State v. Davis

[Cite as State v. Davis, 195 Ohio App.3d 123, 2011-Ohio-2387.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 91324
THE STATE OF OHIO,
APPELLEE,
v.
DAVIS,
APPELLANT,
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-500668
BEFORE: Sweeney, J., Stewart, P.J., and Boyle, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: May 19, 2011
William D. Mason, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and Brent C. Kirvel
and T. Allan Regas, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for appellee.
John F. Corrigan; and Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Katherine A.
Szudy, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant.
JAMES J. SWEENEY, Judge.
{¶ 1} This appeal is before this court on remand from the Ohio Supreme Court,
after it reversed our determination that the failure of a trial court to instruct a spouse on
competency and make a finding on the record that the spouse voluntarily chose to testify
constitutes reversible plain error. State v. Davis, 127 Ohio St.3d 268, 2010-Ohio-5706,
939 N.E.2d 147, reversing State v. Davis, Cuyahoga App. No. 91324, 2009-Ohio-5217.
{¶ 2} We based our determination in our previous opinion on State v. Brown, 115
Ohio St.3d 55, 2007-Ohio-4837, 873 N.E.2d 858, which held the following: “Once it has
been determined that a witness is married to the defendant, the trial court must instruct the
witness on spousal competency and make a finding on the record that he or she
voluntarily chose to testify. Failure to do so constitutes reversible plain error.”
{¶ 3} In reversing our determination in the instant case, the Ohio Supreme Court
stated, “Admittedly, our statement in Brown that a violation of Evid.R. 601(B)
‘constitutes reversible plain error’ may have been misunderstood to mean that the
admission of incompetent spousal testimony is structural error requiring automatic
reversal without consideration of whether the testimony prejudiced the accused.” State
v. Davis, 127 Ohio St.3d 268, 2010-Ohio-5706, 939 N.E.2d 147, ¶ 21.
{¶ 4} The court clarified its statement and held the following: “An appellate court
may not reverse a conviction for plain error based on the admission of spousal testimony
in violation of Evid.R. 601(B) unless it conducts a plain-error analysis * * * and
determines that but for the error in admitting the spouse’s testimony, the outcome of the
trial would have been different and that reversal is necessary to prevent a manifest
miscarriage of justice.” Id. at ¶ 26.
{¶ 5} The Ohio Supreme Court instructed this court on remand to “conduct a
plain-error analysis and determine that but for the error in admitting spousal testimony,
the outcome of the trial would have been different and that reversal is necessary to
prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” Id. at ¶ 29.
{¶ 6} In our previous opinion, we overruled defendant William Davis’s first
assignment of error, reversed his convictions, and remanded this case for a new trial
based on the reasoning discussed above. State v. Davis, Cuyahoga App. No. 91324,
2009-Ohio-5217. A brief procedural history of this case follows.
{¶ 7} On September 17, 2007, defendant was charged with 31 counts of rape and
gross sexual imposition, involving his two nieces, D.T.1 and D.T.2. According to
D.T.1, defendant sexually molested her from 1999, when she was nine years old, until
2005, when she was 15 years old. According to D.T.2, defendant began to molest her in
2006, when she was eight or nine years old.
{¶ 8} In the fall of 2006, D.T.1 told her mother that defendant had sexually abused
her for six years. A subsequent investigation of these allegations led to defendant’s
indictment. On March 7, 2008, a jury found defendant guilty of six counts of rape of a
child under 13 years of age in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), 13 counts of rape by
force in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), one count of gross sexual imposition by force in
violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1), and three counts of gross sexual imposition of a child
under 13 years of age in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4). On March 12, 2008, the court
sentenced defendant to life in prison.
{¶ 9} We begin by analyzing the spousal testimony for plain error, as directed by
the Ohio Supreme Court.
{¶ 10} After reviewing the facts of this case, we find that the outcome of the trial
would have been the same regardless of the error in admitting defendant’s wife’s
testimony. Reversal is not necessary to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice,
because defendant’s multiple rape and gross sexual imposition convictions are supported
by the testimony of the two victims. See State v. Lewis (1990), 70 Ohio App.3d 624,
638, 591 N.E.2d 854 (“There is no requirement that a rape victim’s testimony be
corroborated as a condition precedent to conviction”).
{¶ 11} The two victims, D.T.1 and D.T.2, who are defendant’s wife’s nieces,
testified that defendant repeatedly molested them. Most of the abuse occurred at
defendant’s home when the girls were visiting and helping his wife on the weekends.
Defendant’s wife has trouble getting around, and defendant would take advantage of this
by sexually abusing the girls when his wife was sleeping or occupied elsewhere in the
house.
{¶ 12} D.T.1 testified that the abuse started in 1999, when she was nine years old.
D.T.1 detailed multiple incidents of sexual abuse that happened at four different houses
that defendant and his wife lived in over a six year span. The last time D.T.1 recalled
defendant raping her was late in 2005, when she was 15 years old.
{¶ 13} D.T.1 recalled various details of the abuse. For example, after it first
started, there was blood in her underwear. D.T.1 showed her mom, who thought that
D.T.1 had begun to menstruate. Most of the abuse occurred at night, when D.T.1 was
sleeping in a makeshift bed on the dining room floor. D.T.1 testified that she told
defendant several times that she “did not want to do this anymore” but that he continued
to rape her, saying that “it will be over soon.” D.T.1 had trouble sleeping and frequently
cried.
{¶ 14} D.T.2 testified that defendant touched her inappropriately in 2006, when
she was eight or nine years old. This happened on two occasions when D.T.2 was
staying at her aunt and defendant’s house for the weekend, while she was sleeping on
blankets on the dining room floor.
{¶ 15} In September 2006, D.T.1 told her mother about the abuse, and her mother
contacted the police. Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services
conducted an investigation, and defendant was subsequently indicted for the offenses.
{¶ 16} In light of D.T.1’s and D.T.2’s specific and consistent testimony regarding
defendant’s molesting them, we cannot say that defendant would have been acquitted had
his wife not testified. The court’s failure to inform defendant’s wife that she could
choose not to testify against her husband and failure to find that she voluntarily elected to
testify were not prejudicial to defendant.
{¶ 17} Given this determination, we turn to defendant’s assignments of error on
appeal. In our previous opinion, we overruled defendant’s first assignment of error,1
and we hereby incorporate that analysis into this opinion. 2009-Ohio-5217, ¶ 13-27.
Additionally, our previous opinion rendered defendant’s second and third assignments of
error moot. Id., at ¶ 31. However, our determination that defendant’s convictions
should not be reversed for plain error based on the admission of spousal testimony
necessitates that we now review these remaining assignments of error.
{¶ 18} Defendant’s second assignment of error states as follows:
{¶ 19} “The appellant was denied a fair trial when evidence was admitted that
appellant had a general propensity to molest young females when he was on trial for rape
and GSI of two of his nieces.”
{¶ 20} Evid.R. 404(B) states, “Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not
admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or
accident.” See also R.C. 2945.59.
1
Defendant’s first assignment of error: “The defendant was twice put in jeopardy for the same offenses
contrary to the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution when
after jeopardy having attached the court denied appellant’s request to try his case to a jury of eleven, dismissed the
sworn panel, and impanelled a second jury.”
{¶ 21} On January 18, 2008, the court denied the state’s pretrial motion to allow
Evid.R. 404(B) other-acts evidence into trial, specifically, the testimony of the victims’
mother, who is also defendant’s sister-in-law, regarding comments that defendant made to
young female family members approximately 20 years ago. In ruling the evidence
inadmissible, the court stated, “[T]he testimony would go to the act itself rather than the
plan to engage in the act. This is not needed as evidence of modus operandi to establish
identity. It’s impossible to defend against, as well as being highly prejudicial.”
{¶ 22} During trial, the victims’ mother testified for the state, and the prosecutor
asked her if she ever had a falling out with defendant. The victims’ mother answered,
“No.” The state then asked, “Now, has your relationship always been wonderful with
this defendant?” The victims’ mother answered that it had. During cross-examination,
defense counsel confirmed with the victims’ mother that she never had any disagreements
with defendant prior to this case, and that generally, “everyone in this family [was]
getting along perfectly prior to these allegations coming to light.” During redirect
examination, the state probed the victims’ mother’s testimony of no family disagreements.
Eventually, the victims’ mother testified to the following:
{¶ 23} Approximately 16 years ago, she walked in on defendant, who was
standing “right up on” her sister, who did not have anything on but a towel; defendant
“always has been this type of person that if you — if you’re at the sink washing dishes, he
would come up behind you and act like he’s getting something off the top, the cabinets up
there, and he’d be rubbing and grinding on you and you be like, ‘Move’”; when she was
14 years old, the victims’ mother was walking from the store when defendant passed by in
a car and said, “Look at those big titties. I can suck them”; and, at a family function
around Christmas time, defendant inappropriately kissed her on the lips, and she slapped
him in the face.
{¶ 24} Defendant did not object to this line of testimony. In fact, on
recross-examination, defendant focused on the inconsistencies in the victims’ mother’s
testimony, in that she initially said that she never had a disagreement with defendant but
subsequently testified to improper incidents with defendant over the years. Defense
counsel asked how many times she slapped defendant and she responded, “More than
once.” Defendant also elicited testimony from the victims’ mother that he was drunk all
the time and that she was one of the people that he had rubbed up against in the past.
Finally, defense counsel asked her why she kept quiet about defendant’s history of
sexually inappropriate conduct. “Because [her sister; defendant’s wife] would always
say, ‘[defendant is] drunk. [Defendant is] drunk,’ when he do things out of the ordinary.
So you try to just go on, he’s drunk. But some things you can’t just go with that he’s
drunk.”
{¶ 25} Since defendant failed to object to this testimony, he waived all but plain
error on appeal. Evid.R. 103(A). Crim.R. 52(B) states, “Plain errors or defects
affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention
of the court.” The Ohio Supreme Court identified “three limitations on a reviewing
court’s decision to correct an error despite the absence of a timely objection at trial.
First, there must be an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal rule. Second, the error must
be plain. To be ‘plain’ within the meaning of Crim.R. 52(B), an error must be an
‘obvious’ defect in the trial proceedings. Third, the error must have affected ‘substantial
rights.’ We have interpreted this aspect of the rule to mean that the trial court’s error
must have affected the outcome of the trial.” (Citations omitted.) State v. Barnes (2002),
94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240.
{¶ 26} While defendant cites Evid.R. 404(B) for the proposition that evidence of
past wrongs or acts “is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show
action in conformity therewith,” we need not discuss this because we find that the
testimony falls under the Evid.R. 404(A)(1) exception to the inadmissibility of character
evidence in general. Evid.R. 404(A)(1) states that character evidence is admissible if
“offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same.” This court has held
that error will not be found when the defense opens the door to otherwise inadmissible
evidence. State v. Clemence, Cuyahoga App. No. 81845, 2003-Ohio-3660, citing State
v. Greer (1988), 39 Ohio St.3d 236, 530 N.E.2d 382.
{¶ 27} Looking at the proffered testimony in light of the above evidentiary rules
and case law, we cannot say that it was a plain and obvious error to allow it. Although
the victims’ mother testified for the state, she initially said that she had no problems with
defendant. Defense counsel expanded on this, possibly because it may have been
favorable to him. This opened the door for the state to present rebuttal testimony that
the witness did, in fact, have problems with defendant. Defense counsel then expanded
on this line of questioning, presumably to impeach the state’s witness by pointing out her
inconsistencies.
{¶ 28} “[A] criminal defendant may not make an affirmative, apparently strategic
decision at trial and then complain on appeal that the result of that decision constitutes
reversible error.” State v. Doss, Cuyahoga App. No. 84433, 2005-Ohio-775. Pursuant
to the invited-error doctrine, “a party is not entitled to take advantage of an error that he
himself invited or induced the court to make.” State ex rel. Kline v. Carroll, 96 Ohio
St.3d 404, 2002-Ohio-4849, 775 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 27.
{¶ 29} Accordingly, defendant’s second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 30} In defendant’s third assignment of error, he argues as follows:
{¶ 31} “Appellant was prejudiced by ineffective assistance of counsel.”
{¶ 32} To substantiate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
must demonstrate that (1) the performance of defense counsel was seriously flawed and
deficient and (2) the result of defendant’s trial or legal proceeding would have been
different had defense counsel provided proper representation. Strickland v. Washington
(1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674; State v. Brooks (1986), 25 Ohio
St.3d 144, 495 N.E.2d 407. In State v. Bradley, the Ohio Supreme Court truncated this
standard, holding that reviewing courts need not examine counsel’s performance if the
defendant fails to prove the second prong of prejudicial effect. State v. Bradley (1989),
42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373. “The object of an ineffectiveness claim is not to
grade counsel’s performance.” Id. at 142.
{¶ 33} In the instant case, defendant argues that his trial counsel was ineffective in
the following ways: (1) failing to object to inadmissible other-acts testimony and (2)
failing to object to the state’s calling his wife as a witness and questioning her about a
letter D.T.1 wrote to her and calls between her and defendant when defendant was in jail.
{¶ 34} The other-acts testimony was thoroughly analyzed in defendant’s second
assignment of error. For the same reasons, we find that the admission of this evidence
was defense counsel’s trial strategy because it attacked the credibility of the state’s
witness. See Evid.R. 607 (allowing impeachment by prior inconsistent statements).
{¶ 35} Defendant’s second allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel concerns
his wife’s testimony. Defendant argues that she was incompetent to testify under
Evid.R. 601(B), which states as follows: “Every person is competent to be a witness
except * * * [a] spouse testifying against the other spouse charged with a crime except
when * * * (2) the testifying spouse elects to testify.”
{¶ 36} As stated earlier in this opinion, the court failed to find that defendant’s
wife elected to testify. Furthermore, defense counsel did not object to defendant’s
wife’s testimony. Defendant’s wife was called to testify by the state, but she was
declared a hostile witness on the stand under Evid.R. 611(C) and subjected to leading
questions because her testimony was at times favorable to the state and at times favorable
to defendant. However, assuming without deciding that counsel was ineffective for
failing to object to defendant’s wife’s testimony, we turn to the second prong of
Strickland, whether the result of the proceeding would have been different had counsel
objected.
{¶ 37} Under direction from the Ohio Supreme Court, we determined earlier in
this opinion that the outcome of the trial would have been the same regardless of the error
in admitting defendant’s wife’s testimony. Using the same reasoning, we likewise
determine that the outcome of defendant’s trial would have been the same regardless of
counsel’s failure to object to defendant’s wife’s testimony. See State v. Holloway
(1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 239, 244, 527 N.E.2d 831 (“The failure to object to error, alone, is
not enough to sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. To prevail on such a
claim, a defendant must first show that there was a substantial violation of any of defense
counsel’s essential duties to his client and, second, that he was materially prejudiced by
counsel’s ineffectiveness”).
{¶ 38} Accordingly, defendant’s third assignment of error is overruled, and his
convictions are affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
STEWART, P.J., concurs.
BOYLE, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.
BOYLE, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part:
{¶ 39} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s resolution of the first assignment
of error because the record fails to demonstrate a “manifest necessity” for sua sponte
ordering a mistrial.
{¶ 40} At the outset, I must emphasize that the constitutional protection afforded
under the Double Jeopardy Clause also “embraces the defendant’s ‘valued right to have
his trial completed by a particular tribunal.’” Arizona v. Washington (1978), 434 U.S.
497, 98 S.Ct. 824, 54 L.Ed.2d 717, quoting United States v. Jorn (1971), 400 U.S. 470,
484, 91 S.Ct. 547, 27 L.Ed. 2d 543, and Wade v. Hunter (1949), 336 U.S. 684, 689, 69
S.Ct. 834, 93 L.Ed. 974.
{¶ 41} And although a trial court has the power to sua sponte declare a mistrial
without the defendant’s consent, “the power ought to be used with the greatest caution,
under urgent circumstances, and for very plain and obvious causes.” United States v.
Perez (1824), 22 U.S. 579, 580 (the case wherein the United States Supreme Court
initially used the phrase “manifest necessity”); United States v. Toribio-Lugo (C.A.1,
2004), 376 F.3d 33, 38-39. Indeed, recognizing that a constitutionally protected interest
is affected by a court’s sua sponte declaration of a mistrial, the Supreme Court has
cautioned trial courts to exercise its authority only after a “scrupulous exercise of judicial
discretion.” Jorn, 400 U.S. at 485. As stated by the Supreme Court:
{¶ 42} “[A] trial judge, therefore, ‘must always temper the decision whether or not
to abort the trial by considering the importance to the defendant of being able, once and
for all, to conclude his confrontation with society through the verdict of a tribunal he
might believe to be favorably disposed to his fate.’” Washington, 434 U.S. at 514, quoting
Jorn, 400 U.S. at 486 (Harlan, J.).
{¶ 43} With these considerations in mind, the “manifest necessity” standard is a
heavy burden. Washington, 434 U.S. at 505. And although there is no precise,
mechanical formula to determine whether a mistrial is supported by manifest necessity, a
reviewing court must be satisfied that the trial court exercised “sound discretion” in
declaring a mistrial. Id. at 506, 514; see also Ross v. Petro (C.A.6, 2008), 515 F.3d 653.
To exercise “sound discretion” in determining that a mistrial is necessary, “the trial
judge should allow both parties to state their positions on the issue, consider their
competing interests, and explore some reasonable alternatives before declaring a
mistrial.” State v. Rodriguez, 8th Dist. No. 88913, 2007-Ohio-6302, ¶23, citing
Washington.
{¶ 44} Based on the circumstances of this case, I do not believe that the trial judge
exercised sound discretion in declaring a mistrial. Here, after the court properly excused
Juror 6, there was a clear alternative to a mistrial: proceeding with 11 jurors. Indeed,
both the state and defense agreed to have the case heard by 11 jurors and were ready to
proceed. Thus, they shared the same position, i.e., proceed with the jury impaneled and
sworn. And although the trial judge heard from both sides and discussed the possibility
of proceeding with 11 jurors, she nevertheless opted to sua sponte declare a mistrial.
{¶ 45} The judge’s decision to declare a mistrial was based in part on the trial
most likely carrying over to the next week, which the judge believed would have created a
severe hardship for some members of the jury. The judge inquired of the members, and
two indicated that they had a conflict if the case proceeded past Monday of the following
week. (But, as noted by the trial judge, the jurors stated during voir dire that they would
fulfill their duty and appear for service despite any hardship.) The judge further
expressed concern that if a juror failed to appear on Monday, the defense would then
move for a mistrial.
{¶ 46} All of the trial judge’s stated concerns, however, fail to demonstrate
manifest necessity for declaring a mistrial. Notably, the judge’s stated concerns were
speculative. And if in fact any of them arose, the court could have addressed them at
that time. As for the concern of the defense later moving for a mistrial if there were
insufficient number of jurors, such a motion would not have implicated the
double-jeopardy issues present in this case. Simply put, I do not find that the trial court
adequately considered Davis’s “‘valued right to have his trial completed by a particular
tribunal.’” See Washington, 434 U.S. at 503, quoting Wade v. Hunter (1949), 336 U.S.
684, 689, 69 S. Ct. 834, 93 L.Ed. 974.
{¶ 47} Further, while I recognize that “manifest necessity” does not mean that a
mistrial was absolutely necessary or that there was no other alternative, it does require a
trial court to give meaningful consideration to other alternatives before sua sponte
ordering a mistrial. This court has repeatedly recognized that a trial court abuses its
discretion in sua sponte declaring a mistrial when other less drastic alternatives are easily
available. See N. Olmsted v. Himes, 8th Dist. Nos. 84076 and 84078, 2004-Ohio-4241(finding an abuse of discretion in declaring a mistrial when a curative instruction would
have sufficiently cured any prejudice); State v. Coon, (Apr. 18, 2002), 8th Dist. No.
79641, 2002 WL 598321 (finding an abuse of discretion because the court failed to
consider less drastic alternatives); State v. Morgan (1998), 129 Ohio App.3d 838, 719
N.E.2d 102 (finding an abuse of discretion because the trial court failed to cure or
otherwise determine the effect of the purportedly tainted evidence).
{¶ 48} Here, the trial court could have proceeded with 11 jurors, as consented to
by both the state and Davis, and its sua sponte ordering of a mistrial constitutes an abuse
of discretion. Therefore, Davis’s retrial was barred by double jeopardy, and his first
assignment of error should be sustained. See State v. Glover (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 18,
517 N.E.2d 900.