State v. Corson

[Cite as State v. Corson, 2015-Ohio-5332.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PICKAWAY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
: Case No. 15CA4
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
:
vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
ERIC J. CORSON, :
:
Defendant-Appellant. : Released: 12/10/15
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Jesse A. Atkins, Atkins and Atkins, Attorneys at Law, LLC, Circleville,
Ohio, for Appellant.
Judy C. Wolford, Pickaway County Prosecutor, and Heather MJ Armstrong,
Assistant Pickaway County Prosecutor, Circleville, Ohio, for Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, A.J.
{¶1} Eric J. Corson appeals his conviction in the Pickaway County
Court of Common Pleas after a jury found him guilty of one count of
possession of cocaine, R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(4)(a), a fifth-degree felony. On
appeal, Appellant asserts his conviction was against the manifest weight of
the evidence. Upon review, we find no merit to Appellant’s argument. The
trial court did not err. Accordingly, we overrule Appellant’s sole assignment
of error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 2
FACTS
{¶2} On August 3, 2014, Appellant was indicted on one count of
possession of cocaine, a violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(4)(a), a felony of
the fifth degree. The indictment arose from activities which occurred on or
about February 29, 2012, when Appellant made contact with Sergeant
Dillard, a 20-year veteran of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, during a lawful
traffic stop for speeding on S.R. 104 in Pickaway County.
{¶3} During the stop, Sgt. Dillard detected the odor of marijuana
coming from the vehicle. Appellant had one passenger, Zanisha Marshall,
his girlfriend or fiancé. Both Appellant and Marshall were removed from
the car and it was searched. Eventually, Marshall acknowledged having a
baggie of marijuana in her bra and a baggie of cocaine in her vagina. The
items were removed. Both individuals were brought to the Pickaway
County Jail and charged with drug offenses. The suspected drugs were sent
to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Lab and tested. The baggie of
suspected cocaine tested positive for 2.73 grams of crack cocaine.
{¶4} On December 2, 2014, Appellant was arraigned. He pleaded not
guilty. At the time of the arraignment, Appellant was incarcerated. The
matter proceeded to jury trial on February 19, 2014. The trial returned a
verdict of guilty.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 3
{¶5} Appellant was sentenced to a ten-month term of imprisonment,
to be served consecutively to time he was already serving for an offense
arising out of Franklin County, Ohio. Therefore, Appellant’s original
release date of July 13, 2015 on the Franklin County offense had been
delayed until May 13, 2016 due to the addition of the Pickaway County
conviction.
{¶6} This timely appeal followed. Where relevant, additional facts
will be related below.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“I. THE APPELLANT’S CONVICTION FOR POSSESSION
OF DRUGS, A FELONY OF THE FIFTH DEGREE, WAS
AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶7} When an appellate court considers a claim that a conviction is
against the manifest weight of the evidence, the court must dutifully
examine the entire record, weigh the evidence, and consider the credibility
of witnesses. The reviewing court must bear in mind however, that
credibility generally is an issue for the trier of fact to resolve. State v.
Wickersham, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA10, 2015-Ohio-2756, ¶ 25; State v.
Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67, 752 N.E.2d 904 (2001); State v. Murphy, 4th
Dist. Ross No. 07CA2953, 2008-Ohio-1744, ¶ 31. “ ‘Because the trier of
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 4
fact sees and hears the witnesses and is particularly competent to decide
“whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of particular
witnesses,” we must afford substantial deference to its determinations of
credibility.’ ” Barberton v. Jenney, 126 Ohio St.3d 5, 2010-Ohio-2420, 929
N.E.2d 1047, ¶ 20, quoting State v. Konya, 2nd Dist. Montgomery No.
21434, 2006-Ohio-6312, ¶ 6, quoting State v. Lawson, 2nd Dist.
Montgomery No. 16288 (Aug. 22, 1997). As explained in Eastley v.
Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 972 N.E.2d 517:
“ ‘[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly
against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment
must be made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts.
***
If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the
reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is
consistent with the verdict and judgment, most favorable to
sustaining the verdict and judgment.’ ” Eastley at ¶ 21, quoting
Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland,10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461
N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn.3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d,
Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191-192 (1978).
{¶8} Thus, an appellate court will leave the issues of weight and
credibility of the evidence to the fact finder, as long as a rational basis exists
in the record for its decision. State v. Picklesimer, 4th Dist. Pickaway No.
11CA9, 2012-Ohio-1282, ¶ 24; accord State v. Howard, 4th Dist. Ross No.
07CA2948, 2007-Ohio-6331, ¶ 6 (“We will not intercede as long as the trier
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 5
of fact has some factual and rational basis for its determination of credibility
and weight.”).
{¶9} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, the court may
reverse the judgment of conviction only if it appears that the fact-finder,
when resolving the conflicts in evidence, “ ‘clearly lost its way and created
such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed
and a new trial ordered .’ ” Wickersham, supra, at 26, quoting Thompkins,
78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485
N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist. 1983). A reviewing court should find a conviction
against the manifest weight of the evidence only in the “ ‘exceptional case in
which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’ ” Id., quoting
Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175; State v. Lindsey, 87 Ohio St.3d 479, 483,
721 N.E.2d 995 (2000).
B. LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶10} Appellant was convicted of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(4)(a),
possession of cocaine, which provides:
(A) No person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a
controlled substance or a controlled substance analog.
***
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of
one of the following:
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 6
***
(4) If the drug involved in the violation is cocaine or a
compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing
cocaine, whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty
of possession of cocaine. The penalty for the offense shall be
determined as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(4)(b), (c), (d),
(e), or (f) of this section, possession of cocaine is a felony of the
fifth degree, and division (B) of section 2929.13 of the Revised
Code applies in determining whether to impose a prison term
on the offender.
{¶11} Appellant contends that the jury had to either find Appellant
actually or constructively possessed the cocaine that was discovered in
Zanisha Marshall’s vagina on the date of their arrest. Appellant argues since
the jury most likely did not determine he actually possessed the cocaine, it
may be assumed that the jury determined he constructively possessed it.
Appellant points out the trial court’s instructions to the jury did not define
either the words “actual” or “constructive.” Appellant concludes it appears
that the jury was confused about the definitions and therefore lost its way in
reaching a guilty verdict.
{¶12} Appellee concedes that Appellant did not actually possess the
crack cocaine, but argues Appellant still had control over it. While agreeing
that mere presence and knowledge of an illegal substance has been found to
be insufficient to establish constructive possession, Appellee argues the
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 7
evidence at trial established that Appellant had control over the substance.
Appellee emphasizes that through the testimony of Sgt. Dillard, the essential
elements of the offense were established beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appellee concludes the jury did not clearly lose its way.
{¶13} “In determining whether a defendant knowingly possessed a
controlled substance, it is necessary to examine the totality of the facts and
circumstances surrounding its discovery.” State v. Ruppen, ¶ 28, quoting
Pullen at ¶ 37; citing State v. Teamer, 82 Ohio St.3d 490, 492, 696 N.E.2d
1049 (1998); State v. Pounds, 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 21257, 2006-
Ohio-3040. “[P]ossession” is defined as “having control over a thing or
substance, but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or
substance through ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the
thing or substance is found.” R.C. 2925.01(K). State v. Criswell, 4th Dist.
Scioto No. 13CA3588, 2014-Ohio-3941, at ¶ 9. “Possession may be actual
or constructive.” Id., quoting State v. Moon, 4th Dist. Adams No. 08CA875,
2009-Ohio-4830, ¶ 19, citing State v. Butler, 42 Ohio St.3d 174,175, 538
N.E.2d 98 (1989) (“[t]o constitute possession, it is sufficient that the
defendant has constructive possession”). “ ‘Actual possession exists when
the circumstances indicate that an individual has or had an item within his
immediate physical possession.’ ” Criswell, supra, at ¶ 10, quoting, State v.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 8
Kingsland, 177 Ohio App.3d 655, 2008-Ohio-4148, 895 N.E.2d 633, ¶ 13
(4th Dist.), quoting State v. Fry, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 03CA26, 2004-Ohio-
5747, ¶ 39. “Constructive possession exists when an individual knowingly
exercises dominion and control over an object, even though that object may
not be within his immediate physical possession.” Criswell, supra, quoting
State v. Hankerson, 70 Ohio St.2d 87, 434 N.E.2d 1362 (1982), syllabus;
State v. Brown, 4th Dist. Athens No. 09CA3, 2009-Ohio-5390, ¶ 19. For
constructive possession to exist, the state must show that the defendant was
conscious of the object's presence. Hankerson at 91; Kingsland at ¶ 13.
Both dominion and control, and whether a person was conscious of the
object's presence may be established through circumstantial evidence.
Crisell, supra; Brown at ¶ 19. “Moreover, two or more persons may have
joint constructive possession of the same object.” Criswell, supra.
{¶14} “Although a defendant's mere proximity is in itself insufficient
to establish constructive possession, proximity to the object may constitute
some evidence of constructive possession. * * * Thus, presence in the
vicinity of contraband, coupled with another factor or factors probative of
dominion or control over the contraband, may establish constructive
possession.” Criswell, supra, at ¶ 11, quoting Kingsland at ¶ 13.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 9
{¶15} At Appellant’s trial, the State presented only the testimony of
Sgt. Dillard and “Exhibit A, “the Ohio State Highway Patrol lab report
which demonstrated that the white substance in the baggie was crack
cocaine.1 Sgt. Dillard testified he first noticed Appellant on State Route 104
in Pickaway County when he “clocked” him going over the speed limit at
61m.p.h. He initiated a traffic stop and activated his lights. As he pulled up
behind the vehicle, he could see the right front passenger, a female, arch her
back severely and appear to be shoving something inside her groin area.
{¶16} Sgt. Dillard approached the passenger’s side of the vehicle. He
further testified when he knelt down toward the lowered passenger window,
he could detect the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. He
immediately radioed back to the patrol post for assistance and waited. When
Lt. Cassandra Kocab arrived, they removed both Appellant, the driver, and
Zanisha Marshall, the passenger, and secured them in separate cruisers.
{¶17} Sgt. Dillard testified the officers searched the vehicle based
upon the odor of marijuana. They found a small baggie of marijuana in
Marshall’s purse. They found Cigarillo cigars and digital scales in the glove
box. Based on those findings, they searched the occupants.
1
Sgt. Dillard testified the report showed “generally speaking, 2.73 grams of crack cocaine.”
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 10
{¶18} Sgt. Dillard testified Appellant and Marshall were asked if they
had other contraband on their persons. Both denied having any illegal items.
Sgt. Dillard further explained to them that if anything contraband was
hidden, once they arrived at the jail it became a felony charge of “taking
contraband into a prison or jail facility.”2
{¶19} The parties, as previously indicated, had been placed in
separate cruisers. Lt. Kocab performed the search of Marshall. Sgt. Dillard
testified that marijuana was removed from Marshall’s bra, and the crack
cocaine was removed from Marshall’s vagina. Sgt. Dillard then showed
Appellant the baggie and asked Appellant if he knew that Marshall
possessed the cocaine. Sgt. Dillard testified he could not recall what
Marshall told him at that time.
{¶20} State’s Exhibit A, the lab report, was admitted into evidence.
The parties stipulated to Exhibit A’s authenticity and admissibility.
{¶21} Sgt. Dillard further testified Appellant and Marshall were taken
to the jail. They were both charged with possession of marijuana and crack
cocaine. Sgt. Dillard’s direct examination essentially concluded with this
testimony:
2
R.C. 2921.36 provides that illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility or
institution is a felony of the third degree.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 11
“I was typing the charges up inside the room, and as I walked
out, the defendant, Mr. Corson, advised me that he didn’t want,
I believe it was his girlfriend at the time, whatever they were,
he didn’t want her taking the charge for it. He said he wanted
to take the charge, said it was his and to charge him with it so
she didn’t have to go to jail.”
{¶22} On cross-examination, Sgt. Dillard clarified that when he
approached the vehicle and saw Marshall arching her back, she was raised,
with her head behind the head rest, almost in the back seat. He considered
her to be making a “furtive movement.” Sgt. Dillard remembered Marshall
wore jeans and a shirt. Because Appellant and Marshall were in separate
vehicles, Sgt. Dillard testified he had no way of knowing if Appellant saw
Marshall remove the drugs from her body during her search. However,
when Sgt. Dillard took the baggie to Appellant and questioned him,
Appellant denied having knowledge.
{¶23} Sgt. Dillard acknowledged on cross-examination that Marshall
owned the vehicle. He testified there was marijuana in her purse. He also
acknowledged he found no contraband on Appellant. Sgt. Dillard testified
Appellant was not immediately cooperative, and his demeanor seemed to
change when they arrived at the jail.
{¶24} With the conclusion of Sgt. Dillard’s testimony, the State
rested. Appellant did not present evidence and made a Crim.R. 29 motion
which was denied. During closing argument, Appellant emphasized:
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 12
(1) Marshall owned the vehicle;
(2) The crack cocaine was hidden inside Marshall;
(3) The marijuana was inside Marshall’s purse and bra;
(4) The digital scales were found in the glove box; and,
(5) The Cigarillo cigars were found next to Marshall in the
passenger seat.
In closing, counsel argued that the only evidence linking Appellant to the
cocaine hidden inside his “fiancé” was his statement, allegedly made at the
jail, that he would take responsibility for the charge.
{¶25} The trial court proceeded to give the jury Standard Ohio Jury
Instructions, which included instructions on the burden of proof, direct and
circumstantial evidence, inferences from facts, and credibility. The trial
court defined “knowingly” and “possession.” “Possession” was defined as
follows:
“Possess or possession means having control over a thing or
substance but may not be inferred solely from mere access to
the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of the
premises upon which the thing or substance is found.”
The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Having reviewed the record, we do
not find this to be the exceptional case where the evidence weighs heavily
against conviction.
{¶26} In this case, Appellant’s conviction is based on direct and
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 13
circumstantial evidence. Here, direct evidence links Marshall to the crack
cocaine. The direct evidence is that the other drugs and drug instruments
were within Marshall’s reach. Further, the crack cocaine was located inside
Marshall’s vagina, not a purse or baggie resting in plain view. Appellant
argues there is no way he could have had constructive possession of the
cocaine even if he had known of its existence.
{¶27} However, having examined the record, weighed the evidence,
and considered the credibility of the witnesses, we find a rational basis exists
to support the jury’s finding of guilty. To begin, although Appellant did not
own the vehicle, the fact he was driving it provides some indication of
dominion and control. See Criswell, supra, at ¶ 25. See Brown, 4th Dist.
Athens No. 09CA3, 2009-Ohio-5390, at ¶ 21 (as the driver, the defendant's
“possession of the keys provided a strong indication of control over the
drugs found in the automobile”); State v. Chaffins, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
13CA3559, 2014-Ohio-1969, ¶ 33 (a fact finder may conclude that a
defendant who exercises dominion and control over an automobile also
exercises dominion and control over illegal drugs found in it). Here it can be
inferred that Appellant’s driving the vehicle provides some indication of
dominion and control over any occupants or contents brought into the
vehicle.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 14
{¶28} Second, the evidence demonstrates Appellant and Marshall
were involved in some sort of romantic relationship. Sgt. Dillard’s
testimony indicated Marshall was Appellant’s girlfriend. Defense counsel
referenced Marshall as Appellant’s fiancé. It has been held, when there was
additional other evidence, despite a defendant’s lack of presence on the
premises when authorities discovered an active methamphetamine lab, that
given parties’ romantic relationship, a jury could reasonably infer that both
parties engaged in the manufacture of methamphetamine. See Wickersham,
supra at ¶ 36; See State v. Jackson, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 22378 and
22394, 2005-Ohio-5184 (determining that cohabitating man and woman held
to each have constructive possession of cocaine found in plain view in closet
of only bedroom, where both male and female clothes were located); State v.
Smith, 3rd Dist. Paulding No. 11-95-7 (Nov. 17, 1995) (observing that large
quantity of narcotics found throughout house, including defendant's
bedroom, constituted circumstantial evidence of defendant's knowledge of
and control over those narcotics). Although we cannot say the crack cocaine
in Marshall’s vagina was in plain view, from the fact that Marshall and
Appellant had some sort of romantic relationship, the jury could infer
Appellant had some knowledge of the crack cocaine.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 15
{¶29} Furthermore, the parties’ romantic relationship, coupled with
Sgt. Dillard’s uncontroverted testimony that Marshall made a “furtive
movement,” apparently arching her back to insert the crack cocaine baggie
in her vagina, provides a strong inference that Appellant had knowledge of
the crack cocaine. We cannot know whether Appellant asked Marshall to
hide the crack cocaine when he realized they were being pulled over by Sgt.
Dillard. However, if Marshall somehow brought crack cocaine to the
vehicle without Appellant’s knowledge, Appellant certainly would have
been made aware of the crack cocaine after Marshall made so exaggerated a
movement as to lower her jeans, arch her back so extremely that her head
was sticking into the back seat, and insert a baggie holding 2.73 grams of a
white substance into her vagina. Yet, when interacting with Sgt. Dillard at
the scene, Appellant made no attempt to inform Sgt. Dillard of an illegal act
he suddenly observed and did not wished to be associated with.
{¶30} The jury was tasked with considering all the evidence. While
the facts that (1) Appellant was driving the vehicle; (2) Marshall and he had
a romantic relationship of some sort; and (3) Marshall’s furtive movements
were made in his presence are circumstantial evidence, the jury also had
direct evidence in the form of the testimony provided by Sgt. Dillard, that
Appellant told him that the crack cocaine “was his, and he wanted to take
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 16
charge of it.” While Appellant did not testify, which was his constitutional
right, or present other contradictory evidence, defense counsel in closing
attempted to cast doubt on the truthfulness of this evidence by referencing it
as “the statement that he supposedly made in jail.” And counsel attempted
to downplay the alleged statement as some chivalry on the part of Appellant,
in attempting to keep his fiancé from going to jail or being charged. We
note first that the statements of counsel are not evidence and the jury was
instructed as such. Removing counsel’s attempt to plant reasonable doubt
through his closing statement, the jury was left to consider only the
evidence provided by Sgt. Dillard. Simply put, the jury had Sgt. Dillard’s
uncontroverted testimony: “He said he wanted to take the charge, said it was
his and to charge him with it so she didn’t have to go to jail.” Appellant’s
confession to Sgt. Dillard may be construed as direct evidence of his guilt.
See State v. Watts, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-810091,1981 WL 10176, fn.1
(Dec. 23, 1981).
{¶31} “ ‘While the jury may take note of inconsistencies and resolve
or discount them accordingly, * * * such inconsistences do not render
defendant's conviction against the manifest weight or sufficiency of the
evidence.’ ” State v. Proby, 10th Dist. Franklin No.15AP-1067, 2015-Ohio-
3364, ¶ 42, quoting State v. Gullick, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-317,
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 17
2014-Ohio-1642, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No.
95APA09-1236 (May 28, 1996). “A jury, as the finder of fact and the sole
judge of the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, may
believe or disbelieve all, part, or none of a witness's testimony.” Proby,
supra, quoting State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d 548 (1964).
A conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence because the
jury believed the state's version of events over the appellant's version. Id. at
¶ 11, citing State v. Houston, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-875, 2005-Ohio-
449, ¶ 38. A reviewing court must give great deference to the jury's
determination of witness credibility. Id., citing State v. Chandler, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 05AP-415, 2006-Ohio-2070, ¶ 19.
{¶32} For the foregoing reasons, we find a rational basis exists in the
record for the jury’s decision in this matter. The jury was in the best
position to weigh the evidence and resolve factual differences. We do not
find it lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. As such,
we find no merit to Appellant’s sole assignment of error which is hereby
overruled. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA4 18
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be
assessed to Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into
execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE
UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL
COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to
exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a
continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio
an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If
a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the
expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal
period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme
Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Hoover, P.J. & Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: ______________________________
Matthew W. McFarland,
Administrative Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
the date of filing with the clerk.