State v. Patterson

2021 Ohio 1237
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 12, 2021
Docket5-20-32
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

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Bluebook
State v. Patterson, 2021 Ohio 1237 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Patterson, 2021-Ohio-1237.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT HANCOCK COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 5-20-32

v.

CORNELIUS PATTERSON, JR., OPINION DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Hancock County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 2009 CR 218

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: April 12, 2021

APPEARANCES:

Michael H. Stahl for Appellant

Phillip A. Riegle for Appellee Case No. 5-20-32

ZIMMERMAN, J.

{¶1} This appeal, having been placed on the accelerated calendar, is sua

sponte being assigned and considered on the regular calendar pursuant to Loc.R.

12(1). Under the authority of Loc.R. 12(5), we have elected to issue a full opinion

in lieu of a judgment entry.

{¶2} Defendant-appellant, Cornelius Patterson, Jr. (“Patterson”), appeals the

September 30, 2020 judgment entry of the Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶3} On October 27, 2009, the Hancock County Grand Jury indicted

Patterson on four counts including: Count One of aggravated murder in violation

of R.C. 2903.01(B), an unclassified felony; Count Two of aggravated burglary in

violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(1), a first-degree felony; Count Three of improperly

discharging firearm at or into a habitation in violation of R.C. 2923.161(A)(1), a

second-degree felony; and Count Four of tampering with evidence in violation of

R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree felony. (Doc. No. 1). The indictment included

firearm specifications as to Counts One, Two, and Three under R.C. 2941.145. (Id.).

{¶4} The case proceeded to a jury trial on February 8-11 and 14-15, 2011.

(Doc. Nos. 165, 170). On February 15, 2011, the jury found Patterson guilty of

Counts One, Two, Three, and Four and the specifications as to Counts One, Two,

and Three. (Doc. Nos. 158, 159, 160, 161). The trial court filed its judgment entry

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of conviction on March 17, 2011. (170.). On April 21, 2011, the trial court

sentenced Patterson to 30 years to life in prison as to Count One, a mandatory term

of three years in prison as to the firearm specification in Count One, and a four-year

prison term as to Count Four for an aggregate prison term of 37 years to life. (Doc.

No. 172). For purposes of sentencing, the trial court merged Counts One, Two and

Three. (Id.). The trial court filed its judgment entry of sentence on April 27, 2011.

(Id.).1

{¶5} On December 26, 2018 and February 14, 2019, Patterson entered his

notices of appearance as counsel, pro se, pursuant to State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d

366 (1976) and Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525 (1975). (Doc.

Nos. 283, 284). Thereafter, Patterson filed motions in the trial court to correct a

void judgment and to waive payment of a deposit and the imposition of court

costs/fees.2 (Doc. Nos. 285, 286). The State filed its memorandum in opposition to

Patterson’s motion to correct a void judgment. (Doc. Nos. 287, 288).

{¶6} The trial court granted Patterson’s motion to correct a void judgment

and scheduled a video-conferenced-resentencing hearing under R.C. 2929.191(C).3

1 This court recited much of the factual and procedural background of this case in previous appeals, and we will not duplicate those efforts here. See State v. Patterson, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 05-11-15, 2012-Ohio- 2839; State v. Patterson, Case No. 05-18-24 (which was voluntarily dismissed on December 20, 2018 upon Patterson’s pro se motion). 2 The trial court granted Patterson’s motion to waive payment of deposit and imposition of court costs/fees on October 22, 2019. (Doc. No. 308). 3 Arrangements were made to permit Patterson to participate in the hearing via video-conference equipment from the Marion Correctional Institution. (See Doc. No. 290).

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(Doc. Nos. 290, 291). Thereafter, and on May 13, 2019, Patterson filed a motion to

be personally present for the R.C. 2929.191(C) hearing “and to consult with counsel

of giving statement [sic] to impose the postrelease control sanction”, which was

overruled by the trial court. (Doc. Nos. 292, 293, 298). The resentencing hearing

occurred by video on June 27, 2019. (June 27, 2019 Tr. 1-34); (Doc. No. 312).

{¶7} On June 28, 2019, Patterson filed a motion for acquittal citing Crim.R.

29 arguing that there is insufficient evidence to support his convictions. (Doc. No.

294). The State filed a memorandum in opposition to Patterson’s motion. (Doc.

No. 297).

{¶8} On August 29, 2019, the trial court journalized its judgment entry of

correction of postrelease-control notification. (Doc. No. 298). Patterson filed a

notice of appeal on September 25, 2019 raising one assignment of error alleging that

the trial court erred by failing to inquire and determine whether Patterson had

changed his mind (as to self-representation) in open court at the video-conferenced

resentencing hearing. (Doc. No. 301). While Patterson’s appeal was pending, the

trial court denied Patterson’s motion for acquittal on November 18, 2019. (Doc.

No. 311).

{¶9} Ultimately, we reversed the judgment of the trial court on April 13,

2020 and remanded the matter to the trial court for further proceedings consistent

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with our opinion. See State v. Patterson, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-19-34, 2020-Ohio-

1437.

{¶10} Upon remand, the trial court scheduled the matter for a video

conferenced 2929.191(C) hearing in June 2020.4 (Doc. No. 315). Patterson filed a

motion to appear (personally) for the June hearing, which the trial court granted.5

(Doc. Nos. 318, 321).

{¶11} On August 3, 2020, Patterson filed a second motion for acquittal under

Crim.R. 29 identical to the motion he filed on June 28, 2019. (Doc. No. 325). (See

Doc. No. 294).

{¶12} However, on September 30, 2020, the trial court issued its judgment

entry dismissing Patterson’s motion to correct a void judgment determining that, in

light of the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Harper, 160 Ohio St.3d 480,

2020-Ohio-2913, a hearing was no longer necessary because Patterson’s motion was

dismissed on the basis that it was now barred by the doctrine of res judicata. (Doc.

No. 330). (See Doc. No. 290). The trial court then filed a second judgment entry

4 At all times relevant to our remand order, Patterson’s appellate counsel was acting also as trial counsel on remand. (See Doc. Nos. 315, 318, 321, 322). While the trial court’s record contained no formal appointment notice, the trial court entertained motions filed by Patterson’s counsel of record and served his counsel of record for all scheduled hearing notices. (Id.). Notably, Patterson did begin filing pro se motions without his counsel (whom the trial court served on the judgment entry ordering the date by which the memorandum in opposition was due) and later his counsel of record sought leave to withdraw (which the trial court granted). (Doc. Nos. 324, 325, 326, 327, 328). 5 The trial court then vacated the June hearing, rescheduled the matter for September 17, 2020, and issued a judgment entry ordering the Hancock County Sheriff to convey Patterson for said hearing. (Doc. Nos. 321, 322).

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the same day denying Patterson’s second motion for acquittal. (Doc. No. 331). (See

Doc. No. 325).

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Related

State ex rel. Patterson v. Starn
2026 Ohio 627 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2026)
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2022 Ohio 3310 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2022)

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2021 Ohio 1237, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-patterson-ohioctapp-2021.