State v. Hofacker

[Cite as State v. Hofacker, 2016-Ohio-519.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DARKE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
: Appellate Case No. 2015-CA-5
Plaintiff-Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 14-CR-176
v. :
: (Criminal Appeal from
RANDY L. HOFACKER : Common Pleas Court)
:
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 12th day of February, 2016.
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R. KELLY ORMSBY, III, Atty. Reg. No. 0020615, and DEBORAH S. QUIGLEY, Atty. Reg.
No. 0055455, Darke County Prosecutor’s Office, Courthouse, 504 South Broadway
Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331
Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee
SCOTT S. DAVIES, Atty. Reg. No. 0077080, Sebaly Shillito + Dyer, L.P.A., 1900
Kettering Tower, 40 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45423
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
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FAIN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Randy Hofacker appeals from his conviction and
sentence for Robbery. Hofacker contends the trial court erred by failing to excuse biased
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jurors, and that his counsel was ineffective by failing to file a motion to suppress. The
State contends the record does not support that the challenged jurors were biased. The
State further contends that defense counsel’s alleged error was not prejudicial.
{¶ 2} We conclude Hofacker has not established that he was prejudiced by his
counsel’s failure to file a motion to suppress. We also find no defect in the jury selection
process. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.
I. Late Night Intrusion and Theft of 90-Year-Old Victim
{¶ 3} Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Hofacker knocked on the door of the victim’s home.
The victim arose out of bed, and answered the door. Hofacker asked to come in to use
the bathroom. Prior to this evening, he had been to the victim’s house on two occasions,
at night, when he borrowed money for gas and to feed his children, and had promised to
repay her. When he stated that he had the money he owed her, the victim let him in the
house. After he entered the house, Hofacker physically attacked the victim and
demanded money. Hofacker took the only money the victim had in the house, $2.00.
The victim’s screams for help were heard by a neighbor, who came to the house and saw
Hofacker running out the back. The neighbor only saw Hofacker for a few seconds, could
not see Hofacker’s face, and could only generally describe him as wearing dark pants
and a dark shirt. The neighbor’s wife called the police. When the police arrived, the
victim identified her attacker as a man she knew as “Jeff.” The attack on the victim left
bruises on her arms and her chin. At the time of the offense, the victim was 90 years old,
and was not wearing her prescription glasses. She was later unable to recall some details
of the events; in the arrest warrant it is alleged that the offender threatened to kill her with
a pair of scissors, but at trial she testified that she never saw any scissors.
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{¶ 4} The following day, the police questioned the neighbor again, at the victim’s
residence. At that time, the neighbor identified Hofacker by name, and said that he had
seen Hofacker around the victim’s home on previous occasions, but did not say when
these visits occurred. The officer used the computer in his police vehicle to run the name,
which resulted in two hits: a Randall Hofacker and a Randy Hofacker. The system
included a mug shot photo of Randy Hofacker, so the officer called the station and asked
another officer to print out the photo and bring it to the scene. The neighbor confirmed
Hofacker’s identity from the photo the police showed him. Although the officer did not
show the photo to the victim at this time, she was on the porch with the neighbor and the
officer, and she also saw the photo identified by her neighbor as Hofacker. She agreed
that it was her attacker. The next day, the victim was shown a photo array of six
photographs, and positively identified Hofacker. As a result of this photo identification, a
complaint was filed charging Hofacker with Aggravated Robbery, and an application for
an arrest warrant was filed. The arrest warrant application, signed by Det. J.E. Marion,
stated:
[The neighbor] saw the suspect run through the house and out of the back
door. He didn’t give chase because he tended to the victim. On 08/03/14,
P.O. Benge developed a possible suspect of Randy Hofacker because he
had been at the house 2 times previously scamming the victim out of
money. On 08/04/14, I prepared a photo line-up and Det. Kiryluk, ECO
Jones and I went to the victim’s house. ECO Jones was the blind
administrator since she didn’t know the name or identity of Hofacker. Almost
immediately, the victim identified Randy Hofacker. She stated, “Right
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there’s the one!” Det. Kiryluk asked if that was the guy that was here and
she stated, “That’s…yes indeed. I know it’s him.” I asked if she was positive
and how certain and she stated, “Yes. Yes. 100%.”
{¶ 5} The next day, Hofacker was arrested, and a sample of his DNA was obtained.
Hofacker’s DNA was found to match a DNA sample taken from the victim’s bathrobe she
was wearing on the night of the incident.
II. The Course of Proceedings
{¶ 6} Hofacker was indicted on one count of Aggravated Robbery, a felony of the
first degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), and one count of Robbery, a felony of the
second degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2). Hofacker was acquitted of the
Aggravated Robbery charge and was found guilty of Robbery. Hofacker was sentenced
to serve a 7-year term of imprisonment, and ordered to pay costs and restitution.
{¶ 7} Prior to trial, the police obtained a DNA sample from Hofacker and from the
victim. Also, touch DNA samples were extracted from the victim’s home and from the
bathrobe she was wearing on the night of the incident. A DNA expert from the Ohio
Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted DNA testing on the samples and found no
DNA on any of the extracted samples from the house, but did find a match on the victim’s
bathrobe. The bathrobe contained a mixed profile that included DNA from both the victim
and Hofacker. The accuracy of Hofacker’s DNA identification was one in 259 quadrillion,
200 trillion. Hofacker filed a motion, requesting an independent analysis, but the record
does not contain an entry granting or denying the request. Hofacker did not present the
testimony of an independent DNA expert at trial.
{¶ 8} Prior to trial, defense counsel filed a motion in limine asking the court to
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deny the admission of certain evidence during the trial, including any evidence revealing
the defendant’s past criminal history, anything regarding a polygraph exam, and all
evidence involving the defendant’s identification through the photo array. The motion
specifically raised the impropriety of the photo identification “because prior to conducting
of said photo lineup, Officer Benge, in showing a single photograph of the Defendant to
[the neighbor], negligently permitted the victim, [R.C.,] to observe said photograph.
Further, after she chose the Defendant from the photo lineup, she commented that she
had seen the Defendant’s picture before.” Dkt. #34. During cross-examination of the
neighbor who initially named Hofacker as a suspect, the neighbor testified that he had a
prior conviction for trafficking in drugs, and that his conviction was based on a controlled
buy with a confidential informant. It was also established that Hofacker had acted as a
confidential informant for the local police. The neighbor also testified that he had known
Hofacker for 40 years, and after thinking about it during the day following the incident, he
came to the conclusion that it was Hofacker who had attacked his neighbor. During the
trial, both the victim and the neighbor positively identified Hofacker, in the courtroom, as
the person who committed the offense.
{¶ 9} The record does not contain a written ruling on the motion in limine to exclude
the testimony regarding the photo array identification. Defense counsel did not file a
motion to suppress, or object, during the trial, to the testimony of the officer concerning
the photo array identification by the victim. The officer admitted upon cross-examination
that the process used for the photo identification of Hofacker was not in accordance with
the established procedures of the Greenville Police Department. In the final jury charge,
the trial court gave the jury the following cautionary instruction:
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The testimony indicates that a photo array was used to identify the
alleged perpetrator. However, there is testimony that a photo of the
Defendant similar to one used in the array was previously seen by the
victim. This prior viewing may have resulted in the array being
inappropriately suggestive. You are to consider whether the prior viewing of
a single photo was suggestive of the identity of the perpetrator. If
suggestive, you are to consider whether this prior view affects the weight
that you give to the identification based on the photo array and based upon
all the evidence at trial regarding identification.
{¶ 10} During voir dire, three prospective jurors expressed concern over their
ability to be fair and impartial. After Ms. B. stated that she had read about the case in
the local newspaper, she stated that she could not say for sure whether it would cause
her to have a preconceived opinion about the defendant’s guilt. After further questioning,
Ms. B. explained that she believed what she read in the paper, so she would expect the
defendant to prove that he did not commit the crimes. However, she also said that she
understood that Hofacker was presumed innocent. Mr. R. stated that he would find a
police officer more credible than other witnesses. Mr. H. indicated that he personally
knew Hofacker and his reputation. Mr. H. said that he would like to think he could set
that aside, but he was not sure if he could. Follow-up questions were posed by the trial
court to correct any misconceptions each juror might have about the juror’s duty to set
aside personal beliefs and decide the case on the evidence admitted and the law provided
by the court. The trial court overruled the challenge for cause of Mr. H., Mr. R., and Ms.
B. Mr. R. was removed through a peremptory challenge made by the defense. The
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defense exercised one other peremptory challenge, but did not utilize the right to use a
peremptory challenge on Mr. H. or Ms. B., both of whom served on the jury.
{¶ 11} After Hofacker was convicted of Robbery, the trial court sentenced
Hofacker to serve 7 years in prison, with mandatory post-release control for 3 years.
Hofacker was ordered to pay costs, and restitution to the victim in the amount of $2.00.
III. Standard of Review
{¶ 12} “It is the role of the court to determine the individual juror's ability to follow
the law and be impartial.” State v. Jakobiak, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-07-1158, 2008-Ohio-
5030, ¶ 10, citing State v. Williams, 79 Ohio St. 3d 1, 8, 679 N.E.2d 646 (1997). “Because
the trial court exercises its discretion when determining whether to excuse a juror for
cause, the trial court's ruling will not be overturned on appeal ‘unless it is manifestly
arbitrary and unsupported by substantial testimony, so as to constitute an abuse of
discretion.’” Jakobiak, supra, quoting State v. Jackson, 107 Ohio St. 3d 53, 2005-Ohio-
5981, 836 N.E.2d 1173, ¶ 38.
{¶ 13} “To reverse a conviction based on ineffective assistance of counsel, it must
be demonstrated that trial counsel's conduct fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness and that the errors were serious enough to create a reasonable
probability that, but for the errors, the result of the trial would have been different.” State
v. Veal, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25253, 2013-Ohio-1577, ¶ 7, citing Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984), adopted by the
Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).
Trial counsel is entitled to a strong presumption that his or her conduct falls within the
wide range of reasonable assistance. Id.
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IV. Hofacker Was Not Prejudiced by the Jury Selection Process
{¶ 14} Hofacker’s First Assignment of Error asserts as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
OVERRULED A CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS
WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
{¶ 15} A juror's disclosure during voir dire that he or she cannot be a fair and
impartial juror is good cause for challenging a juror. Crim.R. 24(C)(9); State v. Jakobiak,
6th Dist. Lucas No. L-07-1158, 2008-Ohio-5030, ¶ 10. A juror’s initial opinion can be
rehabilitated by additional inquiry. Crim R. 24(C)(9). We have recognized that a trial
court can properly rehabilitate a juror by correcting misconceptions and verifying that the
juror can put aside the juror’s personal experiences and be fair and impartial, but that it
is not proper for the trial court to rehabilitate a juror through leading questions that suggest
what the juror is expected to say. State v. Mundy, 99 Ohio App. 3d 275, 298, 650 N.E.2d
502 (2d Dist.1994), in which we opined:
Trial judges often, wittingly or unwittingly, exert considerable
influence upon jurors, who, due to the nature of their role in the courtroom,
can be expected to pick up their cues from the trial judge concerning how
they should behave. Trial judges may certainly conduct voir dire; a trial
judge may interrogate a prospective juror in order better to ascertain
whether he is actually biased and prejudiced, and the trial judge may clear
up any misconceptions that the prospective juror may have concerning his
role and duties as a juror. However, a trial judge must be careful not to cross
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the fine line between: (i) a trial judge's voir dire that merely explores what
the prospective juror is really saying about his inability or ability to try the
issues fairly and impartially, or that clears up any misconception that the
prospective juror may have as to his proper role and duties, on the one hand
and, on the other hand, (ii) a voir dire by the trial judge that communicates
to the prospective juror that what the judge wants and expects the
prospective juror to say is that he will put aside any bias and prejudice, and
try the issues fairly and impartially. Because of the pervasive influence that
a trial judge can ordinarily be expected to have on the behavior of jurors, as
the expert, neutral embodiment of justice in an adversary process with
which the juror ordinarily will be unfamiliar, the latter kind of voir dire by a
trial judge is not sufficient to rehabilitate a prospective juror who has already
undermined confidence in his ability to try the issues fairly and impartially,
to the extent that he should be excused for cause.
Mundy, at 298-299, citing State v. Leavell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 10919, 1989 WL
33104 (Apr. 7, 1989).
{¶ 16} Based upon our review of the record, we conclude that it was not arbitrary
or unreasonable for the trial court to conclude that each of the challenged jurors could be
fair and impartial. Furthermore, Hofacker has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced
by the trial court’s failure to excuse the challenged jurors for cause. The record reveals
that one of the three jurors was excused from jury service pursuant to a peremptory
challenge. The record also reveals that defense counsel had the opportunity to, but did
not, exercise peremptory challenges to excuse the other two challenged jurors, instead
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passing on remaining peremptory challenges available to Hofacker, thereby expressing
satisfaction with the jury as it was then constituted. Pursuant to R.C. 2945.21(A)(1), and
Crim. R. 24 (D), a single defendant, charged with a felony, has the right to exercise four
peremptory challenges to dismiss potential jurors. After exercising two peremptory
challenges to excuse two jurors, Hofacker had the opportunity to excuse two more jurors.
“The failure of a party to exercise a peremptory challenge constitutes a waiver of that
challenge.” Crim. R. 24 (E). “If the trial court erroneously overrules a challenge for cause,
the error is prejudicial only if the accused eliminates the challenged venireman with a
peremptory challenge and exhausts his peremptory challenges before the full jury is
seated.” State v. Tyler, 50 Ohio St. 3d 24, 30-31, 553 N.E.2d 576 (1990), citing State v.
Eaton, 19 Ohio St. 2d 145, 249 N.E.2d 897 (1969), paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 17} In the case before us, the record supports the conclusion that after
Hofacker’s challenges for cause were denied, he had the opportunity to, but did not
excuse those two jurors through his remaining peremptory challenges. “It logically follows
from this that the failure to eliminate a contested venireman with a peremptory challenge
would render any error in overruling a challenge for cause as non-prejudicial and, thus,
not reversible.” State v. Wolfe, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 95CA04, 1996 WL 344092, *3 (June
17, 1996).
{¶ 18} The First Assignment of Error is overruled.
V. Hofacker Was Not Prejudiced by Counsel’s Failure to File a Motion to Suppress
{¶ 19} Hofacker’s Second Assignment of Error asserts as follows:
MR. HOFACKER WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL.
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{¶ 20} “[T]he failure to file a motion to suppress does not necessarily constitute
ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Layne, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2009-07-
043, 2010-Ohio-2308, ¶ 46, citing State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St. 3d 378, 389, 721 N.E.2d
52 (1999). It is only considered ineffective assistance of counsel when the record
demonstrates that the motion to suppress would have been successful if made. State v.
Resendiz, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2009-04-012, 2009-Ohio-6177, ¶ 29, citing State v.
Brown, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2002-03-026, 2002-Ohio-5455, ¶ 11. The court in
Resendiz presumed that trial counsel was effective if he could have reasonably decided
that filing a suppression motion would be a futile act, even if there is some evidence in
the record to support a motion. Resendiz at ¶ 29. See also State v. Conkright, 6th Dist.
Lucas No. L-06-1107, 2007-Ohio-5315, ¶ 50.
{¶ 21} “The Sixth Amendment does not require counsel to pursue a motion to
suppress in every case.” State v. Bell, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2015-L-017, 2015-Ohio-4775,
¶ 48, citing State v. Jefferson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 20156, 2001 WL 276343 (Mar. 21,
2001). “However, the failure to file a motion to suppress can constitute ineffective
assistance of counsel if the motion implicates matters critical to the defense and if the
failure results in prejudice.” Id.
{¶ 22} “Where the basis of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim is counsel's
failure to file a motion to suppress evidence, the defendant making that claim must prove
that the basis of the suggested suppression claim is meritorious.” In re D.D., 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 22740, 2009-Ohio-808, ¶ 3, citing Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S.
365, 106 S. Ct. 2574, 91 L. Ed. 2d 305 (1986); State v. Pillow, 2d Dist. Greene No. 07CA95,
2008-Ohio-6046.
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{¶ 23} In the case before us, the basis of a motion to suppress would have been
the procedurally defective process used to identify the offender. “Due process may
require a court to suppress eyewitness testimony when the identification results from an
unduly suggestive identification procedure.” State v. Adams, Slip Opinion No. 2015-
Ohio-3954, ¶ 208, citing Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440, 442, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 22 L. Ed. 2d
402 (1969). “A lineup is unduly suggestive if it steers the witness to one suspect,
independent of the witness's honest recollection.” Id., citing Wilson v. Mitchell, 250 F.3d
388, 397 (6th Cir.2001).
{¶ 24} “When a witness who identifies a defendant has been confronted with a
live or photographic lineup of suspects, due process requires the court to suppress
evidence of the witness's identification of the defendant if the confrontation was unduly
suggestive of the defendant's guilt and the witness's identification of the defendant was
unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.” In re D.D., 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
22740, 2009-Ohio-808, ¶ 4, citing State v. Waddy, 63 Ohio St. 3d 424, 588 N.E.2d 819
(1992); State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 747 N.E.2d 765 (2001). “In applying the
totality of the circumstances test the court must consider (1) the opportunity of the witness
to view the criminal at the time of the crime, (2) the witness's degree of attention, (3) the
accuracy of the witness's prior description of the criminal, (4) the level of certainty
demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation, and (5) the length of time between the
crime and the confrontation.” Id., citing Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 199-200, 93 S. Ct.
375, 34 L. Ed. 2d 401 (1972). “The Biggers standards look to the reliability of the
identification itself instead of the suggestive nature of the procedures that produced the
identification. Nevertheless, ‘[a]gainst these factors is to be weighed the corrupting effect
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of the suggestive identification itself.’” Id. at ¶ 5, quoting Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S.
98, 114, 97 S. Ct. 2243, 53 L. Ed. 2d 140 (1977).
{¶ 25} Here, the photo identified by the victim was first identified by her neighbor,
even though he admittedly did not see the face of the person in the victim’s home, only
saw him for about two seconds, observing only his back as he ran away from the house,
in the dark. On the night of the incident, the neighbor could only describe the intruder as
a man wearing dark pants and a dark shirt. The photo array shown to the victim included
the same photo shown to the neighbor in the presence of the victim when he positively
identified the photo as Hofacker. Although the victim was certain that the photo depicted
the same person who attacked her, she knew that her neighbor had positively identified
Hofacker from the same photo, she was not wearing her glasses, she believed the person
to whom she had previously loaned money was named Jeff, not Randy, and before she
saw the photo she had not given the police any physical description of her attacker. Based
on the totality of the circumstances, it does appear that the methods employed were
unduly suggestive and that the victim’s identification of Hofacker was not otherwise
reliable. “[D]ue process requires the court to suppress evidence of the witness's
identification of the defendant if the confrontation was unduly suggestive of the
defendant's guilt and the witness's identification of the defendant was unreliable under
the totality of the circumstances.” In re D.D., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22740, 2009-Ohio-
808, ¶ 4.
{¶ 26} Even if the victim’s initial identification of Hofacker was tainted, the DNA
evidence submitted at trial was overwhelming proof of his identity. It can be concluded
that unless the DNA evidence was admitted, there was a substantial probability that a
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conviction would not have been secured. Therefore, we must address whether the
impropriety of the police conduct resulting in the tainted identification must also require
the exclusion of the DNA evidence. The record does establish that Hofacker was initially
identified based on the tainted photo identification process, which led to his arrest, and
that his DNA sample was obtained at the time of his arrest. But for his arrest, the DNA
analysis would not have been completed. When a DNA sample is obtained incident to an
arrest, and the arrest warrant is issued on the basis of a constitutionally deficient photo
identification process, the question arises as to what effect, if any, this constitutional
violation has on evidence obtained as a result of that tainted identification process. The
Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that the suppression of evidence pursuant to the
exclusionary rule applies only to those searches that are carried out in violation of an
individual's constitutional rights. State v. Wilmoth, 22 Ohio St. 3d 251, 262, 490 N.E.2d
1236 (1986), citing Kettering v. Hollen, 64 Ohio St. 2d 232, 234-235, 416 N.E.2d 598
(1980).
{¶ 27} “[T]he ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ doctrine, also known as the derivative
evidence rule, does not require the exclusion of all evidence that might not have been
discovered ‘but for’ the illegal actions of the police.” State v. Pearson, 130 Ohio App. 3d
577, 584, 720 N.E.2d 924 (3d Dist.1998), citing Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S.
471, 487, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441 (1963). The rule only operates to exclude derivative
evidence discovered as a result of a constitutional violation. Id., citing Wong Sun at 484-
486, 83 S. Ct. at 415-417, 9 L.Ed.2d at 452–454. Evidence obtained pursuant to an
independent source unrelated to the constitutional violation is admissible. Pearson at 584.
{¶ 28} “The exclusionary rule operates to exclude evidence obtained by the
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government in violation of the United States Constitution.” State v. Helton, 160 Ohio
App.3d 291, 2005-Ohio-1789, 826 N.E.2d 925, ¶ 14 (11th Dist.). “The purpose of this rule
is to deter police misconduct.” Id. “The exclusionary rule reaches not only primary
evidence obtained as a direct result of an illegal search or seizure, but also evidence that
is subsequently discovered and derivative of that prior illegality.” State v. McLemore, 197
Ohio App. 3d 726, 2012-Ohio-521, 968 N.E.2d 612, ¶ 20 (2d Dist.). Thus: “[t]he derivative-
evidence rule, or fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine as it is widely known, requires
suppression of evidence that was seized in a seemingly lawful manner but about which
police learned because of a prior constitutional violation such as an illegal search or
seizure.” Id.
{¶ 29} The exclusionary rule is not a personal right or a means to redress
constitutional injury; rather, it is used to deter future violations. Davis v. United States,
564 U.S. 229, 131 S. Ct. 2419, 180 L. Ed. 2d 285 (2011). Deterrence alone is insufficient
to justify the exclusionary rule, because the benefits of deterrence must outweigh the
costs of excluded evidence, such as “letting guilty and possibly dangerous defendants go
free.” Herring v. United States, 555 U.S. 135, 141, 129 S. Ct. 695, 172 L. Ed. 2d 496 (2009).
In keeping with this principle, the exclusionary rule generally applies where police exhibit
“ ‘deliberate,’ ‘reckless,’ or ‘grossly negligent’ disregard for Fourth Amendment rights, * *
* ” but not “when the police act with an objectively ‘reasonable good-faith belief’ that their
conduct is lawful.” Davis v. United States, supra, 131 S.Ct. at 2427. If the police “conduct
involves only simple, ‘isolated’ negligence, the deterrence rationale loses much of its
force, and exclusion cannot ‘pay its way.’” Id. at 2427-2428, citing United States v. Leon,
468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984). “[A]n assessment of the flagrancy
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of the police misconduct constitutes an important step in the calculus.” Leon at 911, 104
S. Ct. 3405.
{¶ 30} “We need not hold that all evidence is ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ simply
because it would not have come to light but for the illegal actions of the police. Rather,
the more apt question in such a case is ‘whether, granting establishment of the primary
illegality, the evidence to which instant objection is made has been come at by exploitation
of that illegality or instead by means sufficiently distinguishable to be purged of the
primary taint.’” Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 487-88, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d
441 (1963).
{¶ 31} In the case before us, the DNA evidence was obtained as a result of an
arrest warrant and the warrant was supported by an affidavit, signed by a detective,
outlining the results of his investigation, which involved more than the victim’s
identification of Hofacker. The affidavit also stated that Hofacker was identified as a
suspect after being seen at the victim’s home on two previous occasions, “scamming the
victim out of money.” “Suppression therefore remains an appropriate remedy if the
magistrate or judge in issuing a warrant was misled by information in an affidavit that the
affiant knew was false or would have known was false except for his reckless disregard
of the truth.” United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 923, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677
(1984), citing Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S. Ct. 2674, 57 L. Ed. 2d 667 (1978).
Hofacker has not established that the affidavit for the arrest warrant contained misleading
information that the officer knew or should have known was false except for his reckless
disregard for the truth. Furthermore, Hofacker has failed to demonstrate that the police
committed gross negligence, or acted in a deliberate manner, willfully disregarding
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Hofacker’s constitutional rights when obtaining a DNA sample from him at the time of his
arrest. We conclude that although the police acted negligently by failing to follow
established procedures to conduct a proper photo array identification, the DNA sample
was obtained by means sufficiently independent to be purged of the primary taint.
Without establishing that the motion to suppress would have been granted to exclude the
DNA evidence, Hofacker has not established prejudice by his counsel’s error in not filing
a motion to suppress.
{¶ 32} Accordingly, Hofacker’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
VI. Conclusion
{¶ 33} Both of Hofacker’s assignments of error having been overruled, the
judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.
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WELBAUM, J., concurs.
HALL, J., concurring:
I concur separately only to express my view that had a motion to suppress been
filed, it is likely that it would not have been granted. The victim readily knew the offender
by sight, just not by his correct name. The robbery was at least the third time Hofacker
had been in the victim’s house. In my view, even if the police had intentionally, rather than
inadvertently, shown the single picture of Hofacker to the victim [a show-up rather than a
lineup] there is nothing to indicate that the identification of the image of the person she
knew was unreliable.
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Copies mailed to:
R. Kelly Ormsby
Deborah S. Quigley
Scott S. Davies
Hon. Jonathan P. Hein