State v. Johnson ( 2014 )

[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2014-Ohio-494.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 99822
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
ERIC JOHNSON
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-567736-A
BEFORE: Blackmon, J., Boyle, A.J., and E.A. Gallagher, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 13, 2014
-i-
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Susan J. Moran
55 Public Square, Suite 1616
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Nicole M. Ellis
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J.:
{¶1} Appellant Eric Johnson appeals his convictions for aggravated robbery,
kidnapping, attempted murder, and related gun specifications. Johnson assigns the
following errors for our review:
I. The trial court erred in convicting and consecutively sentencing allied
crimes of similar import which resulted in cumulative punishments
violating the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United
States Constitution, as applied to the states through the Fourteenth
Amendment, and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
II. The trial court abused its discretion by imposing consecutive sentences
contrary to R.C. 2929.14 and the purposes and principles of the felony
sentencing guidelines.
III. Appellant was denied the effective assistance of counsel in violation of
Amendments VI and XIV, United States Constitution; and Article 1,
Section 10, Ohio Constitution.
IV. Appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence.
V. Prosecutorial misconduct deprived appellant of his constitutionally
guaranteed right to a fair trial, in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of
the Ohio Constitution.
VI. The appellant was denied his right to due process when the court failed
to hold a proper Remmer hearing to determine potential juror bias.
{¶2} Having reviewed the record and pertinent law, we affirm Johnson’s
convictions and sentence. The apposite facts follow.
{¶3} On October 22, 2012, the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Johnson on
one count of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of felonious
assault, and a single count of attempted murder. The aforementioned counts had one and
three-year firearm specifications attached. The grand jury also indicted Johnson on one
count of petty theft.
{¶4} On November 5, 2012, Johnson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and
several pretrials were later conducted. Ultimately, on January 23, 2013, Johnson filed a
motion to suppress eyewitness identification. The trial court denied the motion, and on
February 14, 2013, a jury trial commenced.
Jury Trial
{¶5} At trial, through the testimony of six witnesses, the evidence established
that in the early hours of August 26, 2012, James Keith was robbed and shot multiple
times. As he laid in the middle of the street, a passing motorist stopped and summoned
EMS, who arrived to find Keith’s bloody body. The EMS transported Keith to
MetroHealth Hospital where he remained for more than a month.
{¶6} Detective David Harris of the Cleveland Police Department Fourth District
testified that he and his partner, Detective Brian Todd, immediately responded to the
scene, where they found Keith screaming that he had been shot. Detective Harris
testified that they were unable to ascertain who had shot Keith, because he just kept
repeating hysterically that he had been shot and then passed out.
{¶7} Detective James Brooks, also of the Cleveland Police Department’s Fourth
District, testified that he went to see Keith at the hospital almost a month later. Detective
Brooks testified that Keith indicated that “E” shot him and that “Junior” was with “E.”
Detective Brooks testified that Keith indicated that “E” and “Junior” were from the
Garden Valley Estates. Further investigation revealed that “E” was Johnson’s nickname
and “Junior” was codefendant John Alexander’s nickname.
{¶8} Detective Brooks, using a procedure known as blind administration, created
photo arrays that Detective James Bellanca later administered to Keith. Detective
Brooks stated that blind administration is used to remove any signs of bias when the
photo lineup is presented to the victim or witness. Detective Bellanca did not know
which of the photographs in the array, if any, depicted Johnson or his codefendant and
that he was not present when Detective Bellanca administered the photo arrays.
{¶9} After being shown the photo arrays, Detective Brooks said that Keith
identified the photo of Johnson as his assailant, circled Johnson’s photo, signed his name,
and indicated that he was certain that Johnson was the man who robbed and shot him
multiple times. Keith also identified Alexander as Johnson’s codefendant. In addition,
Keith made an in-court identification of Johnson.
{¶10} Keith testified that he had gone to the Garden Valley Estates to borrow
money from his friend, Mya. After picking up the money, he started to walk home
through a field near East 93rd Street and Union Avenue, when he saw Johnson and
Alexander sitting in a black Volkswagen Jetta. Keith stated that he knew Johnson, but
only knew his nickname “E” and knew Alexander since he was 14 years old, but only by
his nickname “Junior.”
{¶11} Keith testified that shortly after he had passed the Volkswagen Jetta, he felt
a gun in the back of his head, turned around, and looked in Johnson’s eyes. Johnson
proceeded to hit him in the head with the gun and said: “Don’t you know this is a
robbery?” Keith looked again and saw Alexander standing a couple feet away.
{¶12} Keith said that Johnson kept asking if Keith knew where he was, which is
gang parlance indicating that Keith was in the wrong territory. Johnson then ordered
Keith to empty his pocket and he complied, giving up $40 and two cell phones.
{¶13} After Keith gave up his property, Johnson ordered him to run, but then
began shooting. A bullet struck Keith’s leg, he lost balance and fell near a pole.
Johnson then shot him multiple times in his stomach from close range and he was looking
at Johnson the entire time. Johnson and Alexander then fled in the Volkswagen Jetta.
{¶14} Keith laid on the ground thinking he was going to die, but decided to crawl
into the middle of the street. He said a motorist eventually pulled alongside him and
called for an ambulance. Keith later passed out and when he woke up in the hospital, the
staff told him he had been in a coma.
{¶15} The jury found Johnson guilty of all counts. The trial court found the
kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges merged for sentencing purposes. The trial
court also found that the felonious assault and attempted murder charges merged for
sentencing purposes. The state elected that Johnson be sentenced on aggravated robbery
and attempted murder.
{¶16} The trial court then sentenced Johnson to three years for the firearm
specification that was to be served prior to and consecutive to the underlying charges.
The trial court then imposed prison terms of nine years each for the two underlying
charges. Finally, the trial court ordered that the sentences be served consecutively for a
total prison term of 21 years.
Allied Offenses
{¶17} In the first assigned error, Johnson argues the trial court erred by imposing
separate sentences for his convictions for aggravated robbery and attempted murder.
Johnson contends these were allied offenses of similar import.
{¶18} Our review of an allied offenses question is de novo. State v. Webb, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98628, 2013-Ohio-699, ¶ 4, citing State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d
482, 2012-Ohio-5699, 983 N.E.2d 1245, ¶ 28.
{¶19} R.C. 2941.25 is the codification of the judicial doctrine of merger and
provides guidance as follows:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute
two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information
may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be
convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of
dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of
the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as
to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
R.C. 2941.25; State v. Patterson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98127, 2012-Ohio-5511, ¶ 33.
{¶20} In State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061,
the Ohio Supreme Court established the proper analysis for determining whether offenses
qualify as allied offenses subject to merger pursuant to R.C. 2941.25. In doing so, it
expressly overruled State v. Rance, 85 Ohio St.3d 632, 1999-Ohio-291, 710 N.E.2d 699,
and held that rather than compare the elements of the crimes in the abstract, courts must
consider the conduct of the accused:
In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import under
R.C. 2941.25(A), the question is whether it is possible to commit one
offense and commit the other with the same conduct * * *. If the offenses
correspond to such a degree that the conduct of the defendant constituting
commission of one offense constitutes commission of the other, then the
offenses are of similar import.
If the multiple offenses can be committed by the same conduct, then the
court must determine whether the offenses were committed by the same
conduct, i.e., “a single act, committed with a single state of mind.”
If the answer to both questions is yes, then the offenses are allied offenses of
similar import and will be merged.
Conversely, if the court determines that the commission of one offense will never
result in the commission of the other, or if the offenses are committed separately,
or if the defendant has separate animus for each offense, then, according to R.C.
2941.25(B), the offenses will not merge.
(Citations omitted.) Id. at ¶ 48-51; State v. Burt, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99097,
2013-Ohio-3525, ¶ 30.
{¶21} In the instant case, the aggravated robbery and the attempted murder were
not committed with the same conduct or animus. The testimony at trial established that
Johnson stuck a gun to the back of Keith’s head and demanded the victim’s money.
Keith complied, Johnson took the money, and ordered him to run. At that juncture, the
aggravated robbery was completed. Keith could have fled to safety and Johnson could
have departed with his ill-gotten gains.
{¶22} However, when Keith started to flee as instructed, Johnson began shooting,
hitting him in the leg. As Keith stumbled to the ground, Johnson approached and fired
five more shots into Keith’s stomach. At that juncture, a second offense with a separate
animus was completed.
{¶23} Recently, we encountered a substantially similar fact pattern in State v.
Ranzy, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97275, 2012-Ohio-2763. In Ranzy, defendants attempted
to rob a victim at gun point. The victim attempted to flee, but was wrestled to the
ground. The victim managed to extricate himself and began running in a zig zag
fashion down the street. As the victim fled, defendant fired multiple gunshots, striking
the victim in shoulder.
{¶24} In Ranzy, addressing the same issue Johnson now raises, we specifically
stated:
These offenses were not committed with the same conduct or animus. Once
Randle opted to try to escape or flee from the robbery, the defendant and
Vanderhorst decided to escalate the matter and try to kill him. True,
defendant failed to successfully rob Randle, but that failed attempt does not
create an allied offense situation where the offender can shoot at the victim
attempting to murder him based on the logic that the robbery was
“ongoing.” This is not a case where the gun was fired accidentally; there
were clear purposeful efforts to kill Randle by shooting him in the head and
then proceeding to chase after him while still firing the weapon.
Id., citing State v. Orr, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96377, 2011-Ohio-6269, ¶ 38.
{¶25} Like Ranzy, the two convictions herein are not allied offenses of similar
import. Consequently, the trial court did not err when it imposed separate sentences for
the aggravated robbery and attempted murder convictions. Accordingly, we overrule
the first assigned error.
Consecutive Sentences
{¶26} In the second assigned error, Johnson argues the trial court abused its
discretion by imposing consecutive sentences without making the appropriate findings.
{¶27} We review consecutive sentences using the standard of review set forth in
R.C. 2953.08. State v. Wells, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 99305, 99306, and 99307,
2013-Ohio-3809, citing State v. Venes, 2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453, ¶ 10 (holding
that the standard of review set forth by the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Kalish, 120
Ohio St.3d 23, 2008-Ohio-4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, is no longer valid in light of the
enactment of H.B. 86 and the “revival” of statutory findings necessary for imposing
consecutive sentences).
{¶28} R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides two grounds for an appellate court to overturn
the imposition of consecutive sentences: (1) the sentence is “otherwise contrary to law”;
or (2) the appellate court, upon its review, clearly and convincingly finds that “the record
does not support the sentencing court’s findings” under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). Id., citing
Venes at ¶ 11; R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).
{¶29} The presumption in Ohio is that sentencing is to run concurrent, unless the
trial court makes the required findings for consecutive sentences set forth in R.C.
2929.14(C)(4). State v. Wells, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98428, 2013-Ohio-1179, ¶ 11; R.C.
2929.41(A).
{¶30} Under current R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), when imposing consecutive sentences,
the trial court must first find the sentence is “necessary to protect the public from future
crime or to punish the offender.” Next, the trial court must find that consecutive
sentences are “not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the
danger the offender poses to the public.” Finally, the trial court must find that one of the
following factors applies:
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the
offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction * * *, or
was under postrelease control for a prior offense.
(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or
more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the
multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single
prison term * * * adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s
conduct.
(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that
consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime
by the offender.
R.C. 2929.14(C).
{¶31} Compliance with this statute “requires separate and distinct findings in
addition to any findings relating to purposes and goals of criminal sentencing.” Venes,
2013-Ohio-1891, 992 N.E.2d 453, at ¶ 17, citing State v. Jones, 93 Ohio St.3d 391, 399,
2001-Ohio-1341, 754 N.E.2d 1252. The failure to make these findings is “contrary to
law.” Id. at ¶ 12.
{¶32} In the instant case, a review of the record reveals that the trial court strictly
complied with the requirements of R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). At the sentencing hearing, after
the trial court had heard from the prosecuting attorney, defense counsel, and Johnson, he
explained the purposes and principles of felony sentencing. The trial court discussed
the seriousness of Johnson’s crimes, the physical harm to the victim, as well as Johnson’s
criminal history. The trial court also pointed out that Johnson had not responded well to
sanctions in the past and had even engaged in drug trafficking soon after he was released
on bond for the instant case.
{¶33} In relevant part, the trial court stated:
* * * I’m going to impose these sentences consecutive because the sentence
is necessary to protect the public from future crimes by you and that the
consecutive sentence is necessary to punish you for this kind of conduct.
Further, I don’t believe these sentences are disproportionate to the
seriousness of this conduct, shooting someone, I think seven to ten times,
while he’s laying on the street. * * *. Further, I don’t believe these
sentences are disproportionate in the danger you pose to the public. Tr.
746-747.
{¶34} Here, a review of the above excerpt reveals that the trial court found that a
consecutive sentence was necessary to adequately punish Johnson and protect the public.
The trial court also found that consecutive sentences were not disproportionate to the
seriousness of Johnson’s conduct and to the danger he poses to the public as required by
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).
{¶35} Finally, the trial court found that at least one of the factors in R.C.
2929.14(C)(4), subsections (a), (b), or (c) applied. Specifically, the trial court stated:
Furthermore, I think the harm caused by this is so drastic. I mean, when
you think about this young man, 21 years old, and just simply walking off
the porch and going out and getting harassed by you and the other
defendant, I think the sentence deserves consecutive terms. Tr. 747.
{¶36} After reviewing the sentencing transcript in its entirety, we conclude that the
trial court fully engaged in the required analysis and fulfilled the statutory requirements of
R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) to impose consecutive sentences. Accordingly, we overrule the
second assigned error.
Effective Assistance of Counsel
{¶37} In the third assigned error, Johnson argues he was denied the effective
assistance of counsel.
{¶38} To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance, a defendant must establish
that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced by the
deficient performance. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).
Counsel will only be considered deficient if his or her conduct fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Strickland at 688.
{¶39} When reviewing counsel’s performance, this court must be highly
deferential and “must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct [fell] within
the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Id. at 689. To establish resulting
prejudice, a defendant must show that the outcome of the proceedings would have been
different but for counsel’s deficient performance. Id. at 694.
{¶40} Within this assigned error, Johnson argues trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to argue that the photo array was unreliable.
{¶41} A reviewing court applies a two-prong test in determining whether
identification testimony was admissible. State v. Thompson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
96929, 2012-Ohio-921. Under the first prong, the defendant must show that the
identification procedure was unduly suggestive. If we determine that it was, we then
examine “whether the identification, viewed under the totality of the circumstances, is
reliable despite its suggestive character.” Id. at ¶ 18.
{¶42} R.C. 2933.83 governs eyewitness identification procedures in lineups.
Subsection (B)(1) of the statute provides in part that “[u]nless impracticable, a blind or
blinded administrator shall conduct the live lineup or photo lineup.” A blind administrator
“means the administrator does not know the identity of the suspect.” R.C. 2933.83(A)(2).
“If a blind administrator is conducting the live lineup or the photo lineup, the
administrator shall inform the eyewitness that the suspect may or may not be in the lineup
and that the administrator does not know who the suspect is.” R.C. 2933.83(B)(5).
{¶43} In the instant case, Johnson argues that the photo array violates R.C.
2933.83 and broadly concludes that a “blind administrator” was not used to conduct the
photo arrays because the arrays exist in a traditional “six-pack” form rather than the
folder system addressed in R.C. 2933.83. However, Johnson’s argument is misplaced.
{¶44} We have previously held that R.C. 2933.83 does not require the use of the
“folder system” but, rather, the “folder system” is one system that can be used by law
enforcement for photo lineups. State v. Quarterman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99317,
2013-Ohio-4037. See also State v. Wells, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98388,
2013-Ohio-3722, ¶ 77, citing State v. Winters, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-12-1041,
2013-Ohio-2370, ¶ 42.
{¶45} At trial, Detective Bellanca testified that he served as the blind administrator
in presenting photo arrays to Keith on two separate occasions. Detective Bellanca stated
that both times he had no discussion with Keith, other than to read to him the instructions
from the standard blind administrator form. By those instructions, Keith was advised, in
part, that (1) the suspect may or may not be in the array, and (2) Detective Bellanca did
not know who the suspect was.
{¶46} Detective Bellanca stated that on the first occasion, Keith identified
Johnson’s codefendant from a photo array. Detective Bellanca returned a week later
with another photo array and Keith identified Johnson as the shooter. At trial Keith
stated that (1) no one told him who to pick, (2) no one indicated if his pick was right, (3)
he did not know whether anyone had been apprehended for the shooting, and (4) the
police did not give him any information about the case after he made his identification.
{¶47} On this record, Johnson has failed to demonstrate that the identification
procedure was unduly suggestive. Because Johnson has failed to demonstrate the first
prong, we need not consider the second prong of whether the identification, viewed under
the totality of the circumstances, is reliable despite its suggestive character. As such,
Johnson has failed to demonstrate that counsel’s performance was deficient.
{¶48} Within this assigned error, Johnson also argues that counsel was ineffective
for failing to object to the prosecutor’s statement that Johnson shot Keith in the stomach
multiple times as he laid on his back. We find Johnson’s assertion to be without merit.
Keith specifically testified that Johnson shot him in the leg as he was running, causing
him to fall, at which point, Johnson came over and shot him multiple times in the
stomach.
{¶49} Based on Keith’s testimony, the logical inference is that he was laying on
his back at some point while Johnson was shooting him in the stomach. On this record,
it would be pointless for counsel to object. Again, Johnson has failed to demonstrate that
counsel’s performance was deficient. Accordingly, we overrule the third assigned error.
Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶50} In the fourth assigned error, Johnson argues his convictions were against the
manifest weight of the evidence, because the victim’s identification was unreliable.
{¶51} In State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264,
the Ohio Supreme Court recently addressed the standard of review for a criminal manifest
weight challenge, as follows:
The criminal manifest-weight-of-the-evidence standard was explained in
State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 1997 Ohio 52, 678 N.E.2d 541. In
Thompkins, the court distinguished between sufficiency of the evidence and
manifest weight of the evidence, finding that these concepts differ both
qualitatively and quantitatively. Id. at 386, 678 N.E.2d 541. The court held
that sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy as to whether the
evidence is legally sufficient to support a verdict as a matter of law, but
weight of the evidence addresses the evidence’s effect of inducing belief.
Id. at 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541. In other words, a reviewing court asks
whose evidence is more persuasive — the state’s or the defendant’s? We
went on to hold that although there may be sufficient evidence to support a
judgment, it could nevertheless be against the manifest weight of the
evidence. Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541. “When a court of appeals reverses a
judgment of a trial court on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of
the evidence, the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and disagrees
with the factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting testimony.” Id. at 387,
678 N.E.2d 541, citing Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 2211,
72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982).
{¶52} As discussed in the third assigned error, Johnson failed to demonstrate that
the identification procedure was unduly suggestive. Keith identified Johnson as the
shooter from the photo array and was sure of his identification. Keith also identified
Johnson in court. Keith testified that he turned around and looked in Johnson’s eyes
when he felt the gun at the back of his head. Keith also testified that he was looking at
Johnson while being shot multiple times in the stomach. Keith’s identification of
Johnson was sufficient to support the convictions. See State v. Jordan, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 04AP-827, 2005-Ohio-3790, ¶ 14. Even where discrepancies exist,
eyewitness identification testimony alone is sufficient to support a conviction so long as a
reasonable juror could find the eyewitness testimony to be credible. State v. Bryson, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98298, 2013-Ohio-934.
{¶53} This court is mindful that the weight of the evidence and the credibility of
witnesses are primarily for the trier of fact and a reviewing court must not reverse a
verdict where the trier of fact could reasonably conclude from substantial evidence that
the state has proven the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Chavez, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 99436, 2013-Ohio-4700, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227
N.E.2d 212 (1967), at paragraphs one and two of the syllabus.
{¶54} Further, because the factfinder has the opportunity to see and hear the
witnesses, the cautious exercise of the discretionary power of a court of appeals to find
that a judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence requires that substantial
deference be extended to the factfinder’s determinations of credibility. State v.
Robinson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99290, 2013-Ohio-4375, citing State v. Lawson, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 3709 (Aug. 22, 1997). Thus, the
decision whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of particular witnesses is
within the peculiar competence of the factfinder, who has seen and heard the witness.
{¶55} Thus, based on the foregoing, we cannot say that the jury clearly lost its way
and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the convictions are against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly, we overrule the fourth assigned error.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
{¶56} In his fifth assigned error, Johnson argues that he was materially prejudiced
by improper statements made by the prosecutor during closing arguments.
{¶57} When reviewing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct during closing
arguments, we first determine whether the remarks were improper. State v. Powell, 132
Ohio St.3d 233, 2012-Ohio-2577, 971 N.E.2d 865, ¶ 149. “[B]oth the prosecution and the
defense have wide latitude in summation as to what the evidence has shown and what
reasonable inferences may be drawn therefrom.” State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 165,
555 N.E.2d 293 (1990), quoting State v. Stephens, 24 Ohio St.2d 76, 82, 263 N.E.2d 773(1970). But “[p]rosecutors must avoid insinuations and assertions calculated to mislead.
They may not express their personal beliefs or opinions regarding the guilt of the accused,
and they may not allude to matters not supported by admissible evidence.” Lott at 166.
{¶58} If we conclude that the remarks were improper, we next ask whether the
remarks prejudicially affected the defendant’s substantial rights such that the defendant’s
trial was unfair. Powell at ¶ 149. This requires us to examine the offending comments in
the broader context of the entire case. Id. Our inquiry is guided by concern for “the
fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.” Id., quoting Smith v. Phillips,
455 U.S. 209, 219, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982).
{¶59} Johnson first asserts that the prosecutor incorrectly stated that Detective
Bellanca followed Cleveland Police Department protocol when presenting the photo
arrays, despite Detective Bellanca’s failure to use the “folder system.” In our resolution
of the third assigned error, we pointed out that R.C. 2933.83 does not require the use of
the “folder system” but, rather, the “folder system” is one system that can be used by law
enforcement for photo lineups.
{¶60} Further, we concluded that Johnson failed to demonstrate that the
identification procedure, which utilized Detective Bellanca as a blind administrator, was
unduly suggestive. As such, we find nothing improper about the prosecutor’s statement
that Detective Bellanca had followed the proper protocol.
{¶61} Next, Johnson asserts that the prosecutor alluded to matters that were not
supported by evidence. Specifically, Johnson claims the following statement by the
prosecutor was not supported by the evidence:
The victim in this matter never named any other individual as the shooter.
He never named any other individual as his codefendant. It was always
consistent that it was Junior, and E. He never provided any other suspect
information. And I submit to you that the testimony of the victim was
consistent. When he testified in this trial, he gave you a consistent version
of events of what happened to him. And he never wavered from the fact
that the individual who shot him, was the defendant in court. That was one
thing he never wavered from. He maintained throughout his testimony that
this is the guy who shot him. Tr. 641.
{¶62} However, the record indicates that above excerpt reflects what the evidence
actually showed. At trial, Detective Harris, who arrived on the scene with Detective
Todd after the shooting, testified that Keith was lying on the ground screaming that he
had been shot. Detective Harris testified that he was unable to get any idea of the
shooter, at that time, because the paramedics were busily trying to save Keith’s life and
that Keith eventually passed out.
{¶63} Detective Brooks testified that he spoke with Keith a month after the
shooting, while Keith was still in the hospital. Detective Brooks said that Keith
indicated that “E” shot him and that “Junior” was with “E.” As previously discussed,
Keith identified both Johnson and his codefendant Alexander, Jr., from the photo arrays.
Further, at trial Keith testified that he knew Johnson as “E” and only learned his real
name during the proceedings. Keith also testified that he has known the codefendants
since he was 14 years old.
{¶64} Here, the above testimony mirrors the statement of the prosecuting attorney
that Keith consistently identified Johnson as the shooter. As such, we find no merit in
this assertion.
{¶65} Finally, Johnson argues the prosecutor’s characterization of the shooting
was flawed. Specifically, Johnson claims the prosecutor’s assertion that Keith was shot
multiple times in the abdomen as he laid on his back was improper. As previously
discussed, Keith testified that he fell after being shot in the leg and then Johnson shot him
multiple times in the stomach. Again, it is a permissible inference that at some point
while being shot multiple times in his abdomen, Keith would have eventually fallen on
his back, whether after the first or seventh bullet pierced his abdomen.
{¶66} After, reviewing the record, we see nothing in the complained of statements
during oral argument that amounted to prosecutorial misconduct. Accordingly, we
overrule the fifth assigned error.
Remmer Hearing
{¶67} In the sixth assigned error, Johnson argues the court erred by failing to
conduct a hearing pursuant to Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 74 S.Ct. 450, 98
L.Ed. 654 (1954), when his grandmother indicated, after the verdict was rendered, that
she knew one of the jurors.
{¶68} About two weeks after the verdict, defense counsel filed a motion for a
Remmer hearing to determine juror bias. On March 11, 2013, the trial court held a
hearing on the matter and stated in pertinent part as follows:
* * * I was going to sentence you, but I delayed the sentencing. This is
after a trial, and I think February 15th of this year. I was going to sentence
you, and I delayed sentencing because there was an issue with — well, I
was concerned as to a juror issue. Mr. Dixon, after — and I should really
be clear on the record what that juror issue was. Your grandmother went
and saw Juror No. 12 on this case and said to her, Hey, we went to school
together. And Juror No. 12 didn’t remember, didn’t know, and then
apparently said, Yeah, we must have. And she notified the Court
immediately after your grandmother went to her home. The juror called
the Court, was upset by that kind of conduct. And then I had a sheriff’s
deputy and the prosecutor call and investigate what has occurred and what
has happened and what was going on. Tr. 693-694.
{¶69} At the hearing, Johnson’s grandmother testified that at some point during
the trial she recognized Juror No. 12, but did not notify defense counsel or the the trial
court until after the verdict had been rendered. Johnson’s grandmother specifically
testified that it was after the verdict was rendered that she went to Juror No. 12’s home to
remind her that they had attended grade school together.
{¶70} In Remmer, the United States Supreme Court stated:
In a criminal case, any private communication, contact, or tampering
directly or indirectly, with a juror during a trial about the matter pending
before the jury is, for obvious reasons, deemed presumptively prejudicial, if
not made in the pursuance of known rules of the court and the instructions
and directions of the court made during the trial, with full knowledge of the
parties. The presumption is not conclusive, but the burden rests heavily
upon the Government to establish, after notice to and hearing of the
defendant, that such contact with the juror was harmless to the defendant.
Id. at 229.
{¶71} Nonetheless,
due process does not require a new trial every time a juror has been placed
in a potentially compromising situation. * * * Due process means a jury
capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence before it, and
a trial judge ever watchful to prevent prejudicial occurrences and to
determine the effect of such occurrences when they happen. Such
determinations may properly be made at a hearing like that ordered in
Remmer * * *.
State v. Warmus, 197 Ohio App.3d 383, 2011-Ohio-5827, 967 N.E.2d 1223 (8th Dist.),
quoting Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 217, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982).
{¶72} Pivotally, the contact with the juror occurred after the verdict had been
rendered. There was no allegation that any private communication occurred with
Johnson’s grandmother and Juror No. 12 during the trial. In addition, as pointed out by
the trial court, Juror No. 12 indicated that she did not immediately remember having gone
to school with Johnson’s grandmother.
{¶73} Under the circumstances of the instant case, the need for a Remmer hearing
was not warranted. As such, the trial court did not err when it denied the motion for a
Remmer hearing. Accordingly, we overrule the sixth assigned error.
{¶74} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant its costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution. The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is
terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, JUDGE
MARY J. BOYLE, A.J., and
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR