State of Ohio v. Steven Rider, Jr.

Toledo, OH - Criminal defense attorney represented Steven Rider, Jr. with attempted burglary and burglary charges.

On May 17, 2018, a 43-count indictment was filed charging appellant with

multiple theft, burglary, and robbery charges stemming from a series of break-ins over

the weekend of March 25 to 27, 2018. On August 8, 2018, appellant entered not guilty

pleas to all the charges.

{¶ 3} Thereafter, on March 13, 2019, appellant withdrew his not guilty pleas and

entered pleas of guilty to two counts of attempted burglary, third-degree felonies, and one

count of burglary, a second-degree felony. In exchange for his pleas, the state agreed to

dismiss the remaining counts.

{¶ 4} On May 17, 2019, appellant was sentenced to 24-month prison terms for the

attempted burglary charges, to be served concurrently but consecutively to a seven-year

imprisonment term for burglary. This appeal followed with appellant raising the

following assignment of error:

1. The trial court committed reversible error by accepting guilty

pleas of Steven Rider, Jr. ("Appellant”) in violation of Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b)

insofar as the trial court did not orally inform Appellant during the plea

colloquy that the trial court could immediately proceed with judgment and

sentence.

{¶ 5} In his sole assignment of error, appellant complains that his plea was invalid

because the trial court violated Crim.R. 11(C) by failing to inform him that the court

could immediately proceed with sentencing. 3.

{¶ 6} We note that before accepting a guilty plea, Crim.R. 11(C)(2) demands that

the trial court inform a defendant of various rights he is waiving by entering the plea.

The rule provides, in relevant part:

(2) In felony cases the court * * * shall not accept a plea of guilty

* * * without first addressing the defendant personally and doing all of the

following:

* * *

(b) Informing the defendant of and determining that the defendant

understands the effect of the plea of guilty * * * and that the court, upon

acceptance of the plea, may proceed with judgment and sentence.

{¶ 7} It is clear from the record that the court did not comply with Crim.R. 11.

However, this court has held that "'[w]here a trial court does not proceed immediately to

sentencing upon accepting a guilty plea, the defendant is not prejudiced by the court's

failure to warn that it could have done so.' (Emphasis in original.)” State v. Tunison, 6th

Dist. Wood No. WD-13-046, 2014-Ohio-2692, ¶ 15, quoting State v. Boyd, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 98342, 2013-Ohio-30, ¶ 13. See also State v. Johnson, 11th Dist. Lake

No. 2002-L-024, 2004-Ohio-331, ¶ 20.

{¶ 8} In the present case, the court accepted appellant's pleas on March 13, 2019,

and he was sentenced on May 17, 2019. Thus, appellant has not demonstrated prejudice

from the court's error. Appellant's assignment of error is not well-taken.

On consideration whereof, we find that appellant was not prejudiced or

prevented from having a fair proceeding and the judgment of the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Pursuant to App.R. 24, appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal.