State v. Johnson ( 2013 )

[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2013-Ohio-575.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 98245
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
PAUL JOHNSON
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
REVERSED AND REMANDED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-550775
BEFORE: Rocco, J., S. Gallagher, P.J., and Keough, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 21, 2013
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Larry W. Zukerman
S. Michael Lear
Brian A. Murray
Zukerman, Daiker & Lear
3912 Prospect Ave., East
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: T. Allan Regas
Mollie Ann Murphy
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
KENNETH A. ROCCO, J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Paul Johnson (“Johnson”) appeals from his convictions
for two fifth-degree felonies: drug possession and possessing criminal tools. On
appeal, Johnson argues that the trial court erred in denying his motions to suppress and
his motions for acquittal; that the convictions were against the manifest weight of the
evidence; and that the trial court erred in sentencing Johnson to two eleven-month
sentences to run consecutively. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the trial court’s
final judgment, and we remand the case to the trial court with instructions to vacate the
convictions.
{¶2} In March 2011, Devito Parker (“Parker”) was arrested by Sgt. Hicks of the
Narcotics Unit of the East Cleveland Police Department. Parker was arrested for
trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine. At that time, Parker provided Sgt. Hicks with the
name of his supplier, “Big P,” which is allegedly Johnson’s nickname. As a result of this
information, Sgt. Hicks began surveillance on Johnson’s residence in Garfield Heights,
Ohio. Between March 4, 2011, and May 19, 2011, Sgt. Hicks did not observe any
activity or gather any evidence that supported Parker’s claims that Johnson trafficked in
drugs.
{¶3} On May 19, 2011, Parker filed a report with the East Cleveland Police
Department, alleging that Parker and Johnson had exchanged harsh words at a red light
and that when the light turned green, Johnson followed Parker, brandished a firearm, and
fired shots at Parker’s car. Parker alleged that the source of the animosity was that
Parker owed Johnson money for a drug debt.
{¶4} Sgt. Hicks submitted an affidavit and obtained a search warrant authorizing
him to search Johnson’s home for a silver/chrome firearm and any and all
instrumentalities pertaining to a violation of R.C. Chapter 2903 (homicide and assault
offenses). The warrant was executed on May 25, 2011, and was supervised by Sgt.
Hicks. No firearms were found. Law enforcement seized $7,000 in cash, a black
Century safe with a trace (non-weighable) amount of cocaine residue, Johnson’s mail, a
glass containing nine live rounds of 9 mm ammunition, an empty Ruger gun box, an
empty scale box, two bottles containing a white substance, a box of small glass jars, and a
razor blade.
{¶5} Johnson was indicted on nine counts: two counts of felonious assault, one
count of discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises, two counts of improper
handling of a firearm while in a motor vehicle, one count of having weapons under a
disability, one count of criminal damaging or endangering, one count of drug possession,
and one count of possessing criminal tools.
{¶6} Johnson filed motions to suppress the evidence seized at his home. After
conducting a hearing, the trial court denied Johnson’s motions to suppress. The case
proceeded to a jury trial. The jury acquitted Johnson of all charges except for drug
possession and possession of criminal tools, both fifth-degree felonies.
{¶7} On April 15, 2012, the trial court sentenced Johnson to a prison sentence of
11 months on each of his two convictions, and ordered that the sentences run
consecutively, for a total of 22 months at the Lorain Correctional Institution.
{¶8} On April 18, 2012, Johnson filed a notice of appeal with this court. On April
23, 2012, Johnson filed with this court an application for release on bail and for
suspension of execution of sentence after judgment of conviction and pending appeal.
Johnson’s application was based on the belief that the trial court erred in failing to impose
a sentence of community control sanctions pursuant to R.C. 2929.13(B). We ultimately
granted Johnson’s motion and set Johnson’s bond at $20,000, 10 percent cash or surety.
On July 3, 2012, we ordered Johnson to be returned to the Cuyahoga County Jail for the
purpose of enabling Johnson to sign his bail release paperwork.
{¶9} Johnson’s notice of appeal presents five assignments of error for review.
I. The trial court erred to the prejudice of the Appellant by denying
Appellant’s motion to suppress as Appellant clearly established that a
material, sworn false statement was made by the affiant in the affidavit for
the search warrant and that said material false statement was made
knowingly, intentionally, and/or with reckless disregard for the truth and,
without said false statement, the affidavit’s remaining content was
insufficient to establish probable cause.
II. The trial court erred in failing to suppress the evidence recovered from
the search of the Appellant’s residence as the search warrant did not
authorize the seizure of such items.
III. The trial court erred as a matter of law and to the prejudice of
Appellant by denying Appellant’s motions for judgment of acquittal, as to
Counts Eight and Nine of the indictment, pursuant to Crim.R. 29(A), in
violation of Appellant’s right to due process of law, as guaranteed by the
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution.
IV. The judgments of conviction as to all counts are against the manifest
weight of the evidence, in violation of Appellant’s right to due process of
law, as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution and Article I, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution.
V. The Trial Court erred in sentencing the Appellant to two eleven-month
sentences of imprisonment and in ordering that said sentences were to run
consecutive to each other.
We overrule the first assignment of error; we sustain in part and overrule in part the
second assignment of error; we sustain the third assignment of error; we need not address
the fourth assignment of error; and we sustain the fifth assignment of error.
{¶10} In his first assignment of error, Johnson argues that the search warrant was
invalid and, therefore, the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress any evidence
found pursuant to the warrant. According to Johnson, Sgt. Hicks made a material false
statement and/or recklessly disregarded the truth with regard to the first paragraph of his
search warrant affidavit. We conclude that, even if the first paragraph of the search
warrant was stricken from Sgt. Hicks’s affidavit, the magistrate could still find probable
cause to issue the search warrant. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying
Johnson’s motion to suppress on this basis.
{¶11} When determining whether to issue a warrant, the magistrate must “‘make
a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in the
affidavit before him, including the “veracity” and “basis of knowledge” of persons
supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a
crime will be found in a particular place.’” State v. George, 45 Ohio St.3d 325, 544
N.E.2d 640 (1989), paragraph one of the syllabus, quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213,
238-239, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). On appeal, our duty is “to ensure that
the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed.” Id. at
paragraph two of the syllabus. We must “accord great deference to the magistrate’s
determination of probable cause, and doubtful or marginal cases in this area should be
resolved in favor of upholding the warrant.” Id.{¶12} In this case, Johnson argues that Sgt. Hicks made a knowingly false/reckless
statement in the affidavit. In such a case, we apply the following rule:
“(1) where a defendant made a substantial preliminary showing that a false
statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the
truth, was included by the affiant in his affidavit for a search warrant, and if
the alleged false statement was necessary to the finding of probable cause,
the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendant’s
request so that he might challenge the truthfulness of factual statements
made in the affidavit[,] and (2) if at such a hearing the defendant
established by a preponderance of the evidence the allegation of perjury or
reckless disregard, and, with the affidavit’s false material to one side, the
affidavit’s remaining content is insufficient to establish probable cause, the
search warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded to the
same extent as if probable cause were lacking on the face of the affidavit.”
State v. Parker, 8th Dist. No. 93835, 2011-Ohio-1059, ¶ 46, quoting Franks v. Delaware,
438 U.S. 154, 155-156, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978). (Emphasis added.) Under
this rule, suppression is not warranted unless the false statement was necessary to the
finding of probable cause. To make this determination, the false material is excised, and
then the rest of the affidavit’s contents are reviewed to determine “whether the affidavit
still contains sufficient facts and supporting circumstances to establish probable cause in
the eyes of a detached and neutral magistrate.” State v. Bryant, 5th Dist. Nos. 10CA019
and 10CA020, 2011-Ohio-3353, ¶ 33.
{¶13} Sgt. Hicks’s affidavit stated in pertinent part:
1. Affiant avers that on May 19, 2011, members of the East Cleveland
Police Department responded to the area Phillips Dr. and Bender Ave. to a
report of shots fired. Affiant states that officers were informed that a male
was shooting from his vehicle at another vehicle. Affiant states that by the
time officers arrived the vehicles were gone.
2. Affiant states that on the same day Devito Parker arrived at the police
department and informed officers that a male named Paul Johnson chased
him in a vehicle and shot at him multiple times. Parker informed that his
son Devito Parker Jr. was also in the vehicle at the time. Parker informed
that his vehicle was hit twice, with one bullet penetrating the car. Parker
informed that Johnson was driving a red Dodge Charger. Parker stated that
Johnson shot at him with a chrome firearm.
At the suppression hearing Sgt. Hicks testified that he had learned about the alleged
shooting from another officer. When Sgt. Hicks drafted the affidavit he believed that
someone had called 9-1-1 and had reported the shooting independent of Parker coming to
the station to report that shooting. In reality, the only person who reported the shooting
was Parker himself.
{¶14} Johnson argues that the first paragraph of the affidavit gives the false
impression that an independent source reported the crime, prior to Parker coming into the
station to report the shooting. Johnson argues that Sgt. Hicks knew paragraph one was
false or was at least reckless in setting forth paragraph one, because simple investigatory
measures would have revealed that no one but Parker had reported the shooting. The
argument continues that because Parker has a criminal record and because Parker
allegedly owed Johnson approximately $10,000, Parker was not credible and thus, his
allegations, standing alone, were not enough to establish probable cause.
{¶15} At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial court determined that
the affidavit contained “no material false statements,” that “everything in [the affidavit] is
true,” and that “whatever is implied by paragraph one or two doesn’t matter.” (Tr. 162.)
The trial court also determined that there was no requirement that when a known witness
reports a crime “there has to be [a] credibility check or some other factors provided to the
neutral magistrate with respect to their credibility * * * other than what’s * * *
corroborated by the statements, through physical evidence identified by police officers of
bullet holes in the car * * *.” (Tr. at 162-163.)
{¶16} While we express concern as to the investigatory mistakes made leading up
to securing the warrant, we need not decide whether Sgt. Hicks’s conduct rose to the level
of a reckless disregard for the truth. Even if paragraph one is stricken from the affidavit,
the rest of the affidavit still established the probable cause necessary to issue a search
warrant.
{¶17} While it is true that the only person who alleged that Johnson had shot at
Parker’s car was Parker himself, and while it is true that Parker has a criminal background
and allegedly had a history with Johnson, we know of no rule requiring independent
corroboration of a witness when that witness has a criminal background and is not
providing an anonymous tip. We agree with the trial court that, to the extent that
Parker’s credibility needed corroboration, the rest of the affidavit established the
necessary corroboration, independent of paragraph one of the affidavit.
{¶18} When paragraph one is stricken, the affidavit still provides the following
information: Parker came into the station and reported that Johnson had shot at him and
his son while they were in their car; Parker alleged that one of the two bullets penetrated
his car; Parker alleged that he owed Johnson drug money; Parker had a criminal
background; Johnson had a criminal background, including an arrest for carrying a
concealed weapon; and Parker positively identified Johnson in a photo array as the
individual who shot at him. These statements, taken together, provided enough
information to establish probable cause that the gun used in the alleged attack might be
found in Johnson’s home.
{¶19} Even if paragraph one is excised, we conclude that the affidavit still
contains sufficient facts and supporting circumstances to establish probable cause in the
eyes of a detached and neutral magistrate. Johnson’s first assignment of error is,
therefore, overruled.
{¶20} In his second assignment of error, Johnson argues that the trial court erred in
failing to suppress the evidence recovered from the search of Johnson’s residence,
because the warrant did not authorize the seizure of those items. The warrant authorized
a search for only a “[c]hrome or silver firearm and any and all evidence pertaining to the
violation of the laws of the state of Ohio, to wit: Chapter 2903.” Chapter 2903 pertains
to homicide and assault.
{¶21} Johnson argues that the officers who conducted the search seized a number
of items bearing no relationship to a firearm or to a crime under Chapter 2903.
According to Johnson, these items should have been suppressed, and the trial court erred
in failing to grant his motion to suppress. The state argues that the items were lawfully
seized either because they were authorized under the warrant or because they were found
in plain view. We conclude that the currency and the mail should have been suppressed,
but that the trial court did not err in denying the suppression motion regarding the other
seized items.
{¶22} Under the plain-view doctrine, if evidence is not specifically described in a
warrant, it may still be lawfully seized if the intrusion is lawful, the discovery of the
evidence is inadvertent, and the incriminating nature of the item is immediately apparent.
State v. Williams, 55 Ohio St.2d 82, 377 N.E.2d 1013 (1978), paragraph one of the
syllabus; State v. Jimenez, 8th Dist. No. 95337, 2011-Ohio-1572, ¶ 8.
{¶23} Johnson argues that there is no logical relationship between the firearm and
the following items that were seized: $7,000 in cash, Johnson’s mail, a glass with nine
live rounds of 9 mm ammunition, an empty Ruger gun box, a black Century safe with a
non-weighable amount of cocaine residue, an empty scale box, two bottles containing a
white substance, a box of small glass bottles, and a razor blade. Any item seized should
have been suppressed if the item was not specifically named in the warrant, or, if the item
was found in plain view, if the incriminating nature of the object was not immediately
apparent.1
{¶24} Det. Mark Allen testified that he found the currency inside of the living
room couch cushions and that he found the mail for Johnson in the mailbox. Det. Allen
stated that he did not have the “legal expertise” to offer a coherent explanation as to why
a search warrant limiting the search of a house for a firearm authorized him to seize the
cash. (Tr. 71.) Det. Allen also testified that he could not explain why he seized the
mail.
{¶25} The trial court reasoned that the money was legally seized because there was
evidence of a drug debt, and that once the drug residue was found in the safe, the police
had the right to seize other items that would be consistent with evidence of drug
trafficking or drug use, which would include the currency. The trial court made no
specific finding regarding the mail, but its global decision to deny the motion to suppress
meant that the mail was not suppressed. We conclude that the $7,000 and the mail
should have been suppressed, because they were not named in the warrant and because
the incriminating nature of the money and the mail was not immediately apparent.
{¶26} In State v. Vipperman, 5th Dist. Nos. CA-842 and CA-843, 1997 Ohio App.
LEXIS 5353 (Nov. 10, 1997), the Fifth District affirmed an order suppressing evidence
on the grounds that the items seized from the defendants’ residence were not described in
1
We have already determined that the intrusion was lawful, because the warrant was valid.
The parties do not argue about whether the items were discovered inadvertently.
the search warrant. The officers were searching for two stolen freezers. The warrant
authorized the officers to seize any controlled substances and related property, and the
two stolen freezers. During the execution of the warrant, the officers did not find the
stolen freezers described in the warrant, but found and seized another freezer, as well as a
floor lamp, a barbeque grill, two chairs, pillows, and a blanket.
{¶27} In determining that the items should be suppressed, the court rejected the
arguments that the items were closely related to the crime being investigated and that the
officers had reason to believe that the items seized were instrumentalities of the crime.
Rather, the court reasoned that the items were common household items, not contraband,
and that there was no evidence to suggest that it was apparent to the officers who seized
the items that they were closely related to the crime being investigated. The fact that the
seized items were later determined to be evidence of a different robbery did not impact
the court’s decision.
{¶28} In the instant case, the state makes no argument in its brief about whether
the incriminating nature of the money or mail was immediately apparent. Although the
trial court found that the money was subject to seizure because it was consistent with drug
trafficking or drug use, we conclude that this connection is too tenuous and that it was not
immediately apparent that the money was related to criminal activity.
{¶29} Similar to the items seized in Vipperman, money and mail are common,
everyday items, and are not inherently contraband. There is no evidence in the record
suggesting that it was apparent to the officers who seized the items that these items were
closely related to the crime being investigated, assault with a firearm. When asked why
he would seize the money and what it had to do with the crime being investigated, Det.
Allen stated that he did not have an explanation.
{¶30} There are numerous, non-criminal explanations for why money was found in
the house, and, therefore, at the time that it was seized, the incriminating nature of the
money was not immediately apparent. No one at the trial level or on appeal has provided
an argument as to how the incriminating nature of the mail was immediately apparent,
and we can find none ourselves. For the foregoing reasons, the officers did not have the
authority to seize the currency or the mail, and the trial court erred in denying Johnson’s
motion to suppress regarding these items.
{¶31} We need not determine whether the razor blade was subject to suppression,
because it was never admitted at trial. Although it appeared on an inventory list that was
admitted at trial as an exhibit, the trial transcript reveals that the razor blade was redacted
from the inventory sheet, and so the jury did not consider it in rendering its verdict.
{¶32} We conclude that the trial court did not err in denying the motion to
suppress with respect to the remaining items, because these items were either authorized
under the warrant or because the incriminating nature of the items was immediately
apparent. The bullets and the empty gun box were admissible because they were
authorized under the warrant, as bullets and an empty gun box could logically pertain to a
violation under Chapter 2903 for a felonious assault involving a firearm.
{¶33} The remaining items were admissible because they were found in plain view
and the incriminating nature of the items was immediately apparent. The safe was
initially examined because it could have contained a gun. Upon opening the safe, Det.
Hicks testified that it contained a white powder that he believed to be cocaine. Once
evidence of a drug-related crime had been uncovered, law enforcement was authorized to
seize related items if the incriminating nature of those items was immediately apparent.
While we ultimately conclude that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the
conviction for drug possession, we agree with the trial court that the safe was lawfully
seized at the time that the search was conducted.
{¶34} Det. Eric Jones, a member of the narcotics division, testified that while
searching the basement, he found an empty scale box, two bottles containing an unknown,
white substance, and a box containing empty glass bottles. According to Det. Jones,
“Blue Fish” and “Super Lactose” appeared on the labels of the two bottles with the
unknown, white substance. Det. Jones stated that based on his experience and training,
the white substance found in the bottles could be used as a cutting agent to stretch out
drugs such as cocaine. Det. Jones testified that the glass jars could be used to store PCP
or crack. There was no direct testimony as to why the empty scale box was seized, but
the testimony surrounding the empty scale box implies that it was seized because a scale
could be used to weigh drugs.
{¶35} While we ultimately conclude that these items, standing alone, do not create
sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction for possession of criminal tools, we agree with
the trial court that, at the time of the search, the items were lawfully seized. For the
aforementioned reasons, we sustain in part and overrule in part the second assignment of
error.
{¶36} In his third assignment of error Johnson argues that the trial court erred in
denying his motions for acquittal, under Crim.R. 29(A), for violating R.C. 2925.11(A)
(“no person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance or a controlled
substance analog”) and R.C. 2923.24(A) (“no person shall possess or have under the
person’s control any substance, device, instrument, or article, with purpose to use it
criminally”). We agree with Johnson that there was insufficient evidence to sustain
convictions for either charge, and so we sustain the third assignment of error.
{¶37} Under Crim.R. 29, a motion for judgment of acquittal should be granted if
the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction for the offense. Viewing all the facts
in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we will not reverse the trial court’s judgment
unless reasonable minds could only reach the conclusion that the evidence failed to prove
all elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259,
574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
Drug Possession
{¶38} According to Johnson, the state failed to present sufficient evidence that
Johnson had constructive possession of the trace amount of cocaine residue found inside
the safe. Johnson also argues that the state failed to offer sufficient evidence that he had
knowledge of the cocaine residue found inside the safe. We agree.
{¶39} Johnson was convicted for drug possession. R.C. 2925.01(K) defines
“possession” as “having control over a thing or substance, but may not be inferred solely
from mere access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of the
premises upon which the thing or substance is found.” Possession of an object may be
either actual or constructive. State v. Smith, 92 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 634 N.E.2d 659(8th Dist. 1993). Constructive possession requires that the defendant is able to exercise
dominion or control over the object, and may be proved by circumstantial evidence.
State v. Perry, 8th Dist. No. 84397, 2005-Ohio-27, ¶ 70.
{¶40} In State v. Slade, 145 Ohio App.3d 241, 762 N.E.2d 451 (8th Dist. 2001),
we found that there was insufficient evidence to sustain a drug possession conviction
where there was no connection between the defendant and the drugs except for the
defendant’s presence in the house. The house was a multi-dwelling home and the drugs
were openly displayed in a back room used as an office. Although the defendant was in
the house when the drugs were found, there was no evidence presented that any of the
defendant’s personal belongings were in the office, except that there were photographs of
the defendant found in the office. No drugs or drug paraphernalia were found on the
defendant’s person or in her purse. Further, there was no evidence that she was in close
proximity to the drugs.
{¶41} In contrast, in State v. Powell, 8th Dist. No. 82054, 2003-Ohio-4936, the
evidence presented was sufficient for a jury to find that the defendant constructively
possessed cocaine, even though he was not present when the residence was searched. In
the bedroom, detectives found several baggies of cocaine and evidence of cocaine on the
window sill. In the kitchen of the residence, they found several pieces of crack cocaine,
a digital scale, a utility knife containing cocaine residue, and a bowl containing a piece of
crack cocaine. The drugs were found in plain view in the kitchen and the bedroom. The
defendant’s girlfriend told police that the defendant had been there an hour earlier. A
confidential informant testified that he had purchased cocaine from a man inside the
home, and the police, during surveillance, never saw any other male besides the defendant
enter or leave the home. The defendant argued that the evidence could not exclude the
possibility that the drugs belonged to someone else. We held that the state was not
required to eliminate all possibilities regarding interpretation of the evidence, and that the
evidence presented, if believed, was sufficient for a guilty verdict. Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶42} The facts of the case at bar fall somewhere between Slade and Powell.
Unlike Powell where there was independent testimony that drug activity was taking place
inside the home, in the instant case, police officers had been conducting surveillance on
Johnson’s home for drug-related activity for several months, but had not observed any
evidence of drug activity. On the other hand, in contrast to Slade, Johnson’s was a
single-family home and the only other residents of the house were his wife and child.
{¶43} In deciding that this case is closer to Slade than to Powell, we are mindful of
the language in R.C. 2925.01(K) stating that constructive possession “may not be inferred
solely from mere access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of the
premises upon which the thing or substance is found.” Here the state appears to rest its
case for constructive possession merely on the fact that the non-weighable cocaine
residue was found in a safe that was found on the same premises that Johnson occupied.
{¶44} Johnson’s fingerprints were not found on the safe. See State v. Swalley,
11th Dist. No. 2010-A-0008, 2011-Ohio-2092 (finding insufficient evidence for a drug
possession conviction and noting that none of the items confiscated were tested for
fingerprints). The safe was found in the basement of the house, under a pile of clutter.
Det. Allen testified that he rummaged through the clutter for about fifteen minutes before
coming upon the safe. Another adult resided in the house who also had access to the
basement. Johnson was nowhere near the safe when it was found, there was no evidence
that he had recently been in the basement, and there was no evidence presented to indicate
that the safe belonged to Johnson. Accordingly, the state failed to present sufficient
evidence that Johnson constructively possessed the cocaine residue found at the bottom of
the safe.
{¶45} Further, Johnson argues that the state did not provide sufficient evidence of
mens rea. We agree. In order to sustain a conviction for possession under R.C.
2925.11(A), the state must prove that the defendant acted “knowingly.” Although the
Ohio Supreme Court has held that “the quantity of a controlled substance is not a factor in
determining whether a defendant may lawfully be convicted of drug abuse, in violation of
R.C. 2925.11(A),” it also held that “whether a person charged with drug abuse in
violation of R.C. 2925.11 knowingly possessed, obtained, or used a controlled substance
is to be determined from all the attendant facts and circumstances available.” State v.
Teamer, 82 Ohio St.3d 490, 491-492, 696 N.E.2d 1049 (1998).
{¶46} The state argues that Teamer stands for the proposition that the amount of
contraband is irrelevant. We conclude that Teamer stands for the proposition that the
amount of contraband is not dispositive, but that the amount of contraband may still be a
relevant factor in determining whether a defendant knowingly possessed drugs. The
Teamer decision concluded that “[a]s long as there is scientifically accepted testimony
from which a factfinder could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that a controlled
substance was present, a conviction for drug abuse pursuant to R.C. 2925.11(A) will not
be reversed based on the amount of contraband involved.” Id. at 492. (Emphasis
added.) While a conviction will not be reversed based only on the amount of contraband,
the Teamer decision does not hold that the amount is irrelevant.
{¶47} In the instant case, the amount of cocaine found was non-weighable residue.
Under Teamer, although the amount of cocaine is not dispositive as to whether Johnson
had knowledge, it is relevant, as knowledge is to be determined from all the attendant
facts and circumstances. The fact that the residue was such a minuscule amount that it
was not weighable and the fact that it was found in a safe, under a pile of clothes in the
basement, undermines the state’s claim that Johnson knowingly possessed the residue.
{¶48} Unlike in Teamer, where the officers observed the defendant dropping a
crack pipe from his hand that later tested positive for drug residue, here the drug residue
was found nowhere near Johnson’s person. Nor was there any evidence that Johnson had
recently been in the basement of the premises, that he owned the safe, or that he had ever
touched the safe. The additional attendant facts and circumstances presented by the
state, if believed, were not enough to establish that Johnson had the requisite knowledge
for a drug possession conviction. Reasonable minds could only reach the conclusion
that the evidence failed to prove all elements of the crime of drug possession beyond a
reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we must reverse the conviction.
Possession of Criminal Tools
{¶49} We, likewise, conclude that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient
to support Johnson’s conviction for possession of criminal tools. Under R.C. 2923.24(A)
“no person shall possess or have under the person’s control any substance, device,
instrument, or article with purpose to use it criminally.” According to the state’s brief,
the following evidence supported the conviction for possession of criminal tools: 1)
money; 2) a scale; 3) empty glass bottles that Det. Jones testified could be used to place
PCP or crack; and 4) two bottles of a white substance that Det. Jones testified could be
used to cut cocaine. State’s Br. at 22. The state argues that Johnson’s purpose in
possessing these items was to commit the crime of felony drug trafficking.
{¶50} First, as discussed under the second assignment of error, the money should
have been suppressed and so it cannot be considered as evidence. Second, contrary to
the state’s position, law enforcement did not discover a scale in Johnson’s house.
Rather, they discovered an empty box for a scale. The box itself cannot be considered a
criminal tool, because we cannot imagine a situation where Johnson could have possessed
an empty box with an intent to use it criminally. See R.C. 2923.24(A).
{¶51} Excluding the money and the empty box, we are left with empty glass
bottles and two bottles of a white substance with the labels “Super Lactose” and “Blue
Fish.” As with the empty box, these items were also found in the basement. We have
the same concerns with the evidence presented for this charge as we have with the
evidence that was presented for the drug possession charge: the state’s evidence does
not establish that Johnson constructively possessed these alleged criminal tools.
{¶52} Det. Jones could not recall where in the basement he found the glass bottles
and the two bottles of the white substance and he could not recall whether the items were
part of the clutter in the basement. No photographs were taken. There is no evidence
that Johnson’s fingerprints were found on the items. Another adult resided in the house
who also had access to the basement. Johnson was nowhere near these items when they
were found, there was no evidence that he had recently been in the basement, and there
was no evidence presented to indicate that the items belonged to Johnson.
{¶53} Further, although Det. Jones testified that the glass bottles could be used to
store PCP or crack, no PCP or crack was recovered from the house. This undermines the
state’s position that the glass bottles were possessed with the purpose to commit the crime
of drug trafficking. For the aforementioned reasons, we conclude that reasonable minds
could only reach the conclusion that the evidence failed to prove all elements of the crime
of possession of criminal tools beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we must
reverse the conviction.
{¶54} In his fourth assignment of error Johnson argues that his convictions were
against the manifest weight of the evidence. Having already determined that there was
insufficient evidence to convict Johnson for drug possession or for possession of criminal
tools, we decline to address this assignment of error because it is now moot.
{¶55} In his fifth assignment of error, Johnson argues that the trial court erred in
sentencing him to two eleven-month sentences of imprisonment and in ordering that the
sentences were to run consecutive to each other. According to Johnson, the trial court
failed to comply with the sentencing requirements under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1), because the
trial court was required to impose a sentence of community control sanctions.
{¶56} On appeal, we took the unusual step of granting Johnson’s application for
release on bail and for suspension of execution of sentence after judgment of conviction
and pending appeal. Accordingly, Johnson has been out of prison pending the resolution
of this appeal, even though he had been sentenced to two eleven-month sentences to run
consecutively. We granted Johnson’s application after a motion for reconsideration,
because we had serious concerns that the sentence imposed might violate R.C.
2929.13(B)(1). In light of these unusual circumstances, we conclude that it is necessary
to address this assignment of error, notwithstanding the fact that we are reversing
Johnson’s convictions in this case. We conclude that the trial court clearly erred in
sentencing Johnson to a term of prison, and so we sustain the fifth assignment of error.
{¶57} We apply a two-step approach when reviewing felony sentences. First, we
examine the sentencing court’s compliance with all applicable rules and statutes in
imposing the sentence so that we can determine whether the sentence is clearly and
convincingly contrary to law. If the trial court complies with all applicable rules and
statutes, we then review the prison term for an abuse of discretion. State v. Kalish, 120
Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, ¶ 9-10 (2008).
{¶58} When applicable, trial courts are required to comply with the sentencing
requirements of R.C. 2929.13. State v. Ogle, 8th Dist. No. 97926, 2012-Ohio-3693, ¶ 12.
The parties’ arguments hinge on competing interpretations of R.C. 2929.13(B)(1). On
September 30, 2011, H.B. 86 went into effect.2 H.B. 86 amended R.C. 2929.13(B)(1) so
as to prohibit prison sentences for certain fourth and fifth-degree felonies. See R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(a).
{¶59} Under R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a):
Except as provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, if an offender is
convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony of the fourth or fifth degree that is
not an offense of violence, the court shall sentence the offender to a
community control sanction of at least one year’s duration if all of the
following apply:
i) The offender previously has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense
or to an offense of violence that is a misdemeanor and that the offender committed within
two years prior to the offense for which sentence is being imposed.
(ii) The most serious charge against the offender at the time of sentencing is
a felony of the fourth or fifth degree.
(iii) If the court made a request of the department of rehabilitation and
correction pursuant to division (B)(1)(c) of this section, the department,
2
H.B. 86 applies to the instant case, because it went into effect before Johnson was sentenced.
See State v. Steinfurth, 8th Dist. No. 97549, 2012-Ohio-3257, ¶ 13-14.
within the forty-five-day period specified in that division, provided the
court with the names of, contact information for, and program details of one
or more community control sanctions of at least one year’s duration that are
available for persons sentenced by the court.
(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a). If all three subsections are satisfied, then the
trial court was required to sentence Johnson to community control sanctions and lacked
the discretion to sentence Johnson to a term of prison.
{¶60} Although the parties do not dispute that subsections (ii) and (iii) are satisfied
in this case, they part company with respect to subsection (i). According to the state, if a
defendant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense at any time, then
subsection (i) is not satisfied. But the language of subsection (i) requires a felony
conviction and that the offender committed the felony within two years of the instant
sentence. The state’s position would have us effectively read the word “and” out of the
provision. We hold that R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a)(i) is satisfied where a defendant has
previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense, but that conviction or
guilty plea occurred more than two years before the current sentence is imposed.
{¶61} In the instant case, Johnson had not been convicted of a felony or pleaded
guilty to a felony within two years of the sentence being imposed. Therefore, R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(a)(i) applied. Because there is no dispute that R.C.
2929.13(B)(1)(a)(ii)-(iii) applied, the trial court was required to sentence Johnson to a
community control sanction. Accordingly, the trial court committed clear error when it
failed to comply with the applicable statute and instead sentenced Johnson to two
eleven-month sentences to run consecutively. Accordingly, we sustain the fifth
assignment of error.
{¶62} The trial court’s judgment is reversed and remanded. On remand, the trial
court shall vacate Johnson’s convictions.
It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
____________________________________
KENNETH A. ROCCO, JUDGE
KATHLEEN A. KEOUGH, J., CONCURS;
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, P.J., CONCURS
IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART
(SEE ATTACHED OPINION)
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, P.J., CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN
PART:
{¶63} I concur in part and respectfully dissent in part.
{¶64} I concur with the majority’s resolution of the second assignment of error
except, unlike the majority, I would find that the money and mail were lawfully seized.
The majority holds that seizure of $7,000 cash (that was found in the couch cushions) and
mail was beyond the scope of the search warrant and unlawful. The plain-view doctrine
“authorizes seizure of illegal or evidentiary items visible to a police officer who has
access to the object, has some prior Fourth Amendment justification, and who has
probable cause to suspect the item is connected with criminal activity.” See Illinois v.
Andreas, 463 U.S. 765, 771, 103 S.Ct. 3319, 77 L.Ed.2d 1003 (1983). I would find this
test was satisfied in this case.
{¶65} The officers had a search warrant, saw suspected drugs in plain view, and
seized items that they had probable cause to believe were related to criminal activity.
That would include large amounts of cash and mail addressed to Johnson. Mail is
probative of an individual’s presence in the residence being searched, which is relevant to
proving his or her participation in crimes committed therein. It is well settled that cash
is used in furtherance of drug activity. State v. Gordon, 8th Dist. No. 97336,
2012-Ohio-4930, ¶ 36 ($12,000 in cash was considered circumstantial evidence
supporting a drug conviction where it was found in a hidden compartment of a store that
the defendant owned and around which drug activity took place). State v. Young, 8th
Dist. No. 92744, 2010-Ohio-3402, ¶ 16-20, discretionary appeal not allowed, State v.
Young, 127 Ohio St.3d 1447, 2010-Ohio-5762, 937 N.E.2d 1036, citing State v. Batin, 5th
Dist. No. 2004-CA-00128, 2005-Ohio-36, rev’d on other grounds, In re Ohio Criminal
Sentencing Statutes Cases, 109 Ohio St.3d 518, 2006-Ohio-3254, 849 N.E.2d 985.
{¶66} Although I find the seizure of the cash and mail was lawful, I note there is a
different burden that must be satisfied to warrant forfeiture of it. E.g., State v. Conway,
8th Dist. No. 96905, 2012-Ohio-590. The record in this case does not meet that burden,
and while forfeiture is not an issue in this appeal, the money would have to be returned.
There simply is not a sufficient nexus between the cash seized and the drugs and
paraphernalia recovered to warrant forfeiture.
{¶67} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision that finds insufficient
evidence to support Johnson’s convictions for drug possession and possessing criminal
tools. The contraband was seized from his single-family home where he lived with his
wife and eight-year-old child. Johnson’s mother-in-law had purchased the home for
Johnson’s family years ago. There is no indication that his wife or child had any
involvement in drug activity. There is testimony in the record indicating that Johnson
was involved in drug activity, including the sale of cocaine, crack, and crack cocaine.
Experienced officers testified that the items seized from Johnson’s residence are
commonly used in connection with drug activity. Detective Jones testified that the
“Blue Fish” and “Super Lactose” bottles “are used as a cutting agent to stretch out drugs,
cocaine, crack.” A scale box was also seized, and Det. Jones stated that the glass jars
and bottles can be used to store PCP or crack. The defense offered innocuous purposes
for the items seized, indicating Johnson’s wife used a scale to weigh jewelry. It was also
suggested that the vials were discontinued lab supplies from Johnson’s wife’s family
business. Nonetheless, the standard for sufficiency review does not permit the appellate
court to weigh the evidence or make credibility determinations. For these reasons, I
would not vacate Johnson’s convictions on the basis of insufficient evidence.
{¶68} I concur with the majority’s determination that the mandatory community
control sanction provisions of R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a) apply, but I write further to address
the identified, and disputed, ambiguity in R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a)(i). The state’s position is
that the phrase in R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a)(i) that provides “and that the offender committed
within two years prior to the offense for which sentence is being imposed” only applies to
prior convictions for violent misdemeanor offenses. The state would have us interpret
the statute to disqualify any repeat felony offenders from the mandatory community
control sanction provisions regardless of the date of the prior felony conviction. The
defense contends the two-year look-back provision applies to prior convictions for both
felonies and violent misdemeanors.
{¶69} Admittedly the statutory provision is unclear. However, a main purpose
behind H.B. 86 was to reduce Ohio’s prison population and R.C. 2901.04(A) requires that
the criminal code be “strictly construed against the state, and liberally construed in favor
of the accused.” Accordingly, the identified ambiguity in R.C. 2929.13(B)(1)(a)(i) must
be resolved in the accused’s favor, which means the two-year look-back period must be
applied to not only the offender’s prior convictions for violent misdemeanor offenses but
also to his or her prior felony convictions.
{¶70} I fully concur with the remainder of the majority opinion.