State v. Jones , 2016 Ohio 5728 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Jones, 2016-Ohio-5728.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
: Appellate Case No. 26819
Plaintiff-Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 2014-CR-1402
v. :
: (Criminal Appeal from
DWAYNE JONES : Common Pleas Court)
:
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 9th day of September, 2016.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by MICHELE D. PHIPPS, Atty. Reg. No. 0069829, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, P.O.
Box 972, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
ROBERT L. SCOTT, Atty. Reg. No. 0086785, 8801 North Main Street, Suite 200, Dayton,
Ohio 45415
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
FAIN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Dwayne Jones appeals from his conviction and
-2-
sentence for Felonious Assault. Jones argues that the trial court erroneously overruled
an objection, based on Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69
(1986), to the State’s peremptory challenge to a prospective juror, and that his conviction
is against the manifest weight of the evidence. We conclude that the trial court did not
err in overruling the Batson objection, and that the judgment is not against the manifest
weight of the evidence. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.
I. Traffic Stop Leads to Assault on an Officer
{¶ 2} In April 2014, two City of Dayton police officers were on patrol in a marked
cruiser on Broadway Street in the City of Dayton. Responding to a tip regarding a Chrysler
300, registered to Ambrea Carter, the officers saw the car and followed it to the parking
lot of Church’s Chicken. They observed Jones turn the car into the parking lot from
Broadway Street without using a turn signal, then drive into the parking lot and back into
a parking spot. The officers parked their cruiser near the Chrysler, and Officer Rillo
proceeded to get out of the passenger side of the police cruiser and walk toward the
Chrysler. Within seconds, Jones accelerated the Chrysler directly toward the officer, who
had to jump out of the way to avoid being injured. As Jones drove the Chrysler out of the
parking lot, his vehicle struck a van in the parking lot, knocking off the side mirror of the
Chrysler. The officers did not pursue the Chrysler at that time. At the time of the incident,
Officer Rillo saw the driver, Jones, clearly enough to positively identify him at trial.
{¶ 3} A few days after the incident, a search warrant was obtained, and the
Chrysler, with a missing side mirror, was found and searched, linking it to Jones.
-3-
II. The Course of Proceedings
{¶ 4} Jones was indicted on one count of Felonious Assault, with a Deadly
Weapon, upon a Police Officer, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), a felony of the first
degree.
{¶ 5} The case proceeded to a jury trial. During voir dire, questions were asked
to the jury pool whether any prospective juror knew anyone who had been convicted of a
crime. Four prospective jurors responded affirmatively regarding convictions of family
members. Three of the four jurors discussed the convictions openly and agreed that it
would not impact their ability to be fair and impartial. The fourth prospective juror asked
for a sidebar conference to discuss it privately. The prospective juror advised the court
and the attorneys that his son was a convicted sex offender. When asked if it would impact
his ability to be fair and impartial, the prospective juror replied, “To be honest with you,
the case was such a rocky situation. He was prosecuted but I feel like he shouldn’t have
been.” Trial Transcript at pg. 60. Several of this prospective juror’s comments and
answers were labeled “indiscernible” for the record. Id. at 60-61. When asked again if he
could be fair and impartial, the prospective juror answered, “Yeah.” Id. at 61. After this
prospective juror was seated as an alternate, the trial court allowed the State to exercise
a peremptory challenge to have him excused. Defense counsel objected to the
peremptory challenge, but the reason for the objection is not explained. Id. at 100-101.
Without specifically addressing the racial composition content of the jury pool or the jurors
already selected or already excused, it appears that the trial court presumed that the
defense was making a Batson challenge, and asked the State to explain its “reason for
-4-
knocking him out.” Id. at 101. The State responded, “I believe he indicated at sidebar that
his son was convicted of a sex offense. And he felt that there wasn’t enough evidence for
that. And therefore, he would want to see a significant amount of evidence to convict
someone. He was asked whether or not he’d be fair and impartial and he said yes. But
he did indicate that based on what happened to his son that he felt his son was convicted
upon insufficient evidence (indiscernible). And therefore, I think he would have a bias
toward the State * * * .” Defense counsel responded that this prospective juror had
affirmatively agreed that he could be fair and impartial, and would not have a bias against
the government. The trial court overruled the objection, and the prospective juror was
excused.
{¶ 6} The jury found Jones guilty of the Felonious Assault charge. Jones was
sentenced to a term of 8 years of imprisonment, to run concurrently with sentences in four
other cases. From the judgment of the trial court, Jones appeals.
III. Standard of Review
{¶ 7} The Supreme Court of Ohio has addressed the appropriate standard of
review for a claim of racial discrimination in jury selection, as follows:
Review of a Batson claim largely hinges on issues of credibility.
Accordingly, we ordinarily defer to the findings of the trial court. See Batson
[v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79,] at 98, 106 S. Ct. at 1724, 90 L.Ed.2d at 89, fn.
21 [1986]. Whether a party intended to racially discriminate in challenging
potential jurors is a question of fact, and in the absence of clear error, we
will not reverse the trial court's determination.
-5-
Hicks v. Westinghouse Materials Co., 78 Ohio St. 3d 95, 102, 676 N.E.2d 872
(1997), citing Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 369, 111 S.Ct.1859, 114
L. Ed. 2d 395 (1991); State v. Hernandez, 63 Ohio St. 3d 577, 583, 589 N.E.2d 1310
(1992).
{¶ 8} When reviewing an argument that the trial court should not have accepted
the grounds for the peremptory challenge, “[t]he finding of the trial court, because it turns
largely on the evaluation of credibility, is entitled to deference on appeal and will not be
reversed unless clearly erroneous. “ State v. Herring, 94 Ohio St. 3d 246, 257, 762 N.E.2d
940 (2002),
IV. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Overruling Jones’s Batson Objection to the
State’s Peremptory Challenge to a Prospective Juror
{¶ 9} For his First Assignment of Error, Jones asserts:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING THE STATE TO
EXERCISE A PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE IN A RACIALLY
DISCRIMINATORY MANNER.
{¶ 10} Jones argues that the trial court erred by overruling his Batson challenge
and allowing the State to exercise a peremptory challenge to excuse a juror. In Hicks,
supra, the Supreme Court of Ohio set forth the analysis used in determining whether a
peremptory challenge is racially motivated. The court held:
The United States Supreme Court set forth in Batson [v. Kentucky,
476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986),] the test to be used in
determining whether a peremptory strike is racially motivated. First, a party
-6-
opposing a peremptory challenge must demonstrate a prima-facie case of
racial discrimination in the use of the strike. Id. at 96, 106 S.Ct. at 1723, 90
L. Ed. 2d at 87. To establish a prima-facie case, a litigant must show he or
she is a member of a cognizable racial group and that the peremptory
challenge will remove a member of the litigant's race from the venire. The
peremptory-challenge opponent is entitled to rely on the fact that the strike
is an inherently “discriminating” device, permitting “ ‘ “those to discriminate
who are of a mind to discriminate.” ’ ” State v. Hernandez (1992), 63 Ohio
St.3d 577, 582, 589 N.E.2d 1310, 1313, certiorari denied (1992), 506 U.S.
898, 113 S. Ct. 279, 121 L. Ed. 2d 206. The litigant must then show an
inference or inferences of racial discrimination by the striking party. The trial
court should consider all relevant circumstances in determining whether a
prima-facie case exists, including statements by counsel exercising the
peremptory challenge, counsel's questions during voir dire, and whether a
pattern of strikes against minority members is present. See Batson at 96-
97, 106 S. Ct. at 1723, 90 L.Ed.2d at 88.
Assuming a prima-facie case exists, the striking party must then
articulate a race-neutral explanation “related to the particular case to be
tried.” Id. at 98, 106 S. Ct. at 1724, 90 L.Ed.2d at 88. A simple affirmation of
general good faith will not suffice. However, the explanation “need not rise
to the level justifying exercise of a challenge for cause.” Id. at 97, 106 S. Ct.
at 1723, 90 L.Ed.2d at 88. The critical issue is whether discriminatory intent
is inherent in counsel's explanation for use of the strike; intent is present if
-7-
the explanation is merely a pretext for exclusion on the basis of race.
Hernandez v. New York (1991), 500 U.S. 352, 363, 111 S. Ct. 1859, 1868,
114 L. Ed. 2d 395, 408.
Last, the trial court must determine whether the party opposing the
peremptory strike has proved purposeful discrimination. Purkett v. Elem
(1995), 514 U.S. 765, 766-767, 115 S. Ct. 1769, 1770, 131 L. Ed. 2d 834,
839. It is at this stage that the persuasiveness, and credibility, of the
justification offered by the striking party becomes relevant. Id. at 768, 115
S.Ct. at 1771, 131 L. Ed. 2d at 839. The critical question, which the trial
judge must resolve, is whether counsel's race-neutral explanation should
be believed. Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. at 365, 111 S.Ct. at 1869,
114 L. Ed. 2d at 409.
Hicks, supra, at 98-99.
{¶ 11} In the case before us, the record of the juror’s statements is complicated
by at least five “indiscernible” comments, but it does confirm that the juror had a life
experience different from the other three prospective jurors, who also had relatives who
had been convicted of a crime. Although the three-step process of handling a Batson
challenge was not clearly placed on the record, the record does support the trial court’s
finding that the State provided a race-neutral reason for the exclusion of the alternate
juror. The record does not contain facts requiring a conclusion that the State’s challenge
was purposeful discrimination, or that the race-neutral reason given was not the actual
reason. The trial court’s acceptance of the State’s proffered race-neutral grounds for its
preemptory challenge is not clearly erroneous.
-8-
{¶ 12} Jones’s First Assignment of Error is Overruled.
V. The Conviction Is Not Against the Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶ 13} For his Second Assignment of Error, Jones asserts:
DEFENDANT’S CONVICTION FOR THE OFFENSE OF
FELONIOUS ASSAULT (DEADLY WEAPON)(PO), IN VIOLATION OF
ORC 2903.11(A)(2) IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE AND SHOULD BE OVERTURNED
{¶ 14} Jones argues that the State failed to prove the mens rea required for a
conviction for Felonious Assault. To obtain a conviction for Felonious Assault, the jury
was required to find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Jones knowingly caused, or
attempted to cause, serious physical harm to another by means of a deadly weapon or
dangerous ordnance. R.C. 2903.11(A)(2). The State did establish that Jones was driving
a motor vehicle at the time of the offense. We have held that “[a]n automobile used in
an attempt to run down a police officer constitutes a deadly weapon.” State v. McDaniel,
2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16221, 1998 WL 214606, *8 (May 1, 1998); State v. Moreland,
2d Dist. Greene No. 2001CA85, 2003-Ohio-210, ¶ 21.
{¶ 15} Jones did not testify, and the only evidence before the jury is the testimony
of the officers who were eyewitnesses to the incident. The officers’ testimony establishes
that Officer Rillo’s safety was threatened by Jones when Jones drove the Chrysler directly
toward Officer Rillo, in a manner that would have harmed Officer Rillo if he had not been
able to respond quickly by jumping out of the way.
{¶ 16} When a defendant does not testify, the jury or fact finder “must decide what
his intent is by looking at the surrounding facts and circumstances.” State v. Terry, 186
-9-
Ohio App.3d 670, 2010-Ohio-1604, 929 N.E.2d 1111, ¶¶ 22-23 (4th Dist.). R.C.
2901.22(B), defining the culpable mental state of knowledge, provides that “[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. A person has knowledge of
circumstances when he is aware that such circumstances probably exist.”
{¶ 17} “[A] person is presumed to intend the natural, reasonable and probable
consequences of his voluntary acts.” State v. Mulligan, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19359,
2003-Ohio-782, ¶ 35, citing In re Purola, 73 Ohio App. 3d 306, 312, 596 N.E.2d 1140
(1991). See also State v. Perkins, 154 Ohio App. 3d 631, 2003-Ohio-5092, 798 N.E.2d
646, ¶ 42 (2d Dist.) In the case before us, the facts support a conclusion that Jones was
voluntarily driving the vehicle, and was aware that his conduct could have caused serious
harm to a police officer. Based on the evidence, we conclude that the verdict of guilty on
the Felonious Assault charge is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 18} Jones’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
VI. Conclusion
{¶ 19} Both of Jones’s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment
of the trial court is Affirmed.
.............
DONOVAN, P.J., and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Mathias H. Heck, Jr.
Michele D. Phipps
Robert Scott
-10-
Hon. Steven K. Dankof