State v. Potee

[Cite as State v. Potee, 2017-Ohio-2926.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

CLERMONT COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, :

Plaintiff-Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2016-06-045

: OPINION
- vs - 5/22/2017
:

MICHAEL C. POTEE, JR., :

Defendant-Appellant. :

CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. 2015-CR-00515

D. Vincent Faris, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney, Nicholas Horton, 76 South
Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, Batavia, Ohio 45103, for plaintiff-appellee

Joshua R. Crousey, One East Main Street, Amelia, Ohio 45102, for defendant-appellant

RINGLAND, J.

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Michael C. Potee, appeals his convictions for one count of

involuntary manslaughter, two counts of corrupting another with drugs, one count of

trafficking in heroin, and one count of aggravated trafficking in fentanyl from the Clermont

County Court of Common Pleas.

{¶ 2} On September 22, 2015, the Clermont County Grand jury returned a five-count

indictment for the above offenses. Prior to trial, the state amended the indictment and bill of
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particulars to permit the jury to find appellant guilty of complicity to commit any of the five

offenses. The trial court allowed such amendment over appellant's objection. The trial

revealed the following facts.

{¶ 3} Rachel Joslin testified on the behalf of the state that on May 20, 2015, following

a trip to the hospital, her husband, Jeremy Adkins, suggested the couple purchase $20 of

heroin from appellant. The couple returned to their apartment in Clermont County, where

Adkins called appellant sometime before noon to plan the purchase. Shortly after the

telephone call with appellant, the two proceeded to drive to appellant's workplace in Hamilton

County.

{¶ 4} Appellant testified Adkins did contact him several times throughout the day

because "he [needed] to get some heroin." Appellant "was actually waiting to buy some

heroin [himself]" and "had contacted [his] drug dealer[,]" so appellant "relayed that

[information] to [Adkins]." From this conversation, Adkins decided to drive to appellant's work

to obtain the heroin. Appellant provided Adkins directions and helped facilitate a heroin

transaction between appellant's drug dealer and Adkins. Appellant testified Adkins would not

likely have obtained heroin from appellant's dealer without his assistance.

{¶ 5} Joslin's testimony conflicted with appellant's testimony regarding from whom the

couple purchased the heroin. Joslin testified the couple pulled into the lot at the address

provided by appellant next to a white work van. Appellant approached the couple's vehicle

and conversed for a few minutes before exchanging a single bindle of heroin for $20. The

couple proceeded to drive back to their apartment in Clermont County without making any

stops. At 12:13 p.m., appellant sent a text message to Adkins' phone, stating "[l]et me know

how you like that." Adkins responded two minutes later, stating "I will as soon as [I] get home

in about 20 min[utes. Thanks.]" Appellant testified his last phone conversation with Adkins

occurred when Adkins returned to his apartment in Clermont County and, at the time,
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appellant assumed Adkins was high on the drugs purchased from appellant's dealer.

{¶ 6} Joslin testified that once the couple returned to their apartment, they split the

heroin equally. Joslin described the color of the heroin as appearing to be a mixture of

cream and white. On behalf of the state, Detective Ken Mullis of the Union Township Police

Department testified that it is common for drug dealers to use a cutting agent to increase

profits. With respect to heroin, fentanyl has become a common cutting agent and results in

the substance appearing "between off-white and stony gray." Joslin further testified that the

couple snorted the heroin and that they quickly felt the effects of the drugs. Adkins went to

the bathroom and Joslin headed towards the front door to walk the family dog when she lost

consciousness.

{¶ 7} Appellant called Adkins at 3:39 p.m., and when he did not pick up, appellant

sent him a text message, stating "[y]ou alive". Appellant testified he commonly uses the

phrase and, to support this contention, the trial court admitted evidence of another text

message asking one of appellant's friends if he was alive. Before 4:00 p.m., Adkins and

Joslin's then 17-year-old son, Cain, returned home from high school. Cain testified that he

had difficulty entering the apartment because Joslin's unconscious body blocked the front

door. Cain observed Joslin struggling to breathe and making "gargling" sounds. Cain

attempted to locate a phone and found his deceased father in the bathroom. Cain described

Adkins as unconscious, not breathing, and extremely blue in the face. Cain retrieved Adkins'

phone from the bathroom and called the police.

{¶ 8} An emergency medical technician ("EMT") and a Union Township Police

detective responded to Cain's emergency call. The EMT found Joslin breathing, but

unconscious and unresponsive. The EMT determined Joslin was at risk of dying; therefore,

he administered a dose of Narcan and revived her. The single dose did not bring Joslin to

full consciousness; therefore, the EMT administered a second dose. While the EMT treated
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Joslin, the police detective located Adkins, deceased in the bathroom. A search of the

residence produced one bindle that appeared to be heroin-related in the couple's bedroom.

An ambulance transported Joslin to a nearby hospital. During the ambulance ride, Joslin

disclosed she used heroin obtained from an acquaintance of her husband, whose number

the police could find in her husband's phone.

{¶ 9} The lead investigator, Detective Joshua Bail of the Miami Township Police

Department, testified on behalf of the state that he conducted a series of interviews with

Joslin. The first interview occurred at the hospital. Detective Bail testified Joslin disclosed to

him that her husband purchased $20 of powder heroin from a man named Chris in a church

parking lot in Hamilton County. Joslin stated she and her husband had been sober for years

before making this purchase. She described the dealer as a white male in his thirties with

tattoos on both arms who had a twin brother and lived in the Lakeshore Mobile Home Park in

Goshen. She further disclosed this man drove a white work van. Detective Bail conducted a

second interview with Joslin the next day where Joslin informed Detective Bail she had

accidentally provided the wrong name for the heroin dealer. Joslin testified she was not

altogether at the hospital and that she corrected herself during the second interview by

providing Nick, Nicky, or Mickey as the name of the person who sold her husband heroin.

Joslin further testified she had never met the dealer before the transaction, but knew of him

as her husband's acquaintance. Detective Bail testified that another detective independent

of this case administered a photo lineup where Joslin picked appellant with 95% confidence.

During trial, Joslin identified appellant as the man who sold her husband heroin on the day in

question.

{¶ 10} From this information, Detective Bail obtained a search warrant for appellant's

mobile home. Execution of the warrant on May 21, 2015 resulted in extensive drug

paraphernalia including a great deal of uncapped needles, bottoms of aluminum cans, and

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plastic wrappings suggestive of drug activity. While at the mobile home, police called the

number listed as "Nick Potee" in Adkins' phone and a mobile phone rang inside appellant's

room. Police also located a white work van outside the mobile home. Detective Bail placed

appellant under arrest at his residence and later that day conducted an interview. The state

played a recording of this short interview at trial. During the interview, appellant informed the

police that he temporarily resided at the mobile home, he owned the phone recovered from

the residence, and that he is the only one who uses the phone.

{¶ 11} On cross-examination of Detective Bail and Detective Mullis, defense counsel

inquired whether the outcome of the search of appellant's mobile home was consistent with

drug usage, as opposed to drug trafficking. Likewise, defense counsel made the same

inquiry of the information obtained from appellant's phone. Due to this inquiry, the trial court

later permitted questioning by the state during cross-examination of appellant regarding

appellant's possession of $900 a few days prior to the date in question. In so doing, the trial

court denied defense counsel's motion for mistrial based on admitting impermissible

character evidence.

{¶ 12} The Hamilton County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy of Adkins' body.

Hamilton County Chief Deputy Coroner, Dr. Karen Looman, testified the autopsy revealed

Adkins died from acute combined heroin and fentanyl poisoning. She further stated

overdosing on a mixture of heroin and fentanyl creates a substantial likelihood of death and

that no other cause contributed to Adkins' death. Dr. Looman testified someone using heroin

and fentanyl following an extended period of sobriety could experience a more dramatic

effect. Dr. Looman explained she was not personally aware of someone overdosing on

fentanyl and not dying.

{¶ 13} After both parties rested, the trial court supplied the jury with jury instructions,

including instructions regarding venue and complicity over appellant's objections. Following
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deliberations, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on each offense in the amended indictment.

The trial court merged the two trafficking convictions and merged one of the corrupting

another with drugs convictions with the involuntary manslaughter conviction. The trial court

sentenced appellant to a prison term of fifteen and one-half years. Appellant now appeals

from his convictions, raising four assignments of error.

{¶ 14} Assignment of Error No. 1:

{¶ 15} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT DISMISSING WHERE THERE WAS NO

EVIDENCE OF ANY ACT COMMITTED BY APPELLANT IN CLERMONT COUNTY.

{¶ 16} Assignment of Error No. 2:

{¶ 17} THE FINDING OF GUILTY WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD.

{¶ 18} Appellant presents two issues for review under his first assignment of error.

First, appellant contends the state failed to produce sufficient evidence to establish Clermont

County as the proper venue for the counts alleged in the indictment, and therefore, the trial

court erred by denying his Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Second, appellant contends the

trial court abused its discretion by providing the jury an instruction regarding venue for

multiple jurisdictions pursuant to R.C. 2901.12(H)(3). In his second assignment of error,

appellant contends his convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence creating

a miscarriage of justice.

{¶ 19} "The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the evidence

are both quantitatively and qualitatively different." State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380,

386 (1997), superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v.

Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 102 (1997). Sufficiency of the evidence is the legal standard

applied to determine whether the case may go to the jury or whether the evidence is legally

sufficient to support the jury verdict as a matter of law. Id., citing Black's Law Dictionary (6th

Ed.1990) 1433. A conviction based on legally insufficient evidence constitutes a denial of
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due process. Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 45, 102 S.Ct. 2211 (1982), citing Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781 (1979). 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, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 259-60 (1991), superseded by constitutional amendment

on other grounds as stated by Smith at 102. In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence,

this court "defer[s] to the trier of fact on questions of credibility and the weight assigned to the

evidence." State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73, 2014-Ohio-1966, ¶ 132. "Although a court

of appeals may determine that a judgment of a trial court is sustained by sufficient evidence,

that court may nevertheless conclude that the judgment is against the weight of the

evidence." Thompkins at 387.

{¶ 20} In contrast to a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, a manifest weight of the

evidence challenge examines the "inclination of the greater amount of credible evidence,

offered at a trial, to support one side of the issue rather than the other." State v. Barnett,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-09-177, 2012-Ohio-2372, ¶ 14. In making this determination, a

reviewing court looks at the entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences,

considers the credibility of the witnesses, and determines whether in resolving the conflicts in

the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of

justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State v. Morgan, 12th

Dist. Butler Nos. CA2013-08-146 and CA2013-08-147, 2014-Ohio-2472, ¶ 34. "An appellate

court will overturn a conviction due to the manifest weight of the evidence only in

extraordinary circumstances when the evidence presented at trial weighs heavily in favor of

acquittal." State v. Couch, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-03-062, 2016-Ohio-8452, ¶ 8.

{¶ 21} "A reversal based on the weight of the evidence * * * can occur only after the

State both has presented sufficient evidence to support conviction and has persuaded the
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jury to convict." Tibbs at 42-43; see also State v. Jones, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-03-

049, 2013-Ohio-150, ¶ 19 (stating that finding a conviction is supported by the manifest

weight of the evidence is also dispositive of the issue of sufficiency). Therefore, "[b]ecause

sufficiency is required to take a case to the jury, a finding that a conviction is supported by

the weight of the evidence must necessarily include a finding of sufficiency." State v. Hart,

12th Dist. Brown No. CA2011-03-008, 2012-Ohio-1896, ¶ 43.

{¶ 22} "Venue commonly refers to the appropriate place of trial for a criminal

prosecution within a state." State v. Stone, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2007-11-132, 2008-

Ohio-5671, ¶ 16, citing State v. Meridy, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2003-11-091, 2005-Ohio-

241, ¶ 12. "The importance of venue is to give the defendant the right to be tried in the

vicinity of his alleged criminal activity." Stone at ¶ 16, citing Meridy at ¶ 12. Whether the

state properly established venue turns on whether the defendant has a "significant nexus"

with the county where the trial was held. Id. As a result, and pursuant to R.C. 2901.12(A),

"[t]he trial of a criminal case in this state shall be held in a court having jurisdiction of the

subject matter, and in the territory of which the offense or any element of the offense was

committed." R.C. 2901.12 embodies the constitutional protections provided by the Ohio

Constitution's guarantee to its citizens to "a speedy trial by an impartial jury of the county in

which the offense is alleged to have been committed * * *." State v. Castor, 5th Dist.

Delaware No. 14 CAA 01 0004, 2014-Ohio-5236, ¶ 16, quoting Article I, Section 10, Ohio

Constitution.

{¶ 23} Although not a material element of the offense charged, the state must prove

beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant committed the crime charged in the county that

both returned the indictment and held the trial. Stone at ¶ 17, citing Meridy at ¶ 12. Pursuant

to R.C. 2901.12(H)(3), if a defendant commits offenses in different jurisdictions as part of a

course of criminal conduct, proper venue lies for all offenses in any jurisdiction in which the
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defendant committed one of the offenses or any element thereof. Offenses "committed as

part of the same transaction or chain of events, or in furtherance of the same purpose or

objective" serve as "prima-facie evidence of a course of criminal conduct." R.C.

2901.12(H)(3).

{¶ 24} After a thorough review of the record, we find the facts and circumstances in

evidence are sufficient to demonstrate the state properly established venue in both Clermont

and Hamilton Counties. The jury convicted appellant of one count of involuntary

manslaughter, two counts of corrupting another with drugs, one count of trafficking in heroin,

and one count of aggravated trafficking in fentanyl. The involuntary manslaughter statute

provides "[n]o person shall cause the death of another * * * as a proximate result of the

offender's committing or attempting to commit a felony." R.C. 2903.04(A). With respect to

the corrupting another with drugs charges, "[n]o person shall knowingly * * * [b]y any means,

administer or furnish to another or induce or cause another to use a controlled substance,

and thereby cause serious physical harm to the other person * * *." R.C. 2925.02(A)(3). In

regards to the trafficking offenses, R.C. 2925.03(A)(1) provides "[n]o person shall knowingly *

* * [s]ell or offer to sell a controlled substance * * *." Pursuant to R.C. 3719.41, heroin and

fentanyl are Schedule I and Schedule II narcotics, respectively.

{¶ 25} Appellant contends an important distinction exists for establishing venue based

on whether a defendant committed an offense in a certain county or whether the offense just

occurred in that county. In support of this proposition, appellant cites a Sixth District opinion

addressing facts involving a drug trafficking chain of events where the state charged the

defendant with complicity to trafficking drugs. See State v. Bovee, 6th Dist. Huron No. H-02-

032, 2003-Ohio-2788, ¶ 19-21. Contrary to appellant's claim otherwise, Bovee is easily

distinguishable from the facts at hand because it dealt with an exchange with a drug dealer

located in a different county than the charging county where the drug dealer had no contact
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with the purchaser before the exchange. Id. at ¶ 2-5. Rather, a third party drove with an

informant to the defendant's county where the transaction occurred. Id. at ¶ 4. The Sixth

District found that while the defendant was complicit in facilitating the drug transaction, this

facilitation occurred entirely in a different county than the charging county; therefore, the

state failed to establish proper venue in the charging county. Id. at ¶ 29. Unlike Bovee and

as analyzed below, the drug transaction between appellant and Adkins began in both

Hamilton and Clermont Counties.

{¶ 26} Appellant further contends two of this court's opinions provide additional

support for his interpretation of establishing venue. See State v. Sparks, 12th Dist. Warren

Nos. CA2013-02-010 and CA2013-02-015, 2014-Ohio-1130, ¶ 16; State v. Baker, 12th Dist.

Warren No. CA2012-12-127, 2013-Ohio-2398, ¶ 39. However, our decisions in Baker and

Sparks involve defendants convicted of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and whether

the pattern extended to multiple counties. Whereas, the convictions in this case involve a

single drug transaction carried out in two counties that resulted in Joslin's overdose and

Adkins' death. As demonstrated below, each of appellant's convictions are supported by

sufficient evidence and not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and there exists

sufficient evidence that appellant committed at least one element of each offense in Clermont

County.

{¶ 27} Although the physical exchange portion of the drug transaction was carried out

in Hamilton County, a sufficient nexus existed for Clermont County. Joslin testified appellant

and Adkins arranged the transaction over the phone and that Adkins carried out this

conversation from the couple's apartment in Clermont County. See, e.g., State v. Behanan,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-10-266, 2010-Ohio-4403, ¶ 20 (finding sufficient nexus for

proper venue in county where drug user arranged transaction over phone); State v. Meridy,

12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2003-11-091, 2005-Ohio-241, ¶ 23 (finding state properly
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established venue in county where transaction planned and agreed to over the phone).

Joslin's testimony regarding her and Adkins' strategy to buy drugs from appellant, including

the amount and cost of the drugs, coupled with Adkins' and appellant's call logs admitted into

evidence together demonstrate the planning portion of the transaction occurred in both

Clermont and Hamilton Counties. Joslin testified that upon completion of this stage of the

transaction, she and Adkins drove to Hamilton County where the physical act of exchanging

$20 for the drugs occurred. Then, the couple drove back to their apartment in Clermont

County where they snorted the drugs, resulting in Joslin's overdose and Adkins' death.

{¶ 28} This evidence presented by the state alone meets the necessary requirements

to establish proper venue for the offenses charged in Clermont County. There is prima facie

evidence of a course of criminal conduct, as the planning stage of the transaction is

interrelated to the carrying out of the transaction, and ultimately, the couple's use of the drugs

acquired therefrom. This chain of events began with the planning stage in both Hamilton and

Clermont Counties with the purpose or objective of using heroin, and such objective

remained throughout the remainder of the chain until the couple's completion of the original

objective upon snorting the drugs. Therefore, pursuant to R.C. 2901.12(H)(3), the state

established sufficient evidence of proper venue for the charged offenses in Clermont County.

{¶ 29} Appellant further asserts error with respect to the trial court's jury instructions

regarding venue. Appellant concedes the trial court's jury instruction regarding venue

"applies * * * to situations where an offender 'commits offenses in different jurisdictions.'" In

so doing, appellant argues the trial court erred by providing an instruction consistent with

R.C. 2901.12(H)(3) because appellant did not commit an element of any of the charged

offenses in Clermont County. However, since we resolved appellant's contention above with

respect to our venue analysis, his argument is now moot.

{¶ 30} Next, we turn to appellant's argument his convictions are against the manifest
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weight of the evidence. In so doing, appellant repeats his venue argument as well as

contends the evidence presented does not support a finding appellant was responsible for

Adkins' death and Joslin's overdose. Appellant argues the state based its case on a single

transaction of heroin between himself and Adkins, and that the state failed to prove why the

drugs exchanged in this transaction resulted in Adkins' death, but only a mere overdose for

Joslin. After a thorough review of the record, we find the jury did not clearly lose its way and

create a manifest miscarriage of justice requiring reversal of appellant's convictions. With

respect to the trafficking offenses, evidence was presented demonstrating appellant

knowingly sold or offered to sell the controlled substances of heroin and fentanyl to Adkins.

"A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is aware that the person's

conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature." R.C.

2901.22(B). The analysis does not contemplate whether appellant knew the type and

amount of the substance. See State v. Doliboa, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2007-07-088,

2008-Ohio-5297, ¶ 39-42.

{¶ 31} Joslin's testimony regarding each stage of the transaction coupled with text

messages and call logs between Adkins and appellant on the day of the transaction provided

evidence for the jury to conclude appellant was aware his conduct would probably result in

the sale of heroin or fentanyl. Moreover, Joslin's extensive description of appellant on the

day of the transaction identified appellant as the drug dealer. Joslin described appellant as a

white male in his thirties with tattoos on both arms, who drove a white work van, had a twin

brother, and lived in the Lakeshore Mobile Home Park in Goshen. Additionally, Joslin

identified appellant as the dealer during a police lineup with 95 percent confidence, and

again, identified appellant at trial. Joslin testified regarding each stage of the transaction,

including the hand-to-hand transaction of one bindle of heroin in exchange for $20. The

state presented evidence that police recovered a single bindle of heroin from the couple's

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apartment. At the apartment, police and an EMT observed Joslin unconscious and the EMT

revived her by administering Narcan – a procedure consistent with opiate overdose.

Moreover, the autopsy report identified heroin and fentanyl in Adkins' postmortem blood

samples. Joslin testified the couple ingested the same drugs.

{¶ 32} With regard to the involuntary manslaughter offense, evidence was presented

demonstrating appellant caused Adkins' death as a proximate result of the drug transaction.

As explained above, the state presented evidence for the jury to reasonably conclude

appellant committed a felony by selling heroin and fentanyl to Adkins. Additionally, "[t]he

criminal intent of involuntary manslaughter is supplied by the criminal intent to do the

underlying unlawful act of which the homicide is a consequence." State v. Martin, 12th Dist.

Brown No. CA2003-09-011, 2004-Ohio-4309, ¶ 22. Therefore, since we previously

determined evidence was presented for the jury to reasonably conclude appellant knowingly

sold heroin and fentanyl to Adkins, evidence also existed for the jury to find the state proved

the requisite criminal intent for involuntary manslaughter. Additionally, the state

demonstrated Adkins' death was a proximate result of the drug transaction.

{¶ 33} "The term 'proximate result' in the involuntary manslaughter statute involves

two concepts: causation and foreseeability." State v. Hall, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2015-11-

022, 2017-Ohio-879, ¶ 71. In regards to causation, we have held that "[g]enerally, for a

criminal defendant's conduct to be the proximate cause of a certain result, it must first be

determined that the conduct was the cause in fact of the result, meaning that the result would

not have occurred 'but for' the conduct." State v. Feltner, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2008-01-

009, 2008-Ohio-5212, ¶ 13. With respect to foreseeability, this court has held "when the

result varied from the harm intended or hazarded, it must be determined that the result

achieved was not so extraordinary or surprising that it would be simply unfair to hold the

defendant criminally responsible for something so unforeseeable." Hall at ¶ 78.
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Furthermore, a defendant will be held responsible for foreseeable consequences "which are

known to be, or should be known to be, within the scope of the risk created by his conduct."

Id. at ¶ 79.

{¶ 34} The state presented evidence Adkins died from acute combined heroin and

fentanyl poisoning. The testimony revealed that no other cause contributed to Adkins' death.

Thus, the jury concluded based on the evidence presented that Adkins' death would not have

occurred "but for" appellant selling him the heroin and fentanyl. Further, appellant knew or

should have known of the possible consequences of ingesting heroin, as appellant testified

he frequently used heroin himself and that he was aware of at least one other acquaintance

dying from an overdose.

{¶ 35} In consideration of the corrupting another with drugs offenses, evidence was

presented to show appellant knowingly furnished heroin and fentanyl to Adkins and Joslin or

caused them to use such drugs, thereby causing them serious physical harm. We previously

found above the jury's determination that appellant knowingly sold heroin and fentanyl to the

couple was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Pursuant to R.C.

2901.01(A)(5)(b) thru (c), serious physical harm means "[a]ny physical harm that carries a

substantial risk of death" or "[a]ny physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity * *

*." Dr. Looman testified overdosing on heroin and fentanyl creates a substantial likelihood of

death. As explained above, Adkins died from ingesting the drugs purchased from appellant.

Likewise, first responders found Joslin unconscious, which she testified occurred shortly after

ingesting the same drugs as Adkins. See State v. Church, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-04-

070, 2012-Ohio-3877, ¶ 18 (stating losing consciousness constitutes serious physical harm

as defined in R.C. 2901.01[A][5]).

{¶ 36} Despite this extensive evidence presented by the state, appellant conceded in

his testimony that he facilitated the drug transaction that resulted in Adkins' death and
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Joslin's overdose. Appellant testified his personal drug dealer sold the drugs to Adkins and

that appellant just helped carry out the exchange because he was purchasing heroin at the

same time. However, appellant's testimony does little to negate his criminal liability. Rather,

even if the jury believed his testimony, a guilty verdict for complicity to commit the charged

offenses would have likely resulted because appellant's testimony provided evidence for the

jury to find appellant assisted, incited, or encouraged the charged offenses. See State v.

Brown, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2006-10-120, 2007-Ohio-5787, ¶ 12 (stating Ohio courts

consistently define complicity as meaning to assist, incite, or encourage).

{¶ 37} For the foregoing reasons, we find the state properly established venue, the

trial court did not abuse its discretion by providing jury instructions for venue in multiple

jurisdictions, and appellant's convictions are not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Therefore, appellant's first and second assignments of error are overruled.

{¶ 38} Assignment of Error No. 3:

{¶ 39} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW BY PERMITTING

EVIDENCE OF "OTHER ACTS" AS SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCE.

{¶ 40} Appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the state

to twice impermissibly introduce evidence outside the parameters of Evid.R. 404(B) to

demonstrate appellant has a history of dealing drugs. Specifically, appellant argues the trial

court erred by permitting the state to introduce appellant's text messages and the fact that he

possessed $900 cash days before the couple overdosed. The trial court overruled

appellant's objection and denied his motion for mistrial on the basis that appellant previously

opened the door to the introduction of such evidence during his questioning of Detective Bail

and Detective Mullis.

{¶ 41} "A trial court has broad discretion in the admission and the exclusion of

evidence and unless it clearly abused its discretion and appellant is materially prejudiced
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thereby, an appellate court should not disturb the decision of the trial court." State v. Martin,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-01-022, 2007-Ohio-7073, ¶ 9, citing State v. Finnerty, 45 Ohio

St.3d 104, 109 (1989). An abuse of discretion is more than an error of law or judgment.

Rather, it suggests the "trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable."

State v. Perkins, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2005-01-002, 2005-Ohio-6557, ¶ 8. "A review

under the abuse-of-discretion standard is a deferential review." State v. Morris, 132 Ohio

St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, ¶ 14.

{¶ 42} "'Evidence that an 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 or that he acted in conformity with bad character.'" State v. Ward,

12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2013-07-059, 2014-Ohio-990, ¶ 19, quoting State v. Williams, 134

Ohio St.3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, ¶ 15. However, if the defense first introduces or brings out

other act evidence, then the state's later introduction of such evidence does not constitute

reversible error and the defendant waives objection on this basis. State v. Hammons, 12th

Dist. Warren No. CA2004-01-008, 2005-Ohio-1409, ¶ 9.

{¶ 43} On cross-examination of the detectives, appellant specifically inquired into

whether information obtained from appellant's cell phone and the search conducted at

appellant's residence was indicative of drug trafficking. This inquiry focused heavily on

indications of appellant's drug use and the lack of any indication of drug trafficking. Based on

these lines of questioning, we find the trial court properly found appellant opened the door to

questions by the state regarding any possible indicators of drug trafficking by appellant.

Specifically, the state inquired about text messages concerning possible drug transactions

and a large sum of cash previously held by appellant. These questions were probative of the

issues previously inquired into by appellant; therefore, "[t]he state did no more than walk

through a door opened by the appellant." State v. Waver, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 73976,
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1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 3860, *22 (Aug. 19, 1999). Accordingly, appellant waived any

objection to such evidence, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion by permitting its

introduction.

{¶ 44} Therefore, appellant's third assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 45} Assignment of Error No. 4:

{¶ 46} TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE BY BEING UNPREPARED.

{¶ 47} Appellant argues several specific instances where his trial counsel's lack of

preparation prejudiced him. The instances referenced by appellant include a lack of specific

knowledge regarding prior convictions for impeachment during cross-examination, confusion

regarding exhibit numbers upon presentation, and an unsuccessful argument attempting to

preclude the state from amending the bill of particulars and indictment to include complicity.

{¶ 48} To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, an appellant must

establish: (1) that his trial counsel's performance was deficient; and (2) that such deficiency

prejudiced the defense to the point of depriving the appellant of a fair trial. Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984); State v. Ullman, 12th Dist.

Warren No. CA2002-10-110, 2003-Ohio-4003, ¶ 43. Trial counsel's performance will not be

deemed deficient unless it "fell below an objective standard of reasonableness." Strickland

at 688. To show prejudice, a defendant must prove there exists "a reasonable probability

that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different." State v. Wilson, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2013-10-034, 2014-Ohio-2342, ¶ 17.

A defendant's failure to satisfy one part of the Strickland test negates a court's need to

consider the other. State v. Hurst, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2014-02-004, 2014-Ohio-4890, ¶

7.

{¶ 49} First, while trial counsel may have been a bit more disorganized than appellant

desired, it necessitates neither a finding of deficient performance nor that but for this
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disorganization there is a reasonable probability the result of the trial would have been

different. Rather, trial counsel vigorously opposed venue at almost every stage of the

criminal proceedings. Before trial, counsel interviewed witnesses, requested and received

discovery, and consulted experts. At trial, he advocated on behalf of appellant by extensively

cross-examining witnesses, questioning witnesses on behalf of appellant, moving for

acquittal, providing an opening statement and closing argument, and preserving appellant's

rights for appeal.

{¶ 50} Second, even assuming deficient performance by appellant's trial counsel

regarding the amendments, appellant fails to demonstrate how but for his trial counsel's

errors, the result of the trial would have been different. Contrary to appellant's claim

otherwise, his trial counsel's advocacy to prevent the state from amending the bill of

particulars and indictment – although unsuccessful – did not affect the outcome of the trial.

The trial court heard arguments on the matter outside the presence of the jury. Thus, trial

counsel's unsuccessful attempt to distinguish or persuade the trial court against the

supporting case law did not result in any prejudice.

{¶ 51} Therefore, appellant's fourth assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 52} Judgment affirmed.

HENDRICKSON, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.

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