State v. Wooten

[Cite as State v. Wooten, 2013-Ohio-1841.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2012-A-0021
- vs - :
FLOYD WOOTEN, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal from the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2011
CR 297.
Judgment: Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded.
Thomas L. Sartini, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, and Shelley M. Pratt, Assistant
Prosecutor, Ashtabula County Courthouse, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH
44047-1092 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Judith M. Kowalski, 333 Babbitt Road, Suite 323, Euclid, OH 44123 (For Defendant-
Appellant).
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.
{¶1} This appeal comes to us from the Ashtabula County Court of Common
Pleas. Appellant, Floyd Wooten, appeals from his conviction on one count of rape in
violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(c), a felony of the first degree, and one count of unlawful
sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A), a felony of the third degree.
Appellant challenges various aspects of his trial, including the court’s ruling on his
motion to suppress, the trial court’s failure to consider his offenses to be allied offenses
of similar import, and the sufficiency and weight of the evidence.
{¶2} In September 2011, appellant was indicted on the above-referenced
charges. Upon arraignment, appellant pled not guilty to the charges. A jury trial
commenced in March 2010, and appellant was found guilty of the charges. Appellant
was sentenced on May 24, 2012, to a six-year prison term for the rape conviction, and a
five-year prison term for the unlawful sexual conduct conviction. The sentences were
ordered to run concurrently. The court specifically found that the two offenses were not
allied offenses of similar import.
{¶3} Based on the testimony and evidence presented at trial, the foregoing
charges stem from an incident that took place on July 17, 2011, at 3416 Station
Avenue, the residence of Tommie Colbert. Appellant, who is over 60 years old, was a
guest in Colbert’s home, and was essentially homeless prior to moving into Colbert’s
home. Colbert dispatched the police to the residence after he found appellant on top of
his 15 year-old step-daughter, the victim, in her bedroom. Colbert was prompted to
enter the bedroom when he heard a noise emanating from the room. When Colbert
opened the door and turned on the lights, both appellant and the victim were naked, and
it appeared to Colbert that appellant was having sex with the victim. Due to medication,
Risperidone, that the victim takes at night which puts her in a deep sleep, the victim was
asleep until Colbert turned on the lights and observed appellant on top of her. He
testified that he saw them “having sex” based on his observation of appellant’s
movements. The victim did not have any recollection of the incident. After being
discovered by Colbert, appellant fled the room and Colbert called the police to the
residence.
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{¶4} Patrolman Christopher Defina arrived at the scene and found Colbert
running around in the front yard frantically. Colbert told Defina that appellant was in the
upstairs bedroom on top of his step-daughter, and that both were naked. Defina
entered the residence and found appellant clothed and sitting in a chair. Defina
handcuffed appellant, took him out of the residence, and read him his Miranda rights.
{¶5} Thereafter, on the scene, prior to transport and in response to questioning,
appellant told Defina that he touched the victim’s breasts, vagina, and fingered her.
Appellant then told Defina, “[m]y ass is in the air on this one. Maybe I should speak to
an attorney.” At that point, Defina ceased questioning appellant, placed him in the
patrol car, and transported him to jail. The victim was transported to the hospital by
ambulance for the purpose of obtaining a rape kit.
{¶6} That evening, while appellant was in jail, Defina, after reminding appellant
that he was read his Miranda rights, once again spoke with and questioned appellant.
After reminding appellant of his rights, Defina asked appellant if he wanted to speak
further or wished to speak with an attorney. Appellant told Defina that maybe at the
beginning he wanted to speak with a lawyer, but then proceeded to speak with Defina.
During this exchange, appellant informed Defina that when he first met the victim and
they shook hands, sparks flew. Appellant further informed that on the night at issue he
was watching a movie with the victim and that she asked him to go to her room.
Ultimately, after the movie ended, appellant went to the victim’s room. Appellant said
the two began kissing and that he touched her breasts. In response to a question,
appellant stated that he touched the victim’s vagina. Moreover, regarding whether
penetration occurred, the following exchange took place:
{¶7} “Q: (State’s Attorney): Ok. Did you ask him whether he penetrated her?
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{¶8} “A: (Defina): Yes, I did.
{¶9} “Q: And what did he tell you?
{¶10} “A: Ah, he said that -- he said that --he said he first got into petting with
her. He said that he did -- he fingered -- penetrated her with this finger is what he said,
never his penis.”
{¶11} The following morning, Captain Johnson of the Ashtabula Police
Department was informed that appellant may want to speak. Johnson brought appellant
into a common area and asked if he wished to make a recorded statement, but
reminded him that he did not have to speak. Appellant responded that he did not want
to make a recorded statement.
{¶12} At trial, Christine Hammett, a forensic scientist at the Ohio Bureau of
Criminal Investigation (“BCI”), testified that she performed the tests on the victim’s rape
kit. According to her testimony, the preliminary testing of the vaginal swabs in the test
kit tested positive for semen. However, during further testing, she was unable to identify
semen in the vaginal samples. Hammett sent various DNA samples for testing.
{¶13} Shawn Weiss, the Associate Technical Director of the Forensic Identity
Department at Lab Corp., testified that he tested the samples collect by BCI for DNA. A
DNA sample was collected from appellant to be analyzed against the swabs and
samples taken from the victim. Appellant could not be excluded as the source of the
male DNA from the vaginal swabs, the underwear sample, nor the abdominal swab.
With respect to the aforementioned swabs, Mr. Weiss testified that the odds of another
individual having a matching DNA profile are 1/238, 1/595, and 1/704, respectively.
He also testified that multiple DNA profiles were found in the underwear and abdominal
swabs, and explained that people living in the same house could transfer DNA
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innocently by sitting on the same couch, using the same utensils, or laundering clothes
together. However, with respect to the vaginal swab, seven out of the seventeen DNA
markers, or addresses of the male Y chromosome were associated with one male
profile, that of appellant. In other words, it was associated with a single source rather
than multiple profiles as were found in the underwear and abdominal swabs.
{¶14} After the state rested its case, appellant moved for acquittal pursuant to
Crim.R. 29. That motion was denied by the trial court. Appellant did not present
evidence in his own defense. The case then went to the jury, where as noted
previously, appellant was convicted on both counts.
{¶15} Appellant timely appealed his convictions and raises the following five
assignments of error for our review:
{¶16} “[1.] The Trial Court erred to the prejudice of appellant by failing to
suppress statements made by appellant to police officers.
{¶17} “[2.] The appellant received ineffective assistance of counsel in violation of
his rights pursuant to the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and
Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
{¶18} “[3.] The trial court erred to the prejudice of appellant by finding that rape
and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor are not allied offenses of similar import, and
sentencing him separately on each charge.
{¶19} “[4.] The trial court erred in denying appellant’s motion for acquittal
pursuant to Ohio Crim.R. 29.
{¶20} “[5.] The appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the
evidence.”
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{¶21} Under his first assignment, appellant contends that his incriminating
statements to the police should be suppressed. Appellant argues that when he said on
two occasions, “maybe I should talk to my attorney,” he was invoking his right to
counsel and that he never expressly waived his right to counsel. He further contends
that those statements should have been suppressed because no recording of any kind
was made, nor written notes, nor a written statement taken from him. Specifically,
appellant contends that Defina’s report, made after the fact, was not based on any
written notes, and Defina was the sole officer present at the alleged interview who could
vouch for what was said. For the reasons that follow, we disagree with appellant.
{¶22} “At a hearing on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of
the trier of facts and, therefore, is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and
evaluate the credibility of witnesses.” State v. Jones, 11th Dist. No. 2001-A-0041, 2002-
Ohio-6569, ¶16, citing State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357 (1992). “When reviewing a
motion to suppress, an appellate court is bound to accept the trial court’s findings of fact
if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Guysinger,
86 Ohio App.3d 592, 594 (1993).
{¶23} Under the Fifth Amendment, a suspect is entitled to the assistance of
counsel prior to a custodial interrogation. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 435 (1966). An
accused must clearly invoke his right to counsel in order to raise a claim of deprivation
of counsel. State v. Jackson, 107 Ohio St.3d 300, 2006-Ohio-1, ¶93. “‘[T]he suspect
must unambiguously request counsel. (* * *) [H]e must articulate his desire to have
counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances
would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney. If the statement fails to
meet the requisite level of clarity, Edwards [v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477(1981)] does not
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require that the officers stop questioning the subject.’” Id., citing Davis v. United States,
512 U.S. 452, 459 (1994).
{¶24} In Davis, supra, the United States Supreme Court found that the
statement “maybe I should talk to a lawyer” was not a request for counsel. Id. at 462.
Relying on Davis, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that a suspect’s statement, “I think I
need a lawyer” was not sufficiently clear to require the termination of questioning. State
v. Henness, 79 Ohio St.3d 53 (1997).
{¶25} In the present case, appellant failed to clearly and unambiguously request
an attorney when he said “maybe I should talk to my attorney.” Davis, supra; Henness,
supra. Because appellant’s statement failed to meet the requisite level of clarity, the
officers were not required to stop questioning appellant. We further note, however, that
despite being given his Miranda warnings at the Colbert residence, and having been
reminded of the same while he was in jail, appellant nonetheless elected voluntarily to
speak with Patrolman Defina, even though he was advised that he was not required to
do so.
{¶26} Appellant further argues that his statements were improper due to the
interviewing officer’s failure to record them. However, this argument is also without
merit. First, appellant has failed to direct this court to any authorities in support of his
proposition. App. R. 16(A)(7). Second, R.C. 2933.81 specifically states that “[a] failure
to electronically record a statement as required by this section shall not provide the
basis to exclude or suppress the statement in any criminal proceeding.” Furthermore,
aside from the fact that Defina did not have access to the recording equipment, when
appellant was provided the opportunity to give a recorded statement, he declined to do
so. Finally, at no time does appellant contend that Defina’s written report of his
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custodial statements was inaccurate or not a true account of what appellant related to
Defina.
{¶27} Accordingly, based on the foregoing, appellant’s first assignment of error
is without merit and is not well-taken.
{¶28} For ease of analysis and for purposes of laying a proper foundation, we
will take appellant’s assignments of error out of order and next address his fourth and
fifth assignments.
{¶29} For purposes of this case, we are limiting our review to whether appellant
was guilty of counts one and two based solely upon digitally penetrating the victim. The
state did not argue at trial or before this court that Colbert’s testimony that it appeared
appellant was engaging in intercourse with the victim was a separate act constituting
guilt on either count.
{¶30} Under his fourth assignment, appellant contends that the trial court erred
to his prejudice in denying his counsel’s motion for acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29. An
appellate court reviews a denial of a Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal utilizing the same
standard used to review a sufficiency of the evidence claim. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio
St.3d 545, 553 (1995). Sufficiency of the evidence is a question of law dealing with
adequacy of the evidence. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997). The
Supreme Court of Ohio has clearly defined an appellate court’s role in reviewing the
sufficiency of evidence to support a criminal conviction. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d
259, paragraph two of the syllabus (1991). In Jenks, the Court held that:
{¶31} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to
determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the
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defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The relevant inquiry is whether, after
viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Id., citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979).
{¶32} The pertinent statutory elements for rape pursuant to R.C.
2907.02(A)(1)(c) are:
{¶33} “(1) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the
spouse of the offender * * * when any of the following applies:
{¶34} “ * * *.
{¶35} “(c) The other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired
because of a mental or physical condition or because of advanced age, and the
offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe the other person’s ability to resist or
consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition or because
of advanced age.”
{¶36} “Sexual conduct” is defined in R.C. 2907.01(A) as: “Vaginal intercourse
between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between persons
regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any
part of the body or any instrument, apparatus or other object into the vaginal or anal
opening of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal or anal
intercourse.”
{¶37} The elements needed to prove unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
pursuant to R.C. 2907.04(A) are as follows:
{¶38} “(A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage in
sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender, when the offender
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knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of
age, or the offender is reckless in that regard.”
{¶39} As noted above, the state presented evidence that on July 17, 2011, the
victim was awakened by her father, who found appellant on top of her. Neither she nor
appellant were wearing clothing. The victim testified that she was wearing clothing
when she went to bed. It appeared to Colbert that appellant was having sex with the
victim. After Defina was dispatched to the scene by Colbert, who reported a rape in
progress, appellant was handcuffed, taken to a patrol car, and read his Miranda rights,
after which he admitted to Defina that he touched the victim’s breasts and penetrated
her vagina with his finger. A finger is a “part of the body,” one of the items qualified
under the definition of “sexual conduct” in R.C. 2907.01(A) if it is inserted in the vagina.
Appellant admitted the same again while at the jail later that evening. Testing of the
DNA samples from the rape kit indicated appellant could not be excluded as a source of
the DNA, in particular, the DNA source on the vaginal swab, which did not contain a
mixture of profiles as did the underwear and abdominal swab, but rather was from a
single source.
{¶40} Viewing the foregoing evidence in a light most favorable to the state, if
believed, the state was able to prove to the jury that the essential elements of rape and
unlawful sexual conduct with a minor beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellant’s fourth
assignment of error is not well-taken and has no merit.
{¶41} Under appellant’s fifth assignment of error, he contends that his
convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence. Again, we disagree.
{¶42} “A manifest weight of the evidence challenge contests the believability of
the evidence presented.” State v. Wynder, 11th Dist. No. 2001-A-0063, 2003-Ohio-
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5978, ¶23, citing State v. Schlee, 11th Dist. No. 93-L-082, 1994 Ohio App. LEXIS 5862,
*13 (Dec. 23, 1994).
{¶43} “When determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of
the evidence, the appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and
all reasonable inferences drawn from it, consider the witnesses’ credibility, and decide
whether in resolving the conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact lost its way and
created a manifest miscarriage of justice when it returned a guilty verdict.” Id., citing
Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387.
{¶44} “Generally, the weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the
witnesses is primarily for the trier of fact to determine.” Id., citing State v. Thomas, 70
Ohio St.2d 79 (1992). “When reviewing a manifest weight of the evidence challenge, an
appellate court sits as the ‘thirteenth juror.’” Id., quoting Thompkins, at 387. “The
granting of a new trial is exercised only in exceptional cases where the evidence weighs
heavily against a conviction.” Id. Such is not the case here. In fact, to the contrary, the
evidence in this case weighs heavily in favor of appellant’s convictions.
{¶45} This court reiterates and incorporates by reference the facts recited in
support of its analysis under appellant’s fourth assignment of error above regarding the
trial court’s denial of appellant’s Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Additionally, appellant
did not present any witnesses or evidence in his own defense. Accordingly, we find that
the evidence presented by the state and appellant’s own admissions outweigh
appellant’s position that the jury lost its way when it returned a guilty verdict. Our review
of the evidence and all the reasonable inferences drawn from it lead to the conclusion
that appellant’s convictions were supported by the weight of the evidence.
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{¶46} We turn now to appellant’s second and third assignments. They are
significantly interrelated. Therefore, we will address them together. Under his third
assignment of error, appellant maintains that the trial court erred to his prejudice by
finding that the rape and unlawful sexual conduct charges were not allied offenses of
similar import and sentencing him separately on the two charges. In his second
assignment of error, appellant contends that his counsel was ineffective for failing to
disagree with the court’s assessment that the two offenses were not allied offenses of
similar import, and for failing to challenge the state’s cumulative presentation of forensic
evidence. During sentencing, appellant’s counsel stated that he did not know whether
the two offenses at issue were allied offenses of similar import, and that he intended to
manage that issue by requesting concurrent sentences.
{¶47} The state concedes that the offenses of rape and unlawful sexual conduct
with a minor are allied offenses of similar import and that appellant’s case must be
remanded to the trial court where his convictions will be merged for sentencing
purposes. However, given the fairly recent change in this area of the law and the
resulting necessity for a case by case analysis, this court will address this subject solely
with respect to the facts of the instant case. Further, given that the trial court
determined that the offenses were not allied offenses of similar import, this court deems
it necessary to expound upon the issue.
{¶48} “[M]erger is the process of combining multiple offenses for sentencing
purposes. Allied offenses of similar import ‘must be merged for purposes of sentencing,
and the defendant may be convicted of only one of the offenses, even though the
defendant has been properly charged with and found guilty of both.’” State v. Kouns,
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11th Dist. No. 2011-P-0105, 2012-Ohio-5331, ¶13, quoting State v. Chaffer, 1st Dist.
No. C-090602, 2010-Ohio-4471, syllabus; R.C. 2941.25.
{¶49} R.C. 2941.25(A) codifies the doctrine of merger and provides:
{¶50} “(A) Where the same conduct by a defendant can be construed to
constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information
may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only
one.”
{¶51} In State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, the lead
opinion regarding this issue, stated a two-part test to determine whether offenses are
allied offenses of similar import under R.C. 2941.25. While Johnson was a plurality
opinion that was not binding, this court has adopted the new test set forth in Johnson.
See e.g., Kouns, supra; see also State v. Jarvi, 11th Dist. No. 2011-A-0063, 2012-Ohio-
5590, ¶12-16; State v. Perry, 11th Dist. No. 2011-L-125, 2012-Ohio-4888, ¶104-109.
{¶52} Under the new test adopted by this court, the first inquiry focuses on
“whether it is possible to commit one offense and commit the other with the same
conduct, not whether it is possible to commit one without committing the other.”
Johnson at ¶48. (Emphasis sic.) The Court in Johnson further explained that “[i]f the
offenses correspond to such a degree that the conduct of the defendant constituting
commission of one offense constitutes commission of the other, then the offenses are of
similar import.” Id.{¶53} “Conversely, if the court determines that the commission of one offense
will never result in the commission of the other, or if the offenses are committed
separately, or if the defendant has separate animus for each offense, then, according to
R.C. 2941.25(B), the offenses will not merge.” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at ¶51.
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{¶54} Thus, “[i]n making * * * a determination [as to whether offenses are allied
offenses of similar import], it is not necessary that the commission of one offense would
always result in the commission of the other, but instead, the question is whether it is
possible for both offenses to be committed with the same conduct. State v. Roy, 12th
Dist. No. CA2009-11-290, 2011-Ohio-1992, ¶10, citing Johnson at ¶48.” State v.
Jackson, 8th Dist. No. 92531, 2011-Ohio-6069, ¶16.
{¶55} If it is found that the offense can be committed by the same conduct, the
court must then determine “whether the offenses were committed by the same conduct,
i.e., ‘a single act, committed with a single state of mind.’” Johnson at ¶49, quoting State
v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569, ¶50. “If the answer to both questions is
yes, then the offenses are allied offenses of similar import and will be merged.” Id. at
¶50.
{¶56} Applying the foregoing analysis to this case, this court finds that the
crimes of rape and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor are allied offenses of similar
import. That is, if an offender has committed rape, his or her conduct also plainly
constitutes unlawful sexual conduct with a minor since the underlying criminal conduct
in both offenses is the same, i.e., “engag[ing] in sexual conduct with another, who is not
the spouse of the offender.” The fact that the victim was 15 years old at the time of the
offense merely rendered appellant’s conduct eligible for the unlawful sexual conduct
with a minor charge as well as rape. Thus, it is possible for rape and unlawful sexual
conduct with a minor to be committed with the same conduct.
{¶57} The next question before us is whether appellant committed the offenses
by way of a single act and with a single state of mind. See Johnson at ¶49. This court
answers that question in the affirmative.
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{¶58} Referring to our previous recitation of the facts, appellant’s conduct on
July 17, 2011, in the victim’s bedroom at the Colbert residence gave rise to both
convictions. Both offenses arose from appellant’s conduct of digitally penetrating the
victim’s vagina in one single instance and in a single time period. Therefore, under the
facts and circumstances of this case, and in applying the Johnson factors, now adopted
by this court, we find these offenses to be allied offenses of similar import.
{¶59} Accordingly, appellant’s third assignment of error is well-taken, and
appellant’s case will be remanded to the trial court for merger of the two convictions for
sentencing purposes.
{¶60} Based on our disposition of appellant’s third assignment of error, his
second assignment of error is moot with respect to this issue and need not be
addressed at this time. However, to the extent that appellant claims defense counsel
failed to challenge the state’s cumulative presentation of forensic evidence, we will
address that issue.
{¶61} The state called three separate witnesses to testify about the efforts that
were taken to find Defendant’s DNA on the victim: trauma nurse Kathleen Hackett, who
prepared the rape kit, Christine Hammett of BCI, and Shawn Weiss of Lab Corp.
Appellant contends that the state’s summoning of three witnesses overstated the
importance of such evidence to the jury. Further, he contends that pursuant to the
testimony, there were other explanations for the presence of appellant’s DNA on the
victim’s person. In sum, appellant argues that if his counsel had objected to the
introduction of this evidence, it would have made a difference in the outcome of his
case. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) (in a claim of ineffective
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assistance of counsel, the defendant must prove that counsel’s performance was
deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.)
{¶62} First, appellant does not state how the failure to object to the introduction
of the forensic evidence prejudiced his case. In addition to the forensic evidence, the
jury heard the testimony of the victim, Colbert, and the admissions of appellant himself.
Also, appellant does not contend that the evidence was not relevant or improper.
Further, appellant declined to present a case in his defense that may have rebutted the
state’s forensic evidence. Thus, we fail to see how counsel’s failure to object to the
forensic evidence prejudiced appellant in any way pursuant to Strickland.
{¶63} For the reasons stated in the opinion of this court, it is the judgment and
order of this court that the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is
affirmed in part and reversed in part; and this case is remanded for further proceedings
consistent with the opinion.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,
concur.
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