[Cite as State v. Nickoson, 2023-Ohio-3755.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ASHTABULA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2023-A-0028
Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the - vs - Court of Common Pleas
ZACHARY S. NICKOSON, Trial Court No. 2022 CR 00585 Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: October 16, 2023 Judgment: Affirmed
Colleen M. O’Toole, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, and Christopher R. Fortunato, Assistant Prosecutor, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Plaintiff- Appellee).
Margaret Brunarski, Ashtabula County Public Defender, and Michael J. Ledenko, Assistant Public Defender, 22 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Defendant-Appellant).
JOHN J. EKLUND, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant, Zachary Nickoson, appeals his conviction upon his guilty plea in
the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas for two counts of Rape, first-degree
felonies in violation of R.C. 2907.02. Appellant has raised one assignment of error arguing
that trial counsel failed to request a competency and sanity evaluation for appellant and
that this failure constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶2} Having reviewed the record and the applicable caselaw, we find appellant’s
assignment of error is without merit. Nothing in the record suggests appellant was incompetent to enter his plea, nor is there a basis to believe appellant was not sane at
the time he committed the offense.
{¶3} Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of
Common Pleas.
Substantive and Procedural History
{¶4} On December 5, 2022, appellant was indicted on two counts of Rape, first-
degree felonies in violation of R.C. 2907.02. Both counts contained sexually violent
predator specifications pursuant to R.C. 2941.148(A).
{¶5} Appellant entered a plea of not guilty and initially received court appointed
counsel through the Ashtabula County Public Defender’s office. Appellant’s counsel
requested discovery and attended a pretrial conference on February 15, 2023. On March
1, 2023, appellant retained private counsel who requested discovery materials.
{¶6} On April 13, 2023, appellant entered a guilty plea. Pursuant to the
agreement with the State, the State amended the charges in the indictment to remove
references to the victims’ ages and to dismiss the sexually violent predator specifications.
The State and appellant recommended a stipulated sentence of six years on each count,
to be run consecutively.
{¶7} At the plea hearing, the trial court asked appellant how old he was and what
his highest level of education was. Appellant said he was 21 and had graduated from high
school. Appellant also read each paragraph of the plea agreement out loud to the trial
court. After each paragraph, the judge asked if appellant had any questions. The trial
court proceeded to sentencing and adopted the stipulated sentence. During the plea
Case No. 2023-A-0028 hearing, there was no discussion about appellant’s competency to enter his plea
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
{¶8} Appellant timely filed this appeal raising one assignment of error.
Assignment of Error and Analysis
{¶9} Appellant’s sole assignment of error states:
{¶10} “Defendant-Appellant Zachary Nickoson received ineffective assistance of
trial counsel by failing to request necessary mental status evaluations.”
{¶11} Appellant argues trial counsel was ineffective because counsel failed to file
a motion to determine whether appellant was competent to stand trial or determine if he
was sane at the time of the offense. He claims this failure prejudiced him because trial
counsel allowed appellant to enter a guilty plea rather than entering a plea of not guilty
by reason of insanity or allowing appellant to receive necessary treatment to restore his
competency.
{¶12} “[A]n appellant's plea of guilty waives his or her right to assert an ineffective
assistance claim unless counsel's errors affected the knowing and voluntary character of
the plea.” State v. Green, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2017-T-0073, 2018-Ohio-3536, ¶ 19.
{¶13} We assess an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, for “‘whether
counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that
the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just result.’” State v. Story, 11th Dist.
Ashtabula No. 2006-A-0085, 2007-Ohio-4959, ¶ 49, quoting Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). An appellant must
demonstrate (1) his counsel was deficient in some aspect of his representation, and (2)
there is a reasonable probability, were it not for counsel's errors, the result of the
Case No. 2023-A-0028 proceedings would have been different. Strickland, at 669. “A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. A failure to “satisfy one
prong of the Strickland test negates a court’s need to consider the other.” State v.
Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389, 2000-Ohio-448, 721 N.E.2d 52, citing Strickland, at
697.
{¶14} An appellant “must be able to demonstrate that the attorney made errors so
serious that he or she was not functioning as ‘counsel’ as guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment, and that he was prejudiced by the deficient performance.” Story, at ¶ 49,
quoting State v. Batich, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2006-A-0031, 2007-Ohio-2305, ¶ 42.
Ohio courts presume that every properly licensed attorney is competent, and therefore a
defendant bears the burden of proof. State v. Smith, 17 Ohio St.3d 98, 100, 477 N.E.2d
1128 (1985). “Counsel’s performance will not be deemed ineffective unless and until
counsel’s performance is proved to have fallen below an objective standard of reasonable
representation and, in addition, prejudice arises from counsel’s performance.” State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). “Debatable trial tactics generally
do not constitute a deprivation of effective counsel.” State v. Phillips, 74 Ohio St.3d 72,
85, 656 N.E.2d 643 (1995). “Failure to do a futile act cannot be the basis for claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel, nor could such a failure be prejudicial.” State v.
Henderson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88185, 2007–Ohio–2372, at ¶ 42.
{¶15} “The constitutional standard for assessing a defendant's competency to
enter a guilty plea is the same as that for determining his competency to stand trial.” State
v. Montgomery, 148 Ohio St.3d 347, 2016-Ohio-5487, 71 N.E.3d 180, ¶ 56. “A defendant
is rebuttably presumed to be competent to stand trial.” State v. Lawson, 165 Ohio St.3d
Case No. 2023-A-0028 445, 2021-Ohio-3566, 179 N.E.3d 1216, ¶ 48. A defendant is incompetent if he “is
incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against [him] or
of assisting in [his] defense.” R.C. 2945.37(G). When raised, the trial court must hold a
competency hearing. R.C. 2945.37.
{¶16} In State v. Gooden, 3rd Dist. Marion No. 9-06-17, 2006-Ohio-5387, cited by
appellant, the defendant argued trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because
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[Cite as State v. Nickoson, 2023-Ohio-3755.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ASHTABULA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2023-A-0028
Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the - vs - Court of Common Pleas
ZACHARY S. NICKOSON, Trial Court No. 2022 CR 00585 Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: October 16, 2023 Judgment: Affirmed
Colleen M. O’Toole, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, and Christopher R. Fortunato, Assistant Prosecutor, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Plaintiff- Appellee).
Margaret Brunarski, Ashtabula County Public Defender, and Michael J. Ledenko, Assistant Public Defender, 22 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Defendant-Appellant).
JOHN J. EKLUND, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant, Zachary Nickoson, appeals his conviction upon his guilty plea in
the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas for two counts of Rape, first-degree
felonies in violation of R.C. 2907.02. Appellant has raised one assignment of error arguing
that trial counsel failed to request a competency and sanity evaluation for appellant and
that this failure constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶2} Having reviewed the record and the applicable caselaw, we find appellant’s
assignment of error is without merit. Nothing in the record suggests appellant was incompetent to enter his plea, nor is there a basis to believe appellant was not sane at
the time he committed the offense.
{¶3} Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of
Common Pleas.
Substantive and Procedural History
{¶4} On December 5, 2022, appellant was indicted on two counts of Rape, first-
degree felonies in violation of R.C. 2907.02. Both counts contained sexually violent
predator specifications pursuant to R.C. 2941.148(A).
{¶5} Appellant entered a plea of not guilty and initially received court appointed
counsel through the Ashtabula County Public Defender’s office. Appellant’s counsel
requested discovery and attended a pretrial conference on February 15, 2023. On March
1, 2023, appellant retained private counsel who requested discovery materials.
{¶6} On April 13, 2023, appellant entered a guilty plea. Pursuant to the
agreement with the State, the State amended the charges in the indictment to remove
references to the victims’ ages and to dismiss the sexually violent predator specifications.
The State and appellant recommended a stipulated sentence of six years on each count,
to be run consecutively.
{¶7} At the plea hearing, the trial court asked appellant how old he was and what
his highest level of education was. Appellant said he was 21 and had graduated from high
school. Appellant also read each paragraph of the plea agreement out loud to the trial
court. After each paragraph, the judge asked if appellant had any questions. The trial
court proceeded to sentencing and adopted the stipulated sentence. During the plea
Case No. 2023-A-0028 hearing, there was no discussion about appellant’s competency to enter his plea
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
{¶8} Appellant timely filed this appeal raising one assignment of error.
Assignment of Error and Analysis
{¶9} Appellant’s sole assignment of error states:
{¶10} “Defendant-Appellant Zachary Nickoson received ineffective assistance of
trial counsel by failing to request necessary mental status evaluations.”
{¶11} Appellant argues trial counsel was ineffective because counsel failed to file
a motion to determine whether appellant was competent to stand trial or determine if he
was sane at the time of the offense. He claims this failure prejudiced him because trial
counsel allowed appellant to enter a guilty plea rather than entering a plea of not guilty
by reason of insanity or allowing appellant to receive necessary treatment to restore his
competency.
{¶12} “[A]n appellant's plea of guilty waives his or her right to assert an ineffective
assistance claim unless counsel's errors affected the knowing and voluntary character of
the plea.” State v. Green, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2017-T-0073, 2018-Ohio-3536, ¶ 19.
{¶13} We assess an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, for “‘whether
counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that
the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just result.’” State v. Story, 11th Dist.
Ashtabula No. 2006-A-0085, 2007-Ohio-4959, ¶ 49, quoting Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). An appellant must
demonstrate (1) his counsel was deficient in some aspect of his representation, and (2)
there is a reasonable probability, were it not for counsel's errors, the result of the
Case No. 2023-A-0028 proceedings would have been different. Strickland, at 669. “A reasonable probability is a
probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. A failure to “satisfy one
prong of the Strickland test negates a court’s need to consider the other.” State v.
Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389, 2000-Ohio-448, 721 N.E.2d 52, citing Strickland, at
697.
{¶14} An appellant “must be able to demonstrate that the attorney made errors so
serious that he or she was not functioning as ‘counsel’ as guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment, and that he was prejudiced by the deficient performance.” Story, at ¶ 49,
quoting State v. Batich, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2006-A-0031, 2007-Ohio-2305, ¶ 42.
Ohio courts presume that every properly licensed attorney is competent, and therefore a
defendant bears the burden of proof. State v. Smith, 17 Ohio St.3d 98, 100, 477 N.E.2d
1128 (1985). “Counsel’s performance will not be deemed ineffective unless and until
counsel’s performance is proved to have fallen below an objective standard of reasonable
representation and, in addition, prejudice arises from counsel’s performance.” State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). “Debatable trial tactics generally
do not constitute a deprivation of effective counsel.” State v. Phillips, 74 Ohio St.3d 72,
85, 656 N.E.2d 643 (1995). “Failure to do a futile act cannot be the basis for claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel, nor could such a failure be prejudicial.” State v.
Henderson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88185, 2007–Ohio–2372, at ¶ 42.
{¶15} “The constitutional standard for assessing a defendant's competency to
enter a guilty plea is the same as that for determining his competency to stand trial.” State
v. Montgomery, 148 Ohio St.3d 347, 2016-Ohio-5487, 71 N.E.3d 180, ¶ 56. “A defendant
is rebuttably presumed to be competent to stand trial.” State v. Lawson, 165 Ohio St.3d
Case No. 2023-A-0028 445, 2021-Ohio-3566, 179 N.E.3d 1216, ¶ 48. A defendant is incompetent if he “is
incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against [him] or
of assisting in [his] defense.” R.C. 2945.37(G). When raised, the trial court must hold a
competency hearing. R.C. 2945.37.
{¶16} In State v. Gooden, 3rd Dist. Marion No. 9-06-17, 2006-Ohio-5387, cited by
appellant, the defendant argued trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because
counsel allowed him to plead guilty and did not request a competency evaluation under
R.C. 2945.371. After his guilty plea, the defendant filed a pro se motion requesting that
he be sentenced to death upon learning the prosecution recommended a prison sentence
of 13 years and two months. Id. at ¶ 25.
{¶17} The court of appeals acknowledged the questionable nature of the pro se
motion, but concluded there was no additional evidence in the record to establish the
need for a competency evaluation. Id. at ¶ 26. The Third District said “the trial court, which
was particularly well-positioned to observe [the defendant’s] demeanor and personally
addressed [the defendant] at three separate hearings, did not at any time express
concerns on the record regarding [the defendant’s] mental competence.” Id. Therefore,
the court declined to find ineffective assistance of counsel. Id; State v. McNeir, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 105417, 2018-Ohio-91, ¶ 28 (Trial court’s conclusion that the defendant’s
confusion was a ruse did not result in error for failure to hold competency hearing where
there was “nothing remaining in the record to show otherwise[.]”).
{¶18} As in Gooden, here the trial court was in the best position to observe
appellant’s demeanor and was able to personally address him. The trial court did not
express any concern about appellant’s competency to enter his plea or his sanity. Further,
Case No. 2023-A-0028 there is nothing in the record before us which would suggest that appellant was not
competent to enter his plea or was not sane at the time of his offense. Indeed, appellant’s
brief does not even suggest a basis for why we ought to conclude appellant was not
competent to enter his plea or sane at the time of his offense. Appellant has failed to
demonstrate that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶19} Accordingly, appellant’s sole assignment of error is without merit.
{¶20} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of
Common Pleas is affirmed.
EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.,
ROBERT J. PATTON, J.,
concur.
Case No. 2023-A-0028