State v. McShann , 2019 Ohio 4481 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. McShann, 2019-Ohio-4481.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 27803
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-3361/1
:
CURTIS M. MCSHANN : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 1st day of November, 2019.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by SARAH E. HUTNIK, Atty. Reg. No. 0095900, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division,
Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
JOHN A. FISCHER, Atty. Reg. No. 0068346, 70 Birch Alley, Suite 240, Beavercreek,
Ohio 45440
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
WELBAUM, P.J.
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{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Curtis M. McShann, appeals from his conviction and
sentence, after a jury trial, on four counts of murder (merged to one count), one count of
aggravated burglary, four counts of aggravated robbery (deadly weapon), four counts of
felonious assault (deadly weapon), four counts of felonious assault (serious physical
harm), one count of discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, and one count of
discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises. All these counts had firearm
specifications, and the jury found McShann guilty of the specifications as well.
{¶ 2} Following the jury verdict, the trial court heard evidence concerning repeat
violent offender specifications, which had been attached to almost every count. In
addition, the court, by agreement, considered three counts of having weapons under
disability (prior offense of violence) and one count of having weapons under disability
(prior drug conviction). All these counts also had firearm specifications. After finding
McShann guilty of these charges and specifications, and merging a number of offenses,
the court ultimately imposed both consecutive and concurrent sentences, for a total
sentence of 60 years to life in prison.
{¶ 3} McShann’s initial counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386
U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), indicating that he found no potential
assignments of error having arguable merit. Our review of the record indicated
otherwise, and we appointed new counsel for McShann. New counsel has raised three
assignments of error.
{¶ 4} According to McShann, the trial court erred by failing to suppress
identification testimony from the only witness who placed McShann at the scene of a
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shootout. Additionally, McShann contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective
assistance by failing to file a motion to suppress identifications of McShann’s fiancée and
sister, or to object to this evidence at trial. And finally, McShann maintains that the trial
court erred by failing to require the State to identify a confidential informant.
{¶ 5} For the reasons that follow, all the assignments of error are without merit.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.
I. Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 6} The charges against McShann arose from a gunfight that took place on
October 25, 2016. As general background, during the afternoon and evening of that day,
several people were having a get-together at Germel Hughes’s home, which was located
on Riverside Drive in Dayton, Ohio. At some point after 11:00 p.m., most people at the
party decided to go out to a bar, and several guests left to change clothes. The people
who left included James Mitchell, Letisa Gomez, Brittany Depp, Tyesha Auster, and
Shahila Taylor. Hughes and several people remained inside the house.
{¶ 7} Mitchell’s van was parked directly in front of the house, and Mitchell went
around the front of the van, where he saw two men on the driver’s side of his van,
crouched down, waiting. These men each had machine guns (or long guns) and put the
guns in his face. According to the trial testimony, Mitchell recognized one man as “Curt”
and the other as someone whose name he thought was Damarko (later identified,
respectively, as Curtis McShann and Jamarko Walker).1 Mitchell knew Walker, as they
1Mitchell testified that he used the name “Damarko,” while the police stated that Mitchell
used the name “Demarko.” The actual individuals being referenced were Jamarko
Walker and Jamarko McShann (the latter Curtis’s brother).
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used to date the same woman. Mitchell had also seen McShann before in the
neighborhood, but did not know McShann’s full name.
{¶ 8} Walker told Mitchell to get on the ground, and he complied. Mitchell was on
his stomach, with his face towards the house. Walker had a machine gun and was
pressing it in Mitchell’s armpit while McShann stood nearby with a machine gun. Walker
asked Mitchell questions like who was in the house, and McShann took items out of
Mitchell’s pockets, including his wallet, money, and keys. The wallet was distinctive, as
it was a “Zombie Killers” wallet.
{¶ 9} While these events were occurring, Depp was on the other side of the van,
wondering what was taking Mitchell so long. At that point, a tall thin man, dressed all in
black and with his face covered, tapped Depp on the shoulder. The man held a bigger
gun (not a long gun), and told Depp not to reach for anything. He then reached in Depp’s
pocket and took out her phone. After telling her not to move, he walked away. At that
point, Depp heard a commotion and saw two other men dressed in black coming around
the van. After hearing loud voices and shooting, Depp hit the ground and slid under the
van.
{¶ 10} Gomez and Taylor were also at the van’s passenger side when a man with
a long gun walked up and told them to get down. This man took Gomez out to the street,
and she laid down there, near the driver’s side of the van. Gomez saw Mitchell next to
the van and saw someone standing over him with a gun. One man had a gun trained on
Gomez and one had a gun on Mitchell. The men told Gomez to give them what she had.
However, while she was trying to get money out of her purse, the men said she was
moving too much. As a result, Gomez threw her purse at them. During this time,
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Gomez heard some yelling by the house and then heard some gunshots. And then it
was as if “those gunshots triggered all the gunshots.” At that point, Gomez ran and hid
behind a silver Jeep that was parked across the street.
{¶ 11} Before the shooting started, Auster was by a gate in the yard, waiting for a
ride. Someone put a handgun to her head and forced her to the passenger side of the
van, where she was patted down and was told to get down on the ground. Nothing was
taken from her because she did not have anything. Once Auster got on the ground, she
heard gunshots and tried to get under the van. However, the van was too close to the
ground, so she just “balled up” on the passenger side.
{¶ 12} As noted, Hughes and several other people had remained in the house. A
tall man came into the house, pointed a gun at everyone, and told them to lay down.
When the man tried to shoot his gun, however, it jammed and did not fire. Consequently,
he walked back outside. Shots were then fired into the house and the people in the
house started shooting back.
{¶ 13} Once the gunshots stopped, Mitchell saw McShann and Walker get into a
car and leave. The get-away car was a gray four-door Chevy Impala, and the base and
doors were different colors. Walker got into the front passenger’s side door, while
McShann got in the back passenger’s door, and the car drove away. At that point,
everyone in the house went outside. Several people had been shot, including Auster,
who had been shot in the neck, Depp, who had bullets in her shoulder, chest, and lower
back, and a third person who had been shot in the back while inside the house.
Brandon Lanier, the man who had entered the house with the gun, was found on the
opposite side of the street, dead of a gunshot wound.
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{¶ 14} The initial dispatch about shots having been fired occurred at 11:38 p.m.,
and the police promptly arrived on the scene, where they found Lanier’s body. They also
found many shell casings both inside and outside the house. Outside, there were around
64 shell casings, including .762 rounds, 9-millimeter rounds, .45 rounds, and .40 caliber
shell casings. Inside the house, the police recovered 11 .40 caliber casings, mostly in
the living room. The walls and ceilings of the house, including those in the living room,
bedroom, and kitchen also revealed a number of bullet holes and strikes. Additionally,
Mitchell’s van sustained considerable damage, including bullet holes and shattered
windows.
{¶ 15} That night, the police spoke with numerous witnesses, including Mitchell.
Mitchell gave the police names of potential suspects, including “Curt” and either Demarko
or Jamarko, as the people who had the machine guns. Because the police knew that
McShann had a brother named Jamarko, they prepared separate photo spreads for
McShann and his brother and took them to Mitchell’s home around 7:00 a.m. on October
26, 2016 (several hours after the gunfight). Mitchell’s mother woke him up, and he
selected Curtis McShann’s picture, indicating that it “sort of looked” like the picture of
McShann’s brother, whom he had already identified with more certainty.
{¶ 16} The police had a cell phone number for McShann and pinged the phone to
try and find him. Using this technique and call detail records from McShann’s cell phone,
the police located both McShann and Walker at the Middletown, Ohio, apartment of
McShann’s fiancée, LaJoyce Morris, at around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. on October 26, 2016.
McShann and Walker were then arrested and taken to the Dayton Safety Building. The
only gun ever located was a 9-millimeter gun found in the apartment. Walker had the
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Zombie Killer wallet, together with Mitchell’s identification, in his possession.
{¶ 17} In November 2016, McShann was indicted on 24 counts, including those
indicated above. In December 2016, McShann filed a motion to suppress, asking the
court to suppress statements he made while in custody. He also alleged that the lineup
procedures were unduly suggestive. After holding an evidentiary hearing, the trial court
overruled the motion in March 2017.
{¶ 18} Following a five-day jury trial in August 2017, the jury found McShann guilty
of all charged offenses, with the exception of one charge the State had dismissed.
Shortly thereafter, the trial court heard evidence about the offenses that McShann had
agreed to have tried to the court. In September 2017, the trial court filed a judgment
entry finding McShann guilty of those charges as well (counts 21-24). In addition, the
court found that McShann was a repeat violent offender with regard to counts 1-7 and 9-
19.
{¶ 19} After holding a sentencing hearing on October 3, 2017, the court sentenced
McShann to a total of 60 years to life in prison. McShann timely appealed from the trial
court’s judgment. As indicated, after McShann’s appellate counsel filed an Anders brief,
we rejected the Anders brief and appointed new counsel. See State v McShann, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 27803 (Decision and Entry, Dec. 6, 2018).
II. Eyewitness Identification
{¶ 20} McShann’s First Assignment of Error states that:
The Trial Court Erred When It Failed to Suppress the Identification
of Mr. McShann by the Only Witness to Place Mr. McShann at the Scene of
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the Shootout.
{¶ 21} Under this assignment of error, McShann first contends that the photo
lineups were impermissibly suggestive because the police violated their own procedures
and R.C. 2933.83 in administering the lineups. Specifically, the detective (Det. Roberts)
who initially presented the photo lineup to James Mitchell failed to sign the lineup form
and also failed to have Mitchell circle McShann’s picture, which was allegedly required by
departmental procedures. McShann further contends that Mitchell was groggy and
sleep-deprived, and that the room was dark and cramped, thus making the identification
improper.
{¶ 22} In overruling the motion to suppress, the trial court concluded that Det.
Roberts’s method of displaying the photo lineup to Mitchell complied with the explicit
requirements of R.C. 2933.83(B). The court further held that Roberts did not suggest to
Mitchell that the suspect was arrayed in the photos, nor did he suggest who Mitchell
should pick from the array. Doc. #46, p. 4.
{¶ 23} Before beginning our discussion, we should note that standards for granting
relief under Anders vary significantly from those used to evaluate a trial court’s decision
on a motion to suppress. Under Anders, we conduct an independent review of the record
to decide if an appeal is “wholly frivolous.” Anders, 386 U.S. at 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18
L.Ed.2d 493. In contrast, appellate review of suppression motions “presents a mixed
question of law and fact. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes
the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual questions and
evaluate the credibility of witnesses.” State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-
5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. “Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court must then
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independently determine, without deference to the conclusion of the trial court, whether
the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard.” Id.{¶ 24} Furthermore, our review is limited to the evidence that was presented at the
suppression hearing; we cannot consider the evidence presented at trial. State v.
VanNoy, 188 Ohio App.3d 89, 2010-Ohio-2845, 934 N.E.2d 413, ¶ 7, fn. 1 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 25} Turning to the applicable law, “[d]ue process may require a court to
suppress eyewitness testimony when the identification results from an unduly suggestive
identification procedure.” State v. Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d 429, 2015-Ohio-3954, 45
N.E.3d 127, ¶ 208, citing Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440, 442, 89 S.Ct. 1127, 22
L.Ed.2d 402 (1969). “It is the likelihood of misidentification which violates a defendant's
right to due process * * *.” Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d
401 (1972).
{¶ 26} “When a witness who identifies a defendant has been confronted with a live
or photographic lineup of suspects, due process requires the court to suppress evidence
of the witness's identification of the defendant if the court finds that (1) the confrontation
was unduly suggestive of the defendant's guilt and (2) the witness's identification of the
defendant was unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.” State v. Wilson, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 22624, 2009-Ohio-1038, ¶ 13, citing State v. Waddy, 63 Ohio St.3d
424, 588 N.E.2d 819 (1992) and State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 516, 747 N.E.2d 765(2001). “A lineup is unduly suggestive if it steers the witness to one suspect,
independent of the witness's honest recollection.” (Citations omitted.) Adams at ¶ 208.
{¶ 27} In his brief, McShann concedes that he is not challenging the
suggestiveness of the photos in the lineup. Instead, his objection is to the procedures
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used. Appellant’s Reply Brief, pp. 1-2. After reviewing the record, we find nothing
unduly suggestive about the procedures that Det. Roberts used.
{¶ 28} R.C. 2933.83, which was enacted in 2010, provides minimum requirements
for live lineup and photo lineup procedures. Under the statute, a “blind administrator” is
defined to mean that “the administrator does not know the identity of the suspect.” R.C.
2933.83(A)(2).
{¶ 29} In this case, there is no evidence that Det. Roberts knew McShann’s
identity. Contrary to McShann's contention, Roberts did not have prior knowledge of the
case that would prevent him from serving as a blind administrator. Roberts had
participated in some preliminary investigation, including interviewing some witnesses at
the hospital. However, he did not know names of potential suspects at that time, nor did
he have other information about any potential suspect in the case other than a description
of the individual who had been killed by gunfire. Transcript of Proceedings, Vol. I pp.
104-110.2 Since this individual was already deceased, information about his description
was irrelevant to the photo lineup.
{¶ 30} R.C. 2933.83(B) also provides that law enforcement agencies shall adopt
specific procedures, which, at a minimum, must impose the following requirements:
(1) Unless impracticable, a blind or blinded administrator shall
conduct the live lineup or photo lineup.
(2) When it is impracticable for a blind administrator to conduct the
live lineup or photo lineup, the administrator shall state in writing the reason
2There were six volumes of transcripts of the trial court proceedings. From now on, we
will refer only to the volume numbers, i.e., “Vol.” Notably, only one volume had page
numbers.
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for that impracticability.
(3) When it is impracticable for either a blind or blinded administrator
to conduct the live lineup or photo lineup, the administrator shall state in
writing the reason for that impracticability.
(4) The administrator conducting the lineup shall make a written
record that includes all of the following information:
(a) All identification and nonidentification results obtained during the
lineup, signed by the eyewitnesses, including the eyewitnesses' confidence
statements made immediately at the time of the identification;
(b) The names of all persons present at the lineup;
(c) The date and time of the lineup;
(d) Any eyewitness identification of one or more fillers in the lineup;
(e) The names of the lineup members and other relevant identifying
information, and the sources of all photographs or persons used in the
lineup.
(5) If a blind administrator is conducting the live lineup or the photo
lineup, the administrator shall inform the eyewitness that the suspect may
or may not be in the lineup and that the administrator does not know who
the suspect is.
{¶ 31} The following testimony was elicited at the suppression hearing about the
photo lineup. During investigation of the crime, Det. Daugherty developed the name of
Curtis McShann as a suspect. He also had information about a suspect named
“Jamarko.” Because McShann had a brother named Jamarko, Daugherty asked Dayton
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Police Detective Chad Jones to make up photo spreads for both Curtis and his brother,
Jamarko. As pertinent to Curtis, Jones found McShann’s picture on JusticeWeb and
created a photo spread. Jones used the default search system and chose the most like
and similar photos he could, based on hair, skin tone, and facial tattoos. Jones then
gave the photo spread to Daugherty, who asked Roberts to act as a blind administrator
and show the photo spread to Mitchell.
{¶ 32} Around 7:00 a.m. on October 26, 2016 (about seven hours after the
gunfight), Jones drove Roberts to Mitchell’s home to meet with Mitchell. When they
arrived, Jones stayed in the car. Roberts walked up to the side door of the house and
knocked. When Mitchell’s mother answered, Roberts realized that he had woken her up.
Mitchell’s mother said that Mitchell was asleep. After she woke Mitchell up, Roberts met
with Mitchell in the kitchen. No one else was present. Roberts showed Mitchell a
photo array that included McShann’s brother, and Mitchell picked number 5, stating
“Looks like him, pretty sure.” Vol. I at p.115.
{¶ 33} Roberts then showed Mitchell the second photo spread, which contained a
picture of McShann. The time was around 7:13 a.m. At the suppression hearing, the
following exchange occurred:
Q. Okay. And when you laid that down in front of him did you keep
that, what you’re referring to of page 2 of 2, in front of you.
A. Yes, I did.
Q. When you laid the six-pack down in front of Mr. Mitchell, what
happened at that time, sir?
A. He said number 2 looks sort of like the other guy and I put an X
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in line number 2 and wrote, sort of – looks sort of like the other guy.
Q. Okay. And what’s the next thing that happened?
A. Then I would have taken the witness confidence statement and
again, I recognize the person in folder or photo number, paused, he said 2,
I wrote number 2 in there as the person who, tell me what they did. He
says sort of looks like the other guy.
Q. Now did he sign that page indicating that he verified photo
number 2 looked like the other guy.
***
A. He did – he did sign it in front of me, yes.
Q. I don’t see however your signature on it.
A. I did not sign it. No, I did not.
Q. And what is the reason for that, detective?
A. I – I don’t really have a reason. Just error on my behalf.
***
Q. But so the record is clear, you did witness Mr. Mitchell sign that
particular page indicating the person he recognizes in photo number 2 as
the person who sort of looks like the other guy.
A. Yes.
Q. Now I wanted to ask you, did you go back to the six-pack then
and request that Mr. Mitchell circle photograph number 2 as the one he
selected?
A. I did not.
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Q. Okay. And why is that?
A. Again that was an error on my behalf that morning.
Vol. I at pp. 119-120.
{¶ 34} After finishing the photospread process, Roberts returned the folder
containing the photospread to Detective Daugherty. The next day, Daugherty
discovered the errors and instructed Roberts to re-contact Mitchell and finish the
paperwork. Roberts stopped by Mitchell’s home twice that day, but was not able to
locate him during normal business hours. Vol. I at pp. 61 and 112. Instead of having
Roberts continue to follow up, Daugherty took steps to rectify the situation. He was
hanging around in the evening of October 27, 2016, trying to get the case together for the
prosecutor, and located Mitchell in his home at around 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. that evening.
Id. at p. 61. After arriving at Mitchell’s house, Daugherty knocked on the door, but no
one answered. However, as Daugherty walked back to his car, Mitchell pulled up.
{¶ 35} Daugherty met with Mitchell behind his car, showed him the photo spread,
and explained that Roberts had failed to have Mitchell circle the photo. Id. at pp. 61-62.
Mitchell acknowledged that he had selected photo number two. Id. at p. 62. Daugherty
then told Mitchell that he needed to circle that part and initial it. Id. Contrary to what
Mitchell had said previously, Mitchell now said that was definitely Curtis McShann. Id.
According to Daugherty, Mitchell “mentioned about * * * him not being as sleepy and * * *
[it was] light outside and he said he was shown this in his kitchen where it was * * * a little
bit darker.” Id. At the suppression hearing, Roberts said that when he showed the
photospread to Mitchell in the kitchen, there were lights on, although it was not lit up like
daytime. Id. at p. 126. It was light enough to see. Id.
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{¶ 36} The above testimony does not indicate a violation of the requirements in
R.C. 2933.83(B), as the statute does not mention having an officer sign the verification
page, nor does it state that the identified photo must be circled. There is some evidence
that the Dayton Police Department does require such procedures, since Roberts indicated
he erred in failing to do these things. However, no procedures were admitted into
evidence at the hearing. While Det. Daugherty technically inserted himself into the
process by taking the photo lineup back to Mitchell’s house, Daugherty did not do anything
suggestive; he merely performed the clerical task of asking Mitchell to circle the photo
that Mitchell had admittedly already selected.
{¶ 37} Furthermore, while McShann argues that Daugherty violated R.C.
2933.83(B)(2) and (3) by failing to document the reasons for failing to have a blind
administrator conduct the lineup, we do not view Daugherty’s actions as akin to those of
administering a lineup. He was simply performing a clerical task of having Mitchell
document what had already been done by a blind administrator.
{¶ 38} In responding to McShann's argument, the State contends that no violation
occurred because Det. Roberts complied with the minimum requirements in R.C.
2933.83(B). Specifically, while the photo that Mitchell chose was not marked with a
circle, it was marked with an X, and therefore complied with the requirement of
identification in some form. See Appellees' Brief, pp. 12-13. We disagree, at least to
the extent that R.C. 2933.83(C)(1) applies.
{¶ 39} Specifically, R.C. 2933.83(C)(1) requires trial courts, when adjudicating
motions to suppress, to consider "[e]vidence of a failure to comply with any of the
provisions of this section or with any procedure for conducting lineups that has been
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adopted by a law enforcement agency or criminal justice agency pursuant to division (B)
of this section * * *." (Emphasis added.) While the record of the hearing on the motion
to suppress fails to include the specific procedures that the Dayton Police Department
adopted, the police officers clearly believed that Det. Roberts did not comply with a
requirement to have the photo of the identified party circled.
{¶ 40} Notably, even if a violation occurred, violations of R.C. 2933.83 are not
independent grounds for suppression. State v. Harmon, 2017-Ohio-8106, 98 N.E.3d
1238, ¶ 23 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Stevenson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24821, 2012-
Ohio-3396, ¶ 16 (which agreed with State v. Ruff, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110250, 2012-
Ohio-1910, ¶ 7). In similar circumstances, we have held that “the procedure used in
administering the photospread * * *, while not in compliance with R.C. 2933.83, was ‘not
so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of misidentification’
and that, accordingly, we need not proceed to the second step of the analysis, namely
‘whether the identifications were unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.’ ”
Harmon at ¶ 31, quoting State v. Moon, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25061, 2013-Ohio-395,
¶ 35.
{¶ 41} In Harmon, the police had arranged for a blind administrator to conduct a
photo lineup, but the detective who created the photo spread accompanied the
administrator into the victim’s hospital room. After the victim had pointed to a suspect,
the detective asked if the photo showed “ ‘ the individual that was in her house and that
had shot her.’ ” Id. at ¶ 27. The detective was also aware of the suspect’s identify. Id.
at ¶ 28. While this insertion of the detective into the process did not comply with R.C.
2933.83, we found it was not impermissibly suggestive. Id. at ¶ 31.
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{¶ 42} In Moon, the police procedure also did not comply with R.C. 2933.83, and
the “impracticability of using a blind administrator was not documented.” Moon at ¶ 2.
Nonetheless, we found nothing in the procedure that was “so impermissibly suggestive
as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.” Id. at ¶ 35.
{¶ 43} The deviation in the case before us is more attenuated than those in
Harmon and Moon, and there is nothing to indicate that the conduct of either Det. Roberts
or Det. Daugherty was impermissibly suggestive. We disagree with McShann that the
difference in the degree of positivity of Mitchell’s identification was due to anything that
Daugherty said. Mitchell circled the photo he had already identified and indicated that
he was positive this was the person. Mitchell’s comment was made before Daugherty
said anything other than indicating that Mitchell needed to circle and initial the photo he
had identified. Vol. I at pp. 62-63. Only after this statement was made did Daugherty
ask Mitchell about his prior identification. Id. at p. 63. At that time, Mitchell indicated
that he was not as sleepy and the light was better. Id. We see nothing suggestive about
what happened. Furthermore, we have reviewed the photo spread and find nothing
remotely suggestive about the photographs.
{¶ 44} In light of the above discussion, we need not consider the second step –
“whether the identifications were unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.”
Moon, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25061, 2013-Ohio-395, at ¶ 35; Harmon, 2017-Ohio-
8106, 98 N.E.3d 1238, at ¶ 31.
{¶ 45} McShann’s next argument is that even if the failure to follow police
procedures did not amount to a due process violation, the trial court erred in failing to give
a proper jury instruction under R.C. 2933.83(C)(3). This part of the statute provides that:
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When evidence of a failure to comply with any of the provisions of
this section, or with any procedure for conducting lineups that has been
adopted by a law enforcement agency or criminal justice agency pursuant
to division (B) of this section and that conforms to any provision of divisions
(B)(1) to (5) of this section, is presented at trial, the jury shall be instructed
that it may consider credible evidence of noncompliance in determining the
reliability of any eyewitness identification resulting from or related to the
lineup.
{¶ 46} The defense did not raise this issue at trial, and did not request such a jury
instruction. See Vol. V, pp. 940-963. We, therefore, review only for plain error. State
v. Young, 2017-Ohio-9028, 101 N.E.3d 1056, ¶ 33 (failure to object to jury instructions
allows review only for plain error). “An alleged error is plain error only if the error is
‘obvious,’ * * * and ‘but for the error, the outcome of the trial clearly would have been
otherwise.’ ” State v. Perez, 124 Ohio St.3d 122, 2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104,
¶ 181, quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978), paragraph two of
the syllabus. (Other citation omitted.) “Notice of plain error under Crim.R. 52(B) is to
be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a
manifest miscarriage of justice.” Long at paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 47} After reviewing the record, including McShann’s video-taped statements to
the police, we conclude that this case does not present exceptional circumstances
warranting relief under the plain error doctrine. While it is true that Mitchell was the only
eyewitness to identify McShann, substantial circumstantial evidence also linked McShann
to the crimes. As a result, we cannot conclude that, but for the error, the outcome of the
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trial would have been different.
{¶ 48} Under Ohio law, “a defendant may be convicted solely on the basis of
circumstantial evidence.” State v. Nicely, 39 Ohio St.3d 147, 151, 529 N.E.2d 1236(1988). “ ‘[P]roof of guilt may be made by circumstantial evidence as well as by real
evidence and direct or testimonial evidence, or any combination of these three classes of
evidence. All three classes have equal probative value, and circumstantial evidence has
no less value than the others.’ ” Id., quoting State v. Griffin, 13 Ohio App.3d 376, 377,
469 N.E.2d 1329 (1st Dist.1979). “In some instances certain facts can only be
established by circumstantial evidence.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574
N.E.2d 492 (1991).
{¶ 49} By referring to circumstantial evidence, we are not discounting either the
fact that eyewitness testimony implicated McShann, or the fact that the jury was entitled
to believe Mitchell. Nonetheless, Mitchell’s identification was not the only evidence.
{¶ 50} During the initial investigation of the crime, the police were able to obtain a
cell phone number for McShann. By pinging that number, they pinpointed a location in
Middletown, Ohio, and were able to make contact at an apartment between 8:00 and 9:00
a.m. on October 26, 2016 (about eight hours after the gunfight). Vol. IV at p. 737; Vol. V
at pp. 860-861. After the police arrived, they banged on the door and announced that it
was the police. However, a several-minute delay elapsed before McShann’s fiancée,
LaJoyce Morris, came to the door. Vol. V. at p. 863. No one was present in any of the
living areas; instead, McShann and Walker were eventually found together in the
bathroom. The bathroom door had also been closed. Vol. IV at p. 739. The delay in
answering the door and the fact that McCann hid in the bathroom was circumstantial
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evidence of guilt.
{¶ 51} Walker also had the Zombie Killers wallet in his possession, with Mitchell’s
identification inside. Vol. IV at pp. 741-42. According to Mitchell, McShann had taken
the wallet from him during the robbery. Vol. III at pp. 443 and 512-513. The police also
found a 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun, with an empty magazine inserted, on the
couch in the apartment where McShann was arrested. Vol. IV at pp. 745-746 and 750-
751. Thirteen of the 9-millimeter casings recovered from the scene were matched to the
firearm recovered from the apartment. Vol. IV at pp. 812-815; Vol. V at p. 912.
{¶ 52} Once McShann was taken in for questioning, he denied being present at
the crime scene and gave the police alternate locations where he had been at the time of
the gunfight. His alleged locations were inconsistent with other evidence, including the
testimony of his fiancée, and were on the other side of the city from where expert
testimony placed his cell phone at the time of gunfight, i.e., his cell phone was in the area
of the crime. However, McShann also told the police that he had his cell phone with him
that night. Vol. III at pp. 604-605; Vol. IV. at pp. 719-726; Vol. V at pp. 878-881 and 882-
883; and Ex. 176. Again, McShann’s inconsistent statements to the police were
circumstantial evidence of guilt.
{¶ 53} Finally, the car described as having been used in the crimes was a four-
door gray Impala with mismatched-colored doors. Vol. III at pp. 450-451. According to
McShann’s fiancée, McShann drove a Chevy Impala from around January 2016 to June
2016. Id. at pp. 612-613. In September 2016, McShann sold an Impala to his sister,
Corinthia McShann, for $1,500. Vol. V at pp. 885-887. McShann did drive the car after
that, but told the police he had not driven it for a few days before the gunfight because it
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was “too hot.” Id. at 885.
{¶ 54} Although the police talked to McShann’s sister and also looked in other
locations, they were not able to locate the Impala. Id. However, in May 2017, the
police found the car at an address on Little Richmond Road in Dayton, Ohio and verified
that the VIN number was the same as the one for the car that McShann’s sister owned
(and for which the police had been searching). Id. at pp. 886-889, 892, and 921.
{¶ 55} Jeremy Macher, who occupied the Little Richmond Road property and did
auto body repair, testified that he found a gray Impala automobile in the driveway of his
property in November 2016. Macher had received a phone call about a week earlier, but
did not expect a car to appear. Vol. IV at pp. 761-763. The Impala had a blue bumper
and a black door that was a different color from the rest of the car. Id. at p. 764. A few
days later, a woman (subsequently identified as LaJoyce Morris) came over and asked
Macher to fix the car and paint it one consistent color. Id. at pp. 765-766, 779, and Ex.
204; Vol. V at p. 894. Morris gave Macher $600 of the estimated $2,000 cost, and then
returned in February 2017, when she gave him another $400. Vol. IV at pp. 766-767.
At that time, Morris said that she wanted to get the car done in memory of her husband,
who had been killed. Id. at p. 770. By then, Macher had fixed the car and had painted
it a factory greenish-gray color. Id. at pp. 770-771. Around March 2017, Morris came
back a third time with another woman (later identified as Corinthia McShann), but they
did not give him any more money. Id. at pp. 771, 786-787, 779 and Ex. 203; Vol. V at p.
894.
{¶ 56} Although McShann was in jail when these latter events occurred, they
provide evidence of an attempt to conceal evidence and disassociate McShann from any
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connection to the car involved in the crimes.
{¶ 57} In view of the above discussion, there is no basis for applying the plain error
doctrine.
{¶ 58} McShann’s final argument in this context is that trial counsel rendered
ineffective assistance of counsel: (1) by failing to object to or correct his identification by
Mitchell; and (2) by failing to request a jury instruction under R.C. 2933.83(C)(3).
{¶ 59} “To prove an allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
must satisfy a two-prong test.” Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d 429, 2015-Ohio-3954, 45 N.E.3d
127, ¶ 206, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). “First, the defendant must establish that counsel's performance fell
below an objective standard of reasonable representation.” * * * And second, the
defendant must show that he or she was prejudiced by the deficient performance.” Id.“A defendant establishes prejudice by showing that but for counsel's errors, the result of
the trial would have been different.” Id., citing State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538
N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 60} We have already concluded that the lineup procedure was not suggestive.
While Det. Roberts failed to have Mitchell circle McShann’s photo, this was not a
significant violation. Furthermore, even if trial counsel’s performance had been deficient,
there is no way to conclude that the outcome of the trial would have been different. There
was simply no evidence to support the contention that McShann was not involved in the
incident. Tracking of McShann’s cell phone (which by his own admission to the police
was with him all night) placed him at the crime scene at the relevant time period. The
car that was described to have been involved also matched the description of his sister’s
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car. In addition, when McShann and the other charged defendant, Jamarko Walker,
were arrested, a victim’s wallet and identification and a gun used in the gunfight were in
the apartment. Finally, there was no evidence to support McShann’s alleged alibi, other
than his own discredited statements to the police.
{¶ 61} Accordingly, the First Assignment of Error is overruled.
III. Failure to Move to Suppress or Object to Identification
{¶ 62} McShann’s Second Assignment of Error states that:
Mr. McShann’s Trial Counsel Was Ineffective for Failing to Move to
Suppress or Object to the Identifications of Mr. McShann’s Fiancée and
Sister by the Auto Restoration Mechanic.
{¶ 63} Under this assignment of error, McShann contends that his trial counsel
was ineffective because he failed to file a motion to suppress or to object to testimony
about the identification of photos of LaJoyce Morris and Corinthia McShann by Macher.
According to McShann, Det. Daugherty again improperly injected himself into a “photo
lineup” by showing Macher pictures of Morris and Corinthia.
{¶ 64} As indicated, to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, there must be
both performance of counsel that falls below an objective standard of reasonable
representation, and prejudice to the defendant, which is illustrated by the fact that, absent
counsel’s errors, the trial’s outcome would have been different. Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d
429, 2015-Ohio-3954, 45 N.E.3d 127, at ¶ 206.
{¶ 65} McShann’s motion to suppress was filed in December 2016, shortly after
the indictment was filed, and before police learned of the Chevy Impala’s location. In
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February 2017, the defense acknowledged receipt of discovery materials in the case.
See Doc. #41. The trial court then denied the motion to suppress in mid-March 2017,
also before the police learned of the Impala’s location. In April 2017, the court set the
case for a jury trial to begin on August 21, 2017. See Doc. #50.
{¶ 66} Around May 17, 2017, a confidential informant told Det. Daugherty where a
car used in the homicide could be located. Vol. V at pp. 916-917. As noted, during his
investigation of that tip, Daugherty showed Macher pictures of Morris and Corinthia, and
asked if they were the women who came to Macher’s property in connection with the car
repairs.
{¶ 67} Subsequently, on August 1, 2017, the defense filed another
acknowledgement of receipt of discovery, which included a DVD of the stolen car and
Daugherty’s supplemental report for the period between May 17, 2017 and June 12, 2017.
See Doc. #95. Thereafter, McShann did not file a motion to suppress. However, he did
file a motion seeking the identity of the confidential informant. See Doc. #112 (filed on
August 15, 2017). The court stated at the final pretrial that it would issue a decision on
the motion; the court then later denied the motion. Vol. I at p. 140; Doc. #154 (filed on
September 14, 2017).
{¶ 68} The record does not indicate that defense counsel knew before trial that
Det. Daugherty had shown photos to Macher. Therefore, there would be no basis upon
which to conclude that trial counsel should have filed a motion to suppress. Moreover,
we find no deviation from objective standards of reasonable representation in connection
with counsel’s failure to object to testimony about the photos.
{¶ 69} R.C. 2933.83(A)(8) defines a photo lineup as “an identification procedure in
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which an array of photographs, including a photograph of the suspected perpetrator of an
offense and additional photographs of other persons not suspected of the offense, is
displayed to an eyewitness for the purpose of determining whether the eyewitness
identifies the suspect as the perpetrator of the offense.”
{¶ 70} Courts have held that where only one photo is shown, R.C. 2933.83 does
not apply. State v. Lennon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104344, 2017-Ohio-2753, ¶ 53,
citing State v. Miller, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2011-L-111, 2012-Ohio-3515, ¶ 37; State v.
Glenn-Coulverson, 2017-Ohio-2671, 90 N.E.3d 243, ¶ 54 (10th Dist.). In that situation,
the issue is whether a defendant’s due process rights were violated due to the procedure
used for identification. Lennon at ¶ 54. As noted, “[d]ue process may require a court to
suppress eyewitness testimony when the identification results from an unduly suggestive
identification procedure.” Adams, 144 Ohio St.3d 429, 2015-Ohio-3954, 45 N.E.3d 127,
at ¶ 208, citing Foster, 394 U.S. at 442, 89 S.Ct. 1127, 22 L.Ed.2d 402.
{¶ 71} However, in the case before us, Daugherty did not display a photo to
Macher for purposes of identifying McShann as the perpetrator of the offenses that
occurred on October 25, 2016. There was no indication that Macher had ever seen
McShann. Instead, Daugherty showed the photo in a purely investigative role, to see if
Morris and Corinthia were the persons who were connected to the car. McShann,
therefore, had no due process rights to assert with regard to this transaction. “[A] party
‘generally must assert his own legal rights and interests, and cannot rest his claim to relief
on the legal rights or interests of third parties.’ ” Kowalski v. Tesmer, 543 U.S. 125, 129,
125 S.Ct. 564, 160 L.Ed.2d 519 (2004), quoting Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 499, 95
S.Ct. 2197, 45 L.Ed.2d 343 (1975). Accord N. Canton v. Canton, 114 Ohio St.3d 253,
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2007-Ohio-4005, 871 N.E.2d 586, ¶ 14.
{¶ 72} In certain instances, third parties have been allowed such standing, but two
additional showings are required: (1) the party asserting the right must have a “close
relationship” with the person possessing the right; and (2) there must be a hindrance to
the ability of the possessor to assert the right. Kowalski at 130. An example of a close
relationship would be an existing attorney-client relationship. Id. at 130-131.
{¶ 73} Here, the required factors are absent. While Morris was McShann’s
fiancée and Corinthia was his sister, thee are not the types of close relationships that are
needed. Furthermore, Morris and Corinthia can assert their due process rights should
the State decide to charge them with tampering with evidence.
{¶ 74} For an example of a situation where third-party standing was rejected, see
United States v. Payner, 447 U.S. 727, 100 S.Ct. 2439, 65 L.Ed.2d 468 (1980). In
Payner, the U.S. government, acting through an agent of the Internal Revenue Service,
unlawfully seized a banker’s briefcase while he was at dinner with a female private
investigator. During the dinner, another private investigator entered the woman’s
apartment, took the briefcase, and delivered it to an IRS agent. The agent then copied
400 documents and the briefcase was returned to the apartment. These documents
eventually led to discovery of a loan guarantee agreement, which was the only proof that
the defendant had falsified his tax return. Id. at 729. Despite the fact that the search
was clearly illegal, the United States Supreme Court noted that its “Fourth Amendment
decisions have established beyond any doubt that the interest in deterring illegal searches
does not justify the exclusion of tainted evidence at the instance of a party who was not
the victim of the challenged practices.” (Citations omitted.) Id. at 735.
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{¶ 75} Because McShann was not entitled to object to photos presented by Det.
Daugherty to Macher, the performance by McShann’s trial counsel did not fall below an
objective standard of reasonable representation. As a result, the Second Assignment of
Error is without merit and is overruled.
IV. Confidential Informant
{¶ 76} McShann’s Third Assignment of Error states that:
The Trial Court Erred When It Failed to Require the State to Identify
the Informant Who Tipped Police to the Location of the Get-Away Car.
{¶ 77} Under this assignment of error, McShann contends that the trial court erred
in refusing to disclose the identity of the confidential informant who alerted the police to
the location of the car that was involved in the crimes. In refusing to allow disclosure,
the trial court concluded that McShann failed to show that the identity of the informant
was vital to the defense or would even be beneficial. Doc. #154, p. 1.
{¶ 78} “The identity of an informant must be revealed to a criminal defendant when
the testimony of the informant is vital to establishing an element of the crime or would be
helpful or beneficial to the accused in preparing or making a defense to criminal charges.”
State v. Williams, 4 Ohio St.3d 74, 446 N.E.2d 779 (1983), syllabus. In situations where
“the defendant has not attempted to subpoena by name an individual he believes served
as a confidential informant, but rather has merely requested the disclosure of the name
of the informant, * * * the burden is on the defendant to show that the need for the
testimony of the informant outweighs the government's interest in keeping the identity of
the informant secret.” State v. Brown, 64 Ohio St.3d 649, 653, 597 N.E.2d 510 (1992).
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{¶ 79} In arguing that he had a right to know the informant’s identity, McShann
points to the fact that someone else was driving the car that night since he was seen
getting in the back seat and Walker was seen getting in the front passenger seat.
McShann contends that whether the informant was the driver or how the informant was
connected to the car would be useful to the defense. However, he fails to point out how
this information would assist.
{¶ 80} Since McShann was a passenger in the car when it left the crime scene, he
would have known the identity of the driver and could have subpoenaed that person to
testify. He failed to do so. In addition, we see no possible scenario in which knowing
the identity of the person who tipped off the police would have aided the defense.
{¶ 81} Finally, death threats were made to Mitchell’s family prior to trial, to the
extent that Mitchell signed a notarized paper in April 2017, stating that he could not 100%
identify McShann and would not be testifying at trial. See Vol. III at pp. 476-479 and Ex.
179. After McShann signed the affidavit, the threats stopped. Id. at p. 479. Under the
circumstances, the identity of the confidential informant was properly protected.
{¶ 82} Accordingly, the Third Assignment of Error is overruled.
V. Conclusion
{¶ 83} All of McShann’s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment
of the trial court is affirmed.
.............
FROELICH, J. and HALL, J., concur.
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Copies sent to:
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.
Sarah E. Hutnik
John A. Fischer
Curtis M. McShann
Hon. Richard Skelton