State v. Martinez , 2016 Ohio 5515 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Martinez, 2016-Ohio-5515.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
Nos. 103572 and 103573
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT/CROSS-APPELLEE
vs.
ANTHONY M. MARTINEZ
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE/ CROSS- APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-14-591086-A
BEFORE: E.A. Gallagher, P.J., S. Gallagher, J., and Laster Mays, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 25, 2016
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT/CROSS-APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Daniel T. Van
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLEE/CROSS APPELLANT
Russell S. Bensing
600 IMG Building
1360 East Ninth Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, P.J.:
{¶1} In this consolidated appeal, defendant Anthony Martinez appeals his conviction for
importuning in violation of R.C. 2907.07(B)(1). He argues that the trial court erred in denying
his motion to suppress statements he made (1) while being questioned by law enforcement
officers at his home and (2) during a subsequent interrogation at the police station. The state
appeals the trial court’s decision to stay execution of the sex offender registration requirements
imposed as part of Martinez’s sentence pending resolution of this appeal. For the reasons that
follow, we affirm the trial court’s judgment and remand the matter for execution of the sentence
imposed.
Factual and Procedural Background
{¶2} On the morning of November 7, 2014, Parma Police Detective David Sheridan and
Parma Police Sergeant David Zarzeczny went to Martinez’s home to question him regarding an
incident that had allegedly occurred two days earlier at Parma High School. Detective Sheridan
was investigating a complaint by a 15-year-old female student that Martinez, age 66, a hall
monitor at Parma High School, had placed his arm around her shoulder and made several
inappropriate sexual comments to her while escorting her to class. The student alleged that
Martinez had asked when she would let “an old man like him have sex with [her]” and whether
he could “lick her p****.” Martinez was placed on administrative leave following the incident.
Sergeant Zarzeczny, who worked part-time at the high school, completed the incident report.
{¶3} After reviewing the case file and incident report, Detective Sheridan spoke with
Sergeant Zarzeczny regarding the allegations. Given his familiarity with Martinez and the fact
that he had a “rapport” with him, Sergeant Zarzeczny thought Martinez would be more
“comfortable” discussing the allegations if he were present and offered to accompany Detective
Sheridan to question Martinez regarding the allegations. Sergeant Zarzeczny testified that he
had known Martinez for “[a] couple years,” interacted with him frequently and “got along very
well” with him. Detective Sheridan accepted the offer and the two officers drove to Martinez’s
residence in an unmarked police car. Detective Sheridan was in plainclothes; Sergeant
Zarzeczny was in his police uniform.
{¶4} When the officers arrived at Martinez’s residence, Martinez answered the door and
invited them inside. Detective Sheridan brought a recording device with him and secretly
recorded his interaction with Martinez beginning when Martinez opened the door. Detective
Sheridan testified that it was not unusual for him to record an interview and that, “typically,” all
of his interviews are recorded.
{¶5} Once inside, Detective Sheridan introduced himself and asked Martinez whether he
would prefer to talk at home or somewhere else. Martinez replied that they could talk there,
offered the officers coffee and led them to the kitchen where the officers sat down at the kitchen
table with Martinez and his wife, Diane Martinez (“Diane”).
{¶6} After asking some basic questions regarding Martinez’s background, Detective
Sheridan informed Martinez of the allegations against him. Martinez acknowledged knowing
the student involved but initially denied that he put his arm around her shoulder or made any
inappropriate sexual comments to her. Approximately 11 minutes into the interview, Diane left
the kitchen and went into a bedroom, located 20-30 feet from the kitchen, to get her 18-year-old
daughter.
{¶7} After Diane left the room, Detective Sheridan told Martinez, “man to man,” that he
knew Martinez was not being truthful and that he was “digging [himself] into a hole [he] was not
going to be able to get out of.” The officers told Martinez that he was not under arrest and that
it was only because Sergeant Zarzeczny had told Detective Sheridan that Martinez was a “good
guy” that they had come to his house to question him rather than arrest him and bring him to the
police station for questioning. Detective Sheridan said that he “didn’t want to do that” but that
Martinez was going to have to “man up” and tell him “what really happened.” Detective
Sheridan testified that, at this point, Martinez had his head down in his hands, was “pale as a
ghost” and was sweating. Sergeant Zarzeczny similarly testified that Martinez appeared “[v]ery
nervous” and sweating, “[h]ad a hard time maintaining eye contact” and was “[s]ubtly trembling
with his hands at the table.”
{¶8} Detective Sheridan continued with the interrogation. He told Martinez that the
student was prepared to testify in court against him and that they had video surveillance showing
Martinez put his arm around the student and other evidence, which he declined to disclose, “that
proves her story.” Approximately 15 minutes into the interrogation, Martinez admitted to
putting his arm around the student and making the alleged inappropriate sexual comments to her.
At no point, either prior to or during the interrogation, did Detective Sheridan inform Martinez
of his Miranda rights.
{¶9} After Martinez confessed, the officers told Martinez that they needed to go down to
the police station so that Martinez could give a “more formal statement.” Detective Sheridan
and Sergeant Zarzeczny drove Martinez to the police station in Detective Sheridan’s unmarked
police vehicle.
{¶10} When they arrived at the police station approximately ten minutes later, Martinez
was placed into an interview room. He was advised of his Miranda rights and gave a second
statement in which he again admitted that he had placed his arm around the student’s shoulder
and had made the specific inappropriate sexual comments the student alleged he had made. The
relevant information and admissions elicited in the second interrogation were the same as those
elicited in the first interrogation. Following the conclusion of the second interrogation,
Martinez was arrested.
{¶11} On November 21, 2014, a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Martinez on a
single count of importuning in violation of R.C. 2907.07(B)(1), a fifth-degree felony. Martinez
pled not guilty.
{¶12} Before trial, Martinez filed a motion to suppress the statements he made during the
two interrogations based on the officers’ failure to advise him of his Miranda rights before the
first interrogation. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the motion to
suppress, reasoning as follows:
I’ve given careful analysis and consideration to the facts presented during the
course of the proceedings thus far. I am going to deny the motion to suppress the
oral and recorded statement.
My review of the case law in this area suggests that, irrespective of my personal
feelings about whether or not this is the best practice, the case law in our district
and at the U.S. Supreme Court level on these facts does not support suppression.
The case [law] is significantly — or gives great significance to where these
interrogations take place. This questioning of Mr. Martinez was at his home.
There is a point in the questioning at his home where the questioning by the
detective is aggressive. Mr. Martinez is told that he is sweating bullets, or words
to that effect, and that he might not be telling the truth and should admit to his
behavior.
My initial thought was that at that juncture the law might trigger Miranda
warnings and advisement that he need not make any further statement, that he
consult a lawyer. But I must report that the case law in the Eighth District [does
not] seem to require that. It might be a question to ask the Eighth District, once
again, but that is up to the parties. * * *
When he arrives at the police station, reference is made to the statements that he
had already given. He is given his Miranda warnings, his advisement, if you
will. He engages in further colloquy with the police. As that point he had a
right to assert his Fifth Amendment rights and did not.
Case law in our district seems to allow that. It doesn’t prohibit the admissibility
of the statement. * * *
{¶13} Martinez waived his right to a jury trial and the case was tried to the bench. After
hearing all the evidence and the arguments of counsel, the trial court found Martinez guilty of
importuning. The trial court ordered a presentence investigation report and scheduled the matter
for sentencing.
{¶14} Prior to sentencing Martinez filed a motion to stay the execution of his sentence,
including the sex offender registration requirements, pending his appeal. The state opposed the
motion.
{¶15} On September 1, 2015, the trial court sentenced Martinez to five years of
community control and ordered him to register as a Tier I sex offender/child victim offender.
The trial court granted the motion to stay, ordering that execution of Martinez’s sentence be
stayed “until the case is sent back from the court of appeals.”
{¶16} This court granted the state leave to appeal the trial court’s order staying
execution of Martinez’s sentence, raising the following assignment of error for review:
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I:
A trial court may not stay execution of sex offender registration requirements
pending appeal.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II:
Even if the trial court had authority to stay execution of sex offender registration
the trial court abused its discretion in staying the requirements where the factors
weighed against bail.
{¶17} Martinez also filed an appeal, raising the following assignment of error for review:
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
The Trial Court erred to the prejudice of Defendant by denying Defendant’s
Motion to Suppress his statements, in derogation of Defendant’s right against
self-incrimination and his right to counsel, as protected by the Fifth, Sixth, and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Article I, Section
10 of the Ohio Constitution.
For ease of discussion, we address Martinez’s assignment of error first.
Law and Analysis
Motion to Suppress
{¶18} In his assignment of error, Martinez argues that the officers’ failure to advise him
of his Miranda rights prior to questioning rendered the confession he made to the officers during
his at-home interrogation inadmissable. Martinez further argues that because the second
interrogation at the police station was a virtual “repeat” of the first interrogation, the officers’
failure to advise Martinez of Miranda rights prior to the first confession “voids the second” such
that Martinez’s second confession should have been inadmissible as well.
Standard of Review
{¶19} Appellate review of the denial of a motion to suppress involves a mixed question
of law and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8.
Therefore, when considering a trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress, our standard of review
is “divided into two parts.” State v. Preztak, 181 Ohio App. 3d 106, 2009-Ohio-621, 907 N.E.2d
1254, ¶ 22 (8th Dist.). In a hearing on a motion to suppress, “‘the trial court assumes the role of
trier of facts and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and evaluate the credibility of
witnesses.’” Id. at ¶ 22, quoting State v. Lloyd, 126 Ohio App. 3d 95, 709 N.E.2d 913 (7th
Dist.1998). Deference is, therefore, given to the trial court’s findings of fact related to a motion
to suppress if they are supported by competent, credible evidence. Preztak at ¶ 22. A
reviewing court, must however, independently determine whether those facts satisfy the
applicable legal standard. Id.
“Custodial” Interrogation
{¶20} Pursuant to Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d
694 (1966), statements “stemming from a custodial interrogation of the defendant” must be
suppressed unless the defendant was informed, prior to any questioning, of his “right to remain
silent, that anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, that he has the right to the
presence of an attorney, and that if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him
prior to any questioning if he so desires.” Id. at 479; see also State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d
460, 470, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001). “Custodial interrogation” is “questioning initiated by law
enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his
freedom of action in any significant way.” Miranda at 444. The determination of whether a
“custodial” interrogation has occurred requires an inquiry into “‘how a reasonable man in the
suspect’s position would have understood his situation.’” State v. Farris, 109 Ohio St. 3d 519,
2006-Ohio-3255, 849 N.E.2d 985, ¶ 14, quoting Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 442, 104
S. Ct. 3138, 82 L. Ed. 2d 317 (1984). An individual is in “custody” for Miranda purposes if,
“under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable person would not feel free to end the
encounter and leave.” See, e.g., State v. Griffith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97366,
2012-Ohio-2628, ¶ 18, citing Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664-665, 124 S. Ct. 2140,
158 L. Ed. 2d 938 (2004); see also State v. Gilbert, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 08 MA 206,
2012-Ohio-1165, ¶ 66-76 (identifying the ten-factor test certain courts have used “to help decide
whether a suspect is in custody for purposes of a Miranda analysis,” which includes the location
of the questioning; whether the defendant was a suspect when the interview began; whether the
defendant’s freedom to leave was restricted; whether the defendant was handcuffed or told he
was under arrest; whether threats were made or the defendant was physically intimidated during
the interrogation; whether the police verbally dominated the defendant; the defendant’s purpose
in being at the location where the questioning occurred; whether any neutral parties were present
and whether the police took any action to overpower, trick or coerce the defendant into making a
statement), citing State v. Tate, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 130, 2008-Ohio-3245, ¶ 46-66.
Thus, in this case, we must determine whether a reasonable person in Martinez’s position would
have felt that he was free to terminate the interrogation by Detective Sheridan and Sergeant
Zarzeczny at his home.
{¶21} Martinez contends that the interrogation was “custodial” because he was
“ambushed in his own home” by the two police officers, “intent on secretly recording him [and]
persistently questioning him” until they secured a confession. He claims that Sergeant
Zarzeczny’s presence was designed to “lull” Martinez — who, by that time, was clearly a suspect
— “into a false sense of security” and that his presence, combined with the secret recording of
his interrogation, created a “police-dominated atmosphere” that deprived Martinez of his
freedom in a significant way. We disagree. Although it may have been the better practice for
the law enforcement officers to have informed Martinez of his Miranda rights prior to
questioning him, we cannot say that their failure to do so rendered Martinez’s statements
inadmissible.
{¶22} Miranda warnings are not required simply because someone is a suspect. State v.
Petriashvili, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92851, 2009-Ohio-6466, ¶ 16; see also State v. Boyd, 4th
Dist. Adams No. 02CA744, 2003-Ohio-983, ¶ 7-8 (“[L]aw enforcement officers are not required
to administer Miranda warnings to every person suspected in an investigation. * * * ‘The mere
fact that an investigation has focused on a suspect does not trigger the need for Miranda warnings
in non-custodial settings.’”), quoting Minnesota v. Murphy, 465 U.S. 420, 431, 104 S. Ct. 1136,
79 L. Ed. 2d 409 (1984); but see State v. Robinson, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-06-1182,
2008-Ohio-3498, ¶ 271 (“As long as it remains undisclosed, a police officer’s subjective view
that an individual under questioning is a suspect has no bearing upon the question of whether that
individual is in custody. * * * But if the officer’s knowledge or belief is conveyed — either by
word or deed — to the individual being questioned, such knowledge or belief may bear upon
the issue of custody, but only to the extent that it would have affected how a reasonable person in
the position of the individual being questioned would have perceived his freedom to leave.”).
Likewise, Miranda warnings are not required simply because the questioning takes place in an
allegedly coercive atmosphere. See State v. Hoffner, 102 Ohio St. 3d 358, 2004-Ohio-3430, 811
N.E.2d 48, ¶ 26. As the United States Supreme Court explained in Oregon v. Mathiason, 429
U.S. 492, 495, 97 S. Ct. 711, 50 L. Ed. 2d 714 (1977): “Any interview of one suspected of a crime
by a police officer will have coercive aspects to it, simply by virtue of the fact that the police
officer is part of a law enforcement system which may ultimately cause the suspect to be charged
with a crime. But police officers are not required to administer Miranda warnings to everyone
whom they question.”
{¶23} In general, questioning by law enforcement officers is less likely to rise to the level
of a custodial interrogation when it occurs in a defendant’s home. See, e.g., Griffith,
2012-Ohio-2628, at ¶19; Petriashvili, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92851, 2009-Ohio-6466, ¶ 18
(“‘The mere presence of police officers does not render a suspect powerless, particularly when
the suspect is within the familiar surroundings of her own home.’”). This is because “a person’s
home is a place ‘a reasonable person would have felt free to terminate the interview * * *.’”
Griffith at ¶ 19, quoting Yarborough, 541 U.S. at 664-665, 124 S. Ct. 2140, 158 L. Ed. 2d 938. In
this case, following a careful review of the record and consideration of the totality of the
circumstances surrounding the interrogation, we find that Martinez was not in custody during the
interrogation at his home.
{¶24} The “‘ultimate inquiry’” when determining whether an individual is in “custody”
for Miranda purposes is “‘whether there [was] a formal arrest or restraint on freedom of
movement of the degree associated with a formal arrest.’” State v. Duhamel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 102346, 2015-Ohio-3145, ¶ 22, quoting California v. Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1125, 103
S. Ct. 3517, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1275 (1983). Where a defendant has not been placed under arrest, there
must be some objective, “affirmative signs of coercion” or restraint to transform a police
interview into a “custodial” interrogation. See, e.g., Griffith at ¶ 20. Martinez cites no
authority supporting his claim that a law enforcement officer’s surreptitious recording of an
interrogation — which would not be known to the suspect — or a suspect’s familiarity with one
of the interrogating officers would be of decisive significance when determining, under the
totality of the circumstances, whether an interrogation was “custodial.” Indeed, where one of
the interrogators is well known to the suspect, a reasonable person in the suspect’s position might
very well feel more “free to leave” or terminate an interrogation than if his interrogators were
unfamiliar law enforcement officers.
{¶25} Although Martinez claims that the interrogation was a “set up,” there are “no
objective indications” in the record that Martinez was not free to terminate the interview at any
time. Griffith at ¶ 19. The record reflects that after officers knocked on the door and
introduced themselves, Martinez agreed to be interviewed at his home, invited the officers inside,
showed them where to sit and offered them coffee. Martinez was not handcuffed or otherwise
restrained and was told that he was not under arrest. He was not isolated from others or
precluded from moving freely about his home during the interrogation. At the beginning of the
interview, Martinez’s wife was seated beside him. During the remainder of the interview, she
and Martinez’s daughter were in a bedroom 20-30 feet away. There is no evidence that the
officers physically dominated, verbally abused or intimidated Martinez or in any way threatened,
overpowered or coerced him into giving a statement. There is no evidence that Martinez ever
attempted to end the interrogation. Although Detective Sheridan was persistent with his
questioning — repeatedly challenging Martinez’s denials of the allegations against him and
telling Martinez that he did not believe Martinez was being truthful — this did not transform the
interview into a “custodial” interrogation. See, e.g., Preztak, 181 Ohio App. 3d 106,
2009-Ohio-621, 907 N.E.2d 1254 at ¶ 20 (no custodial interrogation where defendant invited
officers into her home, questioning by officers took place in defendant’s home, officers did not
handcuff or restrain the defendant, and defendant never made an attempt to end the interview);
Griffith, 2012-Ohio-2628, at ¶ 20 (law enforcement officers’ questioning of defendant at friend’s
home “had none of the hallmarks of a custodial interrogation” where defendant was not
handcuffed, was not separated from the owner of the home during questioning and questioning
was less than half an hour); Robinson, 2008-Ohio-3498, at ¶ 272-274 (a reasonable man in
defendant’s position would have understood that there was no formal arrest or restraint on his
movement to the degree associated with a formal arrest during one to one-and-one-half hour
interview by plainclothes police in defendant’s home; defendant invited the officers into his
home and offered them seats in his living room; defendant was never handcuffed, restrained,
threatened or told he could not leave and never asked the officers to leave or himself attempted to
leave). Compare State v. Tate, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 130, 2008-Ohio-3245, ¶ 57-68,
72 (notwithstanding officers’ statements to defendant that he was not a suspect, was not under
arrest and was free to leave, defendant was subjected to custodial interrogation where, during
interview at police station, police officers were verbally abusive and physically intimidating, i.e.,
screaming and cussing at defendant, calling him a liar,” and shaking a finger at him, threatened
him with arrest and prison and made him aware that his mother was being held “in some type of
informal custody” until he gave the police certain answers to their questions).
{¶26} Even assuming — as appears to be the case — that the officers went to Martinez’s
home with the express purpose of attempting to elicit a confession from him, it would not impact
our determination of whether Martinez was in “custody” for Miranda purposes. The subjective
intent of the suspect and the officers is irrelevant in determining whether a suspect is in
“custody” for Miranda purposes. Petriashvili, 2009-Ohio-6466, at ¶ 17; Duhamel,
2015-Ohio-3145, at ¶ 22 (determination of whether a defendant is in “custody” for purposes of
Miranda “does not depend on the subjective feelings of the accused or the subjective,
unarticulated goals of police”); see also Cleveland v. Oles, 2016-Ohio-23, 45 N.E.3d 1061, ¶ 20
(8th Dist.) (“‘[a] policeman’s unarticulated plan [to arrest a suspect] has no bearing on the
question whether a suspect was ‘in custody’ at a particular time; the only relevant inquiry is how
a reasonable man in the suspect’s position would have understood his situation’”), quoting
Berkemer, 468 U.S. at 442, 104 S. Ct. 3138, 82 L. Ed. 2d 317.
{¶27} Considering the totality of the circumstances, we find that a reasonable person in
Martinez’s position would have understood during the interrogation that he was not under arrest,
that his movement was not being restrained to the degree associated with a formal arrest and that
he was free to leave or terminate the interrogation. Therefore, Martinez was not in custody
during the interrogation at his home. Because the interrogation of Martinez at his home was not
custodial and because Martinez was informed of his Miranda rights before confessing to the
allegations a second time at the police station, the trial court did not err in denying Martinez’s
motion to suppress.
Whether Confession During Interrogation at Home Was Voluntary
{¶28} Martinez also challenges the voluntariness of his confession during his at-home
interrogation. Martinez contends that the “totality of the circumstances” — specifically, the fact
that Martinez had no prior experience with the criminal justice system, was “confronted
unexpectedly by the police” and was “repeatedly questioned” until he confessed — shows that
his statements were “the product of the psychologically coercive atmosphere arranged by the
police” and rendered his statements involuntary. Once again, we disagree.
{¶29} The issue of whether a confession is involuntary is separate from the issue of
whether Miranda warnings should have been given. See, e.g., State v. Fouts, 4th Dist.
Washington No. 15CA25, 2016-Ohio-1104, ¶ 35 (“Voluntariness of a confession and compliance
with Miranda are analytically two separate inquires.”), citing Dickerson v. United States, 530
U.S. 428, 120 S. Ct. 2326, 147 L. Ed. 2d 405 (2000). Even when Miranda warnings are not
required, a confession may be involuntary if the defendant’s “‘will was overborne’” and his
“‘capacity for self-determination was critically impaired because of coercive police conduct.’”
See, e.g., State v. Driggins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98073, 2012-Ohio-5287, ¶ 41, quoting State
v. Dailey, 53 Ohio St. 3d 88, 91-92, 559 N.E.2d 459 (1990); State v. Stringham, 2d Dist. Miami
No. 2002-CA-9, 2003-Ohio-1100, ¶ 11. The voluntariness of a confession is a question of law
subject to de novo review. Fouts at ¶ 35; State v. Bohanon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89443,
2008-Ohio-1087, ¶ 9, citing Arizona v. Fulminate, 499 U.S. 279, 287, 111 S. Ct. 1246, 113
L. Ed. 2d 302 (1991).
{¶30} As the Ohio Supreme Court explained in State v. Osie, 140 Ohio St. 3d 131,
2014-Ohio-2966, 16 N.E.3d 588:
“In deciding whether a defendant’s confession is involuntarily induced, the court
should consider the totality of the circumstances * * *.” State v. Edwards, 49
Ohio St. 2d 31, 358 N.E.2d 1051 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus, vacated on
other grounds, 438 U.S. 911, 98 S. Ct. 3147, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1155 (1978).
Nevertheless, “the use of an inherently coercive tactic by police is a prerequisite to
a finding of involuntariness.” State v. Perez, 124 Ohio St. 3d 122,
2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104, ¶ 71, citing Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S.
157, 167, 107 S. Ct. 515, 93 L. Ed. 2d 473 (1986). Consequently, unless the
detectives used a coercive tactic, we need not assess the totality of the
circumstances. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 472, 2001 Ohio 4, 739
N.E.2d 749 (2001); Perez at ¶ 71. “Evidence of use by the interrogators of an
inherently coercive tactic (e.g., physical abuse, threats, deprivation of food,
medical treatment, or sleep) will trigger the totality of the circumstances analysis.”
State v. Clark, 38 Ohio St. 3d 252, 261, 527 N.E.2d 844 (1988).
Id. at ¶ 93.
{¶31} The evidence presented at the suppression hearing supports the trial court’s
decision to allow Martinez’s statements during his at-home interrogation to be admitted into
evidence as a voluntary confession. We have carefully reviewed both the transcript from the
suppression hearing and the audio recording of Martinez’s at-home interrogation. While the
recording demonstrates that officers used various interrogation tactics to encourage Martinez to
“tell the truth” during the interrogation, including minimizing the conduct involved,
acknowledging what a “good guy” he is, discussing the “evidence” supporting the victim’s story,
urging him to be honest because it could help him and reminding Martinez that “people make
mistakes” and that he had the love and support of his wife and family who would “forgive him,”
there is nothing to suggest that Martinez was subjected to any kind of “inherently coercive tactic”
that might have made his statements involuntary and thus excludable.
{¶32} Admonitions to tell the truth are not coercive in nature. State v. Jones,
2015-Ohio-4116, 43 N.E.3d 833, ¶ 19 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Porter, 178 Ohio App. 3d 304,
2008-Ohio-4627, 897 N.E.2d 1149, ¶ 34 (2d Dist.); State v. Loza, 71 Ohio St. 3d 61, 67, 641
N.E.2d 1082 (1994) (“Admonitions to tell the truth are considered to be neither threats nor
promises and are permissible.”); State v. Bradley, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-95-15, 1996 Ohio App.
LEXIS 5685, *21 (Dec. 5, 1996) (“Repeated requests to tell the truth do not constitute coercion
so as to invalidate a confession.”), citing State v. Wiles, 59 Ohio St. 3d 71, 81, 571 N.E.2d 97
(1991); State v. Western, 2015-Ohio-627, 29 N.E.3d 245, ¶ 42 (2d Dist.) (“[a] police officer’s
assertion to the suspect that he or she is lying or that the suspect would not have another chance
to tell his or her side of the story does not automatically render a confession involuntary”).
Likewise, a police officer’s statement to a suspect that a confession “will be helpful” or a police
officer’s offer to “help” the suspect if he confesses is “not improper” and does not “invalidate an
otherwise legal confession.” Jones at ¶ 19, citing Stringham, 2003-Ohio-1100, at ¶ 16 (officer’s
attempt to “downplay the seriousness of the offense, by explaining that the situation might not be
as bad as [defendant] thought” and statements that “the situation was not going away” and that
defendant should tell the truth and “‘help’ himself out of a bad situation” did not cause
defendant’s free will to be overborne or otherwise result in a coerced confession); State v. Simms,
10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-1063, 2012-Ohio-2321, ¶ 59 (where detectives “encourage[d]
honesty, stating it could help [defendant],” detectives’ actions “did not rise to the level of
coercion”); see also Fouts, 2016-Ohio-1104, at ¶ 38-41 (concluding that there was nothing
“improper” in officer’s attempt to “create a favorable environment for a confession” by
minimizing the offense as a “mistake” and the defendant’s behavior as “iffy”; nothing in officer’s
interview “approache[d] the level of conduct necessary to overcome [defendant’s] will to remain
silent” or “otherwise resulted in a coerced confession” where there was no “badgering” or threats
by the officer, the “tone of the questioning was casual, conversational, and cooperative” and there
was “no hint of coercion or duress during the interview”); State v. Russell, 2d Dist. Clark No.
2011-CA-10, 2012-Ohio-4316, ¶ 23 (detective’s interrogation techniques and statements to
defendant that he needed to “man up” and “take some lumps,” i.e., tell the truth and take
responsibility for his actions, were not inherently coercive tactics).
{¶33} Moreover, the “totality of the circumstances” does not support the conclusion that
Martinez’s will was overborne. For purposes of evaluating the voluntariness of a confession,
the “totality of the circumstances” includes: “‘the age, mentality, and prior criminal experience of
the accused; the length, intensity, and frequency of interrogation; the existence of physical
deprivation or mistreatment; and the existence of threat or inducement.’” State v. Lynch, 98
Ohio St. 3d 514, 2003-Ohio-2284, 787 N.E.2d 1185, ¶ 54, quoting State v. Mason, 82 Ohio St. 3d
144, 154, 694 N.E.2d 932 (1998). The record reflects that Martinez was 66 at the time of his
confession, was a high school graduate and had been working regularly as a hall monitor at the
high school for several years. Martinez makes no claim that he suffered from any type of
physical disability or mental impairment that impacted the voluntariness of his confession. As
detailed above, the at-home interrogation, from the moment the officers entered Martinez’s home
until they left the home, lasted less than 30 minutes, with Martinez confessing after speaking
with the officers for approximately 15 minutes. This was the first time Martinez had been
questioned regarding the incident and the interrogation was conducted in his kitchen, a place that
was comfortable and familiar to him. At all times during the interrogation, the officers were
calm and respectful towards Martinez and the tone of their conversation was cooperative.
There was no yelling or screaming by the officers. There was no evidence that Martinez was
physically or verbally abused or threatened, was tricked or coerced into confessing, was made
any promises that induced his confession or was subjected to any physical deprivation or
mistreatment at any time during the interrogation.
{¶34} Because the trial court correctly ruled Martinez’s statements were not the result of
custodial interrogation and were voluntary, we overrule his assignment of error.
Stay of Sex Registration Requirements Pending Appeal
{¶35} We now turn to the state’s assignments of error. Because the state’s
assignments of error are related, we address them together. In its first assignment of error, the
state argues that the trial court lacked authority to stay the sex offender registration requirements
imposed as part of Martinez’s sentence under R.C. 2949.02(A) and 2953.09(A)(2)(a).1 In its
second assignment of error, the state argues that even if the trial court had authority to stay the
sex offender registration requirements, the trial court’s decision to stay the sex offender
registration requirements in this case was contrary to Crim.R. 46(C) and was, therefore, an abuse
of discretion. The state’s assignments of error raise what appear to be matters of first
impression in Ohio.2
1
The state does not contend that the trial court erred in staying execution of any other aspect of Martinez’s sentence
— just the sex offender registration requirements.
2
In State v. Eal, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-460, 2012-Ohio-1373, ¶ 116-119, the defendant argued that the trial
court had erred in denying his motion to stay his sex offender registration requirements pending appeal on the
grounds that it lacked authority to do so based on pre-Williams authority, but the Tenth District did not consider the
merits of the argument, concluding that even if the trial court could have stayed the registration requirements pending
appeal, the defendant had failed to demonstrate that he suffered any prejudice as a result based on its resolution of
{¶36} R.C. 2949.02(A) provides:
If a person is convicted of any bailable offense, including, but not limited to, a
violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation, in a municipal or county
court or in a court of common pleas and if the person gives to the trial judge or
magistrate a written notice of the person’s intention to file or apply for leave to
file an appeal to the court of appeals, the trial judge or magistrate may suspend,
subject to division (A)(2)(b) of section 2953.09 of the Revised Code, execution of
the sentence or judgment imposed for any fixed time that will give the person time
either to prepare and file, or to apply for leave to file, the appeal. In all bailable
cases, except as provided in division (B) of this section, the trial judge or
magistrate may release the person on bail in accordance with Criminal Rule 46,
and the bail shall at least be conditioned that the person will appeal without delay
and abide by the judgment and sentence of the court.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶37} R.C. 2953.09(A)(2)(a) provides:
If a notice of appeal is filed pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure by a
defendant who is convicted in a municipal or county court or a court of common
pleas of a felony or misdemeanor under the Revised Code or an ordinance of a
municipal corporation, the filing of the notice of appeal does not suspend
execution of the sentence or judgment imposed. However, consistent with
divisions (A)(2)(b), (B), and (C) of this section, Appellate Rule 8, and Criminal
Rule 46, the municipal or county court, court of common pleas, or court of
appeals may suspend execution of the sentence or judgment imposed during the
pendency of the appeal and shall determine whether that defendant is entitled to
bail and the amount and nature of any bail that is required. The bail shall at least
be conditioned that the defendant will prosecute the appeal without delay and
abide by the judgment and sentence of the court.
(Emphasis added.) See also App.R. 8(A) (“The discretionary right of the trial court or the court
of appeals to admit a defendant in a criminal action to bail and to suspend the execution of his
sentence during the pendency of his appeal is as prescribed by law.”).
{¶38} Thus, under R.C. 2949.02(A) and R.C. 2953.09(2)(a) the common pleas court has
discretion to suspend execution of the “sentence or judgment imposed” pending appeal. A trial
court abuses its discretion where its decision is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.
Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
the defendant’s other assignments of error.
{¶39} “Sentence” is defined in R.C. 2929.01(EE) as “the sanction or combination of
sanctions imposed by the sentencing court on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to
an offense.” A “sanction” is “any penalty imposed upon an offender who is convicted of or
pleads guilty to an offense, as punishment for the offense.” R.C. 2929.01(DD). “Simply put,
a sentence is a penalty or combination of penalties imposed on a defendant as punishment for the
offense he or she is found guilty of committing.” State v. Harris, 132 Ohio St. 3d 318,
2012-Ohio-1908, 972 N.E.2d 509, ¶ 28. As the state acknowledges, the Ohio Supreme Court
has held that the sex offender registration requirements at issue here are punitive. State v.
Williams, 129 Ohio St. 3d 344, 2011-Ohio-3374, 952 N.E.2d 1108, ¶ 15 (“Following the
enactment of S.B. 10, all doubt has been removed: R.C. Chapter 2950 is punitive.”); State v.
Blankenship, 145 Ohio St. 3d 221, 2015-Ohio-4624, 48 N.E.3d 516, ¶ 9 (“We * * * have held that
the enhanced sex-offender reporting and notification requirements contained in R.C. Chapter
2950 enacted by Am.Sub.S.B. No. 10 * * * are punitive in nature.”); see also State v. Lawson, 1st
Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-120077 and C-120067, 2012-Ohio-5281, ¶ 18 (“S.B. 10’s sex-offender
registration requirements are part of a sex offender’s sentence”), citing Williams, at ¶ 10-20;
State v. Thomas, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150294, 2016-Ohio-501, ¶ 7 (The Adam Walsh Act
“made registration, verification, and community notification requirements part of the penalty for
the offense”). Thus, “sentence” as used in R.C. 2949.02(A) and 2953.09(A)(2)(a) includes the
requirement that a defendant register as a sex offender. There is no exception set forth in any of
the relevant rules or statutes prohibiting a stay or suspension of the sex offender registration
requirements imposed as part of a defendant’s sentence pending appeal. Therefore, the trial
court had the authority to suspend execution of the sex offender registration requirements
imposed as part of Martinez’s sentence during the pendency of his appeal to this court.
Compare State v. Myers, 150 N.M. 1, 2011-NMSC-028, 256 P.3d 13, ¶ 41-45 (trial judge lacked
authority to stay Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) registration
pending defendant’s appeal of his conviction, reasoning that under New Mexico law, SORNA is
“‘primarily remedial in purpose and effect’” and SORNA registration does not “‘constitute
punishment for a crime’”), quoting State v. Moore, 135 N.M. 210, 2004-NMCA-35, 86 P.3d 635,
¶ 24.
{¶40} The state also argues that the trial court’s decision to stay execution of sex offender
registration requirements in this case was contrary to Crim.R. 46(C) and was, therefore, an abuse
of discretion.
{¶41} Crim.R. 46(C) provides:
In determining the types, amounts, and conditions of bail, the court shall consider
all relevant information, including but not limited to:
(1) The nature and circumstances of the crime charged, and specifically whether
the defendant used or had access to a weapon;
(2) The weight of the evidence against the defendant;
(3) The confirmation of the defendant’s identity;
(4) The defendant’s family ties, employment, financial resources, character,
mental condition, length of residence in the community, jurisdiction of residence,
record of convictions, record of appearance at court proceedings or of flight to
avoid prosecution;
(5) Whether the defendant is on probation, a community control sanction,
parole, post-release control, bail, or under a court protection order.
{¶42} The state argues that because the defendant’s identity was not in dispute and
Martinez was found guilty after a bench trial, Crim.R. 46(C)(2)-(3) compels the conclusion that
the trial court abused its discretion in staying execution of the sex offender registration
requirements.
{¶43} Crim.R. 46(C) addresses the factors to be considered “[i]n determining the types,
amounts, and conditions of bail.” As such, it is not directly applicable to the issue presented
here, i.e., whether execution of a sentence should be stayed. However, to the extent it applies
— or may otherwise serve as a guideline for courts in determining whether a request for a stay of
execution of a sentence should be granted — it requires only that the trial “consider” “all relevant
information,” including the specified factors. It does not state that any one factor or group of
factors is determinative.
{¶44} The offense giving rise to Martinez’s sentence, importuning in violation of R.C.
2907.07(B)(1), is a fifth-degree felony. The record reflects that at the time of his sentencing,
Martinez was 67, was married with five children and had retired from the Parma City Schools.
Martinez has a limited criminal history — i.e., he was convicted of an unrelated misdemeanor
charge in 1990 and a DUI in 1992. There is nothing in the record to suggest that Martinez had
any current issue with drug or alcohol abuse. There was no showing of any likely threat of
harm to the public if Martinez’s sentence was suspended pending his appeal. Although, based
on its statements during the suppression and sentencing hearings, the trial court felt compelled by
existing case law to deny Martinez’s motion to suppress, it also apparently believed that Martinez
had a reasonable argument for appeal that evidence of his confessions should have been
suppressed.
{¶45} On the record before us, although we do not believe it would have been an abuse of
discretion for the trial court to have denied Martinez’s motion to stay execution of the sex
offender registration requirements imposed as part of his sentence, we cannot say that the trial
court acted arbitrarily, unreasonably or unconscionably in granting Martinez’s motion to stay
execution of the sex offender registration requirements pending appeal to this court.
Accordingly, the state’s assignments of error are overruled.
{¶46} Judgment affirmed; case remanded to the trial court for execution of the sentence
imposed.
It is ordered that the state and Martinez share the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga County
Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
______________________________________________
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., and
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR