State v. McComas

2013 Ohio 3180

Opinion

[Cite as State v. McComas, 2013-Ohio-3180.]

COURT OF APPEALS TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. : Hon. John W. Wise, J. -vs- : : DANIEL MCCOMAS : Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2012 CR 08 0217

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: July 17, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

AMANDA K. MILLER DAN GUINN 125 East High Avenue 118 West High Avenue New Philadelphia, OH 44663 New Philadelphia, OH 44663 Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 2

Farmer, J.

{¶1} On August 18, 2012, the Tuscarawas County Grand Jury indicted

appellant, Daniel McComas, on one count of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02. Said

charge arose from an incident involving a child under the age of thirteen.

{¶2} A jury trial commenced on February 20, 2013. On the morning of

February 21, 2013, the state moved for a mistrial based on testimony of the

investigating officer given the previous day regarding appellant's willingness to undergo

a polygraph examination. The trial court granted the motion.

{¶3} A second trial commenced on February 25, 2013. The jury found

appellant guilty as charged.1 By judgment entry filed February 28, 2013, the trial court

sentenced appellant to twenty-five years to life, and classified him as a Tier III sex

offender.

{¶4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

I

{¶5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING THE APPELLEE'S MOTION

FOR A MISTRIAL DUE TO STATEMENTS REGARDING POLYGRAPH

EXAMINATIONS."

II

{¶6} "THE FINDING THAT THE APPELLANT WAS GUILTY OF RAPE

PURSUANT TO ORC 2907.02(A)(1)(b) WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF

THE EVIDENCE."

1 Due to the fact that there were two trials, the transcript for the first trial will be referred to as T. I and the transcript for the second trial will be referred to as T. II. Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 3

III

{¶7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE APPELLANT'S MOTION

IN LIMINE TO EXCLUDE NEW EVIDENCE THAT THE PROSECUTION REVEALED

AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST TRIAL."

{¶8} Appellant claims the trial court erred in granting the state's motion for

mistrial. We disagree.

{¶9} The decision whether or not to grant a mistrial rests in a trial court's sound

discretion. State v. Glover, 35 Ohio St.3d 18 (1988). In order to find an abuse of

discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5

Ohio St.3d 217 (1983).

{¶10} Appellant argues the prosecutor failed to make the motion for mistrial

immediately after an objection was sustained by the trial court during the first trial, and

the prosecutor used the motion as a tool to get a second bite of the apple because the

case "was not going well" for the state. The testimony at issue was of the investigating

officer, John Gray, on cross-examination by defense counsel (T. I at 204-205):

Q. Okay. So he, he [appellant] came right over within the next

hour?

A. Yep.

Q. He was cooperative?

A. Yep. Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 4

Q. And he said he didn't do it?

Q. In fact he said hell no?

A. Right.

Q. He even offered to take a polygraph didn't he?

A. Yes he did.

Q. And you had talked to him about getting it set up?

A. Well I told him that I would see about it.

Q. Okay. Well did you see about it?

A. No sir.

Q. Why not?

A. I was waiting on the rest of the evidence to come back.

Q. Wouldn't a polygraph have been helpful?

MS. MILLER: Objection your honor. Polygraphs are inadmissible

and so this is completely irrelevant.

MR. GUINN: I think it goes to the investigation and what was done.

He said he could get a polygraph. My client said he would be fine doing it.

THE COURT: Well, but it is, it is inadmissible so I'm going to

sustain the objection.

{¶11} Although the trial court gratuitously offered a statement on a polygraph's

inadmissibility to the jury, no curative instruction was given at the time of the objection.

The next morning, the prosecutor made a motion for a mistrial (T. I at 212): Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 5

Attorney Guinn asked that inappropriate question of the officer only

to bolster the credibility of his client. There was no stipulation. There was

no mention of a willingness or unwillingness to take a polygraph in any of

the pretrial phases. The State cannot rebut this. I can't cross-examine

Daniel on his willingness to take a polygraph because it's inadmissible.

And I can't force Daniel to testify. This case here is even more dangerous

than, to fundamental fairness than State v. Miller. In Miller, the Defendant

had the recourse of, of appeal after a final verdict. In this case, if a mistrial

is not granted, the only recourse that the State has is a possible

interlockitory (sic) appeal should the Fifth District grant leave to accept

that.

{¶12} In State v. Miller, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No. 86AP060038, 1987 WL 9876

(April 20, 1987), *2, we found a question on taking a polygraph was inadmissible and a

curative instruction would not have cured the problem:

The purpose of the question in the case sub judice was clearly

directed at bolstering the credibility of the State's witness in the minds of

the jurors. The question, though unanswered, was a leading question

which suggested but one answer: that the witness was willing to take a

polygraph examination as to the particular statement he testified he made

to the Dover Police, and that therefore he was telling the truth. The effect Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 6

of the question is even more damaging when it is revealed on the cross-

examination of McCullough that he had made prior statements to the

police which were contradictory and inconsistent.

{¶13} As appellant readily concedes, the trial court is in the best and most

authoritative position to access whether a mistrial is appropriate vis-à-vis a curative

instruction. The testimony was clearly leading to the credibility of appellant by showing

his willingness to take a polygraph and his immediate denial of the charge, without

appellant taking the stand and testifying. The polygraph, to an unsophisticated jury, is

an immediate imprimatur on appellant's credibility or innocence. Further, the testimony

was totally orchestrated by defense counsel and was not introduced by the state.

{¶14} Upon review, we find no error in the trial court's ruling or any violation of

the Double Jeopardy Clause.

{¶15} Assignment of Error I is denied.

{¶16} Appellant claims his conviction for rape was against the manifest weight of

the evidence. We disagree.

{¶17} On review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine 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." State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175 (1st

Dist.1983). See also, State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 1997-Ohio-52. The Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 7

granting of a new trial "should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the

evidence weighs heavily against the conviction." Martin at 175.

{¶18} Appellant argues the difference in the victim's testimony between the first

and second trials demonstrates that the victim was not credible, and the existence of his

DNA on the victim's underwear was also not credible.

{¶19} Appellant was convicted of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b)

which states: "No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the

spouse of the offender or who is the spouse of the offender but is living separate and

apart from 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."

CREDIBILITY OF THE VICTIM

{¶20} Appellant challenges the credibility of the victim, C.C., who was eleven

years old at the time of the offense and thirteen years old at trial. Because of the

mistrial, appellant already had C.C.'s testimony from the first trial. C.C. was steadfast

that appellant initiated the masturbation incident in the living room and took her pants

down and placed his penis in her "butt cheeks." T. I at 120-124; T. II at 164-166. He

then made her go to his bedroom, where her pants were pulled down. T. I at 124-126;

T. II at 168-170. She laid on the bed and appellant got on top of her and penetrated her

with his penis, wherein he ejaculated. T. I at 127-128; T. II at 170-171, 198. An

inconsistency in the two testimonies was when C.C. claimed in the first trial she felt she

was in danger, like he was going to hurt her, and it hurt when he grabbed her wrist (T. I

at 121-122, 151-152), but in the second trial, denied that appellant hurt her and claimed

she was not in danger. T. II at 163-164, 179, 196-197. On redirect during the second Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 8

trial, C.C. explained when she originally stated she felt like she was in danger, she

meant she was afraid that she could become pregnant. T. II at 220. On recross-

examination, C.C. admitted she did not tell everything at the first trial because she was

too scared, but denied making anything up. T. II at 224-225. Despite any claimed

inconsistencies, the elements of appellant's conduct remained the same.

{¶21} C.C. also claimed appellant's sister, S.M., observed the rape in appellant's

bedroom as she was standing in the doorway watching, but S.M. denied seeing

anything and claimed C.C. never accompanied appellant to his bedroom. T. II at 171,

201, 383.

{¶22} Appellant presented the testimony of his friends, Lionel Woods and Tia

Simms, who claimed they were with him the entire time and C.C. was asleep in the

living room. T. II at 350-353, 370-372.

{¶23} The issue of C.C.'s credibility was at the forefront of appellant's defense

as exemplified in defense counsel's closing argument. T. II at 442-444.

{¶24} The weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses

are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Jamison, 49 Ohio St.3d 182 (1990). The trier of

fact "has the best opportunity to view the demeanor, attitude, and credibility of each

witness, something that does not translate well on the written page." Davis v.

Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 418, 1997-Ohio-260.

{¶25} From the verdict, it is obvious that the jury rejected appellant's attack on

C.C.'s credibility. This is substantiated by the presence of appellant's DNA on the

underwear worn by C.C. and the presence of a single sperm cell in her vagina. T. II at

303, 330-332. Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 9

DNA EVIDENCE ON THE UNDERWEAR

{¶26} Appellant also attacks C.C.'s claim that State's Exhibit B was her

underwear that she was wearing at the time of the rape. S.M., appellant's sister,

testified she gave C.C. a pair of underwear to wear which she had found on the

bathroom sink. T. II at 386-387. Another juvenile, S.P., claimed the underwear was

hers and she had engaged in sexual intercourse with appellant in the morning on the

day of the incident with C.C. T. II at 408-409, 412. S.P. testified after having sexual

relations with appellant, she put her underwear back on for about ten minutes before

changing into a swimsuit and leaving her clothes and underwear at the house. T. II at

409-410. These claims were never disclosed to the police nor mentioned by either

witness until appellant's trial. T. II at 395-397, 414-418.

{¶27} The acceptance or rejection of this exhibit lies with the trier of fact. The

credibility of S.M. and S.P. are suspect given the passage of time and their own

relationships with appellant.

{¶28} As with most, if not all, cases of rape, it is generally a "he said, she said"

situation. Appellant told Officer Gray that C.C. offered him a "hand job" in exchange for

a cigarette. T. II at 271. S.M. claimed she told C.C. she was going to tell her mom if

she did not stop and C.C. said "she would tell her mom that Daniel did stuff to her if I

told," thereby implying that C.C. made up the incident. T. II at 388.

{¶29} As noted above, the believability of anyone's testimony lies with the trier of

fact, in this case, the jury. We find C.C.'s consistent statements of the events, coupled

with the presence of a sperm cell in her vagina and appellant's DNA on her underwear, Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 10

regardless of ownership, was sufficient to substantiate the jury's guilty finding. Upon

review, we find no manifest miscarriage of justice.

{¶30} Assignment of Error II is denied.

{¶31} Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine

regarding photographs of State's Exhibit B, the underwear. We disagree.

{¶32} During the first trial, the state presented State's Exhibit B, the underwear

in three pieces, but believed to be the entire garment. After the mistrial, the state

informed appellant that it would be presenting two photographs of State's Exhibit B and

C.C.'s sanitary pad from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (hereinafter "B.C.I."). The

photograph of the underwear depicted a missing piece from State's Exhibit B which

contained blood. In the motion in limine, appellant argued his counsel was not given the

photographs earlier, and were produced to substantiate C.C.'s claim in the first trial that

she had been bleeding. As noted by the state in its response, all evidence listed on the

B.C.I. lab report was available at the Newcomerstown Police Department upon request.

Further, none of the B.C.I. experts had testified at the first trial and State's Exhibit B had

not even been admitted into evidence.

{¶33} In its judgment entry filed February 26, 2013, the trial court denied the

motion in limine "at this point." Defense counsel did not renew the motion at trial and

did not object to the admission of the exhibits. T. II at 338-339.

{¶34} In Akron v. Carter, 190 Ohio App.3d 420, 2010-Ohio-5462, ¶ 7 (9th Dist.),

our brethren from the Ninth District explained the following: Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 11

This court has described a motion in limine as "a precautionary

request***to limit the examination of witnesses by opposing counsel in a

specified area until its admissibility is determined by the court outside the

presence of the jury." State v. Echard, 9th Dist. No. 24643, 2009-Ohio-

6616, 2009 WL 4830001, at ¶ 3, quoting State v. Grubb (1986), 28 Ohio

St.3d 199, 201, 28 OBR 285, 503 N.E.2d 142. Due to the preliminary

nature of the ruling, in order to preserve the issue for appeal, one must

object at the point during trial when the issue arises. Id. at ¶ 4. In Echard,

this court pointed out that the Ohio Supreme Court has "explained that

renewing a motion and/or objection in the context of when [the evidence]

is offered at trial is important because 'the trial court is certainly at

liberty***to consider the admissibility of the disputed evidence in its actual

context.' " Id. at ¶ 4, quoting Grubb at 202.

{¶35} Appellant's claimed error was not perfected for the record and therefore is

subject to review under the harmless error standard. Harmless error is described as

"[a]ny error, defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall

be disregarded." Crim.R. 52(A). Overcoming harmless error requires a showing of

undue prejudice or a violation of a substantial right.

{¶36} We find the arguments herein fail under this standard. Photographs of the

underwear were admissible under the rules of evidence and were relevant as to the

physical examination done by B.C.I. We cannot say with any certainty that they would

not have been presented at the first trial. C.C. testified she had a sanitary pad on the Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2013 AP 03 0013 12

day of the incident because she was on her menstrual cycle (T. I at 138), therefore the

presence or absence of blood on the underwear was an issue at both trials. The B.C.I.

reports given to defense counsel listed the items examined. We cannot find that they

would have ever been inadmissible as they were relevant evidence at both trials.

{¶37} Assignment of Error III is denied.

{¶38} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio

is hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Wise, J. concur.

_______________________________

JUDGES

SGF/sg 702 [Cite as State v. McComas, 2013-Ohio-3180.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : DANIEL MCCOMAS : : Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2013 AP 03 0013

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio is affirmed.

Costs to appellant.