State v. Morefield

2015 Ohio 4713

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Morefield, 2015-Ohio-4713.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT CLARK COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO : : Appellate Case No. 2015-CA-4 Plaintiff-Appellee : : Trial Court Case No. 2013-CR-325 v. : : (Criminal Appeal from EARROL MOREFIELD : Common Pleas Court) : Defendant-Appellant : :

...........

OPINION

Rendered on the 13th day of November, 2015.

RYAN A. SAUNDERS, Atty. Reg. No. 0091678, Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, 50 East Columbia Street, 4th Floor, Springfield, Ohio 45502 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

ADRIAN KING, Atty. Reg. No. 0081882, Adrian King Law Office, LLC, Post Office Box 302, Xenia, Ohio 45385 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

.............

FAIN, J.

Defendant-appellant Earrol Morefield appeals from his sentence for sexual battery.

This is Morefield’s second appeal. In his first appeal, we remanded the cause for resentencing.

Morefield argues that the trial court failed to follow our mandate on remand, necessitating another

remand for resentencing. We agree that the trial court failed to comply with our mandate to “state -2-

its considerations [of the statutory sentencing factors] explicitly on the record.” State v.

Morefield, 2014-Ohio-5170, 24 N.E.3d 633, ¶ 43 (2d Dist.). Accordingly, Morefield’s

assignment of error is sustained, and we exercise our authority under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) to modify

his sentence to a two-year term of imprisonment.

I. The Course of Proceedings

Morefield was charged by indictment with Sexual Battery, in violation of R.C.

2907.03(A)(5), a felony of the third degree, and with Gross Sexual Imposition, in violation of R.C.

2907.05(A)(1). Morefield was convicted of Sexual Battery, but acquitted of Gross Sexual

Imposition. Morefield was sentenced to a four-year prison term for Sexual Battery. From his

conviction and sentence, Morefield appealed, raising four assignments of error. We overruled

three assignments of error, and sustained the assignment of error contending that the trial court’s

imposition of a four-year sentence was unsupported by any consideration of statutory factors on

the record. State v. Morefield, supra. We affirmed Morefield’s conviction, reversed the sentence,

and remanded the cause for resentencing. Our remand directed the trial court to “state its

considerations explicitly on the record.” Id. at ¶ 43.

At the re-sentencing hearing, the trial court allowed defense counsel to make a

statement in which he emphasized Morefield’s lack of any prior criminal record or juvenile

delinquencies, no pattern of drug abuse, and no factors indicating that recidivism was likely. The

court also permitted Morefield to make a statement regarding his remorse and regret for his actions.

The State also made a statement that the court had a sufficient basis to consider all required

sentencing factors based on the record from the trial and the victim impact statements.1 At the re-

1 The record contains no victim impact statements. -3-

sentencing hearing, the trial court made the following statement:

All right. The Court has considered the overriding purposes and principles

of sentencing. The overriding purposes of sentencing are to punish the Defendant

and to protect the public from future crime by the Defendant and others.

I’ve also considered the factors set forth in the Ohio Revised Code Section

2929.12 B, C, D, and E. I’ve considered the facts of the case, the circumstances of

the case, the crime that was committed. I had the opportunity to sit through the trial

and hear all of the testimony and all of the evidence.

Based upon all of that, the Court in its discretion has determined that the

appropriate sentence in this case is a four year sentence in the Ohio State

Penitentiary, so that will be the order of the Court.

The amended judgment entry of conviction contained the exact same statement

made in the original entry of conviction, as follows:

The Court considered the record, oral statements of counsel, the defendant’s

statement, the principles and purposes of sentencing under Ohio Revised Code

Section 2929.11 and has balanced the seriousness and recidivism factors under

Ohio Revised Code Section 2929.12.

Neither the transcript of the re-sentencing hearing, nor the judgment entry reflect that

a PSI report was prepared or considered, or that any victim impact statements were prepared or

considered. Neither a probation officer, the victim, nor a member of the victim’s family made an

oral statement or provided a written statement at the re-sentencing hearing. At the re-sentencing

hearing, there was no discussion of any testimony from the trial that might have revealed the

impact on the victim or the seriousness of the offense. -4-

II. The Record Fails to Demonstrate that the Trial Court Followed our Mandate

For his sole assignment of error, Morefield alleges as follows:

WHEN THE COURT RESENTENCED MR. MOREFIELD, THE COURT

ERRED WHEN IT DID NOT “STATE ITS CONSIDERATIONS EXPLICITLY

ON THE RECORD” AS DIRECTED BY THE SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF

APPEALS

R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 sets forth specific factors a trial court must consider

in its sentencing decisions. In the judgment entry and at the re-sentencing hearing, the trial court

made no statements which explicitly identified which sentencing factors were applicable to

Morefield. The court’s statement that it considered the factors set forth in the statute does not

explicitly identify which factors applied and which did not. Since appellate review of sentences is

provided by R.C. 2953.08(G), a trial court is not endowed with unreviewable discretion to sentence

within the statutory range. To exercise appellate review, we must be able to review the record to

find what underlying facts were considered by the trial court relating to the applicable eight factors

set forth in R.C. 2929.11, and the twenty-three factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.

We acknowledge that “ ‘[t]he trial court has full discretion to impose any sentence

within the authorized statutory range, and the court is not required to make any findings or give its

reasons for imposing maximum or more than minimum sentences.’ State v. Nelson, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25026, 2012-Ohio-5797, ¶ 62. ‘However, the trial court must comply with all

applicable rules and statutes, including R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12.’” State v. Eicholtz, 2d

Dist. Clark No. 2012 CA 7, 2013-Ohio-302, ¶ 53. In the case before us, the record is insufficient

for us to determine whether the trial court complied with the applicable rules and statutes. -5-

By way of example, we recently affirmed a sentence imposed in State v. Terrel, 2d

Dist. Miami No. 2014-CA-24, 2015-Ohio-4201, after the trial court identified that in determining

sentence, it considered the pre-sentence investigation, the statements made at the sentencing

hearing by the defendant, defense counsel, prosecuting attorney, the victim impact statements read

into the record and those submitted but not read into the record, and statements made in support

of the defendant. Id. at ¶ 6. In the case before us, during the re-sentencing hearing, the trial court

does not identify any of the statements made at the re-sentencing hearing, or any victim impact

statements, or any testimony at trial that may have revealed the impact on the victim, as germane

to its consideration. The trial court in Terrel also addressed the defendant directly and explained

what facts led to the sentencing decision, including why the defendant’s acceptance of

responsibility and remorse did not outweigh the seriousness of the conduct. Id. at ¶ 7. In the case

before us, the trial court did not provide Morefield with any explanation of what facts were relevant

to the sentencing decision or how the facts were weighed in reaching a sentencing conclusion.

Therefore, based on our conclusion that our mandate was not followed by the trial

court, Morefield’s assignment of error is sustained. Since the trial court failed to follow our

mandate, we will exercise our authority under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) to modify Morefield’s sentence,

based on the sentencing factors that were the subject of discussion by counsel at the re-sentencing

hearing. As identified by defense counsel, Morefield had no prior criminal record, no prior juvenile

delinquencies and no drug abuse. There is nothing in the record to support a conclusion that he is

likely to commit further offenses, or that there is a heightened need to protect the public from the

likelihood of further offenses. Since no victim impact statement was submitted or relied upon,

based on the record before us, there is no basis to find that the victim suffered serious psychological

or economic harm, although the facts reveal that the victim did not suffer any serious physical -6-

harm. The record does not support any facts to conclude that Morefield’s conduct was more

serious than conduct normally constituting the offense, or that the offense was motivated by

prejudice.

In support of the seriousness of the offense, we recognize that the victim was a

minor and a member of Morefield’s family. Morefield’s genuine remorse and expression of regret

must be weighed against his attempt to offer mitigating circumstances that provided no reasonable

grounds to excuse his criminal conduct. He offered no facts from which it could reasonably be

found that the victim induced or provoked the offense.

We conclude that a two-year sentence for Morefield’s offense will achieve the two

primary principles of sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11. Imprisonment is appropriate to punish

Morefield for his criminal conduct, but a lengthier sentence is unnecessary to protect the public

and would constitute an unnecessary burden on limited government resources. Two years of

imprisonment is sufficient to deter Morefield from future misconduct, and does not demean the

seriousness of the offense.

III. Conclusion

Morefield’s sole assignment of error having been sustained, the judgment of the

trial court is hereby modified to reflect a sentence of two years imprisonment, rather than the four

year term of imprisonment previously imposed by the trial court. As modified, the judgment of

the trial court is affirmed. The matter is remanded to the trial court with instructions to forthwith

1) file a revised judgment entry reflecting the modified sentence of two years of imprisonment; 2)

take the appropriate steps to advise the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction of the

modified sentence; and 3) it appearing that Defendant Morefield was admitted to prison on August -7-

19, 2013 and thus has now served two years in prison on this conviction (according to the website

maintained by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction), take the appropriate steps

to cause Morefield’s release from prison, assuming that he is not subject to any detainers, hold

orders, or other orders that would require his continued imprisonment or detainment. Counsel for

the parties to this appeal shall advise this Court, in writing, within ten days of the date of this

Court’s Final Judgment Entry as to the status of this matter, including whether Defendant has, if

appropriate, been released from prison.

DONOVAN, J., concurring:

I write separately to emphasize the point that certainly the trial court may consider,

pursuant to R.C. 2929.19, information relevant to sentencing presented by the prosecuting

attorney. However, the information the State provides is only relevant if the record supports a

factual basis for the information. I do not agree with the dissent that a trial judge’s observation

of the “demeanor” and “emotional condition” of a child during trial is the same thing as an

evidentiary record which contains a statement from the child, the parent or expert that the child

“suffered serious physical [or] psychological harm as a result of the offense.” In other words, the

State points to nothing in the record which supports their verbal assertions. Our job is to review

the record; here the record is lacking.

..............

WELBAUM, J., dissenting:

I very respectfully dissent, and write separately to express my disagreement with -8-

the approach taken here and in our original decision in State v. Morefield, 2014-Ohio-5170, 24

N.E.3d 633 (2d Dist.) (“Morefield I”). In these decisions, the majority has twice deviated from

R.C. 2929.14 by holding that the trial court is required to further articulate the factors considered

in sentencing the defendant. The mandate at issue here was contained in the prior appeal of the

conviction in Morefield I.

In Morefield I, the State made the following comments at the sentencing hearing:

When looking at the factors, we believe that the mental injury caused to this

victim was exasperated [sic] because of her young age, which she did suffer from

serious psychological harm and the defendant's relationship in this matter facilitated

the offense; and we believe that a prison term would be consistent with the purposes

and principals [sic] set forth entered [sic] by 2929.11 and that this defendant is not

at this time amenable to community control sanctions, Your Honor.

When you look at this case and I can't speak for the victim in this matter

other than to say that her life is obviously at this point never going to be the same.

We had a trial here where obviously there was [sic] sides. We had a now thirteen-

year-old victim who sat in this courtroom with some of her family while her mother

and other parts of her family sat on the opposite side of the courtroom. Her life

subject to the actions of this individual are never going to be the same for her.

Her life, her family's life, everybody involved in this matter, life has now

changed and will never be the same because of the hands of Mr. Morefield. We

believe that prison in this matter is necessary and also appropriate. Thank you, Your

Honor. -9-

(Footnote omitted.) Id. at ¶ 38.

In Morefield I, a panel of our court noted that although the judgment entry recited

that the purposes and principles of sentencing were considered, the prosecutor was the only one

who had mentioned any sentencing factors. Id. at ¶ 39. In this regard, the prosecutor stated that:

(1) “the child suffered ‘mental injury’ and ‘serious psychological harm,’ which was ‘caused’ by

the defendant and was exacerbated because of her young age”; and (2) “[the victim’s] life has

changed forever and ‘will never be the same because of the hands of Mr. Morefield.’ ” Id.

After making these observations, the panel in Morefield I discussed the import of

the prosecutor’s comments as they related to Morefield’s sentencing, and stated that:

All this may be true and, from a subjective point of view, we have no reason

to doubt it. Our concern is that nothing the prosecutor said was reflected in the

record (and there was no pre-sentence investigation report). The law does not allow

a trial court to take judicial notice of the effect of a particular act upon a particular

individual, and assertions of fact in a prosecutor's argument, unsupported by the

record, should not be considered in sentencing.

When the record is silent, we presume that the trial court considered the

statutory purposes, principles, and factors in the sense that an appellant always has

the burden of showing that the court erred. The only times we have reversed a

sentence is when there is evidence in the record which contradicts the court's

findings, conclusions, or both. See, e.g., State v. Nichols, 195 Ohio App.3d 323,

2011-Ohio-4671, 959 N.E.2d 1082 [2d Dist.].

Here, the only record is one in which the prosecutor makes statements that

go directly to factors the trial court is required by statute to consider. For example, -10-

in determining whether an offender's conduct is more serious than normally

constituting the offense, the trial court must consider whether “the physical or

mental injury * * * was exacerbated because of the physical or mental condition or

age of the victim.” R.C. 2929.12(B)(1). Another consideration is whether “the

victim * * * suffered serious physical [or] psychological * * * harm as a result of

the offense.”

We are, therefore, left with a negative-pregnant silent record, which is

pregnant with the possibility that the court considered and accepted the prosecutor's

conclusory allegations. We sustain Morefield's Fourth Assignment of error, and

remand for the trial court to state its considerations explicitly on the record.

Morefield I, 2014-Ohio-5170, 24 N.E.3d 633, at ¶ 40-43.

However, our analysis in Morefield I is flawed. In the first place, there was no

indication in Morefield I that the trial court relied on the prosecutor’s statement. Despite this fact,

the panel expressed concern that the trial court may have relied upon the prosecutor’s statements,

which the panel considered improper judicial notice of the effect of the crime on an individual.

The panel also issued the mandate for resentencing because it perceived that it was

left with a “negative-pregnant silent record, which is pregnant with the possibility that the court

considered and accepted the prosecutor’s conclusory allegations.” Id. at ¶ 43. While this

statement is eloquent, it is, itself, filled with error, because trial courts are statutorily required to

consider relevant statements of prosecuting attorneys.

Specifically, R.C. 2929.19 governs what information courts may consider at

sentencing hearings. In this regard, R.C. 2929.19(A) states that “[a]t the hearing, the offender,

the prosecuting attorney, the victim or the victim's representative * * * and, with the approval of -11-

the court, any other person may present information relevant to the imposition of sentence in the

case.” R.C. 2929.19(B)(1) further provides that before imposing sentence, the court “shall

consider the record, any information presented at the hearing by any person pursuant to division

(A) [which includes the prosecuting attorney], and if one was prepared, the presentence

investigation report, * * * and any victim impact statement * * *.” (Emphasis added.) In view

of these statutory dictates, a prosecuting attorney’s statements are matters of record that the trial

court may rely upon.

Furthermore, contrary to the implication in Morefield I, trial courts are not restricted

to considering facts contained in a presentence investigation report (which ordinarily consists

primarily of third party information), or a victim impact statement. Even in the absence of these

sources, a sentencing court may rely on its own observations of demeanor and the victim’s

emotional condition, gleaned while presiding over the trial.

Thus, Morefield I’s mandate is contrary to law because it requires more articulation

than is dictated by the controlling statutes. It also requires more articulation than is demanded by

pertinent case law. In this regard, our remand in Morefield I consists of the following language:

We * * * remand for the trial court to state its considerations explicitly on the

record.

* * * [T]his cause is Remanded for re-sentencing in accordance with this opinion.

Morefield I, 2014-Ohio-5170, 24 N.E.3d 633, at ¶ 43-44.

Notably, some prior versions of sentencing statutes required the type of articulation

set forth in Morefield I. However, these versions of the sentencing statutes have been amended

or repealed.

For example, R.C. 2929.14(B) and (C) previously restricted “a court's discretion by -12-

imposing fact-finding obligations upon judges before they impose more than the minimum or

maximum prison terms.” (Footnotes omitted.) State v. Foster, 109 Ohio St.3d 1, 2006-Ohio-

856, 845 N.E.2d 470, ¶ 44.

In Foster, the Supreme Court of Ohio similarly noted that “R.C. 2929.14(E)(4) and

2929.19(B)(2)(c) require trial courts that impose consecutive sentences to make the statutorily

enumerated findings and to give reasons at the sentencing hearing to support those findings for

review on appeal.” Id. at ¶ 66, citing State v. Comer, 99 Ohio St.3d 463, 2003-Ohio-4165, 793

N.E.2d 473. See also State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, in

which the court noted that “former R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) directed the sentencing court to ‘make

a finding that gives its reasons for selecting the sentence imposed’ if it imposed consecutive

sentences.” Id. at ¶ 16, quoting Am.Sub.S.B. No. 2, 146 Ohio Laws, Part IV, at 7486.

In Foster, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that this type of judicial fact-finding

violates the Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury. As a result, the court invalidated several

provisions relating to felony sentencing. Foster at ¶ 82-83; Bonnell at ¶ 17.

After Foster was decided, the United States Supreme Court held to the contrary in

Oregon v. Ice, 555 U.S. 160, 129 S.Ct. 711, 172 L.Ed.2d 517 (2009). Specifically, the Supreme

Court stated that trial judges can constitutionally make findings of fact. Id. at 164. Despite this

holding, the Supreme Court of Ohio subsequently held that the sentencing provisions held

unconstitutional in Foster would remain invalid unless the General Assembly enacted new

legislation requiring judicial findings. State v. Hodge, 128 Ohio St.3d 1, 2010-Ohio-6320, 941

N.E.2d 768, paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.

Some of the statutory language severed in Foster was revived by H.B. 86, which

was enacted in 2011. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, at ¶ 4. For -13-

example, the enactment of H.B. 86 “created a statutory presumption in favor of concurrent

sentences and further directed courts to make statutorily enumerated findings prior to imposing

consecutive sentences, but it did not require courts to give reasons in support of its findings.” Id.

As a result, even under statutes that have been revived or reenacted, trial courts are not required to

give reasons for their decisions.

For example, in Bonnell, the court considered R.C. 2929.14(E)(4), pertaining to

consecutive sentences, which was revived and renumbered as R.C. 2929.19(C). Id. at ¶ 22. The

court observed that this reinstated judicial fact-finding to overcome the presumption in favor of

concurrent sentences. Id. at ¶ 23.

However, when the statute was reenacted, the legislature eliminated the requirement

that trial courts give reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. Id. at ¶ 27. Thus, the trial

court’s duty was only to state the required statutory findings at the sentencing hearing and

incorporate these findings into the judgment entry. Id. at ¶ 29. The court also stressed that “ a

word-for-word recitation of the language of the statute is not required, and as long as the reviewing

court can discern that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and can determine that the

record contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences should be upheld.” Id.

In its decision, the majority opinion relies on the requirement that the trial court

must comply with all applicable rules and statutes, including R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12.

Majority Opinion, ¶ 8. The majority then concludes that the record is insufficient to determine

whether the trial court complied with the applicable rules. Id.

However, both before and after the Foster decision, R.C. 2929.11 has not required

trial courts to give reasons or to make specific findings. Instead, R.C. 2929.11 has only discussed

principles that must guide trial courts, like the purposes of felony sentencing, and matters the trial -14-

court is supposed to consider, like deterrence and rehabilitation. Compare S.B. 2, 1995 Ohio

Laws 50, Part 3, with the current version of R.C. 2929.11.

Similarly, R.C. 2929.12, both when enacted as part of S.B. 2 in 1995, and as

currently constituted, has not required trial courts to make specific findings or give reasons for its

decision. Instead, the statute has only required that the court consider factors pertaining to the

seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the likelihood that the offender will commit future

crimes. Compare S.B. 2, 1995 Ohio Laws 50, Part 3, with the current version of R.C. 2929.12.

Notably, trial courts are required to consider the factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12,

but they are not required to articulate their “considerations explicitly on the record” as we stated

in Morefield I, 2014-Ohio-5170, 24 N.E.3d 633, at ¶ 43. In this regard, our district and the

Supreme Court of Ohio have held that even a silent record raises the presumption that the trial

court considered the factors contained in R.C. 2929.12. See State v. Adams, 37 Ohio St.3d 295,

525 N.E.2d 1361 (1988), paragraph three of the syllabus, holding that “[a] silent record raises the

presumption that a trial court considered the factors contained in R.C. 2929.12.” Accord State v.

Carlton, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26086, 2014-Ohio-3835 (noting that “we have held on more

than one occasion that a trial court's consideration of the statutory sentencing factors may be

presumed from a silent record.”) Id. at ¶ 18, citing State v. Imber, 2d Dist. Clark No. 11CA0063,

2012-Ohio-3720, ¶ 26; State v. Neff, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2012-CA-31, 2012-Ohio-6047, ¶ 5; and

State v. Gibson, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2012-CA-38, 2013-Ohio-2930, ¶ 35. See also State v.

Thomas, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26123, 2014-Ohio-5262, ¶ 22 (following Carlton and noting

that “R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 do not require findings on the record * * *. ”)

All the other Ohio appellate districts also follow this approach. See, e.g., State v.

Thompson, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-140746, C-140747, 2015-Ohio-2836, ¶ 9 (presuming “from -15-

a silent record that the trial court did consider R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12, unless [defendant] can

affirmatively demonstrate otherwise”); State v. Jackson, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-06-26, 2006-Ohio-

5146, ¶ 5 (applying the Adams presumption); State v. Mitchell, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA13, 2015-

Ohio-1132, ¶ 17-20 (agreeing with the presumption outlined in Adams); State v. Hannah, 5th Dist.

Richland No. 15-CA-1, 2015-Ohio-4438, ¶ 13 (noting Adams presumption); State v. Smith, 6th

Dist. Sandusky No. S-14-037, 2015-Ohio-1867, ¶ 11 (“[w]here the record is silent, there is a

presumption that the trial court gave proper consideration to R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12”); State v.

Henry, 7th Dist. Belmont No. 14 BE 40, 2015-Ohio-4145, ¶ 23 (noting that “[t]his court has

returned to the rule that a silent record raises the rebuttable presumption that the sentencing court

considered the proper statutory items within R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12”); State v. Lombardo,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93390, 2010-Ohio-2099, ¶ 16, fn.3 (applying the presumption in Adams);

State v. Cobb, 9th Dist. Medina No. 13CA0087-M, 2014-Ohio-3530, ¶ 12 (silent record raises

presumption that trial court considered R.C. 2929.12 factors); State v. Reed, 10th Dist. Franklin

No. 08AP-20, 2008-Ohio-6082, ¶ 64 (applying Adams presumption); State v. Harold, 11th Dist.

Portage No. 2014-P-0012, 2015-Ohio-954, ¶ 55-59 (even if the record was silent * * *, “appellant

did not meet his burden to rebut the presumption that the trial court considered the sentencing

criteria in R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 in imposing appellant's sentence”); and State v.

Florence, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-08-148, 2014-Ohio-2337, ¶ 26 (“trial court is not

required to state on the record its consideration of the necessary factors when the sentence imposed

is within the statutory guidelines. * * * In the case of a silent record, ‘ “the presumption exists that

the trial court considered the statutory criteria absent an affirmative showing by [d]efendant that it

did not.” ’ ”) (Citations omitted.)

In the case before us, I conclude that the trial court fully complied with the law. -16-

During the resentencing hearing, the court stated that it had considered the principles of felony

sentencing, and had also considered the factors set forth in sub-sections (B) through (E) of R.C.

2929.12. Transcript of December 19, 2014 proceedings, p. 9. In this regard, the trial court stated

that:

All right. The Court has considered the overriding purposes and principles

of sentencing. The overriding purposes of sentencing are to punish the Defendant

and to protect the public from future crime by the Defendant and others.

I’ve also considered the factors set forth in Ohio Revised Code Section

2929.12 B, C, D, and E. I’ve considered the facts of the case, the circumstances

of the case, the crime that was committed. I had the opportunity to sit through the

trial and hear all of the testimony and all of the evidence.

Based upon all of that, the Court in its discretion has determined that the

appropriate sentence in this case is a four year sentence in the Ohio State

Id.

The trial court’s judgment entry of resentencing also reflects that the court had

considered both R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12. Accordingly, the trial court complied with both

the law and with the mandate of Morefield I.

I also disagree with the majority’s decision to substitute a two-year sentence for the

four-year sentence that the trial court imposed. Having presided over the jury trial and sentencing,

the trial court has a far superior vantage point for deciding appropriate sentences. Under these -17-

circumstances, it is not prudent for us to substitute our judgment for that of the trial court.

Accordingly, I would affirm the sentence imposed by the trial court.

Finally, even though I disagree with our prior instruction to the trial court to state

its considerations explicitly on the record, I understand that our mandate in Morefield I is the law

of the case. See, e.g., Nolan v. Nolan, 11 Ohio St.3d 1, 3-4, 462 N.E.2d 410 (1984). However,

even if I agreed with our prior decision, I would still affirm the judgment of the trial court, because

the court did state its sentencing considerations on the record after the case was remanded.

For the above reasons, I very respectfully disagree with the judgment of the

majority.

Copies mailed to:

Ryan A. Saunders Adrian King Hon. Douglas M. Rastatter Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction