State v. Lawson , 2014 Ohio 3554 ( 2014 )

[Cite as State v. Lawson, 2014-Ohio-3554.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLERMONT COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
CASE NO. CA2013-12-093
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
OPINION
: 8/18/2014
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:
JERRY R. LAWSON, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. 1987 CR 05488
D. Vincent Faris, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney, Judith Brant and Nicholas Horton,
76 South Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, Batavia, Ohio 45103, for plaintiff-appellee
Randall L. Porter, Assistant State Public Defender, 250 East Broad Street, Suite 1400,
Columbus, Ohio 43215 and Buell & Sipe Co., L.P.A., Randall L. Porter and Dennis L. Sipe,
322 Third Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750, for defendant-appellant
M. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Jerry R. Lawson, appeals a decision of the Clermont
County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion for postconviction relief. For the reasons
discussed below, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} This court has heard numerous appeals relating to Lawson's 1987 murder
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charge, subsequent conviction and death sentence. The facts underlying Lawson's
convictions are more fully discussed in State v. Lawson, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA88-08-
044, 1990 WL 73845 (June 4, 1990). The following facts are relevant to the current appeal.
{¶ 3} On September 23, 1987, Lawson shot and killed Timothy Martin (Martin), in
retaliation for Martin implicating Lawson and his brother, Timothy Lawson, in a number of
residential burglaries in Owensville, Ohio. With the aid of William and Sue Payton, Martin
was persuaded to meet up with the Lawson brothers and Payton.1 Payton had told Martin
about a fictitious marijuana field that could be raided in order to lure Martin to a secluded
area. The four men drove along back roads of Clinton and Brown counties and eventually
stopped near an old barn and walked a short distance into the woods. Once there, Lawson
pulled out a handgun and shot Martin in the back. Martin fell to the ground and pleaded with
the men to take him to the hospital. However, Lawson confronted Martin about being a
"snitch" and began kicking and beating Martin in his head and ribs. Lawson continued to
physically and verbally torment Martin until he died approximately 45 minutes later. The men
then hid the body in a shallow hole next to a fallen tree.
{¶ 4} Two days after the shooting, Payton met with FBI Special Agent Larry Watson,
and informed him of the Martin murder. Thereafter, the Paytons agreed to cooperate with
police in the investigation of Martin's murder.
{¶ 5} Lawson was subsequently charged with two counts of aggravated murder, three
counts of kidnapping, two counts of intimidation, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary,
and gross abuse of a corpse. All counts, except the abuse of corpse, carried specifications.
After initially pleading not guilty to the charges, Lawson changed his plea to not guilty by
reason of insanity. Before trial, Lawson stipulated he had shot Martin.
1. For ease of discussion, we will refer to William Payton as "Payton" and Sue and William Payton collectively as
"the Paytons."
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{¶ 6} On April 26, 1988, a jury convicted Lawson of two counts of aggravated murder
with capital specifications, two counts of kidnapping, one count of aggravated robbery, and
two counts of intimidating a witness. After a mitigation hearing, the jury recommended the
death penalty on the aggravated murder charges. The trial court approved the jury's
recommendation on May 3, 1988, and sentenced Lawson to death for the aggravated murder
of Martin. The trial court imposed concurrent sentences for the remaining charges.
{¶ 7} Lawson appealed his convictions and sentence to this court, and we affirmed.
State v. Lawson, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA88-08-044, 1990 WL 73845 (June 4, 1990)
(Lawson I). The Ohio Supreme Court also affirmed Lawson's convictions and sentence in
State v. Lawson, 64 Ohio St.3d 336, 1992-Ohio-47 (Lawson II). The United States Supreme
Court denied Lawson's petition for writ of certiorari on March 29, 1993. Lawson v. Ohio, 507
U.S. 1007, 113 S.Ct. 1653 (1993).
{¶ 8} Lawson then sought postconviction relief. On December 15, 1993, Lawson
filed his first petition, arguing 41 claims for relief. The trial court, without a hearing, dismissed
Lawson's petition. Lawson appealed that decision to this court in State v. Lawson, 103 Ohio
App.3d 307 (12th Dist.1995) (Lawson III). We affirmed the trial court's decision. The Ohio
Supreme Court declined to accept jurisdiction of the case. State v. Lawson, 74 Ohio St.3d
1404 (1995).
{¶ 9} After exhausting these state remedies, Lawson filed for a writ of habeas corpus
in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The district court
conducted an eight day hearing in 1997 on Lawson's habeas petition. Ultimately, the district
court granted in part and denied in part Lawson's petition, and vacated Lawson's death
sentence. Lawson v. Warden, Mansfield Correctional Institution, 197 F.Supp.2d 1072(S.D.Ohio 2002). Both the state and Lawson appealed that decision to the Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals.
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{¶ 10} Lawson asserted before the federal habeas court that he was mentally
retarded, and thus ineligible for the death penalty pursuant to the United States Supreme
Court's decision in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242 (2002).2 The Sixth Circuit
ordered Lawson's appeal from the District Court be held in abeyance while he exhausted his
claims of mental retardation and government interference of his right to counsel in the state
courts. Lawson v. Warden, Sixth Circuit Case Nos. 02-3413, 02-3483 (Aug. 13, 2003).
Accordingly, in 2003, Lawson filed another motion for postconviction relief asserting these
two claims.
{¶ 11} On August 30, 2005, the trial court held a hearing and thereafter denied
Lawson's motion with respect to his mental retardation claim finding he had failed to prove by
a preponderance of the evidence that he is mentally retarded. On appeal, this court affirmed
the trial court's decision denying his petition for postconviction relief. State v. Lawson, 12th
Dist. Clermont No. CA2007-12-116, 2008-Ohio-6066 (Lawson IV). The Ohio Supreme Court
declined to hear Lawson's appeal of that decision. State v. Lawson, 123 Ohio St.3d 1523,
2009-Ohio-6487.
{¶ 12} Lawson then pursued the other argument in his 2003 motion for postconviction
relief, claiming the state had interfered with his constitutional right to counsel when a
courtroom deputy overhead conversations between himself and counsel with respect to
finding and interviewing William Payton. The trial court dismissed Lawson's petition. Lawson
appealed to this court. In State v. Lawson, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2011-07-056, 2012-
Ohio-548 (Lawson V), this court affirmed the trial court's decision. The Ohio Supreme Court
declined to accept jurisdiction of the case. State v. Lawson, 135 Ohio St.3d 1431, 2013-
Ohio-1857.
2. In Atkins, the United States Supreme Court held that executing a mentally retarded person violates the Eighth
Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Atkins at 304.
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{¶ 13} On April 4, 2013, Lawson filed the instant petition for postconviction relief
asserting 16 claims for relief. In response to Lawson's petition, the state filed a motion to
dismiss. After considering Lawson's petition, the state's motion to dismiss, and the
respective responses, the trial court denied the petition. In denying the petition, the trial court
found that the "majority of the information relied upon in this petition is old information that
does not meet the standard set forth by R.C. 2953.23(A) and none of the information has
demonstrated that the defendant was denied his constitutional rights." Lawson now appeals
the trial court's decision, raising three assignments of error for our review. For ease of
discussion, we address the assignments of error out of order.
II. Analysis
A. Standard of Review for Postconviction Relief Petitions
{¶ 14} A postconviction proceeding is not an appeal of a criminal conviction, but
rather, is a collateral civil attack on a criminal judgment. State v. Dillingham, 12th Dist. Butler
Nos. CA2012-02-037 and CA2012-02-042, 2012-Ohio-5841, ¶ 8, citing State v. Calhoun, 86
Ohio St.3d 279, 281 (1999). R.C. 2953.21 through 2953.23 set forth the means by which a
convicted defendant may seek to have the trial court's judgment or sentence vacated or set
aside pursuant to a petition for postconviction relief. State v. Hibbard, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2013-03-051, 2014-Ohio-442, ¶ 21. R.C. 2953.21(A)(2) sets forth the general
postconviction relief protocol and provides that such motions must be filed no later than 180
days after the date on which the trial transcript is filed with the court of appeals in the direct
appeal, or, if a direct appeal was not pursued, 180 days after the expiration of the time in
which a direct appeal could have been filed. R.C. 2953.21; Hibbard at ¶ 21.
{¶ 15} Pursuant to R.C. 2953.23(A)(1), a court "may not entertain" an untimely petition
or a second or successive petition unless the petitioner demonstrates both of the following
requirements:
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(a) Either the petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably
prevented from discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must
rely to present the claim for relief, or, subsequent * * * to the filing of an
earlier petition, the United States Supreme Court recognized a new
federal or state right that applies retroactively to persons in the
petitioner's situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that
right.
(b) The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for
constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found
the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted
or, if the claim challenges a sentence of death that, but for constitutional
error at the sentencing hearing, no reasonable factfinder would have
found the petitioner eligible for the death sentence.
{¶ 16} In other words, a court may entertain an untimely or successive petition for
postconviction relief only if the petitioner demonstrates either: (1) he was unavoidably
prevented from discovering the facts necessary for the claim for relief; or (2) the United
States Supreme Court has recognized a new federal or state right that applies retroactively to
persons in the petitioner's situation and the petitioner asserts a claim based on that right.
R.C. 2953.23(A)(1)(a); State v. Kent, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2013-05-003, 2013-Ohio-5090,
¶ 12. If the petitioner is able to satisfy one of these threshold conditions, he must then
demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that, but for the constitutional error at trial, no
reasonable fact-finder would have found him guilty of the offenses or found him eligible for a
death sentence. R.C. 2953.23(A)(1)(b); Hibbard at ¶ 22.
{¶ 17} "In reviewing an appeal of postconviction relief proceedings, this court applies
an abuse of discretion standard." State v. Snead, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2014-01-014,
2014-Ohio-2895, ¶ 16. "The term 'abuse of discretion' connotes more than an error of law or
of judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable."
State v. Thornton, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2012-09-063, 2013-Ohio-2394, ¶ 34; State v.
Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160, ¶ 130.
B. Constitutional Challenges
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{¶ 18} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶ 19} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DID NOT DECLARE R.C. 2953.21 AND
[R.C.] 2953.23(A)(2) CONSTITUTIONALLY INFIRM ON THEIR, [SIC] FACE AND AS
APPLIED TO APPELLANT.
{¶ 20} In Lawson's third assignment of error, he challenges the constitutionality of the
postconviction relief statutory scheme in R.C. 2953.21 and R.C. 2953.23(A). Lawson asserts
R.C. 2953.23(A) is unconstitutional both on its face and as applied to him.
{¶ 21} Lawson asserts R.C. 2953.23 is unconstitutional on its face as it violates the
Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the Separation of Powers Doctrine, and the "due
course of Law" and "open courts" provisions of Section 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
As conceded by Lawson, this court has already considered and rejected Lawson's
constitutional challenges to R.C. 2953.23 in this regard. Lawson V, 2012-Ohio-548 at ¶ 23-
33. In Lawson V, we relied on our decision in State v. McGuire, 12th Dist. Preble No.
CA2000-10-001, 2001 WL 409424 (Apr. 23, 2001) and found R.C. 2953.23 is a valid
exercise of legislative authority and the provisions of the statute do not violate the Supremacy
Clauses of the U.S. Constitution and Ohio Constitution, the Separation of Powers Doctrine,
or the "due course of law" and "open courts" provision of Article I, Section 16 of the Ohio
Constitution. Lawson V at ¶ 26-30. We reject Lawson's invitation to revisit our holdings in
Lawson V and McGuire, and we continue to find that the postconviction relief statute is
constitutional on its face.
{¶ 22} Lawson has also previously argued the statute is unconstitutional as applied to
him. See Lawson V at ¶ 30. Once again, he asserts the statute is unconstitutional as it
applies to him because it denies him the benefit of a "rational and more lenient standard of
review provided by federal rules and judicial decisions." We rejected this argument in
Lawson V, and we find no reason to revisit that decision here. Id. at ¶ 30-33. Lawson has
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been afforded ample opportunity to challenge his convictions. He has been afforded the right
to direct appeals, and three prior petitions for postconviction relief. We also note that the
clear and convincing standard found in R.C. 2953.23(A)(1) applied to Lawson's constitutional
challenges only after he filed an unsuccessful petition for postconviction relief, and sought a
second, third, and now a fourth petition for postconviction relief. The state is entitled, at
some point, to the finality of the judgment, and applying a clear and convincing standard to a
fourth petition for postconviction relief is not unconstitutional. See Lawson V at ¶ 32.
{¶ 23} Although not specifically labeled as a constitutional argument, Lawson also
challenges R.C. 2953.23(A) on the basis that the phrase "may not entertain" is used as
opposed to "shall not entertain." Lawson contends the trial court erred when it found the
jurisdictional requirements of R.C. 2953.23(A) were mandatory because, according to
Lawson, the plain language of the statute evidences the legislature's intent for trial courts to
maintain discretion over whether it will hear successive postconviction relief petitions.
{¶ 24} In State v. Johnson, 5th Dist. Guernsey No. 12 CA 19, 2013-Ohio-1398, the
Fifth District Court of Appeals considered this same argument and found: "While the word
'may' generally implies discretion to do an act, we find no distinction between 'may not' and
'shall not' when the General Assembly uses the language to prohibit actions." Id. at ¶ 21.
We find the rationale of the Johnson court persuasive and likewise find there is no
meaningful difference between "may not" and "shall not" as it is used in R.C. 2953.23(A).
See also State v. Conway, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-412, 2013-Ohio-3741, ¶ 64.
Moreover, it is well-established that unless a petitioner satisfies R.C. 2953.23(A), a trial court
lacks jurisdiction to hear an untimely or successive petition for postconviction relief. State v.
Garcia, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-02-025, 2013-Ohio-3677, ¶ 12; see also State v.
Halliwell, 134 Ohio App.3d 730, 734 (8th Dist.1999). Accordingly, Lawson's argument is
without merit.
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{¶ 25} Having found R.C. 2953.23 is not unconstitutional on its face or as applied to
Lawson, his third assignment of error is overruled.
C. Standard Applied to Lawson's Postconviction Relief Motion
{¶ 26} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 27} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT HELD THAT APPELLANT NEEDED TO
SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN R.C. 2953.23(A) FOR IT TO GRANT
APPELLANT RELIEF.
{¶ 28} In his first assignment of error, Lawson challenges the trial court's finding that
his postconviction relief petition is a successive petition subject to the clear and convincing
standard under R.C. 2953.23(A). Lawson asserts the instant petition should have been
treated as an initial petition, and thus subject to the more lenient standard set forth in R.C.
2953.21. In support of this argument, Lawson cites the Supreme Court of Ohio's decision in
in State v. Lott, 97 Ohio St.3d 303, 2002-Ohio-6625, ¶ 17.
{¶ 29} In Lott, the petitioner sought postconviction relief and requested his death
sentence be vacated based upon the United States Supreme Court's holding that the
execution of mentally retarded criminals violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and
unusual punishments. Lott at ¶ 4, citing Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242(2002). The Ohio Supreme Court recognized that Atkins established a new federal right with
respect to convicted, mentally retarded defendants, and consequently, as the petition was
filed for the first time since Atkins, the petition was more similar to an initial petition and thus
not subject to the "clear and convincing" standard under R.C. 2953.23. Lott at ¶ 17. The
Ohio Supreme Court thereafter determined that petitioners raising the Atkins issue in a
postconviction relief petition must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that they are
mentally retarded to be death penalty ineligible. Id.-9-
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{¶ 30} Lawson urges this court to similarly construe his current petition as an initial
petition because the petition was prompted by the United States Supreme Court's "ground
breaking" decision in Cullen v. Pinholster, ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 1388 (2011). Lawson
asserts, similar to the petitioner in Lott, that he filed the instant petition for postconviction
relief for the first time since Pinholster, and therefore it is more akin to an initial petition,
rather than successive. Lawson states that the purpose of the petition was "to preserve
evidence in the state court so that the federal system would not be precluded from
considering the evidence that was developed at the federal habeas trial." He further asserts
that the Pinholster decision "held that state courts should be given the first opportunity to
pass on evidence initially developed in the federal habeas proceeding." We find no merit to
Lawson's arguments.
{¶ 31} In Pinholster, the United States Supreme Court held that where an application
for a writ of habeas corpus seeks relief based upon a claim that has been "adjudicated on the
merits in State court proceedings," 28 U.S.C. 2254(d) limits review "to the record that was
before the State court that adjudicated the claim on the merits." Pinholster at 1398.3 In
reaching its decision, the United States Supreme Court reasoned that the purpose of the
structure of federal habeas jurisdiction, including Section 2254, is to ensure "that state courts
are the principal forum for asserting constitutional challenges to state convictions."
Pinholster at 1401, quoting Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 770, 787 (2011).
{¶ 32} We find no reason to treat Lawson's instant petition as anything other than a
3. As amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), 28 U.S.C. 2254 sets
several limits on a federal court's power to grant habeas relief to a state prisoner. As relevant here, if an
application includes a claim that has been "adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings," Section
2254(d) states that an application "shall not be granted with respect to [such a] claim * * * unless the adjudication
of the claim * * * (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly
established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States." See also Pinholster at
1398. In addition, Section 2254(e)(2) limits the discretion of federal habeas courts to take new evidence in an
evidentiary hearing where the applicant has failed to develop the factual basis of a claim in State court
proceedings. Id. at 1400-1401.
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successive petition for postconviction relief. As an initial matter, we note that unlike Atkins,
the decision in Pinholster did not establish a new federal right. Rather, the Pinholster
decision clarified the evidentiary limits for state prisoners seeking habeas corpus relief in
federal court. Pinholster at 1398. The decision did not relate to any constitutional right, but
rather interpreted state prisoner's rights with regards to habeas corpus proceedings pursuant
to their statutory rights under 28 U.S.C. 2254.
{¶ 33} Moreover, we do not find that Pinholster instructed state courts to hear
evidence developed at a federal habeas proceeding in order to facilitate a prisoner's habeas
corpus petition. Rather, the Supreme Court's decision provided guidelines and instructions to
the federal district courts with regards to what evidence it could consider under a claim for
relief that has previously been adjudicated on the merits by the state courts as contemplated
under Section 2254(d)(1). Specifically, the Court held that "evidence introduced in federal
court has no bearing on § 2254(d)(1) review. If a claim has been adjudicated on the merits
by a state court, a federal habeas petitioner must overcome the limitation of § 2254(d)(1) on
the record that was before the state court." Pinholster at 1400. As noted by the Pinholster
Court: "Section 2254(b) requires that prisoners must ordinarily exhaust state remedies before
filing for federal habeas relief. It would be contrary to that purpose to allow a petitioner to
overcome an adverse state-court decision with new evidence introduced in a federal habeas
4
court and reviewed by that court in the first instance effectively de novo." Pinholster at 1399.
{¶ 34} Although the Pinholster decision carries out the goal of "promoting comity,
finality, and federalism by giving state courts the first opportunity to review [a] claim, and to
4. As stated by the Pinholster court, "[a]lthough state prisoners may sometimes submit new evidence in federal
court, [the habeas] statutory scheme is designed to strongly discourage them from doing so. Provisions like
§§2254(d)(2) and (e)(2) ensure that 'federal courts sitting in habeas are not an alternative forum for trying facts
and issues which a prisoner made insufficient effort to pursue in state proceedings.'" Id. at 1401, quoting Williams
v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 420, 437, 120 S.Ct. 1479.
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correct any constitutional violation in the first instance," we fail to see how this decision
required the trial court to consider Lawson's petition without regard to the jurisdictional and
evidentiary requirements of R.C. 2953.23(A).
{¶ 35} In addition, we note that in Lott, the Supreme Court stated that any defendants
who wanted to raise an Atkins claim must file such a petition within 180 days after the
decision, otherwise the petitioner would be required to meet the statutory standards under
R.C. 2953.23 for untimely and successive petitions for postconviction relief. Lott at ¶ 24.
Pinholster was decided on April 4, 2011; therefore, even if we accepted Lawson's arguments
arguendo, the time limit for an initial petition has expired. Lawson did not file the instant
petition until April 4, 2013, well outside the 180 day limitation. See R.C. 2953.21.
Accordingly, as he failed to meet the timing requirements under R.C. 2953.21, his petition
would have still been required to meet the clear and convincing standard for untimely and
successive petitions for postconviction relief under R.C. 2953.23.
{¶ 36} Based on the foregoing, we find the trial court did not err in finding Lawson was
required to meet the requirements under R.C. 2953.23 in order for the court to entertain the
petition. Lawson's second assignment of error is overruled.
D. Merits of Lawson's Claims for Relief
{¶ 37} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 38} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED APPELLANT RELIEF ON
EACH OF THE SIXTEEN GROUNDS FOR RELIEF CONTAINED IN HIS POST-
CONVICTION PETITION.
{¶ 39} In his second assignment of error, Lawson asserts that he raised 16 distinct
constitutional violations within his petition for postconviction relief and supported those
grounds for relief with evidence. Lawson contends that the trial court therefore erred and
abused its discretion when it denied his petition as to each of the 16 grounds for relief.
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{¶ 40} Before turning to each of Lawson's grounds for relief, we note that although a
petition for postconviction relief permits a person to bring a collateral challenge to the validity
of a conviction or sentence in a criminal case, it does not provide a petitioner a second
opportunity to litigate a conviction. State v. Rose, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-03-050,
2012-Ohio-5957, ¶ 15-16; State v. Bush, 96 Ohio St.3d 235, 238 (2002). Accordingly, "[i]t is
well established that a trial court may dismiss a postconviction relief petition on the basis of
the doctrine of res judicata." State v. Bayless, 12th Dist. Clinton Nos. CA2013-10-020 and
CA2013-10-021, 2014-Ohio-2475, ¶ 9, quoting State v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-
12-258, 2013-Ohio-3878, ¶ 30.
{¶ 41} Under res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars a convicted defendant
who was represented by counsel from raising and litigating in any proceeding except an
appeal from judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or
could have been raised by the defendant at the trial, which resulted in that judgment or
conviction, or on an appeal from that judgment. Kent, 2013-Ohio-5090 at ¶ 17; State v.
Wagers, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2011-08-007, 2012-Ohio-2258, ¶ 10, citing State v.
Szefcyk, 77 Ohio St.3d 93 (1996), syllabus. This doctrine "promotes the principles of finality
and judicial economy by preventing endless relitigation of an issue on which a defendant has
already received a full and fair opportunity to be heard." Snead, 2014-Ohio-2895 at ¶ 18,
quoting State v. Saxon, 109 Ohio St.3d 176, 2006-Ohio-1245, ¶ 18. However, "there is an
exception to the res judicata bar when the petitioner presents competent, relevant, and
material evidence outside the record that was not in existence and available to the petitioner
in time to support the direct appeal." (Emphasis sic.) State v. Piesciuk, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2013-01-011, 2013-Ohio-3879, ¶ 18. Evidence outside the record, or evidence dehors the
record, must demonstrate that appellant could not have appealed the constitutional claim
based upon information in the original record and such evidence must not have been in
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existence and available to the petitioner at the time of trial. Id.{¶ 42} We now consider each of the 16 grounds for relief in turn, keeping in mind the
standard set forth above under R.C. 2953.23.
1. First Ground for Relief
{¶ 43} In his first ground for relief, Lawson argues Ohio's statutory scheme for
postconviction relief is unconstitutional because it does not provide an "adequate corrective
process." As recognized in our resolution of Lawson's third assignment of error, this court
has already addressed the constitutionality of Ohio's postconviction relief statutory scheme
and found such to be constitutional. See also Lawson V, 2012-Ohio-548 at ¶ 26. Moreover,
"this court has already determined that 'the statutory procedure for postconviction relief
constitutes an adequate corrective process.'" State v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-
12-258, 2013-Ohio-3878, ¶ 34, quoting State v. Lindsey, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2002-02-
002, 2003-Ohio-811, ¶ 23. We see no reason to deviate from this prior precedent.
Accordingly, the trial court did not err when it denied Lawson's first ground for relief.
2. Second and Third Grounds for Relief
{¶ 44} In his second and third grounds for relief, Lawson challenged his competency.
Specifically, Lawson asserted he was incompetent at the time of pretrial, trial, and at
sentencing. He further argued that he is presently incompetent, and therefore all
proceedings must cease until his competency is restored.
{¶ 45} We find Lawson's claims regarding his incompetency during pretrial, trial, and
sentencing are barred by the doctrine of res judicata. All of the facts necessary to challenge
Lawson's competency during these proceedings existed at the time of his conviction.
Accordingly, Lawson could have and should have raised this issue at the time of the direct
appeal. See Kent, 2013-Ohio-5090 at ¶ 19. Moreover, it appears Lawson previously raised
these same claims for relief in his first postconviction relief petition which the trial court
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denied, and we affirmed. See Lawson III, 103 Ohio App.3d at 316. Lawson has failed to
demonstrate that there is any new evidence that he was unavoidably prevented from
discovering which would establish this claim of relief. Accordingly, we find no reason to
revisit our holding in Lawson III.
{¶ 46} As to his current competency, Lawson argued that he is presently incompetent
and therefore the postconviction proceedings should have been stayed until his competency
is restored. Alternatively, Lawson argued the trial court erred in failing to order a competency
evaluation. Several Ohio courts have previously considered the argument now raised by
Lawson and have concluded that a petitioner is not entitled, statutorily or constitutionally, to a
competency hearing or evaluation in connection with postconviction proceedings. State v.
Spivey, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 12 MA 75, 2014-Ohio-721, ¶ 42; State v. Cassano, 5th Dist.
Richland No. 12CA55, 2013-Ohio-1783, ¶ 42; State v. Moreland, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
20331, 2004-Ohio-5778, ¶ 30; State v. Neyland, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-12-014, 2013-Ohio-
3065, ¶ 52. As aptly stated by Seventh District Court of Appeals:
Other than a competency hearing to ensure that a capital
defendant is competent to make the decision to forego
postconviction proceedings and submit to his execution, a capital
defendant is not entitled to a competency evaluation and hearing
to determine whether he is competent to assist in the
postconviction proceedings.
Spivey at ¶ 42. We agree with the conclusion reached by these courts. As noted above, a
postconviction proceeding is a collateral civil attack on a criminal judgment. Dillingham,
2012-Ohio-5841 at ¶ 8. Although the petitioner's life is at stake in postconviction proceedings
for capital defendants, we must acknowledge that postconviction review is not a constitutional
right, and accordingly a petitioner receives no more rights than those granted by statute.
State v. Steffen, 70 Ohio St.3d 399, 410 (1994); State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279 (1999).
Consequently, because the postconviction relief statute does not provide for a competency
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hearing at this stage, we conclude the trial court did not err in refusing Lawson a competency
hearing and evaluation.
{¶ 47} Moreover, even if we had found Lawson was entitled to a competency hearing
and evaluation, Lawson failed to present sufficient evidence which would have required the
trial court to order such a hearing. Much of the evidence presented by Lawson about his
alleged current incompetency relates to his psychiatric treatment while in prison and his
consistent diagnosis of suffering from a "serious mental illness." However, "[h]aving a mental
illness is not necessarily equivalent to being legally incompetent to stand trial." State v.
Blankenship, 115 Ohio App.3d 512, 518 (12th Dist.1996), quoting State v. Berry, 72 Ohio
St.3d 354 (1995), syllabus.
{¶ 48} Based on the foregoing, the trial court did not err in denying Lawson's second
and third grounds for relief.
3. Fourth and Fifth Grounds for Relief
{¶ 49} In his fourth and fifth grounds for relief, Lawson argued his convictions are void
or voidable because he was denied the effective assistance of experts during the trial and
mitigation stages of his capital case. Specifically, he claimed he should have been
interviewed and evaluated by a psychologist and a neuropsychologist. In the alternative,
Lawson asserts his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to employ such competent experts.
According to Lawson, if he had been evaluated by these mental health professionals they
would have provided additional information to the jury regarding Lawson's state of mind at
the time of the murder, and thus such testimony would have impacted both the trial and
sentencing phases.
{¶ 50} Again, we find these arguments are barred by res judicata as Lawson could
have raised his ineffective assistance of counsel claims and his claims relating to the lack of
evidence presented at trial and at mitigation about his mental state during his direct appeal.
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See Wagers, 2012-Ohio-2258 at ¶ 10. In addition, Lawson asserted these same arguments
within his first petition for postconviction relief which the trial court denied, and we affirmed on
appeal. See Lawson III at 314-316. Lawson has not set forth any new evidence in support
of these arguments which has not been available to him for several years. The evidence
Lawson submitted in support of these claims consisted of an exhibit and the hearing
transcript from the federal habeas proceedings in 1997. Lawson has failed to demonstrate
that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering this information as required by R.C.
2953.23. Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying Lawson's fourth and fifth grounds for
relief.
4. Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grounds for Relief
{¶ 51} In his sixth, seventh, and eighth claims for relief, Lawson asserted several
violations under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194. In Brady, the United States
Supreme Court held, "the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an
accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to
punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution." State v. Stojetz,
12th Dist. Madison No. CA2009-06-013, 2010-Ohio-2544, ¶ 12, quoting Brady at 87.
Evidence is "material" if there is a reasonable probability that the proceeding would have
turned out differently had the evidence been disclosed. Stojetz at ¶ 12.
{¶ 52} Many of the Brady violations Lawson raised in the instant petition have been
fully litigated. Specifically, Lawson's claim that the state committed a Brady violation when it
failed to disclose the statements of the Paytons and any related notes made by the
prosecutor during such interviews was fully litigated in Lawson I and Lawson II. This court
and the Ohio Supreme Court reviewed the materials and found no Brady violation. Lawson I,
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1990 WL 73845 at *9-11; Lawson II, 64 Ohio St.3d at 342-345.5 Similarly, Lawson's claims
regarding the state's failure to disclose the FBI reports with respect to William Payton were
fully litigated in Lawson II. There, the Supreme Court held that because "the FBI reports
were not in the state's possession, they were not subject to Brady." Lawson II at 344-345.
Furthermore, Lawson raised substantially these same arguments in his first postconviction
relief petition and each was rejected by the trial court and subsequently affirmed by this court.
See Lawson III, 103 Ohio App.3d at 316. Accordingly, as these particular Brady violations
have been fully litigated, Lawson's arguments are without merit based on the doctrine of res
judicata. See Snead, 2014-Ohio-2895 at ¶ 19.
{¶ 53} Although Lawson did not specifically argue a Brady violation, he asserted in his
third petition for postconviction relief that his constitutional rights were violated when a deputy
overheard a conversation between Lawson and his attorney regarding the need to find and
interview Payton. The deputy documented the conversation and shared the document with
the prosecutor. In Lawson V, we found that Lawson was unavoidably prevented from
discovering the deputy's report. Lawson V, 2012-Ohio-548 at ¶ 53. However, we affirmed
the trial court's decision that Lawson was not entitled to relief as he failed to fulfill the second
requirement of R.C. 2953.23(A)(2), demonstrating a constitutional violation or that absent the
alleged violation, he would not have been convicted. Id. Lawson could have and should
have raised his Brady argument regarding the deputy's report at that time. "Res judicata
applies to bar raising piecemeal claims in successive postconviction relief petitions * * * that
could have been raised, but were not, in the first postconviction relief petition." State v.
Johnson, 5th Dist. Guernsey No. 12 CA 19, 2013-Ohio-1398, ¶ 47; see also State v. Ballard,
5. The Supreme Court found that the prosecutor's notes regarding the interviews with the Paytons "did not
contain any additional evidence material to appellant's guilt or punishment." Lawson II at 344. The court also
found that "whatever may be considered even remotely favorable to the accused had been disclosed to the
defense through other means." Id.- 18 -
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12th Dist. Warren No. CA92-10-091, 1993 WL 106147, *2 (Apr. 12, 1993). Accordingly, we
find this argument, too, is barred by the doctrine of res judicata.
{¶ 54} Lawsons' remaining arguments relate to other statements and evidence that he
alleged was favorable to him or would have at least contradicted the trial testimony given by
his brother, Timothy Lawson. Essentially, Lawson argued the state's suppression of
evidence, particularly, the testimony of William Payton violated his rights as it "debunked the
[s]tate's theory" of the case. Specifically, Lawson argued that the state should have
disclosed letters written by Clermont County Judge William Walker which indicated Payton
had an outstanding felony warrant. In addition, Lawson argued that the state should have
disclosed notes from officers within the Clermont County Sheriff's Office which indicated
Timothy Lawson had previously threatened to kill Martin. The trial court found that the above
exhibits and the related information was not material to guilt or punishment such that there
was not a reasonable probability that the proceeding would have turned out differently. Upon
review, we agree. Moreover, we note that the evidence relied upon by Lawson within each of
these claims for relief has been in existence since the time of the federal hearing in 1997.
Accordingly, Lawson has failed to show that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering
the facts with which to support these claims. See R.C. 2953.23.
{¶ 55} Based on the foregoing, we find the trial court did not err in denying relief on
Lawson's sixth, seventh, and eighth grounds for relief.
5. Ninth Ground for Relief
{¶ 56} In Lawson's ninth ground for relief, he asserted his convictions and sentences
are void or voidable due to prosecutorial misconduct that occurred prior to and during his
trial. Lawson argued the prosecutor acted inappropriately by advising Payton not to speak
with defense counsel. This argument appears to merely be a repackaging of Lawson's
arguments from his third petition for postconviction relief.
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{¶ 57} In Lawson V, this court found that there was no indication in the record that the
state "hid Payton." Id. at ¶ 50. Rather the record "merely establishes that, on one occasion,
an assistant prosecutor advised Payton not to speak with defense counsel in a hallway of the
courthouse." Id. Accordingly, we affirmed the trial court's decision denying postconviction
relief. As the factual basis for Lawson's ninth ground for relief is the same as that which he
relied in his third petition for postconviction relief, we find Lawson could have and should
have asserted this argument in that petition. See Johnson at ¶ 47. Lawson has not set forth
any new set of facts which would support this claim. As such, this argument is also barred by
res judicata. The trial court did not err in denying Lawson's ninth ground for relief.
6. Tenth Ground for Relief
{¶ 58} In his tenth ground for relief, Lawson argued that the state permitted its key
witness, Timothy Lawson, to give inaccurate and perjured testimony. Essentially, Lawson
asserts once more that Timothy Lawson's testimony was false and the state was aware that it
was false as his testimony differed from Payton's version of events.
{¶ 59} Once again, we find this argument is barred by res judicata as Lawson raised
this argument within his first petition for postconviction relief. As noted previously, the trial
court denied the motion, and we affirmed that decision in Lawson III, 103 Ohio App.3d at
316. Moreover, Lawson has not set forth any new evidence in support of this argument
which has not been available to him for several years. The evidence Lawson submitted in
support of these claims included the hearing transcript from his federal habeas proceedings
in 1997 as well as Payton's 1993 affidavit. Lawson has further failed to demonstrate that he
was unavoidably prevented from discovering this information as required by R.C. 2953.23.
Therefore, we find the trial court did not err in denying Lawson's tenth ground for relief.
7. Eleventh Ground for Relief
{¶ 60} In Lawson's eleventh ground for relief, he argued that his convictions and
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sentences are void or voidable because the state failed to provide its expert, Dr. Roger
Fisher, with all of the information that he needed to render a competent opinion concerning
Lawson's mental state. At trial, Dr. Fisher testified that Lawson knew right from wrong and
was not insane at the time of the offense. In the petition, Lawson asserted that Dr. Fisher,
after being provided with all the requisite information, including Payton's pretrial statements,
"has now concluded" that had he been provided all this information, it "would have made a
difference with respect to his diagnosis." Lawson further argued that the state's failure to
provide all relevant information to Dr. Fisher constituted prosecutorial misconduct.
{¶ 61} In this ground for relief, Lawson relied upon the testimony of Dr. Fisher that was
taken during the federal habeas proceedings in 1997. Accordingly, the facts which form the
basis for this ground of relief have been available to Lawson since that time. Lawson has
therefore failed to show that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering this information.
See R.C. 2953.23. Moreover, Lawson relied upon this same testimony in his second
postconviction relief petition wherein he asserted he was ineligible for the death penalty as he
is mentally retarded. Consequently, Lawson could have and should raised this claim as to
Dr. Fisher's "new" opinion regarding Lawson's insanity in his second petition for
postconviction relief. As mentioned above, res judicata also bars piecemeal postconviction
relief petitions. See Johnson, 2013-Ohio-1398, ¶ 48. Accordingly, we find the trial court did
not err in denying this claim for relief.
8. Twelfth and Thirteenth Grounds for Relief
{¶ 62} In his twelfth and thirteenth grounds for relief, Lawson asserted he was denied
effective assistance of counsel during trial and at mitigation. Specifically, Lawson argues his
trial counsel was ineffective in failing to: (1) have Lawson's competency to stand trial
evaluated; (2) file a motion to suppress; (3) interview certain witnesses, including Payton; (4)
retain a psychologist and neuropsychologist; (5) conduct a reasonable and complete
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mitigation investigation; and (6) make certain objections to the admission of evidence.
{¶ 63} Again, we find these claims are barred by the doctrine of res judicata as
Lawson could have raised these ineffective assistance of counsel claims during his direct
appeal. See Wagers, 2012-Ohio-2258 at ¶ 10; Kent, 2013-Ohio-5090 at ¶ 19. These issues
could have been determined without resort to evidence outside the record. See Lawson III at
313-316. In fact, in Lawson III, we affirmed the trial court's finding that Lawson's claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel were barred by res judicata. Lawson III at 316. Lawson
has failed to present any new evidence outside the record which he was unavoidably
prevented from discovering which would now support his claims for relief. See R.C. 2953.23.
Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying Lawson's petition as to his twelfth and
thirteenth grounds for relief.
9. Fourteenth Ground for Relief
{¶ 64} In his fourteenth ground for relief, Lawson argued his convictions and
sentences are void or voidable because the trial court permitted FBI Special Agent Watson to
testify regarding the out of court statements made by the Paytons in violation of his rights
under the confrontation clause.
{¶ 65} This claim for relief also has no merit as it is barred by the doctrine of res
judicata. The evidence admitted at trial, including Agent Watson's testimony as to the
statements made by the Paytons was well known to Lawson and his appellate counsel.
Therefore, he could have and should have appealed this issue during his direct appeal. Kent
at ¶ 19. Moreover, as it was well known to both Lawson and his various attorneys that this
evidence was admitted at trial, Lawson has also failed to demonstrate, as required under
R.C. 2953.23 that he was unavoidably prevented from discovering the facts upon which he
relies to present this claim for relief. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying relief as
to Lawson's fourteenth ground for relief.
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10. Fifteenth Ground for Relief
{¶ 66} In his fifteenth ground for relief, Lawson asserts that his convictions and
sentences are void or voidable because the trial court admitted into evidence custodial
statements that were taken in violation of his Fifth Amendment Miranda rights.
{¶ 67} Again, the fact that trial counsel failed to file a motion to suppress these
statements and that the statements were later admitted at Lawson's trial is not new evidence;
rather, it was well known to Lawson and his appellate counsel. As the evidence necessary to
challenge this alleged constitutional right violation existed based on the original record at trial,
we find this argument also is barred by res judicata. See Lawson III, 103 Ohio App.3d at
315. Lawson should have and could have challenged the admission of his custodial
statements on direct appeal. Moreover, it appears Lawson indeed asserted Miranda
violations within his first petition for postconviction relief. Again, the trial court denied the
petition, and we affirmed. Lawson III, 103 Ohio App.3d at 316. Lawson has failed to provide
any new evidence outside the original trial record or further show that he was unavoidably
prevented from discovering such evidence. See R.C. 2953.23. Based on the foregoing, the
trial court did not err in denying Lawson relief as to his fifteenth ground for relief.
11. Sixteenth Ground for Relief
{¶ 68} In his final ground for relief, Lawson argues that that the cumulative effect of all
the grounds for relief contained in the instant petition and the facts relied upon for those
grounds for relief demonstrate that his constitutional rights have been violated. According to
the cumulative error doctrine, "a conviction will be reversed where the cumulative effect of
errors in a trial deprives a defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial even though each
of numerous instances of trial court error does not individually constitute cause for reversal."
State v. Hoop, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2011-07-015, 2012-Ohio-992, ¶ 58, quoting State v.
Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64 (1995). The doctrine of cumulative error is not applicable
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unless there are multiple instances of harmless error. Garner at 64.
{¶ 69} Having previously found no error as set forth in Lawson's substantive grounds
for relief, we find no cumulative error. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying
Lawson's sixteenth ground for relief.
E. Evidentiary Hearing
{¶ 70} Within his second through sixteenth grounds for relief, Lawson alternatively
argued that the trial court erred by not granting him an evidentiary hearing to develop the
facts related to each of his claims for relief. We find no merit to this argument.
{¶ 71} "An evidentiary hearing is not automatically guaranteed each time a defendant
makes a petition for postconviction relief." State v. Piesciuk, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-
01-011, 2013-Ohio-3879, ¶ 63. In order to be entitled to a hearing, "the petitioner must show
that there are substantive grounds for relief that would warrant a hearing based upon the
petition, the supporting affidavits, and the files and records in the case." State v. Vore, 12th
Dist. Warren Nos. CA2012-06-049 and CA2012-10-106, 2013-Ohio-1490, ¶ 11; see also
R.C. 2953.21(C). The burden is on the petitioner to show that the claimed errors resulted in
prejudice before a hearing on a postconviction relief petition is warranted. State v. Widmer,
12th Dist. Warren No. CA2012-02-008, 2013-Ohio-62, ¶ 164.
{¶ 72} After reviewing the trial court's 19-page opinion, it is apparent that the trial court
was thorough in its analysis and did not abuse its discretion in denying Lawson's
postconviction petition without holding a hearing. The trial court did not find substantive facts
supporting a claim for relief on constitutional grounds. For the reasons set forth above, we
find that the record supports the trial court's conclusions. Accordingly, the trial court did not
err in denying the petition without first holding a hearing.
{¶ 73} In conclusion, we find no error in the trial court's denial of each of the grounds
for relief in Lawson's successive petition for postconviction relief, and further find no abuse of
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discretion in the trial court's denial of a hearing thereon. Lawson's second assignment of
error is therefore overruled.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 74} After reviewing each of the claimed grounds for relief, we conclude Lawson's
petition failed to satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of R.C. 2953.23. The petition does not
rely on new evidence and Lawson does not argue that he was unavoidably prevented from
discovering the facts upon which he had to rely to present his current claims for relief.
Lawson also did not demonstrate that the petition was based on a new federal or state right
that has been recognized by the United States Supreme Court. Moreover, Lawson failed to
show by clear and convincing evidence that, but for any of the alleged constitutional errors at
trial, no reasonable fact-finder would have found him guilty of aggravated murder, or found
him eligible for a death sentence. R.C. 2953.23(A)(2). Thus, Lawson failed to demonstrate
the criteria set forth in R.C. 2953.23, such that the trial court should have entertained his
petition for postconviction relief. Based on the foregoing, we find the trial court did not err in
denying his fourth petition for postconviction relief.
{¶ 75} Judgment affirmed.
S. POWELL, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.
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