State v. Stults , 2019 Ohio 657 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Stults, 2019-Ohio-657.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals Nos. L-18-1036
Appellee Trial Court Nos. CR0201703012
v.
Ricky Kenneth Stults DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellant Decided: February 22, 2019
*****
Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Laurel A. Kendall, for appellant.
*****
SINGER, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Ricky Stults, appeals the April 9, 2018 judgment of the Lucas
County Court of Common Pleas, where he was convicted of burglary in violation of R.C.
2911.12(A)(1) and (D), a felony of the second degree. Finding no error, we affirm.
Assignments of Error
I. The court abused its discretion by denying appellant’s motion for
acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29 when there was no positive identification
of appellant in the court room.
II. Appellant’s conviction for burglary, a felony of the second
degree, was against the sufficiency and manifest weight of the evidence.
III. Appellant received ineffective assistance of counsel because
defense counsel did not file a motion in limine objecting to the introduction
of evidence which was intended to implicate defendant in a prior criminal
matter.
Background
{¶ 2} On August 12, 2017, appellant was alleged to have entered into the business
establishment NINE in Toledo, Ohio, without authorization. The restaurant building
(“building”) was closed to the public, and various employees were present. Appellant
was allegedly captured on video by security cameras consuming and taking various
items.
{¶ 3} On November 17, 2017, appellant was indicted for burglary in violation of
R.C. 2911.12(A)(1) and (D), a felony of the second degree. Appellant pled not guilty and
the matter proceeded to trial.
{¶ 4} At trial, a NINE staff member, a patrol officer, and a detective testified.
Photographic evidence from the scene of the crime was presented and submitted in the
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record and, on February 14, 2018, the jury found appellant guilty of burglary. The matter
was set for sentencing on February 23, 2018.
{¶ 5} At sentencing, the trial court determined that, because appellant had been
previously found guilty and convicted of burglary, R.C. 2929.13(F)(6) applied. As a
result, the trial court sentenced appellant to a mandatory prison term of eight years.
{¶ 6} The sentencing entry was journalized on February 26, 2018. This journal
entry incorrectly reflected that appellant was convicted under R.C. 2911.12(A)(2) and
(D). A nunc pro tunc entry reflecting the proper code section was journalized April 9,
2018. Appellant now appeals.
Assignment of Error Nos. I and II
{¶ 7} In his first and second assigned errors, appellant asserts there was neither
sufficient nor competent, credible evidence for the court to have proceeded to the jury,
for the jury to have found him guilty, or for the court to have convicted him. Appellee
asserts there was sufficient and competent, credible evidence to support the verdict and
conviction.
{¶ 8} Crim.R. 29 motions for acquittal are reviewed under the same standard as a
sufficiency of the evidence claim. State v. Hollstein, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-08-1184,
2009-Ohio-4771, ¶ 28. Whether there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction is a
question of law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In
reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence, “[t]he relevant inquiry is whether,
after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier-
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of-fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt.” (Internal quotations omitted.) State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 113, 684 N.E.2d
668 (1997). Appellate courts will not weigh evidence or assess credibility of the
witnesses. State v. Walker, 55 Ohio St.2d 208, 212, 378 N.E.2d 1049 (1978).
{¶ 9} In reviewing the manifest weight of the evidence, the court is to determine
whether the greater amount of credible evidence supports the conviction. See Eastley v.
Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, 972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 12, citing Thompkins
at 387. This court, as if the “thirteenth juror” must review the record, weigh the evidence
and all reasonable inferences drawn from it, consider the witnesses’ credibility and
decide, in resolving any conflicts in the evidence, whether the trier-of-fact “clearly lost its
way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be
reversed and a new trial ordered.” See State v. Steed, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-15-069,
2016-Ohio-8088, ¶ 51, citing State v. Prescott, 190 Ohio App.3d 702, 2010-Ohio 6048,
943 N.E.2d 1092 (6th Dist.).
{¶ 10} In this case, appellant specifically challenges the sufficiency and manifest
weight of the evidence because he argues appellee failed to provide an open court,
positive identification of him as the perpetrator shown in the surveillance video and
photos submitted in the record. Appellant asserts no other evidence, including
fingerprints or DNA test results, linked him to the crime. Appellant argues that
appellee’s entire case depended on the developed description of the perpetrator from the
camera footage, and that at trial no one properly identified him as the individual in the
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footage. Appellant notes that it is axiomatic that a conviction requires an identification of
the accused.
{¶ 11} Appellee counters, specifically arguing that Ohio law imposes no
requirement that a criminal defendant be visually identified in court. Appellee asserts
that the photographic evidence is a silent witness which speaks for itself and is
substantive evidence of what it portrays independent of a sponsoring witness. Appellee
further notes that Detective William White testified about appellant’s appearance,
clothing, personal belongings, and demeanor, and testified that he was sure appellant was
the perpetrator seen in the video.
{¶ 12} White’s identification was based on appellant having matching clothing,
backpack, and flashlight. Appellee, lastly, concludes that the jury was left to determine
what weight to give the photographic evidence and identification because the evidence
was admitted without objection.
{¶ 13} R.C. 2911.12(A)(1) provides that “[n]o person, by force, stealth, or
deception, shall * * *[t]respass in an occupied structure * * *, when another person other
than an accomplice of the offender is present, with purpose to commit in the structure * *
* any criminal offense[.]” See State v. McCreary, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1206, 2016-
Ohio-4753, ¶ 11. Division (D) of that section follows with, “[w]hoever violates division
(A) of this section is guilty of burglary, and a “violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of this
section is a felony of the second degree.” An “occupied structure” is any building when
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“any person is present or likely to be present in it.” See R.C. 2911.12(D); R.C.
2909.01(C)(4).
{¶ 14} Here, we find surveillance recordings and photographs submitted in the
record show the perpetrator entering and roaming the building, and helping himself to
items while there. Testimony from the operation manager for NINE, Joshua Porter,
revealed that the perpetrator was not welcomed as he entered an unlocked door of the
building and while employees were present, all in an effort to commit numerous thefts.
We are satisfied the perpetrator committed a burglary as defined in R.C. 2911.12(A)(1).
The question then becomes was there sufficient and competent, credible evidence to
support that the perpetrator was indeed appellant.
{¶ 15} Detective White testified he was 100 percent sure that the individual in the
photographs and recordings was appellant. Our review of the record reveals White based
his identification on a past interview and investigation of another crime appellant
allegedly committed. White testified appellant had the same clothing, backpack,
flashlight, and demeanor as the perpetrator, and we find no issue with the identification.
See R.C. 2945.55 (“When identification of the defendant is an issue, a witness who has
on previous occasion identified such person may testify to such previous identification.”).
{¶ 16} The jury agreed with White and determined the circumstantial evidence
was sufficient to find appellant was indeed the perpetrator.
{¶ 17} With respect to the sufficiency of the evidence in the record, we note that
“[c]ircumstantial evidence of a crime has the same probative value as direct evidence and
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is sufficient to prove the elements of a criminal case.” McCreary, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-
15-1206, 2016-Ohio-4753, at ¶ 20, citing State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d
492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. We find the circumstantial evidence in the
record sufficient, because viewing it in a light favorable to the prosecution leads us to
determine that any rational trier-of-fact could have found the essential elements of
burglary proven beyond a reasonable doubt. See R.C. 2911.12(A)(1), supra.
{¶ 18} With respect to our analysis of the manifest weight of the evidence, it is
understood that “[w]hen considering circumstantial or direct evidence, ‘a jury is asked to
weigh the chances that the evidence correctly points to guilt against the possibility of
inaccuracy or ambiguous inference.’” Id., quoting Holland v. United States, 348 U.S.
121, 140, 75 S.Ct. 127, 99 L.Ed. 150 (1954). Moreover, this court “must give due
deference to the findings made by the jury.” Id., citing Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,
678 N.E.2d 541. Consequently, we cannot say that the circumstantial evidence weighs
heavily against convicting appellant, and there is nothing in the record to find the jury
lost its way or that a manifest miscarriage of justice resulted in the jury’s finding of guilt.
{¶ 19} Accordingly, appellant’s first and second assignments of error are not well-
taken.
Assignment of Error No. III
{¶ 20} In appellant’s third assigned error, he asserts he had no effective assistance
of counsel because appellee failed to provide notice of its plan to use 404(B) evidence,
and that his counsel did not file a motion in limine to preclude admission of such
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evidence. Appellee contends the 404(B) evidence was offered to show identity of the
perpetrator and that, because appellant had access to appellee’s open file during
discovery, any error related to its failure to notify of such use of the 404(B) evidence was
cured.
{¶ 21} In evaluating ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the test is “whether
the accused, under all the circumstances, * * * had a fair trial and substantial justice was
done.” State v. Hester, 45 Ohio St.2d 71, 341 N.E.2d 304 (1976), paragraph four of the
syllabus; see also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064, 80
L.Ed. 2d 674, 693 (1984). A court must determine “whether there has been a substantial
violation of any of defense counsel’s essential duties to his client” and “whether the
defense was prejudiced by counsel’s ineffectiveness.” State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d
279, 289, 714 N.E.2d 905 (1999).
{¶ 22} In this case, appellant specifically argues that he did not receive effective
assistance because counsel “made no attempt to suppress the testimony about [his]
identification being linked to a suspect in a different case who was wearing substantially
the same clothing, and which Detective William White in the case used as the basis for
his identification.” Appellant notes how White testified that he had interviewed appellant
a day or two before viewing the surveillance video, and that appellant was wearing
similar clothing to those worn by the suspect in the video. Appellant argues counsel’s
failure to object to this testimony resulted in prejudice because, “without the testimony
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about similar clothing, and without a positive identification in the court room, there was
no evidence introduced that appellant was the suspect in the case.”
{¶ 23} Appellee responds, specifically asserting that the video spoke for itself and
that counsel did not commit error in failing to challenge the 404(B) evidence because
such challenge would have been futile. Appellee notes that it provided appellant with
open-file discovery, which it argues, provided “reasonable notice in advance of trial” of
its intent to use the 404(B) evidence. Appellee otherwise concedes it used 404(B)
evidence, and that it did not provide formal notice of its intent to introduce that evidence.
(B) Other crimes, wrongs or acts. Evidence of other crimes,
wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order
to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for
other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation,
plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. In criminal
cases, the proponent of evidence to be offered under this rule shall provide
reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses
pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the general nature of any such
evidence it intends to introduce at trial. (Emphasis added.)
Compare State v. Nuzum, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1122, 2016-Ohio-2744, with State v.
Kelley, 2017-Ohio-4475, 83 N.E.3d 990 (6th Dist.).
{¶ 24} We first note that we are not persuaded by appellee’s contention that open-
file discovery cures any failure to provide notice in compliance with Evid.R. 404(B). As
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articulated in dicta of State v. Plevyak, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2013-T-0051, 2014-
Ohio-2889, “[t]here is a difference between a defendant knowing the state possesses
‘other acts’ evidence and a defendant knowing the state intends to use it at trial.” Plevyak
at ¶ 18. Moreover, “[a] defendant’s decision to go forward at trial may well depend on
what evidence the state intends to introduce[,] and “[i]f providing discovery alone were
sufficient to satisfy the notice requirements of Evid.R. 404(B)[,] the rule would be
superfluous.” Id.{¶ 25} Nevertheless, even accepting that appellee here failed to provide proper
notice of its intent to use 404(B) evidence, and that appellant’s counsel failed to meet an
essential duty to his client by not objecting to such use, appellant has to show he was
prejudiced. To do so, appellant must prove “that there exists a reasonable probability
that, were it not for counsel’s errors, the result of the trial would have been different.”
State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph three of the
syllabus.
{¶ 26} Here, appellant argues that appellee’s evidence which referenced the
perpetrator’s possible prior criminal involvement in an unrelated matter constituted
prejudicial error. He specifically points to testimony of Detective White, arguing that it
provided the jury with impermissible inferences. At trial, the testimony was elicited and
set forth in the record, as follows:
[Appellee]: Okay. So Officer Eilerts said he completed a general
offense report?
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[White]: Correct.
[Appellee]: And passed it on to you, did you review that report?
[White]: I did.
[Appellee]: Okay. And had as a detective, I’m sorry, Officer Eilerts
said it had a name in it; is that correct?
[White]: It did.
[Appellee]: That was for Ricky Stults?
[White]: Correct.
[Appellee]: And it had a description of his clothing?
[White]: Yes.
[Appellee]: And a description of him?
[White]: Yes.
[Appellee]: And you said you had encountered the defendant a
couple days prior; is that correct?
[White]: The day prior.
[Appellee]: The day prior, okay. And you had a chance to either
interview him or watch him being interviewed; is that correct?
[White]: Correct.
[Appellee]: Okay. And during that interview was there anything
about his appearance that seemed relevant to the case that we had before the
jury today?
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[White]: Yes.
[Appellee]: And what was the relevance and what did you see?
[White]: During the interview I was assisting another detective,
actually training him, on a theft case from a store where he was
apprehended. And during that interview I recall that he was wearing a very
similar, if not identical, clothing that was described in the general offense
report as well as the fact that he appeared to be the same person in the
video, in that video that I watched when I finally did get it, and in that
video he was wearing a mustache at that time.
[Appellee]: Okay. So summarize what you’re saying there a little
bit. You saw him the day prior, the defendant?
[White]: Correct.
[Appellee]: And he was wearing clothing that seemed to match the
clothing that he was wearing in the burglary in your case?
[White]: Correct.
{¶ 27} In addition to this testimony, White further elaborated on appellant’s
appearance based on his past investigatory interview.
{¶ 28} Appellant argues that absent impermissible inferences relating to criminal
propensities and linking past criminality derived from this testimony, his trial outcome
would have been different. Appellant hence concludes that the failure to object or
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attempt to suppress the evidence was prejudicial. He directs this court to State v.
Breedlove, 26 Ohio St.2d 178, 271 N.E.2d 238 (1971), to support his position.
{¶ 29} The Breedlove court found that “under the circumstances” in that case, it
was “unjustifiable for the state, on direct examination, to present police mug shots,
bearing police identification numbers, from which a reasonable inference can be drawn
that the defendant, at some indefinite time in the past had had trouble with the law.” Id.
at 184.
{¶ 30} In Breedlove, the prosecution, “in an effort [to] bolster the in-court
identification by the state’s witnesses of Breedlove as the perpetrator[,]” presented
“evidence of an out-of-court selection by the witnesses of appellant’s photograph from a
group of mug shots[.]” Id. at 181. Mr. Breedlove argued the trial court allowing the
testimony and pictures into evidence resulted in reversible error. Id. The Breedlove court
agreed. Id. at 184.
{¶ 31} The Breedlove court began its analysis by referencing R.C. 2945.55, infra,
there recognizing that “[u]nder proper circumstances, an out-of-court identification is
admissible when defendant’s identity is an issue.” Id. at 181. The court stated that the
“first question” was “whether, under R.C. 2945.55, testimony concerning an out-of-court
identification of the accused from a selection of photographs is admissible in evidence.”
Id. The follow-up question was: “if such identification is admissible, may mug shot from
police files, with police numbers thereon, be so used and later admitted in evidence?” Id.
at 182.
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{¶ 32} In answering these questions, the Breedlove court held that it was
unjustifiable for the state to present the evidence. Id. at 184. The court stated that
“[e]vidence of prior criminal involvement must satisfy the requirements of R. C.
2945.59,” which the court found the photographs submitted in the record did not. Id.
{¶ 33} Appellee counters by pointing to State v. Grega, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No.
2012-A-0036, 2013-Ohio-4094, where the trial court’s ruling that an officer’s
identification of the defendant despite reference to the defendant’s prior criminality was
not reversible error. The Grega court, after recognizing the exceptions stated in 404(B),
explained that “[u]nder the ‘identity’ exception in the foregoing rule, testimony regarding
a police officer’s prior encounter with the defendant is admissible for purposes of
showing why the officer was able to recognize him.” Id. at ¶ 41, citing State v. Tuff, 11th
Dist. Lake Nos. 2010-L-082 and 2010-L-083, 2011-Ohio-6846, ¶ 46.
{¶ 34} Appellant urges us to apply the rationale and holding of Breedlove, and
appellee urges us to apply the rationale and holding of Grega.
{¶ 35} Initially, we agree the photographic evidence and testimony submitted in
the record in this case were admissible under the “identity” exception recognized in
Evid.R. 404(B). We note Evid.R. 404 was not enacted in 1971, when Breedlove was
released.
{¶ 36} Further, we find that appellee failed to notify appellant of its intended use
of the 404(B) evidence, but that there exists no reasonable probability that the result of
the trial would have been different.
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{¶ 37} We look to two of our recent cases to reach this determination.
{¶ 38} First, in State v. Kelley, 2017-Ohio-4475, 83 N.E.3d 990 (6th Dist.), we
reversed the trial court’s holding and determined that in those unique circumstances the
prosecution’s introduction, without notice, of evidence of acts germane to the offense
charged, which occurred outside the period set forth in the indictment, constituted plain
error. Id. at ¶ 1.
{¶ 39} In an effort to prove Kelley took part in fraudulently applying and
maintaining Medicaid benefits, the state introduced evidence of other allegedly
fraudulent acts of his. These other acts were wholly unrelated to the charges in the case
and were actually from a time period outside of the dates of the indictment. Kelley
argued in relevant part that “admission of the evidence was prejudicial and would have
‘confused the jury as to [his] guilt on the conduct charged.’” See id. at ¶ 43. The state
countered, arguing that the other acts evidence was admissible under Evid.R. 404(B) and
R.C. 2945.59. The state further argued that notice of its intent to use the 404(B) evidence
was not required because R.C. 2945.59 did not explicitly say the requirement.
{¶ 40} We disagreed and found that notice of intent to use 404(B) evidence was
indeed required despite R.C. 2945.59 not explicitly stating it. Id. at ¶ 46. We found that
“the state ran afoul of the notice requirement in Evid.R. 404(B)[.]” Under the plain-error
standard, we determined that “the failure to provide pretrial disclosure of the above other
acts evidence substantially impaired [Kelley]’s rights to due process of law.” Id. at ¶ 49.
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Hence we found that “the error [of not providing notice] affected the accused’s
substantial rights.”
{¶ 41} The stated policy and rationale behind our decision in Kelley was
summarized as “[n]ot only does the notice requirement found in Evid.R. 404(B) facilitate
litigation of the magnitude of the offense charged, it provides the person against whom
such evidence may be admitted with a fair opportunity to prepare to meet the impact of
evidence of uncharged offenses.” However, we note this overarching policy and
rationale does not apply in all instances the state fails to notify of its intent to use 404(B)
evidence.
{¶ 42} For example we point to State v. Nuzum, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1122,
2016-Ohio-2744, where we held that despite the state’s failure to provide notice of its
intent to use 404(B) evidence, “such error was harmless in light of our conclusion that the
state’s alleged introduction of other acts evidence did not affect the outcome of the trial
or otherwise prejudice appellant.” Id. at ¶ 21.
{¶ 43} We found that, despite the 404(B) evidence or lack of notice thereof, the
outcome of the case would not have been different because there was otherwise sufficient
and competent, credible evidence to support Nuzum was the perpetrator. Id. at ¶ 17. In
specific, there was witness testimony from those at the scene of the crime, and we found
it demonstrated Nuzum committed the burglary for which he was charged. Id.
{¶ 44} Consistent with Nuzum and Grega, yet distinguishable from Kelley and
Breedlove, we find appellant in this case cannot show the outcome of his case would have
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been different had he been notified of the 404(B) evidence, or had that evidence not been
introduced. As noted above, we found that circumstantial evidence in the record supports
appellant was the perpetrator, and that the trier-of-fact properly evaluated the
photographic evidence and weighed it to determine that it spoke for itself.
{¶ 45} As a result, we now hold that even if appellant would have received proper
notice of appellee’s intent to use the 404(B) evidence or, alternatively, even if White did
not testify and the clothing evidence was excluded, there was sufficient and competent,
credible evidence to find appellant guilty and convict him. Therefore, we cannot say that
the introduction of the 404(B) evidence prejudiced appellant, or that his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to challenge the introduction of that evidence.
{¶ 46} Accordingly, appellant’s third assigned error is not well-taken.
Conclusion
{¶ 47} The April 9, 2018 judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas
is affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Arlene Singer, J.
_______________________________
Thomas J. Osowik, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
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This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
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