STATE OF OHIO -vs- JAMES R. DOUGHTY

Canton, Ohio - Criminal defense attorney represented James Robert Doughty with Three counts of domestic violence, Two counts of felonious assault, One count of kidnapping, One count of rape, Four counts of violating a protection order and One count of aggravated menacing charges.

Appellant pled not guilty to the charges and elected to proceed to a jury trial

which began on December 11, 2019. The facts relevant to this matter follow.

{¶ 11} Appellant and G.W. began living together in in 2016. The two lived in a

camper situated within feet of appellant's father's residence. In January of 2019, following

an incident of domestic violence, G.W. moved out and obtained a protection order against

appellant. A week later, she moved back in with appellant. Appellant was aware of the

protection order. Transcript of trial (T.) 199, 204, 208.

{¶ 12} The relationship between the two remained violent. In April 2019, the Friday

before Easter, appellant argued with G.W. Because appellant's young children were

present for the weekend, he told G.W. they needed to talk outside the camper. Once

outside, appellant punched G.W. in the chest causing her to spin around, fall face down

into the gravel drive, and briefly lose consciousness. When G.W. attempted to get up,

appellant punched her in the chest a second time and told her he hoped she died of a

heart attack. He then began choking G.W. and banging her head on the ground.

Eventually it began to rain. The two went back into the camper and appellant acted as if

nothing happened. T. 212-216.

{¶ 13} G.W. went to the bedroom and appellant stayed in the living room and

kitchen area with his children. G.W. was in pain, but did not leave to seek help that day

or in the following days as appellant told her if she did leave, he would shoot her with his

shotgun. T. 218.

{¶ 14} Later that night, appellant came into the bedroom and ordered G.W. onto

the floor. He then struck her repeatedly in the abdomen with the butt of the shotgun. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 4

{¶ 15} The following Monday, appellant accused G.W. of cheating on him. In his

anger, appellant hit G.W. in the face with the butt of his shotgun. G.W. believed she

suffered a concussion as a result as she experienced dizziness, nausea, and blurred

vision. T. 222-223.

{¶ 16} Two or three days later, G.W. described appellant as "on one of his rages."

While she was standing in front of the television, appellant grabbed a trash bag and put

it over G.W.'s head, attempting to suffocate her. She managed to get herself free of the

bag, but lost her balance and fell down in the process. Appellant ordered her to get up,

remove her pants, and lay down on the floor. G.W. complied. Appellant inserted the

muzzle of the shotgun into G.W.'s vagina, pulled it out and then kicked G.W. in the crotch.

T. 224-225.

{¶ 17} Also during this period of abuse, appellant stabbed G.W. in the leg with a

fork on one occasion and with a knife on another, burned her, and hit her legs with the

gun. T. 231.

{¶ 18} Appellant eventually told G.W. he would let her go if she would arrange for

him to get together with her 17 year-old daughter. G.W. convinced appellant she could

make this happen if he took her to her daughter's home. T. 229.

{¶ 19} Appellant dropped G.W. off at her daughter's apartment which she shared

with friends. Those friends testified G.W. was very upset and emotional when she arrived.

Appellant had advised G.W. not to be long. When she took too long, he angrily pounded

on the door ordering her to come out and threatening the occupants if they failed to send

G.W's daughter out. This went on for approximately an hour with appellant leaving and Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 5

returning. Eventually one of the occupants called the sheriff's department. Deputy Cody

Palmer responded and G.W. was transported to a hospital. T. 151-152, 156.

{¶ 20} The jury viewed photographs of G.W.'s injuries which included a black eye,

bruising to her face, head, chest, back and legs, and two puncture wounds, one which

appeared to be caused by a fork. The attending doctor also testified G.W. sustained

multiple rib fractures.

{¶ 21} After hearing the evidence and deliberating, the jury acquitted appellant of

rape and kidnapping, but convicted him of the remaining charges.

{¶ 22} A sentencing hearing was conducted on December 19, 2019, following a

re-sentence investigation. The trial court sentenced appellant as follows:

{¶ 23} For each count of violating a protection order, felonies of the third degree,

30 months to be served concurrently.

{¶ 24} For violating a protection order and aggravated menacing, misdemeanors

of the first degree, 6 months local incarceration on each count, concurrent with each other

and with the sentences for the third-degree felony violating a protection order.

{¶ 25} For two counts of second degree felonious assault, 7 years for each count,

consecutive to each other, but concurrent to the previously imposed sentences.

{¶ 26} For each count of third degree felony domestic violence the court imposed

24 months to run concurrently with each other and with the previously imposed sentences

for an aggregate minimum prison term of 14 years, and pursuant to R.C. 2967.271, could

face incarceration up to 17 and one half years. Transcript of Sentencing (T.S.) 7-10.

{¶ 27} The judgment entry, however reads: Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 6

It is further ordered that the periods of imprisonment for the two (2)

counts of felonious assault be served consecutive with each other

and all other terms of imprisonment. The defendant, is therefore

sentenced to a term of a minimum of fourteen (14) years and a

maximum of seventeen and a half (17.5) years.

{¶ 28} Sentencing judgment entry, December 24, 2019, emphasis added.

{¶ 29} Appellant filed an appeal. He raises two assignments of error for our

consideration as follow:

I

{¶ 30} "THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO MERGE ALLIED OFFENSES OF

SIMILAR IMPORT AND IMPOSED A LONGER PRISON TERM THAN AUTHORIZED BY

LAW."

{¶ 31} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in failing

to merge his convictions for domestic violence and felonious assault as allied offense of

similar import. We disagree.

{¶ 32} R.C. 2941.25 governs multiple counts and states the following:

(A) 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.

(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses

of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 7

offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a

separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may

contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be

convicted of all of them.

{¶ 33} In State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892,

syllabus, the Supreme Court of Ohio held the following:

1. In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar

import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must evaluate

three separate factors—the conduct, the animus, and the import.

2. Two or more offenses of dissimilar import exist within the meaning

of R.C. 2941.25(B) when the defendant's conduct constitutes

offenses involving separate victims or if the harm that results from

each offense is separate and identifiable.

3. Under R.C. 2941.25(B), a defendant whose conduct supports

multiple offenses may be convicted of all the offenses if any one of

the following is true: (1) the conduct constitutes offenses of dissimilar

import, (2) the conduct shows that the offenses were committed

separately, or (3) the conduct shows that the offenses were

committed with separate animus.

{¶ 34} The Ruff court explained at ¶ 26: Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 8

At its heart, the allied-offense analysis is dependent upon the facts

of a case because R.C. 2941.25 focuses on the defendant's conduct.

The evidence at trial or during a plea or sentencing hearing will reveal

whether the offenses have similar import. When a defendant's

conduct victimizes more than one person, the harm for each person

is separate and distinct, and therefore, the defendant can be

convicted of multiple counts. Also, a defendant's conduct that

constitutes two or more offenses against a single victim can support

multiple convictions if the harm that results from each offense is

separate and identifiable from the harm of the other offense. We

therefore hold that two or more offenses of dissimilar import exist

within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25(B) when the defendant's conduct

constitutes offenses involving separate victims or if the harm that

results from each offense is separate and identifiable.

{¶ 35} First, appellant argues his two convictions for domestic violence and three

felonious assault should have merged for sentencing. We note, however, appellant was

convicted of three counts of domestic violence and two counts of felonious assault.

{¶ 36} Next, appellant did not seek merger at the sentencing hearing. We therefore

review his argument for plain error. In State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio2459, 38 N.E3d, 860, ¶ 21–25, citing State v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-

Ohio-4034, 19 N.E.3d 900, ¶ 15–16. "Crim.R. 52(B) affords appellate courts discretion to Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 9

correct '[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights' notwithstanding the accused's

failure to meet his obligation to bring those errors to the attention of the trial court." Rogers

at ¶ 22. The defendant "bears the burden of proof to demonstrate plain error on the

record." Id., citing Quarterman at ¶ 16. To demonstrate plain error, the defendant must

show " 'an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal rule' that constitutes 'an "obvious" defect in

the trial proceedings' " and that the error affected a substantial right, i.e., the defendant

must demonstrate a "reasonable probability" that the error resulted in prejudice, affecting

the outcome of the trial. Rogers at ¶ 22, quoting State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27,

759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002). "We recognize plain error 'with the utmost caution, under

exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.' "

Lyndhurst v. Smith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101019, 2015-Ohio-2512, 2015 WL 3899130,

¶ 32, quoting State v. Landrum, 53 Ohio St.3d 107, 110, 559 N.E.2d 710 (1990).

{¶ 37} The indictment in this matter charged appellant with three counts of

domestic violence occurring on or about three different days; April 18, 2019, April 20,

2019, and April 24, 2019. Both counts of felonious assault were alleged to have taken

place on or about April 20, 2019. The first count alleged appellant caused serious physical

harm and the other alleged he caused or attempted to cause physical harm to another by

means of a deadly weapon. Indictment, January 25, 2019.

{¶ 38} G.W. testified to eight incidents occurring around Easter, 2019. On the

Friday before Easter, appellant badgered G.W., accusing her of cheating on him, and

slapped her in the face. T. 212-213.

{¶ 39} On Saturday morning, appellant told G.W. they needed to go outside to talk

away from his young children who were visiting for the weekend. Once outside, appellant Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 10

punched G.W. in the chest, sending her face down onto the ground and causing her to

lose consciousness for a few moments. When she came to, appellant was standing over

her screaming he hoped she died of a heart attack. When she tried to get up, appellant

punched her in the chest again, then came at her with a tire iron. G.W. laid on the ground

and covered her head. Appellant then choked her and banged her head into the ground.

Appellant then went back into the camper, came back out with a knife, cornered G.W.

and threatened to slice her throat. It started raining and they returned to the camper.

Appellant acted as if nothing had happened. G.W. went to the bedroom and appellant

stayed in the kitchen area with his children. T. 214-217.

{¶ 40} Later that evening, appellant came into the bedroom with his shotgun and

ordered G.W. onto the floor. G.W complied. Appellant then proceeded to strike G.W. in

the abdomen repeatedly with the butt end of the shotgun. Appellant then left the bedroom

and came back with a knife and bleach. He threatened to cut her fingers off and to blind

her with the bleach. When appellant noticed G.W.'s thumb had been cut and she was

bleeding he stopped and told her to clean up the mess. T. 219-220.

{¶ 41} G.W. testified appellant did not assault her or terrorize her on Easter

Sunday. T. 221.

{¶ 42} The following day, however, appellant again accused G.W. of cheating on

him, hit her in the head with the butt end of the shotgun and knocking her over and causing

her face to immediately swell. G.W. believed she suffered a concussion from this incident

as she felt nauseous and experienced blurred vision. T. 221-222.

{¶ 43} Two or three days later, G.W. testified appellant "in one of his rages"

charged her, pulled a trash bag over her head and attempted to suffocate her. As she Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 11

clawed her way out of the trash bag, she lost her balance and fell. Appellant ordered her

to get up remove her pants and then lie down. G.W. complied. Appellant then asked her

if he should burn her vagina or superglue it shut. He decided instead to insert the muzzle

of the shotgun into her vagina, remove it, and then kick her in the crotch. He then once

again acted as if nothing had happened. T. 224-225.

{¶ 44} G.W. further testified in the days following, on one occasion appellant hit

her on top of her head so hard she nearly blacked out, on another he stabbed her in the

leg with a fork, and in yet another, he threw a knife at her, lodging it into her leg.

{¶ 45} Based on this testimony, we find no plain error. Appellant's conduct

constitutes separate offenses against a single victim and the resulting harm from each

offense is separate and identifiable from the harm of the other offenses. Appellant

assaulted G.W. on at least five separate days, some days on more than one occasion,

He used deadly weapons -- a gun and a knife -- on at least three separate occasions, and

caused separate and identifiable harm on each occasion. We therefore find the trial court

did not err in failing to merge any of appellant's convictions for felonious assault or

domestic violence.

{¶ 46} As noted in our statement of facts, however, the judgment entry in this

matter does not reflect the sentence imposed on the record. On the record, the trial court

ordered appellant to serve the sentences for two felonious assault convictions

consecutively. It ordered all other sentences be served concurrently with one another and

concurrently with the sentences for felonious assault. The judgment entry does not reflect

the concurrent sentences. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 12

{¶ 47} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled, however, we remand the

matter for a nunc pro tunc judgment entry to reflect the sentence imposed on the record.

II

{¶ 48} "BECAUSE THE REAGAN TOKES ACT VIOLATES THE OHIO AND

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONS, MR. DOUGHTY'S SENTENCE IS CONTRARY TO

LAW. R.C.2953.08(G)(2); SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITES

STATES CONSTITUTION; ARTICLES I, II, AND III OF THE UNITED STATES

CONSTITUTION; ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 5, 10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO

CONSTITUTION."

{¶ 49} Appellant's final assignment of error challenges the constitutionality of the

Regan Tokes Act which codified hybrid indefinite prison terms for first and second degree

felonies. Appellant challenges the presumptive release feature of the act, R.C. 2967.271,

arguing it violates his constitutional rights to trial by jury and due process of law, and

further violates the constitutional requirement of separation of powers and equal

protection.

{¶ 50} R.C. 2967.271 provides in relevant part:

(B) When an offender is sentenced to a non-life felony indefinite

prison term, there shall be a presumption that the person shall be

released from service of the sentence on the expiration of the

offender's minimum prison term or on the offender's presumptive

earned early release date, whichever is earlier. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 13

(C) The presumption established under division (B) of this section is

a rebuttable presumption that the department of rehabilitation and

correction may rebut as provided in this division. Unless the

department rebuts the presumption, the offender shall be released

from service of the sentence on the expiration of the offender's

minimum prison term or on the offender's presumptive earned early

release date, whichever is earlier. The department may rebut the

presumption only if the department determines, at a hearing, that one

or more of the following applies:

(1) Regardless of the security level in which the offender is classified

at the time of the hearing, both of the following apply:

(a) During the offender's incarceration, the offender committed

institutional rule infractions that involved compromising the security

of a state correctional institution, compromising the safety of the staff

of a state correctional institution or its inmates, or physical harm or

the threat of physical harm to the staff of a state correctional

institution or its inmates, or committed a violation of law that was not

prosecuted, and the infractions or violations demonstrate that the

offender has not been rehabilitated.

(b) The offender's behavior while incarcerated, including, but not

limited to the infractions and violations specified in division (C)(1)(a)

of this section, demonstrate that the offender continues to pose a

threat to society. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 14

(2) Regardless of the security level in which the offender is classified

at the time of the hearing, the offender has been placed by the

department in extended restrictive housing at any time within the

year preceding the date of the hearing.

(3) At the time of the hearing, the offender is classified by the

department as a security level three, four, or five, or at a higher

security level.

(D)(1) If the department of rehabilitation and correction, pursuant to

division (C) of this section, rebuts the presumption established under

division (B) of this section, the department may maintain the

offender's incarceration in a state correctional institution under the

sentence after the expiration of the offender's minimum prison term

or, for offenders who have a presumptive earned early release date,

after the offender's presumptive earned early release date. The

department may maintain the offender's incarceration under this

division for an additional period of incarceration determined by the

department. The additional period of incarceration shall be a

reasonable period determined by the department, shall be specified

by the department, and shall not exceed the offender's maximum

prison term.

(2) If the department maintains an offender's incarceration for an

additional period under division (D)(1) of this section, there shall be

a presumption that the offender shall be released on the expiration Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 15

of the offender's minimum prison term plus the additional period of

incarceration specified by the department as provided under that

division or, for offenders who have a presumptive earned early

release date, on the expiration of the additional period of

incarceration to be served after the offender's presumptive earned

early release date that is specified by the department as provided

under that division. The presumption is a rebuttable presumption that

the department may rebut, but only if it conducts a hearing and

makes the determinations specified in division (C) of this section, and

if the department rebuts the presumption, it may maintain the

offender's incarceration in a state correctional institution for an

additional period determined as specified in division (D)(1) of this

section. Unless the department rebuts the presumption at the

hearing, the offender shall be released from service of the sentence

on the expiration of the offender's minimum prison term plus the

additional period of incarceration specified by the department or, for

offenders who have a presumptive earned early release date, on the

expiration of the additional period of incarceration to be served after

the offender's presumptive earned early release date as specified by

the department.

The provisions of this division regarding the establishment of a

rebuttable presumption, the department's rebuttal of the

presumption, and the department's maintenance of an offender's Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 16

incarceration for an additional period of incarceration apply, and may

be utilized more than one time, during the remainder of the offender's

incarceration. If the offender has not been released under division

(C) of this section or this division prior to the expiration of the

offender's maximum prison term imposed as part of the offender's

non-life felony indefinite prison term, the offender shall be released

upon the expiration of that maximum term.

{¶ 51} Appellant argues these portions of R.C 2967.271 permitting the Department

of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC) to administratively extend his prison term beyond

his presumptive minimum prison term violate the United States and Ohio Constitutions.

However, as the state points out, appellant has not yet been subject to the application of

these provisions, as he has not yet served his minimum term, and therefore has not been

denied release at the expiration of his minimum term of incarceration.

{¶ 52} We addressed the concept of ripeness for review in regard to the Regan

Tokes Act in State v. Downard, 5th Dist. Muskingum, CT2019, 2020-Ohio-4227:

The Ohio Supreme Court discussed the concept of ripeness for

review in State ex rel. Elyria Foundry Co. v. Indus. Comm., 82 Ohio

St.3d 88, 1998-Ohio-366, 694 N.E.2d 459:

Ripeness "is peculiarly a question of timing." Regional Rail

Reorganization Act Cases (1974), 419 U.S. 102, 140, 95 S.Ct. 335,

357, 42 L.Ed.2d 320, 351. The ripeness doctrine is motivated in part Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 17

by the desire "to prevent the courts, through avoidance of premature

adjudication, from entangling themselves in abstract disagreements

over administrative policies * * *." Abbott Laboratories v. Gardner

(1967), 387 U.S. 136, 148, 87 S.Ct. 1507, 1515,"18 L.Ed.2d 681,

691. As one writer has observed:

The basic principle of ripeness may be derived from the conclusion

that 'judicial machinery should be conserved for problems which are

real or present and imminent, not squandered on problems which are

abstract or hypothetical or remote.' * * * [T]he prerequisite of ripeness

is a limitation on jurisdiction that is nevertheless basically optimistic

as regards the prospects of a day in court: the time for judicial relief

is simply not yet arrived, even though the alleged action of the

defendant foretells legal injury to the plaintiff. Comment, Mootness

and Ripeness: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1965), 65 Colum.

L.Rev. 867, 876. Id. at 89, 694 N.E.2d at 460.

In State v. McCann, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 85657, 2006-Ohio-171,

the defendant argued because the Parole Board, pursuant to R.C.

2967.28, could extend his sentence by up to an additional five years

for violation of post-release control, the statute was unconstitutional.

The Eighth District Court of Appeals concluded because McCann

was not currently the subject of such action by the Parole Board, the

issue was not yet ripe for review. Id. at ¶6. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001 18

Likewise, in the instant case, while R.C. 2967.271 allows the DRC to

rebut the presumption Appellant will be released after serving his

nine year minimum sentence and potentially continue his

incarceration to a term not exceeding thirteen years, Appellant has

not yet been subject to such action by the DRC, and thus the

constitutional issue is not yet ripe for our review.

{¶ 53} Downard, at ¶8-11. See also, State v. Buckner, 5th Dist. Muskingum Nos.

CT2020-0023 & CT2020-0024, 2020-Ohio-7017; State v. Wolfe, 5th Dist. Licking No.

2020CA00021, 2020-Ohio-5501; State v. Cochran, 5th Dist. Licking No. 2019 CA 00122,

2020-Ohio-5329; State v. Clark, 5th Dist. Licking No. 2020 CA 00017, 2020-Ohio-5013;

State v. Manion, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No. 2020 AP 03 0009, 2020-Ohio-4230; State v.

Kibler, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2020-0026, 2020-Ohio-4631.

{¶ 54} Appellant does not dispute he had not yet been subject to the provisions of

R.C. 2967.271. We therefore find here as we did in Downard, appellant's constitutional

challenges and his trial counsel's failure to raise the same are not yet ripe for review.

{¶ 55} The second assignment of error is overruled. Perry County, Case No. 20-CA-00001

The judgment of conviction and sentence of the Perry County Court of

Common Pleas is affirmed, matter remanded for nunc pro tunc sentencing judgment

entry.