[Cite as State v. Taylor,
2018-Ohio-2858.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 27700
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-1970
:
ROBERT TAYLOR : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 20th day of July, 2018.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by SARAH E. HUTNIK, Atty. Reg. No. 0095900, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division,
Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
DAVID R. MILES, Atty. Reg. No. 0013841, 125 West Main Street, Suite 201, Fairborn,
Ohio 45324
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
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FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} Robert Taylor pled guilty in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
to kidnapping and gross sexual imposition of a person less than thirteen years of age.
The trial court sentenced him to five years of community control and ordered him to pay
a supervision fee of $250, court-appointed counsel fees of $130, and court costs.
{¶ 2} Taylor appeals from his conviction, claiming that the trial court erred in
ordering him to pay a court-appointed counsel fee. Taylor also claims that his trial
counsel was ineffective by failing to request a waiver of the court-appointed counsel fee,
the supervision fee, and court costs. For the following reasons, the judgment of the trial
court will be affirmed in part and reversed in part, and the matter will be remanded for
the filing of an amended judgment entry that omits the imposition of court-appointed
counsel fees.
I. Procedural History
{¶ 3} On October 19, 2016, Taylor was indicted for one count of rape of a person
less than thirteen years of age in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), a felony of the first
degree, and one count of disseminating material that is harmful to juveniles in violation
of R.C. 2907.31(A)(1), a misdemeanor of the first degree. Taylor pled not guilty to the
indicted charges.
{¶ 4} On the scheduled trial date, Taylor accepted a plea bargain offered by the
State, whereby Taylor agreed to plead guilty by bill of information to one count of
kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2), a felony of the first degree, and one count
of gross sexual imposition of a person less than thirteen years of age in violation of R.C.
2907.05(A)(4), a felony of the third degree. In exchange for Taylor’s guilty plea, the
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State agreed to dismiss the original charges in the indictment. As articulated at the plea
hearing, the parties also agreed that Taylor would serve a full five years of community
control sanctions with a no-break status, be designated a Tier II sex offender, and have
no contact with the victim.1
{¶ 5} After accepting Taylor’s guilty plea, the trial court ordered a presentence
investigation report (“PSI”) and scheduled the matter for sentencing. At the sentencing
hearing, and in conformity with the plea agreement, the trial court sentenced Taylor to
five years of community control. The trial court also designated Taylor a Tier II sex
offender and ordered him to have no contact with the victim. In addition, the trial court
ordered Taylor to pay a $130 court-appointed counsel fee, a $250 supervision fee, and
court costs, which were later calculated to be $1,138. The court-appointed counsel fee
was not imposed as a financial sanction or as a court cost, but as a separate financial
obligation.
{¶ 6} Taylor appeals from his conviction, raising two assignments of error related
to the monetary portions of his sentence.
II. Ability to Pay Court-Appointed Counsel Fees
{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, Taylor claims that the trial court “erred in
ordering [him] to pay court-appointed counsel fees.” Taylor contends that the $130
court-appointed counsel fee imposed by the trial court should be vacated, because the
trial court failed to notify him of the fee at the sentencing hearing and failed to consider
his ability to pay the fee before it was imposed.
1 These additional terms were not on the plea forms, but Taylor and his attorney both
orally indicated at the plea hearing that those terms were part of the plea agreement.
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{¶ 8} At the outset, a trial court’s order to pay court-appointed counsel fees is
distinguishable from both court costs and financial sanctions, which are also
distinguishable from each other.
{¶ 9} Pursuant to R.C. 2947.23, a trial court is required to impose the costs of
prosecution against all convicted defendants and to render a judgment against the
defendant for such costs. State v. Shirk, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-49, 2016-Ohio-
7692, ¶ 8. This is true regardless of whether the defendant is deemed indigent. Id.
The court has jurisdiction at sentencing or anytime thereafter to waive, suspend, or
modify the payment of the costs. R.C. 2947.23(C). Once costs are ordered and a
judgment for them imposed, a defendant has the burden of objecting and seeking
modification of the payment. In other words, costs are paid by the defendant unless
evidence shows and the court finds that he or she is unable to pay.
{¶ 10} Under R.C. 2929.18, a court may order a felony offender to pay, as part of
the sentence, a financial sanction, such as restitution or a fine. Before imposing
financial sanctions under R.C. 2929.18, the trial court is required to consider the
defendant’s present and future ability to pay. R.C. 2929.19(B)(5). R.C. 2929.19(B)(5)
“establishes no particular factors for the court to take into consideration, nor is a hearing
necessary before making this determination. … Moreover, although it is preferable, a
court imposing financial sanctions need not expressly state on the record that it
considered an offender’s ability to pay.” State v. Philbeck, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos.
26466 and 26467, 2015-Ohio-3375, ¶ 27. “The record should, however, contain
‘evidence that the trial court considered the offender’s present and future ability to pay
before imposing the sanction of restitution.’ ” State v. Culver,
160 Ohio App.3d 172,
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2005-Ohio-1359,
826 N.E.2d 367, ¶ 57 (2d Dist.), quoting State v. Robinson, 3d Dist.
Hancock No. 5-04-12,
2004-Ohio-5346, ¶ 17.
{¶ 11} Court-appointed counsel fees and expenses approved by a court are not
court costs or a financial sanction, and they are not directly enforceable as a criminal
sanction. R.C. 2941.51(A); State v. Springs, 2015-Ohio-5016,
53 N.E.3d 804, ¶ 9 (2d
Dist.). R.C. 2941.51(D) specifically provides that court-appointed counsel fees “shall
not be taxed as part of the costs and shall be paid by the county.”
{¶ 12} Nevertheless, “if the person represented has, or reasonably may be
expected to have, the means to meet some part of the cost of the services rendered to
the person, the person shall pay the county an amount that the person reasonably can
be expected to pay.” R.C. 2941.51(D). Therefore, “a defendant may be required to
repay court-appointed counsel fees, but only to the extent deemed reasonable if the
defendant has a present or future ability to pay.” Shirk, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-49,
2016-Ohio-7692, at ¶ 8.
{¶ 13} It is not the defendant’s burden to show that he has the means to pay court-
appointed counsel fees. Absent a contrary determination by the court, the mandate of
the statute is that appointed counsel’s fees are paid by the county. Stated simply,
counsel’s fees are paid by the county unless evidence shows that he or she is able to
pay.
{¶ 14} To properly impose court-appointed counsel fees, the trial court must
(1) consider the defendant’s ability-to-pay and the amount thereof, and (2) notify the
defendant of the imposition of court-appointed counsel fees at sentencing. Shirk at ¶ 9;
Springs at ¶ 10. “[A] trial court errs when it orders a defendant to pay court-appointed
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counsel fees without notifying the defendant of that requirement at sentencing and
determining the defendant’s ability to pay those fees.” (Citation omitted.) State v.
Mitchell, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2014-CA-108, 2016-Ohio-1422, ¶ 24.
{¶ 15} In this case, the record establishes that the trial court properly notified
Taylor of his obligation to pay the court-appointed counsel fees at the sentencing hearing
and included the order to pay the fee in the sentencing entry. However, the trial court
did not expressly state at the sentencing hearing that it found Taylor had the ability to
pay the imposed court-appointed counsel fees.
{¶ 16} The State urges this court to infer that the trial court determined Taylor had
the ability to pay the fee from the trial court’s review of the PSI, which contains
information regarding Taylor’s monthly income, employment history, and health.
{¶ 17} Several appellate districts have held that the trial court must make an
“affirmative determination on the record” that the defendant has, or reasonably may be
expected to have, the means to pay all or some part of the cost of the legal services
rendered to him. E.g., Galion v. Martin, 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-91-6, 1991 WL 261835,
*5 (Dec. 12, 1991); State v. Watkins,
96 Ohio App.3d 195, 198,
644 N.E.2d 1049 (1st
Dist.1994) (relying on Galion); State v. Dahms, 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-11-028, 2012-
Ohio-3181, ¶ 29; State v. McGee, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 02-JE-39,
2003-Ohio-2239,
¶ 8; State v. Drew, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83563,
2004-Ohio-3609, ¶ 9; State v.
Dunaway, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2001-12-280,
2003-Ohio-1062, ¶ 39. However, what
satisfies the trial court’s duty to make an “affirmative determination on the record” varies
among the districts.
{¶ 18} For example, the Twelfth District Court of Appeals has held that “a trial
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court complies with its duty to make an ‘affirmative determination on the record’ under
R.C. 2941.51(D) when the record indicates that the court has considered a PSI
containing the defendant’s financial and employment information.” E.g., State v.
Christman, 12th Dist. Preble Nos. CA2009-03-007 and CA2009-03-008, 2009-Ohio-
6555, ¶ 39, citing State v. Lane, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2002-03-069, 2003-Ohio-1246,
¶ 23. In so holding, the Twelfth District noted that the trial court’s duty to make an
affirmative determination on the record under R.C. 2941.51(D) is similar to the trial
court’s duty to consider the offender’s present and future ability to pay financial sanctions
in accordance with R.C. 2929.19(B)(5). Christman at ¶ 39.
{¶ 19} In contrast, the Sixth and Third District Courts of Appeals, for example,
have required the trial court to make a specific finding regarding a defendant’s ability to
pay court-appointed counsel fees in order satisfy its duty to make an affirmative
determination on the record. See, e.g., State v. Talley, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1187,
2016-Ohio-8010,
74 N.E.3d 868, ¶ 44 (holding that no hearing is required but “there must
be a finding on the record that the offender has the ability to pay and that determination
must be supported by clear and convincing evidence of record”); State v. Ramsey, 3d
Dist. Marion No. 9-10-55,
2012-Ohio-134, ¶ 22.
{¶ 20} This court has not specifically addressed whether the ability-to-pay
determination for court-appointed counsel fees can be inferred from a trial court’s
statement that it has reviewed a PSI, which contains information relevant to that
determination. We conclude that it cannot.
{¶ 21} As stated above, R.C. 2941.51(D) specifically provides that court-
appointed counsel fees shall be paid by the county. Accordingly, there is a statutory
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presumption that the county will pay appointed counsel’s fees and expenses, unless
there is a finding that the defendant has or reasonably may be expected to have the
means to pay some or all of the costs of his or her legal representation. Given this
presumption, we conclude that, prior to imposing court-appointed counsel fees, the trial
court must make an explicit finding that a defendant has or reasonably may be expected
to have the means to pay some or all of the cost of his or her legal representation. In
addition, the trial court is required to specify the amount of appointed-counsel fees that
a defendant can or reasonably may be expected to pay.
{¶ 22} In this case, the trial court reviewed the PSI, which included information
about Taylor’s age, employment history, income, and physical health. We can possibly
infer from the trial court’s review of the PSI that the trial court was aware of information
relevant to the determination of Taylor’s ability to pay court-appointed counsel fees, and,
even as a matter of postdiction, that there was enough information for the court to have
found that Taylor had or reasonably could be expected to have the ability to pay some
appointed-counsel fees. Nevertheless, the court did not affirmatively find that Taylor
has or will have the means to pay some or all of his counsel’s fees and expenses. Since
there was no determination that Taylor has or will have the means to pay his court-
appointed counsel fees, the court erred in ordering Taylor to pay those fees.2
{¶ 23} Taylor’s first assignment of error is sustained.
III. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶ 24} In his second assignment of error, Taylor claims that his trial counsel
2 Any discussion of whether such fees can be ordered paid as part of a plea agreement
or a condition of community control is not presented by this record.
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rendered ineffective assistance by failing to seek a waiver of court costs, the supervision
fee, and the court-appointed counsel fees. Taylor asks that the court costs, supervision
fee, and court-appointed counsel fees imposed by the trial court be vacated or that the
matter be remanded for a new sentencing hearing.
{¶ 25} To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must
demonstrate both that trial counsel’s conduct fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness and that the errors were serious enough to create a reasonable
probability that, but for the errors, the outcome of the case would have been different.
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688,
104 S.Ct. 2052,
80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984);
State v. Bradley,
42 Ohio St.3d 136, 142,
538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). Trial counsel is entitled
to a strong presumption that his or her conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable
assistance. Strickland,
466 U.S. at 688. A defendant is entitled to “reasonable
competence” from his or her attorney, not “perfect advocacy.” See Maryland v. Kulbicki,
136 S.Ct. 2, 5 (2015), citing Yarborough v. Gentry,
540 U.S. 1, 8,
124 S.Ct. 1,
157 L.Ed.2d
1 (2003) (per curiam).
{¶ 26} “Strickland and its progeny establish that when a court is presented with
an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, it should look to the full record presented
by the defendant to determine whether the defendant satisfied his [or her] burden to
prove deficient performance.” Reeves v. Alabama, __ U.S. __, 138 S.Ct. 22, 26,
199
L.Ed.2d 341 (2017). Hindsight is not permitted to distort the assessment of what was
reasonable in light of counsel’s perspective at the time, and a debatable decision
concerning trial strategy cannot form the basis of a finding of ineffective assistance of
counsel. State v. Cook,
65 Ohio St.3d 516, 524-525,
605 N.E.2d 70 (1992); State v.
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Fields, 2017-Ohio-400,
84 N.E.3d 193, ¶ 38 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 27} With respect to the court-appointed counsel fees, we have already
determined that the trial court erred in ordering the payment of those fees without an
express finding regarding Taylor’s ability to pay those fees. Taylor’s claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel with respect to those fees is moot.
{¶ 28} With respect to the court’s imposition of court costs, the trial court was
required to impose court costs in Taylor’s case. Although Taylor’s trial counsel could
have requested a waiver of the payment of those costs at sentencing, counsel’s failure to
do so does not prevent Taylor from now seeking a waiver of those costs. R.C.
2947.23(C). Taylor has not demonstrated a reasonable probability that he was
prejudiced by counsel’s actions.
{¶ 29} Finally, when a defendant has been sentenced to community control, R.C.
2929.18(A)(5)(a)(i) and R.C. 2951.021(A)(1) permit a trial court to impose a monthly
supervision fee, up to $50 per month, for supervision services. The trial court imposed
a single supervision fee of $250. As a financial sanction under R.C. 2929.18, the trial
court was required to consider Taylor’s present and future ability to pay the supervison
fee. See R.C. 2929.19(B)(5).
{¶ 30} Even if Taylor’s defense counsel had been deficient in failing to request a
waiver of the supervision fee, Taylor has not established that there was a reasonable
probability that the trial court would have granted the waiver had counsel made such a
request. At sentencing, Taylor was 53 years old with an 11th grade education. The PSI
indicated that Taylor was financially supported by Social Security disability benefits.
Although Taylor advised the PSI examiner that he did not remember how long he had
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received the benefits, the PSI indicated that during a PSI conducted in 2012, Taylor had
reported that he received Social Security disability benefits in the amount of $683 per
month. The PSI also indicated that Taylor has a child who resides in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; Taylor stated in 2012 that he had a child support obligation, but the current
status of that order is unclear.
{¶ 31} The PSI examiner noted that Taylor reported having no mental disabilities;
however, Taylor claimed that he suffers from short-term memory loss due to being injured
in a hit and run accident in 2009, during which he suffered a collapsed lung and a broken
hip and collar bone. The PSI investigator reported that Taylor “displayed large memory
gaps during his PSI interview.” Taylor reported that his hip has not been replaced since
the accident, which causes him to limp while walking and sometimes requires the
assistance of a cane. While Taylor claimed he could not recall the names and locations
of his prior employers, the PSI examiner noted Taylor had previously reported that he
worked various jobs at Personnel World Temporary Services from 1982 to 1990 and at
Millards from 1992 to 1995.
{¶ 32} At sentencing, the trial court stated that it had carefully reviewed the PSI.
Although the court did not specifically find that Taylor had a present or future ability to pay
a supervision fee of $250, the trial court could have reasonably determined that Taylor
has the ability to pay the supervision fee. On this record, we cannot find that there was
reasonably probability that the trial court would have waived the supervision fee had
counsel requested a waiver.
{¶ 33} Taylor’s second assignment of error is overruled.
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Conclusion
{¶ 34} The judgment of the trial court will be reversed as to the imposition of court-
appointed counsel fees and affirmed in all other respects. The matter will be remanded
for the filing of an amended judgment entry that omits the imposition of court-appointed
counsel fees.
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DONOVAN, J. concurs.
WELBAUM, J., dissenting:
{¶ 35} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s holding that, prior to imposing
court-appointed counsel fees, the trial court must make an explicit finding as to whether
a defendant has the ability to pay the fees and must specify the amount of fees the
defendant can or reasonably may be expected to pay.
{¶ 36} R.C. 2941.51(D) permits the trial court to order a defendant to pay court-
appointed counsel fees if “the person represented has, or reasonably may be expected
to have, the means to meet some part of the cost of the services rendered to the
person[.]” Under this provision, the trial court must make an ability-to-pay
determination; however, there is nothing in the language of the statute requiring the trial
court to make an explicit finding regarding that determination. Moreover, the statute
does not require a trial court to make an explicit finding as to how much the defendant
can reasonably be expected to pay. By requiring the trial court to make such findings,
the majority is improperly adding requirements to R.C. 2941.51(D) that do not exist within
the statute. See Cleveland Elec. Illuminating Co. v. Cleveland, 37 Ohio St.3d 50,
524
N.E.2d 441 (1988), paragraph three of the syllabus (“In matters of [statutory]
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construction, it is the duty of this court to give effect to the words used, not to delete
words used or to insert words not used.”); State ex rel. Tam O’Shanter Co. v. Stark Cty.
Bd. of Elections, 151 Ohio St.3d 134,
2017-Ohio-8167,
86 N.E.3d 332, ¶ 17, quoting
State ex rel. Columbia Reserve Ltd. v. Lorain Cty. Bd. of Elections,
111 Ohio St.3d 167,
2006-Ohio-5019,
855 N.E.2d 815, ¶ 32 (“When interpreting statutory language, ‘[w]e will
not add a requirement that does not exist in the statute.’ ”).
{¶ 37} The trial court’s duty to make an ability-to-pay determination under R.C.
2941.51(D) is very similar to the trial court’s duty under R.C. 2929.19(B)(5) to consider
the offender’s present and future ability to pay before imposing financial sanctions. Just
like R.C. 2941.51(D), the language of R.C. 2929.19(B)(5) does not require the trial court
to make an explicit finding as to the defendant’s ability to pay. As a result, we have
consistently held that “a court imposing financial sanctions need not expressly state on
the record that it considered an offender’s ability to pay. … Where the trial court fails
to make an explicit finding on a defendant’s relative ability to pay, this court has observed
that a trial court’s consideration of this issue may be ‘inferred from the record under
appropriate circumstances.’ ” State v. Conley, 2015-Ohio-2553,
43 N.E.3d 775, ¶ 49
(2d Dist.), quoting State v. Parker, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 03CA0017,
2004-Ohio-1313,
¶ 42. More specifically, we have held that a trial court may comply with its duty under
R.C. 2929.19(B)(5) “ ‘by considering a presentence investigation report (“PSI”), which
includes information about the defendant’s age, health, education, and work history.’ ”
State v. Hull, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2016-CA-5,
2017-Ohio-7934, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Willis,
2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24477,
2012-Ohio-294, ¶ 4.
{¶ 38} Given the similarities between R.C. 2941.51(D) and R.C. 2929.19(B)(5),
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the ability-to-pay determination under R.C. 2941.51(D) should also be inferred from a
trial court’s statement that it reviewed a PSI when the PSI contains information relevant
to that determination. Therefore, I agree with the Twelfth District’s holding that “a trial
court complies with its duty to make an ‘affirmative determination on the record’ under
R.C. 2941.51(D) when the record indicates that the court has considered a PSI
containing the defendant’s financial and employment information.” State v. Christman,
12th Dist. Preble Nos. CA2009-03-007, CA2009-03-008, 2009-Ohio-6555, ¶ 39, citing
State v. Lane, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2002-03-069,
2003-Ohio-1246, ¶ 23 and State v.
Dunaway, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2001-12-280,
2003-Ohio-1062, ¶ 40. “By explicitly
stating that it considered the PSI and then proceeding to impose counsel costs, the trial
court affirmatively determined that appellant could reasonably be expected to have the
ability to pay these costs.” Dunaway at ¶ 40. Accord State v. Flanagan, 12th Dist.
Butler No. CA2002-05-120,
2003-Ohio-1444, ¶ 26; State v. Lunsford, 12th Dist. Butler
No. CA2001-12-284,
2003-Ohio-1442, ¶ 18.
{¶ 39} Because the trial court indicated that it reviewed the PSI in this case, and
the PSI contained information indicating that Taylor had the ability to pay court-appointed
counsel fees, I would overrule Taylor’s first assignment of error and affirm the judgment
of the trial court.
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Copies mailed to:
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.
Sarah E. Hutnik
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David R. Miles
Hon. Dennis J. Adkins
