State v. Ojezua , 2020 Ohio 303 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Ojezua, 2020-Ohio-303.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 28118
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2016-CR-531/1
:
RAPHAEL OJEZUA : (Criminal Appeal from
: Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 31st day of January, 2020.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by LISA M. LIGHT, Atty. Reg. No. 0097348, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, 301
West Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
KIRIAKOS KORDALIS, Atty. Reg. No. 0089697, 130 West Second Street, Suite 1818,
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
-2-
FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} After the trial court overruled his motion to suppress, Raphael Ojezua pled
no contest in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to possession of heroin,
aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of cocaine. The trial court found him
guilty, sentenced him to concurrent terms totaling 11 years in prison, and imposed
mandatory fines totaling $17,500. Ojezua appeals from his convictions, claiming that the
trial court erred in overruling his motion to suppress and imposing the mandatory fines.
For the following reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} The State’s evidence at the suppression hearing established the following
facts.
{¶ 3} At approximately 8:00 a.m. on October 8, 2015, Ojezua was shot in both legs
at a home on Elderberry Avenue in Harrison Township. Nicole Morgan,1 Ojezua’s then-
girlfriend who also resided at the home with their young child, called 911.
{¶ 4} Several sheriff’s deputies and a detective responded to the shooting
dispatch. Deputy Chris Kidwell stated that, while he was on route, he received
information that “there were people hiding in their cars with guns.” (Supp.Tr. at 18.) He
and other officers parked away from the house and walked up looking for individuals with
guns in and under cars. While they were looking under the cars, Morgan came outside
and told them that her boyfriend had been shot and was inside the house. Kidwell and
1 The record also refers to Morgan as Nicole Jones and Nicole Morgan-Jones. Morgan
testified at the suppression hearing that her legal name is Nicole Morgan and that Jones
was “a previous married name.” (Supp.Tr. at 107.)
-3-
other officers entered the house to render aid.
{¶ 5} Morgan told Kidwell that Ojezua was located upstairs. Kidwell found Ojezua
in an upstairs bedroom; Ojezua was on the floor, and the deputy saw blood and a towel
wrapped around Ojezua’s thigh. Ojezua reported that two individuals had entered the
home, asked for money, and shot him. Kidwell obtained a description of two suspects
and called for a canine to track them. Once it appeared that there were no suspects in
the area, the officers called in the medics to treat Ojezua.
{¶ 6} Christopher Caudill, a paramedic/fire fighter with the Harrison Township Fire
Department, was among the medical personnel dispatched to the home. He observed
that Ojezua had a wound on his right leg that appeared to be from a bullet that had gone
through the leg, and another gunshot wound to his left leg. Caudill testified that Ojezua
told him that two people had come in and that he was shot there. (Supp.Tr. at 10.)
Ojezua was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A deputy accompanied Ojezua
to the hospital, but Deputy Kidwell testified that Ojezua was not under arrest and was not
handcuffed.
{¶ 7} After Ojezua left by ambulance, Deputy Kidwell asked Morgan for consent to
search the house, so that evidence could be searched for and collected regarding the
shooting. Kidwell completed a consent to search form and asked Morgan to sign it.
Morgan signed the form. According to Kidwell, as soon as Morgan signed it, she asked
if she could leave. Kidwell asked that she remain at the house because she could revoke
her consent at any time. Morgan immediately responded that she wanted to revoke her
consent. As a result, no search was conducted – or even begun -- based on consent.
Kidwell estimated that the discussion with Morgan regarding consent occurred at
-4-
approximately 8:30 a.m.
{¶ 8} Kidwell told Morgan that they needed to exit the home; the officers left, too,
and secured it. Kidwell testified that, when he left the house, he was not aware that
drugs were present in the home. Kidwell remained on site, watching the home, while a
detective secured a search warrant.
{¶ 9} Detective Eric Dingee of the Special Investigations Unit (violent crimes), the
lead investigator, arrived after Morgan revoked her consent to search the home. He
spoke with Sgt. Hutchinson, who directed him to get a search warrant. Dingee testified
that he needed a search warrant to search the home for evidence regarding the shooting.
Kidwell testified that he relayed all of the information that he had obtained from speaking
with Morgan and Ojezua to the detective who was getting the warrant.
{¶ 10} The State presented, as Exhibit 1, the search warrant that Dingee sought
and obtained on October 8. Exhibit 1 included the affidavit, the warrant, the inventory
and receipt, and the return. The affidavit provided the following factual bases for the
warrant:
* * * The Affiant is a sworn police officer with the State of Ohio, and
is presently employed with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,
assigned to the Special Investigations Unit. The Affiant has been a Sworn
Peace Officer since 1994, a Deputy Sheriff with Montgomery County
Sheriff’s Office since 2002, and has been a Detective since 2005. The
Affiant has received specialized training in the investigations of violent
crimes, sexually oriented crimes, property crimes and narcotics related
crimes.
-5-
On October 8, 2015, at approximately 0811 hours, deputies were
dispatched to [Ojezua’s address], reference a person shot. Deputy (Dep.)
Christopher Kidwell was the initial responding officer. Upon arrival, Deputy
Kidwell contacted Nicole Morgan (DOB: **/**/77), who stated she was taking
her son to preschool this morning. Nicole said she walked to her vehicle
in the driveway and she was approached by two black males. Nicole said
the two black males were armed with handguns and they forced her and
her son back into the residence. Nicole said the black males were wearing
hoodies, to conceal their facial features. Nicole said the suspect with the
green hoodie held a gun on her and her son in the living room. Nicole said
the suspect wearing the black hoodie, went upstairs with a gun and
confronted her boyfriend, Raphael Ojezua (DOB: **/**/83), who was in their
bedroom.
Nicole said she heard the suspect arguing with Raphael and then
she heard a gunshot. Nichole said the suspect ran downstairs and both
suspects ran out of the residence. Nicole said the suspects ran east on
Elderberry Avenue. Nicole said she went upstairs and Raphael was shot
in the leg. Nicole said she called 911 and the police arrived. Emergency
Medical Technicians arrived on scene and transported Raphael to the
hospital. I arrived on scene and contacted Dep. Kidwell, who stated Nicole
initially gave written consent to search the residence. Dep. Kidwell said
Raphael told Nicole, he did not want the deputies to search the residence.
Dep. Kidwell said Nicole denied consent to search the residence at that
-6-
time. A records check of the Tiburon system, showed Raphael having
previous arrest for possession of drugs. Deputies searched the
surrounding area and the suspects were not located.
Dingee testified that he did not present the judge with any information beyond what was
contained in the affidavit.
{¶ 11} The judge approved the search warrant at 10:40 a.m. The warrant
authorized the search of the residence, curtilage, detached garage, and three vehicles
for “[a]ny firearms, casings, ammunition, drugs, cell phones, currency, trace evidence
including hair, fibers, fingerprints or blood and any other contraband.” (State’s Ex. 1.)
Upon obtaining the warrant, Dingee returned to the Elderberry residence; to Dingee’s
knowledge, no search occurred prior to his return.
{¶ 12} A search subsequently was conducted, beginning in the bedroom where
Ojezua was shot. Dingee explained that there was blood and clothing there, and he was
looking for a bullet and any other evidence involved in the shooting to help identify a
suspect. On cross-examination, Dingee testified that he was also looking for drugs,
guns, and money in the house, because “100 percent of the home invasions I’ve
investigated involve drugs, money, or guns.” (Supp.Tr. at 66.) Dingee testified that
additional officers from the Bulk Smuggling Task Force were later involved in the search
after officers located drugs and a large sum of money. (Supp.Tr. at 63.)
{¶ 13} The record reflects that $31,000 was located in the top drawer of a dresser
in the master bedroom; additional items, including cell phones and mail, were also seized
from that bedroom. A digital scale, heroin, a white crystal substance, marijuana, and
other items were found in the kitchen. The police also found drugs, currency, and other
-7-
items in other rooms of the home.
{¶ 14} At 8:44 a.m., Detective Chris Plummer of the Special Investigations Unit
responded to the hospital to speak with Ojezua about the home invasion. Ojezua arrived
by ambulance a couple minutes later. Approximately five minutes after Ojezua arrived,
Plummer and Ojezua spoke about the shooting. Plummer stated that he did not advise
Ojezua of his Miranda rights, because Ojezua was a victim. Plummer testified that the
conversation was limited to what had happened; Plummer was not conducting a drug
investigation, and he did not ask any questions about drugs, money, or guns.
{¶ 15} Agent Richard Miller of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office/Bureau of
Criminal Investigations became involved with the Elderberry residence as part of the
Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force. Miller stated that he was contacted by the
task force commander, who was employed by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
The commander told Miller that the Special Investigations Unit was conducting an
investigation concerning a shooting at the Elderberry residence and that unit had located
a quantity of heroin. The commander asked Miller’s unit to assist. Miller said such
requests for assistance “happen[ ] all the time.” (Supp.Tr. at 87.)
{¶ 16} Miller and three or four other agents responded to the Elderberry address.
Miller did not look at the warrant, but he “made sure” that the warrant included
authorization to search for narcotics. (Id. at 87-88.) Upon searching the residence,
officers located paperwork related to a storage unit in Trotwood. Miller called the staff at
the storage unit to verify that the unit was up-to-date with payments, and he went to the
storage unit. He called for a canine unit to respond to the storage unit to conduct a sniff;
the dog alerted on the unit. Miller then applied for and received a search warrant for the
-8-
storage unit. (The search warrant for the storage unit was presented as State’s Exhibit
2.) Miller contacted officers who were waiting at the storage unit; those officers
conducted a search of the unit, finding trace amounts of cocaine.
{¶ 17} On April 27, 2016, Ojezua was indicted for possession of heroin, a first-
degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a second-degree
felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. The heroin possession and
aggravated possession of drug charges were based on the drugs found at Ojezua’s
residence; the possession of cocaine charge was based on the drugs found at the storage
unit.
{¶ 18} Ojezua subsequently moved to suppress the evidence recovered from his
residence, arguing that the search warrant “was not based upon proper Federal and State
of Ohio standards,” that the police illegally coerced Morgan to consent to the search, and
that the police used information from Morgan that was “illegally acquired” to obtain the
search warrant for the home. Ojezua further sought to suppress evidence from the
storage unit and any statements he made to the police.
{¶ 19} The trial court held a suppression hearing over two days in February 2018.
The State called five witnesses, whose testimony is summarized above, and presented
three exhibits; Morgan and Ojezua’s sister, Mieshutwa Ojezua, testified for the defense.
{¶ 20} Morgan testified that she was leaving her residence at 8:00 a.m. with her
three-year-old son when two men “rose from up under Raphael’s truck that was in front
of my car in the driveway.” (Supp.Tr. at 111.) The men walked Morgan back into the
house at gunpoint. Morgan stated that Ojezua was asleep on the couch, and one man
jumped past her to approach Ojezua. Ojezua woke and jumped off the coach, after
-9-
which one of the men pushed him up the stairs. Morgan heard the man and Ojezua
arguing upstairs. Morgan heard the man ask Ojezua, “Where is it?” but Morgan
generally could not understand the conversation. The second man waited downstairs,
talking on his phone. After Morgan heard a gunshot from upstairs, the first man ran down
the stairs and both men left. Morgan called 911. She opened the front door and waited
for the police to arrive. Morgan testified that when they came, she invited them in and
told them where Ojezua was located.
{¶ 21} Morgan agreed that she had consented orally to a search of the home and
signed a consent to search form, but she testified that she revoked her consent when a
deputy “peeked his head in the front door and said he [presumably, Ojezua] doesn’t want
the consent.”2 (Supp.Tr. at 122.) Morgan testified that a detective told her that he did
not need her consent, because it was a crime scene and he was going to get a warrant.
(Id. at 122.) Morgan stated that the detective had her and her son leave the house, and
the detective and other officers left the house at that time. Morgan was not allowed to
take items from the house with her. Morgan contacted her mother using an officer’s
phone, and her mother picked her up. Morgan returned to her home the following day.
{¶ 22} Ojezua’s sister, Mieshutwa, testified that she went to the hospital after
hearing from her mother that Ojezua had been shot. She and her mother saw Ojezua in
the emergency room. Worried about Morgan, Mieshutwa’s mother called Morgan’s cell
phone number, but an unknown man answered the phone. Mieshutwa estimated that
her mother placed the phone call between 9:00 and 9:15 a.m.
2Morgan’s suppression hearing testimony did not clarify who did not “want the consent,”
but the search warrant affidavit (State’s Exhibit 1) averred that Ojezua told Morgan that
he (Ojezua) did not want deputies to the search the residence.
-10-
{¶ 23} Mieshutwa testified that, at her mother’s suggestion, she went to Morgan’s
house to see if Morgan were there; she estimated that she arrived at 9:30 to 9:40 a.m.
Mieshutwa saw Morgan’s and Ojezua’s vehicles in the driveway, but Morgan was not
home. Mieshutwa testified that she saw police officers going in and out of the house,
although she was told that they were waiting for a warrant. (The search warrant was
signed at 10:40 a.m.) When Mieshutwa saw a group of officers go inside the house, she
exited her car and asked if the police had gotten a warrant; an officer told Mieshutwa that
they had. In the afternoon, a detective handed Mieshutwa the keys to the house and a
receipt for the items that were found.
{¶ 24} On March 16, 2018, the trial court overruled the motion to suppress. The
trial court concluded:
The Court finds and holds that the affidavits pertinent to State’s
Exhibit’s [sic] One and Two sufficiently establish probable cause for the
neutral Magistrate to issue the search warrants. In addition, the Court
holds that the initial entry of the police into the residence by the police was
consensual at the invitation of Ms. [Morgan] who was seeking aid for her
boyfriend that was shot. Further, there were no facts contained in the
affidavit to State’s Exhibit One which set forth any observations of any
officer of any contraband visualized within the residence. Accordingly,
Defendant’s suggestion that there was illegally acquired information
included in the affidavit is, respectfully, incorrect. Finally, the Defendant
made no statements while in custody.
{¶ 25} In July 2018, Ojezua pled no contest to the charged offenses. After a
-11-
presentence investigation, the trial court imposed a mandatory term of 11 years in prison
for possession of heroin, a mandatory term of 8 years in prison for aggravated possession
of drugs, and 12 months in prison for possession of cocaine, to be served concurrently.
The court also ordered Ojezua to pay mandatory fines of $10,000 for possession of heroin
and of $7,500 for aggravated possession of drugs.
{¶ 26} Ojezua appeals from his convictions, challenging the denial of his motion to
suppress and the imposition of fines.
II. Motion to Suppress
{¶ 27} In his first assignment of error, Ojezua claims that the trial court erred in
overruling his motion to suppress, because the search warrant was overbroad and not
supported by probable cause.
{¶ 28} In ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court “assumes the role of the
trier of fact, and, as such, is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and evaluate
the credibility of the witnesses.” State v. Retherford, 93 Ohio App. 3d 586, 592, 639 N.E.2d
498 (2d Dist.1994); State v. Knisley, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22897, 2010-Ohio-116,
¶ 30. Accordingly, when we review suppression decisions, we must accept the trial
court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence. Retherford
at 592. “Accepting those facts as true, we must independently determine as a matter of
law, without deference to the trial court's conclusion, whether they meet the applicable
legal standard.” Id.
{¶ 29} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution provide that search warrants may only be issued upon
probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be
-12-
searched, and the person and/or things to be seized. See also State v. Jones, 143 Ohio
St.3d 266, 2015-Ohio-483, 37 N.E.3d 123, ¶ 11.
A. Probable Cause
{¶ 30} In authorizing a search warrant, the issuing magistrate’s duty is to determine
whether “there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in
a particular place * * *.” Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 76 L. Ed. 2d
527 (1983); Jones at ¶ 13. “[T]he duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the
magistrate had a ‘substantial basis for * * * conclud[ing]’ that probable cause existed.”
Gates at 238-239, quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 271, 80 S. Ct. 725, 4
L. Ed. 2d 697 (1960); State v. Castagnola, 145 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2015-Ohio-1565, 46 N.E.3d
638, ¶ 35. Ordinarily, “a probable cause inquiry must be confined to the four corners of
the affidavit.” State v. Klosterman, 114 Ohio App. 3d 327, 333, 683 N.E.2d 100 (2d
Dist.1996). In reviewing whether a search warrant has been issued upon probable
cause, courts must examine the totality of the circumstances. Jones, 143 Ohio St. 3d 266,
2015-Ohio-483, 37 N.E.3d 123, at ¶ 15.
{¶ 31} Trial courts and appellate courts “should accord great deference to the
magistrate’s determination of probable cause, and doubtful or marginal cases in this area
should be resolved in favor of upholding the warrant.” State v. George, 45 Ohio St. 3d
325, 544 N.E.2d 640 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus; Jones, 143 Ohio St. 3d 266,
2015-Ohio-483, 37 N.E.3d 123, at ¶ 14.
{¶ 32} Ojezua claims that the affidavit did not provide probable cause to support a
search warrant for drugs and currency. He argues that, with drug cases, “there must
exist an evidentiary link between the suspected drug activity and the area before the
-13-
probable cause determination may be made.” (Emphasis sic.) (App. Brief at 10, citing
State v. Cole, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23058, 2009-Ohio-6131, ¶ 23.)
{¶ 33} Here, the affidavit at issue consisted of three paragraphs, the first of which
addressed Detective Dingee’s (the affiant’s) experience in law enforcement. The second
and third paragraphs of the affidavit described the shooting, as conveyed by Morgan, and
an officer’s subsequent discussion with Morgan regarding a consensual search of the
home. The only statement in the affidavit regarding drugs stated, “A records check of
the Tiburon system, showed Raphael having previous arrest for possession of drugs.”
(Grammatical errors sic.)
{¶ 34} Detective Dingee’s search warrant affidavit sufficiently supported a
determination that probable cause existed to conduct a search of at least a portion of
Ojezua’s residence and curtilage for evidence related to the shooting. The affidavit
detailed Morgan’s description of the arrival of two individuals at the residence, the
suspects’ behavior in the living room and Ojezua’s and Morgan’s upstairs bedroom of the
residence, and the suspects’ fleeing from the residence. The affidavit made clear that
Ojezua had been shot in the upstairs master bedroom. We find no fault with the issuance
of a search warrant to the extent that it related to the living room and upstairs master
bedroom of the residence and the curtilage outside.
{¶ 35} However, we agree with Ojezua that the detective’s sole reference to
Ojezua’s “previous” arrest for drug possession was insufficient to demonstrate that there
was a fair probability that drugs or contraband would be found in the home. The affidavit
did not indicate when Ojezua was previously arrested, nor was there any information to
suggest that Ojezua was presently involved in drug possession or drug trafficking, much
-14-
less that Ojezua engaged in such conduct at his residence. 3 Even assuming that
Detective Dingee reasonably suspected that Ojezua was engaged in drug activity in his
home, as we stated in State v. Perez, 2015-Ohio-1753, 32 N.E.3d 1010, ¶ 19 (2d Dist.),
“a reasonable belief, without some evidentiary support linking the [place to be searched]
to [the defendant’s] drug activities, is not enough for a search warrant.”
{¶ 36} In addition, nothing in Detective Dingee’s affidavit indicated that the
suspects visited any portions of the residence other than the living room and upstairs
master bedroom. Morgan had relayed to Kidwell that she was approached by the
suspects in the driveway and forced back inside the residence. The affidavit stated that
Morgan was held in the living room (which is entered upon walking through the front door)
and that the other suspect confronted Ojezua, who was in his upstairs bedroom. Morgan
related that, after the shooting, the suspects ran out of the house and down the street.
Nothing in the affidavit provided a substantial basis for the issuing judge’s conclusion that
there was a fair probability that evidence related to shooting would be found in other areas
of the home, particularly the kitchen on the first floor.
B. Overbreadth
{¶ 37} Ojezua further claims that the search warrant was overbroad, because it
authorized a search for evidence of a crime, i.e., drugs or currency, “wholly unrelated” to
the crime under investigation. (App. Brief at 10.) Ojezua emphasizes that the crime at
3 At oral argument, Ojezua’s appellate counsel asserted that Detective Dingee’s affidavit
should have affirmatively stated that Officer Kidwell did not see any drugs, guns, or
contraband at Ojezua’s residence on the day of the shooting. Ojezua did not argue in
the trial court that the affidavit included an affirmative misstatement or a material
omission. Regardless, under the facts of this case, we disagree that such a statement
needed to be included.
-15-
issue was a shooting, which the police knew had occurred in a bedroom. Ojezua states,
“The police would have been permitted to search that bedroom for evidence of the crime
that occurred in that room [but] there is nothing in the warrant to support a search of the
home for drugs or contraband.” (Id. at 11.) Ojezua emphasizes that Detective Dingee’s
testimony at the suppression hearing that 100 percent of home investigations that he had
investigated involved drugs, money, or guns was not included in the affidavit.
{¶ 38} “Courts addressing the particularity requirement of the Fourth Amendment
are concerned with two issues. The first issue is whether the warrant provides sufficient
information to ‘guide and control’ the judgment of the executing officers in what to seize.
The second issue is whether the category as specified is too broad in that it includes items
that should not be seized.” (Citations omitted.) Castagnola, 145 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2015-
Ohio-1565, 46 N.E.3d 638, at ¶ 79; see also State v. Terrell, 2017-Ohio-7097, 95 N.E.3d
870, ¶ 66 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 39} Ojezua’s argument with respect to the search warrant’s authorization to
search for drugs and currency is not so much that the warrant lacks sufficient information
to guide the officers with respect to drugs and currency or that the terms “drugs” and
“currency” are so broad that they include items that should not be seized. Rather,
Ojezua’s overbreadth argument overlaps with his probable cause argument that the
search warrant authorized the search of certain locations and the seizure of certain items
(drugs and currency) for which the officers lacked probable cause. See State v. Kinney,
83 Ohio St. 3d 85, 91-92, 698 N.E.2d 49 (1998) (with respect to a warrant authorizing the
search of all persons in a residence, “if the supporting affidavit does not show probable
cause to search every person on a premises, an ‘all persons’ authorization would violate
-16-
both the particularity and probable cause requirements of the Warrant Clause.”);
Castagnola at ¶ 70 (“the probable-cause and particularity requirements overlap”).
{¶ 40} For the reasons stated above concerning Ojezua’s probable cause
argument, we further conclude that the search warrant was overbroad to the extent that
it authorized the search of Ojezua’s entire residence, including drawers and closed
containers, for drugs and currency without probable cause.
C. Good Faith
{¶ 41} The State argues that the exclusionary rule should not be applied here,
because the officers relied in good faith on the search warrant in seizing the drugs and
currency at issue.
{¶ 42} “The exclusionary rule is a judicially created sanction designed to protect
Fourth Amendment rights through its deterrent effect. Under the rule, the state is
precluded from using evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” (Citation
omitted.) State v. Brown, 142 Ohio St. 3d 92, 2015-Ohio-486, 28 N.E.3d 81, ¶ 12; see also
Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S. Ct. 1684, 6 L. Ed. 2d 1081 (1961).
{¶ 43} Under the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule, the exclusionary
rule should not be applied to bar the use of evidence obtained by police officers acting in
objectively reasonable reliance on a search warrant issued by a detached and neutral
magistrate, but ultimately found to be unsupported by probable cause. United States v.
Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984); State v. Wilmoth, 22 Ohio
St.3d 251, 490 N.E.2d 1236 (1986). “The rationale for the good faith exception to
suppression is that the exclusionary rule is designed to deter unlawful police behavior,
and the deterrence goal is not advanced when the police objectively and in good faith rely
-17-
upon a judge's probable cause determination.” Cole, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23058,
2009-Ohio-6131, at ¶ 30, citing Leon.
{¶ 44} “[T]he existence of a warrant normally signifies that a law-enforcement
officer has acted in good faith.” State v. Hoffman, 141 Ohio St. 3d 428, 2014-Ohio-4795,
25 N.E.3d 993, ¶ 32. However, the good faith exception does not apply where (1) the
magistrate or judge in issuing a warrant was misled by information in an affidavit that the
affiant knew was false or would have known was false except for his reckless disregard
of the truth, (2) the issuing magistrate wholly abandoned his judicial role, (3) the warrant
was based on an affidavit so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render official belief
in its existence entirely unreasonable, and (4) the warrant was so facially deficient that
the executing officers cannot reasonably presume it to be valid. Leon at 923; Hoffman
at ¶ 32.
{¶ 45} There is no evidence that any of the information in Dingee’s affidavit was
false or misleading, or that the issuing judge abandoned his judicial role in issuing the
search warrant. Nor was the warrant so facially deficient that the police officers could
not have reasonably presumed it to be valid.
{¶ 46} Finally, the affidavit on which the warrant was based was not so lacking in
indicia of probable cause as to render official belief in its existence entirely unreasonable.
When a warrant has been issued, the legal sufficiency of the underlying
affidavit has already been determined by the magistrate, and the
magistrate’s determination is entitled to credence. Courts cannot make the
good faith of an officer turn upon whether his reliance on a warrant was
misplaced. It is only when the reliance was wholly unwarranted that good
-18-
faith is absent. State v. Gray, 4th Dist. Ross No. 1295, 1986 WL 14457,
*6.
State v. Keefer, 4th Dist. Hocking No. 19CA2, 2019-Ohio-2419, ¶ 41, motion to certify
allowed, 157 Ohio St. 3d 1446, 2019-Ohio-4177, 132 N.E.3d 722, ¶ 41.
{¶ 47} In reviewing the officer’s conduct, the “inquiry is confined to the objectively
ascertainable question whether a reasonably well trained officer would have known that
the search was illegal despite the magistrate’s authorization.” Leon, 468 U.S. at 922,
104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677, fn. 23; Castagnola, 145 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2015-Ohio-1565,
46 N.E.3d 638, at ¶ 93. The actions of all officers involved in obtaining and executing
the warrant should be considered. Herring v. United States, 555 U.S. 135, 140, 129
S. Ct. 695, 172 L. Ed. 2d 496 (2009), citing Leon, at 923, fn. 24 (“It is necessary to consider
the objective reasonableness, not only of the officers who eventually executed a warrant,
but also of the officers who originally obtained it or who provided information material to
the probable-cause determination.”). The court’s review “does not depend on the
subjective knowledge of any individual police officer.” Castagnola at ¶ 95, citing Herring
at 145-146.
{¶ 48} In this case, the search warrant affidavit focused, in large part, on the
circumstances of the shooting, and the magistrate had a substantial basis to conclude
that evidence related to the shooting would be found in and outside the residence. Thus,
the issuance of a search warrant for the residence and the curtilage, based on the
shooting, was supported by probable cause. Detective Dingee testified that, upon
receiving the warrant, he began his search in the master bedroom where Ojezua was
shot.
-19-
{¶ 49} Although the affidavit contained minimal support for a conclusion that drugs
also would likely be found in the residence, we cannot conclude that the officers’ reliance
on the search warrant at issue merits application of the exclusionary rule. As stated in
Herring, “[t]o trigger the exclusionary rule, police conduct must be sufficiently deliberate
that exclusion can meaningfully deter it, and sufficiently culpable that such deterrence is
worth the price paid by the justice system. As laid out in our cases, the exclusionary rule
serves to deter deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct, or in some
circumstances recurring or systemic negligence.” Herring at 144. We cannot conclude
that the error in this case rises to that level.
{¶ 50} Ojezua’s first assignment of error is overruled.
III. Mandatory Fine
{¶ 51} In his second assignment of error, Ojezua claims that the trial court erred in
imposing mandatory fines, because the trial court failed to consider his current and future
ability to pay, as required by R.C. 2929.18.
{¶ 52} R.C. 2929.18(B)(1) requires a sentencing court to impose a mandatory fine
for a first-, second-, or third-degree felony violation of R.C. Chapter 2925 unless (1) the
offender files an affidavit of indigency before sentencing, alleging that “the offender is
indigent and unable to pay the mandatory fine,” and (2) the court “determines the offender
is an indigent person and is unable to pay the mandatory fine.” R.C. 2929.19(B)(5) also
requires that before the court imposes a financial sanction under R.C. 2929.18, it “shall
consider the offender’s present and future ability to pay the amount of the sanction or
fine.”
{¶ 53} Offenders who file affidavits alleging that they are indigent and cannot pay
-20-
mandatory fines are not automatically entitled to a waiver of their fines. State v. Gipson,
80 Ohio St. 3d 626, 634, 687 N.E.2d 750 (1998); State v. Ojezua, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 27768, 2018-Ohio-3812, ¶ 33. 4 Defendants have the burden of affirmatively
demonstrating that they are indigent and are “unable to pay the mandatory fine.”
(Emphasis sic.) Gipson at 635.
{¶ 54} “The trial court does not need to hold a hearing on the issue of financial
sanctions, and there are no express factors that the court must take into consideration or
make on the record.” State v. Culver, 160 Ohio App. 3d 172, 2005-Ohio-1359, 826
N.E.2d 367, ¶ 57 (2d Dist.). However, the record should contain evidence that the trial
court considered the offender’s present and future ability to pay before imposing a
mandatory fine. See Ojezua at ¶ 33.
{¶ 55} A trial court decision on an offender’s ability to pay mandatory fines is
reviewed for an abuse of discretion. State v. Barker, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26061,
2014-Ohio-3946, ¶ 16. An abuse of discretion means that the trial court acted
unconscionably, arbitrarily, or unreasonably. State v. Burns, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
22674, 2010-Ohio-2831, ¶ 35.
{¶ 56} Ojezua filed a “financial disclosure form” on August 16, 2018, the date of
his sentencing hearing. The form, which is used to determine whether a defendant is
eligible for appointed counsel, indicated that Ojezua resided with his mother, had no
assets or expenses, and qualified for Medicaid. Ojezua further wrote that he had been
shot in both legs and has “permanent injury from the shooting.”
{¶ 57} According to the presentence investigation report (PSI), which the trial court
4 Ojezua involved a different individual with the same surname as this defendant.
-21-
stated it had considered, Ojezua was 35 years old at sentencing; he will be approximately
46 years old upon his release from prison. Ojezua is a high-school graduate and had
attended Sinclair Community College for one year studying construction management.
Ojezua reported that he was employed from 2015 to 2017 and had done other work in
construction and landscaping. He reported being in good physical condition, was not
under medical care, and took no prescription medication. He tested negative for illegal
drugs, and the PSI reflected that he did not have any apparent issues with alcohol or drug
addiction. The offense section of the PSI indicated that the police located $31,562 in the
master bedroom during the search of Ojezua’s home.
{¶ 58} Ojezua asked the trial court to waive the mandatory fine, and the State
objected. The prosecutor emphasized that over $31,000 had been found in Ojezua’s
sock drawer, and she noted that he had been able to post a significant bond in the case,
as well as retain counsel. Defense counsel argued in response that Ojezua’s possession
of approximately $31,000 at the time of the offense was irrelevant to his then-current
financial circumstances and that Ojezua had ongoing physical effects from having been
shot in both legs.
{¶ 59} The court concluded that, “despite the information in his affidavit, [Ojezua]
is not indigent to the extent of the Court granting him a reprieve from these fines which
are mandatory by law * * *.” The court cited to Ojezua’s age, high school and community
college education, and his history of employment. The court noted that Ojezua had
supported a request to modify bond with a letter from the owner of the company that had
employed him between 2015 and 2017, which stated that the owner would be willing to
re-employ Ojezua because he (Ojezua) was a good employee. The trial court further
-22-
emphasized that Ojezua had “posted a bond in this case or had someone on his behalf
post a bond in the amount of $500,000. Pursuant to Davenport, [2017-Ohio-688, 85
N.E.3d 443 (2d Dist.)], this is a permissible consideration for the Court in making this
determination on a mandatory fine.” The court also recognized that Ojezua had been
represented by retained counsel “through the lengthy history of this case.” Finally, the
court cited Ojezua’s admission at Morgan’s trial that he was the sole individual who
brought drugs into the home and had control over the drugs, as well as that more than
$30,000 in cash was located in their home by the police.
{¶ 60} The trial court ordered Ojezua to pay a $10,000 mandatory fine for
possession of heroin, a first-degree felony, and a $7,500 mandatory fine for aggravated
possession of drugs, a second-degree felony. Both amounts represented half of the
maximum possible fine for felonies of the first- and second-degrees, respectively. See
R.C. 2929.18(B)(1) (requiring the court to impose “at least one-half of, but not more than,
the maximum statutory fine amount for the level of the offense”).
{¶ 61} Having reviewed the record, we see no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s
refusal to waive Ojezua’s mandatory fines and to impose fines totaling $17,500. At the
outset, we note that the filing of the financial disclosure form is the not equivalent of filing
an affidavit of indigency which avers an inability to pay the mandatory fine. See
Davenport at ¶ 35.
Merely alleging indigency and an inability to afford private counsel does not
establish an inability to pay a fine. See State v. Plemons, 2d Dist.
Montgomery Nos. 26434, 26435, 26436, 26437, 2015-Ohio-2879, ¶ 9.
Indeed, “[a] finding of indigence for purposes of appointed counsel does not
-23-
shield the defendant from paying a fine.” State v. Lewis, 2d Dist. Greene
No. 2011-CA-75, 2012-Ohio-4858, ¶ 16. “ ‘This is because the ability to
pay a fine over a period of time is not equivalent to the ability to pay legal
counsel a retainer fee at the onset of criminal proceedings.’ ” Id., quoting
State v. Kelly, 145 Ohio App. 3d 277, 284, 762 N.E.2d 479 (12th Dist.2001).
As we found in Plemons, Davenport’s failure to file a pre-sentence affidavit
alleging that he is indigent and is unable to pay the mandatory fine is, alone,
a sufficient reason to affirm the trial court’s decision. Id. at ¶ 9. Absent such
an affidavit, R.C. 2929.18(B)(1) made the fine mandatory. Id.
Id.
{¶ 62} Nevertheless, the record reflects that Ojezua resided with his mother and
had no expenses. Although his financial disclosure form indicated that he had
“permanent injury” to his legs from the shooting, he had reported to the presentence
investigator that he was in good physical health. Ojezua had held employment for
several years and had a prospect of employment upon his release from prison; Ojezua
would be approximately 46 years old at that time. The trial court was entitled to consider
that Ojezua was released on a $500,000 bond and had retained counsel throughout his
case. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Ojezua failed to meet
his burden to establish that he did not have the future ability to pay the mandatory fines
and in imposing fines totaling $17,500.
{¶ 63} Ojezua’s second assignment of error is overruled.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 64} The trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
-24-
.............
DONOVAN, J., concurs.
HALL, J., concurs:
{¶ 65} I concur with affirming the judgment of the trial court.
{¶ 66} I disagree, however, with the conclusion that the trial court should have
found the search warrant was overbroad with regard to a search for “drugs, cell phones,
currency * * * and any other contraband” in the entire residence. Two men with masks
and guns committed abduction of three people during a home invasion that involved
shooting Ojezua in the legs. Ojezua had previously been arrested in a drug case. Our
cases are legion with recognition of the notion that guns and drugs go together. In
addition, one cannot parse out that the entire house was a violent crime scene. This kind
of offense does not occur in a vacuum. On first reaction to hearing of this event, an
overwhelming part of the general public would infer drugs or money or both were involved.
ln my opinion it was abundantly reasonable for the issuing magistrate to have issued the
warrant, and deference should be accorded.
{¶ 67} I admit the detective’s search warrant affidavit would have been stronger
had two additional facts been included: one, that the intruders were heard demanding
“where is it” before shooting Ojezua, and two, that the detective’s experience was that
“100 percent of the home invasions [he’d] investigated involve drugs, money, or guns.”
But even without those additions, I agree with the trial court that the affidavit established
probable cause for the search.
-25-
Copies sent to:
Mathias H. Heck
Lisa M. Light
Kiriakos Kordalis
Hon. Michael W. Krumholtz