State v. Miller

[Cite as State v. Miller, 2014-Ohio-4998.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARION COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 9-13-27

v.

STACEY L. MILLER, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 11-CR-551

Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded

Date of Decision: November 10, 2014

APPEARANCES:

Valerie Kunze for Appellant

Brent W. Yager for Appellee
Case No. 9-13-27

ROGERS, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Stacey L. Miller, appeals the judgment of the

Court of Common Pleas of Marion County convicting him of one count of

robbery, six counts of theft, one count of possession of heroin, three counts of

receiving stolen property, one count of aggravated robbery, two counts of

tampering with evidence, and one count of possession of criminal tools, and

sentencing him to an aggregate prison term of 28 years. On appeal, Miller argues

that the trial court erred by: (1) denying him his right to self-representation; (2)

failing to dismiss nine counts in his indictment that took place in other counties

besides Marion County; (3) abusing its discretion by allowing evidence of an

unrelated and uncharged robbery; (4) entering a guilty verdict that was based on

insufficient evidence; (5) convicting him of a felony of the fifth degree for his

charge of possession of criminal tools when the verdict form failed to comply with

R.C. 2945.75(A)(2); and (6) imposing consecutive sentences. For the reasons that

follow, we reverse the trial court’s judgment.

{¶2} On October 13, 2011, the Marion County Grand Jury indicted Miller

on one count of robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), a felony of the second

degree1; two counts of theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), felonies of the

fourth degree; one count of possession of heroin in violation of R.C.

1
On December 21, 2011, the State’s first supplemental indictment was filed as to count one to include a
repeat violent offender specification in violation of R.C. 2929.14(D)(2)/2941.149. (Docket No. 27, p. 1).

-2-
Case No. 9-13-27

2925.11(A)/(C)(6), a felony of the fifth degree; and two counts of receiving stolen

property in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A), felonies of the fifth degree. All six

counts stated that the offenses occurred in Marion County. However, on January

30, 2012, the State filed a motion to amend indictment as to Counts 5 and 6 in

order to change the location from Marion County to Wyandot County. (Docket

No. 76, p. 1). Then, on February 3, 2012, the State filed a revised motion to

amend indictment stating that Counts 5 and 6 actually occurred in Crawford

County. (Docket No. 109, p. 1). No judgment entry was filed that either granted

or denied the State’s motions to amend. On March 22, 2012, Miller filed a pro se

motion to dismiss Counts 5 and 6. In his motion, Miller argued that he was not

charged in either of the jurisdictions where the license plates were stolen or

received, and that the State failed to explain what element of Counts 5 and 6

occurred in Marion County. Accordingly, Miller asked the court to dismiss these

counts.

{¶3} On April 24, 2012, the Marion County Grand Jury, in a second

supplemental indictment, indicted Miller on another count of receiving stolen

property in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A), a felony of the fifth degree. A third

supplemental indictment was filed on May 10, 2012. The Marion County Grand

Jury indicted Miller on eight additional counts: one count of aggravated robbery in

violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), a felony of the first degree; four counts of theft in

-3-
Case No. 9-13-27

violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), felonies of the fifth degree; two counts of

tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), felonies of the third

degree; and one count of possession of criminal tools in violation of R.C.

2923.24(A), a felony of the fifth degree. Notably, the third supplemental

indictment contained six counts that occurred in counties other than Marion

County.2 For example, Count 8 stated:

COUNT 8 – Aggravated Robbery [R.C. 2911.01(A)(1)], F1

STACEY L. MILLER, as part of a course of criminal conduct, in
Crawford County, did on or about September 30, 2011, did, in
attempting or committing a theft offense, as defined in R.C. 2913.01,
or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, have a deadly
weapon on or about his person or under his control and either
display the weapon, brandish it, indicate the Defendant possessed it,
or use it.

(Boldface sic.) (Emphasis added.) (Docket No. 256, p. 1).

{¶4} On May 16, 2012, Miller filed a pro se motion to dismiss Counts 8, 9,

10, 11, 12, and 13. (Docket No. 286). In his motion, Miller alleged that the trial

court did not have jurisdiction over these counts since they occurred in different

counties.

{¶5} On January 4, 2013, the trial court filed an entry finding that Miller’s

motion to dismiss was not ripe for review. Specifically, the trial court stated that

these issues “cannot be determined until the actual trial of the case. Whether or

2
Counts 8-13 stated the offenses occurred in Crawford, Wyandot, and Delaware Counties, whereas counts
14 and 15 occurred in Marion County.

-4-
Case No. 9-13-27

not the addition of the out of county Indictment counts are proper or not depends

on whether said actions were part of the course of a continuing conduct, showing a

similar modus operandi or common plan or scheme.” (Docket No. 355, p. 2). The

trial court stated that if there was such a relation, Counts 8-13 were appropriate;

however, if no such relation was established at trial, it would dismiss Counts 8-13.

(Id.).

{¶6} On March 13, 2013, the State filed a motion to amend Count 15 of the

supplemental indictment.3 The State filed the motion to correct a “typographical

error4 by changing the location from Marion County to ‘as part of a criminal

course of conduct in Crawford County, Ohio.’ ” (Docket No. 436, p. 1). No entry

was filed that either granted or denied the State’s third motion to amend

indictment.5

3
To clarify, this was the State’s third motion to amend its third supplemental indictment.
4
We understand a “typographical error” to mean a mistake made in the typing process, perhaps a
misspelling of a word or leaving a word out of a sentence. Mistaking what county a crime occurred in is
more than a mere “typographical error” and a serious oversight on behalf of the State. We are also
concerned as to the testimony presented to the grand jury. For example, did the State actually present
evidence that these crimes occurred in Marion County, as the original indictments alleged? Or did they
present evidence that the crimes occurred in the correct counties, but for whatever reason, inserted the
wrong counties in the indictment?
5
We are confused as to why the trial court did not rule on any of the State’s motions to amend the
indictments. Crim.R. 7 explicitly states that the trial court must act in order to amend the indictment.
(“The court may at any time before, during, or after a trial amend the indictment, information, complaint, or
bill of particulars * * *.”); State v. Pepka, 125 Ohio St.3d 124, 2010-Ohio-1045, ¶ 24 (“Because the
original indictment was sufficient to charge appellee with third-degree-felony child endangering, the trial
court did not err in granting the state’s motion to amend the indictment.”); State v. Fryling, 85 Ohio
App.3d 557, 562 (3d Dist.1992) (finding the trial court had authority to amend the indictment). Typically,
when a trial court fails to rule upon a motion, it will be presumed that the motion was overruled. Georgeoff
v. O’Brien, 105 Ohio App.3d 373, 378 (9th Dist.1995). However, because both parties proceeded as if the
court granted the motions, we will proceed as if the trial court had granted these motions.

-5-
Case No. 9-13-27

{¶7} On May 2, 2012, the State filed a motion asking the court to rule on

the admissibility of other acts evidence that the State intended to introduce at trial,

which would implicate Miller in two additional robberies and the theft of several

license plates and a cell phone, pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B) and R.C. 2945.59.

(Docket No. 235, p. 1). Specifically, the State alleged that identity would be an

issue at trial as Miller had denied being the perpetrator of any of the robberies.

Further, the State sought to use the other acts evidence to establish Miller’s

“motive, knowledge, scheme, plan and preparation for the Marion General

robbery.” (Id. at p. 6). On January 4, 2013, the trial court ruled on the State’s

motion stating that unindicted conduct will only be admissible if the “proffered

evidence is closely related in nature, time and place to the indicted offenses

against the Defendant.” (Docket No. 355, p. 2).

{¶8} On the second day of trial, outside the purview of the jury, the State

and the trial court had the following relevant exchange regarding the State’s other

acts evidence:

Trial Court: I guess that the problem that I am having here, you are
showing there is [sic] some bad acts, but not showing that it’s him
doing the acts. You are building an inference on inferences. You
have the inference, similar guy, there is an inference which is okay,
but building the inference on inference that this particular guy is
doing it, I think that is problematic.

State: The way the robbery is committed, you don’t have to refer the
manner in which the robbery is committed and the facts and

-6-
Case No. 9-13-27

circumstances that the robbery is committed and allows the inference
it’s him that did it.

Trial Court: The vast majority of the cases that the Defendant is
doing, the bad acts, the whole issue is if he’s doing the acts that he’s
charged, bad acts brought in exception when it’s clear that the
Defendant is doing the bad acts, we don’t know that, is what you are
telling me? That is the problem that the Court has with this from
what you are saying the vast number of cases.
Matter of fact, what I’ve seen dealing with bad acts, the
Defendant doing the bad acts, you know, you don’t have that from
what you are proffering to me.

***

Trial Court: I will tell you not to allow it in, but if you have the case
authority or whatever on it, I will do further research on it myself. I
don’t see myself ruling on it today, I will take a look at it this
evening and figure out where we go from there. Anything else to
cover?

Trial Tr., Volume II, p. 165-167.

{¶9} On the third day of trial, an off the record discussion was had

regarding the other acts evidence. Trial Tr., Volume III, p. 4. The trial court then

stated, on the record, that “[w]e need the evidence brought in.” Id. at p. 5. The

trial court gave no further explanation.

{¶10} The trial of this matter commenced on March 19, 2013, and ended on

March 26, 2013. At trial, evidence was presented that a Rich Oil gas station, in

Galion, Ohio, was robbed on September 30, 2011. Stephanie Stratton, a gas

station attendant, was working that day. She testified that the assailant put a gun

to her head and demanded money. Stratton was able to identify the assailant as a

-7-
Case No. 9-13-27

white male. She also stated that he was also wearing a blond wig and drove a

silver Hyundai Santa Fe. Stratton was also able to remember the suspect’s license

plates, which matched a set of license plates that were reported stolen. The blond

wig and gun were never recovered. At trial, Stratton identified Miller as the man

who robbed the gas station.

{¶11} On October 1, 2011, a woman was robbed in a Kroger parking lot in

Marion, Ohio. The assailant jumped out of a white colored SUV and demanded

the woman’s purse. The woman was unable to get a good look at her assailant as

he was wearing a bandana around his face. The woman was able to recall a partial

license plate number for the assailant. The number matched the license plates of

Sarah Shonk, who eventually discovered that her license plates had been stolen.

{¶12} Evidence was also presented that on October 7, 2011, a robbery

occurred at the Marion General Hospital parking lot. Maxine Reed, a 77-year-old

volunteer for the hospital, was walking from her car when a man in a silver

Hyundai Santa Fe exited his car and demanded her purse. The assailant was again

wearing a blond wig. The volunteer was able to memorize the attacker’s license

plates, which were reported stolen from another vehicle. Reed’s stolen purse was

never recovered.

{¶13} On the evening of October 8, 2011, Trooper Jones of the Ohio

Highway Patrol pursued a silver Hyundai Santa Fe for a speeding violation. The

-8-
Case No. 9-13-27

vehicle did not stop for Trooper Jones and a chase ensued. Trooper Jones

eventually found the Hyundai Santa Fe stopped at the side of the road. The

vehicle’s driver’s side door was open, and no one was in the vehicle. The car

belonged to Miller, and Miller’s wallet was found in the car’s center console.

Additionally, the car had two separate stolen plates on it. Miller’s license plates

were found below the stolen plates. In the car, police officers found a black wig, a

ski mask, pellet gun, and a cordless drill with sockets that would fit the bolts on a

license plate.

{¶14} Evidence was also presented that Ashley Roe’s car was broken into

in the early morning hours of October 9, 2011. The only thing missing from Roe’s

car was a cell phone. On October 10, 2011, Miller was arrested. Police officers

conducted a search of Ashley Cornely’s house and found a pink backpack which

contained pieces of plastic paper with heroin residue and drug paraphernalia.

Cornely, who was Miller’s girlfriend at the time, testified that the backpack

belonged to Miller. Cornely also provided police officers with Miller’s two cell-

phones; one of them was later discovered to be Roe’s.6

{¶15} On March 26, 2013, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all 15 counts

alleged in the indictment. This matter then proceeded to sentencing on April 22,

6
We note that Miller was never charged with the theft of Roe’s cell phone, yet the State presented several
witnesses who testified about this other “bad act.” However, on appeal Miller only challenges the State’s
evidence about his alleged robbery in a Kroger parking lot. Therefore, we will not discuss whether the trial
court erred in allowing evidence concerning the theft of Roe’s cell phone.

-9-
Case No. 9-13-27

2013. After hearing evidence and argument relating to the issue of punishment,

the trial court merged Counts 2 (theft) and 3 (theft) with Count 1 (robbery); Count

6 (theft) was merged with Count 5 (receiving stolen property); Count 12 (theft)

merged with Count 7 (receiving stolen property); and Count 13 (theft) merged

with Count 6 (receiving stolen property). Further, the court sentenced Miller to

eight years in prison on Count 1 (robbery); 12 months in prison on Count 4

(possession of heroin); 12 months in prison on Count 5 (receiving stolen property);

180 days in jail on Count 6 (receiving stolen property); 12 months in prison for

Count 7 (receiving stolen property); 11 years in prison for Count 8 (aggravated

robbery); 12 months in prison for Count 9 (theft); 24 months in prison for Count

10 (tampering with evidence); 24 months in prison for Count 14 (tampering with

evidence); and 12 months in prison for Count 15 (possession of criminal tools).

While the trial court found that Miller was a repeat violent offender, it did not find

that all of the elements of R.C. 2929.14(B)(2) were met for the additional

imposition of prison time. Counts 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 15 were ordered to

be served consecutively, while Count 6 was to be served concurrently, for a total

prison sentence of 28 years. On April 24, 2013, the trial court issued a judgment

entry journalizing Miller’s conviction and sentence.

{¶16} Miller timely appealed this judgment, presenting the following

assignments of error for our review.

-10-
Case No. 9-13-27

Assignment of Error No. I

STACEY MILLER WAS DENIED HIS RIGHTS TO SELF-
REPRESENTATION, A FAIR TRIAL, AND DUE PROCESS
OF LAW UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH
AMENDEMNTS TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION, AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE
OHIO CONSTITUTION.

Assignment of Error No. II

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT PROCEEDED TO
TRIAL ON A MARION COUNTY GRAND JURY
INDICTMENT THAT ALLEGED MR. MILLER COMMITED
OFFENSES IN THREE COUNTIES OTHER THAN MARION
COUNTY.

Assignment of Error No. III

STACEY MILLER’S RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS AND A
FAIR TRIAL WERE VIOLATED WHEN THE TRIAL
COURT ALLOWED THE STATE TO PRESENT
UNRELATED AND PREJUDICIAL EVIDENCE ABOUT A
ROBBERY AT A KROGER IN MARION COUNTY.

Assignment of Error No. IV

STACEY MILLER’S CONVICTIONS FOR TAMPERING
WITH EVIDENCE WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF MR.
MILLER’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER
THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND SECTION 10,
ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

Assignment of Error No. V

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR
WHEN IT ENTERED A JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION
AGAINST MR. MILLER FOR FIFTH-DEGREE-FELONY

-11-
Case No. 9-13-27

POSSESSION OF CRIMINAL TOOLS, IN VIOLATION OF
R.C. 2945.75(A)(2), AND IN VIOLATION OF MR. MILLER’S
RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS UNDER THE FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION,
AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION.

Assignment of Error No. VI

A TRIAL COURT COMMITS REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN
IT IMPOSES CONSECUTIVE PRISON TERMS WITHOUT
SATISFYING THE STATUTORY MANDATES THAT
AUTHORIZE CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES.

{¶17} Due to the nature of the assignments of error, we elect to address

them out of order.

Assignment of Error No. II

{¶18} In his second assignment of error, Miller argues that the Court of

Common Pleas of Marion County lacked jurisdiction to enter convictions against

him for Counts 5, 6, 8-13, and 15 because he was improperly indicted on these

charges. Specifically, Miller contends that because the Marion County Grand Jury

indicted him for offenses that were committed in different counties other than

Marion County, his indictment was defective. We disagree.

{¶19} On appeal, Miller relies on the Fifth District’s opinion in State v.

Centers, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 82-CA-38, 1983 WL 6551 (July 19, 1983),

whereas the State’s position largely relies upon us adopting the Eighth District’s

reasoning in State v. Ahmed, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84220, 2005-Ohio-2999. In

-12-
Case No. 9-13-27

Centers, the appellate court held that the trial court should have granted the

appellant’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction because he should have been

“indicted by the Grand Jury of each county in which an offense was alleged * *

*.” Centers at *2. However, in Ahmed, the Eighth District found “no

constitutional requirement that limits a grand jury from indicting only on offenses

that occurred in the county in which it resides when the additional offenses

presented are part of the same course of criminal conduct.” Ahmed at ¶ 10.

{¶20} While we were hesitant to follow the reasoning in Ahmed for several

reasons,7 the Ohio Supreme Court has recently released an opinion, State v.

Jackson, Slip Opinion No. 2014-Ohio-2707, which addressed arguments that are

identical to the arguments Miller makes in his second assignment of error. Id. at ¶

123-132. The Court resolved the issue in the State’s favor stating that “[t]here is

7
We believe the court in Ahmed put the cart before the horse. Instead of focusing on whether the Grand
Jury acted within its statutory powers, the court in Ahmed focused on whether the court of common pleas
had proper jurisdiction and venue. We recognize that, generally, courts of common pleas are vested with
statewide jurisdiction. State v. Dulaney, 3d Dist. Paulding No. 11-12-04, 2013-Ohio-3985, ¶ 14; Article
IV, Section 4(A), Ohio Constitution; R.C. 2901.11. Further, R.C. 2931.03 gives the court of common pleas
original jurisdiction in felony cases. However, felony jurisdiction “is invoked by the return of a proper
indictment by the grand jury of that county.” Click v. Eckle, 174 Ohio St. 88, 89 (1962). The General
Assembly, when enacting R.C. 2939.08, decided that the duty of the grand jury would be limited. Pursuant
to this statute, a grand jury may only inquire and present offenses which were committed within its county.
R.C. 2939.08. We found Ahmed to be unpersuasive because the court inserted words into R.C. 2939.08 to
expand the duty of the grand jury, in contravention to the statute’s clear and definite meaning. Specifically
Ahmed claimed that Ohio’s jurisdiction and venue statutes “impliedly authorize a grand jury to indict on
offenses outside its county provided that such offenses are part of a course of criminal conduct involving
the county where the grand jury resides.” (Emphasis added.) Ahmed, 2005-Ohio-2999, ¶ 11. The court did
not give any explanation as to how it came to such an assumption, and unfortunately, neither did the Court
in Jackson. We further note that in neither case has the Appellant argued the Constitutional requirement
that an offender be tried in the county in which the offense occurred. Article I, Section 10, Ohio
Constitution (“[A]nd a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county in which the offense is alleged
to have been committed * * *.”).

-13-
Case No. 9-13-27

no constitutional or statutory provision that prohibited the Cuyahoga County

Grand Jury from indicting Jackson for offenses that occurred in Erie and Lorain

Counties as part of a course of criminal conduct that included crimes within

Cuyahoga County.” Id. at ¶ 31. Despite our differing views on the subject, we are

bound to follow the Court’s ruling. As such, as long as the offenses in Miller’s

indictments constituted a course of criminal conduct, the Marion County Grand

Jury was within its power to indict him on crimes that occurred outside of Marion

County.

R.C. 2901.12(H) states:

When an offender, as part of a course of criminal conduct, commits
offenses in different jurisdictions, the offender may be tried for all of
those offenses in any jurisdiction in which one of those offenses or
any element of one of those offenses occurred. Without limitation on
the evidence that may be used to establish the course of criminal
conduct, any of the following is prima-facie evidence of a course of
criminal conduct:

(1) The offenses involved the same victim, or victims of the same
type or from the same group.

(2) The offenses were committed by the offender in the offender's
same employment, or capacity, or relationship to another.

(3) The offenses were committed as part of the same transaction or
chain of events, or in furtherance of the same purpose or objective.

(4) The offenses were committed in furtherance of the same
conspiracy.

(5) The offenses involved the same or a similar modus operandi.

-14-
Case No. 9-13-27

(6) The offenses were committed along the offender's line of travel
in this state, regardless of the offender's point of origin or
destination.

The State argues that Miller’s alleged offenses all involved the same modus

operandi under R.C. 2901.12(H)(5), and we agree.

{¶21} A modus operandi is a “behavioral fingerprint which, when

compared to the behavioral fingerprints associated with the crime in question, can

be used to identify the defendant as the perpetrator.” State v. Lowe, 69 Ohio St.3d

527, 531 (1994). Thus, the modus operandi reveals a “distinct, identifiable

scheme, plan, or system” that was used in the commission of the crime. State v.

Smith, 49 Ohio St.3d 137, 141 (1990).

{¶22} Here, Miller’s alleged conduct revealed a distinct, identifiable

scheme that was used throughout the commission of his alleged crimes. All the

conduct happened within a 10-day period and happened in Marion County or in

counties adjacent to Marion County. Further, the same scheme was used in the

commission of each crime. The offender would begin by stealing a different set of

license plates before committing each robbery. The offender would then place the

stolen license plates on the same silver colored SUV. In each robbery, the

perpetrator dressed in disguise, and always targeted a woman who was by herself.

Therefore, there is prima facie evidence that the crimes alleged in the indictments

were part of a criminal course of conduct.

-15-
Case No. 9-13-27

{¶23} Accordingly, we overrule Miller’s second assignment of error.

Assignment of Error No. IV

{¶24} In his fourth assignment of error, Miller argues that the State did not

present sufficient evidence to support his convictions for tampering with evidence.

We agree.

Sufficiency Standard

{¶25} When an appellate court reviews the record for sufficiency, the

relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found that the essential

elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Monroe,

105 Ohio St.3d 384, 2005-Ohio-2282, ¶ 47. Sufficiency is a test of adequacy.

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997), superseded by constitutional

amendment on other grounds as stated in State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89 (1997).

Accordingly, the question of whether the offered evidence is sufficient to sustain a

verdict is a question of law. State v. Wingate, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26433, 2013-

Ohio-2079, ¶ 4.

Miller’s Tampering with Evidence Convictions

{¶26} R.C. 2921.12(A)(1) states that “[n]o person, knowing that an official

proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be

instituted, shall * * * [a]lter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document or

-16-
Case No. 9-13-27

thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence in such

proceeding or investigation * * *.” Thus, there are three elements of this offense:

“(1) the knowledge of an official proceeding or investigation in progress or likely

to be instituted, (2) the alteration, destruction, concealment, or removal of the

potential evidence, (3) the purpose of impairing the potential evidence’s

availability or value in such proceeding or investigation.” State v. Straley, 139

Ohio St.3d 339, 2014-Ohio-2139, ¶ 11.

{¶27} The State argues that the fact the police were unable to locate the

silver handgun and the blond wig used in the Rich Oil robbery or Reed’s purse is

sufficient evidence that Miller tampered with evidence. However, the “inability of

law enforcement to find the gun used in a shooting, by itself, does not show that

the defendant ‘altered, destroyed, concealed, or removed’ it.” State v. Beard, 6th

Dist. Wood No. WD-08-037, 2009-Ohio-4412, ¶ 18, quoting State v. Wooden, 86

Ohio App.3d 23, 27 (9th Dist.1993); see also State v. Hudson, 2d Dist. Clark No.

2011 CA 100, 2013-Ohio-2351, ¶ 44. In Beard, the State “relied on a faulty

syllogism: Witnesses saw [defendant] fire a gun. The gun was never found.

Therefore, [defendant] must have tampered with the gun to make it unavailable as

evidence against him.” Beard at ¶ 20; see also State v. Sims, 2d Dist. Clark No.

2008 CA 92, 2009-Ohio-5875, ¶ 18-29; State v. Spears, 178 Ohio App.3d 580,

2008-Ohio-5181, ¶ 23-24 (2d Dist.); State v. Like, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

-17-
Case No. 9-13-27

21991, 2008-Ohio-1873, ¶ 24. Moreover, courts have found that the fact that no

fingerprints were found at a crime scene is insufficient to support a tampering with

evidence conviction when no evidence is presented that the defendant “wiped the

apartment down to remove them.” Beard at ¶ 18, citing Like at ¶ 24.

{¶28} We interpret these cases as standing for the proposition that more

than missing evidence is required to prove a tampering with evidence charge.

Therefore, the fact that the police were unable to find certain potential evidence

against Miller does not prove that Miller tampered with evidence. Even viewing

the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we cannot find any

circumstantial or direct evidence in the record that Miller altered, destroyed,

concealed, or removed potential evidence with the purpose of impairing its

availability in an investigation.

{¶29} Accordingly, we sustain Miller’s fourth assignment of error.

Assignments of Error Nos. I & III

{¶30} In his first and third assignments of error, Miller argues that his right

to self-representation was violated and that the trial court erred in allowing

prejudicial evidence at trial of an additional, unindicted theft that occurred in a

Marion County Kroger parking lot. We agree.

-18-
Case No. 9-13-27

Self-representation

{¶31} “ ‘The Sixth Amendment * * * guarantees that a defendant in a state

criminal trial has an independent constitutional right of self-representation and that

he may proceed to defend himself without counsel when he voluntarily, and

knowingly and intelligently elects to do so.’ ” State v. Neyland, 139 Ohio St.3d

353, 2014-Ohio-1914, ¶ 71, quoting State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366, 377-378

(1976). After a defendant has properly invoked his or her right to self-

representation, the denial is per se reversible error. Neyland at ¶ 71, citing State v.

Reed, 74 Ohio St.3d 534, 535 (1996); see also McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168,

104 S.Ct. 944 (1984).

{¶32} The trial court, even over the objection of the defendant, may appoint

standby counsel when the defendant invokes his or her right to self-representation.

Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 834, fn. 46, 95 S.Ct. 2525 (1975), citing

United States v. Dougherty, 473 F.2d 113, 1124-1126 (D.C.Cir.1972). However,

the pro se defendant

is entitled to preserve actual control over the case he chooses to
present to the jury. * * * If standby counsel’s participation over the
defendant’s objection effectively allows counsel to make or
substantially interfere with any significant tactical decisions, or to
control the questioning of witnesses, or to speak instead of the
defendant on any matter of importance, the Faretta right8 is eroded.

8
Another limitation of standby counsel is that his or her participation, without the defendant’s consent,
should not destroy the jury’s perception that the defendant is representing himself. McKasle, 465 U.S. at
178. The excessive participation by standby counsel can destroy the appearance that the defendant is acting
pro se and “may erode the dignitary values that the right to self-representation is intended to promote and

-19-
Case No. 9-13-27

(Emphasis sic.) McKaskle, 465 U.S. at 178. A standby counsel may assist the

defendant in navigating the basic procedures of a trial, even if it “somewhat

undermines the pro se defendant’s appearance of control over his own defense.”

Id. at 184.

{¶33} The pro se defendant can waive his Faretta rights as his or her

“invitation to counsel to participate in the trial obliterates any claim that the

participation in question deprived the defendant of control over his own defense.”

Id. at 182. “Once a pro se defendant invites or agrees to any substantial

participation by counsel, subsequent appearances by counsel must be presumed to

be with the defendant’s acquiescence, at least until the defendant expressly and

unambiguously renews his request that standby counsel be silenced.” (Emphasis

sic.) Id. at 183.

{¶34} Here, Miller invoked his right to self-representation and the trial

court granted his request and appointed Attorney Armengau as his standby counsel

on February 28, 2013. That same day, Miller filed a “Precipe [sic] for Subpoena”

and listed 46 witnesses. Miller was exercising his right to obtain witnesses in his

favor by having the clerk issue a Crim.R. 17(A) subpoena for all the witnesses

listed on his praecipe. If a subpoena were to be challenged, Miller would have

may undercut the defendant’s presentation to the jury of his own most effective defense.” Id. at 181-182.
However, since Miller is challenging the conduct of his standby counsel that occurred outside the presence
of the jury, we will not focus on this second limitation of standby counsel.

-20-
Case No. 9-13-27

been required to “make a ‘plausible showing’ of how the witness’s testimony

[would] be ‘both material and favorable to his defense.’ ” State v. Smith, 168 Ohio

App.3d 141, 2006-Ohio-3720, ¶ 123, quoting United States v. Valenzuela-Bernal,

458 U.S. 858, 867, 102 S.Ct. 3440 (1982).

{¶35} Instead of allowing Miller to demonstrate how each of his witnesses

would have presented favorable and relevant testimony in his defense, the trial

court asked Miller’s standby counsel to cross off any witnesses that he deemed

unnecessary. This request was done behind Miller’s back. On the bottom of the

first page of Miller’s praecipe, there is a handwritten note by the clerk of courts9,

stating:

Per Judge F[innegan] ask J. Armengau which really need issued.
Spoke with J.Armengau – faxed him list and he said he would
review and return to me as to which ones to issue. On 3/7/13, J.A.
brought fax to office and said to issue highlighted ones only unless
already issued by State. JMK spoke to Judge F[innegan] 3/7/2013
and he said to issue those per J.A[rmengau] to the appropriate
county sheriff w/ no fees.

(Docket No. 392, p. 1). Armengau only highlighted 13 witnesses.

{¶36} We cannot find where in the record Miller requested Armengau to

assist him in issuing subpoenas or choosing witnesses to call in his defense.

Indeed, at the February 28, 2013 pretrial hearing, Miller had objected to

appointing Armengau as his standby counsel. What disturbs us most about this

9
Although this note was only signed by initials, the initials match Marion County’s Clerk of Courts. As
such, we will presume she wrote the note.

-21-
Case No. 9-13-27

issue is the fact that the trial court and standby counsel had private conversations

concerning Miller’s witnesses, and did not include Miller in such discussions.

Without Miller’s knowledge, the trial court directed Armengau to cross off any

unnecessary or irrelevant witnesses. What witnesses were necessary or relevant

was a tactical decision that should have been made by Miller, not his standby

counsel. Armengau did not seek permission from Miller to alter his praecipe, and

Miller had no opportunity to defend his subpoenas by arguing how each witness

would provide material and favorable testimony to his defense. We find that this

undermined Miller’s tactical decisions and limited his control over his own case.

Prior Bad Acts

{¶37} “A hallmark of the American criminal justice system is the principle

that proof that the accused committed a crime other than the one for which he is on

trial is not admissible when its sole purpose is to show the accused’s propensity or

inclination to commit crime.” State v. Curry, 43 Ohio St.2d 66, 68 (1975).

However, the General Assembly “has codified certain exceptions to the common

law regarding admission of evidence of other acts of wrongdoing.” State v.

Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, ¶ 15. R.C. 2945.59 contains

those exceptions and provides:

In any criminal case in which the defendant's motive or intent, the
absence of mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's
scheme, plan, or system in doing an act is material, any acts of the
defendant which tend to show his motive or intent, the absence of

-22-
Case No. 9-13-27

mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant's scheme, plan, or
system in doing the act in question may be proved, whether they are
contemporaneous with or prior or subsequent thereto,
notwithstanding that such proof may show or tend to show the
commission of another crime by the defendant.

Similarly, Evid.R. 404(B) states:

Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove
the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes such
as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,
knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.

{¶38} The Ohio Supreme Court has directed courts to use a three-step test

when determining whether evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts of the

accused is admissible for other purposes. Williams at ¶ 19. “The first step is to

consider whether the other acts evidence is relevant in making any fact that is of

consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would

be without the evidence.” Id. at ¶ 20, citing Evid.R. 401. Second, courts must

consider whether evidence of the other crimes, wrongs, or acts is being presented

to prove the character of the accused “in order to show activity in conformity

therewith or whether the other acts evidence is presented for a legitimate purpose

* * *.” Williams at ¶ 20. The final step is to consider whether the probative value

of the other acts evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair

prejudice. Id.; see also Evid.R. 403.

-23-
Case No. 9-13-27

{¶39} R.C. 2945.59 and Evid.R. 404(B) are “to be strictly construed against

the state, and * * * conservatively applied by a trial court.” State v. DeMarco, 31

Ohio St.3d 191, 194 (1987). “ ‘The admission of such [other-acts] evidence lies

within the broad discretion of the trial court, and a reviewing court should not

disturb evidentiary decisions in the absence of an abuse of discretion that created

material prejudice.’ ” State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, ¶ 14,

quoting State v. Diar, 120 Ohio St.3d 460, 2008-Ohio-6266, ¶ 66. A trial court

will be found to have abused its discretion when its decision is contrary to law,

unreasonable, not supported by the evidence, or grossly unsound. State v. Boles,

187 Ohio App.3d 345, 2010-Ohio-278, ¶ 16-18 (2d Dist.).

{¶40} Miller argues that the trial court incorrectly permitted several State

witnesses to testify about a robbery in a Marion County Kroger parking lot. On

October 1, 2011, Jennifer Goers was robbed at gunpoint in Kroger’s parking lot.

The assailant jumped out of a light-colored SUV and demanded Goers’ purse.

While Goers was unable to get a good look at her assailant as he was wearing a

bandana around his face, she was able to identify him as a white male. Goers was

able to recall a partial license plate number from the assailant’s vehicle. The

license plate number matched Sarah Shonk’s license plates, who shortly after the

Kroger robbery, discovered that her license plates had been stolen.

-24-
Case No. 9-13-27

{¶41} At trial, the court overruled Miller’s objection to the Kroger robbery

testimony, only saying “[w]e need the evidence brought in.” Trial Tr., Volume III,

p. 5. The trial court did not rule with any specificity about why the testimony

about the Kroger robbery was relevant or explain why the Kroger testimony was

admissible under Evid.R. 404(B). The trial court also failed to consider whether

the probative value of the Kroger robbery evidence was outweighed by the danger

of unfair prejudice. Additionally, the trial court never made a determination that

there was substantial proof that Miller committed the Kroger robbery. While

Miller argues that the testimony of the Kroger robbery is inadmissible, the State

contends that evidence was permissible to prove Miller’s identity by showing his

modus operandi, or his unique scheme, plan, or system.

{¶42} Before we can determine whether the evidence related to the Kroger

robbery is admissible under Evid.R. 404(B) to establish identity of the perpetrator,

it must first be shown that there is substantial proof that Miller is the same person

who committed the other act. State v. Pearson, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-97-49,

1999 WL 378349, *4 (June 4, 1999). “Only after the defendant’s identity as the

perpetrator of the other act is established can the jury utilize the ‘behavioral

fingerprint’ of the other act to draw a conclusion as to the identity of the

perpetrator of the offense charged.” Id.

-25-
Case No. 9-13-27

{¶43} Goers was not able to identify Miller as her attacker in court. The

only description that she provided about her attacker was that he was a white male.

Further, Shonk’s license plates were not found in Miller’s possession. Indeed,

they were never recovered. See Trial Tr., Volume IV, p. 30, 113-114. This

evidence alone is not “substantial proof” that Miller committed the Kroger

robbery. The only way the trial court could have found substantial proof that

Miller committed the Kroger robbery was to find that he was guilty of the two

robberies for which he was on trial – a responsibility reserved for the jury, not the

judge.

Cumulative Error

{¶44} In both the first and third assignments of error, the State argues that

even if the trial court erred, such errors were harmless. For example, the State

argues that all of the witnesses Armengau crossed off were irrelevant and could

not have provided exculpatory evidence. Thus, Miller was not prejudiced.

Moreover, it argues that even if the trial court improperly admitted evidence

concerning the Kroger robbery, such error was harmless since there was no unfair

prejudice. We recognize that once a defendant invokes his right to self-

representation, the denial of such is per se reversible. The court’s conduct in

essence denied Miller the right to self-representation by refusing to serve

subpoenas on most of his witnesses, without his knowledge or consent. Even if

-26-
Case No. 9-13-27

we agreed with the State’s conclusory arguments regarding harmless error, we

would find that the cumulative nature of such errors necessitates a new trial.

{¶45} The doctrine of cumulative error provides that “a judgment may be

reversed if the cumulative effect of multiple errors deprives a defendant of his

constitutional rights even though, individually, the errors may not rise to the level

of prejudicial error or cause for reversal.” In re Guardianship of Clark, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 09AP-96, 2009-Ohio-3486, ¶ 27, citing State v. Garner, 74 Ohio

St.3d 49 (1995). Here, there are significant errors made before and during Miller’s

trial. First, the trial court infringed upon Miller’s constitutional right to self-

representation, and then it arbitrarily allowed the State to present prejudicial

evidence of alleged prior bad acts without offering any explanation or analysis on

why the evidence was appropriate. We find that the cumulative error doctrine

warrants the reversal of all of Miller’s convictions.

{¶46} Accordingly, we sustain Miller’s first and third assignments of error.

Assignments of Error Nos. V & VI

{¶47} In Miller’s remaining assignments of error, he argues that the trial

court erred when it entered a judgment of conviction against Miller in violation of

R.C. 2945.75(A)(2), and when it imposed consecutive sentences without making

the statutorily required findings. As it relates to Miller’s sixth assignment of error,

we must note that the State failed to address this assignment of error anywhere in

-27-
Case No. 9-13-27

its Appellee’s Brief. The State also filed a Corrected Appellee’s Brief, but again,

failed to mention Miller’s sixth assignment of error. We are unsure if this was

intentional or an oversight of the State. However, in light of this court’s prior

precedent and the Ohio Supreme Court’s recent decision in State v. Bonnell, 140

Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, which states that a trial court is required to make

the findings mandated by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and

incorporate those findings into its sentencing entry, it seems more likely that the

State was conceding that it had no successful arguments as to this assignment of

error. Regardless of why the State chose to not address this issue, Miller’s fifth

and sixth assignments of error are rendered moot by our resolution of his first,

second, third, and fourth assignments of error. Accordingly, we decline to address

them. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).

{¶48} Having found no error prejudicial to Miller in the second assignment

of error, but having found error prejudicial to Miller in the first, third, and fourth

assignments of error, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this matter

for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Judgment Reversed and
Cause Remanded

WILLAMOWSKI, P.J. and PRESTON, J., concur.

/jlr

-28-