State v. Greeno

[Cite as State v. Greeno, 2021-Ohio-1372.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PICKAWAY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 19CA15
:
vs. :
:
BRIAN A. GREENO, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
Defendant-Appellant. :
APPEARANCES:
Jerry L. McHenry, Pickerington, Ohio, for Appellant.
Judy Wolford, Pickaway County Prosecuting Attorney, Circleville, Ohio, for
Appellee.
Smith, P.J.
{¶1} This is an appeal from a Pickaway County Common Pleas Court
judgment of conviction and sentence. The jury found Brian A. Greeno (Appellant)
guilty of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree
felony. The trial court ordered Appellant to serve a 36-month prison sentence. On
appeal, Appellant raises a single assignment of error contending that his conviction
was against the manifest weight of the evidence and was not supported by sufficient
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 2
evidence. However, because we find no merit to Appellant’s assignment of error, it
is overruled. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
FACTS
{¶2} On December 7, 2018, a Pickaway County Grand Jury returned an
indictment that charged Appellant with one count of tampering with evidence in
violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), a third-degree felony. Previously, the State had
charged Appellant with drug possession in a separate case that stemmed from an
incident that occurred months before the tampering incident.
{¶3} At trial, Pickaway County Corrections Officer Austin Reeves testified
that as officers booked Appellant into the Pickaway County Jail, Circleville Police
Officer Lance Canterbury advised Reeves that Appellant “may have some type of
contraband within his pants. He said he thought he saw him shove something inside
of there before he brought him in, but he wasn’t entirely sure.” Reeves began the
booking process, which included conducting a pat down search, removing
Appellant’s handcuffs and having him empty his pockets. Reeves then frisked
Appellant and found nothing. Reeves testified that “[i]f there is thought to be
contraband that was not found during the pat down, we have an inmate change over
into a jail issued uniform. That way it’s harder for them to convey drugs, contraband
into the facility.”
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 3
{¶4} Officer Reeves further testified that as Appellant stood behind a short
wall in the booking cell, Reeves heard “what seemed to be plastic crinkling.” He
testified that he asked Appellant to hand over whatever he had in his hands, but he
refused. He testified that he then said “come on Greeno, whatever you have, give it
to me[,]” but that Appellant refused and instead “attempted to eat whatever the
contraband was that he had.”
{¶5} Officer Reeves testified that after the incident, he told Appellant to sit in
the booking area. At that point, Appellant “began to act almost as if he was on some
kind of drug, kind of phasing out, just acting not normal * * *.” Reeves testified that
when Appellant came to the jail, he had been “a little bit irate, a little bit aggressive.
By the time I left he was ― it was almost as if he was fading in and out of
consciousness, seemed very tired, almost fell out of the chair once or twice I do
believe.” Reeves stated that he could not see what Appellant may have put in his
mouth; rather, he only heard crinkling and observed Appellant put his hand near his
mouth.
{¶6} Pickaway County Sheriff’s Department Jail Administrator Lieutenant
Gabe Carpenter testified that when he was outside the cell while Appellant changed
to a jail uniform, he heard raised voices. Carpenter entered the room and observed
Appellant face away from him, toward the wall. Carpenter testified that although
Appellant had removed all of his clothing, he had not yet put on a jail uniform, and
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 4
that “[s]hortly thereafter he made movement towards his mouth, and it appeared that
he had swallowed something, was attempting to swallow something.” Carpenter
further testified as follows regarding the incident:
I tried to make him spit it out, to drop it, to get it out. He continued.
He still would not comply with the commands. Had to take him to
the bunk to try to get him secured and under control.
{¶7} Once the officers took Appellant to the bunk and positioned him on his
side, they continued to order him to spit out the item. However, it appears Appellant
still refused. Carpenter further testified as follows:
At one point you could hear him trying to, when we ask him
questions he would try to say something we could just hear
something was stuck in his throat. We then stood and continued to
try to get him to spit the item out. At one point I told him that he
was going to, and he again refused. When he would talk to us, you
could hear like he had something in his throat. He still was not
compliant, until eventually he swallowed that item.
{¶8} Lieutenant Carpenter testified that Appellant became lethargic thereafter
and that “[h]e was having trouble keeping his consciousness and alertness.” As a
result, the jail nurse practitioner was consulted for guidance. Carpenter testified that
a dose of Narcan was requested and that Appellant was transported to the hospital.
Although the trial transcript indicates that officers transported Appellant to the
hospital, there was no evidence introduced at trial concerning what transpired at the
hospital, or what tests, if any, doctors may have administered to determine
Appellant’s condition or to determine what substance he may have possibly ingested.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 5
Our review of the record indicates that Appellant “left around 2:15 and returned
around 6:15 that evening.”
{¶9} A USB flash drive identified as Exhibit 2 was also utilized at trial and is
part of the appellate record. The drive contains video footage of the jail incident from
an officer’s bodycam. The video does not begin until after Appellant placed the
unknown substance into his mouth, but demonstrates Appellant making muffled
sounds that could indicate something in his mouth, while being held by multiple
officers who attempted to extract whatever substance they believed he had placed into
his mouth. The video does not contain footage of Appellant’s demeanor after the
incident.
{¶10} On February 7, 2019, the jury found Appellant (1) not guilty of
possession of drugs, and (2) guilty of tampering with evidence. The trial court
sentenced Appellant to serve 36 months in prison. Appellant sets forth a single
assignment of error for our review.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
“THE APPELLANT’S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND WAS NOT
SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. HE WAS DENIED
HIS RIGHTS TO A FAIR TRIAL, DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND
EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW AS GUARANTEED TO
HIM BY THE FIFTH, SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION.”
Legal Analysis
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 6
{¶11} In his sole assignment of error, Appellant contends that his tampering
with evidence conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence and is not
supported by sufficient evidence. He further argues that he was denied his right to a
fair trial, due process of law, and equal protection as a result. We begin by
considering the appropriate standards of review for both sufficiency-of-the-evidence
and manifest-weight-of-the-evidence challenges.
Standard of Review
{¶12} This Court recently observed that “sufficiency” and “manifest weight”
are distinct legal concepts. State v. Bradshaw, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 17CA3803, 2018-
Ohio-1105, ¶ 14, citing Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179,
972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 23 (stating that “sufficiency of the evidence is quantitatively and
qualitatively different from the weight of the evidence”); State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d 541, syllabus (1997). A claim of insufficient evidence invokes
a due process concern and raises the question whether the evidence is legally
sufficient to support the verdict as a matter of law. See Thompkins at 386. When
reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court’s inquiry focuses
primarily upon the adequacy of the evidence; that is, whether the evidence, if
believed, reasonably could support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.at syllabus. Thus, the standard of review is whether, after viewing the probative
evidence and inferences reasonably drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 7
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of
the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319,
99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574
N.E.2d 492 (1991).
{¶13} A reviewing court is not to assess “whether the state's evidence is to be
believed, but whether, if believed, the evidence against a defendant would support a
conviction.” Thompkins, supra, at 390 (Cook, J., concurring). Additionally, when
reviewing a sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim, an appellate court must construe the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution. See State v. Hill, 75 Ohio St.3d
195, 205, 661 N.E.2d 1068 (1996); State v. Grant, 67 Ohio St.3d 465, 477, 620
N.E.2d 50 (1993). Furthermore, a reviewing court will not overturn a conviction on a
sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim unless reasonable minds could not reach the
conclusion that the trier of fact did. See State v. Tibbetts, 92 Ohio St.3d 146, 162,
749 N.E.2d 226 (2001); State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 484, 739 N.E.2d 749(2001).
{¶14} “Although a court of appeals may determine that a judgment of a trial
court is sustained by sufficient evidence, that court may nevertheless conclude that
the judgment is against the weight of the evidence.” Thompkins, supra, at 387.
When an appellate court considers a claim that a conviction is against the manifest
weight of the evidence, the court must dutifully examine the entire record, weigh the
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 8
evidence and all reasonable inferences, and consider the witness credibility. See State
v. Dean, 146 Ohio St.3d 106, 2015-Ohio-4347, 54 N.E.3d 80, ¶ 151, citing
Thompkins at 387. A reviewing court must bear in mind, however, that credibility
generally is an issue for the trier of fact to resolve. See State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d
49, 67, 752 N.E.2d 904 (2001); State v. Murphy, 4th Dist. Ross No. 07CA2953,
2008-Ohio-1744, ¶ 31. “ ‘Because the trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses and is
particularly competent to decide “whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony
of particular witnesses,” we must afford substantial deference to its determinations of
credibility.’ ” Barberton v. Jenney, 126 Ohio St.3d 5, 2010-Ohio-2420, 929 N.E.2d
1047, ¶ 20, quoting State v. Konya, 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 21434, 2006-Ohio-
6312, ¶ 6, in turn quoting State v. Lawson, 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997
WL 476684 (Aug. 22, 1997). As the Court explained in Eastley :
“[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against
the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment must be
made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts. * * * If the
evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the
reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is
consistent with the verdict and judgment, most favorable to
sustaining the verdict and judgment.”
Eastley, supra, at ¶ 21, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d
77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273, fn. 3 (1984).
{¶15} Furthermore, appellate courts recognize that issues of evidence weight
and witness credibility are matters for the trier of fact to determine, as long as a
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 9
rational basis exists in the record for its decision. See State v. Picklesimer, 4th Dist.
Pickaway No. 11CA9, 2012-Ohio-1282, ¶ 24. Accord State v. Howard, 4th Dist.
Ross No. 07CA2948, 2007-Ohio-6331, ¶ 6 (“We will not intercede as long as the trier
of fact has some factual and rational basis for its determination of credibility and
weight.”). Once a reviewing court finishes its weight of the evidence examination,
the court may reverse the judgment of conviction only if it appears that the fact-
finder, when resolving the conflicts in evidence, “ ‘clearly lost its way and created
such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new
trial ordered.’ ” Thompkins, supra, at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d
172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). If the prosecution presents substantial
credible evidence upon which the trier of fact reasonably could conclude, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that the essential elements of the offense have been established, the
judgment of conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. See State
v. Eley, 56 Ohio St.2d 169, 383 N.E.2d 132, syllabus (1978), superseded by state
constitutional amendment on other grounds in State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684
N.E.2d 668 (1997). Accord Eastley, supra, at ¶ 12, quoting Thompkins at 387, in turn
quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1594 (6th ed.1990) (explaining that a judgment is not
against the manifest weight of the evidence when “ ‘ “the greater amount of credible
evidence” ’ ” supports it). A reviewing court should find a conviction against the
manifest weight of the evidence only in the “ ‘exceptional case in which the evidence
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 10
weighs heavily against the conviction.’ ” Thompkins, supra, at 387, quoting Martin,
supra, at 175. Accord State v. Lindsey, 87 Ohio St.3d 479, 483, 721 N.E.2d 995(2000).
Tampering with Evidence
{¶16} R.C. 2921.12 governs the offense of tampering with evidence and
provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
(A) No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation
is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall
do any of the following:
(1) Alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or
thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as
evidence in such proceeding or investigation.
In State v. Straley, 139 Ohio St.3d 339, 2014-Ohio-2139, 11 N.E.3d 1175, the
Supreme Court of Ohio held that three elements must be satisfied under R.C. 2921.12
in order to establish that the offense of tampering with evidence occurred. These
elements are as follows:
(1) the knowledge of an official proceeding or investigation
in progress or likely to be instituted; (2) the alteration,
destruction, concealment, or removal of the potential
evidence; [and] (3) the purpose of impairing the potential
evidence’s availability or value in such proceeding or
investigation.”
Straley at ¶ 11.
{¶17} In Straley, after two officers stopped a vehicle for erratic driving, the
officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage and suspected the driver of being
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 11
under the influence. Straley at ¶ 2. While the officers were attempting to secure a
ride for the defendant, she announced that she needed to urinate and ran to the corner
of a building to relieve herself. Id. at ¶ 3. One of the officers then discovered a
urine-covered cellophane baggie that contained crack cocaine in the area where the
defendant urinated. Id. at ¶ 4. Although a jury found Straley guilty of tampering
with evidence, the Second District Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and
concluded that Straley did not impair evidence that related to an ongoing or likely
investigation. Id. at ¶ 7. The Supreme Court of Ohio subsequently affirmed the
appellate court’s decision, reasoning, in part, as follows:
There is nothing in the record to suggest that the officers were
conducting or likely to conduct an investigation into trafficking or
possession of cocaine when Straley discarded the baggie. The
baggie of cocaine did not relate to either an ongoing investigation
of driving under the influence of alcohol or driving without a
license and had no evidentiary value to a likely investigation of
public urination, and thus the record does not support a conviction
for tampering with evidence.
Straley, supra, at ¶ 19.
{¶18} As indicated above, the first element for tampering with evidence
requires the State to establish that, at the time of the concealment, the defendant knew
“of an official proceeding or investigation in progress or likely to be instituted.”
State v. Barry, 145 Ohio St.3d 354, 2015-Ohio-5449, 49 N.E.3d 1248, ¶ 2. Further,
“[t]he likelihood of an investigation is measured at the time of the alleged
tampering.” State v. Martin, 151 Ohio St.3d 470, 2017-Ohio-7556, 90 N.E.3d 857,
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 12
¶ 110, citing Straley at ¶ 19, and Barry at ¶ 21. In Straley, the Supreme Court of
Ohio concluded that at the time Straley discarded the baggie, nothing in the record
suggested that the officers were conducting, or were likely to conduct, an
investigation into the trafficking or possession of cocaine. Straley at ¶ 19.
{¶19} For ease of discussion, we jointly address the remaining prongs of the
Straley analysis. In order to prove tampering with evidence, the State must also
establish: (1) that the defendant altered, destroyed, concealed, or removed the
potential evidence; and (2) that the defendant intended to impair the value or
availability of evidence that related to an existing or likely official investigation or
proceeding. Straley at syllabus. Thus, “the evidence tampered with must have some
relevance to an ongoing or likely investigation” of which the defendant has
knowledge. Straley at ¶ 16.
{¶20} After a thorough review, we conclude that the case sub judice is
factually distinguishable from both Straley and Barry. As this Court has recently
observed, “[t]he analysis in Straley * * * demonstrates * * * that a court’s inquiry
into the evidence supporting a tampering with evidence conviction is fact intensive
and each case is unique.” State v. Cook, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 18CA11, 2019-Ohio-
4745, ¶ 21. Even applying the legal holdings of both Straley and Barry, the jury’s
finding of guilt with respect to the tampering with evidence charge should be
affirmed.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 13
{¶21} Here, the record before us indicates that law enforcement initiated a
traffic stop of Appellant after receiving a tip connecting him with drug trafficking
activity. While stopped, in addition to being cited for driving under suspension and
two other driving infractions, Appellant was arrested and charged with possession of
drug paraphernalia due to the fact that hypodermic needles were found on his person
during a routine pat down search during the traffic stop. When Appellant was taken
to jail, the arresting officer informed the receiving officer at the jail that he had
observed Appellant stuff something into his pants. However, when the arresting
officer was called to testify during the trial, he was not in the hallway. Further, the
officer that received Appellant into the jail could not recall the reason for Appellant’s
initial stop or arrest and the trial was concluded without the arresting officer’s
testimony. Thus, no evidence regarding the drug trafficking tip, Appellant’s initial
stop or search that yielded hypodermic needles was before the jury. Nevertheless,
based upon our careful analysis and comparison of several different cases involving
tampering with evidence convictions, we conclude that the evidence that was before
the jury supports Appellant’s tampering with evidence conviction.
{¶22} In State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83574, 2004-Ohio-4476,
the court addressed an incident that involved a tampering by ingestion charge in
which officers believed that they had witnessed a drug transaction and gave chase.
Id. at ¶ 4. As the officers handcuffed Williams, one officer observed him “chewing
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 14
rapidly,” trying to swallow something. Id. at ¶ 5. After Williams refused to open his
mouth, officers pried his mouth open and observed crack cocaine residue. Id.
Further, officers transported Williams to a hospital to have his stomach pumped. Id.
at ¶ 7. A urinalysis tested positive for cocaine and marijuana and a gastric lavage
recovered white pill fragments. Id. at ¶ 10. The court concluded that, under these
facts, the State presented sufficient evidence from which a reasonable factfinder
could have found the elements of tampering with evidence proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. Williams at ¶ 43 and 47.
{¶23} In State v. Price, 2019-Ohio-1642, 135 N.E.3d 1093, another case
involving a tampering by ingestion incident, there was testimony introduced that the
defendant was arrested in a parking lot in connection with a drug trafficking
investigation. As officers tried to put Price into a cruiser, they observed “his mouth
had kind of drooped open and there was a baggie sticking out of his mouth.” Id. at
¶ 15. Upon witnessing Price’s condition at that time, the detective testified that he
“immediately knew he ingested heroin.” Id. The evidence introduced further
indicated that paramedics subsequently removed a bag from Price’s mouth that
contained “a pinkish-tan mixture with saliva.” Id. at ¶ 64. The Price court ultimately
concluded that sufficient, circumstantial evidence established that when Price saw the
police, he ingested the drugs in the baggie. Id. at ¶ 66.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 15
{¶24} In another tampering with evidence case, in which ingestion was not a
factor, this Court concluded that the defendant tampered with evidence, but the Ohio
Supreme Court disagreed. In State v. Barry, 4th Dist. Scioto 13CA3569, 2014-Ohio-
4452, reversed in 145 Ohio St.3d 354, 49 N.E.3d 1248, this Court held that a
defendant, who admitted that she concealed heroin in her vagina in order to conceal
the drug from law enforcement authorities, had constructive knowledge of an
impending investigation, or at least knowledge that an investigation would likely
ensue, in view of the obvious, inherent and unmistakable evidence of a crime of
possessing the controlled substance. The theory to support this view is that a person
actively engaged in the commission of a drug offense should have constructive notice
that an investigation will likely ensue. Barry, 2014-Ohio- 4452 at ¶ 10. However,
the Ohio Supreme Court determined that the law will not impute constructive
knowledge of an impending investigation as an element of the tampering with
evidence offense based solely on the commission of an offense. Barry, 145 Ohio
St.3d at paragraph one of the syllabus. The Court determined that, consistent with the
required strict construction of criminal statutes, including the elements of R.C.
2921.12(A)(1), a tampering with evidence violation requires the State to establish that
the defendant had knowledge of a proceeding or investigation that is in progress, or
likely to be instituted, and then concealed or destroyed an object with the purpose to
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 16
impair its availability as evidence in that proceeding or investigation. See also State
v. Crocker, 4th Dist. Scioto 14CA3640.
{¶25} After careful case comparison and consideration of the foregoing, we
conclude this case is factually more akin to State v. Bradshaw, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
17CA3803, 2018-Ohio-1105, than it is either Barry or Straley and thus, it demands a
different outcome. In Bradshaw, this Court upheld a tampering with evidence
conviction where the defendant: (1) was arrested on a parole violation; (2) was
informed he was going to jail; (3) was asked whether he had any contraband on him
and denied that he did; (4) was patted down and warned regarding taking contraband
into the jail; and (5) the defendant then threw an item in a cigarette wrapper into the
trash on the way into the jail. State v. Bradshaw at ¶ 4-5. Like the underlying arrest
here, the nature of the parole violation in Bradshaw was not in evidence. Id. When
an officer accompanying Bradshaw retrieved the item out of the trash, Bradshaw
admitted it was “some dope,” which turned out to be heroin. Id. at ¶ 9. This Court
affirmed a tampering with evidence conviction based upon those facts despite
Bradshaw’s arguments that at the time he allegedly disposed of the heroin the only
investigation concerned his alleged parole violation and that the State failed to
present any evidence that the alleged violation involved drug-related offenses. Id. at
¶ 18.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 17
{¶26} In upholding Bradshaw’s conviction we noted the State’s argument that
the parole violation investigation “did not end at the jail-house doors[,]” and “that the
officers warned appellant about the consequences of carrying contraband into the jail,
and that warning gave appellant knowledge that an investigation into whether he was
carrying contraband was likely.” Id. at ¶ 11. Here, Appellant was not arrested on a
parole violation, but he had nevertheless been arrested and was being booked into
jail. Further, as in Bradshaw, there was testimony at trial that Appellant was warned
about bringing contraband into the jail and that he denied having anything. There
was also testimony that he was patted down and subjected to the further scrutiny of
having to change out of his clothing and into a jail-issued uniform, which was
explained is typically done when law enforcement suspects that someone has
contraband that was not found during a pat down.
{¶27} It was during this phase of his booking that Appellant was observed to
have something in his hand that was making a crinkling sound, which he then put into
his mouth and eventually swallowed, despite being repeatedly ordered to hand the
item over, being ordered to spit the item out, all the while being told he would be
charged with tampering. In upholding Bradshaw’s conviction we noted that the first
element of the offense of tampering was satisfied because Bradshaw knew he was
under investigation for violating parole “and that he would be searched for
contraband more thoroughly once he arrived at the jail.” Id. at ¶ 53. In reaching our
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 18
holding, we reasoned that Bradshaw’s “attempt to dispose of the evidence was a
‘reaction to a likely investigation of a * * * criminal act,’ and not a preemptive
measure to avoid detection.” Bradshaw at ¶ 50, quoting State v. Shaw, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 105111, 2017-Ohio-7404, ¶ 24. We believe the first element is
likewise satisfied in the case sub judice, where Appellant knew he was going to jail,
was warned about bringing contraband into the jail, knew he would be searched more
thoroughly, and took action to destroy evidence of a crime.
{¶28} As for the second element, in Bradshaw we concluded that Bradshaw’s
act of disposing of heroin in a trash can on the way into jail constituted concealment
or removal for purposes of the tampering statute. Id. at ¶ 54. Likewise, we conclude
Appellant’s act of putting the item at issue in his mouth after being commanded to
hand it over, and then taking the further step of swallowing it after being commanded
to spit it out, satisfied the second element of the offense of tampering. See also State
v. Cheesman, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 15CA59, 2016-Ohio-5040, ¶ 9 (upholding a
conviction for tampering with evidence where the defendant was put in the “change-
out room” while being booked into jail and reached his hand toward his rectum in an
attempt to further conceal contraband he already had in his rectum). In Cheeseman,
the appellate court “agreed with the State that the defendant committed the tampering
offense not before the officers placed him in custody, but instead, he committed the
tampering offense ‘in the change-out room in the jail “when [he] put his hand in and
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 19
then over his rectal area in order to further conceal the apprehension of drugs.” ’ ”
Bradshaw at ¶ 33, quoting Cheesman at ¶ 42, quoting the State’s argument on appeal.
Here, we conclude there is ample evidence in the record that Appellant was observed
with something in his hand, which he put into his mouth, and then with great
difficulty, swallowed.
{¶29} Finally, we found the third element was satisfied in Bradshaw because
the defendant “knew he was under investigation for violating parole, knew that
conveying drugs into the jail constituted a crime, and could reasonably expect to be
more thoroughly searched for contraband at the jail.” Bradshaw at ¶ 61. We further
reasoned that “by disposing of the evidence immediately before entering the jail-
house doors, appellant impaired the availability of that evidence for use in an ongoing
parole-violation investigation or in a likely investigation into whether he had
conveyed illegal drugs into a detention facility.” Id. The same reasoning should
apply here to Appellant who was under arrest and being booked into the jail, had been
warned about conveying contraband into the jail, and knew he would be more
thoroughly searched, prior to putting the contraband into his mouth and then
swallowing it.
{¶30} In Bradshaw, the contraband was recovered from the trash can and was
ultimately able to be tested. We noted, however, that “even when a defendant’s
attempted concealment ultimately proves unsuccessful, * * * this failure ‘has no
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 20
effect on a sufficiency-of-the-evidence analysis.’ ” Id. at ¶ 62. Here, the opposite
happened. Appellant was so successful in his actions of tampering with evidence that
the item he had in his pants, and then in his hand, and then in his mouth, was lost
when he swallowed it. Although there are cases that reference defendants having the
contents of their stomach pumped, and although Appellant argues the State never
introduced medical records regarding what happened once he arrived at the hospital,
it seems an onerous burden to require such action by the State in order to be able to
establish that tampering with evidence took place. Further, recovery of the evidence
is not necessary to sustain a tampering with evidence conviction. State v. Caute, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92169, 2009-Ohio-5222, ¶ 74.
{¶31} Appellant contends that no one knows what “thing” he allegedly
ingested, or if the “thing” that caused the “crinkly” sound was evidence of some
value to an investigation. Thus, he argues the jury had to infer that the “thing” that
caused the “crinkly” sound was actually evidence of some value to an investigation
and, moreover, the jury had to further infer that Appellant sought to impair the value
or the availability of the “thing” as evidence. Therefore, Appellant essentially
contends that the jury engaged in impermissible inference stacking in reaching its
decision.
{¶32} “A trier of fact may not draw ‘[a]n inference based * * * entirely upon
another inference, unsupported by any additional fact or another inference from other
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 21
facts[.]’ ” State v. Cowans, 87 Ohio St.3d 68, 78, 717 N.E.2d 298 (1999), quoting
Hurt v. Charles J. Rogers Transp. Co., 164 Ohio St. 329, 130 N.E.2d 820, paragraph
one of the syllabus (1955). “When an inference, which forms the basis of a
conviction, is drawn solely from another inference and that inference is not supported
by any additional facts or inferences drawn from other established facts, the
conviction is improper.” State v. Armstrong, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2015-P-0075,
2016-Ohio-7841, ¶ 23, citing State v. Payne, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2014-A-0001,
2014-Ohio-4304, ¶ 23, see also State v. Maynard, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-697,
2012-Ohio-2946, ¶ 27.
The rule against inference-stacking essentially forbids the drawing
of an inference from evidence which is too uncertain or speculative
or which raises merely a possibility or conjecture. While
reasonable inferences may be drawn from the facts and conditions
established, they cannot be drawn from facts or conditions merely
assumed.
Armstrong at ¶ 23. See generally Ray v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 2013-Ohio-2684, 993
N.E.2d 808, ¶ 35 (4th Dist.) (discussing improper inference stacking).
{¶33} “Though widely denounced by both courts and legal commentators, the
rule prohibiting the stacking of one inference upon another is still recognized in
Ohio.” Donaldson v. N. Trading Co., 82 Ohio App.3d 476, 481 (10th Dist.1992),
citing Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hamilton Twp. Trustees, 28 Ohio St.3d 13, 502
N.E.2d 204 (1986), see also State ex rel. Verhovec v. Marietta, 4th Dist. Washington
Nos. 11CA29, 12CA52, 12CA53, 13CA1, 13CA2, 2013-Ohio-5414, ¶ 59. However,
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 22
“the rule has very limited application. It prohibits only the drawing of one inference
solely and entirely from another inference, where that inference is unsupported by
any additional facts or inferences drawn from other facts.” Id., citing Hurt v. Charles
J. Rogers Transp. Co., 164 Ohio St. 329, 130 N.E.2d 820, paragraph one of the
syllabus (1955). As the Court in Motorists warned: “the rule forbidding the stacking
of an inference upon an inference is disfavored by scholars and many courts. If such
a rule were uniformly enforced, ‘ * * * hardly a single trial could be adequately
prosecuted.’ ” Motorists Mut. Ins. Co. at 207, quoting 1A Wigmore, Evidence (Tillers
Rev.1983) 1106, 1111, Section 41; United States v. Eustace, 423 F.2d 569, 571(2nd
Cir., 1970); see also Verhovec at ¶ 60.
{¶34} “An inference which is based solely and entirely upon another inference
and which is unsupported by any additional fact or another inference from other facts
is an inference upon an inference and is universally condemned.” Hurt at ¶ 2 of the
syllabus. However, there are two instances when the rule against inference stacking
does not apply. The first is when “[a]n inference which is based in part upon another
inference and in part upon factual support is called a parallel inference and is
universally approved provided it is a reasonable conclusion for the jury to deduce.”
Id. at ¶ 3 of the syllabus. The second is when multiple inferences arise separately
from the same set of facts. McDougall v. Glenn Cartage Co., 169 Ohio St. 522, 160
N.E.2d 266, paragraph two of the syllabus (1959).
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 23
{¶35} At trial the State presented two witnesses, Deputy Reeves and
Lieutenant Carpenter, both of whom were at the jail when Appellant arrived after his
arrest. Reeves testified that he heard a “crinkling” sound as Appellant attempted to
swallow something but he did not know what he swallowed. Carpenter testified that
he did not see any contraband that Appellant may have swallowed. Following the
swallowing, however, both officers stated that Appellant’s demeanor changed and he
appeared to be under the influence. Carpenter testified that upon noting a change in
Appellant’s demeanor, he requested a dose of Narcan and a nurse practitioner was
summoned to monitor him. Appellant was thereafter transported to the hospital.
{¶36} Based upon the information contained in the record before us, we cannot
conclude that the jury had to engage in impermissible inference stacking in order to
reach a guilty verdict. There is evidence indicating Appellant swallowed some type
of contraband which likely was a controlled substance in light of the near immediate
change in his demeanor. As set forth above, Appellant came into the jail irate and
aggressive, but after the swallowing incident he became lethargic and almost fell out
of a chair twice. This change in his demeanor or mental status actually necessitated
medical attention requiring him to be transported to the hospital. Thus, there was
some circumstantial evidence that was introduced indicating that the item Appellant
swallowed was a controlled substance. Further, circumstantial evidence has equal
probative value to direct evidence. See State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 24
492, paragraph one of the syllabus (1991). As such, it does not appear the jury had to
stack inferences, but rather could have inferred that the item ingested was a controlled
substance based upon the factual information in the record related to Appellant’s
status change after ingesting the unknown item. As explained in Motorists:
Where a jury bases its verdict partly on a reasonable inference
drawn from facts in evidence, and partly on an inference drawn both
from those same facts and from common human experience, the
verdict is not the result of the impermissible stacking of an
inference upon an inference.
(Emphasis added.) 28 Ohio St.3d at 14.
{¶37} Here, we cannot conclude that the second inference (that the item
ingested was a controlled substance) was based solely upon the first inference (that
Appellant actually ingested something) Rather, the jury could have based the second
inference on “common human experience” that a person who, contrary to an order by
a law enforcement officer to spit out an item, instead ingests it and subsequently
becomes lethargic and has difficulty staying alert has ingested “evidence,” i.e. a
controlled substance. In re Lucas, 33 Cal. 4th 682, 696, 94 P.3d 477, 485 (2004)
(“[I]llicit drugs and their effects have become a matter of common knowledge or
experience.”). See also Wilkerson v. State, 736 S.W.2d 656, 664 (Tex. Crim. App.
1987) (“[I]t is common knowledge that most controlled substances have some effect
upon human beings when taken * * *.”).
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 25
{¶38} As such, based upon the foregoing reasons, we cannot conclude that
Appellant’s conviction for tampering with evidence was against the manifest weight
of the evidence or was not supported by sufficient evidence. Thus, we find no merit
to Appellant’s sole assignment of error. Accordingly, it is overruled and the
judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 26
Abele, J, dissenting:
{¶39} I respectfully dissent. After my review of the evidence adduced at trial,
I do not believe the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to reasonably support a
finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶40} At trial appellee presented two witnesses, Deputy Reeves and Lieutenant
Carpenter, both of whom were at the jail when appellant arrived. Reeves heard a
“crinkling” sound as appellant appeared to attempt to swallow something, but he did
not know what appellant may have swallowed. Carpenter did not see any contraband.
Following the alleged swallowing, both officers testified that appellant appeared to be
under the influence. Carpenter requested Narcan, but the record does not reflect if
anyone administered Narcan, or what effect, if any, it may have had on appellant’s
demeanor or condition. Carpenter’s testimony also refers to a nurse practitioner
summoned to monitor appellant after he allegedly swallowed the unknown item, but
the nurse practitioner did not testify. Additionally, the transcript indicates that
officers transported appellant to the hospital. However, I find no testimony, records
or other evidence concerning what transpired at the hospital, or what tests, if any,
doctors or medical staff may have administered to determine the source of appellant’s
condition, or to determine what substance, if any, that appellant may have possibly
ingested. Apparently, concerning appellant’s transport to and from the hospital, he
“left around 2:15 and returned around 6:15 that evening.”
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 27
{¶41} Appellant asserts that no one knows what “thing” appellant allegedly
ingested, or if the “thing” that caused the “crinkly” sound was evidence of some
value to an investigation. Thus, appellant argues, the jury had to first infer that the
“thing” that caused the “crinkly” sound was actually evidence of some value to an
investigation, then the jury had to further infer that appellant sought to impair the
value or the availability of the “thing” as evidence. Appellee, however, urges this
court to uphold the jury’s determination.
{¶42} I agree that appellate courts should generally afford great deference to a
trier of fact’s determination. Nevertheless, after my review of the record, I do not
believe that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove that appellant
tampered with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12. The statute provides that no
person shall destroy or conceal anything with purpose to impair its availability as
evidence in an investigation. With no information or testimony about the particular
nature of the “evidence” that the appellant allegedly tampered with, along with the
absence of any expert testimony regarding appellant’s condition, the absence of any
medical tests to indicate what substance, if any, appellant may have ingested, and
with eye-witnesses unable to identify what substance, if any, appellant may have
ingested, I believe the evidence adduced at trial is insufficient to establish beyond a
reasonable doubt that appellant tampered with evidence.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 28
{¶43} The principal opinion cites several tampering with evidence cases to
support its view. I, however, do not believe that this case is sufficiently similar to
those decisions. In State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83574, 2004-Ohio-
4476, the handcuffed defendant attempted to chew and swallow crack cocaine. The
officers pried open the defendant’s mouth, observed crack cocaine residue, and had
the defendant submit to chemical tests. Subsequently, the defendant’s urinalysis
tested positive for cocaine and marijuana, and his stomach pump yielded pill
fragments. In the case sub judice, however, I find no testimony about drug residue in
appellant’s mouth, no drug test results and no gastric lavage results.
{¶44} In State v. Price, 2019-Ohio-1642, 135 N.E.3d 1093, the defendant
observed police and ingested a small baggie of drugs. Police observed the drugs in
the defendant’s mouth and paramedics observed and removed a “pinkish-tan mixture
with saliva.” In the case at bar, however, officers did not recover any evidence at the
scene or at the hospital.
{¶45} I believe that the case at bar is more similar to State v. Caute, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 92169, 2009-Ohio-5222. As Caute approached the passenger side of a
detective’s car with something small in his hand, the detective held out a $20 bill. As
Caute leaned into the window, police surrounded him. Caute then “tossed something
on the ground behind him, and put his hands in the air.” Caute at ¶ 4. Although
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 29
police searched the surrounding area, they did not recover any drugs. With respect to
his tampering with evidence conviction, the court held:
[W]e find that the state did not present sufficient evidence to show
that defendant tampered with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12.
There was no evidence that anyone saw any type of drugs that day,
and no drugs were recovered from the scene. Testimony that
defendant had an unidentified object in his hand that he tossed to
the ground is not sufficient to show that he altered, destroyed,
concealed, or removed any ‘thing, with purpose to impair its value
or availability as evidence in [a] proceeding or investigation * * *.’
In other words, in looking at the evidence in a light most favorable
to the state, nothing in the record links the unidentified object that
defendant threw to the ground to the state’s accusation that he
offered to sell [the defective] crack cocaine. * * *
We do not mean to say that the recovery of the evidence in question
is necessary to sustain a tampering with evidence conviction.
Clearly, if the evidence is destroyed, recovery is impossible.
However, the state must show, inter alia, that the evidence existed,
and it must identify that evidence as the same “thing” that the
defendant tampered with. See, e.g. State v. Williams, Cuyahoga
App. No. 83574, 2004-Ohio-4476 (holding that sufficient evidence
was presented to prove the elements of tampering with evidence
when officers testified that they ‘observed Williams put something
in his mouth before he started running’; ‘they observed Williams
chewing and trying to swallow something,’ after they caught him;
‘when they were able to get Williams’ mouth open, they observed
crack cocaine particles’ inside; and drug fragments were recovered
from Williams’ stomach after it was pumped with gastric lavage.)
Caute at ¶ 74-74.
Thus, even if evidence is lost or destroyed, the prosecution must show that the
evidence existed, and that this evidence is the same “thing” that the appellant
tampered with.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 30
{¶46} Based upon the foregoing reasons, I believe that the evidence adduced at
trial is insufficient to establish appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While I
do not doubt that, in all likelihood, appellant ingested something, and that something
was, in all likelihood, a drug of some sort, I do not believe that the evidence adduced
at trial satisfied the beyond a reasonable doubt standard. This standard is stringent,
sets a very high bar for proof of a criminal conviction, and applies to each and every
element of a crime. In fact, the beyond a reasonable doubt standard is the highest
standard of proof known to the law.
{¶47} At this juncture, I also wish to emphasize that I am certainly sympathetic
with the law enforcement officers involved in this matter. During the booking
process, the officers had to physically subdue the recalcitrant appellant. Obviously,
appellant’s actions unnecessarily endangered the officers’ safety and this is
unacceptable. Quite possibly, other criminal statutes may have applied to this
uncooperative and combative defendant (see, e.g. R.C. 2921.31). Nevertheless, I
believe the evidence adduced at trial does not sufficiently support appellant’s
conviction for tampering with evidence.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 31
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be assessed to
Appellant.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Pickaway 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.
Wilkin, J., Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
Abele, J., Dissents with Opinion.
For the Court,
__________________________________
Jason P. Smith
Presiding 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.
Pickaway App. No. 19CA15 32