[Cite as State v. Breneman, 2015-Ohio-4783.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 2013-CA-27 : v. : T.C. NO. 13CR50 : JAMES D. BRENEMAN : (Criminal Appeal from : Common Pleas Court) Defendant-Appellant : :
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OPINION
Rendered on the __20th__ day of ___November____, 2015.
JANE A. NAPIER, Atty. Reg. No. 0061426, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 200 North Main Street, Urbana, Ohio 43078 Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
BRADLEY S. BALDWIN, Atty. Reg. No. 0070186, 854 E. Franklin Street, Centerville, Ohio 45459 Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
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FROELICH, P.J.
{¶ 1} James D. Breneman was found guilty by a jury in the Champaign County
Court of Common Pleas of two counts of possession of cocaine, both felonies of the fifth
degree. The jury acquitted him of one count of possession of heroin. The court -2-
imposed sentences of six months and eleven months for the two charges and ordered
that they be served consecutively.
{¶ 2} Breneman appeals from his convictions, claiming that the trial court erred in
allowing certain evidence to be admitted and that his convictions were based on
insufficient evidence and were against the manifest weight of the evidence. For the
following reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed in part, reversed in part, and
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
I. Appellate Procedural History
{¶ 3} Breneman’s original appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), stating that after
thoroughly examining the record and the law, he found “no errors by the trial court
prejudicial to the rights of appellant.” By entry, we informed Breneman that his attorney
had filed an Anders brief on his behalf and granted him 60 days from that date to file a
pro se brief. Breneman filed a motion for appointment of new counsel, raising seven
grounds for reversing his conviction. We construed Breneman’s motion to be his pro se
brief.
{¶ 4} Upon an initial review of the record, we noticed that neither the presentence
investigation report nor a transcript of the hearing on a motion to suppress were part of
the record. We ordered the record to be supplemented with these items and allowed
counsel to file a supplemental brief to raise any issues arising from those filings.
Counsel’s supplemental brief indicated that no additional issues were identified, and he
again sought to withdraw as counsel.
{¶ 5} While conducting our independent review of the record pursuant to Penson -3-
v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 (1988), we concluded that a non-
frivolous issue existed as to whether inadmissible evidence, which was prejudicial to
Breneman, was improperly admitted at trial. We ordered new counsel to be appointed.
{¶ 6} Breneman, with new counsel, now raises three assignments of error on
appeal.
II. Sufficiency and Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶ 7} In his second and third assignments of error, Breneman claims that his
convictions for possession of cocaine were based on insufficient evidence and were
against the manifest weight of the evidence. Breneman asserts that the State did not
present adequate evidence that he constructively possessed the drugs at issue.
Breneman’s convictions for possession of cocaine were based on a crack pipe located in
the kitchen (Count Two) and a razor blade located in Breneman’s bedroom (Count Three).
{¶ 8} “A sufficiency of the evidence argument disputes whether the State has
presented adequate evidence on each element of the offense to allow the case to go to
the jury or sustain the verdict as a matter of law.” State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 22581, 2009-Ohio-525, ¶ 10, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678
N.E.2d 541 (1997).
{¶ 9} In contrast, “a weight of the evidence argument challenges the believability
of the evidence and asks which of the competing inferences suggested by the evidence
is more believable or persuasive.” Wilson at ¶ 12. See Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio
St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, 972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 19 (“‘manifest weight of the evidence’
refers to a greater amount of credible evidence and relates to persuasion”). When
evaluating whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, the -4-
appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable
inferences, consider witness credibility, and determine whether, in resolving 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.” Thompkins, 78
Ohio St.3d at 387, citing State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st
Dist.1983).
{¶ 10} Because the trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses at trial, we must defer
to the factfinder’s decisions whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of
particular witnesses. State v. Lawson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 WL
476684 (Aug. 22, 1997). However, we may determine which of several competing
inferences suggested by the evidence should be preferred. Id. The fact that the
evidence is subject to different interpretations does not render the conviction against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Wilson at ¶ 14. A judgment of conviction should be
reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence only in exceptional
circumstances. Martin at 175.
{¶ 11} R.C. 2925.11(A) prohibits a person from knowingly possessing drugs. “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. A
person has knowledge of circumstances when the person is aware that such
circumstances probably exist.” R.C. 2901.22(B).
{¶ 12} “‘Possess’ or ‘possession’ means having control over a thing or substance,
but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through
ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.” -5-
R.C. 2925.01(K). “Possession of a drug may be either actual physical possession or
constructive possession. A person has constructive possession of an item when he is
conscious of the presence of the object and able to exercise dominion and control over
that item, even if it is not within his immediate physical possession.” (Citations omitted.)
State v. Mabry, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21569, 2007-Ohio-1895, ¶ 18. “Establishment
of ownership is not required.” State v. Rastbichler, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25753,
2014-Ohio-628, ¶ 33. In determining whether an individual possessed drugs, it is
necessary to consider all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. Mabry
at ¶ 20.
{¶ 13} According to the State’s evidence at trial, Breneman rented a bedroom in
a home owned by Dave McLaughlin at 1222 Norwood Avenue in Urbana. In December
2012, Breneman’s bedroom was the northwest bedroom, and he locked the bedroom
door with a padlock when he was not home. McLaughlin resided in the master bedroom,
and Shane Ferryman lived in the northeast bedroom of the house.
{¶ 14} On December 11, 2012, the Urbana Police Department decided to obtain a
search warrant for the Norwood residence. While the application for the warrant was
being prepared, Sgt. Josh Jacobs instructed Officer Brandon Deskins (a state parole/
probation officer), Probation Officer Matt Hauenstein, and Police Officer Mike Hughes to
secure the residence. After Sgt. Jacobs was advised that no one was there, Jacobs
instructed the officers to make sure no one entered or exited the residence.
{¶ 15} While Officer Deskins was standing in the driveway, he saw Breneman drive
toward the home and turn on a blinker as if he planned to turn into the driveway. Deskins
testified that it appeared that Breneman saw a police cruiser and Deskins’s vehicle in the -6-
driveway. Breneman then turned off his turn signal and drove past the house.
{¶ 16} The officers found no signs that anyone was home, but the officers
observed a dog loose in the house. After a search warrant was obtained, Sgt. Jacobs
contacted McLaughlin to ask what could be done about the dog. McLaughlin responded
that he would contact the dog’s owner to pick up the dog. Sgt. Jacobs went to the
residence with the search warrant.
{¶ 17} Breneman later arrived at the Norwood residence and told the officers he
was there for the dog. Breneman told Jacobs that he rented a room at the house, that
his room was locked, and that he had a key to it. Sgt. Josh Jacobs informed Breneman
that the search warrant was for the entire house and that the room would be forcibly
entered if no key were provided. Breneman provided a key, retrieved the dog, and left
the residence.
{¶ 18} Officers located several drug-related items in the home. A black pipe for
smoking marijuana was found underneath the couch in the living room; the pipe tested
positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Two crack pipes, one of which
appeared to be a socket wrench, were found in a wooden drawer in the “play area” of the
garage; both tested positive for cocaine. A white crack pipe was located behind a mirror
in the kitchen; the pipe tested positive for cocaine. Rolling papers were found near the
pipe. A spoon and cotton ball, used to prepare heroin, were also found in the kitchen;
the spoon tested positive for heroin. Another spoon with a cotton ball was found in the
closet of Ferryman’s room; the spoon tested positive for heroin. Only trace amounts of
drugs were found.
{¶ 19} In Breneman’s bedroom, officers located a razor blade on a television stand; -7-
the razor blade had trace amounts of cocaine and THC. Marijuana screens and
hemostats (small clamping scissors that can be used to hold a marijuana cigarette) were
also found on the television stand. Sgt. Jacobs testified that he saw a “drug ledger,”
which noted how much certain individuals owed for drugs already provided. Two boxes
of sandwich baggies, which are used to package smaller pieces of drugs, and tied-off
pieces of small baggies were found. A metal grinder, with some marijuana inside, was
found in a drawer.
{¶ 20} The State presented evidence to substantiate that the northwest bedroom
belonged to Breneman. As stated above, Breneman told Sgt. Jacobs that he resided in
the northwest bedroom and Breneman provided Jacobs with the key to the padlock for
the bedroom door. Officer Deskins saw clothing in the room that was consistent with the
clothing that Breneman liked to wear. Breneman’s driver’s license was located in the
bedroom on top of a filing cabinet in the closet. A bedside table drawer contained (1) a
court document relating to a prior criminal case involving Breneman and (2) a key fob for
a vehicle with a tag that said “JD.” The bedroom also contained an envelope addressed
to “J.D. Breneman” and a compact disk labeled “Inc. #095100, J.D. Breneman,
Photographs.”
{¶ 21} Ashley Gibson testified that she purchased heroin from Breneman. She
stated that she would contact Breneman, and Breneman would typically send Ferryman
with the drugs. On a few occasions, Gibson obtained drugs directly from Breneman.
{¶ 22} Gibson stated that she lived at 1222 Norwood Avenue for approximately
one month in the summer of 2012. She saw Breneman possess heroin and saw him
package cocaine or heroin in the kitchen. Gibson stated that Breneman kept his drugs -8-
in his bedroom, and she once found cocaine and heroin stored inside a lint roller in his
bedroom. Gibson testified that she bought drugs from Breneman and Ferryman at the
house, but she did not observe other drug transactions. Gibson did not observe
Breneman or Ferryman using drugs.
{¶ 23} Finally, the State introduced a recorded telephone conversation between
Breneman, who was in jail, and his girlfriend, Tameeka Chamberlain. The recording was
made on February 9, 2013, the day Breneman was booked into the jail, but nearly two
months after the execution of the search warrant. During the conversation, Breneman
instructed Chamberlain to immediately go to “Dave’s house,” retrieve certain items from
his (Breneman’s) bedroom and Landers’s bedroom, and put a plate from his bedroom in
the kitchen sink and run water over it. Breneman also asked Chamberlain to put the
retrieved items in a waterproof bag and to put the bag “deep in the woods somewhere,”
to set up a prepaid phone account, and to turn off his “work phone.” Breneman told
Chamberlain to “get out of there immediately,” but not to transport items in his car.
{¶ 24} At one point in the telephone conversation, Chamberlain passed the phone
to McLaughlin, and Breneman talked with him. Breneman informed McLaughlin that
there was likely a warrant for his (McLaughlin’s) arrest and of the charges for which
Breneman was arrested. Breneman emphasized to McLaughlin to “remember” that
Breneman did not live at the house, that Breneman drove for him, and that he (Breneman)
only rented a room from time to time.
{¶ 25} The defense offered three witnesses on Breneman’s behalf – Uzyssie
Landers, Shane Ferryman, and Breneman himself.
{¶ 26} Uzyssie Landers testified that he lived at 1222 Norwood Avenue from -9-
around October through December 2012, and he worked for McLaughlin, who had a
carpet-cleaning business. Landers stated that Breneman, Ferryman, Amanda Neer, and
Jason Karg stayed at the residence “on and off.” Landers saw Neer use heroin there on
a daily basis and crack cocaine two or three times per week, either in the bathroom or a
bedroom, including Breneman’s bedroom. Landers saw Karg and visitors to the
residence also use drugs in the house. Landers “never” saw Breneman use heroin or
cocaine, but he did see Breneman use marijuana. Landers indicated that the kitchen
was a “community kitchen” that everyone used, and people used crack cocaine there;
some days, such as weekends, there were 10 to 12 people in the kitchen.
{¶ 27} Landers testified that he saw Neer using a razor blade at the house.
Between Thanksgiving and December 11, 2012, Karg also used a razor blade while
installing a surround sound system in Breneman’s bedroom. Landers stated that
Breneman did not engage in selling drugs at the house.
{¶ 28} Landers testified that he was at the Norwood residence with Neer on
December 11, 2012, when a probation officer knocked on the door. Neer and Landers
remained in the house unseen for “hours.” Neer was in and out of Breneman’s bedroom
“the whole time the police were outside,” and she locked the padlock on Breneman’s door
before leaving the house. Landers stated that, after it became dark outside, he and Neer
climbed out of the window of the northeast bedroom using an above-ground pool ladder.
{¶ 29} Shane Ferryman testified that he worked for McLaughlin, and in November
and December 2012, he sporadically stayed at McLaughlin’s house when it was
convenient for work-related purposes; he used the room previously used by Karg and
Neer. During that time, Ferryman saw McLaughlin, Breneman, Neer, Karg, Gibson, -10-
Landers, and McLaughlin’s girlfriend, Dawn Clark, at the house on a regular basis.
Ferryman testified that Breneman would “come and go” and spent approximately five to
ten nights at the house. Ferryman saw Neer use heroin and crack cocaine, Gibson and
Karg use heroin, and Breneman and Landers use marijuana at the house. Ferryman
stated that he was last at 1222 Norwood Avenue on December 11, 2012, the day the
search warrant was executed.
{¶ 30} Ferryman stated that people sometimes went in and out of the house
through the northeast bedroom window. Ferryman testified that they “actually left the
pool ladder outside the window so that we could get in through the bedroom * * * whenever
we got locked out.”
{¶ 31} Ferryman stated that locks were installed on the northwest bedroom and
the bedroom used by Landers within a week of December 11. Ferryman indicated the
locks came from the same package and the keys for the locks were the same, so
Breneman and Landers both had keys to the locks. Ferryman testified that the locks
were added due to thefts, but people who were trusted, such as Neer and Ferryman,
could go in and out of Breneman’s room.
{¶ 32} Ferryman stated that he witnessed individuals using drugs in the kitchen;
on one occasion, he saw Karg smoking crack cocaine there. Ferryman stated that Neer
and Karg used a small, white crack pipe to ingest crack cocaine. Ferryman recalled
Karg’s using a razor blade while Karg, Ferryman, and Breneman installed a surround
sound system in Breneman’s bedroom.
{¶ 33} Breneman testified that he worked for McLaughlin as a van driver, and that
he stayed at 1222 Norwood Avenue on occasion, beginning in July 2012. Breneman -11-
denied that he lived at the house. Breneman stated that, in order to protect his property
from theft, he added a padlock to the door of the northwest bedroom sometime between
December 7 and December 10, 2012. Breneman had bought a two-pack of padlocks
from Walmart, and the keys fit both locks. Landers had the other lock and key.
{¶ 34} Breneman denied that he used or possessed cocaine or heroin at 1222
Norwood in 2012. He admitted to having marijuana and marijuana equipment and to
smoking marijuana at the house, and he acknowledged that he had sold cocaine out of
the house from 2003 to 2007. Breneman denied selling drugs to Gibson in 2012 or
selling heroin at any time. Breneman stated that he had seen McLaughlin, McLaughlin’s
girlfriend, Karg, and Neer smoke cocaine in the house; Gibson smoked crack cocaine.
Breneman also saw Karg, Gibson, and Neer use heroin in the house. Breneman did not
see individuals cook drugs on a spoon.
{¶ 35} Breneman testified that the razor blade at issue was used by Karg to split
wires while hanging a sound system in Breneman’s room. Breneman stated that Karg
got the razor blade from the kitchen and that it had been on the kitchen table for a long
time. Breneman had seen Neer and McLaughlin use the blade to cut crack cocaine.
{¶ 36} Breneman further testified that the crack pipe in the kitchen was beside
“Dave’s chair behind his mirror.” Breneman stated that McLaughlin would get the crack
pipe out when “his women” came over, and that Neer, Karg, Gibson, and Clark also used
the crack pipe.
{¶ 37} Breneman testified regarding the recorded telephone call from the jail and
acknowledged it was a conversation between him and his girlfriend, Chamberlain.
Breneman stated that he was directing Chamberlain to get his money (about $4,000), -12-
rare coins, hash, and medical marijuana. Breneman denied that he had talked to her
about cocaine or heroin.
{¶ 38} Breneman stated that he was last at 1222 Norwood Avenue on February 3,
2013. At that time, the ladder was still outside the window of the northeast bedroom.
Breneman testified that he saw the ladder near the garage during the jury view of the
property on the first day of trial.
{¶ 39} Breneman acknowledged that he had several prior convictions, including
convictions for receiving stolen property, illegal manufacture of drugs, possession of
cocaine, and having weapons while under disability. Breneman testified that a conviction
for trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine was reversed on appeal.
{¶ 40} The State recalled Officer Deskins as a rebuttal witness. Deskins testified
that no ladder was located next to a window of the house. He stated that he would have
removed the ladder from the window had he found one. Deskins testified that, initially,
there were three officers located along different sides of the house, and more officers
came later. Deskins further stated that, based upon his past experiences, the actions of
the dog within the home was consistent with no one being present in the house.
{¶ 41} Upon review of the evidence, we find that Breneman’s conviction for
possession of cocaine based on the razor blade was based on sufficient evident and was
not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The State produced substantial
evidence that Breneman resided in the northwest bedroom, where the razor blade was
found. He told Sgt. Jacobs that he rented that room, he provided a key for the padlock
on the door, he referred to the room in the recorded jail telephone call as his room, and
the room contained his driver’s license, a key fob with his initials, court documents -13-
concerning his prior appellate court case, and clothing consistent with his clothing. The
jury could have reasonably concluded that he possessed the razor blade found on the
television table in that room.
{¶ 42} The defense presented several witnesses that testified that the razor blade
was brought into Breneman’s bedroom from the kitchen by Jason Karg when the surround
sound system was installed in the bedroom shortly before the December 11 raid.
Landers also recalled Neer using a razor blade. However, Sgt. Jacobs testified that a
razor blade or something sharp would be used to cut cocaine (Tr. 351), and Gibson
testified that she saw Breneman package cocaine or heroin in the kitchen. The razor
blade had trace amounts of cocaine and THC, an ingredient of marijuana. Several items
associated with marijuana use were also found in Breneman’s bedroom, and Breneman
acknowledged that he used and sold marijuana.
{¶ 43} It was the province of the jury to assess the witnesses’ credibility and
determine whether the State had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Based on
the evidence, we cannot conclude that the jury lost its way when it convicted Breneman
of the possession of cocaine based on the razor blade.
{¶ 44} The State also presented sufficient evidence that Breneman constructively
possessed the crack pipe found behind a mirror in the kitchen. Although Breneman told
Sgt. Jacobs that he only rented a room in the house, there was evidence that Breneman
used the kitchen, a common area of the house. Gibson testified that she saw Breneman
packaging drugs in the kitchen, and Breneman’s dog was found loose in the house,
including in the kitchen. Breneman’s own testimony established that he had knowledge
of the presence of the crack pipe behind the mirror, that several people used it, and that -14-
Breneman had the ability to exercise dominion and control over it.
{¶ 45} However, under the specific facts of this case, the circumstances do not
support a conclusion that Breneman constructively possessed the crack pipe when the
pipe was seized by the police. We have stated that “[r]eadily usable drugs found in very
close proximity to a person may constitute circumstantial evidence sufficient to support a
finding that the person constructively possessed those drugs,” State v. Griffith, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 26451, 2015-Ohio-4112, ¶ 31, but Breneman was not at home when the
police executed the search warrant, nor was there evidence that Breneman had been to
the house that day. Breneman drove by the house while a search warrant was being
sought, and he later came to house to retrieve his dog, but he left the residence before
the search began. The jury could not reasonably infer that Breneman constructively
possessed the crack pipe in the kitchen based on the circumstances surrounding the
discovery of the crack pipe.
{¶ 46} Moreover, several residents and visitors to the Norwood Avenue home used
crack cocaine, but there was no evidence that Breneman used crack cocaine or exercised
dominion and control over the crack pipe in the kitchen. Gibson (a State’s witness) and
Landers testified that they did not observe Breneman use drugs, and Ferryman and
Breneman testified that Breneman only used marijuana. Breneman expressly denied
using cocaine and heroin, and he identified the crack pipe as belonging to McLaughlin.
When the prosecutor asked Sgt. Jacobs about Gibson’s testimony that Breneman did not
use drugs, Sgt. Jacobs explained that a “‘good’ drug dealer is a drug dealer who doesn’t
use his product. When he doesn’t use the product, any money that he makes * * * from
selling that is profit money for them in order to make money. So when Ms. Gibson -15-
testified that Mr. Breneman doesn’t use heroin or crack cocaine or cocaine, that doesn’t
surprise me very much at all.” (Tr. 372-373.)
{¶ 47} In short, the crack pipe was found hidden in a common area of the home,
which was used by numerous people who smoked crack cocaine; Breneman was not one
of the people who used crack cocaine. There was no evidence that Breneman had
“control over” the crack pipe. See R.C. 2925.01(K) (definition of “possession”). Rather,
the evidence demonstrates that Breneman merely had access to the crack pipe through
occupation of the premises where it was found, which does not support a finding of
possession. Id. Based on the circumstances presented, we agree with Breneman that
his conviction for possession of cocaine based on the crack pipe in the kitchen was
against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 48} Breneman’s second assignment of error is overruled. Breneman’s third
assignment of error is sustained as to Count Two (crack pipe) and overruled as to Count
Three (razor blade).
III. Evidentiary Issue: Jail Telephone Call
{¶ 49} In the first portion of Breneman’s first assignment of error, Breneman claims
that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the recording of the jailhouse
telephone call placed by Breneman on February 9, 2013. Breneman claims that (1) the
recording was irrelevant to whether he possessed heroin or cocaine on December 11,
2012, and (2) the probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice. At trial, Breneman did not object to the recording on the basis of relevancy.
Thus, we review the admission of the recording for plain error.
{¶ 50} In order to constitute plain error, the error must be an obvious defect in the -16-
trial proceedings, and the error must have affected substantial rights. State v. Norris, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 26147, 2015-Ohio-624, ¶ 22; Crim.R. 52(B). The Ohio Supreme
Court has recently reiterated that, even if an accused shows that the trial court committed
plain error affecting the outcome of the proceeding, an appellate court is not required to
correct it. State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 23.
Rather, plain error should be noticed “with the utmost caution, under exceptional
circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” (Emphasis added
in Rogers). Id., quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978),
paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 51} Decisions regarding the admissibility of evidence at trial are within the broad
discretion of the trial court and will be upheld absent an abuse of discretion and material
prejudice. State v. Noling, 98 Ohio St.3d 44, 2002-Ohio-7044, 781 N.E.2d 88, ¶ 43.
The relevant inquiry is whether the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, or
unconscionably in deciding the evidentiary issue. Id.
{¶ 52} Relevant evidence is generally admissible whereas irrelevant evidence is
not. Evid.R. 402. Relevant evidence is defined as “evidence having any tendency to
make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action
more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Evid.R. 401.
However, even relevant evidence is not admissible if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, of confusion of the issues, or of misleading
the jury. Evid.R. 402; Evid.R. 403(A).
{¶ 53} As stated above, the State introduced a recorded telephone conversation
between Breneman and his girlfriend, Tameeka Chamberlain, which was made on -17-
February 9, 2013, the day Breneman was booked into the jail, but approximately two
months after the search. During the conversation, Breneman instructed Chamberlain to
immediately go to “Dave’s house,” get a silver clock from his bedroom, get a “packet” from
a cup of change in his bedroom, and put a plate from his bedroom in the kitchen sink and
run water over it. Breneman also told Chamberlain to retrieve items from Landers’s room
in the house. Breneman asked Chamberlain to put the items in a waterproof bag and to
put the bag “deep in the woods somewhere” and also to set up a prepaid phone account.
Breneman told Chamberlain to “get out of there immediately,” but not to transport these
items in his car. Breneman also spoke with McLaughlin and warned him that there might
be an arrest warrant for him. Breneman also emphasized to McLaughlin that he
(Breneman) did not live in the house, but only rented a room from McLaughlin from time
to time.
{¶ 54} Although the recorded conversation occurred nearly two months after the
razor blade and crack pipe were seized, the conversation was relevant to demonstrate
that Breneman resided at the house and hid items in multiple locations. While talking
with Chamberlain, Breneman repeatedly referred to the bedroom in which he stayed as
“my room,” and Breneman instructed McLaughlin to leave his room locked up. The
recording indicated that Breneman would attempt to minimize his association with the
Norwood Avenue residence, as demonstrated by Breneman’s statements to McLaughlin
that McLaughlin needed to “remember” that Breneman did not live at the house and only
rented a room from time to time. In addition, Breneman instructed Chamberlain to
retrieve items from his room and from Landers’s room, and he told her not to drive with
the items in his car, thus implying that the items were contraband. However, Breneman -18-
did not identify any of the items as drugs.
{¶ 55} The trial court did not abuse its discretion and commit plain error in admitting
the recorded telephone call, particularly in the absence of an objection. The recording
was marginally relevant to establishing that Breneman possessed items within the
northwest bedroom and that he had possessions in other portions of the house. The
recording’s probative value was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice, of confusion of the issues, or of misleading the jury, especially since Breneman
admitted to possessing and using marijuana in the house. This portion of the first
assignment of error is overruled.
IV. Evidentiary Issue: Redacted Court Documents
{¶ 56} Breneman further claims that the trial court abused its discretion in
admitting State’s Exhibit 13, a photograph of the contents of a drawer in Breneman’s
bedroom, without redacting the trial judge’s name from a document found inside the
drawer. Breneman did not raise this issue at trial. Accordingly, we review it for plain
error.
{¶ 57} The State introduced three photographs of the contents of a bedside table
drawer in Breneman’s bedroom. Each of the photographs included the front page of a
court document, specifically an appellate opinion in a prior criminal case against
Breneman. Exhibit 10 is a photograph of the contents of the desk drawer from a
distance; the court document is blurry and not legible. Exhibit 11 is a close-up
photograph of the court document’s caption. Exhibit 13 is a close-up photograph of
several items in the drawer. Only a small portion of the court document is shown in
Exhibit 13, but that portion includes most of the prosecutor’s name, most of defense -19-
counsel’s name, and a portion of the name of the judge who authored the appellate
opinion.
{¶ 58} During the State’s case-in-chief, the State told the court that State’s Exhibit
11 was being introduced “to show that [Breneman] had personal effects in his bedroom,
that he had dominion and control over the bedroom.” (Tr. 337.) The State indicated
that “[t]here are other items in other photographs that also show this, which the State also
intends to introduce. So it’s not being introduced for the purpose of discussing his prior
criminal case, it’s for personal items that he has[:] mail, legal papers, keys, driver’s
license.” (Tr. 337.) The parties agreed that the State’s witnesses would refer to the
court document as “legal papers” and that Exhibits 10 and 11 would not be shown to the
jury unless Breneman testified. Exhibit 13 was not discussed.
{¶ 59} Breneman testified at trial. During the discussion of the admission of
exhibits following the conclusion of all of the testimony, the State indicated that there
needed to be a discussion regarding “the manner in which the Exhibits 10 and 11 at this
point can be presented to the jury and whether or not some redaction needs to take place
so as not to unfairly prejudice the defendant when the jury views the photographs of the
defendant’s legal paperwork depicting his prior criminal appeal and also the fact that it
lists the then prosecuting attorney’s name and may cause some confusion for the jury in
that Your Honor was the prosecutor at the time – at least the prosecutor in the office.”
{¶ 60} The court ordered that the prosecutor’s name and attorney number be
redacted from State’s Exhibit 11 and that both the prosecutor’s and defense counsel’s
names and attorney numbers be redacted from State’s Exhibit 10. State’s Exhibit 13
was not discussed separately, and it was admitted without objection. -20-
{¶ 61} Upon overlaying State’s Exhibits 11 and 13, it is apparent that the jury could
have noticed that the prosecuting attorney in Breneman’s prior criminal case was the
judge who presided over this trial. Considering the care that the parties and the court
took to ensure that the attorneys’ names were redacted from State’s Exhibits 10 and 11,
the failure to address the attorneys’ names on State’s Exhibit 13 appears to have been
an oversight.
{¶ 62} Regardless, we cannot conclude that Breneman was prejudiced by the
failure to redact State’s Exhibit 13. State’s Exhibits 10, 11, and 13 were offered to
demonstrate that objects belonging to Breneman were located in the northwest bedroom
and, by extension, that the bedroom was Breneman’s. State’s Exhibit 10 and 11, which
showed the caption of the appellate opinion, focused on the court document; State’s
Exhibit 13 did not. When testifying about State’s Exhibit 13 at trial, Sgt. Jacobs stated
that the photograph was a close-up of the key fob with a “JD” tag. No mention was made
of the court document in the discussion of State’s Exhibit 13. At no time was the
prosecutor’s name highlighted for the jury. We also note that Breneman was acquitted
on the possession of heroin charge, which further supports a conclusion that the failure
to redact State’s Exhibit 13 did not prejudice Breneman.
{¶ 63} Upon review of the record as a whole, we cannot conclude that the outcome
of Breneman’s trial was affected by failure to redact the prosecutor’s name from State’s
Exhibit 13. This portion of the first assignment of error is overruled.
V. Conclusion
{¶ 64} The trial court’s judgment will be affirmed in part, reversed in part, and
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. -21-
FAIN, J. and HALL, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Jane A. Napier Bradley S. Baldwin James D. Breneman Hon. Nick A. Selvaggio