not successfully complete those programs, and the report stated
that he had an “unreceptive attitude toward treatment.” The PSI includes the following
comments regarding substance abuse treatment:
MCRC Discharge Summary, dated 6/23/16, indicates that the
Defendant was terminated from treatment due to a Miami Co. Municipal
Court probation revocation and incarceration. The Discharge Summary
indicates that the Defendant OD’d twice since his intake at MCRC on
5/12/16.
The Defendant reported that he would like to be considered for
Vivitrol and in-patient treatment, as he “has not been offered either.” On
8/23/16, this writer spoke with Miami County Municipal Court PO * * * who
indicated that they will not consider the Defendant for Vivitrol/MCRC
program through their court due to his on-going non-compliance. On
8/24/16, this writer confirmed that the Defendant was offered in-patient
treatment, as a Transitional Control client, at SORTS. His discharge
summary indicates that he was “unreceptive to treatment,” was “stuck in the -6-
victim role,” and “blamed others for his behavior.” He attended only four
AoD sessions, and was absent from eight AoD sessions, prior to being
terminated from the program and returned to prison.
(Emphasis in original.) Based on the presentence investigation report, we find no non-
frivolous claim regarding the trial court’s decision to impose an 11-month prison term.
{¶ 11} We have reviewed the entire record, including the presentence investigation
report and the transcripts of the arraignment/plea hearing and sentencing. Having
conducted our independent review of the record pursuant to Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S.
75, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), we agree with appellate counsel that there
are no non-frivolous issues for review.
{¶ 12} The trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
DONOVAN, J. and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Paul M. Watkins Sean J. Vallone Bryan K. Huffman Hon. Jeannine N. Pratt