[Cite as State v. Cochern, 2018-Ohio-265.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 104960
STATE OF OHIO PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
CHADD M. COCHERN DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-12-569110-A
BEFORE: Kilbane, P.J., Stewart, J., and Blackmon, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 25, 2018 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Brandon J. Henderson Justin Weatherly 3238 Lorain Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113-3702
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O’Malley Cuyahoga County Prosecutor BY: Carl Sullivan Assistant County Prosecutor Justice Center, 9th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Chadd Cochern (“Cochern”), appeals his jury
conviction for rape, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, and kidnapping. For the
reasons set forth below, we affirm.
{¶2} In April 2013, Cochern was charged in a 12-count indictment arising out of
sexual abuse allegations by his former girlfriend’s two minor daughters, J.T. and A.T.
The indictment charged Cochern with five counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual
imposition (“GSI”), four counts of kidnapping, and one count of disseminating matter
harmful to juveniles. Each count of rape and GSI carried sexually violent predator
specifications. Each count of kidnapping carried sexual motivation and sexually violent
predator specifications.
{¶3} Cochern was taken into custody in May 2013. Cochern retained counsel to
represent him. At his arraignment, Cochern pled not guilty to the indictment. After the
arraignment, Cochern posted a $100,000 surety bond and was released.
{¶4} Thereafter, numerous pretrials were held and continued at Cochern’s
request. Two trial dates were set and also continued at Cochern’s request. In January
2014, Cochern requested a third trial continuance. On January 21, 2014, Cochern and
the state stipulated to a calculation of Cochern’s speedy trial time, agreeing that 22 days
had elapsed. On that date, the trial court granted Cochern’s request for a continuance
and set a new trial date of March 18, 2014. On March 18, the trial date was continued at
the state’s request to June 23, 2014, “the first available date for court and counsel,” because the assistant county prosecutor was engaged in trial in another courtroom. On
May 12, 2014, Cochern executed a speedy trial waiver from May 7, 2014 through July 31,
2014.
{¶5} On June 23, 2014, Cochern again moved to continue the trial to August 25,
2014, because his counsel was engaged in trial in federal court. On July 28, Cochern
executed a second speedy trial waiver from July 14 through October 31, 2014.
{¶6} The trial court granted Cochern’s request for a continuance and set a final
pretrial for August 5, 2014, at which Cochern failed to appear. The trial court issued a
capias. On August 15, 2014, Cochern appeared in court, and the trial court recalled the
capias. On this date, Cochern moved for a continuance of the August 25 trial date,
explaining that he wished to retain new counsel. The trial court granted Cochern’s
request and gave him until September 16, 2014 to retain new counsel.
{¶7} On September 16, 2014, Cochern’s bond was revoked, and he was taken
into custody for his failure to comply with the conditions of his bond. Cochern was
arrested in Lorain County, Ohio in early September 2014. The trial court appointed an
assistant public defender to represent Cochern because he had not yet retained new
counsel.
{¶8} On October 7, 2014, the trial court set a November 3, 2014 trial date and
reinstated Cochern’s bond. On October 14, Cochern failed to appear for the scheduled
final pretrial, and the trial court again revoked his bond. {¶9} On October 22, 2014, Cochern was taken into custody. On October 24,
Cochern’s newly retained counsel filed a motion to reinstate his bond. The trial court
granted this motion, reinstated Cochern’s bond, ordered Cochern released, and set a new
trial date of December 9, 2014. In November, Cochern’s new counsel requested
additional time to prepare for trial and a continuance of the December trial date. The
trial court granted this continuance and set a new trial date of February 11, 2015.
{¶10} In December 2014, the state moved to revoke Cochern’s bond because he
had been indicted and arrested for robbery in Portage County, Ohio. The trial court
granted the state’s motion and revoked Cochern’s bond on December 16, 2014. In
February 2016, while Cochern was still capias, Cochern’s defense counsel filed motions
for the following: a bill of particulars, case in chief, discovery, and exculpatory material.
{¶11} Cochern was capias until March 18, 2016. On March 25, Cochern filed a
motion to reinstate his bond. The trial court never ruled on this motion and Cochern
remained incarcerated. In April 2016, a trial was set for July 2016, but was ultimately
rescheduled to August 2016 because the trial court was engaged in trial in another matter.
{¶12} On August 29, 2016, the matter finally proceeded to a jury trial. Prior to
trial, Cochern had moved for dismissal of the indictment arguing that he had been denied
the right to a speedy trial. The trial court denied this motion. Prior to jury selection,
Cochern executed a jury waiver on the sexually violent predator specifications. {¶13} At trial, J.T. and A.T.’s mother (“Mother”) testified that her relationship
with Cochern began in 2009, when J.T. was around four years old, and continued “off and
on” for two and a-half years. Mother testified that Cochern was the only white man she
had ever dated and that he was the only man named “Chadd” she has dated. She further
testified that Cochern had been a frequent presence in her daughters’ lives during her
relationship with him and that he had resided with her and her daughters for a period of
time.
{¶14} Mother explained that she lived with the girls’ father, her ex-husband, in a
single family home on West 23rd Street from 2006 until he moved out when they
separated. In 2008, she met Cochern. Cochern was her next-door neighbor on West
23rd Street he lived below her mother in a double. She testified she began dating
Cochern in the summer of 2009. She explained that in the winter of 2010, she and her
daughters moved into an apartment in the downstairs unit of a double home on West 44th
Street. She testified that Cochern lived with them in this unit on West 44th Street.
{¶15} In the summer of 2011, Mother and her daughters moved to an apartment in
the upstairs unit of a double near West 40th Street and Clark Avenue. She testified that
although she and Cochern were not officially dating at that point, he did visit this home,
and their relationship ultimately ended while she lived on West 40th street. In November
2011, the family moved to a downstairs unit on Bush Avenue. She explained that at this
time, she was no longer speaking to Cochern. {¶16} Eleven-year-old J.T. testified as to four separate instances of sexual abuse
by Cochern that occurred when she was in kindergarten and first grade, from the time she
was five until the age of six.
{¶17} J.T. described three instances of sexual abuse that took place in the
apartment she shared with her mother and sisters in the upstairs unit of a double home.
J.T. testified that Cochern made her “suck his private part” and that on one occasion, he
extorted her to do so in return for fixing the television in her room. J.T. also testified
that she remembered a separate occasion when she hid from Cochern under the counter in
the kitchen. She explained that Cochern found her there and forced her to perform oral
sex on him. She testified that during this assault, her mother was drinking on the porch
outside. J.T. testified that Cochern threatened to “whup” her with a belt if she told
anyone about either incident. J.T. also described a third incident that took place in this
apartment where Cochern forced her to watch him masturbate and ejaculate into the
bathroom sink. He then told her to “suck his private part.”
{¶18} J.T. next described one instance of sexual assault that occurred while
Cochern lived with her family. She explained that Cochern and her family resided in an
apartment in the downstairs unit of a double home. J.T. testified that Cochern tied a sock
around her eyes to blindfold her and “made [her] suck his private part.” She further
testified that she told Cochern to “stop putting [the sock] on [her] face.” {¶19} J.T.’s younger sister, A.T., also testified. A.T. explained that when she was
still too young to go to school, Cochern “made [her] touch his private part” with her hand
while in her mother’s bedroom.
{¶20} The state also called the investigating officer, Detective Jack Lent
(“Detective Lent”), J.T. and A.T.’s father, their father’s girlfriend, and two of the girls’
older cousins to whom they first disclosed the sexual abuse.
{¶21} After the close of the state’s evidence, the state moved to dismiss Counts 1,
3, 4, and 5 and Cochern moved under Crim.R. 29 for acquittal on Counts 8, 10, and 12.
The trial court granted Cochern’s motion as to Counts 8 and 12 — kidnapping charges
related to the bathroom incident with J.T. and the single incident related to A.T.
{¶22} The defense called Cochern’s former landlord of the apartment he lived in
during most of 2011, Cochern’s fiance, and a private investigator.
{¶23} The jury found Cochern guilty of three counts of rape, one count of
disseminating matters harmful to juveniles, and one count of kidnapping with a sexual
motivation specification, which were all the remaining counts that related to conduct
alleged by J.T. The jury did not find Cochern guilty of the GSI count related to the
incident alleged by A.T. The trial court did not find Cochern guilty of any of the relevant
sexually violent predator or sexual motivation specifications that were tried to the bench.
{¶24} In September 2016, the trial court sentenced Cochern to a term of life in
prison with parole eligibility after 25 years. The trial court also determined Cochern to be
a Tier III sex offender. {¶25} It is from this order that Cochern now appeals, raising the following three
assignments of error for our review:
Assignment of Error One
The evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that [Cochern] was guilty of rape and kidnapping.
Assignment of Error Two
[Cochern’s] convictions for rape, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, and kidnapping were against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Assignment of Error Three
[Cochern] was unlawfully deprived of his right to a speedy trial.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
{¶26} In the first assignment of error, Cochern argues the state did not put forth
sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that he was guilty of Counts 9 and 10 —
the rape and kidnapping described by J.T. as occurring in a downstairs unit apartment
where Cochern blindfolded her with a sock and forced her to perform fellatio on him.
{¶27} A claim of insufficient evidence raises the issue of “‘whether the evidence is
legally sufficient to support the verdict as a matter of law.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 1433
(6th Ed.1990). The Ohio Supreme Court has held:
An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would
convince the average mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt. 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, 574 N.E. 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. A
reviewing court is not to assess “whether the state’s evidence is to be believed, but
whether, if believed, the evidence against a defendant would support a conviction.”
Thompkins at 390. “In essence, sufficiency is a test of adequacy.” Id. at 386.
{¶28} As discussed above, Cochern was convicted of Counts 9 and 10 that related
to the blindfolding incident described by J.T. Count 9 charged Cochern with rape in
violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), which provides, in relevant part:
No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the spouse of the offender * * * when * * * [t]he other person is less than thirteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of the other person.
{¶29} Count 10 charged Cochern with kidnapping in violation of R.C.
2905.01(A)(4), which provides, in relevant part:
No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim under
the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any means, shall remove
another from the place where the other person is found or restrain the liberty of the other person, * * * [t]o engage in sexual activity, as defined in
[R.C. 2907.01], with the victim against the victim’s will[.]
{¶30} Cochern admits that “the elements of [rape under] R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b)
and [kidnapping under] R.C. 2905.01(A)(4) are present in [J.T.’s] testimony” as to
Counts 9 and 10. He argues, however, that the state’s timeline “incontrovertibly” shows
that he could not have committed these offenses. Cochern points specifically to the
conflicting testimony of J.T. and Mother regarding where the family lived and the status
of Cochern and Mother’s relationship at the time J.T. alleged this incident to have
occurred. This argument is unpersuasive.
{¶31} As we noted above, the test for sufficiency of the evidence is one of
adequacy. Thompkins at 390. We are not to assess “whether the state’s evidence is to
be believed, but whether, if believed, the evidence against a defendant would support a
conviction.” Cochern concedes that the evidence put forth by the state as to Counts 9
and 10 was sufficient to meet each required element of rape and kidnapping, but
essentially contends that conflicting evidence precludes his conviction on those counts.
We note that Cochern also relies on the contradictory testimony of J.T. and Mother in
support of his manifest weight challenge in the second assignment of error. Accordingly,
we will address this argument with his second assignment of error.
{¶32} At trial, J.T. testified that Cochern engaged in sexual conduct with her she
testified that Cochern forced her to perform fellatio. The state established that Cochern
restrained J.T.’s liberty. J.T. testified that Cochern used a sock to blindfold her and ignored her pleas to “stop putting [the sock] on [her] face.” The state established that
J.T. was under 13 at the time of this rape and kidnapping — she was 11 at the time of trial
and the state used her ages in kindergarten and first grades as a time frame to elicit her
testimony that she was five and six when Cochern sexually abused her.
{¶33} In viewing the evidence presented in a light most favorable to the state, we
find that the jury rationally found the essential elements of rape and kidnapping proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the first assignment of error is overruled.
Manifest Weight
{¶34} In the second assignment of error, Cochern argues that his convictions are
against the manifest weight of the evidence in light of inconsistencies in J.T.’s testimony
as well as conflicting testimony between J.T. and her mother related to the time line of the
sexual abuse. He also argues that police investigation of J.T.’s allegations was
“minimal.”
{¶35} Unlike a review for sufficiency of the evidence, a challenge to the manifest
weight of the evidence attacks the credibility of the evidence presented. State v.
Calhoun, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105442, 2017-Ohio-8488, ¶ 41, citing Thompkins, 78
Ohio St.3d at 387, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541. Because the standard of review for a
manifest weight challenge is broader than a review for sufficiency of the evidence, a
reviewing court may determine that a judgment is sustained by sufficient evidence but
nevertheless conclude that the judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Id., citing State v. Robinson, 162 Ohio St. 486, 487, 124 N.E.2d 148 (1955). {¶36} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, we function as a “thirteenth juror.” Id. We review 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. Id., quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d
717 (1983). We note that our “discretionary power to grant a new trial should be
exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the
conviction.” Id.
{¶37} Cochern points to inconsistencies between J.T.’s accounts of the sexual
abuse initially given to responding officers, in the interview she gave to Cleveland Police
Detective Jack Lent, and in her trial testimony. Cochern’s argument focuses on J.T.’s
use of present-tense language when describing Cochern’s actions in the interview she
gave to Detective Lent. Cochern argues that J.T.’s use of present-tense language
suggests the abuse was ongoing and indicates that she had mistaken Cochern as her
abuser as he was no longer in contact with her and her family at that point in time.
Cochern, relying on the same argument put forth in his first assignment of error, also
argues that the time line presented by the state and the conflicting testimony of J.T. and
her Mother as to this time line suggests his innocence. Specifically, he points to J.T.’s
testimony that she remembers the abuse that took place while Cochern lived with her family to have occurred after the abuse that took place in the upstairs unit apartment near
West 40th Street and Clark Avenue.
{¶38} Cochern also points to Mother’s testimony that he lived with them in a
downstairs unit apartment on West 44th Street before they moved to the upstairs unit
apartment. We find these arguments unpersuasive.
{¶39} This court has held that “a defendant is not entitled to reversal on manifest
weight grounds merely because certain aspects of a witness’s testimony are not credible
or were inconsistent or contradictory.” State v. Nitsche, 2016-Ohio-3170, 66 N.E.3d
135, ¶ 45 (8th Dist.). “The decision whether, and to what extent, to believe the testimony
of a particular witness is ‘within the peculiar competence of the factfinder, who has seen
and heard the witness.’” Id., quoting State v. Johnson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99822,
2014-Ohio-494, ¶ 54.
{¶40} Additionally, we note that the exact date and time of the offense is not an
essential element required to secure a rape conviction. State v. Sellards, 17 Ohio St.3d
169, 171, 478 N.E.2d 781 (1985). This court has noted “‘[i]t is well established that,
particularly in cases involving sexual misconduct with a child, the precise times and dates
of the alleged offense or offenses oftentimes [sic] cannot be determined with
specificity.’” State v. Valentine, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 71301, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS
3094, *4 (July 17, 1997), quoting State v. Daniel, 97 Ohio App.3d 548, 556, 647 N.E.2d
174 (10th Dist.1994). In Valentine, we further noted that “[t]his rule in Ohio has been
established because ‘in many cases involving child sexual abuse, the victims are children of tender years who are simply unable to remember exact dates and times, particularly
where the crimes involve a repeated course of conduct over an extended period of time.’”
Id., quoting State v. Mundy, 99 Ohio App.3d 275, 296, 650 N.E.2d 502 (2d Dist.1994).
{¶41} Upon review of the entire record, we do not find that the evidence presented
weighs heavily against Cochern’s convictions. J.T. provided detailed testimony as to
each act of sexual abuse charged in the indictment. She described in detail the areas in
each home in which she remembered each act to have occurred. She identified Cochern
as her abuser when she made the allegations at the age of 7 and again at trial when she
was 11 years old, noting that he was the only person she knew by the name of “Chadd.”
The jury’s finding that her testimony was credible was reasonable despite her possible
confusion as to the sequence of each instance of sexual abuse given her young age at the
time of the abuse.
{¶42} We find that Cochern’s argument that the police investigation of J.T.’s
allegations was “minimal” and so focused on him that “the investigating officer failed to
collect essential evidence” has no bearing on the evidence the jury heard in reaching its
determination of his guilt.
{¶43} Based on the foregoing, we do not find that the jury lost its way and created
such a manifest miscarriage of justice that Cochern’s convictions are against the manifest
weight of the evidence. Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
Speedy Trial {¶44} In the third assignment of error, Cochern relies on federal case law for the
proposition that his March 25, 2016 motion to reinstate his bond was the functional
equivalent of a demand for speedy trial. He argues that the state violated his right to a
speedy trial because it failed to bring him to trial within 90 days of the filing of this
motion. Although this argument is creative, we ultimately find it unpersuasive.
{¶45} The Ohio Supreme Court discussed the constitutional and statutory rights
to a speedy trial in State v. Baker, 78 Ohio St.3d 108, 676 N.E.2d 883 (1996):
The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the
United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio
Constitution. The individual states are obligated under the Fourteenth
Amendment to afford a person accused of a crime such a right. Klopfer v.
North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 222-223, 87 S.Ct. 988, 993, 18 L.Ed.2d 1,
7-8 (1967). However, the states are free to prescribe a reasonable period of
time to conform to constitutional requirements. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S.
514, 523, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2188, 33 L.Ed.2d 101, 113 (1972). In response to
this constitutional mandate, Ohio has enacted R.C. 2945.71 to 2945.73,
which designate specific time requirements for the state to bring an accused
to trial.
Id. at 110.
{¶46} In arguing his speedy trial claim, Cochern conflates the distinct standards of
review and case law surrounding the separate constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial. Therefore, we will review his claim within the paradigms of both
constitutional and statutory speedy trial protections.
Constitutional Right to a Speedy Trial
{¶47} Our review of a challenge of a constitutional speedy trial violation often
raises a mixed question of law and fact. State v. Barnes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90847,
2008-Ohio-5472, ¶ 19. We apply a de novo review to the legal issues, but afford great
deference to any factual findings made by the trial court. Id. This court has held that in
cases such as the present matter, where the facts underlying a defendant’s claim of a
violation of his or her constitutional right to a speedy trial are undisputed and the trial
court made no findings, we apply a de novo standard of review. Id. In examining a
constitutional claim on speedy trial grounds, the statutory time requirements of R.C.
2945.71 to 2945.73 are not relevant; instead, courts should employ the balancing test
enunciated by the United States Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 92
S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). Barnes at ¶ 28.
{¶48} In Barker, the United States Supreme Court identified the following factors
a reviewing courts should assess in determining whether a defendant was deprived of his
or her Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial: (1) the length of the delay, (2) the reason
for the delay, (3) the accused’s assertion of his or her right to a speedy trial, and (4) the
prejudice to the accused as a result of the delay. Barker. The Barker court went on to
explain:
We regard none of the four factors identified above as either a necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial. Rather, they are related factors and must be considered together with such other circumstances as may be relevant. In sum, these factors have no talismanic qualities; courts must still engage in a difficult and sensitive balancing process. But, because we are dealing with a fundamental right of the accused, this process must be carried out with full recognition that the accused’s interest in a speedy trial is specifically affirmed in the Constitution.
Id. at 533.
{¶49} We note that “[t]he first factor, the length of the delay, is a ‘triggering
mechanism,’ determining the necessity of inquiry into the other factors.” State v.
Robinson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105243, 2017-Ohio-6895, ¶ 9, quoting State v. Triplett,
78 Ohio St.3d 566, 569, 679 N.E.2d 290, citing Barker at 530. Unless there is some
delay which is “presumptively prejudicial, there is no necessity for inquiry into the other
factors that go into the balance.” Id., quoting Barker at 530. Post-accusation delay
approaching one year is generally found to be presumptively prejudicial. Id., citing
Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 652, 112 S.Ct. 2686, 120 L.Ed.2d 520 (1992), fn.
1.
{¶50} Cochern’s speedy trial argument focuses only on the time from his rearrest
in March 2016 until trial in August 2016. As we discuss below, he acknowledges that
under Ohio law, his statuory speedy trial clock begins anew because he was capias from
December 2014 until March 2016. However, for purposes of his constitutional speedy
trial analysis, “[t]he length of the delay is measured from the date of the indictment or the
date of the arrest, whichever is earlier.” United States v. Marion, 404 U.S. 307, 320, 92
S.Ct. 455, 30 L.Ed.2d 468 (1971). Because a constitutional speedy trial analysis is less formulaic than that of the statutory speedy trial protections under Ohio law, there is no
“clock” to restart, rather, under a constitutional speedy trial analysis, this time is
attributable to Cochern, as will be discussed below.
Length of the Delay
{¶51} We find the more than three-year period from Cochern’s initial arrest to the
commencement of trial was presumptively prejudicial. Accordingly, we must engage in
an inquiry of the Barker factors. “Once the Barker analysis is triggered, the length of
delay, beyond the initial threshold showing, is again considered and balanced against the
other relevant factors.” Robinson at 10.
{¶52} In Robinson, we found that the length of the delay 17 months weighed
only slightly in favor of the defendant Robinson, who was incarcerated on two unrelated
cases and was unaware of the charges against him. Id. at 13. Similarly, the almost
40-month delay in the present matter was in large part due to Cochern’s incarceration in
Lorain and Portage counties on unrelated matters and also attributable to his requests for
continuances and for new counsel.
{¶53} In Triplett, the Ohio Supreme Court found that a 54-month delay did not
violate the defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. The Triplett court noted that
one of the interests the Sixth Amendment was designed to protect is the freedom from
extended pretrial incarceration. We note that of the almost 40 months from Cochern’s
initial arrest to trial, Cochern served less than six months in jail cumulatively due to this matter. Cochern’s lengthiest period of pretrial incarceration occurred after the trial court
had twice reinstated his bond after his failure to appear.
{¶54} Accordingly, we find that this factor weighs only slightly in favor of
Cochern. Robinson at 13; Triplett at 569.
Reason for the Delay
{¶55} The second factor we must consider under Barker is the reason for the
delay. In determining if the reason for the delay should weigh in favor of the accused or
the state, if an accused caused or contributed to the delay, this factor would weigh heavily
against him or her. Id., citing State v. Smith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 81808,
2003-Ohio-3524, ¶ 14. Here, the record reflects that from May 2013 until February
2015, all continuances were made at Cochern’s request with the exception of a
continuance of the trial date from March 18, 2014 until June 23, 2014 due to the assistant
county prosecutor’s unavailability. From December 2014 to March 2016, Cochern was
capias and unavailable to appear for trial due to his arrest and incarceration in another
county. Thereafter, trial was set for July 2016, but ultimately was reset to late August
2016 due to the trial court’s unavailability. We note that the majority of these delays,
notably the lengthiest period of delay, were attributable to Cochern’s actions. Under
Robinson, this factor weighs heavily against Cochern because he caused the majority of
the delay in this matter.
Cochern’s Assertion of his Right to a Speedy Trial {¶56} We next consider Cochern’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial. An
accused’s assertion of, or failure to assert, his or her right to a speedy trial is a factor to be
considered in determining whether his or her constitutional rights were violated. Id.,
citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 528, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101; Triplett, 78 Ohio St.3d at
570, 679 N.E.2d 290. Cochern, relying on Maples v. Stegall, 427 F.3d 1020, 1029 (6th
Cir.2005), argues that his March 2016 motion to reinstate his bond was a demand for
speedy trial. In Maples, the Sixth Circuit noted that it “recognizes a request for bail as
the functional equivalent of the request for a speedy trial.” Id., citing Redd v. Sowders,
809 F.2d 1266, 1271 (6th Cir.1987); Cain v. Smith, 686 F.2d 374, 384 (6th Cir.1982).
The Ohio Supreme Court has held that a defendant’s timely assertion should be afforded
moderate weight. Triplett at 570.
{¶57} The strength of the defendant’s efforts in asserting his constitutional right to
a speedy trial must also be given consideration. Barker at 531 (“The strength of [a
defendant’s] efforts will be affected by the length of the delay, to some extent by the
reason for the delay, and most particularly by the personal prejudice, which is not always
readily identifiable, that he experiences. The more serious the deprivation, the more likely
a defendant is to complain.”) A delay from a defendant’s assertion of his constitutional
right to a speedy trial until the time he seeks dismissal on this basis must be weighted.
State v. Walker, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 06AP-810, 2007-Ohio-4666, ¶ 31. We note that
Cochern moved for dismissal of these charges on the day of trial, more than five months after he filed the motion to reinstate his bond, which he argues was a demand for speedy
trial.
Prejudice
{¶58} Lastly, under Barker, we consider prejudice to Cochern as a result of the
delay. “In Barker, the United States Supreme Court identified three interests that the
speedy-trial right is designed to protect: (1) oppressive pretrial incarceration, (2) the
anxiety and concern of the accused, and (3) the possibility that the accused’s defense will
be impaired.” Robinson at ¶ 17, citing Barker at 532. “Of these, the most serious is the
last, because the inability of a defendant adequately to prepare his case skews the fairness
of the entire system.” Id., quoting Barker. A defendant is prejudiced if a witness dies,
disappears, or is unable to recall accurately events of the distant past. Id.
{¶59} Cochern’s argument focuses on the five-month delay from his rearrest to
trial. He does not argue that this delay or the larger 40-month delay prevented him from
mounting a defense nor does he make a showing of prejudice.
{¶60} In balancing the foregoing, we do not find that Cochern’s constitutional
speedy trial right was violated. Cochern contributed to the delay, delayed forcefully
asserting his right to a speedy trial, and cannot articulate any prejudice resulting from the
delay.
Statutory Right to a Speedy Trial
{¶61} We next consider Cochern’s statutory right to a speedy trial. Our standard
of review of an appeal raising a speedy trial issue is to count the expired days as directed by R.C. 2945.71, et seq. Cleveland v. Sheldon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82319,
2003-Ohio-6331, ¶ 18. Where we find ambiguity, we construe the record in favor of the
accused. Id.
{¶62} We note that Ohio’s statutory speedy trial provisions of R.C. 2945.71, et
seq., are mandatory and must be strictly complied with by the trial court. Id. at ¶ 16.
Under R.C. 2945.71(C)(2), a person against whom a felony charge is pending must be
brought to trial within 270 days after his arrest. R.C. 2945.71(E) provides that for
purposes of computing time under R.C. 2945.71(C)(2), “each day during which the
accused is held in jail in lieu of bail on the pending charges shall be counted as three
days.” R.C. 2945.72 lists the following circumstances under which the time set forth in
R.C. 2945.71 is tolled:
(A) Any period during which the accused is unavailable for hearing or trial, by reason of other criminal proceedings against him, within or outside the state * * * provided that the prosecution exercises reasonable diligence to secure his availability;
***
(E) Any period of delay necessitated by reason of a plea in bar or abatement, motion, proceeding, or action made or instituted by the accused;
(H) The period of any continuance granted on the accused’s own motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own motion.
{¶63} Cochern acknowledges that his own actions resulted in delaying trial in the
present matter from December 2014 until March 2016, during which time he was capiased and unavailable for trial because he was incarcerated in another jurisdiction.
Cochern also recognizes that in light of this self-made delay, his speedy trial clock under
R.C. 2945.71 began anew on March 18, 2016 under State v. Bauer, 61 Ohio St.2d 83, 399
N.E.2d 555 (1980) (holding that a defendant who fails to appear at a scheduled trial, and
whose trial must therefore be rescheduled for a later date, waives his right to assert the
provisions of R.C. 2945.71 through 2945.73 for that period of time which elapses from
his initial arrest to the date he is subsequently rearrested if he forfeited his appearance
bond.)
{¶64} From the time of his rearrest on March 18, 2016, Cochern’s speedy trial
time ran 3-for-1 under R.C. 2945.72 because he was incarcerated. Accordingly, from
March 18 until March 23, 2016, 15 speedy trial days elapsed. Cochern argues that after
he asserted his right to a speedy trial by filing a motion to reinstate his bond on March 25,
2016, nothing occurred that served to toll his speedy trial time. The docket reflects,
however, multiple continuances of pretrial conferences made at Cochern’s request on
March 24, April 13, May 11, June 1, and June 20, 2016. Under, R.C. 2945.72(E) and
(H), these continuances tolled his statutory speedy trial clock from March 24 until July
14, 2016. We note that Cochern’s motion for reinstatement of his bond, relevant to a
constitutional speedy trial analysis, is not relevant to a calculation of his statutory speedy
trial time.
{¶65} From July 14, 2016, to the scheduled trial date of July 27, 2016, Cochern’s
speedy trial time ran from 21 to 54 days. On July 27, 2016, the trial court set a new final pretrial and a new trial date of August 29, 2016, due to its unavailability because of a trial
in another matter.
{¶66} R.C. 2945.72 provides that a defendant’s statutory speedy trial time may be
tolled by a “period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s
own motion.” This court has held that “any requests by either the state or the court itself
for a continuance are infringements upon the defendant’s constitutional right, and, thus,
subject to scrutiny; consequently, the grounds for the request must be set forth in a journal
entry.” State v. Phillips, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82886, 2004-Ohio-484, citing State v.
Baker, 92 Ohio App.3d 516, 636 N.E.2d 363 (8th Dist.1993). The Ohio Supreme Court
has held that “[t]he record of the trial court must in some manner affirmatively
demonstrate that a sua sponte continuance by the court was reasonable in light of its
necessity or purpose.” State v. Lee, 48 Ohio St.2d 208, 209, 357 N.E.2d 1095 (1976).
{¶67} Here, the trial court’s journal entry stated that the “court engaged in trial in
case number 600352.” We find that this 33-day continuance was reasonable in both its
length and purpose.
{¶68} Based on the foregoing, we find that Cochern’s statutory right to a speedy
trial was not violated. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying Cochern’s
motion to dismiss.
{¶69} Having found no violation of Cochern’s constitutional and statutory speedy
trial rights, his third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶70} Judgment is affirmed. It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having
been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court
for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, PRESIDING JUDGE
MELODY J. STEWART, J., and PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., CONCUR