STATE OF OHIO v. MARCUS LADSON
No. 104642
Court of Appeals of Ohio, EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT, COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
September 21, 2017
[Cite as State v. Ladson, 2017-Ohio-7715.]
S. Gallagher, J., Keough, A.J., and Stewart, J.
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-16-604466-A
BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., Keough, A.J., and Stewart, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 21, 2017
Kevin M. Cafferkey
2100 Illuminating Building
55 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O‘Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Eben McNair
Zachary M. Humphrey
Andrew J. Santoli
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys
Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
{1} Marcus Ladson was found guilty, after a lengthy jury trial, of theft of a firearm and of crimes associated with several shootings that occurred over the course of a month, one of which resulted in the murder of Curtis Avent III. Ladson was ultimately convicted of murder, several counts of improperly discharging a firearm into habitation, felonious assault for shooting indiscriminately into a bar and wounding two patrons, participating in a criminal gang, and having weapons while under disability — along with attendant firearm, gang, and drive-by specifications. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed a 127-year aggregate sentence, comprised of all the maximum sentences and enhancements being served consecutively to each other and to the indefinite sentence of 15 years to life.1 In addition, the trial court ordered the aggregate sentence in this case to be consecutively served to a 16.5-year sentence Ladson was already serving in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-15-599880-A. State v. Ladson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104091, 2016-Ohio-7781, ¶ 1. We affirm.
{3} Late in March 2015, Ladson was arrested for shooting into an apartment. The stolen 9 mm handgun and a smart phone in Ladson‘s possession were confiscated, and Ladson tested positive for gunshot residue. Id. Police experts were able to link the spent 9 mm casings found at the scene to the stolen firearm. Ladson at ¶ 3. This also created the foundation to connect the weapon to a string of crimes occurring between February 21 and March 15, 2015. Officers searched Ladson‘s phone for additional incriminating evidence.
{4} In early March 2015, Ladson called 911, providing his telephone number, which was then linked to Ladson‘s smart phone recovered by police officers upon his arrest, demonstrating that the phone was indeed Ladson‘s. Ladson had called seeking police assistance when his girlfriend retrieved property from his house, located at 5719 Lansing. Ladson‘s girlfriend also called 911 claiming that Ladson forced her from the property with a “silver and black” handgun, which resembled the stolen 9 mm. She later
{5} The state‘s experts were able to extract the history of internet searches initiated on Ladson‘s smart phone. Ladson had searched for information pertaining to, and ammunition and extended-capacity magazines for, a Smith & Wesson SD9VE handgun — the same model as the 9 mm handgun stolen in January. The earliest such search was conducted four days after the theft was reported, and the latest internet search associated with those items occurred near the end of February, in the midst of the shooting spree.
{6} In the interim, a separate shooting that killed Ladson‘s cousin had occurred at a local barbershop. The accused shooter, Douglas Shine, was a member of the Heartless Felons gang. Ladson‘s cousin was not affiliated with any criminal organization and appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The other victims at the barbershop were affiliated with a rival gang. Of note relating to the barbershop events, Ladson had bookmarked a February 24 story about the bomb squad being dispatched to Shine‘s mother‘s house on his phone‘s internet browser. The state theorized that Ladson was retaliating for the barbershop shooting because all of the drive-by shootings targeted Shine‘s family members or were an attempt to target those that orchestrated the barbershop
{7} There were four drive-by shootings in all, not including the murder, three of which directly involved Shine‘s family members. The shooting at Shine‘s mother‘s home occurred on February 24, the same day the bookmarked article found on Ladson‘s phone was published. The fourth shooting occurred at a bar, and three individuals were wounded, although only two testified at trial. This led to the charges for the third victim to be dismissed under
{8} As it relates to the drive-by shootings and the separate murder of Avent, the state also presented evidence that Ladson‘s phone was in the vicinity of one of the shootings and the murder, based on cell-phone mapping techniques, and spent shell casings from the stolen 9 mm handgun were recovered from every scene. In addition to the above, the state presented evidence that Ladson had called someone in the area of the Avent murder immediately before the murder occurred, telling that person he was in the area and wanted to meet up. The call corresponded to the cell tower mapping evidence that placed Ladson in the vicinity.
{9} There was video surveillance of the Avent murder, but the offender‘s car was unidentifiable, and the eyewitness, self-described as being intoxicated to the point of
{10} The charge of participating in a criminal gang and the gang-related specifications were tried to the bench. A detective specializing in gang activity testified that Ladson had several tattoos indicative of membership in the Heartless Felons criminal organization. In several photographs recovered from Ladson‘s phone, Ladson was also depicted posing with known members of the gang and flashing hand signs associated with gang affiliation.
{11} Because of the series of parallel inferences derived from the submitted evidence, Ladson was convicted of the murder of Avent, three counts of improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, two counts of felonious assault, six counts of having a weapon while under disability, participating in a criminal gang, and theft — all with associated firearm, gang, and drive-by specifications. This timely appeal followed in which Ladson advanced 16 assignments of error, several of which are related.
{12} The most significant assignment of error focuses on Ladson‘s claim that the evidence was insufficient to substantiate each individual conviction. A claim of insufficient evidence raises the question whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict as a matter of law. Id. In reviewing a sufficiency challenge, “[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the
{13} The crux of Ladson‘s argument is that the state generally failed to present any direct evidence demonstrating that Ladson committed the crimes. This ignores the general rule in Ohio that “[c]ircumstantial evidence and direct evidence inherently possess the same probative value.” Jenks at paragraph one of the syllabus. The lack of direct evidence is not dispositive.
{14} The state presented evidence that Ladson was the only person with the opportunity to steal the 9 mm handgun, and immediately after the weapon was reported stolen, Ladson searched for information and equipment related to that specific model. Thus, a reasonable trier of fact could have inferred that Ladson stole and maintained possession of the 9 mm handgun.
{15} Ladson‘s phone contained evidence linking Ladson to the stolen firearm during the time in which the shootings took place, placing Ladson at the scene of at least
{16} As it relates to the more specific arguments advanced on the sufficiency issue, Ladson claims there was no underlying felony to support the felony murder charge under
{18} The state presented sufficient evidence that Ladson was a member of the Heartless Felons criminal gang through the testimony of the officer specializing in gang activity, who also testified that Ladson had been convicted of numerous gang-related crimes in the past. Ladson was depicted in several photographs flashing hand signs associated with the gang and posing with several known members. Further, Ladson had tattoos indicative of his membership in the criminal enterprise. Coupled with the findings of guilt for multiple felony offenses, the state met its burden. See, e.g., State v. King, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98234, 2013-Ohio-574, ¶ 20 (logical inferences derived from the state‘s evidence that the defendant posed with known gang members who held
{19} As it relates to the evidence in support of the conviction, Ladson also challenges the admission of several key pieces of information: (1) the security footage depicting the murder of Avent; (2) the evidence from the detective specializing in criminal gang activity that was heard by the jury; (3) the recordings of Ladson‘s and his girlfriend‘s 911 calls; and (4) the expert testimony linking the shell casings to the stolen 9 mm handgun and providing ballistic reports. In each of the assigned errors, Ladson presents a summary conclusion that the evidence was inadmissible.
{20} We decline to address the summary conclusions presented as arguments.
{21} Further, it is worth noting that Ladson benefitted from the introduction of the video footage of the Avent murder because no one could identify anything from the video and the sole witness to the murder was discredited by what appeared in the footage. The defense strategy was in part to create reasonable doubt by implicating a rival gang, a theory that required the gang detective‘s testimony. Ladson has also not demonstrated that the Confrontation Clause was violated by the admission of the recorded 911 call from his girlfriend who did not testify at the trial. The Confrontation Clause is not implicated solely because a witness is not present to testify. State v. Herring, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104441, 2017-Ohio-743, ¶ 14, citing Montgomery at ¶ 88. We overrule Ladson‘s assignments of error challenging the sufficiency and admissibility of the evidence.
{22} Ladson next argues that the trial court erred by not dismissing the theft-related charges pertaining to the stolen 9 mm firearm because in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-15-599880, Ladson was convicted of receiving stolen property for having possession of the same firearm. Ladson, in his oral motion to dismiss, claimed the state cannot separate the receiving stolen property charge from the underlying theft because the conduct underlying the offenses was the same. Tr. 7:2-5 (upon oral motion and without citation to any case authority, Ladson‘s counsel claimed that the state does not “get a second chance to try my client for [theft-related charges pertaining to the stolen 9 mm firearm because] that‘s same conduct and we feel that jeopardy attached.“). The trial
{23} Ladson‘s entire argument on appeal is that “[t]he Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits a successive prosecution in this case because they are an allied offense of similar import to the previous receiving stolen property and Having Weapons Under Disability in case 599880.” The “allied offense” argument inherently relies on
{25} Ladson also challenges the state‘s decision to join the separate crimes into one indictment for the purposes of a single trial.
{27} Ladson‘s sole argument, on this point, is that
the only thing that links all of the offenses in the Indictment is the firearm that was involved in all of the offenses. Each act was committed on a different day and has a separate and distant motives [sic]. Just because Mr. Ladson was found in possession of a firearm was NOT sufficient to prove that he committed every criminal act that the firearm had ever been used in. The charges in this case were improperly bootstrapped together, and then bootstrapped to prejudicial gang related charges and specifications that were introduced to the jury to obtain an improper guilty verdict.
Ladson has not met his burden to demonstrate that joinder prejudiced his right to a fair trial. The state used the same evidence for all of the crimes — notably the expert testimony demonstrating that the shell casings were fired from the stolen 9 mm handgun that Ladson possessed and the cell-phone mapping evidence. Joining all the incidents into one trial conserved time and expenses, diminished the inconvenience to the same witnesses who would have had to testify at each individual trial, and minimized the possibility of incongruous results in successive trials before different juries analyzing the same evidence.
{29} In order to substantiate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the appellant must show that (1) counsel‘s performance was deficient and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant so as to deprive him of a fair trial. State v. Trimble, 122 Ohio St.3d 297, 2009-Ohio-2961, 911 N.E.2d 242, ¶ 98, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Judicial scrutiny of defense counsel‘s performance must be highly deferential. Strickland at 689. In Ohio, there is a presumption that a properly licensed attorney is competent. State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279, 289, 1999-Ohio-102, 714 N.E.2d 905. The defendant has the burden of proving his counsel rendered ineffective assistance. State v. Perez, 124 Ohio St.3d 122, 2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104, ¶ 223.
{30} Retaining the juror was not error. Generally, it is within the trial court‘s discretion whether a juror‘s misconduct necessitates removal. State v. Sanders, 92 Ohio St.3d 245, 253, 2001-Ohio-189, 750 N.E.2d 90, quoting United States v. Freitag, 230 F.3d 1019, 1023 (7th Cir.2000). In this case, no one observed the juror in question sleeping at any point during the trial — although after the fact, the prosecutor mentioned that the juror‘s posture could be indicative of slumber. Another juror informed the trial court‘s
{31} As it relates to the failure to review discovery, Ladson has not identified any prejudice that directly stemmed from the failure to review any particular evidence. In one instance during trial, trial counsel had not been provided the police report that included statements from Ladson‘s girlfriend, the witness who claimed to have seen Ladson in possession of a “silver and black” handgun. Ladson‘s trial counsel maintained that the state had not provided the report, which could have contradicted the 911 tape, although in the report, the witness claimed that Ladson possessed the gun but was not brandishing it in her presence. Defense counsel maintained that the report was not included in the state‘s discovery. Tr. 1220. The state countered that the recorded 911 conversation and subsequent dispatch audio was provided in discovery, and those contained the information
{32} In the other incident, defense counsel could not locate a particular police report being discussed in one police officer‘s trial testimony. Tr. 1057. It turned out defense counsel‘s confusion was well founded — the state had “mislabeled” the report in its discovery responses. Tr. 1108. That report was nonetheless available for the defense during the particular officer‘s testimony, and Ladson cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the minor oversight. Further, Ladson has not specifically identified, and we are unable to find, any other instances in which trial counsel failed to review discovery materials, and thus there is no ineffective assistance claim based on the record provided.
{33} Ladson also claims his trial counsel wrongfully opened the door to the jury hearing the detective‘s testimony in reference to the evidence of criminal gangs. Ladson claims there was no trial strategy supporting the need for the evidence, but the defense‘s closing remarks relied on much of the testimony to establish the defense‘s primary theory — that a rival gang was retaliating against Shine based on his involvement in the barbershop shooting. The defense attempted to cast doubt on Ladson‘s involvement by implicating the rival gang whose members were also victims of the barbershop shooting. The detective‘s testimony was a necessary foundation for that theory, and because Ladson has cast his entire ineffective-assistance argument based on the alleged lack of trial
{34} Finally, Ladson challenges the sentences imposed on the specifications as being allied offenses of similar import with the underlying charges and also claims it is inequitable to impose consecutive service of all the maximum sentences. Neither argument has merit.
{35} Ladson likened the imposition of the sentences on the gang specifications and the participating in a criminal gang offense to imposing sentences on having a weapon while under disability and a firearm specification. The analogy is appropriate; however, the outcome is not in his favor. In Ohio, courts cannot apply the allied-offense analysis to specifications because the sentence imposed for a specification is a sentencing enhancement. State v. Dean, 146 Ohio St.3d 106, 2015-Ohio-4347, 54 N.E.3d 80, ¶ 219 (
{36} We also find no error with respect to the consecutive sentences as argued; there is no requirement in Ohio that consecutive sentences must be “equitable” or that the trial court must provide reasons in support of the findings. The “equities” of imposing consecutive sentences statutorily rests with the trial court‘s ability to make the necessary findings under
{37} Having overruled all of Ladson‘s assigned errors, we affirm his convictions.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant‘s convictions having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, A.J., CONCURS;
MELODY J. STEWART, J., CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY WITH SEPARATE OPINION
MELODY J. STEWART, J., CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY:
{38} I concur with the judgment reached by the majority, but write separately for two reasons: first, I am troubled by the stacking of inferences to prove that Ladson stole the firearm and committed murder; second, that a double jeopardy analysis should apply to Ladson‘s argument that the court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the grand theft count.
{40} The only “fact” established by direct evidence was that at the time of his arrest (some ten days after the murder), Ladson was in possession of a gun that a forensic analysis determined to be the weapon that fired two shell casings found at the murder scene. All other “facts” had to be inferred: the jury had to infer that Ladson stole the firearm; that he was at the scene of the murder; that he was in possession of the firearm at the time of the murder; and that he used the firearm to kill the victim. The only other evidence offered to prove that Ladson shot and killed the victim was that Ladson‘s cell phone had been in an approximate three- to four-square mile area that encompassed the murder scene. But the area was also one that encompassed Ladson‘s home, and the homes of his girlfriend and another female friend, at least one of whom Ladson was trying to visit in the early morning hours: calls were verified using mapping of Ladson‘s cell phone.
{42} These observations notwithstanding, I cannot say, however, that the inferences available to the jury were so unreasonable that no rational trier of fact could have made them. I thus agree that for purposes of this appeal, the state presented sufficient evidence for the murder conviction.
{43} Regarding Ladson‘s fourth assignment of error: that the court erred by refusing to dismiss Count 7, which charged Ladson with grand theft relating to the firearm he possessed and that was stolen from the car, Ladson based his motion to dismiss Count 7 on double jeopardy grounds, arguing that he was being subjected to successive prosecutions. The lead opinion latches on to language that Ladson used stating that “[t]he Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits a successive prosecution in this case because they are an allied offense of similar import to the previous receiving stolen property and Having
{44} Nevertheless, Ladson cannot prevail under a proper double jeopardy analysis. One aspect of double jeopardy is that it precludes successive prosecutions for greater and lesser-included offenses. Payne v. Virginia, 468 U.S. 1062, 104 S.Ct. 3573, 82 L.Ed.2d 801 (1984). Ohio courts use the test set forth in Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932), to determine whether the same act or transaction constitutes a violation of two distinct statutory provisions: “whether each offense contains an element not contained in the other; if not, they are the ‘same offence’ and double jeopardy bars additional punishment and successive prosecution.” State v. Mutter, Slip Opinion No. 2017-Ohio-2928, ¶ 17, quoting United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688, 696, 113 S.Ct. 2849, 125 L.Ed.2d 556 (1993).
{45} “[R]eceiving stolen property is technically not a lesser included offense of theft * * *” State v. Yarbrough, 104 Ohio St.3d 1, 2004-Ohio-6087, 817 N.E.2d 845, ¶ 99. See also State v. Workman, 4th Dist. Athens No. 14CA25, 2015-Ohio-4483, ¶ 28 (“because receiving stolen property is not a lesser included offense of either theft or unauthorized use, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar a successive prosecution for
{46} This raises an anomaly, however: there is no doubt that had the state brought both the grand theft and receiving stolen property counts in a single prosecution, the receiving stolen property count would merge for sentencing with the theft count under