People v. Dwyer -Ridge ( 2022 )

2022 IL App (2d) 200224-UNos. 2-20-0163 & 2-20-0224 cons.
Order filed February 16, 2022
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except
in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(l).
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of Kendall County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) No. 16-CF-81
)
SHANNON DWYER-RIDGE, ) Honorable
) Robert P. Pilmer
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of Kendall County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) No. 16-CF-82
)
MICHAEL C. TUMMINARO, ) Honorable
) Robert P. Pilmer
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
ORDER
JUSTICE BIRKETT delivered the judgment of the court.
Presiding Justice Bridges and Justice Zenoff concurred in the judgment.
2022 IL App (2d) 200224-U¶1 Held: The trial court did not err in admitting footage from a home surveillance camera.
The trial court did not err in denying Tumminaro’s motion for a directed finding,
and the evidence was sufficient to prove him guilty of disorderly conduct.
¶2 Following a joint bench trial, defendants, Michael C. Tumminaro and Shannon Dwyer-
Ridge (Michael and Shannon), were each found guilty of disorderly conduct stemming from a 911
call and subsequent false statements to police officers that their neighbor had fired a gun in
Shannon’s direction while she was out walking her dogs. Both defendants challenge the
admissibility of video surveillance footage, and Michael argues that the evidence was insufficient
to convict him. We affirm the conviction as to both defendants.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 Michael was charged by indictment with three counts of disorderly conduct. Count 1
alleged that he knowingly made a false report to Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputy David
Angerame that an assault had been committed in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(4) (West 2016).
Count 2 alleged that Michael knowingly made a false 911 call that Shannon’s life had been
threatened in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(6) (West 2016). Count 3 alleged that Michael
knowingly made a false report to Deputy David Lawson that the offense of assault had been
committed in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(4). Shannon was charged by indictment with two
counts of disorderly conduct. Count 1 alleged that Shannon knowingly made a false report to
Deputy Angerame that an assault had been committed. Count 2 alleged that Shannon knowingly
made a false report to Deputy Mike Mrozek that an assault had been committed.
¶5 The parties filed a series of pretrial motions. Defendants filed a motion in limine to bar the
introduction of home surveillance video footage, based on a lack of adequate foundation. The State
filed a motion for joinder of the defendants’ trials pursuant to section 114-7 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure (725 ILCS 5/114-7 (West 2018)) and a motion to introduce evidence that defendants
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uand their neighbor, the target of the allegedly false reports, have a strained relationship and that
each has called the police on each other in the past. Defendants did not object to the State’s motion
for a joint trial or the motion to introduce evidence of the strained relationship. Both defendants
waived their right to a jury trial. The trial court addressed defendants’ motion regarding foundation
for the home surveillance video footage during the trial.
¶6 The evidence at trial showed that defendants are a couple and live together on Galena Road
in unincorporated Plano. Defendants’ next-door neighbors are Mark and Doris Fowler.
Defendants’ relationship with Mark has been strained. On the evening of January 11, 2016,
Michael made a 911 call to report that Shannon had been shot at by Mark Fowler. The parties
stipulated to admissibility of the 911 call, and the recording of the call was played in open court.
The recorded conversation went as follows:
“DISPATCHER: 911, what’s the address of the emergency?
MICHAEL: (Inaudible.) The address is *** Galena Road. Plano. Um, this is the
umpteenth call I’ve made about my neighbor at ***... Um, firing shots in the dark while
we’re out walking our dogs. Um. I don’t know. The guy is firing shots in the dark.
(Inaudible.) My girlfriend was out there with the dogs and he’s firing shots.
DISPATCHER: Give me the address again?
MICHAEL: The address of where the shots are being fired from is *** Galena
Road. That’s where the shots are being fired from. No reason on Earth for at this time of
night for shots to be fired.
DISPATCHER: I didn’t get... Your phone is very distorted. You said what?
MICHAEL: I said there’s no reason on this Earth for shots to be fired at this time
of night. (Speaking in the background.) My girlfriend was out with my dogs, walking my
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Udogs, she said she heard the shots come past her. (Speaking in the background.) She’s
scared to death. (Speaking in the background.)
DISPATCHER: Ok, so she was out walking the dog, you said?
MICHAEL: (Speaking in the background.) Yup. This is not the first... This has been
going on for a long period of time. And apparently he doesn’t get the idea that its illegal to
shoot after dark. Scared my dogs to death. Scared my girlfriend to death. No reason on this
Earth for it.
DISPATCHER: What is your name?
MICHAEL: My name is Michael Tumminaro. T-u-m-m-i-m-a-r-o. You guys have
been out here a number of times... For the same thing.
DISPATCHER: What is your phone number?
MICHAEL: 6-3-0 ***
DISPATCHER: Alright, do you want the officer to stop over to speak with you?
MICHAEL: That would be fine. (Inaudible.)
DISPATCHER: And your address was ***?
MICHAEL: That’s my address, yes. The shots are being fired from ***.
DISPATCHER: [Okay], did she see who was doing it at all?
MICHAEL: There was only one person back there that shoots guns. It’s a house
that’s isolated in the back. All your... All your officers are well aware of it. (Speaking in
the background.)
DISPATCHER: Okay.
MICHAEL: It’s getting to be a point where enough is enough. And... I’ve been
patient enough, this has been going on for like a year and a half. Something needs to be
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Udone. (Speaking in the background.)
DISPATCHER: Could she tell where at on the property it was coming from?
MICHAEL: (Speaking in the background.) Absolutely. There’s only one place it
can come from.
DISPATCHER: No. I... I... I know you gave me the address. I want to know where
at on the property the... shots were coming from? Do you know what side? Front? Back?
Rear? I mean, what?
MICHAEL: They’re coming from the side... The west side of his house.
DISPATCHER: The west side of his house?
MICHAEL: Which is about 30 feet from my property.
DISPATCHER: Alright. We’ll, uh... Have an officer stop over to speak with [you].
Okay?
MICHAEL: Yea. That would be appreciated.
DISPATCHER: Alright, thank you.
MICHAEL: Thank you.
DISPATCHER: Bye.”
¶7 Deputy Angerame responded to the 911 dispatch of “shots fired.” Angerame arrived at
defendants’ residence at approximately 8:47 p.m. Upon his arrival, Angerame spoke to both
defendants in the presence of each other. Shannon told Angerame that she had taken her dogs out
for a walk in the backyard and that she saw her neighbor. She told Angerame that the neighbor
“shot a round off she believed to be a .40 or .45, and it whizzed past her hand” and that “her ears
were ringing.” Shannon told Angerame that Mark Fowler was standing on the side of his house
“like the side garage door” on the west side of his house. Angerame had Shannon retrace her steps,
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Ushowing him where she was walking when she heard the shots. Angerame testified that he looked
for bullet holes in defendants’ house or in the six-foot fence that separates defendants’ house from
the Fowler’s house. Angerame stated that, from what Shannon told him, based on where she was
and where her neighbor was standing, the fence would have been in “the direct route.” He did not
find any bullet holes. Angerame also checked the outbuildings for bullet holes and found none.
Angerame testified that Michael told him that he did not hear the gunshot while Shannon was out
walking the dogs.
¶8 Angerame testified that he went to the Fowler residence to look around the area that
Shannon said Fowler was standing when the shot rang out. There was a cement stoop outside the
west side of the home outside the garage. There was a chair on it and a spent .22 caliber shell
casing under the chair. There was snow covering everything, but there were no footprints in the
area where Shannon described seeing Fowler, other than Angerame’s own footprints.
¶9 Angerame testified that he reviewed the video surveillance footage that Mark Fowler
provided and saw who he believed to be himself and his fellow Deputy Vaclavik. The footage was
played in open court, over defendants’ foundation objection. The video was “queued up to 9:39:24
on the video that says January 12, 2016.” Angerame identified Deputy Vaclavik looking in the
snow outside the Fowler residence. Another view from “channel 2” at “9:16:56” showed “an
individual with a flashlight walking in the back yard.” Angerame testified that the video footage
“looks like a fair and accurate representation of what” he did that night.
¶ 10 On cross-examination by Shannon’s attorney, Angerame testified that Shannon was upset
and crying. She told him “she believed she had been shot at.” Angerame conceded that while the
fence was six feet tall, all a person would have to do is raise the gun to avoid putting a hole in the
fence. Angerame conceded that, if Mark Fowler had opened the garage door and fired a bullet in
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uthe air from inside the garage, he would not expect to find footprints.
¶ 11 On cross-examination by Michael’s attorney, Angerame stated that Michael did tell him he
“heard a shot.” Michael told him he did not see Fowler shoot, but that Shannon told him so.
Michael told Angerame that Shannon was crying, and she was still crying when Angerame arrived.
Angerame had been called to the location in the past for “problems.” He did not collect the spent
.22 shall casing that he found under the chair on the stoop, even though it was found in the area
where Shannon believed the shot originated. The State stipulated that Angerame told Deputy
Lawson that it was possible that the snow could have “blown over the footprints due to the high
winds.” Angerame testified that there had been no request to do a gunshot residue test on Mr.
Fowler. No attempt was made to collect firearms from Mr. Fowler and no arrests were made that
evening.
¶ 12 Deputy Mrozek testified that he interviewed Shannon on January 22, 2016, regarding the
alleged shooting that was reported on January 11, 2016, involving her neighbor, Mark Fowler. The
interview was recorded. Shannon told Mrozek that at about 9:00 p.m., she had taken her two dogs
out to relieve themselves. She exited the back door of her residence and walked south on her
property line. “Once the dogs had taken care of their business, she was turning back to walk north
into her residence[,] and she heard a gunshot whiz by her right ear.” Shannon stated that, before
she heard the gunshot, she saw her neighbor’s garage door open, and she saw the top of her
neighbor’s head. Shannon stated that she estimated the caliber of the bullet to be a .40 or .45. She
based her estimate on her experience being around firearms. Shannon said she had consumed three
beers that night, but she was not intoxicated.
¶ 13 On cross-examination, Mrozek testified that he had also interviewed Shannon on January
18, and she had been consistent. Shannon told him she did not hear the bullet “ricochet” or “hit
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uanything.” Shannon was able to identify Mark Fowler by the top of his head and the hat he was
wearing. She did not actually see Fowler firing a weapon.
¶ 14 Sergeant David Lawson of the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office testified that he met with
Mark Fowler at Fowler’s home on January 19, 2016, to pick up a surveillance video on “a USB
drive containing numerous video files.” A USB drive is like a thumb drive. Lawson made a copy
of the USB drive for the State’s Attorney’s Office and placed the original USB drive in evidence.
Lawson watched the video at Fowler’s residence as well as the footage on “the copy that was
made.” Lawson testified that he saw no discrepancies between the original footage and the copy
that was made.
¶ 15 Lawson testified that on January 22, 2016, he met with Michael at the Sheriff’s Office for
a recorded interview. Michael told him that, on the night of January 11, 2016, he heard a single
gunshot that “sounded like a .45 caliber pistol.” Michael said he is an avid shooter and that it was
definitely not a rifle. Michael said he was sitting on his rear enclosed porch that has single pane
glass, when he heard the “crack of the .45 caliber.” He said that he saw Shannon “out walking the
dogs at that time” and that, after the gunshot, “he saw both the dogs as well as Miss Dwyer[-]Ridge
move quickly towards the back porch.”
¶ 16 On cross-examination, Lawson stated that Michael did not say he saw “any type of
gunshot.” Michael agreed to allow his interview to be recorded. During the interview, Lawson did
not tell Michael that he was in possession of the video footage turned over by Mr. Fowler. Michael
told Lawson that Mark Fowler had actually shot a firearm “from the same location earlier in the
day.” Lawson testified that Michael was very cooperative and forthcoming. Michael told Lawson
that he had a clear view of the entire back area “with the motion lights activated.” Michael said
that Shannon was “shaking” and was “distraught” when she came inside. She told him that the
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Ushot flew by her heard. Michael told Lawson that he suspected that Mr. Fowler “videotaped”
Michael’s property “pretty much at all times.”
¶ 17 Lawson clarified that he watched the video footage on Fowler’s system before he took the
USB drive. He watched the footage on a large screen at the Sheriff’s Office and could see much
more detail.
¶ 18 Peter Stoneberg testified that he has been an acquaintance of Mark Fowler for 25 years,
but they are not close friends. The two men know each other through an archery shop. In January
2016, Stoneberg received a call from the owner of the archery shop, asking Stoneberg to help Mark
Fowler. He was asked to “pick him up a hard drive and a USB stick.” Stoneberg was told that
Fowler needed some help with his video system. On January 16, 2016, Stoneberg went to Fowler’s
residence. Mark Fowler showed him the system in the garage. Stoneberg “read the manual” which
Fowler provided, “to figure out how to at that point copy the drive.” Stoneberg was asked to “take
files from one area and transfer them onto a USB drive and a terabyte drive.” Stoneberg transferred
the files as requested. He did not make “any alterations to the files.” Fowler positioned the “date,
time and then the duration.” Stoneberg made sure the “parameters of the backup were correct.”
Fowler gave a three hour window that he wanted transferred onto the USB drive. Stoneberg
“plugged into the USB port in the back.” He stated that “there’s a utility on the software system
that he had that said you can copy the whole drive.” Stoneberg said he was not familiar with
Fowler’s camera system, but he testified that his own “system at home overwrites the drive every
30 days.” Fowler told him that his system also would “overwrite itself.” Stoneberg stated that he
made no changes between what he put on the USB drive and what he put on the terabyte drive.
Stoneberg did not watch the video. According to the USB drive, the file containing the video was
created on January 16, 2016. Stoneberg did not “adulterate the video in any way to change the time
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Ustamp on the video.” He never watched the video or spliced it in any way.
¶ 19 On cross-examination, Stoneberg testified that he did not know what happened on January
11, 2016, or if Fowler had deleted or altered any files. He did not verify that there were no
deletions, because he did not watch the video footage himself. Stoneberg said the manual for the
system was still in the original packaging. Stoneberg did not know whether Fowler had set up the
security system himself or if he had help.
¶ 20 Mark Fowler testified that, on the evening of January 11, 2016, he was laying on his couch
with his leg elevated because he was recovering from knee surgery. He was wearing pajamas and
his knee was bandaged. His wife was upstairs. The doorbell rang and it was police officers. The
officers asked him if he had been shooting any firearms between 7:00 and 9:00 that evening, and
he answered, “No.” Fowler acknowledged that he had called the police “a few times” to complain
about his neighbor, Michael, and that Michael had called the police multiples times on him.
Because of all the complaints, Fowler “put in a camera system so it would take away the problem
with he said/she said.” Fowler installed five cameras and had since added some, taken some down,
and moved some. He testified that, on January 11, 2016, the camera system was in working order.
Fowler described setting up the system:
“Q [(THE STATE)]. When you installed the camera system, they had a manual that
came along with it, correct.?
A [(FOWLER)]. No manual came along with it. You had to download it off the
Internet. I had a little card telling you how to get it going, basically plug and play. Plug the
cameras in, plugged it in and set the date.
Q. So you set the date on the cameras?
A. Yes.
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-UQ. Do you remember if you set it correctly?
A. I thought I did, but I was a day off. And once it’s taped on that day, you can’t
move it back. And I hadn’t figured out [how] to move them back yet because I didn’t have
a manual or anything to tell me.
Q. So, you’ve seen the video surveillance that you copied—you had copied for the
Sheriff’s Department on January 11, 2016?
A. Yes.
Q. The video surveillance that you’re alleging that you were seeing in Mr. Fowler’s
house on that day, it’s from the 11th, had a date stamp of January 12th?
A. Correct.
Q. When you set up the camera system, was it set up so that it could record?
A. Yes.
Q. And did all the cameras kind of go to a central location?
A. You have to run the wires to one location.
Q. That’s based on the computer system?
A. That’s the system right there.
Q. Were you able to watch the video screens—did you have a way to watch the
video screens in live time?
A. Yes.
Q. Would the time stamp be on there and the date stamp?
A. Yes.
Q. Were you able to ever look at the time stamp, the date stamp, the image, and
corroborate that’s actually what’s occurring when you were watching it?
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-UA. Yes.”
Fowler said that, from his computer surveillance system, he could watch someone approaching his
residence and then open the door and confirm seeing the same person. He said he had checked all
the cameras, and that they were all working.
¶ 21 Fowler testified that, after the deputies came to his house on January 11, 2016, he pulled
up the video footage from that night and watched it. The surveillance system records in a
continuous manner and with the number of cameras he has, it is five or six days before the system
starts rewriting. Fowler testified that he was unsure of how to download the relevant footage. He
spoke to the State’s Attorney the next day and was told that they wanted the video footage. Fowler
testified that he made no alterations or deletions to the footage before Mr. Stoneberg copied the
footage. Fowler told Stoneberg that the footage the State’s Attorney wanted to see and “then he
put in the dates and times.”
¶ 22 As to the activity depicted on the video, Fowler said he didn’t know what happened,
because he was watching T.V. The only way he knew what occurred was because he watched the
footage. Fowler turned the USB drive over to an officer who was sent out to collect it. He made
no changes to the USB drive. He later gave a “big drive” to the sheriff’s deputy that had the entire
recording device on it. He made no changes or deletions to that device from the time it was
downloaded to when he gave it to the deputy. Fowler described the various camera positions and
their angles, which are all depicted on the screen, each with its own channel. Two of the camera
angles take in the views of Michael’s residence as well as the six-foot fence between the properties.
Fowler watched the video footage from the evening of January 11, 2016, and made no changes
that were stored on the USB drive. The State moved to admit the video footage into evidence.
¶ 23 Defense counsel for Shannon objected, based on insufficient foundation. First, counsel
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uargued that, despite Fowler’s explanation, the footage is “time stamped wrong.” Counsel argued
that Fowler was not watching the video in real time to be able to say “it’s a fair and accurate
depiction of what took place on that particular date.” Counsel argued that “we have a history
between [Michael] and Mr. Fowler.” Counsel also argued that Fowler was in possession of the
video footage for five days before Stoneberg downloaded it. Counsel argued that, due to the
“admitted animosity” between defendants and Fowler, there was not “enough indicators of
reliability” for admission of the video footage into evidence. Summarizing, counsel stated that,
“based on the history, based on there being no contemporaneous viewing, we believe there’s
insufficient foundation to admit it.” Counsel for Michael had no additional argument, but joined
in the objection based on insufficient foundation.
¶ 24 The State argued that Fowler’s testimony, together with Mr. Stoneberg’s testimony,
established a sufficient foundation under the “silent witness theory,” citing People v. Flores, 406
Ill. App. 3d 566 (2010) and People v. Montes, 2013 IL App (2d) 11132. The State noted that
Fowler testified that he installed the camera system and checked to make sure the system was
accurately recording what was “actually occurring.” No deletions or alterations were made.
Stoneberg made a copy of what Fowler asked him to do and he also made a copy of the entire
drive. Sergeant Lawson testified that no changes were made to the footage since it came into his
possession.
¶ 25 Counsel for Shannon responded that the Flores decision states that a “chain of custody” is
required under the silent witness theory, when there is no party to testify to the accuracy of the
recording. Counsel argued that this is particularly true in a digital format, which is “susceptible to
editing and outright fakery.” Counsel again cited the “history between the two parties.” The trial
court overruled the objection.
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-U¶ 26 Video from Channel No. 2, Extra, starting at 8:33 to 8:42 was played in open court. Mr.
Fowler described the image depicted in the video. The State then fast forwarded the footage to
8:34:50 and played the footage, ending at 9:17:32. Fowler confirmed that the time stamp means
“9 p.m., 17 minutes, 32 seconds” on January 11, 2016.
¶ 27 On cross-examination by Shannon’s attorney, Fowler acknowledged that, on the night of
January 11, 2016, he did not take the police to his garage to view the recording from 45 minutes
earlier that night. Fowler acknowledged that he owns both a .22 caliber handgun and rifle. He
acknowledged that he owns roughly 30 firearms, including a .40 caliber. He added that his father
owns a .45, which is kept at Fowler’s house. Fowler acknowledged that he fired a gun on his
property the morning of January 11, 2016, and that he did not clean up the brass after he was
finished shooting. He was shooting a .22 that morning.
¶ 28 Fowler acknowledged the animosity between him and Michael. He once called the police
on Michael to tell them that Michael was “shooting unsafely” in Fowler’s direction. Fowler
admitted shooting at night in the past, but that he “does not make a practice of it.” Fowler denied
shooting intentionally to scare his neighbor’s dogs.
¶ 29 On cross-examination by Michael’s attorney, Fowler testified that he has a target set up in
the field behind his house. Fowler testified, “I shoot when I shoot.” Fowler denied intentionally
shooting to scare the dogs and that when Michael shoots, the dogs go up to the house, same as
when he shoots.
¶ 30 On re-direct examination, Fowler explained that a .22 caliber shot is quieter than a larger
caliber shot. It is like a “snap” as opposed to a “boom with a .45.”
¶ 31 Fowler’s son-in-law, Ronald Groom, testified that he lived at the Fowler residence on
January 11, 2016. He arrived home at about 9:00 p.m. He did not fire any firearms that night.
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-U¶ 32 Mark Fowler’s wife, Doris, testified that, on January 11, 2016, between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.,
she was watching T.V. upstairs. She did not hear anything out of the ordinary, and she did not fire
any firearms.
¶ 33 On cross-examination, Ms. Fowler acknowledged that Mark fires his firearms in the back
of their house quite often. She testified that they have lived in that house for 13 years of their 40-
year marriage. The State rested after Ms. Fowler’s testimony.
¶ 34 Counsel for both Michael and Shannon made motions for directed findings of not guilty.
Counsel for Shannon argued that her statement to the officers that she heard a gunshot was
“confirmed by Mr. Tumminaro.” Counsel noted that Fowler admitted to shooting quite often and
that in the area where Shannon stated Dowler was standing, there was a single bullet casing.
Counsel noted that the police did not collect the casing and they did not do a gunshot residue test
on Fowler. Counsel also pointed out that the absence of a bullet hole in the six-foot fence is easily
explained away if the shooter pointed the gun above the fence. Finally, counsel noted that Shannon
was “scared.”
¶ 35 Counsel for Michael argued that the evidence showed that Mr. Fowler fired his weapons
“from that location numerous times,” including times when the dogs are out there and react to the
gunfire. Counsel argued that “this is a continuation of that conduct.” Counsel argued that what
Michael told the 911 dispatcher was “based on the report from Miss Dwyer[-]Ridge.” She told
Michael that she heard a shot and she was crying and shaking as shown by the 911 recording.
Counsel argued that when he made the 911 call, Michael “had every reason to believe that
something occurred and it required a law enforcement response.”
¶ 36 The State argued that when you compare the 911 call to the video surveillance, “it doesn’t
match up.” The State noted that the police responded to the 911 call at 8:47 p.m. The video shows
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uan individual walking out with the dogs at 8:33 p.m. and the individual walking back on camera
at 8:42 p.m. “No one is running, Judge.” The State argued that the video surveillance refuted
Shannon’s story that she told to the deputies, claiming that she “picked up her pace and ran.” The
trial court denied the motion for a directed finding as to both defendants.
¶ 37 Shannon testified that, at about 8:00 p.m. on January 11, 2016, she and Michael were sitting
on the back porch having a few beers and smoking. Their friend, Rhonda, was inside the house
sleeping. Shannon said she was not intoxicated. She stated that she took her two golden retrievers
outside. She took the dogs out past the garage and went “out to the back of the property” and
waited for the dogs “to do their business.” Shannon testified that, when she turned back to return
to the residence, she saw Mark Fowler standing “on the stoop of the side door of his garage.” She
recognized Fowler from the hat on his head. Shannon guessed that she was about 250 feet away
from Fowler. As she was walking back towards her residence, Shannon said she heard a shot come
from her right, the same direction of Fowler’s property. She was facing north towards her
residence. Although she is not an expert in firearms, Shannon guessed the shot came from a .40 or
a .45 caliber. She did not see Fowler actually shoot. After hearing the shot, Shannon said she began
moving “as quickly” as she could back to the house because she “was scared.” She said she heard
the crack of a gun “like something went past” her right ear. When she got back to the house, she
was very upset and told Michael to call the police. She testified that she told the police
“substantially” the same story she told in court. She said she had Michael call the police because
she was in fear of her life.
¶ 38 Shannon testified that Mark Fowler shoots on his property “pretty often,” and that she has
heard him shoot at night before the evening of January 11, 2016. She testified that she knew before
January 11 that Fowler had surveillance cameras facing her property. She had no relationship with
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-UMark Fowler, but was friends with his wife, Doris. She denied having any “ill will against Mr.
Fowler.” Shannon repeated that she had Michael call the police because she felt that she was shot
at and was in fear of her life.
¶ 39 On cross-examination, Shannon acknowledged that she told the police that she heard the
shot ring out, that it “whizzed past” her ear, and that it caused “ringing” in her ear. She admitted
that she didn’t start running towards her house, but she “quickened” her pace, because she didn’t
know “if there was [going to] be another one.”
¶ 40 Michael declined to testify, and both defendants rested. The State argued that the video
footage refuted the story Shannon told to the police and her testimony. The video shows that at
“no time” did Shannon pick up her pace.
¶ 41 Shannon’s attorney argued that the police failed to collect or even photograph the spent .22
shell casing or do a gun shot residue test on Mark Fowler. The police also failed to look at the
surveillance video that day. Counsel argued that he saw the video footage and what he saw was
“shadows.” He argued that it is possible that, “at the exact time Ms. Dwyer-Ridge is leaving her
residence, Mr. Fowler is outside his garage door, shoots up in the air, and goes back inside to try
to scare my client.”
¶ 42 Michael’s attorney argued that it was a “stretch” to say his client made a false 911 call,
because his call was “prompted by a third person.” Michael reported events that were relayed to
him by Shannon. Counsel argued that Michael never used the word “assault,” and the police did
not take the steps they “typically would on an assault charge.” Counsel argued that, in order to find
Michael guilty, the trial court would have to find that “this was a planned and concocted act, ***
and the facts just don’t relay that.” Counsel noted that, other than hearing a shot, “everything else
was relayed to him by Ms. Dwyer-Ridge.” Counsel argued that there was evidence that a shot was
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Ufired from the location that Shannon identified, and that if defendants were lying, “it was not a
very good lie.”
¶ 43 The trial court found that all of the State’s witnesses were credible and entered findings of
guilty on all counts as to each defendant. Both defendants filed motions for a new trial. With
respect to the issue of foundation for the surveillance video, defendants argued that, given the
delay between January 11 and 16, “Fowler had ample opportunity to alter the videos [himself]
prior to Peter Stoneberg ever making a copy.” The trial court stated that it had reviewed the trial
transcripts as well as People v. Taylor and denied the motions. Each defendant was sentenced to a
period of conditional discharge and filed timely appeals.
¶ 44 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 45 On appeal, Michael raises three issues: (1) that the trial court erred in admitting the
surveillance video; (2) that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed finding of not
guilty; and (3) that the evidence was insufficient to support a guilty finding. Shannon raises a single
issue, that the trial court erred in admitting the surveillance video because the State failed to
establish an adequate foundation.
¶ 46 A. Foundation for Video
¶ 47 We first address the issue common to both defendants’ appeals, whether the trial court
erred in admitting the surveillance video. Both defendants argue that the trial court committed
reversible error where it admitted the surveillance video that lacked foundation and was
prejudicial. We review the admissibility of evidence for abuse of direction. People v. Illgen, 145
Ill. 2d 353, 364 (1991). An abuse of discretion occurs when the ruling of the trial court is arbitrary
or fanciful or where no reasonable person would adopt the trial court’s view. Id.¶ 48 Defendants’ foundation arguments go to the trial court’s determination that the surveillance
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uvideo footage was properly authenticated. Illinois Rule of Evidence 901(a) provides that “[t]he
requirement of authentication or identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied
by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.”
The most common method of authentication is the testimony of a witness who has sufficient
personal knowledge to satisfy the trial court that a particular item is, in fact what its proponent
claims it to be. See Cisarik v. Palos Community Hospital, 144 Ill. 2d 339, 342 (1991); Ill. R. Evid.
901(b)(1) (eff. Jan. 1, 2011). Rule 901(b) provides “by way of illustration” that “[e]vidence
[produced] describing a process or system used to produce a result and showing that the process
or system produces an accurate result” satisfies the requirement of authentication. Ill. R. Evid.
901(b)(9) (eff. Jan. 1, 2011).
¶ 49 In People v. Taylor, 2011 IL 110067, ¶ 27, our supreme court noted that it had pointed out
in Cisarik that “videotapes are admissible on the same basis as photographs.” “Most jurisdictions
allow photographs and videotapes to be introduced as substantive evidence so long as a proper
foundation is laid.” Id. ¶ 32. “A proper foundation may be laid by someone having personal
knowledge of the filmed object, [who can testify] that the film is an accurate portrayal of what it
purports to show.” In re D.Q., 2016 IL App (1st) 160680, ¶ 25. Video evidence may also be
admitted under the “silent witness” theory, under which it is unnecessary to have a witness testify
to the accuracy of the images depicted in the video. Taylor, 2011 IL 110067, ¶ 32. Our supreme
court agreed with the factors identified by this court in People v. Taylor, 398 Ill. App. 3d 74 (2010),
that are to be considered in determining whether a proper foundation has been laid. Id. ¶ 35. Those
factors are: (1) the device’s capability for recording and general reliability; (2) competency of the
operator; (3) proper operation of the device; (4) showing the manner in which the recording was
preserved (chain of custody); (5) identification of the persons, locale, or objects depicted; and (6)
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-Uexplanation of any copying or duplication process. Id. Our supreme court went on to
“emphasize that this list of factors is nonexclusive. Each case must be evaluated on its own
and depending on the facts of the case, some factors may not be relevant or additional
factors may need to be considered. The dispositive issue in every case is the accuracy and
reliability of the process that produced the recording.” Id.Defendants argue in summary that the State failed to establish an adequate foundation under the
silent witness theory, citing these facts: that the “date stamp” was off by one day; that there was a
delay in copying the footage and turning it over; that Mark Fowler had no expertise; that Fowler’s
testimony was that no manual came with the system and he followed the instructions on a card
whereas Stoneberg said there was a manual; and that Fowler “did not watch the video on the night
of the incident.”
¶ 50 We cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the surveillance video.
With respect to the date stamp being off, Fowler explained it and the testimony of Deputy
Angerame confirmed that the footage came from the night of January 11, 2016, as the footage
fairly and accurately depicted him and his partner looking for evidence in the defendants’ yard.
We note that the footage has a running clock and that there are no time gaps in the footage. While
Fowler had no particular expertise in computers, the evidence establishes that the equipment
worked properly and when he had concerns about the system overwriting the footage, he called
for help from Stoneberg. There is no claim by defendants that the cameras were not working
properly. Defendants’ suggestion that Mark Fowler had time and motive to tamper with or make
alteration to the video footage is not a basis to find an abuse of discretion by the trial court. Absent
actual evidence of tampering or substitution, deficiencies in the chain go to weight, but do not
affect admissibility. See People v. Alsup, 241 Ill. 2d 266, 275 (2011).
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-U¶ 51 B. Denial of a Directed Finding and Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶ 52 Michael argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed finding of not
guilty. He argues that the issue is not whether Mark Fowler shot a .40 or .45 caliber bullet past
Shannon, but whether the State presented sufficient evidence to show that defendant knew
Shannon “did not reasonably believe a shot was fired, and whether Defendant knew this or
reasonably should have known this when he called 911 and eventually relayed the information to
responding officers.” Michael argues that “no direct evidence was presented showing [he] knew
or reasonably should have known Dwyer-Ridge was not truthful to him.”
¶ 53 A motion for a directed finding (verdict) asserts that, as a matter of law, the evidence is
insufficient to support a finding or verdict of guilty. People v. Withers, 87 Ill. 2d 224, 230 (1981);
725 ILCS 5/115-4(k) (West 2018). In ruling on a motion for a directed finding, the trial court
considers “only whether a reasonable mind could fairly conclude the guilt of the accused beyond
a reasonable doubt, considering the evidence in a light most favorable to the State.” People v.
Connolly, 322 Ill. App. 3d 905, 914 (2001) (citing Withers, 87 Ill. 2d at 230).
¶ 54 We disagree with Michael’s argument that there was no direct evidence presented that he
knew or should have known Shannon was not being truthful. Michael’s 911 call, as well as his
statements to the police, are direct evidence. See People v. Frazier, 129 Ill. App. 3d 704 (1984).
We also note that, for purposes of weight to be given to the evidence, there is no legal distinction
between direct and circumstantial evidence. People v. Robinson, 14 Ill. 2d 325, 331 (1958). In the
911 call, Michael claimed that his neighbor was out firing “shots” in the dark while his girlfriend
was out with the dogs. He tells the 911 dispatcher that “[his girlfriend] said she heard the shots
come past her.” Defendant told the dispatcher that “enough is enough,” and something “needs to
be done.” He further told the dispatcher that the shots came “from the west side of his house.”
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2022 IL App (2d) 200224-U¶ 55 The video footage, as described by the State, shows a person walking away from
defendant’s residence at 8:33 along with two dogs. At 8:41:20, the first dog returns. At 8:42:02,
the person and the second dog return, walking at the same pace. There is no apparent reaction by
either the person or the dogs to a gunshot. The video, together with the time frame and activity,
leads to a reasonable inference that the person seen with the dogs is Shannon. We agree with the
State that the video footage refutes the stories the defendants told to the police. We also note that
the trial court found that the testimony of Mark and Doris Fowler was credible. Mark denied firing
a shot or hearing a shot, as did Doris. The trial court did not err in denying the motion for a directed
finding.
¶ 56 Michael’s argument that the evidence was insufficient to support a guilty finding
essentially requests that we reweigh the evidence. He argues that all the information he had
“supported his belief that what [Shannon] then reported to him was correct.” Michael’s argument
presents a question of fact, which is reviewed to determine “whether, after reviewing the evidence
in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” People v. Cardamone, 232 Ill. 2d 504, 517
(2009) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19). Under this standard, all reasonable
inferences from the record must be allowed in favor of the prosecution. People v. Bush, 214 Ill. 2d
318, 326 (2005). Allowing all reasonable inferences to the prosecution, we find that the evidence
was sufficient to support the trial court’s guilty findings.
¶ 57 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 58 For all the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of the
surveillance video footage and defendants’ convictions.
¶ 59 Affirmed.
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