Lead Opinion
{¶ 2} Facts and Procedural Posture
{¶ 3} On February 24, 2004, at approximately 5:40 p.m., an automobile accident occurred between a Ford Explorer, driven by appellant, and a Honda Civic, driven by Sharon Kingston, at the intersection of Harold Avenue and Beck, Plymouth, and Plymouth-Brown Roads in Plymouth Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio.
{¶ 4} The intersection of the four roads can best be described as an offset four-way intersection. Plymouth-Brown Road merges into Beck Road heading in a northern (northwestern) direction and is designed to allow traffic to travel unimpeded between Plymouth-Brown and Beck Roads in either direction. Plymouth Road splits off in a westerly direction (leftward) from where Plymouth-Brown Road merges with Beck. Traffic also flows uninterrupted from Plymouth-Brown Road to its westerly fork (Plymouth Road), but eastbound traffic from the Plymouth Road's Y-shaped intersection with Beck and Plymouth-Brown, is required to stop. A "stop sign ahead" warning sign is posted two-tenths of a mile prior to the point where Plymouth Road intersects with Plymouth Brown and Beck Roads.
{¶ 5} Harold Avenue heads in an east-west direction (to the right) just northwest of Plymouth Road intersection with Plymouth-Brown and Beck Roads. Westbound traffic on Harold Road is regulated by a stop sign where it intersects with Plymouth-Brown and Beck Roads. Traffic is able to cross the intersection from Plymouth Road to Harold Avenue diagonally across Beck Road. *3
{¶ 6} Kingston was traveling in a northwesterly direction from Plymouth-Brown toward Beck Road when the two vehicles collided, with the front and front-left portions of appellant's vehicle striking the driver's side of Kingston's Honda. Following the collision, appellant's SUV came to rest across Beck Road, facing eastward toward Harold Avenue. The force of the impact caused Kingston's vehicle to come to rest in a grass field just north of Harold Road, near the Harold Road stop sign, facing westward toward Plymouth Road.
{¶ 7} Lorraine Pratt, a licensed practical nurse, who was driving westbound on Harold Avenue with her daughters saw Kingston's vehicle sitting in the field on the right hand side of Harold Avenue with the side "smashed in" and "another car parked on * * * Beck Road * * * facing * * * Northwest." She noticed that the woman in the Honda was "not doing very well" and went to assist her. As she approached to examine Kingston, she found her "dazed," unresponsive to verbal cues, and "unable to control her head movements." Pratt also stated that Kingston's "pupils were fixed and dilated." Pratt instructed her oldest daughter to call 9-1-1. When asked if she noticed appellant at the scene, Pratt testified that she first noticed him standing near his vehicle and talking on his cell phone. Pratt described appellant's demeanor following the accident as "very shaken," and that he was pacing back and forth and "moving his hands quite a bit."
{¶ 8} An EMS crew from the Plymouth Township Volunteer Fire Department was first to arrive on the scene. Bill Allds, Captain of the Plymouth Township Fire Rescue Team, testified that he saw appellant's car sitting across the middle of Beck *4 Road facing eastward toward Harold Avenue, and saw the vehicle containing the injured female sitting in the field facing westward toward Plymouth Road.
{¶ 9} Ascertaining that the driver of the car was the more seriously injured, Allds proceeded to the car to evaluate her condition. He noticed that the crash had caused Kingston to become "entrapped in the vehicle" due to "intrusion into the passenger compartment." Allds observed that Kingston was cyanotic. He checked her vital signs and determined that Kinston had died. Based upon Allds' observations, a representative of the Ashtabula County Coroner's Office was subsequently summoned to the scene.1
{¶ 10} While Allds was attending to Kingston, other members of his squad had placed appellant in a backboard and cervical collar and were beginning to evaluate his injuries. After covering Kingston's vehicle with a blue tarp "to protect the scene as well as the confidentiality of the victim," he proceeded to ascertain appellant's condition and coordinate his treatment.
{¶ 11} Appellant was transported into the squad vehicle where the EMS squad performed trauma surveys. Allds described appellant's condition as "alert and oriented * * * breathing [and] * * * able to speak to us in full sentences." Although Allds testified that *5 appellant complained of "blurred vision, headache and being shaky," his exam results were otherwise "unremarkable," i.e., a slight rise pulse rate and blood pressure, which were findings one would "normally expect for somebody * * * involved in a motor vehicle crash." Appellant was subsequently placed upon a cardiac monitor and given two IV's, which Allds described as "standard practice," and then transported to ACMC for further evaluation and treatment.
{¶ 12} While the Plymouth Township EMS was attending to the accident victims, representatives from the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrived to investigate the scene of the accident. Trooper Tye Tyson was the first patrolman to arrive on the scene. He was joined shortly thereafter by Trooper Jayson Hayes and Sergeant John Altman. Trooper Tyson proceeded to perform a field sketch of the accident scene and to investigate the scene. Trooper Tyson described the condition of the roadway that evening as "dry" and the weather conditions as "partly cloudy, 35 degrees with no adverse conditions." When asked how he found the vehicles, Trooper Tyson testified that appellant's vehicle was in the middle of the roadway at the intersection facing northwest, whereas the vehicle in the field was "facing in a * * * southwesterly direction." Trooper Tyson observed that there were no tire markings in the roadway, save for "markings * * * north of Harold Road where the Honda Civic had slid off the road," and that there were "no brake marks or anything." Trooper Tyson also testified as to his examination and measurement of a fluid trail left by appellant's vehicle, and plotting of the debris field left by both vehicles involved in the accident, explaining that the debris field shows "which direction the debris were flying after the accident," and provides *6 information as to which direction the force of the accident occurred. Further investigation of the accident revealed that Hatfield was driving under a suspended license.
{¶ 13} After completing his investigation of the accident scene, the findings of which were included in the Highway Patrol's official report, Trooper Tyson proceeded to the ACMC to interview appellant regarding the accident. When Trooper Tyson arrived to speak with appellant, he was in Emergency Care at ACMC. Trooper Tyson testified that when he first arrived to meet with appellant, appellant's mother was present.
{¶ 14} Prior to taking appellant's written statement, Trooper Tyson read appellant his Miranda rights. Tyson then handed appellant a form and requested that he write his own interpretation of the crash. Tyson testified that appellant was able to comply with Tyson's request without difficulty.
{¶ 15} In his handwritten statement, which was admitted into evidence at trial, and to which Tyson testified, Hatfield reported that he "was turning left off of Plymouth Road and a small white car was coming straight over the hill and we had a head on collision." Next, Tyson asked appellant a series of questions, which he recorded on the report, along with appellant's responses as follows:
{¶ 16} "Q: You were on Plymouth Road and turning left off of Plymouth Road?
{¶ 17} "A: Yes, sir.
{¶ 18} "Q: Did you stop at the stop sign on Plymouth Road?
{¶ 19} "A: I don't remember. I looked right and went to turn and hit the white car. Was there a stop sign there? There's not one there, is there? *7
{¶ 20} "Q: Did you notice the white car before you hit it?
{¶ 21} "A: I didn't see the car. There is a dip and you can't see that way?
{¶ 22} "Q: About how fast were you going?
{¶ 23} "A: I was going 45, but I slowed down for the turn, so probably about 20 to 25.
{¶ 24} "Q: So, you didn't hit your brakes or steer away?
{¶ 25} "A: No, I was turning left and then the collision.
{¶ 26} "Q: Do you remember using a turn signal?
{¶ 27} "A: Yes.
{¶ 28} "Q: Are you familiar with the area?
{¶ 29} "A: Yes, not very though, enough to get around.
{¶ 30} "Q: Do you know the owner of the vehicle that you were driving?
{¶ 31} "A: Yes, it's my vehicle but I haven't got the title switched over yet.
{¶ 32} "Q: When did you buy the vehicle?
{¶ 33} "A: One and a half to two months ago.
{¶ 34} "Q: Were you on the phone at the time of the accident?
{¶ 35} "A: No.
{¶ 36} "Q: You knew that your license was suspended?
{¶ 37} "A: Yes.
{¶ 38} "Q: Did Keith (Haynes, the vehicle's prior owner) know that your license was suspended?
{¶ 39} "A: No. *8
{¶ 40} "Q: Is the vehicle insured under anyone's name?
{¶ 41} "A: I don't think so.
{¶ 42} "Q: Was your seat belt on?
{¶ 43} "A: No.
{¶ 44} "Q: What are your injuries?
{¶ 45} "A: Dizzy spells, lower back, bad headache.
{¶ 46} "Q: Were you drinking any alcoholic beverages this evening?
{¶ 47} "A: No, sir.
{¶ 48} "Q: Did you take any narcotics, marijuana, medication?
{¶ 49} "A: No, sir.
{¶ 50} Trooper Tyson then asked if appellant would be willing to submit to a blood test. At first, he agreed, but after disclosing to Trooper Tyson that he uses "drugs and alcohol" and that "[i]t may be in [his] system from yesterday," he retracted his consent.
{¶ 51} Tyson then contacted Sergeant Altman and informed him that appellant refused to consent to a blood test. Altman showed up at the hospital shortly thereafter to speak with appellant and obtained a second written statement, in the form of a question and answer session, from him. After giving his statement, appellant reviewed and signed it without any changes. Sergeant Altman characterized appellant's demeanor during questioning as "coherent" and stated that appellant understood what he was being asked, did not seem to have slurred speech, and did not seem to be injured or in pain. *9
{¶ 52} Sergeant Altman's questions and appellant's answers regarding how the accident occurred were substantially similar to those in Trooper Tyson's interview. However, appellant responded to additional questioning regarding his drug and alcohol use as follows:
{¶ 53} "Q: Have you had any alcohol or drugs today?
{¶ 54} "A: Yes, I was at a party last night.
{¶ 55} "Q: What time did you go to the party?
{¶ 56} "A: Around 12:00 a.m. or 1:00 a.m. on February 24, 2004.
{¶ 57} "Q: What time did you leave the party?
{¶ 58} "A: Before 6:00 a.m.
{¶ 59} "Q: Where was it?
{¶ 60} "A: Ashtabula.
{¶ 61} "Q: How much alcohol and drugs did you consume?
{¶ 62} "A: Half an ounce of marijuana, seven to eight lines of cocaine, eight to nine mixed drinks.
{¶ 63} "Q: Over what time frame?
{¶ 64} "A: From 12:00 a.m. or 1:00 a.m. until I left before 6:00 a.m.
{¶ 65} "Q: How much sleep did you have today?
{¶ 66} "A: From about 6:30 a.m. till about 2:00 p.m.
{¶ 67} "Q: Did you have any drugs or alcohol from the time you left the party until now?
{¶ 68} "A: No. *10
{¶ 69} "Q: Did you consume any alcohol or drugs from the time of the crash until Trooper Tyson talked to you?
{¶ 70} "A: No.
{¶ 71} "* * *
{¶ 72} "Q: Do you feel you were impaired at the time of the crash?
{¶ 73} "A: No.
{¶ 74} "Q: How regularly do you smoke marijuana?
{¶ 75} "A: Every day.
{¶ 76} "Q: How regularly do you do cocaine?
{¶ 77} "A: A few times a week.
{¶ 78} "Q: How regularly do you consume alcohol?
{¶ 79} "A: Four or five times a week.
{¶ 80} "Q: Do you usually drive after drinking or doing drugs?
{¶ 81} "A: No.
{¶ 82} Subsequent to this second interview, Sergeant Altman asked appellant for permission to take a blood sample, and appellant agreed.
{¶ 83} With appellant's consent, two blood samples were taken by Crystal Severino, R.N., at 9:29 p.m., and again at 10:06 p.m., using the Ohio State Highway Patrol's standard-issue Biological Specimen kit. The samples were sent to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Lab, where they tested negative for the presence of alcohol and positive for the presence of cocaine. Appellant was released from the hospital after 11:00 p.m. that evening, after he elected not to stay for further observation. *11
{¶ 84} On July 23, 2004, appellant was charged, by way of indictment, with one count of vehicular homicide, a felony of the fourth degree, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 85} On November 22, 2004, appellant filed a motion to suppress "all oral and written statements" given to law enforcement personnel and a motion in limine to prohibit the state from using the results of his blood tests at trial. On February 24, 2005, appellant filed another motion in limine to prohibit the state from using "any testimony concerning any admissions" by appellant regarding "cocaine, marijuana, alcohol or drug use" prior to the accident. On March 4, 2005, the trial court overruled appellant's motions following a hearing.
{¶ 86} On July 8, 2005, appellant filed another motion in limine to prohibit the state from introducing evidence of his prior driving record and any photos of Sharon Kingston taken at the scene of the accident. On October 14, 2005, appellant filed yet another motion, this time to "prohibit use of evidence" taken from the crime scene, all testimony with regard to his demeanor on or about February 24, 2004, all statements made by the defendant and "all other evidence that [the state] intends to use."
{¶ 87} On March 30, 2006, the trial court ruled on the aforementioned motions. With regard to appellant's motion in limine to exclude evidence of his prior driving record, the trial court sustained the motion in part to exclude general proof of prior traffic convictions, but to allow evidence of "the status of Defendant's driving privileges on the *12 date of [the] incident, and [any] felony traffic convictions within the past ten years," but overruling the motion with regard to the admission of photographs of the victim. The trial court overruled appellant's "motion to prohibit use of evidence."
{¶ 88} On May 3, 2006, appellant again moved the court to exclude evidence of the blood analysis, based upon State v. Mayl,
{¶ 89} The case went to a three day trial before a jury on June 16, 2006. After polling the jury, appellant was found guilty of both counts of the indictment. On June 19, 2006, appellant was sentenced to eight years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and eighteen months on the vehicular homicide charge, with the sentences to run concurrently, and concurrent with a sentence previously imposed for a conviction for trafficking in marijuana in Case No. 2005 CR 167. In addition, the trial court imposed a lifetime suspension of appellant's driver's license.
{¶ 90} Appellant timely appealed his judgment of conviction, raising the following assignments of error:
{¶ 91} "[1.] Evidence of Cocaine and its metabolites that were found in two samples of blood that were taken from appellant roughly four hours after an accident between him and Sharon Kingston and admission of cocaine use at least seven hours prior thereto were not relevant to any of the issues that were before the trial court. Even if they were, their probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues and of misleading the jury. *13
{¶ 92} "[2.] The blood that was removed from appellant on the evening of February 24, 2004 and whose analysis [sic] was introduced at trial over defense counsel's objection was not handled and examined in substantial compliance with standards that are established by the Ohio Department of Health.
{¶ 93} "[3.] The State of Ohio failed to produce an expert witness to prove that cocaine and cocaine metabolites that were found in two samples of blood that were removed from appellant at 9:29 p.m. and 10:06 p.m. on February 24, 2004 along with his admissions of cocaine use could have had anything to do with his driving abilities at the time that he had an accident roughly four hours or more prior thereto.
{¶ 94} "[4.] Evidence of driving suspensions that had expired prior to the date that appellant had an accident with Sharon Kingston wasn't relevant to any of the issues that were involved in the case that he was on trial for [sic]. Even if it was, its probative value was substantially outweighed by the dangers of unfair prejudice, of confusion of the issues and of misleading the jury that heard this case.
{¶ 95} "[5.] Appellant's constitutional rights were violated when the trial court gave a special instruction to the jury immediately after the defense rested its case without appellant taking the stand.
{¶ 96} "[6.] Appellant's constitutional rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendment were violated when the trial court refused to allow him to admit the investigative report [of] defense witness Douglas Heard and his Curriculum Vitae into Evidence.
{¶ 97} "[7.] The trial court below refused to dismiss the second count of appellant's indictment for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide in violation of R.C. *14
{¶ 98} "[8.] Two written statements were taken involuntarily from Appellant in violation of his constitutional rights.
{¶ 99} "[9.] Two samples of Blood were taken from appellant in violation of his constitutional rights.
{¶ 100} "[10.] Appellant's rights were violated by remarks made by Ashtabula County Prosecutor Thomas Sartini during rebuttal argument in which he gave his personal opinion as to appellant's guilt.
{¶ 101} "[11.] Appellant's conviction of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide in violation of Revised Code
{¶ 102} "[12.] Appellant's constitutional rights to a fair trial were violated by the impact of numerous cumulative errors.
{¶ 103} "[13.] R.C.
{¶ 104} For ease of discussion, we will address appellant's assignments of error out of order.
{¶ 105} II. Suppression and Other Related Issues *15
{¶ 106} Under his eighth assignment of error, appellant argues that the two written statements, taken by Trooper Tyson and Sergeant Altman on the evening of February 24, 2004 should have been suppressed because of the injuries he had sustained and "the alcohol and drugs he consumed" approximately 15 and 21 hours earlier that day rendered such statements involuntary.2 We disagree.
{¶ 107} The mere fact that an individual is questioned in a hospital setting and may be in pain when questioned, is insufficient, without evidence of police coercion, to render an otherwise voluntary statement involuntary. See State v. Tomkalski, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-097,
{¶ 108} In this case there is no evidence that appellant's statements were a result of "coercive police activity." The evidence shows that the officers' questioning took place over a brief time frame and that each written statement was two pages in length. Appellant was given an opportunity to review the statements he made to the officers and make corrections prior to signing the forms. Appellant made no corrections to the statements, and signed the forms. Furthermore, even though Trooper Tyson explained appellant's Miranda rights (which appellant understood and duly waived), at no time *16 during questioning did appellant ask officers to stop or ask that he be permitted to speak with a lawyer.
{¶ 109} In view of the totality of the circumstances, there is no evidence to support appellant's claim that his statements were involuntarily. Therefore, appellant's eighth assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 110} Under his ninth assignment of error, appellant argues that the evidence gleaned from the two blood samples should have been suppressed since his condition rendered him "incapable of consent," and also because the blood samples were taken pursuant to Hatfield's "involuntary statement" regarding his alcohol and drug use. Again, we disagree.
{¶ 111} It is well-settled that the extraction of blood at the behest of authorities involves a search and seizure of the individual involved. See, e.g., State v. Sweinhagen (Nov. 7, 1989), 3d Dist. No. 4-88-3,
{¶ 112} For the same reasons as expressed in our analysis of appellant's eighth assignment of error, we reject appellant's contention that his consent to blood testing *17 was involuntary. We further point out that, prior to administering the tests, Crystal Severino, a Registered Nurse on duty in the AGMC Emergency Room that evening, stated appellant was "coherent enough to understand what was going on" and "stable as far as his vital signs." There is no evidence indicating appellant was incapable of consenting or otherwise compelled by the officers to submit to the tests. Based upon the totality of the circumstances, the state met its burden in establishing that appellant voluntarily consented to have blood samples drawn, and the court did not err in allowing this evidence to be admitted on this basis. Accordingly, appellant's ninth assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 113} Under his second assignment of error, appellant challenges the admissibility of the blood evidence on another front. He specifically attacks the admission of the results of his blood tests, arguing that the trial court's admission of this evidence was prejudicial error, since the state offered no evidence of compliance with administrative code provisions, promulgated by the Ohio Department of Health for the collection and handling of blood, as required by the Ohio Supreme Court's holding in Mayl, supra. We disagree.
{¶ 114} In Mayl, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that "[w]hen the results of blood * * * tests are challenged in an aggravated-vehicular-homicide prosecution that depends upon proof of an R.C.
{¶ 115} In the instant matter, the rule of Mayl is not invoked since the prosecution did not rely upon proof of a violation of 4511.19(A). Appellant was prosecuted pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 116} Notwithstanding this conclusion, the state did lay a proper foundation for the admission of the blood samples. Specifically, Nurse Severino testified that she collected the blood samples using the standard Highway Patrol issue Biological Specimen collection kit, followed "the procedure according to the directions, initialed and dated the relevant samples and forms and gave the samples to the requesting officer."
{¶ 117} Further, Trooper Tyson, who was ultimately responsible for the chain of custody of the samples, testified that he filled out and signed the standard property control form which came with the sample kits, as required, and personally mailed it to the Highway Patrol's crime lab in Columbus.
{¶ 118} In addition, Jeff Turnau, a criminalist with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Columbus, who tested the first sample for the presence of alcohol,3 *19 testified that he followed all relevant procedures with regard to the handling, testing, and documentation of the sample in question. Also, Rebecca Schanbacher, a criminalist with the crime lab who tested both samples for the presence of controlled substances, testified she followed all relevant procedures regarding the handling, testing, and documentation of the samples in question.
{¶ 119} Since a proper foundation was laid for the admission of the evidence, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting appellant's blood test results. Appellant's second assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 120} III. Jury Instructions Relating to Expert Testimony
{¶ 121} Under his fifth assignment of error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred by giving a jury instruction regarding his expert witness' opinion that was in violation of his Fifth Amendment right not to testify and his due process rights, since "the instruction was * * * an unjustified comment on the exercise of Appellant's right not to be a witness at all," as well as on his right to call witnesses on his behalf. We disagree.
{¶ 122} For purposes of appellate review, "[t]he decision to issue a particular jury instruction rests within the sound discretion of the trial court." State v. Huckabee (Mar. 9, 2001), 11th Dist. No. 99-G-2252,
{¶ 123} The trial court admitted the testimony of appellant's expert Douglas Heard regarding the cause of the accident. Heard, a crash reconstructionist, offered the *20 following opinion as to how the accident occurred: "Mr. Hatfield was traveling on Beck Road * * * approaching the intersection at Harold Road as the Honda Civic was coming in the opposite direction, and at that intersection of Harold Road, he attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Harold into the left front corner and side of the Honda Civic operated by Mrs. Kingston." When asked by defense counsel the grounds upon which he based his opinion, aside from the post-impact resting position of the vehicles, his own review of the evidence provided by the prosecution, and his observation of the damage to the front of appellant's vehicle, Heard replied that he based his opinion on the "statements from Mr. Hatfield."
{¶ 124} The foregoing testimony was admitted, despite the fact that it relied, in large part, on appellant's statement to Heard about how the accident occurred, which directly contradicted the evidence and the testimony of the state. Appellant did not testify in his own defense. As a result, the trial court gave the following special instruction to the jury at the close of the case:
{¶ 125} "There is some special instruction that I'm going to be required to give you at this point * * *.
{¶ 126} "The first thing is, a defendant in a criminal case has a Constitutional right not to testify. Therefore, you must not draw any inference of guilt from the fact that the defendant did not testify in this case.
{¶ 127} "On the other hand, there is an expert witness who has testified in this case that he considered certain things that the defendant told him that are not otherwise in evidence. *21
{¶ 128} "In evaluating the opinion of any expert witness, you mustconsider whether the facts on which the expert based their opinion havebeen established by, at least, a preponderance of the evidence.
{¶ 129} "Therefore, in deciding the weight to give to the expert opinion, you may consider the extent to which the opinion is based on facts that have not been put into evidence. However, you must be careful to limit this consideration to the evaluation of the opinion of the expert. You must not consider this in any way as suggesting any inference of guilt of the defendant." (Emphasis added).
{¶ 130} This language, by itself, would seem to indicate that the trial court erred by including an instruction that may cause "the jury to confuse the burden of proof necessary for defendant's conviction."State v. Brown (1982),
{¶ 131} Furthermore, we hold the jury instructions, when reviewed in their totality, were sufficient notwithstanding the potentially problematic directive relating to the expert's testimony. The trial court instructed that "[t]he defendant is presumed innocent until his guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt." The trial court explained the reasonable doubt standard. The jury was informed, on more than one occasion, of appellant's constitutional right not to testify and the fact that no inference of guilt could be drawn based upon his decision not to testify. The court explained that the portions of the expert opinion were based upon facts not in evidence. This instruction was appropriate since Evid.R. 703 prohibits an expert from basing an expert opinion upon *22
"facts which are not formally in evidence or personally perceived by that expert." Hager v. Norfolk W. Ry. Co., 8th Dist. No. 87553,
{¶ 132} IV. General Evidentiary and Related Issues
{¶ 133} Under appellant's fourth assignment of error, he argues the trial court's admission of evidence that he was driving under suspension at the time of the accident, as well as his prior record of driving suspensions, was reversible error since the evidence was not relevant to the element of recklessness. We agree.
{¶ 134} The record indicates that the trial court admitted appellant's driving record from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles over the objections of defense counsel. The exhibit demonstrated appellant had seven separate license suspensions, two of which were current at the time of the accident. The record also included a letter containing the notice of appellant's current license suspension, dated December 17, 2003. The admissibility of the record was argued twice; first, prior to trial and again when the state sought to admit its trial exhibits. Defense counsel did not object to the admission of the December 17, 2003 letter, but sought to have the remainder of the exhibit disallowed. Alternatively, defense counsel offered to stipulate to appellant's license suspension existing at the time of the accident.
{¶ 135} In ruling on counsel's objection, the trial court stated: *23
{¶ 136} "[T]he argument about whether or not [the admission of the entire exhibit] goes to character, it does not go to character, but nevertheless, the State is required to prove a culpable mental state that includes heedless indifference to the consequences * * *. But I think, it's for the state to prove that this is not just a casual thing, and I think it's relevant and probative that somebody who has a long history of numerous driver's license suspensions who makes a conscious decision on February 24, 2004 to operate a motor vehicle is certainly evidence that a jury ought to be allowed to consider on whether or not that decision to drive a car on that day was taken with heedless indifference to the consequences of fully knowing not just that he had a current active suspension[,] but that he had a history of no right to drive a vehicle at all.
{¶ 137} "So, I think that it is relevant and the objection is going to be overruled. * * *"
{¶ 138} Courts in Ohio have held that "[w]here an unintentional killing while in the commission of an unlawful act has been established, it is a further requirement that the violation of the statute must have been the proximate cause of the death. — the killing must be such as would naturally, logically and proximately result from the commission of the unlawful act as defined by the statute * * *." State v. Jodrey (Apr. 10, 1985), 1st Dist. No. C-840406,
{¶ 139} While the evidence of appellant's suspensions was not relevant to prove recklessness, evidence of the active suspension was necessary and therefore relevant to increase the severity of the aggravated vehicular homicide charge from a felony three to a felony two. That is, appellant was charged under R.C.
{¶ 140} This court has held "any factor that serves to elevate the degree of a crime is not a sentencing enhancement, but rather an element of the crime which must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt." State v.Greitzer, 11th Dist. No. 2003-P-0110,
{¶ 141} Here, the defense attempted to admit, by stipulation, that appellant was driving with a suspended license at the time of the offense or admit the portion of State's Exhibit J containing the letter informing appellant of his current license suspension. As discussed above, the court rejected this proof and allowed evidence of appellant's seven license suspensions to go to the jury.
{¶ 142} In Old Chief v. United States (1997),
{¶ 143} "A syllogism is not a story, and a naked proposition in a courtroom may be no match for the robust evidence that would be used to prove it. People who hear a story interrupted by gaps of abstraction may be puzzled at the missing chapters, and jurors asked to rest a momentous decision on the story's truth can feel put upon at being asked to take responsibility knowing that more could be said than they have heard. A convincing tale can be told with economy, but when economy becomes a *26 break in the natural sequence of narrative evidence, an assurance that the missing link is really there is never more than second best." Id.
{¶ 144} However, "this recognition that the prosecution with its burden of persuasion needs evidentiary depth to tell a continuous story has * * * virtually no application when the point at issue is defendant's legal status, dependent on some legal judgment rendered wholly independently of the concrete events of later criminal behavior charged against him." Id. at 190. Accordingly, Old Chief bars evidence of prior convictions offered solely to prove a defendant's status as a convicted criminal. Under circumstances where a defendant's legal status must be proved, the probative value of a defendant's admission and stipulation to a prior conviction has equivalent value to a fuller record with less potential for prejudice thereby justifying a limitation on prosecutorial discretion. Id. at 190-191.
{¶ 145} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 146} The admission of appellant's history of convictions for driving under suspension serves as a textbook instance of the problemOld Chief was designed to *27 prohibit. In overruling defense counsel's objections, the trial court determined that the driving history was admissible to show appellant's actions were "not just a casual thing." Put another way, the history was admitted to illustrate appellant had a propensity to behave in defiance of the law which, in the court's view, would allow for an inference of "heedless indifference" or recklessness. Admitting the record for the purpose articulated by the trial court allowed the jury to generalize appellant's earlier bad acts into evidence of appellant's bad character which raised the likelihood that the jury will convict appellant for crimes other than those charged or, perhaps even worse, convict because appellant is a "bad person" deserving punishment. Id. at 181.
{¶ 147} "The state may not show defendant's prior trouble with the law, specific criminal acts, or ill name among his neighbors, even though such facts might logically be persuasive that he is by propensity a probable perpetrator of the crime.'" Id., quoting, Michelson v. UnitedStates (1948),
{¶ 148} Pursuant to Old Chief, we hold the trial court's evidentiary ruling was an abuse of discretion. The state, in refusing to accept the stipulation, violated the Supreme Court's holding in Old Chief. For these reasons, appellant's fourth assignment *28 of error has merit and appellant's convictions must be reversed and remanded for a new trial.
{¶ 149} Next we shall address appellant's first and third assignments of error since they are mutually concerned with the relevance of certain evidence and testimony admitted at trial.
{¶ 150} Under his first and third assignments of error, appellant asserts his statement admitting that he "did seven to eight" lines of cocaine between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on February 24, 2004, was irrelevant to the issue of whether he was reckless at the time of the accident. Further, even if it was relevant, appellant asserts that its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, and of misleading the jury. Appellant points out that the state failed to produce evidence that his cocaine use would have influenced his driving abilities at the time of the accident. Thus, the jury was left to infer that because he used cocaine between 11 and 17 hours before the accident, he must have been under its influence and therefore acting in a reckless manner.
{¶ 151} "Relevant evidence is `evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.'" State v. DeRose, 11th Dist. No. 2000-L-076,
{¶ 152} An abuse of discretion consists of more than an error of law or judgment; rather, it implies the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Berk v. Matthews (1990),
{¶ 153} R.C.
{¶ 154} In an effort to prove the element of recklessness, the state used (1) appellant's admission that he had ingested seven or eight lines of cocaine between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the day in question and (2) the results of appellant's blood tests showing the existence of cocaine metabolites in his system. The state theorized that appellant's awareness that he ingested cocaine between 11 and 17 hours earlier *30 showed a heedless indifference or a perverse disregard to a known risk, viz., that the cocaine's effects would influence his driving ability such that an accident was likely.
{¶ 155} This court has held "that a defendant is charged with knowledge that driving under the influence of cocaine constitutes credible evidence that a defendant is acting recklessly." State v.Adams, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-110,
{¶ 156} However, the inquiry does not end with this conclusion. Specifically, the state put forth evidence demonstrating appellant had ingested cocaine within the previous 11 to 17 hours and established the presence of metabolized cocaine in appellant's system. Appellant's admissions and the objective evidence of cocaine in appellant's system demonstrate that the state put forth some evidence to allow the jury to infer he was under the influence of the drug at the time of the accident. However, the state did not connect this evidence to appellant's state of mind at the time of the accident. The average juror does not possess the pharmacological and/or biochemical knowledge to formulate a reliable opinion regarding the lasting effects of cocaine on a user's body.
{¶ 157} Under the circumstances, the evidence of appellant's cocaine use and the evidence of the blood tests were relevant and sufficient to meet a minimal threshold of *31 proof to establish the requisite mens rea. However, we hold, given the state of the evidence, a reasonable jury could not conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that appellant was under the influence of the drugat the time of the accident. Thus, the state failed to create a reasonable causal nexus between this evidence and appellant's state of mind at the time of the accident.
{¶ 158} Appellant's first and third assignments of error have merit.
{¶ 159} In light of the foregoing conclusion, we shall next address appellant's eleventh assignment of error. Under this assigned error, appellant alleges his conviction for aggravated vehicular homicide was neither supported by sufficient evidence nor the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 160} "[Sufficiency of the evidence * * * challenges whether the state has presented evidence for each element of the charged offense. The test for sufficiency of evidence is whether, after viewing the probative evidence and the inferences drawn from it, in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could find all elements of the charged offense proven beyond a reasonable doubt." State v.Barno, 11th Dist. No. 2000-P-0100,
{¶ 161} Alternatively, a challenge to the manifest weight of the evidence raises a factual issue and involves "the inclination of thegreater amount of credible evidence." State v. Thompkins,
{¶ 162} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 163} With respect to appellant's assertion that his convictions were against the weight of the evidence, Section
{¶ 164} "A majority of the judges hearing the cause shall be necessary to render a judgment. * * * No judgment resulting from a trial by jury shall be reversed on the weight of the evidence except by the concurrence of all three judges hearing the cause."
{¶ 165} The instant matter was tried before a jury. However, the appellate panel deciding this case cannot reach total agreement as to the resolution of the appeal. To reverse and remand the matter based upon the weight of the evidence without a full concurrence of all three appellate judges would be unconstitutional. State v. Miller,
{¶ 166} Appellant's eleventh assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶ 167} V. Issues Relating to Convictions on Multiple-Counts
{¶ 168} We next turn to appellant's seventh and thirteenth assignments of error, which will be addressed together. In his thirteenth assignment of error, appellant argues that the two offenses for which he was convicted were "allied offenses of similar import" and thus he should have been convicted only of the "lesser offense," i.e., vehicular homicide. In his seventh assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred to his prejudice by refusing to dismiss the second count of the indictment, (the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide charge) because it is "not a lesser included offense of the first count" (Vehicular Homicide).
{¶ 169} Under R.C.
{¶ 170} In Rance, the Court observed that the proper test for determining whether crimes are allied offenses of similar import is as follows: "If the elements of the crimes `"correspond to such a degreethat the commission of one crime will result in the *34 commission of the other, the crimes are allied offenses of similar import."'" Id. at 636, quoting, State v. Jones (1997),
{¶ 171} A review of the relevant statutes reveal that they "proscribe identical conduct, except for the required culpable mental state: `recklessly' for aggravated vehicular homicide, `negligently' for vehicular homicide." State v. Beasley (Aug. 2, 1995), 1st Dist. No. C-940899,
{¶ 172} "A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that his conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that such circumstances are likely to exist." R.C.
{¶ 173} "A person acts negligently when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, he fails to perceive or avoid a risk that his conduct may cause a certain result or may be of a certain nature. A person is negligent with respect to circumstances when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, he fails to perceive or avoid a risk that such circumstances may exist." R.C.
{¶ 174} As is readily apparent from the aforementioned definitions, one cannot act recklessly without also acting with a "substantial lapse from due care," or failing to "perceive or avoid a risk that his conduct may cause a certain result * * * be of a certain *35 nature * * * or fail to perceive or avoid a risk that such circumstances may exist." Put differently, the commission of aggravated vehicular homicide will necessarily result in the commission of vehicular homicide. Therefore, pursuant to Rance, et al., the commission of one crime will result in the commission of the other and, consequently, the crimes for which appellant was indicted are allied offenses of similar import.
{¶ 175} Finally, both crimes were a result of the same act and as such, they were not committed separately. Moreover, the term animus, as it pertains to R.C.
{¶ 176} In sum, the crimes at issue are allied offenses of similar import that were not committed separately and had no separate animus. Thus, appellant could be convicted (found guilty and punished) of only one. Rance, supra, at 136, citing R.C.
{¶ 177} VI. Conclusion
{¶ 178} As a result of the foregoing analysis, appellant's second, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and eleventh assignments of error are overruled. Appellant's first, third, fourth, and thirteenth assignments of error are sustained. Further, given our collective analysis of the sustained assignments of error, we hold appellant's twelfth assignment *36 of error, alleging cumulative error, is moot. We additionally hold that appellant's tenth assignment of error, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, and sixth assignment of error, alleging crash reconstructionist Douglas Heard's report and CV should have been admitted into evidence, are both moot. Finally, by virtue of our holding on appellant's thirteenth assignment of error, appellant's seventh assignment of error is also rendered moot. Accordingly, the judgment of conviction entered by the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and the matter remanded for a new trial.
COLLEEN MARY O'TOOLE, J., concurs,
DIANE V. GRENDELL, J., dissents with a Dissenting Opinion.
Notes
Dissenting Opinion
{¶ 179} With regard to the disposition of appellant's second, fifth, eighth, and ninth assignments of error, I concur with the majority's opinion. With regard to the majority's disposition of the seventh and thirteenth assignments of error, I concur, in part, and dissent, in part. With regard to the majority's disposition of appellant's first, third, fourth, sixth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth assignments of error, I respectfully dissent, and dissent overall from the majority's conclusion that Hatfield's conviction should be reversed.
{¶ 180} In the first and third assignments of error, the majority acknowledges and accepts this court's precedent in Adams, which states "that a defendant is * * * charged *37
with knowledge that driving under the influence of cocaine constitutes credible evidence that a defendant is acting recklessly."
{¶ 181} However, after accepting the validity of this precedent, the majority nevertheless concludes that "the state did not connect this evidence to appellant's state of mind at the time of the accident," since "[t]he average juror does not possess the pharmacological and/or biochemical knowledge to formulate a reliable opinion regarding the lasting effects of cocaine on a user's body." This would be a valid conclusion, had appellant been convicted of Vehicular Homicide under section (A)(1) of the statute, which requires that the death be caused "as a proximate result of committing a violation of [an OVI offense]." R.C.
{¶ 182} As stated by the Second Appellate District, "[r]ecklessness, as it appears in R.C.
{¶ 183} Since appellant was not charged or convicted of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide premised upon on OVI offense, the prosecution was not required to present pharmacological or biochemical evidence "to create a reasonable causal nexus between this evidence and appellant's state of mind during the accident." Instead, the prosecution need only present sufficient evidence that appellant, "with heedless indifference to the consequences, * * * perversely disregarded] a known risk that his conduct [was] likely to cause a certain result or [was] likely to be of acertain nature." R.C.
{¶ 184} In other words, the relevant inquiry is not whether the prosecution presented sufficient evidence that appellant actuallywas driving under the influence of cocaine, but rather, whether the prosecution presented sufficient evidence by which a jury could conclude that appellant was (1) subjectively aware that he was likely to have been under the influence of cocaine when he was driving the vehicle, and (2) that appellant was aware that driving with cocaine in his system was likely to cause death or serious injury to others. This is evident since the proofs and penalties associated with the respective offenses are different. Cf. R.C.
{¶ 185} It is well-settled that "[i]n virtually all cases in which an accused's mental state must be proven, the prosecution relies upon circumstantial evidence as a matter of *39
necessity." State v. Hill, 11th Dist. No. 2005-A-0010,
{¶ 186} In the instant matter, the state presented ample circumstantial evidence that appellant was aware of the likelihood that his ingestion of cocaine prior to driving his vehicle was likely to place others at risk of death. Not only was there uncontroverted evidence that appellant had ingested cocaine prior to the accident, but there was also evidence that cocaine and its metabolites were still present in appellant's system when his blood was tested. Most importantly, the state presented evidence that appellant had twicerefused to allow blood samples to be taken after the accident, which created a reasonable inference that appellant was aware that he was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the accident which killed Mrs. Kingston. From this evidence, a jury could infer that defendant was reckless by ingesting cocaine before driving his vehicle without the benefit of expert testimony. "When the state utilizes circumstantial evidence to prove an essential element of the offense charged, there is no need for that evidence to be irreconcilable with any reasonable theory of innocence in order to support a conviction." Harco,
{¶ 187} Appellant's first and third assignments of error are without merit.
{¶ 188} With regard to appellant's fourth, eleventh, and twelfth assignments of error, I agree with the majority insofar as the trial court erred by admitting evidence of appellant's prior expired suspensions, on the basis that admission of said evidence violated Evid.R. 403(A) and arguably violated Old Chief. However, even an OldChief *40
violation does not automatically warrant reversal of an otherwise valid conviction where the error committed by the trial court is otherwise harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v. Riffle, 5th Dist. No. 2007-0013,
{¶ 189} As aptly noted by the Ohio Supreme Court, "there can be no such thing as an error-free, perfect trial, and * * * the Constitution does not guarantee such a trial." State v. Lott (1990),
{¶ 190} Under Evid.R. 103(A), and Crim.R. 52(A), error is harmless unless substantial rights of the defendant are affected. State v.Hicks (Aug. 16, 1991), 6th Dist. No. L-83-074,
{¶ 191} For nonconstitutional errors, the test is whether "there is substantial evidence to support the guilty verdict even after the tainted evidence is cast aside." State v. Cowans (1967),
{¶ 192} "Where constitutional error in the admission of evidence is extant, such error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if the remaining evidence, standing alone, constitutes overwhelming proof of the defendant's guilt." State v. Williams (1983)
{¶ 193} With regard to a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, the majority correctly notes that the evidence and inferences drawn therefrom are to be viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution.Barno,
{¶ 194} With regard to a manifest weight of the evidence challenge, a reviewing court may exercise its discretionary power to reverse a judgment as being against the manifest weight of the evidence only in "those extraordinary cases where, on the evidence and theories presented, and taken in a light most favorable to the prosecution, no reasonable [trier of fact] could have found the defendant guilty."State v. Bradford (Nov. 7, 1988), 5th Dist. No. CA-7522,
{¶ 195} It is well-settled that when assessing the credibility of witnesses, "[t]he choice between credible witnesses and their conflicting testimony rests solely with the finder of fact and an appellate court may not substitute its own judgment for that of the finder of fact." State v. Awan (1986),
{¶ 196} Here, there was valid, admissible evidence presented that appellant was operating the vehicle under suspension at the time of the accident, notwithstanding his other suspensions. Appellant admitted that he was operating the vehicle in question that collided with Kingston's Honda, and that the crash caused her death. There was uncontroverted evidence that appellant ingested cocaine prior to the accident, and that the cocaine remained in his system after the accident. There was also uncontroverted evidence that appellant twice refused to submit to blood testing, from which a jury could reasonably infer that appellant was subjectively aware he might be under the influence of cocaine when the accident occurred. Finally, there was physical evidence, which, if believed, showed that appellant made no attempt to stop at the stop sign, and that his vehicle hit Kingston's with such force as to knock it off the road.
{¶ 197} Based solely on the aforementioned evidence, the prosecution satisfied all of the requisite elements of the instant offense to allow the case to go to the jury *43
notwithstanding its error in admitting evidence of appellant's prior expired license suspensions. Moreover, there was nothing in the state's evidence which would lead to a belief that the jury had lost its way in considering it, or, through its verdict, created a manifest injustice warranting reversal of appellant's convictions. Viewed in its totality, the admission of appellant's suspensions was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. If evidence is susceptible to more than one interpretation, a reviewing court must interpret it in a manner consistent with the verdict. Simpson,
{¶ 198} Appellant's fourth, eleventh, and twelfth assignments of error are without merit.
{¶ 199} With regard to appellant's sixth assignment of error, the trial court's exclusion of defense witness Douglas Heard's written report and curriculum vitae does not constitute reversible error.
{¶ 200} Heard, a crash reconstructionist, offered the following opinion as to how the accident occurred: "Mr. Hatfield was traveling on Beck Road * * * approaching the intersection at Harold Road as the Honda Civic was coming in the opposite direction, and at that intersection of Harold Road, he attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Harold into the left front corner and side of the Honda Civic operated by Mrs. Kingston." When asked by defense counsel the grounds upon which he based his opinion, aside from the post-impact resting position of the vehicles, his own review of the evidence provided by the prosecution, and his observation of the damage to the front of Hatfield's vehicle, Heard replied that he based his opinion on the "statements from Mr. Hatfield." *44
{¶ 201} Evid.R. 703, governing the basis of an expert's testimony, states that "[t]he facts * * * upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by the expert or admitted in evidenceat the hearing." (Emphasis added).
{¶ 202} A "trial court has the discretion to exclude expert testimony where the testimony would not assist the trier of fact." State v.Boggess (Sept. 20, 1989), 9th Dist. No. 89CA004501,
{¶ 203} Here, Hatfield did not testify in his own defense, as was his right under the Fifth Amendment, yet his expert was allowed to introduce testimony not only regarding his credentials as an accident reconstructionist, which presumably would be contained in his curriculum vitae, but also was allowed to render an opinion as to the cause of the crash, based upon Hatfield's hearsay statements despite the fact that these statements clearly contradicted Hatfield's earlier statements to police. Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude that the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably by not admitting Heard's report and curriculum vitae into evidence, particularly where the state objected to its admission.
{¶ 204} Appellant's sixth assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 205} With regard to appellant's tenth assignment error, the trial court did not commit reversible error by refusing to grant his motion for a mistrial. *45
{¶ 206} "The granting or denial of a motion for mistrial rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion." State v. Treesh,
{¶ 207} The standard governing prosecutorial misconduct is whether the comments made by the prosecutor were improper, and, if so, whether they prejudiced appellant's substantial rights. State v. Lott (1990),
{¶ 208} It is well-settled that a prosecutor is entitled to a certain degree of latitude when making closing remarks. State v. Liberatore
(1982),
{¶ 209} In the instant matter, the prosecutor made the following comment about certain evidence in dispute during his closing argument with regard to Hatfield's defense theory: *46
{¶ 210} "Just because there wasn't mentions of debris field, S-turns and everything else, all of that didn't come up because Mr. Humpolick had some revelation or come up with some theory that gave us concern. If we didn't think we could prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, ladies and gentlemen, I wouldn't be standing here."
{¶ 211} Defense counsel objected and moved for a mistrial. The trial judge sustained the objection, and instructed the jury to disregard the remark, stating that the prosecutor's "opinions about what he thinks or his conclusions are not something to be considered, but you can consider what conclusions you can draw from that evidence." The judge then denied defense counsel's motion for mistrial.
{¶ 212} Contrary to appellant's assertions, the prosecution's comment was not improper "opinion as to the guilt of the accused." Rather, it was a permissible comment as to what he considered the strength of his own case relative to the theory raised by the defense. "There is no requirement that a prosecutor's language must be neutral in its characterizations of the evidence or defense strategy." Novak,
{¶ 213} Appellant's tenth assignment is without merit.
{¶ 214} Finally, while I agree with the majority's analysis of appellant's seventh and thirteenth assignments of error, I write only to note that the proper remedy in such a case is to vacate the multiple sentences imposed and order the trial court to enter a *47
judgment of conviction for one offense and sentence accordingly. See e.g. State v. Matthews, 1st Dist. Nos. C-060669 and C-060092,
{¶ 215} Pursuant to the foregoing analysis, appellant's conviction should be affirmed. *1