STATE OF OHIO, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MICHAEL PAIGE, Defendant-Appellant.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT MAHONING COUNTY
March 25, 2019
2019-Ohio-1088
Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio Case No. 2012 CR 224
BEFORE: Cheryl L. Waite, Gene Donofrio, Carol Ann Robb, Judges.
Atty. Paul J. Gains, Mahoning County Prosecutor and Atty. Ralph M. Rivera, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 21 West Boardman Street, 6th Floor, Youngstown, Ohio 44503, for Plaintiff-Appellee
Atty. Louis M. DeFabio, 4822 Market Street, Suite 220, Youngstown, Ohio 44512, for Defendant-Appellant.
Dated: March 25, 2019
WAITE, P.J.
{¶2} On appeal, Appellant asserts that a violation of the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause occurred when investigating detectives testified regarding statements made by a codefendant who did not testify. Appellant alleges prosecutorial misconduct for eliciting the testimony and allowing witnesses to vouch for the credibility of the codefendant. Appellant also claims ineffective assistance of trial counsel on several grounds: failing to object to the prosecutorial misconduct, allowing admission of
Factual and Procedural History
{¶3} Appellant‘s conviction stems from an incident that occurred on or around March 1, 2012. Munir Blake (“Blake“) resided on the first floor of a duplex with his wife and five children. Jasmin Fletcher (“Fletcher“) lived on the second floor of the duplex. Blake and Fletcher engaged in a verbal exchange the day prior to the incident because Blake recently discovered that Fletcher had run an extension cord from her second floor apartment to the basement in order to tap into his electrical line. She no longer had service and was in the process of moving out of her apartment. On the day of the incident, two of Blake‘s children, a son and daughter ages 9 and 11, walked home from school and entered their apartment. Blake‘s son watched television while his daughter went to her room. Blake was sleeping in his own room, because he was unwell. He emerged a short time later to check his electrical line and make sure that Fletcher had not plugged an extension cord into his outlet again. After Blake left the apartment, his children both heard him argue with two other individuals. The son said he recognized only his father‘s voice. The daughter said she recognized her father‘s voice, Fletcher‘s voice and a third, unknown individual. At trial she testified this voice “was high pitched and it sounded like a woman.” (1/3/17 Tr., p. 196.) Blake‘s son testified that he could see his father in the doorway between the kitchen and the back stairwell. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 162.) He also testified that he could hear his father arguing that his electric bill was “sky high” because of
{¶4} Police and an ambulance were called. Officer Anthony Marzullo (“Marzullo“) responded for the Youngstown Police Department. He recovered seven spent shell casings, all from a .45 caliber gun. He also recovered five bullets from the scene. All casings and bullets were found in the area of the back landing near the kitchen. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 228.)
{¶5} Dr. Joseph Ohr, Mahoning County Deputy Coroner, responded to the scene and later performed the autopsy on Blake. He testified that Blake suffered nine gunshot wounds. He testified the entry wounds were consistent with an individual firing from an elevated position on the stairs. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 277.)
{¶6} Youngstown Detective Sergeant Rick Spotleson (“Det./Sgt. Spotleson“) was assigned as lead investigator to Blake‘s murder. Detective Sergeant Daryl Martin (“Det./Sgt. Martin“) assisted Det./Sgt. Spotleson in the investigation. At trial, Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified that during the investigation he learned of the prior confrontation
Q And you interviewed [Fletcher]?
A Yes
Q Did she tell you that she was present when this occurred?
A Yes
Q Did she identify a second person of interest?
A Yes
Q And who was that?
A Michael Paige
{¶7} Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified he then concluded Appellant was a person of interest, and obtained a home address for Appellant. Late in the evening of the incident, police went to the address and found Appellant and his girlfriend. Det./Sgt. Spotleson obtained consent to search the residence. A .45 caliber firearm magazine clip was recovered from the scene. These bullets were consistent with the casings found at the murder scene. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 314.)
{¶8} Appellant was not placed under arrest at the conclusion of the search. However, Appellant and his girlfriend agreed to come to the station to give statements.
{¶9} Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified that at the end of the interview he did not believe he had enough evidence to arrest Appellant. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 318.) A gunshot residue test was performed on Appellant, but the results were negative.
{¶10} At approximately 8:40 a.m. the following morning, Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin again interviewed Fletcher. They showed Fletcher the video recording of Appellant‘s interview. On direct examination, Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified to the following:
Q After you showed her the portion of the interview with the defendant did she change her statement?
A Yes.
Q In the second statement she gave did she tell you who the shooter was?
A Yes.
Q Did she tell you where the shooter was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did she tell you where she was standing?
A Yes.
Q And where the victim was standing?
A Yes.
Q Based on your assessment of the scene, your conversations with Dr. Ohr and what she had told you, what Jasmin Fletcher told you, did that make sense to you?
A Yes.
Q At the end of the interview did you have a suspect?
A Yes.
Q Who was that suspect?
A That suspect was Michael Paige.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 320-321.)
{¶11} Det./Sgt. Spotleson also testified on direct regarding the second Fletcher interview:
Q Did she talk about -- did you discuss with her whether or not [Blake] had a gun?
A Yes.
Q Did he have a gun?
A No.
Q All right. Did you discuss with her whether or not she was threatened by Mr. Blake?
A Yes.
Q Was she?
A No.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 329.)
{¶12} Appellant was arrested that day and brought to the Youngstown Police Department. After being read his Miranda warnings, he gave another statement to Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin. A video recording of the interview was admitted into evidence at trial. Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified on direct that Appellant initially repeated that Fletcher was the shooter. This was his third version of the story from his earlier interview. Appellant eventually admitted, however, that he shot Blake:
Q Was there a time when finally he told you that he did it?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you—when he told you that did he tell you where the victim was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you where Jasmin Fletcher was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you where he was standing?
A Yes.
Q And was that consistent with what Jasmin Fletcher had told you and with what Dr. Ohr -- what his findings were?
A Yes.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 324.)
{¶13} At trial, both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin testified that Appellant admitted in the final interview that he shot Blake. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 324, 418.) At the end of this interview Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin left the room. Appellant‘s girlfriend was allowed into the interview room and Appellant was allowed to speak to her. The entire encounter, including Appellant‘s interview with the detectives and the conversation between Appellant and his girlfriend, was recorded and later played at trial. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 325.)
{¶14} Appellant was indicted on March 8, 2012, on one count of aggravated murder in violation of
{¶15} Appellant was arraigned on March 13, 2012. Court-appointed defense counsel filed a motion on September 17, 2012, seeking to suppress statements made by Appellant to police. In this motion counsel argued that the Miranda warnings were cursory in nature and Appellant was under the influence of drugs at the time the statements were given. A hearing on the motion to suppress was held and the motion was overruled by the trial court in a judgment entry dated October 25, 2012.
{¶17} New counsel was appointed. Appellant filed a pro se motion attempting to revoke his previously executed waiver of the right to a speedy trial. His newly appointed counsel raised the issue of his competency to stand trial on August 6, 2015. A hearing on Appellant‘s competency was held on October 5, 2016 and the trial court ultimately concluded Appellant was competent to stand trial.
{¶18} A second jury trial commenced on January 11, 2016. In a judgment entry dated January 13, 2016, the trial court sua sponte declared a mistrial after the jury was empaneled, because Appellant filed a habeas corpus proceeding naming the assistant prosecuting attorney as a defendant in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
{¶19} Ultimately, a jury trial in this matter took place on January 3, 2017. The state presented the testimony of several witnesses, including Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin. Both the state and defense counsel subpoenaed Fletcher as a witness. However, Fletcher failed to appear and a material witness warrant was issued. While Fletcher appeared pursuant to this warrant, the state rested without testimony from Fletcher. Appellant did call Fletcher as a witness. Fletcher appeared and asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and refused to testify. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 388-389.) A discussion ensued about whether Fletcher was able to assert a Fifth Amendment right. The discussion included statements from Fletcher‘s counsel, who was
{¶20} A sentencing hearing was held on January 24, 2017. The trial court sentenced Appellant to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after fifteen years for the murder conviction, three years for tampering with evidence to be served concurrently with the sentence imposed for murder, and three years for the firearm specification, to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed for the murder charge. Appellant filed this timely appeal.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
Testimony relating to out of court, testimonial statements, violated Appellant‘s constitutional right to confront witnesses as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.
{¶21} Appellant contends the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin regarding the statements Fletcher made to them during police interviews constituted testimonial hearsay in violation of his right to confront witnesses guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause.
{¶23} The trial court typically has broad discretion in admitting or excluding evidence. State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 182, 510 N.E.2d 343, 350 (1987). However, a de novo standard of review is applied to a claim that a criminal defendant‘s rights have been violated under the Confrontation Clause. State v. Mitchell, 2016-Ohio-1439, 62 N.E.3d 820, ¶ 77 (7th Dist.).
{¶24} Pursuant to the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” Testimonial statements of a non-testifying witness are inadmissible unless the witness was unavailable to testify and the defendant had a prior opportunity for cross-examination of the witness. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53-54, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004). In Crawford, the Supreme Court declined to provide a comprehensive definition of “testimonial,” but indicated that the term includes, at a minimum, prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, at a former trial, and statements made during police interrogations. Id. at 68.
{¶25} In Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 126 S.Ct. 2266, 165 L.Ed.2d 224 (2006), the Supreme Court held that statements are nontestimonial for Confrontation Clause purposes when made in the course of a police interrogation under such circumstances that indicate objectively the primary purpose of the interrogation is to enable police to address an ongoing emergency. Id. at 822. Testimonial statements
{¶26} Hence, we must distinguish between police interrogations that are part of an ongoing emergency and interrogations related to past criminal conduct and which serve only to investigate potential criminal prosecution. Appellant claims the testimony of two witnesses give rise to Confrontation Clause issues: the direct testimony of Det./Sgt. Spotleson and the direct testimony of Det./Sgt. Martin. Det./Sgt. Spotleson was lead investigator on the case and was assisted by Det./Sgt. Martin. Both were present during the interviews of Appellant and Fletcher.
{¶27} Det./Sgt. Spotleson provided most of the testimony to which Appellant objects. As noted above, during direct examination Det./Sgt. Spotleson was asked a number of questions regarding statements Fletcher made during her two interviews with police. At the outset it should be noted that, although the first interview was conducted on the same day as the incident, albeit several hours later, and the second interview was conducted the following morning, neither interview can be characterized as addressing an emergency situation. Fletcher was a person of interest during her first interview. At the conclusion of Fletcher‘s first interview, Appellant was also a person of interest. At the time of the second interview, both Fletcher and Appellant had been placed under arrest. In the absence of an ongoing emergency, the statements made by Fletcher to police were made under circumstances that objectively indicate there was “no such ongoing
{¶28} The state contends the testimony of the detectives was “offered to explain an officer‘s conduct while investigating a crime” and thus, are not hearsay and do not violate the Confrontation Clause. State v. Blevins, 36 Ohio App.3d 147, 149, 521 N.E.2d 1105 (10th Dist.1987). We do not find this reasoning persuasive, particularly when considering the testimony elicited from Det./Sgt. Spotleson regarding his first interview of Fletcher:
Q And you interviewed [Fletcher]?
A Yes
Q Did she tell you that she was present when this occurred?
A Yes
Q Did she identify a second person of interest?
A Yes
Q And who was that?
A Michael Paige
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 312.)
{¶29} In State v. Ricks, 136 Ohio St.3d 356, 2013-Ohio-3712, 995 N.E.2d 1181, the Ohio Supreme Court held that an officer‘s testimony regarding the out-of-court statements of an alleged accomplice identifying the defendant as the assailant violated the Confrontation Clause when the accomplice did not testify at trial. In Ricks, the officer testified regarding the process undertaken to obtain a photograph of the defendant as
Q. Once again, [Officer], when you showed [the alleged accomplice] this photo, after obtaining it from Georgia, did he make identification?
A. Yes.
Q. What did he say?
A. He says that‘s Peanut.
{¶30} In contrast, in State v. Johnson, 8th. Dist. No. 105612, 2018-Ohio-1389, 110 N.E.3d 800, the investigating officer interviewed a witness named Wright. Wright invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege at the defendant‘s trial. During defendant‘s trial, the officer testified that Wright had given her a description of both the vehicle involved in the shooting and the shooter. During this testimony the officer did not repeat those descriptions. In fact, “[w]hen Officer Johnson began to offer hearsay testimony, the state and the court reminder her not to repeat what other people may have said.” Id. at ¶ 38. The Eighth District held that since the officer did not testify as to the exact statements of Wright, there was no Confrontation Clause violation. The state also presented the testimony of the decedent‘s mother, Andrea, who had spoken to Wright about her son‘s death:
[STATE]: Why don‘t you tell us about the following day. Did you meet with [Wright]?
[ANDREA]: Yeah, the following day I guess he wanted to tell me who—
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection.
THE COURT: Well, why don‘t we caution [Andrea]. One of the rules in court is that you can‘t tell us what somebody else said.
[STATE]: We went over the rules a little bit before your testimony * * * about hearsay. You can‘t talk about what someone else told you, right? So I don‘t want you to say the words that [Wright] said, right?
[ANDREA]: Right
* * *
[STATE]: Did [Wright] tell you what happened?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
[STATE]: And without telling us what he said, did he tell you who had done it?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
[STATE]: Did he give you one name or more than one?
[ANDREA]: He gave me [the] first and last name * * * of one person.
[STATE]: Again, [Andrea], I don‘t want to go into specifics about what he said, but did he tell you how it happened and how [Ayers] died?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
{¶31} The Eighth District likewise held in regard to this testimony that since the actual information the witness had learned from Wright was not disclosed during testimony, the testimony was not offered to prove the circumstances of the decedent‘s death but only to explain how the case unfolded. Hence, it was not testimonial hearsay. Id. at 41.
{¶33} Det./Sgt. Martin testified as a witness for Appellant. He was called to testify regarding the search of Appellant‘s residence, which failed to elicit an actual weapon, as well as to Appellant‘s gun powder residue test results, which were negative. On cross-
Q He also told you that he killed Munir Blake, correct?
A Correct.
Q And did [Fletcher] corroborate that?
A Yes.
Q He told you that [Blake] was standing that doorway—and just so you know, the jury went to the scene, so they have seen that. The doorway going from the kitchen onto that landing, stairway landing, he also told you that [Blake] was standing in that doorway, correct?
A Correct.
Q And did [Fletcher] corroborate that?
A Yes.
Q He also told you that [Fletcher] would have been pretty much facing [Blake], correct?
A Correct.
Q Standing on that landing, basically pretty much straight across from each other?
A He described face to face.
Q Okay. And [Fletcher] also corroborated that, correct?
A Correct.
* * *
Q To the best of your knowledge, did [Fletcher] ever say that she shot and killed [Blake]?
A No.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 418-419.)
{¶34} Again, rather than testifying only to Det./Sgt. Martin‘s “conduct while investigating a crime” the testimony goes further and seeks to place before the jury that Fletcher corroborated Appellant‘s admission. Blevins at 149. As Fletcher did not testify, the state used the officer‘s testimony to put Fletcher‘s statements into evidence. Under the primary purpose test set forth in Crawford and its progeny, the statements made by Fletcher during her police interrogations are testimonial in nature. The testimony given by both officers goes beyond their investigatory conduct and procedure and instead appears to be an attempt to prove the truth of the matter asserted: to identify Appellant as the assailant and to bolster Appellant‘s admission. As Fletcher did not testify at trial and there was no previous opportunity for Appellant to cross-examination Fletcher, this testimony was inadmissible hearsay in violation of the Confrontation Clause.
{¶35} Once we determine that the testimony was admitted erroneously, our inquiry does not end here, however. We must next look at whether Appellant was harmed by this error. In Ricks, the Supreme Court held that statements made by the officer were unfairly prejudicial and the cited purpose for the testimony, police investigatory procedure, was pretextual. Id. at ¶ 34, 45. The Ricks Court found the out-of-court statements “exceptionally damaging” because the declarant was the other suspect in the murder. As most of the state‘s evidence related to the other suspect‘s involvement in the crime, the state‘s case, then, “revolved” around the declarant. Id. at ¶ 36. The Ricks Court
{¶36} Regarding harmless error,
{¶37} To determine “whether a new trial is required or the error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, the court must excise the improper evidence from the record and then look to the remaining evidence.” Morris at ¶ 29. Moreover, “the cases where imposition of harmless error is appropriate must involve either overwhelming evidence of guilt or some other indicia that the error did not contribute to the conviction.” State v.
{¶38} The fact that most concerned the Ricks Court was that the declarant who was the subject of the officer‘s testimony was an accomplice, and the state‘s evidence centered predominately around the accomplice. In the instant case, Fletcher is also a codefendant. The same concern over utilizing the testimonial statements of a codefendant is theoretically applicable here. Both investigating detectives testified about statements made by Fletcher which placed Appellant at the scene as the shooter. In urging prejudice under the plain error standard, Appellant alleges that although he confessed to shooting Blake, the record reflects that he told several different accounts of the events that transpired. The testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin had the effect of bolstering his admission, by corroborating the details of the version of events (including Appellant‘s own) that reflect Appellant‘s guilt.
{¶39} While we are troubled by the admission of the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin because the testimony went beyond what is allowable by law, the troubling nature of the testimony is considerably lessened when considering the remaining evidence presented to the jury. Excising the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin, which we are required to do, this record reveals that the jury had before it overwhelming evidence of Appellant‘s guilt. First and foremost, the jury was shown the videotaped admission of the shooting by Appellant, where he provided a detailed description of the murder scene and of the events in his own words. His description of the incident was corroborated by the testimony of Officer Anthony Marzullo who investigated the scene. It was further corroborated by Dr. Ohr, the medical examiner who
{¶40} On review of this record, we conclude that, in view of the particular facts and circumstances of this case, any error in the hearsay admission of Fletcher‘s statements was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We stress that we reach this conclusion based on the other overwhelming evidence of Appellant‘s guilt, most notably Appellant‘s own detailed videotaped confession, but also the testimony of the other witnesses, as well as the remaining relevant testimony of both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin. Based on this record, the cumulative nature of the officers’ testimony was neither impactful nor prejudicial. Excising that testimony and considering the remaining evidence presented, the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant was the shooter. We caution that it is the nature and amount of other relevant evidence that clearly impacts our review of this matter. Absent the overwhelming evidence of guilt present in this record, the testimonial hearsay evidence would most likely not be harmless. Based on the record in this matter, Appellant‘s first assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
The Appellant was denied a fair trial, as guaranteed by the
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution andArticle I, Sections 1 ,10 and16 of the Ohio Constitution , due to repeated instances of prosecutorial misconduct, including having the police vouch for the credibility and truthfulness of Jasmin Fletcher‘s out of court statements, for eliciting testimony regarding the out of court statements and for calling Fletcher‘s attorney and introducing evidence regarding her plea of guilty and the reasons for her assertion of herFifth Amendment privilege.
{¶41} In his second assignment of error, Appellant asserts multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct occurred which deprived him a fair trial. Appellant again refers to the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin that recounts Fletcher‘s statements, reference to Fletcher‘s statements by the state during closing argument, and the state‘s decision to call Fletcher‘s attorney as a rebuttal witness in this case.
{¶42} Regarding the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin, Appellant contends both officers improperly vouched for Fletcher‘s credibility. During this testimony the state asked both whether the statements made by Fletcher were corroborated by the findings of the medical examiner and were corroborated by other information regarding the scene of the incident. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 320, 418-419.)
{¶43} In determining whether prosecutorial misconduct has occurred, we must determine whether the comments or questions were improper and, if they were, whether they prejudiced Appellant‘s substantial rights. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 480, 2001-Ohio-4, citing State v. Lott, 5 Ohio St.3d 160, 165, 555 N.E.2d 293 (1990). The
{¶44} In State v. Huff, 145 Ohio App.3d 555, 763 N.E.2d 695 (1st Dist.2001), relied on by Appellant, the First District reversed a conviction for felonious assault and concluded a defendant was denied a fair trial when the prosecutor elicited testimony from a detective about whether he thought the victims in the matter were credible. The prosecutor in Huff asked the detective whether he thought there was any doubt about the victims’ identification of the shooter. There was no objection by defense counsel and the detective responded that he absolutely found the victims credible and that they were telling the truth.
{¶45} As in Huff, defense counsel did not object to the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin regarding Fletcher‘s statements, thus waiving all but plain error. State v. Childs, 14 Ohio St.2d 56, 236 N.E.2d 883 (1968), paragraph three of the syllabus. As earlier discussed, Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin testified that the statements made by Fletcher corroborated the findings already made in their investigation as well as those of Marzullo, who had investigated the scene, and of Dr. Ohr, the medical examiner. Testifying about whether witness statements match other findings of an investigation is not akin to vouching for that witness’ credibility. No improper vouching occurs so long as the prosecutor or the witness does not express any personal belief about another witness’ credibility. Davis, at ¶ 241. While improper on other grounds, there was no improper
{¶46} Appellant also contends the prosecutor relied on Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin‘s testimony and their allegedly vouching for Fletcher‘s credibility during closing argument by stating:
There were three people there that afternoon. Three people in that stairwell. Unfortunately, probably the best person of the three isn‘t here to tell us what happened, the other two are. Jasmin Fletcher and Michael Paige both told the police what happened. They both said where everybody was standing and they both said who fired the shots.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 444-445.)
{¶47} Again, while the statements of Fletcher were improperly submitted on other grounds, no vouching occurred here. The state was recounting the testimony at trial, including that Appellant‘s version of the incident in his admission matched what Fletcher told the officers. However, the prosecutor neither implied knowledge of facts outside of the record nor placed his personal credibility at issue by making such argument and again, if we remove any reference to Fletcher and her statements, as we must, the state‘s observation that Appellant‘s confession contained all the relevant information necessary to find guilt appears accurate. Further, since the jury could actually witness Appellant confessing to the crime and could accurately judge his credibility for themselves, mention of the improperly admitted Fletcher statements cannot be error in this instance. State v. Keene, 81 Ohio St.3d 646, 666, 693 N.E.2d 246. Thus, no plain error is present.
{¶49} The matter of whether Fletcher was able to assert her
Q Through your practice, do you represent a woman by the name of Jasmin Fletcher?
A I do.
Q And you were present this morning when she came in and took the Fifth Amendment when she was called to testify, correct?
A That‘s correct.
Q You‘re representing her in the criminal matters that occurred out of this incident, correct?
A That‘s correct.
* * *
Q Okay. Are you aware that she has entered pleas of guilty to tampering with evidence and obstructing justice?
A I‘m aware of that, yes.
Q And have you, on her behalf, filed a motion to vacate those pleas, or that plea?
A Yes, that motion was filed.
Q Okay. And the effect of that, if that motion was granted, would mean she has not been found guilty, she would sit here, her case could go to trial, another plea agreement could be reached, it could be dismissed, but basically we are starting over from square one, basically?
A Yes, if the motion was granted.
Q Okay. Based on the fact that that motion had been filed, the motion to vacate the plea, did you discuss with her -- and I am not asking what you discussed -- did you discuss with her the prospect of her testifying in this matter?
A In conjunction with filing the motion, we did discuss whether or not she would testify in this matter.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL] Judge, I‘m going to object and can we approach the bench?
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 437-439.)
{¶50} At this point, a discussion was had off the record and the trial court then sustained defense counsel‘s objection and the witness was excused.
{¶51} Citing State v. Dinsio, 176 Ohio St. 460, 469, 200 N.E.2d 467 (1964), Appellant contends the testimony of Atty. Kivlighan as a rebuttal witness was highly prejudicial and that the state was prevented from calling the rebuttal witness when it knew that Fletcher would assert her
{¶52} Contrary to Appellant‘s assertion, we do not find the rebuttal witness’ testimony prejudicial to Appellant. If anything, placing Attorney Kivlighan on the stand as a witness could only serve to hurt the state‘s case. Fletcher invoked her
{¶53} The state did not call Fletcher to testify although both parties had subpoenaed her as a witness. It was when the defense called her to testify that she invoked the privilege not to testify. It is not apparent from the record that the state had any prior knowledge that Fletcher would invoke her privilege. Regardless, defense counsel elected to call her as a witness and it was Appellant‘s counsel who questioned
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
The Appellant received ineffective assistance of trial counsel when his trial attorney failed to failed to [sic] object to numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct and the admission of clearly inadmissible hearsay statements
and failed to file a motion to suppress statements made by Appellant, to his girlfriend, that were surreptitiously recorded by the police.
{¶54} In his third assignment of error, Appellant claims he received ineffective assistance of counsel when trial counsel failed to object to prosecutorial misconduct and the admission of hearsay, and failed to file a motion to suppress the conversation recorded between Appellant and his girlfriend after he admitted to being the shooter.
{¶55} In a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, a reviewing court is highly deferential to trial counsel‘s strategy and must indulge in a strong presumption that counsel‘s performance fell within a wide range of reasonable professional assistance. State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). Appellant bears the burden of demonstrating that counsel‘s performance fell below an objective standard of professional competence. If successful in demonstrating that counsel committed professional error, the appellant must then demonstrate he was prejudiced by that deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984).
{¶56} “Deficient performance” means performance falling below an objective standard of reasonable representation. Strickland at 687-688. “Prejudice” in this context, means a reasonable probability that, but for counsel‘s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694. Reversal as a result of prejudice from defective representation is justified only where the results are unreliable or the proceeding was clearly fundamentally unfair due to counsel‘s performance. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995).
{¶58} The testimony of both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin was reviewed in Appellant‘s first assignment of error. The admission of the testimony was error, but resulted in no prejudice to Appellant, as the overwhelming evidence at trial supported Appellant‘s convictions. It is not enough that any error by counsel can be shown to have “some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373, at fn. 1, quoting Strickland, at 693. Although an objection to the testimony may have been appropriate, we cannot conclude that the failure to do so resulted in prejudice that undermined the “fundamental fairness” of the proceedings. Strickland, at 697. Again, the jury had before it the videotaped confession by Appellant that he shot Blake. Standing alone, this was sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, allowing the officers to testify about what Fletcher told them does reveal a potential trial strategy, as Fletcher was the prime suspect and Appellant‘s involvement was not known to the police until Fletcher raised it. Potentially, trial counsel wanted to show that Fletcher was the shooter and that she implicated Appellant only to shift the focus from her own guilt. Regardless, there is no ineffective assistance shown, here.
{¶59} Appellant also asserts counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress the recorded conversation between Appellant and his girlfriend for “invasion of
{¶60} The “failure to file a suppression motion does not constitute per se ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389, 721 N.E.2d 52 (2000) citing Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 384, 106 S.Ct. 2574, 91 L.Ed.2d. 305 (1986). Under the two-part test for assessing whether trial counsel was ineffective, we look first to whether trial counsel‘s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable competence. This portion of the video was played to the jury after they had already seen Appellant‘s videotaped confession to the detectives. The only other
{¶61} Appellant cites our holding in State v. Clemons, 7th Dist. No. 10 BE 7, 2011-Ohio-1177 as support. However, Appellant concedes that we held in Clemons that there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy in a police interrogation room. In Clemons, the defendant argued that a recording of his conversation with his wife in the police interrogation room constituted a violation of the
[T]here is really nothing to distinguish a police interrogation room from conversations in the back of a police car. Leaving the interrogation room
and closing the door is similar to leaving a patrol car and closing the door (or walking away where the subjects can see the officer is too far away to overhear their conversation).
{¶62} We held that the trial court “could rationally find that an objective person had no reasonable expectation of privacy under the circumstances existing herein.” Id. at ¶ 76. As in Clemons, Appellant had admitted his crime to the police officers and was allowed to speak with his girlfriend directly afterward. Appellant distinguishes Clemons based on the fact that the interrogation room in that case had a large mirror which would indicate that there was surveillance. However, this argument is not persuasive. As in Clemons, the camera was hidden, the subjects were not informed they were being recorded. Notably, also as in Clemons, Appellant was under arrest and in custody before his interview and had been read his Miranda warnings. At the time he had the conversation with his girlfriend, he had spent over an hour in the interrogation room with two police detectives to whom he admitted that he shot Blake. Based on these circumstances and as in Clemons, “[t]he general public has no reason to frequent” a police interrogation room “or to believe that it is a sanctuary for private discussions.” State v. Wynter, 2d Dist. No. 97CA76, 1998 WL 127092, at *6 quoting U.S. v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-802, (8th Cir.1994). We conclude that Appellant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in the interrogation room. Therefore, there was no violation of his privacy or
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 4
The cumulative effect of numerous errors deprived Appellant of his right to a fair trial.
{¶63} Appellant contends that the cumulative effect of numerous errors at trial deprived him of a right to a fair trial. Specifically, Appellant contends that his previous assigned errors relating to the Confrontation Clause, ineffective assistance of counsel and unreasonable search and seizure all culminate in a violation of his right to a fair trial although each of the errors individually do not warrant a reversal.
{¶64} Under the doctrine of cumulative error, a conviction will be reversed when the cumulative effect of multiple errors, which are deemed harmless by themselves, in combination deprive a defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial. State v. Thomas, 7th Dist. No. 17 BE 0028, 2018-Ohio-3768, ¶ 53 citing State v. Baer, 7th Dist. No. 07 HA 8, 2009-Ohio-3248, ¶ 82 and State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995). However, the cumulative error doctrine does not apply when the errors alleged are nonexistent. Id.; State v. Brown, 100 Ohio St.3d 51, 2003-Ohio-5059, 796 N.E.2d 506, ¶ 48.
{¶65} It is not sufficient to just “intone the phrase cumulative error.” State v. Agee, 7th Dist. No. 14 MA 0094, 2016-Ohio-7183, ¶ 72 citing State v. Young, 7th Dist. No. 07 MA 120, 2008-Ohio-5046, ¶ 65, quoting State v. Bethel, 110 Ohio St.3d 416, 2006-Ohio-4853, 854 N.E.2d 150, ¶ 197. “Thus, where an appellant raises the doctrine without
{¶66} Considering our resolution of the assignments of error on this appeal, all errors claimed by Appellant either fail or are harmless. Thus, there is no cumulative prejudicial error. Appellant does not engage in any analysis regarding how the alleged cumulative error resulted in a prejudice or denial of a fair trial. Therefore, Appellant‘s fourth assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 5
Appellant was denied his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial and his right to the effective assistance of counsel when counsel filed [sic] to seek his discharge on speedy trial grounds.
{¶67} In his fifth assignment of error, Appellant contends he was not brought to trial in a reasonable time after two mistrials were declared, in violation of his right to a speedy trial.
{¶68} Appellant acknowledges that his trial counsel failed to raise the issue of speedy trial before the trial court. (Appellant‘s Brf., p. 40.) The issue of speedy trial cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. The failure to file an appropriately timed motion on speedy trial grounds constitutes a waiver of the issue on appeal. State v. Hergenroder, 7th Dist. No. 07 CO 17, 2008-Ohio-2410, ¶ 13 citing State v. Trummer, 114 Ohio App.3d 456, 470-471, 683 N.E.2d 392 (7th Dist.1996); State v. Turner, 168 Ohio App.3d 176, 2006-Ohio-3786, 858 N.E.2d 1249, ¶ 21 (5th Dist.).
{¶70} Appellant‘s calculation is as follows. He was arrested on March 3, 2012 and indicted on March 8, 2012. He executed a waiver of speedy trial on April 25, 2012. He executed an unlimited waiver on September 13, 2012. Appellant filed a pro se revocation of his speedy trial waiver which was never ruled on by the trial court. Finally, he was not brought to trial until January 3, 2017. He contends he was held for 54 days when he initially executed his limited waiver and his unlimited waiver was effective until June 9, 2015, when he filed his pro se revocation of that unlimited waiver. Appellant concedes that in the 18 months between filing his pro se revocation and the time the third trial commenced, some time was tolled for his competency evaluation and for the trial court‘s sua sponte declaration of a mistrial based on his federal habeas petition, but Appellant still contends that the state still failed to bring him to trial within a reasonable time period.
{¶71} The state responds that no speedy trial violation occurred because when utilizing the proper standard and accounting for tolling, Appellant was brought to trial within a reasonable time period.
The triple-count provision asserted by Appellant provides, in pertinent part:
For purposes of computing time under divisions (A), (B), (C)(2), and (D) of this section, each day during which the accused is held in jail in lieu of bail on the pending charge shall be counted as three days.
{¶73} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that the triple-count provision of
{¶74} Here, Appellant executed an unlimited waiver on April 25, 2012. The first trial commenced on February 25, 2014. That jury found him not guilty of the aggravated murder charge but was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the other charges. A
Conclusion
{¶75} Appellant has not established any Confrontation Clause violation rising to the level of harmful error, nor has he established prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of trial counsel, cumulative error or a speedy trial violation. Appellant‘s assignments of error are without merit and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
Robb, J., concurs.
For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, the assignments of error are overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs waived.
A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate in this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that a certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into execution.
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
This document constitutes a final judgment entry.