STATE OF OHIO v. DUSTIN YOUNG
CASE NO. CA2020-04-052
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO BUTLER COUNTY
7/26/2021
[Cite as State v. Young, 2021-Ohio-2541.]
HENDRICKSON, J.
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. CR2017-04-0695
Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, and Stephen M. Wagner, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Repper-Pagan Law, Ltd., and Christopher J. Pagan and Jacob D. Long, for
HENDRICKSON, J.
{1} Appellant, Dustin Young, appeals from his convictions in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas for gross sexual imposition and abduction. Young also appeals from the trial court‘s denial of his two motions for new trial. For the reasons set forth below we affirm the denial of Young‘s motions for new trial and uphold his convictions.
A. Bench Trial
{2} This court previously set forth the relevant facts relating to Young‘s convictions in State v. Young, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2018-03-047, 2019-Ohio-912, ¶ 2-22, and they are again set forth herein. On April 26, 2017, Young, a police officer employed by a public university‘s police department, was indicted on one count of gross sexual imposition in violation of
{3} Young pled not guilty to the charges and, in October 2017, a three-day bench trial was held. At trial, K.K. testified she and Young began working together more than five years ago. The two had exchanged their private cellphone numbers so that personal and job-related text messages could be exchanged. K.K. explained that she and Young had become friends but, at some point in time, the nature of their relationship changed. According to K.K., it “got to the point where [Young] wanted more than I did.” Young started sending K.K. “inappropriate” text messages. K.K. did not approach her superiors at work because she felt she could handle things. However, sometime after May 2016, Young became more aggressive. On one occasion, Young grabbed K.K.‘s buttocks when she walked by him at work.
{4} Regarding counts one and two, K.K. testified that on one evening in the fall of 2016, while in the communications center at work, Young grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. According to K.K., she went to pick up papers from a printer and Young “put his right arm between [her] legs, to where his hand was on the back of [her] butt and his arm was up between [her] legs.” Young pulled her to the chair he was sitting on and then, using his left hand, grabbed her shoulder to spin her around before pulling her down onto his lap. K.K. stated that Young‘s arm between her legs was moving and his forearm rubbed her genitalia in both a back-and-forth and side-to-side motion. His hand that was over her shoulder was touching her breast and he was biting at and trying to kiss the back of her neck. Young asked K.K., “When are you going to let me do this to you outside of work?” K.K. told Young to “let go” before pushing off of him and going back to her own workstation.
{5} A few weeks later, the incident relating to count three occurred. K.K. testified she was entering the communications
{6} K.K. then testified about the incident relating to count four, which occurred while she was working third shift on November 14, 2016. K.K. testified that as she walked into the communications center after going to the breakroom, Young grabbed her, causing her head to hit a metal bookshelf. Young then spun her around, pushed her up against the lockers, and pinned her there using his body weight and holding onto her arms. Young told K.K., “I know you like to be manhandled,” and he again asked her when she was going to let him do this to her outside of work. K.K. testified she was “really scared” during this event, as she “didn‘t know if it was ever going to stop or how bad it might get.”
{7} K.K. explained that no one else was present when the incidents described above occurred and she did not immediately report Young‘s conduct. Eventually, K.K. told her superior about the incidents and she provided him with a written statement on November 22, 2016.
{8} K.K. also gave a statement to two city of Hamilton police detectives on November 22, 2016. On cross-examination, K.K. acknowledged that during her interview Detective Jon Richardson and Detective Mark Nichols asked her whether Young had ever touched her genitalia or breasts, and she responded “no.” However, K.K. explained that she believed the detectives’ question was asked to find out if there were other incidents in addition to those she had already disclosed to the officers. K.K. further acknowledged that she told the detectives that Young “never touched [her] inappropriately sexually.” She also admitted that notes describing the offenses to the university‘s “OEEL” office did not indicate Young touched her breasts or that when Young‘s forearm was between her legs, he was moving it to rub against her genitalia. Finally, on cross-examination, K.K. acknowledged that on October 29, 2016, she went to a college hockey game and stood next to Young for the duration of the game. Young had purchased a hockey shirt for her to wear but she denied wearing it to the game.
{9} K.K. also testified about the text messages she received from Young. Although Young had sent her a number of text messages on her personal cell phone, K.K. had not saved the messages. Rather, she had deleted the messages from Young. However, she provided her cell phone to law enforcement and they were able to recover some of the text messages she and Young had exchanged from April 2016 through November 2016. In the texts sent by Young, he frequently called K.K. “baby” and asked how her day was going. On October 24, 2016, Young sent K.K. a message stating “Your ass is amazing. I want to feel it again very soon.” Then, on November 5, 2016, the following text messages were exchanged:1
YOUNG (3:54:13 AM): I know baby. It‘s no big deal but I‘m going to steal a big hug and a few of your sexy or two for it. Hehe K.K. (3:54:58 AM): Your going to take my sexiness!
YOUNG (3:56:02 AM): Lol feel of your sexy ass!! It‘s hard.... to text and drive.
K.K. (3:57:10 AM): I know
Young (4:00:59 AM): Are you alright with that?
K.K. (4:01:30 AM): Depends on what that means
YOUNG (4:02:44 AM): I thought about pushing you over my desk and getting a really good feel
K.K. (4:03:25 AM): Now that‘s a bit much
YOUNG (4:04:07 AM): That‘s just a little bit much?
YOUNG (4:06:35 AM): I will try not to cross the line to much.
K.K. (4:07:48 AM): Again, uh huh
{10} Detective Richardson testified about his investigation of K.K.‘s claims. Richardson noted that Young was much larger in stature than K.K. He approximated that Young was 6’ 2” tall and weighed around 250 pounds while K.K. was only “5-ish” feet tall and weighed between 120 and 130 pounds.
{11} Richardson explained that Young was interviewed on November 28, 2016. The interview was recorded, and the recording was played at trial. During the interview, Young admitted he had a “friendship” with K.K. but denied that any sexual contact between the two of them had occurred. Young acknowledged that both he and K.K. sent inappropriate and flirtatious texts, including K.K. sending him photographs of herself in her underwear and bra, but he was unable to produce the text messages or photographs as he had deleted them and had recently gotten a new phone.
{12} Richardson was cross-examined about his November 22, 2016 interview of K.K. Richardson testified that K.K. was specifically asked whether Young had ever touched her breasts or vagina, and K.K. stated that Young never did anything physically inappropriate with her.
{13} Detective Walter Schneider, a digital forensic examiner, testified that he specializes in the recovery of data and extraction of evidence from computer and cellphone devices. On December 23, 2016, using a “Cellebrite” program, Schneider was able to conduct an advanced logical extraction of deleted data from K.K.‘s cellphone. Schneider recovered some deleted text messages sent between Young and K.K. However, as Schneider explained, not all deleted material on K.K.‘s phone could be recovered as “[s]ome things [were] overwritten” by new data after being deleted. Schneider stated he was not able to recover any data from Snapchat.
{14} Following Schneider‘s testimony, Young moved for acquittal pursuant to
{16} On October 13, 2017, after hearing the foregoing testimony, the trial court found Young guilty of gross sexual imposition and abduction, as set forth in counts one and four, and not guilty of kidnapping and abduction, as set forth in counts two and three. The trial court journalized its verdict on October 18, 2017. The trial court then set the matter for sentencing.
{17} On December 13, 2017, prior to Young‘s sentencing but nearly two months after the court rendered its verdict, Young filed a motion for leave to file for a new trial based on an irregularity in the proceedings. Young, represented by new counsel, indicated that after trial, on or about December 7 or 8, 2017, his original trial counsel was alerted to the existence of “new” photographic evidence consisting of a Snapchat photograph of K.K.2 The photograph contains a banner across it that reads “More room to bend me over here” and shows K.K. with her top lifted and her bare breasts exposed. Although this photograph is referred to as “new photographic evidence,” Young‘s original trial counsel acknowledged that the photograph had been provided to the defense during discovery. However, Young‘s original trial counsel claimed they were “unaware of it until after judgment” and that Young had not been informed of the photograph‘s existence until December 7, 2017.
{18} In support of his motion for leave to file a motion for new trial, Young submitted four affidavits, of which three were from his original trial attorneys and one was from his wife.3 In the affidavits from his trial attorneys, Young‘s attorneys stated that the “new photograph had a date stamp of [8] November 16,” that the “new photograph was close in time with a text message the court relied upon in convicting [Young] for his charged offenses” and the photograph was “not considered while consulting with [Young] regarding defense theories or for impeachment purposes.” Young‘s lead trial attorney‘s affidavit stated that upon receiving the “new photograph,” he reached out to the prosecutor, who “indicated the picture was not new and had been provided in discovery in the phone data dump. * * * Over the weekend, [lead defense counsel] reviewed the discovery and found the photograph – which * * * had not [been] seen before.”
{19} Young‘s wife‘s affidavit stated that in December 2017, she accessed Young‘s Snapchat account and discovered that Young and K.K. were friends on Snapchat.
{20} The state filed a memorandum in opposition to Young‘s motion for leave to file for a new trial, arguing that the photograph of K.K. was not “newly discovered” evidence as it was provided to defense counsel during discovery on May 12, 2017. Furthermore, the state argued that if the photograph had, in fact, been sent by K.K. to Young, then Young should have known about the photo before trial and instructed defense counsel to look for it. As the state argued, “despite [Young] being repeatedly asked to describe flirtatious texts during his interview with Hamilton Police, * * * he never once indicated that he had seen or been sent topless pictures by the victim – he stated that the victim would only ever show pictures of herself in underwear and bra.” The state contended that Young‘s argument that his trial strategy would have been different as a result of this one photograph was “disingenuous.”
{21} On February 27, 2018, the trial court issued a decision denying Young‘s motion for leave to file a motion for new trial. The court found that Young failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he was unavoidably prevented from filing his motion for new trial as his attorneys were given the photograph prior to trial and he failed to establish that he received ineffective representation by his trial attorneys.
{22} After denying Young‘s motion for leave to file for a new trial, the trial court sentenced Young to five years of community control. The court also classified Young as a Tier I sex offender.
B. Prior Appeal
{23} Young appealed his convictions and the denial of his motion for leave to file for a new trial in State v. Young, 2019-Ohio-912. We determined that while the state had presented sufficient evidence to support Young‘s conviction for gross sexual imposition, the trial court erred by denying Young‘s motion for leave to file for a new trial. Id. at ¶ 39, 50. We noted that in denying Young‘s motion for leave to file for new trial, the court had “conflated two distinct issues. Rather than limiting its analysis to the issue of whether Young was unavoidably prevented from discovering his claim of an irregularity in the proceedings due to counsels’ alleged ineffective assistance, the trial court improperly analyzed the merits of Young‘s right to a new trial.” Id. at ¶ 37. We therefore reversed the trial court‘s decision and remanded the matter to allow Young to file his motion for leave for new trial so that he would have “the opportunity to demonstrate how knowledge of the photograph‘s existence and how use of the photograph at trial would have resulted in a different outcome.” Id. at ¶ 38. We also determined that two assignments of error Young raised relating to evidentiary issues and an assignment of error asserting a claim of cumulative error were not yet ripe for review. Id. at ¶ 51-57.
C. Motion for New Trial – Snapchat Photograph
{24} On remand, Young filed his motion for new trial arguing that trial counsel
{25} In support of his motion for new trial, Young submitted affidavits from his three trial attorneys, his own affidavit, a copy of the Snapchat photograph at issue, a screenshot of a female in a “sexy cop” outfit, a digital log of photographs taken from K.K.‘s phone that was provided during discovery, and a transcript of a portion of Young‘s interview with law enforcement from November 28, 2016.4 In his affidavit, Young states that he and K.K. were friends on Snapchat and they exchanged private messages with one another using Snapchat up until November 19, 2016. These exchanges included K.K. sending Young photographs of herself. Young stated that he and K.K. also sent private text messages to one another. According to Young, “K.K. voluntarily showed [him] numerous naked photographs of her body during the course of [their] employment and personal relationship,” and she did so “through Snapchat, text message, and by handing [him] her phone and having [him] look at the image.” Regarding the November 8, 2016 Snapchat photograph, Young noted that the photograph had been marked “counsel only” pursuant to
Nonetheless, Young stated that “[i]f trial counsel had informed [him] of the [Snapchat] photograph * * * [he] would have testified in [his] own defense at trial regarding the nature of [his] relationship with K.K.”
{26} The state filed a memorandum in opposition to Young‘s motion for new trial, arguing that a new trial was not warranted as Young‘s trial counsels’ performance was not deficient and, even if it was, any failure of defense counsel to use the Snapchat photograph was not prejudicial. The state noted that while the Snapchat photograph was dated November 8, 2016, there was no evidence to establish whether the photograph was taken on this date, sent on this date, or merely saved on K.K.‘s phone on this date. The state further contended that there was no proof that K.K. ever sent the photograph to Young, and Young never
{27} The state also argued that Young‘s affidavit attached in support of his motion for new trial was self-serving and did not support his claim of prejudice. The state noted Young‘s trial counsel had presented a consent defense in addition to a fabrication defense at trial and argued that use of the Snapchat photograph would not have had an effect on the consent defense or the overall outcome of trial.
D. Motion for New Trial – K.K.‘s Undisclosed Financial Interest
{28} On August 13, 2019, while Young‘s original motion for new trial remained pending, defense counsel sought leave to file an additional motion for new trial pursuant to
{29} The state filed a memorandum in opposition, arguing that Young‘s motion was untimely as it was filed more than 660 days after the court‘s guilty verdict and Young had not been unavoidably prevented from moving for new trial within the timeframe required by
{30} On February 26, 2020, Young filed his second motion for new trial under seal. Young supported his motion with affidavits from his lead trial attorney and the office manager of his appellate/new counsel.5 The officer manager attested that after Young‘s trial, Young‘s new counsel filed five different public-records requests with the university that employed K.K., seeking information relating to any settlement agreement between K.K. and the university as a result of K.K.‘s allegations against Young. Requests were made on December 22, 2017, April 19, 2018, June 28, 2019, July 5, 2019, and July 30, 2019. In between the fourth and fifth request, the university confirmed the settlement agreement between K.K. and the university and provided the office manager with a copy of the agreement, which was entered into in May 2018. However, it was not until August 2,
{31} In his affidavit, Young‘s lead trial attorney attested that neither he nor the other two trial attorneys representing Young knew at the time of trial that K.K. had made a demand for compensation, that K.K. and the university had exchanged offers and counteroffers to settle the claim, that K.K. had filed an EEOC charge, or that the university had filed an EEOC position paper denying liability. Lead counsel stated he had not been advised of the demand, settlement, or EEOC charge by the prosecutor, presumably because the prosecutor did not know about the demand, or by the university or the EEOC. Lead counsel contended that K.K. concealed the demand, settlement negotiations, and EEOC charge and, when cross-examined about suing the university during trial, misleadingly stated that she would never sue the university. Lead counsel indicated his belief that K.K. lacked a financial interest in the case was further strengthened by the prosecutor‘s closing argument at trial, wherein the prosecutor argued K.K.‘s testimony should be believed as she lacked a financial interest in the case. Finally, lead counsel attested that had he or Young‘s other trial counsel known of the settlement negotiations or K.K.‘s EEOC claim, they would have (1) argued K.K.‘s financial interest explained the difference between her exculpatory statement to Hamilton detectives (when she lacked an interest) and her inculpatory trial testimony (when she had a pending interest), (2) impeached K.K. for bias and a motive to misrepresent, (3) argued K.K.‘s financial interest created reasonable doubt, and (4) reconsidered the tactic of a bench trial.
{32} The state filed a memorandum in opposition to Young‘s motion for new trial, arguing that Young had not been prevented from discovering evidence of K.K.‘s financial interest in the action prior to trial as the state‘s Fourth Supplemental Discovery Response from September 12, 2017 disclosed that it had “been informed that, as of mid-August, there was a pending complaint by K.K. with * * * [the] University with some relation to the indicted events. The status of the complaint is unknown.” The state indicated it had provided defense counsel with all the information it possessed with respect to K.K.‘s financial interest in the proceedings and that the provided information should have put defense counsel on notice that they needed to further investigate the existence, substance, and status of any claim by K.K. against the university for compensation resulting from Young‘s actions. The state also argued that rather than waiting until after December 22, 2017, more than two months after trial, to file a public-records request with the university, Young‘s trial counsel could have subpoenaed records and university personnel to obtain additional information about K.K.‘s financial interest.
{33} As for Young‘s claims of surprise and an irregularity in the proceeding, the state argued it had no duty to look for and gather exculpatory evidence relating to
E. Trial Court‘s Ruling on Young‘s Motions for New Trial
{34} The judge who presided over Young‘s bench trial recused himself from the case and Young‘s motions for new trial were assigned to a different judge. On March 27, 2020, the newly assigned judge rendered a decision denying both of Young‘s motions for new trial after “review[ing] every word of every transcript of every proceeding held by the trial court, including the three-day bench trial; the trial exhibits; the original official court file; all of the motions filed on the issues; the affidavits submitted by Defendant in support of his motions and all exhibits submitted by both parties in support of their respective position.”
1. The Snapchat Photograph
{35} With respect to Young‘s motion for new trial based on the discovery of the Snapchat photograph, the trial court determined that Young could not demonstrate he was prejudiced by defense counsel overlooking the photograph. The court found that the Snapchat photograph was not a “smoking gun” that would have changed the outcome of trial and its existence did not undermine the court‘s confidence in the original verdict. In so finding, the court noted that it would not place “undue value” on statements in Young‘s affidavit, as such statements were given “without being subject to the crucible of cross- examination.” The court took particular issue with paragraphs 17 and 18 of Young‘s affidavit, noting the paragraphs were “self-serving” and of limited value. These paragraphs provided:
17. K.K. voluntarily showed me numerous naked photographs of her body during the course of our employment and personal relationship.
18. K.K. showed me naked photographs of her body through Snapchat, text message, and by handing me her phone and having me look at the image.
The trial court noted, “[t]here was neither admitted evidence nor testimony that these assertions are true.” In fact, in his interview with Hamilton detectives, Young denied that he received nude photographs of the victim.
{36} The court also noted that if Young‘s assertions in his affidavit were true, then Young should have told his trial counsel this information so that it could have been used during cross-examination of K.K. at trial. Further, if Young did tell his trial counsel about the nude photographs and counsel did not use this information, the court believed Young‘s affidavit would have pointed this out, as “[s]tating that his trial attorneys ignored
{37} Finally, the trial court found the fact that the Snapchat photograph had a metadata date of November 8, 2016, which was only three days after Young sent a text to the victim about “pushing [her] over [his] desk and getting a really good feel,” was not relevant and “prove[d] nothing to [the] Court.” Specifically, the court found the photograph did not have “any relevance or value to the issues of gross sexual imposition or abduction, or the issue of impeachment” as there was no evidence the photograph was ever sent or displayed to Young or that Young had any knowledge of the photograph‘s existence prior to it being discovered by defense counsel in December 2017.
2. K.K.‘s Undisclosed Financial Interest
{38} As for Young‘s motion for new trial on the basis of K.K.‘s undisclosed financial interest, the trial court determined that Young‘s arguments under
{39} With respect to Young‘s “new evidence” arguments under
{40} The court also found that in light of other impeachment evidence presented at trial, there was not a strong probability that further information regarding K.K.‘s financial interest would have changed the outcome of trial. The trier of fact was already aware that K.K. had retained an
{41} As for Young‘s “irregularity in the proceedings” arguments under
{42} Young appealed from the trial court‘s decision denying his motions for new trial and from his convictions, raising four assignments of error for review.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Evidence Excluded at Trial
{43} Assignment of Error of Error No. 1:
{44} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY EXCLUDING ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.
{45} In his first assignment of error, Young argues the trial court erred in excluding from evidence K.K.‘s statement to the Hamilton detectives that Young never rubbed her vagina or touched her breasts and any touching that did occur was asexual. Young contends that this evidence “was admissible as impeachment during Young‘s cross-examination of the detectives under [Evidence] Rule 613(B).” Young also contends that the trial court erred in excluding three pieces of evidence that would have shown K.K.‘s motive to misrepresent. Specifically, Young contends the court should have permitted him to introduce evidence that (1) more than ten years ago, K.K. engaged in an extramarital affair that contributed to a divorce, thereby giving her motive to misrepresent the instant offenses to preserve her current marriage; (2) K.K. knew Young and his wife and K.K. and her husband had sexual partners in common, thereby supplying her with a motive to misrepresent due to jealousy or anger; and (3) K.K. had engaged in flirtatious conduct with her coworkers, which included sharing nude pictures of her body at work. In response, the state argues that Young failed to preserve these evidentiary issues by either failing to raise the issue of the evidence‘s admissibility at trial or by failing to timely proffer the evidence.
1. K.K.‘s Prior Statement to Hamilton Detectives
{46} At trial, K.K. testified that Young rubbed her vagina with his forearm with a back-and-forth and side-to-side motion and touched her breast when he pulled her down into his lap. Defense counsel confronted K.K. with the inconsistency between her trial testimony and the November 22, 2016 statement she made to the Hamilton detectives, wherein K.K. had denied that Young ever touched her breasts or vagina and stated that
Young “never touched [her] inappropriately sexually.” K.K. was permitted to listen to a portion of[Lead Defense Counsel]: Do you recall giving a statement to Detective Richardson and Detective Nichols on November 22nd where you were specifically asked if [Young] ever touched your breast and your answer was no.
[K.K.]: I do.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Do you ever recall, on November 22nd, being asked by Detective Richardson and Detective Nichols whether or not [Young] had ever touched your genitalia, as you put it, or vagina, I believe as they put it, do you remember being asked that question?
[K.K.]: I do.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Do you remember your answer?
[K.K.]: I do.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: What was it?
[K.K.]: No.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: But that changed?
[K.K.] It didn‘t change. It was - I took them as an asking me that as if - in the exception of these three incidents that you had just described to us, were there any other or were there times he actually done this outside of these things.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: So you thought they weren‘t talking about the three incidents that you were there to report on, they were talking about other incidents?
[K.K.] We had already went over those three incidents. I thought they were moving on to further questioning about any other potential incidents.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Okay. So if we listen to that very interview and it says now you haven‘t mentioned anything about [Young] ever having touched your breast and I want to make sure that we have this right, did he ever touch your breast and your answer was no because you thought they meant ever, meaning ever other than the three incidents that they were there to question you about? That was your interpretation?
[K.K.]: Correct.
* * *
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Okay. Because the questions that HPD [Hamilton Police Department] asked you weren‘t specific?
[K.K.]: That interview in and of itself was - I couldn‘t even tell you exactly how all of it went because I was a mess.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Okay. Well, if you heard that segment - you know it was audio recorded, right?
[K.K.]: Yes.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: If you heard that would that -
[K.K.]: Sure. I mean, I don‘t believe Detective Nichols ever asked me what his hands were doing or exactly where they were placed.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: But you do recall he asked if [Young] ever touched your breast?
[K.K.]: At the very end of the conversation.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: And you recall no -
[K.K.]: Yes. [Lead Defense Counsel]: - was your answer?
[K.K.]: Yes.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: And if your vagina was ever touched?
[K.K.]: Yes.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: And do you recall no was your answer?
[K.K.]: Again, the context -
[Lead Defense Counsel]: So they weren‘t -
[K.K.]: -- to other situations, other than those.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: So those questions weren‘t specific?
[K.K.]: They - I felt they were specific to potential - other potential times.
{¶47} During the state‘s case-in-chief, Detective Richardson was cross-examined by defense counsel about his and Nichols’ November 22, 2016 interview with K.K. Detective Richardson testified that K.K. was specifically asked by Detective Nichols whether Young had ever touched her breasts or vagina and K.K. responded that Young never did anything physically inappropriate with her.
{¶48} Detective Nichols was called as a defense witness. Defense counsel sought to elicit testimony from Detective Nichols as to the specifics of what K.K. disclosed during her November 22, 2016 interview. Defense counsel was able to elicit testimony from Detective Nichols that though K.K. had stated that Young had reached between her legs and hooked her there, she did not state that Young rubbed her vagina or genitalia in an up-and-down or back-and-forth movement. When defense counsel asked Detective Nichols whether K.K. had stated whether Young reached up and grabbed K.K.‘s breast, the prosecutor objected, arguing the evidence was inadmissible under
[Prosecutor]: Recognizing that this is a bench trial, I was trying to allow [defense counsel] some leeway but at this point this, again, feels to the State like a violation of 613. Any of the statements that [K.K.] made to the police she was questioned about and she admitted to making and not making. I don‘t see what the purpose is of calling in the detective when she‘s already made it. As the law states, once she‘s admitted it, it‘s done for proper impeachment.
THE COURT: [Defense counsel]?
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Well, quite honestly, Your Honor, I don‘t know that she admitted that she failed to tell the detectives that. I think that she was indicated [sic] that her misunderstanding and qualifying anything that she did say about this interview. Ideally, I would just play the interview and I wouldn‘t even have the witness testify or just admit and let the Court listen to the interview.
[Prosecutor]: And there‘s evidence rules about the way this needs to be done.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Judge, I would offer that it is - that if - I‘ll proffer that the - it‘s replete with inconsistences and contradictions, some of which he has admitted. Some of which he has not. I‘ll proffer that it indicates that with regard to this incident that [Young] hooked [K.K.] and pulled [her] into his lap. That it was a matter of seconds. That there‘s no discussion of touching the breast. That there is no discussion of having rubbed the genitalia. That‘s there‘s [sic] no discussion of having nuzzled or bit or kissed the back of her neck and that she was up in a matter of seconds, having told him stop and that he let me go. On the other incidents, I expect based upon what the taped interview says is that he
did not forcefully hold [K.K.] He did not forcibly hold [K.K.] on the occasions the State is alleging an abduction. And she didn‘t admit that. She contradicted that during her testimony. She wouldn‘t admit that during her testimony. * * *
THE COURT: [Detective Nichols] doesn‘t know how [K.K.‘s] testified to what she did or didn‘t say here in Court or anything else. You were able to talk to her about those. I don‘t recall any that were left hanging by her in that regard. So if you‘re trying to get exact words out of her mouth through him, I‘m asking how that can occur through the rules of evidence?
* * *
THE COURT: You want to get in with your Detective Nichols, statements from [K.K.]?
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. That you believe she denied? I mean, if we‘re going back to 613 and impeachment type issues, if there‘s an admission, there‘s no need to prove up. * * *
The court ultimately ruled that defense counsel was not permitted to question Detective Nichols as to what K.K. specifically stated during her interview, but counsel was permitted to question the detective about his interview techniques and the basis for some of the questions that were or were not asked of K.K. during the November 22, 2016 interview.
{¶49} More than three months after Young‘s trial concluded, during a January 24, 2018 hearing on Young‘s motion for leave to file his first motion for new trial, defense counsel sought to proffer K.K.‘s November 22, 2016 recorded statement to the Hamilton detectives. Young filed a proffer memorandum under seal with the court, which included the recording.
{¶50} The state filed a memorandum in opposition to Young‘s proffer of K.K.‘s recorded interview, contending that the proffer was untimely as it came more than three months after the bench trial and verdict. The state further contended that the proffer was improper as defense counsel never attempted to introduce K.K.‘s recorded statement into evidence at trial. The state argued that other than using the recorded statement to refresh K.K.‘s memory during cross-examination,
[Young] never made further attempt to play or admit any of K.K.‘s recorded statement to police. Therefore, no ruling excluding the recording was ever made. Thus a post-trial proffer of evidence never offered into evidence in the first place is nothing more than an attempt by counsel, both trial and appellate, to create a record that didn‘t exist in the first place. [Young] is attempting to proffer evidence that was never excluded, erroneously or otherwise.
{¶51} The trial court addressed Young‘s proffer of K.K.‘s November 22, 2016 statement to the Hamilton detectives at Young‘s sentencing hearing. The court found that the proffer was not timely made, as it was made months after Young‘s trial concluded. The court stated, “So I‘m going to deny it as a proffer. However, as it is part of what I consider the record already, based upon the fact it was turned over in discovery and specifically enumerated in discovery, it will make its way under seal to the Court of Appeals not as a proffer but as part of the record.”
{¶52} Having reviewed the record, we find that defense counsel never moved to introduce or admit the recording of K.K.‘s interview with the Hamilton detectives into evidence at trial. As such, the trial court was not given the opportunity to admit or exclude the recording from evidence. We therefore cannot rule upon the admissibility
{¶53} The record does reflect, however, that defense counsel attempted to admit statements K.K. made during the November 22, 2016 interview through the testimony of Detective Nichols. When the trial court found the evidence was not admissible under
{¶54} Like other evidentiary rulings, a trial court‘s decision to admit or exclude evidence under
{¶55}
Extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is admissible if both of the following apply:
(1) If the statement is offered solely for the purpose of impeaching the witness, the witness is afforded a prior opportunity to explain or deny the statement and the opposite party is afforded an opportunity to interrogate the witness on the statement or the interests of justice otherwise require;
(2) The subject matter of the statement is one of the following:
(a) A fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action other than the credibility of a witness;
(b) A fact that may be shown by extrinsic evidence under
Evid.R. 608(A) ,609 ,616(A) , or616(B) ;(c) A fact that may be shown by extrinsic evidence under the common law of impeachment if not in conflict with the Rules of Evidence.
{¶56} “The rule ‘specifically contemplates the admission of extrinsic evidence of a prior statement under the circumstances outlined in
{¶57} “In order to introduce the prior inconsistent statement into evidence, proper foundation must be laid.” Mathes, 2013-Ohio-1732 at ¶ 10. “A proper foundation is laid where the witness denies making
{¶58} When K.K. was presented with her former statement to Detective Richardson and Detective Nichols during Young‘s cross-examination, K.K. admitted that she made an inconsistent statement. K.K. admitted that when questioned by Detectives Nichols and Richardson on November 22, 2016, she denied that Young ever touched her breasts or vagina and she stated that Young “never touched [her] inappropriately sexually.” K.K. explained that she had been confused when she answered the detectives’ questions, believing that their questions did not relate to the incidents she had reported, but rather were related to whether or not there had been other incidents of touching. As K.K. admitted to making the prior inconsistent statements, extrinsic evidence of the prior inconsistent statement was not admissible under
{¶59} While Young could not introduce extrinsic evidence of K.K.‘s admitted inconsistent statement at trial, Young was permitted to elicit testimony from Detective Nichols and Detective Robinson about the nature of their interview with K.K. By asking the detectives about the specific questions they posed to K.K. and their interview techniques and methods, Young was permitted to challenge K.K.‘s explanation that the interview was confusing and the confusion led her to make an inconsistent statement. From defense counsels’ cross-examination of K.K. and Detective Richardson and from counsels’ direct of Detective Nichols, Young was able to elicit information about the November 22, 2016 interview which allowed the trier of fact to assess the credibility of K.K.‘s claim that she had been “confused” when making the admittedly-inconsistent statements that Young never touched her breasts or vagina and “never touched [her] inappropriately sexually.”
{¶60} Further, even if extrinsic evidence of K.K.‘s prior inconsistent statement was admissible under
[Defense Counsel]: [K.K.] said the questions that you and Detective Nichols asked were not like very specific. [K.K.] said something about that on her examination. I don‘t remember if it was on direct or cross, but she said it at some point today?
[Detective Richardson]: Yes, it was.
[Defense Counsel]: Okay, Now I‘ll tell you why I‘m confused. Didn‘t Detective Nichols ask her in the interview he, meaning Sergeant Young, has never touched your breast? He asked that specific question, right?
[Detective Richardson]: Yes, he did ask her.
[Defense Counsel]: He asked a specific question that Dustin Young never touched your vagina, right? [Detective Richardson]: Yes.
[Defense Counsel]: And she specifically said in regards to all this stuff that he never did anything physically inappropriate, sexually with me at all. Wasn‘t that her statement?
[Detective Richardson]: Yes.
[Defense Counsel]: In fact, she kind of put it in the future tense. She said at the end of this interview, I‘m actually worried about what might happen in the future, right?
[Detective Richardson]: Yes.
As extrinsic evidence of K.K.‘s prior inconsistent statement had already been introduced through Detective Richardson‘s testimony, any error in excluding Detective Nichol‘s testimony about K.K.‘s inconsistent statement was harmless.
{¶61} Accordingly, to the extent that Young has argued that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of K.K.‘s prior inconsistent statement to the Hamilton detectives, we find no merit to his arguments and overrule his first assignment of error.
2. K.K.‘s Divorce, Knowledge of Sexual Partners, and Flirtatious Conduct
{¶62} Turning to the issue of whether the trial court erred by excluding evidence that K.K. allegedly engaged in an extramarital affair more than ten years ago, that K.K. was aware that she and her husband allegedly had sexual partners in common with Young and his wife, and that K.K. allegedly engaged in flirtatious behaviors with her coworkers, we find we must first address whether Young preserved the issue by seeking to introduce such evidence at trial or by timely proffering the evidence.
{¶63} The record reflects that prior to trial, the state filed a “Motion in Limine Rape Shield, Character Evidence,” seeking to have evidence related to K.K.‘s alleged prior extramarital affair, the sexual partners that K.K. and her husband and Young and his wife allegedly had in common, and K.K.‘s “flirtatious behaviors” excluded from evidence. The trial court held two in-chambers hearings on the state‘s motion in limine: one on August 9, 2017 and one on September 13, 2017. The in-camera discussions were not recorded, but the court‘s rulings were memorialized on the record at the end of each hearing. The court granted the state‘s motion in limine, finding that such evidence was barred by Ohio‘s rape shield law and/or was barred due to “a lack of a link or a nexus.”6
{¶64} As this court has previously recognized, a trial court‘s decision to grant a motion in limine is a “‘tentative, interlocutory, precautionary ruling by the trial court reflecting its anticipatory treatment of the evidentiary issue[s].‘” State v. Setty, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA2013-06-049 and CA2013-06-050, 2014-Ohio-2340, ¶ 28, quoting State v. Grubb, 28 Ohio St.3d 199, 201-202 (1986). As the trial court‘s ruling was interlocutory, it was incumbent upon Young “to seek the introduction of the evidence by proffer or otherwise [at trial] in order to enable the court to make a final determination as to its admissibility
{¶65} The record reflects that Young failed to preserve the evidentiary issues that were the subject of the motion in limine at trial. Young‘s appellate brief does not contain a citation to the trial transcript wherein he sought to elicit testimony, admit evidence, or make a proffer relating to the issues of K.K.‘s alleged prior extramarital affair, the sexual partners he and his wife and K.K. and her husband allegedly had in common, or K.K.‘s alleged “flirtatious behaviors” with her co-workers.7 Rather than seeking the introduction of evidence by proffer or otherwise at trial so as to allow the trial court to revisit its interlocutory holding regarding the admissibility of the evidence, Young waited until more than three months after the court rendered a guilty verdict to try to proffer the evidence. At the end of January 2018, Young filed a proffer memorandum under seal with the court, in which he stated that he was seeking to proffer explicit images of K.K. that were allegedly shared with Young and other police officers and evidence demonstrating K.K. had a prior affair that ended her first marriage. Notably, the proffer memorandum did not mention any evidence relating to the sexual partners Young and his wife and K.K. and her husband allegedly had in common. The state objected to the proffer, contending it was untimely and an attempt by Young to create a record that didn‘t exist in the first place as Young never sought to introduce such evidence during trial. The trial court concluded that the proffer was untimely.
{¶66} We find that by not seeking to introduce evidence that was the subject of the state‘s motion in limine at trial and by not proffering the evidence during the October 2017 bench trial, the trial court was denied the opportunity to make a final determination as to the admissibility of the
{¶67} Accordingly, to the extent that Young argues the trial court erred by excluding evidence relating to K.K.‘s alleged prior extramarital affair, the sexual partners he and his wife and K.K. and her husband allegedly had in common, or K.K.‘s alleged “flirtatious behaviors” with her coworkers, we overrule his first assignment of error.
B. Evidence Admitted at Trial
{¶68} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶69} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ADMITTING INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.
{¶70} In his second assignment of error, Young argues the trial court erred in admitting text messages that were exchanged between Young and K.K. between April 2016 through November 2016 (Exhibit 21). Young contends that these messages, which were recovered from K.K.‘s phone by law enforcement, were inadmissible pursuant to
{¶71} As this court has previously recognized, “[w]hen properly objected to, this court reviews a trial court‘s decision to admit or exclude evidence under an abuse of discretion standard.” State v. Ruth, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2019-08-018, 2020-Ohio-4506, ¶ 11. When a defendant fails to object, or fails to object at trial on the specific ground raised on appeal, the reviewing court is limited to a plain-error analysis. State v. Tibbetts, 92 Ohio St.3d 146, 160-161 (2001), citing
{¶72} At trial, evidence was introduced that both K.K. and Young had deleted from their respective cell phones the various text messages they sent to one another. Young had also purchased a new cell phone. Detective Schneider, a digital forensic examiner, was able to extract deleted data containing some of the text messages from K.K.‘s cellphone. Young objected to the admission of the text messages under
{¶73} We find that Young‘s general objection to the “authenticity” of the text messages was not sufficient to preserve an
{¶74}
{¶75} “The party seeking to exclude a duplicate has the burden of demonstrating that the duplicate should be excluded.” Tibbetts, 92 Ohio St.3d at 160. “The party seeking to exclude a duplicate cannot rely on mere speculation as to its authenticity.” State v. Barton, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2005-03-036, 2007-Ohio-1099, ¶ 79, citing State v. Easter, 75 Ohio App.3d 22, 27 (4th Dist.1991). “[T]he decision to admit duplicates, in lieu of originals, is one that is left to the sound discretion of the trial court.” Easter at 27. Additionally, with respect to the authenticity of a document, this court has previously recognized that “[t]he threshold requirement for authenticity of evidence is low and does not require conclusive proof of authenticity. * * * Instead, the state only needs to demonstrate ‘a reasonable likelihood’ that the evidence is authentic.” (Emphasis sic.) Blake, 2012-Ohio-3124 at ¶ 28, quoting State v. Thomas, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2010-10-099, 2012-Ohio-2430, ¶ 15.
{¶76} Detective Schneider acknowledged that not all of the deleted material on K.K.‘s phone could be recovered as “[s]ome things [were] overwritten” by new data after being deleted. Nonetheless, the detective testified that using a Cellebrite program, he was able to conduct an advanced logical extraction of deleted data from K.K.‘s cellphone. The text messages that were able to be downloaded from the phone were set forth in Exhibit 21, and those messages that were sent to K.K. from Young or sent from K.K. to Young were identified by Detective Schneider and by K.K. When questioned about Exhibit 21, K.K. identified the messages that she received from Young and stated she “recognized those conversations.” Detective Schneider‘s and K.K.‘s testimony was sufficient to authenticate the records.
{¶77} Further, admission of the text messages was proper. In State v. Osie, 140 Ohio St.3d 131, 2014-Ohio-2966, a defendant challenged the admission of his confession to law enforcement, as the detectives who obtained the confession only recorded part of the interrogation. Id. at ¶ 108. The defendant argued it was fundamentally unfair for the recorded confession to be admitted into evidence when a portion of the interview was unavailable. Id. at ¶ 109. The supreme court found no error in the admission of the partial recording, noting that “where a conversation was partly recorded and partly unrecorded, the trial court [was not required to] exclude the recorded portion.” Id. at ¶ 112.
{¶78}
{¶79} For the reasons stated above, we find no error, plain or otherwise, in the trial court‘s admission of Exhibit 21. The text messages were relevant and admissible. See Blake at ¶ 24-35; State v. Norris, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-22, 2016-Ohio-5729, ¶ 27-44. Young‘s second assignment of error is therefore overruled.
C. Cumulative Error
{¶80} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶81} THE TRIAL COURT‘S CUMULATIVE ERRORS DENIED YOUNG DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR TRIAL.
{¶82} In his third assignment of error, Young argues that a number of errors occurred at trial and in the proceedings leading up to trial which, when combined, denied him of his rights to due process and a fair trial. Specifically, Young contends he was prejudiced by the following errors: (1) the trial court‘s exclusion of admissible impeachment evidence that K.K. told the Hamilton detectives there was no sexual touching or restraint for touching; (2) the trial court‘s exclusion of admissible bias evidence that explained K.K.‘s prior inconsistent statements; (3) the trial court‘s erroneous admission and reliance on incomplete texts to infer Young‘s sexual gratification; (4) the trial court‘s erroneous stacking of multiple inferences from the incomplete texts to infer Young‘s sexual gratification during the gross sexual imposition event; and (5) the trial court‘s error in failing to record the motion in limine and rape-shield hearings under
{¶83} Pursuant to the cumulative error doctrine, “a conviction will be reversed where the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial even though each of numerous instances of trial court error does not individually constitute cause for reversal.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64 (1995); State v. McClurkin, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-03-071, 2010-Ohio-1938, ¶ 105. In order for the cumulative error doctrine to apply, “an appellate court must first find that multiple errors, none of which individually rose to the level of prejudicial error, actually occurred in the trial court.” State v. Cramer, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2003-03-078, 2004-Ohio-1712, ¶ 67, citing State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 197 (1987).
{¶84} The first three errors Young has identified relate to matters discussed in this court‘s resolution of Young‘s first and second assignments of error. For the reasons set forth above, we find no error with respect to the court‘s evidentiary rulings as it related to the admission of the text messages, the exclusion of extrinsic evidence regarding K.K.‘s prior statement to the Hamilton detectives, or the exclusion of evidence relating to K.K.‘s alleged prior extramarital affair, the sexual partners
{¶85} As for Young‘s claim that the trial court erred by stacking multiple inferences from the incomplete texts recovered from K.K.‘s cell phone to infer Young‘s sexual gratification during the gross sexual imposition event, this court has already addressed this issue and found it to be without merit. As we explained in Young‘s prior appeal,
with respect to the text messages Young exchanged with K.K., we find that consideration of the text messages did not result in impermissible inference stacking. Impermissible inferencing stacking occurs when a trier of fact “draw[s] an inference based entirely upon another inference, unsupported by any additional fact or another inference from other facts.” State v. Braden, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2013-12-012, 2014-Ohio-3385, ¶ 12. Here, the trier of fact could look at the text messages presented by the state to determine the nature of Young‘s and K.K.‘s relationship and to infer Young‘s touching was for purposes of sexual arousal or gratification without stacking inferences on top of each other. In the text messages, Young called K.K. “baby,” commented on her sexiness and physical attributes, and indicated his desire to push her over his desk and “[get] a really good feel.” Using these messages, the trier of fact could infer that at the time Young rubbed K.K.‘s vagina with his forearm and touched her breast with his hand, he was motivated by desires of sexual arousal or gratification.
State v. Young, 2019-Ohio-912 at ¶ 49.
{¶86} Finally, with respect to Young‘s claim that the trial court erred by failing to record the motion in limine and rape-shield hearings under
{¶87}
reversal of convictions and sentences on grounds of some unrecorded bench and chambers conferences, off-the-record discussions, or other unrecorded proceedings will not occur in situations where the defendant has failed to demonstrate that (1) a request was made at trial that the conferences be recorded or that objections were made to the failures to record, (2) an effort was made on appeal to comply with
App.R. 9 and to reconstruct what occurred or to establish its importance, and (3) material prejudice resulted from the failure to record the proceedings at issue.
State v. Palmer, 80 Ohio St.3d 543, 554 (1997), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 837, 119 S.Ct. 96 (1998). See also State v. Nields, 93 Ohio St.3d 6, 27 (2001).
{¶88} Young has failed to meet the requirements of Palmer. While Young supplemented the record on appeal with an
{¶89} Accordingly, having found no error in the trial court‘s evidentiary rulings, the court‘s consideration of the text messages in determining Young‘s guilt, or prejudicial error in the court‘s failure to record the August 9, 2017 and September 13, 2017 hearings on the state‘s motion in limine regarding character evidence and rape-shield matters, we conclude that Young was not deprived of a fair trial and that the cumulative error doctrine is inapplicable. Young‘s third assignment of error is overruled.
D. Motions for New Trial
{¶90} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶91} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING THE MOTIONS FOR A NEW TRIAL.
{¶92} In his fourth assignment of error, Young argues the trial court erred by denying his first and second motions for new trial. Young contends that evidence of K.K.‘s financial interest in the outcome of trial and evidence of the Snapchat photograph were previously undisclosed or unknown pieces of evidence which materially affected his substantial right to a fair trial.
{¶93} “The decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial under
{¶94} As pertinent to this assignment of error,
[a] new trial may be granted on motion of the defendant for any of the following causes affecting materially his substantial rights:
(1) Irregularity in the proceedings, or in any order or ruling of the court, or abuse of discretion by the court, because of which the defendant was prevented from having a fair trial;
(2) Misconduct of the jury, prosecuting attorney, or the witnesses for the state;
* * *
(6) When new evidence material to the defense is discovered, which the defendant could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and produced at the trial. When a motion for a new trial is made upon the ground of newly discovered evidence, the defendant must produce at the hearing on the motion, in support thereof, the affidavits of the witnesses by whom such evidence is expected to be given, and if time is required by the defendant to procure such affidavits, the court may postpone the hearing of the motion for such length of time as is reasonable under all the circumstances of the case. The prosecuting attorney may produce affidavits or other evidence
to impeach the affidavits of such witnesses.
1. K.K.‘s Undisclosed Financial Interest
{¶95} As set forth above, Young contends he did not learn that K.K. had a financial interest in the outcome of trial until early August 2019, when the public university that employed K.K. responded to his fifth public-records request. At this time, Young learned that K.K. had made a demand for compensation from the university on August 27, 2017, more than five months before trial commenced, and that after settlement negotiations between the university and K.K. fell through, K.K. filed an EEOC claim to preserve her right to file a Title IV lawsuit on August 9, 2017 – two months before trial commenced. K.K. eventually settled with the university in May 2018, receiving an agreed-to sum of money and reassignment to a new position at the university.
{¶96} Young contends that given K.K.‘s undisclosed financial interest, the trial court erred by denying his second motion for new trial under the grounds set forth in
{¶97} In Ferguson, the trial court prohibited the defendant from cross-examining the victim about her retention of a lawyer to file a civil suit against the defendant‘s former employer. Ferguson at 165. The Ohio Supreme Court considered the issue and found that
[i]t is beyond question that a witness’ bias and prejudice by virtue of pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding is a matter affecting credibility under
Evid. R. 611(B) . [The defendant] contends that the victim‘s contemplated civil action against [the defendant‘s] former employer, stemming from the victim‘s alleged rape, was a permissible subject of cross-examination since the victim stood to benefit financially from [the defendant‘s] conviction. We agree that [the defendant] should have been permitted to elicit testimony regarding the civil action contemplated by the prosecuting witness. * * ** * *
Consequently, we hold that [the] accused is permitted to cross-examining the prosecuting witness as to the witness’ pending or contemplated civil action against the accused, in order to demonstrate any possible bias or prejudice arising out of the witness’ financial
interest in the outcome of the prosecution.
{¶98} In Vanek, the defendant was charged with sexual imposition and unlawful restraint. Vanek, 2003-Ohio-6957 at ¶ 2. The victim of the offenses was an employee who worked at a deli owned by the defendant. Id. at ¶ 6. The victim brought a civil suit for damages, alleging claims of sexual harassment, discrimination in the workplace, retaliation, hostile/abusive workplace, and severe emotional distress. Id. at ¶ 3. The trial court expressly ruled at a pretrial hearing and during cross-examination of the victim and another trial witness that evidence of the victim‘s civil suit was inadmissible. Id. at ¶ 31. The defendant moved for a new trial, but the motion was denied by the trial court. Id. at ¶ 13. On appeal, the Eleventh District reversed, finding that in accordance with Ferguson,
extrinsic evidence, namely [the victim‘s] civil complaint, may be used for impeachment purposes. Based on
Evid.R. 611(B) , a witness’ bias and prejudice by virtue of a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding is a matter affecting credibility. The case against [the defendant] was predicated to a great degree upon [the victim‘s] testimony, therefore making [the victim‘s] credibility crucial. * * * As such, the trial court‘s exclusion of the evidence of [the victim‘s] civil complaint against [the defendant] is plain error which requires reversal and a new trial based onCrim.R. 33 .
{¶99} The present case is distinguishable from Ferguson and Vanek in that in Young‘s case, the trial court did not prohibit defense counsel from inquiring into K.K.‘s financial interest and possible motive to lie. Young was permitted to question K.K. about the issue, and defense counsel did question K.K. about her financial interest to some extent before voluntarily discontinuing that line of questioning. Specifically, defense counsel questioned K.K. as follows regarding her financial interest in the outcome of the proceedings:
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Do you intend to sue [the public] [u]niversity about this?
[K.K.]: No.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Have you consulted with an attorney about that?
[K.K.]: About suing?
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Yeah.
[K.K.]: Over?
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Over this incident.
[K.K.]: No – well, I have an attorney, yes, but there‘s no lawsuit.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: As of yet?
[K.K.]: There‘s not going to be.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Okay. Have you even discussed with other officers that if you got a felony conviction against Dustin Young if you‘d be able to go after his pension?
[K.K.]: Not me discussing that. Didn‘t know anything about it until it was brought to my attention after the charges were filed.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: Who brought that to your attention?
[K.K.]: I believe [an officer] * * * told me.
[Lead Defense Counsel]: So the officers that are the ones that you reported to, are the ones that were telling you that?
[K.K.]: Yes.
Beyond this discussion, defense counsel did not question K.K. about any financial interest she may have possessed in the outcome of the trial.
Crim.R. 33(A)(1)
{¶100} Young asserts that he was entitled to detailed information relating to K.K.‘s claim against the university as evidence favorable to him under
{¶101}
{¶102} Defense counsel has not established that the prosecutor willfully failed to disclose evidence of K.K.‘s demand for compensation from the university, the parties’ settlement negotiations, or K.K.‘s filing of the EEOC claim. No evidence was offered indicating the state had knowledge of the specifics of K.K.‘s actions as it pertained to her demand for compensation from the university. To the extent that the state had any knowledge of K.K.‘s actions regarding the university, the state‘s September 12, 2017 Fourth Supplemental Discovery Response advised defense counsel that it had “been informed that, as of mid-August, there was a pending complaint by K.K. with * * * [the] University with some relation to the indicted events. The status of the complaint is unknown.”
{¶103} “Ohio law generally recognizes that the state need not gather evidence on the defendant‘s behalf.” State v. Fornshell, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-180267, 2021-Ohio-674, ¶ 10, citing Kettering v. Baker, 42 Ohio St.2d 351, 354-355 (1975). While the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires that a state disclose material evidence favorable to the defendant and prohibits the state from failing to preserve such evidence or destroying such evidence in bad faith; see Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194 (1963); Arizona v. Youngblood, 488 U.S. 51, 109 S.Ct. 333 (1988); the state has no duty to gather exculpatory evidence. State Brown, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-17-19, 2018-Ohio-899, ¶ 32; State v. Farris, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2003 CA 77, 2004-Ohio-5980, ¶ 20. The state does not have an obligation “to engage in affirmative action in gathering evidence which an accused might feel necessary to his defense. The accused must protect his own interests.” Baker at 354. With that in mind, “when the state has failed to gather exculpatory evidence or to fully investigate the allegations, the defendant may either investigate the charge and collect the evidence himself, if such evidence is available, or he may point out the deficiencies in the state‘s investigation at trial.” Farris at ¶ 20.
{¶104} In the present case, the state put Young on notice about the “pending complaint
{¶105} Young also argues the prosecutor‘s statement during closing arguments that K.K. lacked a financial interest in the criminal proceedings was an “irregularity in the proceedings” necessitating a new trial as the statement was incorrect and misleading and prejudiced the outcome of trial. In support of his argument, Young relies on State v. Staten, 14 Ohio App.3d 78 (2d Dist.1984).
{¶106} In Staten, the Second District Court of Appeals found that the defendant was entitled to a new trial based upon prosecutorial misconduct in a robbery case. Id. at 81-83. The prosecutor in Staten knowingly permitted an inaccurate inference to persist that a state‘s witness was given certain funds from the defendant and that these funds were money stolen during a robbery. The prosecutor further advanced that inference during opening and closing arguments. Id. at 81-82. The Second District found that the prosecutor had a duty to clear up the misunderstanding as the prosecutor “was privy to knowledge that the testimony [of the witness] was both incorrect and misleading.” Id. at 82. Furthermore, the prosecutor should not have used the misleading testimony in his closing statements. Id. at 82-83. As the prosecutor‘s misconduct was so egregious that it affected the defendant‘s fundamental right to a fair trial, the Second District found that a new trial was warranted. Id. at 84-85.
{¶107} Young‘s reliance on Staten is misplaced. Young has not asserted a claim of prosecutorial misconduct or argued that K.K. had shared with the prosecutor the details of her claim against the university. In fact, Young‘s appellate counsel‘s affidavit states that communications with the prosecutor indicated the state was unaware that K.K. was actively seeking compensation from the university in the months leading up to and during trial. As the prosecutor did not have knowledge of K.K.‘s demand for compensation from the university, any settlement negotiations, or K.K.‘s filing of the EEOC claim, the prosecutor cannot be said to have misled the jury when stating during closing arguments that K.K. did not have a financial interest to “make this all up” so that she could sue the university. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in finding that Young was not entitled to a new trial based on an irregularity in the proceedings.
b. Newly Discovered Evidence – Crim.R. 33(A)(6)
{¶108} Young asserts that the documents obtained from the public university in response to his fifth public-records request constitute newly discovered evidence entitling him to a new trial. To prevail on a
{¶109} Young urges this court not to engage in a Petro analysis, but rather to apply a “less stringent” test as the newly discovered evidence allegedly introduces an “untried issue.” Citing State v. King, 63 Ohio App.3d 183 (6th Dist.1989), Young argues that to be entitled to a new trial under
{¶110} In King, the defendant was convicted of aggravated murder with a death penalty specification. Id. at 187. The defendant was referred to a clinical psychologist, Dr. Briskin, in preparation for the mitigation phase of trial. Id. Dr. Briskin expressed the opinion that the defendant met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity defense as he was suffering from a mental defect or disease at the time the murder was committed. Id. The defendant moved to amend his plea of not guilty to include a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and moved for a new trial on the basis of Dr. Briskin‘s opinion, which constituted newly discovered evidence. Id. Upon the request of the state, the defendant was subsequently examined by Dr. Cassel, a forensic psychologist, and by Dr. Sherman, a psychiatrist and medical director. Id. at 190. After evaluation, both doctors testified as to the defendant‘s mental condition at the time of the offenses and opined that the defendant did not meet the criteria necessary for an insanity defense. Id. The trial court applied the Petro factors in considering the defendant‘s motion for new trial and found that all factors were satisfied except that the newly discovered evidence embodied in Dr. Briskin‘s report did not disclose a strong probability that it would change the guilty verdict if a new trial was granted. Id. at 190-191. The trial court stated that the newly discovered evidence “standing alone or weighed against the testimony of Drs. Cassel and Sherman discloses no possibility that the testimony, of [sic] offered, would have changed the result.” Id. at 191.
{¶111} The Sixth District Court of Appeals reversed, observing that
[t]he [trial] court had clearly weighed the testimony of Drs. Cassell and Sherman against that of Dr. Briskin and all of the other evidence and determined that the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity would not succeed at a new trial.
While such application of the standard and weighing of evidence is certainly appropriate where the newly discovered evidence would tend to prove or disprove matters of fact as to existing issues, that is not necessarily the case where the newly discovered evidence supports, rather, the existence of entirely new issues not previously litigated.
* * *
[As the other Petro factors were met,] the only remaining question was whether or not there was a strong probability
that the result would be different if a new trial was granted. Upon consideration of the entire record herein, this court finds that on the particular facts of this case * * * it was not reasonable for the trial court to assume that it could determine to what degree of probability a new trial, to a jury with an entirely new trial strategy based on an insanity defense, would conclude with the same result.
{¶112} Accordingly, contrary to Young‘s assertions, King does not stand for the proposition that the Petro analysis does not apply when newly discovered evidence relates to an untried issue. King recognizes that the Petro analysis applies, but finds that with respect to one factor – whether the new evidence discloses a strong probability that it will change the result if a new trial is granted – a trial court may not resolve the issue by weighing the newly discovered evidence against other evidence when the newly discovered evidence raises an issue not previously litigated.
{¶113} We find that the trial court appropriately applied the Petro analysis and that the court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Young was not entitled to a new trial under
{¶114} In any event, it is clear that the “newly discovered evidence” of K.K.‘s financial interest in the outcome of trial was new only in degree, but not in subject matter. The specific details that Young learned of after trial – K.K.‘s demand for compensation from the university, settlement negotiations, and K.K.‘s filing of the EEOC complaint, were all events that a more in-depth cross-examination of K.K. or the pretrial subpoenaing of university personnel or records could have disclosed. As the trier of fact was already aware that K.K. had retained an attorney and that a potential legal action had been discussed between K.K. and her attorney, there was not a strong probability that further information regarding K.K.‘s financial interest would have changed the outcome of trial. Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Young‘s motion for new trial on the basis of
c. Misconduct of a Witness – Crim.R. 33(A)(2)
{¶115} Finally, Young claims that K.K.‘s failure to disclose her complaint with the university, her settlement negotiations with the university, and the filling of the EEOC claim constituted misconduct by a witness under
{¶116} In Calhoun, the supreme court, in examining affidavits filed in support of a petition for postconviction relief, noted that “not all affidavits accompanying a postconviction relief petition demonstrate entitlement to an evidentiary hearing.” Id. at 284. The court found that a trial court, “in accessing the credibility of affidavit testimony in so-called paper hearings should consider all relevant factors,” including (1) whether the judge reviewing the postconviction petition also presided at trial, (2) whether multiple affidavits contain nearly identical language, or otherwise appear to have been drafted by the same person, (3) whether the affidavits contain or rely on hearsay, (4) whether the affiants are relatives of the petitioner, or otherwise interest in the success of the petitioner‘s efforts, and (5) whether the affidavits contradict evidence proffered by the defense at trial. Id. at 285. “Moreover, a trial court may find sworn testimony in an affidavit to be contradicted by evidence in the record by the same witness, or to be internally inconsistent, thereby weakening the credibility of that testimony.” Id. Though the present case does not involve a petition for postconviction relief, the Calhoun factors have been applied in the context of a motion for new trial. See State v. Gaines, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-090097, 2010-Ohio-895, ¶ 26 (“applying the Calhoun factors to assess the credibility of affidavits submitted in support of, and thus to determine the need for an evidentiary hearing on,” a
{¶117} Having reviewed the record, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Young‘s motion for a new trial under
{¶118} Additionally, K.K. is not subject to the discovery provisions of
{¶119} Finally, contrary to Young‘s claims, K.K. was not obligated to object to the prosecutor‘s closing statement. As the trial court noted, there was no evidence that K.K. was present in the courtroom during closing arguments. Furthermore, “it is not reasonable to envision a scenario in which an attorney is giving a closing argument and a witness corrects that attorney.”
{¶120} Accordingly, for the reasons expressed above we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Young‘s motion for new trial under
2. Snapchat Photograph – Ineffective Assistance
{¶121} Young also asserts that the trial court erred in denying his first motion for new trial under
{¶122} “In order to prevail on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, a defendant must prove that counsel‘s performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced by counsel‘s deficient performance.” State v. Davis, 159 Ohio St.3d 31, 2020-Ohio-309, ¶ 10, citing State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142 (1989) and Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). “Thus, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel‘s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that there exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel‘s error, the result of the
{¶123} The Snapchat photograph was recovered from K.K.‘s phone during Detective Schneider‘s data extraction and was disclosed to the defense as “counsel only” material during discovery. As the photograph was turned over as “counsel only” material, Young was prevented from viewing the photograph and defense counsel was limited to “orally communicat[ing]” the material to the defendant.
{¶124} Nonetheless, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Young‘s first motion for new trial as Young failed to demonstrate he was prejudiced by trial counsels’ deficiency in overlooking the Snapchat photograph. Young has not shown a reasonable probability of a change in the outcome of trial had defense counsel discovered and used the Snapchat photograph at trial or in preparing for trial.
{¶125} As the trial court noted, significant portions of Young‘s affidavit filed in support of his first motion for new trial were self-serving and contradicted by evidence introduced at trial. As this court has previously recognized, “it is well-established that a trial court may weigh the credibility of affidavits submitted in support of a motion for new trial to determine whether to accept the statements in the affidavit as true.” State v. Knecht, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2015-04-037, 2015-Ohio-4316, ¶ 35. “When ruling upon a motion for new trial, a trial court has discretion to discount self-serving affidavits executed by a defendant or his or her relatives.” State v. Wood, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2005-11-018, 2006-Ohio-3781, ¶ 38.
{¶126} In his affidavit, Young claims that K.K. voluntarily showed him “numerous naked photographs of her body during the course of [their] employment and personal relationship” and that she did so by means of “Snapchat, text message, and by handing [him] her phone.” These statements are self-serving and are contradicted by testimony and video evidence introduced at trial. At trial, K.K. acknowledged that “there were sexual content messages” exchanged between herself and Young. However, K.K. denied that Young had ever seen her naked. Further, in his recorded interview with the Hamilton detectives, Young was specifically asked about the type of messages he and K.K. exchanged, and Young stated they exchanged “flirty messages” via Snapchat and text messaging. According to Young, these flirty messages included K.K. sending him pictures of herself in her underwear and showing him photographs of herself in a bra after undergoing a breast augmentation. Young never claimed that he received or viewed nude photographs of K.K. during his interview with the Hamilton detectives – despite having every opportunity to do so. As Young‘s affidavit is self-serving and contradicted by evidence in the record, the
{¶127} The trial court was also entitled to discount Young‘s claim that he was not certain whether K.K. sent him the Snapchat photograph in question as the photograph was “counsel only” material and he was unable to determine from his counsels’ description whether he had received the photograph. Given the nature of the photograph, Young‘s claim is incredulous. As the trial court noted,
the Court can‘t imagine [counsel‘s] description [of the Snapchat photograph] was very generic. “Have you ever seen a picture of K.K.‘s [bare] breasts with a text box that says, ‘More room to bend me over here.?‘” Frankly, the Court can‘t envision a way of describing the photograph in which the Defendant SHOULDN‘T be able to determine the answer. Even if the victim‘s identity is taken out of the equation, and Defendant was asked if he has ever seen a picture of ANYONE‘S breasts with a text box that says “More room to bend me over here,” the Court can‘t imagine Defendant has seen so many such pictures that he would be unable to determine if he had seen the specific one in Exhibit 3.”
{¶128} Young asked the trial court to speculate that the Snapchat photograph was either sent to Young or was meant for Young and was a continuation of his and K.K.‘s text conversation from November 5, 2016. During the November 5, 2016 text conversation, Young sent a message stating, “I thought about pushing you over my desk and getting a really good feel.” In response, K.K. stated, “Now that‘s a bit much.” Young then promised to “try not to cross the line to much,” to which K.K. responded, “Again, uh huh.”
{¶129} There is no evidence in the record that the photograph was ever sent or was intended for Young. Though the metadata date of the photograph was November 8, 2016, no evidence was submitted demonstrating that the photograph was sent to Young or anyone else on that date. The metadata date of the photograph could have been the date the photograph was saved to K.K.‘s phone through Snapchat, though taken on an earlier day, week, month, or year. Additionally, there is no indication that the photograph, which was produced through the Snapchat social media application, was a continuation of the conversation Young and K.K. had three days prior, by means of a different communication method (i.e., text messaging).
{¶130} Young contends that had counsel discovered the photograph prior to trial, he would have pursued a different defense strategy or had counsel use the photograph to impeach K.K. on cross-examination. However, Young‘s assertion is flawed in that if K.K. had been sending him nude photographs, Young surely would have advised defense counsel of such and this information could have been used in forming a defense strategy and in cross-examining K.K. at trial. Counsel did not ask K.K. at trial about any nude photographs that may have been sent. Instead, counsel questioned K.K. about the nature of her relationship with Young by asking K.K. about her interactions and behaviors with Young.
{¶131} The record reveals that defense counsel was able to impeach K.K. and call into question the credibility of her testimony through cross-examination of K.K. and Young‘s fellow officers and through the presentation of testimony from Sergeant Rosenberger. In addition to eliciting testimony that K.K. and Young exchanged inappropriate text messages that contained sexual content, defense counsel was able to
{¶132} Furthermore, during closing arguments, defense counsel highlighted concerns about K.K.‘s credibility and set forth Young‘s consent and innocence defenses, arguing K.K.‘s conduct was not consistent with someone who had been forcibly restrained or compelled into sexual contact by force. Lead defense counsel stated, in relevant part, the following:
[K.K.] also said that there was a point in time in May [2016] when [Young] became angry at her, wouldn‘t talk to her, wouldn‘t say anything to her. She intervened to – “[W]hat‘s wrong? What‘s wrong?” Why not right with the period of time when she‘s going to the captain to say, “[Y]ou know, what‘s the problem, I‘ve heard he‘s going to lose his stripes?” She‘s intervening on [Young‘s] behalf.
It doesn‘t make any sense if his text and behavior is starting down this road of trouble, it doesn‘t make any sense. She‘s intervening for quite the opposite purpose, she wants the contact. I thought it was interesting that she says, that you know, “He would make these other officers leave the station so he could have me all to himself.” That was what she said.
And then, I‘m looking at the text the Prosecutor has provided from August 1st. “Are you still alive out there?” from [K.K.] to [Young]. “I was in the bathroom, headed there now. Is everyone else at the station still?” The response, “No one‘s here.”
Wait a minute, “No one‘s here?” If this is the guy that‘s coming after you, * * * that‘s now after you sexually, and you are afraid for your well-being, why are you providing him with the very information, “No one‘s here, no one‘s here.”
Perhaps the State may say, well, that‘s early, this timeframe that we‘ve given you, August to November, so that‘s early in the game. Maybe all this stuff happened at some point after that. Well, then we can go to the text from October 24th, the one that references [K.K.‘s] ass.
We‘re not here on inappropriate text messaging charges. We‘re not here for telecommunications’ harassment. It‘s not the trial today. It was a text, again out of context, but what we do know is that five days later, on October 29th, that [K.K.] attended a hockey game.
We know at that point, based upon her testimony, that she said that the most egregious incident, the worst one she says, the time that he grabbed me, and hooked me, and holds me onto his lap, and rubs his arm on my genitalia and grabs my breasts; that‘s on the 24th, is when this text comes.
So we know that‘s after it, but then she goes to this hockey game, with her assailant. And stays next to him for three hours. Oh well, Officer [Dave] Young didn‘t think it would be good for me to stand by his [p]ost, because it was down by the glass. Okay. There‘s multiple officers there. Granted, the hockey team hasn‘t been as good as it‘s been in the past, but there‘s probably more than a dozen people there.
Who did she go and stand next to? Where does she choose to perch herself? Right next to Dustin Young. And then
what happens when they leave the hockey game; they‘re back at the station. And under cross-examination, granted after we went around, and around a bit, you made plans to go out to dinner. “No, no, that‘s [not] true. We didn‘t make plans to go out to dinner.” “Well, you left with him, didn‘t you?” “Well, I just got a drink.” Nobody went to Wendy‘s. So she‘s leaving with him, to go to Wendy‘s, just to get a drink, because she didn‘t want anything to eat. It’ doesn‘t make any sense for her to be engaged in that, with this person that she says has done these horrible things to her.
{¶133} Given these circumstances, where Young had already attacked K.K.‘s credibility and presented a consent defense in addition to an innocence defense, we find that the trial court did not abuse it‘s discretion in denying Young‘s first motion for new trial. Even if we assume it was sent or intended for Young, the Snapchat photograph did not establish K.K. consented to the conduct forming the basis for the gross sexual imposition or abduction charges or otherwise negate the force or threat of force elements found by the trier of fact. The existence of the Snapchat photograph does not undermine confidence in the outcome of trial.
{¶134} Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Young‘s first motion for new trial as Young has failed to show he was prejudiced by defense counsel‘s failure to discover the Snapchat photograph prior to trial. Young‘s claim of an irregularity in the proceedings entitling him to a new trial under
III. CONCLUSION
{¶135} Having found Young‘s assignments of error to be without merit, we hereby affirm Young‘s convictions and the denial of his motions for new trial.
{¶136} Judgment affirmed.
M. POWELL, P.J., and BYRNE, J., concur.