State v. Johnson

403 N.E.2d 1003, 62 Ohio App. 2d 31, 16 Ohio Op. 3d 74, 1978 WL 214746, 1978 Ohio App. LEXIS 7684
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 26, 1978
DocketS-77-17
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 403 N.E.2d 1003 (State v. Johnson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Johnson, 403 N.E.2d 1003, 62 Ohio App. 2d 31, 16 Ohio Op. 3d 74, 1978 WL 214746, 1978 Ohio App. LEXIS 7684 (Ohio Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

Potter, P. J.

After a jury trial, defendant, the appellant herein, was convicted of receiving, retaining or disposing of stolen property, the value of which was one hundred fifty dollars or more, a violation of R. C. 2913.51. She appeals from that conviction and sentence and files the following assignments of error:

“I. The lower court erred in admitting into evidence Ex *32 hibits 2-4 obtained from a residence at 309 Kentucky Avenue, Fremont, Ohio for the reason that said residence was searched and said exhibits seized pursuant to an invalid search warrant in violation of Article 1, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution and the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.
“II. The lower court erred in not permitting counsel for the defense to examine statements of the witness Mike Hill made prior to the trial of this case when counsel moved for permission to examine said statements.
“HI. The lower court erred in not directing a verdict in favor of defendant at the close of the State’s case.
“IV. The lower court erred in not directing a verdict for defendant as the jury verdict was against the weight of the evidence.”

Randy Wilkerson was taken into custody by Fremont police officers on September 17,1976, on the basis of information received by the officers that Wilkerson was in possession of a stolen CB radio. While in custody, Wilkerson told the officers that defendant Bernice Johnson bought and sold stolen electronic equipment. Wilkerson was released by police and told to go to defendant’s house to see if stolen equipment was present there. Upon Wilkerson’s return to the police station a search warrant was obtained covering defendant’s home at 603 Second Street in Fremont. Police officers and the prosecutor photostated approximately $200 in various denominations, gave the bills to Wilkerson and, after searching his car, instructed him to return to defendant’s home and purchase some stolen equipment. Police officer Huss testified that he set up surveillance near defendant’s home at the time Wilkerson was to make the buy and saw Wilkerson park his car and move in the direction of defendant’s house. Officer Huss also testified that he then saw a small boy come out of defendant’s home and walk across the street toward the home at 309 Kentucky Avenue. The boy was seen a few minutes later coming back across the street toward 603 Second Street carrying a cardboard box. Wilkerson was seen leaving the defendant’s home shortly thereafter with a cardboard box. Wilkerson met police officers at a prearranged place and informed them that he purchased a microphone and CB radio from defendant and that defendant had sent her son over to the Kentucky Avenue home to get that equipment.

*33 After verifying that the equipment Wilkerson said he purchased from defendant had been stolen, police officers went to defendant’s home, showed her the warrant and proceeded to search the premises. The search produced a microphone, later identified as one stolen from a gas station, and $110 taken from defendant’s bed, the serial numbers of which matched the photostats of bills given to Randy Wilkerson. After the search of defendant’s Second Street residence, police officers obtained another search warrant covering 309 Kentucky Avenue. At trial defendant testified that the Kentucky Avenue home was owned by her and her husband, but rented out to Mark Allen. Several items seized at that home were identified at trial by their owners who testified as to their value and stated that the property had been stolen from them.

After the close of the state’s case, the court directed a verdict of acquittal for Willie Johnson, defendant’s husband. The case proceeded as related to the charges against defendant, and the jury returned a verdict finding her guilty of receiving, retaining or disposing of stolen property the value of which was $150 or more. From that verdict and sentence, defendant now appeals.

The first assignment of error relates to the trial court’s failure to suppress the evidence seized at 309 Kentucky Avenue. The issue of standing was not raised or briefed by either party. Defendant failed to make the transcript of the suppression hearing part of the record in this appeal and has not furnished a copy of the affidavit and search warrant. We are, therefore, confined to the language of the affidavit as quoted in the briefs of both appellant and appellee. The language is as follows:

“That an informant, who has provided information to the undersigned affiant in the past, which information has proven to be reliable, has informed affiant that one Bernice Johnson told him (informant) within the past 24 hours, that she had some CB’s in the house she owned across the street where one Mark Allen lives* * *; and that said informant had purchased a CB from her, which she secured from the second floor of said Mark Allen house (she sent her son over to said house to get said CB) and said CB has been identified as stolen property.”

We hold that the affidavit shows the factual basis for the *34 informant’s information and presents the underlying circumstances from which the affiant concluded that the informant was credible and the information reliable. The affidavit in question thus satisfies the requirements of Crim. R. 41(C), and those enunciated in Aguilar v. Texas (1964), 378 U.S. 108, and State v. Karr (1975), 44 Ohio St. 2d 163. The first assignment of error is, therefore, not well taken.

In her second assignment of error appellant argues that the trial court failed to comply with Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g) because the judge’s “in camera inspection” of a state witness’ prior “statement” was conducted while appellant’s counsel was cross-examining the witness, thereby denying counsel an opportunity to participate pursuant to Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g). The state called Michael Hill as a witness and he testified that he presented various items of stolen property to defendant, informed her that they were stolen and asked defendant if she would either buy the items or sell them for him. During the cross-examination of Hill, appellant’s counsel discovered that Hill had made a “statement” to police officers about the case. Hill testified that he did not sign the statement nor did he see the statement until it was shown to him the day before he testified. Hill further stated that he was not sure that the police officers wrote anything down when he made the “statement.” After making the motion for an in-camera inspection of the “statement,” appellant’s counsel continued with the cross-examination. The trial judge read the statement while the cross-examination was in progress and overruled defense counsel’s objection that counsel did not participate in the “in-camera inspection.” The court held that the “statement” of Michael Hill was not a statement but rather was a report and, therefore, refused to allow defense counsel to use the “statement” for further cross-examination of the witness.

Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g) provides:

“ In camera inspection of witness’ statement.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
403 N.E.2d 1003, 62 Ohio App. 2d 31, 16 Ohio Op. 3d 74, 1978 WL 214746, 1978 Ohio App. LEXIS 7684, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-johnson-ohioctapp-1978.