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State v. Alicea

Citation: 2018 Ohio 3531Docket: 2017-A-0078

Court: Ohio Court of Appeals; September 4, 2018; Ohio; State Appellate Court

Original Court Document: View Document

Narrative Opinion Summary

Carlos Anthony Alicea appealed his fifteen-month prison sentence for attempted theft from a person in a protected class, arguing that the trial court was required to impose community-control sanctions instead of prison time. The court noted that Alicea had pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony and met the necessary criteria under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) for community control. However, the trial court imposed a prison term, stating that community control would diminish the seriousness of the offense, and did not make the required statutory findings under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) and (b). The appellate court found that the lack of required findings warranted a reversal of the sentence and remanded the case for resentencing in accordance with R.C. 2953.08(G)(1). The judgment of the trial court was thus reversed.

Legal Issues Addressed

Appellate Review of Sentencing Decisions

Application: The appellate court reversed the trial court's sentencing decision due to the lack of required statutory findings, and remanded for resentencing in compliance with R.C. 2953.08(G)(1).

Reasoning: The appellate court found that the lack of required findings warranted a reversal of the sentence and remanded the case for resentencing in accordance with R.C. 2953.08(G)(1).

Requirement for Statutory Findings in Sentencing

Application: The trial court failed to make the necessary statutory findings, which necessitated a reversal of the sentence.

Reasoning: The trial court imposed a prison term, stating that community control would diminish the seriousness of the offense, and did not make the required statutory findings under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) and (b).

Sentencing Criteria Under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a)

Application: The trial court was required to consider community-control sanctions for a fourth-degree felony where the defendant met the criteria under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a).

Reasoning: The court noted that Alicea had pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony and met the necessary criteria under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) for community control.