State v. Smith ( 2024 )

[Cite as State v. Smith, 2024-Ohio-2358.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
Nos. 112882, 112908,
v. : and 112910
BRITTANY SMITH, ET AL., :
Defendants-Appellants. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: June 20, 2024
Criminal Appeals from the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
Case Nos. CR-22-670878-C, CR-22-670878-D, and CR-22-670878-E
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
Attorney, and Kevin R. Filiatraut, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for appellee.
Susan J. Moran, for appellant Brittany Smith.
Flowers & Grube and Louis E. Grube, for appellant
Hakeem-Ali Shomo.
Robert A. Dixon, for appellant Anthony Bryant.
Baker & Hostetler, LLP, Terry M. Brennan, and Mary Pat
Brogan, for intervenor-appellee The Honorable John J.
Russo.
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, John R. Mitchell, and
Mira Aftim, for intervenor-appellee Kathleen Dunham.
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J.:
{¶1} In this consolidated appeal, defendants-appellants Brittany Smith
(“Smith”), Hakeem-Ali Shomo (“Shomo”), and Anthony Bryant (“Bryant”),
collectively referred to the appellants, appeal the trial court’s decision denying
their motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds and granting the plaintiff-
appellee’s, the State of Ohio (“the State”), motion to quash. We affirm the trial
court’s decision.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} On May 2, 2022, the appellants and three other defendants were
indicted by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on aggravated murder, murder,
felonious assault, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and having
weapons while under disability, related to the murder of Alishah Pointer
(“Pointer”) and the kidnapping of two other women. As part of a plea agreement,
the other three defendants pled guilty and agreed to truthfully testify against the
appellants.
{¶3} The case was assigned to Judge John J. Russo (“Judge Russo”), and
the trial date was set for March 6, 2023. Prior to trial, the appellants’ trial counsel
raised the issue of the State calling the other three codefendants to testify without
having first presented independent proof of the conspiracy and each appellant’s
involvement with the crime. In accordance with the trial court’s stated procedure,
the State made an oral record of an extensive proffer of the evidence it intended to
produce at trial that would satisfy the requirement of independent proof of the
conspiracy and each appellant’s involvement.
{¶4} The State indicated that the crimes were committed against three
women, Turquoise Jackson (“Jackson”), Tashara Harris (“Harris”), and Pointer
stemming from the unsolved murder of Aminjas Shomo (“Aminjas”). The six
defendants decided to conduct their own investigation into Aminjas’s murder, and
from social media and information obtained from other sources, determined that
Collin Funches (“Funches”) was involved in Aminjas’s murder. The six defendants
also identified Pointer as Funches’s girlfriend. The defendants decided to look for
Funches but were unable to locate him. Then they decided to kidnap Pointer to
gain information on Funches’s whereabouts.
{¶5} The defendants kidnapped Jackson and Harris at gunpoint, who
informed them of Pointer’s location. They kidnapped Pointer at gunpoint, took a
photo of Pointer with a gun in her mouth, and posted it on Instagram to lure
Funches out of hiding. According to the State, these events took place at one of the
defendant’s homes. While there, Smith used a roll of clear tape to wrap Pointer’s
face. The piece of tape was recovered from the home with Smith’s fingerprint on it.
Pointer was transported to another location and shot 16 times with two different
guns. Spent casings recovered from the scene of Pointer’s murder had Bryant’s
DNA on them. The State offered additional evidence to demonstrate that the six
defendants conspired together to commit the indicted crimes.
{¶6} After the State’s proffer of evidence, trial began as scheduled, jury
selection occurred, the jury was sworn, and six witnesses testified. On March 9,
2023, Judge Russo’s bailiff privately approached the prosecutor during an
afternoon break from trial. The bailiff asked the prosecutor whether the State was
planning on calling any witnesses to establish independent proof of the conspiracy
prior to the codefendants testifying. The prosecutor stated that he was unsure and
then told his supervisor, who became visibly upset and told the prosecutor to
ignore the request and that “we don’t engage in that bull. . . .” Tr. 34.1 On March
10, 2023, the next morning before trial, the bailiff approached the prosecutor again
at the trial table and asked if there was a follow-up from the communication that
happened on the previous day. Tr. 14.2 The prosecutor did not respond to the
bailiff. That same day, after leaving court, the three prosecutors on the case
received a text message from Judge Russo’s bailiff at 6:10 p.m. The text stated:
“Sorry to bother you, but judge wanted me to text you and see if any of the
1 This case has several transcripts totaling 1,320 pages. These facts are from
Volume I with pages 1 through 1,153. Volume II has pages 1 through 167.
2 These facts are from Volume II.
witnesses prior to Williams will tie in Smith to the conspiracy. He wants to make
a good record. Thanks.”
{¶7} One of the prosecutors responded to the text a minute later, stating:
“We can’t answer that over text. If he wants anything from us he needs to ask us
in court with the other lawyers there. That’s all we can say without them on this
text.” The bailiff responded, “ok.”
{¶8} That same evening the prosecutor sent an email to each trial counsel
for the appellants, including a screenshot copy of the text message from the bailiff.
The email read as follows:
RE: Information
I wanted to let you all know that Ben, Sean, and I received a text from
Judge Russo’s bailiff tonight asking about the case. We were the only
four in this text. Because you were not on this, we are sending it to all
of you. Additionally, prior to sending this text, the bailiff has asked
Sean a couple of times whether there will be more evidence of the
conspiracy prior to Portia Williams testifies. Sean never answered
those questions and told me about them after they happened. See the
attached screenshot for the text and my response to it. The texts prior
to that one were all ministerial in nature.
{¶9} On March 13, 2023, the appellants moved for a mistrial based on the
ex parte communication. Judge Russo granted a hearing on the motion and stated
that the communication sent by his bailiff to the prosecutors was meant to go to all
the parties. Judge Russo indicated that he was devastated by the situation and
stated that he felt terrible. He granted the request for a mistrial and recused
himself from the case.
{¶10} On March 27, 2023, the appellants filed motions to dismiss and
moved to subpoena Judge Russo and his bailiff. In their motions, the appellants
argued that the trial court engaged in deliberate ex parte communication to ensure
that the State would be able to meet the elements of its case. On May 1, 2023,
Judge Russo and his bailiff filed a joint motion to quash the subpoenas, arguing
that their appearances at the hearing were unnecessary because the appellants
received the relief they sought, the material facts surrounding the text message
were not in dispute, the appellants cannot meet the standard to subpoena a sitting
judge, the bailiff’s testimony is unnecessary, and the testimony sought is forbidden
because a court speaks through its journal entries. That same day, another trial
court judge held a hearing on the motions to dismiss with prejudice for violation
of the Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution.
{¶11} At the hearing, the prosecutor testified as to both the in-person
conversation and the text messages between he and Judge Russo’s bailiff. On May
2, 2023, the trial court granted Judge Russo and his bailiff’s motion to quash. On
May 31, 2023, the trial court denied the appellants’ motions to dismiss with
prejudice on grounds of double jeopardy. The appellants filed this timely appeal
assigning two errors for our review:
1. The trial court erred in denying the appellants’ motion to
dismiss on double jeopardy grounds; and
2. The lower court erred in granting the motion to quash the
subpoenas of Judge Russo and his bailiff.
II. Motion to Dismiss for Violation of Double Jeopardy
A. Standard of Review
{¶12} “The denial of a motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds is a
final appealable order subject to immediate appellate review.” Cleveland v. Jones,
2017-Ohio-7320, ¶ 11 (8th Dist.), citing State v. Anderson, 2014-Ohio-542, ¶ 26.
“Appellate courts review the denial of a motion to dismiss on the grounds of double
jeopardy de novo.” Id., citing State v. Morris, 2012-Ohio-2407, ¶ 16.
B. Law and Analysis
{¶13} In the appellants’ first assignment of error, they argue that the trial
court erred in denying their motions to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds. “The
Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,
made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, protects a
criminal defendant from multiple prosecutions for the same offense.” State v.
Truhlar, 2016-Ohio-5338, ¶ 33 (8th Dist.), citing Oregon v. Kennedy, 456 U.S.
667, 671 (1982).
{¶14} However, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar a defendant from
reprosecution in every case. When a defendant requests a mistrial, double
jeopardy does not prohibit a retrial unless the defendant’s request was precipitated
by prosecutorial misconduct intended to elicit the defendant to seek a mistrial. Id.
at ¶ 34, citing N. Olmsted v. Himes, 2004-Ohio-4241, ¶ 36-37.
{¶15} “The Double Jeopardy Clause does protect a defendant against
governmental actions intended to provoke mistrial requests and thereby to subject
defendants to the substantial burdens imposed by multiple prosecutions.” United
States v. Dinitz, 424 U.S. 600, 611 (1976). “It bars retrials where ‘bad-faith conduct
by judge or prosecutor,’ threatens the ‘[harassment] of an accused by successive
prosecutions or declaration of a mistrial so as to afford the prosecution a more
favorable opportunity to convict’ the defendant.” Id., quoting Downum v. United
States, 372 U.S. 736 (1963).
{¶16} In the instant case, both the appellants and State agree there was not
any prosecutorial misconduct. Instead, the trial court engaged in ex parte
conversations with the State, and the State properly reported the communications
to the defense. The trial court declared a mistrial, but the appellants have not
demonstrated that the judicial misconduct was intended to elicit the defendants to
seek a mistrial. In fact, the record supports that the trial court wanted to know if
the State was planning on calling any witnesses to establish independent proof of
the conspiracy prior to the codefendants testifying. This was demonstrated from
both the oral conversation initiated by Judge Russo’s bailiff on his behalf and from
the text message.
{¶17} Additionally, the appellants have failed to demonstrate that judicial
misconduct afforded the prosecution a more favorable opportunity to convict
them. The State’s proffered testimony concerning the evidence that would satisfy
the requirement of independent proof of the conspiracy and each appellant’s
involvement was not affected. “In other words, only conduct ‘intentionally
calculated to cause or invite mistrial’ will bar retrial.” Himes, 2004-Ohio-4241, at
¶ 38, citing United States v. Thomas, 728 F.2d 313, 318 (6th Cir. 1984).
{¶18} Therefore, the appellants’ first assignment of error is overruled.
III. Motion to Quash Subpoenas
A. Standard of Review
{¶19} “We generally review a trial court’s ruling on discovery matters,
including motions to quash subpoenas, for abuse of discretion.” Gangale v. Coyne,
2022-Ohio-196, ¶ 24 (8th Dist.). “Abuse of discretion is ‘a very high standard.’”
Id., citing Supportive Solutions Training Academy, L.L.C., v. Elec. Classroom of
Tomorrow, 2013-Ohio-3910, ¶ 11 (8th Dist.).
{¶20} A trial court abuses its discretion where its decision is unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 481,
(1983). An abuse of discretion occurs when a court exercises its judgment in an
unwarranted way regarding a matter over which it has discretionary authority.
Johnson v. Abdullah, 2021-Ohio-3304, ¶ 35.
B. Law and Analysis
{¶21} In the appellants’ second assignment of error, they argue that the trial
court erred by granting Judge Russo and his bailiff’s motion to quash the
subpoena. The trial court stated in its journal entry:
Defendants’ joint motion to quash subpoenas is granted. The joint
motion of subpoenaed witnesses Russo and [bailiff] to quash the
subpoenas against them is hereby granted. From the motion, brief,
and hearing of 5/1/23, the court concludes the purpose of the
requested testimony is not to obtain unknown and necessary facts
pertinent to the motions to dismiss but rather to delve into the
purpose and intent of the witnesses in their courtroom conduct. The
underlying facts involved in the motions to dismiss are not disputed
or unknown; the motivations of the subpoenaed actors are not
relevant to the issues raised by the motions.
Journal Entry No. 145735024 (May 2, 2023).
{¶22} The appellants argue that if Judge Russo and his bailiff testified at
the hearing, the trial court would have a full record to evaluate whether the motion
to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds was rightfully granted or denied. As
previously stated in this opinion, the trial court did not err in denying the
appellants’ motion to dismiss. It was unnecessary to have Judge Russo and his
bailiff testify at the hearing because the record is clear as to why Judge Russo
improperly communicated with the State.
{¶23} Therefore, the appellants’ second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶24} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellants 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
common pleas court 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.
_________________________
ANITA LASTER MAYS, JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, P.J., CONCURS;
LISA B. FORBES, J., CONCURS (WITH SEPARATE OPINION)
LISA B. FORBES, J., CONCURRING:
{¶25} I agree with the majority that the trial court did not err by denying the
motion to quash and motion to dismiss. I write separately to add that in analyzing
whether there has been bad-faith conduct by a judge or prosecutor, appellate courts
must look to objective evidence in the record. The United States Supreme Court
recognized that “[i]nferring the existence or nonexistence of intent from objective
facts and circumstances is a familiar process in our criminal justice system.” Oregon
v. Kennedy, 456 U.S. 667, 675 (1982). As noted in the concurring opinion,
“[b]ecause ‘subjective’ intent often may be unknowable, I emphasize that a court —
in considering a double jeopardy motion — should rely primarily upon the objective
facts and circumstances of the particular case.” Id. at 679-680 (Powell, J.,
concurring).