State v. Scott

[Cite as State v. Scott, 

.]


                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                      ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                            TRUMBULL COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                 CASE NO. 2024-T-0088

                  Plaintiff-Appellee,
                                               Criminal Appeal from the
         - vs -                                Court of Common Pleas

CHANTELLE A. SCOTT, JR.,
                                               Trial Court No. 2024 CR 00372
                  Defendant-Appellant.


                                           OPINION

                                  Decided: March 10, 2025
                  Judgment: Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded


Dennis Watkins, Trumbull County Prosecutor, Ryan J. Sanders and Charles L. Morrow,
Assistant Prosecutors, Administration Building, Fourth Floor, 160 High Street, N.W.,
Warren, OH 44481 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Eric M. Levy, 55 Public Square, Suite 1600, Cleveland, OH 44113 (For Defendant-Appellant).


SCOTT LYNCH, J.

        {¶1}      Defendant-appellant, Chantelle A. Scott, Jr., appeals his convictions and

sentences on drug and firearm charges following the entry of guilty pleas. For the

following reasons, Scott’s convictions are affirmed while his sentences are reversed and

this case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.

        {¶2}      On August 20, 2024, Scott pled guilty to the following charges in the

Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas: Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound

(Count 1), a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(11)(c);

Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (Count 4), a felony of the fourth degree in
violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(11)(b); Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound

(Counts 6 and 7), felonies of the fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(11)(a);

and Having Weapons while under Disability, a felony of the third degree in violation of

R.C. 2923.13(A) and (B), with a specification of forfeiture pursuant to R.C. 2941.1417(A),

2981.02(A)(1)(b) and/or (c)(i), and 2981.04.

       {¶3}   On September 26, 2024, Scott’s sentencing hearing was held pursuant to

R.C. 2929.19. The trial court sentenced Scott to thirty-six months in prison for Possession

(Count 1); eighteen months in prison for Possession (Count 4); twelve months in prison

for Possession (Count 6); twelve months in prison for Possession (Count 7); and thirty-

six months in prison for Having Weapons while under a Disability (Count 8). The court

ordered Scott to serve the sentences for Possession concurrently to each other and

consecutively to the sentence for Having Weapons under a Disability for an aggregate

prison term of seventy-two months. Additionally, the court imposed a mandatory fine of

$5,000 as to Possession (Count 1), suspended his driver’s license for a period of five

years, taxed the cost of prosecution, and notified him that post-release control is

discretionary for up to two years.

       {¶4}   On September 27, 2024, the trial court issued an Entry on Sentence.

       {¶5}   On October 18, 2024, Scott filed a Notice of Appeal.

       {¶6}   On appeal, Scott raises the following assignments of error:

              [1.] Appellant’s plea must be vacated in violation of Crim.R. 11 as not
              entered knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.

              [2.] The trial court erred and imposed a maximum consecutive prison
              sentence which was contrary to law and not supported by the record
              where the trial court failed to find all required factors and failed to
              determine [and] consider the aggregate maximum consecutive

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
              prison sentence ordered and failed to impose post release control at
              the oral sentencing hearing.

              [3.] Appellant received ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

       {¶7}   Under the first assignment of error, Scott argues that his guilty pleas are

invalid on the grounds that the trial court failed to properly advise him of the maximum

penalties involved. “The trial court failed to advise, at the time of the guilty plea(s) that

the guilty plea(s) were subject to a sentence presumed to be in favor of prison, could

result in a mandatory fine imposed and that the trial court could impose a sentence

consecutively in excess of 36-months in prison. The trial court further failed to advise that

Appellant’s plea(s) of guilty could result in a violation of community control or post-release

control.” Defendant-appellant’s Brief on the Merits at 2.

       {¶8}   “When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal case, the plea must be made

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.” State v. Engle, 

 (1996).

“Failure on any one of those points renders enforcement of the plea unconstitutional

under both the United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution.”            Id.; State v.

Dangler, 

. “Ohio’s Crim.R. 11 outlines the procedures that trial

courts are to follow when accepting pleas” to “‘ensur[e] an adequate record on review by

requiring the trial court to personally inform the defendant of his rights and the

consequences of his plea and determine if the plea is understandingly and voluntarily

made.’” (Citation omitted.) 

; State v. Nero, 

 (1990).

       {¶9}   Relevant for the present appeal is Criminal Rule 11(C)(2)(a) which provides:

“In felony cases the court … shall not accept a plea of guilty … without first addressing

the defendant personally … and … [d]etermining that the defendant is making the plea

voluntarily, with understanding … of the maximum penalty involved, and if applicable, that
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Case No. 2024-T-0088
the defendant is not eligible for probation or for the imposition of community control

sanctions at the sentencing hearing.” The duty to ensure that a defendant understands

the maximum penalty is considered to be “nonconstitutional” in nature. State v. Francis,

, ¶ 29.

       {¶10} “When a criminal defendant seeks to have his conviction reversed on

appeal, the traditional rule is that he must establish that an error occurred in the trial-court

proceedings and that he was prejudiced by that error.” 

. “The test for

prejudice is ‘whether the plea would have otherwise been made.’” Id. at ¶ 16, citing 

. “Prejudice must be established ‘on the face of the record.’” (Citations omitted.)

Id. at ¶ 24.

       {¶11} There are two exceptions to the prejudice requirement: First, “[w]hen a trial

court fails to explain the constitutional rights that a defendant waives by pleading guilty or

no contest, we presume that the plea was entered involuntarily and unknowingly, and no

showing of prejudice is required.” Id. at ¶ 14. Second, “a trial court’s complete failure to

comply with a portion of Crim.R. 11(C) eliminates the defendant’s burden to show

prejudice.” Id. at ¶ 15. “Aside from these two exceptions, the traditional rule continues

to apply: a defendant is not entitled to have his plea vacated unless he demonstrates he

was prejudiced by a failure of the trial court to comply with the provisions of Crim.R.

11(C).”   Id. at ¶ 16.    The inquiry into whether a plea has been validly entered is

summarized as follows: “the questions to be answered are simply: (1) has the trial court

complied with the relevant provision of the rule? (2) if the court has not complied fully with

the rule, is the purported failure of a type that excuses a defendant from the burden of



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Case No. 2024-T-0088
demonstrating prejudice? and (3) if a showing of prejudice is required, has the defendant

met that burden?” Id. at ¶ 17.

       {¶12} In addition to complying with Criminal Rule 11, “the trial court judge must

convey accurate information to the defendant so that the defendant can understand the

consequences of his or her decision to enter a valid plea.” State v. Clark, 2008-Ohio-

3748, ¶ 26.      If the trial judge substantially misinforms a defendant about the

consequences of the plea, “the defendant could not have entered the plea knowingly,

intelligently, and voluntarily.” Id. at ¶ 39. “[T]he point of this principle is ‘[w]hen a

defendant is induced to enter a guilty plea by erroneous representations as to the

applicable law, the plea has not been entered knowingly and intelligently.’” (Citation

omitted.) State v. Malorni, 

 (11th Dist.); State v. Mullins, 2023-Ohio-

803, ¶ 20 (8th Dist.) (“[w]hen material misinformation about a consequence of a guilty

plea is conveyed to a defendant, and the court by its silence fails to correct the mistake,

the failure renders the plea less than knowing, intelligent, and voluntary”) (citation

omitted).

       {¶13} The trial judge in the present case advised Scott as follows with respect to

the penalties for the charges to which he was pleading guilty:

                      You’re looking at potential penalties on Count One between 9
              and 36 months in prison, fines up to $10,000, possible license
              suspension of five years; on Count Four, between 6 and 18 months
              in prison, fines up to $5,000, possible license suspension up to five
              years; on Counts Six and Seven, between 6 and 12 months in prison
              on each count, fines up to $2,500, a license suspension possibility
              up to five years; and on Count Eight, a prison sentence between 9
              and 36 months in prison, fines up to $10,000.

                      As to all these counts, prison is not presumed necessary, nor
              is it mandatory, so you could be placed on community control or what
              is known as probation for up to five years under whatever terms and
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Case No. 2024-T-0088
              conditions the Court may deem appropriate. Do you understand the
              potential penalties?

       {¶14} Scott’s first argument under this assignment of error is that the trial court’s

advisement that “prison is not presumed necessary” for any of the charges is erroneous

and renders his plea invalid. Contrary to this advisement, Possession of a Fentanyl-

Related Compound in an amount between five and ten grams (Count 1), carries a

presumption of prison. R.C. 2925.11(C)(11)(c) (“[i]f the drug involved in the violation is a

fentanyl-related compound” and “[i]f the amount of the drug involved … equals or exceeds

five grams but is less than ten grams, … there is a presumption for a prison term for the

offense”).

       {¶15} We do not find that the trial court’s incorrect statement that there was no

presumption of prison with respect to Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound

(Count 1) renders the plea invalid. The fact that a particular charge carries a presumption

of prison is relatively less material or substantial than other aspects of felony sentencing,

such as a mandatory prison term or ineligibility for judicial release. That the necessity of

prison is merely a presumption distinguishes the present case from those where the court

fails to advise a defendant that a prison term is mandatory or incorrectly advises a

defendant that he or she is eligible for judicial release. In those cases, the incorrect

advisements are grounds for invalidating a plea inasmuch as such failures deprive the

defendant of an adequate understanding of the consequences of the plea or induce

reliance on the possibility of no or reduced prison time. State v. Robinson, 2018-Ohio-

4863, ¶ 24 (8th Dist.) (“[i]t is well settled … that where a trial court gives a defendant

‘misinformation regarding judicial release,’ it may invalidate the plea”); State v. Foster,

 (1st Dist.) (“[b]ecause the prospect of probation or community
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Case No. 2024-T-0088
control would be a factor weighing heavily in favor of a plea, … the fact that a community-

control sanction was statutorily precluded could affect the defendant’s decision to enter a

guilty plea”); State v. Tutt, 

 (“where a defendant faces a mandatory

prison sentence as a result of a guilty or no contest plea, the trial court must determine,

prior to accepting a plea, that the defendant understands that he or she is subject to a

mandatory prison sentence and that as a result of the mandatory prison sentence, he or

she is not eligible for probation or community control sanctions”). Unlike a mandatory

prison term, a presumed prison term does not absolutely require the imposition of prison.

The presumption may be removed in favor of community control sanctions where the

court makes certain findings regarding the likelihood of recidivism and the seriousness of

the offense. R.C. 2929.13(D)(2). Thus, while the court incorrectly stated that “prison is

not presumed necessary,” the advisement that Scott “could be placed on community

control or what is known as probation” was accurate.

       {¶16} Conclusively, the misinformation regarding the presumption of prison does

not invalidate Scott’s plea because there is no evidence of prejudice “on the face of the

record,” i.e., that Scott would not have pled guilty but for the mistaken belief that none of

the charges carried a presumption of prison. Dangler, 

. When the

record fails to demonstrate that the misinformation was material to the decision to plead

guilty or otherwise induced the plea, the courts routinely affirm the validity of the plea. 

(“[t]here is nothing in the record indicating that Dangler would not have entered his plea

had he been more thoroughly informed of the details of the sex-offender-classification

scheme”); State v. Hill, 

 (3d Dist.) (“Hill did not indicate at the

change-of-plea hearing that he was pleading guilty based on the possibility of judicial

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
release”); compare Malorni, 

 (11th Dist.) (“it is evident on the face

of the record that Malorni relied on these inaccurate oral advisements when entering her

plea”).

          {¶17} Scott argues that, at the time of the plea hearing, he was on house arrest

and “believed he would remain out on house arrest and be given an opportunity to argue

for community control.” Defendant-appellant’s Brief on the Merits at 13. Instead, the trial

court revoked Scott’s bond following the plea hearing: “He’s got a horrible criminal record

which I’ve just reviewed, which I did not have before. Bond is revoked until sentencing.”

It is not at all evident from the record how the court’s erroneous advisement that there

was no presumption of prison for Possession of Fentanyl-Related Compound had any

connection with his subjective belief that he would remain on house arrest until sentencing

and, more importantly, that his subjective belief had any connection with the decision to

plea. On the contrary, the court advised Scott during the plea colloquy that it could “go

straight to sentencing” while Scott represented that he had not been promised anything

in exchange for plea. Moreover, the written plea agreement, which correctly advised

Scott that for Count 1 a prison term was “presumed necessary,” stated that the underlying

agreement was based on the State dismissing Counts 2, 3, 5, and 9. The agreement is

silent regarding whether bond would be continued until sentencing.

          {¶18} Scott’s second argument under the first assignment of error is that the trial

court’s failure to advise him at the plea colloquy that Possession of a Fentanyl-Related

Compound (Count 1) included a mandatory fine renders his plea invalid. The court

correctly advised Scott that the potential penalties for Count 1 included “fines up to

$10,000” but failed to advise that a fine of $5,000 would be mandatory.                 R.C.

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
2925.11(E)(1)(a) (“[i]f the violation is a felony of the … third degree, the court shall impose

upon the offender the mandatory fine”); R.C. 2929.18(B)(1) (“the sentencing court shall

impose upon the offender a mandatory fine of at least one-half of, but not more than, the

maximum statutory fine amount authorized for the level of the offense pursuant to division

(A)(3) of this section [$10,000]”).

       {¶19} Applying the analytical framework set forth in Dangler, we conclude that the

failure to advise Scott of the mandatory minimum fine of $5,000 does not invalidate his

plea to Possession (Count 1). Initially we find that the trial court was required to advise

Scott that he was subject to a mandatory minimum fine either as part of its duty under

Criminal Rule 11(C) to ensure that Scott understood the maximum penalty involved or

under its constitutional duty to ensure that Scott understood the consequences of entering

his plea. State v. Rogers, 

 (12th Dist.), ¶ 14 (“[t]he trial court’s failure to

advise Rogers of the mandatory fine during the plea colloquy does not comply with the

requirement of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) that a trial court ‘first’ determine a defendant’s

understanding of the maximum penalty before accepting the plea”); compare Boyd v.

Yukins, 

 (6th Cir. 2004) (“[f]or a plea to be intelligent and

knowing, … the defendant must be informed about any mandatory minimum sentences,

which may impact the defendant’s decision to plead guilty”).

       {¶20} We next consider whether Scott is excused from the burden of

demonstrating prejudice and conclude that he is not excused. As noted above, the right

to be advised of the maximum penalty involved is nonconstitutional in nature. Supra at ¶

9. Nor was there a complete failure to advise Scott of the maximum penalty with respect

to a fine. The court properly advised him that the maximum possible fine was $10,000

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
but failed to mention the mandatory minimum fine of $5,000. State v. Fabian, 2020-Ohio-

3926, ¶ 20 (12th Dist.) (“a complete failure to comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) involves a

trial court’s complete omission in advising about a distinct component of the maximum

penalty [such as a prison sentence, a fine, postrelease control, or statutory registration

and notification requirements],” whereas “a trial court’s mention of a component of the

maximum penalty during a plea colloquy, albeit incomplete or perhaps inaccurate, does

not constitute a complete failure to comply with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a)”). Accordingly, it is

necessary for Scott to demonstrate prejudice.

       {¶21} With respect to prejudice, Scott argues that he “was indigent and did not

expect a mandatory fine.” Defendant-appellant’s Brief on the Merits at 13. We find no

demonstrable prejudice. While Scott may not have expected a mandatory fine, he was

duly advised of the possibility of a fine. Nor is there any indication that Scott would not

have pled guilty had he been properly advised about a mandatory fine. As will be

discussed under the third assignment of error, Scott’s indigency undermines a claim of

prejudice inasmuch as it should have allowed him to avoid the imposition of a fine, even

a mandatory one.

       {¶22} Scott’s third argument under the first assignment of error is that there was

a complete failure by the trial court to advise him that his guilty pleas constitute a violation

of other community control sanctions and that any prison terms imposed for the violations

would have to be served consecutively to any prison terms imposed in the present case.

       {¶23} For this argument, Scott relies on the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in

State v. Bishop, 

.              In Bishop, the court held “that Crim.R.

11(C)(2)(a) requires a trial court to advise a criminal defendant on postrelease control for

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
a prior felony, during his plea hearing in a new felony case, of the trial court’s authority

under R.C. 2929.141 to terminate the defendant’s existing postrelease control and to

impose a consecutive prison sentence for the postrelease-control violation.” Id. at ¶ 21.

The failure to make this advisement constitutes a complete failure to comply with the rule

so that prejudice need not be demonstrated. Id. at ¶ 20.

       {¶24} Bishop, however, has no application in the present circumstances inasmuch

as Scott was not on postrelease control or a community control sanction at the time he

entered his pleas. During the plea colloquy, Scott was asked if he was “on any kind of

probation or community control in this state or any other state” and replied, “no.” Scott’s

criminal record confirms his reply. Even presuming Scott was under some such sanction

for the sake of argument, the trial court in the present case neither terminated postrelease

control in another case nor imposed a consecutive sentence for a violation of postrelease

control in another case.

       {¶25} The first assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶26} In the second assignment of error, Scott challenges the imposition of

consecutive sentences and the imposition of maximum sentences for all counts.

       {¶27} “The court hearing an appeal [of a felony sentence] shall review the record,

including the findings underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing

court.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2). “The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise

modify a sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and

remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing … if it clearly and convincingly

finds either … [t]hat the record does not support the sentencing court’s findings under

division … (C)(4) of section 2929.14 [to impose consecutive sentences]” or “[t]hat the

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
sentence is … contrary to law.” R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(a) and (b); State v. Marcum, 2016-

Ohio-1002, ¶ 1. “[A] sentence is contrary to law when it does not fall within the statutory

range for the offense or if the trial court fails to consider the purposes and principles of

felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the sentencing factors set forth in R.C.

2929.12.” (Citations omitted.) State v. Boone, 

 (11th Dist.).

       {¶28} “A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the

overriding purposes of felony sentencing.” R.C. 2929.11(A). “The overriding purposes

of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others,

to punish the offender, and to promote the effective rehabilitation of the offender using

the minimum sanctions that the court determines accomplish those purposes without

imposing an unnecessary burden on state or local government resources.” 

       {¶29} “[A] court that imposes a sentence … upon an offender for a felony has

discretion to determine the most effective way to comply with the purposes and principles

of [felony] sentencing.” R.C. 2929.12(A). “In exercising that discretion, the court shall

consider the factors … relating to the seriousness of the conduct, the factors … relating

to the likelihood of the offender’s recidivism, and … may consider any other factors that

are relevant to achieving those purposes and principles of sentencing.” 

 A non-

exhaustive list of factors relating to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and

likelihood of recidivism is set forth in divisions (B), (C), (D), and (E) of R.C. 2929.12.

“Nothing in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) 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.” State v. Jones,

, also at ¶ 39 (“R.C. 2953.08(G)(2)(b) … does not provide a basis

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
for an appellate court to modify or vacate a sentence based on its view that the sentence

is not supported by the record under R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12”).

      {¶30} Scott’s first argument under this assignment of error is that the trial court

failed to make the necessary findings to impose consecutive sentences.

      {¶31} The default rule in Ohio is that “a prison term, jail term, or sentence of

imprisonment shall be served concurrently with any other prison term, jail term, or

sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court of this state, another state, or the United

States.”   R.C. 2929.41(A).     Nevertheless, the following provision is made for the

imposition of consecutive sentences:

             If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of
             multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the
             prison terms consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive
             service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to
             punish the offender and that consecutive sentences are not
             disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to
             the danger the offender poses to the public, and if the court also finds
             any of the following:

                      (a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple
                      offenses while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing,
                      was under a sanction imposed pursuant to section
                      2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was
                      under post-release control for a prior offense.

                      (b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as
                      part of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused
                      by two or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so
                      great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the
                      offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct
                      adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.

                      (c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates
                      that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the
                      public from future crime by the offender.

R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
       {¶32} “In order to impose consecutive terms of imprisonment, a trial court is

required to make the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing

and incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry, but it has no obligation to state

reasons to support its findings.” State v. Bonnell, 

. “Nor is it

required to give a talismanic incantation of the words of the statute, provided that the

necessary findings can be found in the record and are incorporated into the sentencing

entry.” 

       {¶33} The trial court made the following findings at the sentencing hearing with

respect to consecutive sentences:

                      Pursuant to Revised Code Section 2929.14, the Court finds
              that it is necessary to protect the public from future crime of the
              defendant, that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to
              the seriousness of the offender’s conduct, that some of these
              offenses were committed while he was on PRC or community control
              or awaiting trial, that due to the conduct of the defendant, no single
              prison term would adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct
              of the defendant, the defendant’s criminal history clearly
              demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect
              the public.

       {¶34} Scott argues: “the trial court failed to make all findings required under R.C.

2929.14(C)(4) on the record at the sentencing hearing where it failed to consider whether

consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the danger the offender posed to the

public which is a separate finding to the proportionality to the seriousness of the offender’s

conduct.” Defendant-appellant’s Brief on the Merits at 15-16. Stated otherwise, the

court’s failure to find that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate “to the danger

[Scott] poses to the public” requires the imposition of consecutive sentences to be

vacated. State v. Miller, 

 (8th Dist.) (“the proportionality finding is

stated as a conjunctive phrase and the trial court is required to consider the proportionality
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Case No. 2024-T-0088
of the sentence regarding both the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the danger

the offender poses to the public”) (citation omitted).

       {¶35} This Court and a multitude of other appellate districts have rejected the

position that the failure to expressly make a proportionality finding with respect to the

danger the offender poses to the public renders the imposition of consecutive sentences

invalid. State v. Williams, 

 (11th Dist.) (“[t]he record … support[s] a

conclusion that the court considered that the consecutive sentences were not

disproportionate to the danger presented by the defendant to the public despite not using

the exact words in the statute”). The courts so holding cite the Ohio Supreme Court’s

statement that “a word-for-word recitation of the language of the statute [R.C. 2929.14(C)]

is not required, and as long as the reviewing court can discern that the trial court engaged

in the correct analysis and can determine that the record contains evidence to support

the findings, consecutive sentences should be upheld.” Bonnell, 

. It has also been often remarked that there is a “‘high degree of overlap’ between a

proportionality finding under [R.C. 2929.14(C)] and a finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(b)

regarding the seriousness and severity of the harm caused by an offender’s conduct.”

(Citation omitted.) State v. Vokas, 

 (10th Dist.). “Thus, in the

appropriate context, a trial court’s findings may be applicable to more than one statutory

requirement.” State v. Contes, 

 (8th Dist.); State v. Polhamus,

 (2d Dist.) (affirming the imposition of consecutive sentences where

“the trial court stated ‘that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from

future crime, and that a consecutive sentence is not disproportionate to the seriousness



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Case No. 2024-T-0088
of the Defendant’s conduct’” but “did not recite the next phrase in the statute, ‘and to the

danger the offender poses to the public’”).

       {¶36} Here, it is evident from the record that the trial court did consider the

proportionality of consecutive sentences with respect to the danger Scott poses to the

public. The court did state that consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the

seriousness of Scott’s conduct generally and that Scott’s criminal history demonstrated

that consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public. In other comments, the

court stressed the nature and circumstances of Scott’s criminal activity.        The court

recognized that Scott was in possession of an AK-47 and $3,400 in cash and that, despite

only pleading to possession of drugs, Scott was, in fact, a drug dealer. The court further

noted that Scott had prior felony convictions including a conviction for Having Weapons

while under Disability: “There’s a reason we have gun laws in this country, to prevent

convicted felons like you from having a gun in your possession to go out and cause harm

to someone else. And you do it anyway.” In addition to a prior conviction of Having

Weapons while under a Disability, Scott had served time in prison for Possession of Drugs

and Receiving Stolen Property. Given the foregoing, it is evident that the court engaged

in the appropriate proportionality analysis with respect to the danger Scott poses to the

public despite its failure to employ the precise words of the statute.

       {¶37} Although not raised as error, we note that the trial court’s finding that “some

of these offenses were committed while he was on PRC or community control or awaiting

trial” may not be supported by the record. As discussed under the first assignment of

error, it was represented and accepted at the plea hearing that Scott was not under any

kind of probation or community control at the time he entered his pleas. As reported in

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
the Pre-Sentence Investigation report, Scott does not appear to have been under post-

release control or a community control sanction or awaiting trial at the time he committed

the underlying offenses on October 6, 2022, although Scott committed several additional

felonies after that date.    Assuming, arguendo, that the court’s finding under R.C.

2929.14(C)(4)(a) is invalid, consecutive sentences would nevertheless be affirmed given

the court’s alternative finding under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(c) that “the defendant’s criminal

history clearly demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the

public.”

       {¶38} Scott’s second argument under the second assignment of error is that the

trial court improperly imposed maximum sentences without “mak[ing] the proper statutory

considerations” or “determin[ing] Appellant to be the worst type of offender.” Defendant-

appellant’s Brief on the Merits at 18.

       {¶39} We summarily reject this argument as there are no statutory considerations

particular to the imposition of maximum sentences including whether the defendant is the

worst type of offender. Trial courts are not “required to make findings or give their reasons

for imposing maximum … or more than minimum sentences.” State v. Mathis, 2006-Ohio-

855, ¶ 37. Inasmuch as the court is required to consider the purposes and principles of

felony sentencing, including consideration of the seriousness and recidivism factors, the

court in the present case expressly stated that it did so. Under Jones, 

,

the court’s consideration of these matters is not subject to review.

       {¶40} Scott’s final argument under this assignment of error is that the trial court

failed to orally impose post-release control at the sentencing hearing.



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Case No. 2024-T-0088
       {¶41} “It is established that ‘a trial court has a statutory duty to provide notice of

postrelease control at the sentencing hearing,’” including “the term of supervision … and

the consequences of violating postrelease control.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Bates,

; R.C. 2929.19(B)(2)(e) and (f) (“if the sentencing court determines

at the sentencing hearing that a prison term is necessary or required, the court shall …

[n]otify the offender that the offender may be supervised under section 2967.28 of the

Revised Code [post-release control] after the offender leaves prison” and, “if the offender

violates that supervision or a condition of post-release control …, the parole board may

impose a prison term”).

       {¶42} The trial court in the present case failed to provide any sort of notification

regarding postrelease control (although notification of post-release control was given at

the plea hearing and contained in the written Entry on Sentence). A statutory remedy for

the failure to provide post-release control notifications at sentencing is provided for in R.C.

2929.191(C). State v. Freetage, 

 (“R.C. 2191.191 governs that the

sentencing is not void but is subject to a hearing with the limited purpose of providing the

Appellant with notice of mandatory post-release control”). However, given our disposition

of the third assignment of error, Scott will be entitled to a new sentencing hearing at which

the notifications may be duly given.

       {¶43} The second assignment of error has merit to the extent indicated above.

       {¶44} Under the third assignment of error, Scott maintains that he received

ineffective assistance of counsel during the course of his sentencing with respect to the

merger of the Possession offenses and with respect to the mandatory fine for Possession

(Count 1).

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
       {¶45} “The Sixth Amendment provides, ‘In all criminal prosecutions, the accused

shall enjoy the right … to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.’” State v.

Taylor, 

. A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel arises when

a defendant shows “that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning

as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed [him] by the Sixth Amendment.” (Citation omitted.) State v.

Bates, 

. “To establish ineffective assistance, [a defendant] must

show (1) that defense counsel’s performance was deficient, i.e., that counsel’s

performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) that

counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced him, i.e., that there is a reasonable probability

that but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been different.” State v.

Nicholson, 

. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to

undermine [the court’s] confidence in the outcome.” (Citation omitted.) 

       {¶46} Ohio’s allied-offenses statute provides: “Where the same conduct by

defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the

indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may

be convicted of only one.” R.C. 2941.25(A). Stated otherwise, “[a] defendant may be

indicted and tried for allied offenses of similar import, but may be sentenced on only one

of the allied offenses.” State v. Whitfield, 

 (“R.C. 2941.25(A)’s

mandate that a defendant may be ‘convicted’ of only one allied offense is a protection

against multiple sentences rather than multiple convictions”).

       {¶47} “An accused’s failure to raise the issue of allied offenses of similar import in

the trial court forfeits all but plain error, and a forfeited error is not reversible error unless

it affected the outcome of the proceeding and reversal is necessary to correct a manifest

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
miscarriage of justice.” State v. Rogers, 

, ¶ 3. “Accordingly, an accused

has the burden to demonstrate a reasonable probability that the convictions are for allied

offenses of similar import committed with the same conduct and without a separate

animus; absent that showing, the accused cannot demonstrate that the trial court’s failure

to inquire whether the convictions merge for purposes of sentencing was plain error.” 

       {¶48} In the present case, Scott pled guilty to four Counts of Possession of a

Fentanyl-Related Compound: Count 1 was premised on possession of between five and

ten grams of the drug (R.C. 2925.11(C)(11)(c)); Count 4 was premised on possession of

between one and five grams of the drug (R.C. 2925.11(C)(11)(b)); Counts 6 and 7 were

premised on possession in an unspecified amount (R.C. 2925.11(C)(11)(a)). At the plea

hearing, the prosecutor provided the following factual basis for the charges:

                     Your Honor, on or about the date referenced in the indictment
              [October 6, 2022], in Trumbull County, State of Ohio, officers with the
              Liberty Township Police Department found this defendant in
              possession of 3.25 grams of Fentanyl, .46 grams of Fentanyl, .34
              grams of Fentanyl, 3.25 grams of Fentanyl, and at the same time the
              defendant was also in possession of the three firearms indicated in
              the indictment, he has a prior conviction in 16-CR-485 out of
              Columbiana County for a drug abuse offense, and he was in
              possession of $3,429.

Scott correctly observes that these amounts do not sustain the charges to which he pled

(no single amount exceeded five grams) unless the amounts are aggregated. And, if the

amounts are aggregated, then some of the Possession counts must be allied offenses

inasmuch as they are based on the same conduct, i.e., possession of the same Fentanyl

in individual and aggregate amounts.

       {¶49} Based on the foregoing, we conclude that counsel was ineffective for failing

to raise the issue of merger prior to sentencing and that, given the disparity between the

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Case No. 2024-T-0088
charges and the prosecutor’s statement of the factual basis for the charges, there was a

reasonable probability that Scott was prejudiced by counsel’s failure.                        However, an

examination of the Pre-Sentence Investigation report indicates that the prosecutor may

have erroneously stated the amounts of Fentanyl in Scott’s possession, specifically that

the first mention of 3.25 grams of Fentanyl should have been 6.59 grams consistent with

Count 1 of the indictment.1 Regardless of whether Scott is entitled to merger or whether

a clarification of the factual bases for the charges is necessary, the matter is one that

should have been raised and resolved by the trial court prior to sentencing.

        {¶50} Scott also argues that counsel was ineffective for not filing an affidavit of

indigency to mitigate the $5,000 mandatory fine imposed under Count 1 (discussed supra

at ¶ 20-21).

        {¶51} “If an offender alleges in an affidavit filed with the court prior to sentencing

that the offender is indigent and unable to pay the mandatory fine [imposed for a ‘third

degree felony violation of any provision of Chapter 2925. … of the Revised Code’] and if

the court determines the offender is an indigent person and is unable to pay the

mandatory fine described in this division, the court shall not impose the mandatory fine

upon the offender.” R.C. 2929.18(B)(1).

        {¶52} This court has held that “[t]he failure to file an affidavit attesting to a

defendant’s indigency establishes ineffective assistance of counsel when the record



1. We note that any misstatement by the prosecutor regarding the factual basis for the charges does not,
in the present case, implicate the validity of the guilty pleas themselves. “A guilty plea admits the facts set
forth in the indictment, not the facts set forth at the plea hearing.” State v. Greathouse, 

 (2d Dist.). See State v. Swazey, 

 (“guilty pleas … are confessions of the facts
charged in indictments”); Craig v. State, 

, 418 (1892) (“a plea of guilty, from an early period
in the history of criminal procedure, both in England and in the several states of the Union, has been
regarded as an admission of every material fact well pleaded in the indictment”).
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Case No. 2024-T-0088
shows a reasonable probability that the trial court would have found the defendant

indigent.” State v. Murray, 

 (11th Dist.). We find that there was a

reasonable probability that the trial court would have found Scott indigent and, therefore,

that counsel was ineffective for not filing an affidavit of indigency. We note that Scott was

represented by a public defender before the trial court, was granted a $5 monthly payment

plan toward court costs based on indigency, and filed an affidavit of indigency with his

Notice of Appeal.

       {¶53} The third assignment of error is with merit.

       {¶54} For the foregoing reasons, Scott’s convictions are affirmed, his sentences

are reversed, and this matter is remanded for a new sentencing hearing consistent with

this Opinion. Costs to be taxed against the appellee.



ROBERT J. PATTON, P.J.,

EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.,

concur.




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Case No. 2024-T-0088