[Cite as State v. Baker,
2017-Ohio-1074.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. L-15-1295
L-15-1324
Appellee
v. Trial Court No. CR0201501062
John David Baker
Appellant DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Decided: March 24, 2017
…
Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Molly S. Blythe, for appellant.
…
PIETRYKOWSKI, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, John David Baker, appeals the May 12, 2015 judgment
of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas which, following his guilty pleas to
trafficking in marijuana and tampering with evidence as well as a post-release control
violation, sentenced him to a concurrent sentence of 18 months, and 784 days for the
post-release control violation to be served consecutively to the felony convictions. For
the reasons set forth herein, we affirm.
{¶ 2} On January 13, 2015, appellant and co-defendant Tiara Kendig, were
indicted on several drug-related charges. As to appellant, he was indicted on one count
of trafficking in marijuana, R.C. 2925.03(A)(2) and (C)(3)(b), one count of possession of
marijuana, R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(3)(a) and (B), three counts of possession of drugs,
R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(2)(a), aggravated possession of drugs, R.C. 2925.11(A) and
(C)(1)(a), tampering with evidence, R.C. 2921.12(A)(1) and (B), and illegal use or
possession of drug paraphernalia, R.C. 2915.14(C)(1) and (F). The charges stemmed
from a controlled drug buy by a confidential informant and subsequent execution of a
search warrant at appellant’s residence. Appellant entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
{¶ 3} On March 27, 2015, appellant withdrew his not guilty pleas and entered a
plea of guilty to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a fourth degree felony, and one
count of tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. The remaining six counts were
to be dismissed. Appellant also admitted to a post-release control violation. Following
the court’s May 12, 2015 judgment entry, this consolidated appeal followed.
{¶ 4} In counsel’s appellate brief, under procedures announced in Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738,
87 S.Ct. 1396,
18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), counsel indicates that
she has thoroughly examined the record, discussed the case with appellant, and is unable
to find meritorious grounds for appeal. Following Anders procedure, appellate counsel
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filed a brief setting forth potential grounds for appeal and has also filed a motion to
withdraw as counsel.
{¶ 5} Counsel notified appellant of her inability to find meritorious grounds for
appeal and provided appellant with copies of both the Anders brief and her motion to
withdraw. Counsel advised appellant of his right to file his own appellate brief.
Appellant has not filed an additional brief.
{¶ 6} In her Anders brief, counsel has asserted three potential assignments of
error:
Potential First Assignment of Error: Knowing, Voluntary, Intelligent
Plea and Crim.R.11.
Potential Second Assignment of Error: Ineffective Assistance of
Counsel- Failure to Challenge Search Warrant.
Potential Third Assignment of Error: Jurisdiction of Lucas County
Court of Common Pleas to Sentence Wood County Post Release Control
Violation.
{¶ 7} Appellant’s counsel’s first potential assignment of error examines whether
appellant’s guilty pleas were knowing, voluntary, and intelligent as required under
Crim.R. 11(C). The rule provides, in part:
In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty or a
plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea of guilty or no contest
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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.
(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 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} The underlying purpose of Crim.R. 11(C) is to insure that certain
information is conveyed to the defendant which would allow him or her to make a
voluntary and intelligent decision regarding whether to plead guilty. State v. Ballard, 66
Ohio St.2d 473, 479-480,
423 N.E.2d 115 (1981). With respect to constitutional rights, a
trial court must strictly comply with the dictates of Crim.R. 11(C). State v. Colbert, 71
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Ohio App.3d 734, 737,
595 N.E.2d 401 (11th Dist.1991). However, a trial court need not
use the exact language found in that rule when informing a defendant of his constitutional
rights. Ballard at paragraph two of the syllabus. Rather, a trial court must explain those
rights in a manner reasonably intelligible to the defendant.
Id.
{¶ 9} For nonconstitutional rights, scrupulous adherence to Crim.R. 11(C) is not
required; the trial court must substantially comply, provided no prejudicial effect occurs
before a guilty plea is accepted. State v. Stewart, 51 Ohio St.2d 86,
364 N.E.2d 1163
(1977). “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. Nero,
56 Ohio St.3d 106, 108,
564 N.E.2d 474 (1990).
{¶ 10} Upon careful review of the transcript of the March 26, 2015 plea hearing,
we find that the trial court fully complied with Crim.R. 11(C) prior to accepting
appellant’s plea. As to appellant’s constitutional rights, the court informed appellant of
his right to trial by jury, right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, right to
compulsory process, the right to proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the right to remain
silent, and appellant’s limited appeal right.
{¶ 11} Appellant was also informed of the nature of the charges to which he was
admitting, the maximum penalties involved, and post-release control requirements. The
court further confirmed that no promises or threats were made to get appellant to enter his
pleas, that he was satisfied with counsel’s advice and representation, and that appellant
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believed that entering the pleas was in his best interest. Accordingly, we reject
appellant’s counsel’s first potential assignment of error.
{¶ 12} Appellant’s counsel’s second potential assignment of error contends that
trial counsel was ineffective by failing to file a motion to suppress the evidence obtained
upon execution of the search warrant. Counsel specifically points to the probable cause
affidavit as well as the timing of the search.
{¶ 13} We first note that to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant
must demonstrate “(1) deficient performance of counsel, i.e., performance falling below
an objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been
different.” State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St.3d 118,
2008-Ohio-3426,
892 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 204,
citing Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687-88,
104 S.Ct. 2052,
80 L.Ed.2d 674
(1984). “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in
the outcome.”
Id. at 694. When, however, a defendant enters a guilty plea or no contest
plea, he waives the right to claim that he was prejudiced by constitutionally ineffective
counsel, unless the conduct complained of is shown to have prevented the defendant from
making a knowing and voluntary plea. State v. Barnett,
73 Ohio App.3d 244, 248-249,
596 N.E.2d 1101 (2d Dist.1991).
{¶ 14} Opposing appellant’s counsel’s claims, the state first notes that by entering
a guilty plea, appellant has waived all errors except those relating to the knowing and
voluntary nature of his plea and sentence. Further, the probable cause affidavit, though
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attached to appellant’s brief, is not contained in the record and, thus, not reviewable on
appeal.
{¶ 15} As to the effect of appellant’s guilty plea, we agree that “‘a defendant who
pleads guilty generally waives the right to make allegations of ineffective assistance of
counsel … for failure to move for suppression unless he alleges that the error caused
the plea to be less than knowing, voluntary, and intelligent.’” State v. Arnold, 2d Dist.
Clark Nos. 2014-CA-23, 2014-CA-24, 2014-CA-25, 2014-CA-26, 2015-Ohio-1580, ¶ 10,
quoting State v. Jackson, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13 MA 121,
2014-Ohio-2249, ¶ 17.
{¶ 16} We further agree that our review of appellant’s claims is limited to the
materials contained in the record of the trial court proceedings. However, even a cursory
review of the argument demonstrates that it lacks merit. The affidavit at issue clearly
provides probable cause and supports the court’s issuance of the search warrant. The
affidavit sets forth the location, the extensive experience and basis of the officer’s
knowledge, the timeliness of the information, and the positive marijuana testing that was
conducted.
{¶ 17} We further reject appellant’s counsel’s contention that the warrant was not
valid because it was not executed within three days as required under Crim.R. 41(C).
The warrant was issued on Friday, September 26, 2014, and was executed on Tuesday,
September 30. We agree that Crim.R. 41(C), provides that a search warrant “shall
command the officer to search, within three days, the person or place named ….”
However, Crim.R. 45(A) states:
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In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these
rules, by the local rules of any court, by order of court, or by any applicable
statute, the date of the act or event from which the designated period of
time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so
computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal
holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which
is not Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. When the period of time
prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in computation.
{¶ 18} Crim.R. 45(A) has repeatedly been applied to computing time for the
execution of search warrants under Crim.R. 41(C). See State v. Coleman, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 91058, 2009-Ohio-1611; State v. Hill, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18875,
2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 5939 (Dec. 28, 2001); State v. Mansor, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-85-
197,
1986 Ohio App. LEXIS 5564 (Feb. 7, 1986).
{¶ 19} Finally, we find no error in trial counsel’s failure to challenge the judge
who issued the search warrant containing a waiver of the requirement that the officers
“knock and announce” before entry into the home. Such waiver may be appropriate
where the court
determines there is probable cause to believe that, if the law
enforcement officers or other authorized individuals who execute the
warrant are required to comply with the statutory precondition for
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nonconsensual entry, they will be subjected to a risk of serious physical
harm and to believe that the address of the dwelling house or other building
to be searched is the correct address in relation to the criminal offense or
other violation of law underlying the issuance of the warrant. R.C.
2933.231.
{¶ 20} In the present matter, we again note that the affidavit in support of the
search warrant is not part of the appellate record. However, a cursory review of the
materials shows that the officer was informed that appellant possessed a firearm and after
reviewing his criminal history, was made aware of several prior convictions involving
violence. Further, a pit bull was known to be present on the property.
{¶ 21} Based on the foregoing, we conclude that appellant’s counsel has not
demonstrated that trial counsel’s representation was deficient. Thus, we find appellant’s
counsel’s second potential assignment of error not well-taken.
{¶ 22} Appellant’s counsel’s third and final potential assignment of error
questions the jurisdiction of the trial court to impose a sentence for appellant’s Wood
County post-release control violation stemming from his conviction in this case. Counsel
admits that R.C. 2929.141(A) provides that upon conviction or a plea of guilty to a felony
by an individual on post-release control,
the court may terminate the term of post-release control, and the
court may do either of the following regardless of whether the sentencing
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court or another court of this state imposed the original prison term for
which the person is on post-release control:
(1) In addition to any prison term for the new felony, impose a
prison term for the post-release control violation.
{¶ 23} Upon review, we agree that the trial court had the authority to impose a
prison term for the Wood County post-release control violation. Appellant’s counsel’s
third potential assignment of error is not well-taken.
{¶ 24} Upon our own independent review of the record as required by Anders, we
find no other grounds for a meritorious appeal. This appeal is, therefore, found to be
without merit and is wholly frivolous. Appellant’s counsel’s motion to withdraw is found
well-taken and is hereby granted. The judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common
Pleas is affirmed. Pursuant to App.R. 24, appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this
appeal. The clerk is ordered to serve all parties with notice of this decision.
Judgment affirmed.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
_______________________________
James D. Jensen, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
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This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
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