State v. Shropshire , 2016 Ohio 7224 ( 2016 )

[Cite as State v. Shropshire, 2016-Ohio-7224.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 103808
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
KYTRICE SHROPSHIRE
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-14-583600-A
BEFORE: Jones, A.J., Stewart, J., and Celebrezze, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: October 6, 2016
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Richard Agopian
1415 West Ninth Street, 2nd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Kerry A. Sowul
Steven McIntosh
Assistant County Prosecutors
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
LARRY A. JONES, SR., A.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Kytrice Shropshire, appeals his conviction for having
weapons while under disability. We affirm.
I. Procedural History and Facts
{¶2} In 2014, Shropshire was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two
counts of felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, two
counts of retaliation, and having weapons while under disability. The attempted murder
and felonious assault charges had the following specifications attached to them: one-
and three-year firearm specifications, notices of prior convictions, and repeat violent
offender specifications. The discharge of a firearm count had one- and three-year
firearm specifications.
{¶3} The matter proceeded to a trial by jury on all counts except the having
weapons while under disability count; Shropshire elected to try that count to the bench.
He also elected to bifurcate the specifications and notices of prior conviction. The
following pertinent evidence was presented.
{¶4} Dionte Hamilton lived in the house he grew up in on the east side of
Cleveland with his mother and various other family members. He grew up living across
the street from Shropshire, but the two were not friends because Hamilton was older. In
2010, Hamilton had a brief sexual relationship with Shropshire’s sister. It did not end
well and Hamilton ended up getting into a fight with one of Shropshire’s and the sister’s
older brothers because the sister accused Hamilton of breaking her nose.
{¶5} On August 19, 2013, Hamilton was walking home from work when a guy
passed him, nodded, and “then after that I heard a boom sound and I had got [shot] in my
back.” Hamilton thought that person shot him. He started to run, ran past Shropshire’s
house and “then that’s when Kytrice had approached me and shot me in the face.”
Hamilton was shot numerous times, including twice in his arm, in the neck, face, twice in
the back, and five times in his leg, and in his buttocks; 14 bullets remained lodged in his
body.
{¶6} Hamilton initially did not identify Shropshire as one of the shooters because
he was scared for his family and because he knew that Shropshire “would eventually end
up going to jail for something else.” According to Hamilton, it was only after his
family’s house “got shot up” two months after he was shot that he knew he had to tell the
police who had shot him.
{¶7} Hamilton’s younger sister testified that she was home when her brother was
shot, but she did not see who shot him. She denied telling police it was Shropshire who
shot her brother, but had identified another man on the scene who was “tall with dreads.”
{¶8} Hamilton’s uncle, Maurice Hamilton, testified that he went to the hospital
after finding out that his nephew had been shot. His nephew was hysterical and in pain
and told him that Shropshire was one of the shooters.
{¶9} Officer Rebecca Werner testified that she was working on August 19 and 20,
2013, when she received a call for a male shot. When she and her partner responded,
they observed three young males coming from the park; one of the males appeared to be
injured. Shropshire was identified as the injured male who had been shot in the buttocks
and he was taken to the hospital for treatment. Shropshire stated to Officer Werner that
he had been sitting on his front porch when he saw some type of shooting or robbery
occur. He got up and ran off his porch and discovered he had been shot while sitting on
the porch.
{¶10} At the hospital, Shropshire told Officer James Thomas that Hamilton was
walking past his house when three masked men approached Hamilton and there was
“some sort of exchange of gunfire, multiple shots,” and Shropshire ran from his porch
and it was then that he was shot in the buttocks.
{¶11} Detective Charles Teel processed the scene and recovered multiple bullets,
bullet fragments, and shell casings, which indicated that three different types of firearms
were used in the shooting — a shotgun, a nine millimeter gun, and an unknown caliber
firearm.
{¶12} Detective Louis Vertosnik of Cleveland Police Gang Impact Unit testified
that Shropshire and two juveniles detained with him were known members of the “J Park
Boys,” a local gang.
{¶13} Days prior to the shooting, Shropshire was a passenger in a car that was
stopped for an unrelated shooting incident. The police seized Shropshire’s cell phone
and searched it pursuant to a warrant. The police found photographs of semiautomatic
pistols and a semiautomatic rifle on his phone. Those photographs, which showed that
the pictures were taken at Shropshire’s house, were used approximately three months later
to support a search warrant for his home. Pursuant to the search warrant, police
recovered a live .45 caliber round, a 12-gauge shotgun with one live round, nine 12-gauge
shotgun shells, miscellaneous ammunition, and mail addressed to Shropshire.
{¶14} The jury acquitted Shropshire of all charges. The trial court convicted
Shropshire of having weapons under disability and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Further facts will be discussed under the appropriate assignments of error.
II. Assignments of Error
I: The trial court erred by failing to suppress evidence obtained from
appellant’s cell phone, and his residence in violation of U.S. Constitution
Amendment IV, and Ohio Constitution Article I, Section l4.
II: The defendant was denied due process of law, a fair trial, the right to
be present during a critical stage of the trial, his right to confront evidence
against him, and to a public trial in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, and
Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Sections l0
and l6 of the Ohio Constitution.
III: In a multiple count case where the defendant elects to bifurcate the
counts so that some are tried to the jury and others to the bench, it is
improper for the trial court as factfinder, on the bench-tried counts, to
discuss the jury’s verdict with the jury foreperson before the court reaches
its verdict.
IV: The defendant was prejudiced and denied his right to a fair trial and
due process of law guaranteed to him by both the United States Constitution
and Ohio Constitution.
V: The bench trial conviction of the defendant for having weapons under
disability was a clear violation of his constitutional rights to be free from
Double Jeopardy and/or violated the common equitable principle of
Collateral Estoppel.
VI: The defendant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the
evidence.
VII: It was prejudicial error to allow testimony about the defendant’s gang
membership.
III. Law and Analysis
A. No error in denying motion to suppress
{¶15} In the first assignment of error, Shropshire argues that the trial court erred in
denying his motion to suppress the evidence obtained from his cell phone and his
residence. We disagree.
{¶16} This court reviews a decision on a suppression motion under a mixed
standard of review. “In a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier of
fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and evaluate witness
credibility.” State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App. 3d 93, 96, 641 N.E.2d 1172 (8th Dist.1994).
The reviewing court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact in ruling on a motion to
suppress if the findings are supported by competent, credible evidence. State v.
Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8.
{¶17} On August 14, 2013, days before the shooting involving Hamilton, the
Cleveland police received a call about a drive-by shooting. Police conducted a traffic
stop in connection with the call. As mentioned, Shropshire was a passenger in the
vehicle and the police seized his cell phone in connection with the stop. Police obtained
a search warrant to search the cell phone and found pictures of various guns on his phone;
the police were able to determine that the photos had been taken inside Shropshire’s
house.
{¶18} After Hamilton identified Shropshire as one of the shooters, police obtained
a search warrant for Shropshire’s house and confiscated firearms and ammunition. Prior
to trial, Shropshire moved to suppress the contents of the phone and the items seized from
his house, arguing that the police did not have probable cause to seize and search the
phone or the house. The state filed a brief in opposition and the court heard from the
parties prior to trial. The court did not hold a formal hearing on the motion and denied
the motion prior to the start of trial.
{¶19} “The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Ohio
Constitution, Article I, Section 14, prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures.” State v.
Emerson, 134 Ohio St. 3d 191, 2012-Ohio-5047, 981 N.E.2d 787, ¶ 15. This constitutional
guarantee is protected by the exclusionary rule, which mandates exclusion from trial
evidence obtained from an unreasonable search and seizure. Id.
{¶20} Shropshire argues that the affidavit in support of the search warrant of his
cell phone lacked probable cause. To determine whether an affidavit submitted in
support of a search warrant establishes probable cause, an issuing court must make a
practical, common-sense decision based upon all the circumstances set forth in the
affidavit, including the “veracity” and “basis of knowledge” of persons supplying hearsay
information, that there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be
found in a particular place. State v. George, 45 Ohio St. 3d 325, 544 N.E.2d 640 (1989),
paragraph one of the syllabus; Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-239, 103 S. Ct. 2317,
76 L. Ed. 2d 527 (1983).
{¶21} The duty of a reviewing court is more limited — an appellate court should
not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court by conducting a de novo
determination. George at paragraph two of the syllabus. The duty of the reviewing court
is simply to ensure that the trial court had a substantial basis for concluding that probable
cause existed, after according great deference to the issuing judge’s determination and
resolving doubtful or marginal cases in favor of upholding the warrant. Id., following
Gates; see also State v. Jones, 143 Ohio St. 3d 266, 2015-Ohio-483, 37 N.E.3d 123, ¶
13-14. Reviewing courts must examine the “totality of the circumstances” in
determining whether a search warrant was issued upon a proper showing of probable
cause. Jones at ¶ 13, citing Gates at 238.
{¶22} Shropshire claims that the supporting facts in the affidavit were
uncorroborated and insufficient to show probable cause to search his cell phone because
the police did not include any facts showing that he was involved in the August drive-by
shooting. The supporting affidavit stated, in part: (1) on August 14, 2013, police
received a report that two people were shot at by occupants of a tan Chevy Cavalier; (2)
less than two hours after the shooting, a vehicle matching that description was stopped;
the driver was found in possession of a firearm, and was arrested; (3) Shropshire was a
passenger in the car; (4) Shropshire and other people in the car were believed to be
members of the “J Park Boys” gang; (5) and gang members use social media and
messaging to boast about crimes they commit.
{¶23} The warrant to search Shropshire’s phone was issued less than a week
after the phone was seized. Shropshire was riding in a car that matched the description
of a car involved in a drive-by shooting that occurred less than two hours prior to the
seizure of the phone. The driver of the car Shropshire was riding in had a gun and was
arrested. At the time the police seized Shropshire’s phone, the police had knowledge
that Shropshire and other occupants of the car were members of a local gang, which was
known for using social media and cell phones to record their crimes. Thus, based on the
totality of the circumstances set forth in the affidavit, the trial court had a substantial basis
for concluding that there was probable cause to justify the issuance of the warrant to
search Shropshire’s mobile phone.
{¶24} Shropshire further argues that the affidavit to search his family’s house was
not supported by probable cause because the facts upon which the warrant was based
were stale.
{¶25} An affidavit in support of a search warrant must present timely information
and include facts so closely related to the time of issuing the warrant as to justify a
finding of probable cause at that time. State v. Ingold, 10th Dist. Franklin No.
07AP-648, 2008-Ohio-2303, ¶ 22, citing State v. Hollis, 98 Ohio App. 3d 549, 554, 649
N.E.2d 11 (11th Dist.1994). “‘Whether the proof meets this test must be determined by
the circumstances of each case.”’ Ingold at id., quoting Hollis at id. There is no
arbitrary time limit that dictates when information becomes stale; rather the test for
staleness is whether the alleged facts justify the conclusion that contraband is probably on
the person or premises to be searched at the time the warrant issues. See State v. Prater,
12th Dist. Warren No. CA2001-12-114, 2002-Ohio-4487, ¶ 12. If a substantial period
of time has elapsed between the commission of the crime and the search, the affidavit
must contain facts that would lead the judge to believe that the evidence or contraband are
still on the premises before the judge is justified in issuing a warrant. State v. Yanowitz,
67 Ohio App. 2d 141, 147, 426 N.E.2d 190 (8th Dist.1980). Ohio courts have identified
a number of factors to consider in determining whether the information contained in an
affidavit is stale, including the character of the crime, the criminal, the thing to be seized,
the place to be searched, and whether the affidavit relates to a single isolated incident or
ongoing criminal activity. Prater at ¶ 13.
{¶26} Detective Louis Vertosnik of the Cleveland Police Department had been a
member of the department’s specialized Gang Impact Unit for seven years and on the
force for 18 years. He averred that Shropshire was the prime suspect in Hamilton’s
shooting; Shropshire’s cell phone contained pictures of firearms; the GPS data on one of
the images identified Shropshire’s residence as the origin of the photograph; Shropshire
and Hamilton knew each other and had a violent history; the shooting occurred near
Shropshire’s house; witnesses reported muzzle flashes coming from Shropshire’s front
porch; Shropshire was a member of the “J Park” gang; the police had twice previously
linked Shropshire to having guns at his house; based on the detective’s training and
experience, gang members store firearms at their homes, remove them to commit criminal
activity, and then return them to their homes for safekeeping.
{¶27} We find that although three months had passed between the time the police
seized Shropshire’s phone and the time the search warrant for his house was issued, the
information contained in the search warrant was not stale. Detective Vertosnik
explained that Shropshire was the lead suspect in Hamilton’s shooting, the police had
recovered photos of guns from Shropshire’s phone, Shropshire was a known gang
member, the police had previously linked Shropshire to having weapons at his house, and
gang members often kept firearms after committing crimes with them rather then
disposing of them.
{¶28} And, importantly, Hamilton had just identified Shropshire as the shooter
shortly before the police sought the search warrant. “‘Where recent information
corroborates otherwise stale information, probable cause may be found.”’ Ingold, 10th
Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-648, 2008-Ohio-2303 at ¶ 35, quoting United States v. Spikes,
158 F.3d 913 (F.C.A.6, 1998).
{¶29} Thus, based on the totality of the circumstances, the issuing judge could
reasonably infer that Shropshire was still keeping one or more of the guns used in
Hamilton’s shooting at his house. We find that the facts as detailed in the affidavit
provided the issuing trial court with probable cause to justify the issuance of the warrant.
The first assignment of error is overruled.
B. No plain error in court’s talking with jury after verdict
{¶30} In the second assignment of error, Shropshire argues that he was denied due
process when the trial court spoke to the jury after the jury’s verdict and without the
defendant present, but before the trial court rendered its verdict on the weapons under
disability count.
{¶31} The defendant has a fundamental right to be present at all critical stages of
the defendant’s criminal trial. State v. Nolan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88111,
2007-Ohio-1299, ¶ 38, citing State v. Hill, 73 Ohio St. 3d 433, 444, 653 N.E.2d 271
(1995). A defendant’s right to be present at trial, however, is not absolute. Nolan at
id., citing State v. White, 82 Ohio St. 3d 16, 693 N.E.2d 772 (1998). Prejudicial error
exists only where “a fair and just hearing [is] thwarted by [defendant’s] absence.” White
at id., citing Snyder v. Massachusetts, 291 U.S. 97, 108, 54 S. Ct. 330, 78 L. Ed. 674
(1934).
{¶32} In this case, after the jury returned its not guilty verdicts, but before the trial
court gave its verdict on the weapons under disability count, the court went on the record
and stated the following: “I want to let the parties know I did speak to the jury after they
rendered their verdict. I wanted to be open and give the parties an opportunity to object,
if any, but I thought I’d put it out there for the record.” The attorneys for both parties
stated that they had no objection. The court returned a finding of guilty on the weapons
while under disability count and then, after a brief conversation with the attorneys at
sidebar, continued, “And just for clarification, I did want to put on the record that any
conversation I did have with the jury had no bearing on my decision regarding the
bifurcated count for which I found Mr. Shropshire guilty.”
{¶33} Shropshire did not object to the trial court’s action; therefore, he has waived
all but plain error. Pursuant to Crim.R. 52, “[p]lain errors or defects affecting
substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the
court.” To show plain error, a defendant must demonstrate “‘that the trial’s outcome
would clearly have been different but for the alleged errors.”’ State v. George, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 80158, 2003-Ohio-4170, ¶ 26, quoting State v. Campbell, 69 Ohio St. 3d
38, 49, 630 N.E.2d 339 (1994). Notice of plain error is taken with the utmost caution,
under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent the manifest miscarriage of justice.
George at id., citing State v. Landrum, 53 Ohio St. 3d 107, 111, 559 N.E.2d 710 (1990).
{¶34} Shropshire has not shown that the outcome of his trial would have been
different had the trial court not spoken to the jury before it issued its verdict on the
weapons under disability count. Although the conversation the court had with the jury
was off the record, Shropshire’s claim that the conversation was improper is unsupported
and his assumptions are insufficient to overcome the plain error burden, especially in a
case such as this where the trial court expressly stated that its discussion with the jury had
no bearing on the court’s decision. Further, we note that the discussion did not occur at
a time where testimony was still being given or one in which Shropshire’s knowledge was
necessary to help with his defense. See State v. Woods, 8 Ohio App. 3d 56, 61, 455
N.E.2d 1289 (8th Dist.1982) (defendant cannot be excluded from testimonial proceedings
where defendant’s knowledge might assist counsel).
{¶35} In light of the above, the second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶36} In the third assignment of error, Shropshire claims that it was improper for
the trial court to discuss the jury’s verdict with the jury before the court rendered its own
verdict on the weapons charge.1
{¶37} We again review this claim for plain error because Shropshire did not object
to the trial court’s action. The failure to object has been held to constitute a waiver of
the error and to preclude its consideration upon appeal, because, absent an objection, the
trial court is denied an opportunity to give corrective instructions as to the error. State v.
Loza, 71 Ohio St. 3d 61, 75, 64l N.E.2d 1082 (1994). In Ohio, the trial court is entitled
to the presumption of regularity, that is, the trial court is presumed to know and follow the
law in arriving at its judgment unless it affirmatively appears to the contrary. State v.
Eley, 77 Ohio St. 3d 174, 180, 672 N.E.2d 640 (1996), citing State v. Post, 32 Ohio St. 3d
380, 513 N.E.2d 754 (1987). In other words, in an appeal from a bench trial, we
presume that a trial court relies only on relevant, material, and competent evidence in
arriving at its judgment. Id. at 180.
{¶38} The United States Supreme Court has stated that:
In bench trials, judges routinely hear inadmissible evidence that they are
presumed to ignore when making decisions. It is equally routine for them
to instruct juries that no adverse inference may be drawn from a defendant’s
failure to testify; surely we must presume that they follow their own
instructions when they are acting as fact finders.
Harris v. Rivera, 454 U.S. 339, 346, 102 S. Ct. 460, 70 L. Ed. 2d 530 (1981); White v.
1
The third assignment of error, as it reads, states that the trial court discussed the jury verdict
with the jury foreperson. This assertion does not appear elsewhere in Shropshire’s appellate brief or
in the trial court record.
Shewalter, N.D.Ohio No. 1:10CV1265, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94123 (Mar. 14, 2012).
{¶39} Again, Shropshire’s failure to object means it is unknown what transpired
between the jury and the trial court when the court spoke with the jury after trial. In
other words, because Shropshire did not object, the trial court was not required to give an
on-the-record explanation of its actions or detail its conversation with the jury.
Shropshire claims that the trial court acted improperly, but, as mentioned, this is an
unsupported assertion. Moreover, the trial court clearly stated that its verdict on the
weapons while under disability charge was not influenced by its discussion with the jury.
{¶40} Consequently, Shropshire cannot show that the trial court acted improperly
or committed plain error and the third assignment of error is overruled.
C. Witness’s statements were excited utterances
{¶41} In the fourth assignment of error, Shropshire contends that the trial court
erred when it allowed testimony from Maurice Hamilton, the victim’s uncle. Shropshire
challenges statements Hamilton made to his uncle identifying Shropshire as the shooter.
Shropshire argues that the trial court considered these inadmissible statements to
conclude that Shropshire had a weapon at some point and therefore could be convicted of
having weapons while under disability. We disagree.
{¶42} Generally, the decision whether to admit or to exclude evidence rests within
the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Brown, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99024,
2013-Ohio-3134, ¶ 50, citing State v. Jacks, 63 Ohio App. 3d 200, 207, 578 N.E.2d 512
(8th Dist.1989). Therefore, an appellate court that reviews the trial court’s decision with
respect to the admission or exclusion of evidence must limit its review to a determination
of whether the trial court committed an abuse of discretion. Brown at id., citing State v.
Finnerty, 45 Ohio St. 3d 104, 107, 543 N.E.2d 1233 (1989). An abuse of discretion
requires a finding that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or
unconscionable. State v. Minifee, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99202, 2013-Ohio-3146, ¶ 23,
citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
{¶43} Evid.R. 803(2) defines an excited utterance as a “statement relating to a
startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement
caused by the event or condition” and excludes it from the hearsay rule, even when the
declarant is available as a witness. To be an admissible excited utterance, (1) there must
occur an event startling enough to produce a nervous excitement in the declarant; (2) the
statement must be made while the declarant is still under the stress of excitement the
event caused; (3) the statement must relate to the startling event; and (4) the declarant
must have personally observed the startling event. State v. Harrison, 10th Dist. Franklin
No. 06AP-827, 2007-Ohio-2872, ¶ 17, citing State v. Taylor, 66 Ohio St. 3d 295, 612
N.E.2d 316 (1993). The controlling factor comes down to whether the declaration
resulted from impulse as opposed to reason and reflection. State v. Webster, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 102833, 2016-Ohio-2624, ¶ 130, citing, State v. Nixon, 12th Dist. Warren
No. CA2011-11-116, 2012-Ohio-1292, ¶ 13.
{¶44} Additional factors for the court to consider include the lapse of time
between the event and the statement, the mental and physical condition of the declarant,
the nature of the statement, and the influence of any intervening circumstances.
Harrison at id., citing State v. Patterson, 11th Dist. Lake No. 96-T-5439, 1998 Ohio App.
LEXIS 2289 (May 22, 1998).
{¶45} Shropshire contends that Hamilton’s statement to his uncle identifying
Shropshire as one of the shooters does not fall under the excited utterance exception, but
a review of the uncle’s testimony shows otherwise.
{¶46} Maurice Hamilton, a retired detective, testified he went to the emergency
room immediately upon learning that his nephew had been shot. He saw that his nephew
had several gunshot wounds and described him as in “substantial pain,” “moaning,”
“groaning,” “crying,” and “hysterical.” Maurice asked his nephew “who did this to
him,” and his nephew replied, “Kytrice.” Maurice then assisted the doctors with
counting the number of entry and exit wounds his nephew had sustained.
{¶47} Hamilton had been shot numerous times and was clearly still under the
stress of the shooting; Maurice testified that his nephew was hysterical and in pain.
The doctors were still assessing how many times Hamilton had been shot and the location
of the bullet wounds. Hamilton was clearly still under the stress of the shooting when he
answered his uncle’s question. In light of these facts, we find the statement admissible
under Evid.R. 803(2).
{¶48} The fourth assignment of error is overruled.
D. Appellant’s double jeopardy rights were not violated
{¶49} In the fifth assignment of error, Shropshire argues that his having weapons
while under disability conviction was so inconsistent with the not guilty verdicts on the
other counts as to violate his constitutional rights against double jeopardy.
{¶50} The United States Supreme Court has held that double jeopardy generally
does not apply to cases involving inconsistent jury verdicts. Dunn v. United States, 284
U.S. 390, 393, 52 S. Ct. 189, 76 L. Ed. 356 (1932); United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57,
105 S. Ct. 471, 83 L. Ed. 2d 461 (1984). Shropshire cites a case from the Maryland Court
of Appeals, which held that it was error for the trial court to render a “guilty” verdict that
was inconsistent with a “not guilty” verdict rendered by the jury in a criminal trial.
Galloway v. State, 371 Md. 379, 401, 809 A.2d 653 (2002).
{¶51} Shropshire concedes that the Galloway case is not binding on our court.
Instead, we look to a case from this district for guidance. In State v. White, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 90839, 2008-Ohio-6152, the defendant was charged with ten counts of
felonious assault, two counts of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation,
and two counts of having a weapon while under disability. The defendant chose to try
the disability counts to the court, but submitted the remaining counts to the jury. The
jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts and the trial court found him guilty of two
counts of having a weapon while under disability.
{¶52} On appeal, the defendant argued that his convictions were against the
manifest weight of the evidence because the guilty finding on the disability counts would
be inconsistent with the jury’s not guilty findings on felonious assault. Id. at ¶ 13.
This court disagreed, finding that the verdicts were not inconsistent because “[t]he
distinction between the charged offenses is that having a weapon while under disability
only requires a showing that White possessed a firearm, not that White actually
discharged the firearm.” Id. at ¶ 14.
{¶53} In finding Shropshire not guilty of attempted murder, felonious assault,
retaliation, and discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, the jury
apparently could not find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Shropshire committed those
offenses. But the elements of those crimes and the elements of having weapons while
under disability are different. No element of having a weapon while under disability
requires that Shropshire use a firearm; the elements require that he acquire, have, carry, or
use a firearm. See R.C. 2923.13(A). Shropshire stipulated to his prior adjudication as
a delinquent child for a commission of an offense, that if committed by an adult, would
have been a felony offense of violence. R.C. 2923.13(A)(2). The trial court, as trier of
fact on the weapons while under disability count, was free to believe Hamilton’s
testimony that Shropshire had a firearm that night and was not precluded from finding
that Shropshire acquired, had, carried, or used a firearm under R.C. 2923.13(A).
{¶54} In the light of the above, the fifth assignment of error is overruled.
E. Weapons while under disability conviction not against the weight of the
evidence
{¶55} In the sixth assignment of error, Shropshire argues that his conviction was
against the manifest weight of the evidence. When presented with a challenge to the
manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court may not merely substitute its view for
that of the trier of fact, but must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all
reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and determine whether in
resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a
manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial
ordered. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). An
appellate court should reserve reversal of a conviction as being against the manifest
weight of the evidence for only the most “exceptional case in which the evidence weighs
heavily against the conviction.” Id.
{¶56} Shropshire sets forth various arguments for why he believes his conviction
was against the manifest weight of the evidence, mainly focusing on his perceived
inconsistencies in witness testimony. He relies heavily on the fact that Hamilton initially
told police he did not know who shot him but changed his story three months later and
identified Shropshire. But Hamilton was questioned and thoroughly cross-examined on
this very subject. He explained that he initially did not identify Shropshire because he
was afraid for his family and figured that Shropshire would go to jail for another crime.
It was only after his family’s house was “shot up” and pressure from his mother that he
decided to identify Shropshire. And Hamilton’s identification is corroborated by his
uncle, who testified that Hamilton identified “Kytrice” as the shooter in the hospital just
after the shooting.
{¶57} Again, as for the weapon while under disability charge being tried to the
bench, we cannot say that the verdict is against the manifest weight of the evidence due to
the fact that the jury acquitted Shropshire of the other charges. The jury’s not-guilty
verdicts do not preclude the trial judge from finding that Shropshire had a weapon while
under disability; the trial judge was free to believe the state’s theory that Shropshire
acquired, had, carried, or used a firearm.
{¶58} The sixth assignment of error is overruled.
F. No error in allowing testimony in about appellant’s gang affiliation
{¶59} In the seventh assignment of error, Shropshire argues that it was prejudicial
error to allow the gang impact unit detective to testify about Shropshire’s affiliation with
the J Park Boys gang.
{¶60} During trial, the state informed the court of its intention to have a Detective
Louis Vertosnik of Cleveland Police Gang Impact Unit testify about his knowledge of the
J Park Boys gang, including that Shropshire and the two juveniles detained after the
shooting were members of that gang. After defense counsel objected, the court held a
lengthy discussion without the jury present and questioned the detective. The court
ruled that the detective could testify, but limited the testimony to the detective’s
occupation, knowledge of the J Park Boys’ existence and its territory, and whether
Shropshire and the two juveniles were members of the gang. The state appropriately
limited its questions.
{¶61} We find no error in the trial court’s admission of the detective’s testimony.
But even if the trial court had erred in allowing the detective to testify, “where a trial
judge acts as the factfinder, a reviewing court will be slow to overturn an adjudication on
the basis of the admission of inadmissible testimony, unless it appears that the court
below actually considered such testimony in arriving at its judgment, as the trial judge is
presumed capable of disregarding improper testimony.” State v. Lipscomb, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 89116, 2007-Ohio-6815, ¶ 2; In re Sims, 13 Ohio App. 3d 37, 41, 468
N.E.2d 111 (12th Dist.1983). There is no evidence that the trial court considered the
detective’s testimony in reaching its verdict.
{¶62} The seventh assignment of error is overruled.
{¶63} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. 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.
LARRY A. JONES, SR., ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
MELODY J. STEWART, J., and
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J., CONCUR