STATE OF OHIO v. BRENT RARDON
Case No. 17 CAA 04 0027
COURT OF APPEALS DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
May 15, 2018
2018-Ohio-1935
Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J., Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J., Hon. Earle E. Wise, J.
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 16CR-I-08-0409. JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
For Plaintiff-Appellee
CAROL HAMILTON O‘BRIEN Prosecuting Attorney
By: KIMBERLY E. BURROUGHS Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Delaware Co. Prosecutor‘s Office 140 North Sandusky Street Delaware, Ohio 43015
For Defendant-Appellant
CHARLES A. KOENIG TODD A. LONG Koenig & Long, LLC 5354 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43214
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Brent Rardon appeals his conviction and sentence from the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on one count each of trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On August 26, 2016, the Delaware County Grand Jury indicated appellant on two counts of trafficking in drugs in violation of
{¶3} A jury trial commenced on February 28, 2017. The following testimony was adduced at trial.
{¶4} Keven Liston, along with Wade Kirk, founded and is the co-owner of Supzilla Sport Nutrition, a health and wellness business which sells supplements, vitamins, protein powders and other health and wellness items. Supzilla has eleven retail stores throughout central Ohio and Indiana. In late 2013/early 2014, appellant, who was a personal trainer, purchased the Powell, Ohio location and operated that location in partnership with Liston and other Supzilla owners.
{¶5} Liston testified that on September 3, 2015, he was contacted by Austin Pagani, who was working at the Powell store. Pagani sent Liston a picture stating that he did not feel comfortable selling what was in the picture. Liston then went immediately to
{¶6} Because he was concerned with how appellant‘s sale of the illegal steroids out of a Supzilla storefront would negatively impact the Supzilla brand and with the potential damage to customers, Liston contacted appellant by phone on September 4, 2015 and told him that Austin Pagani had informed him about the anabolic steroids. Liston testified that he told appellant that they could no longer do business with him and that when appellant returned, appellant should meet Liston at the Powell location, grab his belongings and they could discuss buy-out options. According to Liston, appellant, who appeared agreeable to a buy-out, initially denied ownership of the steroids, but then admitted that the steroids were his. Appellant also denied selling the steroids, but, according to Liston, apologized for having the steroids at the store.
{¶7} Liston testified that he never called the police and that he also found two boxes with syringes and vials of liquid steroids and oral steroids in the back room behind the retail store and photographed them.
{¶8} When appellant was out of town from September 4, 2015 through September 8, 2015, Liston and Austin Pagani continued operating the Powell Supzilla store. On September 8, 2015, the Powell Police Department was contacted by Ryan McFann, appellant‘s friend, regarding a civil matter at the Powell Supzilla. After McFann
{¶9} At trial, Austin Pagani testified that he was hired in August of 2015 to work at the Powell Supzilla store. He testified that he knew that appellant was using steroids during this period because he was shown the box in the back of the store and observed appellant inject himself with steroids in the back of the store “at least a minimum of two times a week.” Trial Transcript, Vol. II at 214. According to Pagani, the vials of anabolic steroids that appellant used had either pink or orange caps and appellant told him that one contained testosterone cypionate and the other testosterone propionate. When asked if he was using steroids during this time period, Pagani stated that he was because he was preparing for the world championships in 2015. Appellant, he testified, showed him how to inject them into his buttocks and thighs. While Pagani initially obtained his personal supply of anabolic steroids from someone else, he testified that he asked appellant to supply him with DBOL (methandrostenolone) and Anavar, which is another anabolic steroid.
{¶11} Pagani testified that he saw appellant purchase various items from Ryan McFann, who he thought was appellant‘s supplier. He further testified that he observed appellant open packages from McFann and split the items in the packages up.
{¶12} Because he had never exchanged a package containing what he thought were illegal steroids for cash before and thought that he could get in trouble, Pagani testified that he contacted Keven Liston and photographs were taken of the UMP container. According to Pagani, between September 4, 2015 and September 8, 2015, attempts were made to remove the UMP container from the store. He testified that Cody
{¶13} Jessica Kaiser, who is a forensic scientist with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, testified that 20 glass vials with orange caps that had been seized by the police tested positive for testosterone enanthate, a Schedule III controlled substance. The total weight was 170.20 grams. She further testified that 69 glass vials with pink caps that were seized contained testosterone propionate, also a Schedule III controlled substance. The weight was 624.36 grams. She testified that three glass vials with pink caps contained 27.33 grams of testosterone propionate. Testing revealed that another vial seized contained 9.17 grams of testosterone enanthate although the label said testosterone cypionate. Kaiser testified that capsules that were seized during the search were found to contain 29.73 grams of methandrostenolone, a Schedule III controlled substance. A total of 831.50 grams of testosterone was seized during the search.
{¶14} Over appellant‘s objection on the basis of
{¶15} A: You know, one of the very first terms I did a search for, because it‘s a term I saw was steroids. And then, you know, I learned a new term, cypionate. I would learn a new term of CYP. I would learn a new test, testosterone. I would learn a term of SARMS. And I noticed how they would reference certain terms. Sometimes it might be testosterone might be referenced test. And so I just started doing research for all these different terms that I was learning through this report.
{¶16} Q: Was one of those terms gear?
{¶17} A: I learned the word gear, and learned through the report that gear was being referenced as steroids. So then I would do a search for gear and come up - - every time I could find the word gear.
{¶18} Q: And after you did the search, you mentioned something about seeing the context of how that was used?
{¶19} A: Correct. So once I found these terms and where they were at within the report, I would read the context of what‘s going on, who is saying what, who is sending what, who is replying, what are they saying, and look at the context of that terminology, and how it‘s being referenced.
{¶20} Trial Transcript, Vol. II at 403-404.
{¶21} Detective Pentz testified that State‘s Exhibit 16 was a message between appellant and Hailey Clark, who had worked for appellant at the Powell Supzilla from 2014 until May of 2015 and who testified at trial, in which appellant talked about having legal
{¶22} Detective Pentz also testified about the contents of conversations between appellant and Jake Coyler, which were admitted as Exhibit 76. On April 23, 2015, the two talked about “tren” and “test” in their messages and a reference was made to “Boehringer test“. One of the vials that was in the photograph that appellant sent to Cody Martin contained “Tri Test.” In messages dated starting on January 14, 2015 between appellant and Jeff Yates that were admitted as Exhibit 77, appellant suggested that Yates get “on some gear” and recommended that Yates use “Tren, test, mast.” When asked where he can get some mast, appellant responded that he might have some in his personal stash
{¶23} Appellant‘s conversations with Josh Rodrigez were testified to by the Detective and admitted as Exhibit 78. In a message to appellant dated June 23, 2015, Rodrigez told appellant that he needed his “gear” and appellant indicated that he should have it by Friday and that the cost was $300.00 for the gear, which included tren. Detective Pentz, when asked the significance of the term “gear” used in this context, testified that the term was being used “as a slang word for steroids.” Trial Transcript, Vol. III at 453. Detective Pentz also was questioned about conversations between appellant and Tim Cronin, a friend of appellant‘s who was a police officer in Nebraska, which were admitted as Exhibit 81. During the conversations, which started on June 12, 2015 and continued until August 14, 2015, Cronin asked appellant about Anavar and appellant referred him to a website named Roidsource.biz. In a message to Cronin dated August 14, 2015, appellant asked him how much “var” he wants and Cronin indicated that he wants 200 tabs. Appellant then sent a message to Ryan McFann, asking how much the 200 tabs would cost and after receiving a reply, sent a message to Cronin stating that the cost was $300.00. In another message, appellant informed Cronin that “var” was a light steroid. Appellant, in a message to Cronin dated August 14, 2015, tells Cronin that “[i]f you run your gear correctly you won‘t get gyno“.
{¶24} Detective Pentz testified that he discovered text message exchanges between appellant and Ryan McFann that led him to believe that appellant was buying drugs from McFann. The messages were admitted as Exhibit 83. On June 16, 2015,
{¶25} Detective Pentz also examined appellant‘s chronological messages from September 4, 2015 through September 8, 2015 (Exhibits 85-88). In a message to appellant from Cody Martin dated September 4, 2015, Martin indicated that he could not get “it” because “Austin said he wasn‘t’ aloud (sic).” Detective Pentz testified that this confirmed with what Austin Pagani had said about Cody Martin coming into the store to try to remove items. In another message from Ryan McFann to appellant dated September 4, 2015, McFann told appellant to say that they were trying to blackmail him. On the same date, McFann sent a message to appellant advising him to say that the UMP container with the “gear” in it was not his. In a September 7, 2015 message to appellant, McFann advised him to contact the police and act like the “gear” found in his Supzilla store was a “complete setup.” On September 8, 2015, appellant and McFann agreed, as evidenced by messages, that appellant would call the police and tell them that Kevin Liston and his associates had been in control of the store for a week and “anything in there illegal was put thwre (sic) by them in an attempt to blackmail you.” Tim Cronin, in a September 8, 2015 message to appellant, instructed him to tell the police that he had not been at the store for over a week and that he had found the steroids.
{¶27} After the State rested, appellant called Kyle Brammer as a witness. Brammer testified that he worked for a sports supplement distributor and was familiar with the ban on pro-hormones in late 2014 or early 2015. He testified that some pro-hormones had not been banned and were still on the market. According to him, manufacturers of pro-hormones used the names of commonly known steroids for their products as a marketing tactic to attract more purchasers who would be intrigued that they might get the same result as from an illegal substance. He testified that Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals produced and marketed pro-hormones under the brand names Anavar, Sustanon 250 and Anabol which were “basically illegal precursor names, but they are not the actual product.” Trial Transcript, Vol. III at 585.
{¶28} Appellant testified on his own behalf at trial. He testified that he was a personal trainer and body builder and that, as a body builder, he had used steroids and pro-hormones. Appellant testified that some common names of steroids were “ren, cyp, sus, EQ, Anavar,,...mast.” Trial Transcript, Vol. IV at 618. When asked if they were associated with anything other than steroids, appellant testified that they also were associated with pro-hormones. According to appellant, pro-hormones were legal to sell prior to their ban in 2014 and mirrored the effects of steroids. He testified that not all pro-hormones were banned, but that “[i]t was the compound that was banned.” Trial Transcript, Vol. IV at 625. Following the ban, pro-hormones which did not contain the
{¶29} Prior to the ban, appellant had been selling pro-hormones. He testified that he had purchased pro-hormones from Ryan McFann and that, after the ban, there were still pro-hormones available. He testified that in early 2015, he started selling new supplements being developed by a company owned by McFann which were a mixture of legal pro-hormones and SARMS (selective androgen receptor modulators). When asked if he put these products on his shelf, appellant said that he did not because they did not have labels “and came under the shady gray area.” Trial Transcript, Vol. IV at 635. Appellant testified that he did not sell steroids, but sold pro-hormones. He testified that the vials of steroids recovered during the search of the store were not his.
{¶30} On cross-examination, appellant admitted that he possessed small amount of illegal steroids or “gear” in the Powell Supzilla store.
{¶31} The jury, at the conclusion of the evidence and the end of deliberations, found appellant guilty of a lesser included offense of trafficking in drugs as charged in Count One and possession of drugs as charged in Count Two. The jury found appellant not guilty of the other two counts. The parties agreed that Count One and Two were allied offenses and the State elected to proceed at sentencing on Count Two due to merger. As memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on April 18, 2017, appellant was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $10,000.00.
{¶32} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal:
{¶33} I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT ALLOWED THE STATE TO INTRODUCE INADMISSIBLE AND HIGHLY PREJUDICIAL EVIDENCE
{¶34} II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT PERMITTED LAY WITNESS OPINION TESTIMONY OF THE MEANING OF APPELLANT‘S COMMUNICATIONS, IN VIOLATION OF
{¶35} III. THE VERDICTS RETURNED BY THE JURY WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND COULD NOT SUPPORT THE FINDINGS OF GUILTY ON COUNTS ONE AND TWO.
{¶36} IV. THE VERDICTS WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
I
{¶37} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred in allowing Detective Pentz to testify about the more than 26,000 text communications between appellant and various other individuals between January 1, 2015 and September 8, 2015 because this was inadmissible and highly prejudicial evidence of other bad acts in violation of
{¶38}
(B) Other crimes, wrongs or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
{¶39}
In any criminal case in which the defendant‘s motive or intent, the absence of mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant‘s scheme, plan, or system in doing an act is material, any acts of the defendant which tend to show his motive or intent, the absence of mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant‘s scheme, plan, or system in doing the act in question may be proved, whether they are contemporaneous with or prior or subsequent thereto, notwithstanding that such proof may show or tend to show the commission of another crime by the defendant.
{¶40} As noted by the court in State v. Nucklos, 2nd Dist. Clark No. 06CA0023, 2007-Ohio-1025 at paragraph 78:
Evid.R. 404(B) and its companion statutory provision,R.C. 2945.59 , are concerned with extrinsic acts. “An extrinsic act is simply any act which is not part of the operative facts or episode of the case; i.e., it is ‘extrinsic’ usually because of a separation of time, space, or both.” Weissenberger‘s Ohio Evidence Treatise (2006), Section 402.21. “Generally, extrinsic acts may not be used to suggest that the accused has the propensity to act in a certain manner.” State v. Crotts, 104 Ohio St.3d 432, 2004-Ohio-6550, 820 N.E.2d 302, ¶ 18.
{¶41} “Because
{¶42} The Ohio Supreme Court has set forth a three-part test for determining the admissibility of other acts evidence:
The first step is to consider whether the other acts evidence is relevant to making any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
Evid.R. 401 . The next step is to consider whether evidence of the other crimes, wrongs, or acts is presented to prove the character of the accused in order to show activity in conformity therewith or whether the other acts evidence is presented for a legitimate purpose, such as those stated inEvid.R. 404(B) . The third step is to consider whether the probative value of the other acts evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. SeeEvid.R 403 .
{¶43} State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, 983 N.E.2d 1278, ¶ 20.
{¶44} The trial court‘s admission of other acts evidence is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, 972 N.E.2d 528. In order to find an abuse of discretion, we must find the trial court‘s decision was arbitrary, unconscionable, or unreasonable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
{¶45} At trial, appellant objected to Detective Pentz‘s testimony about the text messages which covered the period from January 1, 2015 through September 8, 2015
{¶46} However, we concur with appellee that the text message conversations did not constitute evidence of prior bad acts in violation of
[w]ith regard to the question about whether or not this is 404B evidence, it‘s not. It‘s evidence of trafficking in steroids and possession of steroids during the period of the indictment. Yes, for the bulk amount, we have to weigh the stuff that we actually recovered. But all of that evidence during the period of the indictment from January 1, 2015 through September 8, demonstrates that he [appellant] was receiving steroids, he was packaging them for sale. He was distributing them to other people, that he was in possession of them. And all of that then reflects that the steroids that were located in the back of his store amongst his personal items in those boxes are, in fact, his steroids.
{¶47} Trial Transcript, Vol. II at 285.
{¶48} We find that the evidence relates to the counts charged in the indictment and the circumstances surrounding appellant‘s prosecution, which leaves this evidence outside the purview of
{¶49} Appellant‘s first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
II
{¶50} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, contends that the trial court violated
{¶51} Initially, we note that appellee argues that appellant did not properly preserve for appeal his argument relating to Detective Pentz‘s opinion testimony regarding the meaning of terminology used in the text messages. Appellee concedes that at trial, appellant‘s defense counsel objected twice to such testimony, but his objections were overruled. The trial court, in overruling the second objection, stated that Detective Pentz was entitled to give his opinion under
{¶52}
{¶53} (1) Objection. In case the ruling is one admitting evidence, a timely objection or motion to strike appears of record, stating the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was not apparent from the context; or...”
{¶55} The admission or exclusion of relevant evidence rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 510 N.E.2d 343 (1987), paragraph two of the syllabus. The term “abuse of discretion” connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the court‘s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Wilmington Steel Products, Inc. v. Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co., 60 Ohio St.3d 120, 122, 573 N.E.2d 622, 624 (1991).
{¶56} ”
{¶58} We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in holding that Detective Pentz‘s lay opinion testimony regarding the text messages was admissible under
{¶59} Appellant, as is stated above, also maintains that the trial court erred in permitting Detective Pentz to give an opinion as to the credibility of Austin Pagani. Pagani testified that Cody Martin, on September 4, 2015, had attempted to remove vials of steroids from the back room of the Powell Supzilla store but was not successful. During his testimony, Detective Pentz later testified about text messages found on appellant‘s phone. The following is an excerpt from his testimony at trial:
{¶60} Then text messaging, 3:18 to Cody Martin: Call me when you get a chance. 3:19, phone call from Cody. 3:58: You get it? Cody from the defendant to Cody: You get it?
Cody: No man.
Defendant says why.
Cody says: I couldn‘t. Austin said he wasn‘t allowed.
{¶61} Q: Detective, did you put any significance in into this after having talked to Austin?
{¶62} A: I did. Cody, after talking to Austin - -
MR. LONG: Objection, Your Honor.
MR. WALTER: This is already in the record as testimony from Austin.
MR. LONG: He‘s rendering a conclusion. That‘s for the jury to reach.
{¶63} Q: You‘ve heard Austin testify here, right?
{¶64} A: Correct.
{¶65} Q: Did you take what you saw in the text messages and what you heard from Austin, what was the significance you heard from that?
{¶66} A: It backed up what Austin was saying, that Cody came to the store to try to remove the packages.
{¶67} Trial Transcript, Vol. III at 497-498.
{¶68} Appellant later testified that he had asked Cody Martin to go to the store and get appellant‘s personal items out of the store, including his sweater, vest, shirt and some shoes.
{¶69} Appellant now argues that Detective Pentz‘s testimony was impermissible credibility testimony that established that Pagani was being truthful while appellant was not. However, Detective Pentz did not state that he believed the witness was telling the truth or give an explicit opinion as to Pagani‘s credibility. See, for example, State v. Myers, 5th Dist. Richland No. 03-CA-61, 2004 WL 1327929 at paragraph 64 (June 9, 2004) (“The detective conducted an initial interview with Ms. Adkins that was not tape recorded. Over a week later he interviewed her and this time made a recording of the interview. The testimony objected to by appellant was that the second statement was consistent with the first statement (T. at 910). The officer was testifying to a fact, not expressing an opinion about the credibility or veracity of the complainant.“). We find, therefore, that the trial court did not err in allowing his testimony since it was not impermissible credibility testimony.
{¶70} Appellant‘s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
III
{¶71} Appellant, in his third assignment of error, argues that the jury verdicts were inconsistent with the physical evidence and could not support a finding of guilty on Counts One and Two.
{¶72} Appellant, in the case sub judice, was indicted on one count (Count One) of trafficking in drugs (testosterone), one count (Count Two) of possession of drugs (testosterone), one count (Count Three) of trafficking in drugs (methandrostenolone), and one count (Count 4) of possession of drugs (methandrostenolone). While appellant was found not guilty of the two counts related to methandrostenolone, he was found guilty of the two counts involving testosterone. Appellant notes that there was testimony at trial that all of the drugs were located in the same UMP container in the Powell Supzilla back room and argues that his convictions, therefore, were inconsistent with the physical evidence. According to appellant, “[t]he jury could not reasonably come to the conclusion that Appellant owned or possessed only part of the contents of the UMP container.”
{¶73} An inconsistent verdict may be a result of leniency and compromise by the jurors, rather than being caused by jury confusion. State v. Fraley, 5th Dist. Perry App. No. 03CA12, 2004-Ohio-4898, ¶ 15, citing United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 105 S.Ct. 471, 83 L.Ed.2d 461 (1984). See, also, State v. Ballard, 8th Dist. No. 88279, 2007-Ohio-4017, ¶ 18. “Consistency between verdicts on several counts of an indictment is
{¶74} Because appellant‘s argument is that the juror‘s verdicts were inconsistent across multiple counts rather than within a single count, based on the law set forth above, we cannot justify overturning the jury verdict.
{¶75} Accordingly, appellant‘s third assignment of error is overruled.
IV
{¶76} Appellant, in his fourth and final assignment of error, maintains that the verdicts were against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶77} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, the court of appeals functions as the “thirteenth juror,” and after “reviewing the entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must
{¶78} Appellant‘s argument focuses on the credibility of the witnesses. Appellant argues that Kevin Liston, Austin Pagani and Detective Pentz were not credible witnesses. However, the weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are issues for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 231, 237 N.E.2d 212 (1967). The trier of fact “has the best opportunity to view the demeanor, attitude, and credibility of each witness, something that does not translate well on the written page.” Davis v. Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 418, 1997-Ohio-260, 674 N.E.2d 1159. The jury as the trier of fact was free to accept or reject any and all of the evidence offered by the parties and assess the witness‘s credibility. “While the jury may take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly * * * such inconsistencies do not render defendant‘s conviction against the manifest weight or sufficiency of the evidence.” State v. Craig, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 99AP-739, 1999 WL 29752 (Mar 23, 2000) citing State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 95APA09-1236, 1996 WL 284714 (May 28, 1996). Indeed, the jury need not believe all of a witness’ testimony, but may accept only portions of it as true. State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-604, 2003-Ohio-958, ¶ 21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d 548 (1964).
{¶80} We find, upon reviewing the facts as set forth in detail above, that this is not an ” ‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.‘” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. The jury neither lost its way nor created a miscarriage of justice in convicting appellant.
{¶81} Appellant‘s fourth assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
By: Baldwin, J.
Hoffman, P.J. and
Earle Wise, J. concur.