State v. Kennedy

2020 Ohio 1128

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 23, 2020
• Docket: 19AP0005
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Kennedy, 2020-Ohio-1128.]

COURT OF APPEALS MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. : Hon. John W. Wise, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : -vs- : : Case No. 19AP0005 BRANDON LEE KENNEDY : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Morgan County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 19CR0015

JUDGMENT: Affirmed in part; Vacated in part

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 23, 2020

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

MARK HOWDYSHELL JAMES ANZELMO Prosecuting Attorney 446 Howland Drive 19 East Main Street Gahanna, OH 43230 McConnelsville, OH 43756 [Cite as State v. Kennedy, 2020-Ohio-1128.]

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant Brandon Kennedy appeals the July 22, 2019 judgment entry of

the Morgan County Court of Common Pleas. Appellee is the State of Ohio.

Facts & Procedural History

{¶2} Appellant was indicted on February 7, 2019 in Case Number 19CR15 on

the following charges: Count 1, trafficking in cocaine; Count 2, having weapons while

under disability; Count 3, money laundering; and Count 4, possession of marijuana. On

February 28, 2019, the trial court consolidated Case Number 19CR15 with Case Number

17CR49 for trial.

{¶3} The trial court held a plea hearing with respect to both 17CR49 and 19CR15

on May 22, 2019. As to 17CR49, in return for appellant pleading guilty to Counts 1, 3,

and 6, as well as admitting to the forfeiture specification set forth as part of Count 1,

appellee would dismiss Counts 2, 4, 5, and 7. With regards to Case Number 19CR15, in

return for appellant pleading guilty to Count 1, appellee would dismiss counts 2, 3, and 4.

The parties agreed to a sentencing recommendation of a total of fourteen years on both

cases. Additionally, as long as appellant has no institutional record, appellee agreed to

remain silent on a motion for judicial release. Appellant stated he understood the

maximum prison term and fines for each count, was satisfied with his lawyer, voluntarily

waived his rights, and wanted the trial court to accept his plea of guilty. The trial court

ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set the matter for sentencing.

{¶4} At the sentencing hearing, counsel for appellant stated as follows: appellant

accepted responsibility for his actions; as noted in his PSI, appellant is devoted to trying

to obtain vocational training at the institution, specifically, earn a welding certificate and Morgan County, Case No. 19AP0005 3

become a welder; appellant has six children; and appellant’s goal is to earn judicial

release. Counsel for appellant moved the trial court to waive the mandatory fines and

court costs in each case because appellant has no assets and will have no assets upon

exiting the institution. Appellant took responsibility for his actions. With regards to the

17CR49 case, the trial court: sentenced appellant to a definite term of eleven years in

prison on Count 1 and did not impose a fine; sentenced appellant to a definite term of 36

months in prison on Count 3, concurrent to Count 1, and imposed a mandatory fine of

$5,000; and sentenced appellant to a definite term of 36 months on Count 6, concurrent

with Counts 1 and 3, and imposed a mandatory fine of $5,000. The trial court sentenced

appellant to three years in prison on the 19CR15 case, and waived the $10,000 fine in

the 19CR15 case.

{¶5} As to the forfeiture issue, the trial court granted the forfeiture motion with

regards to 17CR49. The trial court stated there was no forfeiture in 19CR15.

{¶6} The trial court issued a sentencing judgment entry on July 22, 2019 in

19CR15, sentencing appellant to three years in prison for Count 1, trafficking in cocaine,

consecutive to the sentence in 17CR49. The trial court waived the $10,000 fine, but

ordered appellant to pay court costs. Finally, the trial court stated, “all property as set

forth in the forfeiture specifications in the indictment is forfeited.”

{¶7} Appellant appeals the July 22, 2019 sentencing entry of the Morgan County

Court of Common Pleas and assigns the following as error:

{¶8} “I. THE TRIAL COURT UNLAWFULLY ORDERED KENNEDY TO

FORFEIT PROPERTY, IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS,

GUARANTEED BY SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND THE Morgan County, Case No. 19AP0005 4

FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES

CONSTITUTION.

{¶9} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING

KENNEDY’S MOTION TO WAIVE COURT COSTS, IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS

UNDER THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.”

I.

{¶10} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court’s forfeiture

order should be vacated because the indictment did not include a forfeiture specification

and the trial court stated at sentencing that the conviction did not contain a forfeiture

specification.

{¶11} Appellee concedes that the sentencing entry is erroneous because it

contains a forfeiture order. Appellee states that while the indictment in Case 17CR49

included a forfeiture specification, the inclusion of the forfeiture order in the sentencing

entry in 19CR15 was a clerical error.

{¶12} In this case, the indictment did not contain a forfeiture specification. At the

sentencing hearing, the trial court specifically stated there was no forfeiture in Case

19CR15. Accordingly, the trial court erred in ordering appellant to forfeit property in this

case. See State v. Brimacombe, 195 Ohio App.3d 524, 2011-Ohio-5032, 960 N.E.2d

1042 (6th Dist. Lucas). Appellant’s first assignment of error is sustained. We further find

that the forfeiture order is severable from the remainder of the trial court’s sentencing

entry of July 22, 2019. Thus, only the forfeiture order is vacated. Morgan County, Case No. 19AP0005 5

II.

{¶13} In his second assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court abused

its discretion in denying his motion to waive court costs. Appellant argues he has no

liquid assets to pay court costs, has no real property to sell to pay court costs, his ability

to pay is hindered by his lengthy incarceration, and he is indigent.

{¶14} R.C. 2947.23(A)(1)(a) requires a trial court to impose the costs of

prosecution against all convicted criminal defendants. State v. White, 103 Ohio St.3d

580, 2004-Ohio-5989, 817 N.E.2d 393. While the imposition of those costs is mandatory,

the court may waive the payment of costs when the defendant is indigent. Id. R.C.

2947.23(C) permits the trial court to “waive, suspend, or modify the payment of the costs

of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised Code, at the

time of sentencing or at any time thereafter.”

{¶15} A trial court’s denial of a defendant’s motion to waive court costs is reviewed

under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Smith, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2018-

0063, 2019-Ohio-3048.

{¶16} Upon review, we find no abuse of discretion in this case. While appellant

will be incarcerated for fourteen years, he will only be forty-three years old upon his

release. Appellant is in good health. Appellant intends to take advantage of the

vocational programs offered while in prison.

{¶17} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

{¶18} Based on the foregoing, the July 22, 2019 judgment entry of the Morgan

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part and vacated in part. Appellant’s first

assignment of error is sustained. The forfeiture order is severable from the remainder of Morgan County, Case No. 19AP0005 6

the trial court’s sentencing entry of July 22, 2019. Thus, only the forfeiture order is

vacated. Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

By Gwin, P. J.,

Wise, John, J., and

Baldwin, J., concur