State v. Somerset

2022 Ohio 2170

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 24, 2022
• Docket: 29249
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Somerset, 2022-Ohio-2170.]

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

STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 29249 : v. : Trial Court Case No. 2019-CR-3517/3 : DEVERONO J. SOMERSET : (Criminal Appeal from : Common Pleas Court) Defendant-Appellant : :

...........

OPINION

Rendered on the 24th day of June, 2022.

MATHIAS H. HECK, JR. by ANDREW T. FRENCH, Atty. Reg. No. 0069384, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

JEFFREY T. GRAMZA Atty. Reg. No. 0053392, 101 Southmoor Circle NW, Kettering, Ohio 45429 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

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

EPLEY, J. -2-

{¶ 1} Deverono J. Somerset appeals from his convictions in the Montgomery

County Court of Common Pleas for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and

kidnapping. His appellate counsel filed a brief under the authority of Anders v. California,

386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), stating he was unable to find any

non-frivolous issues for appeal. Upon our independent review, we agree with counsel’s

assessment. For the following reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.

I. Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} On the evening of September 19, 2019, Somerset, along with several other

men, was involved in a robbery which led to the shooting death of Mitchel Miller at Miller’s

Kettering apartment. According to the record, Somerset and his compatriots planned to

buy marijuana from Miller, rob him, and then leave rapidly. When they arrived, however,

there were other individuals in the apartment, and the plan swiftly devolved. After ordering

everyone to the ground, Somerset and another co-defendant took some items and left,

but a remaining co-defendant apparently struggled with Miller and ultimately shot and

killed him.

{¶ 3} Somerset was eventually charged in an 18-count indictment with multiple

counts of murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, felonious assault, and

kidnapping. All counts came with attendant three-year firearm specifications. Months

later, as part of a plea agreement with the State, Somerset agreed to plead guilty to one

count of involuntary manslaughter (by bill of information) (Count 1), one count of

kidnapping (Count 15), one count of aggravated robbery (Count 18), and a three-year

firearm specification. He also entered into a proffer agreement to assist in the prosecution -3-

of a co-defendant. In exchange, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining 15 counts and

specifications. No agreement was made as to the length of sentence. We note that the

plea agreement erroneously lists 16 offenses as being dismissed, including Count 1, to

which Somerset actually pled guilty.

{¶ 4} At the August 30, 2021 disposition, the trial court orally sentenced Somerset

to an indefinite sentence of a minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of 21½

years in prison. The judgment entry, however, stated that Somerset was to serve 15 to

20½ years. In September 2021, appellate counsel was appointed and, after reviewing the

record, filed an Anders brief asserting that he could find no arguably meritorious issues

that may be argued. We, in turn, informed Somerset he had 60 days to file a pro se brief.

He filed such a brief, and we will incorporate that into our independent review of the

matter.

II. Anders Review

{¶ 5} Upon the filing of an Anders brief, an appellate court must determine, “after

a full examination of all the proceedings,” whether the appeal is “wholly frivolous.”

Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493; Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75,

109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988). “An issue is not frivolous merely because the

prosecution can be expected to present a strong argument in reply.” State v. White, 2d

Dist. Montgomery No. 28338, 2020-Ohio-5544, ¶ 14, citing State v. Pullen, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 19232, 2002-Ohio-6788, ¶ 4. Rather, a frivolous appeal is one that

presents issues lacking arguable merit, which means that, “on the facts and law involved,

no responsible contention can be made that it offers a basis for reversal.” State v. -4-

Marbury, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19226, 2003-Ohio-3242, ¶ 8, citing Pullen at ¶ 4. If we

find that any issue – whether presented by appellate counsel, presented by the defendant,

or found through an independent analysis – is not wholly frivolous, we must reject the

Anders brief and appoint new appellate counsel to represent the defendant. White at ¶ 14,

citing Marbury at ¶ 7; State v. Almeyda, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28727, 2021-Ohio-862,

¶ 3. We have reviewed the record in its entirety and will specifically address the following

important aspects of the case noted by appellate counsel.

Plea Hearing

{¶ 6} “Due process requires that a defendant’s plea be knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary,” and compliance with Crim.R. 11(C) ensures the constitutional mandate is

followed. State v. Brown, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28966, 2021-Ohio-2327, ¶ 8.

{¶ 7} Crim.R. 11(C)(2) mandates that a trial court may not accept a guilty plea

without first addressing the defendant and:

(a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea voluntarily, with

understanding of the nature of the charges and of the maximum penalty

involved, and if applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for probation or

for the imposition of community control sanctions at the sentencing hearing.

(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

understands the effect of the plea of guilty or no contest, and that the court,

upon acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence. (c)

Informing the defendant and determining that the defendant understands

that by the plea the defendant is waiving the rights to jury trial, to confront -5-

witnesses against him or her, to have compulsory process for obtaining

witnesses in the defendant's favor, and to require the state to prove the

defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which the defendant

cannot be compelled to testify against himself or herself.

{¶ 8} Strict compliance with the constitutional advisements is crucial to

demonstrate that the plea is aligned with due process. Brown at ¶ 9. “When a trial court

fails to explain the constitutional rights that a defendant waives by pleading guilty or no

contest, we presume that the plea was entered involuntarily and unknowingly, and no

showing of prejudice is required.” State v. Massie, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2020-CA-50, 2021-

Ohio-3376, ¶ 10.

{¶ 9} Conversely, the court must substantially comply with notification of the non-

constitutional rights contained in Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) and (b), and prejudice must be

demonstrated to vacate a plea. State v. McElroy, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28974, 2021-

Ohio-4026, ¶ 17. “ ‘Substantial compliance means that under the totality of the

circumstances the defendant subjectively understands the implications of his plea and

the rights he is waiving.’ ” State v. Thomas, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26907, 2017-Ohio-

5501, ¶ 37, quoting State v. Nero, 56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108, 564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).

{¶ 10} Here, after the State read into the record the text of the plea and proffer

agreements, and the trial court inquired with Somerset about his age, education level,

and citizenship status and confirmed that he had read and understood the forms after

consulting with his attorney. Somerset also confirmed that he was not under the influence

of drugs or alcohol and that he had no physical or mental condition that made it difficult -6-

to hear or understand his rights. The court further explained about the bill of information

and about giving up the right to a grand jury determination of probable cause. Somerset

waived that right. He also confirmed that he understood that he was waiving the right to

have the bill of information in his possession for 24 hours before answering the

allegations.

{¶ 11} The court then explained in detail the possible prison terms that applied to

the charges and the firearm specification (importantly, that the specification must be

served prior to and consecutively to the other sentences) and the possible financial

penalties. It also explained, in detail, the indefinite term of imprisonment Somerset faced

by pleading guilty, including the minimum and maximum terms, that there was a

presumption of release after the minimum, and the way in which he could be made to

stay in prison beyond his mandatory minimum time. Somerset confirmed that he

understood.

{¶ 12} The trial court then told Somerset that after his release from prison, he

would be required to serve five years of post-release control and outlined the penalties

that could attach if the terms of post-release control were violated or if he ran afoul of the

law during the supervision period. Somerset, again, indicated that he understood.

{¶ 13} Somerset was then asked if he was pleading guilty of his own free will. He

confirmed that he was. The court then inquired if Somerset understood that his guilty

pleas were complete admissions of guilt to the charges and the firearm specification; “So

as to these charges and that firearm specification, you’re standing saying yes, it’s true, I

did those things.” Plea Tr. at 35. Once again, Somerset answered in the affirmative. Then, -7-

after reading the facts of the charges, the court asked, “Are those facts true?” He replied,

“Yes, ma’am.” Plea Tr. at 39.

{¶ 14} The constitutional rights were also explained during the hearing. The court

expressed that Somerset would be giving up his rights to a jury trial, proof of guilt beyond

a reasonable doubt, a unanimous jury verdict, confrontation of witnesses, cross-

examination of adverse witnesses, compulsory process, and the right to not incriminate

himself. Plea Tr. at 35-37. Somerset asserted that he understood.

{¶ 15} Finally, the trial court confirmed that Somerset had talked with his attorney

about the charges against him and what defenses, if any, he might have. He confirmed

that he was satisfied with the representation provided by counsel.

{¶ 16} We conclude that the trial court’s colloquy substantially complied with

Crim.R. 11(C)’s non-constitutional advisements. The record also indicates that the court

strictly complied with the constitutional advisements. Accordingly, we find no arguable

error in the plea hearing and conclude that Somerset’s plea was made in a knowing,

intelligent, and voluntary manner.

Sentencing Hearing

{¶ 17} Somerset’s sentencing hearing was held August 30, 2021. The court began

the proceeding by noting that it had reviewed the presentence investigation report,

sentencing memoranda from both parties, and victim impact materials submitted by the

State. Somerset was then given a chance to speak on his own behalf. After his statement,

the victim’s father gave a lengthy account of the impact Miller’s death had had on him and

his family, including Miller’s young daughter. -8-

{¶ 18} After the impact statement, the court noted that it had considered the

principals and purposes of sentencing and the seriousness and recidivism factors in the

Ohio Revised Code in crafting Somerset’s sentence. It also made consecutive sentence

findings, i.e., that the sentences would be necessary to protect the public from future

crime and punish the offender and were not disproportionate to the seriousness of

Somerset’s conduct and to the danger he poses to the public. The court further found that

at least two of the offenses were committed as part of a course of conduct, and the harm

caused by two or more of the multiple offenses was so great that no single prison term

would adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct. Finally, the court found that

consecutive service was necessary to protect the public from future crime by Somerset.

{¶ 19} Somerset was once again advised on the details of Ohio’s indefinite

sentencing statute and that the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections could

reduce his minimum sentence by five to fifteen percent, but that the reduction was

rebuttable by the court. He was also told that he would be required to enroll in the violent

offender database.

{¶ 20} His sentence was then orally imposed as follows: (1) 9 years for involuntary

manslaughter and a consecutive 3 years for the firearm specification, for a total of 12

years; (2) 3 years for the aggravated robbery count, to be served consecutively to the

just-imposed 12 years, for a total of 15 years; (3) 11 years for kidnapping, concurrent to

the 15 years; and (4) an additional indefinite maximum term of 5½ years pursuant to

Reagan Tokes, for an aggregate sentence of a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of

21½ years of imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of -9-

$5,039.25. Next, the court noted that Somerset would be subject to five years of

community control on each count (although the terms would run concurrently) and that, if

he violated those terms, he could face an additional term of imprisonment. The trial court

also explained that he was ineligible for earned time credit. Finally, Somerset was

accurately informed of his appellate rights.

{¶ 21} Having reviewed the sentencing hearing transcript, we find only one

potential issue – a discrepancy between the maximum sentence as told to Somerset at

the sentencing hearing and what was journalized in the court’s judgment entry. At the

hearing, the trial court informed Somerset that he was to serve a mandatory minimum

term of 15 years, plus an additional indefinite 5½ years pursuant to the Reagan Tokes

Act, “for a total aggregate sentence of a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 21 and a

half years of imprisonment.” Disposition Tr. at 57-58. The court’s judgment entry,

however, states that “the total aggregate sentence is a minimum of fifteen (15) years to a

maximum of twenty and one-half (20.5) years CRC.”

{¶ 22} The year-difference in sentence length (which worked to Somerset’s

benefit) could be attributed to a transcription error or a math error on the part of the court,

but ultimately, the sentence recorded in the court’s judgment entry was the official

pronouncement of the court. See Burton v. Ware, 2d Dist. Greene No. 1986-CA-54, 1987

WL 7506, *2 (“The court speaks only through its journal, and a judgment or order is not

regarded as having been rendered until it is reduced to a journal entry.”); State v.

Ellington, 36 Ohio App.3d 76, 77-78, 521 N.E.2d 504 (9th Dist.1987) (a court speaks

through its journals and an entry is not effective until it has been journalized). This is not -10-

an arguably meritorious claim and there are no other sentencing issues with arguable

merit.

Inconsistent Sentences

{¶ 23} A final potential assignment of error noted by appellate counsel was

inconsistent sentences between co-defendants. Based the record before us, there is no

evidence that Somerset’s sentence was different than his co-defendants’, and as we

previously noted, the trial court considered the principles and purposes of sentencing and

the seriousness and recidivism factors when crafting Somerset’s sentence. Thus, this

potential assignment of error has no arguable merit.

Somerset’s Arguments

{¶ 24} In his brief, Somerset has raised several potential arguments as well. He

first asserts that during his guilty plea he did not understand that he was admitting his

“conduct satisfied each element of the crime.” Appellant’s Brief at 2. During the plea

hearing, though, the court inquired if Somerset understood that his guilty pleas were

complete admissions of guilt to the charges; “So as to these charges and that firearm

specification, you’re standing saying yes, it’s true, I did those things.” Plea Tr. at 35.

Somerset answered in the affirmative. Then, after reading the facts of the charges, the

court asked, “Are those facts true?” He replied, “Yes, ma’am.” Plea Tr. at 39. This is not

an arguably meritorious claim.

{¶ 25} He also argues that “a reasonable jurist could come to different conclusions

as to whether [his] conviction is constitutionally sound if gone to trial and * * * there is a

reasonable probability he would have been found not guilty.” Appellant’s Brief at 2. This -11-

position has no arguable merit either. A guilty plea is a complete admission of guilt and

waives all appealable errors except to the extent that the errors precluded the appellant

from knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entering his guilty plea. State v. Frazier,

2016-Ohio-727, 60 N.E.3d 633, ¶ 81 (2d Dist.). The record is clear that Somerset

voluntarily entered into his guilty plea.

{¶ 26} Next, Somerset avers that his trial attorney rendered ineffective assistance

of counsel during his guilty plea. “To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel

after pleading guilty, a defendant must show that: (1) counsel’s advice was not within the

range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases; and (2) but for counsel’s

errors, there was a reasonable probability that the defendant would not have pleaded

guilty, but would have insisted on going to trial.” State v. Dapice, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2020-

CA-2, 2020-Ohio-4324, ¶ 18. Here, in addition to Somerset stating on the record that he

was satisfied with his counsel’s performance (Plea Tr. at 39), there was evidence that he

significantly benefited from his attorney’s performance. Somerset was indicted on 18

counts, including six counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, three counts of

aggravated burglary, three counts of felonious assault, and three counts of kidnapping.

In addition, a three-year firearm specification attached to each and every count. Without

the plea agreement negotiated by his counsel, Somerset could have potentially spent the

rest of his life in prison. Ineffective assistance of counsel is not an arguably meritorious

claim in the case at bar.

{¶ 27} Finally, Somerset argues that he is entitled to a hearing on a double

jeopardy challenge because it is “obvious from a reading of the indictment” that the -12-

allegations in the indictments were created by the “same acts occurring in the same place

having the same objective contained within the time frame of the first.” [sic] Appellant’s

Brief at 3.

{¶ 28} The Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution declares that

no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb,”

and similarly, Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution provides that “[n]o person shall

be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.” The protections given by the Ohio and

United States Constitutions are coextensive. State v. Martello, 97 Ohio St.3d 398, 2002-

Ohio-6661, 780 N.E.2d 250, ¶ 7.

{¶ 29} In practice, “[t]he Double Jeopardy Clause protects against three abuses:

(1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a second prosecution

for the same offense after conviction, and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense.”

State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 10.

{¶ 30} Somerset’s complaint -- that he was charged with multiple crimes stemming

from the same course of events -- does not implicate any of the protections of the double

jeopardy clause; he was not prosecuted for the same offense after being acquitted, he

was not prosecuted a second time after being convicted, and he was not punished

multiple times for the same offense. A double jeopardy violation is not an arguably

meritorious claim.

III. Conclusion

{¶ 31} We have reviewed the entire record and have found no potentially

meritorious appellate issues. Having found no non-frivolous issues, appellate counsel is -13-

permitted to withdraw, and the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.

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

Copies sent to:

Mathias H. Heck, Jr. Andrew T. French Jeffrey T. Gramza Hon. Mary L. Wiseman