[Cite as State v. Crooms, 2014-Ohio-2928.]
STATE OF OHIO, COLUMBIANA COUNTY
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
SEVENTH DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO ) CASE NOS. 11 CO 17
) 12 CO 9
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE )
)
VS. ) OPINION
)
CHRISTOPHER CROOMS )
)
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT )
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Criminal Appeal from the Court of
Common Pleas of Columbiana County,
Ohio
Case No. 10 CR 8
JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: Atty. Robert Herron
Columbiana County Prosecutor
Atty. John E. Gamble
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
105 South Market Street
Lisbon, Ohio 44432
For Defendant-Appellant: Atty. Douglas A. King
Hartford, Dickey & King Co., LPA
91 West Taggart Street
P.O. Box 85
East Palestine, Ohio 44113
JUDGES:
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Dated: June 30, 2014
[Cite as State v. Crooms, 2014-Ohio-2928.]
WAITE, J.
{¶1} Appellant Christopher Crooms appeals his Columbiana County felony
convictions for burglary and kidnapping. In September of 2009, Appellant and two
other men were driven to a recycling business in Summitville and proceeded to
kidnap and burgle the owner of the business. On appeal, Appellant alleges multiple
violations of his constitutional rights in connection with a statement he made to police
and the use of that statement at trial. Appellant’s nine assignments of error are
without merit and are overruled. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Factual and Procedural History
{¶2} Larry Haupt, then 72, and his 54 year old stepson, Ronald Jackson,
lived together in a trailer next to Haupt’s recycling business in the Village of
Summitville, Columbiana County, Ohio. Haupt takes care of Jackson, who is
developmentally disabled. Haupt runs his business on a cash basis and keeps his
receipts in a safe in his trailer.
{¶3} On the evening of September 21, 2009, Appellant and two other men,
Brian Wood, Jr., and Shorty McVay, were dropped off in a field near Haupt’s trailer by
a fourth man, Michael Mercer. The three men watched Haupt as he concluded his
business for the day, returned to the trailer, and turned out the lights at around
eleven o’clock. They waited until 1:30 in the morning, when one of the group
approached the trailer, knocked, and asked to use the phone. Haupt told the man he
could not come into the house, but that he would come out and get a phone from the
shop for him to use. Haupt left the trailer and retrieved a phone from the shop.
When he handed the phone to the man, the man put a pistol to his head and told
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Haupt “[w]e’re going inside.” (Tr. Vol. I, p. 191.) Haupt was able to observe the
unmasked man who was holding the gun to his head and a second “tall thin” masked
man who had originally been standing near the bottom of the ramp with his back to
the trailer when his partner requested the phone. (Tr. Vol. I, p. 193.) Appellant is the
only member of the group involved that night who matches the physical description
given by Haupt of the tall thin man.
{¶4} The group entered the trailer to find Jackson standing in the kitchen
with a rifle. According to Haupt, the tall thin masked man, who also had a pistol,
began to yell that he would kill them both. Haupt told his stepson to put the gun
down. When he complied, the intruders bound and gagged the pair with duct tape
brought along for that purpose. (Tr. Vol. I, pp. 194-197.) The men located the safe
and threatened Haupt until he agreed to open it, which required the men to remove
some of the tape binding him. (Tr. Vol. I, p. 199.) One of the men re-bound Haupt,
and then joined the others as they took the contents of the safe, which represented
Haupt’s life savings. The men also searched the rest of the trailer, and attempted to
disable the telephones.
{¶5} Haupt described the unmasked man’s surprise at the amount of cash in
the safe, approximately fifty thousand dollars, and said that the men left between ten
and fifteen thousand behind. He also describes being particularly frightened by the
behavior of the tall thin man, who he thought was the most dangerous of the group.
(Tr. Vol. I, pp. 198, 229-230.)
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{¶6} Initially, because the unmasked intruder was not known to either victim
and all of the intruders wore gloves, the investigating officers were unable to develop
any suspects for the crime. About three months later, another man in the area was
robbed by multiple masked assailants. The officer investigating the later incident was
able to develop a suspect and connected the crime with the earlier Haupt burglary.
One of the individuals taken into custody in the later crime led the officer to a woman
who owned the house where the intruders divided the money taken from the Haupt
trailer. The woman and the suspect assisted the officer, who was then able to
develop multiple leads in the Haupt burglary investigation. Testimony from the officer
described three of the suspects as short and two of the three as stocky (McVay and
Wood), while the fourth, Appellant, is tall, approximately 6’4”, and thin. According to
the testimony of a defense witness, the four men used the proceeds of the crime to
purchase controlled substances, so the funds could not be recovered.
{¶7} Appellant was indicted by the Grand Jury on one count of aggravated
burglary and two counts of kidnapping. Each count included a firearm specification.
At trial, Appellant did not dispute any of the events of late September 21 through the
early morning of September 22, 2009. Instead, Appellant argued that he was not a
willing participant in the robbery, but could not refuse due to fear of the other three
men involved. Appellant’s defense theory was consistent with the pre-trial statement
he gave police after his arrest.
{¶8} Appellant was convicted on all three counts and sentenced to ten years
in prison for aggravated burglary, a first degree felony; ten years for the first count of
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kidnapping (also a first degree felony); ten years for the second kidnapping count, a
first degree felony; and three years for the firearm specifications. Appellant’s three,
ten-year sentences were to be served concurrently to one another, but consecutive to
the firearm specification term, for a total sentence of thirteen years. Appellant filed a
timely appeal of this sentence.
Assignment of Error One
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO GRANT THE
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT OF
ACQUITTAL PURSUANT TO OHIO CRIMINAL RULE 29 MADE AT
THE CLOSE OF THE STATE’S CASE-IN-CHIEF.
{¶9} Appellant contends that the trial court should have granted his motion
for acquittal at the close of the state’s case. Motions for acquittal are governed by
Crim.R. 29(A) which provides:
Motion for judgment of acquittal. The court on motion of a defendant
or on its own motion, after the evidence on either side is closed, shall
order the entry of a judgment of acquittal of one or more offenses
charged in the indictment, information, or complaint, if the evidence is
insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses. The
court may not reserve ruling on a motion for judgment of acquittal made
at the close of the state’s case.
{¶10} Pursuant to Crim.R. 29, a trial court “shall not order an entry of
judgment of acquittal if the evidence is such that reasonable minds can reach
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different conclusions as to whether each material element of a crime has been
proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Bridgeman, 55 Ohio St.2d 261, 381
N.E.2d 184 (1978) syllabus. “A motion for judgment of acquittal under Crim. R. 29(A)
should be granted only where reasonable minds could not fail to find reasonable
doubt.” State v. Apanovitch, 33 Ohio St.3d 19, 23, 514 N.E.2d 394, 399 (1987).
When reviewing the decision to deny a motion for acquittal, the Ohio Supreme Court
applies the same test used to evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence:
An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence
admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would
convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. (Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99
S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, [1979] followed.)
State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the
syllabus.
{¶11} At trial, Appellant’s motion for acquittal was made at the close of the
state’s case, as follows:
At this time I’d move for acquittal. I don’t believe the State has
presented sufficient evidence of each one of the elements as far as
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aggravated burglary and the two kidnappings as well as the gun
specification.
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 257.) The motion was overruled. The trial judge asked counsel if he
wanted to put any specifics as to the motion on the record, and counsel declined.
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 258.) On appeal, Appellant does not address the general areas
identified in support of the motion at trial and instead argues that the acquittal was
merited because the state did not include an in-court identification of the defendant,
either as the “tall thin” man involved in the robbery on September 21, 2009 or as the
individual who signed a statement on January 27, 2011 admitting his involvement in
the crime. Appellant has waived both arguments, however, by failing to present
either as the basis of his Rule 29 motion in the trial court.
{¶12} An error that is not called to the attention of the trial court at the time
when the error could have been avoided or corrected is “usually treated as a waived
error on appeal.” State v. Irby, 2004-Ohio-5929, ¶12, citing State v. Hill, 92 Ohio
St.3d 191, 196, 749 N.E.2d 274 (2001). In this matter, as in Irby, counsel did not
specify the reason for seeking the Crim.R. 29 motion, even when specifically asked.
Here, as in Irby, the failure to do so results in waiver.
{¶13} In addition to waiving these arguments, Appellant has neglected to offer
any supporting authority for his contention that an in-court identification by a witness
is a necessary element of the state’s case. Appellant’s belief that references to him
as “the defendant” and “Christopher Crooms” are insufficiently specific is equally
devoid of legal support. Moreover, Appellant’s defense theory directly contradicts
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this acquittal argument. At trial, Appellant admitted his participation in the crimes, but
claimed that he was coerced.
{¶14} Even if Appellant had preserved the alleged error and presented legal
support for the argument in his brief, there is “no general requirement in criminal
cases that the defendant must be visually identified by a witness.” Irby, supra, ¶14.
Instead, any “type of direct or circumstantial evidence may be used to establish the
identity of the person that committed the crime.” Id. We have previously noted that
an in-court identification is a “less reliable indicator of identity than many other types
of identification.” Id. citing State v. Reaves, 130 Ohio App.3d 776, 783, 721 N.E.2d
424 (1998). “Identity may be established by direct evidence, but direct evidence of
identification is not required; circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to establish
the identity of accused as the person who committed the crime.” State v. Scott, 3
Ohio App.2d 239, 244-245, 210 N.E.2d 289 (1965).
{¶15} A review of the record reveals that Appellant was identified as the
perpetrator of the crime prior to the closing of the state’s case in chief. There is no
dispute that Appellant is Christopher C. Crooms and was the defendant at trial,
present in the courtroom throughout the proceedings. The victim testified as to the
tall thin man waving a gun, the man he most feared during the robbery. (Tr. Vol. I,
pp. 193, 198, 226-227; 229-230.) Haupt described differences in the physical
characteristics of the masked men, which was primarily height and weight. The
testimony of the investigating officer corroborated Haupt’s recollections. The officer
described the group of four suspects with differing physiques, one of whom was
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Appellant Christopher Crooms. (Tr. Vol. II, pp. 236-240.) The officer’s testimony
explained why Appellant, not one of the other three men, was the tall thin man
described by Haupt. Most importantly, the record contains Appellant’s admissions in
regard to the crime. The officer also explained Appellant’s contact with him after his
arrest, and Appellant’s request for the meeting that resulted in the recorded
admissions played for the jury. The jury heard Appellant describe his relationships
with the other three men and his version of his involvement in the September 21,
2009 robbery of the Haupt residence in the recording. (Tr. Vol. II, pp. 242-246;
State’s Exh. 42 and 42a.) The material placed in the record, Appellant’s own
admission, and the defense theory of coercion individually and collectively establish
Appellant’s presence during and participation in the burglary and kidnapping.
Appellant’s first assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
Assignment of Error Two
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW
AND EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW WHEN THE TRIAL
COURT FAILED TO RENDER A DECISION WITH REGARD TO THE
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE
CONFESSION, SAID MOTION TO SUPPRESS BEING BASED UPON
THE DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION AND SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
TO COUNSEL UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION MADE
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APPLICABLE TO THE STATES BY THE FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
Assignment of Error Three
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN
GRANTING THE GOVERNMENT’S FEBRUARY 2, 2012 MOTION TO
CORRECT OR MODIFY THE RECORD PURSUANT TO APPELLATE
RULE 9 (E).
Assignment of Error Four
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS HIS
STATEMENT AS THE SAME WAS OBTAINED IN VIOLATION OF HIS
FIFTH AMENDMENT AND/OR SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AS WELL AS THEIR
COUNTERPARTS UNDER THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
{¶16} Appellant’s second, third, and fourth assignments of error all address
the trial court’s handling of his motion to suppress and the supplementation of the
record relevant to that motion, thus, they will be considered together.
(A) Ruling on the Motion to Suppress
{¶17} Appellant originally filed a timely motion to suppress in 2011. A motion
to suppress is governed by Crim.R. 12(C)-(F) which provides:
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Prior to trial, any party may raise by motion any defense, objection,
evidentiary issue, or request that is capable of determination without the
trial of the general issue. The following must be raised before trial:
***
(3) Motions to suppress evidence, including but not limited to
statements and identification testimony, on the ground that it was
illegally obtained. Such motions shall be filed in the trial court only.
***
(D) Motion date. All pretrial motions * * * shall be made within thirty-
five days after arraignment or seven days before trial
***
(F) Ruling on motion. The court may adjudicate a motion based upon
briefs, affidavits, the proffer of testimony and exhibits, a hearing, or
other appropriate means.
A motion made pursuant to [division (C)(3)] of this section shall be
determined before trial.
As Appellant notes, the record of proceedings in the trial court includes a transcript of
the suppression hearing, but no written record of the trial court’s ruling on the
suppression motion. Appellant attempts to advance the argument that because the
record is lacking a written denial of the motion to suppress, Appellant was denied due
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process. Appellee sought and received leave to supplement the record as to this
issue. However, even without the supplementary material, the record abundantly
reflects that the motion was denied.
{¶18} Generally, “[w]hen a trial court fails to rule on a pretrial motion, it may
ordinarily be presumed that the court overruled it.” State v. Smith, 7th Dist. No. 97
C.A. 37, 2000-Ohio-2654, *4; accord, inter alia, State v. Lawson, 9th Dist. No. 21227,
2003-Ohio-1299 (presume denial of motion to suppress); State v. Chandler , 10th
Dist. No. 07AP-269, 2007-Ohio-5579; State v. Moore, 11th Dist. No. 2009-A-0024,
2010-Ohio-2407. This record, which includes the motion, a suppression hearing
transcript, the commencement of trial, use of the disputed evidence during the trial,
and entry of the verdict without any renewal of the motion or request for findings
underlying the ruling, clearly reveals that the motion was denied. Further, Appellant,
himself, concedes that the motion was denied in his fourth assignment of error. This
record reflects no error in connection with Appellant’s motion to suppress. It is
axiomatic in Ohio that “an appellate court will not consider any error which counsel
for a party complaining of the trial court’s judgment could have called but did not call
to the trial court’s attention at a time when such error could have been avoided or
corrected by the trial court.” State v. Glaros, 170 Ohio St. 471, 166 N.E.2d 379
(1960) paragraph one of the syllabus. This record does not reflect a due process
error in connection with the denial of Appellant’s motion to suppress.
(B) Appellant’s Statement
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{¶19} In Appellant’s fourth assignment of error he concedes that the trial court
denied Appellant’s motion to suppress, and focuses on the propriety of the ruling.
Appellant argues that the officers who took the statement containing his admission
misrepresented to Appellant that he had no right to counsel at the time he made his
admissions and that his statement was induced by an improper promise of a shorter
sentence. Both of these arguments were raised in Appellant’s motion to suppress
and heard by the court in the suppression hearing. At that hearing, the trial court
heard testimony from Detective Sergeant Walker, who conducted the original
interview of Appellant on January 10, 2010.
{¶20} The transcript of Appellant’s original interview reflects that the officer
confirmed that Appellant could read, gave him a Miranda form informing him of his
rights, and then read him his rights. Appellant signed the Miranda form, and told
Walker that he was invoking his right to counsel, and would not speak to the officer
without an attorney present. Walker stated that he told Appellant he would let the
prosecutor know Appellant was cooperative if he gave a statement. According to
Walker, he did not offer Appellant anything in exchange for his statement, make any
promises to Appellant in exchange for a statement, or in any way limit his willingness
to inform the prosecutor if Appellant was cooperative. Appellant still refused to give a
statement. Walker then returned Appellant to the booking area.
{¶21} Appellant was subsequently found to be indigent and counsel was
appointed on January 11, 2010 to represent him at his preliminary hearing. On
January 21, 2010, Appellant appeared with counsel at the hearing. During the
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preliminary hearing the county municipal court judge found probable cause that a
felony had been committed and referred the matter to common pleas court for further
proceedings. The judge also granted Appellant’s motion to proceed pro se, and
discharged Appellant’s appointed counsel.
{¶22} On January 24, 2010, three days after his hearing and the discharge of
counsel and two weeks after the initial interview, Appellant sent messages to Walker
and a second officer requesting that the officers meet with him again so that he could
give a statement. Before responding to Appellant’s request, Walker contacted the
prosecutor’s office and asked whether Appellant had counsel. Walker was informed
that Appellant was not represented. New counsel was not appointed for Appellant
until his arraignment on March 24, 2010. With the knowledge that Appellant was not
represented, Walker and the other officer responded directly to Appellant and agreed
to meet with him as requested. The second interview occurred on January 27, 2010.
{¶23} The transcript of the second interview, produced during the suppression
hearing, reveals that Appellant was again read his Miranda rights, initialed a second
Miranda statement, and then waived his Miranda rights. Walker specifically asked
Appellant whether he wanted an attorney present during his statement. Appellant
indicated that he was concerned about the timing of his statement and asked if he
would “have to wait a long time to get the lawyer to be here” with him. (Supp. Hrg.,
Exh. 3, p. 2.) Walker responded that he would have counsel appointed at his
arraignment, but then asked if Appellant wanted a lawyer “here,” as opposed to
waiting until the arraignment. Appellant did not clearly respond. Walker informed
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Appellant that they already had statements from the other men involved in the
incident and would recognize discrepancies. Appellant then gave a statement
discussing his participation in the robbery, emphasizing that the gun he carried was a
cap gun that looked real, and that he repeatedly apologized to the older man during
the robbery.
{¶24} On appeal, Appellant omits the information in the record pertaining to
the appointment and requested discharge of counsel as well as Appellant’s stated
intention to proceed pro se, and alleges that Walker infringed on Appellant’s right to
counsel by granting Appellant’s request to meet. This record does not reflect that the
officers misrepresented Appellant’s right to counsel at the time of the interview. The
record does reflect that Appellant was informed of his right and offered counsel “here”
in the room where the meeting took place. Appellant offers no other argument in
support of his contention that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated.
{¶25} “If a suspect in a criminal investigation requests counsel at any time
during questioning, he is not subject to further interrogation until a lawyer is provided
or the subject reinitiates the interrogation.” State v. Heness, 79 Ohio St.3d 53, 63,
679 N.E.2d 686 (1997). It was Appellant, and not Walker, who initiated the second
interview. When Walker was informed that Appellant was not represented,
Appellant’s right to counsel was again discussed with him, satisfying the Miranda
requirements and establishing that the interview was voluntary.
{¶26} “Full comprehension of the rights to remain silent and request an
attorney [is] sufficient to dispel whatever coercion is inherent in the interrogation
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process.” Id. at 63, citing Davis v. United States, 512 U.S. 452, 459, 114 S.Ct. 2350
(1994). “A suspect who knowingly and voluntarily waives his right to counsel after
having that right explained to him has indicated his willingness to deal with the police
unassisted.” Heness at 63. Prior to initiating contact for the second interview,
Appellant had counsel appointed, attended his preliminary hearing with counsel,
announced his intention to proceed pro se, and had counsel discharged. After
seeking an interview with police but prior to making a statement, Appellant was again
offered counsel “here,” where the questioning was about to occur. He declined and
signed a waiver of his right to counsel. This record reveals that Appellant’s waiver of
his right to counsel was knowing, intelligent, and therefore valid. Heness, supra.
This record does not support Appellant’s contention that a violation of his Sixth
Amendment right to counsel occurred. Heness, supra.
(C) Supplementing the Record.
{¶27} Finally, although the record reflects and Appellant concedes that his
motion to suppress was denied, Appellant argues that the state should not have been
allowed to supplement the record to demonstrate that fact. App.R. 9(E), “Correction
or modification of the record,” provides:
If any difference arises as to whether the record truly discloses what
occurred in the trial court, the difference shall be submitted to and
settled by the trial court and the record made to conform to the truth. If
anything material to either party is omitted from the record by error or
accident or is misstated, the parties by stipulation, or the trial court,
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either before or after the record is transmitted to the court of appeals, or
the court of appeals, on proper suggestion or of its own initiative, may
direct that omission or misstatement be corrected, and if necessary that
a supplemental record be certified, filed, and transmitted. All other
questions as to the form and content of the record shall be presented to
the court of appeals.
The authority to correct the record is determined by the nature of the material offered.
If the “accuracy of [the] proposed changes is undisputed” then “[a] court of appeals
can authorize correction or supplementation.” State v. Schiebel, 55 Ohio St.3d 71,
82, 564 N.E.2d 54 (1990), citing In re Estate of Reeck, 21 Ohio St.3d 126, 488
N.E.2d 195 (1986).
{¶28} A court of appeals “cannot resolve disputes about the trial court’s
record in the course of an appeal;” any dispute concerning what occurred in the trial
is a conflict “for the trial court to resolve in its sound discretion.” Schiebel at 82. A
trial court’s decision when evaluating conflicting evidence concerning the state of the
record “rests upon the court’s ability to weigh the evidence.” Id. “Where it is
supported by competent, reliable evidence, [the decision to correct or supplement the
record] will not be reversed by a reviewing court absent an abuse of discretion.” Id.
{¶29} Appellant does not challenge the accuracy of the draft journal entry
(admittedly unsigned and never filed) and testimony provided by the state and by
Appellant’s former counsel during the hearing on the state’s motion to supplement or
correct the record. Appellant argues, however, that the record from the trial court
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shows no written ruling on the motion to suppress was journalized. Appellant
believes that supplementing the record with any evidence tending to show that the
motion was denied would directly conflict with the record. Appellant’s argument
mistakes both the significance of the absence of a journalized ruling and the purpose
of App.R. 9(E).
{¶30} The absence of a journalized ruling on a pre-trial motion followed by a
trial and the entry of a verdict without a renewal of the motion, or a motion seeking a
written ruling on the motion, amounts to a decision that the motion was denied and
serves to waive any argument in connection with that denial. Smith, supra, inter alia.
The state’s motion to supplement the record allows the introduction of material to
demonstrate the trial court’s intention to journalize an entry denying the motion,
Appellant’s knowledge of that decision, as well as the fact that trial counsel
understood that the motion was denied. (Motion Hrg. Tr., pp. 22-23; 26-27; 29-30.)
Appellant did not present any contradictory testimony or evidence at the motion
hearing and did not dispute the facts as presented by the state.
{¶31} Appellant now contends that the trial court’s intent to deny his motion,
which was admittedly communicated verbally to Appellant and Appellant’s counsel,
and was further demonstrated when the court circulated a draft entry denying the
motion and gave extensions of time to prepare for trial, does not accurately reflect the
actions of the trial court. Appellant relies on an Ohio Eighth Appellate District
decision in support of this argument. Woodman v. Tubbs-Jones, 103 Ohio App.3d
577, 660 N.E.2d 520 (8th Dist.1995).
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{¶32} Appellant’s reliance on Woodman is misplaced. The App.R. 9(E)
motion in Woodman was denied because the party attempted to introduce material
that was never submitted to the trial court. As the Woodman court explains:
We must deny this motion, because App.R. 9(E) can only be used to
correct or modify what occurred on the trial court record. The
indictments were never filed with the trial court in this case. A court
cannot take judicial notice of court proceedings in another case.
Id. at 580, citing Diversified Mtge. Investors, Inc. v. Athens Cty. Bd. of Revision, 7
Ohio App.3d 157, 454 N.E.2d 1330 (1982) (“A trial court may not take judicial notice
of prior proceedings in the court, but may only take judicial notice of prior
proceedings in the immediate case.” Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus).
{¶33} The request to supplement the record in this case did not involve an
attempt to add material to the record that was not ever produced for the trial court’s
consideration. Instead, this request sought to allow the addition of material that
clarifies pre-trial proceedings in this matter. It involves documents actually generated
by the trial court, even though not journalized due to court oversight. It sought to
highlight and eliminate possible confusion created by the retirement of the original
trial judge, transfer of the matter to another judge prior to trial, substitution of counsel
for Appellant prior to trial but after the suppression motion hearing, and the absence
of a written entry in the record on the final disposition of the motion suppress.
{¶34} Appellant offers no legal reason why the material should be excluded.
He simply argues that App.R. 9(E) should not apply to allow any change in the record
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if there is a change in the judge presiding over a matter in the trial court. Applying
App.R. 9(E) as Appellant advocates would obviate the purpose of the rule, which is to
allow correction or supplementation to ensure that the final record reflects what
actually happened, as opposed to what was initially journalized. The supplemental
material reflects that the denial of the motion was communicated by the trial court to
Appellant and Appellant’s counsel prior to trial, and that Appellant and Appellant’s
prior counsel communicated that denial to Appellant’s subsequent trial counsel.
Appellant does not offer any basis for us to conclude that it was an abuse of
discretion for the trial court to allow the record to be supplemented on these issues.
Where, as here, there is competent, reliable, information to support a trial court’s
decision to supplement or correct the record, that decision should not be reversed
absent an abuse of discretion. Schiebel, supra. We find no abuse of discretion in
this record.
{¶35} Appellant’s second, third, and fourth assignments of error concerning
the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress his statement and to allow the
supplementation of the record are without merit. The trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying the motion or in supplementing the record to clarify the
circumstances of that denial. Appellant’s second, third, and fourth assignments of
error are overruled.
Assignment of Error Five
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S CONVICTION MUST BE REVERSED
DUE TO INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
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{¶36} “Reversal of convictions for ineffective assistance of counsel requires
that the defendant show, first, that counsel's performance was deficient, and second,
that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense in such a way as to deprive the
defendant of a fair trial.” State v. Ferguson, 108 Ohio St.3d 451, 462, 2006-Ohio-
1502, 844 N.E.2d 806, ¶75, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 L.Ed .2d 674, (1984). “Deficient performance” means performance falling
below an objective standard of reasonable representation. “Prejudice,” in this
context, means a reasonable probability that but for counsel's errors the result of the
proceeding would have been different. Id. at 687-688, 694. In evaluating the
performance of counsel, “strategic choices made after thorough investigation of law
and facts relevant to plausible options are virtually unchallengeable; and strategic
choices made after less than complete investigation are reasonable precisely to the
extent that reasonable professional judgments support the limitations on
investigation.” Id. at 690-691.
(A) In-court Identification
{¶37} Appellant contends that trial counsel’s performance was deficient
because counsel did not adequately challenge the failure to specifically identify
Appellant as a perpetrator, and because Appellant did not assert his Fifth
Amendment right not to testify due to this alleged deficiency. The alleged
deficiencies will be evaluated under the two-pronged Strickland test.
{¶38} As previously discussed, “there is no general requirement in criminal
cases that the defendant must be visually identified in court by a witness.” Irby,
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supra, ¶14. Rather than acquit every defendant who kills his victim, attacks from
behind, or wears a mask for the duration of the crime, courts allow “[a]ny type of
direct or circumstantial evidence * * * to establish the identity of the person that
committed the crime.” Id. Among the numerous logical and factual reasons why
direct in-court identification is not required is the fact that “an in-court identification is
a less reliable indicator of identity than many other types of identification.” Id.
{¶39} In this instance, the jury was asked to determine whether Appellant was
the “tall thin” man described by Haupt who participated in the attack and burglary.
The jury concluded that he was. The record contains testimony from Haupt, various
investigating officers, Appellant and Appellant’s witnesses, all of whom connect
Appellant directly and indirectly as a perpetrator of these crimes. Importantly, the
record also contains Appellant’s admissions in this regard. Because there is no legal
requirement that identity be established by eyewitness testimony or direct
identification at trial, the fact that Appellant’s counsel did not challenge the absence
of eyewitness identification testimony is not evidence of deficient performance. Irby,
supra. Since the defense trial strategy focused on establishing that Appellant was a
participant in the crimes, but not a willing participant, trial strategy would actually
prohibit counsel from challenging Appellant’s identity as a participant in the crime.
{¶40} The state offered probative circumstantial evidence of Appellant’s
identity which was properly submitted to the jury. Appellant’s trial counsel was not
deficient because he omitted an argument that has no basis in law. Similarly, the fact
that trial counsel did not induce Appellant to assert his Fifth Amendment rights based
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on lack of eyewitness identification rather than permit him to testify cannot serve as
evidence that counsel’s performance was deficient.
(B) Motion to Suppress
{¶41} The United States Supreme Court originally explained in Strickland v.
Washington that an “ineffectiveness claim * * * is an attack on the fundamental
fairness of the proceeding whose result is challenged * * * the ultimate focus of
inquiry must be on the fundamental fairness of the proceeding whose result is being
challenged.” Strickland at 697, 670. A defendant’s burden when challenging the
effectiveness of counsel is to demonstrate that some action or inaction by counsel
operated to undermine or call into question the integrity of the process that resulted
in conviction. State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279, 289, 714 N.E. 2d 905 (1999).
When evaluating the performance of counsel “courts ‘must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance.’” State v. Wesson, 137 Ohio St.3d 309, 2013-Ohio-4575,
999 N.E.2d 557, ¶81. “Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance must be highly
deferential, and a fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort
be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the
circumstances of counsel’s challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from
counsel’s perspective at the time.” Strickland at 669. “It is all too tempting for a
defendant to second-guess counsel’s assistance after conviction or adverse
sentence, and it is all too easy for a court, examining counsel’s defense after it has
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proved unsuccessful, to conclude that a particular act or omission of counsel was
unreasonable.” Id. at 689.
{¶42} Appellant also argues that trial counsel’s performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness because “trial counsel failed to insist that the
trial court issue a decision on the Defendant/Appellant’s motion to suppress/in
limine[sic] and thereafter failed to object to the admission of the
Defendant/Appellant’s alleged confession.” (Appellant’s Brf., p. 35.) Appellant also
states that “serious constitutional violations were raised by that motion to suppress”
and that “factual findings were required to resolve those issues.” (Appellant’s Brf., p.
35.) As the Ohio Supreme Court explained in State v. Brewer, 48 Ohio St.3d 50, 549
N.E. 2d 491 (1990), a trial court’s failure to state findings of fact on the record when
denying a motion to suppress is error. However, where there is a robust record of
the suppression hearing such as we have before us, the absence of stated findings
of fact does not prevent a full review of “suppression issues.” Brewer, supra, at 51.
As in Brewer, the suppression decision here was based on the trial court’s credibility
determination. As in Brewer, when “overruling the motion to suppress, the trial court
impliedly found that the police officers’ testimony was credible” and Appellant’s was
not. Id. at 59.
{¶43} The omission of findings of fact and the absence of a written ruling on
the motion to suppress are errors or omissions by the trial court, not errors of
counsel, and they are not errors that necessarily prejudice the defendant or hamper
review. Brewer, accord; State v. Waddy, 63 Ohio St.3d 424, 443, 588 N.E.2d 819
-24-
(1992). Because the “extensive record of the suppression hearing is ‘sufficient to
allow full review of the suppression issues,’” Appellant “cannot show a reasonable
probability that the result would have been different if his counsel had requested
findings under the wording of Crim.R. 12(F).” State v. Sapp, 105 Ohio St.3d 104,
119, 2004-Ohio-7008, 822 N.E. 2d 1239, ¶96.
{¶44} None of the alleged deficiencies cited by Appellant concerning his
statement reflect a defect in the fundamental fairness of his trial. This record reflects
that the trial court denied the motion to suppress and that counsel knew the motion
was denied and was prepared to try the case. This record also reveals that the trial
court had a full hearing on Appellant’s suppression motion. Appellant was present
and testified, and his counsel argued on his behalf. Appellant does not claim that
there was any defect in that process or suggest that the preparation of his defense
was hampered by the absence of a written ruling. Nothing in this record supports a
conclusion that the trial court’s denial of Appellant’s motion to suppress would have
been reversed if counsel had requested factual findings and a written ruling.
{¶45} Similarly, with regard to the admission of Appellant’s statement into
evidence at trial, trial counsel is not required to perform acts or make requests that he
knows to be useless. State v. Matland, 2010-Ohio-6585, ¶51. “As to appellant’s
argument that trial counsel failed to object * * * there is no ineffective assistance of
counsel when trial counsel fails to do what would have been a futile act.” State v.
Menton, 7th Dist. 84 CA 21, 1987 WL 5710, *3 (1987). “A review of the record
indicates the trial court would have overruled the motion, and counsel was not
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required to make a futile motion.” State v. Yonis, 2006-Ohio-5993, ¶25. Trial
counsel was aware that the motion to suppress was denied. The trial transcript
reveals that the state put in place a proper foundation prior to requesting that the
statement be admitted. Trial counsel was also aware that Appellant did not deny the
allegations and intended to testify concerning his presence during and participation in
the burglary and kidnappings. Under these circumstances it is probable, and
reasonable, for trial counsel to conclude that a motion to exclude the statement
would be futile and strategically flawed. Counsel’s decision not to further challenge
the admission of Appellant’s statement was not error and his performance did not fall
“below an objective standard of reasonable representation.” State v. Bradley, 42
Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus. Appellant
has also failed to demonstrate prejudice as a result of trial counsel’s decisions.
Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
Assignment of Error Six
THE DEFENDANT/APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS ARE AGAINST
THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AS THE JURY
CLEARLY LOST ITS WAY AND BASED ON THE EVIDENCE
PRESENTED SHOULD HAVE FOUND THAT
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT ACTED UNDER DURESS.
{¶46} To determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support a conviction,
the reviewing court must determine “whether, after viewing the evidence in a light
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
-26-
essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jenks, supra,
paragraph two of the syllabus. In determining whether a criminal judgment is against
the manifest weight of the evidence, this Court acts as a “thirteenth juror” to
determine whether “the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.”
State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), citing State v.
Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1983). The verdict is not against
the weight of the evidence when there is evidence which, if believed, will convince
the average person of the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Eley,
56 Ohio St.2d 169, 172, 383 N.E.2d 132 (1978). “Weight is not a question of
mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing belief.” State v. Barnhart, 7th Dist.
No. 09 JE 15, 2010-Ohio-3282, ¶24, quoting Thompkins, supra, at 387. The weight
to be given the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are primarily for the trier
of fact to determine. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967),
paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶47} Appellant contends that the trier of fact should have concluded that the
testimony of his witnesses was more credible than the testimony of the state’s
witnesses. Appellant does not identify any defect in the state’s case, he simply
argues that the jury should have believed him. A review of the record shows that
Haupt testified extensively about his perceptions of the three men who kidnapped,
held, threatened, and questioned him while they burgled his house. Haupt’s
testimony created a vivid picture of a tall thin man who enthusiastically and
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terrifyingly participated in the threats and violence of that night. Where, as here,
there are two conflicting versions of events, the decision to believe one version over
the other is left to the jury. In this instance, the jury chose to believe the testimony of
the victim rather than Appellant and his witnesses. Nothing in this record suggests
that the jury lost its way in determining credibility. DeHass, supra. Appellant’s sixth
assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
Assignment of Error Seven
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT WAS DENIED A FAIR TRIAL AND
THEREFORE DUE PROCESS BECAUSE OF PROSECUTORIAL
MISCONDUCT.
{¶48} The standard of review for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the
actions by the prosecution were improper and, if so, whether they prejudiced
Appellant's substantial rights. State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 480, 739 N.E.2d
749 (2001). “In determining whether the prosecutor’s statements affected a
substantial right of the defendant, an appellate court should consider the following
factors: ‘(1) the nature of the remarks; (2) whether an objection was made by
defense counsel; (3) whether the court gave any corrective instructions; and (4) the
strength of the evidence presented against the defendant.’” State v. Scott, 7th Dist.
No. 07 MA 152, 2009-Ohio-4961, ¶85, quoting State v. Breland, 11th Dist. No. 2003-
A-0066, 2004-Ohio-7238, ¶29. Prosecutorial misconduct will not provide a basis for
reversal unless the misconduct can be said to have deprived Appellant of a fair trial
based on the entire record. State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 166, 555 N.E.2d 293
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(1990); State v. Skidmore, 7th Dist. No. 08 MA 165, 2010-Ohio-2846, ¶44; appeal not
allowed, 2010-Ohio-4928, 126 Ohio St.3d 1602, 935 N.E.2d 47. The test for
prosecutorial misconduct focuses on “the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the
prosecutor.” State v. Noling, 98 Ohio St.3d 44, 2002-Ohio-7044, 781 N.E.2d 88, ¶91.
{¶49} Appellant’s seventh assignment of error alleges prosecutorial
misconduct in closing arguments due to the prosecutor’s reference that Appellant
failed to take “responsibility for his actions.” (Appellant’s Brf., pp. 40-41). Appellant
contends that these statements are a comment on Appellant’s decision not to plead
guilty and instead to exercise his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. The state
contends that these statements highlighted the fact that the other men who took part
in the kidnappings and burglary admitted their involvement, unlike Appellant, who
claimed to have acted under duress. Appellant does not explain, and nothing in the
record indicates, how these comments could impact Appellant’s substantial right to a
jury trial, which is the only right identified by Appellant in support of his argument.
{¶50} Unlike improper comment on a defendant’s decision to invoke his Fifth
Amendment right not to testify, which is clearly misconduct, or the more speculative
contention that a sentence imposed by a trial court after a jury trial is a “trial tax” on a
defendant, comment by a prosecutor on a defendant’s decision to plead not guilty
has never been found to deprive a defendant of a fair trial. Appellant offers no legal
basis for this argument. It is impossible to conclude from this record that the
statement had the significance Appellant claims. Appellant’s seventh assignment of
error is without merit and is overruled.
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Assignment of Error Eight
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT WAS DENIED HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR
TRIAL PURSUANT TO THE DOCTRINE OF CUMULATIVE ERROR.
{¶51} Appellant contends that each of the errors identified in his preceding
assignments rise to the level of reversible error, but even if they are individually found
to be harmless, their cumulative effect deprived Appellant of a fair trial. However,
errors do not become prejudicial “by sheer weight of numbers.” State v. Frazier, 115
Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶241. Although cumulative error
may “be found when the effect of multiple errors * * * acts to deprive the defendant of
his constitutional right to a fair trial;” an assignment of error “that simply intones the
phrase ‘cumulative error’ but offers no analysis or argument constitutes an
assignment of error without substance.” State v. Scott, 7th Dist. No. 07 MA 152,
2009-Ohio-4961, ¶92-93 (citing State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 656 N.E.2d 150
(1995) and State v. Bethel, 110 Ohio St.3d 416, 2006-Ohio-4853, 854 N.E.2d 150).
{¶52} Appellant’s seven preceding assignments of error are without merit and
do not identify any error in the proceeding below. Even if errors became prejudicial
by sheer weight of numbers, no such number exists, here. Appellant was not
prejudiced by the denial of his motion to suppress his pre-trial statement, the state
did not fail to present sufficient evidence connecting him with the crimes he admitted
to participating in, the jury was entitled to weigh the evidence presented and
determine credibility, the prosecutor’s statements concerning responsibility did not
undermine Appellant’s right to a trial, and the record below was properly
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supplemented. Appellant’s eighth assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
Assignment of Error Nine
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF A
PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION.
{¶53} Crim.R. 32.2 governs the use of presentence investigations, it provides:
“[i]n felony cases the court shall, and in misdemeanor cases the court may, order a
presentence investigation and report before imposing community control sanctions or
granting probation.” The trial court’s sentence in this matter did not impose
community control or grant probation in lieu of sentence. The trial court imposed
three, ten year sentences to be served concurrently, and a three year firearm
specification to be served consecutively to the concurrent sentences. Where a trial
court does not grant probation, no presentence report is required. State v. Cyrus, 63
Ohio St.3d 164, 586 N.E.2d 94 (1992), syllabus. Appellant’s ninth assignment of
error is overruled.
Conclusion
{¶54} Appellant’s pre-trial statement was not taken in violation of his Fifth and
Sixth Amendment rights and the trial court properly denied Appellant’s motion to
suppress this statement. It was not error to supplement the record with regard to the
motion to suppress. Appellant received effective assistance of counsel. His
conviction was not against the weight of the evidence and his motion for acquittal
-31-
was properly denied. The record does not reflect prosecutorial misconduct. No
presentence report was required in this matter. Appellant’s nine assignments of error
are without merit and are overruled. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Vukovich, J., concurs.
DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.
State v. Crooms
Combined Opinion