State v. Cooper

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
(Memorandum Web Opinion)
STATE V. COOPER
NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).
STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE,
V.
CAVIN D. COOPER II, APPELLANT.
Filed May 25, 2021. No. A-20-315.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: THOMAS A. OTEPKA, Judge. Affirmed.
Renee L. Mathias, of Schaefer Shapiro, L.L.P., for appellant.
Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Kimberly A. Klein for appellee.
RIEDMANN, BISHOP, and WELCH, Judges.
WELCH, Judge.
I. INTRODUCTION
Following a jury trial, Cavin D. Cooper II was found guilty of count 1, possession of a
deadly weapon by a prohibited person; count 2, first degree assault; and count 3, use of a deadly
weapon to commit a felony. After finding Cooper to be a habitual criminal with regard to counts
2 and 3, the Douglas County District Court sentenced him to 60 to 70 years’ imprisonment on the
possession count, 40 to 50 years’ imprisonment on the assault count, and 45 to 50 years’
imprisonment on the use of a deadly weapon count, with the sentences ordered to be served
consecutively. Cooper now appeals his convictions and sentences. Following our review of the
record, we affirm.
II. STATEMENT OF FACTS
On July 31, 2018, Dominick Hill was shot multiple times near an Omaha convenience
store. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they tended to Hill’s injuries, which involved
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bullet wounds in his upper back and upper leg, and attempted to gather information from Hill, who
was uncooperative. Hill’s injuries were described by a paramedic who responded to the scene as
“life-threatening.” Law enforcement collected forensics evidence from the scene including nine
Luger 9mm shell casings and surveillance video from the convenience store.
The surveillance video depicted the shooter running toward Hill while shooting him as Hill
attempted to flee. At the time of the shooting, the shooter was wearing a white shirt, black shorts,
and white tennis shoes with black accents. From the video, law enforcement produced a still image
of the shooter which was distributed to law enforcement agencies. Because law enforcement
believed the still image fit the physical description of Cooper, he was identified as a person of
interest in the matter.
Within 2 days of the shooting, law enforcement located Cooper during a traffic stop. In
addition to Cooper, there were two other passengers in the vehicle: Jaleesa Harris, the front seat
passenger, and Christopher Stewart, the rear seat passenger. When law enforcement approached
the vehicle, Cooper exited the driver’s seat while Harris and Stewart remained in the vehicle. As
an officer attempted to handcuff Cooper, Cooper attempted to flee; however, he was quickly
apprehended and handcuffed. Later, a 9mm handgun loaded with PMC Luger bullets was
discovered on Cooper’s seat in the vehicle. Officers also noticed the shoes Cooper was wearing at
the time of his arrest appeared to be the shoes worn by the individual who shot Hill 2 days prior
as depicted in the video.
An information was filed in September 2018, which was later amended for a second time
in January 2020, wherein the State charged Cooper with count 1, possession of a firearm by a
prohibited person, a Class IB felony; count 2, first degree assault, a Class II felony; and count 3,
use of a firearm to commit a felony, a Class IC felony. The information also alleged that Cooper
was a habitual criminal in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2221 (Reissue 2016).
1. PRELIMINARY HEARING
In October 2019, Cooper filed a motion requesting the appointment of new counsel to
represent him because the public defender’s office had previously represented Hill and Stewart
which Cooper alleged created a conflict of interest. During a hearing on Cooper’s motion,
Cooper’s defense counsel clarified that the public defender’s office had represented Hill when Hill
was charged with shooting Stewart in connection with a 2015 incident. Counsel explained that
representation ended when Hill’s case was dismissed. Defense counsel further explained that law
enforcement believed the present shooting of Hill was in retaliation for Hill shooting Stewart in
2015 and reiterated that Stewart was with Cooper when Cooper was arrested and the firearm
involved in the present shooting was discovered. Following defense counsel’s representations to
the court, Cooper explained that “Hill is now a State’s witness and I feel like [it’s] a conflict of
interest because he was already represented by the Public Defender’s Office.” Also during the
hearing, Cooper argued that trust was lacking between himself and his attorney because Cooper
wanted to go to trial but his attorney counseled Cooper to enter a plea.
After first overruling Cooper’s motion on the basis that no conflict of interest existed, the
district court then inquired as to Cooper’s dissatisfaction with his attorney. Cooper responded that
his counsel did not communicate with him, that Cooper could not engage in his own discovery,
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and that his counsel was not properly representing Cooper. The court informed Cooper that as an
indigent defendant, he must show good cause for removal of his attorney, which he failed to do.
The court instructed Cooper that he could choose to either represent himself or to work with the
attorney he had; Cooper chose the latter.
2. TRIAL
Trial was held in January 2020. The evidence included testimony from multiple witnesses,
including Detective Chad Frodyma, Jaleesa Harris, and Angela Harder, along with photographic
exhibits and the surveillance video of the shooting.
(a) Detective Chad Frodyma
Frodyma testified that after Cooper was identified as a suspect in the present shooting,
Frodyma compared photos of Cooper with the still image of the shooter produced by law
enforcement from the surveillance video. After doing so, Frodyma determined Cooper very closely
resembled the shooter.
Frodyma testified that on August 2, 2018, he conducted a stop of the vehicle Cooper was
driving because Cooper was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Frodyma testified that in
an effort to make small talk and lessen the tension of the stop, he commented to Cooper, “Hey,
when did you get out?” at which point Cooper’s counsel asked to approach and a sidebar discussion
ensued. Cooper’s counsel explained that Frodyma’s comment referring to Cooper being
incarcerated was unanticipated, clearly prejudicial, and warranted a mistrial. The State responded
that it did not intend to elicit Frodyma’s answer and had instructed him not to refer to Cooper’s
prior incarceration. The State also argued that the statement caused Cooper “limited” prejudice
because Cooper was charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and the
State anticipated there would be a stipulation regarding Cooper’s status as a convicted felon.
Ultimately, the district court denied the motion for mistrial and gave a limiting instruction to the
jury to “disregard the last part of [Frodyma]’s answer . . . about when did you get out.”
(b) Jaleesa Harris
During trial, Harris explained that on the date of the traffic stop, she had given Cooper
permission to drive her vehicle and that she, Cooper, and Stewart were hanging out together and
smoking marijuana. At some point, law enforcement pulled over their vehicle and the officer
approached the front passenger side of her vehicle where she was seated.
Harris explained that after law enforcement pulled them over and the front driver’s door
was open, she saw a firearm sitting in a hat on the driver’s seat. Photographs received into evidence
showed a tan fishing hat with a firearm placed inside the hat. The hat and firearm were located on
the driver’s seat next to the driver’s buckle and the center console. A SnapChat photograph from
Harris’ phone received approximately a month prior to the traffic stop showed Cooper wearing a
tan fishing hat. Harris testified that she did not own that type of hat.
When asked to recall what she observed after Cooper exited the vehicle, Harris explained
that her attention was directed towards the driver’s side of the vehicle, that she kept her hands in
the air, and that she never saw Stewart’s hands by the driver’s seat. Harris stated she did not own
a firearm, had not observed a firearm in her vehicle prior to the traffic stop, and did not see Cooper
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or Stewart with a firearm that day. On cross-examination, however, Harris testified she was not
focusing on Stewart’s actions in the rear seat.
(c) Angela Harder
Harder, a senior forensic technician and firearm and tool mark examiner employed by the
Omaha Police Department (OPD), testified about her examination of the firearm found in the
vehicle and the casings and projectiles discovered at the scene of Hill’s shooting. Harder testified
that she performed a microscopic comparison to identify characteristics consistent between
recovered casings from the scene and test fired casings. Harder explained that after performing her
examination of the firearm located in the vehicle and the casings, she concluded the casings were
fired by the firearm found during the traffic stop of the vehicle Cooper was driving.
3. VERDICT AND SENTENCING
At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Cooper guilty of possession of a deadly
weapon by a prohibited person, first degree assault, and use of a deadly weapon firearm to commit
a felony. The court accepted the jury’s verdict and later found Cooper was a habitual criminal. At
sentencing, Cooper’s attorney informed the court that Cooper was 32 years old, and because of the
finding that Cooper was a habitual criminal, the mandatory minimum sentence on counts 2 and 3
was 10 years’ imprisonment on each count. The district court sentenced Cooper to 60 to 70 years’
imprisonment on count 1, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; 40 to 50 years’
imprisonment on count 2, first degree assault; and 45 to 50 years’ imprisonment on count 3, use
of a firearm to commit a felony. The court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively and
granted Cooper credit for 605 days served. Cooper has timely appealed to this court.
III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Cooper assigns, restated, that (1) the district court erred in sustaining the State’s motion in
limine and excluding evidence that he contends shows Hill’s shooting was perpetrated by Stewart
in retaliation for being shot by Hill in 2015; (2) the district court erred in failing to grant a mistrial
following Detective Frodyma’s direct examination testimony that he asked Cooper “Hey when did
you get out” notwithstanding the court’s limiting instruction; (3) the evidence was insufficient to
support his convictions because the State failed to introduce sufficient evidence for a rational trier
of fact to find that Cooper shot Hill and Cooper possessed the firearm found in the vehicle; and (4)
the sentences imposed were excessive.
Cooper further contends his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present testimony
from Hill, the victim in this case, who would have testified that Cooper was not the individual who
shot him; present testimony from Stewart, who would have testified that Hill was not in possession
of the firearm; present testimony from Detectives James and Cunningham, who would have
testified that Hill had previously been arrested for shooting Stewart; request the court continue the
trial upon learning that Detectives James and Cunningham were unavailable to testify; consult
with, or call as a witness, an independent forensic ballistics expert because the expert would have
refuted the State’s ballistics expert’s testimony; ask any questions during trial of the State’s expert,
Harder; and ask the court for leave to withdraw due to a conflict.
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Cooper also assigns that the court erred in not granting his own “motion to dismiss his
public defender due to a conflict in the representation.” Brief for appellant at 2. However, Cooper
does not argue this error in his brief. To be considered by an appellate court, an alleged error must
be both specifically assigned and specifically argued in the initial brief of the party asserting the
error. State v. Gray, 307 Neb. 418, 949 N.W.2d 320 (2020). Therefore, we do not consider this
assignment of error.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
In proceedings where the Nebraska Evidence Rules apply, the admissibility of evidence is
controlled by the Nebraska Evidence Rules; judicial discretion is involved only when the rules
make discretion a factor in determining admissibility. State v. Devers, 306 Neb. 429, 945 N.W.2d
470 (2020). A trial court’s determination of the relevancy and admissibility of evidence must be
upheld in the absence of an abuse of discretion. Id. Balancing the probative value of evidence
against the danger of unfair prejudice is within the discretion of the trial court. Id.The decision whether to grant a motion for mistrial is within the trial court’s discretion and
will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of an abuse of discretion. State v. Aguilar, 268 Neb.
411, 683 N.W.2d 349 (2004).
In reviewing a criminal conviction for a sufficiency of the evidence claim, whether the
evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof, the standard is the same: An appellate
court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or reweigh
the evidence; such matters are for the finder of fact. The relevant question for an appellate court is
whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State
v. Stack, 307 Neb. 773, 950 N.W.2d 611 (2020).
A sentence imposed within the statutory limits will not be disturbed on appeal in the
absence of an abuse of discretion by the trial court. State v. Gray, supra. A judicial abuse of
discretion exists only when the reasons or rulings of a trial judge are clearly untenable, unfairly
depriving a litigant of a substantial right and denying a just result in matters submitted for
disposition. Id.Whether a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel may be determined on direct appeal is
a question of law. State v. Clausen, 307 Neb. 968, 951 N.W.2d 764 (2020). In reviewing claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal, an appellate court decides only whether the
undisputed facts contained within the record are sufficient to conclusively determine whether
counsel did or did not provide effective assistance and whether the defendant was or was not
prejudiced by counsel’s alleged deficient performance. Id.V. ANALYSIS
1. PREVENTING WITNESSES FROM TESTIFYING
Cooper argues the court abused its discretion in sustaining the State’s motion in limine on
relevancy and hearsay grounds thereby excluding evidence critical to his defense that he contends
establishes Hill’s shooting was perpetrated by Stewart in retaliation for being shot by Hill in 2015.
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In the present case, the State made an oral motion in limine during trial to exclude evidence
concerning a 2015 shooting that resulted in Hill’s arrest. In response, Cooper argued and offered
to prove that in 2015, Stewart was shot; that Stewart originally identified Hill as the person who
shot him; and that Stewart initially provided police with a Facebook page that contained a
photograph of Hill wearing the same clothes “as what was identified as the shooter of . . . Stewart.”
Although Stewart identified Hill in a photo lineup as his shooter, he later recanted that allegation
and charges against Hill were eventually dropped.
In order to present that evidence to the jury, Cooper explained he originally intended to
have the two detectives who investigated the 2015 shooting testify. However, because the
detectives were unavailable at the time of trial, Cooper proposed to offer a certified copy of the
criminal complaint regarding the 2015 shooting. Cooper further argued to the court that the State’s
witnesses previously stated at a preliminary hearing that the 2015 shooting was a motive for the
shooting in the present action. The court ultimately sustained the State’s motion in limine on
relevance and hearsay grounds.
At the close of the trial, Cooper offered into evidence a certified copy of a 2015 Douglas
County Court criminal complaint which the court received as part of Cooper’s offer of proof.
However, the court stated that its ruling on the State’s motion in limine remained the same. Cooper
now argues that the court erred in its evidentiary ruling.
“Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact
that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it
would be without the evidence.” Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-401 (Reissue 2016). Despite its relevance,
evidence may be excluded if its probative value is lacking. State v. Devers, 306 Neb. 429, 945
N.W.2d 470 (2020). “Relevancy requires only that the probative value be something more than
nothing.” Id. at 447, 945 N.W.2d at 484. Therefore, relevant evidence “may be excluded if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the
issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless
presentation of cumulative evidence.” Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-403 (Reissue 2016).
In order to examine Cooper’s claim, we analyze it in the context of the evidence presented
at trial. Following the shooting, law enforcement was able to produce a still photo of the shooter
obtained from video footage of the incident. From that photo, law enforcement eventually
identified Cooper as a suspect and he was later found driving a vehicle in which a firearm was
located next to him wrapped in a hat that appeared to have been worn by Cooper in a separate
photo. OPD’s senior forensic technician opined that the firearm located in the vehicle Cooper was
driving was the firearm used by the shooter. Against that background, Cooper desired to introduce
evidence that Stewart, a passenger in the vehicle Cooper was driving when he was pulled over by
law enforcement, previously accused Hill, the victim in this case, of shooting Stewart in 2015, and
that Hill was originally charged in connection with the incident. Cooper argued the 2015 shooting
incident was relevant because it would establish that Stewart, not Cooper, had motive to retaliate
for the 2015 shooting. But as Cooper’s counsel acknowledged during the motion in limine hearing,
Stewart later recanted his allegation that Hill shot him and the charges against Hill were later
dropped by the State. Because of the lack of clarity associated with the 2015 incident and the
method upon which Cooper’s counsel desired to admit it, the court sustained the State’s motion in
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limine on relevancy and hearsay grounds and the information governing the 2015 incident was not
admitted into evidence.
The question becomes whether the court erred in excluding the 2015 complaint at trial.
Although the prior alleged incident involving Stewart and Hill may have provided some evidence
which was probative of Cooper’s theory that Stewart had motive to retaliate against Hill, it was
the method of presentation by which Cooper intended to assert it which resulted in the court’s
ruling here. At trial, Cooper stated he intended to offer evidence of the prior 2015 incident by
offering the 2015 criminal complaint filed by the State against Hill as a result of that incident.
However, the 2015 complaint only contains an allegation that on or about July 4, 2015, Hill did
knowingly cause injury to Stewart. It does not contain a separate evidentiary allegation as to why
the State filed the complaint. This complaint was later dismissed by the State. As we previously
noted, “[r]elevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact
that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it
would be without the evidence.” § 27-401. “The fact that the state brings . . . charges is not evidence
of anything. The charges are simply an accusation, nothing more.” NJI2d Crim. 1.2. See, State v.
Henry, 292 Neb. 834, 875 N.W.2d 374 (2016); State v. Morgan, 286 Neb. 556, 837 N.W.2d 543(2013); State v. Huerta, 26 Neb. App. 170, 917 N.W.2d 175 (2018). Because the fact that the State
brought a complaint against Hill “is not evidence of anything,” the filing of the complaint is not
relevant evidence. We find the court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the State’s objection
to the 2015 criminal complaint on relevancy grounds. This assigned error fails.
2. MISTRIAL
Next, Cooper argues the court should have granted his motion for mistrial following
Frodyma’s testimony that he first asked Cooper upon pulling him over, “Hey, when did you get
out?” Cooper’s sole argument governing the prejudice to him resulting from this statement was
that “[t]here was significant evidence presented in Court that . . . Stewart at a minimum was in
possession of the firearm. There was not overwhelmingly [sic] evidence of . . . Cooper’s guilt.”
Brief for appellant at 17.
As we previously stated, following Detective Frodyma’s testimony governing the question
he posed to Cooper upon greeting him, the district court admonished the jury to disregard the
testimony. As such, the question becomes whether this admonishment was sufficient, or whether,
under these circumstances, the court abused its discretion in not granting a mistrial.
In State v. Archbold, 217 Neb. 345, 355, 350 N.W.2d 500, 506-07 (1984), the Nebraska
Supreme Court held:
A mistrial may be warranted where unfairness has been injected into a jury trial and so
permeates the proceedings that no amount of admonition to the jury can remove the
unfairness to a party. . . . Therefore, a mistrial may be the only recourse on those occasions
when admonition to the jury cannot eradicate the unfair prejudice to a party, or, as
expressed in Dunn v. United States, 307 F.2d 883, 886 (5th Cir. 1962), “Otherwise stated,
one ‘cannot unring a bell’; ‘after the thrust of the saber it is difficult to say forget the
wound’; and finally, ‘if you throw a skunk into the jury box, you can’t instruct the jury not
to smell it’.”
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And in State v. Dittrich, 191 Neb. 475, 478, 215 N.W.2d 637, 639 (1974), the Nebraska
Supreme Court quoted State v. Johnson, 60 Wash. 2d 21, 371 P.2d 611 (1962), stating, “‘The test
is this: Did the inadvertent remark, which the jury was instructed to disregard, when viewed against
the backdrop of all the evidence, so taint the entire proceedings that the accused did not have a fair
trial?’”
In applying that test to the case at bar, we do not find the district court abused its discretion
in admonishing the jury to disregard the remark and in overruling the motion for mistrial on this
record. Here, in connection with the shooting of Hill, Cooper was charged with possession of a
firearm by a prohibited person, first degree assault, and use of a firearm to commit a felony. In
connection with the first charge, the State was required to prove that Cooper was in possession of
a firearm and that at the time of the possession, Cooper was a prohibited person. See State v. Vann,
306 Neb. 91, 944 N.W.2d 503 (2020). In connection with the second such element, on the fourth
day of trial, in the presence of the jury, the following colloquy occurred between the court and
counsel:
[Prosecutor]: . . . The State would offer a stipulation of the parties I’ve marked as
Exhibit 97. And with permission of the Court, I’d like to read it into the record.
THE COURT: Yes.
[Prosecutor]: In the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, State of Nebraska,
plaintiff, vs. Cavin D. Cooper, defendant. Case No. CR18-3162.
Stipulation of the parties: Come now the undersigned parties hereby stipulate to the
following facts for purposes of the trial in the above-captioned matter.
On or about July 31st, 2018, through August 2nd of 2018, the defendant, Cavin D.
Cooper, was a prohibited person as defined by Nebraska Revised Statute [§] 28-1206 due
to the fact that he had previously . . . been convicted of a felony. Dated this 30th day of
January, 2020. Prepared and submitted by Sean Lavery, Deputy County Attorney.
Approved as to form and content by Matthew Miller, attorney for defendant, Cavin Cooper.
Exhibit 97 was received into evidence by the court.
Accordingly, during the course of this trial, the jury was presented with a stipulation that
Cooper had previously been convicted of a felony. As such, the jury was rightfully aware of this
information as it related to the first charge made against Cooper. Under these circumstances,
Cooper cannot claim to have been prejudiced by Frodyma’s inadvertent testimony as to his
comment to Cooper “Hey, when did you get out?” It was sufficient for the court to admonish the
jury to disregard the remark and the court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Cooper’s
motion for mistrial as it relates to the aforementioned statement during Frodyma’s testimony. This
assignment fails.
3. SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
Cooper was convicted of being in possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, use of a
deadly weapon to commit a felony, and first degree assault. He argues there was insufficient
evidence to convict him of these charges because the State failed to prove he was in possession of
a firearm or that he shot Hill.
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At the time of the alleged commission of the instant offense, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1206(Supp. 2018) provided, in pertinent part:
(1) A person commits the offense of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited
person if he or she:
(a) Possesses a firearm, a knife, or brass or iron knuckles and he or she:
(i) Has previously been convicted of a felony;
(ii) Is a fugitive from justice; or
(iii) Is the subject of a current and validly issued domestic violence protection order,
harassment protection order, or sexual assault protection order and is knowingly violating
such order; or
(b) Possesses a firearm or brass or iron knuckles and he or she has been convicted
within the past seven years of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
....
[(3)](b) Possession of a deadly weapon which is a firearm by a prohibited person is
a Class ID felony for a first offense and a Class IB felony for a second or subsequent
offense.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-308(1) (Reissue 2016) provides: “A person commits the offense of
assault in the first degree if he or she intentionally or knowingly causes serious bodily injury to
another person.”
Neb Rev. Stat. § 28-1205(1)(a) (Reissue 2016) provides: “Any person who uses a firearm,
a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or any other deadly weapon to commit any felony which may be
prosecuted in a court of this state commits the offense of use of a deadly weapon to commit a
felony.”
Cooper argues there was insufficient evidence to convict him of these charges because, as
to the possession charge, the State failed to prove he possessed the firearm found on the driver’s
seat of the vehicle he was operating at the time of the traffic stop. As to the first degree assault and
use of a firearm to commit a felony charge, he argues that the State failed to prove that he was the
shooter.
In reviewing a criminal conviction for a sufficiency of the evidence claim, whether the
evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof, the standard is the same: An appellate
court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or reweigh
the evidence; such matters are for the finder of fact. State v. Smith, 302 Neb. 154, 922 N.W.2d 444(2019). When reviewing a criminal conviction for sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the
conviction, the relevant question for an appellate court is whether, after viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Williams, 306 Neb. 261, 945 N.W.2d
124 (2020).
In reviewing this record in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that a
rational trier of fact could have found the challenged elements here, that is, that Cooper was in
possession of a firearm when he was pulled over by Detective Frodyma and that Cooper used the
firearm to shoot Hill on July 31, 2018. Although we have previously summarized the evidence
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proffered by the State in connection with these charges, we do so here again as it relates to this
specific assignment of error. In connection with the shooting, law enforcement was able to obtain
video surveillance of the actual shooting and produce a still photo of the shooter. From that photo,
law enforcement was able to identify Cooper as a suspect, and after Cooper was found operating
a vehicle on a suspended license, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Cooper
was driving. Although Cooper attempted to run from law enforcement, they apprehended him and
discovered a firearm on the driver’s seat of the car that he was operating at the time of the traffic
stop. The firearm was wrapped in a hat that Cooper was seen wearing in a different photo taken
one month prior to Cooper’s arrest. The State’s ballistics expert identified the firearm located in
the vehicle as the same firearm used to shoot Hill, and the shoes Cooper was wearing at the time
of the stop appeared to be the same shoes the shooter was wearing in the video of the shooting.
The evidence, when taken together with the remainder of the record, and viewed in the
light most favorable to the State, was sufficient to establish that Cooper was in possession of the
firearm located in the vehicle he was driving at the time of the traffic stop; and that Cooper had
used that firearm to shoot Hill on July 31, 2018, causing “life-threating” injuries to Hill. Because
the evidence was sufficient to support Cooper’s convictions, this assignment fails.
4. EXCESSIVE SENTENCES
Cooper contends that the sentences imposed were excessive. Specifically, he contends that
because the court found he was a habitual criminal, the mandatory minimum for counts 2 and 3
was 10 years’ imprisonment with no good time. He explains that just imposing the minimum
sentences would result in him being incarcerated until he was over 50 years old. Cooper
acknowledges the sentences imposed were within the statutory limits, but argues the sentences are
excessive in light of Hill’s failure to testify, the court’s justification for the length of the sentence,
and the requirement that the sentences run consecutive which rendered the sentences “untenable
and amount[ed] to a denial of justice.” Brief for appellant at 29.
Initially, we note that the enhancement hearing was not made part of the record before this
court. However, at the sentencing hearing, the district court stated that Cooper’s possession of a
firearm by a prohibited person conviction was a second offense “per enhancement.” Further, the
court noted that an enhancement hearing had been held on the habitual criminal allegations and
“that’s all been completed.”
Cooper was convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, enhanced to a
second offense, a Class IB felony. See § 28-1206(3)(b). Cooper’s sentence of 60 to 70 years’
imprisonment is within the sentencing range for Class IB felonies, which are punishable by 20
years’ to life imprisonment. See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105 (Reissue 2016).
Cooper was convicted of first degree assault, a Class II felony, and use of a firearm to
commit a felony, a Class 1C felony. See, § 28-308(2); § 28-1205(1)(c). The court also determined,
for these two convictions, that Cooper was a habitual criminal and sentenced him accordingly.
Cooper’s sentences of 40 to 50 years’ imprisonment for first degree assault and 45 to 50 years’
imprisonment for use of a firearm to commit a felony are within the statutory sentencing range set
forth in the habitual criminal statute, which provides for a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’
imprisonment and a maximum term of not more than 60 years’ imprisonment. See § 29-2221(1).
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Where a sentence imposed within the statutory limits is alleged on appeal to be excessive,
the appellate court must determine whether a sentencing court abused its discretion in considering
and applying the relevant factors as well as any applicable legal principles in determining the
sentence to be imposed. State v. Stack, 307 Neb. 773, 950 N.W.2d 611 (2020). In determining a
sentence to be imposed, relevant factors customarily considered and applied are the defendant’s
(1) age, (2) mentality, (3) education and experience, (4) social and cultural background, (5) past
criminal record or record of lawabiding conduct, and (6) motivation for the offense, as well as (7)
the nature of the offense, and (8) the amount of violence in the commission of the crime. Id. The
appropriateness of a sentence is necessarily a subjective judgment and includes the sentencing
judge’s observation of the defendant’s demeanor and attitude and all the facts and circumstances
surrounding the defendant’s life. Id.The court stated that it had considered the age, mentality, education, experience, social and
cultural background, past criminal record, motivation for the offense, nature of the offense, and
the presence of violence, along with the probation file, police reports, and the presentence
investigation report (PSR). More specifically, the court indicated Cooper refused to cooperate with
the presentence investigation but noted Cooper had been convicted of eight felonies. The court
also noted Cooper served three prior prison sentences and was released from prison 2 months
before being charged in the present matter. The court stated, “it seems pretty obvious, after the
trial, that there really isn’t any good reason why [Hill] is still alive . . . it’s not like [Cooper] didn’t
try to kill him.”
Although Cooper refused to participate in the preparation of the PSR, the PSR reflected
that Cooper was 32 years old and his prior convictions included three convictions each for
operating a motor vehicle during suspension and for failing to appear; two convictions each for
felony criminal impersonation and for obstructing an officer; multiple convictions for various
traffic violations; and one conviction each for felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited
person, felony attempted robbery, felony criminal mischief, operating a motor vehicle during
suspension second offense, possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, child abuse/neglect,
domestic violence assault, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, trespassing, minor in
possession, and failing to disperse.
Because the sentences imposed were within the applicable statutory sentencing ranges, his
criminal history, the district court’s consideration of factors relevant to sentencing including
Cooper’s criminal history, his commission of the current offenses only 2 months after being
released from prison, and his failure to cooperate with probation regarding the PSR, we cannot say
the district court abused its discretion in the sentences imposed.
As to Cooper’s contention that the district court abused its discretion in ordering that his
sentences be served consecutively, we first note that the court was required to impose a consecutive
sentence for the offense of use of a firearm to commit a felony. See § 28-1205(3) (Reissue 2016)
(“crimes defined in this section shall be treated as separate and distinct offenses from the felony
being committed, and sentences imposed under this section shall be consecutive to any other
sentence imposed”). Further, regarding Cooper’s sentences for first degree assault and second
offense possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, we note that generally it is within a trial
court’s discretion to direct that sentences imposed for separate crimes be served either concurrently
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or consecutively. State v. Leahy, 301 Neb. 228, 917 N.W.2d 895 (2018). Following our review of
this record, including but not limited to these matters discussed above, we find no abuse of
discretion in the court’s decision to order Cooper’s sentences to be served consecutively. This
assignment of error fails.
5. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Cooper’s final assignment of error is that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to
present testimony from Hill, the victim in this case, who would have testified Cooper was not the
individual who shot him; present testimony from Stewart, who would have testified Hill was not
in possession of the firearm; present testimony from Detectives James and Cunningham, who
would have testified Hill had previously been arrested for shooting Stewart; request the court
continue the trial upon learning that Detectives James and Cunningham were unavailable to testify;
consult with or call as a witness an independent forensic ballistics expert because the expert would
have refuted the State’s ballistics expert’s testimony; ask any questions during trial of the State’s
expert, Harder; and ask the court for leave to withdraw due to a conflict.
When a defendant’s trial counsel is different from his or her counsel on direct appeal, as is
the case here, the defendant must raise on direct appeal any issue of trial counsel’s ineffective
performance which is known to the defendant or is apparent from the record. See State v. Sinkey,
303 Neb. 345, 929 N.W.2d 35 (2019). Otherwise, the issue will be procedurally barred in a
subsequent postconviction proceeding. Id. The fact that an ineffective assistance of counsel claim
is raised on direct appeal does not necessarily mean that it can be resolved. Id. The determining
factor is whether the record is sufficient to adequately review the question. Id.In order to avoid a procedural bar to a future postconviction proceeding, a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel must be presented with enough particularity for (1) an appellate
court to make a determination of whether the claim can be decided upon the trial record and (2) a
district court later reviewing a petition for postconviction relief to be able to recognize whether the
claim was brought before the appellate court. Id.Appellate courts have generally reached ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct
appeal only in those instances where it was clear from the record that such claims were without
merit or in the rare case where trial counsel’s error was so egregious and resulted in such a high
level of prejudice that no tactic or strategy could overcome the effect of the error, which effect was
a fundamentally unfair trial. State v. Weathers, 304 Neb. 402, 935 N.W.2d 185 (2019). An
ineffective assistance of counsel claim will not be addressed on direct appeal if it requires an
evidentiary hearing. State v. Sierra, 305 Neb. 249, 939 N.W.2d 808 (2020).
When a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel is raised in a direct appeal, the
appellant is not required to allege prejudice; however, an appellant must make specific allegations
of the conduct that he or she claims constitutes deficient performance by trial counsel. State v.
Lierman, 305 Neb. 289, 940 N.W.2d 529 (2020). General allegations that trial counsel performed
deficiently or that trial counsel was ineffective are insufficient to raise an ineffective assistance
claim on direct appeal. State v. Weathers, supra. An ineffective assistance of counsel claim made
on direct appeal can be found to be without merit if the record establishes that trial counsel’s
performance was not deficient or that the appellant could not establish prejudice. Id.- 12 -
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984), the defendant must show that his or her
counsel’s performance was deficient and that this deficient performance actually prejudiced the
defendant’s defense. State v. Iddings, 304 Neb. 759, 936 N.W.2d 747 (2020). To show deficient
performance, a defendant must show that counsel’s performance did not equal that of a lawyer
with ordinary training and skill in criminal law. State v. Sierra, supra. To show prejudice, the
defendant must demonstrate a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s deficient performance,
the result of the proceeding would have been different. State v. Weathers, supra. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. The two prongs
of the ineffective assistance of counsel test under Strickland v. Washington, supra, may be
addressed in either order, and the entire ineffectiveness analysis should be viewed with a strong
presumption that counsel’s actions were reasonable. State v. Weathers, supra.(a) Failure to Present Testimony From Hill and Stewart
Cooper assigns that he suffered from ineffective assistance of counsel when his counsel
failed to call Stewart who would have testified that “‘Hill’ was not in possession of the firearm.”
Brief for appellant at 3. However, we note Cooper argues in his brief that Stewart would have
testified “Cooper” was not in possession of a firearm. We interpret Cooper’s reference to “Hill” in
his assignment of error as a scrivener’s error and analyze this assignment on the basis of his
argument that Stewart, his passenger when Cooper was pulled over, would have testified that
Cooper was not in possession of the firearm found in the driver’s seat that Cooper vacated just
prior to his arrest. Cooper similarly assigns and argues his counsel was ineffective for failing to
call Hill as a witness who would have testified Cooper did not shoot him. As to both such
allegations, which are made with sufficient particularity, we find the record is insufficient for this
court to address them on direct appeal. Accordingly, these claims are preserved.
(b) Failure to Present Testimony From Detectives James and
Cunningham and Failure to Request Continuance
Cooper next claims his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present testimony from
Detectives James and Cunningham, who would have testified Hill had previously been arrested
for shooting Stewart and for failing to request a continuance upon learning that Detectives James
and Cunningham were unavailable to testify.
Cooper’s specific allegation is that had Detectives James and Cunningham been called to
testify, they would have testified to having previously arrested Hill in connection with the 2015
incident. But the fact that Hill was previously arrested in connection with the alleged 2015 incident
is not relevant evidence that Hill was, in fact, involved in the prior incident. Having failed to allege
any specific facts that James or Cunningham could testify to which would link Hill to the prior
incident, we find that Cooper could not establish prejudice under his specific allegation here.
Stated differently, attempts by Cooper to further propound the specific evidence suggested here
would have been meritless. As a matter of law, counsel cannot be ineffective for failing to raise a
meritless argument. State v. Schwaderer, 296 Neb. 932, 898 N.W.2d 318 (2017). These claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel fail.
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(c) Failing to Consult or Call Independent Forensic Ballistics Expert
Cooper next argues his trial counsel should have obtained an analysis from an independent
forensic ballistics expert to counter Harder’s testimony about the results from her ballistics
examination.
In order to avoid a procedural bar to a future postconviction proceeding, a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel must be presented with enough particularity for (1) an appellate
court to make a determination of whether the claim can be decided upon the trial record and (2) a
district court later reviewing a petition for postconviction relief to be able to recognize whether the
claim was brought before the appellate court. State v. Sinkey, 303 Neb. 345, 929 N.W.2d 35 (2019).
Here, although Cooper assigns and argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to call an expert witness to refute Harder’s expert witness testimony, he fails to identify the
substance of what a ballistics expert would have testified to which might refute the proffered
testimony of the State’s expert. See State v. Stelly, 304 Neb. 33, 932 N.W.2d 857 (2019) (holding
failure to identify which witnesses would be called or how witnesses’ testimony would refute
evidence propounded fails to allege claim of deficient performance with sufficient particularity).
A claim insufficiently stated is no different than a claim not stated at all. State v. Hood, 301 Neb.
207, 917 N.W.2d 880 (2018). Accordingly, as to this specific assignment, Cooper has failed to
allege sufficient factual allegations of conduct that would constitute deficient performance by his
trial counsel, and this claim is not preserved.
(d) Failing to Question State’s Expert
Cooper next contends his counsel was ineffective for failing to cross-examine Harder as to
the substance of her claim that “the casing, [sic] she [test-fired from the firearm] matched the
casing she tested which was found at the scene of the shooting.” Brief for appellant at 27. Cooper
asserts this lack of questioning left the jury to conclude Harder’s testimony was accurate.
Again, Cooper has failed to specifically allege the substance of the questions his trial
counsel should have asked Harder that would have tested the veracity of her testimony. Having
failed to specifically allege the substance of the testimony his counsel failed to elicit, Cooper has
failed to allege sufficient factual allegations of conduct that would constitute deficient performance
by his trial counsel on this issue. This claim is not preserved.
(e) Failure to Request Leave to Withdraw Due to Conflict
Cooper’s final argument is that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request leave
of court to withdraw as counsel due to a conflict of interest. This issue was actually raised by
Cooper prior to trial when he filed a motion for replacement counsel for the same reason. As
explained by Cooper in his motion, Cooper theorized he was entitled to new counsel because his
current counsel was part of the public defender’s office which had allegedly previously represented
both Hill and Stewart. Cooper argued this created a conflict of interest. The district court overruled
the motion, which Cooper assigned as error but failed to argue in his brief. Having failed to
preserve that error, the court’s ruling on the motion is not subject to further consideration. Instead,
Cooper argues that because the conflict existed, it was incumbent upon his counsel to recuse
himself and his counsel was ineffective for failing to do so.
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A somewhat similar issue was presented in State v. McMillion, 23 Neb. App. 687, 875
N.W.2d 877 (2016). In McMillion, the defendant argued the district court erred in denying her
attorney’s motion to withdraw due, in part, to her Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance
of counsel, which includes representation free of conflicts. The defendant specifically argued that
because the State produced witnesses for trial that were formerly represented by the defendant’s
counsel, that former representation constituted a conflict of interest which should have resulted in
the court sustaining her counsel’s motion to withdraw. In addressing the defendant’s claim, this
court held:
[The defendant] did have a Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
counsel, however, which includes representation free of conflicts of interest which
adversely affect her lawyer’s performance. See State v. Sandoval, 280 Neb. 309, 788
N.W.2d 172 (2010). In Nebraska, the right to effective assistance of counsel has been
interpreted to entitle the accused to the undivided loyalty of an attorney, free from any
conflict of interest. Id. Whether a defendant’s lawyer’s representation violates a
defendant’s right to representation free from conflicts of interest is a mixed question of law
and fact that an appellate court reviews independently of the lower court’s decision. Id.The fact that an attorney has other clients, including one who would be a State
witness and testify at trial, is not sufficient in and of itself to constitute a conflict of interest.
State v. Marchese, 245 Neb. 975, 515 N.W.2d 670 (1994). The phrase “conflict of interest”
denotes a situation in which regard for one duty tends to lead to disregard for another or
where a lawyer’s representation of one client is rendered less effective by reason of his or
her representation of another client. State v. Dunster, 262 Neb. 329, 631 N.W.2d 879(2001). The defendant who shows that a conflict of interest actually affected the adequacy
of his or her representation need not demonstrate prejudice, but such conflict of interest
must be shown to have resulted in conduct by counsel that was detrimental to the defense.
Id.State v. McMillion, 23 Neb. App. at 709, 875 N.W.2d at 901. After examining the facts in
McMillion, this court ultimately held:
In the present case, the parties stipulated that there was no relationship between the
witnesses’ cases and [the defendant’s] case. At the time the witnesses signed their
affidavits, their cases had been resolved and the time for appeal had passed. The witnesses’
affidavits indicate that neither of them provided any information during the time they were
represented by the public defender’s office that would be useful in [the defendant’s] case.
Moreover, both witnesses signed waivers of any conflicts of interest and attorney-client
privilege. As a result, we find no error in the district court’s denial of [defendant’s]
counsel’s motion to withdraw.
Id. at 710, 875 N.W.2d at 901.
Notwithstanding some similarities between McMillion and the case at bar, there is a
significant procedural difference, which dictates the outcome here. In McMillion, the defendant
appealed the decision of the district court overruling her counsel’s motion to withdraw due to the
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potential conflict. Here, as we stated above, Cooper assigned, but failed to argue, that the district
court erred in overruling his motion to replace counsel due to this alleged conflict. Instead, he
assigns and argues his counsel was ineffective for failing to request withdrawal due to the same
conflict.
Based upon the court’s ruling on Cooper’s motion, a subsequent motion by counsel to
withdraw would have been futile since the court previously ruled that no conflict of interest was
present here. As we have already stated, as a matter of law, counsel cannot be ineffective for failing
to raise a meritless argument. State v. Schwaderer, 296 Neb. 932, 898 N.W.2d 318 (2017). In sum,
having failed to properly appeal from the district court’s decision governing Cooper’s motion to
replace counsel, he cannot now claim his counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a meritless
argument. Because the record is sufficient for this court to conclude Cooper’s counsel was not
ineffective for failing to request withdrawal following the court’s ruling on the subject matter, the
specific assignment of error fails, and the issue is not preserved.
VI. CONCLUSION
In sum, we have considered and rejected Cooper’s claims that the district court erred by
excluding testimony regarding the 2015 shooting and in overruling Cooper’s request for a mistrial;
that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; and that the sentences imposed were
excessive.
Regarding Cooper’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, we determined his claims
that counsel was ineffective for failing to call an independent forensic ballistics expert and failing
to cross-examine the State’s forensics expert were not sufficiently pled. We also found that because
the record was sufficient to find Cooper’s counsel was not ineffective, the following ineffective
assistance of counsel claims failed: failure to present testimony from Detectives James and
Cunningham, failure to request a continuance after learning the detectives were unavailable to
testify, and failure to move to withdraw due to a conflict of interest. Finally, Cooper’s claims that
his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present testimony from Hill and Stewart are preserved
because the record on appeal is insufficient to review these claims.
AFFIRMED.
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