State v. Beightler

[Cite as State v. Beightler, 2019-Ohio-2946.]

COURT OF APPEALS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Plaintiff - Appellee : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
: Hon. Earle E. Wise, J.
-vs- :
:
CHRISTOPHER BEIGHTLER : Case No. 18-CA-45
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
18-CR-193

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: July 18, 2019

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

KENNETH W. OSWALT SCOTT P. WOOD
Assistant Fairfield County Prosecutor Conrad/Wood
239 W. Main Street, Suite 101 120 East Main Street, Suite 200
Lancaster, Ohio 43130 Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 2

Baldwin, J.

{¶1} Christopher Beightler appeals the decision of the Fairfield County Common

Pleas Court overruling his motion to suppress the evidence found at his residence,

arguing that the warrant was not supported by probable cause and the search was

therefore illegal.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND THE CASE

{¶2} The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant and searched

Appellant’s residence and discovered drugs and firearms leading to the indictment of

Appellant. Appellant filed a motion to suppress the evidence of drugs and firearms,

contending the warrant was not supported by probable cause. The trial court overruled

the motion and Appellant entered a plea of no contest to one count of having weapons

while under disability, a third-degree felony, and one count of aggravated trafficking in

drugs, a first-degree felony. He plead guilty to a one year firearm specification and

forfeiture specification and was sentenced to a total term of 10 years and 29 days in

prison, which included a 394-day prison sentence as a sanction for committing a new

criminal offense while on post-release control.

{¶3} The warrant that ultimately lead to Appellant’s conviction was issued in

response to an affidavit executed by Detective Shawn Woodgeard of the Fairfield County

Sheriff’s Office based upon seven categories of information:

{¶4} 1. Multiple tips regarding drug trafficking at 180 Sells Rd, Apt H6;

{¶5} 2. Information from John Arthurs, Jr;

{¶6} 3. Information from a confidential informant;
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 3

{¶7} 4. Surveillance of 180 Sells Rd, Apt H6 by the Fairfield County Sheriff’s

Office;

{¶8} 5. Discovery of drugs discarded by Appellant prior to apprehension;

{¶9} 6. Information from the residents of 180 Sells Rd, Apt H6;

{¶10} 7. Plain view observation of AR-15 in 180 Sells Rd, Apt H6.

{¶11} Appellant argues that none of the factors listed above are sufficient to

support issuance of a warrant to search 180 Sells Rd, Apt H6. Appellant does not

consider the cumulative impact of all of the factors listed above, an analysis we find

necessary in the context of this case.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶12} Appellate review of a trial court's decision to deny a motion to suppress

involves a mixed question of law and fact. State v. Long, 127 Ohio App.3d 328, 332, 713

N.E.2d 1 (4th Dist.1998). During a suppression hearing, the trial court assumes the role

of trier of fact and, as such, is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to

evaluate witness credibility. State v. Brooks, 75 Ohio St.3d 148, 154, 661 N.E.2d 1030

(1996). A reviewing court is bound to accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are

supported by competent, credible evidence. State v. Medcalf, 111 Ohio App.3d 142, 145,

675 N.E.2d 1268 (4th Dist.1996). Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court must

independently determine as a matter of law, without deference to the trial court's

conclusion, whether the trial court's decision meets the applicable legal standard. State

v. Williams, 86 Ohio App.3d 37, 42, 619 N.E.2d 1141 (4th Dist.1993), overruled on other

grounds.
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 4

{¶13} There are three methods of challenging a trial court's ruling on a motion to

suppress on appeal. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's finding of fact. In

reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether the trial

court's findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See, State v.

Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App.3d 486,

597 N.E.2d 1141 (4th Dist.1991). Second, an appellant may argue the trial court failed to

apply the appropriate test or correct law to the findings of fact. In that case, an appellate

court can reverse the trial court for committing an error of law. See, Williams, supra.

Finally, an appellant may argue the trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate or final

issues raised in a motion to suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an appellate

court must independently determine, without deference to the trial court's conclusion,

whether the facts meet the appropriate legal standard in any given case. State v. Curry,

95 Ohio App.3d 93, 96, 641 N.E.2d 1172 (8th Dist.1994).

{¶14} The Appellant is not challenging the trial court’s findings of fact, but whether

the trial court decided the ultimate issue correctly. We therefore must determine whether

the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard.

{¶15} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, “The

right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against

unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrant shall issue,

but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing

the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” For a search or seizure

to be reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, it must be based upon probable cause

and executed pursuant to a warrant. Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 357, 88 S.Ct.
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 5

507, 514, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967); State v. Brown, 63 Ohio St.3d 349, 350, 588 N.E.2d

113 (1992), overruled on other grounds by State v. Murrell, 94 Ohio St.3d 489, 2002-

Ohio-1483, 764 N.E.2d 986.

{¶16} The issue in this case is whether probable cause existed to support the

issuance of the warrant. State v. Sellards, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 05 COA 047, 2006-Ohio-

3924, ¶¶ 13-14. In determining whether probable cause exists, the proper test is the

“totality of the circumstances.” Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d

527 (1983). Probable cause exists when there is a fair probability, given the totality of the

circumstances, contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. Id.

State v. Kadri, 5th Dist. No. 2016 AP 06 0036, 2017-Ohio-604, 85 N.E.3d 207, ¶ 24. The

Ohio Supreme Court held in State v. George, 45 Ohio St.3d 325, 329, 544 N.E.2d 640

(1989):

The totality-of-the-circumstances test of Illinois v. Gates, supra, is

concisely set forth in that decision at 238–239, 103 S.Ct. at 2332:

* * * The task of the issuing magistrate is simply to make a practical,

common-sense decision whether, given all the circumstances set forth in

the affidavit before him, including the ‘veracity’ and ‘basis of knowledge’ of

persons supplying hearsay information, there is a fair probability that

contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. And

the duty of a reviewing court is simply to ensure that the magistrate had a

‘substantial basis for * * * conclud[ing]’ that probable cause existed. Jones

v. United States, 362 U.S. at 271, 80 S.Ct. 725, 736, 4 L.Ed.2d. * * *
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 6

{¶17} The Appellant’s analysis of the facts in the affidavit is the antithesis of the

totality of the circumstances case. Appellant reviews each fact in isolation from the

context of the others, and concludes that each individual basis is insufficient to support a

conclusion that probable cause exists and a warrant may be issued. “However, as a

reviewing court, we do not look at each fact in isolation; rather we are instructed to look

at all of the facts and determine whether under a totality of the circumstances, the issuing

magistrate had a substantial basis for finding probable cause.” State v. Clayton, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 102277, 2015-Ohio-4370, ¶ 25; State v. Johnson, 4th Dist. Highland No.

06CA36, 2007-Ohio-4158, ¶ 12. Though some of the facts viewed independently may

not support a finding of probable cause, the facts viewed as a whole can support a

conclusion that there was a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime could

be found in the Appellant’s room.

ANALYSIS

{¶18} Appellant’s argument analyzes each fact as if it was the only basis for

issuance of the warrant. As a reviewing court, we do not look at each fact in isolation as

Appellant’s argument implies. Instead we look at all of the facts and determine whether

under a totality of the circumstances, the issuing magistrate had a substantial basis for

finding probable cause. Clayton, supra at ¶ 25. We “consider whether the total mix of

information provided would support the magistrate's finding of probable cause.” State v.

Brooks, 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-87-64, 1988 WL 134181 (Dec. 16, 1988) *2.

{¶19} When we review the totality of the circumstances of the facts described in

the affidavit, a significant relationship between the facts becomes evident. The officer

refers to multiple anonymous tips regarding the sale of illegal drugs from 180 Sells Rd
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 7

Apt H6. John Arthurs was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and admitted

that he paid Appellant over $2000.00 for methamphetamine and that the purchase had

occurred at 180 Sells Rd Apt H6.1 The Lancaster Police Department surveilled the

residence. Appellant exited the home and when ordered to stop he ran and dropped a

bag containing 57 grams of methamphetamine, the same drug he sold to Arthurs, in the

bushes. The tenants at 180 Sells Rd Apt H6 confirmed that Appellant had been staying

in a back room in the apartment for a couple of weeks and consented to a search of the

apartment. The officer’s cleared the apartment for officer safety and collected an AR 15

assault rifle from the back bedroom where Appellant was staying.

{¶20} The officer’s affidavit contained evidence that drugs were being sold at this

location, that appellant was residing at the location and that he had sold

methamphetamine from that location. Appellant was discovered in that location in

possession of a large amount of methamphetamine when he attempted to evade the

police. While no single piece of evidence is conclusive, the “pieces fit neatly together and

the totality of the circumstances support the Magistrate's determination that there was ‘a

1 Appellant contends this fact is stale because the affidavit describes the arrest as occurring in 2017, one
year before the execution of the affidavit. Appellee notes that the trial court found that the date was a
scrivener’s error and the correct date is 2018. The trial court concluded that if the information was over
one year hold it would carry little weight and did find that it was a “scrivener’s error” but the trial court also
concluded that there was sufficient probable cause despite the purported error. If the arrest of Arthurs
occurred in 2017, the information he provided would carry little weight on its own, but as noted above that
data will not be examined in isolation but would be included in the totality of the circumstances. “While
this information on its own may be insufficient for purposes of establishing probable cause, the
information can be utilized to add flavor and force to the non-stale information.”
State v. Smith, 5th Dist. Licking No. 16-CA-15, 2016-Ohio-7390, ¶ 69 in which we permitted the
consideration of a 23 year old conviction in the affidavit. “[I]t is well-settled that information about criminal
activity at an earlier unspecified time may combine with factually connected, recent, time-specific
information to provide substantial basis for the conclusion that criminal activity described in an affidavit is
sufficiently close in time to the search warrant application.” Id at ¶ 71. In the context of this case, we find
the age of the information obtained from Arthurs irrelevant to our disposition of the appeal.
Fairfield County, Case No. 18-CA-45 8

fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime’ would be found” at 180 Sells Rd

Apt H6. Massachusetts v. Upton, 466 U.S. 727, 733, 104 S.Ct. 2085, 2088, 80 L.Ed.2d

721 (1984).

{¶21} We hold that the trial court did not err by denying the Appellant’s motion to

suppress because “the evidence viewed as a whole provided a ‘substantial basis' for the

magistrate's finding of probable cause.” Id. Appellant’s sole assignment of error is denied

and the decision of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By: Baldwin, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Wise, Earle, J. concur.