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2025 Ohio 4628

State v. Light

Ohio Court of Appeals

Decided October 6, 2025

Ohio Court of Appeals · decided 2025-10-06

Plea Withdrawal; Ineffective Counsel. Trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying presentence motion to withdraw guilty plea.

Relies on Strickland v. Washington · State v. Bradley · State v. Xie

Decided 2025-10-06

[Cite as State v. Light, 
2025-Ohio-4628
.]




                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                UNION COUNTY




STATE OF OHIO,
                                                     CASE NO. 14-25-08
         PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

    v.

ERIC BENJAMIN LIGHT,                                 OPINION AND
                                                     JUDGMENT ENTRY
         DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.




                   Appeal from Union County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. 2024-CR-0098

                                       Judgment Affirmed

                             Date of Decision: October 6, 2025




APPEARANCES:

         Alison Boggs for Appellant

         Raymond Kelly Hamilton for Appellee
Case No. 14-25-08




WALDICK, P.J.


       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Eric B. Light (“Light”), brings this appeal from

the January 30, 2025, judgment of the Union County Common Pleas Court. On

appeal, Light argues that the trial court erred by denying his presentence motion to

withdraw his guilty plea, and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. For

the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                     Background

       {¶2} On May 17, 2024, Light was indicted for Strangulation in violation of

R.C. 2903.18(B)(2), a third degree felony, Felonious Assault in violation of R.C.

2903.11(A)(1), a second degree felony, Domestic Violence in violation of R.C.

2919.25(A), a first degree misdemeanor, and Aggravated Menacing in violation of

R.C. 2903.21(A), a first degree misdemeanor. It was alleged that Light had an

altercation with his girlfriend wherein Light strangled and struck his girlfriend,

leaving her visibly bruised. Further, it was alleged that during the altercation Light’s

girlfriend suffered a fractured bone in her hand. Law enforcement was called by the

victim’s father while Light was not present. Officers who responded observed

injuries on Light’s girlfriend and she was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Light

originally pled not guilty to the charges.



                                             -2-
Case No. 14-25-08



       {¶3} After multiple pretrial hearings, a jury trial was set for December 2-4,

2024. However, on November 26, 2024, the parties entered into a written negotiated

plea agreement wherein Light agreed to plead guilty to a reduced, amended charge

of Strangulation in violation of R.C. 2903.18(B)(3), a fifth degree felony. In

exchange, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining charges.

       {¶4} The trial court held a Crim.R. 11 change-of-plea hearing and

determined that Light was entering a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea.

Light’s plea was accepted, a pre-sentence investigation was ordered, and sentencing

was set for January 16, 2025.

       {¶5} When the matter convened for the scheduled sentencing hearing,

Light’s attorney indicated he had just been informed by Light that Light wanted to

withdraw his guilty plea. Light’s attorney stated that Light’s request caught him “off

guard” and he was not prepared to argue a motion to withdraw Light’s plea that day.

The trial court indicated it would set a hearing date on the motion to withdraw, and,

in the meantime, Light could file a written motion to withdraw his plea.

       {¶6} On January 28, 2025, Light filed a written motion to withdraw his plea.

He argued that presentence motion to withdraw pleas should be “freely and liberally

granted,” and that the State would experience minimal prejudice due to the

withdrawal. He also contended that on the date of the plea hearing he expressed

some reservations when the State recited a factual basis for the charges.


                                         -3-
Case No. 14-25-08



       {¶7} In addition, Light contended that in the pre-sentence investigation he

maintained his innocence. Further, he argued that the alleged victim had been

inconsistent and reluctant to appear or cooperate in the prosecution. In fact, he

argued that, “The State is in possession of a written recantation of the allegations by

the alleged ‘victim.’” (Doc. No. 45). Light also argued, for apparently the first time,

that he had an alibi, claiming that he “was at work for 3 hours already when this

allegedly happened.” (Id.)

       {¶8} The State filed a response contending that Light was simply having a

“change of heart,” which was not a sufficient basis to withdraw a plea. The State

referenced the change-of-plea hearing wherein Light indicated he fully understood

what he was doing. Further, the State argued that it would be prejudiced by Light’s

withdrawal, particularly because Light had been speaking to the victim.

       {¶9} On January 30, 2025, the trial court held a hearing on Light’s motion to

withdraw his guilty plea. Light’s counsel orally argued in favor of the motion to

withdraw, contending that Light had maintained his factual innocence. In addition,

Light’s counsel argued that the alleged victim had been arrested on drug charges

making it easier for the State to secure her testimony at trial, thus there could be

little prejudice to the State.

       {¶10} The State argued that Light had six months to assert an alibi prior to

his plea or scheduled trial date and he was only just raising the issue. The State also


                                          -4-
Case No. 14-25-08



presented a short segment of a phone call between Light and the alleged victim from

October 6, 2024, wherein Light was attempting to get money and the alleged victim

stated she was “trying to avoid the court for a reason.” (Jan. 30, 2025, Tr. at 10).

Light responded that he was aware the victim was trying to avoid court. The State

argued that Light was tampering with the alleged victim and that the alleged victim

was afraid of Light as shown on police body camera footage from the date of the

alleged incident.

       {¶11} Following the arguments of the parties, the trial court conducted a

lengthy analysis on the record and ultimately overruled Light’s motion to withdraw

his plea. The trial court then proceeded to sentencing and reviewed Light’s criminal

history, which included multiple prior felonies. After reviewing the sentencing

factors, the trial court sentenced Light to five years of community control.

       {¶12} The trial court filed a final judgment entry denying Light’s motion to

withdraw and sentencing him to community control on January 30, 2025. It is from

this judgment that Light appeals, asserting the following assignments of error for

our review.

                            First Assignment of Error

       The trial court erred when it overruled Appellant’s motion to
       withdraw his plea before he was sentenced.




                                         -5-
Case No. 14-25-08




                           Second Assignment of Error

       Appellant was denied the effective assistance of counsel as
       guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the
       United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio
       Constitution.

                              First Assignment of Error

       {¶13} In his first assignment of error, Light argues that the trial court abused

its discretion by denying his presentence motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

                                 Standard of Review

       {¶14} Criminal Rule 32.1 governs the withdrawal of guilty pleas and it reads,

“A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest may be made only before

sentence is imposed; but to correct manifest injustice the court after sentence may

set aside the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or

her plea.”

       {¶15} The Supreme Court of Ohio has emphasized that “ ‘[a] presentence

motion to withdraw a guilty plea should be freely and liberally granted.’ ” State v.

Barnes, 
2022-Ohio-4486, ¶ 13
, quoting State v. Xie, 
62 Ohio St.3d 521, 527
 (1992).

However, the Supreme Court of Ohio continued by indicating that a defendant does

not have an “absolute right” to withdraw his plea, even when the motion to withdraw

is made prior to sentencing. 
Id.
 citing 
Id.


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Case No. 14-25-08



       The Supreme Court of Ohio held in Barnes that:

       Before ruling on a defendant’s presentence motion to withdraw his
       plea, the trial court must conduct a hearing to determine whether there
       is a reasonable and legitimate basis for withdrawing the plea. [
Xie at 527
]. The determination whether there is a reasonable and legitimate
       basis for the defendant's request to withdraw his plea is ‘within the
       sound discretion of the trial court.’

Barnes at ¶ 13
, quoting Xie at paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶16} Because the determination of whether a defendant’s basis is

reasonable and legitimate is within a trial court’s sound discretion, a trial court’s

ruling on a motion to withdraw a guilty plea will not be reversed in the absence of

an abuse of discretion. 
Id.
 An abuse of discretion is present where the trial court’s

decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, or capricious. State v. Wallace, 2023-Ohio-

3014, ¶ 28 (3d Dist.)

                                   Legal Analysis

       {¶17} In reviewing a trial court’s decision on a motion to withdraw a guilty

plea, appellate courts have historically relied on a list of considerations that have

included the following nine-factor analysis:

       (1) whether the withdrawal will prejudice the prosecution; (2) the
       representation afforded to the defendant by counsel; (3) the extent of
       the hearing held pursuant to Crim.R. 11; (4) the extent of the hearing
       on the motion to withdraw the plea; (5) whether the trial court gave
       full and fair consideration of the motion; (6) whether the timing of the
       motion was reasonable; (7) the stated reasons for the motion; (8)

                                         -7-
Case No. 14-25-08



       whether the defendant understood the nature of the charges and
       potential sentences; and (9) whether the accused was perhaps not
       guilty or had a complete defense to the charges.

State v. Bingham, 
2019-Ohio-3324, ¶ 42
 (3d Dist.).

       {¶18} However, in Barnes, a divided opinion from the Supreme Court of

Ohio with four votes in the majority and three in the dissent, the majority did not

apply the nine-factor analysis typically applied by appellate courts in cases

involving a motion to withdraw a guilty plea. In Barnes, the defendant and two other

people exchanged gunfire in an altercation that killed one bystander and injured two

others. 
Barnes, supra, at ¶ 3-4
. After pleading guilty to the resulting charges, the

defendant asserted that he became aware of video footage that recorded the

altercation. 
Id.
 He moved to withdraw his guilty plea as he believed this footage

could establish that he had acted in self-defense. 
Id.
 The trial court denied his motion

to withdraw his guilty plea. 
Id.

       {¶19} After the Eighth District affirmed the trial court’s decision, the

Supreme Court of Ohio accepted the case to consider the following proposition of

law:

       A defendant has a reasonable and legitimate basis to withdraw a guilty
       plea before sentencing, upon learning of evidence that: (1) was
       previously withheld from the defendant; and (2) would have changed
       the defendant’s decision to plead guilty.




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Case No. 14-25-08



Barnes, supra, at ¶ 12
. In resolving this question, the Supreme Court of Ohio

concluded that, “when a defendant discovers evidence that would have affected his

decision to plead guilty, he has a reasonable and legitimate basis to withdraw his

guilty plea before sentencing.” (Emphasis added.) Id. at ¶ 24. Moreover, the

majority indicated that under State v. 
Xie, supra,
 when a defendant “wants to

withdraw [his] plea before he has been sentenced, the trial court should permit him

to withdraw his plea. This is the presumption from which all other considerations

must start.” 
Barnes at ¶ 21
. Based on the record, the majority concluded that the

State had not overcome the “presumption that Barnes’s motion to withdraw his

guilty plea must be freely and liberally granted.” Id. at ¶ 23.

         {¶20} Since Barnes was decided, many Ohio appellate courts have noted that

the Supreme Court of Ohio did not entirely reject the nine-factor analysis that

appellate courts have typically applied in evaluating motions to withdraw guilty

pleas.1 State v. Wroten, 
2023-Ohio-966, ¶ 31
 (2d Dist.); Wallace, 
2023-Ohio-3014, ¶ 29
 (3d Dist.); State v. Gutierrez, 
2025-Ohio-1884, ¶ 45
 (4th Dist.); State v. Kohler,

2023-Ohio-1772, ¶ 14
 (5th Dist.); State v. Grier, 
2023-Ohio-207, ¶ 26
 (6th Dist.);

State v. Figueroa, 
2025-Ohio-1997, ¶ 33
 (7th Dist.); State v. Johnson, 2023-Ohio-

371, ¶ 43 (8th Dist.); State v. Hogan, 
2025-Ohio-2241, ¶ 15
 (10th Dist.); State v.



1
 In a separate concurrence, one justice, and one judge sitting by assignment, indicated that they would
“discard the nine-factor analysis,” but there were only two votes for this position. Barnes at ¶ 28.

                                                    -9-
Case No. 14-25-08



Facemire, 
2025-Ohio-1500, ¶ 17
 (11th Dist.); State v. McWhorter, 2024-Ohio-

5753, ¶ 12 (12th Dist.). Rather, the Barnes majority held that these “factors do not

apply here.” (Emphasis added). 
Barnes, supra, at ¶ 24
. For this reason, a number of

our sister districts have held that the nine-factor analysis continues to apply outside

of cases that are factually similar to Barnes. Wroten; Wallace; Gutierrez; Kohler;

Grier; Figueroa; Johnson; Hogan; Facemire; McWhorter. However, it is important

to emphasize that consideration of the nine factors is a balancing test, and no one

factor is dispositive. 
Hogan at ¶ 16
.

       {¶21} First, we must determine if this case is similar to Barnes such that its

holding should apply here regardless of any nine-factor analysis. Under Barnes, if

Light learned of new evidence that was withheld from him, and that evidence would

have impacted his decision to plead guilty, then reversal would be appropriate here.

       {¶22} In this case, Light’s claim to “new evidence” consists of the following

language in his written motion to withdraw his plea:

       [T]he alleged “victim” has been inconsistent, reluctant to appear or
       cooperate in the prosecution and submitted a full recantation of the
       allegations. As noted below he submitted a potential alibi (dependent
       on specific times and evidence).

       ...

       Pertinent to the Instant case, it is asserted the physical evidence is
       inconsistent with the specific allegations of assaultive conduct. The
       State is in possession of a written recantation of the allegations by the
       alleged “victim”. Accordingly, the Defendant has maintained
       innocence up to and during the previously scheduled plea hearing and
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Case No. 14-25-08



       even before the sentencing hearing, the Court was aware of the
       presentence report, wherein the Defendant stated, “I didn’t commit
       any crime as alleged” and “I was at work for 3 hours already when
       this allegedly happened.”

(All emphasis sic.) (Doc. No. 45).

       {¶23} Light’s claim to an alibi that he had not asserted before would not

constitute “new” evidence; however, arguably a recantation from the victim could

be considered new evidence under Barnes if he was unaware of it prior to pleading

guilty and the State did not provide Light with this information. The principal

problem with Light’s argument on appeal is that we have no further information in

the record regarding this alleged recantation. We do not know for certain that the

purported recantation exists because it is not in the record. We do not know whether

Light was informed of any recantation by the State if it exists, or if any purported

recantation occurred before or after Light entered his guilty plea.

       {¶24} Light’s counsel did not mention the purported recantation at the

hearing on the motion to withdraw. Instead he orally argued that Light had

maintained his innocence and struggled with the plea agreement during the plea

hearing. He also argued there was little prejudice to the prosecution. Without any

actual documentation that the purported recantation exists, that Light was previously

unaware of it, and that it would have impacted his plea, we do not find that this case

is similar to Barnes. Thus inasmuch as Light relies on Barnes to support reversal

here, his argument is not well-taken.
                                        -11-
Case No. 14-25-08



       {¶25} As Barnes does not compel reversal here, we will address the

traditional factors that Ohio Appellate Courts have considered when evaluating

whether a trial court abused its discretion by denying a presentence motion to

withdraw a guilty plea. We will review the factors in turn.

       {¶26} The first factor is whether the withdrawal will prejudice the

prosecution. Light argues that withdrawal will not prejudice the prosecution because

the alleged victim was incarcerated and facing a potential lengthy prison sentence,

thus she should be accessible to the State.

       {¶27} The State counters by contending that the alleged victim had been

uncooperative throughout the proceedings despite the documented evidence such as

the police body camera footage and the hospital records, and she was already likely

to be called as a court’s witness. The State argues that Light had maintained contact

with the alleged victim, including in the phone call wherein the alleged victim

indicated she was trying to avoid court for “reasons.” The State argues that Light

had effectively been tampering with the alleged victim and as more time passed that

was only getting worse. Based on the State’s arguments, the trial court could

properly find that there was some prejudice to the State.

       {¶28} The next factor concerns Light’s representation and whether his

counsel was competent. Light argues on appeal that there were deficiencies with his

counsel at the change-of-plea hearing, but that is not reflected in the record. Defense


                                         -12-
Case No. 14-25-08



counsel negotiated a deal wherein Light would have one fifth-degree felony

conviction instead of facing a second degree felony and another third degree felony.

At the change-of-plea hearing, Light indicated he was perfectly satisfied with his

counsel when he was asked. In fact, there were multiple moments in the hearing

where Light spoke to his attorney and he continued to express that he was satisfied

with his counsel.

       {¶29} Light now contends that his attorney was less than competent because

he did not investigate Light’s alibi. However, Light’s “alibi” seems to be based on

his claim that an altercation occurred between himself and the victim, then he left

for work. He believed that when he left for work, her injuries were not as bad as

they were later when the victim went to the hospital. (Jan. 30, 2025, Tr. at 23). Light

claims that he was thus, perhaps, at work when the injuries occurred, depending on

when they occurred. Given the specious nature of Light’s argument, we do not find

his counsel was less than competent for failing to raise this “alibi” issue earlier,

particularly when Light maintained adamantly at the change-of-plea hearing that he

was satisfied with his attorney’s representation. By all accounts, the record supports

a finding that Light received representation from highly competent defense counsel.

       {¶30} Next, we consider the extent of the plea hearing pursuant to Crim.R.

11, and the related factor of whether Light understood the nature of the charges and

potential sentences. A review of the change-of-plea hearing establishes that the trial


                                         -13-
Case No. 14-25-08



court thoroughly covered all of the constitutional and non-constitutional

advisements at the plea hearing. Light indicated that he understood the rights he was

waving and he indicated he understood the maximum possible penalties.

       {¶31} The only time that Light seemed to express any notable reservations

at the plea hearing was after the trial court had the prosecutor recite a “statement of

facts” for the record. After the prosecutor recited the “facts,” the following exchange

occurred:

       THE COURT: Mr. Light, you’ve heard the statement of facts as read
       by the Prosecuting Attorney. Do you agree with the statement of
       facts?

       [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: (INAUDIBLE PRIVATE DISCUSSION
       WAS HELD BETWEEN THE DEFENDANT AND ATTORNEY
       SPALL AT THE COUNSEL TABLE.) Then answer the Judge’s
       question.

       DEFENDANT: Yes, your honor.

       THE COURT: Do you agree that within the statement of facts, that
       the statement of facts includes the allegation that you committed the
       offense of strangulation? And therefore, as a result of agreeing to the
       statement of facts, do you agree that you committed the act of
       strangulation as set forth as a felony of the fourth – fifth degree?

       DEFENDANT: Yes.

       THE COURT: I’m trying to – I’m trying to make it easy on you
       because the next question was going to be after you agree to the
       statement of facts, do you agree that you committed the acts as alleged
       in the statement of facts? And if you don’t want to agree to all of them,
       that’s okay. But you’re – you are, by pleading guilty to strangulation,
       you’re agreeing that you committed the offense of strangulation as
       stated within the statement of facts. You with me?
                                         -14-
Case No. 14-25-08




      DEFENDANT: I understand it.

      THE COURT: Do you agree with that or not?

      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: (INAUDIBLE PRIVATE DISCUSSION
      HELD BETWEEN THE DEFENDANT AND ATTORNEY SPALL
      AT THE COUNSEL TABLE.) Your Honor, could we have a brief
      recess? Mr. Light, I think, has some questions for me and concerns
      about –

      THE COURT: I’m happy to give you all the recess that you want. But
      if we don’t get this over with, we’re going to trial on Monday. We’ll
      pause the record.

      ...

      [A recess was taken from 3:56 p.m. to 4:14 p.m.]

      ...

      [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: After some discussion with Mr. Light, he is
      prepared to go forward with the plea. Although he did take issue with
      some of the facts recited by the State, he is prepared to stipulate to
      facts sufficient to find him guilty of the strangulation offense for
      which he’s pleading guilty today. I think he just took some issue and
      it can be addressed at sentencing with some of the issues raised by the
      – or recited by the State in terms of specifics and the allegations,
      basically, drawn directly from a police report. And I think he’ll be
      prepared to address some of the more specific events or discrepancies
      in both the PSI, should the court order one, and at the sentencing
      hearing, your Honor. But with that, he is prepared to enter the plea
      and continue.

      THE COURT: Mr. Light, you’ve heard your attorney’s statement, do
      you so stipulate?

      DEFENDANT: Yes.



                                       -15-
Case No. 14-25-08



       THE COURT: Then to count one, the offense of strangulation, a
       felony of the fifth degree, how do you plead?

       DEFENDANT: Guilty.

(Tr. at 20-23).

       {¶32} Other than the preceding segment, Light was unequivocal in his

responses to the trial court, repeatedly answering that he understood the rights he

was waving and the penalties he was facing. The preceding segment shows only that

Light did not necessarily agree to the entire statement of facts read by the prosecutor,

which included statements regarding significant bruising to the victim separate from

the strangulation and a hand fracture.

       {¶33} Simply put, a full review of the plea hearing establishes that Light

expressed at the time of the hearing he was entering a knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary plea, and that he was fully aware of the charges and potential sentences.

       {¶34} The next factors we consider are interrelated: the extent of the hearing

on the motion to withdraw the plea, the trial court’s consideration of the motion,

and the timing of the motion. As for the timing of the motion, it was technically a

presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea; however, it was made orally on the

date of sentencing even though sentencing was over a month after the change-of-

plea hearing. Nevertheless, Light is still entitled to review under a presentence

standard, which weighs in his favor.



                                         -16-
Case No. 14-25-08



       {¶35} When Light made his oral motion to withdraw his plea at sentencing,

the trial court set the matter for a hearing so that defense counsel could file a written

motion in the meantime, and then could present any desired evidence at the hearing.

The trial court held a hearing on the motion and did not limit any presentation of

evidence or argument from the parties. Thus a full hearing was held.

       {¶36} Furthermore, by all accounts the trial court gave “full and fair

consideration” to the motion. The trial court thoroughly reviewed the change-of-

plea hearing, noting Light’s repeated acknowledgement of the rights he was waving.

At the very least, there is nothing to suggest that the trial court gave anything less

than full and fair consideration to the motion.

       {¶37} Finally, we consider the stated reasons for the motion to withdraw, and

whether the accused was not guilty or had a complete defense. As for the stated

reasons of the motion, we have already discussed that Light did not present any

actual evidence of the victim recanting. Similarly, his claim to an alibi is spurious

at best. His sole claim to complete innocence is in the PSI wherein he claimed he

did not commit any crime. This is contradicted by defense counsel’s statement at

sentencing that Light took issue with what he saw in the photographs—“he doesn’t

believe [the injuries] were the result of that earlier altercation.” (Jan. 30, 2025, Tr.

at 23). Light’s contention thus seems to revolve around the severity of the injuries,

even though he was not pleading guilty to the Felonious Assault charge.


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Case No. 14-25-08



       {¶38} After reviewing all of the factors, we do not find that the trial court

abused its discretion by denying Light’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

Numerous factors weighed against him and Light presented no actual evidence to

support his claims. State v. Estrep, 
2024-Ohio-58
, ¶ 42-43 (4th Dist.) (holding that

a change of heart or buyer’s remorse do not constitute a legitimate basis to grant a

pre-sentence motion to withdraw a plea, while noting that it is not unusual for a

defendant to have some degree of “cold feet” when confronted with the penalties

that may be imposed that day). Therefore, his first assignment of error is overruled.

                            Second Assignment of Error

       {¶39} In his second assignment of error, Light argues that his attorney was

ineffective for multiple reasons.

                                Standard of Review

       {¶40} We review alleged instances of ineffective assistance of counsel under

the two-part analysis found in Strickland v. Washington, 
466 U.S. 668
 (1984), which

the Ohio Supreme Court adopted in State v. Bradley, 
42 Ohio St.3d 136
 (1989). To

prevail on an ineffective-assistance claim, a defendant must show that trial counsel

rendered deficient performance and that counsel's deficient performance prejudiced

him. Strickland at paragraph two of the syllabus; Bradley at paragraph two of the

syllabus. “A plea of guilty waives any claim that the accused was prejudiced


                                        -18-
Case No. 14-25-08



by ineffective assistance of trial counsel, except to the extent that the ineffectiveness

alleged may have caused the guilty plea to be less than knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary.” State v. Stivender, 
2011-Ohio-247
, ¶ 15 (2d. Dist.).

                                         Analysis

         {¶41} Light first argues that his attorney was ineffective for failing to “attach

copies of the writings wherein the victim recanted” to the motion to withdraw the

plea. As stated previously, we have no evidence in the record that this document

exists. State v. King, 
2024-Ohio-4705
, ¶ 7 (2d Dist.) (“[T]he record does not reveal

what discovery defense counsel shared with Jordan or what counsel told him

regarding a guilty plea ... Because these arguments rely on information outside the

record, they are not cognizable on direct appeal.”). Thus, this argument is not well-

taken.

         {¶42} Next, Light argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

object to playing “a snippet of a phone conversation” between Light and the victim

at the hearing on the motion to withdraw. Light’s argument ignores the fact that his

counsel argued strongly against the phone conversation being admissible as

evidence. He also does not establish how the conversation was inadmissible at the

hearing on his motion to withdraw his plea.

         {¶43} Finally, Light argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing

to more properly establish his “alibi” defense, but no notice of alibi has been filed

                                           -19-
Case No. 14-25-08



and there is no indication that Light actually had an alibi. Light’s unsupported

accusations do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.

       {¶44} After reviewing the record, we find that Light has not demonstrated

ineffective counsel such that it rendered his plea anything less than knowing,

intelligent, and voluntary. Therefore, his second assignment of error is overruled.

                                    Conclusion

       {¶45} Having found no error prejudicial to Light in the particulars assigned

and argued, his assignments of error are overruled and the judgment of the Union

County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.

                                                                   Judgment Affirmed


ZIMMERMAN and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.




                                        -20-
Case No. 14-25-08



                            JUDGMENT ENTRY

       For the reasons stated in the opinion of this Court, the assignments of error

are overruled and it is the judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the

trial court is affirmed with costs assessed to Appellant for which judgment is hereby

rendered. The cause is hereby remanded to the trial court for execution of the

judgment for costs.

       It is further ordered that the Clerk of this Court certify a copy of this Court’s

judgment entry and opinion to the trial court as the mandate prescribed by App.R.

27; and serve a copy of this Court’s judgment entry and opinion on each party to the

proceedings and note the date of service in the docket. See App.R. 30.




                                            Juergen A. Waldick, Judge



                                            William R. Zimmerman, Judge



                                            John R. Willamowski, Judge

DATED:
/jlm




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