[Cite as State v. Stamaty, 2024-Ohio-54.]
COURT OF APPEALS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J. : Hon. Andrew J. King, J. -vs- : : HARRY STAMATY : Case No. 23 CA 36 : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2022 CR 253
JUDGMENT: Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT: January 9, 2024
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
MARK A. BALAZIK CHRISTOPHER BAZELEY 219 West Main Street 9200 Montgomery Road Suite 101 Suite 8A Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 2
Lancaster, OH 43130 Cincinnati, OH 45242
King, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant Harry Stamaty appeals the July 11, 2023 judgment of
the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-Appellee is the state of Ohio.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} A recitation of the underlying facts is unnecessary for our resolution of this
appeal. On June 16, 2022 the Fairfield County Grand Jury returned an indictment
charging Stamaty with one count each of rape, a felony of the first degree, aggravated
burglary, a felony of the first degree, violating a protection order, a felony of the third
degree, and domestic violence, a felony of the third degree.
{¶ 3} Following negotiations with the state, on July 7, 2023, the state dismissed
the rape charge in exchange for Stamaty's pleas of guilty to the remaining charges. During
the plea hearing the trial court advised Stamaty he would be subject to post-release
control (PRC) upon his release from prison, the terms of his post-release control, and the
fact that his post-release control would be mandatory. The trial court further provided
Stamaty with the five required notifications pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Law, R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(c)(i)-(v). Transcript of hearing (T.) 6-9. Stamaty then waived his right to a
separate sentencing hearing and agreed to be sentenced immediately following the trial
court's acceptance of his pleas. T. 12-13. He was subsequently sentenced to an indefinite
prison term of 6-9 years.
{¶ 4} On October 11, 2023 we granted Stamaty's motion for delayed appeal. The
matter is now before this court for consideration. Stamaty raises two assignments of error
as follow: Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 3
I
{¶ 5} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY ADVISE STAMATY OF HIS
RIGHTS UNDER THE REAGAN TOKES ACT AS REQUIRED BY R.C. 2929.19 "
II
{¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY IMPOSE POST RELEASE
CONTROL (PRC)."
{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, Stamaty argues that during sentencing, the
trial court failed to provide him with the required statutory notifications regarding his
indefinite prison term pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B). We disagree.
{¶ 8} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c)(i-v), when imposing a non-life felony
indefinite prison term, a trial court must notify an offender of all of the following:
(i) That it is rebuttably presumed that the offender will be released
from service of the sentence on the expiration of the minimum prison
term imposed as part of the sentence or on the offender's
presumptive earned early release date, as defined in section
2967.271 of the Revised Code, whichever is earlier;
(ii) That the department of rehabilitation and correction may rebut the
presumption described in division (B)(2)(c)(i) of this section if, at a Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 4
hearing held under section 2967.271 of the Revised Code, the
department makes specified determinations regarding the offender's
conduct while confined, the offender's rehabilitation, the offender's
threat to society, the offender's restrictive housing, if any, while
confined, and the offender's security classification;
(iii) That if, as described in division (B)(2)(c)(ii) of this section, the
department at the hearing makes the specified determinations and
rebuts the presumption, the department may maintain the offender's
incarceration after the expiration of that minimum term or after that
presumptive earned early release date for the length of time the
department determines to be reasonable, subject to the limitation
specified in section 2967.271 of the Revised Code;
(iv) That the department may make the specified determinations and
maintain the offender's incarceration under the provisions described
in divisions (B)(2)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section more than one time,
subject to the limitation specified in section 2967.271 of the Revised
Code;
(v) That if the offender has not been released prior to the expiration
of the offender's maximum prison term imposed as part of the
sentence, the offender must be released upon the expiration of that
term. Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 5
{¶ 9} Our review of the record confirms the trial court properly notified Stamaty
regarding his indefinite sentence during its plea colloquy. T. 7-9. Stamaty then waived his
right to a separate sentencing hearing via a written plea of guilty and waiver. T. 12-13.
The trial court did not repeat the same notifications during the sentencing phase of the
hearing. This court has previously found, however, "[w]hen the trial court provides proper
post-release control notification before accepting the defendant's guilty plea and then
proceeds immediately to sentencing, the plea hearing and the sentencing hearing cannot,
for purposes of the post-release control statutes, reasonably be deemed to have been
conducted separately." State v. Renne, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2020CA00036, 2021-Ohio-
2648 ¶ 18 citing State v. Dardinger, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-160467, 2017-Ohio-1525, ¶
13; State v. Russell, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 16AP–108, 2016-Ohio-3349, ¶ 9. We find the
same is true regarding the notifications required before imposing an indefinite sentence.
We therefore find Stamaty was properly notified of the appropriate factors regarding his
indefinite sentence.
{¶ 10} The first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 11} In his second assignment of error, Stamaty argues the trial court failed to
advise him of the term of his post-release control and the consequences for violating post-
release control during the sentencing hearing. We agree in part and disagree in part.
{¶ 12} During sentencing, a trial court must provide an offender with certain
notifications regarding post-release control. Recently, in State v. Bates, 167 Ohio St.3d
197, 2022-Ohio-475, 190 N.E.3d 610, ¶ 11, the Supreme Court of Ohio stated: Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 6
It is established that "a trial court has a statutory duty to provide
notice of postrelease control at the sentencing hearing." State v.
Jordan, 104 Ohio St.3d 21, 2004-Ohio-6085, 817 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 23,
overruled on other grounds by Harper. The trial court must advise
the offender at the sentencing hearing of the term of supervision,
whether postrelease control is discretionary or mandatory, and the
consequences of violating postrelease control. See Grimes, 151
Ohio St.3d 19, 2017-Ohio-2927, 85 N.E.3d 700, at ¶ 11. Among other
consequences, an offender's violation of a postrelease-control
sanction or condition may result in the APA imposing a prison term
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[Cite as State v. Stamaty, 2024-Ohio-54.]
COURT OF APPEALS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J. : Hon. Andrew J. King, J. -vs- : : HARRY STAMATY : Case No. 23 CA 36 : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2022 CR 253
JUDGMENT: Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT: January 9, 2024
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
MARK A. BALAZIK CHRISTOPHER BAZELEY 219 West Main Street 9200 Montgomery Road Suite 101 Suite 8A Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 2
Lancaster, OH 43130 Cincinnati, OH 45242
King, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant Harry Stamaty appeals the July 11, 2023 judgment of
the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-Appellee is the state of Ohio.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} A recitation of the underlying facts is unnecessary for our resolution of this
appeal. On June 16, 2022 the Fairfield County Grand Jury returned an indictment
charging Stamaty with one count each of rape, a felony of the first degree, aggravated
burglary, a felony of the first degree, violating a protection order, a felony of the third
degree, and domestic violence, a felony of the third degree.
{¶ 3} Following negotiations with the state, on July 7, 2023, the state dismissed
the rape charge in exchange for Stamaty's pleas of guilty to the remaining charges. During
the plea hearing the trial court advised Stamaty he would be subject to post-release
control (PRC) upon his release from prison, the terms of his post-release control, and the
fact that his post-release control would be mandatory. The trial court further provided
Stamaty with the five required notifications pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Law, R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(c)(i)-(v). Transcript of hearing (T.) 6-9. Stamaty then waived his right to a
separate sentencing hearing and agreed to be sentenced immediately following the trial
court's acceptance of his pleas. T. 12-13. He was subsequently sentenced to an indefinite
prison term of 6-9 years.
{¶ 4} On October 11, 2023 we granted Stamaty's motion for delayed appeal. The
matter is now before this court for consideration. Stamaty raises two assignments of error
as follow: Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 3
I
{¶ 5} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY ADVISE STAMATY OF HIS
RIGHTS UNDER THE REAGAN TOKES ACT AS REQUIRED BY R.C. 2929.19 "
II
{¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY IMPOSE POST RELEASE
CONTROL (PRC)."
{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, Stamaty argues that during sentencing, the
trial court failed to provide him with the required statutory notifications regarding his
indefinite prison term pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B). We disagree.
{¶ 8} Pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c)(i-v), when imposing a non-life felony
indefinite prison term, a trial court must notify an offender of all of the following:
(i) That it is rebuttably presumed that the offender will be released
from service of the sentence on the expiration of the minimum prison
term imposed as part of the sentence or on the offender's
presumptive earned early release date, as defined in section
2967.271 of the Revised Code, whichever is earlier;
(ii) That the department of rehabilitation and correction may rebut the
presumption described in division (B)(2)(c)(i) of this section if, at a Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 4
hearing held under section 2967.271 of the Revised Code, the
department makes specified determinations regarding the offender's
conduct while confined, the offender's rehabilitation, the offender's
threat to society, the offender's restrictive housing, if any, while
confined, and the offender's security classification;
(iii) That if, as described in division (B)(2)(c)(ii) of this section, the
department at the hearing makes the specified determinations and
rebuts the presumption, the department may maintain the offender's
incarceration after the expiration of that minimum term or after that
presumptive earned early release date for the length of time the
department determines to be reasonable, subject to the limitation
specified in section 2967.271 of the Revised Code;
(iv) That the department may make the specified determinations and
maintain the offender's incarceration under the provisions described
in divisions (B)(2)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section more than one time,
subject to the limitation specified in section 2967.271 of the Revised
Code;
(v) That if the offender has not been released prior to the expiration
of the offender's maximum prison term imposed as part of the
sentence, the offender must be released upon the expiration of that
term. Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 5
{¶ 9} Our review of the record confirms the trial court properly notified Stamaty
regarding his indefinite sentence during its plea colloquy. T. 7-9. Stamaty then waived his
right to a separate sentencing hearing via a written plea of guilty and waiver. T. 12-13.
The trial court did not repeat the same notifications during the sentencing phase of the
hearing. This court has previously found, however, "[w]hen the trial court provides proper
post-release control notification before accepting the defendant's guilty plea and then
proceeds immediately to sentencing, the plea hearing and the sentencing hearing cannot,
for purposes of the post-release control statutes, reasonably be deemed to have been
conducted separately." State v. Renne, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 2020CA00036, 2021-Ohio-
2648 ¶ 18 citing State v. Dardinger, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-160467, 2017-Ohio-1525, ¶
13; State v. Russell, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 16AP–108, 2016-Ohio-3349, ¶ 9. We find the
same is true regarding the notifications required before imposing an indefinite sentence.
We therefore find Stamaty was properly notified of the appropriate factors regarding his
indefinite sentence.
{¶ 10} The first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 11} In his second assignment of error, Stamaty argues the trial court failed to
advise him of the term of his post-release control and the consequences for violating post-
release control during the sentencing hearing. We agree in part and disagree in part.
{¶ 12} During sentencing, a trial court must provide an offender with certain
notifications regarding post-release control. Recently, in State v. Bates, 167 Ohio St.3d
197, 2022-Ohio-475, 190 N.E.3d 610, ¶ 11, the Supreme Court of Ohio stated: Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 6
It is established that "a trial court has a statutory duty to provide
notice of postrelease control at the sentencing hearing." State v.
Jordan, 104 Ohio St.3d 21, 2004-Ohio-6085, 817 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 23,
overruled on other grounds by Harper. The trial court must advise
the offender at the sentencing hearing of the term of supervision,
whether postrelease control is discretionary or mandatory, and the
consequences of violating postrelease control. See Grimes, 151
Ohio St.3d 19, 2017-Ohio-2927, 85 N.E.3d 700, at ¶ 11. Among other
consequences, an offender's violation of a postrelease-control
sanction or condition may result in the APA imposing a prison term
on the offender. R.C. 2967.28(F)(3). However, the maximum
cumulative prison term for all violations under R.C. 2967.28(F)(3)
"shall not exceed one-half" of the stated prison term originally
imposed.
{¶ 13} Our review of the record reveals that during the plea colloquy, Stamaty was
advised of the term of supervision for each count, and that supervision was mandatory
for each count. T. 6-7. As noted in our first assignment of error, when the trial court
proceeds immediately to sentencing, "the plea hearing and the sentencing hearing
cannot, for purposes of the post-release control statutes, reasonably be deemed to have
been conducted separately." Renne, supra. We therefore find Stamaty was properly
advised of the term and mandatory nature of his post-release control. The trial court failed,
however, to advise Stamaty of the consequences for violating post-release control either Fairfield County, Case No. 23 CA 36 7
during the plea colloquy or during sentencing. Accordingly, we sustain Stamaty's second
assignment of error, reverse the trial court's judgment, and remand for resentencing with
the proper notification of post-release control. We affirm the trial court's judgment in all
other respects.
{¶ 14} Judgment reversed in part and remanded for resentencing.
By King, J.,
Hoffman, P.J. and
Wise, J. concur.