[Cite as State v. Goodson,
2016-Ohio-1535.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
Nos. 101830 and 101831
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
CASSANDRA GOODSON
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
VACATED AND REMANDED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case Nos. CR-13-580768-A and CR-14-582561-A
BEFORE: Kilbane, P.J., Stewart, J., and Boyle, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: April 14, 2016
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Robert L. Tobik
Cuyahoga County Public Defender
Erika B. Cunliffe
Assistant Public Defender
310 Lakeside Avenue
Suite 200
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
Anthony Thomas Miranda
Anna M. Faraglia
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J.:
{¶1} In this consolidated appeal, defendant-appellant, Cassandra Goodson
(“Goodson”), appeals from her guilty plea and 44-year sentence in two separate cases, for
six counts of sexual battery, five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and one
count of interference with custody of a child. For the reasons set forth below, we vacate
her guilty plea and sentence in both cases and remand the matter for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
{¶2} In December 2013, Goodson was charged in Case No. CR-13-580768-A,
with 12 counts of sexual battery, 15 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and
2 counts of interference with custody of a minor. These charges allege that the
misconduct occurred between February and December 2013, and involve a 13-year-old
juvenile who received treatment at Parmadale. Parmadale, which is now closed, was a
juvenile residential treatment facility where Goodson worked as an emotional strength
coach. According to the juvenile victim, Goodson engaged in sexual conduct with her
multiple times at Parmadale, at Goodson’s mother’s home, and at a hotel room in
Warrensville Heights. The victim also stated that Goodson convinced her to leave
Parmadale before her treatment ended. The victim stole her mother’s car and spent the
night with Goodson at a motel.
{¶3} In February 2014, Goodson was charged in Case No. CR-14-582561-A with
four counts of sexual misconduct. These charges allege that the misconduct occurred
between November 2007 and March 2008, and involved a 15-year-old juvenile also
receiving treatment at Parmadale. After the 15-year-old was released from Parmadale,
she and Goodson engaged in sexual conduct.
{¶4} Goodson initially pled not guilty in both cases. In June 2014, she withdrew
her not guilty plea on the advice of her attorney that the longest sentence she would
receive would be between 10 and 12 years in prison. Goodson then entered into a plea
agreement with the state. In CR-13-580768, Goodson pled guilty to six counts of sexual
battery (third-degree felonies), two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
(third-degree felonies), and one count of interference of custody of a child (a first-degree
misdemeanor). In CR-14-582561, she pled guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual
conduct with a minor (third-degree felonies). In exchange, the remaining counts in both
cases were nolled.
{¶5} The matter proceeded to sentencing in July 2014.1 The trial court sentenced
Goodson to four years in prison for each third-degree felony count in both cases (a total
of 11 counts) and ordered that the sentences be served consecutively. The trial court also
sentenced Goodson to six months in prison for the first-degree misdemeanor, to be served
concurrently, for a total of 44 years in prison.
{¶6} Goodson now raises the following four assignments of error for review.
Assignment of Error One
This court should vacate [Goodson’s] guilty plea because she did not enter
it knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.
1 Bothparties agreed that none of the offenses were allied offenses for
purposes of merger.
Assignment of Error Two
The sentence of 44 years that the trial court imposed is contrary to law and
violated [Goodson’s] rights under the Eighth Amendment.
Assignment of Error Three
[Goodson] received ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with her
guilty plea.
Assignment of Error Four
The trial court abused its discretion by failing to allow [Goodson] to
withdraw [her] guilty plea where the evidence she submitted in support of
the motion established a manifest injustice.
Guilty Plea
{¶7} In the first assignment of error, Goodson argues that her plea colloquy fell
short in several respects and resulted in a guilty plea that was not entered knowingly and
intelligently.
{¶8} The process of accepting pleas of no contest and guilty is governed by
Crim.R. 11. Crim.R. 11(C) provides the trial court with certain requirements that must
be met before it may accept such pleas. Relevant to the instant case, Crim.R.11(C)(2)(a)
provides that
[i]n felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty …, and
shall not accept a plea of guilty … without first addressing the defendant
personally and doing all of the following:
(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.
{¶9} In determining whether the trial court has satisfied its duties under Crim.R.
11(C)(2), reviewing courts distinguish between constitutional and nonconstitutional
rights. State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St.3d 176,
2008-Ohio-5200,
897 N.E.2d 621, ¶ 14-21.
The trial court must strictly comply with the requirements of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(c) relating
to the waiver of constitutional rights. Id. at ¶ 18. As to the nonconstitutional aspects of
Crim.R. 11(C)(2), including the defendant’s right to be informed of the “maximum
penalty involved,” substantial compliance is required. Id. at ¶ 14; State v. Nero,
56 Ohio
St.3d 106, 108,
564 N.E.2d 474 (1990), syllabus. “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.”
Id. at 108, citing State v. Stewart,
51 Ohio St.2d 86,
364 N.E.2d 1163 (1977); State v. Carter,
60 Ohio St.2d 34,
396 N.E.2d
757 (1979). Even if a trial court makes an error in attempting to comply with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(a), “‘if it appears from the record that the defendant appreciated the effect of his
plea and his waiver of rights in spite of the trial court’s error, there is still substantial
compliance.”’ State v. Thomas, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94788,
2011-Ohio-214, ¶ 13,
quoting State v. Caplinger,
105 Ohio App.3d 567, 572,
664 N.E.2d 959 (4th Dist.1995).
In addressing substantial compliance, we have stated:
Substantial compliance requires that an on the record dialogue take place,
where defendant is orally informed of the possible sentence. … The trial
court cannot misinform the defendant about the possible sentence. …
The court must inform defendant if he would be required to serve actual
time in prison … and must disclose the length of the mandatory actual
incarceration.
State v. Dawson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 61828, 1993 Ohio App. LEXIS 223, *5-6 (Jan.
23, 1993).
{¶10} If an appellate court finds that a trial court did not substantially comply with
a requirement of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) regarding a nonconstitutional right, it must then
make a further determination as to whether the trial court “partially complied” or
“completely failed” to comply with the requirement. State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239,
2008-Ohio-3748,
893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 32. If the trial court partially complied, the plea
may be vacated only if the defendant demonstrates a prejudicial effect, i.e., that the
defendant would not have otherwise entered the plea.
Id., citing Nero; Stewart.
However, if the trial court completely failed to comply, the plea must be vacated.
Id.,
citing State v. Sarkozy,
117 Ohio St.3d 86,
2008-Ohio-509,
881 N.E.2d 1224. “A
complete failure to comply with the rule does not implicate an analysis of prejudice.’”
Id., quoting Sarkozy at ¶ 22.
{¶11} In the instant case, the court advised Goodson, with regard to her sentence:
[COURT]: With the exception of Count 28 in the other case, which is a
misdemeanor, every single one of these charges is a felony of the third
degree. And these are what are known as high tier felonies of the third
degree, which means the potential prison sentence that I can give you in this
matter is as follows: 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, or 60 months. So I can
choose a prison sentence based upon one of those numbers.
Do you understand that?
[GOODSON]: Yes.
[COURT]: If I so choose I can run the sentences concurrent, which means
all together, or I can run them back-to-back to one another, or consecutive,
assuming I make certain findings required by House Bill 86.
Do you understand that?
[GOODSON]: Yes.
[COURT]: Some of these counts may merge at the time of sentencing.
We will get into that at the sentencing hearing. Although you are pleading
guilty to all of those counts, in the end you may not be sentenced on all of
those counts.
Do you understand?
[GOODSON]: Yes.
{¶12} Based on the foregoing colloquy, we find that the court did not clearly
explain to Goodson that she could be sentenced to either 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, or
60 months for each count. Instead, the court merely stated “the potential prison sentence
that I can give you in this matter is as follows: 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, or 60
months.” (Emphasis added.) Based on this language, Goodson had no basis to
understand from the court that the maximum sentence she could receive consisted of a
sentencing range from 12 to 60 months in prison for each count.
{¶13} Considering the totality of these circumstances, we cannot say Goodson
subjectively understood at the plea hearing what the maximum penalty would be for each
of the offenses at issue. As a result, the trial court did not substantially comply with
Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) in accepting her guilty plea.
{¶14} Our inquiry, however, does not end here. We must now determine whether
the trial court partially complied — requiring a prejudice analysis — or whether it
“completely failed” to comply — requiring no prejudice analysis. Based on our review
of the record, we conclude that the trial court completely failed to comply with Crim.R.
11(C)(2)(a) to ensure that Goodson understood what the maximum penalty would be for
each offense. Here, the trial court did not inform Goodson of her maximum sentencing
exposure before it accepted her guilty plea. As a result, the trial court “completely
failed” to comply with this requirement of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a), and no prejudice analysis
is required. Because the record reflects that Goodson was unaware of the maximum
penalty for each count, we find that she did not enter her plea knowingly, intelligently,
and voluntarily. Therefore, we vacate Goodson’s guilty plea in Case Nos.
CR-13-580768 and CR-14-582561.
{¶15} Accordingly, the first assignment of error is sustained.
Remaining Assignments of Error
{¶16} In the second assignment of error, Goodson argues her 44-year sentence is
contrary to the law because it fails to comply with the purposes of the Ohio’s sentencing
statutes and is not consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by
similar offenders as set forth in R.C. 2929.11. In the third and fourth assignments of
error, Goodson challenges the effectiveness of trial counsel and the trial court’s denial of
her motion to withdraw her guilty plea. However, these remaining assignments of error
are moot in light of our disposition of the first assignment of error.2 App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).
2Whileour disposition of the first assignment of error renders the remaining
assignments of error moot, we note that Goodson’s 44-year sentence seems
inconsistent when compared to similar offenders. In her motion to withdraw,
{¶17} Accordingly, Goodson’s guilty plea and sentence in Case Nos.
CR-13-580768 and CR-14-582561 are vacated. Both matters are remanded to the trial
court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion
It is ordered that appellant recover of appellee costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, PRESIDING JUDGE
MELODY J. STEWART, J., and
MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR
Goodson offered the following evidence: State v. Brown, Case Nos. CR-02-421496
and CR-02-429780 (Brown was employed as supervisory personnel at Parmadale.
He pled guilty to dozens of counts of GSI and was sentenced to a total of eight years
in prison.); State v. Zembower, Case No. CR-02-431388 (Zembower was employed as
supervisory personnel at Parmadale. He pled guilty to two sexual battery counts,
several trafficking in harmful intoxicant counts, and numerous unlawful restraint
counts. He was sentenced to three years in prison and granted judicial release
after one year.) State v. Smith III, Case No. CR-02-431115 (Smith was employed
as supervisory personnel at Parmadale. He pled guilty to attempted GSI and was
sentenced to two years of community control sanction); and State v. Petrovich, Case
No. CR-02-431397 (Petrovich was employed as supervisory personnel at Parmadale.
He was charged with taking a 15-year-old resident off of the campus and having
sexual intercourse with her. He pled guilty to importuning and was sentenced to
six months of community control sanction.) In light of the foregoing, it appears
that her 44-year sentence is inconsistent with similarly situated offenders.
