STATE OF OHIO, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, v. TIMOTHY SCOTT WORKMAN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
CASE NO. 2-17-12
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT AUGLAIZE COUNTY
August 28, 2017
[Cite as State v. Workman, 2017-Ohio-7364.]
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
OPINION; Appeal from Auglaize County Common Pleas Court Criminal Division Trial Court No. 2014-CR-75; Judgment Affirmed
Timothy Scott Workman, Appellant
R. Andrew Augsburger for Appellee
{1} Although originally placed on our accelerated calendar, we have elected pursuant to Loc.R. 12(5) to issue a full opinion in lieu of a summary judgment entry.
{2} Defendant-appellant Timothy S. Workman (“Workman“) was convicted of thirty-nine counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material in violation of
Facts and Procedural History
{3} Two female minors accused Workman of taking nude photographs of them in a hotel room in Wapakoneta, Ohio, during the months of March and July of 2013. Tr. 382. A police detective set up a sting operation by posing as one of the minor girls and extending an offer to have another photo shoot at an area hotel. Doc. 103. After Workman registered at the hotel, the police apprehended him. Id. At the time of his arrest, Workman‘s cell phone was seized from his vehicle. Tr. 421. Further investigation of Workman‘s vehicle yielded two secure digital memory
{4} Both of the female minors who accused Workman testified at his trial and identified Workman as the person who took the nude pictures of them. Tr. 310, 342, 346, 375. Both girls knew Workman independently of the photo shoots that he had hosted. Tr. 199-200, 298-299. One of these girls had known Workman for four to five years before their interactions in the photo shoots and, thus, for sоme time before she had identified him at trial. Tr. 298-299. The other girl had known Workman for a shorter period of time through his work at a local gym. Tr. 199-200. Further, the girls also identified the photographs he took of them and text messages about the photo shoots. Tr. 212, 225-228, 231-240, 308, 310, 318-336, 344-345. The photographs from the memory card were admitted into evidence as were copies of the text messages that were used to schedule the nude photo shoots in 2013. Ex. 95, 104.
{5} On October 3, 2014, Workman was found guilty of thirty-nine counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material in violation of
{6} On February 4, 2015, he was sentenced to forty years in prison. Sentencing Heаring Tr. 42. Doc. 368. Workman filed a direct appeal of his conviction on March 9, 2015. Doc. 381. He challenged the inventory search of his utility vehicle and his conviction for tampering with evidence. Doc. 424. In this appeal, Workman did not raise the issues presented in the action now before this Court. See State v. Workman, 2015-Ohio-5049, 52 N.E.3d 286, ¶ 8 (3d Dist.). After hearing his appeal, this Court affirmed the decision of the trial court. Id. The Supreme Court of Ohio did not accept his appeal for review of this Court‘s decision. See State v. Workman, 145 Ohio St.3d 1445, 2016-Ohio-1596, 48 N.E.3d 584.
{7} On April 8, 2015, Workman submitted another motion requesting a Franks hearing with the trial court that challenged the warrants in this case, claiming thе warrants were issued on the basis of false statements. Doc. 394. This motion was denied on April 10, 2015. Docs. 402. Workman did not appeal the denial of
{8} On March 4, 2016, Workman appealed the decision of the trial court to deny his February 11, 2016 petition for postconviction relief. Docs. 463, 467. On March 7, 2016, Workman filed a notice of appeal, challenging the trial court‘s decision to deny his February 16, 2016 motion requesting a Franks hearing. Docs. 469, 479. On July 25, 2016, this Court affirmed the trial court‘s decision to deny both of these motions. Doc. 502. On August 11, 2016, Workman filed a motion for a new trial, claiming “there was accident or surprise, in that the Defendant did not expect thе State to produce or use fraudulent evidence against this defendant.” Doc. 504. On August 12, 2016, Workman submitted a motion for a new trial claiming that “the State knowingly and intentionally presented fraudulent evidence against this defendant * * *.” Doc. 512. The trial court denied these motions on October 27, 2016. Doc. 530. Workman did not file an appeal in response to this decision by the trial court.
{10} On January 23, 2017, Workman filed an amendment to his December 12, 2016 motion for a new trial. Doc. 544. This document claimed that the photograph that was admitted to trial as State‘s Exhibit 104-3 was taken on November 5, 2013, which was after Workman was taken into custody on September 30, 2013. Id. Workman argued that this was new evidence that showed he was not guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. Id. Affixed to this motion was a screenshot and a few handwritten notes sсrawled on letterhead from PC Solutions. Id. The screenshot shows the properties of the computer file which contained the
{11} In response to these pleadings, the State filed an objection to defendаnt‘s motion for a new trial on February 17, 2017, arguing that neither document disclosed any new evidence but only asserted “new interpretations on old evidence.” Doc. 548. The State first addressed the information alleging that the photographer in State‘s Exhibit 104-3 had a tattoo on his arm. The State pointed out that Workman‘s own expert, Patrick Mains, testified at trial that he could not conclude that the person taking the photograph in State‘s Exhibit 104-3 had a tattoo on his arm. Id. Rather, Mains testified that this dark area on the photographer‘s arm could be only a shadow. Id. Trial Tr. 900, 902-903.
{12} The State then addressed the allegаtions that the photograph that was admitted as State‘s Exhibit 104-3 was taken after Workman had been taken into custody. Doc. 548. On this issue, the State explained that the file attributes, which were depicted in the screenshots submitted by Workman, were the dates on which the digital files were created during the course of the investigation not the dates on which the pictures were taken. Id. The dates presented under the file attributes
{13} On February 21, 2017, the trial court denied Workman‘s motion for a new trial. Doc. 549. Workman did not file an аppeal of the denial of this motion. On April 10, 2017, Workman submitted another petition for postconviction relief to the trial court that largely reiterated the arguments of the December 12, 2016 motion for a new trial and the January 23, 2017 amendment to the motion for a new trial. Docs. 533, 553. On April 25, 2017, the trial court denied Workman‘s successive petition for postconviction relief on the grounds that res judicata barred consideration of these issues. Doc. 558. On May 1, 2017, Workman filed a notice of appeal, challenging the trial court‘s decision to deny his April 10, 2017 successive petition for postconviction relief. Doc. 561. In this appeal, Workman raises the following two assignments of error.
The trial court abused its discretion when it dismissed Workman‘s successive post-conviction petition when the record showed that (1) Workman was unavoidably prevented from discovery of the facts upon which he relies, and (2) but for the constitutional error in his trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found Workman guilty.
Second Assignment of Error
The trial court abused its discretion when it failed to hold an evidentiary hearing on Workman‘s successive post-conviction petition when the full balance of the evidence dehors the recоrd, set forth sufficient operative facts that demonstrate a substantial ground for relief.
Since the subject matter of these two assignments of error is essentially the same, we will address both of these assignments of error together even though they were argued under different headings in Workman‘s brief.
First and Second Assignments of Error
{14} In his first assignment of error, Workman argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his successive petition for postconviction relief because his case meets the requirements of
{15} The first analysis alleges that the photographer captured in this image had a tattoo on his right arm. The second analysis claims that the electronic files of these pictures show that this photograph was taken after he had been apprehended by the police. Since this is not Workman‘s first petition for postconviction relief, he must establish that this successive petition falls within the exception set forth in
{16} On the basis of these arguments, Workman argues, under his second assignment of error, that the trial court erred by refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing on his successive petition for postconviction release. He further argues that the facts contained in the record combined with this new information provides substantial grounds for relief. He argues that the facts he has pointed to in this appeal are sufficient to warrant an evidentiary hearing and that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to hold such a hearing. We do not find these arguments to be persuasive.
{17} ”
(A) Whether a hearing is or is not held on a petition filed pursuant to section 2953.21 of the Revised Code, a court may not entertain a petition filed after the expiration of the period prescribed in division (A) of that section or a second petition or successive petitions for similar relief on behalf of a petitioner unless * * *:
(1) Both of the following apply:
(a) Either the petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably prevented from discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must rely to present the claim for relief, or, subsequent to the period prescribed in division (A)(2) of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code or to the filing of an earlier petition, the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner‘s situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that right.
(b) The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted or, if the claim challenges a sentence of death that, but for constitutional error at the sentencing hearing, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner eligible for the death sentence.
{19} “A defendant is “unavoidably prevented” from the discovery of fаcts if he had no knowledge of the existence of those facts and could not have, in the
{20} “[A] postconviction-relief hearing is not merited for claims that were raised or could have been raised on direct appeal, because those claims are barred by res judicata.” Keith, supra, at ¶ 24, quoting State v. Yarbrough, 3d Dist. Shelby No. 17-2000-10, 2001 WL 454683 (Apr. 30, 2001). State v. Reynolds, 79 Ohio St.3d 158, 161, 679 N.E.2d 1131, 1133 (1997) (holding “that, pursuant to res judicata, a defendant cannot raise an issue in a motion for postconviction relief if he or she could have raised the issue on direct appeal.“). “[A] trial court is not required to hold a hearing on a petitioner‘s motion for postconviction relief if the petition, files and records of the case show that the petitioner is not entitled to relief.” State v. Schoonover, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-97-54, 1997 WL 746387, *2 (Dec. 4, 1997).
[A] trial court‘s decision granting or denying a postconviction petition filed pursuant to
R.C. 2953.21 should be upheld absent an abuse of discretion; a reviewing court should not overrule the trial court‘s finding on a petition for postconviction relief that is supported by competent and credible evidence.
State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio App.3d 377, 2006-Ohio-6679, 860 N.E.2d 77, ¶ 58. “An abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment; rather, it implies that the trial
Legal Analysis
{21} In this case, the defendant must show (1) that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering the facts upon which his successive petition for postconviction relief rests at the time of his first petition for postconviction relief and (2) that he would not have been found guilty by a reasonable factfinder but for the constitutional error at his trial. As to the first prong of this tеst, the defendant has not directed our attention to a new fact. Rather, Workman has pointed us to a photograph that was admitted at trial at the request of the State and the Defense. Ex. 104-3. Ex. RRA. Workman then uses this photograph to reargue factual issues that were already considered and resolved by the finders of fact at the conclusion of his trial. Trial Tr. 644-646, 667, 900, 902-903.
{22} In the first analysis that appellant points to in his brief, Workman only directs us to a new opinion from an alleged new expert. While the alleged expert did sign an affidavit stating his findings, Workman did not submit a curriculum vitae for this alleged expert. Docs. 533, 553. In this affidavit, this alleged expert claims that the photographer in State‘s Exhibit 104-3 had a tattoo on his right arm. While Workman presents this as new evidence, he had access to the exact photo that this alleged expert analyzed before, during, and immediately after trial. Thus, while
{23} Workman argues that he was unavoidably prevented, by his indigent status, from discovering this purportedly new fact at the time of his first petition for postconviction relief. However, Workman did have an expert examine the photograph at the time of his trial. Trial Tr. 898-905. The expert hired by the Defense testified at trial as to the issue of whether thе photographer in State‘s Exhibit 104-3 had a tattoo on his right arm. Ex. RRA. Ex. 104-3. Trial Tr. 900, 902-903. Workman‘s expert testified that he could not determine that a tattoo was present on the photographer‘s arm and that the dark area on the photographer‘s arm in the picture may only be a shadow. Trial Tr. 900, 902-903. Thus, Workman is attempting to raise a factual issue that was already considered and resolved at trial. Discovering an expert who is willing to provide a more favorable opinion to the Defense is not the same as discovering new facts.
{25} This document then lists the name, size, dimensions, and local source of the computer file that contained State‘s Exhibit 104-3. Id. The document then states that this “file was taken Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 2:28 p.m.” Id. However, this document does not disclose the method of analysis, contains no explanation of the alleged expert‘s findings, and cannot be understood without first reading the argument contained in the appellant‘s brief. Id. Further, no affidavit from this alleged expert was submitted with this filing. Id. Ultimately, the argument regarding the time at which the picture was taken is not a new fact or new evidence that Workman was unavoidably prevented from discovering but is rather an unsubstantiated assertion.
{26} This second analysis also addresses a factual issue that was considered at trial. The photograph at issue in this appeal was admitted at trial as State‘s Exhibit
{27} On appeal, Workman claims that he has new evidence that shows the photograph, admitted as State‘s Exhibit 104-3, was taken on November 5, 2013, which was after he had been taken into custody. However, this alleged expert could not have pinpointed the exact date that this photo was taken for two key reasons. First, the metadata had been removed prior to Workman‘s apprehension, making it impossible to determine exactly when this photograph was taken. Second, the screenshot submitted with Workman‘s petition shows that this alleged expert was examining the file properties of the photograph that was admitted as State‘s Exhibit
{28} Both of these issues were discussed at trial. On cross examination, the Defense asked the State‘s expert what information could be gleaned about this photograph from the file properties in Windows Photo Viewer. Id. at 661. The expert explained that the file properties in Windows Photo Viewer did not contain metadata and could not be used to determine when this photograph was taken. Id. Rather, the file properties in Windows Photo Viewer only show the creation date of that particular digital file. Id. Further, the expert said that even if the metadata had not been removed, the information contained in metadata could not have been viewed by a user in Windows Photo Viewer. Id. The screenshot submitted with Workman‘s successive petition for postconviction relief shows only the properties of the digital file in Windows. At trial, the State‘s expert was questioned on cross examination as to whether these properties could be used to determine when the
{29} Neither of these two analyses directs our attention to new facts that Workman was unavoidably prevented from discovering, and the arguments in Workman‘s appeal, therefore, fail to satisfy the first prong of
{30} Even if the first prong of this test were satisfied, Workman‘s petition still does not meet the requirements of the second prong of
{31} The other evidence against Workman is overwhelming. Workman was caught in a sting operation that was tailored to this specific case. Workman was in possession of the previously taken nude picturеs of these two minors. Workman was identified as the photographer by the two girls who were the subjects of these photographs. Both of these girls had been familiar with Workman through his work at a gym. One of these girls had known him for several years. Had the photograph that was introduced as State‘s Exhibit 104-3 not been admitted at trial, Workman would still have been convicted. It was the girls’ testimony that linked Workman to these crimes not this single photograph. Further, the girl is fully clothed in the photograph that is Exhibit 104-3. Workman is not serving time in prison for taking a picture of a fully clothed minor. Even if these analyses did prove that Workman did not take the picture that was admitted into evidence as Exhibit 104-3, this would still not establish that he did not take the other pictures in which the minors are not clothed. For these reasons, Workman has not clearly and
Conclusion
{32} Ultimately, the defendant directs our attention to a photograph that was admitted as an exhibit during his trial. Ex. 104-3. Thus, the defendant has not discovered new evidence but is merely presenting a new argument about old evidence. Since he was not able to demonstrate that the exception fоr successive petitions for postconviction relief applies in this case, the trial court did not have jurisdiction under
Judgment Affirmed
ZIMMERMAN and SHAW, J.J., concur.
/hls