State v. Paige

[Cite as State v. Paige, 2019-Ohio-1088.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MAHONING COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
MICHAEL PAIGE,
Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
Case No. 17 MA 0033
Criminal Appeal from the
Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio
Case No. 2012 CR 224
BEFORE:
Cheryl L. Waite, Gene Donofrio, Carol Ann Robb, Judges.
JUDGMENT:
Affirmed.
Atty. Paul J. Gains, Mahoning County Prosecutor and Atty. Ralph M. Rivera, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, 21 West Boardman Street, 6th Floor, Youngstown, Ohio 44503,
for Plaintiff-Appellee
Atty. Louis M. DeFabio, 4822 Market Street, Suite 220, Youngstown, Ohio 44512, for
Defendant-Appellant.
Dated: March 25, 2019
WAITE, P.J.
–2–
{¶1} Appellant Michael Paige appeals a January 12, 2017 Mahoning County
Common Pleas Court judgment entry in which he was found guilty of murder with a gun
specification and tampering with evidence. While the instant direct appeal was pending,
Appellant filed a motion for resentencing, which we construed as a motion for
postconviction relief. State v. Paige, 7th Dist. No. 17 MA 0146, 2018-Ohio-2782. At the
initial sentencing hearing, the trial court failed to properly impose postrelease control. The
trial court was required to notify Appellant that he was subject to a discretionary term of
three years of postrelease control at the sentencing hearing and in the judgment entry.
State v. Grimes, 151 Ohio St.3d 19, 2017-Ohio-2927, 85 N.E.3d 700, ¶ 1; Paige at ¶ 32.
We remanded the matter for a limited resentencing on the issue of postrelease control.
A resentencing hearing was held on December 10, 2018. No transcript of these
proceedings are a part of the record. However, in an amended judgment entry of
sentence dated December 14, 2018, the trial court noted that Appellant’s prison term is
to be followed by a discretionary period of postrelease control of up to three years.
(12/14/18 J.E.) Appellant has filed no motions relative to his resentencing nor has he
assigned error to the sentence imposed while his direct appeal was still pending. The
issues raised on appeal deal only with his underlying convictions.
{¶2} On appeal, Appellant asserts that a violation of the Sixth Amendment
Confrontation Clause occurred when investigating detectives testified regarding
statements made by a codefendant who did not testify. Appellant alleges prosecutorial
misconduct for eliciting the testimony and allowing witnesses to vouch for the credibility
of the codefendant. Appellant also claims ineffective assistance of trial counsel on
several grounds: failing to object to the prosecutorial misconduct, allowing admission of
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inadmissible testimony, and failure to file a motion to suppress. Appellant also claims
cumulative error occurred and that his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial was
violated. Our review of this record shows that Appellant’s arguments have no merit and
we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Factual and Procedural History
{¶3} Appellant’s conviction stems from an incident that occurred on or around
March 1, 2012. Munir Blake (“Blake”) resided on the first floor of a duplex with his wife
and five children. Jasmin Fletcher (“Fletcher”) lived on the second floor of the duplex.
Blake and Fletcher engaged in a verbal exchange the day prior to the incident because
Blake recently discovered that Fletcher had run an extension cord from her second floor
apartment to the basement in order to tap into his electrical line. She no longer had
service and was in the process of moving out of her apartment. On the day of the incident,
two of Blake’s children, a son and daughter ages 9 and 11, walked home from school and
entered their apartment. Blake’s son watched television while his daughter went to her
room. Blake was sleeping in his own room, because he was unwell. He emerged a short
time later to check his electrical line and make sure that Fletcher had not plugged an
extension cord into his outlet again. After Blake left the apartment, his children both heard
him argue with two other individuals. The son said he recognized only his father’s voice.
The daughter said she recognized her father’s voice, Fletcher’s voice and a third,
unknown individual. At trial she testified this voice “was high pitched and it sounded like
a woman.” (1/3/17 Tr., p. 196.) Blake’s son testified that he could see his father in the
doorway between the kitchen and the back stairwell. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 162.) He also testified
that he could hear his father arguing that his electric bill was “sky high” because of
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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Fletcher. This was followed by one of the other individuals saying they were going to get
a gun. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 165.) Blake’s daughter testified that she heard the unknown voice
say, “I will shoot you right now.” (1/3/17 Tr., p. 197.) She also heard Fletcher say, “that’s
five dollars down the drain; you cut my cord.” (1/3/17 Tr., p. 207.) Both children said they
heard someone run upstairs and then back down while their father continued arguing.
Then they both heard multiple gunshots and Blake’s son ran out of the apartment. He
turned around to get his sister, and they saw their father lying on the ground. Both
children ran out of the building to a neighbor’s home. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 167-168.) Blake’s
son testified that he saw Fletcher standing outside of their duplex near the front porch
moments after the shooting occurred. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 172.)
{¶4} Police and an ambulance were called. Officer Anthony Marzullo
(“Marzullo”) responded for the Youngstown Police Department. He recovered seven
spent shell casings, all from a .45 caliber gun. He also recovered five bullets from the
scene. All casings and bullets were found in the area of the back landing near the kitchen.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 228.)
{¶5} Dr. Joseph Ohr, Mahoning County Deputy Coroner, responded to the scene
and later performed the autopsy on Blake. He testified that Blake suffered nine gunshot
wounds. He testified the entry wounds were consistent with an individual firing from an
elevated position on the stairs. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 277.)
{¶6} Youngstown Detective Sergeant Rick Spotleson (“Det./Sgt. Spotleson”)
was assigned as lead investigator to Blake’s murder. Detective Sergeant Daryl Martin
(“Det./Sgt. Martin”) assisted Det./Sgt. Spotleson in the investigation. At trial, Det./Sgt.
Spotleson testified that during the investigation he learned of the prior confrontation
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between Blake and Fletcher regarding her use of Blake’s electricity. (1/3/17, Tr., p. 305.)
He observed an extension cord that extended down the steps from the second floor to
the basement, and that a phone charger was connected to it in Fletcher’s apartment.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 306.) After interviewing witnesses, including the children, Fletcher became
a person of interest. She was arrested and interviewed by Det./Sgt. Spotleson several
hours after the shooting. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 312.) Det./Sgt. Spotleson revealed at trial that
this interview lead to Appellant:
Q And you interviewed [Fletcher]?
A Yes
Q Did she tell you that she was present when this occurred?
A Yes
Q Did she identify a second person of interest?
A Yes
Q And who was that?
A Michael Paige
{¶7} Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified he then concluded Appellant was a person of
interest, and obtained a home address for Appellant. Late in the evening of the incident,
police went to the address and found Appellant and his girlfriend. Det./Sgt. Spotleson
obtained consent to search the residence. A .45 caliber firearm magazine clip was
recovered from the scene. These bullets were consistent with the casings found at the
murder scene. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 314.)
{¶8} Appellant was not placed under arrest at the conclusion of the search.
However, Appellant and his girlfriend agreed to come to the station to give statements.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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The interview took place at approximately 1:20 a.m. on the day after the incident. During
Appellant’s interview with Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin he gave several different
accounts of his role in the incident. Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified at trial that Appellant first
said that he saw Fletcher during the day to help her repair her car but did not see her that
night and was not at her apartment. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 316.) Appellant then told officers that
he was at Fletcher’s apartment on the night of the incident but was outside on his phone,
and when he heard gunshots, he left. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 317.) Appellant’s third version was
that he had been in Fletcher’s apartment helping her move. He remained in the apartment
while Fletcher went downstairs. He heard her engage in an argument, heard gunshots,
and then Fletcher ran upstairs to the apartment yelling “let’s go, let’s go.” (1/3/17 Tr., p.
317.)
{¶9} Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified that at the end of the interview he did not
believe he had enough evidence to arrest Appellant. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 318.) A gunshot
residue test was performed on Appellant, but the results were negative.
{¶10} At approximately 8:40 a.m. the following morning, Det./Sgts. Spotleson and
Martin again interviewed Fletcher. They showed Fletcher the video recording of
Appellant’s interview. On direct examination, Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified to the
following:
Q After you showed her the portion of the interview with the defendant did
she change her statement?
A Yes.
Q In the second statement she gave did she tell you who the shooter was?
A Yes.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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Q Did she tell you where the shooter was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did she tell you where she was standing?
A Yes.
Q And where the victim was standing?
A Yes.
Q Based on your assessment of the scene, your conversations with Dr. Ohr
and what she had told you, what Jasmin Fletcher told you, did that make
sense to you?
A Yes.
Q At the end of the interview did you have a suspect?
A Yes.
Q Who was that suspect?
A That suspect was Michael Paige.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 320-321.)
{¶11} Det./Sgt. Spotleson also testified on direct regarding the second Fletcher
interview:
Q Did she talk about -- did you discuss with her whether or not [Blake] had
a gun?
A Yes.
Q Did he have a gun?
A No.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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Q All right. Did you discuss with her whether or not she was threatened by
Mr. Blake?
A Yes.
Q Was she?
A No.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 329.)
{¶12} Appellant was arrested that day and brought to the Youngstown Police
Department. After being read his Miranda warnings, he gave another statement to
Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin. A video recording of the interview was admitted into
evidence at trial. Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified on direct that Appellant initially repeated
that Fletcher was the shooter. This was his third version of the story from his earlier
interview. Appellant eventually admitted, however, that he shot Blake:
Q Was there a time when finally he told you that he did it?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you—when he told you that did he tell you where the victim
was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you where Jasmin Fletcher was standing?
A Yes.
Q Did he tell you where he was standing?
A Yes.
Q And was that consistent with what Jasmin Fletcher had told you and with
what Dr. Ohr -- what his findings were?
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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A Yes.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 324.)
{¶13} At trial, both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin testified that Appellant
admitted in the final interview that he shot Blake. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 324, 418.) At the end
of this interview Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin left the room. Appellant’s girlfriend was
allowed into the interview room and Appellant was allowed to speak to her. The entire
encounter, including Appellant’s interview with the detectives and the conversation
between Appellant and his girlfriend, was recorded and later played at trial. (1/3/17 Tr.,
p. 325.)
{¶14} Appellant was indicted on March 8, 2012, on one count of aggravated
murder in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A), (F), an unclassified felony; with a firearm
specification in violation of R.C. 2941.145(A); one count of murder in violation of R.C.
2903.02(A), (D), an unclassified felony, with a firearm specification in violation of R.C.
2941.145(A); two counts of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1),
(B), felonies of the third degree; and one count of obstructing justice in violation of R.C.
2921.32(A)(5), (C)(4), a felony of the third degree.
{¶15} Appellant was arraigned on March 13, 2012. Court-appointed defense
counsel filed a motion on September 17, 2012, seeking to suppress statements made by
Appellant to police. In this motion counsel argued that the Miranda warnings were cursory
in nature and Appellant was under the influence of drugs at the time the statements were
given. A hearing on the motion to suppress was held and the motion was overruled by
the trial court in a judgment entry dated October 25, 2012.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶16} Jury trial commenced on February 24, 2014. The jury found Appellant not
guilty of aggravated murder. This jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the
remaining charges, however, so in a judgment entry dated March 4, 2014, the trial court
declared a mistrial on these charges and discharged the jury.
{¶17} New counsel was appointed. Appellant filed a pro se motion attempting to
revoke his previously executed waiver of the right to a speedy trial. His newly appointed
counsel raised the issue of his competency to stand trial on August 6, 2015. A hearing
on Appellant’s competency was held on October 5, 2016 and the trial court ultimately
concluded Appellant was competent to stand trial.
{¶18} A second jury trial commenced on January 11, 2016. In a judgment entry
dated January 13, 2016, the trial court sua sponte declared a mistrial after the jury was
empaneled, because Appellant filed a habeas corpus proceeding naming the assistant
prosecuting attorney as a defendant in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Ohio.
{¶19} Ultimately, a jury trial in this matter took place on January 3, 2017. The
state presented the testimony of several witnesses, including Det./Sgts. Spotleson and
Martin. Both the state and defense counsel subpoenaed Fletcher as a witness. However,
Fletcher failed to appear and a material witness warrant was issued. While Fletcher
appeared pursuant to this warrant, the state rested without testimony from Fletcher.
Appellant did call Fletcher as a witness. Fletcher appeared and asserted her Fifth
Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and refused to testify. (1/3/17 Tr., pp.
388-389.) A discussion ensued about whether Fletcher was able to assert a Fifth
Amendment right. The discussion included statements from Fletcher’s counsel, who was
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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present in the courtroom. The trial court concluded that, as Fletcher had entered a guilty
plea for her part in the crime but had not yet been sentenced, she retained her right to
invoke the privilege. The trial court reasoned that the incrimination inherent in her guilty
plea was not complete without the sentence being imposed. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 390.) At the
close of evidence, the trial court charged the jury not only as to murder, but on the lesser
included offense of voluntary manslaughter. The jury returned a guilty verdict on the
murder charge and the firearm specification, and also on the charge of tampering with the
evidence.
{¶20} A sentencing hearing was held on January 24, 2017. The trial court
sentenced Appellant to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after fifteen years for the
murder conviction, three years for tampering with evidence to be served concurrently with
the sentence imposed for murder, and three years for the firearm specification, to be
served consecutively to the sentence imposed for the murder charge. Appellant filed this
timely appeal.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
Testimony relating to out of court, testimonial statements, violated
Appellant's constitutional right to confront witnesses as guaranteed by the
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. I, Section 10 of
the Ohio Constitution.
{¶21} Appellant contends the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin
regarding the statements Fletcher made to them during police interviews constituted
testimonial hearsay in violation of his right to confront witnesses guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment Confrontation Clause.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶22} The state contends the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin was
for the purpose of explaining their conduct during the investigatory process and that the
probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice.
{¶23} The trial court typically has broad discretion in admitting or excluding
evidence. State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 182, 510 N.E.2d 343, 350 (1987). However,
a de novo standard of review is applied to a claim that a criminal defendant’s rights have
been violated under the Confrontation Clause. State v. Mitchell, 2016-Ohio-1439, 62
N.E.3d 820, ¶ 77 (7th Dist.).
{¶24} Pursuant to the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause, “[i]n all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to be confronted with the witnesses
against him.” Testimonial statements of a non-testifying witness are inadmissible unless
the witness was unavailable to testify and the defendant had a prior opportunity for cross-
examination of the witness. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53-54, 124 S.Ct. 1354,
158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004). In Crawford, the Supreme Court declined to provide a
comprehensive definition of “testimonial,” but indicated that the term includes, at a
minimum, prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, at a former trial,
and statements made during police interrogations. Id. at 68.
{¶25} In Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 126 S.Ct. 2266, 165 L.Ed.2d 224(2006), the Supreme Court held that statements are nontestimonial for Confrontation
Clause purposes when made in the course of a police interrogation under such
circumstances that indicate objectively the primary purpose of the interrogation is to
enable police to address an ongoing emergency. Id. at 822. Testimonial statements
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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occur when the circumstances objectively indicate that there is no ongoing emergency
and the primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events that are
potentially relevant to a future criminal prosecution. Id. See, also, State v. Siler, 116 Ohio
St.3d 39, 2007-Ohio-5637, 876 N.E.2d 534, paragraph two of the syllabus; State v.
Duncan, 7th Dist. No. 16 NO 0440, 2017-Ohio-9378.
{¶26} Hence, we must distinguish between police interrogations that are part of
an ongoing emergency and interrogations related to past criminal conduct and which
serve only to investigate potential criminal prosecution. Appellant claims the testimony
of two witnesses give rise to Confrontation Clause issues: the direct testimony of
Det./Sgt. Spotleson and the direct testimony of Det./Sgt. Martin. Det./Sgt. Spotleson was
lead investigator on the case and was assisted by Det./Sgt. Martin. Both were present
during the interviews of Appellant and Fletcher.
{¶27} Det./Sgt. Spotleson provided most of the testimony to which Appellant
objects. As noted above, during direct examination Det./Sgt. Spotleson was asked a
number of questions regarding statements Fletcher made during her two interviews with
police. At the outset it should be noted that, although the first interview was conducted
on the same day as the incident, albeit several hours later, and the second interview was
conducted the following morning, neither interview can be characterized as addressing
an emergency situation. Fletcher was a person of interest during her first interview. At
the conclusion of Fletcher’s first interview, Appellant was also a person of interest. At the
time of the second interview, both Fletcher and Appellant had been placed under arrest.
In the absence of an ongoing emergency, the statements made by Fletcher to police were
made under circumstances that objectively indicate there was “no such ongoing
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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emergency, and that the primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past
events potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution.” Siler at ¶ 24, quoting Davis, at
822.
{¶28} The state contends the testimony of the detectives was “offered to explain
an officer’s conduct while investigating a crime” and thus, are not hearsay and do not
violate the Confrontation Clause. State v. Blevins, 36 Ohio App.3d 147, 149, 521 N.E.2d
1105 (10th Dist.1987). We do not find this reasoning persuasive, particularly when
considering the testimony elicited from Det./Sgt. Spotleson regarding his first interview of
Fletcher:
Q And you interviewed [Fletcher]?
A Yes
Q Did she tell you that she was present when this occurred?
A Yes
Q Did she identify a second person of interest?
A Yes
Q And who was that?
A Michael Paige
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 312.)
{¶29} In State v. Ricks, 136 Ohio St.3d 356, 2013-Ohio-3712, 995 N.E.2d 1181,
the Ohio Supreme Court held that an officer’s testimony regarding the out-of-court
statements of an alleged accomplice identifying the defendant as the assailant violated
the Confrontation Clause when the accomplice did not testify at trial. In Ricks, the officer
testified regarding the process undertaken to obtain a photograph of the defendant as
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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well as the act of presenting that photograph to the alleged accomplice during an
interrogation of that accomplice. Following this explanation, the officer testified:
Q. Once again, [Officer], when you showed [the alleged accomplice] this
photo, after obtaining it from Georgia, did he make identification?
A. Yes.
Q. What did he say?
A. He says that’s Peanut.
Id. at ¶ 40.
{¶30} In contrast, in State v. Johnson, 8th. Dist. No. 105612, 2018-Ohio-1389, 110
N.E.3d 800, the investigating officer interviewed a witness named Wright. Wright invoked
his Fifth Amendment privilege at the defendant’s trial. During defendant’s trial, the officer
testified that Wright had given her a description of both the vehicle involved in the shooting
and the shooter. During this testimony the officer did not repeat those descriptions. In
fact, “[w]hen Officer Johnson began to offer hearsay testimony, the state and the court
reminder her not to repeat what other people may have said.” Id. at ¶ 38. The Eighth
District held that since the officer did not testify as to the exact statements of Wright, there
was no Confrontation Clause violation. The state also presented the testimony of the
decedent’s mother, Andrea, who had spoken to Wright about her son’s death:
[STATE]: Why don’t you tell us about the following day. Did you meet with
[Wright]?
[ANDREA]: Yeah, the following day I guess he wanted to tell me who—
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection.
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THE COURT: Well, why don’t we caution [Andrea]. One of the rules in
court is that you can’t tell us what somebody else said.
[STATE]: We went over the rules a little bit before your testimony * * * about
hearsay. You can’t talk about what someone else told you, right? So I don’t
want you to say the words that [Wright] said, right?
[ANDREA]: Right
***
[STATE]: Did [Wright] tell you what happened?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
[STATE]: And without telling us what he said, did he tell you who had done
it?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
[STATE]: Did he give you one name or more than one?
[ANDREA]: He gave me [the] first and last name * * * of one person.
[STATE]: Again, [Andrea], I don’t want to go into specifics about what he
said, but did he tell you how it happened and how [Ayers} died?
[ANDREA]: Yes.
Johnson at ¶ 40.
{¶31} The Eighth District likewise held in regard to this testimony that since the
actual information the witness had learned from Wright was not disclosed during
testimony, the testimony was not offered to prove the circumstances of the decedent’s
death but only to explain how the case unfolded. Hence, it was not testimonial hearsay.
Id. at ¶ 41.
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{¶32} The line of questioning in the instant case more closely reflects the situation
found in Ricks, and not Johnson, as Appellee claims. Rather than testifying only to
Det./Sgt. Spotleson’s “conduct while investigating a crime,” the testimony goes further,
eliciting testimony about the identification of Appellant by his codefendant. Blevins at
149. When testifying as to Fletcher’s first interview, not only did Det./Sgt. Spotleson relate
the questions he asked her, he testified that she gave the officer Appellant’s name as a
person involved in the crime. Regarding Fletcher’s second interview, after she was
shown the video of Appellant’s interview implicating her as the shooter, Det./Sgt.
Spotleson testified that Fletcher told him where she was standing, where the victim was
standing and where the shooter was standing. He repeated those exact locations. He
also testified that Fletcher told him Blake did not have a gun and that she did not feel
threatened by Blake during the incident. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 320-321, 329.) At the end of his
questioning, Det./Sgt. Spotleson was asked whether he had a suspect at the conclusion
of Fletcher’s interview. He responded in the affirmative and named Appellant. This
testimony goes beyond the process used in the investigation. It goes to the heart of the
fact at issue, the name of the shooter. Although not as direct as the testimony revealed
as a result of the first interview, and framed in a manner that appears to explain police
conduct during an investigation, it is clear that Det./Sgt. Spotleson’s testimony was
offered to place before the jury Fletcher’s statements implicating Appellant as the shooter,
and not simply to demonstrate how the investigation was conducted.
{¶33} Det./Sgt. Martin testified as a witness for Appellant. He was called to testify
regarding the search of Appellant’s residence, which failed to elicit an actual weapon, as
well as to Appellant’s gun powder residue test results, which were negative. On cross-
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examination, the state asked Det./Sgt. Martin about Appellant’s admission that he shot
Blake and whether Appellant’s admission mirrored what Fletcher said about the crime
scene:
Q He also told you that he killed Munir Blake, correct?
A Correct.
Q And did [Fletcher] corroborate that?
A Yes.
Q He told you that [Blake] was standing that doorway—and just so you
know, the jury went to the scene, so they have seen that. The doorway
going from the kitchen onto that landing, stairway landing, he also told you
that [Blake] was standing in that doorway, correct?
A Correct.
Q And did [Fletcher] corroborate that?
A Yes.
Q He also told you that [Fletcher] would have been pretty much facing
[Blake], correct?
A Correct.
Q Standing on that landing, basically pretty much straight across from each
other?
A He described face to face.
Q Okay. And [Fletcher] also corroborated that, correct?
A Correct.
***
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Q To the best of your knowledge, did [Fletcher] ever say that she shot and
killed [Blake]?
A No.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 418-419.)
{¶34} Again, rather than testifying only to Det./Sgt. Martin’s “conduct while
investigating a crime” the testimony goes further and seeks to place before the jury that
Fletcher corroborated Appellant’s admission. Blevins at 149. As Fletcher did not testify,
the state used the officer’s testimony to put Fletcher’s statements into evidence. Under
the primary purpose test set forth in Crawford and its progeny, the statements made by
Fletcher during her police interrogations are testimonial in nature. The testimony given
by both officers goes beyond their investigatory conduct and procedure and instead
appears to be an attempt to prove the truth of the matter asserted: to identify Appellant
as the assailant and to bolster Appellant’s admission. As Fletcher did not testify at trial
and there was no previous opportunity for Appellant to cross-examination Fletcher, this
testimony was inadmissible hearsay in violation of the Confrontation Clause.
{¶35} Once we determine that the testimony was admitted erroneously, our
inquiry does not end here, however. We must next look at whether Appellant was harmed
by this error. In Ricks, the Supreme Court held that statements made by the officer were
unfairly prejudicial and the cited purpose for the testimony, police investigatory procedure,
was pretextual. Ricks at ¶ 34, 45. The Ricks Court found the out-of-court statements
“exceptionally damaging” because the declarant was the other suspect in the murder. As
most of the state’s evidence related to the other suspect’s involvement in the crime, the
state’s case, then, “revolved” around the declarant. Id. at ¶ 36. The Ricks Court
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concluded the Confrontation Clause violation was not harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt as there existed a reasonable possibility that the testimony of the officer contributed
to the defendant’s conviction. Id. at ¶ 47. Whether a Confrontation Clause violation is
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt involves not merely an inquiry into the sufficiency
of the remaining evidence, absent the erroneously admitted evidence, but whether there
is a reasonable possibility that the violating evidence might have contributed to the
resulting conviction. Id. at ¶ 46, citing Chapman v. California, 368 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct.
824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967).
{¶36} Regarding harmless error, Crim.R. 52(A) provides that “[a]ny error, defect,
irregularity, or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall be disregarded.” See
also Evid.R. 103(A) (error may not be predicated on a ruling which admits or excludes
evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected and a timely objection was
made.) In order to determine whether substantial rights were affected, we must evaluate
whether there was prejudice to the defendant. State v. Morris, 141 Ohio St.3d 399, 2014-
Ohio-5052, 24 N.E.3d 1153, ¶ 23, 27. A court is required to review the impact of the
offending evidence on the overall verdict and compare it to the strength of the other
remaining evidence. Id. at ¶ 25.
{¶37} To determine “whether a new trial is required or the error is harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt, the court must excise the improper evidence from the record
and then look to the remaining evidence.” Morris at ¶ 29. Moreover, “the cases where
imposition of harmless error is appropriate must involve either overwhelming evidence of
guilt or some other indicia that the error did not contribute to the conviction.” State v.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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Rahman, 23 Ohio St.3d 146, 151, 492 N.E.2d 401 (1986), quoting State v. Ferguson, 5
Ohio St.3d 160, 166, 450 N.E.2d 265 (1983), fn. 5.
{¶38} The fact that most concerned the Ricks Court was that the declarant who
was the subject of the officer’s testimony was an accomplice, and the state’s evidence
centered predominately around the accomplice. In the instant case, Fletcher is also a
codefendant. The same concern over utilizing the testimonial statements of a
codefendant is theoretically applicable here. Both investigating detectives testified about
statements made by Fletcher which placed Appellant at the scene as the shooter. In
urging prejudice under the plain error standard, Appellant alleges that although he
confessed to shooting Blake, the record reflects that he told several different accounts of
the events that transpired. The testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin had the
effect of bolstering his admission, by corroborating the details of the version of events
(including Appellant’s own) that reflect Appellant’s guilt.
{¶39} While we are troubled by the admission of the testimony of Det./Sgts.
Spotleson and Martin because the testimony went beyond what is allowable by law, the
troubling nature of the testimony is considerably lessened when considering the
remaining evidence presented to the jury. Excising the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson
and Martin, which we are required to do, this record reveals that the jury had before it
overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt. First and foremost, the jury was shown the
videotaped admission of the shooting by Appellant, where he provided a detailed
description of the murder scene and of the events in his own words. His description of
the incident was corroborated by the testimony of Officer Anthony Marzullo who
investigated the scene. It was further corroborated by Dr. Ohr, the medical examiner who
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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not only investigated at the scene but performed the autopsy on Blake. Further, the jury
was taken to the scene of the shooting in order to better visualize the testimony presented
regarding the placement of the shooter in relation to the gunshot wounds suffered by
Blake. We cannot discount the inherent significance of the video confession, where the
jury was able to see Appellant confessing to the crime and describing the scene in detail.
Nor can we second-guess the jury’s credibility determinations in that regard. State v. Hill,
75 Ohio St.3d 195, 205, 661 N.E.2d 1068 (1996). The erroneous testimony regarding
Fletcher’s statements was merely cumulative to testimony already presented by Dr. Ohr,
Officer Marzullo and, most notably, Appellant himself.
{¶40} On review of this record, we conclude that, in view of the particular facts
and circumstances of this case, any error in the hearsay admission of Fletcher’s
statements was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We stress that we reach this
conclusion based on the other overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt, most notably
Appellant’s own detailed videotaped confession, but also the testimony of the other
witnesses, as well as the remaining relevant testimony of both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and
Martin. Based on this record, the cumulative nature of the officers’ testimony was neither
impactful nor prejudicial. Excising that testimony and considering the remaining evidence
presented, the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant was the shooter.
We caution that it is the nature and amount of other relevant evidence that clearly impacts
our review of this matter. Absent the overwhelming evidence of guilt present in this
record, the testimonial hearsay evidence would most likely not be harmless. Based on
the record in this matter, Appellant’s first assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2
The Appellant was denied a fair trial, as guaranteed by the Fourteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Sections 1, 10
and 16 of the Ohio Constitution, due to repeated instances of prosecutorial
misconduct, including having the police vouch for the credibility and
truthfulness of Jasmin Fletcher's out of court statements, for eliciting
testimony regarding the out of court statements and for calling Fletcher's
attorney and introducing evidence regarding her plea of guilty and the
reasons for her assertion of her Fifth Amendment privilege.
{¶41} In his second assignment of error, Appellant asserts multiple instances of
prosecutorial misconduct occurred which deprived him a fair trial. Appellant again refers
to the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin that recounts Fletcher’s statements,
reference to Fletcher’s statements by the state during closing argument, and the state’s
decision to call Fletcher’s attorney as a rebuttal witness in this case.
{¶42} Regarding the testimony of Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin, Appellant
contends both officers improperly vouched for Fletcher’s credibility. During this testimony
the state asked both whether the statements made by Fletcher were corroborated by the
findings of the medical examiner and were corroborated by other information regarding
the scene of the incident. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 320, 418-419.)
{¶43} In determining whether prosecutorial misconduct has occurred, we must
determine whether the comments or questions were improper and, if they were, whether
they prejudiced Appellant’s substantial rights. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 480,
2001-Ohio-4, citing State v. Lott, 5 Ohio St.3d 160, 165, 555 N.E.2d 293 (1990). The
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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benchmark of this analysis is “the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.”
Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 212, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982). Vouching for
a witness occurs when, “the prosecutor implies knowledge of facts outside the record or
places his or her personal credibility in issue.” State v. Davis, 116 Ohio St.3d 404, 2008-
Ohio-2, 880 N.E.2d 31, ¶ 232.
{¶44} In State v. Huff, 145 Ohio App.3d 555, 763 N.E.2d 695 (1st Dist.2001),
relied on by Appellant, the First District reversed a conviction for felonious assault and
concluded a defendant was denied a fair trial when the prosecutor elicited testimony from
a detective about whether he thought the victims in the matter were credible. The
prosecutor in Huff asked the detective whether he thought there was any doubt about the
victims’ identification of the shooter. There was no objection by defense counsel and the
detective responded that he absolutely found the victims credible and that they were
telling the truth.
{¶45} As in Huff, defense counsel did not object to the testimony of Det./Sgts.
Spotleson and Martin regarding Fletcher’s statements, thus waiving all but plain error.
State v. Childs, 14 Ohio St.2d 56, 236 N.E.2d 883 (1968), paragraph three of the syllabus.
As earlier discussed, Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin testified that the statements made
by Fletcher corroborated the findings already made in their investigation as well as those
of Marzullo, who had investigated the scene, and of Dr. Ohr, the medical examiner.
Testifying about whether witness statements match other findings of an investigation is
not akin to vouching for that witness’ credibility. No improper vouching occurs so long as
the prosecutor or the witness does not express any personal belief about another witness’
credibility. Davis, at ¶ 241. While improper on other grounds, there was no improper
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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vouching for the credibility of the declarant, here. Neither Det./Sgts. Spotleson nor Martin
testified that they found Fletcher credible. Simply because information she gave was
consistent with another witness’ findings is not improper vouching.
{¶46} Appellant also contends the prosecutor relied on Det./Sgts. Spotleson and
Martin’s testimony and their allegedly vouching for Fletcher’s credibility during closing
argument by stating:
There were three people there that afternoon. Three people in that stairwell.
Unfortunately, probably the best person of the three isn’t here to tell us what
happened, the other two are. Jasmin Fletcher and Michael Paige both told
the police what happened. They both said where everybody was standing
and they both said who fired the shots.
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 444-445.)
{¶47} Again, while the statements of Fletcher were improperly submitted on other
grounds, no vouching occurred here. The state was recounting the testimony at trial,
including that Appellant’s version of the incident in his admission matched what Fletcher
told the officers. However, the prosecutor neither implied knowledge of facts outside of
the record nor placed his personal credibility at issue by making such argument and again,
if we remove any reference to Fletcher and her statements, as we must, the state’s
observation that Appellant’s confession contained all the relevant information necessary
to find guilt appears accurate. Further, since the jury could actually witness Appellant
confessing to the crime and could accurately judge his credibility for themselves, mention
of the improperly admitted Fletcher statements cannot be error in this instance. State v.
Keene, 81 Ohio St.3d 646, 666, 693 N.E.2d 246. Thus, no plain error is present.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶48} Finally, Appellant alleges prosecutorial misconduct when the state called
Fletcher’s counsel, Attorney Kivlighan, as a rebuttal witness in relation to Fletcher’s
assertion of her Fifth Amendment privilege. The admission of rebuttal testimony is left to
the discretion of the court. State v. Finnerty, 45 Ohio St.3d 104, 106, 543 N.E.2d 1233(1989). The purpose of a rebuttal witness is to allow the state to refute new evidence
offered by the defendant in the presentation of his case. State v. Talley, 7th Dist. No. 97
CA 72, 1998 WL 811347, *5, citing State v. Grinnell, 112 Ohio App.3d 124, 146, 678
N.E.2d 231 (10th Dist.1996). Evidence that is merely cumulative and that does not
contradict or refute evidence presented in the opposing party’s case-in-chief is not proper
rebuttal evidence. State v. Hawn, 138 Ohio App.3d 449, 470, 741 N.E.2d 594 (2nd
Dist.2000) citing State v. Wood, 11th Dist. No. 95-P-0009, 1996 WL 649132. However,
when the evidence contradicts the opposing party and also happens to bolster the state’s
case-in-chief it is not inappropriate. State v. Owens, 2nd Dist. Nos. 14068, 93-CR-214,
1994 WL 683395 (1994) *7.
{¶49} The matter of whether Fletcher was able to assert her Fifth Amendment
privilege against self-incrimination when called as a defense witness in this case was
discussed at length on the record before the jury. While Fletcher initially failed to appear
in this matter, Appellant called Fletcher as a witness after she appeared pursuant to a
material witness warrant issued for her. Once Fletcher refused to testify, invoking the
Fifth Amendment, defense counsel requested the court to instruct Fletcher to respond,
arguing that she had no basis for invoking the privilege. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 389.) The court
inquired as to the state’s position, but the prosecutor left the matter to the trial court’s
discretion. The court then inquired of Fletcher’s attorney, Attorney Kivlighan, who was
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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present in the courtroom, about the basis of Fletcher’s claims to privilege. Citing Mitchell
v. United States, 526 U.S. 314, 119 S.Ct. 1307 (1998), paragraph one of the syllabus,
Kivlighan responded that although Fletcher had pleaded guilty to her role in the matter,
she had not been sentenced. Therefore, absent sentencing pursuant to her plea, her
incrimination was not complete. (1/3/17 Tr., p. 390.) The trial court ruled that Fletcher
could assert her Fifth Amendment rights and refuse to testify. (1/3/17 Tr., pp. 390-391.)
As the matter appeared to be settled, the defense called its next witness. At the close of
the defense’s case, the trial court asked the state to call their rebuttal witness and Atty.
Kivlighan testified, in pertinent part:
Q Through your practice, do you represent a woman by the name of Jasmin
Fletcher?
A I do.
Q And you were present this morning when she came in and took the Fifth
Amendment when she was called to testify, correct?
A That’s correct.
Q You’re representing her in the criminal matters that occurred out of this
incident, correct?
A That’s correct.
***
Q Okay. Are you aware that she has entered pleas of guilty to tampering
with evidence and obstructing justice?
A I’m aware of that, yes.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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Q And have you, on her behalf, filed a motion to vacate those pleas, or that
plea?
A Yes, that motion was filed.
Q Okay. And the effect of that, if that motion was granted, would mean she
has not been found guilty, she would sit here, her case could go to trial,
another plea agreement could be reached, it could be dismissed, but
basically we are starting over from square one, basically?
A Yes, if the motion was granted.
Q Okay. Based on the fact that that motion had been filed, the motion to
vacate the plea, did you discuss with her -- and I am not asking what you
discussed -- did you discuss with her the prospect of her testifying in this
matter?
A In conjunction with filing the motion, we did discuss whether or not she
would testify in this matter.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL] Judge, I’m going to object and can we approach
the bench?
(1/3/17 Tr., pp. 437-439.)
{¶50} At this point, a discussion was had off the record and the trial court then
sustained defense counsel’s objection and the witness was excused.
{¶51} Citing State v. Dinsio, 176 Ohio St. 460, 469, 200 N.E.2d 467 (1964),
Appellant contends the testimony of Atty. Kivlighan as a rebuttal witness was highly
prejudicial and that the state was prevented from calling the rebuttal witness when it knew
that Fletcher would assert her Fifth Amendment privilege. In essence, Appellant contends
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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the state used Kivlighan’s testimony as a way to get highly prejudicial testimony before
the jury when it could not get that direct testimony to the jury through Fletcher. In Dinsio,
the Ohio Supreme Court held that a witness who has indicated he will not testify because
he was invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination cannot be called to
testify and be subjected to continued questioning that goes unanswered in order to get
evidence before a jury using innuendo or inferences. Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus.
If such an attempt occurs, the trial court may instruct the jury to draw no conclusion from
the witness’ decision to invoke the privilege. State v. Abdi, 4th Dist. No. 09CA35, 2011-
Ohio-3550, at ¶ 88.
{¶52} Contrary to Appellant’s assertion, we do not find the rebuttal witness’
testimony prejudicial to Appellant. If anything, placing Attorney Kivilighan on the stand as
a witness could only serve to hurt the state’s case. Fletcher invoked her Fifth Amendment
privilege in front of the jury. This resulted in the codefendant in the case appearing to
admit to a degree of culpability in the matter. By placing her attorney on the stand, the
state now reminded the jury that Appellant’s codefendant in the case invoked her privilege
against self-incrimination. This scenario has the opposite effect of creating prejudice to
Appellant, because it appears that it should only serve to create doubt as to Appellant’s
guilt.
{¶53} The state did not call Fletcher to testify although both parties had
subpoenaed her as a witness. It was when the defense called her to testify that she
invoked the privilege not to testify. It is not apparent from the record that the state had
any prior knowledge that Fletcher would invoke her privilege. Regardless, defense
counsel elected to call her as a witness and it was Appellant’s counsel who questioned
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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her ability to invoke the privilege. Therefore, the issue of whether Fletcher was able to
invoke a Fifth Amendment privilege was raised by the defense and the state offered no
objection or argument on the matter. It appears a discussion was had off the record after
Fletcher was dismissed. There may have been a discussion concerning the use of a
rebuttal witness, but as it was held off the record, this is purely speculation. The trial court
asked the state to proceed with its rebuttal witness without any prior reference to such a
witness in the record. Moreover, there was no initial objection to the state calling
Fletcher’s counsel on rebuttal. Counsel objected to the testimony only when questioning
progressed to the issue of whether Fletcher would testify in the instant case. Atty.
Kivlighan’s testimony could be construed as cumulative as the issue of Fletcher’s guilty
pleas had been raised at the time she invoked her privilege. However, as his testimony
also raised the status of those guilty pleas and the potential for her to go to trial on the
offense charged, if it was error to allow this witness to testify, the testimony itself had no
prejudicial effect on Appellant’s trial. In fact, if it caused any harm this harm could only
be on the state which had elected not to call Fletcher as a witness. The trial court did not
abuse its discretion in admitting the rebuttal testimony nor did any prosecutorial
misconduct occur. Appellant’s second assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
The Appellant received ineffective assistance of trial counsel when his trial
attorney failed to failed to [sic] object to numerous instances of prosecutorial
misconduct and the admission of clearly inadmissible hearsay statements
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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and failed to file a motion to suppress statements made by Appellant, to his
girlfriend, that were surreptitiously recorded by the police.
{¶54} In his third assignment of error, Appellant claims he received ineffective
assistance of counsel when trial counsel failed to object to prosecutorial misconduct and
the admission of hearsay, and failed to file a motion to suppress the conversation
recorded between Appellant and his girlfriend after he admitted to being the shooter.
{¶55} In a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, a reviewing court is highly
deferential to trial counsel’s strategy and must indulge in a strong presumption that
counsel’s performance fell within a wide range of reasonable professional assistance.
State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). Appellant bears
the burden of demonstrating that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard
of professional competence. If successful in demonstrating that counsel committed
professional error, the appellant must then demonstrate he was prejudiced by that
deficiency. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674(1984).
{¶56} “Deficient performance” means performance falling below an objective
standard of reasonable representation. Strickland at 687-688. “Prejudice” in this context,
means a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different. Id. at 694. Reversal as a result of prejudice from defective
representation is justified only where the results are unreliable or the proceeding was
clearly fundamentally unfair due to counsel’s performance. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d
545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995).
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶57} “An ineffectiveness claim * * * is an attack on the fundamental fairness of
the proceeding whose result is challenged.” Id. at 697. An appellant’s burden when
challenging the effectiveness of counsel is to demonstrate that some action or inaction by
counsel operated to undermine or call into question the integrity of the process that
resulted in conviction. State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279, 289, 714 N.E.2d 905 (1999).
{¶58} The testimony of both Det./Sgts. Spotleson and Martin was reviewed in
Appellant’s first assignment of error. The admission of the testimony was error, but
resulted in no prejudice to Appellant, as the overwhelming evidence at trial supported
Appellant’s convictions. It is not enough that any error by counsel can be shown to have
“some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136,
142, 538 N.E.2d 373, at fn. 1, quoting Strickland, at 693. Although an objection to the
testimony may have been appropriate, we cannot conclude that the failure to do so
resulted in prejudice that undermined the “fundamental fairness” of the proceedings.
Strickland, at 697. Again, the jury had before it the videotaped confession by Appellant
that he shot Blake. Standing alone, this was sufficient to establish guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. Further, allowing the officers to testify about what Fletcher told them
does reveal a potential trial strategy, as Fletcher was the prime suspect and Appellant’s
involvement was not known to the police until Fletcher raised it. Potentially, trial counsel
wanted to show that Fletcher was the shooter and that she implicated Appellant only to
shift the focus from her own guilt. Regardless, there is no ineffective assistance shown,
here.
{¶59} Appellant also asserts counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to
suppress the recorded conversation between Appellant and his girlfriend for “invasion of
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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privacy.” According to the record, the conversation took place after Appellant’s second
interview where he confessed he was the shooter. Following his confession, his girlfriend
was allowed to visit him in the interview room. Det./Sgt. Spotleson testified on cross-
examination that the recording equipment was still on and that the camera was hidden.
(1/3/17 Tr., p. 366.) Det./Sgt. Spotleson also testified that Appellant was not told he was
being recorded while speaking with his girlfriend. Id. The conversation between
Appellant and his girlfriend is brief. In this portion of the video, the jury could see Appellant
apologizing to his girlfriend and clearly stating “I told them I shot him,” and “I pulled the
trigger.” (State’s Exh. 66.) No actual testimony was elicited from any witness regarding
Appellant’s conversation with his girlfriend and there was no indication that any new
information was gleaned by law enforcement during the conversation. In fact, contrary to
Appellant’s assertion that the state “heavily relied” on the conversation in its closing
argument, other than being raised in the briefs before us, the only reference is in the
state’s closing where the prosecutor stated, “[b]ut in the end, he still says, I pulled the
trigger. And he tells his girlfriend that outside the presence of the police.” (1/3/17 Tr., pp.
457- 458.)
{¶60} The “failure to file a suppression motion does not constitute per se
ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St.3d 378, 389, 721 N.E.2d
52 (2000) citing Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 384, 106 S.Ct. 2574, 91 L.Ed.2d.
305 (1986). Under the two-part test for assessing whether trial counsel was ineffective,
we look first to whether trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of
reasonable competence. This portion of the video was played to the jury after they had
already seen Appellant’s videotaped confession to the detectives. The only other
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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reference at trial to the conversation was briefly in the state’s closing argument. It is clear
counsel could not be deemed ineffective for failing to seek suppression of the recording.
As Appellant had just admitted to the detectives that he was the shooter, the same
admission by Appellant to his girlfriend would be only cumulative evidence for the state.
The video itself shows Appellant and his girlfriend embracing and crying as he informed
her that he shot the victim.
{¶61} Appellant cites our holding in State v. Clemons, 7th Dist. No. 10 BE 7, 2011-
Ohio-1177 as support. However, Appellant concedes that we held in Clemons that there
can be no reasonable expectation of privacy in a police interrogation room. In Clemons,
the defendant argued that a recording of his conversation with his wife in the police
interrogation room constituted a violation of the Fourth Amendment and Ohio electronic
surveillance laws. Id. at ¶ 3. The defendant had voluntarily given a statement to police
in the interrogation room and was informed of his Miranda rights. All interrogations in the
room were recorded although interviewees were not informed unless they asked. At the
end of the interview Clemons was given five minutes to speak with his wife. Clemons
admitted to his wife, “I’m caught.” Id. at ¶ 55. The conversation was recorded on video.
Clemons filed a motion to suppress based on spousal privilege. R.C. 2317.02(B). The
trial court denied the motion to suppress. On appeal, Clemons abandoned the spousal
privilege argument and contended the recording violated his Fourth Amendment right
against illegal search and seizure. Id. at ¶ 57. We affirmed the judgment of the trial court
concluding:
[T]here is really nothing to distinguish a police interrogation room from
conversations in the back of a police car. Leaving the interrogation room
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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and closing the door is similar to leaving a patrol car and closing the door
(or walking away where the subjects can see the officer is too far away to
overhear their conversation).
Id. at ¶ 75.
{¶62} We held that the trial court “could rationally find that an objective person
had no reasonable expectation of privacy under the circumstances existing herein.” Id.
at ¶ 76. As in Clemons, Appellant had admitted his crime to the police officers and was
allowed to speak with his girlfriend directly afterward. Appellant distinguishes Clemons
based on the fact that the interrogation room in that case had a large mirror which would
indicate that there was surveillance. However, this argument is not persuasive. As in
Clemons, the camera was hidden, the subjects were not informed they were being
recorded. Notably, also as in Clemons, Appellant was under arrest and in custody before
his interview and had been read his Miranda warnings. At the time he had the
conversation with his girlfriend, he had spent over an hour in the interrogation room with
two police detectives to whom he admitted that he shot Blake. Based on these
circumstances and as in Clemons, “[t]he general public has no reason to frequent” a
police interrogation room “or to believe that it is a sanctuary for private discussions.” State
v. Wynter, 2d Dist. No. 97CA76, 1998 WL 127092, at *6 quoting U.S. v. Clark, 22 F.3d
799, 801-802, (8th Cir.1994). We conclude that Appellant had no reasonable expectation
of privacy in the interrogation room. Therefore, there was no violation of his privacy or
Fourth Amendment rights. As such, trial counsel’s decision not to file a motion to
suppress the conversation was not deficient performance under the Strickland standard
for ineffective assistance of counsel as Appellant has not demonstrated that the filing of
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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the motion to suppress would have a reasonable probability of success. State v. Gettings,
7th Dist. No. 16 MA 0050, 2017-Ohio-7764, at ¶ 24. Appellant’s third assignment of error
is without merit and is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 4
The cumulative effect of numerous errors deprived Appellant of his right to
a fair trial.
{¶63} Appellant contends that the cumulative effect of numerous errors at trial
deprived him of a right to a fair trial. Specifically, Appellant contends that his previous
assigned errors relating to the Confrontation Clause, ineffective assistance of counsel
and unreasonable search and seizure all culminate in a violation of his right to a fair trial
although each of the errors individually do not warrant a reversal.
{¶64} Under the doctrine of cumulative error, a conviction will be reversed when
the cumulative effect of multiple errors, which are deemed harmless by themselves, in
combination deprive a defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial. State v. Thomas,
7th Dist. No. 17 BE 0028, 2018-Ohio-3768, ¶ 53 citing State v. Baer, 7th Dist. No. 07 HA
8, 2009-Ohio-3248, ¶ 82 and State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623(1995). However, the cumulative error doctrine does not apply when the errors alleged
are nonexistent. Id.; State v. Brown, 100 Ohio St.3d 51, 2003-Ohio-5059, 796 N.E.2d
506, ¶ 48.
{¶65} It is not sufficient to just “intone the phrase cumulative error.” State v. Agee,
7th Dist. No. 14 MA 0094, 2016-Ohio-7183, ¶ 72 citing State v. Young, 7th Dist. No. 07
MA 120, 2008-Ohio-5046, ¶ 65, quoting State v. Bethel, 110 Ohio St.3d 416, 2006-Ohio-
4853, 854 N.E.2d 150, ¶ 197. “Thus, where an appellant raises the doctrine without
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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further analysis, the assignment of error has been held to lack substance.” Agee at ¶ 72,
quoting Young, supra, at ¶ 65, citing State v. Sapp, 105 Ohio St.3d 104, 2004-Ohio-7008,
822 N.E.2d 1239, ¶ 103.
{¶66} Considering our resolution of the assignments of error on this appeal, all
errors claimed by Appellant either fail or are harmless. Thus, there is no cumulative
prejudicial error. Appellant does not engage in any analysis regarding how the alleged
cumulative error resulted in a prejudice or denial of a fair trial. Therefore, Appellant’s
fourth assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 5
Appellant was denied his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial
and his right to the effective assistance of counsel when counsel filed [sic]
to seek his discharge on speedy trial grounds.
{¶67} In his fifth assignment of error, Appellant contends he was not brought to
trial in a reasonable time after two mistrials were declared, in violation of his right to a
speedy trial.
{¶68} Appellant acknowledges that his trial counsel failed to raise the issue of
speedy trial before the trial court. (Appellant’s Brf., p. 40.) The issue of speedy trial
cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. The failure to file an appropriately timed
motion on speedy trial grounds constitutes a waiver of the issue on appeal. State v.
Hergenroder, 7th Dist. No. 07 CO 17, 2008-Ohio-2410, ¶ 13 citing State v. Trummer, 114
Ohio App.3d 456, 470-471, 683 N.E.2d 392 (7th Dist.1996); State v. Turner, 168 Ohio
App.3d 176, 2006-Ohio-3786, 858 N.E.2d 1249, ¶ 21 (5th Dist.).
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶69} However, even if Appellant had not waived this issue for purposes of
appeal, a review of this record indicates no speedy trial violation. Appellant’s time
calculation for speedy trial purposes is two-fold. First, he contends that as his charges
were felonies, his speedy trial time under R.C. 2945.71(C) was 270 days. Second,
Appellant urges that as he was being held solely on these charges, he was entitled to the
triple-count provision enumerated under R.C. 2945.71(D), bringing his speedy trial time
to 90 days. Although Appellant references R.C. 2945.71(D), the triple-count provision is
set forth in R.C. 2945.71(E).
{¶70} Appellant’s calculation is as follows. He was arrested on March 3, 2012
and indicted on March 8, 2012. He executed a waiver of speedy trial on April 25, 2012.
He executed an unlimited waiver on September 13, 2012. Appellant filed a pro se
revocation of his speedy trial waiver which was never ruled on by the trial court. Finally,
he was not brought to trial until January 3, 2017. He contends he was held for 54 days
when he initially executed his limited waiver and his unlimited waiver was effective until
June 9, 2015, when he filed his pro se revocation of that unlimited waiver. Appellant
concedes that in the 18 months between filing his pro se revocation and the time the third
trial commenced, some time was tolled for his competency evaluation and for the trial
court’s sua sponte declaration of a mistrial based on his federal habeas petition, but
Appellant still contends that the state still failed to bring him to trial within a reasonable
time period.
{¶71} The state responds that no speedy trial violation occurred because when
utilizing the proper standard and accounting for tolling, Appellant was brought to trial
within a reasonable time period.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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{¶72} R.C. 2945.71(C) provides, “[a] person against whom a charge of felony is
pending: * * * (2) [s]hall be brought to trial within two hundred seventy days after the
person’s arrest.”
The triple-count provision asserted by Appellant provides, in pertinent part:
For purposes of computing time under divisions (A), (B), (C)(2), and (D) of
this section, each day during which the accused is held in jail in lieu of bail
on the pending charge shall be counted as three days.
R.C. 2945.71(E).
{¶73} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that the triple-count provision of R.C.
2945.71(E) does not apply to retrials after a jury was unable to reach a verdict. State v.
Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 21, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). The Fanning Court noted that the
statute was “not applicable to retrials” and “the standard to be applied” is “basically
reasonableness under federal and state constitutions.” Id. That holding was restated in
State v Hull, 110 Ohio St.3d 183, 2006-Ohio-4252, ¶ 14. In Hull the Court also concluded
that R.C. 2945.71 did not apply to criminal convictions overturned on appeal. Id. at
paragraph one of the syllabus. The Court has reasoned that as the statute does not refer
to retrials, it is only to be applied to an original trial. Id., at ¶ 21. The Hull Court concluded
that 149 days is reasonable under the federal and state constitutions for speedy trial
purposes after a matter has been remanded by an appellate court. Id. at paragraph two
of the syllabus.
{¶74} Here, Appellant executed an unlimited waiver on April 25, 2012. The first
trial commenced on February 25, 2014. That jury found him not guilty of the aggravated
murder charge but was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the other charges. A
Case No. 17 MA 0033
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mistrial was declared by the trial court in a judgment entry dated March 4, 2014.
Appellant’s second trial on the remaining charges began on January 11, 2016. This also
resulted in a mistrial, as Appellant had filed a federal habeas petition relating to the matter
on October 7, 2015. The habeas was not dismissed until September 16, 2016.
Appellant’s third trial commenced on January 3, 2017 and the jury found him guilty of the
remaining charges. Doing a calculation of the time periods here and considering all tolling
events, Appellant was brought to trial within 109 days. We conclude that 109 days is
reasonable under the federal and state constitutions. Therefore, Appellant’s right to a
speedy trial was not violated. Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
Conclusion
{¶75} Appellant has not established any Confrontation Clause violation rising to
the level of harmful error, nor has he established prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective
assistance of trial counsel, cumulative error or a speedy trial violation. Appellant’s
assignments of error are without merit and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Donofrio, J., concurs.
Robb, J., concurs.
Case No. 17 MA 0033
[Cite as State v. Paige, 2019-Ohio-1088.]
For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, the assignments of error
are overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of
the Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs waived.
A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate
in this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that
a certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into
execution.
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
This document constitutes a final judgment entry.