State v. Newman

[Cite as State v. Newman, 2018-Ohio-3253.]

COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
: Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs- :
:
JESSE LEE NEWMAN : Case No. 2017CA00219
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 2017CR1135

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: August 13, 2018

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO GEORGE URBAN
Stark County Prosecuting Attorney 116 Cleveland Avenue N. W.
By: KRISTINE BEARD 808 Courtyard Centre
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Canton, OH 44702
110 Central Plaza South – Suite 510
Canton, OH 44702-1413
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 2

Wise, Earle, J.

{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant Jesse Lee Newman appeals the October 30, 2017

judgment of conviction and sentence of the Court of Common Pleas, Stark County, Ohio.

Plaintiff-Appellee is the state of Ohio.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶ 2} On June 15, 2017, at approximately 5:15 a.m., Della McElroy was riding

around Canton in her car with appellant driving. Appellant pulled over behind a Starbucks

on Cleveland Avenue and told McElroy to wait in the car. Appellant then entered the

Starbucks, approached the cashier, Rachel Hanna, and asked for a breakfast sandwich

and a coffee. When Hanna gave appellant his total, appellant pulled out a screwdriver,

pointed it at Hanna, ordered her to open the cash drawer and to hurry. Hanna handed

appellant all the cash in the drawer, approximately $138.00. Appellant ran out of the store

and back to the car.

{¶ 3} As appellant drove off, he handed McElroy the money and told her what he

had done. Later that day, McElroy reported the matter to the Canton Police Department.

{¶ 4} Canton Police Detective Darrell Pierson investigated the matter. He

obtained a description of appellant and the clothing he was wearing during the robbery.

He also received surveillance video from Starbucks Corporate which showed appellant in

the clothing described by McElroy and Hanna. He was unable to copy the entire video,

but was able to make still photos from the video. McElroy voluntarily went the police

department the day of the robbery and consented to a search of her car. Pierson found

the screwdriver in a pocket behind the driver's seat and a black Cleveland Cavalier's hat

in the rear cargo area, which appellant had worn during the robbery.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 3

{¶ 5} Appellant was subsequently charged with one count of robbery in violation

of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2). Attorney Barry Wakser was appointed to represent appellant.

Appellant pled not guilty at his arraignment.

{¶ 6} At a pretrial on August 14, 2017, appellant stated he and Attorney Wakser

could not agree on how to proceed and he wanted new counsel. On August 28, 2017, the

trial court granted appellant's motion and appointed Attorney Donovan Hill. Appellant

signed a time waiver and trial was set for October 2, 2017.

{¶ 7} Before the trial date, appellant filed several pro se motions which were

struck by the trial court. Hill then moved to withdraw as counsel because appellant had

accused him of forcing him to execute the time waiver. Appellant advised the court that

Hill was refusing to ask trial witnesses certain questions. Following a brief discussion,

appellant agreed to go forward with Hill as counsel. Trial was continued to October 3,

2017.

{¶ 8} On October 3, following voir dire, Attorney Hill again moved to withdraw. Hill

had learned that appellant had filed a grievance against him on October 2, 2017. The trial

court declared a mistrial and granted Hill's request to withdraw. Appellant then moved to

represent himself. The trial court continued the trial and set a further hearing on

appellant's motion to proceed pro se.

{¶ 9} On October 10, 2017, the trial court held a hearing on appellant's motion to

waive counsel. The trial court engaged in a lengthy colloquy with appellant in an attempt

to dissuade him from representing himself and to ascertain whether appellant understood

the implications of his decision. In response to every question and warning, appellant

responded he understood the consequences and disadvantages and still desired to waive
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 4

his right to counsel. The trial court therefore accepted appellant's waiver of counsel, but

appointed Attorney Derek Lowry as standby counsel. Appellant was advised that he

would proceed with his own defense, but that Attorney Lowry would sit in the back of the

courtroom and be available to answer questions during breaks.

{¶ 10} Appellant's trial took place on October 24, 2017. Attorney Lowry was

present and appellant was afforded the opportunity to speak with Lowry during breaks.

After hearing all the evidence and deliberating, the jury found appellant guilty as charged.

Thereafter, the trial court sentenced to seven years incarceration.

{¶ 11} Appellant filed an appeal and the matter is now before this court for

consideration. Appellant raises three assignments of error:

I

{¶ 12} "THE TRIAL COURT DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF HIS SIXTH AND

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO EFFECTIVE COUNSEL WHEN IT

PERMITTED APPELLANT TO REPRESENT HIMSELF WITHOUT A KNOWING,

INTELLIGENT, AND VOLUNTARY WAIVER OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL."

II

{¶ 13} "THE TRIAL COURT DEPRIVED DEFENDANT OF HIS

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BE ASSISTED BY EFFECTIVE COUNSEL WHEN IT

DENIED HIM ACCESS TO THE ADVICE OF STANDBY COUNSEL."
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 5

III

{¶ 14} "THE JURY FUNDAMENTALLY LOST ITS WAY AS APPELLANT'S

CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE."

I

{¶ 15} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues he did not knowingly,

intelligently, and voluntarily waive his right to counsel. We disagree.

{¶ 16} The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 10,

Article I of the Ohio Constitution provides that a criminal defendant has a right to counsel.

However, a criminal defendant also has the constitutional right to waive counsel and to

represent himself at trial. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d

562 (1975). In such a situation, “the Constitution * * * require[s] that any waiver of the right

to counsel be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent * * *.” Iowa v. Tovar, 541 U.S. 77, 87-88,

124 S.Ct. 1379, 158 L.Ed.2d 209 (2004, Crim.R. 44(A). “In order to establish an effective

waiver of [the] right to counsel, the trial court must make sufficient inquiry to determine

whether defendant fully understands and intelligently relinquishes that right.” State v.

Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366, 345 N.E.2d 399 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus. The

defendant must make an intelligent and voluntary waiver with the knowledge he will have

to represent himself, and that there are dangers inherent in self-representation. State v.

Ebersole, 107 Ohio App.3d 288, 293, 668 N.E.2d 934 (3rd Dist.1995), citing Faretta v.

California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975).

{¶ 17} In Gibson, supra, the Ohio Supreme Court applied the test set forth in Von

Moltke v. Gillies, 332 U.S. 708, 68 S.Ct. 316, 92 L.Ed. 309 (1948), which established the

requirements for a sufficient pretrial inquiry by the trial court into a waiver of counsel:
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 6

To be valid such waiver must be made with an apprehension of the nature

of the charges, the statutory offenses included within them, the range of

allowable punishments thereunder, possible defenses to the charges and

circumstances in mitigation thereof, and all other facts essential to a broad

understanding of the whole matter. A judge can make certain that an

accused's professed waiver of counsel is understandingly and wisely made

only from a penetrating and comprehensive examination of all the

circumstances under which such a plea is tendered.

{¶ 18} State v. Gibson, 45 Ohio St.2d 366, 377, 345 N.E.2d 399 (1976).

{¶ 19} The record reflects the trial court adhered to this standard and with the

requirements of Crim.R. 44(A). The trial court set aside time to conduct a hearing for the

specific purpose of considering appellant's decision to represent himself. A significant

amount of time was spent advising appellant of the nature of the charges, the potential

penalties, post-release control, appellant's knowledge and lack of knowledge of trial

procedure, rules of evidence, and rules of criminal procedure, and available defenses.

Transcript of pro se hearing, October 10, 2017, 18-31. The trial court additionally urged

appellant to reconsider and allow the court to appoint counsel, an offer appellant rejected.

{¶ 20} Appellant appears to suggest he was not competent to waive his right to

counsel. He points to the fact that he did not understand trial procedure, his "delusion"

that his two previous attorneys were working against him, and his statement that he could

represent himself because he has "a sense of awareness that some people don't." He
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 7

argues the trial court's decision finding him competent to represent himself in the face of

this evidence deprived him of his right to counsel.

{¶ 21} First, “[T]he competence that is required of a defendant seeking to waive

his right to counsel is the competence to waive the right, not the competence to represent

himself.” Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 399, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321 (1993).

Although appellant makes a lengthy argument regarding his lack of understanding

regrading trial procedure and process, these things are not relevant to appellant's

competence to waive his right to counsel.

{¶ 22} Second, a court is not required to make a competency determination in

every instance where a defendant seeks to waive his right to counsel. Rather, a

competency determination is only required where the record contains "sufficient indicia of

incompetence." State v. Berry, 72 Ohio St.3d 354, 359, 650 N.E.2d 433 (1995).

{¶ 23} We have reviewed the entire transcript. Nothing in the record supports a

conclusion that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to sua sponte refer appellant

for a competency evaluation. Appellant's grievance with counsel appears to have

stemmed not from delusion, but rather from differing opinions on trial strategy. Appellant

simply believed that his trial strategy would be more effective than that of either of his

appointed attorneys. Transcript of proceedings, August 14, 2017, 4-6, Transcript of

proceedings, October 2, 2017, 15-16.

{¶ 24} The record fails to reflect that appellant was incompetent to waive his right

to counsel. Further, the record does reflect appellant made a knowing and intelligent

waiver of his right to counsel. Accordingly, the first assignment of error is overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 8

II

{¶ 25} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court abused

its discretion when it limited appellant's opportunities to confer with standby counsel.

Appellant argues that by limiting his interaction with standby counsel to breaks, appellant

was prevented from speaking with standby counsel during cross examination of Hanna,

the Starbucks cashier. According to appellant, this limited his ability to strategize and

effectively represent himself. We disagree.

{¶ 26} In State v. Martin, 103 Ohio St.3d 385, 2004-Ohio-5471, 816 N.E.2d 227,

paragraph one of the syllabus, the Supreme Court of Ohio held “[i]n Ohio, a criminal

defendant has the right to representation by counsel or to proceed pro se with the

assistance of standby counsel." Martin did not, however, mandate the appointment of

standby counsel. At paragraph 28 of the opinion, the Court wrote that "[o]nce the right to

counsel is properly waived, trial courts are permitted to appoint standby counsel to assist

the otherwise pro se defendant." Emphasis added. Therefore, "a pro se defendant does

not enjoy an absolute right to standby counsel." State v. Greenwood, 2nd Dist. Clark No.

2008CA64, 2009-Ohio-5610, ¶ 46, State v. Washington, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 96565,

96568, 2012-Ohio-1531, ¶ 9.

{¶ 27} Standby counsel serves as an important resource for pro se defendants by

assisting them to navigate “the basic rules of courtroom protocol” and to “overcome

routine obstacles that stand in the way of the defendant's achievement of his own clearly

indicated goals.” McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 184, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122

(1984). It is well settled that hybrid representation is prohibited. Martin at ¶ 32. However,

standby counsel may be appointed to attend the trial and answer the defendant's
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 9

questions regarding courtroom procedure. State v. Owens, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-07-66,

2008-Ohio-4161, 2008 WL 3822608, ¶ 26. A trial court does nor err by limiting a pro se

defendant's conferences with standby counsel, as excessive involvement with standby

counsel may destroy the appearance that a defendant is acting pro se. State v. Crosky,

10th Dist. Franklin No. 06AP-655, 2008-Ohio-145, ¶ 103.

{¶ 28} In this matter, during the hearing regarding appellant's desire to proceed

pro se, appellant was warned that the court would be appointing standby counsel, "[b]ut

you must present your own case. He can't sit with you there. He will be sitting in the back

of the court room. He can talk to you at breaks." Appellant indicated he understood these

parameters. Transcript of Pro Se Hearing, October 10, 2017, 42-43. Additionally,

appellant was provided with Mauet's Book on Trial to assist him in formulating questions.

Id. at 43-44.

{¶ 29} Appellant argues that he was denied the opportunity to speak with standby

counsel regarding his formulation of questions for Hanna. However, an examination of

the transcript pages relied upon by appellee reveals this is purely speculation. Appellant

asked to speak with standby counsel following his cross examination, and re-cross of

Hanna. He stated no reason for his desire to speak with counsel, and further was advised

once again that he could speak to standby counsel during a break. Transcript of

Proceedings, October 24, 2017, at 176.

{¶ 30} Moreover, as pointed out by appellee, appellant lodged no objection to the

trial court's ruling. As such, appellant has waived all but plain error. An error not raised in

the trial court must be plain error for an appellate court to reverse. State v. Long, 53 Ohio

St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978) at paragraph one of the syllabus; Crim.R. 52(B). In order
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 10

to prevail under a plain error analysis, appellant bears the burden of demonstrating that

the outcome of the trial clearly would have been different but for the error. Id at paragraph

two of the syllabus. Notice of plain error "is to be taken with the utmost caution, under

exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice." Id. at

paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶ 31} Appellant has neither raised nor established plain error. Further the

evidence in this matter was overwhelming. Appellant's girlfriend turned him in to police,

told Detective Pierson what he had done and testified at trial. The victim identified

appellant as the perpetrator at trial and stated she feared for her safety when he

threatened her with a screwdriver while demanding she hand over the money in her cash

drawer. Transcript of proceedings, October 24, 2017, 154-157,164, 173, 181-187.

{¶ 32} The trial court did not err in limiting appellant's access to standby counsel

during trial. The second assignment of error is therefore overruled.

III

{¶ 33} In his final assignment of error, appellant argues his conviction for robbery

is against the manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically, appellant argues the jury lost

its way when it determined the victim's testimony established appellant had brandished a

screwdriver to threaten the cashier with physical harm. We disagree.

{¶ 34} On review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine the entire

record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of

witnesses and determine "whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly

lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must

be reversed and a new trial ordered." State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 11

N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). See also, State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d

541 (1997). The granting of a new trial "should be exercised only in the exceptional case

in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction." Martin at 175.

{¶ 35} Appellee was required to prove appellant, while committing a theft offense,

threatened to inflict physical harm upon the victim. As noted in assignment of error II,

evidence in this matter was overwhelming. Appellant nonetheless argues the victim's

testimony regarding threat of harm was not credible and further, without a video of the

robbery, her testimony cannot be believed.

{¶ 36} The credibility of witnesses, however, is a matter for the trier of fact to

determine. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967) at paragraph two

of the syllabus. Moreover, the testimony of one witness, believed by the trier of fact is

sufficient to prove any fact at issue. State v. Frazier, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 04CAC10071,

2005-Ohio-3766, ¶ 14. Appellee was not required to produce a video, and there is no

evidence in the record to support a conclusion that the jury lost its way in convicting

appellant as charged.

{¶ 37} The final assignment of error is overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00219 12

{¶ 38} We overrule appellant's three assignments of error and affirm the judgment

of conviction and sentence of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas.

By Wise, Earle, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Hoffman, J. concur.

EEW/rw