State v. Lawler

2019 Ohio 1920

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 17, 2019
• Docket: WD-18-062
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Lawler, 2019-Ohio-1920.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT WOOD COUNTY

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. WD-18-062

Appellee Trial Court No. 2017CR0517

v.

Jermaine Lawler DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: May 17, 2019

*****

Paul A. Dobson, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney, and David T. Harold, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Dan M. Weiss, for appellant.

ZMUDA, J.

{¶ 1} Appellant Jermaine Lawler appeals the judgment of the Wood County Court

of Common Pleas, sentencing him to 12 months in prison, following his guilty plea to

one count of forgery, a felony of the fifth degree. Finding no error, we affirm. I. Background

{¶ 2} On October 14, 2017, at the Walmart in Perrysburg Township, Ohio,

Walmart’s Loss Prevention officer notified police after observing Lawler attempt to

purchase items using “fake” money. Based on a description of Lawler and his vehicle,

police responded, located Lawler’s vehicle at a nearby Target store, in Perrysburg, Ohio,

and observed Lawler leaving that store and exiting the parking lot. Police initiated a stop

of Lawler’s vehicle and placed him under arrest, confiscating the fake currency, and later

determined that Lawler completed a purchase at Target using the fake money. On

December 18, 2017, the Wood County Grand Jury indicted Lawler on two counts of

forgery, arising from the incidents of October 14, 2017.

{¶ 3} On March 19, 2018, Lawler entered a guilty plea to one count of forgery,

and as part of the plea, the state dismissed the remaining count against him. The trial

court continued the matter for a presentence investigation and sentencing hearing, but

Lawler failed to participate in the presentence investigation. On the date of the scheduled

hearing, Lawler failed to appear and a bench warrant issued. The presentence

investigation report indicated other warrants from other jurisdictions, as well as a new

charge pending. At sentencing, the trial court opined as follows:

The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the

public from future crime by Mr. Lawler and others as well as to punish him

using the minimum sanctions that can accomplish that purpose. And in

achieving that purpose, the Court must consider the need to deter Mr.

2. Lawler and others from future crime as well as the need to incapacitate him

and to rehabilitate him.

The Court will consider the applicable seriousness and recidivism

factors. The Court considers the defendant’s rather substantial history of

criminal convictions that he alluded to himself. The Court also finds he has

not responded favorably to sanctions previously imposed for similar

criminal convictions.

After considering the seriousness and recidivism factors, the Court

determines that a prison term is consistent with the purposes and principles

of felony sentencing and that Mr. Lawler is not amenable to available

community control sanctions. We will, therefore, sentence him to 12

months in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections.

{¶ 4} The trial court sentenced Lawler to 12 months in prison on July 30, 2018,

and journalized that sentence, noting consideration of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. It is

from this judgment Lawler now appeals.

II. Law and Argument

{¶ 5} Following sentencing, Lawler filed a timely appeal, asserting a single

assignment of error:

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT SENTENCED

APPELLANT TO A YEAR IN PRISON CONTRARY TO R.C. 2929.11

AND 2929.12.

3. {¶ 6} Lawler argues that his sentence is contrary to law, because the trial court did

not impose the minimum sanction as provided by R.C. 2929.11(A) and (B). Lawler

further argues that the trial court erroneously determined his conduct was more serious,

justifying a prison term rather than community control, contrary to R.C. 2929.12, as his

crime was against a corporation and involved no physical harm. Pursuant to R.C.

2929.14(A)(5), a court may sentence an offender to a term of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12

months for a felony of the fifth degree.

{¶ 7} Review of a felony sentence is governed by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). State v.

Torres, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-18-008, 2019-Ohio-434, ¶ 6; State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio

St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, 59 N.E.3d 1231, ¶ 1. Pursuant to R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), we do

not modify or vacate a sentence unless we find, by clear and convincing evidence:

(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings

under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of

section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code,

whichever, if any, is relevant, or

(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

{¶ 8} “Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof which is

more than a mere ‘preponderance of the evidence,’ but not to the extent of such certainty

as is required ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ in criminal cases, and which will produce in

the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be

4. established.” Marcum at ¶ 22, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d

118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶ 9} The standard requires proof of a negative, requiring demonstration that “the

record does not support the findings” of the trial court in order to merit reversal or

modification of a sentence. State v. Roberts, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104474, 2017-

Ohio-9014, ¶ 10. Additionally, while R.C. 2953.08 specifically references findings under

R.C. 2929.13 and 2929.14, “it is fully consistent for appellate courts to review those

sentences that are imposed solely after consideration of the factors in R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12 under a standard that is equally deferential to the sentencing court.” Marcum at

¶ 23.

{¶ 10} Here, Lawler acknowledges that the trial court did not have to explain its

reasoning in imposing a prison term rather than a community control sanction.

Furthermore, Lawler does not argue that the record fails to support any findings under

R.C. 2929.13, 2929.14, or 2929.20. Instead, Lawler contends the facts of his case do not

support the trial court’s decision, based on the principles and purposes of sentencing

under R.C. 2929.11 and the seriousness and recidivism factors of R.C. 2929.12. Upon

review of the record, we disagree.

{¶ 11} While Lawler argues community control was the appropriate sentence, he

cites to only select seriousness factors, arguing his crime involved no physical harm and

was committed against a corporation, not a person. In doing so, Lawler ignores the

recidivism factors, including those referenced by the trial court at sentencing. Of

5. significance, the trial court accurately noted that Lawler has a very significant criminal

history, and has not “responded favorably to sanctions previously imposed for criminal

convictions.” See R.C. 2929.12(D)(2) and (3).

{¶ 12} While the trial court could have imposed a community control sanction, it

also had “full discretion to impose any sentence within the authorized statutory range

* * *.” Torres, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-19-008, 2019-Ohio-434 at ¶ 18, quoting State v.

Connors, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26721, 2016-Ohio-3195, ¶ 6. Considering the

record, we find the trial court properly considered the purposes and principles of

sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 and the seriousness and recidivism factors under R.C.

2929.12, and Lawler failed to demonstrate a lack of support for the trial court’s findings.

Accordingly, Lawler’s sole assignment of error is found not well-taken.

III. Conclusion

{¶ 13} The judgment of the Wood County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

Pursuant to App.R. 24, Lawler is assessed the costs of this appeal.

Judgment affirmed.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

6. State v. Lawler C.A. No. L-18-1110

Thomas J. Osowik, J. _______________________________ JUDGE Christine E. Mayle, P.J. _______________________________ Gene A. Zmuda, J. JUDGE CONCUR. _______________________________ JUDGE

7.