State v. Parks , 2020 Ohio 145 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Parks, 2020-Ohio-145.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
SENECA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
CASE NO. 13-19-18
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
FRISCO W. PARKS, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
STATE OF OHIO,
CASE NO. 13-19-19
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
FRISCO W. PARKS, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Seneca County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 18-CR-0189 and 19-CR-0001
Judgments Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, Cause Remanded
Date of Decision: January 21, 2020
Case Nos. 13-19-18 and 13-19-19
APPEARANCES:
Jennifer L. Kahler for Appellant
Derek W. Devine for Appellee
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Frisco W. Parks (“Parks”) appeals the judgments
of the Seneca County Court of Common Pleas, arguing (1) that two counts of which
he was convicted and sentenced are allied offenses of similar import; (2) that his
conviction is not supported by sufficient evidence; (3) that his conviction is against
the manifest weight of the evidence; and (4) that the trial court erred by ordering
him to pay court appointed counsel fees. For the reasons set forth below, the
judgments of the trial court are affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} Parks was placed on probation on March 18, 2018. Tr. 112. In August
of 2018, Officer Chaz Boes (“Officer Boes”), who works for the Ohio Department
of Rehabilitation and Correction as a State Probation Parole Officer, had Parks’s
case assigned to him. Tr. 106, 112. On August 10, 2018, Officer Boes went to the
house where Parks lived with his mother, sister, sister’s boyfriend, and sister’s two
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children. Tr. 115-116. At this time, Parks’s girlfriend was also present. Tr. 115-
116.
{¶3} During his visit, Officer Boes discovered a bag of marijuana and then
found baggies that contained a number of pills in a shirt pocket in Parks’s bedroom.
Tr. 108-109. At this point, Officer Boes contacted METRICH and was advised to
wait for a warrant before he proceeded to continue his search of the house. Tr. 108-
109. Officer Brandon Bell (“Officer Bell”), who works with the Fostoria Police
Department, obtained a search warrant and went to the house where Parks lived. Tr.
115-116. During the ensuing search, the police discovered $693.00 in cash under
Parks’s mattress, a digital scale, a firearm, and multiple cell phones. Tr. 108-109,
118.
{¶4} At trial, Officer Bell testified that Parks told him that the pills belonged
to his girlfriend. Tr. 120. However, after Officer Bell informed him that his
girlfriend could go to jail for possession of these pills, Parks stated that the pills
were his. Tr. 120-121. Officer Bell then did a search on the Ohio Automated Rx
Reporting System (“OARRS”) to determine whether Parks had any prescriptions
that could possibly cover these pills. Tr. 121. The OARRS search did not produce
any record of a prescription for Parks. Tr. 121.
{¶5} Officer Bell sent the pills that had been found in Parks’s bedroom to the
Bureau of Criminal Investigations (“BCI”). On September 10, 2018, BCI reported
to Officer Bell that it had tested the pills. Tr. 127. The first baggie contained forty-
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three tablets of thirty-milligram strength oxycodone. Tr. 169. The other baggie
contained eighteen tablets of twenty-milligram strength oxycodone. Tr. 169.
{¶6} On September 26, 2018, Parks was indicted on one count of having
weapons while under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2); two counts of
aggravated trafficking in drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2); and one count
of possession of criminal tools in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A). Docket 1: 2. These
charges formed the basis of Case #18-CR-0189. Docket 1:2. On May 14, 2019, the
jury found Parks guilty of one count of having weapons while under disability and
guilty of two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Docket 1: 41. The jury
acquitted Parks of the charge of possession of criminal tools. Docket 1: 41.
{¶7} At this time, Parks was also a defendant in Case #19-CR-0001, which
was also pending before the trial court. Docket 2: 1. The trial court held Parks’s
sentencing hearing for Case #18-CR-0189 and Case #19-CR-0001 on May 16, 2019.
Docket 1: 45. Docket 2: 30. The trial court ordered Parks to pay the costs of
prosecution in both of these cases, including the costs of his court-appointed
counsel. Docket 1: 45. Docket 2: 30. The appellant filed his notices of appeal on
June 12, 2019. Docket 1: 48. Docket 2: 34. On appeal, Parks raises the following
assignments of error:
First Assignment of Error
The sentence should be reversed because counts two and three are
allied offenses of similar import.
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Second Assignment of Error
There was insufficient evidence presented at trial to support
appellant’s convictions for aggravated trafficking of drugs.
Third Assignment of Error
Appellant’s convictions for aggravated trafficking of drugs are
against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Fourth Assignment of Error
The trial court erred by sentencing appellant to pay court
appointed counsel fees without determining whether appellant
had a present or future ability to pay these costs.
The first three assignments of error raise issues from Case #18-CR-0189. The fourth
assignment of error addresses the imposition of costs in both Case #18-CR-0189
and Case #19-CR-0001.
First Assignment of Error
{¶8} Parks argues that his two convictions for aggravated trafficking in drugs
are allied offenses of similar import that should have merged at sentencing.
Legal Standard
{¶9} “Both R.C. 2941.25 and the Double Jeopardy Clause prohibit multiple
convictions for the same conduct.” State v. Sergent, 148 Ohio St. 3d 94, 2016-Ohio-
2696, 69 N.E.3d 627, ¶ 28, quoting State v. Underwood, 124 Ohio St. 3d 365, 2010-
Ohio-1, 922 N.E.2d 923, ¶ 27. R.C. 2941.25 reads:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the
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indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more
offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two
or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately
or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or
information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the
defendant may be convicted of all of them.
R.C. 2941.25. Under Ohio law, if a defendant is charged with allied offenses the
“trial court is required to merge [these offenses] at sentencing.” Sergent at ¶ 28,
quoting Underwood at ¶ 27.
{¶10} To determine “whether two offenses are * * * subject to merger under
R.C. 2941.25, the conduct of the accused must be considered.” State v. Ruff, 143
Ohio St. 3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, ¶ 16, quoting State v. Johnson, 128
Ohio St. 3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061, syllabus. Under R.C.
2941.15(B), multiple convictions are permitted for offenses of a similar kind
if we answer affirmatively to just one of the following three
questions: (1) Were the offenses dissimilar in import or
significance? (2) Were they committed separate? And (3) Were
they committed with a separate animus or motivation?
State v. Potts, 2016-Ohio-5555, 69 N.E.3d 1227, ¶ 96 (3d Dist.), quoting State v.
Bailey, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-104129, 2015-Ohio-2997, ¶ 76, citing Ruff at
paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶11} If the offenses are committed with the same conduct but with a
separate animus, multiple convictions can be sustained. State v. Hadding, 3d Dist.
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Auglaize No. 2-12-14, 2013-Ohio-643, ¶ 14. “The Supreme Court of Ohio has
defined animus as ‘purpose, or more properly, immediate motive.’” Id. quoting
State v. Logan, 60 Ohio St. 2d 126, 131, 397 N.E.2d 1345 (1979). Further, “two or
more offenses of dissimilar import exist within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25(B)
when the defendant’s conduct constitutes offenses involving separate victims or if
the harm that results from each offense is separate and identifiable.” Ruff at ¶ 26.
{¶12} When addressing the issue of allied offenses, “the question is not
whether a particular sentence is justified, but whether the defendant may be
sentenced upon all the offenses.” Sergent at ¶ 28, quoting Underwood at ¶ 27.
“Whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import is a question of law that this
court reviews de novo.” Potts at ¶ 93, citing State v. Stall, 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-
10-12, 2011-Ohio-5733, ¶ 15.
Legal Analysis
{¶13} In this case, the State charged Parks with two separate counts of
aggravated trafficking in drugs because he was selling twenty-milligram tablets of
oxycodone and thirty-milligram tablets of oxycodone. Docket 1: 2. Parks argues
that these two counts should merge because both classes of tablets are composed of
oxycodone. We begin our analysis by noting that the fact that the thirty-milligram
tablets of oxycodone and the twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone were composed
of the same substance is not, in and of itself, dispositive of this issue. State v.
Cartlidge, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-18-33, 2019-Ohio-1283, ¶ 32.
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{¶14} At trial, the State introduced text messages that indicated that Parks
offered tablets of oxycodone to a network of potential purchasers. Parks reached
out to his contacts with text messages that read “20s 30s” or “Blues and greens.”
Ex. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38, 42, 43, 45, 50, 52, 55. Officer Bell testified
at trial that, in his training and experience, “30s” referred to thirty-milligram tablets
of oxycodone and that “20s” would refer to twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone.
Tr. 134, 139. Similarly, Officer Bell explained that the different dosages of
oxycodone come in tablets that are different colors. Tr. 136. For this reason,
individuals will often refer to a specific strength of oxycodone by the color of the
tablet in which that dosage comes. Tr. 136. Officer Bell explained that Parks was
referring to the two different dosages of oxycodone that he had available when he
informed his contacts that he had “blues” and “greens.” Tr. 136.
{¶15} Throughout these text messages, Parks was consistently offering the
two different strengths of oxycodone as two distinct purchase options. The text
messages also reveal that he was offering these two different strengths of oxycodone
at two different prices. He was selling thirty-milligram tablets of oxycodone for
thirty-five dollars each and was selling twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone for
twenty-six dollars each. Ex. 32, 51. Parks also stored the thirty-milligram tablets
and twenty-milligram tablets in separate baggies, maintaining distinct inventories
of each strength of oxycodone. See State v. Sowers, 5th Dist. Perry No. 16 CA
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00002, 2016-Ohio-7500, ¶ 18. This evidence indicates that Parks did not treat the
two different strengths of oxycodone as interchangeable.
{¶16} Further, while Parks offered his buyers both strengths of oxycodone,
there is no evidence that his buyers purchased both strengths of oxycodone in one
transaction. Across these text messages, Parks’s contacts frequently reached out to
him to request one specific strength of oxycodone. Ex. 18, 20, 27, 29, 39, 40, 44,
45, 49. One contact wrote “Any 30s?” Ex. 18. Another contact requested four
“30s.” Ex. 27. There was even a contact who wanted to trade two “20s” for one of
Parks’s “30s.” Ex. 39. Through these text messages, the purchasers consistently
requested either the twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone or the thirty-milligram
tablets of oxycodone. Ex. 18, 27, 35, 39, 40, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 54, 55. None of
Parks’s contacts, in any of the text messages introduced at trial, requested a
combination of “20s” and “30s” together. The text messages do not contain any
indication that Parks combined “20s” and “30s” in one transaction to provide a
purchaser with a desired aggregate amount of oxycodone in exchange for one lump
sum price. These text messages, which were sent in between August 3, 2018 and
August 12, 2018, reveal that Parks distributed these twenty-milligram tablets of
oxycodone and thirty-milligram tablets of oxycodone in a consistent pattern.
{¶17} The text messages that Parks sent in the immediate lead up to Officer
Boes’s discovery of the oxycodone tablets in Parks’s possession continue this
pattern. In between 6:17 P.M. and 7:56 P.M. on the evening of August 9, 2018,
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Parks texted thirteen different individuals with the messages “20s 30s” or “Blues
and 20s.” Ex. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38, 45, 50, 52, 55. Parks received six
requests for oxycodone. Ex. 18, 32, 45, 49, 51, 55. Three of these contacts
requested thirty-milligram tablets of oxycodone, and the other three contacts
requested twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone.1 Ex. 18, 32, 45, 49, 51, 55. None
of these contacts requested both thirty-milligram tablets and twenty-milligram
tablets of oxycodone. Parks texted these offers in close proximity to the discovery
of these tablets in his possession because Officer Bell executed a search warrant at
1:44 P.M. on August 10, 2019 after Officer Boes had already discovered marijuana
in Parks’s house. Ex. 10.
{¶18} These text messages indicate that Parks not only stored the two
different strengths of oxycodone in separate baggies, but he, in practice, also
separately offered, sold, and distributed these different strengths of oxycodone.
These different strengths were going from different baggies to different individuals
at different prices in different transactions. These text messages demonstrate that
Parks held these two classes of tablets in preparation for their distribution in two
different sets of transactions. State v. Jeffries, 2018-Ohio-2160, 112 N.E.3d 417, ¶
68 (1st Dist.). Thus, we conclude that Parks held each strength of these tablets of
oxycodone with a separate animus.
1
Two of these requests came after the oxycodone was discovered in Parks’s bedroom. Ex. 18, 49.
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{¶19} Parks argues that this Court should follow State v. Painter, 12th Dist.
Clermont No. CA2014-03-022, 2014-Ohio-5011. In Painter, the defendant sold
two different strengths of oxycodone to one buyer in one transaction for the lump
sum price of $400.00. Painter at ¶ 3. The State charged him with two counts of
aggravated trafficking in drugs because he sold two different strengths of
oxycodone. Id. On appeal, the Twelfth District held that these two counts were
allied offenses of similar import “[b]ecause Painter sold these tablets in a single
transaction, regardless of their milligram strength, with the same animus and
conduct * * *.” Id. at ¶ 22. However, we find Painter to be distinguishable.
{¶20} Where the defendant in Painter engaged in one transaction with one
buyer, Parks communicated with at least twenty contacts who were seeking
oxycodone and arranged at least nine meetings with these different contacts. Ex.
18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. See
Painter, supra, at ¶ 3. The text messages demonstrate that Parks sold oxycodone to
his contacts independently of each other, not in one single transaction. Ex. 20, 25,
35, 37, 39, 44, 47, 49, 51. Even setting aside the fact that Parks was engaged in
multiple transactions with multiple buyers, these transactions, when considered
individually, still do not resemble the transaction in Painter. The purchaser, in
Painter, bought both kinds of oxycodone in one transaction. Painter, supra, at ¶ 3.
In the case before this Court, the text messages document a number of transactions
in which Parks sold either twenty-milligram tablets of oxycodone or thirty-
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milligram tablets of oxycodone, but these text messages do not document a single
situation in which Parks sold both strengths of oxycodone in one transaction.
{¶21} In Painter, the defendant sold two different strengths to one buyer in
one transaction for one lump sum price with the same conduct and the same animus.
Painter, supra, at ¶ 3, 32. In the case before this Court, the text messages indicate
that Parks maintained separate inventories of each of these strengths of oxycodone
for the purpose of offering two different purchase options with different prices to
different buyers in his network. See Cartlidge, supra, at ¶ 32. Under the facts of
this particular case, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred in determining that
a separate animus motivated Parks to maintain these separate inventories of
oxycodone. Thus, Parks’s two convictions for aggravated trafficking in drugs are
not allied offenses of similar import. Parks’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶22} Parks argues that his convictions for aggravated trafficking in drugs
are not supported by sufficient evidence.
Legal Standard
{¶23} A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction
“is a question of law and a ‘test of adequacy rather than credibility or weight of the
evidence.’” State v. Beaver, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-17-37, 2018-Ohio-2438, ¶ 40,
quoting State v. Berry, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03, 2013-Ohio-2380, ¶ 19. “The
sufficiency-of-the-evidence analysis addresses the question of whether adequate
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evidence was produced for the case to be considered by the trier of fact and, thus,
whether the evidence was ‘legally sufficient to support the verdict * * *.’” State v.
Luebrecht, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-18-02, 2019-Ohio-1573, ¶ 36, quoting State v.
Worthington, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-15-04, 2016-Ohio-530, ¶ 12. On appeal, the
applicable standard
is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable
to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found that
the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.
State v. Brown, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-17-19, 2018-Ohio-899, ¶ 8, quoting State
v. Plott, 2017-Ohio-38, 80 N.E.3d 1108, ¶ 73 (3d Dist.).
{¶24} In order to establish a conviction for trafficking in drugs in violation
of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2), the State had to prove that the defendant “[1] knowingly * *
* [2] “[p]repare[d] for shipment, ship[ped], transport[ed], deliver[ed], prepare[d] for
distribution, or distribute[d] [3] a controlled substance * * * [4] when the offender
knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance * * * is
intended for sale or resale by the offender or another person.” R.C. 2925.03(A)(2).
Legal Analysis
{¶25} In this case, Officer Chaz Boes testified that he discovered baggies
that contained a number of tablets in the pocket of a jacket in the appellant’s
bedroom. Tr. 108. These pills were divided into two baggies. Tr. 123. Sara Tipton
(“Tipton”), who is a forensic scientist at BCI, testified that she determined that both
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baggies contained tablets of oxycodone. Tr. 163. Her tests revealed that one baggie
held forty-three tablets of thirty-milligram strength oxycodone. Tr. 169. The other
baggie contained eighteen tablets of twenty-milligram strength oxycodone. Tr. 169.
Tipton also testified that oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance. Tr. 165.
{¶26} Officer Bell testified that he performed an OARRS search that
revealed Parks did not have any prescriptions recorded for oxycodone. Tr. 121. The
police also did not find a bottle for the oxycodone tablets. Tr. 124. The testimony
at trial also indicates that the police found marijuana and paraphernalia associated
with drug use in Parks’s place of residence. Tr. 119. The police also found a digital
scale and $693.00 in cash under Parks’s mattress. Ex. 10. See Tr. 118. Officer Bell
stated that people involved in trafficking drugs often use digital scales “to divi up
the drugs before selling them on the streets.” Tr. 120. He also testified that Parks
initially stated that the tablets belonged to his girlfriend but eventually admitted to
owning the tablets after he was informed that she could face criminal sanctions. Tr.
120-121.
{¶27} Further, the police discovered multiple phones in Parks’s bedroom.
Tr. 151. Officer Bell affirmed that, in his experience, this “was indicative of drug
trafficking.” Tr. 151. When the police examined Parks’s phone, they discovered
text messages that indicated Parks was contacting potential buyers. Ex. 17-55.
Several of his contacts were asking for “20s,” “30s,” “15s,” “greens,” and “blues.”
Ex. 18, 22, 25, 27. At trial, Officer Bell testified that “30s” referred to thirty-
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milligrams of oxycodone. Tr. 134. Thus, “15s” would refer to fifteen-milligram
tablets of oxycodone, and “20s” would refer to twenty-milligram tablets of
oxycodone. Tr. 135. He also testified that “blues” and “greens” refer to the colors
that the tablets for different dosages of oxycodone come in. Tr. 136.
{¶28} In these text messages, Parks communicated with at least twenty
individuals. Ex. 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 48, 51, 52, 53,
54, 55. In some of these texts, several of Parks’s contacts reached out to him, asking
for specific strengths of oxycodone or inquiring about dosages he had available. Ex.
20, 21, 23, 27, 29, 33, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 45, 53. In response to these requests from
others, Parks repeatedly stated he had “15s,” “20s,” “30s,” and “blues.” Ex. 18, 19,
21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 34, 35, 36, 46. Other times, Parks initiated contact, informing
the other person that he had “20s” and “30s” available. Ex. 22, 24, 26, 28, 31, 37,
42, 43, 52, 55. On the day before Parks was found to be in possession of twenty-
milligram tablets of oxycodone and thirty-milligram tablets of oxycodone, he
contacted thirteen individuals to inform them that he had “20s” and “30s” available.
Ex. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38, 45, 50, 52, 55.
{¶29} Parks was also asked for the prices of different dosages of oxycodone.
Ex. 20, 29, 30. In response, Parks texted, “15s for 20.” Ex. 30. Officer Bell testified
that a common price for oxycodone was one dollar per milligram. Tr. 136. Thus,
this text indicated that Parks was selling fifteen-milligram tablets for twenty dollars.
In other texts, Parks indicated that the was selling thirty-milligram tablets for thirty-
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five dollars. Tr. 136. One contact asked for the price of twenty-milligram
oxycodone tablets. Ex. 51. Parks replied “26.” Ex. 51. His contact then reported
to Parks that she “needed one” and had cash. Ex. 51. In a text, Parks was asked if
a specific dosage of oxycodone was still available. Ex. 46. Parks responded that he
“don’t sell [that] anymore.” (Emphasis added.) Ex. 46.
{¶30} Parks also appears to have arranged meetings with these contacts
through these texts. On multiple occasions, Parks either designated a meeting place
or disclosed his current location to his contact. Ex. 19, 20, 25, 27, 35, 44, 47, 48,
49, 51. Several of his contacts also referred Parks to other individuals who might
be interested in “20s” or “30s.” Ex. 22. In one text, Parks told one of his contacts
“jus[t] move these blues for 40 give me 35 I make 5 u make 5.” Ex. 32.
{¶31} After examining the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, we conclude that the State produced evidence to establish each of the
essential elements for the crime of trafficking in drugs. Based on the evidence
presented at trial, a rational trier of fact could have found that Parks was guilty of
the crimes as charged. Thus, these convictions are supported by sufficient evidence.
For these reasons, Parks’s second assignment of error is overruled.
Third Assignment of Error
{¶32} Parks asserts that his convictions for aggravated trafficking in drugs
are against the manifest weight of the evidence.
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Legal Standard
{¶33} “In a manifest weight analysis, ‘an appellate court’s function * * * is
to determine whether the greater amount of credible evidence supports the verdict.’”
State v. Dayton, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-18-41, 2019-Ohio-2635, ¶ 13, quoting Plott,
supra, at ¶ 73. Thus, “the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ * * *.” State v.
Davis, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-16-30, 2017-Ohio-2916, ¶ 17, quoting State v.
Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). Appellate courts
must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all of the
reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses, and
determine whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the
factfinder ‘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. Brentlinger, 2017-Ohio-2588, 90 N.E.3d 200, ¶ 36 (3d Dist.), quoting
Thompkins at 387.
{¶34} “A reviewing court must, however, allow the trier of fact appropriate
discretion on matters relating to the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the
witnesses.” State v. Sullivan, 2017-Ohio-8937, 102 N.E.3d 86, ¶ 38 (3d Dist.),
quoting State v. Coleman, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-13-53, 2014-Ohio-5320, ¶ 7. “[I]t is
well established that the * * * credibility of the witnesses [is] primarily a matter for
the trier of fact.” State v. Gervin, 2016-Ohio-8399, 79 N.E.3d 59, ¶ 142 (3d Dist.),
quoting State v. Clark, 101 Ohio App. 3d 389, 409, 655 N.E.2d 795 (8th Dist.1995).
“Only in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs heavily against the
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conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court’s judgment.” State v.
Little, 2016-Ohio-8398, 78 N.E.3d 323, ¶ 27 (3d Dist.), quoting State v. Hunter, 131
Ohio St. 3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 119.
Legal Analysis
{¶35} We herein reincorporate the evidence examined during our analysis of
Parks’s second assignment of error and proceed to examine the evidence presented
at trial under the manifest weight of the evidence standard. During Officer Boes’s
cross-examination, defense counsel elicited the names of a number of other people
who lived with Parks and asked Officer Boes if he questioned any of these
individuals about the tablets that were found in Parks’s bedroom. Tr. 110-111.
Officer Boes stated that he did not remember speaking with these other individuals.
Tr. 111. The Defense also asked Officer Boes if Parks admitted to him that the
tablets belonged to him. Tr. 111. Officer Boes stated that he could not say with
certainty that Parks admitted to owning the tablets. Tr. 111.
{¶36} On cross-examination, Officer Bell admitted that he did not question
any of the contacts with whom Parks was communicating via text. Tr. 145. He also
admitted that, beyond the text messages, he did not seek further confirmation that
drug sales actually occurred. Tr. 145. Further, Tipton testified that she, during her
examination of these pills, counted a total of sixty-one tablets of oxycodone. Tr.
169. However, on cross-examination, defense counsel stated that the police
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reported listed that there were sixty-three tablets seized from Parks. Tr. 171. Tipton
stated that she could not account for this difference. Tr. 171.
{¶37} After reviewing the evidence in the record, we conclude that the facts
of this case do not present the exceptional situation in which the evidence weighs
heavily against the defendant’s conviction. Further, we do not find any indication
in the record that the jury lost its way and returned a verdict that is against the
manifest weight of the evidence. For this reason, Parks’s third assignment of error
is overruled.
Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶38} Parks argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay for his
court appointed counsel without first determining whether he had a present or future
ability to pay for the imposed costs.
Legal Standard
{¶39} R.C. 2941.51 governs the imposition of the costs of court appointed
counsel and reads, in its relevant part, as follows:
(D) The fees and expenses approved by the court under this
section shall not be taxed as part of the costs and shall be paid by
the county. However, if the person represented has, or reasonably
may be expected to have, the means to meet some part of the cost
of the services rendered to the person, the person shall pay the
county an amount that the person reasonably can be expected to
pay.
R.C. 2941.51(D).
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Case Nos. 13-19-18 and 13-19-19
[A]n indigent defendant may properly be required to pay his
attorney fees only after the court makes an affirmative
determination on the record in the form of a journal entry that
the defendant has, or reasonably may be expected to have, the
means to pay all or some part of the cost of the legal services
rendered to him. The court must then enter a separate civil
judgment for the attorney fees or any part thereof that the court
finds the defendant has the ability to repay.
State v. Schaeffer, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-19-10, 2019-Ohio-2481, ¶ 8, quoting
State v. Shaffer, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-09-06, 2009-Ohio-4804, ¶ 5.
Legal Analysis
{¶40} In this case, the record does not contain any indication that the trial
court made an affirmative determination that Parks had the ability to pay for the
costs of his court appointed counsel. Tr. 22. For this reason, “we vacate [the]
portion[s] of the trial court’s judgment[s] imposing the court-appointed attorneys
fees and remand this matter for the trial court to either conduct a hearing as to
[Parks’s] ability to pay the attorney’s fees pursuant to R.C. 2941.51(D) or in the
alternative, to file * * * amended judgment entr[ies] that omit[] the imposition of
those attorney’s fees.” State v. Junod, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-18-08, 2019-Ohio-
743, ¶ 68. Parks’s fourth assignment of error is sustained.
Conclusion
{¶41} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars
assigned and argued in the first, second, and third assignments of error, the judgment
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Case Nos. 13-19-18 and 13-19-19
of Seneca County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed as to these issues in Case
#18-CR-0189. Having found error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars
assigned and argued in the fourth assignment of error, the judgments of the Seneca
County Court of Common Pleas are reversed as to these issues in Case #18-CR-
0189 and Case #19-CR-0001.
Judgments Affirmed in Part
Reversed in Part
And Cause Remanded
ZIMMERMAN, P.J. and PRESTON, J., concur.
/hls
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