State v. Brown

[Cite as State v. Brown, 2022-Ohio-4197.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

ROSS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, : Case No. 21CA3758

:

Plaintiff-Appellee, :

:

v. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT

: ENTRY

JAMARR E. BROWN, :

:

Defendant-Appellant. : RELEASED: 11/17/2022

APPEARANCES:

Jamarr E. Brown, Appellant, Pro Se.

Jeffrey C. Marks, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Pamela C. Wells, Ross

County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellee.

Wilkin, J.

{¶1} This is an appeal by appellant Jamarr E. Brown (“Brown) of his

criminal conviction in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas. Appellee, the

state of Ohio (“state”) has filed a brief in opposition.

{¶2} Brown asserts four assignments of error: (1) “It was prejudicial error

in violation of the defendant-appellant’s Absolute right to procedural due process

of law as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as

Article I Section 16, Ohio Constitution for the trial court to dismiss the application

to withdraw without the court making and filing written findings of facts and

conclusions of law relative its decision to overrule the motion to withdraw plea

which effectively a warranted the appellee a summary judgment[,]” (2) “It was

prejudicial error in violation of the appellant’s absolute right to procedural Due

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 2

process of law for the trial court to sua sponte grant the State of Ohio the

equivalent of a summary judgment even though the State never appeared in the

case in violation of the appellant right as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to

the U.S. Constitution as well as Under Article I, Section 16, Ohio Constitution[,]”

(3) “The trial court erred and abused its discretion and violated the appellant’s

absolute right to procedural due process of law where the court failed to give the

motion to withdraw plea its due consideration in violation of the 14th Amendment

to the U.S. Constitution as well as Article I, Section 16, Ohio Constitution [,]” and

(4) “It was plain and prejudicial error for the trial court below not to Grant the

appellant relief in the case where the record is clear that the appellant arrest and

prosecution was illegally obtained and contrary to clearly established federal

constitutional law as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court and the result of

defense counsel’s ineffectiveness.”

{¶3} In response, the state asserts: (1) the trial court is not required to

issue findings of fact and conclusions of law when addressing post-sentence

motions to withdraw guilty pleas according to Crim.R. 32.1, (2) when the

defendant files a motion to withdraw a plea post-sentencing, the state is not

required to respond and contest it – it is the defendant’s burden to show that a

manifest injustice has occurred, (3) the trial court did not abuse its discretion

when it entered a ruling without a hearing on this post-sentence motion to

withdraw plea, and (4) Brown’s motion to withdraw guilty plea is barred by the

doctrine of res judicata, and he did not establish a manifest injustice occurred in

his trial proceedings.

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 3

{¶4} After our review of the party’s arguments, the record, and the

applicable law, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Brown’s motion to withdraw his plea. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.

BACKGROUND

{¶5} On July 12, 2019, the state charged Brown with eight criminal counts

that included (1) two counts of having a weapon while under a disability in

violation of R.C. 2923.13, third-degree felonies; (2) one count of possession of

heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.11, a first-degree felony; (3) two counts of

aggravated possession of drugs in violation of 2925.11, third and fifth-degree

felonies; (4) one count of trafficking in heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.03, a first-

degree felony; and (5) two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation of

R.C. 2925.03, third and fifth-degree felonies.

{¶6} On February 6, 2020, the trial court held a plea hearing during which

the court engaged in a Crim.R. 11 colloquy with Brown advising him of the

constitutional rights he was waiving in pleading guilty to all eight counts, and

confirmed that his plea was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. Brown signed a

plea agreement acknowledging the same. At sentencing the court merged: (1)

counts three and six (possession of heroin and trafficking in heroin), (2) counts

four and seven (aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in

drugs), (3) counts five and eight (aggravated possession of drugs and

aggravated trafficking in drugs). The court then sentenced Brown as follows:

Counts One and Two, 36 months; Count Three, mandatory four years; Count

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 4

Four, twelve months; and Count Five, 36 months. Counts One, Two and Five

were to be served concurrently to each other and consecutively to Counts Three

and Four.

{¶7} On June 28, 2021, Brown filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea

purporting that his plea was not knowing, voluntary, or intelligent because his

counsel did not did not file a motion to suppress and should have requested

“summary dismissal based on the insufficiency of evidence[.]” On September 27,

2021, the trial court issued an entry denying Brown’s motion without holding an

evidentiary hearing. It is this judgment that Brown appeals.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

I. IT WAS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN VIOLATION OF THE DEFENDANT-

APPELLANT’S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS

OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS ARTICLE I SECTION 16, OHIO

CONSTITUTION FOR THE TRIAL COURT TO DISMISS THE

APPLICATION TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT THE COURT MAKING AND

FILING WRITTEN FINDINGS OF FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

RELATIVE ITS DECISION TO OVERRULE THE MOTION TO

WITHDRAW PLEA WHICH EFFECTIVELY A WARRANTED THE

APPELLEE SUMMARY JUDGEMENT

II. IT WAS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN VIOLATION OF THE APPELLANT’S

ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS OF LAW FOR

THE TRIAL COURT TO SUA SPONTE GRANT THE STATE OF OHIO

THE EQUIVALENT OF A SUMMARY JUDGMENT EVEN THOUGH THE

STATE NEVER APPEARED IN THE CASE IN VIOLATION OF THE

APPELLANT RIGHT AS GUARANTEED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT

TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS UNDER ARTICLE I,

SECTION 16, OHIO CONSTITUTION

III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND

VIOLATED THE APPELLANT’S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PROCEDURAL

DUE PROCESS OF LAW WHERE THE COURT FAILED TO GIVE THE

MOTION TO WITHDRAW PLEA ITS DUE CONSIDERATION IN

VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

AS WELL AS ARTICLE I, SECTION 16, OHIO CONSTITUTION

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 5

IV. IT WAS PLAIN AND PREJUDICIAL ERROR FOR THE TRIAL COURT

BELOW NOT TO GRANT THE APPELLANT RELIEF IN THE CASE

WHERE THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT THE APPELLANT ARREST

AND PROSECUTION WAS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED AND CONTRARY

TO CLEARLY ESTABLISHED FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AS

DETERMINED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND THE RESULT OF

DEFENSE COUNSEL’S INEFFECTIVENESS.

A. Standard of Review

{¶8} “An appellate court reviews a trial court's decision on a motion to

withdraw a plea under an abuse-of-discretion standard.” State v. Francis, 104

Ohio St. 3d 490, 2004-Ohio-6894, 820 N.E.2d 355, ¶ 32, citing State v. Smith, 49

Ohio St.2d 261, 361 N.E.2d 1324 (1977), paragraph two of the syllabus (deciding

a post-sentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is within the trial court’s

discretion); State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 584 N.E.2d 715, (1992), paragraph

two of the syllabus (deciding a presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea is

within the trial court’s discretion). The Supreme Court has defined “ ‘abuse of

discretion’ as an ‘unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable use of discretion, or

as a view or action that no conscientious judge could honestly have taken.’

” State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73, 2014-Ohio-1966, 15 N.E.3d 818, ¶ 67,

quoting State v. Brady, 119 Ohio St.3d 375, 2008-Ohio-4493, 894 N.E.2d 671, ¶

23. “ ‘Abuse of discretion’ has been described as including a ruling that lacks a

‘sound reasoning process.’ ” State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-

2407, 972 N.E.2d 528, ¶ 14, quoting AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community

Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161, 553 N.E.2d 597 (1990).

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 6

B. Crim.R. 32.1

{¶9} Crim R. 32.1 distinguishes between a motion to withdraw a guilty plea

filed prior to sentencing, and one filed after sentencing.

1. Pre-sentence Motion to Withdraw a Plea

{¶10} “ ‘ “[A] presentence motion to withdraw a guilty plea should

be freely and liberally granted.” ’ ” State v. Lester, 4th Dist. Vinton No. 12CA689,

2013-Ohio-2485, quoting State v. Ketterer, 126 Ohio St.3d 448, 2010-Ohio-3831,

935 N.E.2d 9, ¶ 57, quoting Xie at 527. When presented with a presentence

motion to withdraw a guilty plea, the “trial court must conduct a hearing to

determine whether there is a reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal

of the plea.” State v. Davis, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 05CA9, 2005-Ohio-5015, ¶

9, citing Xie at 527.

2. Post-Sentence Motion to Withdraw Plea

{¶11} However, a “defendant who seeks to withdraw a plea of guilty after

the imposition of sentence has the burden of establishing the existence

of manifest injustice.” State v. Straley, 159 Ohio St. 3d 82, 2019-Ohio-5206, 147

N.E.3d 623, ¶ 14, quoting State v. Smith, 49 Ohio St.2d 261,361 N.E.2d 1324

(1977), paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Smith, 4th Dist. Ross No.

21CA3739, 2021-Ohio-4028, ¶ 16. “A ‘manifest injustice’ is defined as a clear or

openly unjust act. Straley at ¶ 14, citing State ex rel. Schneider v. Kreiner, 83

Ohio St.3d 203, 208, 699 N.E.2d 83 (1998). It “relates to a fundamental flaw in

the plea proceedings resulting in a miscarriage of justice.” Id., citing State v.

Tekulve, 188 Ohio App.3d 792, 2010-Ohio-3604, 936 N.E.2d 1030, ¶ 7 (1st

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 7

Dist.), citing Kreiner at 208, 699 N.E.2d 83 and Smith at 264, 361 N.E.2d 1324.

While manifest injustice has been described under various circumstances, it is

permissible as grounds to withdraw a post-sentence motion to withdraw a plea

“only in extraordinary cases.” Id., quoting Smith at 264, 361 N.E.2d 1324. “The

logic behind this precept is to discourage a defendant from pleading guilty to test

the weight of potential reprisal, and later withdraw the plea if the sentence was

unexpectedly severe.” State v. Caraballo, 17 Ohio St. 3d 66, 67, 477 N.E.2d 627

(1985), citing State v. Peterseim, 68 Ohio App.2d 211, 213, 428 N.E.2d 863 (8th

Dist.1980), quoting Kadwell v. United States, 315 F.2d 667 (C.A.9 1963).

{¶12} Moreover, “[this court], along with other districts, have held that a

defendant also cannot establish the manifest injustice required under Crim.R.

32.1 to withdraw a plea where he could have sought redress for the alleged error

through another application reasonably available to him[,]” including a direct

appeal of a criminal conviction. State v. Mitchem, 4th Dist. Jackson Nos.

19CA10, 19CA11, 2020-Ohio-1080, ¶ 16, citing State v. Ables, 4th Dist.

Pickaway No. 11CA22, 2012-Ohio-3377, ¶ 12; State v. Current, 2d Dist.

Champaign No. 2010 CA 31, 2012-Ohio-1851, ¶ 7.

{¶13} Finally, “[a] trial court is not always required to conduct an

evidentiary hearing when presented with a post-sentence motion to withdraw a

guilty plea.” State v. Vincent, 4th Dist. Ross No. 3CA2713, 2003-Ohio-3998, ¶

10, citing State v. Nathan, 99 Ohio App.3d 722, 651 N.E.2d 1044 (3d Dist.

1995); State v. Woods, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82120, 2003-Ohio-2475; State v.

Jacobson, 4th Dist. Adams No. 01CA730, 2003-Ohio-1201; State v. Moore, 4th

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 8

Dist. Pike No. 01CA674, 2002-Ohio-5748. “Instead, a trial court need only

conduct an evidentiary hearing when the facts, as alleged by the defendant,

indicate a manifest injustice would occur if the plea was allowed to stand.” Id.,

citing Nathan; Jacobson.

3. Res Judicata

{¶14} Straley also recognized that “[r]es judicata generally bars a

defendant from raising claims in a Crim.R. 32.1 postsentencing motion to

withdraw a guilty plea that he raised or could have raised on direct appeal.” 159

Ohio St. 3d 82, at ¶ 14, citing Ketterer, 126 Ohio St.3d 448, 2010-Ohio-3831, 935

N.E.2d 9, ¶ 59; State v. Pemberton, 4th Gallia No. 10CA4, Dist. 2011-Ohio-373,

¶ 19. Similarly, “[a] claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is * * * waived by a

guilty plea, unless the ineffective assistance of counsel precluded the defendant

from knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entering a guilty plea.” State v. Betts,

4th Dist. Vinton No. 18CA710, 2018-Ohio-2720, ¶ 26, quoting State v. Grove, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103042, 2016-Ohio-2721, ¶ 26.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶15} Brown contends that the trial court erred in failing to issue findings

of fact and conclusions of law pertaining to its judgment denying his motion to

withdraw his plea.

{¶16} It is well settled that “[a] trial court is not required to issue findings of

fact and conclusions of law when it rules on a Crim.R. 32.1 motion to withdraw a

guilty plea.” State v. Davis, 158 Ohio App. 3d 478, 2004-Ohio-5354, 816 N.E.2d

1102, ¶ 16 (4th Dist.), citing State ex rel. Chavis v. Griffin, 91 Ohio St.3d 50,

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 9

2001-Ohio-241, 741 N.E.2d 130, ¶ 2. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its

discretion when it failed to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding

its judgment in this case.

{¶17} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s first assignment of error.

SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶18} In his second assignment of error, Brown alleges that the trial court

violated his procedural due process rights by denying his motion to withdraw

because the state “did not appear” in the case.

{¶19} As a party to this case, the state had the right to respond to Brown’s

motion to withdraw, but there is no authority that compels the state to file a

response. As we noted supra, the defendant has the burden to show that the

denial of his motion to withdraw his plea caused him to suffer a manifest

injustice. Straley, 159 Ohio St. 3d 82, 2019-Ohio-5206, 147 N.E.3d 623, ¶ 14.

The state’s failure to respond did not alleviate Brown’s burden in this regard.

Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling on Brown’s motion

to withdraw merely because the state never filed a response.

{¶20} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s second assignment of error.

THIRD AND FOURTH ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

{¶21} Because they are related, we address Brown’s third and fourth

assignments together. In his third assignment of error, Brown argues that the

trial court abused its discretion in failing to hold an evidentiary hearing on his

motion to withdraw his guilty plea. And in his fourth assignment of error, he

maintains that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 10

withdraw his plea. More specifically, Brown maintains that his counsel was

ineffective for not filing a motion to suppress evidence, and instead advised him

to plead guilty.

{¶22} “ ‘ “[A] guilty plea waives all appealable errors except for a challenge

as to whether the defendant made a knowing, intelligent and voluntary

acceptance of the plea.” ’ ” State v. Robinson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 13CA18,

2015-Ohio-2635, ¶ 45, quoting State v. Neu, 4th Dist. Adams No. 12CA942,

2013-Ohio-616, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Patterson, 5th Dist. Muskingum No.

CT2012–0029, 2012–Ohio–5600, ¶ 30. “Consequently, a defendant who

voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently admits ‘in open court that he is in fact

guilty of the offense with which he is charged * * * may not thereafter raise

independent claims relating to the deprivation of constitutional rights that

occurred prior to the entry of the guilty plea.’ ” (ellipses sic.) State v. Howard,

2017-Ohio-9392, 103 N.E.3d 108, (4th Dist.) ¶ 69, quoting Tollett v. Henderson,

411 U.S. 258, 267, 93 S.Ct. 1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973). Therefore, “Ohio

courts routinely hold that a guilty plea waives the right to challenge on appeal a

trial court's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence.” Id., at ¶ 70, citing

State v. Obermiller, 147 Ohio St.3d 175, 2016-Ohio-1594, 63 N.E.3d 93, ¶

55; State v. Crawford, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27046, 2017-Ohio-308, ¶

9; State v. Spangler, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 16CA4, 2016-Ohio-8583, ¶ 16-

17; State v. Beasley, 2016-Ohio-1603, 49 N.E.3d 378, ¶ 7 (1st Dist.).

{¶23} Because the record indicates that Brown’s plea is knowingly,

voluntarily, and intelligently, he has waived his right to challenge his counsel’s

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 11

effectiveness for failing to file a motion to suppress, which was the basis of his

motion to withdraw his plea. Consequently, the trial court’s denial of Brown’s

motion to withdraw his plea did not cause a “fundamental flaw in the plea

proceedings resulting in a miscarriage of justice,” i.e., it did not cause Brown to

suffer a “manifest injustice.” Straley at ¶ 14. Therefore, we hold that the trial

court did not abuse its discretion by denying Brown’s motion to withdraw his plea,

or by doing so without holding a hearing.

{¶24} Moreover, Brown could have raised the effectiveness of his trial

counsel in a direct appeal of his plea agreement, but failed to do so. Therefore,

res judicata also bars our consideration of his appeal herein challenging the trial

court’s denial of his motion to withdraw his plea. See Straley at ¶ 14.

{¶25} Accordingly, we overrule Brown’s third and fourth assignments of

error.

CONCLUSION

{¶26} Having overruled all four of Brown’s assignments of error, we affirm

the trial court’s judgment entry denying his motion to withdraw his plea.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.

Ross App. No. 21CA3758 12

JUDGMENT ENTRY

It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and appellant shall pay

the costs.

The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the

Ross County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.

IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL

HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS

COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to exceed 60 days upon the

bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to

file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency

of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at

the earlier of the expiration of the 60-day period, or the failure of the Appellant to

file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the 45-day appeal

period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court

of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to

expiration of 60 days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule

27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Smith, P.J. and Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

For the Court,

BY: ________________________

Kristy S. Wilkin, Judge

NOTICE TO COUNSEL

Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final

judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the

date of filing with the clerk.