Community Control Sanctions Affirmed in Appeal
Summary
The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed a Champaign County trial court judgment requiring Chelsey Lynn Boggs to complete a residential program at West Central community-based correctional facility as part of her community control sanctions for fentanyl possession. The appellate court found no error in the trial court's order, noting the sentence fell within statutory authorization under Ohio law and that the trial court properly considered R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. The court also observed the assignment of error may be moot since Boggs likely completed the six-month program by December 2025.
“A sentence is contrary to law when it falls outside the statutory range for the offense or if the sentencing court does not consider R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.”
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What changed
The appellate court rejected Boggs' argument that the trial court erred by ordering her to complete the West Central program without obtaining a professional assessment, and by requiring the program despite her belief it was unnecessary for rehabilitation. The court held that appellate review under R.C. 2953.08(G) does not permit vacating a sentence based on whether it reflects the most effective rehabilitation approach under R.C. 2929.11, since a sentence is contrary to law only when outside the statutory range or when the court fails to consider the required statutes. The trial court properly considered R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. Defense counsel arguing similar sentencing challenges in Ohio community control cases should note that rehabilitation preferences are not a permissible basis for appellate relief when the sentence falls within statutory bounds.
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Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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April 24, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note
State v. Boggs
Ohio Court of Appeals
- Citations: 2026 Ohio 1472
- Docket Number: 2025-CA-22
Judges: Tucker
Syllabus
The trial court did not err in imposing a term in a community-based correctional facility as part of appellant's community control sanctions. Appellant's belief that her rehabilitation did not require time in a community-based correctional facility is not a permissible basis for finding that her sentence is contrary to law. The trial court was not obligated to obtain a professional assessment before ordering appellant to complete a term in a community-based correctional facility. Judgment affirmed.
Combined Opinion
[Cite as State v. Boggs, 2026-Ohio-1472.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
: C.A. No. 2025-CA-22
Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 2022 CR 023
v. :
: (Criminal Appeal from Common Pleas
CHELSEY LYNN BOGGS : Court)
:
Appellant : FINAL JUDGMENT ENTRY &
: OPINION
...........
Pursuant to the opinion of this court rendered on April 24, 2026, the judgment of the
trial court is affirmed.
Costs to be paid as stated in App.R. 24.
Pursuant to Ohio App.R. 30(A), the clerk of the court of appeals shall immediately
serve notice of this judgment upon all parties and make a note in the docket of the service.
Additionally, pursuant to App.R. 27, the clerk of the court of appeals shall send a certified
copy of this judgment, which constitutes a mandate, to the clerk of the trial court and note
the service on the appellate docket.
For the court,
MICHAEL L. TUCKER, JUDGE
LEWIS, P.J., and HANSEMAN, J., concur.
OPINION
CHAMPAIGN C.A. No. 2025-CA-22
JENNIFER E. MARIETTA, Attorney for Appellant
KARA N. RICHTER, Attorney for Appellee
TUCKER, J.
{¶ 1} Chelsey Lynn Boggs appeals from her conviction on two counts of fentanyl
possession.
{¶ 2} Boggs contends the trial court erred in ordering her to complete a residential
program at the West Central community-based correctional facility as part of her sentence
to community control sanctions. She argues that participation in the West Central program
was unnecessary for her rehabilitation and that the trial court failed to obtain a necessary
professional assessment before ordering her participation.
{¶ 3} For the reasons set forth below, we see no error in the trial court’s order for
Boggs to complete the West Central program. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
I. Background
{¶ 4} A grand jury indicted Boggs on two counts of fentanyl possession and one count
of evidence tampering. The State subsequently dismissed the tampering charge. Boggs
pleaded guilty to the fentanyl charges but sought intervention in lieu of conviction (“ILC”).
The trial court granted her ILC with conditions. Boggs later admitted to violating those
conditions. As a result, the trial court terminated ILC, entered findings of guilty based on her
prior guilty pleas, and sentenced her to three years of community control sanctions. The
conditions of community control included completion of a residential program at the West
Central community-based correctional facility.
2
II. Analysis
{¶ 5} Boggs’ sole assignment of error states:
The Court’s sentence of Defendant to the West Central Community
Based Correction Facility (CBCF) was contrary to law.
{¶ 6} Boggs recognizes that a trial court may impose a term in a community-based
correctional facility as part of community control sanctions following revocation of ILC. Here,
however, she argues that the trial court should have ordered basic supervision without
including the West Central program. In support, she cites the purposes of felony sentencing
in R.C. 2929.11(A), which include promoting effective rehabilitation using the minimum
sanctions necessary. Boggs also asserts that R.C. 2929.17(D) obligated the trial court to
order and consider an assessment by a treatment professional before ordering her
participation in the West Central program. She contends the West Central component of her
sentence was contrary to law because it was unnecessary and the trial court failed to obtain
an assessment.
{¶ 7} Upon review, we find Boggs’ assignment of error to be without merit. As an initial
matter, whether the trial court erred in requiring her to participate in the West Central
program is likely to be moot. The trial court imposed the requirement when it sentenced her
on July 30, 2025. The maximum time she could have been required to spend at West Central
was six months. See R.C. 2929.16(A)(1). On appeal, the State claims she completed the
program and was discharged on December 23, 2025. If that is true, her argument about
being required to participate is moot. Although Boggs remains under community control
supervision, she challenges only the West Central component of her sentence. There is no
remedy we can provide for the time she spent completing that program.
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{¶ 8} We note, however, that the record does not indicate when Boggs entered the
West Central program. Nor does the State cite any evidence that she was discharged on
December 23, 2025. Instead, the State directs us to West Central’s online database of
“residents currently incarcerated at West Central,” pointing out that her name does not
appear. Considering that Boggs is not listed as a current resident of the program, the West
Central issue does appear to be moot.
{¶ 9} Even if we set aside potential mootness, we find her assignment of error to be
unpersuasive. When reviewing a felony sentence, we apply the standards found in
R.C. 2953.08(G). This statute does not permit an appellate court to vacate or modify a
sentence based on its belief that the sentence is unsupported by the record under
R.C. 2929.11, which addresses the purposes of felony sentencing, or R.C. 2929.12, which
lists factors to consider in felony sentencing. State v. Rivers, 2026-Ohio-858, ¶ 4 (2d Dist.).
Therefore, Boggs’ belief that her effective rehabilitation did not require completion of the
West Central program is not a permissible basis for finding her sentence contrary to law.
{¶ 10} “A sentence is contrary to law when it falls outside the statutory range for the
offense or if the sentencing court does not consider R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.” Id. Here
the trial court’s order for Boggs to complete the West Central program was an authorized
community control sanction. Moreover, the disposition transcript and her judgment entry
reflect that the trial court considered R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12. During the sentencing
hearing, the trial court found that her successful rehabilitation required “strict monitoring that
can only be provided at attendance such as a CBCF program.” The trial court noted that she
“exhibits a level of behavior and criminogenic thinking that necessitates the need for the
public to be protected.” In its judgment entry, the trial court stated that its sentencing decision
was guided by the purposes of felony sentencing, including promoting Boggs’ effective
4
rehabilitation using the minimum sanctions necessary. Her disagreement with these findings
does not make the West Central aspect of her sentence contrary to law.
{¶ 11} We also see no grounds for reversal based on the trial court’s failure to obtain
a professional assessment before ordering Boggs’ participation in the West Central
program. On appeal, she cites R.C. 2929.17, which provides that a trial court “shall not
impose a term in a drug treatment program as described in division (D) of this section until
after considering an assessment by a properly credentialed treatment professional, if
available.” But this provision applies to “nonresidential sanctions.” Another statute,
R.C. 2929.16, applies to “community residential sanctions.” Notably, R.C. 2929.16(A)(1)
defines “community residential sanctions” to include “a term of up to six months at a
community-based correctional facility.” Nothing in R.C. 2929.16 obligates a trial court to
obtain an assessment before ordering an offender to complete a term in a community-based
correctional facility like West Central, which we consistently have recognized is a residential
program. See, e.g., State v. Tolle, 2024-Ohio-4709, ¶ 2 (2d Dist.); State v. Ramey, 2024-
Ohio-2650, ¶ 5 (2d Dist.); State v. Tackett, 2024-Ohio-1498, ¶ 2 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 12} Finally, a third statute, R.C. 2929.15(A)(3), which specifically addresses
community control sanctions, provides:
If an offender who is eligible for community control sanctions under this section
admits to having a drug addiction or the court has reason to believe that the
offender has a drug addiction, and if the offense for which the offender is being
sentenced was related to the addiction, the court may require that the offender
be assessed by a properly credentialed professional within a specified period
of time and shall require the professional to file a written assessment of the
offender with the court. If a court imposes treatment and recovery support
5
services as a community control sanction, the court shall direct the level and
type of treatment and recovery support services after consideration of the
written assessment, if available at the time of sentencing, and
recommendations of the professional and other treatment and recovery
support services providers.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶ 13} Boggs does not rely on R.C. 2929.15(A)(3). In any event, to the extent that it
has potential applicability, it does not obligate a trial court to obtain an assessment before
ordering drug treatment as a community control sanction. Rather, it provides that a trial court
“may require” an offender to be assessed and that a trial court shall consider a written
assessment if it orders one. See State v. Newsome, 2013-Ohio-4587, ¶ 15 (5th Dist.) (“We
note the use of the discretionary term ‘may’ require a professional assessment, it is not
statutorily mandated for a trial court to order an assessment before imposing a community
control sanction.”). Having found no error in the trial court’s order for Boggs to complete the
West Central program, we overrule her assignment of error.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 14} We affirm the judgment of the Champaign County Common Pleas Court.
.............
LEWIS, P.J., and HANSEMAN, J., concur.
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