Case Information
*1
[Cite as
State v. Dodson
,
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : v. : (C.P.C. No. 16CR-2539) Devin J. Dodson, : (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on May 28, 2019 On brief: Ron O'Brien , Prosecuting Attorney, and Kimberly M. Bond , for appellee.
On brief: Jeremy A. Roth , for appellant. APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
PER CURIAM. Defendant-appellant, Devin J. Dodson, appeals from a judgment of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas convicting him of having a weapon while under disability, a felony of the third degree. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY On May 10, 2016, appellant was indicted on one count of having a weapon
while under disability, in violation of R.C. 2923.13. The events giving rise to the indictment occurred on January 27, 2016, when police officers executed a search warrant for a residence located at 4671 East Main Street, apartment 22. Officers became interested in the apartment after they witnessed appellant
making suspected drug sales out of a black Chevrolet Camaro in parking lots located in the *2 4600 block of East Main Street. Officers determined the Camaro was typically parked at an apartment building located at 4671 East Main Street. The Camaro was registered to appellant's brother, Ryan Dodson. On January 25, 2016, Sergeant Dennis Allen of the Whitehall Police
Department entered the apartment building and "noticed a strong smell of burning marijuana * * * coming from apartment #22." (State's Ex. F-1.) Allen heard a male voice inside apartment 22 say "I'm putting on my shoes, I got you bro," and "[i]f you want more I can get what you want" and then observed Dodson exit apartment 22. (State's Ex. F-1.) The apartment management informed Allen that apartment 22 was leased to Kelsey Arnold. On January 27, 2016, officers were maintaining surveillance on the Camaro
in the apartment building parking lot. When appellant exited the apartment building and approached the Camaro, officers detained him and placed him in handcuffs. Appellant presented "himself as Devin Dodson" and provided officers with his identification. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 73.) Officers found a mason jar containing marijuana in appellant's coat pocket. Inside the Camaro, officers found empty mason jars, "a plastic kitchen heat seal device in the trunk," and a "storage locker key * * * on the floorboard of the car." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 25.) Appellant informed the officers that "he had come from Apartment 22" and
that "nobody else was inside" the apartment. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 27, 28.) Appellant stated "the apartment wasn't his, that it was Kelsey's," to which Allen replied "Kelsey Arnold, is that your girlfriend? And [appellant] replied yes." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 21, 27.) Appellant had keys to apartment 22 on the same key ring as the Camaro keys. Officers used the keys obtained from appellant to enter the apartment. Inside the apartment, officers discovered two firearms, marijuana, hashish, a
digital scale, and single serving narcotics bags. The firearms were located inside and behind a large leather sofa located in the living room. Allen explained that "[i]n the middle of that sofa was an armrest. The armrest opens. And there's a compartment for storage there. Next to that armrest, there are two cup holders." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 41.) A credit card bearing appellant's name "was found in one of the cup holders on that sofa." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 41.) Inside the closed armrest storage compartment, officers found a 40-caliber *3 Taurus pistol. Behind the sofa, officers found an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle. A firearm examiner from the Bureau of Criminal Identification determined that both firearms were operable. Officers discovered a traffic citation and complaint from December 2015 in
"the name of Devin Dodson" on the dining room table. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 36.) On the refrigerator, officers discovered a piece of paper titled "Bill List." (State's Ex. G.) The list had columns titled "[w]ho I owe," "[d]ay [d]ue," and "[a]mounts." (State's Ex. G.) The "[w]ho I owe" column listed Uncle Bob's Storage, rent, car payment, Time Warner, T- Mobile, Boost Mobile, electric, and gas. In the bedroom closet, officers discovered two Time Warner Cable bills, both addressed to "Devin Dodson, 4671 East Main Street, Apartment No. 22." (May 9, 2018 Tr. at 37.) Officers also found "two cellular phones" in appellant's possession. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 40.) Appellant had a business card for Uncle Bob's Storage in his wallet. On investigation, officers discovered appellant was leasing storage unit No.
256 from Uncle Bob's Storage. After obtaining a search warrant, officers discovered Blazer 9mm ammunition, a carrying box for a Glock pistol, a bulletproof vest, and $6,000 cash in the storage unit. At the conclusion of trial, the jury returned a verdict finding appellant guilty
of the crime charged in the indictment. The court sentenced appellant to 36 months of community control under intensive supervision.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR Appellant appeals, assigning the following errors for our review:
1. The trial court erred when it entered judgment against Appellant when there was not sufficient evidence to support the guilty verdict and conviction of Appellant, in violation of his due process rights under the Ohio and United States Constitutions.
2. The trial court erred when it entered judgment against Appellant when the guilty verdict returned by the jury was against the manifest weight of the evidence in violation of his due process rights under the United States and Ohio Constitutions.
3. Appellant was deprived of a fair and impartial trial due to ineffective assistance of counsel by counsel's failure to object to the court's dismissal for cause of Juror [C].
III. DISCUSSION
A. First Assignment of Error Appellant's first assignment of error asserts that the jury's verdict was not
supported by sufficient evidence. "Sufficiency of the evidence is a legal standard that tests whether the evidence
is legally adequate to support a verdict."
State v. Kurtz
, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-382, 2018-
Ohio-3942, ¶ 15, citing
State v. Thompkins
,
whether the prosecution's evidence is to be believed but whether, if believed, the evidence
supports the conviction."
Kurtz
at ¶ 16, citing
State v. Yarbrough
,
{¶ 15} R.C. 2923.13 defines the crime of having a weapon while under disability in relevant part:
(A) Unless relieved from disability under operation of law or legal process, no person shall knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance, if any of the following apply:
* * *
(3) The person is under indictment for or has been convicted of any felony offense involving the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, distribution, or trafficking in any drug of abuse. At trial, the parties stipulated appellant had a previous conviction for a felony
drug abuse offense. Appellant presents no argument regarding his prior conviction; rather,
appellant contends plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio, failed to present sufficient evidence
demonstrating that he knowingly possessed the firearms located inside the apartment.
In order to "have" a firearm under R.C. 2923.13, one must either actually or
constructively possess the firearm.
State v. Phillips
, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-79, 2014-Ohio-
5162, ¶ 121. "A person has actual possession of an item when it is within his immediate
physical control."
State v. Pilgrim
, 184 Ohio App.3d 675,
evidence alone.' "
State v. Walker
, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-905,
control does not, of itself, constitute constructive possession.' "
Divens
at ¶ 10, quoting
State v. Hankerson
,
credit card was located "within inches" of the pistol in the armrest compartment. (May 9,
2017 Tr. at 42.) The AK-47 was behind the sofa. The presence of appellant's credit card on
the sofa was circumstantial evidence demonstrating that appellant exercised dominion and
control over the area where the firearms were found. Moreover, although the firearms were
*7
not in plain view, they were readily accessible to appellant while seated on the couch in the
apartment.
See State v. English
, 1st Dist. No. C-080872,
in the apartment. During their search, officers discovered "a hard brown colored substance" which was "kind of hidden away" in the kitchen pantry. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 39, 40.) As the officers were inspecting the substance, they mentioned between themselves that it appeared to be "tar heroin, to which [appellant] replied, that's not heroin, that's dab." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 40.) Allen explained that dab is "just a hard form of marijuana." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 39.) As appellant was aware of the contents of the dark brown substance hidden in the kitchen pantry, a jury could reasonably infer that appellant was aware of other items concealed throughout the apartment, including the firearms. Appellant contends the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate his
possession of the firearms because the state did not produce fingerprint or DNA evidence linking him to the firearms. Although officers did take a DNA sample from appellant, Allen explained the state did not "do any swabs" or "take any type of identification or anything off the * * * two weapons." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 81.) The jury heard the evidence demonstrating that appellee did not test the
firearms for fingerprints or DNA material and could consider the absence of such forensic
evidence in weighing the credibility of the witnesses.
See State v. Sieng
, 10th Dist. No.
18AP-39,
{¶ 26} Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to appellee, a rational trier of fact could have found that appellant possessed the firearms beyond a reasonable doubt. The surrounding facts and circumstances demonstrated appellant's mail and personal effects were present throughout the apartment, appellant had knowledge of items hidden within the apartment, and appellant's credit card was on the sofa where the firearms were located. Accordingly, appellee presented sufficient circumstantial evidence which, if believed, demonstrated appellant had exercised dominion and control over the firearms. As appellant's previous felony drug abuse conviction was a qualifying disability, the evidence was legally sufficient to support appellant's conviction for having a weapon while under disability. Based on the foregoing, appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
B. Second Assignment of Error Appellant's second assignment of error asserts the jury's verdict was against
the manifest weight of the evidence. "Even though supported by sufficient evidence, a conviction may still be
reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence."
State v. McCombs
, 10th
Dist. No. 15AP-245,
not merely substitute its view for that of the trier of fact but must review the entire record,
weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of 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."
Patterson
,
credibility of the witnesses.
State v. Cattledge
, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-105,
reside at the apartment or have any knowledge of the firearms. Specifically, appellant states the following evidence demonstrated his lack of connection to the apartment where the firearms were found: the addresses listed on the traffic citation and storage unit lease agreement and the 9mm ammunition found in the storage unit. The traffic citation listed appellant's address as 1309 McKahan Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio. The storage unit lease agreement listed appellant's address as 5843 McKahan Court, Columbus, Ohio. However, the traffic citation was physically present in the apartment where the firearms were located, and Uncle Bob's Storage, where appellant had a storage unit, was identified on the bill list hanging on the refrigerator in the apartment. Additionally, appellant signed the lease agreement for the storage unit on June 24, 2014, one and one-half year before the events at issue. Allen explained to the jury that an officer issuing a traffic citation will typically write the address appearing on the driver's license on the citation, noting that such address may differ from the driver's current address. The jury was free to weigh the evidence of the addresses listed on the traffic citation and the storage unit rental agreement against the other evidence demonstrating that appellant lived at the apartment, including the two Time Warner Cable bills addressed to appellant at the 4671 East Main Street, apartment 22 address.
{¶ 34} Appellant notes the 9mm ammunition found in the storage unit "would not work in either of the firearms located in the apartment." (Appellant's Brief at 15.) However, the firearms in the apartment were each discovered with their corresponding caliber of ammunition. The Taurus pistol was "[l]oaded and chambered" when officers discovered it in the sofa. (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 56.) The AK-47 was discovered with a "magazine" and "live ammunition." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 43.) The firearm examiner stated the Taurus pistol was submitted for testing with "10 40 Smith & Wesson cartridges" and that the AK-47 was submitted with "28 7.62 by 39 cartridges[,] * * * the size of the cartridges that this particular rifle [was] designed to fire." (May 9, 2017 Tr. at 108, 109.) After reviewing the entire record, we find nothing to indicate the jury clearly
lost its way or that any miscarriage of justice resulted as to require a new trial. The record reflects substantial, credible evidence from which the trier of fact could have reasonably concluded that all elements of the charged crime had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, including that appellant constructively possessed the firearms present in the apartment. Accordingly, appellant's conviction for having a weapon while under disability was supported by the manifest weight of the evidence. Based on the foregoing, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
C. Third Assignment of Error
Appellant's third assignment of error asserts that his trial counsel rendered
constitutionally ineffective assistance by failing to object to the court's dismissal of Juror C.
"The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees a
criminal defendant the effective assistance of counsel."
State v. Belmonte
, 10th Dist. No.
10AP-373,
Belmonte
at ¶ 9, citing
State v. Lott
,
come to a unanimous decision. The court provided the jury with a supplemental jury instruction pursuant to State v. Howard , 42 Ohio St.3d 18 (1989). After providing the Howard charge, the court noted that, as it was "getting late in the day," the jury might want to "consider whether or not [they were] at a good breaking point for today," and they could "restart tomorrow." (May 10, 2017 Tr. at 61.) The jury, however, resumed its deliberations. Sometime thereafter, the court received a note from Juror C stating she needed to leave to take a friend to the hospital. Juror C explained to the court that her friend had previously "hurt themselves" and that she did not know if her friend would "let themselves be taken to the hospital" by the emergency squad. (May 10, 2017 Tr. at 63.) Appellee asked Juror C if the issue regarding her friend was separate from anything going on in the jury room, and Juror C responded "[y]eah. * * * Things are fine going on in the jury room." (May 10, 2017 Tr. at 64.) The court and defense counsel both noted that Juror C appeared sincere in her request to leave. The court dismissed Juror C for cause, replaced her with an alternate juror, and instructed the jury to begin its deliberations anew. Neither party objected to the court's decision to dismiss Juror C. Appellant states "it was error to simply not permit the jury to retire for the
day and allow Juror [C] to deal with the personal emergency involving her friend and return in the morning to resume deliberations." (Appellant's Brief at 17-18.) However, the court informed the jury they could break for the day when the court issued the Howard charge. *12 The jury chose to continue its deliberations. The record does not demonstrate any deficient performance from counsel in this respect. The "failure to make objections does not constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel
per se
, as that failure may be justified as a tactical decision." (Emphasis sic.)
State
v. Gumm
,
verdict would have been different. " 'As a general rule, no one – including the judge
presiding at a trial – has a "right to know" how a jury, or an individual juror, has deliberated
or how a decision was reached by a jury or juror.' "
State v. Robb
,
counsel. Based on the foregoing, appellant's third assignment of error is overruled.
IV. CONCLUSION Having overruled appellant's first, second, and third assignments of error, we
affirm the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Judgment affirmed. KLATT, P.J., SADLER, and BRUNNER, JJ., concur.
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