State v. Debardeleben

[Cite as State v. Debardeleben, 2020-Ohio-661.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 108277
v. :
TARIQ M. DEBARDELEBEN, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 27, 2020
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-17-621002-A
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
Attorney, Anna M. Faraglia, and Andrew J. Santoli,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for appellee.
Robey & Robey, and Gregory Scott Robey, for appellant.
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J.:
Defendant-appellant Tariq M. Debardeleben (“Debardeleben”)
appeals his jury trial convictions for multiple felonies arising from the death of 15-
month-old Morgan Dillard (“M. Dillard”). Debardeleben received a prison sentence
of 15 years to life. We affirm.
I. Background and Facts
Nineteen-year-old Debardeleben resided in an apartment with his
girlfriend of several years, Aleia Beard (“Beard”), and cousins Romell Carey
(“Romell”) and Reginald Carey (“Reginald”). Debardeleben was employed and had
no criminal record.
Debardeleben and Beard often babysat at their apartment for the
children of friends and family members. M. Dillard spent the weekend with them
several times previously without incident. On Friday, August 25, 2017, M. Dillard’s
great aunt Cheryl Dillard (“C. Dillard”) and cousin Robert Conway, Jr. (“Conway”)
babysat for M. Dillard during the day and testified that M. Dillard was in good spirits
and health and did not fall or have bruises or bumps. Great grandmother Victoria
Dillard (“V. Dillard”) and Shamika Howard (“Howard”), M. Dillard’s paternal
grandmother, took M. Dillard to a football game that evening and dropped her off at
the apartment with Debardeleben and Beard about 10:30 p.m. to spend the
weekend. Debardeleben and Beard were babysitting for several nieces and nephews
ranging in age from one to six years old when M. Dillard arrived.
V. Dillard and Howard testified that M. Dillard was happy and healthy
that day. Beard stated that M. Dillard, who was usually happy and playful, was
coughing, whining, and not feeling well.
Beard and the children awakened about 7:00 a.m. the next morning.
M. Dillard was still coughing and irritable, but Beard did not observe any marks or
bruises on M. Dillard’s body. Beard left for work about 8:00 a.m. while the children
remained with Debardeleben. At approximately 9:50 a.m., Debardeleben called
Beard and told her that he was going to call the police because M. Dillard passed out
while he was dressing her after her bath. Beard met the family at the hospital. M.
Dillard had blood around her mouth and was on life support.
Warrensville Heights police officers Thomas Schanz (“Officer
Schanz”) and Terrence Sullivan (“Officer Sullivan”) responded to the EMS request
for assistance with a suspected child drowning. Debardeleben told Officer Schanz
and Officer Sullivan that he was bathing M. Dillard and left her alone in the bathtub
for a few minutes to see why the other children were yelling and screaming. M.
Dillard was still sitting in the tub when he returned. Debardeleben was drying and
dressing M. Dillard when her body became limp.
Debardeleben threw water on M. Dillard, called her name, and
attempted to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He also called to cousins
Romell and Reginald for assistance. Reginald, a nursing assistant, attempted
resuscitation while Debardeleben called 911.
Statements were taken from Debardeleben, Romell, and Reginald
and police were given permission to look around the apartment and take
photographs. Some of the photographs depicted feces on the edge of the bathtub
and in the bath water. Debardeleben, Romell, and Reginald were arrested at the
apartment. M. Dillard was placed on life support upon arrival at the hospital and
was pronounced dead later that morning.
The coroner determined that that M. Dillard’s death was a homicide
caused by blunt impact injuries and bleeding. On September 21, 2017,
Debardeleben was indicted for:
Count 1 — Aggravated murder, R.C. 2903.01; Count 2, murder,
R.C. 2903.02(B) (caused the death by committing or
attempting to commit the crime of felonious assault);
Count 3 — Murder, R.C. 2903.02(B) (caused the death by
committing or attempting to commit the crime of
endangering children);
Count 4 — Felonious assault, R.C. 2903.11(A)(1);
Count 5 — Endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(B)(1);
Count 6 — Endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(B)(2); and
Count 7 — Endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(A).
Debardeleben pleaded not guilty and his jury trial began on
February 5, 2019. At the close of the evidence, Count 1 was amended to murder
under R.C. 2903.02(A) at the state’s request due to the lack of evidence supporting
prior calculation and design. On February 15, 2019, the jury entered a verdict of
guilty on all counts as charged, except that the Count 1 conviction was for the lesser
included offense of reckless homicide under R.C. 2903.041.
The parties agreed that all counts merged as allied offenses of similar
import. The state elected to proceed with sentencing on Count 2 — murder,
R.C. 2903.02(B) with the felonious assault as the predicate offense. The defense
agreed. Debardeleben received the statutory sentence of 15-years-to-life in prison
with jail-time credit for 537 days.
Appellant appeals.
II. Assignments of Error
Debardeleben presents four assigned errors for our review.
I. The trial court abused its discretion when it failed to declare a
mistrial.
II. The state failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain the
convictions.
III. Appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the
evidence present and must be reversed.
IV. Appellant was denied due process of law and a fair trial by the
cumulative errors committed by the trial court
III. Discussion
A. Mistrial
We have previously held
[g]ranting a mistrial is an extraordinary remedy for an error. State v.
Ramos, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103596, 2016-Ohio-7685, ¶ 36.
Consequently, a mistrial should not be ordered simply because some
error has intervened. The error must prejudicially affect the merits of
the case and the substantial rights of one or both of the parties.
Tingue v. State, 90 Ohio St. 368, 108 N.E. 222 (1914), syllabus.
Mistrials need be declared only when the ends of justice so require and
a fair trial is no longer possible. State v. Franklin, 62 Ohio St. 3d 118,
127, 580 N.E.2d 1 (1991).
State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106266, 2018-Ohio-3368, ¶ 34.
In addition,
[t]his court reviews a denial of a motion for mistrial under an abuse of
discretion standard. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 480, 2001-
Ohio-4, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001). An abuse of discretion connotes more
than an error of law or judgment; it implies the court’s attitude is
unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore,
5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). Thus, this court will
only reverse the trial court’s denial of Williams’s request for a mistrial
if it finds the trial court’s decision to deny the request unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable.
Id. at ¶ 35.
1. Emotional Outburst
Debardeleben argues that the jury was prejudiced by outbursts made
by spectators who threatened Debardeleben and his family during the February 7,
2019 court proceedings and the trial court’s dismissal of the jury for the day without
issuing a curative instruction. Debardeleben admits that the trial court issued an
instruction the next day. He also argues that the trial court’s failure to grant a
mistrial after being advised of threats to his mother also deprived him of due process
and a fair trial. (Tr. 1085 and 1094.)
The disruption occurred after photographs of the apartment scene
and the decedent were introduced. Shortly after the disruption, defense counsel
advised the trial court that questioning of the current witness would exceed the trial
court’s 4:30 p.m. dismissal time. The trial court dismissed the jury and had the
witness step down. The trial court then sternly addressed the spectators:
Court: They’re not allowed back in the courtroom. The folks that
just had that outburst, that just threatened the defendant
in this case, are not allowed back in this courtroom. One
more outburst and no one is going to be allowed in.
Is that understood?
Can you please relay that message?
I need an affirmative answer.
Spectators: Yes.
Court: I’m talking to you all in the back.
Spectators: Yes.
Court: Any outbursts again no one is going to be allowed in the
courtroom.
Is that understood?
Spectators: Yes.
Court: The gentlemen that were here before, that were behaved
all day, are not allowed back in this courtroom.
Is that understood?
Spectators: Yes.
(Tr. 979-980.) The prosecutor also stated that he had advised the spectators that
they were not to return as they were being removed.
Immediately after the jury was seated the next morning, the trial
court advised:
I’m going to give you an instruction. Like I told you, every once in a
while you may get an instruction from me during the trial.
As you were processing out of the courtroom yesterday, there was an
outburst in the back of the courtroom. I’m instructing you at this point
that we have handled that situation and the folks that participated in
that outburst are no longer allowed in the courtroom.
You’re to disregard anything that you may or may not have heard or
seen on your way out of the courtroom.
(Tr. 982-983.)
This court has advised,
[w]hen an emotional outburst takes place in court, the issue is whether
the outburst “deprived the defendant of a fair trial by improperly
influencing the jury.” State v. Scott, 101 Ohio St. 3d 31, 2004-Ohio-10,
800 N.E.2d 1133, ¶ 44. This “is a factual question to be resolved by the
trial court, whose determination will not be overturned absent clear,
affirmative evidence of error.” State v. White, 85 Ohio St. 3d 433, 709
N.E.2d 140 (1999), citing State v. Morales, 32 Ohio St. 3d 252, 513
N.E.2d 267 (1987).
State v. Roman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92743, 2010-Ohio-3593, ¶ 19.
As far as the threats against Debardeleben’s mother are concerned,
we agree with the state that the record does not contain evidence sufficient to
support a mistrial. In fact, there is no evidence in the record that the jury was aware
of the threat.
At the beginning of the afternoon session on February 8, 2019,
outside of the presence of the jury, defense counsel stated:
Your Honor, yesterday I know the court has already put on the record
about the outburst that occurred in the back of the courtroom with
threats to Tariq, but there has also been threats made on
[Debardeleben’s mother] who is seated in the back of the courtroom
and has been here throughout the trial.
Obviously, we were concerned for her safety and well-being, because
throughout the last-year plus there had been threats. And Detective
Curry is aware that those threats have been made since day one to the
Debardeleben family.
(Tr. 1085.)
Defense counsel further advised that he observed one of the ejected
spectators waiting in the justice center as counsel was leaving the building with
Debardeleben’s mother at the end of the day. It appeared that the individual was
waiting for the mother to leave. The trial court responded that it would issue “a
journal entry today” that required an escort for mother from and to her car.
(Tr. 1088.)
Debardeleben has not presented clear, affirmative evidence of error
or substantiated that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the motion to
dismiss due to the outburst. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106266, 2018-Ohio-
3368, ¶ 35, 40.
2. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Debardeleben offers that the state improperly solicited victim impact
testimony, prejudicial opinion testimony by a police officer, and made a prejudicial
“hired gun” comment about the defense expert.
A prosecuting attorney’s conduct constitutes error where the
conduct deprives the defendant of a fair trial. State v. York, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 87814, 2006-Ohio-6934, ¶ 23, citing State v. Keenan, 66 Ohio St. 3d 402, 402-
405, 613 N.E.2d 203 (1993); State v. Gest, 108 Ohio App. 3d 248, 257, 670 N.E.2d
536 (8th Dist.1995). Since prosecutorial misconduct may violate a defendant’s due
process rights, “the touchstone of a due process analysis in cases of
alleged prosecutorial misconduct is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the
prosecutor.” York at ¶ 23, citing Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 102 S. Ct. 940, 71
L. Ed. 2d 78 (1982). We consider the impact of the misconduct “in light of the whole
trial.” Id., citing State v. Durr, 58 Ohio St. 3d 86, 94, 568 N.E.2d 674 (1991).
“[P]rosecutorial misconduct constitutes reversible error only in rare
instances.” State v. Eisermann, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100967, 2015-Ohio-591,
¶ 44, citing State v. Ball, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99990, 2014-Ohio-1060, citing
State v. Keenan, 66 Ohio St. 3d 402, 405, 613 N.E.2d 203 (1993).
“‘[A] defendant’s substantial rights cannot be prejudiced where the
remaining evidence, standing alone, is so overwhelming that it
constitutes defendant’s guilt, and the outcome of the case would have
been the same regardless of evidence admitted erroneously.’”
State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95796, 2011-Ohio-5483, ¶ 67, quoting
State v. Hicks, 194 Ohio App. 3d 743, 2011-Ohio-3578, 957 N.E.2d 866, ¶ 30 (8th
Dist.), citing State v. Williams, 38 Ohio St. 3d 346, 349-350, 528 N.E.2d 910 (1988).
a. Victim Impact
Basically,
[v]ictim impact evidence is excluded because it is irrelevant and
immaterial to the guilt or innocence of the accused — it principally
serves to inflame the passion of the jury. See State v. White, 15 Ohio
St.2d 146, 239 N.E.2d 65 (1968). Nevertheless, the State is not wholly
precluded from eliciting testimony from victims that touches on the
impact the crime had on the victims because “circumstances of the
victims are relevant to the crime as a whole. The victims cannot be
separated from the crime.” State v. Williams, 99 Ohio St. 3d 439, 2003
Ohio 4164, 793 N.E.2d 446 (2003).
State v. Farmer, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88675, 2007-Ohio-4046, ¶ 15.
Also,
[v]ictim-impact evidence that relates only “to the personal
characteristics of the victim and the emotional impact of the crimes on
the victim’s family,” Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 817, 111 S. Ct.
2597, 115 L. Ed. 2d 720 (1991), is generally inadmissible at the trial
phase, but such evidence can be admissible if it also “relat[es] to the
facts attendant to the offense,” State v. Fautenberry, 72 Ohio St. 3d 435,
440, 650 N.E.2d 878 (1995).
State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio St. 3d 261, 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508, ¶ 259.
Debardeleben argues that the state improperly solicited victim
impact evidence from C. Dillard. C. Dillard resided with her sister, V. Dillard, M.
Dillard’s great grandmother, and was often involved with M. Dillard’s care. C.
Dillard assisted with M. Dillard’s care earlier during the day and dropped her off at
Debardeleben’s apartment on the Friday in question. She described the events of
the day as well as M. Dillard’s health and demeanor. C. Dillard also recounted what
transpired the next morning when she learned of M. Dillard’s condition and joined
the family at the hospital.
The events recited by C. Dillard “‘relate to the facts attendant to the
offense.’” McKelton at ¶ 259, quoting Fautenberry at 440. Also, Debardeleben fails
to demonstrate that a reasonable probability exists that the outcome of the trial
would have been different but for the admission of the testimony. State v. Freeman,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92809, 2010-Ohio-3714, ¶ 45.
We draw the same conclusion regarding the alleged comment by
M. Dillard’s grandmother, Howard, that Debardeleben presented a “sinister” image
at M. Dillard’s first birthday party. The word “sinister” was not employed. Howard
commented that the Debardeleben wore all black attire to the party, did not remove
his hoodie or hat during the party inside the house, and did not interact with M.
Dillard or the other children. Howard’s testimony related to Howard’s knowledge,
observations, and experience with M. Dillard, Beard, and Debardeleben.
b. Police Officer Impression
Debardeleben complains here of statements by Warrensville Heights
Officer Sullivan1 during a series of objections and argues that the statements were
unfairly prejudicial under Evid.R. 403(A). Officer Sullivan was asked why he
decided to get his camera from the cruiser to record the scene after speaking with
Debardeleben.
Court: What is the basis of your objection?
Counsel: I don’t think we should be saying that his gut reactions are,
what his eerie feelings are. We’ve said he’s been a
patrolman, he’s enforced the laws of Warrensville
Heights, that he enforces traffic laws. And all of a sudden
he walks into a house — and nowhere in his report did he
say he had an eerie feeling things were out of place there.
***
I think he can say the house — this was on the ground, that
was over there, I saw water on the bathroom floor, there
was feces in the tub. He can say all those things. But I
don’t think he can give that opinion.
(Tr. 874-875.)
The trial court sustained the objection. The trial court also sustained
subsequent objections to the state’s inquiries regarding what Officer Sullivan meant
when he said, “something felt out of place” or “seemed suspicious” and whether it
was normal for 19 and 20-year-olds “to take care of that many young children?”
1 Debardeleben identifies Officer Schanz as the witness; however, the cited
exchanges took place during the testimony of Officer Sullivan.
(Tr. 875-878). The witness did not respond to those questions, so no curative
instruction was required.
Officer Sullivan later verified and described the photographs that he
took at the apartment prior to their submission into evidence. The trial court
sustained the objections to the admission.
The trial court also advised the jury at the inception of the trial that
objections are made for legal reasons and that, if the trial court believes the objection
is proper, the objection will be sustained. The jury was also advised that it should
not draw any inferences from the ruling on objections and that it should not
speculate what the answer might have been or the trial court’s reason for sustaining
the objection. We presume that the jury followed the trial court’s instructions.
State v. Walker-Curry, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106228, 2019-Ohio-147, ¶ 35.
Debardeleben again fails to demonstrate that a reasonable probability
exists that the outcome of the trial would have been different. Freeman, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 92809, 2010-Ohio-3714, ¶ 45.
c. Defense Expert Comment
During its cross-examination of the defense expert, the state said “I
just have a few more questions. I don’t want to keep you from your next endeavor
in Iowa. * * * Your next baby death case.” (Tr. 1640.) The defense objected that
the comments were sarcastic and so highly prejudicial it should cause a mistrial. The
state responded that it had actual knowledge that the expert was going to testify in
Iowa. The trial court admonished that the comment was inappropriate and
prejudicial but did not rise to the level of a mistrial.
The trial court advised the jury to disregard the question and to strike
it from the record. We presume that the jury followed the trial court’s instructions.
Walker-Curry, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106228, 2019-Ohio-147, ¶ 35.
Debardeleben has not demonstrated that a reasonable probability exists that but for
these statements the outcome of the trial would have been different. Freeman, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92809, 2010-Ohio-3714, ¶ 45.
d. Undisclosed Statement
Officer Sullivan testified that while speaking with Debardeleben at the
apartment, Debardeleben said that he returned to the bathroom to find “the baby
was under water in the tub.” (Tr. 872.) That statement was not contained in the
officer’s report or in Debardeleben’s written statement.
Questioned extensively during cross-examination, Officer Sullivan
admitted that the language was not in his report and that he did not mention to the
state that it should have been in the report. Officer Sullivan did respond that he was
sure that he told his partner on the scene.
Debardeleben argues that he was irreparably harmed by the
introduction of the evidence and cites the case of State v. Montgomery, 3 Ohio
App.3d 280, 445 N.E.2d 254 (1st Dist.1982). In Montgomery, the trial court
dismissed the case because the prosecution withheld the written statement of a co-
defendant required to be disclosed under Crim.R. 16(B)(1). The question before the
appellate court was whether double jeopardy applied to a new trial. The court ruled
that it did not. We do not find Montgomery to be instructive or determinative under
the facts of this case.
Officer Sullivan admitted during cross-examination that he recalled
shortly prior to trial that Debardeleben made the statement that M. Dillard was
under water. Therefore, the state could not have planned to improperly introduce
evidence of which it had no knowledge. We also observe that the cause of death was
due to blunt impacts to M. Dillard’s head and abdomen, causing skull fractures and
bleeding in the stomach area. There was no forensic evidence that indicated
M. Dillard drowned.
Officer Sullivan was thoroughly cross-examined about the statement.
Debardeleben has not demonstrated that a reasonable probability exists that the
outcome of the trial would have been different but for the statement. Freeman, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92809, 2010-Ohio-3714, ¶ 45.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
The question of whether the evidence is sufficient as a matter of law
to support a conviction involves a determination of whether the state has met its
burden of production at trial. State v. Hunter, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 86048,
2006-Ohio-20, ¶ 41, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 390, 678 N.E.2d
541 (1997). An appellate court does not weigh the evidence but determines
“‘whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution,
any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven
beyond a reasonable doubt.’” State v. Leonard, 104 Ohio St. 3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235,
818 N.E.2d 229, ¶ 77, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492
(1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
Debardeleben offers that there is no competent credible evidence that
his acts caused the physical harm to M. Dillard resulting in her death. Debardeleben
was convicted of:
Count 1 — the lesser included offense of reckless homicide,
R.C. 2903.041;
Count 2 — murder, R.C. 2903.02(B), causing the death of M. Dillard
by committing or attempting to commit the crime of
felonious assault;
Count 3 — murder, R.C. 2903.02(B), causing the death of M. Dillard
by committing or attempting to commit the crime of
endangering children;
Count 4 — felonious assault, R.C. 2903.11(A)(1);
Count 5 — endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(B)(1);
Count 6 — endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(B)(2); and
Count 7 — endangering children, R.C. 2919.22(A).
All convictions merged. Debardeleben was sentenced on Count 2.
R.C. 2903.041, reckless homicide, provides that “[n]o person shall
recklessly cause the death of another.”
A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the
consequences, the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that the person’s conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is
likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to
circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences,
the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such
circumstances are likely to exist.
R.C. 2901.22(C).
Pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(B), known as felony murder:
No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the
offender’s committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence
that is a felony of the first or second degree and that is not a violation
of section 2903.03 or 2903.04 of the Revised Code.
Id.
R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), felonious assault, states that “[n]o person shall
knowingly * * * cause serious physical harm to another.”
A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is
aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a certain result or
will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of
circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances
probably exist. When knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is
an element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a person
subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence and
fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning
the fact.
R.C. 2901.22(B).
R.C. 2919.22 governs endangering children:
(A) No person, who is the parent, guardian, custodian, person having
custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child under eighteen
years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under
twenty-one years of age, shall create a substantial risk to the health or
safety of the child, by violating a duty of care, protection, or support. It
is not a violation of a duty of care, protection, or support under this
division when the parent, guardian, custodian, or person having
custody or control of a child treats the physical or mental illness or
defect of the child by spiritual means through prayer alone, in
accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious body.
(B) No person shall do any of the following to a child under eighteen
years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under
twenty-one years of age:
(1) Abuse the child;
(2) Torture or cruelly abuse the child * * *.
R.C. 2919.22(A), (B)(1)-(2).
Debardeleben admits that he had custody, care, and control of
M. Dillard and testimony by Beard, Romell, and Reginald confirm that fact.
Debardeleben provides no explanation for what happened to M. Dillard during the
bath and has not indicated that he encountered any problems while bathing her,
though M. Dillard’s family members testified that M. Dillard was afraid of water and
disliked baths. See, e.g., testimony by V. Dillard, “[i]f we took a bath I would have
to be in the tub with her, because you couldn’t leave her in the tub by herself because
she feared water.” (Tr. 654.)
Debardeleben said that, as he was bathing M. Dillard, he heard the
other children screaming and left the 15-month-old child alone in the tub while he
went to check on them. Debardeleben returned to find M. Dillard sitting in the tub.
While he was drying and dressing M. Dillard, she suddenly became limp and
unresponsive.
Debardeleben was unable to wake M. Dillard and attempted
resuscitation efforts that were continued by Reginald when he and Romell were
summoned by Debardeleben for assistance. Debardeleben provided the same
description of events to Beard, Romell, Reginald, and the police.
Reginald testified that M. Dillard’s skin had a blue tone when he
arrived in the bathroom. Reginald confirmed the photographic evidence that feces
were in the bath water and on the side of the tub.
The defense forensic pathologist opined that the injuries were caused
by improper resuscitation techniques. The medical examiner rejected the
explanation and stated the bruises would have been in the chest or rib area and not
on M. Dillard’s face. The medical evidence did not support drowning and the
medical examiner testified that M. Dillard died from severe blunt force trauma
injuries administered close to the time of death.
We point out that
[u]nlike direct evidence in which a witness testifies about a matter
within the witness’s personal knowledge such that the trier of fact is not
required to draw an inference from the evidence to the proposition that
it is offered to establish, circumstantial evidence requires the drawing
of inferences that are reasonably permitted by the evidence.
State v. Cassano, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97228, 2012-Ohio-4047, ¶ 13.
“Circumstantial evidence is the proof of facts by direct evidence from
which the trier of fact may infer or derive by reasoning other facts in accordance with
the common experience of mankind.” State v. Hartman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 90284, 2008-Ohio-3683, ¶ 37. The difference between circumstantial and
direct evidence are irrelevant to the probative value as each carries the same weight.
Cassano at ¶ 13, citing State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 485, 2001-Ohio-4, 739
N.E.2d 749. “The Ohio Supreme Court has ‘long held that circumstantial evidence
is sufficient to sustain a conviction if that evidence would convince the average mind
of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id., citing State v. Heinish, 50
Ohio St. 3d 231, 238, 553 N.E.2d 1026 (1990).
Viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that the
evidence was sufficient to support the convictions in this case as a matter of law.2
The assigned error lacks merit.
C. Manifest Weight
“A manifest weight inquiry looks at whether the evidence was
substantial enough for a jury to reasonably conclude that all of the elements of the
alleged crime have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. We sit ‘as a thirteenth
juror.’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting Tibbs v.
Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S. Ct. 2211, 72 L. Ed. 2d 652 (1982); State v. Newett, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103518, 2016-Ohio-7605, ¶ 39.
We
examine the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable
inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine
whether the jury “‘clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new
trial ordered.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678
N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175,
485 N.E.2d 717 (1983).
Leonard, 104 Ohio St. 3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229, at ¶ 81.
2 We also note that the reckless homicide and murder verdicts are not inconsistent.
A jury’s determination that appellant “recklessly” caused the victim’s death (reckless
homicide) is not inconsistent with the finding that he committed a felony offense of violence
(murder), as a proximate result of which he caused the victim’s death. State v. Day, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83138, 2004-Ohio-1449, ¶ 50.
Although we review credibility when considering the manifest weight
of the evidence, we are cognizant that determinations regarding the credibility of
witnesses and the weight of the testimony are primarily for the trier of fact. The trier
of fact is best able “‘to view the witnesses and observe their demeanor, gestures, and
voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing the credibility of the
proffered testimony.’” State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St. 3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865
N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 24, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St. 3d 77,
80-81, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984).
The evidence cited in our analysis of sufficiency also supports a
determination that the verdict is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
We do not find this to be the “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily
against conviction.’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting
Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717.
D. Cumulative Error
Debardeleben claims that the cumulative effect of cited errors
deprived him of a fair trial.
The Ohio Supreme Court has recognized the doctrine of cumulative
error. See State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St. 3d 191, 509 N.E.2d 1256
(1987), paragraph two of the syllabus. Under this doctrine, a conviction
will be reversed when the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives
a defendant of a fair trial even though each of the numerous instances
of trial-court error does not individually constitute cause for reversal.
Id. at 196-197. See also State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St. 3d 67, 2011-Ohio-
6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 132. Moreover, “errors cannot become
prejudicial by sheer weight of numbers.” State v. Hill, 75 Ohio St. 3d at
212, 661 N.E.2d 1068.
State v. Singleton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98301, 2013-Ohio-1440, ¶ 64.
We have already determined that Debardeleben’s arguments do not
constitute error. “[W]here it is found that the trial court did not err, cumulative
error is simply inapplicable.” Id. at ¶ 66.
IV. Conclusion
The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the
common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
_
ANITA LASTER MAYS, JUDGE
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, P.J., and
EILLEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR