State v. Spencer

[Cite as State v. Spencer, 2012-Ohio-6300.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 11CA3293
:
vs. : RELEASED 12/21/12
:
DOROTHY L. SPENCER, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
Defendant-Appellant. :
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Lori J. Rankin, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellant.
Matthew S. Schmidt, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio,
for Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, J.:
{¶1} Appellant, Dorothy Spencer, appeals her conviction in the Ross
County Court of Common Pleas after she pled no contest to one count of
aggravated robbery. Appellant’s appellate counsel advised this Court that,
after reviewing the record, she cannot find a meritorious claim for appeal.
As a result, Appellant’s counsel has moved to withdraw under Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (1967). After independently
reviewing the record, we find no merit to the sole assignment of error and
further find no additional error prejudicial to the Appellant’s rights in the
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 2
trial court proceedings. Accordingly, this appeal is found to be without
merit and wholly frivolous. Counsel’s motion to withdraw is found well-
taken and is, hereby, granted. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
FACTS
{¶2} On February 5, 2010, Appellant was indicted on one count of
aggravated robbery, a first degree felony in violation of R.C. 2911.01. The
indictment also contained a gun specification. On March 12, 2010,
Appellant filed a motion to suppress her statements made to Detective Chris
King. The motion to suppress hearing took place on April 6, 2010.
{¶3} At the suppression hearing, Detective King testified he went to
Appellant’s home on January 21, 2010, at East Main Street in Chillicothe,
hoping to interview her regarding a crime which occurred at the Chillicothe
Inn. No one answered Appellant’s door, so he left his business card. Later
that day, Appellant telephoned Detective King at the Law Enforcement
Complex. Detective King explained that he wanted to speak to her about an
incident he was investigating. A short time later, Appellant’s boyfriend
drove her to the police station. She arrived around 11:30 a.m.
{¶4} Detective King escorted Appellant to the interview room, which,
according to his testimony, was eight or ten feet by ten feet. He was wearing
his uniform, badge, and firearm. Appellant and Detective King were
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 3
approximately two feet apart during the interview. Appellant sat at the end
of a table and Detective King sat at the corner of the table closest to her.
{¶5} Detective King never told Appellant that she was in custody, that
she was under arrest, that she could be arrested during the interview, or that
she was free to leave the interview. He did recite her Miranda Rights to her
and asked her if she understood those rights. Appellant indicated that she
understood her Miranda Rights and that she was willing to waive them.
Detective King acknowledges he did not provide Appellant with a copy of
the Miranda Rights in written form.
{¶6} Detective King testified he had ample time to observe
Appellant’s demeanor and physical condition during the interview. She had
no difficulty walking and did not stumble or stagger. Detective King did not
notice slurred speech. Appellant did not appear to have trouble
understanding the questions or formulating answers. She did not seem
confused. Detective King specifically testified Appellant presented no
indicia of intoxication. Detective King acknowledged he never asked
Appellant, before or during the interview, whether or not she was under the
influence of any alcohol and/or drugs. Appellant did inform him she was
under extreme stress due to financial issues.
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 4
{¶7} The interview lasted approximately two hours. Appellant took
one smoke break and was accompanied the entire time by another detective.
She also had one restroom break, however, Appellant never asked if she
could leave. After the interview was concluded, Detective King advised
Appellant he felt there was probable cause to believe she committed the
crime of aggravated robbery, and he subsequently placed her under arrest.
{¶8} At the time of the suppression hearing, Detective King had
worked as a detective for approximately one year. Prior to becoming a
detective, he was on road patrol for four years. Detective King testified to
approximately one hundred opportunities to observe different types of
intoxication and impairment and perform field sobriety tests.
{¶9} At the suppression hearing, Appellant testified she had been up
for three days smoking crack up until shortly before the time he knocked on
her door. She stated: “I was in no condition to face any of them for
anything,” because she was “under the influence of crack cocaine.” She
stated at the time Detective King came to her apartment, a couple of friends
were inside with her. Her friends were in possession of drugs and under the
influence. They would not let her open the door. Appellant testified
Detective King was “beating down the door,” but he did not identify
himself. Later she found his card lying on the floor, picked it up, and called
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 5
him. Appellant eventually presented that same day to Detective King. She
testified when he took her into the interview room, the “first thing out of his
mouth was that I have been talking to your family and your daughter about
your out of control crack problem….” Appellant next testified that she
“vaguely” recalled Detective King reading her the Miranda Rights.
Appellant further testified she felt like she was not allowed to leave once the
interview started. She testified that she “couldn’t think straight,” and her
mind was “blowed all apart” about (1) “being up there over something I did
not do;” (2) “him telling my family that I was on crack….” She also
testified she was bipolar with borderline personality disorder. Appellant
also stated she was under the influence of prescription medications,
including hydroxine and saphris. Appellant testified she felt she “had to tell
him something to get out of there,” and that Detective King told her when
they were finished with the interview, she could go see her daughter.
{¶10} On May 4, 2010, the trial court overruled the motion to
suppress, finding that Appellant did knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently
waive her rights pursuant to Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct.
1602 (1966). Appellant subsequently entered a plea of no contest with the
understanding that she would be preserving her right to appeal the trial
court’s suppression ruling. The appeal is timely. We have allowed
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 6
Appellant sufficient time to respond to counsel’s brief and no response has
been received.
ANDERS BRIEF
{¶11} Under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396(1967), counsel may ask permission to withdraw from a case when counsel
has conscientiously examined the record, can discern no meritorious claims
for appeal, and has determined the case to be wholly frivolous. Id., at 744;
State v. Adkins, 4th Dist. No. 03CA27, 2004-Ohio-3627, ¶8. Counsel’s
request to withdraw must be accompanied with a brief identifying anything
in the record that could arguably support the client’s appeal. Anders at 744;
Adkins at ¶8. Further, counsel must provide the defendant with a copy of the
brief and allow sufficient time for the defendant to raise any other issues, if
the defendant chooses to. Id.{¶12} Once counsel has satisfied these requirements, the appellate
court must conduct a full examination of the trial court proceedings to
determine if meritorious issues exist. If the appellate court determines that
the appeal is frivolous, it may grant counsel’s request to withdraw and
address the merits of the case without affording the appellant the assistance
of counsel. Id. If, however, the court finds the existence of meritorious
issues, it must afford the appellant assistance of counsel before deciding the
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 7
merits of the case. Anders at 744; State v. Duran, 4th Dist. No. 06CA2919,
2007-Ohio-2743, ¶7.
In the current action, Appellant’s counsel advises that the appeal is
wholly frivolous and has asked permission to withdraw. Pursuant to Anders,
counsel has filed a brief raising one potential assignment of error for this
Court’s review.
POTENTIAL ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN VIOLATION OF THE
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT’S RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AND
SIXTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION WHEN THE TRIAL COURT OVERRULED THE
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶13} In her sole assignment of error, Appellant contends that the trial
court erred in violation of her Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights under the
United States Constitution when the motion to suppress was overruled.
Specifically, Appellant contends that her statement, which she argues was
obtained while she was under the influence of crack cocaine, was not
knowingly and intelligently made. Appellant maintains that at the time she
provided a statement to Detective King, her will was overborne by the crack
cocaine she had been smoking during the 72-hour period before the
interrogation.
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 8
{¶14} Our review of a decision on a motion to suppress “presents
mixed question of law and fact.” State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio App.3d 706,
710, 707 N.E.2d 539 (4th Dist.1997) citing United States v. Martinez (C.A.
11, 1992), 949 F.2d 1117, 1119. At a suppression hearing, the trial court is
in the best position to evaluate witness credibility. State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio
St.3d 308, 314, 652 N.E.2d 988 (1995). Accordingly, we must uphold the
trial court’s findings of fact if competent, credible evidence in the record
supports them. Id. We then conduct a de novo review of the trial court’s
application of the law to the facts. State v. Anderson, 100 Ohio App.3d 688,
691, 654 N.E.2d 1034 (4th Dist.1995); State v. Fields, 4th Dist. No.
99CA11, WL1125250 (Nov. 29, 1999).
{¶15} “[E]ven if Miranda warnings were required and given, a
defendant’s statements may be deemed involuntary and thus, be subject to
exclusion.” State v. Marshall, 4th Dist. No. 06CA23, 2007-Ohio-6298,
2007 WL 4180806, ¶42, citing State v. Kelly, 2nd Dist. No. 2004-CA-20,
2005-Ohio-305, 2005 WL 182900, ¶11. “ ‘A suspect’s decision to waive his
Fifth Amendment privilege against compulsory self-incrimination is made
voluntarily absent evidence that his will was overborne and his capacity for
self-determination was critically impaired because of coercive police
conduct.’ ” Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 574, 107 S. Ct. 851, 857-858
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 9
(1987); Kelly, above, at ¶25, quoting State v. Dailey, 53 Ohio St.3d 88, 91,
559 N.E.2d 459 (1990). “ ‘In determining whether a suspect’s statement was
made voluntarily, a court should consider the totality of the circumstances.
These circumstances include ‘the age, mentality, and prior criminal
experience of the accused; the length, intensity, and frequency of
interrogation; the existence of physical deprivation or mistreatment; and the
existence of threat or inducement.’” Id. quoting State v. Sneed, 166 Ohio
App.3d 492, 2006-Ohio-1749, 851 N.E.2d 532 (1st Dist.1996), ¶31, quoting
State v. Edwards , 49 Ohio St.2d 31, 358 N.E.2d 1051 (1976), at paragraph
two of the syllabus, (overruled on other grounds by Edwards v. Ohio 438
U.S. 91, 98 S. Ct. 3147, (1978).
{¶16} The 11th District Court of Appeals addressed the issue
Appellant raises, essentially that she was up three days smoking crack and
this alleged activity negated her ability to make a knowing, voluntary, and
intelligent waiver of Miranda rights, in State v. Klapka, 11th Dist. No. 2003-
L-044, 2004-Ohio-2921, 2004 WL 1238411. There, Defendant-Appellant
was convicted of possession of heroin and complicity to illegal conveyance
of drug abuse onto the grounds of a detention facility. On appeal, Klapka
claimed that the trial court should have granted her motion to suppress
because she was under the influence of heroin at the time she made certain
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 10
statements. Citing Edwards and Dailey above, the appellate court noted that
the evidence presented at the suppression hearing indicated that Klapka’s
will was not overborne by any police conduct and that her statement was
voluntary. Specifically, at the suppression hearing, two detectives testified
that they did not notice any behavior that would indicate Klapka was under
the influence of any intoxicating substance. They testified she was
coherent, attentive, responsive, and fully- oriented to her surroundings and
situation. The appellate court opined at ¶20:
“Even if Klapka had ingested heroin prior to the interview, this,
alone, would not render her statement involuntary. Since she
exhibited no outward signs of intoxication and since she admits
that she did not tell either Det. Sherwood or Lt. Walters that she
had ingested the heroin, her purported ingestion of the heroin
would not render her statements involuntary.” See State v.
Smith, 80 Ohio St. 3d 89, 112, 1997-Ohio-355, 684 N.E.2d 668,
(1997), (“Intoxication affecting one’s state of mind, absent
coercive police activity, would be an insufficient reason to
exclude [a] voluntary confession.”).
The 11th District court further concluded:
“In fact, viewing the totality of the circumstances, we conclude
that Klapka’s statement was voluntary in nature. Klapka is a
twenty-two year old female with a high school education and
some college experience. The single interview was no longer
than 90 minutes and was conducted in an office at the Lake
County Sheriff’s Office. Klapka was properly Mirandized and
waived her rights both orally and in writing. There were no
claims or evidence of physical deprivation or mistreatment.
Finally, Klapka was not threatened, nor was she induced, as
discussed above, into making the statement. We, therefore, find
that Klapka’s will was not overborne by any police conduct and
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 11
that Klapka’s statement was voluntary. See Edwards, 49 Ohio
St.2d at 41, 358 N.E.2d 1051; State v. Comstock, 11th Dist. No.
96-A-0058, 1997 WL 531304 (Aug.29, 1997).”
{¶17} A similar issue was addressed in State v. Williams, 8th Dist.
No. 82094, 2003-Ohio-4811, 2003 WL 22100230. There, defendant-
appellant was convicted in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court of
aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, possession of
drugs, and having a weapon while under disability. On appeal, appellant
claimed that his drug intoxication (being under the influence of PCP at the
time he made certain statements) rendered his waiver of Miranda rights
involuntary. The appellate court disagreed, however, concluding that based
on a totality of the circumstances, the State met its burden of demonstrating
that defendant’s confession was voluntary. The appellate court noted that
although there was evidence that the defendant may have been under the
influence of drugs at the time he made his statement, there was no evidence
that the drugs affected his ability to understand his rights or his decision to
waive them. Williams,¶ 18. All of the police officers involved testified that
defendant was coherent, seemed aware of what was going on, listened to the
explanation of his rights, and seemed to understand what was told to him. Id.“Thus, there is no evidence that defendant’s possible drug usage affected his
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 12
ability to understand his rights, and he could knowingly and intelligently
waive them. Id. See Edwards and Dailey, above.
{¶18} In State v. Banford, 6th Dist. No. L-05-1334, 2007-Ohio-3821,
2007 WL 2164002, appellant appealed his conviction after a jury trial for
aggravated robbery with a firearm specification. The appellant specifically
argued his statement was not voluntary because at the time of arrest and
police interview, he had previously injected himself with morphine. During
the suppression hearing, a videotaped interview was played and a detective
who testified admitted that appellant was a little “jumpy.” The appellate
court noted that even if arm scratching and “jumpiness” was caused by
“coming down from a morphine high,” there was no indication that the
morphine affected appellant’s ability to understand his rights and his
decision to waive them. Id. ¶ 14. The appellate court further noted that
appellant was able to recite his name, age, address, and answer the
detective’s questions, (although it was clear he did not wish to implicate
others.) Id.
{¶19} More recently, this Court addressed the test for voluntariness
under Fifth Amendment analysis in State v. Michael, 4th Dist. No.
09CA887, 2010-Ohio-5296, 2010 WL 4273225. Michael was convicted of
arson and aggravated arson. Although Michael did not allege that she was
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 13
under the influence of drugs or alcohol, she argued the trial court erred by
denying her motion to suppress statements that, allegedly, were not made
voluntarily, knowingly, or intelligently. Relying on the law in Edwards
and Dailey above, this Court considered the totality of the circumstances and
fully agreed with the trial court’s analysis of the facts and circumstances
which surrounded Michael’s interview, which were set forth at ¶11 of the
opinion as follows:
"Michael was advised of the allegations against
her; she was apprised of her Miranda rights and she
waived those rights; though only 19 years old and though
her education was limited to completing the eighth grade,
she communicates and writes very well; she was not
under the influence of any alcohol or drugs; she
voluntarily came to the police station to give her
statement; the interview lasted, at most, 45 minutes; she
was not subjected to physical or mental deprivation and
there were no allegations of mistreatment; the intensity of
the questioning was ‘at best de minimus, if not void of
intensity.’ ”
{¶20} Based upon our independent review of the suppression hearing,
we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that Appellant’s statements were
voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently made. Reviewing the totality of the
circumstances, the record reflects that Appellant is 37 years old, able to read
and write, and actually has an associate degree in business management.
She voluntarily made arrangements to go to the Law Enforcement Complex
and speak with Detective King. Detective King recited her Miranda Rights
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 14
to her at the beginning of the interview. The record also indicates that
Appellant has prior knowledge of the criminal justice system as she was
convicted of 3 felonies in 2004.
{¶21} Detective King was wearing a uniform, badge, and firearm. The
interview itself was conducted in a small room and lasted approximately two
hours. However, there was also evidence that Appellant had two breaks, one
to smoke and one to use the restroom. She was not physically deprived and
she makes no claim that she was mistreated.
{¶22} Also relevant is Detective King’s testimony that Appellant
presented no indications of being legally intoxicated or under the influence
of any drugs or alcohol. He testified to his experience recognizing these
indicators and performing field sobriety tests. He specifically noted she had
no problems walking. Her speech was not slurred, and she did not seem
confused or unable to formulate answers. Importantly, she did not tell him
that she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or, as she now advises,
had been up smoking crack cocaine for three days.
{¶23} Nor do we find it problematic that if, as Appellant testified,
Detective King told her she could leave and go see her daughter after the
interview was finished. The trial court observed a possible question as to
whether or not there was even a custodial interrogation, given that Appellant
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 15
appeared voluntarily. The evidence indicates Appellant never made a request
to leave. Given our previous conclusions regarding Appellant’s age and
education, the lack of physical deprivation and absence of any allegations of
mistreatment, even if Detective King did tell her she could see her daughter
after the interview, we do not discern this possible inducement to be a
prevailing factor. We believe this case to be similar to Klapka. Appellant
exhibited no outward signs of intoxication and since she apparently did not
tell Detective King that she had been smoking crack for three days
immediately prior to her interview, her purported drug usage would not
render her statements involuntary.
{¶24} Pursuant to our de novo review of the record, we agree with the
trial court’s findings that Appellant’s statements were voluntarily,
knowingly, and intelligently made pursuant to Miranda v. Arizona. We
therefore conclude that the potential assignment of error advanced by
appellate counsel is without merit, and this appeal is found to be wholly
frivolous. The motion of counsel for Appellant requesting to withdraw as
counsel is hereby granted and the judgment of the Ross County Court of
Common Pleas is affirmed.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Ross App. No. 11CA3293 16
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the
Appellee recover of Appellant costs herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Ross County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE
UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL
COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to
exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a
continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio
an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If
a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the
expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal
period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme
Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.
Abele, P.J. and Harsha, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: _________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
the date of filing with the clerk.