State v. Henderson

[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2018-Ohio-3797.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 106627
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
ANTONIO HENDERSON
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-17-613454-A
BEFORE: Boyle, J., McCormack, P.J., and E.T. Gallagher, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 20, 2018
[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2018-Ohio-3797.]
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Richard E. Hackerd
55 Public Square, Suite 2100
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Sarah Denney
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2018-Ohio-3797.]
MARY J. BOYLE, J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Antonio Henderson, appeals his convictions. He
raises three assignments of error for our review:
1. The trial court prejudicially excluded testimony designed to develop the
defense theory that another person was the shooter when it excluded
testimony about the relationship between Brittany Jackson and her
girlfriend as a possible motive of a different shooter.
2. Defendant was wrongfully convicted of felonious assault in Count One.
3. Defendant’s counsel was ineffective and thereby denied Henderson a fair
trial.
{¶2} Finding no merit to his arguments, we affirm his convictions.
I. Procedural History and Factual Background
{¶3} In February 2017, Henderson was indicted on six counts: two counts of
felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), both second-degree felonies, with
one- and three-year firearm specifications; one count of discharging a firearm on or near
prohibited premises in violation of R.C. 2923.162, a third-degree felony, with one- and
three-year firearm specifications; one count of domestic violence in violation of R.C.
2929.25(A), a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of criminal damaging or endangering
in violation of R.C. 2909.06(A)(1), a first-degree misdemeanor, with a furthermore clause
that the violation “created a risk of harm to any person”; and intimidation of a crime
victim or witness in violation of R.C. 2921.04(B)(2), a third-degree felony, with one- and
three-year firearm specifications. Henderson pleaded not guilty to all charges and
waived his right to a jury trial. The following facts were presented to the bench.
{¶4} Brittany Jackson, the victim, testified that Henderson is her brother. On
December 24, 2016, Brittany went to visit her sister around 8:00 p.m. Brittany drove her
girlfriend’s car to her sister’s house and took her nephew, K.B., with her. Brittany
believed K.B. to be Henderson’s four-year-old son. Henderson, however, did not
believe that he was K.B.’s father.
{¶5} When Brittany got to her sister’s house, Henderson was also there, sleeping
on the couch. Brittany said that she and Henderson were not on “speaking terms” at that
time. When Henderson woke up, Brittany told K.B. to “go talk to his dad.” Henderson
got angry at Brittany because she brought K.B. to the house. Henderson and Brittany
got into a “heated argument” over K.B. The argument lasted for about ten minutes
inside and then continued outside of the house. Brittany’s parents, who lived two houses
down from Brittany’s sister, came from their house and calmed Brittany down.
{¶6} Brittany explained that after she calmed down, Henderson walked to his car,
which was parked in front of her sister’s house. Brittany said that when he got to his
car, he reached down to get what she believed to be a gun. She did not see a gun, but
she heard what sounded like him putting bullets into a gun.
{¶7} Brittany walked with her parents to their house. Her mother tried to keep
Brittany inside her house, but Brittany was “frustrated at this point,” so she was still
“yelling” and “screaming.” Brittany went back outside and was standing in her parents’
front yard when Henderson “raised the gun up” at her “like he was going to shoot.”
Brittany asked Henderson if he was going to shoot her. Brittany thought Henderson was
serious so she ran. By the time she “hit the third step towards [her] mom’s house,” she
heard shots being fired. Her mother and stepfather were on their porch.
{¶8} Brittany explained that there was an abandoned house between her parents’
house and her sister’s house. When Henderson began shooting at her, he was on the
sidewalk between her sister’s house and the abandoned house. Brittany’s girlfriend’s
car, which Brittany had been driving, was parked in her parents’ driveway and was
between her and Henderson. Brittany testified that six shots hit her girlfriend’s car.
{¶9} Brittany testified that when Henderson fired the shots, she ran into her
parents’ house and called 911. The 911 call was played in court.1 She testified that she
told the 911 operator that her brother shot at her five to six times. She also said that she
told the 911 operator that she had a license to carry and conceal a weapon (“CCW”) and
that she “put her weapon up.” She explained that she did not have her gun with her and
that it was in a safe at her house in Warrensville Heights. When she said that she “put
her weapon up” to the 911 operator, she explained that she meant her pepper spray.
{¶10} On cross-examination, Brittany stated that she realized that Henderson was
shooting at her car and not her because all of the bullets hit her girlfriend’s car. She
opined that if he had meant to shoot at her, he could have shot at the house when she ran.
But she further explained on redirect examination that Henderson “was shooting in [her]
direction.”
1
The 911 call is not in the record on appeal. Neither the state nor Henderson requested that
it be admitted into evidence.
{¶11} Police officers who arrived on the scene found ten spent shell casings and
one spent .45-caliber round on the tree lawn, sidewalk, and street in front of Brittany’s
sister’s house. Police towed Brittany’s girlfriend’s vehicle for processing. They found
six exterior bullet holes caused by bullets entering the vehicle’s right side (the side facing
Henderson), one exit hole on the right side, and several bullet holes on the interior of the
vehicle where bullets passed “into the trunk.” They also found one bullet inside the
trunk. There were no bullet holes with rust, which would indicate that the vehicle had
older bullet holes.
{¶12} Detective Michael Kitchen testified that he interviewed Brittany and her
stepfather the day after the incident. Brittany’s mother would not talk to him.
Detective Kitchen stated that they both gave the exact same version of what occurred,
which was essentially the same version that Brittany testified to in court. After talking
to both Brittany and her stepfather, Detective Kitchen went to the county prosecutor and
obtained an arrest warrant for Henderson.
{¶13} Detective Kitchen testified that when he talked to Henderson, Henderson
told him that he had worked until about 4:00 p.m. on the day of the shooting and then
went to a friend’s house on Harvard Avenue. Henderson said that he remained at his
friend’s house for the rest of the evening.
{¶14} The trial court found Henderson guilty of felonious assault against Brittany,
with the one- and three-year firearm specifications, domestic violence against Brittany,
and criminal damaging or endangering for the damage to Brittany’s girlfriend’s car. The
court found him not guilty of all other charges.
{¶15} The trial court merged the firearm specifications and felonious assault and
domestic violence. The state elected that Henderson be sentenced for felonious assault.
The trial court sentenced Henderson to three years for the firearm specification, which
was to be served prior to and consecutive to five years for felonious assault. The trial
court also sentenced Henderson to six months in prison for criminal damaging or
endangering, which it ordered to be served concurrent to the prison term for felonious
assault, for an aggregate sentence of eight years in prison. The trial court also imposed
court costs and notified Henderson that he would be subject to three years of mandatory
postrelease control upon his release from prison. It is from this judgment that
Henderson appeals.
II. Right of Confrontation and Cross-Examination
{¶16} Henderson argues in his first assignment of error that the trial court denied
him his due process rights when it prohibited testimony suggesting that there was an
alternate shooter. He points to the following exchange between his defense counsel and
Detective Kitchen:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Did you ever make any efforts to ascertain the
nature of the relationship between the victim and her significant other in
terms of whether they were getting along or they were feuding?
[PROSECUTOR]: Objection. Relevance.
THE COURT: Irrelevant. I agree. Let’s move on. Let’s go to a relevant
line, please.
{¶17} Henderson claims that the trial court prevented him from attempting to
establish an alternate explanation of the shooter. Although not entirely clear, he appears
to be arguing that because Brittany admitted that she has a gun and a license to carry and
conceal a weapon, that it was possible that Brittany shot at her girlfriend’s car, rather than
Henderson, because she and her girlfriend were fighting.
{¶18} The state claims that Henderson is essentially raising an evidentiary issue,
and thus, the trial court had full discretion. We disagree. Henderson is arguing that the
trial court violated his “right of confrontation and cross-examination,” and therefore
violated his due process rights. Henderson cites to State v. Bolton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 96385, 2012-Ohio-169, in support of his argument. In Bolton, we stated:
The constitutional right of cross-examination includes the right to impeach
a witness’s credibility. State v. Green, 66 Ohio St. 3d 141, 1993 Ohio 26,
609 N.E.2d 1253; State v. Brewer, 2d Dist. No. 13866, 1994 Ohio App.
LEXIS 3724, 1994 WL 461781 (Aug. 24, 1994); Evid.R. 611(B). Unlike
Federal Evid.R. 611, which generally limits cross-examination to matters
raised during direct, Ohio Evid.R. 611(B) permits cross-examination on all
relevant issues and matters relating to credibility. Weissenberger, Ohio
Evidence 2005 Courtroom Manual, at 245-246. Possible bias, prejudice,
pecuniary interest in the litigation or motive to misrepresent facts, are
matters that may affect credibility. Evid.R. 616(A); State v. Ferguson, 5
Ohio St. 3d 160, 5 Ohio B. 380, 450 N.E.2d 265 (1983). The denial of full
and effective cross-examination of any witness who identifies a defendant
as the perpetrator of the offense is the denial of the fundamental
constitutional right of confrontation essential to a fair trial. State v.
Hannah, 54 Ohio St. 2d 84, 374 N.E.2d 1359 (1978); Brewer, supra.
Bolton at ¶ 40. But we went on to point out in Bolton:
“On the other hand, trial courts have wide latitude in imposing reasonable
limits on the scope of cross-examination based upon concerns about
harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’s safety, or
repetitive, marginally relevant interrogation. Delaware v. Van Arsdall
(1986), 475 U.S. 673, 106 S. Ct. 1431, 89 L. Ed. 2d 674. It is within the
trial court’s broad discretion to determine whether testimony is relevant,
and to balance its potential probative value against the danger of unfair
prejudice. In re Fugate ([Sept. 22,] 2000), Darke App. No. 1512, 2000
Ohio App. LEXIS 4306. We will not interfere with the trial court’s
decision in those matters absent an abuse of discretion. Id. An abuse of
discretion * * * implies an arbitrary, unreasonable, unconscionable attitude
on the part of the trial court. Id.”
Bolton at ¶ 41, quoting State v. Foust, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 20470, 2005- Ohio-440.
{¶19} In this case, Brittany testified prior to Detective Kitchen. Defense counsel
questioned her extensively on cross-examination about her relationship with Henderson
and her relationship with her girlfriend. Defense counsel also questioned Brittany about
her 911 call where she told the operator that she had a CCW license and that she “put her
weapon away.” Defense counsel specifically asked Brittany if she and her “significant
other” were having problems. Brittany responded that they were not having any
problems.
{¶20} Moreover, the trial court permitted defense counsel to ask Detective Kitchen
if he did any investigation to determine if there was another shooter. Detective Kitchen
responded, “No. Because there was nothing to suggest that there was another shooter.”
When further asked why he did not follow up on Henderson’s purported alibi, Detective
Kitchen replied, “I have two witnesses/victims who identified the same person with the
same details laid out as to what transpired, that there was one shooter and it’s a family
member and he’s identified as Antonio Henderson. I don’t see where * * * I’ve been
remiss in overlooking something in trying to dig up a phantom shooter.”
{¶21} After review, we find that the trial court did not violate Henderson’s right to
confrontation and right to cross-examine witnesses.
{¶22} Henderson’s first assignment of error is overruled.
[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2018-Ohio-3797.]
III. Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶23} In his second assignment of error, Henderson argues that his felonious
assault conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶24} Unlike sufficiency of the evidence, a challenge to the manifest weight of the
evidence attacks the credibility of the evidence presented. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). Because it is a broader review, a reviewing
court may determine that a judgment of a trial court is sustained by sufficient evidence,
but nevertheless conclude that the judgment is against the weight of the evidence. Id.,
citing State v. Robinson, 162 Ohio St. 486, 124 N.E.2d 148 (1955).
{¶25} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, the court of appeals functions as a “thirteenth juror.” Id. In doing so, it must
review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the
credibility of witnesses and determine “‘whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence,
the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the
conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.’” Id. at 387, quoting State v.
Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). Reversing a conviction
as being against the manifest weight of the evidence and ordering a new trial should be
reserved for only the “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the
conviction.’” Id., quoting Martin.
{¶26} Henderson argues that the state’s entire case was based on one witness,
Brittany, to establish “the critical element of felonious assault: ‘attempt to cause physical
harm.’” He maintains that the evidence presented at trial established that he was
shooting at Brittany’s vehicle and not at her. In support of his argument, he relies on the
fact that Brittany’s “undisputed testimony” was that “Henderson was not attempting to
fire on her but was instead shooting at the car which happened to be in a similar vector.”
He therefore argues that he should have been convicted of “a lesser charge with negligent
or reckless intent” rather than second-degree felonious assault.2
{¶27} Henderson cites to State v. Dunlap, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84440,
2004-Ohio-6652, in support of his argument. After reviewing Dunlap, however, we find
that it supports Henderson’s felonious assault conviction. In Dunlap, the defendant was
convicted of felonious assault. He argued the trial court erred when it did not give a jury
instruction on the lesser-included offense of negligent assault.
{¶28} R.C. 2903.14, the negligent assault statute, provides that “[n]o person shall
negligently, by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance as defined in section
2923.11 of the Revised Code, cause physical harm to another[.]” Further, under R.C.
2901.22(D),
A person acts negligently when, because of a substantial lapse from due
care, he fails to perceive or avoid a risk that his conduct may cause a certain
result or may be of a certain nature. A person is negligent with respect to
circumstances when because of a substantial lapse from due care, he fails to
perceive or avoid a risk that such circumstances may exist.
2
He also argues that he should have been charged with “felony-four vandalism” instead of
felonious assault, but that offense would not apply here because the vehicle was not being used for the
owner’s or possessor’s “profession, business, trade, or occupation.” See R.C. 2909.05.
{¶29} In contrast, R.C. 2903.11, the felonious assault statute, provides that “(A)
No person shall knowingly do either of the following: (1) Cause serious physical harm to
another * * *; or (2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another * * * by means of
a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.” A firearm constitutes a deadly weapon under
R.C. 2923.11(B)(1).
A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware that
his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a
certain nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when he is
aware that such circumstances probably exist.
R.C. 2901.22(B).
{¶30} The facts in Dunlap established that after getting into an argument with his
neighbor, the defendant went to his garage and retrieved a gun out of his car. He then
walked through his backyard, to the corner of his house, and looked toward his neighbor’s
house. When the victim appeared from inside a U-Haul truck in the driveway, Dunlap
“raised his pistol and began to fire.” Id. at ¶ 9. He shot in the victim’s direction three
times, hitting him twice.
{¶31} In rejecting Dunlap’s argument that “he did not intend to shoot Williams,”
we explained that Dunlap
pointed a firearm at [the victim] and fired it at least three times. If the
appellant did not intend to shoot [the victim], then why did he not fire the
pistol in the air, at the ground, or in any direction other than where Williams
was standing? The appellant did not accidentally discharge his weapon.
Id. at ¶ 39.
{¶32} Similarly, in this case, Henderson fired his gun in Brittany’s direction at
least six times.3 Brittany’s girlfriend’s car was between Brittany and Henderson, and
while all of the bullets hit the car, Henderson still fired his gun six times in the direction
of his sister.
{¶33} Henderson maintains that when the detective who processed the car
testified, he described the location of the six shots, which were “all below waist level.”
First, the detective did not testify that all of the shots were below waist level; he just
described where the shots were on the car. Second, any one of those bullets could have
gone through or over the car and hit Brittany. One of the bullets did go through the side
panel and into the trunk of the car. When one knowingly fires a gun in the direction of a
person, the elements of felonious assault are met. See Dunlap, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
84440, 2004-Ohio-6652, at ¶ 39.
{¶34} Accordingly, we find no merit to Henderson’s second assignment of error
and overrule it.
IV. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶35} In his third assignment of error, Henderson argues that his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to subpoena other witnesses, including other family members and
neighbors, to testify in his defense. He also claims that his trial counsel was ineffective
3
Although there were ten empty shell casings found, no one testified that Henderson fired his
gun ten times.
for failing “to argue that [Brittany] testified against [him] because of an ill motive arising
out of the paternity” issue.
{¶36} To establish that trial counsel was ineffective, a defendant must show that
(1) counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the
defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674
(1984). Defense counsel’s performance must fall below an objective standard of
reasonableness to be deficient in terms of ineffective assistance of counsel. State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). Moreover, the defendant must
show that there exists a reasonable probability that, were it not for counsel’s errors, the
results of the proceeding would have been different. State v. White, 82 Ohio St. 3d 16,
23, 693 N.E.2d 772 (1998).
A. Calling Other Witnesses
{¶37} Henderson claims that there is evidence in the record that “there were
defenses which he wanted to raise that were not” raised. Specifically, he points to his
statement at the sentencing hearing where he explained to the judge:
[Brittany] just got up there and just said some things because of a paternity
issue. That’s what it was really about. If it was really about me shooting
a weapon at her, it would be other family members in the courtrom like,
yeah, he did it that was supposed to be allegedly there, you know. No one
showed up in that defense, and it looked bad in here[.]
{¶38} After this exchange, the state went on to tell the trial court that it
subpoenaed Brittany and Henderson’s mother and stepfather, and they refused to come to
court. The state told the court that it had “an in-depth conversation with [the mother].”
The state indicated that the mother “was torn because that is her son as well as * * * her
daughter.” The state said the mother was “uncooperative throughout this case because it
involved her children.” The state further explained that it spoke to the stepfather as well
and he “did not want to cooperate whatsoever at his wife’s request.” The state chose not
to have them arrested because it felt it had enough evidence to convict Henderson.
{¶39} After Henderson told the court that he felt he was “railroaded” by his sister’s
testimony, defense counsel stated:
On the day of trial, the day we were set for the bench trial, he told me he
had an alibi. I talked to the prosecution about it. I also called the witness
that he said was his alibi witness. What he was telling me and what they
were telling me was two different things. Number one, the alibi would
have been out of rule but, number two, we also have an obligation not to
commit any kind of fraud on the Court or opposing counsel so we didn’t go
down that path, so I just wanted it to be clear that there is not an issue of
anybody being railroaded here. I think Antonio is struggling with the
result of the verdict and maybe not choosing some of his words carefully.
{¶40} Although Henderson asserts that there were family members and neighbors
who could have testified in his defense, there is nothing in the record to indicate anything
other than the fact that defense counsel chose not to call other witnesses due to trial
strategy. Decisions about which witnesses to call involve matters committed to
counsel’s professional judgment. State v. Williams, 99 Ohio St.3d 493,
2003-Ohio-4396, 794 N.E.2d 27, ¶ 127; see also State v. Jackson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No.
97CA2, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 5433, 2 (Dec. 5, 1997) (“Generally, decisions to call
witnesses is within the purview of defense counsel’s trial strategy and is not considered
deficient performance absent a showing of prejudice.”). Stated differently, “counsel’s
decision whether to call a witness falls within the rubric of trial strategy and will not be
second-guessed by a reviewing court.” State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 490, 739
N.E.2d 749 (2001).
B. Failing to Argue Brittany’s “Ill Motive” Against Him
{¶41} Henderson also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because he
failed to raise the argument that his sister was biased against him because of a
disagreement they had regarding the paternity of K.B. He claims that “none, or very
little of this was argued at trial.”
{¶42} During cross-examination of Brittany, the following exchange took place
between Henderson’s trial counsel and Brittany.
Q. Fair to say that you and Antonio really do not get along well?
A. I wouldn’t say that.
Q. You would say that?
A. I wouldn’t.
Q. You do get along with him?
A. Yes.
Q. At the time that this happened is it fair to say you weren’t speaking to
him though?
A. Correct.
Q. And you have referenced the child that you believe might be Antonio’s?
A. Yes.
Q. Antonio, to your knowledge though, has never taken responsibility for
this child, has he?
A. When he first was born, yes.
Q. But subsequent to that he has disputed whether or not this was his child,
hasn’t he?
A. Yes.
Q. You and Antonio were not speaking that day because of what?
A. He got into an argument with my parents two months prior.
***
Q. And isn’t it a fact that Antonio argued with your father about the mail?
***
A. I don’t know what the argument was about.
Q. You don’t recall Antonio having problems with his mail?
***
Q. When Antonio got into the argument with your parents you didn’t like
that, did you?
A. Not really.
Q. And that had happened two months prior to Christmas Eve, correct?
A. Yes.
Q. And you still were not on speaking terms with him over the course of
those two months, right?
A. Yes.
{¶43} After review, we conclude that defense counsel did a thorough job of
questioning Brittany about being angry with Henderson for two months prior to the
incident and for denying that K.B. was his child.
{¶44} He further contends (albeit not very clearly) that he “wanted a full
examination of [Brittany] and her girlfriend and their guns.” We have reviewed trial
counsel’s full cross-examination of Brittany regarding what she told the 911 operator
about her CCW license, gun, pepper spray, and her girlfriend’s purported gun. After
review, we conclude that defense counsel questioned Brittany at length about these issues.
{¶45} Accordingly, Henderson has not established his trial counsel was deficient
for failing to argue Brittany’s bias or “ill motive” against him.
[Cite as State v. Henderson, 2018-Ohio-3797.]
{¶46} Henderson’s third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶47} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having
been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court
for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MARY J. BOYLE, JUDGE
TIM McCORMACK, P.J., and
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR