Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
STATE OF OHIO - v - DUKE BOWLING, JR.
Date: 03-12-2019
Case Number: CA2018-07-148
Judge: Robert Ringland
Court: COURT OF APPEALS TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO BUTLER COUNTY
Plaintiff's Attorney: Thomas A. Dierling, Hamilton City Prosecutor
Defendant's Attorney: Christopher P. Frederick
Description:
Bowling pled guilty to one count of aggravated trespassing in violation of R.C.
2911.211. Prior to his plea, Bowling was advised of the maximum penalties for the offense
and that the matter would be scheduled for a restitution hearing.
{¶ 3} On June 15, 2018, the trial court held a restitution hearing to determine the
Butler CA2018-07-148
- 2 -
proper amount of restitution Bowling owed for a window that had been broken on the
premises. Following the hearing, the trial court ordered Bowling to pay $625 in restitution to
the victim. Bowling now appeals, raising a single assignment of error for review:
{¶ 4} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT ORDERED APPELLANT TO PAY A
TOTAL OF $625.00 IN RESTITUTION.
{¶ 5} In his sole assignment of error, Bowling argues the trial court's decision was
improper in that it was not supported by competent, credible evidence. Bowling's argument is
without merit.
{¶ 6} When imposing restitution, the amount of restitution must bear a reasonable
relationship to the victim's actual loss to comport with due process. State v. Stamper, 12th
Dist. Butler No. CA2009-04-115, 2010-Ohio-1939, ¶ 17. Thus, the restitution amount is
limited to the actual loss or damage caused by the offender and must be established to a
reasonable degree of certainty. State v. Collins, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-11-135,
2015-Ohio-3710, ¶ 32.
{¶ 7} In order to determine the proper amount of restitution, R.C. 2929.18(A)(1)
allows a court to base the restitution order:
on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information, provided that the amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of the economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of the offense.
{¶ 8} Based on the limited record before this court, we find no prejudicial error to
support the claims made by Bowling in this appeal. The state argues, and we agree, that the
transcript of proceedings before this court is incomplete, as there is a clear statement by the
trial court that restitution in the amount of $625 had been ordered in the companion cases.
Since the appealing party bears the burden of showing error in the underlying proceeding by
Butler CA2018-07-148
- 3 -
reference to matters in the record, the appellant has a duty to provide a transcript for
appellate review. State v. Hopper, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2013-04-039 and CA2013-05
041, 2013-Ohio-5091, ¶ 14. "Where portions of the transcript necessary for resolution of
assigned errors are omitted from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon
and thus has no choice but to presume the regularity or validity of the lower court's
proceedings and affirm." Id.
{¶ 9} Since the evidence before this court demonstrates no prejudicial error, and any
purported discrepancy in the trial court's restitution order is contained in a transcript not
included in the record, we must presume the regularity of the proceedings below and affirm
the trial court's decision as to the restitution award. Bowling's sole assignment of error is
overruled.
Practice Panther
Law Practice Management Software
Bowling pled guilty to one count of aggravated trespassing in violation of R.C.
2911.211. Prior to his plea, Bowling was advised of the maximum penalties for the offense
and that the matter would be scheduled for a restitution hearing.
{¶ 3} On June 15, 2018, the trial court held a restitution hearing to determine the
Butler CA2018-07-148
- 2 -
proper amount of restitution Bowling owed for a window that had been broken on the
premises. Following the hearing, the trial court ordered Bowling to pay $625 in restitution to
the victim. Bowling now appeals, raising a single assignment of error for review:
{¶ 4} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT ORDERED APPELLANT TO PAY A
TOTAL OF $625.00 IN RESTITUTION.
{¶ 5} In his sole assignment of error, Bowling argues the trial court's decision was
improper in that it was not supported by competent, credible evidence. Bowling's argument is
without merit.
{¶ 6} When imposing restitution, the amount of restitution must bear a reasonable
relationship to the victim's actual loss to comport with due process. State v. Stamper, 12th
Dist. Butler No. CA2009-04-115, 2010-Ohio-1939, ¶ 17. Thus, the restitution amount is
limited to the actual loss or damage caused by the offender and must be established to a
reasonable degree of certainty. State v. Collins, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-11-135,
2015-Ohio-3710, ¶ 32.
{¶ 7} In order to determine the proper amount of restitution, R.C. 2929.18(A)(1)
allows a court to base the restitution order:
on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information, provided that the amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of the economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of the offense.
{¶ 8} Based on the limited record before this court, we find no prejudicial error to
support the claims made by Bowling in this appeal. The state argues, and we agree, that the
transcript of proceedings before this court is incomplete, as there is a clear statement by the
trial court that restitution in the amount of $625 had been ordered in the companion cases.
Since the appealing party bears the burden of showing error in the underlying proceeding by
Butler CA2018-07-148
- 3 -
reference to matters in the record, the appellant has a duty to provide a transcript for
appellate review. State v. Hopper, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2013-04-039 and CA2013-05
041, 2013-Ohio-5091, ¶ 14. "Where portions of the transcript necessary for resolution of
assigned errors are omitted from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon
and thus has no choice but to presume the regularity or validity of the lower court's
proceedings and affirm." Id.
{¶ 9} Since the evidence before this court demonstrates no prejudicial error, and any
purported discrepancy in the trial court's restitution order is contained in a transcript not
included in the record, we must presume the regularity of the proceedings below and affirm
the trial court's decision as to the restitution award. Bowling's sole assignment of error is
overruled.
Outcome:
Judgment affirmed.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of STATE OF OHIO - v - DUKE BOWLING, JR.?
The outcome was: Judgment affirmed.
Which court heard STATE OF OHIO - v - DUKE BOWLING, JR.?
This case was heard in COURT OF APPEALS TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO BUTLER COUNTY, OH. The presiding judge was Robert Ringland.
Who were the attorneys in STATE OF OHIO - v - DUKE BOWLING, JR.?
Plaintiff's attorney: Thomas A. Dierling, Hamilton City Prosecutor. Defendant's attorney: Christopher P. Frederick.
When was STATE OF OHIO - v - DUKE BOWLING, JR. decided?
This case was decided on March 12, 2019.