State v. Joseph

{¶ 1} In this case, we address the issue of whether a trial court may impose court costs pursuant to former R.C. 2947.23 in its sentencing entry when it did not impose those costs in open court at the sentencing hearing. We hold that a court errs in imposing court costs without so informing a defendant in court but that the error does not void the defendant’s entire sentence. Instead, upon remand, the trial court must address the defendant’s motion for waiver of payment of court costs.

Factual and Procedural Background

{¶ 2} Defendant-appellant, Richard E. Joseph, was convicted of the…