STATE OF OHIO v. NATHANIEL CARTER, JR.
C.A. No. 27717
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
December 6, 2017
[Cite as State v. Carter, 2017-Ohio-8847.]
SCHAFER, Presiding Judge.
APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO CASE No. CR 2014 06 1821
Dated: December 6, 2017
SCHAFER, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Nathaniel Carter Jr., appeals from his convictions in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
I.
{¶2} On July 7, 2014, the Summit County Grand Jury indicted Carter on the following six counts: (I) aggravated murder in violation of
{¶3} At trial, 21 witnesses testified on behalf of the State. At the close of the State‘s case-in-chief, Carter made a
{¶4} On March 11, 2015, Carter filed a motion for delayed appeal, which this Court granted. See State v. Carter, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27717 (Mar. 31, 2015). Carter‘s appellate counsel thereafter filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), stating that counsel had reviewed the trial record and concluded that there were no viable issues to pursue on appeal. Carter‘s appellate counsel also moved to withdraw as counsel of record. This Court then issued a magistrate‘s order affording Carter an opportunity to raise arguments after review of the Anders brief. Carter subsequently filed a motion seeking appointment of new appellate counsel, as well as a motion to dismiss his counsel‘s Anders brief, wherein he
{¶5} Carter‘s new appellate counsel thereafter filed a timely merit brief presenting four assignments of error for our review. To facilitate our analysis, we elect to address Carter‘s assignments of error out of order. For ease of analysis, we also elect to address Carter‘s second and third assignments of error together.
II.
Assignment of Error IV
The verdict was against the manifest weight of evidence. The State of Ohio failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt when viewed by the manifest weight of the evidence that Nathaniel Carter was involved in the murder of Donald Carter. The court erred, therefore, in failing to grant Mr. Carter‘s Rule 29 motion for acquittal.
{¶6} In his fourth assignment of error, Carter contends that his convictions are both unsupported by sufficient evidence and against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.
{¶7} “We review a denial of a defendant‘s
{¶8} A sufficiency challenge is legally distinct from a manifest weight challenge. Thompkins at 387. When applying the manifest weight standard, we are required to consider the whole record, “weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.” State v. Otten, 33 Ohio App.3d 339, 340 (9th Dist.1986). Courts are cautioned to only reverse a conviction on manifest weight grounds “in exceptional cases,” State v. Carson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26900, 2013-Ohio-5785, ¶ 32, citing Otten at 340, where the evidence “weighs heavily against the conviction,” Thompkins at 387.
{¶9} This matter implicates Carter‘s convictions for murder, felonious assault, having weapons while under disability, and tampering with evidence, along with the attendant firearm specifications thereto. On appeal, Carter does not dispute the underlying elements of these offenses. Rather, Carter contends that the State failed to meet its burden of production solely with respect to the issue of identity. As such, we will confine our analysis to this issue.
{¶10} “It is well settled that in order to support a conviction, the evidence must establish beyond a reasonable doubt the identity of the defendant as the person who actually committed the crime at issue.” State v. Missler, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-14-06, 2015-Ohio-1076, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Johnson, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 13 JE 5, 2014-Ohio-1226, ¶ 27, citing State v. Collins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98350, 2013-Ohio-488, ¶ 19 and State v. Lawwill, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-01-014, 2008-Ohio-3592, ¶ 11. “[D]irect or circumstantial evidence is sufficient to establish the identity of the accused as the person who committed the crime.” Collins at ¶ 19, citing Lawwill at ¶ 11.
{¶11} At trial, four of the State‘s 21 witnesses positively identified Carter as the “drive-by” shooter on the night in question. First, Tracy W., the mother of the victim‘s best friend, Dana W., testified that she was hosting a birthday party for her adult nephew on the night in question. Tracy W. testified that while she was in the backyard of a neighboring building preparing to cut the birthday cake, her son, Dana W., daughter, Taresa W., niece, Dominique W., and the victim were all hanging out on the stoop area of her apartment building on the corner of Marcy Street and Cole Avenue. Tracy W. testified that as she was about to cut the cake, she heard several gunshots. She stated that upon hearing the gunshots, she “looked and [she] seen a red truck go by and [she] seen the shots coming from the truck.” She then testified that she immediately called 9-1-1 after observing that the victim had been shot. Tracy W. stated that when the police arrived at the scene, she informed them that Nathaniel Carter, Jr. was the shooter. Tracy W. proceeded to identify Carter in court as the person who shot and killed the victim on the night in question.
{¶12} Second, Taresa Lynn W. testified that on the night in question, she was sitting in front of her mother‘s building on Cole Avenue with her brother, Dana W., her cousin, Dominique W., and the victim. Taresa W. also testified that she was aware that Dana W. and Carter had a contentious relationship, including a violent confrontation that occurred just two days prior to the day in question. She further testified that at some point while the four of them were conversing, Sheldon C., one of Carter‘s “really good friends,” drove down the street and looked at them. According to Taresa W.‘s trial testimony, Dana W. then stated, “I bet you any amount of money [Sheldon C. is] about to call [Carter] and tell him I‘m out here.” She testified that approximately 15-20 minutes later, she saw a red truck driving down the street in their direction. Taresa W. testified that she was fearful and began to run around the apartment building, at which time she heard gunshots. She testified that “[w]hen I turned as I was running around trying to look and see, that‘s when I see [Carter] ride by shooting.” Taresa W. subsequently identified Carter in court as the shooter on the night in question.
{¶13} Third, Theresa T. testified that she was visiting with family at her daughter‘s house on Andrus Street on the night
{¶14} Lastly, Cheryl D., Theresa T.‘s sister, testified that she was staying at her niece‘s house on the corner of Andrus Street and Cole Avenue on the night in question. Cheryl D. testified that she did not know Dana W. or the victim. Cheryl D. further testified that she was sitting on the front porch of her niece‘s house with her sister that evening while “[t]he kids were outside playing in the front yard.” She stated that from her vantage point, she could see the corner of Marcy Street and Cole Avenue “very well.” She testified that at some point that evening she “heard gunshots. About six of them went off, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop[.]” Cheryl D. explained that she recognized the sounds as gunfire and immediately ordered the children to “[g]et in the house and lay on the floor.” She testified that when she looked up, she saw a red truck turn right onto Andrus Street and drive past her. Cheryl D. testified that the driver of the red truck “turned around and looked at me and him and me made direct contact. I turned around and I said, ‘That‘s the shooter,’ like that.” Cheryl D. stated that the driver “had a real mean look on his face. He looked me straight in my eyes. He was real mean and, you know, had a real mean frown on his face and – and I looked. I said, ‘That‘s the shooter.‘” Cheryl D. explained that she concluded that the man in the red truck was the shooter “[c]ause of the expression on his face and at the time that he made the turn [onto Andrus Street] the shots stopped. They stopped. And everything came to a stop, and he was the only thing moving at that time.” She then identified Carter in court as the driver of the red truck on the night in question.
{¶15} Viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the State, we determine that any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Carter was the individual who committed the charged offenses on the night in question. This evidence, if believed, demonstrates that while he was driving a red vehicle, Carter committed a “drive-by” shooting, which killed the victim on the night of June 11, 2014. Accordingly, we conclude that the State met its burden of production at trial.
{¶16} Turning to his manifest weight argument, Carter contends that his convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence because Dana W. and members of Dana W.‘s family provided biased and unreliable testimony on the State‘s behalf. However, this Court has routinely held that “[c]redibility determinations are primarily within the province of the trier of fact.” State v. Just, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 12CA0002, 2012-Ohio-4094, ¶ 42, citing State v. Violett, 9th Dist. Medina No. 11CA0106-M, 2012-Ohio-2685, ¶ 11. “The fact-finder ‘is free to believe all, part, or none of the testimony of each witness.‘” Id., quoting State v. Cross, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25487, 2011-Ohio-3250, ¶ 35. Here, the jury reviewed all of the evidence and assessed the credibility of each witness. The jury apparently accepted the testimony of the State‘s witnesses which, if believed, supports the conclusion that Carter shot and killed the victim on the night in question. After reviewing the record, we cannot conclude that the jury lost its way and committed a manifest miscarriage of justice in convicting Carter of the charged offenses, especially considering the fact that two disinterested witnesses, Theresa T. and Cheryl D., buttressed the W. family‘s testimony that Carter was the individual responsible for the fatal “drive-by” shooting.
{¶17} Carter‘s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error I
Nathaniel Carter, Jr.‘s constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial was violated when the trial date was unreasonably continued outside the statutory timeframe. It is ineffective representation by defense counsel to fail to move the court to dismiss on speedy trial issues to further protect the issue on appeal. This Court can review as failure to raise this issue is plain error which Mr. Carter has not waived.
{¶18} In his first assignment of error, Carter argues that (1) his right to a speedy trial was violated when the trial date was unreasonably continued outside the statutory timeframe, and (2) his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to move for a dismissal of the indictment due to a purported speedy trial violation. We disagree on both points.
A. Right to A Speedy Trial
{¶19} At the outset, we note that the argument portion of Carter‘s appellate brief solely addresses his speedy trial rights under
{¶20} In this case, a review of the record shows that Carter did not file a motion to discharge the case based on a speedy trial violation. Therefore, Carter has forfeited all but plain error. Plain error may only be invoked where the following three elements exist:
First, there must be an error, i.e., a deviation from the legal rule. * * * Second, the error must be plain. To be “plain” within the meaning of
Crim.R. 52(B) , an error must be an “obvious” defect in the trial proceedings. * * * Third, the error must have affected “substantial rights” * * * [and] affected the outcome of the trial.
(Internal citations omitted.) State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27 (2002). Nonetheless, plain error “is to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶21}
{¶22} However, in addition to the time limits set forth in
{¶23} Here, Carter was arrested on June 11, 2014. Thus, the speedy trial clock began running in this matter on June 12, 2014. See Friedhof at *8, citing Steiner at 250-251. Assuming the time within which Carter must have been brought to trial was not tolled by any of his own motions, that time would have expired on September 10, 2014. However, at the July 16, 2014 pretrial conference, defense counsel informed the trial court that he had filed a motion for discovery, thus tolling the speedy trial clock. See State v. Brown, 98 Ohio St.3d 121, 2002-Ohio-7040, ¶ 26, citing
{¶24} Nonetheless, in a journal entry dated August 2, 2014, the trial court vacated the trial date “due to the Court‘s unavailability” and ordered a new trial date set for October 27, 2014. In that same order, the trial court noted that Carter “decline[d] to waive any irregularities in timeliness as to his right to a speedy trial.”
{¶25} Although the trial court stated the trial was continued “due to the Court‘s unavailability,” Carter does not argue on appeal that such a continuance was unreasonable in this matter, see
{¶26} Therefore, we cannot say the trial court committed plain error by not discharging Carter‘s case based on a speedy trial violation.
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶27} “The Sixth Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant the right to the effective assistance of counsel.” State v. Liu, 9th Dist. Summit No. 24112, 2008-Ohio-6793, ¶ 22,
{¶28} However, we conclude that Carter has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that he was prejudiced by his trial counsel‘s failure to file a motion to dismiss on the basis of a speedy trial violation. First, as discussed above, Carter does not argue that it was unreasonable for the trial court to continue his trial due to the trial court‘s unavailability. Nonetheless, a review of the record shows the trial court was scheduled to commence multiple trials which would conflict with Carter‘s September 15, 2014 trial date. Those cases included a four to six week capital case and a homicide case that had been pending longer than the present case. Second, while Carter asserts in his brief that “[n]o motions were filed, and no motion for discovery was filed tolling the speedy trial time[,]” such a claim is belied by the pretrial transcripts. Although a review of the record does not show when or if a motion for discovery was ever filed with the clerk of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, a review of the transcript from the July 16, 2014 pretrial conference reflects that Carter‘s trial counsel represented to the trial court that he had made a motion for discovery. Indeed, the prosecutor subsequently referenced the defense‘s discovery motion at the August 20, 2014 status conference wherein the speedy trial issue was discussed at length. Nonetheless, the record is devoid of any information as to what date the motion was made or when the State complied with the discovery request. Absent these dates, this Court is unable to fully analyze whether Carter was brought to trial within the timeframe set forth in
{¶29} Therefore, we determine that Carter has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating actual prejudice from his trial counsel‘s failure to file a motion to dismiss on the basis of a speedy trial violation.
{¶30} Carter‘s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error II
It was improper to allow the testimony of Lt. Jerry Hughes who testified without objection that Nathaniel in his interview was “acting like he did it” even though he “[wasn‘t] admitting that he did it.” It is ineffective assistance to fail to object to this testimony giving subjective opinion as to what Nathaniel actually meant by his behavior.
Assignment of Error III
Nathaniel Carter was rendered ineffective assistance of counsel through trial defense by counsel‘s failure to meet the standard of professional conduct required in various parts of the trial.
{¶31} In his second and third assignments of error, Carter argues that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Carter advances several arguments in support of this contention. Specifically, Carter asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective by not objecting to purportedly improper opinion testimony, by failing to impeach a State‘s witness, by failing to cross-examine some of the State‘s witnesses on the issue of the shooter‘s identity, and by failing to present evidence supporting an argument made during his opening statement. We will address each argument in turn.
{¶32} “The Sixth Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant the right to the effective assistance of counsel.” Liu, 2008-Ohio-6793, at ¶ 22, citing Banks, 2002-Ohio-4858, at ¶ 16. “On the issue of counsel‘s ineffectiveness, [Carter, as the Appellant,] has the burden of proof because in Ohio, a properly licensed attorney is presumed competent.” Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 2006-Ohio-6679, at ¶ 62. To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, Carter must establish that (1) his trial counsel‘s performance was deficient, and (2) “the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. To demonstrate prejudice, an appellant must prove that “there exists a reasonable probability that, were it not for counsel‘s [deficient performance], the result of the trial would have been different.” Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d at paragraph three of the syllabus. This Court need not address both prongs of Strickland if an appellant fails to prove either prong. Ray, 2005-Ohio-4941, ¶ 10.
{¶33} In his second assignment of error, Carter argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by not objecting to Lieutenant Jerry Hughes’ allegedly improper opinion testimony. Namely, Carter maintains that his trial counsel should have objected when Lt. Hughes testified that Carter acted like he was guilty during his police interrogation, despite the fact that Carter never confessed to the charged offenses. Additionally, Carter argues that his trial counsel should have objected when Lt. Hughes testified that Carter appeared to be “wrestling or coming to grips with” his actions, noting that Carter appeared to realize that his “life is over” “if [he] get[s] convicted of this murder[.]” Carter asserts that apart from being prejudicial, Lt. Hughes’ opinion testimony was speculative, improper for a lay witness, and the product of several lines of leading questions from the prosecutor.
{¶34} However, “this Court has consistently held that ‘trial counsel‘s failure to make objections is within the realm of trial tactics and does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel.‘” State v. Bradford, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22441, 2005-Ohio-5804, ¶ 27, quoting State v. Taylor, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 01CA007945, 2002-Ohio-6992, ¶ 76. Viewing Lt. Hughes’ purportedly improper testimony in the aggregate, we conclude that Carter has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that such testimony was actually prejudicial to his defense. Assuming without deciding that Lt. Hughes’ testimony was improper, we cannot say that there was a reasonable probability that the results of Carter‘s trial would have been different but for trial counsel‘s failure to object to this testimony, especially considering the fact that four different witnesses identified Carter as the “drive-by” shooter on the night in question. See State v. Russell, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 03AP-666, 2004-Ohio-2501, ¶ 52 (finding that even if trial counsel‘s failure to object to opinion
{¶35} Turning to his third assignment of error, Carter contends that his trial counsel was ineffective by failing to cross-examine Dana W. on his prior criminal convictions and his plea deal2 with the State in exchange for his testimony in the present case. Moreover, Carter argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by not cross-examining Tracy W., Taresa Lynn W., and Dominique W., or otherwise objecting to or seeking a curative instruction in response to their purportedly improper testimony. Specifically, Carter argues that his trial counsel should have objected when Tracy W. and Taresa Lynn W. identified him as the shooter, since neither witness testified to seeing him driving the red truck or firing a gun on the night in question. Moreover, Carter argues that much of the W. family‘s respective testimony was either hearsay or the product of leading questions from the prosecutor.
{¶36} Several courts have held that “decisions regarding cross-examination are within trial counsel‘s discretion and generally do not form the basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Harris, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 09AP-578, 09AP-579, 2010-Ohio-1688, ¶ 28, citing State v. Flors, 38 Ohio App.3d 133, 139 (8th Dist.1987) and State v. Woods, 4th Dist. Ross No. 09CA3090, 2009-Ohio-6169, ¶ 25. Moreover, “[i]t is well settled that ‘trial counsel‘s failure to make objections are “within the realm of trial tactics” and do not establish ineffective assistance of counsel.‘” State v. Cureton, 9th Dist. Medina No. 01CA3219-M, 2002-Ohio-5547, ¶ 55, quoting State v. McCroskey, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 96CA0026, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 1276, *12 (Apr. 2, 1997), quoting State v. Hunt, 20 Ohio App.3d 310, 311 (9th Dist.1984).
{¶37} Additionally, as noted earlier, Carter has failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability that the result of his trial would have been different absent the alleged deficiencies by his trial counsel. While shedding light on Dana W.‘s prior criminal history and plea deal with the State may have caused the jury to doubt his credibility, there was testimony from four other witnesses positively identifying Carter as the “drive-by” shooter who killed the victim on the night in question. See State v. Griffin, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-902, 2011-Ohio-4250, ¶ 45 (holding that appellant failed to show he was prejudiced by trial counsel‘s failure to impeach the victim‘s credibility through evidence of a prior conviction since independent evidence existed tending to establish the appellant‘s guilt). Moreover, assuming without deciding that Tracy W.‘s and Taresa Lynn W.‘s testimony identifying Carter as the shooter was either improper or the product of improper questioning, we cannot ignore the fact that two disinterested witnesses, Theresa T. and Cheryl D., also identified Carter at trial as the “drive-by” shooter. Accordingly, based on the foregoing, we conclude
{¶38} Finally, Carter briefly argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by advancing a theory of the case during his opening statement without presenting an expert witness at trial to buttress that theory. Specifically, Carter argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for arguing during his opening statement that Dana W. was the individual responsible for shooting and killing the victim without further developing this theory either on cross-examination of the medical examiner or through direct examination of an expert witness. However, on this point, we note that Carter has only made a very general, undeveloped argument in his brief. As this Court has repeatedly recognized, “[s]peculation regarding the prejudicial effects of counsel‘s performance will not establish ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Buzek, 9th Dist. Medina No. 14CA0011-M, 2015-Ohio-4416, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Zupancic, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 12CA0065, 2013-Ohio-3072, ¶ 4. Carter has made no attempt to explain why his trial counsel‘s failure to buttress his opening argument with expert testimony is tantamount to ineffective legal representation and this Court declines to construct such an argument on Carter‘s behalf. See id.; Cardone v. Cardone, 9th Dist. Summit No. 18349, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 2028, *22 (May 6, 1998) (“If an argument exists that can support this assignment of error, it is not this [C]ourt‘s duty to root it out.“). Accordingly, we likewise conclude that Carter‘s third assignment of error is without merit.
{¶39} Carter‘s second and third assignments of error are overruled.
III.
{¶40} With all four of Carter‘s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
JULIE A. SCHAFER
FOR THE COURT
CALLAHAN, J. CONCURS.
CARR, J. CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY.
APPEARANCES:
RICHARD P. KUTUCHIEF, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN DIMARTINO, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.