State v. Huddleston

[Cite as State v. Huddleston, 2018-Ohio-1114.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
LOGAN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
CASE NO. 8-17-21
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
ZACHARIAH HUDDLESTON, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Logan County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. CR16-12-0339
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: March 26, 2018
APPEARANCES:
Craig M. Jaquith for Appellant
Eric C. Stewart for Appellee
Case No. 8-17-21
ZIMMERMAN, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Zachariah Huddleston (“Huddleston”), appeals the judgment
and sentence of the Logan County Common Pleas Court wherein he was found
guilty of one count of Aggravated Robbery; one count of Aggravated Burglary; one
count of Murder; and one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability. He
was also found guilty of a gun specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145 relative to
Counts One, Two and Three. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the ruling of
the trial court.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} On December 6, 2016, Huddleston was indicted by the Logan County
Grand Jury on three charges, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary and
Murder. However, a superseding indictment was filed in Logan County on April
11, 2017 charging Huddleston with: Count One, Aggravated Robbery, in violation
of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), a felony of the first degree; Count Two, Aggravated
Burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(1), a felony of the first degree; Count
Three, Murder, in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B), an unclassified felony; Count Four,
Having Weapons While Under Disability, in violation of 2923.13(A)(3), a felony of
the fourth degree; and Count Five, Tampering with Evidence, in violation of R.C.
2921.12(A)(1), a felony of the third degree. Firearm Specifications, in violation of
R.C. 2941.145, were also contained in Counts One, Two and Three. The charges
stem from the November 24, 2016 burglary, robbery and murder of Jeffrey
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Brentlinger (“Brentlinger”) in Logan County, Ohio. Huddleston pled not guilty to
all charges.
{¶3} On July 25, 2017 the case proceeded to a three-day jury trial. At trial
the State called sixteen (16) witnesses. After the State rested its case in chief,
Huddleston made a Crim.R. 29 motion to the trial court arguing that all charges
against him should be dismissed due to the State’s failure to prove its case. The trial
court granted the motion as to count five only. Thereafter, Huddleston did not
present a defense.
{¶4} Ultimately, the jury found Huddleston guilty of Aggravated Robbery,
Aggravated Burglary, Murder, Having Weapons While Under Disability and the
firearm specification. However, the trial court merged the aggravated robbery and
aggravated burglary convictions (counts one and two) into the murder conviction
(count three) and sentenced Huddleston to 15 years to life on the murder conviction,
consecutive to a three-year sentence on the weapons charge and to a three-year
sentence on the gun specification, for a total sentence of 21 years to life. (Doc. 155).
It is from this judgment that Huddleston appeals, asserting the following
assignments of error for our review.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I
Mr. Huddleston’s trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of
counsel, in violation of his constitutional rights. Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments, United States Constitution; Article I,
Sections 10 and 16, Ohio Constitution; Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). (Tr. 385, 394,
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401, 410-411, 416, 448, 450, 452-453, 460, 463, 464, 524; State’s
Ex. 13.)
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II
The trial court erred in allowing irrelevant, prejudicial evidence,
disregarding State v. Creech, and issuing an erroneous, confusing
jury instruction. Fifth Amendment, United States Constitution;
Article I, Sections 10 and 16, Ohio Constitution; Evid.R. 401 and
402; State v. Creech, Slip Op. 2016-Ohio-8440. (Tr. 385, 394, 401,
410-411, 416, 448, 450, 452-453, 460, 463, 464, 524; State’s Ex. 13.)
First Assignment of Error
{¶5} In his first assignment of error, Huddleston claims that his trial counsel
rendered ineffective assistance of counsel: for failing to seek a stipulation to his
prior conviction as to the weapons disability charge; for failing to seek redaction of
irrelevant, prejudicial portions of his recorded statements; and for failing to object
to incorrect, confusing jury instructions.
Standard of Review
{¶6} To establish a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
must show that counsel's performance was deficient and that counsel's deficient
performance prejudiced him. State v. Phillips, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-15-43, 2016-
Ohio-3105, 2016 WL 2957049, ¶ 11, (emphasis added), citing State v. Jackson, 107
Ohio St. 3d 53, 2005-Ohio-5981, 836 N.E.2d 1173, ¶ 133, citing, Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). The failure
to make either showing defeats a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 143, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), quoting Strickland at 697,
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104 S. Ct. 2052 (“[T]here is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance
claim to approach the inquiry in the same order or even to address both components
of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.”).
Analysis
Stipulation of Prior Conviction
{¶7} Here, Huddleston argues that he was denied effective assistance of
counsel because his trial counsel should have stipulated to his prior conviction.
Specifically, Huddleston claims that because his trial counsel failed to offer a
stipulation to his prior conviction that placed him under a legal disability, the jury
learned of his disability during trial which thereby resulted in the ineffective
assistance of counsel. We disagree.
{¶8} In our review of the record, we find the only reference to Huddleston’s
prior conviction (that placed him under a legal disability) occurred during the
testimony of Det. Brugler of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. During that
testimony, Det. Brugler identified a 2012 judgment entry from the Auglaize County
Common Pleas Court (purportedly) convicting Huddleston of a crime that
prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Det. Brugler read from the entry in open
court and testified that Huddleston’s date of birth and the last four digits of his
(Huddleston’s) social security number matched those of the defendant on the
judgment entry. (Tr. 419-420). However, on cross examination, Huddleston’s trial
counsel attempted to raise doubt that Huddleston was the person convicted in
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Auglaize County because Det. Brugler was not personally present in the Auglaize
County courtroom during that case. Further, during cross examination of Det.
Brugler, trial counsel pointed out that a full social security number was missing from
the entry.
{¶9} Even though Huddleston was found guilty on the Having Weapons
While Under Disability charge, we find the decision not to stipulate (to the prior
conviction) was a strategic trial tactic of counsel that attempted to place doubt in the
jury’s mind as to whether Huddleston was ever convicted in Auglaize County of a
crime that placed him under a disability. As such, strategic trial decisions, even if
unsuccessful, generally do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. See State
v. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d 545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995).
{¶10} Because we give deference to strategic trial tactics of counsel, we find
nothing in the record supporting Huddleston’s argument that his trial counsel’s
performance was deficient due to the failure to stipulate to this prior conviction.
Thus, this first portion of Huddleston’s argument is without merit.
Statements of Defendant
{¶11} Huddleston next argues that he received ineffective assistance of
counsel because his trial counsel failed to seek the redaction of “irrelevant
statements” made by Huddleston during an interview with Det. Brugler and made
during his recorded telephone conversations from the county jail. Relative to this
argument, Huddleston directs us to fifteen (15) instances in the trial transcript
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wherein he asserts that trial counsel’s failure to pursue the redaction of various
statements amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶12} We note that the majority of Huddleston’s statements were made
during his telephone conversations with visitors which occurred while he was
incarcerated in the Logan County Jail awaiting trial. Only 5 of the complained-of
statements were made to Det. Brugler during Huddleston’s interview which we will
discuss first.
Statements to Det. Brugler
{¶13} Huddleston argues that the below statements (from States Exhibit 12)
made to Det. Brugler should not have been played to the jury. The statements, as
they appear in the transcript, are as follows:
• “What the fuck am I’m [sic] going to rob somebody for when I can
sell a little bit of weed or something?” (Tr. 385). [sic] (Actually
Tr. 386).
• “Is Bellefontaine a racist town?” (Tr. 394). [sic] (Actually Tr. 395).
• “[Mr. Brentlinger] was just creepy as hell. Very creepy, man.” (Tr.
401). [sic] (Actually 402).
• “I just got out in July, July 24th [2016].” (Tr. 410). [sic] (Actually
Tr. 411).
• “I had a job at IPS. . . . I quit. I walked out. . . . Yeah, I walked out.
Fuck that.” (Tr. 410-411). [sic] (Actually Tr. 411-412).
{¶14} States Exhibit 12 contains the interview video between Huddleston
and Det. Brugler and Det. Joseph. That interview commences on page 377 of the
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trial transcript. The interview starts with Det. Brugler providing Huddleston with
Miranda warnings. (Tr. 379-380). Thereafter, Det. Brugler advised Huddleston of
the potential charges that he faced as a result of the death of Brentlinger. (Tr. 380-
381).
{¶15} Next, Det. Brugler reveals to Huddleston some of the prosecution’s
evidence regarding the murder, verifying to Huddleston that co-defendant
(Marquevous Watkins) fired the fatal shot that killed Brentlinger. (Tr. 381-382).
Det. Brugler also explains to Huddleston that he has interviewed other individuals
involved in the robbery of Mr. Brentlinger. (Tr. 382-383).
{¶16} Det. Brugler then provides Huddleston the opportunity to tell his side
of the story, wherein Huddleston mitigates his involvement in Brentlinger’s death
(Id. starting at page 383). During this interplay, Huddleston spells out the plan to
“hustle” Brentlinger by using two young girls (co-defendants Jasmine and Tatiana)
as bait to rob Brentlinger. (Tr. 383-388). Huddleston denies any involvement in
Brentlinger’s murder by telling the detectives “what the fuck am I’m [sic] going to
rob somebody for when I can sell a little bit of weed or something”. (Tr. 386).
Huddleston argues that this statement, should have been redacted by counsel.
{¶17} The interview continues with Huddleston admitting to the detectives
that he was “drunk, like two days straight”, denying that a plan existed to rob
Brentlinger, attempting to lessen his involvement in Brentlinger’s murder. (Tr.
389). Huddleston further tells the detectives that “I didn’t murder nobody”. (Tr.
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391). Next, Huddleston asks the detectives “is Bellefontaine a racist town”,
wondering whether Jasmine (his girlfriend and co-defendant) would be treated fairly
in court. (Tr. 391-396). This is the second statement that Huddleston suggests
should have been redacted by counsel.
{¶18} Thereafter, Huddleston tells the detectives “I don’t rob people” and
attempts to defend his co-defendants (Tatiana and Jasmine’s) involvement (with
Brentlinger) by referring to Brentlinger as being “creepy as hell”. (Tr. 401-402).
This is the third statement that Huddleston argues should have been redacted by
counsel.
{¶19} And finally, in relation to the last two statements which Huddleston
argues are prejudicial and subject to redaction, Huddleston tells the detectives “I
just got out in July, July 24th. I’ve been on the straight and narrow since then”. (Tr.
411). He also tells the detectives that he had been employed but quit that job. (Tr.
411-412).
{¶20} Upon our review of these passages (which Huddleston claims are
prejudicial), Huddleston has not shown us how he suffered prejudice from their
admission. To the contrary, the first two statements contain evidence of
Huddleston’s lack of intent to rob or murder Brentlinger. The third statement casts
suspicion on the conduct of Brentlinger, and the last two statements show that
Huddleston was recently employed. Such evidence, if believed by the jury, was
material as to Huddleston’s criminal intent in relation to the robbery and murder
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charges. More importantly, because these statements provided the jury with
possible defenses as to Huddleston’s intent and lack of knowledge to the conspiracy
in Brentlinger’s murder, we find trial counsel’s decision not to redact them was a
strategic trial tactic. Moreover, we find that even if these statements were redacted
by the trial court, the jury could have arrived at the same verdict based upon
Huddleston’s confession (to Det. Brugler) and the competent and credible evidence
of a conspiracy adduced at trial.
{¶21} Accordingly, applying the Strickland test (as to ineffective assistance
of counsel), Huddleston has not shown us that he was prejudice by the admission of
these statements into evidence.
Jailhouse Phone Calls
{¶22} Huddleston also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
seek redaction of the following jailhouse telephone statements:
• “I can’t get tried in this county. How can they try me in this county?
This was a dude that worked at Honda, grew up in this town, 46
years old. All the jury is going to be old white people too that
probably went to school with [Mr. Brentlinger]”. (Tr. 452-453).
[sic] (Actually Tr. 453-454).
• “I’m going to change the venue, man.” (Tr. 453). [sic] (Actually
Tr. 454).
• “And here goes everybody’s statements. I highlighted shit where
they lied and made up shit, you know.” (Tr. 463). [sic] (Actually
Tr. 464).
• “[S]he beat the murder case, obviously. Because a lawyer, they
fought for it and all that shit. Well, that’s what I need. [Trial
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counsel] don’t seem like he’s going to fight this shit for me.” (Tr.
464). [sic] (Actually Tr. 465).
• “If I don’t get what I want, I’m firing him. I need a different one to
represent me. And conflict of interest, too. How do I know this
man don’t know this man? It’s a small ass town, Bellefontaine.”
(Tr. 452). [sic] (Actually 453).
• “I need to get my bond lowered. I need to get up out of here.” (Tr.
464). [sic] (Actually Tr. 465).
• “[I]f they got [Marquevous Watkins] convicted of it . . . well, they’re
not going to be – they’re not too worried about me.” (Tr. 463).
[sic] (Actually Tr. 464).
• Father: “Well, what’s going to be bad is how many gun charges
you got.”
Mr. Huddleston: “I know”. (Tr. 450). [sic] (Actually Tr. 451).
• Father: “You were institutionalized.”
Mr. Huddleston: “Huh?”
Father: “You were institutionalized.”
Mr. Huddleston: “Hell, yeah. All that shit. I got all that shit wrong
with me. And fucking, all that mental health shit, too.” (Tr. 448).
[sic] (Actually Tr. 449).
• Father: “So, your – lawyers already seen the video.”
Mr. Huddleston: “Yeah.”
Father: “What did he say?”
Mr. Huddleston: “He told my grandmother the dude’s charges
ain’t going to change.” (Tr. 460). [sic] (Actually Tr. 461).
{¶23} In our review of these statements, we again determine that
Huddleston’s trial counsel’s strategy was to permit the jury to hear all of
Huddleston’s conversations. Such tactic resulted in the jury receiving all of
Huddleston’s impressions as to: how he was being represented; how unsympathetic
of a victim Brentlinger may have been; how difficult it would be for him to get a
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fair trial; and how he had mental health issues. All of these statements occurred
without him (Huddleston) having to testify and be subjected to cross-examination.
As such, all of Huddleston’s comments and complaints were received by the jury
without cross-examination.
{¶24} Moreover, and similar to our finding as to Huddleston’s statements
made to Det. Brugler, Huddleston has failed to show us how he was prejudiced by
the admission of these statements.
{¶25} Accordingly, the second portion of Huddleston’s argument under this
assignment of error is without merit.
Jury Instruction on Causation
{¶26} Finally, Huddleston argues that he received ineffective assistance of
counsel when his trial counsel failed to object to the jury instruction on “causation”.
Huddleston argues that the trial court used ‘generic’ language regarding the
causation element of the murder charge instead of tailoring its instruction to the facts
of the case. Huddleston claims he was prejudiced because the jury could have found
him responsible for Mr. Brentlinger’s murder by virtue of his “failure to act”, which,
he contends, is simply inaccurate.
{¶27} The jury instructions at issue herein are as follows:
“The State charges that the act or failure to act of the
defendant caused Jeffrey Brentlinger’s death.
Cause is an essential element of the offense. Cause is an act
or failure to act, which in the natural - - which in a natural and
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continuous sequence directly produces the death, and without
which it would not have occurred.
The defendant’s responsibility is not limited to the
immediate or most obvious result of the defendant’s act or failure
to act. The defendant is also responsible for the natural and
foreseeable consequences or results that follow in the ordinary
course of the events from the act or failure to act.
***
The State of Ohio has presented a theory that the defendant
acted in complicity with the principle offender in the commission
of the murder of Jeffrey Brentlinger. A person who is complicit
with another in the commission of a criminal offense is regarded as
guilty as if he personally performed every act constituting the
offense. This is true even if he did not personally perform every act
constituting the offense and was not physically present at the time
the offense was committed.
Before you can find the defendant guilty of complicity in
the commission of the murder offense, you must find, beyond a
reasonable doubt, * * * the defendant, while committing the
aggravated burglary or aggravated - - while committing the
aggravated robbery or the aggravated burglary, aided or abetted
another in committing the aggravated robbery or aggravated
burglary, which caused the death of Jeffrey Brentlinger.
***
Before you can find the defendant guilty of complicity to
aide and abet, you must find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the
defendant supported, assisted, encourage, cooperated with,
advised, or incited the principle offender in the commission of the
offense and the defendant shared the criminal intent of the
principle offender. Such intent may be inferred from the
circumstances surrounding the offense, including, but not limited
to * * * conduct before and after the offense was committed.”
(Emphasis added). (Tr. 525-528).
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{¶28} Huddleston’s trial counsel did not object to this instruction.
{¶29} In our review, we find the trial court’s instruction on causation was
taken nearly verbatim from the Ohio Jury Instructions. (Id.) Moreover, generally
the rule regarding appellate review of jury instructions is that a sole instruction must
be viewed within context of the whole set rather than in isolation. State v. Coe, 3d
Dist. No. 13-97-46, citing State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St. 3d 15, 29-30 (1997); State v.
Price, 60 Ohio St. 2d 136, paragraph four of the syllabus. The Supreme Court of
Ohio has held that “the failure to make objections is not alone enough to sustain a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel”. State v. Cepec, 149 Ohio St. 3d 438,
2016-Ohio-8076, ¶117.
{¶30} As to the evidence adduced at trial, Huddleston admitted (to Det.
Brugler) that he stopped at Walmart before leaving Lima to purchase ski masks and
duct tape; to entering Brentlinger’s home with his gun in hand; and to pointing his
gun in the general direction of Brentlinger. (Tr. 390, 393-394). Huddleston also
admitted to being aware that his co-defendant also had a gun. While Huddleston
argues that he could not be convicted of murder for his failure to act, we find his
statements alone could lead a jury to a finding of guilty of complicity. Thus, even
assuming that the trial court’s instruction on causation (i.e. “failure to act”) was
problematic, such instruction is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, due to
competent and credible evidence presented by the State that Huddleston was a part
of the conspiracy which resulted in Brentlinger’s murder.
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{¶31} Moreover, Huddleston has failed to convince us how the jury
instruction on causation resulted in confusion to the jury or resulted in actual
prejudice under the totality of the evidence presented against him at trial. Thus, we
find his argument is without merit.
{¶32} Accordingly, Huddleston’s first assignment of error is not well taken
and overruled.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶33} In his second assignment of error, Huddleston argues that the trial
court committed plain error by allowing the jury to hear the irrelevant statements he
made in his interview with Det. Brugler and made during jail telephone
conversations he had with his father and his grandmother; and by issuing a
confusing jury instruction on “causation”.
Standard of Review
{¶34} Plain error is to used “‘with the utmost caution, under exceptional
circumstances and only to prevent the manifest miscarriage of justice.’” State v.
Barnes, 94 Ohio St. 3d 21, 2002-Ohio-68. Further, plain error only exists where
“but for the error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been otherwise.” State
v. Biros, 78 Ohio St. 3d 426, 431 (1997).
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Stipulation of Prior Conviction
{¶35} Here, Huddleston argues that under State v. Creech, 150 Ohio St. 3d
540, 2016-Ohio-8440, the trial court erred in allowing the State to introduce into
evidence his prior felony conviction. We disagree.
{¶36} The facts of this case are clearly distinguishable from those presented
in Creech. In Creech, the Ohio Supreme Court held that the trial court abused its
discretion by refusing to permit the defendant to stipulate to his previous conviction
to a disabling act. Here, we have the opposite, as no such stipulation request was
ever made by Huddleston to the trial court.
{¶37} Nevertheless, as we determined in the first assignment of error, trial
counsel’s decision not to stipulate to Huddleston’s prior disabling act was strategic
in nature. As such, Huddleston’s claim of plain error under the circumstances of
this case is without merit.
Statements of Defendant
{¶38} Next, Huddleston contends that it was error for the trial court to admit
his recorded statements made to Det. Brugler and to his jail visitors. However,
Huddleston never objected to any of these recorded statements during trial, therefore
waiving all but plain error. State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St. 3d 160, 167 (1990).
{¶39} During trial, the State presented the testimony of Det. Brugler, who
testified to the authenticity of Huddleston’s voice from the telephone recordings (of
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Huddleston) recorded while he was incarcerated at the Logan County Jail. Relative
to this argument, Evid.R. 801(D)(2) provides as follows:
Admission by party-opponent. The statement is offered against a
party and is (a) the party’s own statement, in either an individual
or a representative capacity, or (b) a statement of which the party
has manifested an adoption or belief in its truth, or (c) a statement
by a person authorized by the party to make a statement
concerning the subject, or (d) a statement by the party’s agent or
servant concerning a matter within the scope of the agency or
employment, made during the existence of the relationship, or (e)
a statement by a co-conspirator of a party during the course and
in furtherance of the conspiracy upon independent proof of the
conspiracy.
Pursuant to Evid.R. 801(D)(2), Huddleston’s recorded conversations are admissible
as statements made by a party opponent, if relevant. As to relevance, the fifteen
statements of Huddleston shed light on his involvement in the robbery, burglary and
murder of Brentlinger. Further, and as we noted previously, some of Huddleston’s
statements contain potential defense evidence. In our review of plain error, the
admission of Huddleston’s recorded statements into evidence did not result in a
“manifest miscarriage of justice” under the evidence presented.
Jury Instruction
{¶40} Lastly, Huddleston re-argues that the trial court’s jury instruction on
“causation” was error. We disagree.
{¶41} At the outset, we note that an abuse of discretion standard normally
applies to a review of jury instructions. State v. Chinn, 85 Ohio St. 3d 548.
Huddleston argues that the trial court erroneously issued an instruction on
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“causation” without tailoring the instruction to facts of his case. However, in
reviewing the record, we find Huddleston did not object to this instruction at trial
and therefore, a plain error analysis applies. Crim.R. 30(A).
{¶42} Huddleston argues that the trial court’s causation instruction permitted
the jury to convict him even though Brentlinger’s death was caused by another
person. As referenced above, the trial court’s instructions on causation tracked the
language used in the Ohio Jury Instructions. Despite Huddleston’s argument, the
trial court’s instructions on causation were a proper statement of the law. State v.
Gross, 97 Ohio St. 3d 121, 2002-Ohio-5524, ¶90. Nevertheless, as previously noted,
there was ample evidence in the record from which a reasonable trier of fact could
have concluded that Huddleston could have aided and abetted Jasmine and Tatiana
in setting forth a plan to rob Brentlinger; and aided and abetted Marquevous Watkins
in the burglary and resulting murder (of Brentlinger). Accordingly, Huddleston has
not established plain error under this argument.
{¶43} Huddleston’s second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶44} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particular assignments of error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
SHAW, J. concurs.
PRESTON, J. concurs in Judgment Only.
/hls
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