State v. Bulger

1

2023-Ohio-4004

State of Ohio Appellee v. Stephon Bulger Appellant

No. S-23-001

Court of Appeals of Ohio, Sixth District, Sandusky

November 3, 2023

Trial Court No. 22CR147

Beth A. Tischler, Sandusky County Prosecuting Attorney, and Alexis M. Otero, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Loretta Riddle, for appellant.

DECISION AND JUDGMENT

ZMUDA J.

{¶ 1} This matter is before the court on appeal of the judgment of the Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas finding appellant, Stephon Bulger, guilty of the offense of aggravated assault in violation of R.C. 2903.12(A)(1), a felony of the fourth degree, imposing a prison term of 9 months, and granting 63 days of jail-time credit. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I. Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} On October 21, 2021, appellant went to the home of his friend, Tiffany Smith, to help remove Smith's boyfriend, J.J., from her home. Smith's nephew, Steven Webb, also came to his aunt's aid. The three entered the home and found J.J. asleep in Smith's bed. A beating ensued, with appellant arguing Webb was the main assailant, delivering a vicious beating until Smith determined the assault was sufficient. As a result of the assault, J.J. sustained serious injuries.

{¶ 3} On February 18, 2022, appellant was charged by indictment with felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and (D)(1)(a), a felony of the second degree. A warrant issued for appellant's arrest, and he was taken into custody several months later.

{¶ 4} On July 22, 2022, appellant appeared with counsel for arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.

{¶ 5} On September 19, 2022, appellant withdrew his former not-guilty plea and entered a plea of guilty to the amended offense of aggravated assault in violation of R.C. 2903.12(A)(1), a felony of the fourth degree. The trial court accepted the plea, found appellant guilty, and referred the matter for a presentence investigation report.

{¶ 6} On December 28, 2022, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. Appellant's trial counsel argued in favor of community control, noting appellant's claim he did not actively participate in the beating and was disabled, with his blindness indicating it unlikely that appellant had the ability to participate in the assault, despite his guilty plea. The trial court considered the facts, and appellant's criminal record that included numerous community control violations, and found a community control sanction was not appropriate. The trial court imposed a definite prison term of 9 months, granting jail-time credit of 63 days "up to and including the date of sentencing and excluding conveyance time."

{¶ 7} This appeal followed.

II. Assignments of Error

{¶ 8} Bulger assigns three errors for appellate review, as follows:

1. Stephon Bulger received constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel when his trial counsel failed to pursue self defensne [sic] and/or defensne [sic] of others resulting in Mr. Bulger failing to make a knowingly, intelligently and voluntary plea.

2. The trial court errored by accepting Mr. Bulger's plea without ensuring that he was aware of his right to pursue self defensne [sic] and/or defensne [sic] of others resulting in Mr. Bulger failing to make a knowingly, intelligently and voluntary plea.

3. The trial court's denial of jail time credit for any conveyance time, is contrary to law.

III. Analysis

{¶ 9} Appellant's first and second assignments of error concern the applicability of self-defense or defense of others as a factor negating a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea. His third assignment of error concerns proper jail time credit. For ease of discussion, we address the first two assignments of error together, followed by consideration of error concerning jail time credit.

A. Self-Defense

{¶ 10} Appellant argues he could have pursued self-defense or defense of others, and his trial counsel's failure to address this with appellant, prior to his plea, constituted ineffective assistance of counsel and rendered his plea defective. The viability of appellant's self-defense claim is dispositive as to these assignments of error.

{¶ 11} Appellant argues his counsel was ineffective in failing to assert self-defense, rendering his guilty plea unknowing, unintelligent, and involuntary. Appellant entered a guilty plea, and while this waived all error regarding the state's ability to prove the elements of the offense, the claim for ineffective assistance of counsel was not waived by virtue of the plea. State v. Combs, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-20-003, 2021-Ohio-982, ¶ 14, citing State v. Riddle, 2017-Ohio-1199, 88 N.E.3d 475, ¶ 26 (2d Dist.). "[A] guilty plea waives all appealable errors, including claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, except to the extent that the errors precluded the defendant from knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entering his or her guilty plea." Riddle at ¶ 26.

{¶ 12} To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must show his trial counsel's performance was deficient, or below an objective standard of reasonable representation, and he must show this deficient performance had a prejudicial effect, or that there is "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the proceeding's result would have been different." State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St.3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 204, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus. In this case, appellant's claimed error fails on both prongs, as appellant does not demonstrate deficient performance by his trial counsel or that a failure to explore the affirmative defense of self-defense resulted in prejudice.

{¶ 13} As to the first prong, appellant must demonstrate deficient performance by demonstrating his trial counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonable representation. Strickland at 668. Our scrutiny of counsel's performance is "highly deferential," and we "indulge in a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance." Bradley at 142, citing Strickland at 689. As to the second prong, prejudice is shown by demonstrating that "but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id., citing Strickland at 694.

{¶ 14} To merit consideration of the affirmative defense of self-defense, appellant first had "the burden of producing legally sufficient evidence of self-defense to trigger the state's duty to overcome that evidence." State v. Messenger, 171 Ohio St.3d 227, 2022-Ohio-4562, 216 N.E.3d 653, ¶ 19. While the burden is not onerous, and may be demonstrated with the state's evidence, a claimant must satisfy this burden and present evidence "that tends to support" a self-defense claim. State v. Baker, 2023-Ohio-241, 207 N.E.3d 6, ¶ 28 (6th Dist), citing State v. Greer, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-22-1082, 2023-Ohio-103, ¶ 20-22; 25.

{¶ 15} Appellant argues that, had he been informed that he could assert self-defense to the charge of aggravated assault, he would not have entered a plea to the lesser assault charge. In support, he argues that Smith gave him permission to enter the residence to commit the offense, which he claims was in defense of Smith who "was being subjected to domestic violence at her residence." Once inside the home, he argues he did not start the attack, and because he is 85% blind, he had a possible complete defense to the charge because his disability prevented him from committing the act alleged.

{¶ 16} Based on these facts, appellant asserts a complete defense to the charged offense, and not an affirmative defense. "An affirmative defense is any defensive matter in the nature of a confession and avoidance. It admits that the plaintiff has a claim (the 'confession') but asserts some legal reason why the plaintiff cannot have any recovery on that claim (the 'avoidance')." (Citation omitted) State ex rel. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. v. Cleveland, 75 Ohio St.3d 31, 33, 661 N.E.2d 187 (1996). An acquittal based on self-defense differs from an acquittal based on negating the elements of the offense. Self-defense is a type of affirmative defense, or a defense that will defeat the charge even if the allegations are true. (Citation omitted) State ex rel. Parker Bey v. Bureau of Sent. Computation, 166 Ohio St.3d 497, 2022-Ohio-236, 187 N.E.3d 526, ¶ 18; R.C. 2901.05(B). In contrast, a defense that negates part of the state's prima facie case is not an affirmative defense. Bey at ¶ 18, citing State ex rel. Todd v. Canfield, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 11 MA 209, 2014-Ohio-569, ¶ 14.

{¶ 17} At appellant's plea hearing, the trial court addressed appellant regarding his willingness to enter a plea, and conducted a complete and thorough Crim.R. 11 colloquy. Appellant does not argue that the trial court failed to explain any aspect of his plea and potential sentence. Instead, the record demonstrates that appellant acknowledged his plea constituted a complete admission of guilt regarding the facts alleged. Additional facts were also noted, including provocation by the victim and the seriousness of the injuries sustained by the victim. The trial court accepted appellant's guilty plea, found him guilty, and referred the matter for a presentence investigation.

{¶ 18} At the sentencing hearing, the state remained silent regarding sentence, as agreed in the plea agreement. Appellant's trial counsel addressed the trial court relying on the information contained within the presentence investigation report. Trial counsel argued that appellant had a difficult childhood,...