State v. Williams

[Cite as State v. Williams, 2011-Ohio-4812.]

[Vacated opinion. Please see 2011-Ohio-5483.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 95796

STATE OF OHIO

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

vs.

BENJAMIN WILLIAMS
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

JUDGMENT:
REVERSED AND REMANDED

Criminal Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
Case No. CR-532133

BEFORE: E. Gallagher, J., Blackmon, P.J., and Keough, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 22, 2011
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ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Robert L. Tobik
Public Defender
BY: Cullen Sweeney
Assistant Public Defender
310 Lakeside Avenue
Suite 200
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

William D. Mason
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Gregory Mussman
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Benjamin Williams, appeals from his convictions in

the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. For the following reasons, we reverse

the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.

{¶ 2} Appellant was indicted on December 29, 2009, and charged with

aggravated murder in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A)(Count 1), aggravated murder in
 3

violation of R.C. 2903.01(B) (Count 2), aggravated robbery in violation of R.C.

2911.01(A)(1) (Count 3), aggravated robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(3) (Count

4), and discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises in violation of R.C.

2923.162(A)(3) (Count 5). One- and three-year gun specifications pursuant to R.C.

2941.141(A) and 2941.145(A), respectively, were attached to all five counts.

{¶ 3} Count 5 was voluntarily dismissed by the state prior to trial that

commenced on July 6, 2010. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on Counts 1 and 3

as well as to the lesser included offense of murder under Count 1. The jury found

appellant guilty of aggravated murder as to Count 2 and guilty of aggravated robbery as

to Count 4. The jury further found appellant not guilty of the gun specifications on

Counts 2 and 4.

{¶ 4} On September 8, 2010, prison terms of life with parole eligibility after 30

years on Count 2 and ten years on Count 4 were imposed. The trial court ordered the

sentences to run concurrently. Appellant brought the present appeal raising the nine

assignments of error contained in the appendix to this opinion.

{¶ 5} In his first assignment of error, appellant posits that the State failed to

present sufficient evidence that he committed the crimes of aggravated robbery and

aggravated murder.

{¶ 6} “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
 4

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.” State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the

syllabus (superseded by statute and constitutional amendment on other grounds). 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.”

State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 390, 678 N.E.2d 541, (Cook, J.,

concurring).

{¶ 7} Appellant was convicted of aggravated murder as charged in Count 2 in

violation of R.C. 2903.01(B). Pursuant to R.C. 2903.01(B), “[n]o person shall

purposely cause the death of another * * * while committing or attempting to commit, or

while fleeing immediately after committing or attempting to commit, * * * aggravated

robbery * * *. ”

{¶ 8} Appellant was also convicted of aggravated robbery as charged in Count 4

in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(3), which provides that, “[n]o person, in attempting or

committing a theft offense, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, or in

fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, shall do any of the following: * * * (3)

Inflict, or attempt to inflict, serious physical harm on another.”
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{¶ 9} Although theft requires that the accused actually obtain or exert control

over the property, attempted theft has no such requirement. R.C. 2923.02(A) defines

attempt as “conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the offense.”

“Criminal attempt” is an act or omission constituting a substantial step in a course of

conduct planned to culminate in the actor’s commission of the crime but that falls short

of completion of the crime. State v. Group, 98 Ohio St.3d 248, 2002-Ohio-7247, 781

N.E.2d 980, at ¶101, citing State v. Woods (1976), 48 Ohio St.2d 127, 357 N.E.2d 1059,

paragraph one of the syllabus, overruled in part on other grounds by State v. Downs

(1977), 51 Ohio St.2d 47, 53, 364 N.E.2d 1140. A “substantial step” requires conduct

that is “strongly corroborative of the actor’s criminal purpose.” Id.

{¶ 10} The elements of an offense may be established by direct evidence,

circumstantial evidence or both. State v. Durr (1991), 58 Ohio St.3d 86, 568 N.E.2d

674. Circumstantial evidence is defined as, “‘[t]estimony not based on actual personal

knowledge or observation of the facts in controversy, but of other facts from which

deductions are drawn, showing indirectly the facts sought proved. * * * ’” State v.

Nicely (1988), 39 Ohio St.3d 147, 150, 529 N.E.2d 1236, quoting Black’s Law

Dictionary (5th Ed.1979) 221. Circumstantial and direct evidence are of equal

evidentiary value. State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574 N.E.2d 492.

{¶ 11} The following relevant facts were adduced at trial: James Zagorski was

shot the night of September 15, 2008, in the parking lot of a Food Plus convenient store
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situated at Glendale and Lee Road in Cuyahoga County. Zagorski was transported, via

ambulance, to Metro Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m. Zagorski

had intended to rendevous with Kevin Warner that night in order to purchase marijuana

from Warner. Warner was working at a nearby Popeye’s Chicken at the time Zagorski

arrived in the area and, therefore, he could not immediately conduct the sale. Zagorski

waited for Warner, in his car, in the parking lot of the Food Plus convenient store.

{¶ 12} Passing witnesses observed a number of young men congregating on the

side of the Food Plus store near Zagorski’s car and one witness heard gunshots and then

saw the young men dispersing. Shortly after the gunshots, witnesses observed

Zagorski’s car move from the side of the Food Plus building and crash into a nearby

pole.

{¶ 13} An autopsy performed by the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office

established that Zagorski died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Forensics

established that the fatal shot was fired from the driver’s side of Zagorski’s car.

{¶ 14} In Zagorski’s vehicle police found $60 and two pill bottles containing

marijuana. At Metro Hospital, $1,212.18 was recovered from Zagorski’s person.

{¶ 15} At trial, circumstantial evidence was presented that appellant attempted to

commit a theft offense and in so doing inflicted serious physical harm upon Zagorski.

Evidence was presented that, in the course of the attempted aggravated robbery,

appellant purposely caused the death of Zagorski. Police found discarded cigar tips and
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saliva at the scene from which DNA was recovered. That DNA placed witnesses

Daquan Jackson and Jermaine Jefferson in the group of young men who were present at

the scene of the crime.

{¶ 16} Jackson and Jefferson both placed appellant at the scene of the crime when

Zagorski was shot. Jefferson testified that the group of young men observed Zagorski

waiting in his car and that there was a discussion about robbing Zagorski. Jefferson

testified that appellant stated that he wanted to rob Zagorski and that appellant turned

and began to approach Zagorski’s car when Jefferson walked away to avoid the situation.

Jackson testified that when he left appellant was standing roughly four or five feet away

from the passenger side of Zagorski’s car. Both Jefferson and Jackson testified to

hearing a gunshot a short time later. Jefferson testified that appellant told him “that he

wasn’t like supposed to have killed him or shot him or anything” which, when

considered in a light most favorable to the prosecution, provides circumstantial

evidence that Zagorski was shot by appellant during a failed robbery.1

{¶ 17} Appellant cites State v. Scott, Cuyahoga App. No. 83477, 2004-Ohio-4631,

for the proposition that “mere words” by a defendant expressing an intent to take

something do not “constitute a substantial step in the commission of a theft offense so as

Although we consider Jefferson’s testimony in a light most favorable to the prosecution for
1

the purposes of our sufficiency analysis, we note the ambiguity of Jefferson’s choice of words.
Jefferson never identified appellant as the individual to whom Jefferson referred as “he.” Neither
party sought clarification from Jefferson on this issue.
 8

to support a conviction for aggravated robbery” and aggravated felony murder. Scott is

distinguishable from the case sub judice, however. In Scott, the defendant believed that

one man among a group of men had stolen his jacket. Scott, and the witnesses who later

testified against him, followed the group of men but eventually lost sight of the man

Scott believed to be in possession of his property. Scott told witnesses that he intended

to steal a jacket from another man in the group. However, when Scott confronted the

man, Scott immediately opened fire with a handgun and made no effort to commit a theft

offense. We noted in Scott that, despite his previously stated intentions, the defendant

“made no attempt to deprive [the victim] of any property either before or after this

senseless foray.” The evidence suggested it was more likely that Scott was “seeking

revenge in any form, but settled on inflicting fatal gunshot wounds rather than the pursuit

of [the victim’s] jacket.” We concluded that, “[a]s such, appellant’s mere words to the

effect that he would take [the victim’s] jacket did not constitute a substantial step in the

commission of a theft offense so as to support a conviction for aggravated robbery.” Id.

at ¶14.

{¶ 18} In the present case, unlike Scott, there is evidence that a theft was

attempted but went awry. Appellant expressed his intent to rob Zagorski. Jefferson

saw appellant approach Zagorski’s car and did not hear a gunshot until at least a minute

later. Finally, Jefferson’s conversation with appellant after the shooting is

circumstantial evidence that an attempted theft occurred.
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{¶ 19} Viewing the above evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a

rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of aggravated robbery and

aggravated murder proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

{¶ 20} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 21} As appellant’s fourth assignment of error is, in essence, a sufficiency

challenge, we briefly address it out of order here. Appellant argues that he did not

receive a fair trial as required by due process because the jury failed to follow the trial

court’s jury instructions. Appellant’s indictment charged him as the principal offender,

not as an accomplice pursuant to the complicity statute, R.C. 2923.03. The State did not

request and the trial court did not provide the jury with a complicity instruction.

Appellant argues that absent a complicity instruction, the jury could not convict him

based on its own theory that he was complicit in the murder, although he did not actually

commit it.

{¶ 22} Appellant’s argument in this instance is essentially a sufficiency challenge.

Appellant’s arguments rely on his assertion that the State did not present sufficient

evidence that he shot Zagorski. Appellant cites State v. Frost, 164 Ohio App.3d 61,

2005-Ohio-5510, 841 N.E.2d 336, for the proposition that in the absence of a complicity

instruction, he cannot be convicted as an aider and abetter. Appellant’s reliance on

Frost is misplaced. In Frost, unlike the present case, the defendant was tried under the

theory that he was an accomplice. The State provided sufficient evidence that Frost was
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an accomplice to robbery and that his co-defendant, Walton, was the principal. The trial

court, however, instructed the jury as though Frost had been a principal and did not

provide the jury with an instruction on aiding and abetting, as requested by the State.

The Second District Court of Appeals reversed Frost’s conviction for robbery because

the record was devoid of any evidence to support Frost’s conviction as a principal in the

crime.

{¶ 23} In the present case, unlike Frost, viewing the evidence in a light most

favorable to the prosecution, the state presented sufficient evidence, as discussed above,

that appellant was the principal offender in both of the crimes for which he was

convicted.

{¶ 24} Appellant’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 25} Appellant argues in his second assignment of error that his convictions

were against the manifest weight of the evidence. The question to be answered when a

manifest-weight issue is raised is whether “there is substantial evidence upon which a

jury could reasonably conclude that all the elements have been proved beyond a

reasonable doubt. In conducting this review, we must examine the entire record, weigh

the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and

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.” (Internal

citations and quotations omitted.) State v. Leonard, 104 Ohio St.3d 54, 68,
 11

2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229.

{¶ 26} The weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are

primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d

212, paragraph one of the syllabus. Where a judgment is supported by competent,

credible evidence going to all essential elements to be proven, the judgment will not be

reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Annable,

Cuyahoga App. No. 94775, 2011-Ohio-2029, at ¶60, citing State v. Mattison (1985), 23

Ohio App.3d 10, 14, 490 N.E.2d 926. The power to reverse a judgment of conviction as

against the manifest weight must be exercised with caution and in only the rare case in

which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction. State v. Martin (1983), 20

Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717.

{¶ 27} After reviewing the entire record, considering the credibility of the

witnesses and weighing the evidence, we find that the jury clearly lost its way in

resolving conflicts in the evidence, and a manifest miscarriage of justice resulted. The

record lacks consistent, credible evidence to support the jury’s verdict that appellant was

guilty of aggravated robbery and aggravated murder.

{¶ 28} As discussed above, appellant was indicted and tried as the principal

offender in the alleged crimes, not as an accomplice. Though the state presented

sufficient evidence to support appellant’s convictions, the weight of the evidence clearly

favored the conclusion that appellant was not the principal offender of these crimes.
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{¶ 29} We reach this conclusion based upon the fact that the appellant was not

linked to the crime or crime scene by any tangible evidence. The only link between

appellant and the shooting was the testimony of Jackson and Jefferson. Neither Jackson

nor Jefferson came forward and provided statements to police until after DNA evidence

had physically linked each of them to the crime scene. The credibility of both of these

witnesses was called into question at trial. Jackson had previously been convicted of a

felony and contradicted, at trial, his prior accounts of which specific individuals were

present at the crime scene on the night of the shooting. Jefferson initially lied to police

and claimed that he did not see anything the night of the shooting. Only after

Jefferson’s DNA was tied to the crime scene, and he was threatened with a charge of

obstructing justice, did Jefferson implicate appellant in Zagorski’s shooting. Both

Jackson and Jefferson testified that they conveniently left the scene moments prior to the

shooting despite third-party testimony that multiple young men fled the scene just after

the gunshots were heard. Neither witness saw appellant with a gun the night of the

shooting and no witness saw appellant shoot Zagorski.

{¶ 30} Finally, forensic evidence established that Zagorski was shot from just

outside the driver’s side of his car. Incongruously, Jackson placed appellant on the

passenger side of Zagorski’s vehicle just prior to the shooting. This inconsistency

particularly stands out in light of Jefferson’s testimony. As discussed above, Jefferson’s

recounting of appellant’s alleged statement, “that he wasn’t like supposed to have killed
 13

him or shot him or anything” was ambiguous because Jefferson did not clarify that the

“he” in the statement referred specifically to appellant as opposed to an accomplice.

{¶ 31} After reviewing the entire record, weighing all of the evidence and

considering the credibility of witnesses, we find that this is the exceptional case where

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.” Leonard, 104 Ohio St.3d at 68.

{¶ 32} Appellant’s second assignment of error is sustained.

{¶ 33} In his third assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in

responding to two jury questions.

{¶ 34} During deliberations the jury posed the following questions:

{¶ 35} “1. “Under count 1, the lesser charge ... Based on definition of Purpose:

Does [appellant] have to be holding the gun or does he have to be involved in an action

that brought about the result of [Zagorski’s] death?”

{¶ 36} “2. “To be charged with any of these counts, does the State have to prove

that [appellant] had the gun in his hand?”

{¶ 37} The trial court responded to these questions by referring the jury back to

the provided jury instructions, stating, “All I can tell you is that you have the pertinent

law in the jury charge.”2

We note that the record is incomplete in that the trial court conducted off the record
2

proceedings with respect to the jury questions and objections throughout the trial. However, in the
affidavit of trial counsel Jeffrey Richardson attached to appellant’s motion for a new trial filed July
 14

{¶ 38} Appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to respond to the jury’s

questions in greater detail.

{¶ 39} Where, during the course of its deliberations, a jury requests further

instruction, or clarification of instructions previously given, a trial court has discretion to

determine its response to that request. A reversal of a conviction based upon a trial

court’s response to such a request requires a showing that the trial court abused its

discretion. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 552-553, 1995-Ohio-104, 651 N.E.2d 965;

State v. Lindsey (2000), 87 Ohio St.3d 479, 488, 721 N.E.2d 995. Absent error in the

original jury instructions, a trial court does not abuse its discretion by referring the jury

to a written copy of the instructions rather than giving further oral instructions. Id. at

553, 651 N.E.2d 974; Lindsey, 87 Ohio St.3d at 488.

{¶ 40} In the case sub judice, appellant argues that the trial court erred by not

clarifying for the jury that in order to convict him of the above crimes the jury would

necessarily have to find that he was the principal offender, i.e. the shooter. Appellant

26, 2010 and denied on September 8, 2010, Mr. Richardson does aver that he requested that the trial
court respond “no” to both of the jury’s questions in light of the fact that no complicity instruction
was provided. Mr. Richardson avers that the state opposed his suggested answer and that he
objected to the trial court’s ultimate decision to refer the jury back to the previously provided jury
instructions. Appellant additionally attached to his motion for a new trial the affidavit of Juror X, a
juror on the case, in support of appellant’s contention that the jury was confused by the jury
instructions. Juror X averred that, “after receiving no answer to our question, several jurors
attempted to figure out on their own what connection to the criminal conduct was sufficient to find
[appellant] guilty. The entire panel was very confused, and we never agreed on a definition or
explanation for what his involvement needed to be.”
 15

does not take issue with any specific written or oral jury instructions provided by the trial

court. The trial court in this instance did not abuse its discretion by referring the jury

back to the original instructions. See, also, State v. Smith, Belmont App. No. 06 BE 22,

2008-Ohio-1670 (where jury question sought clarification as to whether the State needed

to prove that defendant personally pulled the trigger in order to convict for murder, the

trial court’s reference back to the original instructions was not an abuse of discretion

where the instructions lacked any deficiency).

{¶ 41} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 42} In his fifth assignment of error, appellant argues that the jury’s verdict is

inconsistent because it found him guilty of aggravated robbery and aggravated murder

but not guilty of the firearm specifications attached to those two counts. “Under Ohio

law, the several counts of an indictment containing more than one count are not

interdependent, and an inconsistency in a verdict does not arise out of inconsistent

responses to different counts, but only arises out of inconsistent responses to the same

count.” State v. Houser (May 30, 1996), Cuyahoga App. No. 69639, citing State v.

Brown (1984), 12 Ohio St.3d 147, 465 N.E.2d 889.

{¶ 43} We have repeatedly held that a not guilty verdict with regard to a firearm

specification is not inconsistent with a guilty verdict for aggravated robbery. State v.

Hardware, Cuyahoga App. No. 93639, 2010-Ohio-4346, at ¶15. Appellant argues that

based upon the Ohio Supreme Court’s holding in State v. Evans, 113 Ohio St.3d 100,
 16

2007-Ohio-861, 863 N.E.2d 113, a firearm specification is considered dependent on the

underlying charge, and thus the two should be considered the same count. This court

previously rejected this argument in Hardware, relying on our prior holding in State v.

Fair, Cuyahoga App. No. 89653, 2008-Ohio-930, wherein we held that the underlying

offense and the firearm specification constitute different crimes. Id. at ¶24, citing State

v. Boyd (1996), 110 Ohio App.3d 13, 673 N.E.2d 607. We are unwilling to overrule this

court’s holding in Fair.

{¶ 44} Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 45} In his sixth assignment of error, appellant argues that he was deprived of

his due process right to a fair trial due to prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically,

appellant argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by suggesting to the jury that

he personally believed the defendant was guilty, by soliciting speculative and

inadmissible testimony, by asking the investigating detective to improperly bolster other

witnesses’ testimony and by urging the jury to consider facts not in evidence.

{¶ 46} The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the prosecutor’s remarks

were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected substantial rights of the

accused. State v. Bey, 85 Ohio St.3d 487, 1999-Ohio-283, 709 N.E.2d 484; State v.

Lott (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 165, 555 N.E.2d 293, cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1017, 111

S.Ct. 592, 112 L.Ed.2d 596. A prosecutor’s conduct during trial cannot be grounds for

error unless the conduct deprives the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Apanovitch
 17

(1987), 33 Ohio St.3d 19, 24, 514 N.E.2d 394. The focus of that inquiry is on the

fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor. Bey, 85 Ohio St.3d at 487.

{¶ 47} Appellant did not object at trial to the comments he now challenges as

improper. In the absence of objection to improper comments, the alleged prosecutorial

misconduct can only be the basis for reversal if it rises to the level of plain error. Crim.R.

52(B). To constitute plain error, the error must be obvious on the record, palpable, and

fundamental, so that it should have been apparent to the trial court without objection.

See State v. Tichon (1995), 102 Ohio App.3d 758, 767, 658 N.E.2d 16. Moreover, plain

error does not exist unless the appellant establishes that the outcome of the trial clearly

would have been different but for the trial court’s allegedly improper actions. State v.

Waddell (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 163, 166, 661 N.E.2d 1043. Notice of plain error is to be

taken with utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent a

manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Phillips, 74 Ohio St.3d 72, 83, 656 N.E.2d 643.

{¶ 48} Our focus, upon review, is whether the prosecutor’s comments deprived

appellant of a fair trial such that there is a reasonable probability that, but for the

prosecutor’s misconduct, the result of the proceeding would have been different. State

v. Onunwor, Cuyahoga App. No. 93937, 2010-Ohio-5587, at ¶42, citing State v. Loza

(1994), 71 Ohio St.3d 61, 78-79, 641 N.E.2d 1082, overruled on other grounds.

{¶ 49} Appellant first argues that the state committed prosecutorial misconduct

when the prosecutor told the jury that he was “here to bring the person that [killed
 18

Zagorski] to justice.” (Tr. 428, 578.) Prosecutors may not express their personal

beliefs or opinions regarding the guilt of the accused. State v. Elliott, Cuyahoga App.

No. 91999, 2009-Ohio-5816, at ¶26, citing State v. Lott (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 165,

555 N.E.2d 293. Appellant argues that the prosecutor’s statements regarding his

purpose or role at court violated this rule. We disagree. “Isolated comments by a

prosecutor are not to be taken out of context and be given their most damaging

meaning.” State v. Hill (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 195, 204, 661 N.E.2d 1068, citing

Donnelly v. DeChristoforo (1974), 416 U.S. 637, 647, 94 S.Ct. 1868, 40 L.Ed.2d 431.

A review of the record does not support appellant’s contention that the prosecutor’s

comments amounted to an expression of his personal belief regarding the appellant’s

guilt.

{¶ 50} Appellant’s second prosecutorial misconduct argument is that the state

deprived him of a fair trial by eliciting speculative testimony. Appellant cites the

prosecutor’s direct examination of Jefferson, where it was established that Jefferson did

not actually witness a confrontation between appellant and Zagorski and did not witness

the shooting. Nonetheless, Jefferson testified that when he later heard a gunshot he

could “put it together and seen what had happened.” The prosecutor then asked him

what he had “put together,” to which Jefferson replied, “[t]hat they went over to rob him

and shot him and he tried to pull out and probably died while he was trying to pull out.”

There is no indication that Jefferson possessed any personal knowledge to support this
 19

testimony as required by Evid.R. 602. In fact, Jefferson’s testimony leaves no doubt

that he lacked personal knowledge in this instance. Although appellant did not object to

this testimony at trial, it is clear upon review that the prosecutor improperly solicited

from Jefferson testimony that was speculative and was established to be beyond his

personal knowledge. The trial court should not have permitted Jefferson to testify as to

what his imagination had concocted out of the circumstances. The jury was fully

capable of drawing its own inferences from the evidence without the aid of Jefferson’s

speculation. Jefferson’s speculative testimony was improperly elicited and admitted.

{¶ 51} Appellant additionally cites to the direct examination of Detective

Veverka, wherein the following exchange occurred:

{¶ 52} Prosecutor: “Now, at this point, is there anything left to do as part of your

investigation?”

{¶ 53} Detective Veverka: “At this point we were still trying to identify a second

individual.”

{¶ 54} Prosecutor: “And why is that?”

{¶ 55} Detective Veverka: “We have reports that two individuals approached

James Zagorski’s car. Our investigation led us to believe that Benjamin Williams was

one of the individuals and we’re still trying to determine who the second individual is.”

{¶ 56} Appellant argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by eliciting

this testimony because it suggested that Detective Veverka reached his own conclusion
 20

about appellant’s guilt based on evidence that was not presented to the jury. Appellant

draws this conclusion from the fact that none of the witnesses at trial testified to a second

individual approaching Zagorski’s car.

{¶ 57} Even assuming that the testimony quoted above was improperly admitted,

we do not find that the statements prejudicially affected appellant’s substantial rights.

When considering the entire record in this case, we cannot say that absent the improper

testimony, the jury verdict would have been different.

{¶ 58} Appellant next argues that the prosecutor improperly used the testimony of

Detective Veverka to bolster the credibility of Carlton Tidmore and Daquan Jackson.

Generally, the opinion of a witness as to whether another witness is being truthful is

inadmissible. State v. Boston (1989), 46 Ohio St.3d 108, 128, 545 N.E.2d 1220

(overruled on other grounds). It is undisputed that a police officer may not testify as to

a witness’s veracity. State v. Black, Cuyahoga App. No. 92806, 2010-Ohio-660, at ¶31,

citing State v. Davis, 116 Ohio St.3d 404, 2008-Ohio-2, 880 N.E.2d 31, ¶122. In our

system of justice, it is the factfinder, not the expert or lay witness, who bears the burden

of assessing the credibility or veracity of a witness. State v. Eastham (1988), 39 Ohio

St.3d 307, 312, 530 N.E.2d 409.

{¶ 59} The record does not support appellant’s contention that the prosecutor

elicited testimony from Detective Veverka to bolster the credibility of Tidmore and

Jackson. Tidmore himself admitted that he told the police “about a half-dozen different
 21

stories” about where he got the gun police recovered from him. Detective Veverka’s

testimony was limited to confirming that one of many of Tidmore’s gun acquisition

stories was verified. In regards to Jackson, the record reveals that the prosecutor did not

ask a question seeking Detective Veverka’s opinion on Jackson’s credibility. Rather,

Veverka testified that after Jackson’s DNA was linked to the scene, he was questioned as

part of the investigation “and he testified to what he told us and that is consistent with

what he told us that day.” The prosecutor’s question in no way elicited this response

and, considering the inconsistencies in Jackson’s testimony and Jackson’s admission that

he did not cooperate until his DNA was linked to the scene, it is unclear what effect

Veverka’s ambiguous statement could possibly have had on Jackson’s credibility.

Furthermore, Jackson’s testimony added little to the state’s case beyond placing the

defendant at the scene, a fact corroborated by Jefferson.

{¶ 60} In his fourth, and final claim of prosecutorial misconduct, appellant takes

issue with comments made by the prosecutor during closing arguments. In general,

prosecutors are given considerable latitude in opening statements and closing arguments.

State v. Ballew (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 244, 255, 667 N.E.2d 369. In closing argument,

a prosecutor may comment on “‘what the evidence has shown and what reasonable

inferences may be drawn therefrom.’” State v. Lott (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 165, 555

N.E.2d 293, quoting State v. Stephens (1970), 24 Ohio St.2d 76, 82, 263 N.E.2d 773. A

prosecutor may not express his personal belief or opinion as to the credibility of a
 22

witness, the guilt of an accused, or allude to matters that are not supported by admissible

evidence. State v. Smith (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14, 470 N.E.2d 883.

{¶ 61} The test for prejudice regarding prosecutorial misconduct in closing

argument is “whether the remarks were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially

affected substantial rights of the defendant.” State v. Hessler, 90 Ohio St.3d 108, 125,

2000-Ohio-30, 734 N.E.2d 1237, 1254, quoting State v. Smith (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 13,

14, 470 N.E.2d 883, 885.

{¶ 62} The wide latitude given the prosecution during closing arguments “does

not ‘encompass inviting the jury to reach its decision on matters outside the evidence

adduced at trial.’” State v. Hart, Cuyahoga App. No. 79564, 2002-Ohio-1084, quoting

State v. Freeman (2000), 138 Ohio App.3d 408, 419, 741 N.E.2d 566. A prosecutor

must avoid “insinuations and assertions which are calculated to mislead the jury.” State

v. Smith (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14, 470 N.E.2d 883. An appellant is entitled to a

new trial only when a prosecutor asks improper questions or makes improper remarks

and those questions or remarks substantially prejudice the appellant. Id. at 15.

{¶ 63} Appellant takes issue with three portions of the prosecutor’s closing

argument. The first two excerpts cited by appellant pertain to the characterization of the

testimony of the witnesses at trial and clearly did not substantially prejudice appellant.

The third excerpt challenged by appellant contains a clear misstatement of trial testimony

and the prosecutor references matters outside the evidence adduced at trial.
 23

{¶ 64} At trial, the state called Danielle Simpson, a Food Plus employee who was

working at the store the night of the shooting. Simpson testified that she witnessed

Zagorski’s car crash and that appellant approached her at a later date and inquired about

Zagorski’s death. The prosecutor, treating Simpson as a hostile witness, unsuccessfully

attempted to elicit further testimony regarding incriminating statements appellant

allegedly made to Simpson about his guilty conscience. Neither Simpson nor any other

witness provided such testimony. Nonetheless, at closing argument, the prosecutor

summarized Simpson’s testimony as follows:

{¶ 65} “She told us that [appellant] came to her a week after this murder and told

her: ‘Do you know when that kid died? Did he die before he hit the pole or after he hit

the pole?’ And we know that she said she thought after he hit the pole. And we know

what [appellant] said to her: ‘Good. Now I can sleep at night.’”

{¶ 66} At the conclusion of closing arguments the prosecutor further stated:

{¶ 67} “[The Defense Attorney] asked you not to consider or weigh heavily on

Danielle Simpson’s testimony, not to really consider the fact that [appellant] admitted

that he was going to hit that lick, that he said it wasn’t supposed to go down that way, it

was an accident, and he’s trying to get you to not consider whether or not [appellant]

came into that store and said, ‘Now I can sleep at night’ because he didn’t die when he

was shot * * *.”

{¶ 68} The record is clear that Danielle Simpson did not testify as such at trial.
 24

There is no question that the prosecutor’s closing argument invited the jury to reach its

decision on matters outside the evidence adduced at trial and was, therefore, improper.

The only question remaining is whether the prosecutor’s remarks substantially prejudiced

and deprived appellant of a fair trial such that there is a reasonable probability that, but

for the prosecutor’s misconduct, the result of the proceeding would have been different.

{¶ 69} In analyzing whether an appellant was deprived of a fair trial, an appellate

court must determine whether, absent the improper questions or remarks, the jury still

would have found the appellant guilty. State v. Sopko, Cuyahoga App. No. 90743,

2009-Ohio-140, at ¶55, citing State v. Maurer (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d 239, 266, 473

N.E.2d 768; State v. Dixon (Mar. 13, 1997), Cuyahoga App. No. 68338. When the

prosecutor’s comments are found to be improper, it is not enough that there is sufficient

other evidence to sustain a conviction. Instead, it must be clear beyond a reasonable

doubt that absent the prosecutor’s comments, the jury would have found defendant

guilty. State v. Clay, 181 Ohio App.3d 563, 576, 910 N.E.2d 14, 23, citing State v.

Smith (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14 OBR 317, 470 N.E.2d 883. Stated another way, “a

defendant’s substantial rights cannot be prejudiced where the remaining evidence,

standing alone, is so overwhelming that it constitutes defendant’s guilt, and the outcome

of the case would have been the same regardless of evidence admitted erroneously.”

State v. Hicks, Cuyahoga App. No. 95133, 2011-Ohio-3578, at 30, citing State v.

Williams (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 346, 349-350, 528 N.E.2d 910.
 25

{¶ 70} In State v. Hill, Cuyahoga App. No. 95379, 2011-Ohio-2523, we were

faced with a situation where a prosecutor’s closing argument repeatedly misstated and

mischaracterized the evidence adduced at trial. Though we explicitly stated that such

conduct could not be condoned, we held that the repeated misstatements did not

constitute plain and prejudicial error due to the “overwhelming proof of guilt” in the

matter. Id. at ¶41.

{¶ 71} Such is not the case here. The state’s case was built entirely upon

circumstantial evidence and was heavily reliant upon the testimony of Jermaine Jefferson

who initially lied to police about his presence at the scene of the crime. When Danielle

Simpson did not testify consistent with the prosecutor’s theory at trial, the prosecutor

effectively substituted his own testimony for hers as to the incriminating statements

allegedly made by appellant to Simpson. During closing arguments, the prosecutor, in

two separate instances, relied on this alleged conversation as though it had been testified

to by Simpson and was properly in evidence. The prosecutor explicitly implored the

jury to rely on the statement as well.

{¶ 72} “A hallmark of our system of criminal jurisprudence is that even those

charged with despicable crimes are entitled to a fair trial. If we retreat from this

proposition, we denigrate the fundamental proposition that our system is one of laws.

And, while the prosecutor is permitted, even expected, to zealously seek conviction of

those accused, there are limits applicable to prosecutorial trial practice.” State v. Willard
 26

(2001), 144 Ohio App.3d 767, 777, 761 N.E.2d 688, 695.

{¶ 73} In this case, as in Willard, the record reveals that the prosecution, “in an

effort to secure an edge, crossed the line and the result is that defendant was deprived of

a fair trial.” Id. We conclude that in the context of the entire case, the prosecutor’s

misconduct constituted plain error and affected the substantial rights of appellant.

{¶ 74} Appellant’s sixth assignment of error is sustained.

{¶ 75} In his seventh assignment of error, appellant argues that his due process

right to a fair trial was violated when the state introduced testimony regarding appellant

having been seen “in the past” with a revolver.

{¶ 76} No bullet shell casings were found at the crime scene, leading police to

believe it was most likely a revolver that was used in the murder. At trial, the state

introduced a revolver recovered from Carlton Tidmore, who denied being present at the

scene the night of the shooting. Forensics were unable to make a determination as to

whether the recovered revolver was the same gun as that used in Zagorski’s shooting.

{¶ 77} Although not raised as a separate error, and not objected to at trial, we

initially note that it is unclear why the gun recovered from Tidmore was admitted into

evidence at all. Nothing in the record provides how Tidmore’s gun was, in any sense,

relevant to the present case. Relevant evidence is defined as “evidence having any

tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of

the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.”
 27

Evid.R. 401. Forensics could not link Tidmore’s revolver to this crime with any more

certainty than any other revolver in the world. In fact, there is no evidence that the gun

used in the shooting was a revolver. It was assumed to be the case due to the fact that

no shell casings had been recovered. The sole connection between the gun used to

shoot Zagorski and Tidmore’s revolver was the tenuous link that it was believed,

although there was no evidence to support the theory, that both weapons were

revolver-style handguns. This link did not make Tidmore’s revolver any more likely to

be the murder weapon than any other revolver in existence. Tidmore himself denied any

personal connection with appellant. There was no evidence linking Tidmore’s revolver

to appellant, nor did the state attempt to explain how the revolver, if it was the murder

weapon, came to be in Tidmore’s possession shortly after appellant allegedly used it in

the present crime.

{¶ 78} Besides the unclear relevance of Tidmore’s gun, no witness testified to

having seen appellant possess a gun on the night of the shooting or at any other point in

time contemporaneous with the shooting. However, Daquan Jackson testified that he

had seen appellant with a black revolver at some unknown point “in the past.”

Appellant argues that such testimony violated Evid.R. 404(B)’s prohibition of other acts

evidence.

{¶ 79} Pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B), “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is

not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
 28

therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,

opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or

accident.” See, also, R.C. 2945.59.

{¶ 80} In regards to the admissibility of other-acts evidence involving a defendant

having been previously seen in possession of a gun, the Ohio Supreme Court stated in

State v. Watson (1971), 28 Ohio St.2d 15, 275 N.E.2d 153, that the, “‘general rule of

exclusion does not apply where the evidence of another crime is relevant and tends

directly * * * to prove * * * [the] accused’s guilt of the crime charged, or to connect him

with it, or to prove some particular element or material fact in such crime; and evidence

of other offenses may be received if relevant for any purpose other than to show mere

propensity or disposition on [an] accused’s part to commit the crime.’” Id. at 21, quoting

22A Corpus Juris Secundum (1962) Criminal Law, Section 683.

{¶ 81} “Stated another way, the rule is that ‘except when it shows merely criminal

disposition, * * * evidence that is relevant is not excluded because it reveals the

commission of an offense other than that charged.’” Id. at 21, quoting People v. Peete

(1946), 28 Cal.2d 306, 314, 169 P.2d 924.

{¶ 82} We find the present case analogous to State v. Crosby, 186 Ohio App.3d

453, 2010-Ohio-1584, 928 N.E.2d 795. The gun used in the murder in Crosby was not

recovered. Similarly, the gun recovered in the present case could not be tied to

Zagorski’s murder. In Crosby, the state introduced evidence of past instances of gun
 29

possession by Crosby. However, none of the instances bore a relationship to the murder

in that there was no testimony that Crosby was seen with a gun on or near the date of the

offense. Such is the case here. Jackson’s testimony that he had seen appellant in

possession of a revolver “in the past” bears absolutely no relationship, whether temporal

or logical, to the present shooting.

{¶ 83} There is no evidence that appellant possessed a revolver the night of the

shooting nor at any point near the date of the offense. There is no evidence linking the

gun that Jackson allegedly observed appellant to possess at some prior time to the gun

recovered from Tidmore nor is there any evidence connecting Tidmore’s gun to

Zagorski’s shooting.

{¶ 84} Without some link between appellant’s alleged gun possession “in the

past” and the present criminal act, the testimony regarding appellant’s prior possession of

a gun could have been used only for one purpose in this case and that was to prove that

appellant acted in conformity with his implied reputation for carrying a firearm and that

he was carrying a firearm the night of Zagorski’s murder. This was an improper

purpose for admitting other-acts evidence and the trial court’s admission of such

evidence was error. See State v. Craig, Cuyahoga App. No. 93137, 2010-Ohio-1857, at

¶31.

{¶ 85} Though the court erred in the admission of this other-acts evidence,

appellant did not object at trial and in light of the other evidence discussed in our
 30

sufficiency analysis, we cannot say that the outcome of the trial would have been

different solely but for this improper admission.

{¶ 86} Appellant’s seventh assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 87} For ease of discussion we address appellant’s ninth assignment of error out

of order. Appellant argues in his ninth assignment of error that the cumulative effect of

the errors addressed above deprived him of a fair trial.

{¶ 88} In State v. DeMarco (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 598 N.E.2d 1256, the Ohio

Supreme Court recognized the doctrine of cumulative error. Pursuant to this doctrine, a

conviction will be reversed where the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a

defendant of the constitutional right to a fair trial even though each of numerous

instances of trial court error does not individually constitute cause for reversal. State v.

Baker, Cuyahoga App. No. 95300, 2011-Ohio-2784, at ¶59, citing State v. Garner

(1995), 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 656 N.E.2d 623.

{¶ 89} “In order to find ‘cumulative error’ present, we first must find that multiple

errors were committed at trial. We then must find a reasonable probability that the

outcome of the trial would have been different but for the combination of the separately

harmless errors.” State v. Djuric, Cuyahoga App. No. 87745, 2007-Ohio-413, at ¶52.

(Internal citations omitted.)

{¶ 90} To affirm in spite of multiple errors, we would have to determine that the

cumulative effect of the errors is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. State v.
 31

Williams, Cuyahoga App. No. 94261, 2011-Ohio-591, at ¶25, citing DeMarco at 195,

509 N.E.2d 1256 (stating that the errors can be considered harmless if there is

overwhelming evidence of guilt or other indicia that the errors did not contribute to the

conviction).

{¶ 91} In this case, multiple errors were committed at trial. As previously

discussed, the prosecutor elicited and the court allowed Jefferson to speculate as to

events that were unquestionably established to be beyond his personal knowledge, the

trial court allowed the introduction of the revolver recovered from Tidmore despite the

fact that there was absolutely no evidence linking this particular revolver to this case and

finally, and most importantly, as we addressed in appellant’s seventh assignment of

error, the trial court improperly admitted other-acts evidence that we concluded to be

harmless by itself. However, in conjunction with these other errors and considering that

the record does not contain overwhelming evidence of appellant’s guilt, we find that the

accumulation of these errors was unfairly prejudicial. There is a reasonable probability

that, but for the above errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.

Therefore, we cannot say that the cumulative effect of the errors was harmless beyond a

reasonable doubt.

{¶ 92} Appellant’s second, seventh, and ninth assignments of error are sustained,

rendering the eighth assignment of error moot. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).

{¶ 93} Accordingly, the judgment of the lower court is reversed and this matter is
 32

remanded for a new trial.

Judgment reversed and remanded.

It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment

into execution.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

PATRICIA A. BLACKMON, P.J., and
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR

Appendix

Assignment of Error No. 1:
“Benjamin Williams’s convictions are not supported by legally sufficient
evidence as required by State and Federal Due Process.”

Assignment of Error No. 2:
“Benjamin Williams’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the
evidence.”

Assignment of Error No. 3:
“The trial court violated Benjamin Williams’s Due Process right to a fair trial
when it did not provide a meaningful response to jury questions and permitted a
 33

conviction on a theory of criminal liability on which the jury was not instructed.”

Assignment of Error No. 4:
“Benjamin Williams did not receive a fair trial as required by State and Federal
Due Process because the jury failed to follow the trial court’s jury instructions.”

Assignment of Error No. 5:
“Benjamin Williams’s convictions for aggravated murder and aggravated robbery
violate due process because they are inconsistent with the not guilty verdicts
within the same count on the firearm specifications.”

Assignment of Error No. 6:
“Benjamin Williams was denied his Due Process right to a fair trial as a result of
prosecutorial misconduct.”

Assignment of Error No. 7:
“The trial court plainly erred and violated Williams’s Due Process right to a fair
trial in admitting testimony regarding Williams being seen ‘in the past’ with a gun
similar to the murder weapon.”

Assignment of Error No. 8:
“Benjamin Williams was denied effective assistance of counsel in violation of the
Sixth and Fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution and Article 1,
Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution. “

Assignment of Error No. 9:
“The cumulative errors committed in this case deprived Benjamin Williams of a
fair trial.”