State v. Moughler

2018 Ohio 1055

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 23, 2018
• Docket: 2017-CA-11
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Moughler, 2018-Ohio-1055.]

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

STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 2017-CA-11 : v. : Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-231 : NICHOLAS C. MOUGHLER : (Criminal Appeal from : Common Pleas Court) Defendant-Appellant : :

...........

OPINION

Rendered on the 23rd day of March, 2018.

JANE A. NAPIER, Atty. Reg. No. 0061426, Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, 200 N. Main Street, Urbana, Ohio 43078 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

BENJAMIN W. ELLIS, Atty. Reg. No. 0092449, 805-H Patterson Road, Dayton, Ohio 45419 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

............. -2-

FROELICH, J.

{¶ 1} Nicholas C. Moughler appeals from a judgment of the Champaign County

Court of Common Pleas, which found that he violated the terms of his community control,

revoked his community control sanctions, and ordered him to serve an aggregate term of

210 days in jail. Moughler did not seek a stay of his jail sentences, and those sentences

have been served. Accordingly, this appeal will be dismissed as moot.

{¶ 2} In February 2017, Moughler pled guilty to endangering children, a

misdemeanor of the first degree, and sexual imposition, a misdemeanor of the third

degree. In exchange for the plea, the State agreed to dismiss two counts of gross sexual

imposition, both felonies of the third degree. The State also agreed to recommend non-

residential community control with alcohol and drug counseling, provided that Moughler

had no criminal history other than what had already been disclosed.

{¶ 3} On March 14, 2017, the trial court sentenced Moughler to three years of

community control and designated him a Tier I sex offender. The court notified Moughler

that if he violated the terms of his community control, the court would impose 150 days in

jail for endangering children and 60 days in jail for sexual imposition. The court orally

told Moughler that the “sentences are concurrent to one another for a total sentence of

150 days,” but that statement was not included in the judgment entry. The court ordered

Moughler to pay a $150 fine and court costs.

{¶ 4} Approximately two weeks later, on March 30, 2017, Moughler’s probation

officer filed a notice of supervision violation, stating that Moughler violated the terms of

his community control by possessing child pornography and LSD. Moughler admitted

that there was probable cause to believe that the violations had occurred, and after a -3-

hearing on the merits, the trial court found that Moughler had violated the terms of his

community control. The trial court revoked Moughler’s community control sanctions and

imposed the previously-stated 150-day and 60-day jail sentences, to be served

consecutively.

{¶ 5} Moughler appeals from the trial court’s judgment, raising two assignments of

error. First, Moughler claims that the trial court “abused its discretion in reconsidering its

own final judgment and imposing a new consecutive sentence.” Second, Moughler

claims that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance at the revocation hearing by

failing to introduce exculpatory evidence.

{¶ 6} Moughler did not seek a stay of his sentence, either in the trial court or in this

court. Thus, before we address the merits of his assignments of error, we must consider

whether his appeal from the revocation of his community control is moot.

{¶ 7} An appeal from the revocation of community control is moot where the

defendant has served the jail or prison sentence imposed, and there is no indication that

the defendant is on post-release control or is subject to collateral liability. E.g., State v.

Bailey, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26882, 2016-Ohio-5158, ¶ 12; State v. Ealy, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25736, 2014-Ohio-1535.

{¶ 8} The revocation/sentencing hearing was held on April 27, 2017, at which time

Moughler was sentenced to 210 days in the Tri-County Jail. The trial court’s judgment

entry, filed on April 28, 2017, noted that Moughler was entitled to 24 days of jail time credit

for March 28, 2017 to April 27, 2017, leaving 186 days (approximately six months)

remaining on his sentence. The entry further stated that Moughler “shall remain in the

Tri County Regional Jail,” indicating that Moughler immediately began serving the -4-

remaining portion of his 210-day sentence. The record thus reflects that Moughler

should have completely served his sentence by the end of October 2017, and a review of

the Tri-County Regional Jail website reflects that Moughler completed his sentence in this

case on October 30, 2017.

{¶ 9} Moughler’s appeal is directed to the revocation of his community control, and

not to his underlying conviction. Because Moughler has finished serving the jail

sentences that resulted from the revocation of his community control, we cannot provide

any meaningful remedy, even if we were to find that one or both of his assignments of

error has merit. Accordingly, Moughler’s appeal will be dismissed as moot.

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

DONOVAN, J. and TUCKER, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Jane A. Napier Benjamin W. Ellis Hon. Timothy Campbell (Ret.) c/o Hon. Nick Selvaggio