State v. Watson , 2009 Ohio 6713 ( 2009 )

[Cite as State v. Watson, 2009-Ohio-6713.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
UNION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 14-09-01
v.
BRADLEY WATSON, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Marysville Municipal Court
Trial Court No. 08CRB667
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: December 21, 2009
APPEARANCES:
Eric J. Allen for Appellant
Tim M. Aslaner for Appellee
Case No. 14-09-01
ROGERS, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Bradley Watson, appeals the judgment of the
Marysville Municipal Court convicting him of obstructing official business. On
appeal, Watson argues that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to
suppress; in limiting his right to present a defense; in overruling his Rule 29
motion for acquittal; in violating its duty of impartiality; and, in overruling his
motion for a new trial. Additionally, Watson argues that his conviction for
obstructing official business was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Based upon the following, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
{¶2} In June 2008, Watson was charged via complaint with obstructing
official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31, a misdemeanor of the second
degree. The complaint stemmed from an incident on June 14, 2008, during which
Watson allegedly refused to comply with a police officer’s order that he not reach
inside his briefcase.
{¶3} In July 2008, Watson entered a plea of not guilty to the offense as
charged.
{¶4} In August 2008, Watson filed a motion to suppress all statements
taken from or made by him and all physical evidence relating to the incident on
the basis that his detention was unlawful.
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{¶5} On September 12, 2008, the trial court held a hearing on Watson’s
motion to suppress, at which the following testimony was heard.
{¶6} Officer Chris Diehl of the Marysville Police Department testified
that, on June 14, 2008, around 9:50 p.m., he was patrolling Marysville in a marked
cruiser when he received a dispatch that an identified citizen had reported that a
man at the third house on the right of Mill Wood Boulevard was carrying a fully
automatic assault rifle with a large “banana clip”, or magazine; that the dispatcher
described the individual as a bald male, approximately 6’4” tall, and wearing a
white t-shirt; that Mill Wood Boulevard is in a Union County residential
subdivision called “Mill Valley” containing more than five-hundred houses; that
he proceeded to the subdivision and passed two men, both approximately 5’8” or
5’9”, one of which was bald and wearing a white t-shirt; that neither of those men
were carrying anything; that he continued into the subdivision and observed
another man, Watson, sitting on a bench; that, when he approached Watson, he did
not have his siren or lights on and had not made any verbal contact with him; that
Watson looked at him, stood up “rather abruptly,” picked up a black briefcase, and
began walking across the street away from the cruiser towards an area
approximately two houses down from where the suspect was reported to be
(hearing tr., p. 17); that Watson was approximately 6’3”, had short gray hair and
no facial hair, was wearing a white t-shirt, and had the black briefcase over his
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shoulder; that he approached Watson because “he fit the description of the * * *
the initial call. That’s the clothing, the height. Everything fit minus the bald” (Id.
at 25); that he stopped the cruiser even though Watson was not bald because “from
his actions it caught my attention enough to realize that that was out of the norm
for me for just seeing a police cruiser in the area” (Id. at 19); that the briefcase
Watson was carrying was approximately twenty-four inches long and twenty
inches deep; that he asked Watson to stop, but he continued walking; that he again
asked Watson to stop, but Watson turned around and told him that “he wasn’t
going to listen to me. That he didn’t * * * do a f***ing thing” (Id. at 20); that
Watson commented that he was not going to stop and appeared very upset because
he crossed his arms and put his hands on his hips; that he asked Watson to “drop
the bag” or “set the briefcase down” repeatedly (Id. at 21, 32); that Watson
grabbed the handles of the briefcase, raised the it in the air, and then threw it on
the ground; that Watson said “I hope you’re happy. That was a $4,000 f***ing
computer” (Id. at 21); that Watson asked him what he was being stopped for, and
he replied that he was investigating a report of a man with an assault rifle; that
Watson replied “there hasn’t been an assault rifle in Union County since 1972”
(Id. at 22); that he asked Watson to step away from the briefcase and sit on the
curb at least four or five times until he complied; that, after sitting on the curb,
Watson then got up and pulled the briefcase over beside him; that he told Watson
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to stay away from the briefcase several times; that Sergeant Nichol arrived at that
point; that he was concerned about Watson having contact with the bag because of
Watson’s belligerent, uncooperative demeanor, actions, and words; that he could
not see inside the briefcase at that point; that he was aware from weapons training
that some weapons have collapsible stocks; that Watson’s statement about there
being no assault rifles in Union County demonstrated his knowledge of assault
rifles, leading him to believe that Watson may have been armed; that, despite
orders to desist from both him and Sergeant Nichol, Watson grabbed the briefcase,
unzipped it, and put his hands wrist-deep into it; that Sergeant Nichol fired his
Taser on Watson; that he arrested Watson, who was subsequently charged with
obstructing official business; and, that he believed Watson impeded and hampered
his duty to conduct an investigation because he delayed him, refused to respond to
his questions, and was uncooperative with his words and actions.
{¶7} On cross-examination, Officer Diehl testified that the description he
received of the suspect was a bald man carrying an assault rifle with a large
banana clip; however, Watson had hair and was not carrying an assault rifle; that,
because Watson was not in custody at the time he initially approached him,
Watson was not required to speak with him or answer any of his questions; and,
that he did not see an assault rifle or large banana clip anywhere on or around
Watson or see anything sticking out of the briefcase.
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{¶8} Sergeant Ron Nichol of the Marysville Police Department testified
that, on June 14, 2008, he was called to investigate a report of a bald white male
wearing a white t-shirt, approximately “6 foot something,” and standing in a
driveway holding an assault rifle; that en route he came upon Officer Diehl and
Watson, who was standing on the curb with a black bag laying beside him; that
Watson appeared to be agitated; that he approached Watson with his Taser and
told him to sit on the curb so they could talk to him; that Watson said “shoot me.
The police in Columbus would do that” (Id. at 47); that Watson sat down on the
curb beside the bag and attempted to reach for the bag; and, that he told Watson
not to touch the bag.
{¶9} Watson testified that he lived in the Mill Valley subdivision in
Marysville, Union County; that he was a professor at Franklin University and had
possession of a laptop belonging to the University; that, on June 14, 2008, he took
a walk carrying that work computer in a computer bag for about four and one-half
miles and then stopped to sit on a bench about three-quarters of a mile from his
home because he was tired; that he saw a police cruiser enter the neighborhood
and turn off its overhead lights and sirens, so he got up and began to cross the
street to return to his home; that the police car stopped and the officer gestured at
him to get his attention; that he turned to the officer and said, “why are you
stopping me?” (Id. at 75); that the officer told him he wanted to ask him some
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questions and explained that he was looking for an individual who was 6’4”,
wearing a white t-shirt, and carrying an assault rifle in the area; that the officer did
not mention that the suspect was bald; that he was not bald, and that he had a
beard on the evening of the incident; that Watson replied, “that’s a lie. There’s
nobody around here that’s going to be walking up and down this road with an
AK[-]47. There probably hasn’t been one in this town at least for 30 years” (Id. at
76); that the officer became “irate” and said “I want you to sit down on that curb
now and get – and put your hands behind your back and before you do that * * *
throw your bag far away from you” (Id. at 76-77); that he felt as if he could not
leave; that he threw the bag away from him, saying “now are you happy? That’s a
$4,000 computer. * * * And it’s probably now broken” (Id.); that cars were
passing on the street so he pulled the bag closer to him so that a car would not run
over it; that Officer Diehl was not asking him any questions, just telling him to
stay away from the bag; that he was worried the computer was damaged because it
did not belong to him, so he reached both hands into the briefcase to pull out the
computer; that Officer Nichol fired his Taser on him at that point; that neither
officer ever told him he was under arrest; and, that he believed the officers were
harassing him and he was upset.
{¶10} Thereafter, the trial court denied Watson’s motion to suppress,
finding that:
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Officer Diehl had an articulable reasonable basis to temporarily
detain [Watson]. Officer Diehl received a call that a man was
carrying a fully automatic assault rifle in a residential
neighborhood in Marysville, and [Watson] was an adult white
male approximately 100 yards away from where the gunman
was reported. He was close to 6ft. 4in. tall and was wearing a
white t-shirt. He was carrying a black bag which Officer Diehl
testified was capable of containing a weapon, and he further
displayed unprovoked evasive action toward the Officer prior to
the Officer making any verbal or physical contact with him.
Further, after the Officer stopped and temporarily detained
[Watson], because of the aforementioned factors and because of
[Watson’s] refusal to stay away from his black bag and his
continued evasiveness, the Officer had probable cause to arrest
the Defendant for obstruction of official business when he tried
to enter the black bag.
(Journal Entry, pp. 2-3).
{¶11} On September 22, 2008, the case proceeded to jury trial, at which
testimony was heard substantively the same as that heard during the suppression
hearing. Thereafter, the jury found Watson guilty of obstructing official business.
The trial court sentenced Watson to a thirty-day jail term, with twenty-nine days
suspended, and three years of probation. Additionally, the trial court ordered
Watson to complete forty-eight hours of community service and pay a $300 fine,
with $150 suspended.
{¶12} In October 2008, Watson moved for a new trial on the basis of
alleged irregularity of the proceedings; the trial court’s biased statements;
misconduct by several State witnesses; and, insufficiency of the evidence.
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{¶13} In December 2008, the trial court overruled Watson’s motion for a
new trial.
{¶14} It is from his conviction and the denial of his motion for a new trial
that Watson appeals, presenting the following assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT OVERRULED
APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS
Assignment of Error No. II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN LIMITING THE
APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO PRESENT A DEFENSE
Assignment of Error No. III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE
APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR RULE 29 ACQUITTAL
Assignment of Error No. IV
THE COURT ERRED IN VIOLATING ITS DUTY OF
IMPARTIALITY
Assignment of Error No. V
THE CONVICTION IN THIS MATTER WAS AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
Assignment of Error No. VI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE
APPELLANTS [SIC] MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
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{¶15} Due to the nature of Watson’s assignments of error, we elect to
address his third and fifth assignments of error together.
Assignment of Error No. I
{¶16} In his first assignment of error, Watson argues that the trial court
erred when it overruled his motion to suppress. Specifically, Watson contends that
the State failed to establish that Officer Diehl had specific and articulable facts
which warranted his detention, as the description of the suspect with the assault
rifle was a bald man, and Watson was not bald or carrying an assault rifle; and,
that it is not illegal for an individual to possess a fully automatic assault rifle. We
disagree that Officer Diehl lacked reasonable articulable suspicion to detain
Watson.
{¶17} “Appellate review of a decision on a motion to suppress evidence
presents mixed questions of law and fact.” State v. Dudli, 3d Dist. No. 3-05-13,
2006-Ohio-601, ¶12, citing United States v. Martinez (C.A.11, 1992) 949 F.2d
1117. The trial court serves as the trier of fact and is the primary judge of the
credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to the evidence presented.
State v. Johnson (2000), 137 Ohio App.3d 847, 850. Therefore, when an
appellate court reviews a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress, it must accept
the trial court's findings of fact so long as they are supported by competent,
credible evidence. State v. Roberts, 110 Ohio St.3d 71, 2006-Ohio-3665, ¶100,
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citing State v. Fanning (1982), 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20. The appellate court must then
review the application of the law to the facts de novo. Roberts, supra, citing State
v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶8.
{¶18} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and
Section 14, Article I of the Ohio Constitution prohibit unreasonable searches and
seizures. Neither the Fourth Amendment nor Section 14, Article I explicitly
requires that violations of its provisions against unlawful searches and seizures be
remedied by suppression of evidence obtained as a result of such violation, but the
United States Supreme Court has held that the exclusion of evidence is an
essential part of the Fourth Amendment. Mapp v. Ohio (1961), 367 U.S. 643, 649.
{¶19} At a suppression hearing, the State bears the burden of establishing
that a warrantless search and seizure falls within one of the exceptions to the
warrant requirement, City of Xenia v. Wallace (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 216, at
paragraph two of the syllabus; State v. Kessler (1987), 53 Ohio St.2d 204, 207,
and that it meets Fourth Amendment standards of reasonableness. Maumee v.
Weisner, 87 Ohio St.3d 295, 297, 1999-Ohio-68, citing 5 LaFave, Search and
Seizure (3 Ed.1996), Section 11.2(b).
{¶20} When a law enforcement officer accosts an individual and restricts
his freedom of movement, the Fourth Amendment is implicated. State v.
Stephenson, 3d Dist. No. 14-04-08, 2004-Ohio-5102, ¶16, citing Terry v. Ohio
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(1968), 392 U.S. 1, 16. Generally, in order for a law enforcement officer to
conduct a warrantless search, he must possess probable cause, which means that
“‘there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in
a particular place.’” State v. Carlson (1995), 102 Ohio App.3d 585, 600, quoting
Illinois v. Gates (1983), 462 U.S. 213, 214.
{¶21} Even where probable cause is lacking, it is well-established that a
law enforcement officer may temporarily detain an individual where he has a
reasonable articulable suspicion that the individual is engaging in or is about to
engage in criminal activity. State v. Bobo (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 177, 179, citing
Terry, 392 U.S. at 21. Such detention may be referred to as investigatory
detention or a “Terry” stop. Reasonable articulable suspicion is “‘specific and
articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts,
reasonably warrant the intrusion.’” Stephenson, 2004-Ohio-5102, at ¶16, quoting
Bobo, 37 Ohio St.3d at 178. “‘[S]pecific and articulable facts’ that will justify an
investigatory stop by way of reasonable suspicion include: (1) location; (2) the
officer's experience, training or knowledge; (3) the suspect's conduct or
appearance; and (4) the surrounding circumstances.” State v. Gaylord, 9th Dist.
No. 22406, 2005-Ohio-2138, ¶9, citing Bobo, 37 Ohio St.3d at 178-79; State v.
Davison, 9th Dist. No. 21825, 2004-Ohio-3251, ¶6.
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{¶22} Here, Watson argues that the State failed to establish that Officer
Diehl had specific and articulable facts warranting his detention, as the description
of the suspect with the rifle was a bald man, and Watson was not bald or carrying
a rifle; and, that it is not illegal for an individual to possess a fully automatic
assault rifle. However, Officer Diehl testified that the dispatch described the
suspect as a bald male, approximately 6’4” tall, wearing a white t-shirt, carrying a
fully automatic assault rife, at the third house on the right of Mill Wood Boulevard
and that Watson was approximately 6’3” tall, wearing a white t-shirt, carrying a
briefcase capable of containing a broken down assault rifle, and walking
approximately two houses down from the third house on the right of Mill Wood
Boulevard. Although there was a slight discrepancy between the suspect’s
description and Watson’s appearance, we cannot find that this discrepancy taints
Officer Diehl’s investigatory stop of Watson. See State v. Daniel, 2d Dist. No.
22003, 2008-Ohio-3864, ¶17. In light of Watson’s other characteristics meeting
the description, and, additionally, Watson’s abrupt attempted departure upon sight
of Officer Diehl and subsequent belligerent demeanor, we find that Officer Diehl
possessed reasonable articulable suspicion warranting an investigatory detention.
{¶23} Additionally, although Watson contends that Officer Diehl could not
have had reasonable articulable suspicion to detain him because it is not illegal to
possess a fully automatic assault rifle, we find this issue to be irrelevant. Officer
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Diehl was responding to a report of a man in a residential subdivision carrying a
fully automatic assault rifle with a large banana clip. Although these facts alone
may not constitute an illegal act, they still give rise to a reasonable articulable
suspicion that an individual is about to engage in or is engaged in criminal
activity. See Terry, supra.
{¶24} Accordingly, we overrule Watson’s first assignment of error.
Assignment of Error No. II
{¶25} In his second assignment of error, Watson argues that the trial court
erred in limiting his right to present a defense at trial. Specifically, Watson
contends that trial counsel attempted to argue during closing that a private citizen
need not submit to the will of government officers, but that the trial court
sustained an objection to this argument. Although the trial court’s reason for this
ruling does not appear in the transcript, Watson states that the trial court found that
the determination it made regarding the suppression motion was dispositive of the
issue of whether Watson’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated.
{¶26} “‘Considerable latitude is permitted in closing arguments, and the
question is generally considered one falling in the first instance within the sound
discretion of the trial court.” State v. Hall, 3d Dist. No. 14-84-6, 1985 WL 7339,
quoting State v. Pustare (1978), 33 Ohio App.2d 305, 312. As such, “[t]he trial
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court's actions are not overturned absent a showing of abuse of that discretion.’”
Id., citing State v. Turner, 3d Dist. No. 7-83-9, 1984 WL 8104.
{¶27} “The principal limitation on the closing argument is that it be
confined to evidence adduced at the trial.” Id., citing 27 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d
(1981) 177, Criminal Law, Section 947. Additionally, although counsel enjoys
considerable latitude in closing argument, “[i]t is improper * * * for counsel for
the accused to discuss the law of the case to the jury, and the court may properly
prevent counsel from doing so.” 29 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d (2009), Criminal Law,
Section 2676, citing Fry v. State (1932), 43 Ohio App. 154, 156. See, also, State
v. Sherrils, 8th Dist. No. 41302, 1980 WL 354974, citing State v. Myers (1971), 26
Ohio St.2d 190.
{¶28} Here, we find that Watson’s counsel’s closing argument discussing
limitations on police officers’ conduct towards private citizens departed from the
evidence adduced at trial, and attempted to argue the law of the case to the jury.
As this type of argument was improper, the trial court did not err in sustaining the
State’s objection to the argument.
{¶29} Accordingly, we overrule Watson’s second assignment of error.
Assignment of Error Nos. III & V
{¶30} In his third assignment of error, Watson argues that the trial court
erred in overruling his Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Specifically, Watson
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contends that the State failed to prove that he obstructed official business because
a person cannot be guilty of this offense merely by doing nothing or failing to act;
because Watson did not act purposely, as he testified he merely wanted to go
home; and, because there was no evidence that he impeded the police from
proceeding to the address where the alleged gunman was reported. Additionally,
in his fifth assignment of error, Watson argues that his conviction was against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically, Watson contends that, had he been
allowed to walk home, there would have been no complaint filed for obstructing
official business, and that the officers testified they would have stopped him
regardless of what was in his briefcase.
{¶31} Under Crim.R. 29(A), a court shall not order an entry of judgment of
acquittal if the evidence is such that reasonable minds can reach different
conclusions as to whether each material element of a crime has been proved
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Bridgeman (1978), 55 Ohio St.2d 261. A
motion for acquittal tests the sufficiency of the evidence. State v. Miley (1996),
114 Ohio App.3d 738, 742.
{¶32} When an appellate court reviews a record for sufficiency, 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. Monroe, 105 Ohio St.3d
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384, 392, 2005-Ohio-2282, citing State v. Jenks (1981), 61 Ohio St.3d 259,
superseded by state constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated in State
v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 1997-Ohio-355. Sufficiency is a test of adequacy,
State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52, and the question of
whether evidence is sufficient to sustain a verdict is one of law. State v. Robinson
(1955), 162 Ohio St. 486, superseded by state constitutional amendment on other
grounds as stated in Smith, supra.
{¶33} When an appellate court analyzes a conviction under the manifest
weight standard it must review the entire record, weigh all of the evidence and all
of the reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and
determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the fact finder clearly
lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction
must be reversed and a new trial ordered. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,
quoting State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175. Only in exceptional
cases, where the evidence “weighs heavily against the conviction,” should an
appellate court overturn the trial court’s judgment. Id.{¶34} The trial court convicted Watson of obstructing official business in
violation of R.C. 2921.31, which provides:
No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to
prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official
of any authorized act within the public official's official capacity,
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shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the
performance of the public official's lawful duties.
R.C. 2921.31(A). As used in this statute, R.C. 2901.22(A) provides that “[a]
person acts purposely when it is his specific intention to cause a certain result, or,
when the gist of the offense is a prohibition against conduct of a certain nature,
regardless of what the offender intends to accomplish thereby, it is his specific
intention to engage in conduct of that nature.” Additionally, this Court has
previously identified five essential elements within R.C. 2921.31: “(1) an act by
the defendant; (2) done with the purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay a public
official; (3) that actually hampers or impedes a public official; (4) while the
official is acting in the performance of a lawful duty; and (5) the defendant does so
act without a privilege to do so.” State v. Brickner-Latham, 3d Dist. No. 13-05-
26, 2006-Ohio-609, ¶25 citing R.C. 2921.31(A); State v. Dice, 3d Dist. No. 9-04-
41, 2005-Ohio-2505, ¶19. Finally, this Court and other courts have emphasized
that “one cannot be guilty of obstructing official business by doing nothing
because the text of R.C. 2921.31 specifically requires an offender to act.”
Brickner-Latham, 2006-Ohio-609, at ¶26, citing State v. Justice, 4th Dist. No.
99CA631, 1999 WL 1125113.
{¶35} Courts have found evidence sufficient to sustain convictions for
obstructing official business where a defendant fled from an officer’s lawful
request for an investigatory detention, State v. Certain, 4th Dist. No. 07CA3003,
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2009-Ohio-148; where an officer initiated a lawful investigatory detention, and the
defendant refused to exit his vehicle and repeatedly reached under the seat, against
the officer’s orders, State v. Dunfee, 4th Dist. No. 02CA37, 2003-Ohio-5970; and,
where an officer attempted to initiate a lawful investigatory detention of a
defendant based on eyewitness statements that he caused a traffic accident, and the
defendant abruptly walked away from the officer despite his orders to stop, State
v. Kates, 169 Ohio App.3d 766, 2006-Ohio-6779.
{¶36} Here, Watson contends that the State failed to prove that he
obstructed official business because a person cannot be guilty of this offense
merely by doing nothing or failing to act; that he did not act purposely to prevent,
obstruct, or delay the officers; and, that there was no evidence he impeded the
officers from proceeding to the address where the alleged gunman was reported.
While Watson’s assertion that an individual cannot be guilty of this offense
merely by doing nothing is correct, these are not the facts before us. Testimony
was heard that Officers Diehl and Nichol repeatedly asked Watson to stay away
from his briefcase and not to reach inside it, but Watson got up from the curb,
pulled the briefcase over to him, unzipped it, and stuck his hands wrist-deep
inside. This constituted an affirmative act sufficient to satisfy that element of R.C.
2921.31. Additionally, although, according to his testimony, Watson’s intent may
have been merely to assert his constitutional rights, it is undisputed that Officer
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Diehl informed him that he was investigating reports of a man with an assault rifle
in the area, and that he refused the officers’ orders to stay away from his bag.
Although Watson testified he believed the investigation was fabricated and the
officers intended to harass him, his decision to disbelieve them, disobey their
orders, and, in turn, to delay their investigation, was made at his own peril.
Accordingly, we find that, from these facts, the trier of fact could reasonably infer
that Watson purposefully obstructed the officers’ investigation of the gunman and
that the officers were delayed from their investigation due to his belligerent
actions.
{¶37} Additionally, we cannot find from the evidence presented that
Watson’s conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Both
officers testified that Watson reached into his briefcase against their orders, and
Watson himself admitted that, although Officer Diehl told him to stay away from
the bag, he reached into it and began to pull out his computer. As this was the act
constituting the offense, we cannot find that the fact finder clearly lost its way.
{¶38} Accordingly, we overrule Watson’s third and fifth assignments of
error.
Assignment of Error No. IV
{¶39} In his fourth assignment of error, Watson argues that the trial court
violated its duty of impartiality. Specifically, Watson contends that the trial court
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plainly erred because it made a comment suggesting the prosecutor should have
made an objection to certain testimony, and, because the trial court commented on
the unavailability of a defense witness because he was outside smoking a cigarette.
We disagree.
{¶40} Under Evid.R. 611, the trial court has discretion to control the flow
of the trial, including “mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting
evidence so as to (1) make the interrogation and presentation effective for the
ascertainment of the truth, (2) avoid needless consumption of time, and (3) protect
witnesses from harassment or undue embarrassment.” Evid.R. 611(A).
Additionally, the trial court has a duty to maintain an appearance of impartiality,
and a trial judge may not advocate for or materially assist one party at the expense
of the other. Mentor-on-the-Lake v. Giffin (1995), 105 Ohio App.3d 441, 449;
Disciplinary Counsel v. O'Neill, 103 Ohio St.3d 204, 2004-Ohio-4704, ¶13.
{¶41} Because a trial court’s power to control the flow of trial pursuant to
Evid.R. 611 is within its discretion, an appellate court may not reverse on this
issue absent an abuse of discretion. Mentor-on-the-Lake, 105 Ohio App.3d at 448,
citing State v. Prokos (1993), 91 Ohio App.3d 39, 44. Additionally, the failure to
object to such alleged errors at trial waives all but plain error. Crim.R. 52(B);
State v. Johnson (1999), 134 Ohio App.3d 586, 590, citing State v. Wade (1978),
53 Ohio St.2d 182, 188, reversed on other grounds. In order to have plain error
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under Crim.R. 52(B) there must be an error, the error must be an “obvious” defect
in the trial proceedings, and the error must have affected “substantial rights.”
State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 2002-Ohio-68. Plain error is to be used
“with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a
manifest miscarriage of justice.” Id. Plain error exists only in the event that it can
be said that “but for the error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been
otherwise.” State v. Biros, 78 Ohio St.3d 426, 431, 1997-Ohio-204; see State v.
Johnson, 3d Dist. No. 2-98-39, 1999-Ohio-825.
{¶42} Here, Watson objects to the following dialogues that took place at
trial during Watson’s redirect examination of Curt Watson-Weeks and
immediately thereafter, respectively:
[WATSON’S COUNSEL:] Okay. And this problem that
they’ve been having with your brother, this is something that
causes them great heartbreak and sadness, isn’t it?
[THE WITNESS:] Yes. It’s actually – we’ve separately all four
of us, me and my wife –
THE COURT: I guess I’d sustain an objection as to the
relevance of this line of questioning.
[THE STATE]: I would make an objection.
THE COURT: Sustained. Go ahead, [Watson’s counsel].
(Trial Tr., p. 116).
[WATSON’S COUNSEL:] Call Robert Skinner, your Honor.
BAILIFF: Robert Skinner. Apparently he stepped outside to
have a cigarette.
THE COURT: Well, he’d better – call your next witness,
[counsel]. If that’s your last witness, then you rest cause [sic]
I’m not waiting for him. We’ve got ten people sitting in that
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jury box and we’re not going to wait for somebody to have a
cigarette.
(Trial Tr., p. 117).
{¶43} Initially, we note that, as to Curt Watson-Weeks’ attempted
testimony, trial counsel did not proffer what the testimony would have been, or
state why it was being offered. Further, trial counsel did not object to either
statement by the trial court of which he now complains. As such, he has waived
all but plain error. See Johnson, supra.
{¶44} We find that the trial court’s comment about the defense witness’
unavailability because he was outside smoking did not create a manifest
miscarriage of justice. Pursuant to Evid.R. 611, it was within the trial court’s
discretion to require Watson to move on to another witness in order to avoid
needless consumption of time. Additionally, the trial court did not attempt to bar
Skinner from testifying, and he was eventually called as a witness and testified;
thus, Watson has not demonstrated that, absent the alleged error, the outcome of
trial would have been otherwise. Similarly, we do not find that the trial court’s
suggestion that the State object to irrelevant testimony clearly prejudiced Watson,
as the trial court has discretion to control the mode of interrogation so as to avoid
needless consumption of time. In fact, a trial court need not wait for a motion
from a party before stopping the presentation of irrelevant or repetitive testimony.
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Such ability to control the presentation of evidence is inherent in the authority of
the court.
{¶45} Accordingly, we overrule Watson’s fourth assignment of error.
Assignment of Error No. VI
{¶46} In his sixth assignment of error, Watson argues that the trial court
erred in overruling his motion for a new trial. Specifically, Watson contends that
the trial court treated his trial as an “inconvenience,” as apparent in its rulings,
conduct at trial, and overruling of his motion for a new trial. Watson points to the
trial court’s prompting of the State to object to certain testimony and argues that
the trial court “cut the legs out from under” the defense without basis or hearing.
{¶47} Motions for a new trial are governed by Crim.R. 33, and are
addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Thus, a trial court's decision to
deny such a motion will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.
State v. Ray, 3d Dist. No. 14-05-39, 2006-Ohio-5640, ¶53, citing State v. Farley,
10th Dist. No. 03AP-555, 2004-Ohio-1781, ¶¶6-7. “The term ‘abuse of
discretion’ connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the
court’s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.” Blakemore v.
Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219.
{¶48} Although Watson’s appellate brief complains that the record makes
it apparent that his trial was a matter of inconvenience to the trial court and that
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the trial court “cut the legs out from under” his defense, Watson provides no
specific argument as to which facts he refers to, nor does he cite to the record, trial
transcript, or any supporting authority. Pursuant to App.R. 16(A)(7) and App.R.
12(A)(2), this Court is not required to address arguments that have not been
adequately presented for review or supported by proper authority; however, in the
interests of justice, we elect to address Watson’s argument, assuming that he refers
to the trial court’s overruling of his motion to suppress and Crim.R. 29 motion for
acquittal; the trial court’s suggestion that the State object to irrelevant testimony;
and, trial court’s limitations of his closing argument.
{¶49} As elucidated in our analysis of Watson’s first, second, third, and
fourth assignments of error, the trial court’s overruling of his motion to suppress
was proper because Officer Diehl possessed a reasonable, articulable suspicion
sufficient to detain Watson; the trial court did not err in limiting Watson’s closing
argument discussion, as closing arguments are not appropriate for arguing law; the
trial court did not err in overruling Watson’s Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal as
sufficient evidence supported his conviction for obstructing official business; and,
the trial court’s statement that it would entertain an objection to irrelevant
testimony was an appropriate exercise of its discretion to control the flow of the
trial under Evid.R. 611. In light of these conclusions, we cannot find that the trial
court abused its discretion in denying Watson’s motion for a new trial.
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{¶50} Accordingly, we overrule Watson’s sixth assignment of error.
{¶51} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein, in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
WILLAMOWSKI and SHAW, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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