[Cite as State v. Montalbine, 2022-Ohio-2103.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT LAKE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2021-L-114
Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the -v- Court of Common Pleas
JEFFREY J. MONTALBINE, Trial Court No. 2019 CR 000699 Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: June 21, 2022 Judgment: Appeal dismissed as moot
Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Prosecutor, and Jennifer A. McGee, Teri R. Daniel and Adam M. Downing, Assistant Prosecutors, Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490, Painesville, OH 44077 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Cory R. Hinton, Hanahan & Hinton, LLC, 8570 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060 (For Defendant-Appellant).
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Jeffrey J. Montalbine, appeals the October 26, 2021 judgment of
the Lake County Court of Common Pleas sentencing him to a total prison term of 11
months. As discussed further below, the appeal is dismissed as moot.
{¶2} In June 2019, Willoughby Police responded to a report of domestic violence
at Mr. Montalbine’s residence. His wife, Kimberly Montalbine, reported that her husband
had punched her in the face. She required medical care for severe bruising which caused her eye to swell shut. Mr. Montalbine was arrested and charged with domestic violence
and felonious assault.
{¶3} Over the next two days, Mrs. Montalbine twice called the police stating she
had discovered possible drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers responded and seized
suspected drugs and two firearms. The suspected drugs were confirmed to be controlled
substances. Pursuant to a temporary protection order subsequently issued against Mr.
Montalbine, all of his firearms were to be turned over to the police. When the officers
returned to the residence to collect the firearms, they found multiple firearms in the gun
safe as well as suspected drugs in plain view, which were also seized and confirmed to
be controlled substances.
{¶4} Mr. Montalbine was indicted on six counts: Count One, Aggravated Assault,
a felony of the fourth degree, in violation of R.C. 2903.12(A)(1); Count Two, Domestic
Violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A); Counts Three
and Four, Possession of Drugs, felonies of the third and fourth degree, in violation of R.C.
2925.11, with related forfeitures; Count Five, Possession of Cocaine, a felony of the fifth
degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, with related forfeiture; and Count Six, Aggravated
Possession of Drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, with related
forfeiture. The state moved to dismiss Count Three, and Count Four was renumbered as
County Three, Count Five was renumbered as Count Four, and Count Six was
renumbered as Count Five. Mr. Montalbine pleaded not guilty to all counts.
{¶5} When Mr. Montalbine failed to appear for trial as scheduled, his bond was
revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Once police located Mr. Montalbine, he
fled and eluded police officers in a high-speed chase in Summit County, resulting in
Case No. 2021-L-114 charges being filed in Summit County. Mr. Montalbine was ultimately arrested in May
2021 in Michigan and extradited back to Ohio where the case proceeded to trial.
{¶6} Ultimately, the jury found Mr. Montalbine not guilty on Counts One and
Three and guilty on Counts Two, Four, and Five, as renumbered. The court sentenced
Mr. Montalbine to serve 180 days in Lake County Jail on Count Two, and two 11-month
periods of imprisonment on each of Counts Four and Five to be served concurrently. He
was credited with 168 days for time already served, which was subsequently modified to
182 days credit. Mr. Montalbine sought a stay of the execution of the sentence pending
appeal in both the trial court and this court, both of which were denied.
{¶7} Mr. Montalbine now appeals, assigning one error for our review, which
states:
{¶8} The trial court erred on October 21, 2021 (as journalized on October 26, 2021) because its sentence was contrary to law and an abuse of discretion as a result of the purposes and principles set forth in ORC 2929.11 being violated.
{¶9} Following the sentencing hearing, the record indicates that Mr. Montalbine
was conveyed to the Lorain Correctional Institution. When the 182 days credit for time
served is taken into account, Mr. Montalbine’s eleven-month sentence has been entirely
satisfied as of March 23, 2022, prior to the hearing on the instant appeal. In light of this,
the state has filed a motion to dismiss. Mr. Montalbine opposed the motion, stating that
he did not serve his sentence voluntarily and that he will suffer a civil disability and loss
of civil rights due to his “conviction and/or sentence.”
{¶10} This court has noted that “a criminal appeal is only moot if the defendant
voluntarily serves a period of incarceration or pays a fine. An appeal is not rendered moot
if the defendant unsuccessfully seeks a stay of execution of the sentence. In such a 3
Case No. 2021-L-114 situation, the completion of the sentence would be involuntary, and the defendant would
retain his or her right to appeal the underlying conviction and sentence.” State v. Smith,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2000-L-195, 2002 WL 445034, *2 (March 22, 2002), citing State v.
Harris, 109 Ohio App.3d 873, 875 (1st Dist.1996).
{¶11} As Mr. Montalbine sought, unsuccessfully, two stays of execution, we agree
his sentence was not voluntarily served and he has preserved his right to appeal the
underlying conviction and sentence. Critically, however, appellant has only appealed his
sentence, not the underlying conviction.
{¶12} In opposing the motion to dismiss, appellant cites Cleveland Hts. v. Lewis,
129 Ohio St.3d 389, 2011-Ohio-2673, ¶11 (Citations omitted) (“‘“‘[u]nless one convicted
of a misdemeanor seeks to stay the sentence imposed pending appeal or otherwise
involuntarily serves or satisfies it, the case will be dismissed as moot unless the defendant
can demonstrate a particular civil disability or loss of civil rights specific to him arising
from the conviction.’”’” ) In Lewis, however, the defendant’s underlying conviction was at
issue and ultimately reversed. Id. at ¶12.
{¶13} Likewise, in State v. Blivens, 11th Dist. Lake No. 98-L-189, 1999 WL
960955 (Sept. 30, 1999), this court noted that while appellant “retained a substantial stake
in the judgment of conviction pursuant to Golston which survived the satisfaction of the
judgment imposed upon her,” because she only challenged the imposition of the
maximum sentence, once that sentence was completed, the appeal became moot as the
relief being sought, a remand for resentencing, could no longer be granted. Id. at *2-3.
{¶14} Thus, even assuming Mr. Montalbine will suffer civil disability or loss of civil
rights, those arise from his conviction, which he has not challenged on appeal. “‘If an
Case No. 2021-L-114 individual has already served his sentence, there is no collateral disability or loss of civil
rights that can be remedied by a modification of the length of that sentence in the absence
of a reversal of the underlying conviction.’” See Smith, supra, quoting State v. Beamon,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2000-L-160, 2001 WL 1602656, *1 (Dec. 14, 2001). “No relief can be
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[Cite as State v. Montalbine, 2022-Ohio-2103.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT LAKE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2021-L-114
Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the -v- Court of Common Pleas
JEFFREY J. MONTALBINE, Trial Court No. 2019 CR 000699 Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: June 21, 2022 Judgment: Appeal dismissed as moot
Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Prosecutor, and Jennifer A. McGee, Teri R. Daniel and Adam M. Downing, Assistant Prosecutors, Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490, Painesville, OH 44077 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Cory R. Hinton, Hanahan & Hinton, LLC, 8570 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060 (For Defendant-Appellant).
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Jeffrey J. Montalbine, appeals the October 26, 2021 judgment of
the Lake County Court of Common Pleas sentencing him to a total prison term of 11
months. As discussed further below, the appeal is dismissed as moot.
{¶2} In June 2019, Willoughby Police responded to a report of domestic violence
at Mr. Montalbine’s residence. His wife, Kimberly Montalbine, reported that her husband
had punched her in the face. She required medical care for severe bruising which caused her eye to swell shut. Mr. Montalbine was arrested and charged with domestic violence
and felonious assault.
{¶3} Over the next two days, Mrs. Montalbine twice called the police stating she
had discovered possible drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers responded and seized
suspected drugs and two firearms. The suspected drugs were confirmed to be controlled
substances. Pursuant to a temporary protection order subsequently issued against Mr.
Montalbine, all of his firearms were to be turned over to the police. When the officers
returned to the residence to collect the firearms, they found multiple firearms in the gun
safe as well as suspected drugs in plain view, which were also seized and confirmed to
be controlled substances.
{¶4} Mr. Montalbine was indicted on six counts: Count One, Aggravated Assault,
a felony of the fourth degree, in violation of R.C. 2903.12(A)(1); Count Two, Domestic
Violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A); Counts Three
and Four, Possession of Drugs, felonies of the third and fourth degree, in violation of R.C.
2925.11, with related forfeitures; Count Five, Possession of Cocaine, a felony of the fifth
degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, with related forfeiture; and Count Six, Aggravated
Possession of Drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, with related
forfeiture. The state moved to dismiss Count Three, and Count Four was renumbered as
County Three, Count Five was renumbered as Count Four, and Count Six was
renumbered as Count Five. Mr. Montalbine pleaded not guilty to all counts.
{¶5} When Mr. Montalbine failed to appear for trial as scheduled, his bond was
revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Once police located Mr. Montalbine, he
fled and eluded police officers in a high-speed chase in Summit County, resulting in
Case No. 2021-L-114 charges being filed in Summit County. Mr. Montalbine was ultimately arrested in May
2021 in Michigan and extradited back to Ohio where the case proceeded to trial.
{¶6} Ultimately, the jury found Mr. Montalbine not guilty on Counts One and
Three and guilty on Counts Two, Four, and Five, as renumbered. The court sentenced
Mr. Montalbine to serve 180 days in Lake County Jail on Count Two, and two 11-month
periods of imprisonment on each of Counts Four and Five to be served concurrently. He
was credited with 168 days for time already served, which was subsequently modified to
182 days credit. Mr. Montalbine sought a stay of the execution of the sentence pending
appeal in both the trial court and this court, both of which were denied.
{¶7} Mr. Montalbine now appeals, assigning one error for our review, which
states:
{¶8} The trial court erred on October 21, 2021 (as journalized on October 26, 2021) because its sentence was contrary to law and an abuse of discretion as a result of the purposes and principles set forth in ORC 2929.11 being violated.
{¶9} Following the sentencing hearing, the record indicates that Mr. Montalbine
was conveyed to the Lorain Correctional Institution. When the 182 days credit for time
served is taken into account, Mr. Montalbine’s eleven-month sentence has been entirely
satisfied as of March 23, 2022, prior to the hearing on the instant appeal. In light of this,
the state has filed a motion to dismiss. Mr. Montalbine opposed the motion, stating that
he did not serve his sentence voluntarily and that he will suffer a civil disability and loss
of civil rights due to his “conviction and/or sentence.”
{¶10} This court has noted that “a criminal appeal is only moot if the defendant
voluntarily serves a period of incarceration or pays a fine. An appeal is not rendered moot
if the defendant unsuccessfully seeks a stay of execution of the sentence. In such a 3
Case No. 2021-L-114 situation, the completion of the sentence would be involuntary, and the defendant would
retain his or her right to appeal the underlying conviction and sentence.” State v. Smith,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2000-L-195, 2002 WL 445034, *2 (March 22, 2002), citing State v.
Harris, 109 Ohio App.3d 873, 875 (1st Dist.1996).
{¶11} As Mr. Montalbine sought, unsuccessfully, two stays of execution, we agree
his sentence was not voluntarily served and he has preserved his right to appeal the
underlying conviction and sentence. Critically, however, appellant has only appealed his
sentence, not the underlying conviction.
{¶12} In opposing the motion to dismiss, appellant cites Cleveland Hts. v. Lewis,
129 Ohio St.3d 389, 2011-Ohio-2673, ¶11 (Citations omitted) (“‘“‘[u]nless one convicted
of a misdemeanor seeks to stay the sentence imposed pending appeal or otherwise
involuntarily serves or satisfies it, the case will be dismissed as moot unless the defendant
can demonstrate a particular civil disability or loss of civil rights specific to him arising
from the conviction.’”’” ) In Lewis, however, the defendant’s underlying conviction was at
issue and ultimately reversed. Id. at ¶12.
{¶13} Likewise, in State v. Blivens, 11th Dist. Lake No. 98-L-189, 1999 WL
960955 (Sept. 30, 1999), this court noted that while appellant “retained a substantial stake
in the judgment of conviction pursuant to Golston which survived the satisfaction of the
judgment imposed upon her,” because she only challenged the imposition of the
maximum sentence, once that sentence was completed, the appeal became moot as the
relief being sought, a remand for resentencing, could no longer be granted. Id. at *2-3.
{¶14} Thus, even assuming Mr. Montalbine will suffer civil disability or loss of civil
rights, those arise from his conviction, which he has not challenged on appeal. “‘If an
Case No. 2021-L-114 individual has already served his sentence, there is no collateral disability or loss of civil
rights that can be remedied by a modification of the length of that sentence in the absence
of a reversal of the underlying conviction.’” See Smith, supra, quoting State v. Beamon,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2000-L-160, 2001 WL 1602656, *1 (Dec. 14, 2001). “No relief can be
granted by this court subsequent to the completion of the sentence if the underlying
conviction itself is not at issue.” Id.
{¶15} Because Mr. Montalbine has already served his sentence, albeit
involuntarily, but has not appealed his underlying conviction, this court cannot grant him
relief. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed as moot.
{¶16} Moreover, even if we were to review Mr. Montalbine’s appeal on the merits
he would not prevail. The appellate standard in reviewing felony sentencing appeals has
been recently clarified in State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-Ohio-6729. “[U]nder
Jones, an appellate court reviewing alleged error under R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12
no longer evaluates whether those sentences are unsupported by the record. Instead, the
court ‘must simply analyze whether those sentences are contrary to law.’” State v.
Golding, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2021-L-065, 2021-Ohio-3976, ¶8, quoting Jones, supra, at
¶11. The Supreme Court held that the phrase “contrary to law” is not “equivalent” to an
“appellate court’s conclusions that the record does not support a sentence under R.C.
2929.11 or 2929.12.” Id. at ¶34. Accordingly, an appellate court may not independently
weigh the evidence in the record and substitute its judgment for that of the trial court
concerning the sentence that best reflects compliance with statutes setting forth
overriding purposes of felony sentencing and factors to consider in sentencing an
offender for a felony. Id. at ¶26-29. Stated differently, an appellate court “cannot find
Case No. 2021-L-114 reversable error on the basis that the court discounted or improperly weighed mitigating
factors in sentencing appellant.” Golding, supra, at ¶9.
{¶17} Mr. Montalbine’s appeal does not argue that the trial court failed to consider
the R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 sentencing factors but argues, essentially, the facts
did not support the trial court’s findings as related to the sentencing factors. Specifically,
Mr. Montalbine argues the trial court erred by finding there were no factors that made the
crimes less serious because, he notes, the drugs found in relation to Count Five,
Possession of Cocaine, was only cocaine residue. He also faults the court for finding that
he did not show genuine remorse and for finding that recidivism was more likely because
he fled from police when they attempted to arrest him for failing to appear for trial, despite
the fact that he had not been convicted on the related charges brought in Summit County.
Finally, he argues the trial court erred in finding that the presumption for community
control was rebutted and in sentencing him to almost the maximum sentence on the felony
counts.
{¶18} We note that while here the lower court did make specific findings
supporting its conclusions related to R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12, trial courts are not
required to make such findings on the record. State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-
Ohio-856, ¶42; State v. Shannon, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2020-T-0020, 2021-Ohio-789,
¶17. “‘A [trial] court is merely required to “consider” the purposes and principles of
sentencing in R.C. 2929.11 and the statutory * * * factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.’” State
v. Brown, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2014-L-075, 2015-Ohio-2897, ¶34, quoting State v. Lloyd,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2006-L-185, 2007-Ohio-3013, ¶44. “A trial court is not required to
give any particular weight or emphasis to a given set of circumstances; it is merely
Case No. 2021-L-114 required to consider the statutory factors in exercising its discretion.” State v. Delmanzo,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2007-L-218, 2008-Ohio-5856, ¶23.
{¶19} In sentencing Mr. Montalbine, the trial court expressly stated that it
considered the statutory factors enumerated in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12, as well
as the drug and alcohol evaluation, the victim impact statement, and the presentence
investigation report. Specifically, in finding that no factors made the offense less serious,
the trial court stated it had considered the statements of Mr. Montalbine’s counsel, who
argued that the quantity of drugs found was minimal and were not opiates.
{¶20} The trial court also found that Mr. Montalbine lacked genuine remorse,
specifically noting inconsistencies between his statements during his evaluation and his
conduct, and that he was not forthcoming about his drug use. The court also noted that
Mr. Montalbine continued to blame the victim and accused her of setting him up. This
court will defer to the trial court as to whether remorse was genuine, as the trial court is
better suited to make that determination. State v. Brown, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2008-L-
152, 2009-Ohio-2189, ¶32.
{¶21} Additionally, the trial court found that recidivism was more likely because
while he demonstrated a pattern of drug-related issues, he denied having a drug problem.
It also noted that recidivism was less likely due to the fact that Mr. Montalbine had no
history of juvenile adjudications, no prior convictions at the time the underlying offense
was committed, and that he had led a law-abiding life for several years.
{¶22} Finally, Mr. Montalbine faults the trial court for considering that he failed to
appear for trial and led police on a high-speed chase, despite the fact that he had not
been convicted of related charges. However, the trial court expressly noted that Mr.
Case No. 2021-L-114 Montalbine had not been convicted on those charges and that it was “not considering
them as convictions.” Moreover, “a trial court is permitted to consider not only prior
criminal history, but also pending crimes for which that defendant has been arrested.”
State v. Forsell, 11th Dist. Portage Nos. 2019-P-0116 through 2019-P-0124, 2020-Ohio-
5381, ¶24, quoting State v. Burton, 52 Ohio St.2d 21, 23 (1977), superseded on other
grounds.
{¶23} Because the sentence imposed in this case is within the statutory range and
the trial court considered the factors enumerated in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12, even
if we were to review appellant’s arguments on the merits, we find no reversible error.
{¶24} In light of the foregoing, the state’s motion to dismiss is granted, and the
appeal is dismissed as moot.
MATT LYNCH, J.,
JOHN J. EKLUND, J.,
concur.
Case No. 2021-L-114