State v. Saunders , 2014 Ohio 1746 ( 2014 )

[Cite as State v. Saunders, 2014-Ohio-1746.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 13AP-668
v. : (C.P.C. No. 12CR-02-0636)
Joseph L. Saunders, : (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on April 24, 2014
Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Michael P. Walton,
for appellee.
Clark Law Office, and Toki Michelle Clark, for appellant.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
SADLER, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Joseph L. Saunders, appeals from the judgment of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas convicting him of possession of marijuana and
trafficking in marijuana. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
I. BACKGROUND
{¶ 2} Appellant was indicted on one count of possession of marijuana, a felony of
the fifth degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11, and one count of trafficking in marijuana, a
felony of the fourth degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.02. The indictment alleged that, on
September 8, 2011, appellant did knowingly possess and intend to distribute or did
distribute marijuana in an amount equal to or exceeding 200 grams, but less than 1,000
No. 13AP-668 2
grams. Appellant pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case proceeded to a jury trial.
Therein, the following evidence was adduced from the case-in-chief of plaintiff-appellee,
the State of Ohio.
{¶ 3} In September 2011, Officers Brett Bodell, Michael Batog, Megan Palumbo,
and David LaRoche of the Columbus Division of Police were assigned to the Strategic
Response Bureau ("SRB"). According to Bodell, the SRB works undercover to investigate
narcotics, robberies, and murders. On September 8, 2011, at approximately 6:00 p.m.,
Bodell and the other officers were surveilling a Giant Eagle parking lot in response "to
several narcotics complaints." (Tr. 23.) Bodell testified that drug transactions would take
place "in broad daylight out in the public, but they try to blend in with people that are
shopping while they do their drug deals in the parking lot." (Tr. 24.) According to Bodell,
in his experience, "drug dealers and people buying drugs, they will park away from the
store, with empty spots between them and the store." (Tr. 24.) Bodell stated SRB looks
for individuals that park their vehicles deliberately away from the store, leaving empty
spots between them and the store, and then wait until another car shows up.
{¶ 4} According to Bodell, at approximately 6:00 p.m., he "observed a silver
Pontiac with two males aboard sitting out away from the store with empty spots between"
and decided to set up surveillance on the vehicle. (Tr. 25.) Bodell testified that he next
observed a white Yukon pull up beside the Pontiac. According to Bodell, the driver of the
Yukon exited the vehicle and got into the back passenger seat of the Pontiac and closed
the door. Bodell testified that, based upon his and the other officers' experience, there
was a narcotics transaction taking place. Bodell stated the officers interceded by moving
their undercover vehicle in front of the Pontiac. The officers exited their vehicle,
identified themselves as police officers, and approached the vehicles.
{¶ 5} According to Bodell, as the officers approached, he observed the right front
passenger of the Pontiac, later identified as appellant, "reaching down or like he was
placing or retrieving an object in his feet area." (Tr. 26.) Bodell stated he smelled a strong
odor of marijuana coming from the car and observed two bags in between appellant's feet,
"where [appellant] had reached down in plain view." (Tr. 27.) According to Bodell, he
later discovered one bag contained $16,943 in cash and the other bag, state's exhibit D,
was a grocery bag containing a separate plastic bag of marijuana. Bodell next observed a
No. 13AP-668 3
black bag in the rear passenger seat containing a plastic bag of marijuana, state's exhibit
E. The black bag also contained empty plastic bags. Bodell testified he immediately
removed exhibit E from the vehicle, placed it on the hood of the car, and informed his
fellow officers he had found marijuana.
{¶ 6} Batog worked alongside Bodell on September 8, 2011. Batog testified that,
as their undercover vehicle approached appellant's vehicle, he observed appellant make "a
suspicious motion" where he "dipped down like he was putting something down by his
feet." (Tr. 68.) Batog stated the officers exited their undercover vehicle, identified
themselves as police officers, and approached the vehicle. According to Batog, upon
approaching the Pontiac, he observed two bags between appellant's feet and smelled a
strong odor of marijuana. Batog stated the bags contained marijuana and money, with
exhibit D, the bag of marijuana, positioned on top of the bag of money. According to
Batog, based on the positions of the bags, the first thing appellant would have touched
when leaning down was exhibit D. Batog further testified that the marijuana and plastic
bags discovered in the backseat of the Pontiac were within reaching distance of appellant.
{¶ 7} According to Palumbo, she observed the driver of the Yukon enter the rear
passenger side seat of the Pontiac behind appellant. When specifically asked if the driver
of the Yukon was carrying anything before entering the Pontiac, Palumbo stated she could
see the individual, and he was not carrying anything. According to Palumbo, as soon as
the officers' exited their vehicle, appellant "did a movement down." (Tr. 102.) Palumbo
testified she searched the Yukon where she discovered a prescription pill bottle and a
"[s]andwich bag of marijuana." (Tr. 105.) After the incident, Palumbo testified she
completed a report with the aid of the other officers involved. On cross-examination,
when specifically asked if she had any knowledge of how appellant acquired $16,943 in
cash, Palumbo responded "I personally subpoenaed [appellant's] tax records through IRS,
and I can tell you that he didn't file taxes from 2008 till then." (Tr. 114-15.) Palumbo
further stated "[t]he state tax return told me that [appellant] didn't have any income
coming in." (Tr. 116.) Thereafter, the state rested their case-in-chief, and the following
evidence was adduced from appellant's case-in-chief.
{¶ 8} Called on cross-examination by appellant, LaRoche testified he was a "cover
officer" remaining approximately 15 to 20 feet back from the other officers. (Tr. 130.)
No. 13AP-668 4
LaRoche stated he was unable to see if crimes were being committed "until Officer Bodell
yelled 'weed.' " (Tr. 131.) According to LaRoche, the street value of exhibits D and E is
between $900 and $1,200 per bag. LaRoche testified the $16,943 was handed to him,
and appellant stated " '[t]hat's my money. I sell cars.' " (Tr. 136.) On direct examination,
when specifically asked if he had "any knowledge that [appellant] actually did sell cars,"
LaRoche responded "no." (Tr. 140.)
{¶ 9} Germaine King testified he was the driver of the Yukon on September 8,
2011. According to King, he was buying drugs from the driver of the Pontiac, a mutual
friend that King referred to as "Jason." (Tr. 142.) King testified that the marijuana in the
Pontiac belonged to Jason. King stated Jason was selling drugs that day, but admitted on
cross-examination that he did not know whether appellant was selling drugs. King denied
the pills recovered in the Yukon belonged to him, but admitted the marijuana discovered
in the Yukon was his. King further admitted to a criminal history, including convictions
for aggravated possession of drugs, having a weapon under disability, and attempted
possession of cocaine.
{¶ 10} According to Jason Lockette, the driver of the Pontiac, appellant was in his
vehicle for 10 to 15 minutes before the officers arrived. Lockette testified he was giving
appellant a ride, and appellant entered the vehicle carrying the bag of money and nothing
else. According to Lockette, he and appellant did not talk throughout their time in the car.
Lockette stated he did not observe appellant sell, transport or package any drugs. On
cross-examination, Lockette admitted to a criminal history, including convictions for
theft, felony attempted failure to appear, breaking and entering, and carrying a concealed
weapon. Thereafter, appellant rested his case-in-chief.
{¶ 11} During appellee's rebuttal, Palumbo testified that, at the time of the
incident, King stated that both the pills and marijuana recovered in the Yukon were his.
According to Palumbo, King claimed because he was under an indictment for other
crimes, having "a little bit of weed and pills didn't matter because [King] had that
indictment coming down." (Tr. 177-78.)
{¶ 12} The jury returned a verdict finding appellant guilty of both possession of
marijuana and trafficking in marijuana. Appellant was sentenced, and this appeal
followed.
No. 13AP-668 5
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶ 13} Appellant brings the following assignments of error for our review:
[I.] The verdict of guilty was not supported by legally
sufficient evidence.
[II.] The conviction of appellant for possession and trafficking
is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
III. DISCUSSION
A. First Assignment of Error
{¶ 14} In appellant's first assignment of error, he argues there was legally
insufficient evidence produced at trial to sustain his convictions for possession of
marijuana and trafficking in marijuana. Specifically, appellant contends there was
insufficient evidence demonstrating that he possessed marijuana, as required by R.C.
2925.11, and that he knowingly trafficked in marijuana, as required by R.C. 2925.02.
{¶ 15} Before we reach the merits of appellant's assigned error, we first address
appellee's argument that appellant has waived his sufficiency argument for purposes of
appeal. According to appellee, appellant's failure to make a timely Crim.R. 29 motion
waives all but plain-error review. We have previously addressed this issue in State v.
Smith, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-736, 2009-Ohio-2166. In Smith, we concluded that the
difference between a review for legal sufficiency and a review for plain error is "largely
academic" and that, if the evidence is insufficient, regardless of whether we review for
plain error, the conviction must be reversed. Id. at ¶ 25. Thus, in Smith, we declined to
utilize the plain-error standard. Accordingly, as we did in Smith, here, we address
appellant's insufficiency of the evidence argument without utilizing the plain-error
standard.
{¶ 16} "Sufficiency of the evidence is a legal standard that tests whether the
evidence introduced at trial is legally sufficient to support a verdict." State v. Cassell, 10th
Dist. No. 08AP-1093, 2010-Ohio-1881, ¶ 36. In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of
the evidence, an appellate court must determine " 'whether, after viewing the evidence in
a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.' " State v. Peters, 10th
No. 13AP-668 6
Dist. No. 13AP-748, 2014-Ohio-1071, ¶ 7, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991),
paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶ 17} Appellant does not challenge that the substance recovered from the Pontiac
was marijuana, nor does appellant challenge the amount of marijuana recovered.
Appellant argues only that his mere proximity to marijuana does not constitute
possession sufficient to satisfy R.C. 2925.11. R.C. 2925.11(A) provides, in relevant part,
that "[n]o person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance."
Pursuant to R.C. 2901.22(B), "[a] person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when
he is aware that his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a
certain nature." Similarly, "[a] person has knowledge of circumstances when he is aware
that such circumstances probably exist." R.C. 2901.22(B). "[P]ossession" means "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." R.C. 2925.01(K).
{¶ 18} "Possession of a controlled substance may be actual or constructive." State
v. Pilgrim, 184 Ohio App.3d 675, 2009-Ohio-5357, ¶ 27 (10th Dist.). "A person has actual
possession of an item when it is within his immediate physical control." Id. "Constructive
possession exists when a person knowingly exercises dominion and control over an object,
even though the object may not be within the person's immediate physical possession."
Id. "[T]he surrounding facts and circumstances, including the defendant's actions,
constitute evidence from which the trier of fact can infer whether the defendant had
constructive possession over the subject drugs." Id. at ¶ 28, citing State v. Stanley, 10th
Dist. No. 06AP-323, 2007-Ohio-2786, ¶ 31.
{¶ 19} Upon review, as testified to by Bodell, Batog, and Palumbo, exhibit D was
discovered in between appellant's feet and positioned on top of $16,943 in cash that
appellant claimed was his. Moreover, the officers testified prior to their intercession that
appellant made a suspicious dipping movement towards his feet. Thereafter, when the
officers reached the Pontiac, they discovered exhibit E in the backseat of the Pontiac,
within reaching distance of appellant. Based on the above evidence, as viewed in a light
most favorable to appellee, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support
appellant's conviction for possession of marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.11.
No. 13AP-668 7
{¶ 20} Appellant next argues there was insufficient evidence to convict him of
trafficking in marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2). R.C. 2925.03(A)(2) provides
"[n]o person shall knowingly do any of the following: [p]repare for shipment, ship,
transport, deliver, prepare for distribution, or distribute a controlled substance * * * when
the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance * * * is
intended for sale or resale by the offender or another person." "[N]umerous courts have
determined that items such as plastic baggies, digital scales, and large sums of money are
often used in drug trafficking and may constitute circumstantial evidence of conduct
proscribed by R.C. 2925.03(A)(2)." State v. Forte, 8th Dist. No. 99573, 2013-Ohio-5126,
¶ 10, citing State v. Rutledge, 6th Dist. No. L-12-1043, 2013-Ohio-1482, ¶ 15 (collecting
cases); State v. Kutsar, 8th Dist. No. 89310, 2007-Ohio-6990, ¶ 20 (same).
Circumstantial evidence has the same probative value as direct evidence. State v. Nicely,
39 Ohio St.3d 147 (1988). "[C]ircumstantial evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction
if that evidence would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt." State v. Heinish, 50 Ohio St.3d 231, 238 (1990).
{¶ 21} Upon review, in addition to the evidence already discussed above, officers
discovered several empty plastic baggies in the backseat of the Pontiac within reach of
appellant. Indeed, King admitted he entered the Pontiac in order to buy drugs. Based on
the above evidence as viewed in a light most favorable to appellee, the evidence presented
at trial was sufficient to support appellant's conviction for trafficking in marijuana in
violation of R.C. 2925.02.
{¶ 22} Accordingly, having concluded that the evidence presented at trial was
sufficient to support appellant's convictions for possession of marijuana and trafficking in
marijuana, appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
B. Second Assignment of Error
{¶ 23} In appellant's second assignment of error, he argues his convictions for
possession of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana are against the manifest weight of
the evidence. Specifically, appellant argues because "there is no evidence of [appellant's]
fingerprints being found on the marijuana containers," his conviction for possession of
marijuana is against the manifest weight of the evidence. (Appellant's brief, 9.)
No. 13AP-668 8
{¶ 24} "[T]he criminal manifest weight of the evidence standard addresses the
evidence's effect of inducing belief." Cassell at ¶ 38. "When a court of appeals reverses a
judgment of a trial court on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence,
the appellate court sits as a 'thirteenth juror' and disagrees with the factfinder's resolution
of the conflicting testimony." State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997). The
court, reviewing the entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences,
considers the credibility of witnesses, and must determine whether in resolving the
conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. Id.This authority " 'should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence
weighs heavily against the conviction.' " Id., quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172,
175 (1st Dist.1983).
{¶ 25} As stated above, "[a] person has actual possession of an item when it is
within his immediate physical control." Pilgrim at ¶ 27. Moreover, the absence of
fingerprint evidence is not fatal to a conviction. See State v. Rivera, 10th Dist. No 10AP-
945, 2012-Ohio-1915. Upon review, as previously discussed, the officers testified that they
discovered exhibit D in between appellant's feet and exhibit E in the backseat of the
Pontiac within reaching distance of appellant. Accordingly, we conclude that appellant's
conviction for possession of marijuana was not against the manifest weight of the
evidence.
{¶ 26} Appellant next argues that his conviction for trafficking in marijuana is
against the manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically, appellant argues the evidence
demonstrates he "was there because he needed a ride and Mr. Lockette was simply giving
him a ride." (Appellant's brief, 9.) In conducting a manifest weight of the evidence
review, "[t]he trier of fact is in the best position to take into account inconsistencies, along
with the witnesses' manner and demeanor, and determine whether the witnesses'
testimony is credible." State v. Williams, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-719, 2009-Ohio-3237, ¶ 16.
Further, "[a] conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence merely because
the jury believed the prosecution testimony." State v. Jama, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-19,
2013-Ohio-3796, ¶ 17.
No. 13AP-668 9
{¶ 27} In light of the evidence already discussed above, we cannot conclude that
the jury clearly lost its way in discounting Lockette's testimony in favor of the testimony
and evidence presented by appellee. We conclude that appellant's conviction for
trafficking in marijuana was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 28} Accordingly, having found appellant's convictions for possession of
marijuana and trafficking in marijuana are not against the manifest weight of the
evidence, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
IV. CONCLUSION
{¶ 29} For the foregoing reasons, appellant's first and second assignments of error
are overruled. The judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is hereby
affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
BROWN and DORRIAN, JJ., concur.
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