State v. Rosemond

[Cite as State v. Rosemond, 2019-Ohio-5356.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-180221
TRIAL NO. B-1507143
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
ANTHONY ROSEMOND, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed in Part, Vacated in Part, and Cause
Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: December 27, 2019
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Philip R. Cummings,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Raymond T. Faller, Hamilton County Public Defender, Joshua A. Thompson and
Krista M. Gieske, Assistant Public Defenders, for Defendant-Appellant.
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M OCK , Presiding Judge.
{¶1} In eight assignments of error, defendant-appellant Anthony
Rosemond claims that he was improperly convicted of murder with specifications, a
special felony, three counts of felonious assault with specifications, felonies of the
second degree, three counts of having a weapon while under a disability, felonies of
the third degree, trafficking in heroin with a specification, a felony of the second
degree, and trafficking in cocaine with a specification, a felony of the fourth degree.
We affirm the decision of the trial court.
{¶2} The counts in the indictment issued against Rosemond arise from two
separate core incidents. The first nine counts relate to an event that occurred on
December 8, 2015. On that date, gunmen attacked four individuals who were sitting
inside of a car near the Schwarz Market in Cincinnati. The shooting resulted in the
death of one individual and the injury of the other three. As a result of those events,
Rosemond was indicted for murder, felony murder, three counts of felonious assault
causing serious bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon,
and one count of having a weapon while under a disability.
{¶3} The second event occurred five days prior. On that date, police
officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle at the nearby Fay Apartments in which
they later came to believe Rosemond had been a passenger. After finding cocaine in
the car, officers then searched a unit in the Fay Apartments to which they believed
Rosemond had access. After police found additional drugs and two handguns,
Rosemond was indicted for trafficking in and possession of heroin, trafficking in and
possession of cocaine, and two counts of having a weapon while under a disability.
{¶4} Following several pretrial motions, the cause was tried before a jury
for six days. Rosemond was found guilty on all counts and related specifications. At
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sentencing, the trial court merged a number of counts as allied offenses of similar
import. Rosemond was then sentenced to an aggregate total of 57 years to life in
prison.
The Traffic Stop and Fay
Apartment Search
{¶5} Early in the morning of December 3, 2015, Cincinnati police officers
Robert Wilson and Danny Brockmann were patrolling the Fay Apartments—a large
apartment complex on the west side of the city. As they were driving down one of the
streets within the complex, they were passed by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of
speed. The officers testified that they believed they saw two adults in the front seats
of the car as it drove past. The officers turned their cruiser around and attempted to
follow the vehicle, but soon lost sight of it.
{¶6} A few minutes later, the officers came upon the vehicle in a parking
lot behind one of the buildings in the complex. By the time officers approached the
vehicle, there was one adult in the driver’s seat and no front passenger. The driver
was a woman named Jourdan Bailey. Officers described her as rude and curt in her
interactions with them. Bailey’s five-year-old son was in the back seat of the car.
Bailey denied living in the complex, but the computer records the officers checked
demonstrated otherwise. Bailey told the officers that she was visiting a cousin who
lived in the complex, and that she had driven behind the apartment building to let
her son urinate there.
{¶7} The officers searched the vehicle and found a bag of cocaine lodged
between the passenger seat and the door. They also found a large, distinctive Pelle
Pelle leather jacket with a state-issued identification card belonging to Rosemond in
the pocket. The officers retained the identification and returned the jacket to the
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back seat. Bailey was arrested for cocaine possession. When Bailey was arrested, her
son began to cry and told officers that his dad had just jumped out of the car.
{¶8} The officers noticed that Bailey had a key on her key chain that they
recognized as a key for an apartment in the Fay Apartments. The officers went to the
apartment in which records indicated Bailey resided. When they determined that the
key opened the door, they conducted a protective sweep of the apartment to ensure
that Rosemond was not inside. Their intent was to secure the apartment while they
obtained a search warrant. After obtaining the search warrant, officers found a
digital scale, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and two pistols.
The Death of Jonathan Austin
{¶9} Five days later, Jonathan Austin and three friends arrived at the
Schwarz Market, located near the Fay Apartments. Austin had been trying to keep a
low profile because he had testified in the trial of a man who had killed Austin’s
cousin. The four men were at the market to purchase marijuana. Ariontez Nared
went into the store to purchase marijuana, while Austin, Deion Willingham, and
Dante Williams waited in the car. When Nared returned to the vehicle, two to three
gunmen approached the vehicle and began firing. Austin died at the scene from his
injuries, and Nared, Willingham, and Williams were all injured.
{¶10} The shooting was captured by various security cameras in the area.
One of the officers who had arrested Bailey viewed the video recordings and
recognized the Pelle Pelle jacket from the Fay Apartment stop. At trial, Nared
testified and identified Rosemond as the shooter. The jacket, when retrieved by law
enforcement, had gunshot residue on the sleeve.
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Severance
{¶11} In his first assignment of error, Rosemond claims that the trial court
erred when it allowed the counts related to the December 3 traffic stop to be tried
along with those related to the December 8 shootings. Before trial, counsel had filed
a motion to sever the December 3 counts from the December 8 counts. Citing only
Crim.R. 14, he argued that the two sets of counts “occurred separate and apart” from
one another, they were different kinds of offenses, and the admission of the evidence
concerning one set of offenses would not have been proper in a trial of the second set
pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B). Rosemond filed a supplemental motion for severance,
again citing only Crim.R. 14, arguing that the two of the weapons-under-disability
counts should be tried separately. He later filed a second supplemental motion,
again citing only Crim.R.14, asking the trial court to sever a third weapons-under-
disability charge. Trial counsel renewed the motion, as supplemented, at the
beginning of the case; but he failed to renew it at the close of the state’s case or at the
close of the evidence. While the dissent indicates that we have confused Crim.R. 14
with Crim.R. 8, Rosemond never made his argument pursuant to Crim.R. 8. This
includes the fact that Rosemond’s argument on appeal was limited to arguing the
failure of the trial court to grant his “motion to sever” filed pursuant to Cri.R. 14.
Rosemond has not argued—below or to this court—that the joinder of offenses
violated Crim.R. 8. We therefore restrict our analysis to the arguments presented
below.
{¶12} Rosemond recognizes that he failed to properly renew his motion
below, but argues that the trial court committed plain error when it failed to order
severance. While counsel for Rosemond did renew the motion, he renewed it at the
beginning of trial. This was insufficient. As this court recently noted, the failure to
renew a motion to sever at the close of the state’s case and the close of the evidence
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constitutes a waiver of that argument on appeal. State v. Savage, 1st Dist. Hamilton
No. C-180413, 2019-Ohio-4859, ¶ 17, citing State v. Bennie, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
020497, 2004-Ohio-1264, ¶ 20.
{¶13} But a mere forfeiture by failure to preserve an issue does not
extinguish a claim of plain error under Crim.R. 52(B). See State v. Payne, 114 Ohio
St.3d 502, 2007-Ohio-4642, 873 N.E.2d 306, ¶ 23. To prevail on a claim of plain
error, an accused must show that an error occurred, that the error was plain, and
that the error affected the outcome of the trial. See Crim.R. 52(B); State v. Barnes,
94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002). An appellant must demonstrate a
reasonable probability that the error resulted in prejudice. See State v. Rogers, 143
Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 22. In this case, we conclude that
Rosemond cannot demonstrate plain error because the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it denied the motion to sever.
{¶14} Generally, the law favors joinder because a single trial will conserve
time and expense and may minimize the potentially disparate outcomes that can
result from successive trials before different juries. State v. Schiebel, 55 Ohio St.3d
71, 86-87, 564 N.E.2d 54 (1990). Where a defendant claims that joinder was
improper, he must affirmatively show that his rights were prejudiced. See State v.
Roberts, 62 Ohio St.2d 170, 175, 405 N.E.2d 247 (1980); see also Crim.R. 14.
{¶15} A reviewing court will conclude that joinder was not prejudicial if it
makes one of two determinations. State v. Wiles, 59 Ohio St.3d 71, 77, 571 N.E.2d 97(1991). The first determination, known as the “other acts test,” may negate prejudice
from joinder if the state could have introduced evidence of one offense in a separate
trial of another offense under the other-acts provision of Evid.R. 404(B). State v.
Franklin, 62 Ohio St.3d 118, 122, 580 N.E.2d 1 (1991). The second determination,
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known as the “joinder test,” requires only a showing that the evidence of each of the
joined offenses is “simple and distinct.” Id. As this court described it,
[t]he object of the “simple and distinct” test is to prevent the jury from
improperly considering evidence of various crimes as corroborative of
each other. “[T]he very essence of this rule is that the evidence be such
that the jury is unlikely to be confused by it or misuse it.” Generally,
under the simple-and-distinct test, if the evidence of each offense is
direct and uncomplicated, it is presumed that the trier of fact is
capable of segregating the proof and not cumulating evidence of the
various offenses being tried.
(Citations omitted.) State v. Echols, 128 Ohio App.3d 677, 694, 716 N.E.2d 728 (1st
Dist.1998).
{¶16} In this case, the evidence related to the counts arising from the
December 3 traffic stop was distinct from the evidence related to the December 8
shooting. The jury in this case was unlikely to have confused which evidence related
to which incident. See State v. Brinkley, 105 Ohio St.3d 231, 2005-Ohio-1507, 824
N.E.2d 959, ¶ 37 (the jury would not have been confused about what evidence proved
the murder and what evidence proved an unrelated aggravated robbery).
{¶17} In order to analyze the question of whether misjoinder resulted in
prejudice, the dissent cites United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 450, 106 S.Ct. 725, 88
L.Ed.2d 814 (1986). In that case, the United States Supreme Court said that a court
should consider (1) whether the evidence of guilt was overwhelming and the effect of any
improperly admitted evidence on the verdict; (2) the steps taken to mitigate the effects
of the error; and (3) the extent to which the improperly admitted evidence as to the
misjoined counts would have been admissible at trial on the other counts. Id. But that
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case, and the other cases referenced in that section of the dissent’s analysis, are all
applying the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
{¶18} In Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court has established the two-prong test set
forth above for considering prejudicial misjoinder under Ohio law. Importantly, federal
courts have not adopted the alternate consideration of whether the evidence as to each
set of charges is simple and distinct. The applicability of the simple-and-distinct test has
recently been confirmed by the Ohio Supreme Court. See State v. Ford, Slip Opinion
No. 2019-Ohio-4539, ¶ 104 (when the evidence is “simple and distinct,” an accused is
not prejudiced by joinder regardless of the nonadmissibility of evidence of the crimes
as other acts under Evid.R. 404(B)). Thus, if the state can meet the requirements of
the “simple and direct test,” it need not meet the requirements of the stricter “other
acts test.” Franklin, 62 Ohio St.3d at 122, 580 N.E.2d 1.
{¶19} Because the evidence relating to each set of counts was simple and
distinct, Rosemond cannot show that he was prejudiced by the joinder of the counts
in a single trial. We overrule his first assignment of error.
Unrecorded Sidebars
{¶20} In his second assignment of error, Rosemond claims that the trial
court erred and violated his right to a public trial when it failed to record 15 sidebar
conferences during the course of the trial. Crim.R. 22 requires the recording of
sidebar conferences in serious-offense cases. State v. Davis, 1st Dist. Hamilton No.
C-130198, 2014-Ohio-794, ¶ 13, citing State v. Brewer, 48 Ohio St.3d 50, 60-61, 549
N.E.2d 491 (1990), and State v. Keenan, 81 Ohio St.3d 133, 139, 689 N.E.2d 929(1998). Under the rule, the failure to record sidebar conversations is error. Davis at
¶ 15. But the requirement “does not mean that the trial record must be perfect for
the purposes of appellate review.” State v. Ketterer, 111 Ohio St.3d 70, 2006-Ohio-
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5283, 855 N.E.2d 48, ¶ 158, quoting State v. Palmer, 80 Ohio St.3d 543, 687 N.E.2d
685 (1997), syllabus. The defendant must also show prejudice, and “prejudice will
not be presumed from the mere existence of * * * unrecorded bench and chambers
conferences * * *.” Palmer.
{¶21} Rosemond has acknowledged that this court has addressed this issue
on several occasions. He first argues that our previous cases have only addressed
situations in which the trial court had, after failing to record sidebar discussions,
summarized what had occurred during the unrecorded discussions. Rosemond
concludes that “due to the absence of detailed summaries, this court should reverse
Mr. Rosemond’s conviction[s] without a prejudice analysis because the failure to
provide detailed summaries amounts to a flagrant violation of Crim.R. 22.”
{¶22} In essence, Rosemond claims that such a failure constitutes structural
error. “Structural errors,” defy analysis by “harmless error” standards because they
“affect[ ] the framework within which the trial proceeds, rather than simply [being]
an error in the trial process itself.” Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 309-310,
111 S.Ct. 1246, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991). Consequently, a structural error mandates a
finding of “per se prejudice.” State v. Fisher, 99 Ohio St.3d 127, 2003-Ohio-2761,
789 N.E.2d 222, ¶ 9.
{¶23} In determining whether an alleged error is “structural,” we begin with
the inquiry of whether the alleged error “involves the deprivation of a constitutional
right.” Id. at ¶ 18. “[T]he trial-error/structural-error distinction is irrelevant unless
it is first established that constitutional error has occurred.” State v. Esparza, 74
Ohio St.3d 660, 662, 660 N.E.2d 1194 (1996). While Rosemond only argues that the
violation of Crim.R. 22 is the basis for his argument, he separately argues that the
failure to record the sidebar conversations violated his constitutional right to a public
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trial. And so we will consider whether the failure to record the sidebar conversations
in this case amounted to a violation of Rosemond’s constitutional rights.
{¶24} The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as applied to
the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, guarantees that “[i]n all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” Section
10, Article I, of the Ohio Constitution also guarantees an accused the right to a public
trial. Rosemond has cited no authority to support his argument that the failure to
record sidebar discussions violates a criminal defendant’s right to a public trial. Our
research has also found no such authority. So, as a case of first impression, we
consider the question by examining the nature of the right to a public trial.
{¶25} As the Eighth Appellate District has noted, the right to a public trial
has historically been recognized as
a safeguard against possible infringements by the court against the
accused. An open courtroom is necessary to preserve and support the
fair administration of justice because it encourages witnesses to come
forward and be heard by the public, discourages perjury by the
witnesses, and ensures that the judge and prosecutor will carry out
their duties properly. Also, a public trial allows the general public to
see that the defendant is “fairly dealt with and not unjustly
condemned, and that the presence of interested spectators may keep
his triers keenly alive to a sense of their responsibility and to the
importance of their functions.”
State v. Grant, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87556, 2007-Ohio-1460, ¶ 12, quoting Waller
v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 43, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31 (1984).
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{¶26} Nothing about the rationale for the constitutional guarantee, or the
cases that have outlined its protection, lead to the conclusion that the failure to
transcribe sidebar conversations violates a criminal defendant’s right to a public
trial. Caselaw applying the right to a public trial addresses litigation in which the
proceedings were closed to the public for a limited period of time, see State v.
Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084, 854 N.E.2d 1038 (closure during
the cross-examination of a witness), State v. Morris, 157 Ohio App.3d 395, 2004-
Ohio-2870, 811 N.E.2d 577 (1st Dist.) (closure during sentencing hearing), or
excluding certain spectators, see State v. Moton, 2018-Ohio-737, 107 N.E.3d 203(8th Dist.). Both implicate the protection.
{¶27} The commonality among the caselaw is that the constitutional right to
a public trial centers around members of the public having access to the proceedings
and the opportunity to observe them as they occur. It is this safeguard that both
ensures that the proceedings are conducted fairly and assures the public that justice
is being done. There is nothing about this constitutional protection that implicates
the manner in which the record of the proceedings is maintained for review later,
and we see no reason to expand that line of jurisprudence to do so.
{¶28} Since the failure to record sidebar discussions during a trial does not
implicate a constitutional right, that failure cannot constitute structural error. See
State v. Issa 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 74, 752 N.E.2d 904 (2001) (Cook, J., concurring).
Therefore, Rosemond’s protestations notwithstanding, we must consider the
question of prejudice and his failure to preserve the record.
{¶29} Rosemond concedes that he did not object to the failure to record
sidebar conversations. “[T]he defendant must show prejudice from the failure to
record, especially where the defendant does not object to the procedure employed by
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the court.” State v. Hackney, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150375, 2016-Ohio-4609, ¶
44. “We will not reverse because of unrecorded proceedings when the defendant
failed to object and fails to demonstrate material prejudice.” Drummond, 111 Ohio
St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084, 854 N.E.2d 1038, at ¶ 135.
{¶30} This court has repeatedly held that this prejudice is established by
demonstrating the substance of the sidebar conversations through the
supplementation of the record pursuant to App.R. 9(C). See State v. Hendrix, 1st
Dist. Hamilton No. C-150194, 2016-Ohio-2697, ¶ 34. Rosemond argues that these
cases are distinguishable because the trial court had summarized the sidebar
conversations therein, whereas in this case no summaries were placed on the record.
But Rosemond misunderstands the significance of those summaries in our previous
jurisprudence. Those cases did not turn on the presence or absence of summaries.
Rather, this court held that, because the defendants had not supplemented the
record pursuant to App.R. 9(C), they were left with the starting point that the trial
court had accurately summarized the unrecorded conversations. As this court
reasoned,
Here, Davis has not prepared a statement pursuant to App.R. 9(C), but
instead attempts to rely on the trial court’s summary of the sidebar
conferences, which he argues is equivalent to the reconstruction of the
record required by App.R. 9. Although Davis failed to comply with
App.R. 9(C), we find that his failure did not result in a waiver of this
issue on appeal or prevent us from effectively reviewing the record
because the record does contain a transcription of the trial court’s
summaries. By failing to supplement the record, and by relying on the
summaries proffered by the trial court, Davis has accepted the trial
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court’s summaries as accurate representations of what took place
during the unrecorded sidebar conferences.
State v. Davis, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130198, 2014-Ohio-794, ¶ 14. Thus, the
summaries did not affect our analysis; they instead served as the substitute for the
App.R. 9(C) summaries for the purpose of determining the content of the unrecorded
sidebar discussions.
{¶31} So while the absence of summaries by the trial court differentiates
this case from our previous jurisprudence, their absence made it even more
important for Rosemond to have supplemented the record in order to establish that
he had been prejudiced by the failure to record the sidebar discussions. Without that
information, we are unable to determine whether the failure to record the exact
discussions prejudiced Rosemond in the prosecution of his appeal. The mere failure
to record them is, on its own, insufficient. As Rosemond failed to object to the
unrecorded sidebar discussions and has failed to demonstrate prejudice, we overrule
his second assignment of error.
Ineffective Assistance
{¶32} In his third assignment of error, Rosemond claims that his trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to file a m0tion to suppress the evidence seized
when law enforcement searched the apartment in the Fay Apartments. We disagree.
{¶33} In establishing a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, a
defendant must make a two-part showing. The defendant must first show that
counsel made errors so serious that he or she was not functioning as the “counsel”
guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1986). The defendant must then
show that this deficient performance prejudiced his or her defense. This requires a
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showing that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair
trial—the result of which was unreliable. Id. In other words, but for counsel’s errors,
there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would be different. Id.
at 694. Unless a defendant makes both showings, “it cannot be said that the
conviction * * * resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the
result unreliable.” Id. As to deficient performance, “a court must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance.” Id. at 689.
{¶34} Our analysis of this issue begins by noting that 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). Thus, the
failure to file a motion to suppress constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel only
when the record establishes that the motion would have been successful if made. In
re M.E., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-140586, 2015-Ohio-3663, ¶ 7. However, even
when some evidence in the record supports a motion to suppress, we presume that
defense counsel was effective if “the defense counsel could reasonably have decided
that the filing of a motion to suppress would have been a futile act.” State v.
Edwards, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 69077, 1996 WL 388761, *2 (July 11, 1996), citing
State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1982).
{¶35} Rosemond claims that police needed a search warrant before entering
the apartment at the Fay Apartments in the first instance. The state counters that
law enforcement only entered the apartment for the limited purpose of ascertaining
if Rosemond was inside. While executing this protective sweep, the state continues,
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the contraband was in the open, and the officers saw it incidentally to that protective
sweep.
{¶36} Because a motion to suppress was not filed, what little we know about
the nature of the search in this case came forth during the trial. Officer Wilson
testified that he tried the key he had retrieved from Bailey in the door, and it fit the
apartment. He then testified that “we did a protective sweep of the apartment to
secure the scene for a search warrant.” During that sweep, officers saw a digital scale
on the kitchen counter that appeared to have white residue on it. After police
determined that no one was in the home, they secured the apartment and obtained a
search warrant.
{¶37} This court addressed the issue of the need to secure a location when it
is possible that a person may be inside in State v. Martin,
Because of the presumption of unreasonableness that attaches
to all warrantless home entries, the burden is on the government to
demonstrate exigent circumstances. Welsh v. Wisconsin[, 466 U.S.
740, 750, 104 S.Ct. 2091, 80 L.Ed.2d 732 (1984)]. In determining
whether the government has met its burden, no single fact is
considered dispositive; rather, the totality of the circumstances must
demonstrate that the law enforcement agents were confronted with a
compelling need to make an immediate entry. United States v.
Crespo[, 834 F.2d 267 (2d Cir.1987).] * * * The circumstances must
demonstrate all the following: (1) clear evidence of probable cause; (2)
a crime of sufficient severity; (3) likely destruction of evidence; (4) an
intrusion only of the scope necessary to protect the evidence; and (5)
clearly defined indicators of exigency that are not subject to police
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manipulation or abuse. United States v. Aquino[, 836 F.2d 1268, 1270
(10th Cir.1970)].
While the presence of contraband does not, without more, give
rise to exigent circumstances, there is a recognition that in narcotic
cases the need to invoke the exigent-circumstances exception may be
“particularly compelling” given the relative ease with which narcotics
in powder or chemical form can be quickly destroyed. See United
States v. Tobin[, 923 F.2d 1506, 1509 (11th Cir.1991), certiorari
denied 502 U.S. 907, 112 S.Ct. 299, 116 L.Ed.2d 243 (1991), citing
United States v. Young, 909 F.2d 442, 446 (11th Cir.1990).]
The test for whether exigent circumstances exist is an objective
one. Young, supra, at 446. “The appropriate inquiry is whether the
facts * * * would lead a reasonable, experienced agent to believe that
evidence might be destroyed before a warrant could be secured.” Id.,
quoting United States v. Rivera[, 825 F.2d 152, 156 (7th Cir.1987),
certiorari denied, 484 U.S. 979, 108 S.Ct. 494, 98 L.Ed.2d 492 (1987)].
State v. Martin, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040150, 2004-Ohio-6433, ¶ 22-24.
{¶38} In this case, officers had seen the vehicle which Bailey was driving
speed past them. At that time, there were two adults in the vehicle. By the time they
found the vehicle a few minutes later, there was only Bailey. At that point, officers
knew that there was an adult unaccounted for. Officers then discovered drugs in the
vehicle and that Bailey had lied about having an apartment at the Fay Apartments.
The officers in this case could reasonably have believed that the unknown individual
had made his or her way back to the apartment for the purpose of destroying
evidence.
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{¶39} But we need not decide whether this would have been enough to
justify the protective search of the apartment. Even if the officers had not been
justified in entering the apartment in order to preserve the scene, the evidence would
have been found, because they subsequently obtained a search warrant. Rosemond
does not argue that the warrant the officers relied upon was based on insufficient
probable cause, and he does not argue that the warrant relied on evidence obtained
during the protective sweep. The only evidence of the chronology is the single
statement by the officer that “we did a protective sweep of the apartment to secure
the scene for a search warrant.” And the evidence demonstrated that the scale was in
plain view upon entry of the apartment.
{¶40} Rosemond argues that the state has the burden to show “within a
reasonable degree of probability that police would have discovered the evidence
independent from the unlawful conduct.” That would be true had a motion to
suppress been filed, and the state had then been required to defend the seizure. But
under the procedural posture of this assignment of error, Rosemond has the burden
to show that the evidence would not have been admitted. As the Ohio Supreme
Court noted, “To establish ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to file a motion
to suppress, a defendant must prove that there was a basis to suppress the evidence
in question.” State v. Brown, 115 Ohio St.3d 55, 2007-Ohio-4837, 873 N.E.2d 858, ¶
65.
{¶41} On this record, we cannot say that a motion to suppress the evidence
seized from the apartment would have been successful. “Where the record contains
no evidence which would justify the filing of a motion to suppress, the appellant has
not met his burden of proving that his attorney violated an essential duty by failing to
file the motion.” State v. Tibbetts, 92 Ohio St.3d 146, 166, 749 N.E.2d 226 (2001),
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citing State v. Gibson, 69 Ohio App.2d 91, 95, 430 N.E.2d 954 (8th Dist.1980).
Rosemond has failed to establish that counsel was ineffective for failing to file a
motion to suppress. We overrule Rosemond’s third assignment of error.
Expert Testimony
{¶42} In his fourth assignment of error, Rosemond claims that the trial
court abused its discretion when it allowed Cincinnati Police Criminalist David
Landesberg to testify regarding the reconstruction of the bullet trajectory of the
rounds fired during the December 8 shooting because the state failed to comply with
Crim.R. 16(K).
{¶43} Landesberg was a witness who testified for the state. He was one of
the criminalists who investigated the crime scene and helped with the investigation.
He testified about where the bullet casings were found and to the estimated
trajectories the bullets traveled through the car the victim was in during the
shooting. When Landesberg began to testify regarding the trajectory estimations he
had documented on a chart—which was being offered into evidence—defense counsel
objected
to the aspects of the trajectory. We believe that is something that
would require expert testimony. One, we don’t believe that this
witness has been qualified as an expert [to give] testimony in trajectory
analysis. Second, we would submit that the prosecutor hasn’t
complied with 16-K, in that there has been - - while that document
there has been provided but in a separate report or a summary of the
qualifications of this witness 21 days prior to trial. [sic] So we would
object to it being admitted.
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{¶44} In response, the state countered that the chart, which had been
provided, was the report. While the state seemed to concede that the specialist’s
curriculum vitae (“C.V.”) had not been submitted, it was available to the defense
upon request. Defense counsel countered that the state had the affirmative duty to
provide it, and it was not on the defendant to request it. The trial court then offered
to recess to allow defense counsel to review Landesberg’s C.V. The state suggested
that such a continuance was the appropriate remedy for the failure to comply with
Crim.R. 16. The trial court recessed the proceedings, at which point it indicated it
would make a decision on the issue. When the transcript resumes, however, it begins
with the continued questioning of Landesberg by the state about the bullet trajectory
without reference to the matter any further.
{¶45} On appeal, the state responds that Landesberg was not testifying as
an “expert witness,” and that, alternately, the trial court’s remedy of continuing the
matter to allow defense counsel to review Landesberg’s C.V. was an acceptable
alternate remedy.
{¶46} In the past several months, this court has had several opportunities to
address the issue of the failure to comply with Crim.R. 16(K). In the first case, the
court discussed the failure of the state to comply with Crim.R. 16(K) in the context of
a personal crimes detective testifying as an expert witness on the subject of
“investigating child abuse and neglect.” State v. Hall, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
170699, 2019-Ohio-2985. Over defense counsel’s objections, the state qualified the
detective as an expert witness, who gave testimony about various aspects of child-
sexual assault. Id. at ¶ 14-17. This court noted that the detective was the last witness
to testify, that the testimony was important in securing the conviction in the case,
and the state relied on it heavily during its closing argument. Id. at ¶ 19. The court
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concluded that allowing the testimony was a clear violation of Crim.R. 16(K), and
then determined whether the testimony had resulted in prejudice. Id. at ¶ 20. This
court concluded that the defendant had been prejudiced because the testimony, in
conjunction with a series of improper statements made by the state in closing
argument, was crucial to securing the conviction. Id. at ¶ 39.
{¶47} In the second case, the court discussed the failure of the state to
comply with Crim.R. 16(K) in the context of a police officer who testified in the
prosecution of a defendant charged with murder after she had run over a pedestrian
with a vehicle. State v. Benson, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-180128, 2019-Ohio-3255.
In that case, the officer was not initially presented as an expert witness, but the
officer subsequently rendered an expert opinion relating to how the events had
transpired based on his observations of video footage and physical evidence. Id. at ¶
19. The court found that the admission of the testimony was error, but that the error
was harmless because of the overwhelming other evidence of the defendant’s guilt.
Id. at ¶ 32-34.
{¶48} In the third case, the court discussed the failure of the state to comply
with Crim.R. 16(K) in the context of a police officer who testified regarding
fingerprint comparison. State v. Johnson, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-170354, 2019-
Ohio-3877. In that case, the state offered the testimony as expert testimony and the
defendant claimed on appeal that the officer had not been qualified as an expert and
had not provided a report. The state argued that it had provided an expert report in
the form of an evidence examination worksheet that contained the results of the
fingerprint analysis. This court concluded that the witness was qualified to testify as
an expert, but could not determine whether the state had failed to provide a Crim.R.
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16(K) report because the “evidence examination worksheet” was not in the record.
Id. at ¶ 42.
{¶49} Pursuant to this recent jurisprudence on the issue, our analysis of a
claimed violation of Crim.R. 16(K) involves two steps. First, we must determine
whether it was error for the trial court to admit the testimony of Landesberg. See
Hall at ¶ 20; Benson at ¶ 31; Johnson at ¶ 42. Upon determining that such an error
has occurred, we then must determine whether the error was harmless. Hall at ¶ 20;
Benson at ¶ 32.
{¶50} We first determine that Landesberg did present expert testimony in
this case. During his direct examination, the state asked, “Do you have any expertise
that other crime scene analysts may not have with respect to bullet properties?”
Landesberg answered that he had been trained in shooting reconstruction, which he
described as
It allows us to determine our make approximations about the bullet
path. In this case we’re looking at the angles at which the bullets hit
the vehicles. So I was able to go - - to back and determine some of
these angles. Their approximations, we take - - we measure an angle
and we give it 5 degrees of tolerance in either direction.
Landesberg then explained the rationale behind giving the five-degree tolerance,
citing the fact that bullets react to striking different materials in different ways. The
state then asked, “With your expertise in bullet trajectory, do you have an
understanding of how the different types of weapons that might be used operate and
function?” Landesberg testified that, based on his experience, the shooters were
standing near where the casings were found. Landesberg then testified to the various
bullet trajectories for the 23 noted bullet impacts on the vehicle the victims were in.
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He could not testify as to which bullets hit which victims and could not testify who
had done the shooting. This is not lay opinion testimony, as the state suggests on
appeal. This is not a case where one shot was fired and there were two holes to
connect. This was a complicated shooting scene that required Landesberg to use his
expertise to analyze. For example, the diagram shows three shots fired through the
front windshield, and five shots fired through the rear passenger door, but only four
terminated in the rear passenger seat. This reconstruction is beyond the knowledge
of a lay person.
{¶51} Having determined that Landesberg provided expert testimony, we
further conclude that the state failed to provide an expert “report.” According to
Crim.R. 16(K), the expert must provide a “written report summarizing the expert
witness’s testimony, findings, analysis, conclusions, or opinion, and shall include a
summary of the expert’s qualifications.” The only thing the state provided to the
defense was a diagram of the trajectories and no summary of the expert’s
qualifications. This is insufficient to satisfy the requirement, and the state does not
argue otherwise on appeal.
{¶52} Considering the above, we conclude that the trial court erred when it
allowed Landesberg to testify. But such an error may still have been harmless. In
order to determine whether the erroneous admission of evidence is harmless
pursuant to Crim.R. 52(A), we must determine that the right affected by the error is
“substantial” and then whether reversal is warranted because the accused was
prejudiced. State v. Morris, 141 Ohio St.3d 399, 2014-Ohio-5052, 24 N.E.3d 1153, ¶
24. Evaluating prejudice requires examining “the error’s impact on the verdict and
the weight of the remaining evidence * * *.” Hall, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-170699,
2019-Ohio-2985, at ¶ 20, quoting Morris at ¶ 25. As we stated in Hall, three
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considerations emerge: 1) the defendant must suffer prejudice as a result of the
admission of the improper evidence, 2) the appellate court must believe that the
error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, and 3) the court must excise the
improper evidence and evaluate the evidence remaining to determine whether a new
trial is required. Hall at ¶ 20, citing Morris at ¶ 27-29.
{¶53} In Hall, this court concluded that the defendant had been prejudiced
by the admission of the testimony because the testimony was highlighted by the state
throughout a large portion of the case and was heavily relied upon in closing
argument. Hall at ¶ 21. The testimony bolstered the credibility of other witnesses,
explained the lack of physical evidence, and explained the reason for delayed
reporting. Id. at ¶ 21-23. In this case, on the other hand, Rosemond has not argued
how the testimony prejudiced him. The closest he comes is in his reply brief, when
he states, “the existence of multiple individuals at the crime scene, both with and
without guns, rendered any reconstruction evidence of particular import.” But the
only expert testimony that Landesberg provided was to the path of the various shots
and the approximate locations from where they were fired. Nothing implicated
Rosemond in this testimony as Landesberg did not opine the identity of any of the
shooters. Nor did he testify as to which shots caused injuries to which victims.
Further, this testimony did not strengthen or bolster other testimony, and the state
did not refer to it at all in its closing argument.
{¶54} Having reviewed the improper testimony of Landesberg, in light of
the record as a whole, we conclude that Rosemond was not prejudiced by the
testimony, and that it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Reviewing the
entire record, absent consideration of Landesberg’s improper testimony, we conclude
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that the outcome of the proceedings below would not have been different. We
overrule Rosemond’s fourth assignment of error.
Admission of Evidence
{¶55} In his fifth assignment of error, Rosemond argues that the trial court
erred when it admitted various evidence. First, he claims that the state failed to
properly authenticate the video evidence produced from the Schwarz Market.
Second, he claims that the state failed to properly authenticate the license plate
reader report. Third, he claims that the testimony about what Bailey’s son said in the
car was inadmissible hearsay. Fourth, he claims that the recordings of calls that
Rosemond made while incarcerated were improperly admitted. He then claims that
the trial court improperly allowed the state to impeach its own witness. Finally, he
argues that the cumulative effect of the previous claimed errors collectively
prevented him from having a fair trial. We will address each argument in turn.
Authentication of Video Evidence
{¶56} One of the key pieces of evidence in the state’s case against Rosemond
was the video recording of the incident captured by cameras at the Schwarz Market.
Police obtained a copy of the video on compact disc. At trial, store employee Zuhair
Al-hayek testified as to the identity of the recording. Al-hayek had not created the
disc, and he did not testify as to how the security system operated. He did, however,
explain the orientation of the system and said that he had seen the video several
times, testifying that it was the same video that detectives watched at the store
immediately after the incident. Additionally, Detective Gehring testified that he had
reviewed the video and testified that it was the same footage that he had been shown
at the Schwarz Market.
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{¶57} Evid.R. 901(A) states that “[t]he requirement of authentication or
identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence
sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent
claims.” Put another way, “[t]he authentication requirement is satisfied when the
proponent presents foundational evidence or testimony from which a rational jury
may determine that the evidence is what its proponent claims it to be.” State v.
Crossty, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-170085, 2017-Ohio-8382, ¶ 29. This court has
stated that “[t]his burden is not great, and only requires a prima facie showing
through direct or circumstantial evidence.” Id.{¶58} Photographic evidence, including videotapes, can be admitted under
two theories. Under the pictorial-testimony theory, evidence is admissible “when a
sponsoring witness can testify that it is a fair and accurate representation of the
subject matter, based on the witness’ personal observation.” Midland Steel Prod. Co.
v. U.A.W. Local 486, 61 Ohio St.3d 121, 129-130, 573 N.E.2d 98 (1991); State v.
Hoffmeyer, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27065, 2014-Ohio-3578, ¶ 19. Under the silent-
witness theory, photographic evidence is a “silent witness,” which “speaks for itself,
and is substantive evidence of what it portrays independent of a sponsoring witness.”
Midland Steel at 129-130; State v. Maiolo, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2015-CA-15, 2015-
Ohio-4788, ¶ 11. Under that theory, evidence is admissible “upon a sufficient
showing of the reliability of the process or system that produced the evidence.”
Midland Steel at 130; Hoffmeyer at ¶ 19. No expert testimony is required to
substantiate the reliability of the surveillance system. State v. Pickens, 141 Ohio
St.3d 462, 2014-Ohio-5445, 25 N.E.3d 1023, ¶ 151; Midland Steel at 130.
{¶59} The evidence presented to the trial court was arguably insufficient to
meet the test for the “silent witness” version of pictoral authentication. Al-hayek
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testified in some detail about the layout of the system, but did not truly testify as to
its operation. However, both Al-hayek and Gehring testified that the video played at
trial was identical to the video recording that they had each seen at the store. And
other than the objection itself, there was no real contention below that the video was
other than what it purported to be. Since, again, the threshold for authentication is
low, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion when it determined that
the video had been sufficiently authenticated.
Foundation for License Plate Reader
{¶60} Rosemond next argues that the trial court abused its discretion when
it allowed a police officer to authenticate images that she obtained from a Vigilant
Solutions license plate camera that was located at the corner of President Drive and
Baltimore Avenue. The officer was employed by the Cincinnati Police Department
and worked out of District Three. She explained that the camera is a “stationary
camera that reads license plates and it documents them in a database.” She testified
that “any vehicle that goes past that stationary camera, it will capture an image of the
vehicle and its license plate.” She said that this information is then stored in a
database maintained by Vigilant Solutions. She testified that she has a login for the
system and that she had used it “too many times to count.” She testified that Vigilant
Solutions maintains the database for law enforcement use.
{¶61} Like the video evidence, the pictures of the license plates were
identified by an individual with an imperfect understanding of how the system
works. But the officer had used the system countless times and testified that the
results had been reliable. She testified to how the system basically functioned and
how she interacted with it. From this testimony, it was not an abuse of discretion to
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conclude that the state had made a “sufficient showing of the reliability of the
process or system that produced the evidence.” See Evid.R. 901(A).
Testimony About Statements of Child
{¶62} Rosemond next argues that the trial court abused its discretion when
it allowed officer Wilson to testify to what Bailey’s son had told him during the
December 3 traffic stop. Wilson testified that Bailey’s son had said that his father
had been in the car and that he had jumped out and run away. Rosemond claims
that the statement was hearsay; the state claims that the statement was an excited
utterance—an exception to the prohibition against the admission of hearsay
statements.
{¶63} Generally, “a statement, other than one made by the declarant while
testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter
asserted” is not admissible. See Evid.R. 801(C); Evid.R. 802. However, a statement
may be admitted if it would otherwise qualify as hearsay if the statement meets one
of the exceptions outlined in either Evid.R. 803 or 804.
{¶64} An “excited utterance” is “[a] statement relating to a startling event or
condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the
event or condition.” Evid.R. 803(2); see State v. Wallace, 37 Ohio St.3d 87, 88, 524
N.E.2d 466 (1988). Such statements are admissible because they are the product of
reactive, not reflexive, thinking, and therefore carry guarantees of trustworthiness.
State v. Taylor, 66 Ohio St.3d 295, 300, 612 N.E.2d 316 (1993). In order to qualify
as an excited utterance, the following factors must be established: (1) there was an
event startling enough to produce a nervous excitement in the declarant, (2) the
statement must have been made while under the stress of excitement caused by the
event, (3) the statement must relate to the startling event, and (4) the declarant must
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have had an opportunity to personally observe the startling event. State v. Riggins,
1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-180069, 2019-Ohio-3254, ¶ 33, citing State v. Boles, 190
Ohio App.3d 431, 2010-Ohio-5503, 942 N.E.2d 417, ¶ 34 (6th Dist.).
{¶65} In this case, the child was crying in the back seat of the car. When the
officer initially noticed him, he said that the child “was in the back. He was upset.
He was crying. I think he was - - he seemed kind of scared.” It was at that point that
the officer asked the child if anyone else had been in the car. The child said that his
father “Ant” had been in the car. This evidence meets the requirements of an excited
utterance, and Rosemond has not argued otherwise.
Admission of Jail Call
{¶66} Rosemond next argues that one of the recorded jail calls should not
have been admitted because its probative value was substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice. The call recorded an argument between Rosemond and a
woman named “Brie.” In that argument, Brie threatened to testify against
Rosemond at trial. Rosemond in turn threatened Brie. Since a portion of the state’s
theory of the case involved the intimidation of witnesses, the conversation was
relevant, if only just. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it determined
that the probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice. See Evid.R. 403.
Impeachment of Witness
{¶67} Rosemond next argues that the trial court abused its discretion when
it refused to allow him to cross-examine Nared using photographs of Nared holding
various guns. During his direct testimony, Nared denied that he had gone to the
Schwarz Market to sell a gun. He also denied that anyone in the car had a gun at the
time of the shooting. He did not say that he had never had a gun. The use of the
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photos of Nared with guns at other times would not have contradicted what he had
testified to on direct examination. Rosemond argues that the “pictures showed that
Mr. Nared habitually carried guns.” In order for evidence of habit to be admissible, it
must establish a regular or routine practice. Evidence as to one or two isolated
occurrences does not establish a sufficient regular practice for admission pursuant to
Evid.R. 406. Bollinger, Inc. v. Mayerson, 116 Ohio App.3d 702, 715, 689 N.E.2d 62(1st Dist.1996), citing Cannell v. Rhodes, 31 Ohio App.3d 183, 509 N.E.2d 963 (8th
Dist.1986). The photos were insufficient to establish that Nared had a habit of
carrying guns.
Cumulative Error
{¶68} Finally, Rosemond claims that the cumulative effect of the errors
outlined above was such that his trial was rendered unfair. Under the cumulative-
error doctrine, “a conviction will be reversed where the cumulative effect of errors in
a trial deprives a defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial even though each
of numerous instances of trial court error does not individually constitute cause for
reversal.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995), citing State
v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 509 N.E.2d 1256 (1987), paragraph two of the
syllabus. But the cumulative-error doctrine does not apply where the defendant
“cannot point to ‘multiple instances of harmless error.’ ” See State v. Mammone, 139
Ohio St.3d 467, 2014-Ohio-1942, 13 N.E.3d 1051, ¶ 148. Rosemond has failed to
point to multiple instances of harmless error. We overrule his fifth assignment of
error.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
{¶69} In his sixth assignment of error, Rosemond claims that his right to a
fair trial was violated by several instances of prosecutorial misconduct. Rosemond
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first claims that the state used inflammatory language throughout the trial. He also
complains that the state improperly referred to the scenes involved as “high-crime
volume areas” for the purposes of conditioning the jury to be predisposed to finding
him guilty because he was from such an area.
{¶70} The test for whether prosecutorial misconduct mandates reversal is
whether the prosecutor’s remarks or actions were improper, and, if so, whether they
prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the accused. State v. Smith, 97 Ohio
St.3d 367, 2002-Ohio-6659, 780 N.E.2d 21, ¶ 45. The core of the analysis “is the
fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.” State v. Pickens, 141 Ohio
St.3d 462, 2014-Ohio-5445, 25 N.E.3d 1023, ¶ 110, quoting Smith v. Phillips, 455
U.S. 209, 219, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982).
{¶71} Rosemond cites a number of instances of highly colorful language
used by the state during the course of the trial. The state said that Rosemond had
“shot up people,” talked about how the victims had been “gunned down,” and how
the deceased had been “executed.” Rosemond said that the state used “dog-whistling
language” because the prosecutor said that the people involved “don’t speak the
King’s English,” instead of saying that they used slang. The prosecutor also told the
prospective jury during voir dire that they may see people involved in the shooting in
the public gallery. At one point, the state referred to “bad actors, the thugs like this
defendant.” The trial court instructed the jury to disregard that comment.
Additionally, Rosemond claims that the state’s repeated references to the area as a
“high-crime volume area” were improperly used to buttress the state’s claims that
witnesses were afraid to testify, and that Rosemond was guilty by association because
he lived in such a neighborhood. During closing argument, the state referred to
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Rosemond as “not the smartest guy to ever walk the earth” and as “not a rocket
scientist.”
{¶72} As this court has noted, counsel is permitted to be “colorful or
creative” as long as his comments are supported by the record and the defendant
receives a fair trial. State v. Steelman, 2018-Ohio-1732, 111 N.E.3d 923, ¶ 28 (1st
Dist.), citing State v. Brown, 38 Ohio St.3d 305, 317, 528 N.E.2d 523 (1988). So,
when the evidence supports it, a prosecutor may refer to a defendant as a “two-bit
junkie,” “two-bit addict,” “two-bit heroin addict,” and “junkie,” as well as “some
yahoo,” and a “vindictive, violent individual.” Steelman at ¶ 27. The prosecutor can
refer to the defendant as a “trained killer.” State v. Tibbetts, 92 Ohio St.3d 146, 168,
749 N.E.2d 226 (2001). The defendant can also be referred to as a “mean-spirited
derelict” and an “unemployed killer.” State v. Nields, 93 Ohio St.3d 6, 37, 752
N.E.2d 859 (2001). Or, as this court has noted, defendants can be called “bad
people,” “drug dealers,” “executioners,” “thugs” and “sharks.” State v. Tolbert, 70
Ohio App.3d 372, 382, 591 N.E.2d 325 (1st Dist.1990).
{¶73} This court has reviewed the entirety of the record in this case,
including the transcript of what was a lengthy, and at times contentious trial. Having
considered the cited conduct in the context of the entire proceedings, we cannot say
that Rosemond did not receive a fair trial because of the comments made by the
prosecutor. The state’s theory of the case was that the victim was executed for having
testified in another murder trial. This execution was an example of the fear many felt
in the community about testifying at trial. These factors were part of the state’s
theory of the case, and the fact that it was described “colorfully” does not mean that
the trial was unfair. We overrule Rosemond’s sixth assignment of error.
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Sufficiency/Weight
{¶74} In his seventh assignment of error, Rosemond claims that his
convictions were based upon insufficient evidence and were contrary to the manifest
weight of the evidence. In a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the question
is whether after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
any rational trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492(1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. In reviewing a challenge to the weight of the
evidence, we sit as a “thirteenth juror.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387,
678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). We must review the entire record, weigh the evidence,
consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether the trier of fact
clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. Id.Counts 10-15
The Drug and Weapon Counts
December 3, 2015
{¶75} Rosemond makes several arguments relating to the last six counts of
the indictment, arising from the December 3, 2015 traffic stop and subsequent Fay
Apartment search. He first claims that the stop of Bailey’s vehicle did not link him to
the contents of the apartment that was subsequently searched. He argues that “his
alleged escape from the Mustang did nothing to prove whether he resided at or
frequented the Nottingham Drive apartment.” He further argues that the evidence
found in the residence connected only Bailey to the contraband found in the
apartment. He also argues that the jailhouse calls did not credibly link him to the
contraband. And then he argues that he could not be tied to the apartment simply
because there was clothing found there that would fit a man of his size.
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{¶76} The evidence presented at trial, however, was more comprehensive
than Rosemond would suggest. When the Mustang was first seen, there were two
adults in the front. When police eventually stopped the car, there was only the
driver. Rosemond insinuates that the police somehow coerced Bailey’s son into
saying that he was the one who jumped out of the vehicle. But, at the time the child
made that statement, the record seems to indicate that the officers had no idea who
the other person was. The statement was made before Rosemond’s identification
card was found in the Pelle Pelle jacket. The drugs found in the car were found on
the passenger’s side of the car, where Rosemond had been sitting.
{¶77} Additionally, other evidence provided circumstantial links between
Rosemond and the apartment and its contents. There were a number of clothing
items that would have fit someone of Rosemond’s larger size. But, more significant
than that, the series of recorded jail calls between Rosemond and Bailey made it
relatively clear that, while there was no actual DNA evidence found on any of the
contraband, Rosemond believed that it would be. The calls from Rosemond to Bailey
began the day he was arrested and brought to the Hamilton County Justice Center.
He asked her to get rid of various items, providing evidence that they were working
together in a criminal enterprise. He said that “they made me take DNA for them
guns.” He then referred to the two guns in the apartment. In another call, he
essentially admitted the drugs where his when he told Bailey “he didn’t even charge
me with the dope, though. You hear me? He doesn’t understand. Why they asking
me about the guns but not my drugs that were in that house too?” In another call,
Rosemond is talking to another person about Bailey, and he says, “But I’m gonna tell
her, like, man, my DNA all over that shit; the drugs and the guns.” In another call,
he says, “No, I am talking about the drugs. They got my DNA on the drugs.”
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{¶78} Rosemond believed that his DNA would be or had been found on the
contraband seized from the apartment. And his flight from the vehicle when police
attempted to stop the Mustang was further evidence of his consciousness of guilt.
{¶79} In this case, there was more than enough circumstantial evidence to
link Rosemond to the drugs and weapons seized on December 3, 2015.
Counts 1-9
The Murder and Related Counts
December 8, 2018
{¶80} Rosemond further claims that there was no evidence connecting him
to the shooting at the Schwarz Market on December 8, 2018. He claims that the only
evidence presented was that he was present at the scene at the time of the shooting.
He notes that, while the “professional witnesses” provided “interesting” testimony
about the shooting, none of the testimony linked him to the crimes other than
minimal gunshot residue on his coat. He also argues that none of the eyewitnesses
credibly identified him as one of the shooters. He then argues that the video
evidence does not conclusively show that he was involved in the incident, and that it
was law enforcement’s early focus on him that prevented them from investigating
other leads that would have led them to the real perpetrators.
{¶81} At trial, Ariontez Nared testified as a court witness. He admitted that
he did not want to be in court and that he had told prosecutors that he had been hit
by a bus rather than shot in order to try to get out of having to testify. He had been
sitting in the front passenger seat of the car. When the group arrived at the Schwarz
Market, he got out of the car and went into the store. He said that he had been
walking back to the car when he was shot. He said that, over his shoulder, he saw
Rosemond and a muzzle flash. He testified that all four of the men who had been in
the car had been shot and that there were multiple shooters. This testimony was
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corroborated by the testimony of firearms expert Ben Jeschke, who testified that
there were multiple guns used during the shooting.
{¶82} Other evidence implicated Rosemond as well. In the jail-call
recordings, Rosemond jokes about how Nared, who had been “hit with my shit,” was
telling investigators he got hit by a bus. And the video recording that captured the
incident clearly shows Rosemond approach the vehicle and dance around it for
several seconds as if firing a weapon. The video also seems to show flashes around
where only Rosemond was standing, indicating that he was shooting. It was not until
the shooting had ended that Rosemond was seen fleeing from the scene. It strains
credibility that someone would be so close to the scene in which multiple shooters
were attacking the four men and remain there while the shooting occured, only to
run when it was over. And while all the other cars in the area left, the Tahoe that
Rosemond would eventually get into remained until after the shooting had ended
and he had returned.
{¶83} Based upon the evidence presented at trial, Rosemond’s convictions
were based upon sufficient evidence and were not against the manifest weight of the
evidence. We overrule his seventh assignment of error.
Sentencing
{¶84} In his final assignment of error, Rosemond claims that the trial court
erred when it failed to properly award him jail-time credit. Jail-time credit should be
awarded at the time of sentencing. See State v. Napier, 93 Ohio St.3d 646, 647, 758
N.E.2d 1127 (2001). In its entry, the trial court wrote “the defendant is to receive
credit for days time served.” Clearly, the trial court forgot to enter the appropriate
number of days. The state concedes error on this point. We sustain Rosemond’s
eighth assignment of error.
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Conclusion
{¶85} For the reasons set forth above, we vacate that portion of Rosemond’s
sentence in which the trial court failed to award his specific jail-time credit and
remand this cause for the proper calculation and award of jail-time credit. The trial
court’s judgment is affirmed in all other respects.
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and cause remanded.
MYERS, J., concurs.
ZAYAS J., concurs in part and dissents in part.
ZAYAS J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
{¶86} I concur with the majority’s resolution of Rosemond’s second, fourth,
fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth assignments of error. With respect to the third
assignment of error, I concur that Rosemond’s trial counsel was not ineffective for
failing to file a motion to suppress, but for a different reason than the majority.
{¶87} However, I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that
the charges related to the traffic stop were properly joined with the charges related to the
shootings under Crim.R. 8(A). Offenses must first be correctly joined before
determining whether the defendant is prejudiced by the proper joinder under Crim.R.
14. See State v. Jeffries, 2018-Ohio-2160, 112 N.E.3d 417, ¶ 57 (1st Dist.). Here, the
majority concluded that Rosemond was not prejudiced by the joinder under Crim.R. 14,
but it failed to first address whether the joinder was proper under Crim.R. 8(A).
Ineffective Assistance
{¶88} I agree that Rosemond failed to establish that his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress. However, based on this record,
Rosemond did not have standing to challenge the legality of the warrantless search.
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{¶89} To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to file
a motion to suppress, the defendant must show the motion would have had a reasonable
probability of success. See State v. Nields, 93 Ohio St.3d 6, 34, 752 N.E.2d 859 (2001).
“Where the record is not clear or lacks sufficient evidence to determine whether a
suppression motion would have been successful, a claim for ineffective assistance of
counsel cannot be established.” State v. Parkinson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 1995CA00208,
1996 WL 363435, *3 (May 20, 1996).
{¶90} After Bailey was arrested for the drugs found in the car, Wilson searched
the pockets of the Pelle Pelle jacket in the back seat of the car. He found a state ID
belonging to Rosemond which listed his address as 1712 Hewett Avenue, which is not
located in the area of the Faye Apartments. Wilson left the jacket in the back seat of the
car but retained the identification card.
{¶91} Wilson called 241-KIDS regarding Bailey’s son. Bailey’s mother
responded to the scene and took the child home with her. Wilson also called a female
officer to come to the scene and conduct a search of Bailey. During this search, Wilson
noticed that Bailey had a Faye Apartment key. When she continued to deny that she
lived in that area, Wilson ran her name through the computer system and discovered
that her address was 2515 Nottingham Road, in the Faye Apartments.
{¶92} Wilson and Brockmann drove to the apartment at 2515 Nottingham
to see if Bailey’s key would open the door. According to Wilson, they were concerned
that Rosemond could have gone to the apartment. After entering the apartment,
they found a digital scale on the kitchen counter with a white residue on it. They
secured the apartment and obtained a search warrant.
{¶93} During the search, they did not find any personal papers or mail
belonging to Rosemond. Brockmann found a large pair of pants that he testified
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“could belong” to a man as large as Rosemond. However, he did not collect the pants
as evidence, and no photographs were taken of the pants. After they located the
drugs and guns, Bailey was charged with two counts of possession of drugs, two
counts of trafficking, and having a weapon while under a disability, the same charges
Rosemond eventually faced. But Rosemond was not charged for the drugs and guns
until he was indicted for the shootings 26 days later.
{¶94} In order to have standing to challenge a search on Fourth
Amendment grounds, the accused must possess a legitimate expectation of privacy in
the area searched, and the burden is on the accused to establish such expectation.
See State v. Grievous, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2018-05-093, 2019-Ohio-1932, ¶ 60.
“A person who alleges error by the use of evidence taken from someone else’s
property cannot claim that his own rights have been violated. Only those whose
personal rights have been violated can raise Fourth Amendment claims.” State v.
Coleman, 45 Ohio St.3d 298, 306, 544 N.E.2d 622 (1989). A defendant’s status as an
overnight guest at the time of the search is sufficient to show that he had a
reasonable expectation of privacy in his host’s home. State v. Davis, 80 Ohio App.3d
277, 285, 609 N.E.2d 174 (8th Dist.1992), citing Minnesota v. Olson, 495 U.S. 91, 110
S.Ct. 1684, 109 L.Ed.2d 85 (1990).
{¶95} Based on this record, Rosemond could not demonstrate that he had
standing to succeed on a motion to suppress. See Parkinson, 5th Dist. Stark No.
1995CA00208, 1996 WL 363435 at *3. Rosemond did not live at the Nottingham
apartment where the drugs and gun were located. His identification card listed his
address as Hewett Avenue, and the docketing statement in this case reflects his
Hewett address. The search did not yield any mail or personal papers belonging to
Rosemond. Other than a pair of pants that “could” be large enough to fit Rosemond,
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there is no evidence that Rosemond lived there or was an overnight guest prior to the
search.
{¶96} The majority concludes that the evidence of the drugs and guns would
have been admissible because the officers would have inevitably discovered the
evidence after obtaining a warrant even if the initial entry was unlawful. Under the
inevitable-discovery exception, evidence will not be suppressed if there is a
reasonable probability that the evidence would have been discovered during a lawful
investigation, regardless of the state’s misconduct. See State v. Sharpe, 174 Ohio
App.3d 498, 2008-Ohio-267, 882 N.E.2d 960, ¶ 59 (2d Dist.), citing Nix v. Williams,
467 U.S. 431, 104 S.Ct. 2501, 81 L.Ed.2d 377 (1984).
{¶97} However, “police who believe they have probable cause to search
cannot enter a home without a warrant merely because they plan subsequently to get
one.” United States v. Griffin, 502 F.2d 959, 961 (6th Cir.1974). The inevitable-
discovery rule does not apply when the subsequently obtained search warrant is
based on facts discovered during the unlawful entry. See State v. Keith, 178 Ohio
App.3d 46, 2008-Ohio-4326, 896 N.E.2d 764, ¶ 13 (2d Dist.). Here, Wilson testified
that he froze the scene and obtained a warrant based upon the digital scale that he
found after entering the apartment. Therefore, I conclude that the inevitable-
discovery exception would not apply under these circumstances. See id.{¶98} Accordingly, I concur in judgment only with the majority’s resolution
of Rosemond’s third assignment of error.
Misjoinder
{¶99} In his first assignment of error, Rosemond contends that the charges
related to the traffic stop were improperly joined with the charges related to the
shootings under Crim.R. 8(A) because the offenses arose from distinct incidents that
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were unrelated. He further argues that even if joinder were proper, the court abused its
discretion in failing to sever the charges under Crim.R. 14 because he was prejudiced by
the joinder.
{¶100} The majority concludes that Rosemond did not preserve his argument
regarding the improper joinder because his motion only cited to Crim.R. 14, and he
“never made his argument pursuant to Crim.R. 8.” Although the motion was inartfully
drafted, Rosemond argued for separate trials because the alleged incidents were
separate and apart, dissimilar, and of a different nature. He also argued that joinder
would be prejudicial under Crim.R. 14. At the hearing on the motion, Rosemond further
argued that the charges were not related in any way, were separate and distinct, and
should not be tried together. The state countered that the incidents were linked because
they occurred within a week of each other, both occurred in the same general area, and
both involved a Pelle Pelle coat. Each made arguments relevant to Crim.R. 8 in the
motion and on appeal.
{¶101} More importantly, the state did not raise the issue of waiver in its brief.
The state understood that Rosemond was arguing improper joinder in addition to
prejudicial joinder. The state specifically cited to Crim.R. 8 in its brief, and both parties
made the proper arguments in the briefs. I cannot conclude that the issue was not
argued by Rosemond when the state itself understood that it was.
{¶102} Although joinder is liberally permitted, “there are limits governing the
charging of multiple offenses in the same indictment.” State v. Jeffries, 2018-Ohio-
2160, 112 N.E.3d 417, ¶ 49 (1st Dist.). Under Crim.R. 8(A), “two or more offenses
may be charged in the same indictment” if the offenses are (1) “of the same or similar
character”; (2) “based on the same act or transaction”; (3) “based on two or more
acts or transactions connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or
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plan”; or (4) “part of a course of criminal conduct.” Joinder of unrelated charges
may “prejudice an [accused’s] right to a fair trial” and “may create an unfavorable
impression in [the jurors’] minds as to an [accused’s] character before any evidence
has been admitted as to his guilt or innocence.” State v. Minneker, 27 Ohio St.2d
155, 157-158, 271 N.E.2d 821 (1971).
{¶103} Where unrelated charges are misjoined because none of the Crim.R.
8(A) requirements is met, “the trial court should grant a motion to sever, even in the
absence of prejudice.” State v. Kennedy, 2013-Ohio-4221, 998 N.E.2d 1189, ¶ 24 (1st
Dist.). Whether charges are properly joined in an indictment is a question of law we
review de novo. See id. If the joinder were not proper, we review for harmless error and
reverse only if the misjoinder results in actual prejudice because it “ ‘had substantial and
injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.’ ” United States v.
Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449, 106 S.Ct. 725, 88 L.Ed.2d 814 (1986), quoting Kotteakos v.
United States, 328 U.S. 750, 776, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 90 L.Ed. 1557 (1946).
{¶104} We must first determine whether the joinder is proper under Crim.R.
8(A). If joinder is proper, we then determine whether the defendant was entitled to
separate trials under Crim.R. 14 because the offenses, although properly joined, resulted
in prejudice to the defendant. See Crim.R. 14; State v. Echols, 128 Ohio App.3d 677, 691,
716 N.E.2d 728 (1st Dist.1998). We review a trial court’s denial of a motion to sever
under Crim.R. 14 for an abuse of discretion. See State v. Washington, 1st Dist. Hamilton
No. C-090561, 2010-Ohio-3175, ¶ 47.
{¶105} Here, the state did not argue that any of the four joinder conditions
applied to the traffic-stop charges and the shooting charges to permit the charges to be
joined, and I cannot conclude that the offenses were properly joined.
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{¶106} The charges related to the traffic stop occurred five days before the
shooting and at a different location. There is no evidence that the traffic-stop charges
were part of the same criminal scheme or plan as the shooting charges or part of a
continuous course of conduct. The charged offenses were not of the same or similar
character. The traffic-stop charges were based on drugs and two guns found in Bailey’s
apartment. The shooting at Schwartz Market resulted in murder charges, felonious-
assault charges, and one charge of having weapons while under a disability. The gun
charges connected to the drugs were not related to the shooting, and there is no
allegation that the same guns were involved in both incidents. The indictment does not
allege that the charges were in any way related other than the fact that Rosemond was
accused of committing all of them.
{¶107} Accordingly, I conclude that the trial court erred in allowing the joinder
of the charges related to the traffic stop and the charges related to the shootings. I now
turn to the question of whether the improper joinder had a prejudicial effect on
Rosemond’s trial.
{¶108} I first note that Rosemond preserved the error for review by raising the
improper joinder before trial. Although the majority is correct that the failure to renew a
prejudicial joinder argument under Crim.R. 14 at the close of the evidence results in a
plain-error review, that rule is inapplicable to an improper joinder under Crim.R. 8. See
State v. Mata, 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-80-18, 1981 WL 5600, *3 (May 22, 1981);
United States v. Chavis, 296 F.3d 450, 457 (6th Cir.2002), quoting United States v.
Terry, 911 F.2d 272, 277 (9th Cir.1990). A trial court must reassess whether a defendant
has been prejudiced by the proper, but prejudicial, joinder based upon the evidence
submitted at trial. See Chavis at 457, quoting Terry at 277. In contrast, Crim.R. 8
prohibits unrelated charges to be joined for trial, “even in the absence of prejudice.”
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Kennedy, 2013-Ohio-4221, 998 N.E.2d 1189, at ¶ 24. Thus an improper joinder
argument challenges the propriety of joining unrelated charges in an indictment, and
“there is no need [for the trial court] to assess what actually happened at trial.” See
Chavis at 457, quoting Terry at 277.
{¶109} We review an improper joinder for harmless error. See State v. Whitsett,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. CR-162213 and CR-163174, 1983 WL 5745, *5 (February 3,
1983); Lane, 474 U.S at 449, 106 S.Ct. 725, 98 L.Ed.2d 814. A violation of Crim.R. 8 will
be reversed if the improper joinder resulted in prejudice. See State v. Atkinson, 4 Ohio
St.2d 19, 22, 211 N.E.2d 665 (1965); State v. Clements, 98 Ohio App.2d 797, 799, 649
N.E.2d 912 (2d Dist.1994); Lane at 449. In assessing whether a misjoinder resulted in
prejudice, an appellate court considers (1) whether the evidence of guilt was
overwhelming and the effect of any improperly admitted evidence on the verdict; (2) the
steps taken to mitigate the effects of the error; and (3) the extent to which the
improperly admitted evidence as to the misjoined counts would have been admissible at
trial on the other counts. See Lane at 450.
{¶110} The majority criticizes my reliance on Lane to analyze whether the
improper joinder was harmless because the Ohio Supreme Court has adopted the
simple-and-distinct test for misjoinder. But the majority is confusing Crim.R. 8 with
Crim.R. 14. Lane concluded that improper joinder under Crim.R. 8 is not inherently
prejudicial and should be reviewed for harmless error. See Lane at 449. And Ohio
courts have cited Lane for that proposition. See, e.g., State v. Scheibel, 55 Ohio St.3d 71,
73, 564 N.E.2d 54 (1990).
{¶111} The simple-and-distinct test that the Ohio Supreme Court reaffirmed in
Ford applies to prejudicial joinder under Crim.R. 14. See Ford, Slip Opinion No. 2019-
Ohio-4539, at ¶ 104. Moreover, the majority’s claim that federal courts have not
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adopted the simple-and-distinct test is inaccurate. Federal courts also use the simple-
and-distinct test to analyze prejudicial joinder under Fed.R.Crim.P. 14. See, e.g., United
States v. Catena, 500 F.2d 1319, 1325-1326 (3d Cir.1974), certiorari denied, 419 U.S.
1047, 95 S.Ct. 621, 42 L.Ed.2d 641 (1974); United States v. Lewis, 547 F.2d 1030, 1033
(8th Cir.1976); Corbett v. Bordenkircher, 615 F.2d 722, 725 (6th Cir.1980).
1. The evidence of guilt was not overwhelming.
{¶112} With respect to the charges related to the traffic stop and the search of
Bailey’s apartment, the evidence of guilt was circumstantial, as the majority
acknowledges. Additionally, Bailey faced the same charges related to the drugs and
guns. She resolved the charges by pleading guilty upon reaching an agreement with the
state.
{¶113} Similarly, the evidence against Rosemond with respect to the shootings
was not overwhelming. One of the victims testified that Rosemond did not shoot him,
and that he was shot by a skinny man in red. Notably, the video shows a skinny man in
red in the street, to the right of Rosemond, who appears to be dancing as if he were
shooting, and moving towards the victim’s car. A second victim did not see any of the
shooters.
{¶114} A third victim, Nared was shot seven times by four different calibers of
guns. Initially, he did not implicate Rosemond in the shooting. However, at trial, he
testified for the first time that he saw Rosemond standing by the wall after the shooting
started. But, the video shows that it was not Rosemond standing by the wall when the
shooting started. Instead, it was a man in white tennis shoes standing on the sidewalk
by the wall, moving his feet as if he were firing a gun, who then ran down the sidewalk
toward Nared.
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{¶115} Although Rosemond was visible in the video, he was never seen with a
gun. When the shooting started, he ducked next to the driver’s side of the white car and
was no longer visible. Simultaneously, the skinny man entered the video and appeared
to be shooting for the next six seconds. Once the skinny man ran away from the scene,
Rosemond again appeared, plodding up the sidewalk next to the white car. Rosemond is
a very large man who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. He does not appear
to move very quickly, and it took him a full second to run the length of the white car.
Notably, he was not carrying a gun, and his hands were in his pockets.
{¶116} Two seconds after Rosemond ducked behind the white car, four flashes
can be seen, but those appear to be coming from the right of the victim’s car, which was
approximately 54 feet away from where Rosemond ducked behind the car. Three
seconds after the flashes stop, Rosemond plodded by the white car. It appears that he
had been hiding between the white car and the Honda, because he did not run in front of
the headlight of the victim’s car.
{¶117} During the shooting, several people called 911 and provided descriptions
of the shooters. One of the callers described the suspect as a black male, wearing a
brown jacket with fur that left the scene in a white Bronco. Another witness, Teresa,
described one shooter as a black male, 30-40, whose nickname was possibly Capone,
wearing a brown, puffy coat with a fur collar and standing next to a white SUV. She also
described a second shooter as an 18-19 year old male black wearing a red shirt or
sweatshirt and dark pants, who fled on foot. According to one witness, the shooters
were wearing masks. Another witness stated that three suspects fled on foot. One
witness provided the nicknames of four suspects. Yet none of the witnesses who called
described Rosemond as one of the shooters.
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{¶118} Finally, I am not convinced that Rosemond’s statement that Nared was
“hit with my shit” was correctly interpreted by the majority. The majority characterized
this statement as a joking admission to shooting Nared. However, in a different call
where he is discussing the accusations made by the police, he stated, “They hit me with
some fake shit.” Based on the context of this statement, I cannot conclude that “hit me”
refers to shooting.
2. The misjoinder resulted in improperly admitted, prejudicial evidence.
{¶119} The evidence against Rosemond was not overwhelming, and it is
possible that the jury found him guilty based upon the accumulation of evidence against
him concerning the unrelated charges. See United States v. Cardwell, 433 F.3d 378,
385 (4th Cir.2005) (explaining that joinder of unrelated charges “create[s] the
possibility that a defendant will be convicted based on considerations other than the
facts of the charged offense.”). Had there been separate trials, very little, if any, of the
evidence related to the shootings would have been relevant to the drugs and guns found
in the apartment as those particular guns were not related to the shootings. And the
evidence related to the drugs and guns would not have been admissible in a trial limited
to the shooting charges. The admission of the bad conduct suggested that Rosemond
has a general propensity to commit serious and violent crimes which can have a
“ ‘substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.’ ”
Lane, 474 U.S. at 449, 106 S.Ct. 725, 88 L.Ed.2d 814, quoting Kotteakos, 328 U.S. at
776, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 90 L.Ed. 1557.
{¶120} The bad conduct offered in evidence to prove the unrelated offenses
certainly had a substantial effect on the jury’s verdict. See, e.g., United States v.
Holloway, 1 F.3d 304, 312, (5th Cir.1993) (concluding that by failing to sever the
weapons charge from the unrelated robbery charges, “the jury emphatically was told that
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[the defendant] was a bad and dangerous person ‘by his very nature’, and that a felon
who carried a gun was just the sort of character who was most likely to have committed
the robberies charged in the indictment.”). Here, as in Holloway, Rosemond “was
unjustifiably tried, at least in part, on the basis of who he was, and not on the basis of the
material evidence presented against him.” See id.{¶121} The evidence submitted to support the unrelated charges portrayed
Rosemond as a violent and dangerous person as evidenced by the prosecutor’s remarks
that Rosemond “shot up people” and “executed” and “gunned down” the victim in the
shooting, and that he was a guy who bought, sold, and used drugs and carried guns. The
jury was told that Rosemond was a violent, drug trafficker who possessed guns and was
likely to commit all of the charged offenses. See id.{¶122} And the record reflects that the jurors became fearful about their names
being publicly released during the course of the trial. During an unrecorded break, the
trial court, prosecutor, and defense counsel had a conversation regarding the jurors’
concerns regarding the murder case. By agreement, the trial court spoke with the jurors
and attempted to allay those concerns. On that same day, the court ordered that all
records with personally identifying information about the jurors, including the entirety
of the voir dire, be sealed from the public view. The bad-conduct evidence regarding the
unrelated charges had a strong impact on the jurors’ emotions.
{¶123} Had the offenses not been improperly joined for trial, the jurors would
not have heard the prejudicial evidence and may well have acquitted Rosemond of all of
the charges.
3. The effort to mitigate the prejudicial effect was insufficient
{¶124} The only effort to mitigate the prejudicial effect of the misjoinder was a
general instruction to the jurors to consider each count and the evidence applicable to
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each separately and to state their findings as to each count uninfluenced by their verdicts
on the other counts. Based on this record, one general instruction was insufficient to
mitigate the effect of the prejudicial evidence of the misjoined shooting charges. See
United States v. Hawkins, 776 F.3d 200, 210 (4th Cir.2015), quoting Lane, 474 U.S. at
449, 106 S.Ct. 725, 88 L.Ed.2d 814 (concluding that “based on the other two indicia of
harmlessness provided in Lane, the error in misjoinder affected [the defendant’s]
substantial rights, and, furthermore, ‘had substantial and injurious effect or influence in
determining the jury’s verdict’ despite the limiting instruction.”).
{¶125} Accordingly, I would find that the trial court’s misjoinder error
prejudiced Rosemond, reverse his convictions, and remand for further proceedings.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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