State v. Mitchell , 2016 Ohio 1439 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Mitchell, 2016-Ohio-1439.]
STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
SEVENTH DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO, ) CASE NO. 14 MA 0119
)
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, )
)
VS. ) OPINION
)
JANERO MITCHELL, )
)
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. )
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Criminal Appeal from the Court of
Common Pleas of Mahoning County,
Ohio
Case No. 2012 CR 1233
JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: Atty. Ralph M. Rivera
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
21 West Boardman St., 6th Floor
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
For Defendant-Appellant: Atty. Carrie E. Wood
Assistant State Public Defender
Office Of The Ohio Public Defender
250 E. Broad Street, Suite 1400
Columbus, Ohio 43215
JUDGES:
Hon. Carol Ann Robb
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Dated: March 30, 2016
[Cite as State v. Mitchell, 2016-Ohio-1439.]
ROBB, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Janero Mitchell appeals after being convicted of
aggravated murder with a firearm specification in the Mahoning County Common
Pleas Court. Appellant contests the state’s use of a peremptory challenge to excuse
an African-American from the jury. He next states that he was denied a fair trial
when the jury heard testimony about a threat to a witness. He also contests the
admissibility of a detective’s testimony about a tip. As to the latter two arguments,
Appellant adds ineffective assistance of counsel arguments. For the following
reasons, the trial court’s judgment is upheld.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
{¶2} Around noon on October 17, 2012, Mark Haskins was shot four times
near the corner of Bissell and Kensington Avenues on the north side of Youngstown.
He died three days later. Just prior to the shooting, the victim called 911. Before the
dispatcher spoke, the victim could be heard refusing to get in someone’s car. He
then reported to the dispatcher that “somebody jumped on” him at the corner of
Kensington and Bissell. Another man could be heard yelling in the background to
which the victim responded, “I didn’t steal nothing.” The man in the background
replied by yelling something about “falsifying” and “we want to report a robbery.” The
call then disconnected.
{¶3} Minutes later, a witness heard multiple gunshots as she was raking
leaves. She turned in time to see the victim fall from a large rock onto the sidewalk in
front of a nearby house. The shooter fired two to three more times as the victim
rolled from the sidewalk to the grass. (Tr. 285). The shooter turned to leave but then
turned back and fired one last shot at the victim. (Tr. 286). The witness estimated 7-
9 shots were fired. (Tr. 285, 289). One of the bullets passed over her head and hit
her house. (Tr. 294). She said the shooter looked at her before he got into the
driver’s side of a green vehicle parked at the scene. (Tr. 297).
{¶4} While the witness ran inside to call 911, the victim called 911 a second
time; he can be heard moaning on the recording. (Tr. 288, 522). A different woman,
who was also out raking leaves, called 911 and reported seeing a gold SUV speed
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down the street after hearing the gunshots. (Tr. 526). This woman had difficulty with
colors due to recent brain surgery. (Tr. 527). Another woman was driving by when
she heard gunfire, which prompted her to stop her car and duck. After the shooting,
she spotted the victim on the ground and saw a man enter a large green truck and
drive away from the scene. (Tr. 431-432).
{¶5} While emergency medical personnel treated the victim, he became
briefly responsive. (Tr. 517, 640, 642). A police officer asked about the shooter and
the vehicle. The victim described the vehicle as a green truck. (Tr. 640, 650). The
victim could not or would not report who shot him; the officer’s report stated that the
victim said he did not know who shot him, but the officer testified at trial the victim
would not provide a name and answered “no” when asked who shot him. (Tr. 641-
642, 648-649).
{¶6} Police collected eight .40 caliber shell casings from the scene. (Tr.
390). Testing established that they were all fired from the same firearm. (Tr. 475). A
slug was recovered from the siding on the witness’s house. (Tr. 392). Bullet strikes
could be seen on the rock and the sidewalk.
{¶7} The main witness was transported to the police station to be
interviewed by Detective Martin. She testified at trial, and her October 17, 2012
video statement was played to the jury. She called the shooter’s green vehicle a
truck but also described it as a SUV, which she said was similar to a Jeep SUV she
saw parked at the police station. (Tr. 287). She believed the shooter’s vehicle had
silver and black molding running down the doors. (Tr. 306-307). On the topic of
colors, she said she had no problem discerning the color green but had difficulty
distinguishing between black and dark blue and between gray and silver. (Tr. 307-
308).
{¶8} After the victim died, Detective Martin went to the victim’s residence
and spoke to his girlfriend, who testified at trial. She disclosed that their neighbor,
who lived three doors down, owned a large green SUV. (Tr. 442, 448, 529). The
neighbor’s nickname was “Smoke.” (Tr. 439). At trial, the victim’s girlfriend identified
Appellant as the neighbor who was the subject of her statement. The victim
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performed house and car repairs for Appellant in the weeks prior to his death. (Tr.
439). The victim’s girlfriend showed the detective her caller identification displaying
the various calls Appellant made to their house. (Tr. 443). In addition, she reported
Appellant came to their house five to six times in one night looking for the victim and
seemed upset. (Tr. 439-440). She said this was “strange” and made her nervous.
(Tr. 439). The victim also seemed unusually nervous in the weeks leading up to his
death. (Tr. 440-441).
{¶9} On November 5, 2012, the eyewitness to the shooting came to the
station to view a photo line-up and to add to her statement, the video of which was
played to the jury. (Tr. 342, 348-349). The witness reported that she remembered
seeing a gray car on the opposite side the street and believed the shooter may have
spoken to the person in the gray car before driving away. (Tr. 336-337, 360). She
was then administered a photo line-up at the police department by a “blind
administrator.” Appellant’s photograph occupied folder number seven in the first
array. (Tr. 535). On her second viewing of the first array, the witness said number
three looked like the shooter. She also voiced that number seven looked like the
shooter and started crying. (Tr. 373-374, 457). Pursuant to policy, she was not
permitted to view the array a third time as she requested. In viewing the second
array, she expressed that number one reminded her of number three from the prior
array.
{¶10} She did not identify the shooter to the administrator; at trial, she
explained she thought she was supposed to voice her suspicions to Detective Martin.
(Tr. 370). Upon exiting the room, the eyewitness spoke to Detective Martin and
informed him that seeing number seven brought it all back, stating she was 99% sure
he was the shooter. (Tr. 350, 357-358, 370, 536). She similarly advised the deputy
sheriff who drove her home; this officer was her landlord. (Tr. 321, 540). At trial, she
identified Appellant as the shooter (and as number seven in the array). (Tr. 296).
{¶11} The police watched Appellant’s residence and eventually spotted a
green Chevrolet Avalanche, which Appellant later acknowledged was exclusively
driven by him. (Tr. 529, 545). As the state pointed out in closing, the photographs
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show the vehicle is an unusual style of truck. (Tr. 673). It is a four-door pick-up
truck, but the back of the cab protrudes toward the bed at an angle with a triangular
cut-out behind the back passenger windows, making it appear as if a third row is
behind the second row of seats. Detective Martin noted the truck had a gray strip of
molding down the side and a silver strip in the front. (Tr. 613). When the
photographs were shown to the eyewitness, she did not recall the bed on the vehicle
but said it was the same style. (Tr. 585, 595). Notably, the victim’s girlfriend, who
knows Appellant and is his neighbor, also described the vehicle as an SUV.
{¶12} On November 29, 2012, Appellant was secretly indicted for aggravated
murder (with prior calculation and design) and a firearm specification. He was
arrested the next day. A gun and ammunition, which belonged to Appellant, were
confiscated from his residence; this evidence did not match the evidence from the
scene. A superseding indictment was filed to add a count for having a weapon while
under a disability. Appellant waived his right to a jury trial on the weapons charge,
electing to have that charge tried to the bench. The aggravated murder charge and
the firearm specification were tried to a jury, which was also instructed on the lesser
included offense of murder.
{¶13} The jury found Appellant guilty of aggravated murder with a firearm
specification, and the court found him guilty of having a weapon while under a
disability. The court sentenced Appellant to life without parole for the aggravated
murder, three years for the firearm specification, and three years for the weapons
charge to run consecutive. (Aug. 25, 2014 Sent. Hrg.; Sep. 11, 2014 Sent. J.E.).
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR ONE & TWO: PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE
{¶14} Appellant’s first two assignments of error, which concern one
peremptory challenge utilized by the state, provide:
“The trial court erred when it excused a juror after the State offered a facially
discriminatory explanation for the use of its peremptory challenge."
“The trial court’s decision to excuse a black juror after a Batson challenge is
clearly erroneous when it fails to make the necessary Batson findings and instead
relies upon impermissible factors.” (Citations omitted.)
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{¶15} The state used its third peremptory challenge on prospective juror
number 7, Mr. Whitfield. (Tr. 178). An unrecorded sidebar was held after which an in
chambers discussion was recorded. (Tr. 178-179). Defense counsel noted this was
the second minority juror excused by the state. He stipulated “there are two
remaining minority jurors in this case” and noted other minority members of the
upcoming panel would likely not be reached. Counsel voiced a Batson objection
asking the court to determine whether there existed a race neutral reason for the
peremptory challenge. (Tr. 179). The assistant prosecutor responded:
* * * Whitfield, his last name, we have prosecuted many Whitfields.
He’s from the south side as well. So even though he didn’t indicate he
had any family members that were prosecuted by us or who had
convictions, I’m afraid that this Mr. Whitfield is related not only to
Reginald Whitfield, who we just had a case with in Judge Durkin’s court,
but many of the other Whitfields who we have prosecuted. They are all
from the south side. (Tr. 180).
{¶16} Defense counsel responded that the state could have asked this of the
juror in voir dire and still could do so, opining it would not be offensive. (Tr. 180). At
this point, the assistant prosecutor pointed out there were still three or four more
minorities in the back of the courtroom. (Tr. 180). Defense counsel reiterated his
belief that they would not reach those panel members. A different assistant
prosecutor then commented that the defendant and the victim were both African-
American, as opposed to a white victim. Defense counsel protested that the issue of
whether there is an African-American victim is not the point of the Supreme Court law
on the subject. (Tr. 181). The court overruled the objection and allowed the state’s
peremptory challenge to stand.
{¶17} Being an Equal Protection clause argument, the burden is on the
defendant to prove the state racially discriminated in the use of a peremptory
challenge. Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 93, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69
(1986). The process entails three steps: (1) the defendant’s prima facie case of
racial discrimination; (2) the state’s obligation to set forth a race-neutral reason; and
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(3) the trial court’s judgment as to whether the prosecutor purposefully discriminated.
See id. at 97-98.
{¶18} First, the defendant must object to the peremptory challenge and set
forth a prima facie case of racial discrimination by pointing to relevant circumstances
that raise an inference the prosecutor used the challenge to exclude the prospective
juror on account of his race, which could include: the state’s use of a prior challenge
against the same race; the defendant and the challenged juror are members of the
same racially cognizable group; and/or disparate questions were asked in voir dire.
Id. at 96-97. See also Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 416, 111 S. Ct. 1364, 113
L. Ed. 2d 411 (1991) (racial identity between the defendant and the excused juror may
make it easier to establish the case, but race is irrelevant to a defendant’s standing to
assert discrimination against a juror). This preliminary issue of whether the
defendant made a prima facie showing becomes moot, however, if the state offers a
race-neutral explanation for the peremptory challenge and the trial court rules on the
ultimate question of intentional discrimination. Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S.
352, 359, 111 S. Ct. 1859, 114 L. Ed. 2d 395 (1991).
{¶19} Under the second step, the state must provide a racially neutral
explanation for the challenge. Id. A race-neutral explanation for a peremptory
challenge is simply “an explanation based on something other than the race of the
juror.” Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 360. “Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the
prosecutor's explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race neutral.” Id.
{¶20} Third, if the state provides a race-neutral explanation, the trial court
must view all the circumstances and determine whether there was purposeful
discrimination, i.e. whether the explanation is merely pretextual. Batson, 476 U.S. at
98. Although this step entails evaluating the persuasiveness of the state’s
explanation, the burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation remains on the
defendant. Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338, 126 S. Ct. 969, 163 L. Ed. 2d 824
(2006); State v. Gowdy, 88 Ohio St. 3d 387, 393, 727 N.E.2d 579 (2000) (“The
ultimate burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation rests with, and never shifts
from, the opponent of the strike.”). We do not reverse a trial court’s decision on
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intentional discrimination unless it was clearly erroneous. See State v. Frazier, 115
Ohio St. 3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 64; State v. Bryan, 101 Ohio
St.3d 272, 2004-Ohio-971, 804 N.E.2d 433, ¶ 106, 110 (defer to the trial court’s
credibility decision).
{¶21} Appellant contends an evaluation of his prima facie case is moot since
the state provided an explanation upon which the court ruled. See State v. White, 85
Ohio St. 3d 433, 437, 709 N.E.2d 140 (1999) (“Once the proponent explains the
challenge and the trial court rules on the ultimate issue of discrimination, whether or
not a prima facie case was established becomes moot.”), citing Hernandez, 500 U.S.
at 359. The state agrees and proceeds to address Appellant’s next contention.
{¶22} Appellant alleges the reason provided by the state is facially invalid
rather than racially neutral. He argues the trial court would never reach the third step
where the credibility of the prosecutor making the statement is evaluated. Appellant
asserts the state voiced race was a consideration when it assumed African-
Americans with the last name of Whitfield who live on the same side of town are
related. He believes the state’s explanation carries a presumption that race,
neighborhood, and last name define the prospective juror as fitting in an undesirable
category.
{¶23} Appellant presents various arguments which appear more related to an
argument of intentional discrimination under the third step than an argument that the
reason was not race-neutral. For instance, Appellant urges that the state’s failure to
conduct voir dire on the subject of relatives is evidence suggesting the explanation is
a pretext for discrimination. He also argues the state’s explanation was based upon
an unsupported assumption or fear that the juror was related to criminals due to his
last name and neighborhood. He urges the state did not explain why being related
(by an unknown degree of relationship) to a criminal would be problematic.
{¶24} “In evaluating the race neutrality of an attorney's explanation, a court
must determine whether, assuming the proffered reasons for the peremptory
challenges are true, the challenges violate the Equal Protection Clause as a matter of
law.” Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 359. The explanation is not unconstitutional solely
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because it results in a racially disproportionate impact. Id. at 359-360.
Discriminatory purpose implies the prosecutor exercised the challenge “at least in
part ‘because of,’ not merely ‘in spite of,’ its adverse effects upon an identifiable
group.” Id. at 360 (awareness of consequences does not equate with discriminatory
intent).
{¶25} The state’s explanation for the peremptory challenge must merely be
based on something other than the race of the juror. Id. at 360. It need not rise to
the level of a challenge for cause. Batson, 476 U.S. at 97. In this step, the state’s
explanation need not be “persuasive, or even plausible” as long as the reason is not
inherently discriminatory. Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338, 126 S. Ct. 969, 163
L. Ed. 2d 824 (2006). In fact, the state’s reason can be silly or superstitious as long as
it is not race-related; the persuasiveness of the explanation does not arise until the
third step. Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 769, 115 S. Ct. 1769, 131 L. Ed. 2d 834
(1995) (long unkempt hair and facial hair is race neutral). “Unless a discriminatory
intent is inherent in the prosecutor's explanation, the reason offered will be deemed
race neutral.” Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 360.
{¶26} Notably, the court asked the panel whether any of their family members
have ever been charged or arrested. (Tr. 52). This question prompted no disclosure
by juror number 7. A concern that a prospective juror is related to various individuals
prosecuted by that same prosecutor’s office, including one recent conviction cited by
name to the court, is not racially discriminatory. In addition, there is the concern,
expressed by the state, that a juror did not mention prosecuted family members when
asked.
{¶27} “Removing a juror based on the past criminal history of him or her, or
his or her family member, is a valid, race-neutral reason for raising a peremptory
challenge.” State v. Lacey, 7th Dist. No. 10MA122, 2012-Ohio-1685, ¶ 127, quoting
State v. Santiago, 10th Dist. No. 02AP-1094, 2003-Ohio-2877, ¶ 10. See also State
v. Coleman, 85 Ohio St. 3d 129, 142, 707 N.E.2d 476 (1999) (prior involvement with
drug trafficking by family member of prospective juror is a race-neutral explanation
under step two that trial court could find credible under step three); State v. May, 8th
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Dist. No. 102482, 2015-Ohio-4275, ¶ 51 (“the potential bias that may result from a
prospective juror's or his or her family's experiences with the criminal justice system
may be a legitimate, racially neutral reason for exercising a peremptory strike against
the prospective juror”); State v. Reed, 6th Dist. No. L-97-1133 (June 12, 1998)
(excused jurors had relatives who had been convicted of crimes).
{¶28} The skin color of the Whitfield named by the state (as an example of a
recent prosecution by this prosecutor’s office) was not mentioned; nor was the skin
color of any of the other prosecuted Whitfields mentioned. Appellant cites us to an
offender search of the website of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and
Corrections to establish that the most recently prosecuted Whitfield named by the
state was African-American. See Appellant’s Brief at 19, fn.4. This is evidence
outside the trial record.
{¶29} Regardless, skin color does not eliminate the possibility of familial
relationship with another by affinity or consanguinity. There is no indication in the
explanation that the state would not have exercised the challenge if juror number 7
was a Whitfield from the south side of town who appeared to be white. An
explanation is not unconstitutional on its face solely because it results in a racially
disproportionate impact. Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 359-360. Whether the state’s
concern was genuine versus pretextual involves the third step, and we will consider
Appellant’s arguments relating to this subject under the discussion of that step, infra.
{¶30} In assignment of error number one, Appellant also condemns the
prosecution’s observation that three or four more African-Americans remained for
potential seating on the jury and that the case involved a victim and a defendant of
the same race. These are not race-neutral reasons for excluding juror number 7.
See, e.g., State v. Gowdy, 88 Ohio St. 3d 387, 393, 727 N.E.2d 579 (2000) (as the
Fourteenth Amendment protects the juror from discrimination, the fact that another
juror of the same race remained on the jury does not preclude a holding that the state
unlawfully removed a juror).
{¶31} However, the mere making of such observations after providing race-
neutral reasons does not result in a finding that the state failed to set forth a race-
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neutral reason under step two of the analysis. See Gowdy, 88 Ohio St. 3d at 393 (the
Court continued to address the other explanations provided by the state). Notably,
the state’s observations were made after defense counsel predicted the remaining
voir dire would not reach the other African-Americans on the venire, which would
leave only two minorities on the jury. Likewise, defense counsel pointed out this was
the second excused minority juror. (Tr. 179). Moreover, the effect of the state’s
challenges is a factor that can be considered in determining pretext under the third
step in the analysis. See Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 125 S. Ct. 2317, 162
L. Ed. 2d 196 (2005). See also Batson, 476 U.S. at 97 (the defendant can also use
the number of challenges to minorities to bolster his prima facie case).
{¶32} Related to this argument, Appellant’s second assignment of error
claims the court considered impermissible factors. After allowing the state to excuse
juror number 7, the judge stated: “And the court does acknowledge that there are
blacks sitting in - - waiting in the back that are available. And Mr. Whitfield was not
the only minority on this jury.” (Tr. 182). Again, defense counsel first brought up the
fact that only two minorities would remain on the jury without juror number 7 and
predicted he would not reach the other minorities in the back of the courtroom during
voir dire. (Tr. 179). Additionally, because the effect of the challenge is a
circumstance a court can consider in evaluating the issue of pretext, the mere
acknowledgement of the composition of the present jury and venire would not
constitute an error. See generally Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231; Batson, 476 U.S.
at 97.
{¶33} Appellant’s second assignment of error also claims the trial court erred
in failing to make the “necessary Batson findings.” When presented with such an
argument, the Ohio Supreme Court has stated: “Certainly, more thorough findings by
the trial court in denying the defense Batson objections would have been helpful.
However, the trial court is not compelled to make detailed factual findings to comply
with Batson.” State v. Frazier, 115 Ohio St. 3d 139, 152, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873
N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 98.
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{¶34} After providing the parties a reasonable opportunity to make their
respective records, the trial court’s ruling on the credibility of a proffered race-neutral
explanation can merely be expressed in the form of a clear rejection or acceptance of
a Batson objection. Id. See also Gowdy, 88 Ohio St. 3d at 393, 395 (where the
defendant claimed the trial court did not proceed to step three of the inquiry and
instead stopped after determining the reasons advanced by the prosecutor were
race-neutral). Here, the trial court clearly rejected the Batson objection, which was
sufficient to express its ruling.
{¶35} We proceed to address the final question concerning whether the trial
court could rule that the defendant did not meet his burden of showing the
prosecution’s concern was mere pretext. Appellant points out the failure to conduct
voir dire on the subject is evidence suggesting the explanation is a sham or pretext
for discrimination. Citing Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. at 246 (quoting an Alabama
case via parenthetical). The Court made this statement in assessing the
implausibility of the state’s explanation involving the criminal conviction of a
prospective juror’s brother; the Court emphasized that the explanation was only
proffered after the state’s initial reason was shown to be an improper characterization
of the juror’s responses to questions on the death penalty. Id. See also id. at fn. 8
(other jurors had relatives convicted of crimes who were not struck).
{¶36} The Miller-El v. Dretke case was a capital case tried prior to Batson and
remanded by a state appellate court to the trial court for consideration of Batson,
which hearing elicited additional facts concerning the state’s discriminatory practices
in voir dire, including: out of 20 black members of a 108-person venire panel only 1
served; 10 blacks were peremptorily struck by the state, which excluded 91% of the
eligible black venire members; side-by-side comparisons of black panelists and white
panelists allowed to serve suggested bias; disparate questioning of the races
occurred; the state used a manual with reasoning for excluding minorities; and, the
state employed a Texas “jury shuffling” practice when blacks moved to the forefront
of the venire. See id. at 240-241, 253 (reviewing statistics and other “clues” as to the
prosecution’s intentions, in addition to the peremptory challenges themselves).
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{¶37} As can be seen, the Miller-El v. Dretke case contained many
circumstances that distinguish it from the case at bar. For instance, we have the
statement that this juror was the second minority juror excused, but we do not have
extreme statistics. Nor do we have the situation where “a prosecutor’s proffered
reason for striking a black panelist applies just as well to an otherwise-similar
nonblack who is permitted to serve * * *.” See Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 241. There was
no indication that any non-black juror may have had a family member who had been
recently convicted by this prosecutor’s office (or at all).
{¶38} Appellant counters that there is no indication juror number 7 had such a
family member either. The fact that the state did not specifically inquire of juror
number 7 as to whether he was related to various Whitfields is a factor to consider in
evaluating whether there was purposeful discrimination. However, it is not
dispositive. The statement in Miller-El, 545 U.S. at 246, that a failure to inquire is
suggestive of pretext, was not a holding that a failure to inquire per se establishes
pretext. The jury questionnaire and the court asked about family members who were
charged or arrested, and this juror did not make a disclosure. Still, the prosecution
was concerned. The court must “assess the plausibility of” the prosecutor's reason
for striking the juror “in light of all evidence with a bearing on it.” Miller-El v. Dretke,
545 U.S. at 252.
{¶39} The trial court was to ascertain whether the prosecutor’s concern was
genuine. The prosecutor’s office recently prosecuted a Reginald Whitfield. Besides
providing a specific defendant’s name, the state pointed to the trial judge who
presided over that defendant’s case. This prosecutor’s office also prosecuted “many
of the other Whitfields,” all of whom live on the south side of town where this juror
lived, which caused her to be “afraid” the juror was related to the prosecuted
Whitfields. (Tr. 180). As aforementioned, having relatives that were convicted of
crimes is a valid concern of the prosecution about a prospective juror. See, e.g.,
Coleman, 85 Ohio St. 3d at 142 (1999). The concern is greater where the relatives
were recently prosecuted by this prosecutor’s office. A trial court may believe a
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prosecutor’s expression of concern when evaluating whether the state engaged in
purposeful discrimination.
{¶40} Appellant replies that the concern is unfounded as to this juror because
the existence of a familial relationship is based upon an assumption unsupported by
the record. The state counters that the record suggests a strong likelihood the juror
was related to individuals prosecuted by that prosecutor’s office.
{¶41} In Rice, the state exercised a peremptory challenge against an African-
American female based on a fear that a young single citizen with no ties to the
community might be too tolerant of the crime at issue, even though the juror’s
answers in voir dire did not support such a belief. The United States Supreme Court
held that pretext is not established merely because the prosecutor claimed to hold
such concerns despite the juror’s voir dire averments. Rice, 546 U.S. at 341. The
Court found it was not unreasonable to believe the prosecutor remained worried
about the juror even if the prosecutor could be seen as overly cautious. Id. (reversing
the Ninth Circuit’s decision to reverse state court decisions on the matter).
{¶42} The trial court’s decision is partially based upon the prosecutor's
demeanor in explaining her position; whether the prosecutor’s explanation is genuine
is a credibility determination subject to great deference. Davis v. Ayala, __ U.S. __,
135 S. Ct. 2187, 2199, 2201, 192 L. Ed. 2d 323 (2015) (adding: “Appellate judges
cannot on the basis of a cold record easily second-guess a trial judge's decision
about likely motivation.”). Moreover, our standard of review is whether the trial court
was “clearly erroneous” in accepting the state’s explanation as genuine as opposed
to a pretext for purposeful discrimination. Id. at 2199; Frazier, 115 Ohio St. 3d 139 at
¶ 64. Although other judges could disagree with this trial judge’s decision that the
prosecutor’s assessment was plausible, “a trial judge may choose to disbelieve a silly
or superstitious reason”; “implausible or fantastic justifications may (and probably will)
be found to be pretexts for purposeful discrimination.” (Emphasis added.) Purkett,
514 U.S. at 768 (reversing the appellate court’s decision that long unkempt hair and
facial hair is not a race-neutral reason and remanding for the appellate court to
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review the trial court’s third stage decision on whether the prosecutor’s explanation
was genuine).
{¶43} This court finds the trial court was not clearly erroneous by believing the
prosecution did not purposefully discriminate when it asked to excuse juror number 7.
Whitfield is not a noticeably common surname like Jones or Smith. The prosecutor’s
office was involved in investigating and prosecuting many Whitfields from the same
area of town as the juror. The prosecutor’s lingering concerns, notwithstanding the
juror’s failure to report a relative’s arrest, does not so lack plausibility that the trial
court’s decision should be rendered clearly erroneous. For all of these reasons, the
first and second assignments of error are overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER THREE
{¶44} Appellant’s third assignment of error provides:
“The trial court erred in denying a mistrial when the jury repeatedly heard
inadmissible testimony regarding threats to witnesses; and, as a result, deprived Mr.
Mitchell of a fair trial.” (Citations omitted.)
{¶45} Prior to trial, the defense filed a motion in limine concerning evidence
the eyewitness had been threatened. The state informed the court it would only
present testimony that the witness was and remains fearful, adding the state had no
intent to inform the jury of specific instances where the witness was approached or
threatened. Defense counsel replied they would deal with it when it arose since it
depended upon how the question was asked. (Tr. 23). The state pointed out the
contact with the witness could not be attributed to the defendant (or they would have
charged him with intimidation). The state then agreed that asking the eyewitness
about specific instances of threats would be inappropriate. (Tr. 24).
{¶46} When the eyewitness testified, she was asked if she had some worries
and was scared when she spoke to the detective. She answered affirmatively and
said she was still scared. (Tr. 295). Detective Martin testified about the photographic
line-up. He was asked why he decided to have the witness view a second photo
array. The detective responded, “There was a second suspect that through my
investigation that was - - I don’t know if - - I believe he’s a cousin or an associate, and
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he was involved in another investigation with Janero Mitchell by the name of - -.” An
objection was sustained. Defense counsel asked the court to strike the response,
and the court instructed, “Jury will be asked to not consider the statement that the
officer just made.” (Tr. 537).
{¶47} Thereafter, the detective testified the eyewitness was still fearful when
she viewed the photographs on November 5. He explained he waited until
November 30 to arrest Appellant because he was concerned about this witness,
saying that everyone knew where she lived. He then added, “She already had
somebody come to the house threatening her.” (Tr. 540). Defense counsel objected,
and the court sustained the objection. (Tr. 540-541). A sidebar was held, after which
the court amended the ruling to “sustained as to that response but stick around after.”
The detective then stated he wanted to allay some of the witness’s fears by waiting
until she moved out of the area. (Tr. 541).
{¶48} After the state’s direct examination, the court released the jury for the
day. Defense counsel moved for a mistrial. He pointed to his sustained objections
on the detective’s testimony about another investigation and threats. He said the
answers would lead the jury to believe the threats came from the defendant. (Tr.
549-551). The court overruled the motion for a mistrial.
{¶49} Thereafter, defense counsel mentioned, on cross-examination, the
report of a gray car at the scene in conjunction with the second photo line-up. He
also asked the detective if the victim’s girlfriend brought up the name “Willie D.”
Defense counsel inquired if the photos in the line-up were for the purpose of picking
out the shooter, and the detective responded: “One was for the shooter and actually
the other one was for the individual that had come to the house and had threatened
her.” (Tr. 564). Defense counsel then asked: “You have no threats that relate to
Janero Mitchell?” The detective agreed. (Tr. 565).
{¶50} Appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion in overruling the
motion for a mistrial. He states the jury heard inadmissible testimony about threats,
an investigation, and a suspect who was his associate. He asserts this undermined
confidence in the outcome as a fair trial was no longer possible. The state responds
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there was no prejudice as defense counsel made it clear during cross-examination
that Appellant was not connected to the threats. Appellant urges that defense
counsel’s elicitation on cross-examination did not undo the damage. As evidence of
the prejudicial impact on the jury, Appellant points to two jury questions.
{¶51} First, shortly after the jury began deliberations, the parties decided the
jury should break for the evening. The court made pertinent advisements about not
forming an opinion or talking in the absence of the entire jury. The court warned the
jury not to let anyone talk to them or approach them about the case. The court said
that if anything unusual happens, they should notify the deputies. (Tr. 741-742). A
juror asked, “Now, you were saying if something happens at home or something * * *
call the sheriff, don’t call 911?” (Tr. 742). The court responded, “Either one. I don’t
expect anything is going to happen.” The juror replied, “I hope not. That’s crossed
my mind.” (Tr. 743).
{¶52} At that point, defense counsel again moved for a mistrial (or in the
alternative, voir dire of the juror who asked the question). He voiced a connection
between the testimony on threats and the juror’s expression that a need to call the
police “crossed my mind.” (Tr. 746, 748-749). The state pointed out the juror did not
initiate the conversation but was merely clarifying the court’s instructions. (Tr. 746-
747). It was noted that it was not unusual for jurors to be concerned when involved in
a violent case such as this. (Tr. 747, 749). The court overruled the defense motion.
The court found the juror’s question was made in response to the court’s instructions.
The court suggested the question was not related to testimony, but may have been
related to the fact that someone yelled at a witness who was leaving the courthouse,
“you better know what you’re talking about.” (Tr. 750).
{¶53} The next question was raised after the jury had signed its verdict. (Tr.
751-752). They asked if their information would be made public. (Tr. 751). Defense
counsel renewed the motion for a mistrial, urging the question showed fear by jurors
due to testimony of threats. (Tr. 752-753). The motion was overruled.
{¶54} The granting or denial of a motion for mistrial rests in the sound
discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of
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discretion. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 480, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001). To
show an abuse of discretion in failing to grant a mistrial, the defendant must
demonstrate material prejudice. See State v. Adams, 144 Ohio St. 3d 429, 2015-
Ohio-3954, __ N.E.3d __, ¶ 198. A mistrial is not warranted in a criminal case merely
because some error or irregularity occurred. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d at 480. A mistrial
is necessary only when a fair trial is no longer possible. Id. (a police officer’s
comment as to a suspect's silence or his request for an attorney, although improper,
did not require a mistrial after curative instruction given). See also State v. Garner,
74 Ohio St. 3d 49, 59, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995) (a police officer's fleeting reference to
the defendant’s prior arrests did not necessitate mistrial after curative instruction
given).
{¶55} Here, there was no objection to the eyewitness testifying that she was
in fear for her safety. (Tr. 295). A witness’s expressed fear for her safety due to
involvement in the case does not necessarily suggest the defendant committed
another bad act or require a mistrial. See State v. Fredenburg, 10th Dist. No.
97APA10-1340 (Sept. 17, 1998), citing State v. Smith, 10th Dist. No. 94APA01-119
(Sept. 20, 1994).
{¶56} Appellant’s concern is disclosure of threats and the investigation of an
associate.1 Appellant points out the state is generally prohibited from introducing
evidence “tending to show that a defendant committed another crime” wholly
independent of the offense being tried. State v. Frazier, 73 Ohio St. 3d 323, 338, 652
N.E.2d 1000 (1995), citing State v. Hector, 19 Ohio St. 2d 167, 249 N.E.2d 912
(1969), paragraphs one of syllabus. There are exceptions, such as where the
evidence is offered as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,
knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Evid.R. 404(B). Appellant
notes the state must provide reasonable notice in advance of trial of the general
1 In the reply brief, Appellant adds that the arresting officers were permitted to testify a gun was
confiscated from Appellant’s home, which was not related to this offense. A reply is not the place for new
arguments. In any event, prior to trial, the defense withdrew the motion in limine on the gun and ammunition
found during Appellant’s arrest, thus consenting to its admission into evidence. (Tr. 22). This was presumably
because testimony that Appellant’s gun and ammunition did not match the evidence recovered from the scene of
the crime could be viewed as favorable to the defense.
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nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial, unless the court excuses
pretrial notice on good cause shown. Id.
{¶57} The state’s brief suggests threats to a witness can be relevant to
establish why a witness is hesitant to identify a suspect. Citing, e.g., State v. Grimes,
1st Dist. No. C-030922, 2005-Ohio-203, ¶ 56 (references to witness intimidation were
not improper because they were offered to demonstrate why the witnesses' stories
had changed, and why some of the witnesses had not immediately come forward to
the police with information about the shooting). Appellant notes this was not
mentioned below and does not address the prosecution’s acknowledgement that
testimony on a specific threat would be inappropriate in this case as there was no
evidence connecting Appellant to the threat. See id. at ¶ 55 (specific evidence of
witness intimidation is admissible to show consciousness of guilt, which must
ordinarily be shown by a specific act of the defendant).
{¶58} As aforementioned, the state agreed just prior to trial it would not
introduce evidence of specific threats made to the eyewitness, stating they had no
evidence the defendant was involved. (Tr. 23). Additionally, the court sustained the
objection to the detective’s revelations.
{¶59} Appellant relies on a Second District case where a police officer
testified the defendant was involved in a previous robbery and fled from officers when
being arrested (which counsel failed to object to, even though it violated an in limine
ruling) and a witness testified the defendant’s family members sent death notes to
her house. State v. Brown, 2d Dist. No. 24420, 2012-Ohio-416. The Second District
held that the cumulative effect of the testimony necessitated a mistrial, pointing out
that the defendant was not connected to the crime by overwhelming evidence. Id. at
¶ 44-45.
{¶60} Appellant believes the case is on point. However, it is not binding
precedent, and each criminal trial has factual distinctions. As the state notes, the
Brown case involved more than mere implications. In Brown, there were disclosures
that the defendant was involved in a prior robbery, he fled from police when they
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attempted to arrest him on an aggravated robbery warrant, and his family members
sent “death notes” to the witness.
{¶61} Relying on Brown, Appellant suggests we must find the detective’s
disclosures harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in order to affirm. Yet, where the
court sustains an objection and a mistrial is sought, the test is as set forth earlier: “the
ends of justice so require and a fair trial is no longer possible.” State v. Trimble, 122
Ohio St. 3d 297, 321, 2009-Ohio-2961, 911 N.E.2d 242, ¶ 173 (evidence of prior
conviction inadmissible, trial court sustained objection, and instructed jury to
disregard answer, mistrial not required as fair trial was still possible), citing Garner,
74 Ohio St. 3d at 59 (police officer's reference to the defendant’s prior arrests did not
necessitate mistrial after curative instruction given). We proceed to analyze the
relevant facts of this case under the law pertinent to mistrial requests where an
objection was sustained.
{¶62} We begin with the detective’s statement that he placed a suspect in the
second photo line-up who was an associate involved in another investigation with the
defendant. Before the detective could finish his answer about his other investigation,
defense counsel objected. The trial court sustained the objection, ordered the
response struck, and instructed the jury to disregard the answer. (Tr. 537).
Additionally, after all testimony was presented, the court’s general instructions
advised that if a statement was stricken by the court, the jury is to disregard the
statement and act as if they never heard it. The court also ordered the jury not to
speculate as to why the court sustained any objection. (Tr. 719). “We presume that
the jury followed the court's instructions, including instructions to disregard
testimony.” Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d at 480, citing State v. Loza, 71 Ohio St. 3d 61, 75,
641 N.E.2d 1082 (1994).
{¶63} As set forth supra, the detective’s next objected-to statement was in
response to a question as to why an arrest did not occur immediately after the
identification. The question was important as it was meant to dispel any concern the
detective did not believe the eyewitness’s identification of number seven to him and
to the deputy sheriff. The detective explained he was concerned about the witness
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and he was waiting for her to move. He added that someone came to the
eyewitness’s house to threaten her, at which point the defense objected. The court
sustained the objection. After a sidebar, the court repeated that the objection was
“sustained as to that response.” (Tr. 541). The defense did not request a curative
instruction to strike and disregard the statement, which is said to be a prerequisite for
seeking a mistrial. See Adams, 2015-Ohio-3954 ¶ 204 (motion for mistrial has no
merit when court sustains objection and defendant never requests cautionary
instruction), citing State v. Brinkley, 105 Ohio St. 3d 231, 2005-Ohio-1507, 824 N.E.2d
959, at ¶ 103; State v. Davie, 80 Ohio St. 3d 311, 322, 686 N.E.2d 245 (1997) (where
objection is sustained, the defense must seek curative instruction to raise issue
thereafter).
{¶64} From these two sustained objections, it does not appear a fair trial was
no longer possible or “the ends of justice” mandated a mistrial. Brinkley, 105 Ohio
St.3d 231 at ¶ 105, quoting Garner, 74 Ohio St. 3d at 59. Assuming inadmissible
testimony was set forth just prior to the objection, the mere occurrence of an error or
irregularity does not warrant a mistrial. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d at 480. There is no
indication the trial court abused its broad discretion in denying the motion as material
prejudice was not apparent. See Adams, 2015-Ohio-3954, at ¶ 198.
{¶65} Thereafter, on cross-examination, the detective was asked to clarify
that the second photo array was composed around the person believed to have
made threats and that the threats did not involve Appellant. (Tr. 564-565). Any
implied link to Appellant was diminished by this cross examination, further minimizing
any prejudice.
{¶66} Appellant urges material prejudice became apparent at the time of his
renewed motion for a mistrial after the two jury questions: (1) a juror orally said it
“crossed [his] mind” he should know who to call if he is approached about the case;
and (2) a written jury question asked whether the verdict forms containing their
names would be released as a public record. These are not unusual queries for a
violent murder case and need not be attributed to the two sustained objections.
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{¶67} There is no indication the first question was incited by the detective’s
suggestion he investigated a threat to the witness by someone else nearly two years
prior. The court believed its colloquy with the juror related to the fact that someone
had yelled at a witness in the courthouse during trial. Moreover, the first question
was an immediate response to a jury instruction provided by the court about the
jurors’ obligations during deliberations. (Tr. 741-743). As the state pointed out,
jurors in cases of this nature have similar concerns. (Tr. 749). The court was not
required to grant the request for a mistrial as the jury questions did not provide
evidence of material prejudice. Additionally, the defense had elicited testimony on
the threats to the witness by this time.
{¶68} This court concludes the trial court did not abuse its broad discretion in
denying the mistrial motions. For all of the foregoing reasons, this assignment of
error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER FOUR: TESTIMONY ON TIP
{¶69} Appellant’s fourth assignment of error provides:
“Mr. Mitchell was denied his right to confront the evidence against him at trial,
in violation of his Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the United
States Constitution and Sections 10 and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.”
{¶70} As set forth in the statement of facts, the victim’s live-in girlfriend
testified: the defendant was her neighbor, who lived three doors down; his nickname
was “Smoke;” he drove a green vehicle she called an SUV; the victim did house and
car repairs for Appellant in the weeks leading up to the shooting; Appellant appeared
upset as he repeatedly came to their house looking for the victim, which was unusual;
and the victim seemed nervous as he avoided Appellant. (Tr. 438-442, 444, 448).
{¶71} Later, the state questioned the lead detective on the stages of his
investigation. When asked what happened the day after the shooting, the detective
began explaining that two of the victim’s relatives told him “that they had heard * * *.”
Defense counsel objected, and the court sustained the objection. (Tr. 523). The
detective then testified that he followed up on a tip received from the victim’s
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relatives. (Tr. 524). After the state asked what he was looking for based on the tip,
the following took place:
A Well, the only tip I had was that the individual - -
[Defense counsel]: Objection.
COURT: You can finish it from who - - from an individual, but the extent
of the conversation is sustained.
Q Not saying what they said, but based on those tips, who were you
looking for?
[Defense counsel]: Objection. That’s saying it the same way, Your
Honor.
COURT: No, he can answer that.
Q Go ahead.
A For an individual who went by the name of Smoke who drove a
green SUV and lived in the neighborhood. (Tr. 524).
The detective then explained how he investigated two other individuals with the
nickname of Smoke; he discovered one was incarcerated on the day of the shooting,
and he could not connect the other to a green vehicle. (Tr. 525-526).
{¶72} Appellant urges the trial court erred in permitting the detective to testify
that, based upon a tip, he began looking for a person with the nickname Smoke who
drove a green SUV and lived in the neighborhood. Appellant believes the state
magnified the error in its closing argument.
{¶73} For instance, the state’s closing noted the eyewitness reported to the
lead detective and a sheriff’s deputy that number seven was the shooter and
observed: “It just so happens that number seven is Janero Mitchell, number seven is
the one who drives a green SUV truck, and number seven is known as Smoke.
Same as what [the victim’s girlfriend] described.” (Tr. 673-674). The state later
asked the jury to consider the eyewitness’s testimony in light of the all the other
evidence, noting it was not just her identification: “It’s her identifying someone
matches the name Smoke, who drives a green truck and who is having a dispute with
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the victim. And he admitted to Detective Martin himself, he knew the victim and he’s
the only one who drives that green truck.” (Tr. 676-677).
{¶74} Appellant further points to statements in the final closing such as: “[The
victim’s girlfriend] only gave the starting point. You know what? This Janero Mitchell,
this Smoke, he’s been calling, he’s been calling, they have been stopping, him and
Willie D, his friend, they are stopping by, looking for Mark and Mark keeps ignoring
them. And they stop calling after he’s shot.” (Tr. 710-711). Finally, Appellant
believes the state used the tip testimony in the following statement: “She doesn’t
know that number seven goes by Smoke. She didn’t know that number seven and
Mark Haskins knew each other. She didn’t know that number seven is going to be
the one with the green truck. It’s not a coincidence. She doesn’t know that he lived
three houses away from each other.” (Tr. 713).
{¶75} Appellant believes these were all references to the testimony about the
content of the tip. However, the state’s point in closing was that this is not merely a
case of an eyewitness identification of a stranger; rather, the case has additional
corroborating factors. For example, the eyewitness picked out a person who was the
victim’s neighbor; the eyewitness described a green SUV as the vehicle the shooter
drove away from the scene; the victim’s girlfriend reported their neighbor “Smoke”
had been looking for the victim in an upset manner and he drove a green SUV; and a
green Chevy Avalanche was admitted to be the vehicle exclusively driven by
Appellant.
{¶76} Therefore, even if the admission of the contents of the tip was
erroneous, these closing arguments cannot be characterized as improper. State v.
Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356, 361, 2013-Ohio-3712, 995 N.E.2d 1181, ¶ 43 (where
prosecutor referred to statement of non-testifying declarant). These closing
arguments could have been made even in the absence of the testimony on the tip.
We turn to evaluate the admissibility of the detective’s testimony as to the content of
the tip.
{¶77} The trial court typically has broad discretion in admitting or excluding
evidence, and the exercise of that discretion will not be disturbed absent material
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prejudice. State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St. 3d 173, 182, 510 N.E.2d 343, 350 (1987).
However, Appellant complains the “double hearsay” involved in the detective’s
statement was testimonial and prohibited by the Confrontation Clause. It has been
stated that a de novo standard of review is applied to a claim that a criminal
defendant's rights have been violated under the Confrontation Clause. State v.
Barnette, 7th Dist. No. 11MA196, 2014-Ohio-5673, ¶ 26.
{¶78} The Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause provides: “In all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right *.*.*. to be confronted with the
witnesses against him.” The clause prohibits the admission of testimonial statements
of a non-testifying witness unless he was unavailable to testify and the defendant had
a prior opportunity for cross-examination. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53-
54, 124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177 (2004) (victim’s recorded statement to police
was testimonial). The testimonial character of a statement separates it from other
hearsay which is not subject to the Confrontation Clause. Davis v. Washington, 547
U.S. 813, 821-822, 126 S. Ct. 2266, 165 L. Ed. 2d 224 (2006) (911 call during domestic
dispute was not testimonial due to on-going emergency; victim’s statement after
being separated from husband and questioned by police was testimonial due to the
primary purpose of proving past events relevant to later criminal prosecution).
{¶79} “But there may be other circumstances, aside from ongoing
emergencies, when a statement is not procured with a primary purpose of creating an
out-of-court substitute for trial testimony. In making the primary purpose
determination, standard rules of hearsay, designed to identify some statements as
reliable, will be relevant.” Michigan v. Bryant, 562 U.S. 344, 358-359, 131 S. Ct.
1143, 179 L. Ed. 2d 93 (2011). The primary purpose of an interrogation is ascertained
through an objective analysis of the circumstances of an encounter and the
statements and actions of the interrogators and those making a declaration. Id. at
360. The severity of the victim’s injuries, the informality of the encounter with the
declarant, the use of a gun, the absence of an identification of the suspect, the
danger to the public or the victim, and on-going emergency are all relevant
-25-
considerations in determining the primary purpose. Id. at 364-366 (police questioning
of victim of shooting who was waiting for emergency medical services).
{¶80} Here, we have a tip the day after a shooting provided to the detective
by relatives of the victim, which prompted him to investigate a person with a certain
nickname from the neighborhood who drives a green SUV. Appellant recognized that
even if the statement was testimonial, “there is no dispute the Confrontation Clause
‘does not bar the use of testimonial statements for purposes other than establishing
the truth of the matter asserted.’ ” Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 18, citing Crawford,
541 U.S. at 59, fn. 9.
{¶81} In one case, a police officer testified he received information about a
“sports bookmaking” operation taking place in Roseville, Ohio. The Supreme Court
held: “extrajudicial statements made by an out-of-court declarant are properly
admissible to explain the actions of a witness to whom the statement was directed.”
State v. Thomas, 61 Ohio St. 2d 223, 232, 400 N.E.2d 401 (1980). The Court found
the testimony at issue was not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted but
was only presented “to explain the subsequent investigative activities of the
witnesses.” Id. Notably, in providing general background to explain what led the
police to begin an investigation into a possible illegal gambling operation in Roseville,
the testimony did not tie the defendants to the gambling operation. See Ricks, 136
Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 20 (discussing the Thomas case)
{¶82} In Ricks, the Supreme Court agreed with the Tenth District’s statement
that there are limits to the general rule because of the great potential for abuse and
potential confusion to the trier of fact. Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 24, citing State
v. Blevins, 36 Ohio App. 3d 147, 149, 521 N.E.2d 1105 (10th Dist.1987). It was noted
that a prosecutor may attempt to use a police officer's testimony as to his
investigative conduct as a pretext to introduce highly prejudicial out-of-court
statements. Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 24, citing State v. Humphrey, 10th Dist.
No. 07AP–837, 2008-Ohio-6302. The Ricks Court concluded:
In sum, in order for testimony offered to explain police conduct to be
admissible as nonhearsay, the conduct to be explained should be
-26-
relevant, equivocal, and contemporaneous with the statements; the
probative value of statements must not be substantially outweighed by
the danger of unfair prejudice; and the statements cannot connect the
accused with the crime charged.
Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 28.
{¶83} The officer in Ricks testified that: as he drove past a house with the
declarant-accomplice, the declarant identified the person standing outside as
“Peanut”, this was the name the officer heard was one of the shooters from another
officer (who presumably heard it from the declarant); the declarant-accomplice
appeared scared as they drove by; the officer called the house and ascertained the
defendant used the name Peanut; and after the officer obtained a photograph of the
defendant, the declarant identified the person in the photograph as Peanut. The
Court noted that although some of the officer’s testimony explained how he obtained
a photo of the defendant, other parts of it went much further than explaining the
investigation. Id. at ¶ 28-30.
{¶84} The Court said the statements were unfairly prejudicial, finding the non-
hearsay reason for introducing the statements (investigatory background) was
pretextual. Id. at ¶ 34, 45 (both instances in the officer’s testimony when he related
that the accomplice said, ‘That's Peanut,’ constituted hearsay because they were
offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted rather than to explain police
conduct). The Court found the out-of-court statements “exceptionally damaging”
because the declarant was the other suspect in the murder and most of the state’s
evidence dealt with that other suspect’s connection to the crime; in fact, the state’s
case “revolved” around the declarant. Id. at ¶ 34, 36-37. “[A]n alleged accomplice's
out-of-court statement incriminating a defendant is ‘particularly deserving of cross-
examination.’” Id. at ¶ 36, citing State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St. 3d 49, 60, 752 N.E.2d 904
(2001).
{¶85} The Court concluded the constitutional Confrontation Clause violation
was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt as there was a reasonable possibility
the officer’s testimony that the accomplice pointed out the defendant as “Peanut”
-27-
contributed to the defendant’s conviction. Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 47 (the fact
that much of the proof in the case was against the accomplice makes it reasonably
possible that the testimony regarding the statements he made in identifying the
defendant would have carried weight with the jury). The Court stated that whether a
Sixth Amendment error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt is not simply an
inquiry into the sufficiency of the remaining evidence but whether there is a
reasonable possibility that the evidence complained of might have contributed to the
conviction. Ricks, 136 Ohio St. 3d 356 at ¶ 46, citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S.
18, 24, 87 S. Ct. 824, 17 L. Ed. 2d 705 (1967) (for application of harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt test to constitutional error).
{¶86} In speaking of harmless error, Crim.R. 52(A) provides: “Any error,
defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall be
disregarded.” See also Evid.R. 103(A) (error may not be predicated upon a ruling
which admits or excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected
and a timely objection was made). To ascertain whether substantial rights were
affected, a court must evaluate prejudice to the defendant. State v. Morris, 141 Ohio
St.3d 399, 2014-Ohio-5052, 24 N.E.3d 1153, ¶ 23, 27. Courts are to focus on the
impact the offending evidence had on the verdict and the strength of the remaining
evidence. Id. at ¶ 25.
{¶87} To ascertain “whether a new trial is required or the error is harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt, the court must excise the improper evidence and
evaluate the remaining evidence.” Id. at ¶ 29 (adding the error is harmless if there is
overwhelming evidence of guilt or some other indicia that the error did not contribute
to the conviction). In sum, a prejudicial error that improperly affected the verdict is to
be excised, and the remaining evidence is to be weighed to see if there is evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt. Id. at ¶ 33. See also State v.
Harris, 142 Ohio St. 3d 211, 220, 2015-Ohio-166, 28 N.E.3d 1256, ¶ 37 (a case
involving a constitutional error, which noted that Morris dispensed with any distinction
between non-constitutional and constitutional errors when conducting a harmless
error review).
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{¶88} The law recognizes errors are made in a typical trial and a defendant is
not entitled to the perfect trial. United States v. Hastings, 461 U.S. 499, 508-509, 103
S. Ct. 1974, 76 L. Ed. 2d 96 (1983) (“there can be no such thing as an error-free,
perfect trial, and * * * the Constitution does not guarantee such a trial.”). The Ricks
Court was most concerned with the declarant being an accomplice, the two non-
testimonial identifications of the defendant as Peanut, the state’s case revolved
around the declarant-accomplice, and other distinguishing facts. The Court’s focus
was not on the bare fact someone told the officer to investigate Peanut.
{¶89} In our case, the tip led the detective to investigate individuals with the
nickname Smoke who drove a green SUV (and lived in the neighborhood). The
detective’s conduct was relevant, equivocal and contemporaneous with the
statements. In urging prejudice, Appellant suggests the tip directly connected him
with the shooting by using his nickname. Yet, the tip did not identify Appellant as
Smoke. Rather, the testimony of an eyewitness identified Appellant as the shooter,
and the testimony of the victim’s girlfriend identified Appellant as Smoke.
{¶90} Additionally, the jury had already heard testimony on these subjects.
The investigation of Smoke due to a tip was cumulative of the concerns expressed by
the victim’s live-in girlfriend to the detective and to the jury as she testified. She
disclosed the same information plus additional facts: the victim did home and car
repairs for their neighbor, who lived three doors down; the neighbor’s nickname was
Smoke; he drives a green SUV; he seemed upset with the victim in the time leading
up to his death; he came looking for the victim multiple times in one night; the victim
seemed to be avoiding Smoke; the neighbor’s behavior was strange and made her
nervous; and the victim seemed unusually nervous during this time. Finally, as
aforementioned, she identified the defendant in court as the subject of her testimony.
{¶91} Furthermore, the eyewitness to the shooting identified Appellant as the
person she saw standing near her house firing eight or nine shots at the victim. She
reported the shooter looked at her and then entered a green SUV or truck. She
identified Appellant’s green Chevy Avalanche as being the type of vehicle she saw
(although she did not recall the bed on the back). Another witness saw an individual
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leave the area by the victim after the gunshots, and she testified that he drove away
in a large green truck. Plus, the victim himself made a dying declaration to the
responding officer that the shooter’s vehicle was a green truck. At the time of his
arrest, Appellant admitted he was the sole driver of the green Chevy Avalanche
parked in his driveway.
{¶92} Under the circumstances of this case, this court concludes any error in
the admission of evidence contained in the tip was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. Due to the other evidence, the prejudicial impact of the evidence was not
high. If we excise the tip and evaluate the remaining evidence, the state proved
beyond a reasonable doubt Appellant was the shooter. This includes the evidence
mentioned immediately supra and the evidence in our statement of the case,
including the victim’s 911 call prior to the shooting, which reveals his assailant was
accusing him of stealing and asking him to enter a vehicle. This assignment of error
is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR FIVE: INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
{¶93} Appellant’s final assignment of error contends:
“Mr. Mitchell was denied the effective assistance of counsel when defense
counsel (1) asked about the ‘suspect’ in the second line-up when the second line-up
pertained to the investigation of threats made against the sole eyewitness, (2) failed
to move for a mistrial when Detective Martin offered hearsay from a non-testifying
witness to link Mr. Mitchell to the crime, and (3) failed to object [to] the State’s use of
testimonial ‘double hearsay’ evidence for the truth of the matter asserted during
closing arguments.” (Citations omitted).
{¶94} We review a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under a two-part
test, which requires the defendant to show: (1) his lawyer's performance fell below
an objective standard of reasonable representation; and (2) prejudice arose from the
lawyer's deficient performance. State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 141-143, 538
N.E.2d 373 (1989), citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104, S.Ct. 2052,
80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). As both prongs must be established, if the performance was
not deficient, then there is no need to review for prejudice.
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{¶95} In evaluating the alleged deficient performance, our review is highly
deferential to counsel’s decision as there is a strong presumption that counsel's
conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Bradley,
42 Ohio St. 3d at 142-143, citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. See also State v.
Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d 545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995) (defendant must overcome
the strong presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be
considered sound trial strategy). There exist “countless ways to provide effective
assistance in any given case.” Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d at 142, citing Strickland, 466
U.S. at 689.
{¶96} To show prejudice, a defendant must prove his lawyer's errors were so
serious that there is a reasonable probability the result of the proceedings would
have been different. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d at 558. Lesser tests of prejudice have
been rejected: “It is not enough for the defendant to show that the errors had some
conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d at fn.
1, quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693. Prejudice from defective representation
justifies reversal only where the results were unreliable or the proceeding
fundamentally unfair due to the performance of trial counsel. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d at
558, citing Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 369, 113 S. Ct. 838, 122 L. Ed. 2d 180
(1993).
{¶97} Two of Appellant’s ineffective assistance of counsel allegations involve
the issues presented in assignment of error number four. Appellant complains that,
although counsel objected to the testimony regarding a tip, counsel did not ask for a
mistrial after that evidence was presented. He also urges the failure to object and
move for mistrial during closing arguments was ineffective assistance of counsel. As
aforementioned, Appellant believes the state relied on contents of the tip in its
closing. Appellant concludes there is no strategic reason for failing to move for a
mistrial since counsel objected to the evidence.
{¶98} Counsel was not ineffective for refraining from seeking a mistrial as to
the detective’s testimony on the tip. Defense counsel timely objected to the
testimony. However, the trial court overruled his objection and allowed the officer to
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testify as to what he began investigating after the tip. We reviewed the trial court’s
decision in assignment of error number four. A mistrial request would merely be
asking the trial court to change its mind on the prior ruling and find the proceeding
must be terminated. See, e.g., State v. Whitlow, 7th Dist. No. 91 CA 10 (Mar. 31,
1994) (“counsel objected to the admission of the evidence and his objection was
overruled by the trial judge. It would have been useless for him to pursue a motion
for a mistrial.”). There was neither deficient performance nor prejudice by the failure
to seek a mistrial.
{¶99} As to the prosecutor’s closing argument, in assignment of error number
four, we found the statements contested on appeal could have been made by the
state even in the absence of the testimony on the tip. Therefore, counsel’s failure to
object to the closing argument was not deficient performance; nor was there a
reasonable probability the result would have been different had counsel objected.
{¶100} Appellant also sets forth an allegation of ineffective assistance of
counsel relating to the third assignment of error. As aforementioned, counsel sought
a mistrial on the grounds the detective testified about another investigation involving
threats to the witness by an associate of the defendant. After the court denied the
mistrial motion, defense counsel asked the detective about another name provided
by the victim’s girlfriend and then asked the purpose of the two photographic arrays.
The detective answered that one was for the shooter and one was for the person who
came to the house and threatened the witness. (Tr. 564).2 Defense counsel had the
detective clarify that no threats related to Appellant. (Tr. 565).
{¶101} Appellant states this questioning was deficient performance,
noting counsel had previously made every effort to keep this testimony from the jury.
Appellant believes the outcome of the trial would have been different but for defense
counsel’s further elicitations from the detective.
2 Contrary to a suggestion in footnote 7 of Appellant’s brief, the detective’s testimony at
suppression was not misleading. He stated that the second line-up had a dual purpose: he wanted to
make sure an associate of Appellant was not the shooter, and he also wondered if that associate was
the person who threatened the witness. (Supp.Hrg. Tr. at 29).
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{¶102} However, it can be considered a trial tactic to clarify the situation
for the jury once the request for a mistrial was not granted. Debatable trial strategy
very rarely constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. See State v. Thompson, 33
Ohio St. 3d 1, 10, 514 N.E.2d 407 (1987). We are to refrain from second-guessing
the strategic decisions of trial counsel. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d at 558. Defense
counsel’s questioning did not fall below an objective standard of reasonable
representation. Moreover, due to the clarification that the threats did not relate to
Appellant, any error was not so serious that the result of the trial was unreliable or the
proceeding was fundamentally unfair. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d at 558, citing Lockhart,
506 U.S. at 369. On these bases, this assignment of error is overruled.
{¶103} For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
Waite, J., concurs.
DeGenaro, J., concurs.