[Cite as State v. Pack,
2023-Ohio-3200.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLERMONT COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Appellee, : CASE NOS. CA2022-12-087
CA2022-12-088
: CA2022-12-089
- vs -
: OPINION
9/11/2023
RICKY LEE PACK, :
Appellant. :
APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case Nos. 2019 CR 00748, 2019 CR 01046 and 2021 CR 00187
Mark J. Tekulve, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney, and Nicholas Horton, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Denise S. Barone, for appellant.
HENDRICKSON, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Ricky Lee Pack, appeals the judgment of the Clermont County
Court of Common Pleas revoking his community control in three cases and sentencing him
to an aggregate prison term of 54 months. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.
{¶ 2} On August 1, 2019, appellant was indicted in the Clermont County Court of
Common Pleas Case No. 2019 CR 00748 ("Case No. 748") on one count of possession of
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a fentanyl-related compound in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), a felony of the fifth degree. He
was subsequently indicted on October 22, 2019 in the Clermont County Court of Common
Pleas Case No. 2019 CR 01046 ("Case No. 1046") on aggravated possession of drugs
(methamphetamine), possession of heroin, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, and
possession of drugs (tramadol), fourth-degree felonies in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A). On
November 26, 2019, appellant pled guilty as charged in Case No. 748 and, in Case No.
1046, pled guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of drugs
(tramadol). Appellant was sentenced in December 2019 on both cases to a four-year term
of community control, which included conditions that he participate in and successfully
complete all programing at the Community Corrections Center (CCC), follow through with
all recommended follow-up treatments, refrain from drug and alcohol use, and report to and
comply with the directives of the probation department. Appellant was advised that failure
to comply with the terms of his community control could result in the revocation of his
community control and the imposition of consecutive 12-month prison terms imposed on
each possession count in Case No. 1046, which would be served consecutively to a 12-
month prison term imposed in Case No. 748.
{¶ 3} On September 10, 2020, appellant's probation officer filed an affidavit of
community control violation, alleging that appellant violated his probation in Case Nos. 748
and 1046 by (1) failing to report as directed, (2) failing to follow the probation department's
verbal and written commands, (3) failing to participate in and successfully complete
recommended substance abuse treatment and counseling at Brightview upon his release
from the CCC, and (4) admitting he would test positive for methamphetamine on two
occasions. Appellant entered an admission to the foregoing violations and, on December
28, 2020, the trial court continued appellant on community control in both cases. However,
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as an additional term of community control, the court ordered that appellant attend
Brightview for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
{¶ 4} A month later, on January 28, 2021, appellant's probation officer filed another
affidavit of community control violation, alleging that appellant violated his probation in Case
Nos. 748 and 1046 by (1) committing a theft offense, (2) failing to report as directed, (3)
failing to follow the probation department's verbal and written commands, and (4) failing to
contact or engage in treatment at Brightview following his release from jail in December
2020. The allegation that appellant committed a theft offense was dismissed and appellant
entered an admission to the remaining violations. On March 3, 2021, the trial court
continued appellant on community control in both cases, but added as an additional term
of his community control that appellant participate in and successfully complete all available
programming at Turtle Creek Halfway House.
{¶ 5} On March 11, 2021, in Clermont County Court of Common Pleas Case No.
2021 CR 00187 ("Case No. 187"), appellant was indicted on one count of complicity to
grand theft of a motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 2923.03 and 2913.02(A)(1), a felony of the
fourth degree. Appellant pled guilty to the charge and on June 4, 2021, was sentenced to
four years of community control. As a condition of his community control, appellant was
ordered to successfully complete all available programming at Turtle Creek. Appellant was
advised that the failure to comply with the terms of his community control could result in the
revocation of his community control and the imposition of an 18-month prison term, which
would be run consecutively to any prison term already being served or that was being
imposed at that time.
{¶ 6} A little over a month later, on July 12, 2021, appellant's probation officer filed
an affidavit of community control violation in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187. The affidavit
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alleged that appellant had failed to follow the probation department's verbal and written
commands and had failed to successfully complete treatment at Turtle Creek as he had
absconded from the halfway house on July 7, 2021. A bench warrant was issued for
appellant's arrest.
{¶ 7} More than a year later, appellant was arrested and brought before the
common pleas court on the community control violations and for an arraignment in a fourth
criminal case. Appellant entered an admission to the community control violations and the
court held a sentencing hearing on December 6, 2022. At this hearing, appellant's counsel
addressed the court, stating that appellant wanted him to raise the issue of competency or
not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) "so that these cases are continued for another day
while there is that evaluation process." Counsel told the court that he had explained to
appellant that he could not ethically file a motion that he knew had no merit. He indicated
he had spoken with appellant "probably five times" about the most recent probation
violations and sentencing and appellant had made repeated requests that counsel seek
competency and NGRI evaluations. However, counsel indicated that nothing during his
conversations with appellant indicated appellant had any competency issues that needed
addressed by the court. Counsel stated, "[appellant] is an intelligent individual who
understands his avenues, in my opinion, of strategy. I have no issues with [appellant's]
intelligence or competency." Counsel then stated that he would have filed for a competency
or a NGRI evaluation if he "reasonably, even remotely felt that was an issue," but he did
not.
{¶ 8} The court, in turn, noted that the issue of appellant wanting a competency
evaluation had initially arisen at an earlier pretrial hearing. In response to appellant
personally raising the issue of competency, the trial court indicated the following:
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THE COURT: I listened to the recording. I listened to my
conversation with Mr. Pack, and certainly, my review of the
interaction that we had, there's no indication whatsoever of any
issues of competency.
…
[Appellant's counsel] has been counsel for many years with the
Public Defender. Certainly, he's filed competency, NGRI
motions on behalf of clients before. He's had extensive contact
and discussion with Mr. Pack. I certainly would believe based
on the record here, and I can't recall the specifics, but I believe
that it was mentioned last time and either on the record or in
pretrial or in chambers, and that the court went back and
listened to his admissions to these probation violations.
I didn't see anything in any record that would indicate to the
Court at any point in time that he had an issue with competency
that the Court needed to sua sponte address. His counsel's
indicated he has no issues. It appears to be a delay tactic at
this time. It appears to be simply a delay tactic on behalf of Mr.
Pack.
The court found no reason to delay sentencing on the community control violations and
proceeded to revoke appellant's community control in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187.
{¶ 9} In revoking appellant's community control, the trial court specifically
referenced the principles and purposes of felony sentencing under R.C. 2929.11 and the
seriousness and recidivism factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12. After considering these
statutes and noting appellant's lengthy criminal history, his multiple community control
violations, and his act of absconding for over a year, the court found that "prison is
consistent with the purposes [and] principles of sentencing here. Community control is no
longer consistent. He's no longer amenable." With respect to Case No. 748, the court
imposed a 12-month sentence. It imposed two consecutive 12-month prison terms in Case
No. 1046 and an 18-month prison term in Case No. 187. The sentences in all three cases
were run consecutively to one another, for an aggregate prison term of 54 months. In
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imposing consecutive sentences, the trial court made the necessary findings under R.C.
2929.14(C)(4).
{¶ 10} Appellant appealed the revocation of his community control, raising two
assignments of error for review.
{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 12} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF RICKY LEE PACK BY
REFUSING TO ENTERTAIN HIS ORAL MOTION TO BE FOUND NOT GUILTY BY
REASON OF INSANITY.
{¶ 13} Although the caption of appellant's first assignment of error alleges prejudice
as a result of the trial court's refusal to consider his oral motion to be found not guilty by
reason of insanity, the body of appellant's first assignment of error solely raises an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Specifically, appellant argues his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to file a motion for a competency evaluation or a motion to enter a
NGRI plea to the community control violations. We limit our analysis to a discussion of
appellant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim.1
{¶ 14} "In order to prevail on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, a defendant
1. We note that our review is limited to the proceedings on appellant's most recent community control
violations. To the extent that appellant seeks to challenge his trial counsel's failure to file a motion for a
competency evaluation or for an NGRI evaluation as it related to the guilty pleas he entered in November
2019 in Case Nos. 748 and 1046 or in April 2021 in Case No. 187 on the respective possession and grand
theft offenses, his arguments are untimely and barred. See App.R. 4(A)(1) (noting that a party who wishes to
appeal from an order that is final must "file the notice of appeal … within 30 days of that entry"); State v.
Jordan, Slip Opinion No. 2023-Ohio-2666, ¶ 37 (noting that "once a trial court's order becomes final and
appealable, a party must either appeal the order or forgo any challenge to it"). Final judgment entries, each
entitled "Judgment Entry Sentencing Defendant to Community Control," were filed on January 2, 2022 in Case
Nos. 748 and 1046 and on June 4, 2021 in Case No. 187. Appellant did not file a notice of appeal seeking to
challenge any of the judgment entries sentencing appellant to community control within the timeframe
specified by App.R. 4. This court, therefore, is without jurisdiction to consider a challenge to the guilty pleas
entered in Case Nos. 748, 1046, and 187. Jones at ¶ 37. Accordingly, our review is limited to appellant's
admission to the July 2021 allegations that he violated his community control by absconding from Turtle Creek
Halfway House and failing to follow the probation department's verbal and written commands.
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must prove that counsel's performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced
by counsel's deficient performance." State v. Davis, 159 Ohio St.3d 31,
2020-Ohio-309, ¶
10, citing State v. Bradley,
42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142 (1989) and Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687,
104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). "Thus, the defendant must demonstrate that
counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that there
exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's error, the result of the proceeding
would have been different."
Id., citing Bradley at paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.
"'A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.'"
Bradley at 142, quoting Strickland at 694. The failure to satisfy either the
deficiency prong or the prejudice prong of the test is fatal to a claim of ineffective assistance
of counsel. State v. Madrigal,
87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389 (2000).
{¶ 15} "NGRI is an affirmative defense that a defendant must prove by a
preponderance of the evidence." State v. Magee, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2019-11-083,
2020-Ohio-4351, ¶ 14, citing State v. Monford,
190 Ohio App.3d 35,
2010-Ohio-4732, ¶ 70
(10th Dist.). "A person is 'not guilty by reason of insanity' relative to a charge of an offense
only if the person proves, in the manner specified in section 2901.05 of the Revised Code,
that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know, as a result of a
severe mental disease or defect, the wrongfulness of the person's acts." R.C.
2901.01(A)(14).
{¶ 16} "[T]he standard for competency is different, in that it relates to the defendant's
present mental condition and his ability to understand the nature of the proceedings against
him and to assist his counsel in his defense." Monford at ¶ 69. A defendant is presumed
to be competent unless it is demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that he is
incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against him or of
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presently assisting in his defense. R.C. 2945.37(G); State v. Murphy, 173 Ohio App.3d
221,
2007-Ohio-4535, ¶ 28 (12th Dist.).
{¶ 17} Having reviewed the record in the present case, we find that appellant's
ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails on both the deficiency prong and the prejudice
prong. There is nothing in the record to suggest that appellant was incompetent or that he
was not guilty by reason of insanity at the time he violated the terms of his community
control. Rather, based on defense counsel's representations and the trial court's dialogue
with appellant at the community control violation hearing and at sentencing, the record
suggests the contrary. Appellant was capable of understanding the nature and objective of
the violation proceedings against him, capable of assisting his defense, and capable of
making an informed, voluntary, and intelligent decision to enter an admission to the
violations. Counsel was therefore not deficient for not requesting a competency or NGRI
evaluation when such a request would have been frivolous. "An attorney is not ineffective
for failing to make a futile or frivolous request." State v. White, 12th Dist. Madison Nos.
CA2021-05-007 and CA2021-05-008, 2022-Ohio-2182, ¶ 14. See also State v. Powers,
12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2021-06-026,
2021-Ohio-4357, ¶ 19 ("Defense counsel
appeared to have no reasoned basis to conclude appellant was incompetent to stand trial
and counsel is not ineffective for not raising a futile issue").
{¶ 18} Furthermore, appellant cannot demonstrate he was prejudiced by counsel's
decision not to request NGRI and competency evaluations. The record demonstrates
appellant only wanted the evaluations to delay proceedings on his community control
violations and not because he was experiencing an inability to understand the nature of the
proceedings, to assist in his defense, or because, at the time of the commission of the
offenses, he did not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, the
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wrongfulness of his acts.
{¶ 19} Appellant's first assignment of error is therefore overruled.
{¶ 20} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 21} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF RICKY LEE PACK BY
ORDERING HIM TO SERVE A PRISON TERM.
{¶ 22} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by
ordering him to serve an excessive prison term for what he contends "amounts to, basically,
low-degree felonies" for which "[t]he only victim in his cases is society at large; there is no
specific victim."
{¶ 23} "We review the trial court's sentencing decision for a community control
violation under the standard of review set forth by R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)." State v. Roberts,
12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-02-025, 2019-Ohio-4205, ¶ 5. Pursuant to R.C.
2953.08(G)(2), an appellate court can modify or vacate a sentence only if it clearly and
convincingly finds either of the following:
(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's
findings under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division
(B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section
2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;
(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
"A sentence is not clearly and convincingly contrary to law where the trial court 'considers
the principles and purposes of R.C. 2929.11, as well as the factors listed in R.C. 2929.12,
properly imposes postrelease control, and sentences the defendant within the permissible
statutory range.'" State v. Haruyama, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-03-030, 2022-Ohio-
4225, ¶ 8, quoting State v. Ahlers, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-06-100, 2016-Ohio-2890,
¶ 8.
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{¶ 24} Appellant does not argue that the trial court improperly imposed consecutive
sentences under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) or argue that the findings made by the trial court in
imposing consecutive sentences were not supported by the record. See, e.g., State v.
Gwynne, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-4607. Instead, he limits his argument to the
contention that "[t]he trial court failed to follow the purposes and principles of R.C. 2929.11
when sentencing Ricky Lee Pack, as well as the factors in R.C. 2929.12," which he alleges
resulted in an excessive sentence.
{¶ 25} "R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) does not permit an appellate court to conduct an
independent review of a trial court's sentencing findings under R.C. 2929.12 or its
adherence to the purposes of felony sentencing under R.C. 2929.11." (Emphasis added.)
State v. Bryant, 168 Ohio St.3d 250,
2022-Ohio-1878, ¶ 21, citing State v. Jones,
163 Ohio
St.3d 242,
2020-Ohio-6729, ¶ 41-42. The supreme court reached this conclusion in Jones
after noting that nothing within the statute permits an appellate court to "independently
weigh the evidence in the record and substitute its judgment for that of the trial court
concerning the sentence that best reflects compliance with R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12."
Jones at ¶ 42. See also State v. Lopez-Cruz, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-07-068, 2023-
Ohio-257, ¶ 7.
{¶ 26} Given the supreme court's holding in Jones, we are precluded from reviewing
a felony sentence where, as here, appellant's sole contention is that the trial court
improperly considered the factors of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 in imposing a sentence.
Lopez-Cruz at ¶ 7. See also State v. Skorich, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-22-1233, 2023-Ohio-
2993, ¶ 14-15. Instead, our review is limited to determining whether the sentence imposed
is contrary to law. Having reviewed the record in the present case, we find that the
aggregate 54-month sentence imposed on appellant was not excessive and was not clearly
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and convincingly contrary to law as the court took into consideration all relevant statutory
factors set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 prior to issuing its decision, properly imposed
postrelease control, and sentenced appellant within the permissible statutory range for each
of the fourth- and fifth-degree felonies for which he was convicted. Appellant's second
assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
{¶ 27} Judgment affirmed.
S. POWELL, P.J., and M. POWELL, J., concur.
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