State v. Mitchell , 2019 Ohio 5168 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Mitchell, 2019-Ohio-5168.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
UNION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 14-19-14
v.
LATOYA BLANCHE MITCHELL, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Union County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 2018-CR-0084
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: December 16, 2019
APPEARANCES:
Alison Boggs for Appellant
David W. Phillips for Appellee
Case No. 14-19-14
SHAW, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, LaToya Mitchell (“Mitchell”), brings this appeal
from the January 29, 2019, judgment of the Union County Common Pleas Court
sentencing her to 10 years and 10 months in prison after Mitchell was convicted by
a jury of Involuntary Manslaughter in violation of R.C. 2903.04(A), a felony of the
first degree, Trafficking in Cocaine in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a felony of
the fifth degree, and Trafficking Heroin in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a felony
of the fifth degree. On appeal, Mitchell argues that there was insufficient evidence
presented to support her convictions, that her convictions were against the manifest
weight of the evidence, that the trial court erred in providing a supplemental jury
instruction in response to a juror’s question, that the trial court erred by failing to
voir dire a juror when the juror was “physically upset” during deliberations, that the
trial court erred in denying Mitchell’s request for new counsel on the morning of
trial, and that the cumulative errors in this trial prejudiced her.
Background
{¶2} On April 12, 2018, Mitchell was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter
in violation of R.C. 2903.04(A), a first degree felony, Trafficking in Cocaine in
violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a fifth degree felony, Trafficking in Heroin in
violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a fifth degree felony, and Aggravated Trafficking
in Drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a fourth degree felony. It was alleged
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that Mitchell sold heroin and crack-cocaine on or about November 16, 2016, and
that the drugs were ingested by Sydney Allmon, resulting in Sydney’s death. The
Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs charge alleged that Mitchell knowingly sold or
offered to sell a “Schedule II” substance, specifically carfentanil. Mitchell pled not
guilty to the charges.
{¶3} The matter proceeded to a jury trial on October 25-26, 2018. Before
the jury was selected, the State “nolled” the Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs
charge, indicating that “as it relates to Fentanyl or carfentanil which there was a
trace of that * * * I don’t think there’s sufficient evidence to show that she
knowingly sold that drug.” (Oct. 25, 28, Tr. at 6). The State proceeded to trial on
the remaining three charges.
{¶4} Testimony at trial revealed that Sydney Allmon struggled with
addiction and met Brandon Redd in a rehabilitation center in Florida. Sydney and
Brandon began dating, but were removed from a sober living facility in Florida after
they both relapsed. The couple returned to Ohio approximately three days before
Sydney’s death.
{¶5} On November 15, 2016, the day before Sydney’s death, between 12:00
p.m. and 1:15 p.m., Brandon was in contact with a drug dealer named “Chop” and
he was separately in contact with Mitchell—Chop’s sister. Brandon acquired drugs
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from Chop at that time, not from Mitchell, then Brandon indicated that he and
Sydney were out of money.
{¶6} In order to get money, Sydney contacted a gentleman’s club called
Siren’s to work a shift there. Sydney’s shift was scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. on
November 15, 2016. Brandon dropped off Sydney at work and he indicated that she
used heroin before her shift. Sydney arrived at Siren’s shortly after 7:00 p.m. and
went to work.
{¶7} During her shift, at 9:59 p.m., Brandon messaged Sydney and asked her
how much money she had made. Sydney responded, “like 80 i think ill [sic] count
in a sec.” (State’s Ex. 26). Brandon picked up Sydney from work around 2:30 a.m.
on November 16, 2016. The two attempted to contact various drug dealers that they
knew in order to acquire drugs. Sydney tried to call “YC Moore” to ask if she could
stop by. Moore was one of her “main source[s] of supply,” but no contact was made.
(Oct. 25, 2018, Tr. at 178).
{¶8} At the time, Brandon was unable to make calls on his phone as his
mother had shut off the calling feature in the previous hours; however, he could still
send text messages and send messages through Facebook.
{¶9} At 2:38 a.m. Sydney and Brandon attempted to contact “Chop” on
Sydney’s phone. Although Chop had sold drugs to Brandon the prior afternoon,
Brandon indicated that they were out of drugs. Using Sydney’s phone, Brandon
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identified himself to Chop and told Chop he was trying to acquire drugs. Chop
responded to get ahold of him in the morning.
{¶10} When their initial efforts attempting to contact dealers were
unsuccessful, Brandon contacted Mitchell and asked if it was too late to “come thru
[sic].” Brandon knew Mitchell through Chop, and had seen her before when he was
making drug transactions with Chop, but Brandon had never purchased drugs from
Mitchell. Mitchell asked Brandon what he wanted, and Brandon responded $60
worth of “boy” and $40 worth of “hard.” (Oct. 25, 2018, Tr. at 231). Testimony
indicated that “boy” represented heroin and “hard” represented crack-cocaine.
Brandon later changed his request for drugs from Mitchell to $60 of “boy” and $30
of “hard.”
{¶11} Sydney and Brandon drove to Delaware, Ohio, where Mitchell lived.
At 3:32 a.m., there was a 58 second call to Mitchell from Sydney’s phone. Brandon
indicated that he talked to Mitchell on the phone and she told him where to park.
Brandon then met with Mitchell and purchased the drugs while Sydney waited in
the car in a nearby parking lot.
{¶12} At 3:36 a.m., Brandon sent Mitchell a message from his own phone
stating that he was “out back” at Mitchell’s residence. At 3:41 a.m., Mitchell
responded that she was coming but had to redo her work because Brandon changed
the amounts. At 3:42 a.m. Brandon sent Sydney a message saying he was about to
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head back to the vehicle, and Sydney responded, “hurry, i’m so sketched since we’re
the only car here.” After Brandon returned to the car, Sydney and Brandon returned
to Brandon’s mother’s house in Marysville where they used drugs.
{¶13} Shortly after 2 p.m. on November 16, 2016, Brandon called 9-1-1. He
indicated that when he tried to wake up Sydney, she was cold and unresponsive.
Emergency responders came to the scene and Sydney was pronounced dead at 2:46
p.m. An autopsy revealed, to a reasonable degree of medical and scientific certainty,
that Sydney died of “Acute intoxication by the combined effects of cocaine and
morphine (probably from heroin).”1 (State’s Ex. 48). A toxicologist indicated that
Sydney had ingested the cocaine and heroin within hours of her death.
{¶14} Brandon gave law enforcement officers permission to search the area
around Sydney’s body. Among Sydney’s things were a crack pipe, scissors, a “kit”
with “q-tips,” and a shoelace. (Oct. 25, 2018, Tr. at 165). An officer testified that
a shoelace was regularly used to “tie off” a vein for injections. (Id. at 166). Inside
Brandon’s bookbag were “two small Zip lock baggies containing small amounts of
a white powdery substance.” (Id. at 186). The residue in the baggies was tested and
one bag was found to contain heroin with trace amounts of carfentanil, while the
other bag was found to contain Cocaine. (Id. at 216-217).
1
Sydney “screened positive for Amphetamine, Benzodiazepines, Benzoylecgonine which is Cocaine
Metabolite, Cannabinoids, Methamphetamine and Opiates.” (Oct. 26, 2018, Tr. at 10). Nevertheless, the
Union County Coroner testified that Sydney died from acute intoxication from the combined effects of
cocaine and morphine. (Id. at 29).
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{¶15} Brandon affirmatively identified Mitchell at trial as the individual who
sold the heroin and crack-cocaine to him, which he shared with Sydney. Brandon
testified that he had been convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter for sharing the
drugs with Sydney that resulted in her death. He testified that he made a deal with
the State for a favorable sentencing recommendation to testify against Mitchell.
{¶16} To corroborate Brandon’s testimony regarding Mitchell as the source
of the heroin and crack-cocaine, the State introduced text messages with Mitchell
that were linked to a phone she was using to set up the drug transaction. A detective
built a timeline through text messages, Facebook messages, and calls to track the
activity of Sydney and Brandon over the last day of Sydney’s life. Testimony was
also introduced that based on cell tower tracking, the messages regarding the drug
transaction were coming from the area of Mitchell’s residence in Delaware.
Ultimately the jury returned guilty verdicts for all three counts against Mitchell.
{¶17} On January 29, 2019, the matter proceeded to sentencing. Mitchell
was ordered to serve 9 years in prison on the Involuntary Manslaughter conviction,
11 months in prison on the Trafficking in Cocaine conviction, and 11 months in
prison on the Trafficking in Heroin conviction. All of the sentences were ordered
to be served consecutively for an aggregate prison term of 10 years and 10 months.
A judgment entry memorializing the sentence was filed that same day. It is from
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this judgment that Mitchell appeals, asserting the following assignments of error for
our review.
Assignment of Error No. 1
The jury lost its way when reviewing the evidence, resulting in a
verdict that is against the manifest weight of the evidence and the
sufficiency of the evidence.
Assignment of Error No. 2
The trial court erred when it supplemented the jury instructions
after the instructions had been approved by appellee and
appellant’s counsel and read to the jury and appellant was further
prejudiced when her attorney failed to object to the supplemental
instruction.
Assignment of Error No. 3
The trial court erred when it failed to conduct an inquiry with
Juror #8 to determine if the juror was able to perform her duties
after it was reported she was hysterical and physically upset when
the jury went back to deliberate.
Assignment of Error No. 4
The trial court erred when it overruled appellant’s motion for
new counsel without first determining the status of the
attorney/client relationship by inquiring of appellant the basis for
the motion.
Assignment of Error No. 5
Appellant was denied a fair trial as a result of the cumulative
errors that occurred throughout the trial.
First Assignment of Error
{¶18} In Mitchell’s first assignment of error, she argues that there was
insufficient evidence presented to convict her of Involuntary Manslaughter and that
her conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically she
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argues that the State failed to prove the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter beyond
a reasonable doubt. She argues that Brandon Redd’s involvement in this matter was
an intervening factor, breaking the chain of causation required to prove Involuntary
Manslaughter.2
Standard of Review
{¶19} Whether there is legally sufficient evidence to sustain a verdict is a
question of law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997). Sufficiency is
a test of adequacy. Id. When an appellate court reviews a record upon a sufficiency
challenge, “ ‘the relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” State v.
Leonard, 104 Ohio St.3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235, ¶ 77, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio
St.3d 259 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶20} In reviewing whether a verdict was against the manifest weight of the
evidence, the appellate court sits as a “thirteenth juror” and examines the conflicting
testimony. Thompkins at 387. In doing so, this Court must review the entire record,
weigh the evidence and all of the reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of
witnesses and determine whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the
2
Mitchell does not make any arguments regarding her two trafficking convictions in her brief, thus we will
not address them. Nevertheless, even if she did contest the trafficking convictions, they were supported by
the evidence.
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factfinder “clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice
that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.” Id.{¶21} Nevertheless, a reviewing court must allow the trier-of-fact
appropriate discretion on matters relating to the credibility of the witnesses. State
v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 231 (1967). When applying the manifest-weight
standard, “[o]nly in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs heavily against
the conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court’s judgment.” State
v. Haller, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-11-34, 2012-Ohio-5233, ¶ 9, quoting State v. Hunter,
131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, ¶ 119.
Analysis
{¶22} In this case, Mitchell was convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in
violation of R.C. 2903.04(A), which reads “No person shall cause the death of
another or the unlawful termination of another’s pregnancy as a proximate result of
the offender’s committing or attempting to commit a felony.”3
{¶23} “The term ‘proximate result’ in the [I]nvoluntary [M]anslaughter
statute involves two concepts: causation and foreseeability.” State v. Hall, 12th
Dist. Preble No. CA2015-11-022, 2017-Ohio-879, ¶ 71, citing State v. Feltner, 12th
Dist. Butler No. CA2008–01–009, 2008–Ohio–5212, ¶ 13. “Generally, for a
3
The felony allegedly committed was Trafficking in Cocaine or Trafficking in Heroin in violation of R.C.
2925.03(A)(1), which reads, “No person shall knowingly * * * [s]ell or offer to sell a controlled substance or
a controlled substance analog.”
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criminal defendant’s conduct to be the proximate cause of a certain result, it must
first be determined that the conduct was the cause in fact of the result, meaning that
the result would not have occurred ‘but for’ the conduct.” Id.; see also State v.
Carpenter, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-18-16, 2019-Ohio-58 (providing a thorough
discussion of proximate result and causation). While “but for” causation is used in
the vast majority of cases, there are circumstances where that analysis is
inapplicable because, as a matter of law, there can be more than one proximate cause
of an injury. State v. Hall, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2015-11-022, 2017-Ohio-879,
¶ 72, citing Strother v. Hutchinson, 67 Ohio St.2d 282, 287 (1981); Taylor v.
Webster, 12 Ohio St.2d 53, 56 (1967), see also State v. Dunham, 5th Dist. Richland
No. 13CA26, 2014–Ohio–1042, ¶ 48.
{¶24} “The second component of causation—the legal or “proximate”
cause—refers to the foreseeability of the result.” State v. Carpenter, 3d Dist. Seneca
No. 13-18-16, 2019-Ohio-58, ¶ 53, citing Katz, Martin, & Macke, Baldwin's Ohio
Practice, Criminal Law, Section 96:4 (3d Ed.2018). A “ ‘defendant will be held
responsible for those foreseeable consequences which are known to be, or should
be known to be, within the scope of risk created by his conduct.’ ” State v. Sabo,
3d Dist. Union No. 14-09-33, 2010-Ohio-1261, ¶ 25, quoting State v. Losey, 23
Ohio App.3d 93, 95 (10th Dist.1985). It is generally accepted that “[t]he possibility
of overdose is a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the sale of heroin.” State v.
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Patterson, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2013-T-0062, 2015-Ohio-4423, ¶ 91; Carpenter
at ¶56.
{¶25} In order to convict Mitchell of Involuntary Manslaughter at trial, the
State presented the testimony of 11 witnesses. The testimony clearly established
that Brandon and Sydney were in a relationship, that they struggled with addiction,
and that they had recently returned to Ohio after being removed from a sober living
facility due to relapsing. The testimony also established that in order to get money
on November 15, 2016, Sydney worked a shift at Siren’s gentleman’s club, and that
after her shift Brandon picked her up. At that time, after 2 a.m., Brandon contacted
a dealer known as “Chop” in an attempt to acquire drugs, but “Chop” said to come
by in the morning. Brandon and Sydney attempted to contact another dealer without
success, then Brandon made contact with Mitchell and arranged to ultimately buy
$60 in heroin and $30 of crack-cocaine.
{¶26} Brandon and Sydney went to Delaware and a call was made to
Mitchell’s phone from Sydney’s phone lasting nearly a minute. Brandon went to
Mitchell’s residence and purchased the drugs from her as they had agreed via text
messages. Brandon and Sydney used some of the drugs that night in Marysville,
then Brandon went to sleep. When Brandon later attempted to wake Sydney, she
was cold and unresponsive. She died of an overdose.
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{¶27} On appeal, Mitchell argues that Brandon actually supplied the drugs
that caused Sydney’s death. Mitchell contends that Brandon had, in fact, already
admitted his culpability in Sydney’s death and that both Brandon and Mitchell could
not be charged with Involuntary Manslaughter of Sydney, particularly here where
Mitchell did not sell drugs directly to Sydney or ever meet with Sydney.
{¶28} Contrary to Mitchell’s arguments, the jury was presented with
essentially uncontroverted testimony that Mitchell sold crack-cocaine and heroin—
with trace amounts of carfentanil—to Brandon. Even to the extent that Mitchell
contested the issue of the sale, cell mapping data and cell phone records supported
Brandon’s direct testimony. Moreover, the jury was presented with information that
a minute-long call was made from Sydney’s phone to Mitchell’s phone shortly
before the transaction. Based on this, it would be reasonable for a jury to infer that
Mitchell was aware of Sydney’s presence with Brandon or that Mitchell had spoken
with Sydney that evening. Thus while Mitchell argues that she had no direct
connection to Sydney, the phone records show otherwise.
{¶29} Furthermore, there is no indication that Brandon did anything to alter
the drugs that were purchased from Mitchell and then consumed by Sydney shortly
thereafter. In fact, Brandon testified that by the time Sydney went to work at Siren’s
they were out of drugs. A reasonable jury could find based on the evidence
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presented that Mitchell provided the drugs that caused Sydney’s death, which were
purchased with Sydney’s money from her shift at Siren’s.
{¶30} While Mitchell argues that both Brandon and Mitchell could not have
been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, case authority establishes that there
may be more than one proximate cause for an Involuntary Manslaughter. State v.
Hall, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2015-11-022, 2017-Ohio-879, ¶ 72, citing Strother
v. Hutchinson, 67 Ohio St.2d 282, 287 (1981). Importantly, however, Brandon’s
conviction is not before this Court, only Mitchell’s, and the evidence supports that
Mitchell supplied the drugs that proximately resulted in Sydney Allmon’s death.
Thus, but-for Mitchell trafficking in drugs the death would not have happened.
{¶31} When dealing with addicts and narcotics, particularly heroin and
carfentanil, Ohio Courts have found that “overdose is a reasonably foreseeable
consequence of the sale of heroin.” Carpenter, supra, at ¶ 76. Notably, the State
even presented some testimony to explain differing tolerance levels and that because
Sydney had been sober for a period before this several-day binge she might have
taken an amount that would get her high previously, but could have now killed her.
{¶32} Although Mitchell argues that Sydney could have acquired more drugs
elsewhere, the jury was free to determine based on the evidence that the drugs she
ingested were supplied by Mitchell, and the jury is in the best position to evaluate
credibility. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 231 (1967).
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{¶33} On the basis of the facts before us we find that the State presented
sufficient evidence to convict Mitchell of Involuntary Manslaughter and that her
conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Therefore, Mitchell’s
first assignment of error is overruled.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶34} In Mitchell’s second assignment of error, she argues that the trial court
erred by providing a supplemental jury instruction in response to a juror’s question.
Standard of Review
{¶35} The issue raised in Mitchell’s second assignment of error was not
challenged before the trial court, therefore we review it for plain error. For this
Court to notice plain error, the error must be an obvious defect in a trial’s
proceedings, it must have affected substantial rights, and it must have affected the
outcome of the trial. State v. Steele, 138 Ohio St.3d 1, 2013-Ohio-2470, ¶ 30, citing
State v. Eafford, 132 Ohio St.3d 159, 2012-Ohio-2224, ¶ 11, citing State v. Payne,
114 Ohio St.3d 502, 2007-Ohio-4642; State v. Lynn, 129 Ohio St.3d 146, 2011-
Ohio-2722, ¶ 13; Crim.R. 52(B). Moreover, “even when the minimum requirements
have been met, a reviewing court should still be conservative in its application
of plain-error review, reserving notice of plain error for situations involving more
than merely theoretical prejudice to substantial rights.” Steele at ¶ 30, citing State
v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 94 (1978). “Notice of plain error under Crim.R. 52(B) is
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to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to
prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” Long at paragraph three of the syllabus.
Analysis
{¶36} After providing final instructions to the jury in this matter, the trial
court asked if all twelve members of the panel were ready to proceed to
deliberations. The trial court noted there were no negative responses, but then a
juror had a question, and the following dialogue took place.
JUROR: I have a question.
THE COURT: All right.
JUROR: In terms of the law, because I’m a little fuzzy on the,
um, Involuntary Manslaughter legislation involving illegal
trafficking in drugs. Um, I’m assuming, under the State of Ohio
– under Ohio Revised Code can more than one person be charged
with Involuntary Manslaughter for the same death?
THE COURT: Well, now you have the instructions of the Court
in this particular case.
JUROR: Yeah.
THE COURT: You have a charge in this case.
JUROR: Right.
THE COURT: So, the Court expects you to carry out your duty
in this case.
Now, is there anything else? Hearing nothing. * * *
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(Oct. 26, 2018, Tr. at 115-116). The trial court then sent the jury to deliberate, but
the court remained on the record, and the following discussion occurred between
the trial court, the prosecutor, and defense counsel.
[PROSECUTOR]: All right * * * Your Honor, considering juror
number ten’s question, I think the appropriate answer would be
yes even though that’s not a question in terms of instructions but,
I think, the jury should understand that more than one person
can be charged.
THE COURT: Yes, well, I agree. I didn’t want to answer the
question directly without consulting with counsel before I did
that.
[PROSECUTOR]: [Defense counsel].
THE COURT: So, I gave him a temporizing answer for the
moment.
[PROSECUTOR]: I understand that, Your Honor.
THE COURT: But, if counsel are agreeable, we can send a
supplemental written instruction to the jury that more than one
person can be charged.
[PROSECUTOR]: The State would request that, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Any objection, [Defense Counsel]?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’m trying to think of one. No. I don’t
believe so, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All right, we will do that. I will formulate one and
write it out and with counsel’s permission and after you’ve
approved it, I will send it to the jury. * * *
And we will do that immediately. Other than that, we’re in
recess.
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[Following the recess]
THE COURT: At the conclusion of the case before the jury
retired or after the jury retired, excuse me, [the prosecutor] asked
the Court to respond more fully to the question that was posed by
juror number ten * * * before the jury retired.
The Court has formulated the following answer and is submitting
it to the jury, in my handwriting, on a piece of yellow tablet paper
dated 10-26-18.
To answer more fully the question asked by juror number ten * *
*, yes, more than one person may be charged with a particular
crime and [sic] that person or persons participated in the
commission thereof.
And I have signed my name and wrote Judge underneath. This
has been reviewed with counsel for the prosecution, counsel for
the defense, and I believe, they pose no objection.
(Id. at 117-120). Both the prosecutor and defense counsel indicated that they had
no objections.
{¶37} On appeal, Mitchell claims that the trial court’s supplemental
instruction was plain error, and it was further error for her attorney not to object to
preserve this issue for appeal. She argues that the trial court’s response was not part
of an official “Ohio Jury Instruction” and that this prejudiced her. Mitchell claims
that the juror’s question showed that deliberations essentially began in the
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courtroom and that there was at least a question in that juror’s mind regarding the
potential of a conviction in this matter.4
{¶38} Mitchell’s arguments, and the instruction itself, are largely irrelevant
in this matter as the task before the jury was to determine whether Mitchell
committed the offenses as alleged based on the evidence presented from the State.
The jury was not tasked with determining whether Brandon committed Involuntary
Manslaughter, or whether Brandon and Mitchell could both be convicted of
Involuntary Manslaughter.
{¶39} In this matter, the jury had to assess the elements and find that
Mitchell’s Trafficking offense(s) proximately resulted in the death of Sydney
Allmon. The trial court’s instruction did nothing to change the verbal and written
instructions that indicated the jurors had to find that the State proved each and every
element of the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. Furthermore, as stated
previously, there can be more than one proximate cause of an injury or death, which
would seem to allow for multiple prosecutions. State v. Hall, 12th Dist. Preble No.
CA2015-11-022, 2017-Ohio-879, ¶ 72, citing Strother v. Hutchinson, 67 Ohio St.2d
282, 287 (1981). Thus the trial court’s statement would not be inaccurate as
Mitchell suggests.
4
Mitchell cites no legal authority to support her contentions.
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{¶40} For all of these reasons we do not find that there was any error here,
let alone plain error that impacted the outcome of the trial. Therefore Mitchell’s
second assignment of error is overruled.
Third Assignment of Error
{¶41} In her third assignment of error, Mitchell argues that the trial court
erred when it failed to conduct an inquiry with Juror #8 after the jury reported that
Juror #8 was “physically upset.”5 Mitchell argues that the trial court abused its
discretion by failing to replace the juror with an alternate.
Standard of Review
{¶42} Under Ohio law, “a trial judge is empowered to exercise ‘sound
discretion to remove a juror and replace him with an alternate juror whenever facts
are presented which convince the trial judge that the juror’s ability to perform his
duty is impaired.’ ” State v. Brown, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24541, 2012-Ohio-
1848, ¶ 46, quoting State v. Hopkins, 27 Ohio App.3d 196, 198 (11th Dist.1985).
(Other citations omitted.) “ ‘[S]ound discretion has long meant a discretion that is
not exercised arbitrarily or willfully, but with regard to what is right and equitable
under the circumstances and the law, and directed by the reason and conscience of
the judge to a just result.” Woodards v. Cardwell, 430 F.2d 978, 982 (6th Cir.1970)
citing Langnes v. Green, 282 U.S. 531, 51 S.Ct. 273 (1931).
5
Mitchell’s brief uses the word “hysterical,” but that is not included in the note from the jury.
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Analysis
{¶43} Criminal Rule 24(G) and R.C. 2945.29 govern the removal and
replacement of jurors during criminal trials. State v. Zaragoza, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 26706, 2016-Ohio-144, ¶ 18, citing State v. Cunningham, 2d Dist.
Clark No. 10-CA-57, 2012-Ohio-2794 ¶ 45. Revised Code 2945.29 permits a court
to replace a juror with an alternate “[i]f, before the conclusion of the trial, a juror
becomes sick, or for other reason is unable to perform his duty[.]” See also State v.
Jennings, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104626, 2017-Ohio-8224, ¶ 11, appeal not
allowed, 152 Ohio St.3d 1444, 2018-Ohio-1600.
{¶44} In this case, after the trial court dealt with the issue of the
“supplemental instruction” discussed in the previous assignment of error, a recess
was taken. Court reconvened with the trial court stating as follows.
THE COURT: Let the record show that the Court and counsel
have convened in the La[T]oya Mitchell case. The jury had
presented a question or request to the Court and the Court and
counsel have reviewed that.
It reads as follows: Juror number eight does not wish to
continue. She is crying and physically upset.
* * * That is juror Amber C[.] The Court has formally made
a response and submitted it to counsel for review.
Miss C[.], you took an oath and assumed an obligation to do
justice in this case. The Court and counsel expect you to honor
your obligation and continue your deliberations.
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(Oct. 26, 2018, Tr. at 120-121).
{¶45} Both the State and defense counsel indicated that the trial court’s
response was satisfactory. The trial court also asked if either counsel had anything
to add, and they did not.
{¶46} Shortly thereafter the jury returned guilty verdicts, and because of the
note that came out from the jury, both the State and the defense requested that the
jurors be polled as to their verdicts. The jurors were polled, and they indicated that
they had, in fact, returned guilty verdicts.
{¶47} Mitchell argues on appeal that the trial court should have replaced the
juror in question even though neither party requested it, and even though the juror
did not indicate that she could not continue; rather, the note merely indicated that
the juror did not “wish” to continue. The Supreme Court of Ohio has found that
under perhaps more serious protestations from a juror, it was not error for the trial
court to have a juror continue to deliberate, particularly where the juror was later
polled as to the verdict. See State v. Brown, 100 Ohio St.3d 51, 2003-Ohio-5059,
¶¶ 43-44, citing State v. Hessler, 90 Ohio St.3d 108 (2000).
{¶48} Notably, at the point the note came out, the jurors had been out of the
courtroom for just over 30 minutes. Under the facts presented in this case, and
where the juror did not express a more significant concern as to why she could not
continue deliberations, we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in
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declining to replace the juror, particularly where there was no request from the
defense. There were no further indications of difficulty presented from the jury and
the juror was polled as to her verdicts. Therefore Mitchell’s third assignment of
error is overruled.
Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶49} In Mitchell’s fourth assignment of error, she argues that the trial court
erred when it overruled her motion for new counsel that was made on the morning
of trial.
Standard of Review
{¶50} We review a trial court’s decision to decline to replace appointed
counsel under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. McNeill, 83 Ohio St.3d 438,
452, 1998-Ohio-293.
Analysis
{¶51} On the morning of the scheduled trial, Mitchell informed her attorney
that her family would possibly pay for a private attorney in this matter, and that she
wanted to get new counsel. Defense counsel brought this issue to the trial court’s
attention, and the following discussion ensued.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Secondarily, Your Honor, when I came
into the courtroom just a few minutes ago with Miss Mitchell, she
wrote down a question for me indicating, can I get another
attorney or is it too late?
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We addressed that in Chambers. I guess I’d like the Court
to hear what she has to say before the Court rules on that motion.
She’s indicated to me that family members have contacted an
attorney in Urbana and have the money to pay him and she’s
decided she would like private counsel.
THE COURT: All right, well, I’ll hear your motion.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Go ahead.
[MS. MITCHELL]: I have been incarcerated for the past six
months and the things that I wanted looked into my attorney
could not look into for me. Um, I know that I’m going to be there
for awhile [sic] fighting this case. I just – I’d like a better
opportunity to fight, honestly. I haven’t – I’ve never been to a
trial before.
THE COURT: Are you telling the Court that, at some time in the
past, [defense counsel] did not do something that you asked him
to do or something that you believe he legally should have done?
MS. MITCHELL: Yes.
THE COURT: Why didn’t you bring it up then?
MS. MITCHELL: I was told that the only way I could get rid of
my attorney is in front of the Judge and this is the first time in the
six months that I have been incarcerated that I’ve gotten in front
of a judge.
THE COURT: Did you ever communicate this to [defense
counsel]?
MS. MITCHELL: No.
THE COURT: Why not?
MS. MITCHELL: At the time, I didn’t – I didn’t have financial
backing. I didn’t have anyone to help me get an attorney.
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THE COURT: Well, you did not communicate to [defense
counsel] at any time in the past that you were dissatisfied with his
services though. Is that correct?
MS. MITCHELL: Um, there have been things that I’ve wrote
down and I’ve asked him to look into but he has told me –
THE COURT: Did you ever tell him at any time in the past that
you were dissatisfied with his services? Yes or no?
MS. MITCHELL: No.
THE COURT: All right, so this is the first time it’s come up?
MS. MITCHELL: I was told that I couldn’t get any help until I
came before a Judge.
THE COURT: Did you tell [defense counsel]? [Defense counsel]
is your link between you and the Court. Did you understand that?
That, if you tell [defense counsel] something, [he] comes to the
Court.
MS. MITCHELL: I did not understand.
THE COURT: So, you’ve never communicated any problems
that you alleged to have had with [defense counsel]?
MS. MITCHELL: No, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You’ve never asked him to step down. You’ve
never asked him to withdraw from the case so that you could get
private counsel?
MS. MITCHELL: I did not know that I could.
THE COURT: Well –
MS. MITCHELL: I thought he was Court appointed and I just
had to keep him as an attorney.
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THE COURT: Well, anything else you want to tell me?
MS. MITCHELL: That is all.
THE COURT: Well, the trial is scheduled for today. The jury is
assembled. You have counsel. Unless you can point to some
specific problem that you are having with [defense counsel], the
trial’s going to go forward today.
So, we’re not going to continue the case, again, so that you
can possibly get some other attorney to get up to speed in the case
and be prepared to proceed with trial. That could take another
six months to a year during which you will remain incarcerated.
MS. MITCHELL: I understand
THE COURT: Understood?
MS. MITCHELL: Yes.
THE COURT: All right, motion overruled. Proceed.
(Oct. 25, 2018, Tr. at 9-13).
{¶52} After reviewing the transcript, we cannot find that the trial court
abused its discretion in this matter by denying Mitchell’s request, which was made
on the first day of trial. Mitchell did not have a breakdown of communication with
her attorney and there is no firm indication that she could actually obtain a private
attorney other than some vague intimations that her family spoke with an attorney
in Urbana. State v. Ortiz-Santiago, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105441, 2017-Ohio-
8878, ¶ 27 (record failed to demonstrate a breakdown in communication, so trial
court’s denial of motion for new counsel was not an abuse of discretion). Further,
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the jury and the witnesses had been assembled and Mitchell’s appointed counsel
was ready to proceed to trial. See State v. Oliver, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-
195, 2018-Ohio-602, ¶ 12 (where new counsel requested on day of trial, timing
weighed against him). The trial court had a right to balance Mitchell’s request for
new counsel with its inherent authority to control its own docket, while maintaining
an awareness that the demand for counsel could be utilized as a way to delay the
proceedings. State v. Brown, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 16MA0161 2018-Ohio-253,
¶ 19. For all of these reasons, we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion.
Therefore, Mitchell’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Fifth Assignment of Error
{¶53} In Mitchell’s fifth assignment of error, she argues that the cumulative
impact of the trial court’s errors denied her a fair trial.
Standard of Review
{¶54} “Under [the] doctrine of cumulative error, a conviction will be
reversed when the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a defendant of a fair
trial even though each of the numerous instances of trial court error does not
individually constitute cause for reversal.” State v. Spencer, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-
13-50, 2015-Ohio-52, ¶ 83, citing State v. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233, 2012-Ohio-
2577, ¶¶ 222-224 and State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64 (1995). “ ‘To find
cumulative error, a court must first find multiple errors committed at trial and
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determine that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome below would have
been different but for the combination of the harmless errors.’ ” State v. Stober, 3d
Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-13, 2014-Ohio-5629, ¶ 15, quoting In re J.M., 3d. Dist.
Putnam No. 12-11-06, 2012-Ohio-1467, ¶ 36.
Analysis
{¶55} Because we have found no errors in this matter, let alone cumulative
errors, the doctrine of cumulative error does not apply here. State v. Carpenter, 3d
Dist. Seneca No. 13-18-16, 2019-Ohio-58, ¶ 104, citing State v. Bertuzzi, 3d Dist.
Marion No. 9-13-12, 2014-Ohio-5093, ¶ 110. Therefore, Mitchell’s fifth assignment
of error is overruled.
Conclusion
{¶56} For the foregoing reasons Mitchell’s assignments of error are
overruled and the judgment of the Union County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
ZIMMERMAN, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.
/jlr
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