[Cite as State v. Willis, 2013-Ohio-2391.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, : CASE NO. CA2012-08-155 Plaintiff-Appellee, : OPINION : 6/10/2013 - vs - :
LEDARYLE J. WILLIS, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. CR2012-01-0075
Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, Kimberly L. McManus, Government Services Center, 315 High Street, 11th Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for plaintiff-appellee
John T. Willard, P.O. Box 35, Hamilton, Ohio 45012, for defendant-appellant
S. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Ledaryle J. Willis, appeals his convictions in the Butler
County Court of Common Pleas for carrying a concealed weapon, having a weapon while
under disability, and obstructing official business. For the reasons stated below, we affirm in
part and reverse in part the decision of the trial court.
{¶ 2} On January 4, 2012, Middletown Police Officer James Wilcox was patrolling the
downtown area of Middletown. Around 12:30 a.m., Officer Wilcox observed appellant riding Butler CA2012-08-155
a bicycle without a headlight or rear light. Officer Wilcox drove to a road close to appellant,
activated a spotlight, and pulled over. When Officer Wilcox's spotlight illuminated appellant,
appellant stood up on his bicycle, pedaled faster, and travelled around Officer Wilcox's
vehicle. Appellant traveled through two parking lots, over curbs, and behind Officer Wilcox's
vehicle several times. Eventually, a second police cruiser blocked appellant from riding out
of a parking lot. Officer Wilcox then bumped appellant's bicycle with his police cruiser's front
bumper and appellant fell to the ground.
{¶ 3} After appellant fell to the ground, Officer Wilcox placed appellant in handcuffs.
As he handcuffed appellant, Officer Wilcox asked him if he had any weapons on him and
appellant did not respond. Officer Wilcox searched appellant's front pocket and found a
loaded handgun magazine. Officer Wilcox also found a 9 mm handgun concealed inside a
blue sock tucked in the back of appellant's waistband.
{¶ 4} On March 7, 2012, the Butler County Grand Jury indicted appellant for carrying
a concealed weapon, having a weapon while under disability, and obstructing official
business. Thereafter, appellant's counsel filed a motion to suppress the evidence.
Subsequently, the trial court held a hearing and overruled the motion. On May 3, 2012,
appellant entered a plea of "no contest" to each charged offense. Appellant was sentenced
to an aggregate community control term for five years, a 90-day jail sentence with credit for
92 days served, and a fine of $500. Appellant was also ordered to pay the costs of
prosecution.
{¶ 5} Appellant now appeals, asserting four assignments of error.
{¶ 6} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 7} IT WAS ERROR FOR THE JUDGMENT ENTRY IN THE INSTANT CASE TO
REFLECT THAT THE APPELLANT PLED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES WHEN THE PLEA
SIGNED AT THE PLEA HEARING CLEARLY STATES THAT THE APPELLANT PLED NO -2- Butler CA2012-08-155
CONTEST.
{¶ 8} Appellant argues that his judgment of conviction entry inaccurately reflects the
type of plea he made to the charges. After the motion to suppress, appellant pled "no
contest" to carrying a concealed weapon, having a weapon while under disability, and
obstructing official business. While appellant pled "no contest" to these charges, the
judgment entry states that appellant entered a guilty plea. The state concedes that this was
in error and suggests that this court should order the trial court to issue a nunc pro tunc
judgment of conviction entry correcting the mistake.
{¶ 9} It is well settled that courts possess the authority to correct errors in judgment
entries so that the record speaks the truth. State ex rel. Fogle v. Steiner, 74 Ohio St.3d 158,
163-164 (1995); Crim.R. 36. Errors subject to correction by the court include a clerical error,
mistake, or omission that is mechanical in nature and apparent on the record and do not
involve a legal decision or judgment. State v. Miller, 127 Ohio St.3d 407, 2010-Ohio-5705, ¶
15. Nunc pro tunc entries are used to make the record reflect what the court actually decided
and not what the court might or should have decided or what the court intended to decide.
State v. Lester, 130 Ohio St.3d 303, 2011-Ohio-5204.
{¶ 10} In this case, the trial court committed a clerical error by stating that appellant
pled "guilty" to the charges when the record reflects that he pled "no contest." It is clear that
the trial court actually decided that appellant pled "no contest" and the error in the judgment
entry is purely clerical. Consequently, the trial court erred in stating that appellant pled
"guilty" to the charges and this matter is remanded to the trial court so that the court may
issue a nunc pro tunc entry to accurately reflect appellant's plea.
{¶ 11} Appellant's first assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 12} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 13} IT WAS ERROR FOR THE TRIAL COURT NOT TO SUPPRESS ANY OR ALL -3- Butler CA2012-08-155
EVIDENCE SEIZED BY THE STATE AS THE RESULT OF THE UNWARRANTED AND
UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF THE APPELLANT WITHOUT PROBABLE
CAUSE.
{¶ 14} Appellant challenges the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress the
evidence on two bases. Appellant argues that Officer Wilcox had no authority to attempt to
stop him when he observed appellant riding a bicycle without a proper light because he only
committed a minor misdemeanor. Appellant also maintains that Officer Wilcox's actions were
unconstitutional because the officer had no basis to arrest and search him.
{¶ 15} Appellate review of a ruling on a motion to suppress presents a mixed question
of law and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8. When
considering a motion to suppress, the trial court, as the trier of fact, is in the best position to
weigh the evidence in order to resolve factual questions and evaluate witness credibility.
State v. Eyer, 12th Dist. No. CA2007-06-071, 2008-Ohio-1193, ¶ 8. In turn, the appellate
court must accept the trial court's findings of fact so long as they are supported by
competent, credible evidence. State v. Lange, 12th Dist. No. CA2007-09-232, 2008-Ohio-
3595, ¶ 4. After accepting the trial court's factual findings as true, the appellate court must
then determine, as a matter of law, and without deferring to the trial court's conclusions,
whether the trial court applied the appropriate legal standard. State v. Forbes, 12th Dist. No.
CA2007-01-001, 2007-Ohio-6412, ¶ 29.
Traffic Stop
{¶ 16} We begin by addressing whether Officer Wilcox's attempts to stop appellant for
violating a traffic ordinance were constitutional. Initially, we note that appellant has waived
the constitutionality of Officer Wilcox's ability to stop appellant for violating a traffic ordinance.
While appellant's written motion to suppress argued that Officer Wilcox's stop was not based
on reasonable articulable suspicion, during the suppression hearing, appellant conceded that -4- Butler CA2012-08-155
he was not challenging the stop. The trial court acknowledged this concession, noting, "I
think the defense concedes that the officer's ability to stop the individual for having violated
this section is recognized constitutionally."
{¶ 17} In State v. McMullen, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-09-235, 2010-Ohio-3369, this
court found that a defendant waives a suppression argument on appeal when the defendant
raised it in his written motion to suppress but then concedes that it is not an issue during the
oral suppression hearing. In so holding, this court reasoned that a defendant must clearly
state the grounds on which he is challenging the submission of the evidence because, "[t]he
prosecutor must know the grounds of the challenge in order to prepare his case, and the
court must know the grounds of the challenge in order to rule on evidentiary issues at the
hearing and properly dispose of the merits." Id. at ¶ 24, citing Xenia v. Wallace, 37 Ohio
St.3d 216, 218 (1988). Consequently, in light of appellant's counsel's deliberate statements
and acquiescence to the trial court's recognition of waiver, appellant waived this issue.
{¶ 18} Notwithstanding the wavier, Officer Wilcox was able to stop appellant when
appellant violated a traffic ordinance. The Fourth Amendment to the United States
Constitution insulates individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. United States v.
Hensley, 469 U.S. 221, 226, 105 S.Ct. 675 (1985). A traffic stop initiated by a law
enforcement officer implicates the Fourth Amendment and must comply with the Fourth
Amendment's general reasonableness requirement. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806,
809, 116 S.Ct. 1769 (1996).
{¶ 19} One type of traffic stop that is permissible under the Fourth Amendment is
where a police officer stops a vehicle based on probable cause that a traffic violation has
occurred. State v. Moeller, 12th Dist. No. CA99-07-128, 2000 WL 1577287, *2 (Oct. 23,
2000), citing Whren at 810. Probable cause that a traffic violation has occurred arises where
the officer witnesses the traffic violation. Moeller at *2. Even a de minimus traffic violation -5- Butler CA2012-08-155
provides probable cause for a traffic stop. State v. Williams, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-08-014,
2010-Ohio-1523, ¶ 13. The Ohio Supreme Court has explained that where an officer has
probable cause to stop a motorist for any criminal violation, including a minor traffic violation,
"the stop is not unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
even if the officer had some ulterior motive for making the stop, such as suspicion that the
violator was engaging in more nefarious criminal activity." State v. Williams, 12th Dist. No.
CA2009-08-014, 2010-Ohio-1523, ¶ 11, quoting Dayton v. Erickson, 76 Ohio St.3d 3 (1996),
paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 20} Section 474.05 of the City of Middletown Traffic Ordinances provides:
(a) Every bicycle when in use at the times specified in Ohio R.C. 4513.03 or a substantially similar municipal ordinance shall be equipped with the following:
(1) A lamp mounted on the front of either the bicycle or the operator * * *.
(2) A red reflector on the rear * * *.
(3) A lamp emitting either flashing or steady red light * * * in addition to the red reflector. If the red lamp performs as a reflector in that it is visible as specified in division (A)(2) of this section, the red lamp may serve as the reflector and a separate reflector is not required.
{¶ 21} R.C. 4513.03(A)(1) requires every vehicle other than a motorized vehicle that
operates upon a street or highway display lights during sunset to sunrise.
{¶ 22} We find that Officer Wilcox was able to stop appellant because he had probable
cause that appellant committed a traffic violation. Officer Wilcox testified that he observed
appellant riding a bicycle that did not have a headlight or a rear light and that this was in
violation of Section 474.05 of Middletown Traffic Ordinances. Additionally, any insinuation by
appellant that the stop was not justified because riding a bicycle without lights is "only a minor
misdemeanor" is meritless since even a de minimus traffic violation provides probable cause
-6- Butler CA2012-08-155
for a traffic stop. Accordingly, Officer Wilcox had a right to stop appellant upon his
observation of appellant riding a bicycle without a proper light.
Arrest and Search
{¶ 23} Next, we address the arrest and search of appellant. Appellant argues that
Officer Wilcox did not have probable cause to arrest and search him because he only
violated a traffic ordinance. The state advances many arguments as to why the arrest and
search of appellant was permissible. We will only address the constitutionality of the arrest
and search under the law regarding search incident to arrest because this analysis is
determinative.
{¶ 24} Generally, warrantless searches are per se unreasonable subject to "a few
specifically established and well-delineated exceptions." State v. Oglesby, 12th Dist. No.
CA2004-12-027, 2005-Ohio-6556, ¶ 17, quoting Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 357, 88
S.Ct. 507, 514 (1967). One such exception is a search incident to a lawful arrest. Chimel v.
California, 395 U.S. 752, 89 S.Ct. 2034 (1969). In order for a search to be conducted
pursuant to this exception, the arrest must be lawful. Id.
{¶ 25} For a warrantless arrest to be lawful, the arresting officer must have probable
cause that the individual had committed an offense. Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S.Ct.
223, 225 (1964). Probable cause is not subjective. State v. Abrams, 12th Dist. No. CA2007-
03-040, 2008-Ohio-94, ¶ 12. Rather, probable cause is viewed under an objective standard
and is present where, under the facts and circumstances within an officer's knowledge, a
reasonably prudent person would believe that the arrestee has committed a crime. Id. In
making this determination, we examine the totality of the facts and circumstances. State v.
Christopher, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-08-041, 2010-Ohio-1816, ¶ 16, citing Illinois v. Gates,
462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317 (1982).
{¶ 26} The surrounding facts and circumstances provided Officer Wilcox with probable -7- Butler CA2012-08-155
cause to arrest appellant without a warrant for obstructing official business in violation of R.C.
2921.31.1 After Officer Wilcox observed appellant operating a bicycle without a proper light,
he activated his spotlight and shined it on appellant. Appellant then stood up on his bicycle,
pedaled faster, and traveled away. Officer Wilcox testified appellant was obviously
"attempt[ing] to get away from [him]." Appellant attempted to ride into another parking lot but
a second police cruiser blocked the exit. Eventually, Officer Wilcox hit appellant's back
bicycle tire and caused appellant to fall to the ground. Consequently, the evidence shows
appellant, with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or hamper Officer Wilcox, engaged in actions
that hampered Officer Wilcox's performance of his lawful duties
{¶ 27} We note that while appellant was initially charged with resisting arrest but later
indicted for obstructing official business, this fact is of no consequence to our determination.
On appeal, our inquiry is whether a reasonably prudent person would have believed that
appellant committed an offense. This court has noted, "[t]he arresting officer's subjective
belief or motivation in the detention of an individual is not material to the legality of the
detention; the correct test is whether there was objective justification for the detention or
arrest." Oglesby, 12th Dist. No. CA2004-12-027, 2005-Ohio-6556, ¶ 20, citing State v.
Robinette, 80 Ohio St.3d 234, 236 (1997). Therefore, while Officer Wilcox might have
believed that appellant committed the offense of resisting arrest, the evidence shows that
probable cause existed to arrest appellant for obstructing official business.
{¶ 28} We also find that Officer Wilcox's search of appellant was lawful. To be a valid
search incident to a lawful arrest, the search must be limited to the offender's person and the
area within his immediate control. State v. Gagaris, 12th Dist. No. CA2007-06-142, 2008-
Ohio-5418, ¶ 16, citing Chimel, 395 U.S. at 762-763, 89 S.Ct. 2034. In this case, Officer
1. R.C. 2921.31(A) provides that "[n]o person without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or -8- Butler CA2012-08-155
Wilcox testified that after he placed appellant in handcuffs, he searched appellant's person.
He found a loaded handgun magazine in appellant's front pocket as well as a 9 mm handgun
concealed inside a blue sock tucked in the back of appellant's waistband. Therefore, the
search of appellant was lawful.
{¶ 29} The trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to suppress the
evidence. The initial stop, arrest, and search of appellant were lawful. Appellant's second
assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 30} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶ 31} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO MERGE THE OFFENSES
OF CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON AND HAVING WEAPONS UNDER DISABILITY
FOR SENTENCING.
{¶ 32} Appellant argues his convictions for having a weapon while under disability and
carrying a concealed weapon are allied offenses of similar import. Therefore, he maintains
that the trial court erred when it failed to merge these offenses. The state responds by
arguing that the offenses were not allied as they were committed with separate conduct. The
state also requests us to apply a plain error standard as appellant failed to object at trial.
{¶ 33} We begin by addressing the standard of review. At trial, appellant conceded
that his convictions were not allied offenses. In its brief, the state points to a recent Ohio
Supreme Court case which addressed the appellate standard of review regarding a trial
court's R.C. 2941.25 merger determination. State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d 482, 2012-
Ohio-5699. In Williams, the Supreme Court held that "[a]n appellate court should apply a de
novo standard of review in reviewing a trial court's R.C. 2941.25 merger determination." Id.
at ¶ 28. The state urges us to limit the de novo review prescribed in Williams to apply only in
delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official's capacity, shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official's lawful duties." -9- Butler CA2012-08-155
cases where a defendant objects to the imposition of multiple sentences for allied offenses at
trial.
{¶ 34} We agree with the state that an appellate court conducts a de novo review of a
trial court's allied offenses determination only where a defendant raises this issue at trial. In
Williams, the state was appealing a court of appeals decision that found that two of the
defendant's convictions were allied offenses. Williams at ¶ 9-10. Importantly, the defendant
had raised this issue of allied offenses in the trial court. Id. at ¶ 7. Therefore, the only issue
before the Supreme Court in Williams was the standard of review regarding allied offenses
when that issue had been initially raised in the trial court and properly preserved for appellate
review.
{¶ 35} Therefore, this court will review appellant's allied offense argument for plain
error. See State v. Luong, 12th Dist. No. CA2011-06-101, 2012-Ohio-4519, ¶ 47. Plain error
exists where there is an obvious deviation from a legal rule that affected the outcome of the
proceeding. Crim.R. 52(B); State v. Blanda, 12th Dist. No. CA2010-03-050, 2011-Ohio-411,
¶ 20, citing State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27 (2002). The imposition of multiple
sentences for allied offenses of similar import amounts to plain error. Loung at ¶ 48, citing
State v. Underwood, 124 Ohio St.3d 365, 2010-Ohio-1, ¶ 31-33.
{¶ 36} Next, we address whether appellant's convictions for carrying a concealed
weapon and having a weapon while under disability are allied offenses. R.C. 2941.25, Ohio's
multiple-count statute, prohibits the imposition of multiple punishments for the same criminal
conduct. State v. Brown, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-05-142, 2010-Ohio-324, ¶ 7. The statute
provides the following:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
- 10 - Butler CA2012-08-155
(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶ 37} The Ohio Supreme Court established a new two-part test for determining
whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import under R.C. 2941.25 in State v.
Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314. The first inquiry focuses on whether it is
possible to commit both offenses with the same conduct. Id. at ¶ 48. It is not necessary that
the commission of one offense will always result in the commission of the other. Id. Rather,
the question is whether it is possible for both offenses to be committed by the same conduct.
Id., quoting State v. Blankenship, 38 Ohio St.3d 116, 119 (1988). Conversely, if the
commission of one offense will never result in the commission of the other, the offenses will
not merge. Johnson at ¶ 51.
{¶ 38} If it is possible to commit both offenses with the same conduct, the court must
next determine whether the offenses were in fact committed by a single act, performed with a
single state of mind. Johnson at ¶ 49, quoting State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-
Ohio-4569, ¶ 50. If so, the offenses are allied offenses of similar import and must be
merged. Johnson at ¶ 50. On the other hand, if the offenses are committed separately or
with a separate animus, the offenses will not merge. Id. at ¶ 51.
{¶ 39} "Animus" is defined for purposes of R.C. 2941.25(B) as "'purpose' or 'more
properly, immediate motive.'" State v. Lung, 12th Dist. No. CA2012-03-004, 2012-Ohio-
5352, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Logan, 60 Ohio St.2d 126, 131 (1979). If the defendant acted
with the same purpose, intent, or motive in both instances, the animus is identical for both
offenses. Lung at ¶ 12. Animus is often difficult to prove directly, but must be inferred from
the surrounding circumstances. State v. Caudill, 11 Ohio App.3d 252, 256 (12th Dist.1983).
- 11 - Butler CA2012-08-155
{¶ 40} The state concedes, and we agree, that it is possible to commit the offenses of
carrying a concealed weapon and having a weapon while under disability with the same
conduct. R.C. 2923.12(A)(2) provides that "[n]o person shall knowingly carry or have,
concealed on the person's person or concealed ready at hand * * * [a] handgun other than a
dangerous ordinance." R.C. 2921.13(A)(3) provides that "* * * no person shall knowingly
acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance, if * * * [t]he person is under
indictment for or has been convicted of any felony offense involving the illegal possession * *
* [or] trafficking in any drug of abuse * * *." Accordingly, it is certainly possible to commit both
carrying a concealed weapon and having a weapon while under disability with the same
conduct.
{¶ 41} We must now determine whether appellant committed the offenses with the
same conduct, i.e., a single act and a single state of mind. In a pre-Johnson decision, the
Supreme Court found that carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under
disability have different animi. State v. Rice, 69 Ohio St.2d 422, 427 (1982). We note that
while Johnson altered the analysis as to the first prong of the allied offenses test, the second
prong has consistently remained the same. Lung at ¶ 15. See State v. Young, 2d Dist. No.
23642, 2011-Ohio-747, ¶ 46. Therefore, this analysis is instructive.
{¶ 42} The Court reasoned:
The intent, or animus, necessary to commit the crime of carrying a concealed weapon, is to carry or conceal, on the person, or ready at hand, a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance. The gist of the offense is concealment. The gravamen of the offense of having a weapon while under disability is to 'knowingly * * * acquire have, carry, or use' a weapon while under a legal disability." Id. It maybe be concluded that there is a difference in the mental state required for both crimes. Id.
(Citations omitted.) Rice at 427.
{¶ 43} Accordingly, we find that the carrying a concealed weapon and having a
- 12 - Butler CA2012-08-155
weapon while under disability offenses were committed with separate animi. See State v.
Baker, 12th Dist. No. CA96-12-123, 1997 WL 473620 (Aug. 18, 1997); State v. Dillingham,
12th Dist. No. CA2011-03-043, 2011-Ohio-6348, ¶ 28. Therefore, the trial court did not
commit plain error in failing to merge appellant's carrying a concealed weapon and having a
weapon while under disability convictions as they were not allied offenses of similar import.
{¶ 44} Appellant's third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 45} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶ 46} IT WAS ERROR FOR THE TRIAL COURT TO NEGLECT TO ADVISE THE
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT THAT WHEN COURT COSTS WERE IMPOSED THAT THE
FAILURE TO PAY SUCH COSTS COULD RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE TO PAY THE SAME AT THE RATE NOT TO EXCEED 40 HOURS PER MONTH.
{¶ 47} Appellant argues the trial court erred when it imposed courts costs without
notifying him that if he should fail to pay court costs, he could be ordered to perform
community service.
{¶ 48} Appellant was sentenced in June 2012. At the time of his sentencing, R.C.
2947.23(A)(1) specified that in all criminal cases, a court shall include in the sentence court
costs and render a judgment against the defendant for such costs. When including these
costs in a defendant's sentence, the court must notify the defendant that if he fails to pay
court costs, the court may order him to perform community service in lieu of payment. Id. at
(A)(1)(a). The community service notification in this version of R.C. 2947.239(A)(1)(a) is
mandatory and must be provided by the trial court at sentencing. State v. Smith, 131 Ohio
St.3d 297, 2012-Ohio-781, ¶ 10.
{¶ 49} If a trial court fails to notify the defendant of the possibility of court-ordered
community service if he fails to pay court costs, the proper remedy is to vacate the imposition
of costs and remand the case for proper community-service notification. State v. Weathers, - 13 - Butler CA2012-08-155
12th Dist. No. CA2012-02-036, 2013-Ohio-1104, ¶ 25.2 While the defendant in Weathers
was sentenced before the modification of R.C. 2947.23 that applies to appellant, the
modification does not change any portion of the statute that affects our analysis.
{¶ 50} In the present case, the trial court imposed court costs during the sentencing
hearing but did not advise appellant that should he fail to pay the costs, he could be ordered
to perform community service. Therefore, the court erred when it failed to notify appellant as
required under R.C. 2947.23. Consequently, we reverse that portion of the trial court's
judgment imposing court costs, affirm the remainder of the trial court's judgment and remand
the matter to the trial court for the proper imposition of court costs in accordance with R.C.
2947.23(A)(1).
{¶ 51} Appellant's fourth assignment of error is sustained.
{¶ 52} Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
RINGLAND, P.J. and M. POWELL, J., concur.
2. {¶a} Recently, R.C. 2947.23 has undergone many revisions. Our decision today and our decision in Weathers are limited to the versions of R.C. 2947.23 that were in place during the defendants' sentencing.
{¶b} Additionally, we observe that while our decision in Weathers was interpreting a former version of R.C. 2947.23, we incorrectly used the most recent statute's subsection numbering system. Id. at ¶ 19. However, this does not affect the determination in Weathers that, under the version of R.C. 2947.23 that was effective during the defendant's sentencing, when a trial court fails to give a defendant the proper community service notification when imposing court costs, the remedy is to vacate the imposition of costs and remand the case for proper community-service notification. - 14 -