State v. Comer , 2012 Ohio 2261 ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Comer, 2012-Ohio-2261.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
GALLIA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 10CA15
vs. :
ROBERT S. COMER, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
Defendant-Appellant. :
_________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT: Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Katherine A.
Szudy, Assistant Ohio Public Defender, 250 East Broad
Street, Ste. 1400, Columbus, Ohio 43215
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: C. Jeffrey Adkins, Gallia County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Eric R. Mulford, Gallia County Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, and Pat Story, Gallia County Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, Gallia County Courthouse, 18 Locust
Street, Room 1267, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM
COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALIZED: 5-14-12
ABELE, P.J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a Gallia County Common Pleas Court judgment of
conviction and sentence. A jury found Robert S. Comer, defendant below and appellant
herein, guilty of murder with a firearm specification. See R.C. 2903.02(A) and R.C.
2941.145.
GALLIA, 10CA15 2
{¶ 2} Appellant assigns the following errors for review:
FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED ROBERT COMER’S
RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR TRIAL WHEN, IN
THE ABSENCE OF SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, IT ENTERED A
JUDGMENT ENTRY, CONVICTING ROBERT OF MURDER
AND THE ATTACHED FIREARM SPECIFICATION.”
SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED A PREJUDICIAL ERROR
AND DENIED ROBERT COMER DUE PROCESS OF LAW
WHEN IT FAILED TO PROVIDE THE JURY WITH A PROPER
JURY INSTRUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH R.C. 2901.05.”
THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED A PREJUDICIAL ERROR
AND DENIED ROBERT COMER DUE PROCESS OF LAW
WHEN IT FAILED TO PROVIDE THE JURY WITH AN
AUGMENTED JURY INSTRUCTION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH R.C. 2901.09.”
FOURTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“TRIAL COUNSEL PROVIDED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
OF COUNSEL, IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT
TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION
10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.”
{¶ 3} On the evening of December 1, 2009, a number of people came together at
the Lennex home on Shaffer Road in a part of Gallia County that borders right on Jackson
County. Gathered at the Lennex home that evening, in anticipation of deer hunting the
next day, were Edith Lennex, her sons Dustin and Cody, and Dustin’s two children
GALLIA, 10CA15 3
Aaleyah and Dominic. Also, Kristen Gandee, a family friend, had driven from
Columbus with Alfred Bury and Joe Wheeler. At some point appellant, a next-door
neighbor, visited the home. The evidence adduced at trial was replete with references
that described appellant and the Lennex brothers as good friends, or even “best” friends.1
{¶ 4} At approximately 9:00 PM, Gandee and a few others went to McDonald’s
to purchase food for themselves and others at the Lennex home. Upon their return, Cody
Lennex and Joe Wheeler took approximately twenty cheeseburgers into the home while
Gandee and Bury stayed in the car and talked. Inside the Lennex home, some of the
younger members of the crowd were “rapping” to a Karaoke machine. Appellant
supposedly “rapped” something of a sexual nature about Cody’s girlfriend that promptly
led to a fight. Both Edith and Dustin Lennex intervened to stop the fight between
appellant and Cody.
{¶ 5} Appellant stormed out of the Lennex home and slammed a screen door
behind him. That screen door was apparently damaged and an angry Dustin Lennex
pursued appellant into the yard. Appellant went to his home but, rather than follow him,
Gandee motioned Dustin to her car and asked if anything had transpired that should worry
her. Dustin answered in the negative and assured her that “we do this all the time.”
{¶ 6} In the meantime, appellant entered his home in a rage – “put his fist in the
wall” and overturned a coffee table. His cousin, Todd Dixon, was in the room
1
Kristen Gandee described appellant's and Dustin Lennex's relationship as being “like brothers.”
GALLIA, 10CA15 4
attempting to text his father and heard appellant scream that he was going to shoot “them
MF’ers.” Appellant grabbed a weapon, went outside and fired a “warning shot” into the
air. Cody Lennex had already gone outside with his rifle and positioned himself to see
the front door of appellant’s home. Cody warned appellant that if he fired another shot,
Cody would shoot him. Appellant then fired in Cody’s direction. Cody returned fire
and grazed appellant's “butt cheek.” He also, apparently, wounded Todd Dixon as well.2
{¶ 7} At this point, Dustin Lennex re-inserted himself into the fracas and began
to walk toward appellant’s home. The evidence adduced at trial shows that Dustin was
unarmed, approached appellant’s house trailer with his arms extended out on each side
and asked him if appellant was going “going to shoot a motherfucker.”3 Apparently,
appellant was prepared to do just that. He went to his home and shut the door. When
Dustin stepped on appellant’s porch, appellant fired a shot at him from the home's
interior. Although some witnesses testified that they could hear Dustin gasping for air,
the Gallia County Coroner, as well as the assistant Deputy Coroner of Montgomery
County who performed the autopsy, explained that shrapnel from the gunshot pierced the
victim’s aorta and he died very quickly thereafter.4
{¶ 8} The Gallia County Grand Jury returned an indictment that charged
2
The record indicates that Todd Dixon was not at the Lennex home that evening and was not involved in the fracas
that took place. He explained he has not been to his cousins’ place since the shooting and declared he “won’t [ever] return.”
3
We quote Kristen Gandee at this point, but Cody Lennex testified that his brother simply said “shoot me MF’er.”
4
Dr. Dan Whitley, the Gallia County Coroner, and Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Deputy Montgomery County Coroner, both
confirmed that the alcohol content in Dustin Lennex’s blood exceeded the legal limit. Lennex also had “THC” in his
bloodstream, which indicated that he had used marijuana.
GALLIA, 10CA15 5
appellant with murder. At his jury trial appellant agreed that he and the Lennex brothers
are friends, but stated that his cousin (Todd Dixon) lied about his reaction when he
returned to the family house trailer. Appellant also denied that he intended to shoot to
kill anyone and that he most certainly did not want “Dustin to die.” Appellant explained
that he shot his friend because he and his cousin had already been shot and that he feared
for his life.
{¶ 9} The jury returned a verdict of guilty with a firearm specification. The trial
court sentenced appellant to serve an indefinite term of imprisonment of fifteen years to
life on the murder charge, together with a three year term on the firearm specification,
each to be served consecutively to one another. Although no immediate appeal was
taken, this Court granted appellant leave to file delayed appeal and the matter is properly
before us for review.
I
{¶ 10} Before we address the merits of the assignments, we first observe that they
are all based on appellant’s claim that he shot the victim in self-defense. Self-defense is
an affirmative defense that must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. R.C.
2901.05(A); State v. Clark, Fulton App. No. No. F–10–025, 2011-Ohio-6310, at ¶21;
State v. Warmus, Cuyahoga App. No. 96026, 2011-Ohio-5827, at ¶8. To prove
self-defense, an accused must show three elements: (1) that the defendant was not at fault
in creating the violent situation, (2) that the defendant had a bona fide belief that he was
in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that his only means of escape was
the use of force, and (3) that the defendant did not violate any duty to retreat. See State
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v. Goff, 128 Ohio St.3d 169, 942 N.E.2d 1075, 2010–Ohio–6317, at ¶36; State v. Thomas
(1997), 77 Ohio St.3d 323, 326, 673 N.E.2d 1339.
{¶ 11} This duty of retreat, however, does not apply to one’s own home. The
maxim that a man’s home is “his castle” has deep roots in English law. 4 Blackstone,
Commentaries on the Laws of England (Rev. Ed. 1979) 223, Chapter 16. That maxim
has long been a cherished part of American law as well. See e.g. State v. Batchelder
(N.H.Super.Ct. 1832), 5 N.H. 549; Snowden v. Warder (PA. 1831), 3 Rawle 101; State v.
Norris (N.C.Super.Ct. 1796), 2 N.C. 429. It is also a bulwark of Ohio law. See e.g.
State v. Smith (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 110, 684 N.E.2d 668; State v. Thomas (1997),
77 Ohio St.3d 323, 327, 673 N.E.2d 1339.
{¶ 12} The Ohio General Assembly has codified the castle doctrine in R.C.
2901.09(B). The statute states, inter alia, that “a person who lawfully is in that person's
residence has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense.” Ohio courts have
also extended the definition of “residence” to an attached porch. See State v. Nappier
(1995), 105 Ohio App.3d 713, 721, 664 N.E.2d 1330; State v. Cole (Jan. 22, 1997),
Hamilton App. No. C-950900; State v. Copeland (Apr. 13, 1993), Franklin App. No.
92AP-1486. With these principles in mind, we now turn our attention to the issues
raised in the individual assignments of error.
II
{¶ 13} Appellant’s first assignment of error asserts that insufficient evidence
supports his conviction for murder with a firearm specification.
{¶ 14} When appellate courts review the sufficiency of evidence, courts
GALLIA, 10CA15 7
generally look to the adequacy of the evidence and whether that evidence, if believed by
the trier of fact, will support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v.
Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541; State v. Jenks (1991), 61
Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574 N.E.2d 492. In other words, after viewing the evidence, and
each inference reasonably drawn therefrom, in a light most favorable to the prosecution,
can any rational trier of fact find all the essential elements of the offense beyond a
reasonable doubt? See State v. Were, 118 Ohio St.3d 448, 890 N.E.2d 263,
2008-Ohio-2762; at ¶132; State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57, 840 N.E.2d 1032,
2006-Ohio-160, at ¶34; State v. Jones (2000), 90 Ohio St.3d 403, 417, 739 N.E.2d 300.
{¶ 15} R.C. 2903.02(A) states that no person shall purposely cause the death of
another. Here, no question exists that appellant shot and killed Dustin Lennex.
Appellant also does not argue that his actions were not purposeful. Abundant testimony
was adduced at trial from which the jury could conclude that appellant's actions were
done purposely. Thus, sufficient evidence supports the conviction. The gist of
appellant’s argument is not that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence for a
conviction, him but that his self-defense evidence rendered the prosecution’s evidence
insufficient. We disagree. In Hancock, supra at ¶37, the Ohio Supreme Court stated
that proof of an affirmative defense does not detract from proof that an accused
committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Although Hancock involved an insanity
defense rather than self-defense, our Tenth District colleagues arrived at the same
conclusion with regard to self-defense. See e.g. State v. Hogg, Franklin App. No.
11AP–50, 2011-Ohio-6454, at ¶15. We find Hogg persuasive. Whatever evidence may
GALLIA, 10CA15 8
have been adduced regarding self-defense in this case, it does not detract from the
evidence that appellant purposely caused the death of Dustin Lennex. Moreover, we
again point out adequate evidence was adduced at trial for the jury to find the appellant
guilty of murder with a firearm specification. Accordingly, we hereby overrule
appellant's first assignment of error.
III
{¶ 16} Because appellant’s second and third assignments of error both assert that
the trial court erred in the instructions it gave to the jury, we consider them together. At
the outset, we point out that appellant did not object to the jury instructions. Further,
after instructions, the court asked both the prosecution and defense if they wanted
“corrections, deletions or additions.” Both counsel answered in the negative. Thus,
appellant has waived all but Crim.R. 52(B) plain error. See State v. Cunningham, 105
Ohio St.3d 197, 2004-Ohio-7007, 824 N.E.2d 504, at ¶56; also see State v. Dickess, 174
Ohio App.3d 658, 884 N.E.2d 92, 2008-Ohio-39 at ¶43. Generally, notice of plain error
should be taken “with utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to
prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” State v. Gardner, 118 Ohio St.3d 420,
2008–Ohio–2787, 889 N.E.2d 995, ¶78; also see State v. Patterson, Washington App. No.
05CA16, 2006–Ohio–1902, ¶ 13. Plain error exists when it affects a substantial rights.
State v. Chambers, Adams App. No. 10CA902, 2011-Ohio-4352, at ¶42. Plain error is
one that affects a substantial right when, but for the error, the outcome of the trial would
have clearly been otherwise. Id.; State v. Litreal, 170 Ohio App.3d 670, 868 N.E.2d 1018,
2006–Ohio–5416, at ¶11.
GALLIA, 10CA15 9
{¶ 17} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court
erroneously suggested to the jury that appellant had a duty to retreat, even in his home.
Before we address that argument, however, as the prosecution vaguely suggests in its
brief, we consider whether a “Castle Doctrine” instruction was warranted. As noted
above, a self-defense instruction is warranted only if a defendant was not at fault in
creating the situation. Goff, supra at ¶36; Thomas, at 326. Here, the evidence adduced
at trial was uncontroverted that appellant fired the first shot in this fracas. When asked
on cross-examination if either Dustin or Cody Lennex followed him to his house trailer
after the fracas in the Lennex home, appellant replied negatively. When asked if he
believed that his fight with Cody was over when he left the Lennex residence and
returned to his residence, appellant replied “yeah.”
{¶ 18} Appellant went home, loaded his shotgun and went outside to fire a
“warning shot” into the air. It appears that appellant created the deadly situation, or at
least seriously escalated it, and was not entitled to a self-defense, or “Castle Doctrine”
instruction. Be that as it may, we find no error, let alone plain error, in the trial court’s
instruction. The instructions appellant cites are as follows:
“Now the defendant claims to have acted in self-defense. To establish a claim of
self defense the defendant must prove by the greater weight of the evidence that
A: He was not at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the death and B: He
had reasonable grounds to believe and an honest belief even if mistaken that was
in imminent or immediate danger of great, or death or great bodily harm and that
his only means of retreat, escape of withdrawal from such danger was by the use
of force and C: He had not violated any duty to retreat, escape or withdraw to
avoid the danger. Now the defendant is presumed to have acted in self-defense or
defense of another when using defensive force that was intended or likely to cause
death or great bodily harm to another if the person against whom the defensive
force was used was in the process of entering or had entered unlawfully and
GALLIA, 10CA15 10
without privilege to do so the residence occupied by the defendant. Now the
claims the presumption that the defendant acted in self defense or defense of
another when using defensive force that was intended or likely to cause death or
great bodily harm to another does not apply. * * * Now dwelling means a building
of any kind . . . A building includes but is not limited to an attached porch . . .
Now the defendant had a duty to retreat. If the, if he A: was at fault in creating
the situation giving rise to the death or B: did not have a reasonable ground, or did
not have grounds to believe and an honest belief that he was imminent or
immediate danger of death or great bodily harm . . . “ (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 19} This excerpt spans approximately two pages of the trial transcript.
Although we agree that the language may be a bit confusing, we are not convinced that it
constitutes prejudicial error and we certainly do not believe that rises to the level of plain
error. Our understanding of appellant’s argument is that he objects to the third underlinled
portion of the above excerpt stating that he “had a duty to retreat.”5 Had that instruction
included a qualifier stating that appellant was outside his home at the time, then it would
have been a correct statement of the law. At the same time, had it included a qualifier
that appellant was inside his home, it was erroneous. Did the instruction constitute error
without either qualifier? We think not for the following reasons.
{¶ 20} First, a trial court’s jury instructions must be considered in their totality.
State v. Rodriguez, Wood App. No. WD-08-011, 2009-Ohio-4059, at ¶31; State v. Doyle,
Pickaway App. No. 04CA23, 2005-Ohio-4072, at ¶50. Second, the first two italicized
portions of the jury instructions are correct statements of the law and directed the jury that
appellant was presumed to have acted in self-defense if the victim had unlawfully entered
5
It is, of course, possible that the trial court's court reporter mistakenly inserted a period rather than simply omitting
any punctuation mark and continuing the sentence. Transcribed conversations may not always correctly illustrate a
speaker's inflections or intent in linking words and phrases.
GALLIA, 10CA15 11
the premises (including the porch of the trailer). In light of the trial court’s correct
statement of the law, balanced against the somewhat confusing, but not necessarily
incorrect, statement of the law, we are not persuaded that plain error exists.6 This is
particularly true in light of our discussion that it is questionable whether a self-defense
instruction was warranted under the facts and circumstances of this case.
{¶ 21} Appellant maintains in his third assignment of error that the trial court
should have “augmented” its instructions to emphasize the provisions of R.C. 2901.05
that appellant had no duty to retreat inside his own home. However, defense counsel did
not request any such instruction and, to be frank, we see little difference between his
argument here and his argument in his second assignment of error.
{¶ 22} We note that because appellant did not request an “augmented” jury
instruction, the failure to give one is measured under the plain error standard. We also
agree, as noted above, that the trial court’s stray comment that appellant had a “duty to
retreat” may or may not have been misleading to the jury. However, we are not
persuaded that but for the absence of an augmented instruction, the outcome of the trial
would have been otherwise. Chambers, at ¶42. Id.; Litreal, supra at ¶11.
{¶ 23} In the case sub judice, appellant fired the first shot between he and the two
Lennex brothers. That first shot also occurred after appellant retreated to his family’s
house trailer and re-emerged to fire the first “warning” shot, thereby precipitating the
6
In view of appellant’s own testimony, it appears that the confrontation was over when he returned to his house
trailer and that it escalated into a deadly confrontation only when he exited his house trailer and fired a warning shot into the
air.
GALLIA, 10CA15 12
events that next occurred. With that in mind, we find no merit to appellant's second or
third assignments or error and they are hereby overruled.
IV
{¶ 24} In his final assignment of error, appellant argues that he received
constitutionally ineffective representation from trial counsel. Appellant raises a number
of issues to support that argument, but we find none persuasive.
{¶ 25} Criminal defendants have a constitutional right to counsel, and this right
includes the right to effective assistance from trial counsel. McMann v. Richardson
(1970), 397 U.S. 759, 771, 90 S.Ct. 1441, 25 L.Ed.2d 763; In re C.C., Lawrence App. No.
10CA44, 2011-Ohio-1879, at ¶10. To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a
defendant must show (1) his counsel's performance was deficient, and (2) such deficient
performance prejudiced the defense and deprived him of a fair trial. Strickland v.
Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674; also see State v.
Perez, 124 Ohio St.3d 122, 920 N.E.2d 104, 2009–Ohio–6179, at ¶200. Both prongs of
the Strickland test need not be analyzed, however, if a claim can be resolved under one
prong. State v. Madrigal (2000), 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389, 721 N.E.2d 52; also see State
v. Saultz, Ross App. No. 09CA3133, 2011-Ohio-2018, at ¶19. In short, if it can be
shown that an error, assuming arguendo that such an error did in fact exist, did not
prejudice an appellant, an ineffective assistance claim can be resolved on that basis alone.
To establish the existence of prejudice, a defendant must demonstrate that a reasonable
probability exists that, but for his counsel’s alleged error, the result of the trial would
have been different. See State v. White (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 16, 23, 693 N.E.2d 772;
GALLIA, 10CA15 13
State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, at paragraph three of the
syllabus.
{¶ 26} Appellant’s second and third arguments are that counsel was ineffective
for those reasons he raises in his second and third assignments of error. However, in
light of the fact that we found no merit to those arguments, we do not find any
constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶ 27} In particular, appellant’s first argument is that trial counsel failed to
request a Crim.R. 29(A) judgment of acquittal at the conclusion of the prosecution’s
case-in-chief. This argument is somewhat perplexing, however, as the record reveals
that counsel made such a motion. To the extent that appellant claims that counsel was
ineffective for not making the motion in light of his self-defense claim, as we noted in
resolving appellant’s first assignment of error, whatever claim appellant had to
self-defense was irrelevant to the prosecution's evidence concerning whether he
committed murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A).
{¶ 28} Appellant’s fourth argument is that trial counsel failed to “object to the
State’s elicitation of prior bad-act testimony.” To begin, we do not believe that the
incident to which appellant cites was an attempt to elicit “prior bad-act testimony.” The
prosecution simply asked Cody Lennex why he went outside with his gun after appellant
left his residence and Cody explained “[b]ecause me and [appellant] got into an argument
before when he was drunk he’s threatened to bring a gun back and shoot me.” The
prosecution did not seek “prior bad-acts” concerning appellant but, rather, sought to
explain why Cody went outside with a firearm. This was also cumulative of the
GALLIA, 10CA15 14
evidence that the boys (Lennex and Comer) fought frequently and why the victim
explained to Gandee that the confrontation between his younger brother and appellant
was not important. In any event, appellant has not persuaded us that the outcome of his
trial would have been different had defense counsel lodged an objection to the question
and answer.
{¶ 29} In his final argument, appellant argues that the cumulative total of his
counsel’s alleged errors deprived him of a fair trial. However, if a reviewing court finds
no prior instances of error, the cumulative error doctrine has no application. See State v.
Hairston, Scioto App. No. 06CA3089, 2007-Ohio-3707, at ¶41; State v. Bennett, Scioto
App. No. 05CA2997, 2006-Ohio-2757, at ¶50. In the case sub judice, in view of the fact
that we have found no merit in any of appellant's assignments of error, the cumulative
error doctrine does not apply. Thus, we find no merit to appellant’s fourth assignment of
error and it is hereby overruled.
{¶ 30} Accordingly, having considered all of the errors assigned and argued, and
having found merit in none, we hereby affirm the trial court's judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the judgment be affirmed and appellee to recover of appellant the costs
herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
GALLIA, 10CA15 15
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Gallia County
Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
If a stay of execution of sentence and release upon bail has been previously granted, it is
continued for a period of sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of said stay is
to allow appellant to file with the Ohio Supreme Court an application for a stay during the
pendency of the proceedings in that court. The stay as herein continued will terminate at the
expiration of the sixty day period.
The stay will also terminate if appellant fails to file a notice of appeal with the Ohio
Supreme Court in the forty-five day period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, if the Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the appeal prior to
the expiration of said sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Harsha, J. & Kline, J.: Concur in Judgment & Opinion
For the Court
BY:
Peter B. Abele
Presiding Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the
time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.