State v. Jones

[Cite as State v. Jones, 2016-Ohio-5320.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 103359
STATE OF OHIO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
MARTREL D. JONES
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-14-592192-A
BEFORE: Kilbane, P.J., McCormack, J., and Laster Mays, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 11, 2016
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Thomas A. Rein
820 West Superior Avenue - Suite 800
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
Daniel A. Cleary
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center - 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Martrel Jones (“Jones”), appeals from his convictions
and sentence for aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and assault.
For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
{¶2} In January 2015, Jones and codefendant, Ameer D. Edmonds, Jr.
(“Edmonds”), were charged in a nine-count indictment resulting from a home invasion
and attack on W.S. and her father, G.S.1 Counts 1 and 2 charged Edmonds with the rape
of W.S. Count 3 charged Jones with the rape of W.S. Counts 4 and 5 charged them
both with aggravated burglary. Counts 6 and 7 charged both of them with aggravated
robbery. Counts 8 and 9 charged both of them with felonious assault.2
{¶3} On June 8, 2015, Edmonds entered into a plea agreement with the state of
Ohio, in which he agreed to plead guilty to aggravated burglary and rape. In exchange,
the state dismissed the remaining counts and all of the firearm specifications against him.
As part of the plea agreement, Edmonds agreed to testify truthfully in court. That same
day, the charges against Jones proceeded to a jury trial. The following testimony was
presented at trial.
{¶4} W.S. testified that on December 15, 2014, she lived with her father G.S. on
East 75th Street in Cleveland. That evening, she was in the kitchen preparing food when
1As of the date of this opinion, Edmonds has not filed an appeal.
2Each of Counts 1-9 included a one- and three- year firearm specification.
she heard a knock at the door. She went to the door and asked who was there. A voice
on the other side of the door said “your brother.” She knew it was not her brother because
it was approximately 1:00 a.m., so she went into her bedroom to look out the window and
see who was knocking at her door. She observed two men dressed in black. She
immediately knew something was wrong and attempted to call 911, but the men kicked
the front door in and entered the house. She then took her phone and threw it under a
piece of furniture.
{¶5} Edmonds entered first, and Jones was behind him. Both Edmonds and
Jones were wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves, and both had guns. W.S. recognized
Jones immediately because she met him approximately one month prior to the incident.
Jones supplied W.S. with $90 worth of marijuana about three weeks earlier and wanted
her to sell it. At the time he gave it to her, she did not pay him for it. Rather than sell it,
W.S. used it herself. Jones then wanted the $90 from W.S. He constantly brought the
issue up with her when they saw each other at Jones’s brother’s house and when he spoke
with her on the telephone. W.S. did not know Edmonds’s identity at first, but was
eventually able to identify him through social media.
{¶6} W.S. testified that after the two men entered the house, Jones went into her
father’s bedroom and Edmonds took her into her room. She could hear Jones yelling in
the next room. At times, she could hear her father being thrown around his room.
While in her bedroom, Edmonds pointed his gun at her and demanded money. She told
him she did not have any money. Edmonds told her to lift the couch cushions and go
through all of her clothing to look for money. W.S. was afraid for her life and her
father’s life, so she offered sex in exchange for the money she owed Jones. She stated
that she only offered the sex out of fear, to save her and her father. Edmonds told her to
undress and bend over the arm of the couch. Edmonds then had sexual intercourse with
W.S. for approximately ten minutes when Jones came into the room.
{¶7} Jones entered and told Edmonds to hurry up. In response, Edmonds told
Jones that he was not finished and Jones left the room. At this point, W.S. heard her
father in the kitchen being hit and thrown. Edmonds finished, and Jones reentered the
room. When Jones reentered the room, he began to threaten W.S., asking her about his
money. W.S. testified that she gave him $40 approximately a week earlier, but she
needed more time to get Jones the remaining $50. W.S. pleaded with him as he pressed
his elbow on her neck and held the gun at her face. Jones told her that he should just
shoot her.
{¶8} W.S. offered to have sex with him to calm him down, but Jones declined.
Jones stated that she could perform oral sex on him instead. While she was performing
oral sex on Jones, Jones threatened W.S. and hit her. At one point, Edmonds entered the
room. Jones told him to leave and go watch G.S. Jones stopped after about 15 minutes,
and he and Edmonds left the house. W.S. estimated that they were in the house for about
40 minutes. After they left, she went to her sister’s house and called 911.
{¶9} Cleveland Police Officer Michael Harper (“Officer Harper”) testified that
he responded to a call at East 75th Street in Cleveland for a break-in with a possible rape
and pistol whipping. When he arrived, he noticed that the door was kicked in and both
W.S. and G.S. were visibly shaken. He spoke with G.S., who had visible injuries to his
face, while his partner spoke with W.S. Both G.S. and W.S. were transported to
MetroHealth Hospital. At the hospital, W.S. went through a sexual assault exam with a
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (“SANE”).
{¶10} G.S. testified that on the night of the incident, he was awakened by someone
ruffling him. He was then hit in the head with a gun and kicked twice in the torso. His
assailant, later identified as Jones, dragged him through the doorway and dropped him to
the floor. Jones told G.S. that he was upset with him for ignoring his phone calls. At
that point G.S. recognized that his assailant was Jones, who was one of W.S.’s friends.
G.S. testified that Jones had been to their house before, and he had spoken to Jones on the
phone when he has called for W.S.
{¶11} Thereafter, G.S. observed W.S.’s bedroom door open and another male,
later identified as Edmonds, exit the room. Edmonds was wearing gloves and holding a
gun. Edmonds then stayed with G.S. as Jones went into W.S.’s room. Edmonds asked
G.S. if he had any money. G.S. replied “no,” but removed some change from his pocket
and let it fall on the floor. Edmonds did not take the money. G.S. sat with Edmonds
until he went into W.S.’s room and got Jones. The two men then left the house. W.S.
exited the room and told G.S. that she was raped.
{¶12} Edmonds testified for the state of Ohio. He explained that he had been
charged as a codefendant in this case and described his plea agreement with the state.
Edmonds further testified that he met Jones approximately two or three years prior to this
incident. On the night of the incident, he accompanied Jones as Jones was driving
around in his car. Jones asked Edmonds to come with him to East 75th Street. They
went to G.S.’s house. While at the door, Edmonds heard Jones say, “this is your
brother.” The door was open and both men walked inside. Edmonds was not sure how
the door opened because he was behind Jones. When they entered the house, Jones
began asking for money. Edmonds testified that Jones started with G.S., asking him
“where’s the money at?” Edmonds thought that both people in the house owed Jones
money by what was being said to each of them. As he was asking for money, Jones had
a gun in his hand. Edmonds watched as Jones hit G.S. with the gun and kick him.
{¶13} Edmonds stated that W.S. was pleading with them to stop because they did
not have any money. She then offered to perform oral sex to get them to stop. W.S.
preformed oral sex on Edmonds in a bedroom. Edmonds testified that he did not have
vaginal sex with W.S. He stopped W.S. before he ejaculated because he could tell that
W.S. did not want to perform oral sex, and she seemed afraid. He stated that when they
stopped, he left the room and Jones entered the room. W.S. then performed oral sex on
Jones. Edmonds was in the kitchen with G.S. as Jones was in the room with W.S. After
a few minutes, he went into the bedroom and got Jones. At that moment, Jones grabbed
W.S. and threatened to put her in the trunk of his car. Edmonds talked him out of that,
and then they left the home.
{¶14} Hristina Lekova (“Lekova”), a Forensic DNA Analyst for the Cuyahoga
County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, testified that she tested the contents of the
sexual assault kit collected by the SANE nurse. She found seminal fluid, but was unable
to make any scientific conclusions as to whose DNA was present, other than W.S.’s.
Lekova further testified that she could neither include or exclude Jones or Edmonds from
the DNA analysis.
{¶15} At the conclusion of trial, the jury found Jones not guilty of Count 3 (rape),
guilty of Counts 4 and 5 (aggravated burglary), guilty of Counts 6 and 7 (aggravated
robbery), and guilty of Count 9 (felonious assault of G.S.). The jury found Jones not
guilty of felonious assault as charged in Count 8, but guilty of the lesser included offense
— assault. The jury also found Jones guilty of each of the one-year firearm
specifications and not guilty of each of three-year firearm specifications.
{¶16} At sentencing, the state conceded that Counts 4 and 5 (both aggravated
burglary) merge for purposes of sentencing and elected to proceed on Count 4. The court
also merged the firearm specification in Count 9 with Count 7. The court then sentenced
Jones to one year in prison on each of the firearm specifications in Counts 4, 6, and 7, to
be served prior and consecutive to the base charges, for a total of three years in prison.
The court ordered eight years in prison on each of Counts 4, 6, and 7, to be served
concurrently, for a total of eight years in prison. The court sentenced Jones to six months
in prison on Count 8 to be served concurrently to the other counts, for an aggregate
sentence of 11 years in prison.
{¶17} Jones now appeals, raising the following five assignments of error for
review.
Assignment of Error One
The state failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction against
[Jones].
Assignment of Error Two
[Jones’s] conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Assignment of Error Three
The trial court committed reversible error when it failed to give the jury the
accomplice testimony instruction.
Assignment of Error Four
[Jones] was denied effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by Section
10, Article I, of the Ohio Constitution and the Sixth and Fourteenth
Amendments.
Assignment of Error Five
The trial court erred in violation of [Jones’s] statutory and constitutional
rights by imposing a harsher sentence for [Jones] who exercised his right to
a jury trial compared with a co-defendant who entered a plea.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
{¶18} In the first assignment of error, Jones argues the state failed to establish that
he was guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted. Specifically, he challenges the
aggravated robbery conviction involving G.S.
{¶19} The Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Diar, 120 Ohio St. 3d 460,
2008-Ohio-6266, 900 N.E.2d 565, ¶ 113, explained the standard for sufficiency of the
evidence as follows:
Raising the question of whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support
the jury verdict as a matter of law invokes a due process concern. State v.
Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541.
In reviewing such a challenge, “[t]he 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.” State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d
259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v.
Virginia (1979), 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560.
{¶20} We are mindful that, in considering the sufficiency of evidence, a certain
perspective is required. State v. Eley, 56 Ohio St. 2d 169, 172, 383 N.E.2d 132 (1978).
“This court’s examination of the record at trial is limited to a determination of whether
there was evidence presented, ‘which, if believed, would convince the average mind of
the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id., quoting Atkins v. State, 115 Ohio
St. 542, 546, 155 N.E. 189 (1926). It is the minds of the jurors, rather than a reviewing
court, that must be convinced. State v. Thomas, 70 Ohio St. 2d 79, 80, 434 N.E.2d 1356
(1982).
{¶21} In the instant case, Jones was convicted of aggravated robbery in violation
of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), which provides that: “[n]o person, in attempting or committing a
theft offense * * *shall * * * [h]ave a deadly weapon on or about the offender’s person or
under the offender’s control and either display the weapon, brandish it, indicate that the
offender possesses it, or use it[.]”
{¶22} Jones argues that there was no evidence that he ever demanded any money
from G.S. As a result, he contends that he cannot be convicted of aggravated robbery.
Jones’s argument, however, ignores Edmonds’s testimony that he heard Jones demand
money from G.S. and hit G.S. in the head with a gun. Jones asked G.S. “where’s the
money at?” When viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the state, any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of aggravated robbery proven
beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶23} Therefore, the first assignment of error is overruled.
Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶24} In the second assignment of error, Jones claims that his aggravated robbery
conviction involving G.S. is against the manifest weight of the evidence. In contrast to a
sufficiency argument, a manifest weight challenge questions whether the state met its
burden of persuasion. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598,
¶ 13, citing Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d at 390, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541. The Ohio
Supreme Court in State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St. 3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d
1264, ¶ 25, stated:
[T]he reviewing court asks whose evidence is more persuasive — the
state’s or the defendants? * * * “When a court of appeals reverses a
judgment of a trial court on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of
the evidence, the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and disagrees
with the factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting testimony.” [Thompkins
at 387], citing Tibbs v. Florida (1982), 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S. Ct. 2211, 72
L. Ed. 2d 652.
{¶25} Moreover, an appellate court may not merely substitute its view for that of
the jury, but must find that “‘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.’” Thompkins at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio
App.3d 172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). Accordingly, reversal on manifest weight
grounds is reserved for “‘the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily
against the conviction.’” Id., quoting Martin.
{¶26} We note that when considering a manifest weight challenge, the trier of fact
is in the best position to take into account inconsistencies, along with the witnesses’s
manner, demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, in determining whether the proffered
testimony is credible. State v. Kurtz, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99103, 2013-Ohio-2999, ¶
26; see also State v. Lilliard, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 99382, 99383, and 99385,
2013-Ohio-4906, ¶ 93 (in considering the credibility of witnesses on a manifest weight
challenge, an appellate court is “guided by the presumption” that the jury, or the trial
court in a bench trial, is “‘best able to view the witnesses and observe their demeanor,
gestures and voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing the credibility of
the proffered testimony.’” Id., quoting Seasons Coal Co. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St. 3d 77,
80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984)). Therefore, we afford great deference to the factfinder’s
determination of witness credibility. State v. Ball, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99990,
2014-Ohio-1060, ¶ 36.
{¶27} Here, Jones claims the “jury lost its way” because the jury wanted to convict
someone besides Edmonds. He further claims there is no credible evidence that Jones
committed aggravated robbery as it relates to G.S.
{¶28} While Edmonds may have had an ulterior motive when testifying, the jury
observed his appearance and demeanor, heard the testimony about the plea deal he
received, and found his testimony to be credible. Moreover, G.S. and W.S. knew Jones
and recognized him as the individual who committed the crimes. Thus, we find that the
conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. We cannot say that the
jury lost its way and created a manifest injustice in convicting Jones.
{¶29} Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
Jury Instructions
{¶30} In the third assignment of error, Jones argues the trial court failed to instruct
the jury on accomplice liability. A review of the record, however, reveals that the trial
court did, in fact, instruct the jury on accomplice testimony. The trial court stated:
Now, I have two additional short matters and you’re going to be done
hearing my voice for a little bit. First, the testimony of an accomplice.
Ameer Edmonds testified claiming to be the accomplice of the defendant,
Martrel D. Jones. The testimony of an accomplice does not become
inadmissible because of his complicity, moral turpitude or self-interest, but
the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect his credibility
and make his testimony subject to grave suspicion and require that it be
weighed with great caution.
It is for you, as jurors, in light of all the facts presented to you from the
witness stand to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and
worth or its lack of quality and worth. This is an instruction Ohio law
gives any time a witness testifies claiming to be an accomplice.
{¶31} The trial court’s instruction was a verbatim recitation of the requirements of
R.C. 2929.03(D) as it pertains to accomplice testimony. Moreover, at appellate oral
argument, appellant’s counsel acknowledged that the trial court gave the proper
instruction on accomplice testimony.
{¶32} Accordingly, Jones’s argument is unpersuasive, and the third assignment of
error is overruled.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
{¶33} In the fourth assignment of error, Jones argues defense counsel was
ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction on accomplice testimony. However, as
discussed in the previous assignment of error, the trial court did instruct the jury as
required by R.C. 2929.03(D).
{¶34} Therefore, we find Jones’s argument unpersuasive, and overrule the fourth
assignment of error.
Sentence
{¶35} In the fifth assignment of error, Jones argues the trial court erred when it
sentenced him to a greater sentence (11 years in prison) for exercising his right to trial
when compared with Edmonds’s five-year sentence after entering into a plea.
{¶36} In State v. Marcum, Slip Opinion No. 2016-Ohio-1002, the Ohio Supreme
Court, in recently “address[ing] the standard of review that appellate courts must apply
when reviewing felony sentences,” stated that when “[a]pplying the plain language of
R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), * * * an appellate court may vacate or modify a felony sentence on
appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that the record does not
support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is otherwise
contrary to law.” Id. at ¶ 1.
{¶37} Here, Jones’s 11-year sentence is within the statutory range for the offenses
he committed. Moreover, while R.C. 2929.11(B) requires consistency in sentencing, this
“consistency” does not require that codefendants receive equal sentences. State v. Pruitt,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98080, 2012-Ohio-5418, ¶ 26, citing State v. Nelson, 11th Dist.
Lake No. 2008-L-072, 2008-Ohio-5535. Instead, an appellate court must examine the
record to determine “whether the sentence is so unusual as to be outside the mainstream
of local judicial practice. Although the offense may be similar, distinguishing factors
may justify dissimilar treatment.” State v. Dawson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 86417,
2006-Ohio-1083, ¶ 31, quoting State v. Turner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 81449,
2003-Ohio-4933.
{¶38} In reviewing the record, we note that Jones has not provided any evidence
that his sentence was a result of him invoking his constitutional right to a jury trial.
Jones was convicted of two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated
robbery, felonious assault, and assault. He was also convicted of several one-year
firearm specifications. Whereas, Edmonds pled guilty to one count of aggravated
burglary and one count of rape. The evidence demonstrated that Jones was the
mastermind behind the home invasion and was sentenced accordingly.
{¶39} Therefore, the fifth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶40} 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. The defendant’s conviction having
been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated.
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
TIM McCORMACK, J., and
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR