[Cite as State v. Weprin, 2024-Ohio-2469.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO : : Appellee : C.A. No. 29979 : v. : Trial Court Case No. 2022 CR 01579 : JASON WEPRIN : (Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas : Court) Appellant : :
...........
OPINION
Rendered on June 28, 2024
CHRISTOPHER BAZELEY, Attorney for Appellant
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by ANDREW T. FRENCH, Attorney for Appellee
.............
HUFFMAN, J.
{¶ 1} Jason Weprin appeals from his conviction, following pleas of no contest, to
rape, gross sexual imposition, and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. For the
reasons that follow, we conclude that the trial court did not err in overruling Weprin’s
motion to suppress, but that the court did err in failing to advise Weprin at disposition -2-
pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act and regarding post-release control. The trial court’s
judgment will be reversed in part and remanded for resentencing consistent with this
opinion. In all other respects, the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} On June 17, 2022, Weprin was indicted on 22 counts: 16 counts of rape,
three counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of disseminating matter harmful to
juveniles, and one count of public indecency. All of the indicted counts of rape and gross
sexual imposition included specifications that the victim was less and 13 or less than 10
years old. Weprin pled not guilty.
{¶ 3} On December 8, 2022, Weprin filed a motion to suppress any evidence
obtained during the execution of a search warrant at his home and any evidence
subsequently obtained as fruit of the poisonous tree. Weprin asserted that the search
warrant had been insufficient to establish probable cause, had been based on stale
information, and had been premised upon an affidavit containing material omissions,
rendering it misleading and not subject to the good faith exception. The State opposed
the motion to suppress.
{¶ 4} A hearing on the motion to suppress was held on April 14, 2023. On May 22,
2023, the court overruled Weprin’s motion to suppress. The court found that there was
no evidence that the search warrant affiant, Detective Isaiah Kellar, had made an effort
to exclude critical information from the search warrant affidavit, as Weprin had alleged.
The court also found that the time between the filing of the affidavit and the statements
on which it relied, which was five months, did “not equate to staleness” under the facts of -3-
this case.
{¶ 5} On October 6, 2023, a bill of information was filed for one count of rape, which
did not contain any specification as to the age of the child; the same day, Weprin entered
no contest pleas to the count of rape in the bill of information, one count gross sexual
imposition, and one count of disseminating material harmful to juveniles. The trial court
found him guilty and imposed an indefinite sentence of 11 to 16.5 for rape, two years for
gross sexual imposition, and 12 months for disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
The court ordered the terms to be served concurrently and designated Weprin a Tier II
and Tier III sex offender.
{¶ 6} Weprin raises three assignments of error. His first assignment of error
states:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT OVERRULED WEPRIN’S
MOTION TO SUPPESS.
{¶ 7} According to Weprin, in his motion he had argued that Detective Kellar
recklessly omitted information from the search warrant affidavit, not that he had
intentionally done so. Weprin asserts that the trial court failed to rule on the argument
about reckless omission of information, noting the “significant distinction” between
intentional and reckless conduct. According to Weprin, Kellar failed to include that the
victim had recanted prior rape allegations, and knowledge that an accuser had recanted
an allegation or had a history of recanting similar allegations was “critical information” to
a judge’s determination of whether the victim’s statements could be relied upon to support
a finding of probable cause. -4-
{¶ 8} Weprin further asserts, as he did in the trial court, that the information used
to obtain the warrant was stale and therefore not useful in establishing probable cause.
According to Weprin, the victim’s statements that evidence remained in the home, upon
which the affidavit relied, constituted stale information because she had been removed
from the home on September 2021 and had not returned prior to the execution of the
warrant five months later. Weprin argues that nothing in the affidavit suggested that the
victim had any knowledge that the items sought remained in the home.
{¶ 9} The State responds that Kellar’s affidavit did not contain material omissions
with the intent to mislead the court and that the affidavit was not based upon stale
information. It also asserts that Detective Kellar acted in good faith reliance on the
warrant’s validity.
{¶ 10} In reply, Weprin argues that the fact that the victim had previously recanted
similar allegations against him was clearly material and undermined all of the allegations
in the affidavit, and the omission of this information “amount[ed] to a reckless disregard
of the influence” it would have had on the judge.
Suppression Hearing Testimony
{¶ 11} At the suppression hearing, Detective Kellar of the Montgomery County
Sheriff’s Office testified that on September 22, 2021, he was present for the forensic
interview of the victim at CARE House. Kellar had been assigned to the case after the
victim made a disclosure about Weprin to classmates at school the previous day. The
interview was conducted by Jennifer Nicely. Kellar subsequently supplied the affidavit
for the search warrant that was issued on February 11, 2022. According to Kellar, he -5-
had had no discussion with the court of matters beyond the contents of the affidavit. He
testified that he had previously been assigned to a case involving similar allegations by
the victim against Weprin in November 2019.
{¶ 12} Kellar testified as follows about the September 22, 2021 forensic interview:
Q [by defense counsel]. So during this interview, the alleged victim was
asked essentially why she has told people at school on two separate
occasions that [Weprin] had raped her, and the alleged victim stated that
she forgot to tell her friends that it was not true, correct?
A. Yes, it does say that, yes.
Q. And that she wanted attention, correct?
A. Yes.
***
Q. None of these statements that these things weren’t true, that she said
them because she wanted attention; none of these things were included in
the affidavit, correct?
A. No, they were not.
{¶ 13} Kellar stated that he had also observed a forensic interview with the victim
regarding her 2019 disclosure involving Weprin. According to Kellar, the victim recanted
the allegation against Weprin then, stating that a different person, who was unknown to
her, had sexually assaulted her, namely a “fat, bald man that was tall.” The victim stated
that the incident had occurred in a public restroom at a fireworks event in Beavercreek
after the unknown man crawled under the bathroom stall while the victim was using the -6-
bathroom. Kellar did not include the 2019 allegation against Weprin in the 2022 affidavit
because, in 2019, “she said it was a completely different person. Therefore, the 2021
case was a new case” in which she made allegations that Weprin (a family member) had
raped her. According to Kellar, after the victim recanted the 2019 allegations, that case
was closed, and she had not recanted the 2021 allegations against Weprin.
{¶ 14} On cross-examination, Kellar stated that between the September 2021
forensic interview with the victim and February 11, 2022, when the search warrant was
signed, additional information had been provided to him that was included in the affidavit.
On redirect examination, Kellar stated that the victim had been removed from her family’s
home on September 21, 2021.
Applicable Law
{¶ 15} “Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law
and fact. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier
of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual questions and evaluate the
credibility of witnesses.” State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797
N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8, citing State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366, 582 N.E.2d 972 (1992). “An
appellate court must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by
competent, credible evidence.” State v. Hawkins, 158 Ohio St.3d 94, 2019-Ohio-4210,
140 N.E.3d 577, ¶ 16. “Accepting those facts as true, the appellate court must then
independently determine, as a matter of law and without deference to the trial court's legal
conclusion, whether the applicable legal standard is satisfied.” State v. Isaac, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 20662, 2005-Ohio-3733, ¶ 8, citing State v. Retherford, 93 Ohio App.3d -7-
586, 639 N.E.2d 498 (2d Dist.1994). “The application of the law to the trial court's
findings of fact is subject to a de novo standard of review.” State v. Turner, 2015-Ohio-
4612, 48 N.E.3d 981, ¶ 10 (2d Dist.). See also State v. Harrell, 2024-Ohio-981, __
N.E.3d __, ¶ 25 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 16} “The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution provide that search warrants may only be issued upon
probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the person and/or things to be seized.” State v. Perez, 2015-Ohio-1753,
32 N.E.3d 1010, ¶ 9 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Jones, 143 Ohio St.3d 266, 2015-Ohio-483,
37 N.E.3d 123, ¶ 11. “Under Crim.R. 41, a request for a search warrant requires a sworn
affidavit ‘establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant.’ ” State v. McClain, 2015-Ohio-
3690, 41 N.E.3d 871, ¶ 5 (2d Dist.), citing Crim.R. 41(C)(1). “ ‘The finding of probable
cause may be based upon hearsay in whole or in part, provided there is a substantial
basis for believing the source of the hearsay to be credible and for believing that there is
a factual basis for the information furnished.’ ” Id., citing Crim.R. 41(C)(2). “Ordinarily,
‘a probable cause inquiry must be confined to the four corners of the affidavit.’ ” State v.
Humphrey, 2023-Ohio-1834, 216 N.E.3d 1834, ¶ 34 (2d Dist.), quoting State v.
Klosterman, 114 Ohio App.3d 327, 332-333, 683 N.E.2d 100 (2d Dist.1996).
{¶ 17} “In determining the sufficiency of probable cause in an affidavit submitted in
support of a search warrant, ‘[t]he task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a
practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the
affidavit before him, * * * there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime -8-
will be found in a particular place.’ ” State v. George, 45 Ohio St.3d 325, 544 N.E.2d 640
(1989), paragraph one of the syllabus, quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-239,
103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). These circumstances include “the ‘veracity’ and
‘basis of knowledge’ of persons supplying hearsay information.” Id.
{¶ 18} Pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d
667 (1978), “a search violates the Fourth Amendment if it is conducted pursuant to a
warrant based on an affidavit containing one or more false statements and these
misrepresentations were made knowingly or in reckless disregard of the truth.” State v.
Jones, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 29784, 2024-Ohio-683, ¶ 11. “ ‘Reckless disregard’
means that the affiant had serious doubts of an allegation’s truth.” (Citations omitted.)
State v. Miser, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25105, 2013-Ohio-1583, ¶ 12.
{¶ 19} “A search warrant affidavit that is facially sufficient may nevertheless be
successfully attacked if the defendant can show by a preponderance of the evidence that
the affiant made a false statement intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth.”
State v. Stropkaj, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18712, 2001 WL 1468905, *2 (Nov. 16, 2001),
citing Franks at 155-56. “Omissions count as false statements if ‘designed to mislead,
or * * * made in reckless disregard of whether they would mislead, the magistrate.’ ”
(Citations omitted.) Miser at ¶ 12. “[A]n omitted fact in an affidavit for a search warrant,
in order to be considered intentionally misleading or made with reckless disregard of its
tendency to mislead the magistrate, would necessarily have to be exculpatory
information, or information that impeaches a source of incriminating information.” Stropkaj
at *3. “ ‘[E]xcept in the very rare case where the defendant makes a strong preliminary -9-
showing that the affiant with an intention to mislead excluded critical information from the
affidavit, and the omission is critical to the finding of probable cause, Franks is
inapplicable to the omission of disputed facts.’ ” (Emphasis sic.) State v. Blaycock, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 24475, 2011-Ohio-4865, ¶ 15, quoting Mays v. City of Dayton, 134
F.3d 809, 816 (6th Cir.1998).
{¶ 20} Finally, an “affidavit in support of a search warrant must present timely
information and include facts so closely related to the time of issuing the warrant as to
justify a finding of probable cause at that time,” and no “arbitrary time limit dictates when
information becomes ‘stale.’ ” State v. Maranger, 2018-Ohio-1425, 110 N.E.3d 895,
¶ 36, citing State v. Jones, 72 Ohio App.3d 522, 526, 595 N.E.2d 485 (6th Dist.1991).
“The test is whether the alleged facts justify the conclusion that certain contraband
remains on the premises to be searched.” Id., citing State v. Floyd, 2d Dist. Darke No.
1389, 1996 WL 139787 (Mar. 29, 1996). “Ohio courts have identified a number of factors
to consider in determining whether the information contained in an affidavit is stale,
including the character of the crime, the criminal, the thing to be seized, as in whether it
is perishable, the place to be searched, and whether the affidavit relates to a single
isolated incident.” State v. Richardson, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2011-CA-2, 2012-Ohio-
1232 ¶ 11, citing State v. Ingold, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-648, 2008-Ohio-2303, ¶ 23.
“If a substantial period of time has elapsed between the commission of the crime and the
search, the affidavit must contain facts that would lead the judge to believe that the
evidence or contraband is still on the premises before the judge may issue a warrant.”
Maranger, citing State v. Yanowitz, 67 Ohio App.2d 141, 147, 426 N.E.2d 190 (8th -10-
Dist.1980).
{¶ 21} We have observed that “pornographic images may be stored on computers
or computer-related items for long periods of time.” State v. Hale, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 23582, 2010-Ohio-2389, ¶ 40, citing U.S. v. Frechette, 583 F.3d 374 (6th Cir.2009).
“[D]igital images of pornography are easily duplicated and have an infinite life span, being
recoverable even after being deleted from a computer's hard drive. ” Id. at ¶ 29, citing
Frechette at 379.
{¶ 22} In McClain, 2015-Ohio-3690, 41 N.E.3d 871, we held that the “appellate
standard under which a probable-cause finding is reviewed is deferential.” Id. at ¶ 6,
quoting George, 45 Ohio St.3d 325, 544 N.E.2d 640, at paragraph two of the syllabus.
In reviewing the sufficiency of probable cause in an affidavit submitted in
support of a search warrant issued by a magistrate, neither a trial court nor
an appellate court should substitute its judgment for that of the magistrate
by conducting a de novo determination as to whether the affidavit contains
sufficient probable cause upon which that court would issue the search
warrant. Rather, the duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the
magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause
existed. In conducting any after-the-fact scrutiny of an affidavit submitted
in support of a search warrant, trial and appellate courts should accord great
deference to the magistrate's determination of probable cause, and doubtful
or marginal cases in this area should be resolved in favor of upholding the
warrant. -11-
Id.
The Affidavit
{¶ 23} The affidavit included the following information: Kellar was a sworn police
officer with the State of Ohio and was employed with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s
Office, assigned to the Special Investigations Unit. He had been a peace officer since
1997, a Deputy Sheriff with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office since 2001, and a
detective since 2008. Kellar had received specialized training in the investigations of
violent crimes, sexually oriented crimes, internet crimes against children, child obscenity
and exploitation, online social networking, and forensic interviewing of children, among
other things. Kellar was assigned to Weprin’s case on September 21, 2021, after it was
reported that the victim asked a group of classmates if they had ever been raped by a
particular family member, stating that she might find someone who was like her As noted
above, the forensic interview occurred the following day.
{¶ 24} According to the affidavit, during that September 22, 2021 interview, the
victim reported watching videos and viewing pictures on a pornographic website with
Weprin on his cell phone. The victim described the sexual images she was shown and
Weprin’s masturbation, reporting that he had asked her if she would like to engage in
sexual activity sometime with a friend of his. Because the victim was emotional and
having difficulty relaying the allegations about Weprin during this interview, it was
determined that she would continue counseling and therapy and be interviewed again at
a later date.
{¶ 25} The affidavit stated that Kellar was then contacted on December 7, 2021, -12-
by the victim’s grandmother, who reported that the victim had stated that a matching pair
of thong underwear, purchased for the victim by Weprin, was in her former bedroom at
Weprin’s home. The victim further reported that Weprin “used lubrication on her and did
things in his bedroom and on the couch” while the victim’s mother was sleeping.
{¶ 26} The affidavit stated that, on January 27, 2022, Kellar received records from
the victim’s counselor which reflected that between the initial disclosure in September
2021 and January 2022, the victim had made further disclosures. The victim reported
being angry at her mother for remaining with Weprin, and that Weprin had made the victim
“do the position ‘69’ at their house * * * and licked her private part on several occasions.”
The victim further reported that Weprin “had tried to put his ‘privates in my private,’ ” and
she had pushed herself away from him because it hurt. The victim told her counselor
that one of Weprin’s friends named Kyle had messaged the victim on her tablet and asked
to have sex with her. According to the affidavit, when the victim told Weprin about the
message, he told the victim to be nice to Kyle. Kyle’s sister, Stephanie, also contacted
the victim and requested nude pictures of her, and the victim sent her one. The victim
further disclosed “having a chat conversation on her tablet with them doing a foursome
together.” The affidavit requested a search warrant to locate any electronic devices,
including “cellular telephones, tablets, computers, media storage, and clothing/
undergarments for further investigation.”
{¶ 27} We cannot conclude that the trial court erred in overruling Weprin’s motion
to suppress. Kellar stated in the affidavit that he had extensive knowledge and
experience uniquely suited to the facts herein. Based upon our deferential review, we -13-
conclude that this was not a case in which Weprin made a strong preliminary showing
that Kellar excluded information that was critical to the finding of probable cause with an
intention to mislead the court. In other words, Franks was inapplicable. The court had
a substantial basis for finding probable cause to believe that evidence of Weprin’s crimes,
including his cell phone, other electronic devices, and undergarments he had purchased
for the victim would be found at his home. Further, the trial court reasonably found there
was a substantial basis for believing that the sources of hearsay evidence were credible,
as the victim disclosed to her counselor during therapy and to her grandmother. Most
significantly, Kellar stated that the victim had not recanted her 2021 allegations against
Weprin, only those made in 2019. Even if the prior recantation had been included in the
affidavit, it was not exculpatory; in other words, the prior recantation would not have
altered the finding of probable cause based on the lengthy and detailed allegations made
in 2021 and 2022, which the victim did not recant.
{¶ 28} Finally, the trial court reasonably concluded that the information included in
the affidavit was timely relative to the issuance of the warrant. The electronic items to
be seized for pornographic content, as well as the undergarments, were consistent with
the allegations against Weprin, nonperishable, and likely to have remained at his home
as the victim described them. Given their digital nature, any pornographic images
downloaded by Weprin likely remained on his electronic devices, even if he had attemped
to delete them. Although the allegations initially surfaced in September 2021, the
victim’s subsequent disclosures strongly supported a conclusion that more than a single,
isolated incident of sexual abuse had occurred. For the forgoing reasons, the trial court -14-
reasonably concluded that the affidavit contained facts that supported a conclusion that
the evidence sought was still on the premises. In other words, we cannot conclude that
the trial court erred in finding that the information in the affidavit was not stale.
{¶ 29} Having found that the court had a substantial basis for finding probable
cause for the issuance of the warrant, we need not address the good faith exception for
an invalid warrant. Weprin’s first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 30} Weprin’s second assignment of error states:
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY ADVISE WEPRIN OF
HIS RIGHTS UNDER THE RE[A]GAN TOKES SENTENCING STATUTE.
{¶ 31} Weprin asserts that the trial court failed to comply with the Reagan Tokes
Act, particularly R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c), which governs non-life indefinite prison terms, and
that his sentence is contrary to law. The State concedes that the trial court failed to
properly advise Weprin pursuant to R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c).
{¶ 32} “When reviewing felony sentences, a court of appeals must apply the
standard of review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G).” State v. Williams, 2d Dist. Greene No.
2021-CA-30, 2022-Ohio-2897, ¶ 18, citing State v. Farra, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
28950, 2022-Ohio-1421, ¶ 73. Under that statute, an appellate court may increase,
reduce, or modify a sentence, or vacate it altogether and remand for resentencing, if it
“clearly and convincingly finds either (1) the record does not support certain specified
findings or (2) that the sentence imposed is contrary to law.” State v. Worthen, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 29043, 2021-Ohio-2788, ¶ 13. This Court has recognized that a
“ ‘sentence is contrary to law if a trial court sentences an offender to an indefinite prison -15-
term under the Reagan Tokes Law and fails to advise the offender of all the notifications
set forth in R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) at the sentencing hearing.’ ” State v. Thompson, 2d
Dist. Clark No. 2020-CA-60, 2021-Ohio-4027, ¶ 29, quoting State v. Massie, 2d Dist. Clark
No. 2020-CA-50, 2021-Ohio-3376, ¶ 18.
{¶ 33} R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(c) requires a trial court imposing an indefinite sentence
pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act to notify the defendant 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 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 -16-
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.
{¶ 34} In Weprin’s case, at sentencing, the court informed Weprin that he would
be sentenced to 11 years on the rape. The court then asked Weprin if it had been
explained to him what a Reagan Tokes law is. Weprin answered affirmatively. The
court then stated:
So that means you take half of the 11 and add it on top. So it’ll be 11 to
16-and-a-half, and that is going to be dependent upon what the authorities
of the prison do. They’re going to look at what you’re doing, how you’re
doing, and they can tack on another three, four, or five, whatever they want
to do, they can tack on if they want to.
{¶ 35} We agree with the parties that the trial court failed to comply with R.C.
2929.19(B)(2)(c) and that Weprin’s sentence for rape is therefore contrary to law. We
sustain Weprin’s second assignment of error as to his indefinite prison term for rape. -17-
{¶ 36} Weprin’s third assignment of error states:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT IMPOSED PRC [POST-
RELEASE CONTROL].
{¶ 37} Weprin asserts that the court failed to inform him that the Adult Probation
Department would monitor his period of post-release control (PCR) and of the term of
imprisonment that could be imposed for a violation of PRC. The State again concedes
error at sentencing regarding the imposition of post-release control.
{¶ 38} “ ‘It is settled that “a trial court has a statutory duty to provide notice of
postrelease control at the sentencing hearing” and that “any sentence imposed without
such notification is contrary to law.” ’ ” (Citations omitted.) State v. Heinzen, 2d Dist.
Clark No. 2019-CA-65, 2022-Ohio-1341, ¶ 24. “Per its statutory duty, ‘[t]he trial court
must advise the offender at the sentencing hearing of the term of [post-release control]
supervision, whether post-release control is discretionary or mandatory, and the
consequences of violating post-release control.’ ” Id. at ¶ 25, quoting State v. Bates, 167
Ohio St.3d 197, 2022-Ohio-475, 190 N.E.3d 610, ¶ 11. In Heinzen, the trial court failed
to advise the defendant that “if she violated post-release control (other than by committing
a felony offense) she could receive a prison term of up to one-half of the stated prison
term originally imposed upon her.” Id. at ¶ 27. Although the trial court included this
information in its sentencing entry, it was not discussed at the sentencing hearing as
required by R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(f). As such, we found that the post-release control
portion of Heinzen's sentence was contrary to law. Id.
{¶ 39} In Weprin’s case, he was advised as follows regarding post-release control: -18-
THE COURT: So there’s mandatory post release control for five, so when
you get out, Mr. Weprin, you’ll be on post release control. That’s what we
call parole. You’ll be given a parole officer. A parole officer will set rules
that you have to abide by. If you don’t abide by them, they can make them
worse, or send you back to prison; do you understand that?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
{¶ 40} As in Heinzen, the court included the statutory information in its judgment
entry of conviction but did not address at sentencing. The post-release control portion
of Weprin’s sentence is contrary to law and must be reversed. Weprin’s third assignment
of error is sustained.
{¶ 41} Having overruled Weprin’s first assignment of error and sustained his
second and third assignments of error, the judgment is reversed in part, and the matter
is remanded to the trial court for resentencing for the limited purposes of properly advising
Weprin pursuant to the Reagan Tokes Act and for the proper imposition of post-release
control. In all other respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
EPLEY, P.J. and TUCKER, J., concur.