State v. Kyles

2024 Ohio 998

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 18, 2024
• Docket: CA2023-07-083
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Kyles, 2024-Ohio-998.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

BUTLER COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, :

Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2023-07-083

: OPINION - vs - 3/18/2024 :

CAMERON S. KYLES, :

Appellant. :

CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. CR 2019 10 1671; CR 2019 06 0862

Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, and Willa Concannon, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

Yavitch & Palmer Co., L.P.A., and Stephen E. Palmer, for appellant.

S. POWELL, P.J.

{¶ 1} Appellant, Cameron S. Kyles, appeals the decision of the Butler County

Court of Common Pleas summarily denying his petition for postconviction relief without a

hearing following his convictions for a multitude of serious felony offenses that included,

among others, participating in a criminal gang and aggravated murder. For the reasons Butler CA2023-07-083

outlined below, we affirm the trial court's decision.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} On June 26, 2019, the Butler County Grand Jury returned a single-count

indictment charging Kyles with one count of participating in a criminal gang. This

indictment was prosecuted under Case No. CR2019-06-0862. Several months later, on

October 18, 2019, the Butler County Grand Jury returned an additional eleven-count

indictment charging Kyles with two counts each of aggravated murder, murder,

aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and felonious assault, all of which were

accompanied by firearm and gang specifications, and one count of having weapons while

under disability. This indictment was prosecuted under Case No. CR2019-10-1671. The

two cases were later consolidated and, after Kyles was found competent to stand trial

and his motion to suppress the statements he made to police was denied, proceeded to

a five-day jury trial that began on August 23, 2021.

{¶ 3} On August 27, 2021, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts and

specifications set forth within both Case Nos. CR2019-06-0862 and CR2019-10-1671.

On October 19, 2021, the trial court held a sentencing hearing where it sentenced Kyles

to serve an aggregate, indefinite term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole

after 50 to 53 years, less 733 days of jail-time credit.1 Kyles directly appealed his

conviction to this court and this court affirmed Kyles' conviction in all respects on February

21, 2023. State v. Kyles, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2021-11-141 and CA2021-11-142,

2023-Ohio-489. Kyles then appealed this court's decision to the Ohio Supreme Court,

which declined review on June 20, 2023. State v. Kyles, 170 Ohio St.3d 1450, 2023-

1. There is some confusion in the record as it relates to Kyles' sentence being either 46 to 48 years in prison or 50 to 53 years in prison. However, setting aside that confusion, there is no dispute that Kyles will first become eligible for parole on September 10, 2068. -2- Butler CA2023-07-083

Ohio-1979.

{¶ 4} In denying Kyles' appeal, this court overruled Kyles' argument alleging the

trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress the statements he made to police.

More specifically, this court found no merit to Kyles' argument that his Miranda rights

waiver provided to the detective who interviewed him, Detective Stephen Winters, was

not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made. Kyles, 2023-Ohio-489 at ¶ 29-32. This

court also overruled Kyles' argument that his statements to police should have been

suppressed because Detective Winters improperly continued questioning him after he

asserted his Fifth Amendment right to counsel during Detective Winter's first interview

with him. Id. at ¶ 34-36. This court further rejected Kyles' claim that he received

ineffective assistance of counsel upon finding that, even if we were to assume his trial

counsel's performance was deficient, Kyles could not show any resulting prejudice

therefrom. Id. at ¶ 90. This is in addition to this court noting on three separate occasions

that there was "overwhelming evidence" to establish Kyles' guilt of all counts and

specifications for which he was tried and convicted. Id. at ¶ 43, 51, and 58.

{¶ 5} On February 6, 2023, prior to this court issuing our decision affirming Kyles'

conviction on direct appeal, Kyles filed a petition for postconviction relief. Kyles filed his

petition in accordance with R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i). Pursuant to that statute, any person

who has been convicted of a criminal offense, and who claims that there was such a

denial or infringement of the person's rights as to render the judgment "void or voidable"

under the Ohio Constitution or the United States Constitution, "may file a petition in the

court that imposed sentence, stating the grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the

court to vacate or set aside the judgment or sentence or to grant other appropriate relief[.]"

To support his petition, Kyles argued that his trial counsel provided him with ineffective

assistance, thereby depriving him of a fair trial in violation of his "Right to Counsel and

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Due Process of Law" as guaranteed to him by the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth

Amendments to the United States Constitution and "comparable provisions" of the Ohio

Constitution.

{¶ 6} Within his petition, Kyles stated three grounds for relief, all three of which

were based on his trial counsel's alleged ineffective assistance. Those three stated

grounds for relief were as follows:2

(1) ineffective assistance of counsel based upon his trial counsel's purported "failure to conduct and/or request [a] second competency evaluation" to determine whether he had the intellectual capacity to stand trial;

(2) ineffective assistance of counsel based upon his trial counsel's supposed failure to consider his "significant mental defect" and "obtain a psychological assessment" prior to the hearing on his motion to suppress to determine whether he had the intellectual capacity to make a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights; and

(3) ineffective assistance of counsel based upon his trial counsel's failure to argue, as part of his motion to suppress, that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel had been violated.

{¶ 7} To support his first and second stated grounds for relief, Kyles attached to

his postconviction relief petition an affidavit and psychological evaluation report from Dr.

John L. Tilley, a clinical and forensic psychologist based out of Columbus, Ohio. Within

those two documents, Dr. Tilley opined that Kyles has a significant "intellectual disability"

that "likely impaired" his ability to provide a knowing and intelligent waiver of his Miranda

rights. Dr. Tilley noted that this included Kyles' low IQ score of 57 and limited reading

comprehension, which Dr. Tilley equated to that of a kindergartener. Dr. Tilley also opined

that, had he been consulted prior to Kyles' trial to conduct a "second opinion" on Kyles'

competency to stand trial, he "likely would have opined" that Kyles was not competent to

2. We have renumbered the three stated grounds raised by Kyles within his petition for postconviction relief for organizational and readability purposes. -4- Butler CA2023-07-083

stand trial, and generated a report "highlighting the extent of Mr. Kyles' intellectual

disability, his very low functioning in multiple areas relevant to his adjudicative

competence, and the impairments in his capacities to understand the nature and objective

of the proceedings and assist in his defense." This is in addition to Dr. Tilley stating that,

"[w]hile it is recognized that his competence to stand trial was assessed twice in 2019,"

and that "the Court adjudicated him competent to stand trial in accordance with both

evaluations," it was nevertheless his opinion that "an analysis of the data and resulted

from the present evaluation suggest that, the rulings from the Court notwithstanding, Mr.

Kyles' competence to stand trial may have been impaired," thereby providing "likely

opportunities⎯and perhaps even cause⎯for requesting second opinions in both

matters."

{¶ 8} To support his third stated ground for relief, Kyles attached to his

postconviction relief petition the municipal court docket statement and related records that

ultimately resulted in the Butler County Grand Jury issuing the 11-count indictment

against him in Case No. CR2019-10-1671. Based upon those documents, Kyles argued

that by Detective Winters interviewing him after he had been appointed counsel, "the

police violated his Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel," a violation "independent of the

validity of his Miranda waiver" as set forth in his second stated ground for relief. To

support this argument, Kyles set forth the following timeline setting forth the various

interviews Detective Winters had with him on October 13 and 14, 2019:

October 13, 2019, 11:06 a.m. – First interview (Winters)

October 13, 2019, 12:35 p.m. – Email from Dep. Smith to Winters

October 14, 2019, 8:30 a.m. – Kyles in Middletown Municipal Court with Counsel

October 14, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – Second Interview (Winters) -5- Butler CA2023-07-083

October 14, 2019 9:30 a.m. – Second Interview (Winters and Hughs)

{¶ 9} Based upon this "critical" timeline, Kyles argued that, even assuming his

request to speak with Detective Winters after his first interview with Detective Winters

was knowingly and intelligently made, which Kyles claimed it was not in accordance with

Dr. Tilley's report, "the instigation of formal adversary proceedings triggered the Sixth

Amendment in addition to the Fifth Amendment Miranda concerns. The police were thus

not permitted to question Kyles without his attorney present." Therefore, according to

Kyles, his trial counsel was ineffective for failing "to raise this Sixth Amendment tissue

during the suppression hearing," something which Kyles argued within his petition was

"objectively unreasonable, as standard norms of practice mandate trial counsel raise and

litigate viable constitutional suppression issues."

{¶ 10} On March 2, 2023, the state filed a motion to dismiss Kyles' petition for

postconviction relief based upon the doctrines of res judicata and the law of the case.

The state additionally argued that, even if res judicata and the law of the case doctrines

did not apply, Kyles' petition could be denied on the merits because it failed to set forth

sufficient operative facts to establish grounds for relief. A few months later, on June 20,

2023, the trial court issued a decision granting the state's motion to dismiss, thereby

summarily denying Kyles' petition for postconviction relief without a hearing. In so doing,

the trial court initially noted that Kyles had "argued many of the same issues" in support

of his postconviction relief petition that he had raised with this court as part of his direct

appeal.

{¶ 11} Given the similarity between Kyles' claims, the trial court determined that,

in as much as Kyles was seeking to relitigate those same issues, particularly as it related

to the question of whether Kyles had made a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of

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his Miranda rights, the doctrine of res judicata "would apply to bar granting a post-

conviction petition." In reaching this decision, the trial court noted that "Kyles not only

could have, but did, argue the same questions before the appellate court, a body that

rejected each and every contention regarding his competency and the questions of due

process." The trial court also noted that, given that this court had already ruled on many

of the same issues that Kyles had raised as grounds for relief within his postconviction

relief petition, the law of the case doctrine forbade it from "refus[ing] to abide" by this

court's decision as it related to those same issues. In so holding, the trial court determined

that:

Nothing presented in the latest filings overcomes the definitive ruling by the 12th District that Kyles knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights. Likewise, nothing in the filings overcomes the requirements of Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064, as held by the appellate court.

{¶ 12} The trial court did not stop there, however. Rather, "out [of] an

overabundance of caution," the trial court also reviewed Kyles' petition on the merits and

determined that Kyles had "fail[ed] to establish substantive grounds on any of his claims

for relief in his petition and therefore a hearing is not needed." In so doing, the trial court

determined that Kyles' claims that his trial counsel had "failed to fully investigate his

alleged mental deficiency, failed to employ an expert witness, and failed to allow the

expert to testify at his suppression hearing on the issue of understanding his [Miranda]

rights," were all "contrary to the record." In reaching this decision, the trial court initially

stated with respect to Kyles' ineffective assistance of counsel claims:

The defendant relies solely upon a review and report of John L. Tilley, (Tilley), a psychologist retained by the defense, who posits Kyles' intellectual ability precludes him from understanding the ramifications of his decision and competency to stand trial.

-7- Butler CA2023-07-083

According to the record, Tilley conducted no face-to-face, or other interviews of Kyles, forming his opinions solely on the basis of the psychological reports contained in the record.3 Tilley, an explicitly selected defense expert, opines the defendant, "may have been impaired" and was "likely impaired" because of his poor reading skills. These conclusory claims summarily and conveniently dismiss the findings of two other experts that Kyles was a savvy 18-year- old. Even if Kyles was, as Tilley claims, weak in the ways of the academic world, the defendant was shrewd enough to recognize his precarious predicament and open negotiations with the enemy in an effort to improve his indefensible fortress of culpability.

{¶ 13} Continuing, the trial court then stated:

Kyles's petition for post-conviction relief further fails as to the claimed ineffective assistance as he does not delineate, beyond mere speculation and conclusory statements, how counsel's performance at trial fell below a reasonable standard or prejudiced him at trial. In fact, the claims are diametrically opposite of reality as evidenced by the recorded proceedings where the defense mounted a vigorous assault of dysfunctional deviance upon the prosecution. Defense counsel's efforts penetrated the prosecution's labors so effectively that The State requested, and received, a specific jury instruction on the question of diminished capacity that reads:

A contention of diminished capacity means that although the accused was not insane, due to emotional distress, physical condition or other factors he could not fully comprehend the nature of the criminal act he is accused of committing. Diminished capacity is not a recognized defense in Ohio. You should disregard any evidence presented during trial used to support a claim of diminished capacity. You may only consider evidence of mental capacity if it is demonstrated that it is being used for some purpose other than asserting the defense of diminished capacity.

{¶ 14} The trial court additionally stated that, in this case, Kyles' trial counsel

"specifically addressed questions of 'diminished capacity' throughout the trial, fought for,

3. We note that the record does not support this finding. The record instead indicates that Dr. Tilley conducted two in-person interviews with Kyles, the first on August 22, 2022 while Kyles was imprisoned at the Lebanon Correctional Institution in Warren County, Ohio for approximately two hours, with the second interview taking place on January 19, 2023 at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio for an additional 90 minutes. -8- Butler CA2023-07-083

and received, two independent 'in-person evaluations' by trained experts, and made the

tactical decision not pursue live testimony as, from a purely speculative point of view, it

may have done more harm to his client's defense than good." Turning then to Kyles' last

remaining ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the trial court stated:

The defense argues that once Kyles invoked his Fifth Amendment right in Middletown Municipal Court, the police were forever barred from speaking with the defendant without counsel. This argument is specious at best.

The Supreme Court of the United States held in Montejo v. Louisiana, 556 U.S. 778, 129 [S].Ct. 2079 (2009) that, as is the case here, a defendant can waive both his Fifth and Sixth Amendments rights even after invocation. Specifically, since Kyles initiated the subsequent request to speak with the police, he forfeited both upon being apprised of his rights pursuant to Miranda.

{¶ 15} The trial court thereafter concluded by finding Kyles' petition for

postconviction relief did nothing more than "construct[] a house of straw" and, in light of

the overwhelming evidence of Kyles' guilt, "the whirlwind of law and reason require that

[Kyles] reap the wages of justice." The trial court noted that this evidence included, even

when taking Kyles' statements to police out of consideration, "evidence from his GPS

tracker, other witnesses and the victim's blood on the money recovered from him," all of

which the trial court found "would be sufficient for a reasonable jury to convict."

Kyles' Appeal and Two Assignments of Error for Review

{¶ 16} On July 19, 2023, Kyles filed a timely notice of appeal from the trial court's

decision. Following briefing by both parties, oral argument was held before this court on

February 12, 2024. Kyles' appeal now properly before this court for decision, Kyles has

raised two assignments of error for review. Those two assignments of error being:

Assignment of Error No. 1:

{¶ 17} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, APPLIED INCORRECT

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LEGAL STANDARDS, AND ERRONEOUSLY DENIED KYLES' PETITION FOR POST-

CONVICTION RELIEF WITHOUT CONDUCTING A HEARING IN VIOLATION OF R.C.

2953.21(D) AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, SIXTH,

AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND

COMPARABLE PROVISIONS OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

Assignment of Error No. 2:

{¶ 18} THE TRIAL COURT ERRORED BY DENYING KYLES' PETITION FOR

POST-CONVICTION RELIEF ON THE MERITS WITHOUT A HEARING, THEREBY

DEPRIVING HIM OF HIS RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND HIS RIGHT TO

EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND

{¶ 19} In both of his assignments of error, Kyles argues the trial court erred by

summarily denying his petition for postconviction relief without holding a hearing; the first

assignment of error challenges the trial court's application of the doctrines of res judicata

and law of the case and the second assignment of error challenges the trial court's

decision, albeit in the alternative, and "out [of] an overabundance of caution," to deny his

postconviction relief petition on the merits. To support his arguments, Kyles has raised

four issues for this court's consideration. After setting forth the appropriate standard of

review, we will address each of those four issues in turn.

Petition for Postconviction Relief Standard of Review

{¶ 20} "In Ohio, persons convicted of criminal offenses may petition a trial court for

postconviction relief if they fit into one of four categories." State v. Miller, Slip Opinion No.

2023-Ohio-3448, ¶ 19 (Kennedy, C.J., concurring in the judgment). Those four categories

are set forth in R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i) through (iv). Relevant here is the first category,

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which "permits a person convicted of a criminal offense to petition the trial court to vacate

his conviction when he believes 'there was such a denial or infringement of [his] rights as

to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the Constitution of

the United States.'" State v. Johnson, Slip Opinion No. 2024-Ohio-134, ¶ 1, quoting R.C.

2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i). When a criminal defendant challenges his conviction through a

postconviction relief petition, the trial court may hold an evidentiary hearing on the issues

raised by the petition. State v. Harding, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2019-05-012, 2020-

Ohio-1067, ¶ 4, citing R.C. 2953.21(D) thru (F). "An evidentiary hearing is not

automatically guaranteed each time a defendant makes a petition for postconviction

relief," however. State v. Vore, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2012-06-049 and CA2012-10-

106, 2013-Ohio-1490, ¶ 11. Rather, "[t]he trial court, before granting a hearing on a

petition filed under R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a)(i), is required to 'determine whether there are

substantive grounds for relief.'" Miller, quoting R.C. 2953.21(D). "A petition presents

substantive grounds for relief when it contains allegations that are sufficient to state a

constitutional claim and the files and records of the case do not affirmatively disprove the

claim." State v. Blanton, 171 Ohio St.3d 19, 2022-Ohio-3985, ¶ 24, citing State v.

Milanovich, 42 Ohio St.2d 46, 50 (1975); and R.C. 2953.21(F).

{¶ 21} "In determining whether the petition states a substantive ground for relief,

the trial court must consider the entirety of the record from the trial proceedings as well

as any evidence filed by the parties in postconviction proceedings." State v. Bunch, 171

Ohio St.3d 775, 2022-Ohio-4723, ¶ 24, citing R.C. 2953.21(D). "If the record on its face

demonstrates that the petitioner is not entitled to relief, then the trial court must dismiss

the petition." Id., citing R.C. 2953.21(D) and (E). That is to say, "'[a] trial court properly

denies a defendant's petition for postconviction relief without holding an evidentiary

hearing where the petition, the supporting affidavits, the documentary evidence, the files,

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and the records do not demonstrate that petitioner set forth sufficient operative facts to

establish substantive grounds for relief.'" State v. Barron, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2022-

09-059, 2023-Ohio-1249, ¶ 10, quoting State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279 (1999),

paragraph two of the syllabus. However, "[i]f the record does not on its face disprove the

petitioner's claim, then the court is required to 'proceed to a prompt hearing on the

issues.'" Bunch, quoting R.C. 2953.21(F); see also State v. Hatton, 169 Ohio St.3d 446,

2022-Ohio-3991, ¶ 28 ("[t]he defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing when the

allegations in the motion demonstrate substantive grounds for relief").

{¶ 22} "A trial court's decision to summarily deny a postconviction petition without

holding an evidentiary hearing will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion." State

v. Harding, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2019-05-012, 2020-Ohio-1067, ¶ 6. "The standard

is deferential, requiring the trial court to engage in more than mere error in law or

judgment." State v. Jones, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2022-04-036, 2022-Ohio-3864, ¶ 9.

To that end, for this court to find an abuse of discretion, "we must find that the trial court's

ruling was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable." State v. Payton, 12th Dist.

Fayette No. CA2022-01-001, 2022-Ohio-2829, ¶ 7. "A decision is unreasonable where a

sound reasoning process does not support it." State v. Miller, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2016-01-007, 2016-Ohio-7360, ¶ 7. "[A]n 'arbitrary' decision is one made 'without

consideration of or regard for facts [or] circumstances.'" State v. Beasley, 152 Ohio St.3d

470, 2018-Ohio-16, ¶ 12, quoting Black's Law Dictionary 125 (10th Ed.2014). "An

unconscionable decision may be defined as one that affronts the sense of justice,

decency, or reasonableness." State v. Wane, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2020-01-010,

CA2020-01-011, CA2020-01-014, and CA2020-01-015, 2020-Ohio-4874, ¶ 22.

Kyles' First Issue and Analysis: The Misapplication of the Doctrine of Res Judicata

{¶ 23} In his first issue presented for review, Kyles argues the trial court erred by

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misapplying the doctrine of res judicata when overruling his petition for postconviction

relief without a hearing. This is because, according to Kyles, the trial court "incorrectly

concluded" that res judicata applied given his postconviction relief petition argued the

same ineffective assistance of counsel claim that this court had already overruled when

denying his direct appeal. That claim being Kyles' argument that his trial counsel provided

him with ineffective assistance by failing to consult with Dr. Tilley, or some other expert

who would have provided him with substantially similar findings to that of Dr. Tilley, as it

relates to whether he had the intellectual capacity to stand trial and to make a knowing,

intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights. We agree the trial court did so err.

However, as explained more fully below, any such error the trial court made by

misapplying the doctrine of res judicata to the case at bar was harmless.

{¶ 24} "It is well established that a trial court may dismiss a postconviction relief

petition on the basis of the doctrine of res judicata." State v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2012-12-258, 2013-Ohio-3878, ¶ 30. "The doctrine of res judicata precludes a

convicted defendant 'from raising and litigating in any proceeding, except an appeal from

that judgment, any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or could

have been raised' at trial or on direct appeal." Hatton, 2022-Ohio-3991 at ¶ 22, quoting

State v. Szefcyk, 77 Ohio St.3d 93 (1996), syllabus. "So a court reviewing a

postconviction-relief petition generally may not decide a claim that could have been

presented at trial and raised on direct appeal." Blanton, 2022-Ohio-3985 at ¶ 2, citing

State v. Perry, 10 Ohio St.2d 175, 180 (1967). There's a twist, however, when it comes

to petitions for postconviction relief that are based on the alleged ineffective assistance

of counsel. Id.

{¶ 25} In those cases, "res judicata does not bar claims for postconviction relief,

inter alia, when a petitioner 'must rely on evidence outside the trial record to establish his

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claim for relief.'" State v. Johnson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2022-09-063, 2023-Ohio-

879, ¶ 20, quoting Blanton, citing State v. Cole, 2 Ohio St.3d 112, 113-114 (1982).

Therefore, a petitioner who presents a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, and who

demonstrates through evidence outside the trial record that their claim either was not, or

could not have been, fairly adjudicated in a direct appeal, that petitioner is provided "a

second opportunity to litigate the claim." (Emphasis sic.) Blanton at ¶ 38. Accordingly,

where a defendant petitioning for postconviction relief has brought forth evidence outside

the record of ineffective assistance of counsel, that showing is sufficient to, at the very

least, "'avoid dismissal on the basis of res judicata.'" Id. at ¶ 31, quoting Cole at 114.

{¶ 26} In this case, Kyles brought forth evidence outside the record of ineffective

assistance of counsel to avoid the entirety of his petition for postconviction relief being

dismissed on the basis of res judicata. That being Dr. Tilley's affidavit and psychological

evaluation indicating Kyles lacked the intellectual capacity to both stand trial and to make

a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights. Therefore, given the

principles set forth above, we must necessarily agree with Kyles' argument that the trial

court erred by misapplying the doctrine of res judicata to the case at bar to dismiss the

entirety of Kyles' petition for postconviction relief. The error, however, was harmless.

{¶ 27} "'[A]n error is harmless where there is no reasonable possibility that it

contributed to an accused's conviction, such as where there is overwhelming evidence of

the accused's guilt or some other indicia that the error did not contribute to the conviction.'"

State v. Liming, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2022-01-001, 2023-Ohio-2817, ¶ 33, quoting

State v. Cox, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2003-05-113, 2004-Ohio-4977, ¶ 32. Such is the

case here. This is because, contrary to Kyles' claim, "merely providing evidence outside

the record is not sufficient to entitle a petitioner to a hearing." Johnson, 2023-Ohio-879

at ¶ 21. That is to say, "simply overcoming the res judicata bar through the introduction

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of evidence outside the record is not sufficient," in and of itself, to necessitate the trial

court holding a hearing on the matter. Blanton, 2022-Ohio-3985 at ¶ 31.

{¶ 28} Rather, to be entitled to a hearing, "a petitioner 'must proffer evidence which,

if believed, would establish not only that his trial counsel had substantially violated at least

one of a defense attorney's essential duties to his client but also that said violation was

prejudicial to the [petitioner].'" (Brackets sic.) Id., quoting Cole, 2 Ohio St.3d at 114. "If

the record on its face demonstrates that the petitioner is not entitled to relief, then the trial

court must dismiss the petition." State v. Bunch, 171 Ohio St.3d 775, 2022-Ohio-4723, ¶

24, citing R.C. 2953.21(D) and (E). "If the record does not on its face disprove the

petitioner's claim, then the court is required to 'proceed to a prompt hearing on the

issues.'" Id., quoting R.C. 2953.21(F). Thus, in cases where the defendant has brought

forth evidence outside the record of ineffective assistance of counsel to avoid dismissal

on the basis of res judicata, such as the case here, a two-part inquiry applies to determine

whether the defendant is entitled to a hearing on the matter. Barron, 2023-Ohio-1249 at

¶ 17. That two-part inquiry provides the following: (1) "Has the petitioner introduced

competent evidence of ineffective assistance that was not included in the trial record?"

and (2) "if so, does that evidence present substantive grounds for relief; that is, if believed,

would the newly presented evidence—together with any evidence in the trial record—

establish that counsel was ineffective?" Blanton at ¶ 33. It is this second prong where

Kyles' claim fails.

{¶ 29} To support this portion of his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Kyles

relies on the affidavit and psychological evaluation report provided by Dr. Tilley. However,

after a thorough review of the record, we find the opinions offered by Dr. Tilley within his

affidavit and psychological evaluation report, together with the evidence contained within

the trial court record, do not present substantive grounds that would entitle Kyles to relief.

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That is to say, even when considering the entirety of the record from the trial court

proceedings, in conjunction with Dr. Tilley's affidavit and psychological evaluation report

attached to Kyles' petition for postconviction relief, Kyles cannot establish that his trial

counsel provided him with ineffective assistance either by (1) failing "to conduct and/or

request [a] second competency evaluation" to determine whether he had the intellectual

capacity to stand trial; or by (2) failing to consider his "significant mental defect" and

"obtain a psychological assessment" prior to the hearing on his motion to suppress to

determine whether he had the intellectual capacity to make a knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights as alleged. Therefore, for these reasons, and for

the reasons set forth more fully below, Kyles' first argument lacks merit.

{¶ 30} "The standard by which we review claims of ineffective assistance of

counsel is well established." State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 557 (1995). To establish

ineffective assistance, a defendant must show (1) that counsel's performance was

deficient, and (2) that counsel's deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). Courts

determine deficient performance by asking whether counsel's conduct "fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness." Id. at 688. When making this determination, the

reasonableness of counsel's conduct must be judged based on "the facts of the particular

case, viewed as of the time of counsel's conduct." Id. at 690. Only when counsel's errors

were "so serious that counsel was not functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed the

defendant by the Sixth Amendment" has counsel engaged in deficient performance. Id.

at 687. To establish prejudice, "[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would

have been different." Id. at 694. This requires the errors to be so significant as to

"undermine confidence in the outcome." Id. "A defendant's failure to make a sufficient

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showing of either prong of the Strickland inquiry is fatal to his claim of ineffective

assistance." State v. Lloyd, 171 Ohio St.3d 353, 2022-Ohio-4259, ¶ 31, citing id. at 697.

{¶ 31} Here, Kyles argues that his trial counsel's failure to consult with Dr. Tilley, or

some other expert who would have provided him with substantially similar findings to that

of Dr. Tilley, constituted deficient performance under the first prong of the Strickland

inquiry. However, although Kyles' petition for postconviction relief did not need to

"definitively establish" either his trial counsel counsel's deficiency or whether he was

prejudiced by it to warrant the trial court holding a hearing on the matter, Bunch, 2022-

Ohio-4723 at ¶ 27, the failure of Kyles' trial counsel to seek out what would have

amounted to a third competency evaluation, not a second like Kyles suggests, does not

fall anywhere near what this court would consider deficient performance when viewed

against an objective standard of reasonableness.

{¶ 32} We instead agree with the trial court's finding that, "as to the claimed

ineffective assistance," Kyles "does not delineate, beyond mere speculation and

conclusory statements, how counsel's performance at trial fell below a reasonable

standard or prejudiced him at trial." This includes Kyles' claim that, if his trial counsel had

provided the trial court with a psychological evaluation report like that of Dr. Tilley's, he

never would have been deemed competent to stand trial, thus causing a delay in the

proceedings "unless and until [his] competency was restored" in accordance with R.C.

2945.37(G).4 "Such speculation is insufficient to establish ineffective assistance." State

v. Perez, 124 Ohio St.3d 122, 2009-Ohio-6179, ¶ 217; see, e.g., State v. Worley, 164

4. Pursuant to R.C. 2945.37(G), a defendant is incompetent to stand trial if he or she "is incapable of understanding the nature and objective of the proceedings against the defendant or of assisting in the defendant's defense * * *." If, after a hearing, the trial court finds the defendant incompetent to stand trial, the trial court "shall enter an order authorized by section 2945.38 of the Revised Code." "R.C. 2945.38 governs the disposition of a defendant after an initial determination that the defendant is not competent to stand trial and sets forth the procedures for treatment and evaluation orders." State v. Thompson, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2020-11-115, 2021-Ohio-2632, ¶ 11. - 17 - Butler CA2023-07-083

Ohio St.3d 589, 2021-Ohio-2207, ¶ 108 (counsel did not provide appellant with ineffective

assistance of counsel where appellant's ineffective assistance of counsel claim was

based on "counsel's failure to act," thereby limiting appellant to mere speculation and

conjecture as to counsel's alleged deficiency). Kyles' claim otherwise lacks merit.

{¶ 33} We also agree with the trial court's finding that Kyles' ineffective assistance

of counsel claims were "diametrically opposite of reality as evidenced by the recorded

proceedings where the defense mounted a vigorous assault of dysfunctional deviance

upon the prosecution." The record indicates that these efforts were so effective that, as

the trial court stated within its decision, they "penetrated the prosecution's labors so

effectively" that it necessitated the state requesting, and thereafter receiving, "a specific

jury instruction on the question of diminished capacity." This is in addition to the trial

court's finding Kyles' trial counsel had "specifically addressed questions of 'diminished

capacity' throughout the trial, fought for, and received, two independent 'in-person

evaluations' by trained experts, and made the tactical decision not to pursue live

testimony as, from a purely speculative point of view, it may have done more harm to his

client's defense than good." Given the record in this case, we agree with the trial court's

findings.

{¶ 34} Regardless, even if we were to assume Kyles' petition was sufficient on its

face to raise an issue as to whether Kyles' trial counsel was deficient for failing to seek

out that third competency evaluation, which it was not, Kyles' petition is wholly lacking as

it relates to how that failure subjected him to any resulting prejudice as required by the

second prong of the Strickland inquiry. This is because, even if Kyles' trial counsel had

obtained a report like that provided to him by Dr. Tilley, that would have done nothing

more than created a battle of the experts on the issue of whether Kyles had the intellectual

capacity to stand trial and to make a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his

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Miranda rights. That Kyles' trial counsel chose not to wage that war after having already

received two other competency evaluations indicating Kyles was competent to stand trial

was clearly a strategic decision, one that this court finds is not even all that debatable

given the facts of this case.

{¶ 35} This is significant when considering "even debatable strategic and trial

tactics do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel." State v. Cox, 12th Dist. Butler

No. CA2005-12-513, 2006-Ohio-6075, ¶ 29. This holds true "even if, in hindsight, it looks

as if a better strategy had been available." State v. Artis, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-18-40,

2019-Ohio-2070, ¶ 39, citing State v. Cook, 65 Ohio St.3d 516, 524 (1992). This is a well-

established principle given that this court must "strongly presume that defense counsel

rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of

reasonable professional judgment," State v. Akladyous, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2021-12-

164, 2023-Ohio-3105, ¶ 61, for it is "all too tempting" to "second-guess counsel's

assistance after conviction or adverse sentence * * *." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.

Therefore, for these reasons, Kyles' second argument also lacks merit.

{¶ 36} What is more, and what simply cannot be ignored, is the fact that the state

presented overwhelming evidence of Kyles' guilt on all counts and specifications for which

he was tried and convicted, a determination that this court made on three separate

occasions in our decision denying Kyles' direct appeal. See Kyles, 2023-Ohio-489 at ¶

43, 51, and 58. This evidence included, as noted by the trial court, "evidence from his

GPS tracker, other witnesses and the victim's blood on the money recovered from him,"

all of which "would be sufficient for a reasonable jury to convict." The trial court found this

to be the case even when taking Kyles' confession out of the equation. We agree.

Therefore, given the overwhelming evidence of Kyles' guilt presented at trial, any alleged

deficiency in his trial counsel's performance for failing to seek out that third competency

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evaluation simply cannot be found prejudicial under the second prong of the Strickland

inquiry set forth above. See, e.g., State v. Tench, 156 Ohio St.3d 85, 2018-Ohio-5205, ¶

273 ("given the overwhelming evidence of guilt in this case, counsel's alleged [deficient

performance] cannot be found prejudicial under Strickland").

{¶ 37} In so holding, we note that contrary to what Kyles' would like this court to

believe, Kyles was not convicted because of any alleged ineffective assistance provided

to him by his trial counsel. Kyles was instead convicted based upon the overwhelming

evidence establishing his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See, e.g., State v. Clarke,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-11-189, 2016-Ohio-7187, ¶ 62 (denying appellant's

ineffective assistance of counsel claim where the record plainly indicated "trial counsel

did fully investigate this case and zealously represent [appellant]," thereby leading to this

court to find appellant "was not convicted based on ineffective assistance of counsel, but

instead [appellant's] conviction was based on the overwhelming evidence presented at

trial"). Accordingly, Kyles' third argument likewise lacks merit.

{¶ 38} For the reasons outlined above, and although we agree with Kyles'

argument that the trial court erred by misapplying the doctrine of res judicata to the case

at bar, such error was harmless. Being harmless error, this court need not reverse and

remand with respect to Kyles' claims alleging his trial counsel was ineffective for (1) failing

"to conduct and/or request [a] second competency evaluation" to determine whether he

had the intellectual capacity to stand trial; or (2) failing to consider his "significant mental

defect" and "obtain a psychological assessment" prior to the hearing on his motion to

suppress to determine whether he had the intellectual capacity to make a knowing,

intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights. This is because, when applying

the necessary two-part inquiry set forth above, the opinions offered by Dr. Tilley within his

affidavit and psychological evaluation report, together with the evidence contained within

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the trial court record, do not present substantive grounds that would entitle Kyles to relief.

Therefore, because the record on its face demonstrates that Kyles is not entitled to relief,

the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Kyles' postconviction relief petition

without a hearing. Accordingly, finding no error in the trial court's decision, Kyles' first

issue lacks merit.

Kyles' Second Issue and Analysis: The Law of the Case Doctrine

{¶ 39} In his second issue presented for review, like that of his first, Kyles argues

the trial court erred by misapplying the law of the case doctrine when overruling his

petition for postconviction relief without a hearing. However, given the resolution of Kyles'

first issue set forth above, this issue has now been rendered moot. Pursuant to App.R.

12(A)(1)(c), "[u]nless an assignment of error is made moot by a ruling on another

assignment of error," a court of appeals shall "decide each assignment of error and give

reasons in writing for its decision." "[A]n assignment of error is moot when an appellant

presents issues that are no longer live as a result of some other decision rendered by the

appellate court." State v. Gideon, 165 Ohio St.3d 156, 2020-Ohio-6961, ¶ 26. Therefore,

although presented as an issue for review rather than as a full-fledged assignment of

error, Kyles' second issue is nevertheless moot in accordance with App.R. 12(A)(1)(c)

and need not be addressed by this court.

Kyles' Third Issue and Analysis: The "But For" Standard of Prejudice

{¶ 40} In his third issue presented for review, Kyles argues the trial court erred by

"expressly relying on an erroneously high 'but for' standard for prejudice" as it relates to

the second prong⎯the prejudice prong⎯of the Strickland ineffective assistance of

counsel inquiry. To support this claim, Kyles directs this court's attention to Bunch, 2022-

Ohio-4723 at ¶ 26, wherein the Ohio Supreme Court stated that, "[r]egarding the prejudice

prong, the defendant must prove that there is a 'reasonable probability' that counsel's - 21 - Butler CA2023-07-083

deficiency affected the outcome of the defendant's proceedings." Therefore, according

to Kyles, "the test for 'prejudice' is not the 'but for' causation test applied by the trial court,"

it is instead the "reasonable probability" test set forth by the Ohio Supreme Court in Bunch

that applies. What Kyles seems to overlook, however, is that the Ohio Supreme Court in

Bunch cited directly to Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, for this proposition of law, a page in

which the United States Supreme Court specifically held that, to establish prejudice in an

ineffective assistance of counsel claim:

The defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.

(Emphasis added.)

{¶ 41} That the Ohio Supreme Court in Bunch paraphrased the United States

Supreme Court's decision in Strickland rather than providing a direct, and more complete

quote of the United Supreme Court's holding in that case, does not mean the standard in

Ohio for establishing prejudice in an ineffective assistance of counsel claim was changed

in Bunch. Had that been the case, the Ohio Supreme Court certainly would have made

that clear given the sheer amount of times Strickland has been cited to for that proposition

of law in Ohio.5 This includes over 70 times by the Ohio Supreme Court alone. That is

to say nothing of the fact that, according to this court's research, every Ohio appellate

court has continued to use the "but for" standard of prejudice when reviewing ineffective

assistance of counsel claims after the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in Bunch was

released. This includes over ten times by this court, the most recent being just over two

5. At the time of this writing, that portion of Strickland had been cited by Ohio appellate courts nearly 3,000 times, with countless other decisions applying the same "but for" standard of prejudice without citing directly to Strickland. See, e.g., State v. Pack, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA2022-12-087 thru CA2022-12-089, 2023-Ohio-3200, ¶ 14. - 22 - Butler CA2023-07-083

months prior to this case being submitted to this court for decision. See State v. Coleman,

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2023-03-037, 2023-Ohio-4354, ¶ 16. Accordingly, finding no merit

to Kyles' claim raised herein, Kyles' third issue lacks merit.

Kyles' Fourth Issue and Analysis: The Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel

{¶ 42} In his fourth issue presented for review, Kyles argues the trial court erred by

summarily denying his postconviction relief petition without a hearing on his claim that he

received ineffective assistance of counsel based upon his trial counsel's failure to argue,

as part of his motion to suppress, that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel had been

violated. However, after a thorough review of the record, we agree with the trial court's

decision finding Kyles' argument that, once he invoked his Fifth Amendment right to

counsel, the police were forever barred from speaking with the defendant without counsel,

"specious at best." This is because, as the trial court properly determined, "a defendant

can waive both his Fifth and Sixth Amendments rights even after invocation" pursuant to

the United States Supreme Court's decision in Montejo v. Louisiana, 556 U.S. 778, 129

S.Ct. 2079 (2009), which held "the Sixth Amendment right to counsel may be waived by

a defendant, so long as relinquishment of the right is voluntary, knowing, and intelligent."

Id. at 786.

{¶ 43} Contrary to Kyles' claim, "[n]othing in the Sixth Amendment prevents a

suspect charged with a crime and represented by counsel from voluntarily choosing, on

his own, to speak with police in the absence of an attorney." Michigan v. Harvey, 494

U.S. 344, 352, 110 S.Ct. 1176 (1990). Therefore, "[a]lthough a defendant may sometimes

later regret his decision to speak with police, the Sixth Amendment does not disable a

criminal defendant from exercising his free will." Id. at 353. That is exactly what Kyles

did here, thus negating any claim that Kyles received ineffective assistance based upon

his trial counsel's failure to argue, as part of his motion to suppress, that his Sixth

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Amendment right to counsel had been violated. Had Kyles' trial counsel chosen to raise

such an issue with the trial court, such a claim would have surely been denied outright as

having no basis in law or in fact, thus rendering any such argument futile. "Trial counsel

is not ineffective for failing to make a futile argument." State v. Trafton, 12th Dist. Warren

No. CA2022-06-040, 2023-Ohio-122, ¶ 29. Accordingly, finding no merit to Kyles' claim

raised herein, Kyles' fourth issue lacks merit.

Conclusion

{¶ 44} For the reasons outlined above, and finding no merit to any of the four

issues raised by Kyles' herein, Kyles' two assignments of error challenging the trial court's

decision summarily denying his petition for postconviction relief without a hearing lack

merit and are overruled. Therefore, having now overruled the two assignments of error

advanced by Kyles in support of his appeal, Kyles' appeal from the trial court's decision

summarily denying his postconviction relief petition without a hearing is denied.

{¶ 45} Judgment affirmed.

PIPER and M. POWELL, JJ., concur.

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