State v. Johnson

[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2018-Ohio-165.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 105505
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
DONTEZ D. JOHNSON
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-16-607270-A
BEFORE: Kilbane, P.J., S. Gallagher, J., and Blackmon, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 18, 2018
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Allison S. Breneman
1220 West 6th Street, Suite 303
Cleveland, OH 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
Adam M. Chaloupka
Amy Venesile
Assistant County Prosecutors
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Dontez D. Johnson (“Johnson”), appeals from his
conviction and sentence for drug trafficking, drug possession, and possessing criminal
tools. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
{¶2} In July 2016, Johnson was charged in an 18-count indictment related to two
controlled buys of heroin and crack cocaine conducted by Cleveland police in June 2016.
Johnson was indicted with eleven counts of trafficking, six counts of drug possession, and
one count of possessing criminal tools.
{¶3} In February 2017, this matter proceeded to a jury trial. The following
evidence was adduced at trial. The first buy occurred on June 13, 2016. Cleveland
Police Detective Thomas Klamert (“Detective Klamert”) testified that he and his
colleagues from the Cleveland Police Department narcotics unit met with a confidential
reliable informant (“CRI”) as part of his investigation of Johnson. Detective Klamert
explained that his investigation began with the purpose of targeting a heroin dealer known
as “Juice” and “D-Red,” who he later determined to be Johnson.
{¶4} Cleveland Police Detective Scott Moran (“Detective Moran”) explained that a
confidential reliable informant is an individual who has previously worked with and
provided reliable information to the detectives in the past. At Detective Klamert’s
direction, the CRI called Johnson to arrange to meet him. Detective Klamert drove the
informant to the area of West 105th Street and Governor Avenue to meet Johnson and
then gave the informant $80 of “buy money” after carefully searching the informant for
drugs or other contraband.
{¶5} Cleveland Police Detectives John Dlugolinski (“Detective Dlugolinski”) and
Moran maintained surveillance on the CRI during the buy. The CRI entered a white
Ford Taurus for a short period of time then exited the vehicle. Detective Klamert
testified that he again searched the CRI after the buy was conducted. Detective Klamert
retrieved heroin and crack cocaine from the CRI and further testified that the CRI no
longer had the buy money on him. Detectives Dlugolinski and Moran followed the Ford
Taurus and observed that Johnson was a passenger in the vehicle. The detectives
terminated the surveillance and relayed this information to Detective Klamert to assist in
his investigation.
{¶6} A few days later, on June 15, 2016, Detective Klamert met with a different
CRI with the plan of conducting a “buy-bust” operation to apprehend Johnson. The
second CRI made a controlled phone call to Johnson to set up the drug deal. Detective
Klamert then took the second CRI to the area of West 43rd Street and Robert Avenue
where Johnson had told the CRI to meet him. Detective Klamert carefully searched the
second CRI and then gave him $100 in photocopied “buy money.”
{¶7} Detective Dlugolinski had set up surveillance outside of the house where
Johnson told the CRI to meet him. Detective Dlugolinski testified that Johnson met the
CRI on the porch, then Johnson and the CRI went inside the house together. He
explained that a short time later, the CRI left the house and returned to Detective
Klamert’s undercover vehicle.
{¶8} Detective Klamert testified that CRI handed over heroin to him. He further
testified that he searched the CRI, confirmed that the CRI no longer had the buy money,
and advised his colleagues that the buy “was a good purchase.” Detective Dlugolinski
testified that approximately ten minutes later, Johnson, another man, and a woman got
into a vehicle and drove away.
{¶9} Cleveland police followed the vehicle. Police stopped the vehicle. The
officers ordered the occupants out of the vehicle. Detective Moran testified that as he
approached the vehicle, he observed Johnson, who was sitting in the front passenger seat,
reach behind his seat and place something in between the door and the rear passenger
seat.
{¶10} Johnson was subsequently arrested then searched. Johnson had $236 cash
on him, $100 of which included the photocopied buy money. Johnson also had mannitol
and wax paper bags on him at the time of his arrest. Detective Moran testified that, from
his experience and training as a narcotics officer, mannitol, a baby laxative, is commonly
used by dealers as an additive to cut heroin. He further testified that, from his
experience, the wax bags found on Johnson are commonly used to package heroin.
{¶11} Detective Moran searched the vehicle and found plastic bags containing
heroin and crack cocaine behind the passenger seat and three cell phones on the floor of
the front passenger seat. At police headquarters, Detective Klamert called the number
that he had both CRIs call to arrange the drug buys with Johnson. That number rang one
of the cell phones recovered from the vehicle.
{¶12} At the conclusion of the state’s evidence, the defense moved under Crim.R.
29 for acquittal on each count of trafficking and drug possession. The trial court denied
this motion.
{¶13} The jury found Johnson guilty of nine counts of trafficking, four counts of
drug possession, and one count of possessing criminal tools. After the jury announced its
verdict, the trial court proceeded directly to sentence Johnson. The court imposed an
eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence. It is from this order that Johnson now appeals,
raising the following four assignments of error for our review:
Assignment of Error One
The jury found, against the manifest weight of the evidence, that [Johnson]
committed the acts charged in the indictment.
Assignment of Error Two
The evidence was not legally sufficient to sustain a guilty verdict.
Assignment of Error Three
The trial court allowed impermissible testimony in which was not proper
under [Ohio Evid.R. 404(B)].
Assignment of Error Four
The trial court abused its discretion by imposing a prison sentence contrary
to R.C. 2929.14 and the purposes and principles of the felony sentencing
guidelines and erred by imposing consecutive sentences.
{¶14} For ease of analysis, we will address these assignments of error out of order.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
{¶15} In the second assignment of error, Johnson argues that the state failed to
present sufficient evidence to support his convictions for drug trafficking, drug
possession, and possessing criminal tools.
{¶16} Our “function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such
evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph
two of the syllabus. “The relevant inquiry is 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.’” Id.{¶17} Here, the jury found Johnson guilty of trafficking, in violation of both R.C.
2925.03(A)(1) and (A)(2), which provide in relevant part:
No person shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) Sell or offer to sell a controlled substance[;]
(2) Prepare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for distribution,
or distribute a controlled substance * * * when the offender knows or has
reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance * * * is intended
for sale or resale by the offender or another person.
{¶18} The jury also found Johnson guilty of drug possession, in violation of R.C.
2925.11(A), which provides that “[n]o person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a
controlled substance or a controlled substance analog.” The jury further found Johnson
guilty of possessing criminal tools in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A), which provides that
“[n]o person shall possess or have under the person’s control any substance, device,
instrument, or article, with purpose to use it criminally.” R.C. 2901.22(B) provides that
one 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.”
{¶19} Johnson argues that the evidence presented by the state was insufficient to
support these convictions. Johnson points to the fact that none of the detectives testified
to seeing him engage in a hand-to-hand drug transaction and that neither CRI testified at
trial. He argues that “[t]he only evidence provided circumstantially shows that [Johnson]
was in the vehicle during the first buy and in the home during the second” and that it was
just as likely for another individual in the car or house to have sold drugs to the CRIs.
We find this argument unpersuasive.
{¶20} This court has held:
It is * * * well established that circumstantial evidence and direct evidence
inherently possess the same probative value. [Jenks at 272]. In some
instances certain facts can only be established by circumstantial evidence.
[Id.] Since circumstantial evidence and direct evidence are
indistinguishable so far as the fact-finding function is concerned, all that is
required of the fact-finder is that it weigh all of the evidence, direct and
circumstantial, against the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nothing more should be required of a fact-finder.
State v. Wallace, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 85541, 2005-Ohio-4397, ¶ 21.
{¶21} The state presented sufficient circumstantial evidence that Johnson
possessed and sold the drugs recovered from both CRIs. The jury heard from Detective
Klamert that he directed the first CRI to call Johnson to arrange to purchase drugs from
Johnson. He further testified that he drove the CRI to meet with Johnson, searched the
CRI for contraband and finding none, gave him the buy money. After the CRI returned
to Detective Klamert’s undercover vehicle, Detective Klamert searched the CRI again,
retrieved heroin and crack cocaine from the CRI’s person and found that the CRI no
longer had the buy money. Detectives Moran and Dlugolinski testified that they
observed Johnson in the passenger seat of the vehicle in which the first buy was
conducted.
{¶22} As related to the second buy, Detective Klamert explained that he directed
the second CRI to call and arrange to meet Johnson. Detective Klamert further explained
that he searched the second CRI and gave him photocopied buy money. Detective
Dlugolinski testified that Johnson met the CRI on the front porch of the house and that
Johnson and the CRI went inside the house together. The CRI returned to Detective
Klamert’s vehicle and Detective Klamert confirmed the success of the buy to his
colleagues. Prior to apprehending Johnson, Detective Dlugolinski observed Johnson
reach toward the backseat as he approached the car in which Johnson was riding as a
front seat passenger. Detective Moran testified that he recovered the buy money from
Johnson’s person and found narcotics and three cellphones near the area Johnson had
been reaching toward.
{¶23} Although the record reflects that Johnson was not alone in the car or the
house during each buy, we find that the state presented sufficient evidence that Johnson
possessed and sold drugs to each informant. Detective Klamert testified that one of the
three cell phones found on the floor of the front passenger seat, where Johnson had been
sitting, rang when he called the number that each CRI called to arrange the buys.
Moreover, the second CRI was met by Johnson on the porch outside.
{¶24} The state produced direct evidence through the testimony of Detective
Moran that Johnson was in possession of criminal tools at the time of his arrest.
Detective Moran testified that he recovered mannitol, wax paper bags, and $236 cash,
including the photocopied buy money, from his search of Johnson after his arrest.
Detective Moran explained that from his experience and training, mannitol is often used
to cut heroin and the type of wax bags found on Johnson are commonly used to package
heroin.
{¶25} Based on the foregoing, we find that the evidence presented at trial was
sufficient to convict Johnson of each count of drug trafficking, drug possession, and
possessing criminal tools. Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
Manifest Weight
{¶26} In the first, Johnson argues that his convictions are against the manifest
weight of the evidence because of “the obvious lack of any real evidence proving [he]
committed these acts.”
{¶27} Unlike a review for sufficiency of the evidence, a challenge to the manifest
weight of the evidence attacks the credibility of the evidence presented. State v.
Calhoun, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105442, 2017-Ohio-8488,  41. Our review for the
manifest weight of the evidence requires us to 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. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997),
citing State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st. Dist. 1983). We
note that reversal of a conviction on manifest weight grounds is reserved only for the
exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction. Id.{¶28} In his manifest weight challenge, Johnson points to the fact that the
detectives did not test the physical evidence for fingerprints or DNA. He also relies
upon the fact that neither CRI testified at trial. We find that these arguments have no
bearing on the evidence that was presented to the jury.
{¶29} Upon careful review of the entire record, we do not find that the jury, in
weighing all the evidence, lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice
that Johnson’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly,
the first assignment of error is overruled.
Other Acts Evidence
{¶30} In the third assignment of error, Johnson argues that the trial court should
have declared a mistrial after Detective Dlugolinski remarked that he had investigated and
purchased drugs from Johnson prior to the controlled buys that were the subject of the
indictment in the present matter.
{¶31} At trial, the state questioned Detective Dlugolinski:
THE STATE: Are you personally familiar with an individual by the name
of Dontez Johnson?
DETECTIVE DLUGOLINKSI: Yes, I am.
THE STATE: And, just briefly, how so?
DETECTIVE DLUGOLINKSI: Prior to Detective Klamert having an
investigation and informant into him, I had an informant into him made —
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Objection
THE COURT: Overruled. Go ahead.
DETECTIVE DLUGOLINKSI: I made several buys from him trying to
pinpoint a location where his stash house was.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Objection. Move to strike.
THE COURT: Overruled.
DETECTIVE DLUGOLINKSI: In an effort to protect informant’s identity
and also just to execute a county search warrant to get all of his drugs
instead of just what he carried on his person at the time of the numerous
amount of sales we made on a purchase from him.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Objection. Can we have a sidebar, please,
Judge?
{¶32} At sidebar, defense counsel argued that Detective Dlugolinski’s testimony
was a violation of Evid.R. 404(B). The trial court offered to give a curative instruction
and instructed the jury as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the Court read to you some indictments.
This trial is only relating to those indictments. The only actions you should
be concerned with as they pertain to the defendant are the actions around
those two dates. Any inferences or references to these detectives knowing
the defendant or having any previous involvement with the defendant
should not be considered for your deliberations, and you must strike it from
your mind as best you can and not consider it for any purpose during your
deliberations.
{¶33} Johnson argues that Detective Dlugolinski’s comments violated Evid.R.
404(B) and “unduly prejudiced [him] and caused irreparable harm.”
{¶34} We review trial court decisions regarding admissibility of other-acts
evidence for an abuse of discretion. State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337,
2012-Ohio-2407, 972 N.E.2d 528, ¶ 22. “The term ‘abuse of discretion’ connotes more
than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450
N.E.2d 1140 (1983), quoting State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157, 404 N.E.2d 144(1980).
{¶35} Evid.R. 404(B) provides that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is
not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
therewith.” Generally, evidence of previous criminal acts that are wholly independent of
the criminal offense for which a defendant is on trial, is inadmissible. State v.
Thompson, 66 Ohio St.2d 496, 497, 422 N.E.2d 855 (1981).
{¶36} Here, the trial court erred in initially overruling defense counsel’s objections
to Detective Dlugolinski’s comments regarding prior investigations of Johnson.
However, we find this error was harmless and we note that the trial court instructed the
jury to disregard these comments.
{¶37} This court has recognized that curative instructions, such as the one given by
the trial court here, are an effective means of remedying errors that occur during trial.
State v. Fields, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90154, 2008-Ohio-5867, ¶ 42, citing State v.
Zuern, 32 Ohio St.3d 56, 61, 512 N.E.2d 585 (1987). Juries are presumed to follow any
curative instructions given by a trial court. Id. This court has held that “curative
instructions are the accepted means by which to cure remarks at trial, and in the absence
of demonstrable prejudice, we cannot find that the court erred.” State v. Winston, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 81436, 2003-Ohio-653, ¶ 8.
{¶38} Johnson does not present any evidence to overcome the presumption that the
jury followed the trial court’s instruction nor has he demonstrated that Detective
Dlugolinski’s comments were so prejudicial that a mistrial was warranted. Ultimately,
we do not find that these remarks were so inflammatory that the curative instruction given
here was insufficient or that mistrial was warranted. Accordingly, the third assignment
of error is overruled.
Consecutive Sentences
{¶39} In the fourth assignment of error, Johnson argues that the trial court’s
imposition of consecutive sentences in this matter was contrary to the felony sentencing
guidelines and R.C. 2929.14.
{¶40} We review a trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences using the
standard set forth in R.C. 2953.08. State v. Wells, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 99305,
99306, and 99307, 2013-Ohio-3809, ¶ 11, citing State v. Venes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
98682, 2013-Ohio-1891, ¶ 10. R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) provides two grounds for an
appellate court to overturn the imposition of consecutive sentences: (1) the appellate
court, upon its review, clearly and convincingly finds that “the record does not support
the sentencing court’s findings” under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4); or (2) the sentence is
“otherwise contrary to law.” Id. at ¶ 12.
{¶41} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) requires a trial court to make three distinct findings
when imposing consecutive sentences. State v. Taylor, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100315,
2014-Ohio-3134, ¶ 56. Specifically, the trial court must find that a consecutive sentence
for multiple offenses is “necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the
offender.” It must also find that the consecutive sentences are “not disproportionate to
the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the
public.” Finally, the trial court must find that one of the three statutory factors set forth
in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4)(a)–(c) apply. Id.{¶42} In imposing consecutive sentences, “a trial court must state the required
findings as part of the sentencing hearing * * * [a]nd because a court speaks through its
journal * * * the court should also incorporate its statutory findings [under R.C.
2929.14(C)] into the sentencing entry.” (Internal citations omitted.) State v. Bonnell,
140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, 16 N.E.3d 659, ¶ 29. “[A] word-for-word
recitation of the language of the statute is not required, and as long as the reviewing court
can discern that the trial court engaged in the correct analysis and can determine that the
record contains evidence to support the findings, consecutive sentences should be
upheld.” Id.{¶43} We find that the trial court made all of the findings required under R.C.
2929.14(C) by stating at the sentencing hearing:
The court does order these sentences to be served consecutively and,
therefore, makes the following findings. That consecutive sentences are
necessary to protect the public from future crime. This court does find that
the defendant has previously been convicted in 11 other drug cases, that
he’s previously been sentenced to prison, that he’s previously violated some
of his probations, and that he continues to engage in this wrongful conduct.
The court finds that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the
seriousness of the offender’s conduct. The court further finds that
consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the danger the offender
poses to the public. And the court finds that this defendant continues to
engage in the same conduct where he is selling people heroin and cocaine,
both of which speak for themselves as dangerous to our community. The
court further finds that the offender’s history of criminal conduct
demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public
from future crime by the offender, and this court finds as a result of that
nothing seems to stop him and, therefore, he needs to be taken out of
society.
The trial court also incorporated its consecutive sentence findings into its sentencing
journal entry.
{¶44} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court made the required
findings under R.C. 2929.14(C) to support the imposition of consecutive sentences. We
also find that the record in this matter supports these findings. Accordingly, the fourth
assignment of error is overruled.
{¶45} Judgment is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of 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.
______________________________________________
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, PRESIDING JUDGE
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., and
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., CONCUR