State v. Miller

2020 Ohio 131

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 15, 2020
• Docket: 19AP0003
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Miller, 2020-Ohio-131.]

COURT OF APPEALS MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. -vs- Case No. 19AP0003 BROOKE MILLER

Defendant-Appellant O P I N IO N

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Appeal from the Morgan County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 15-CR-0003

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 15, 2020

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

MARK HOWDYSHELL KEVIN J. GALL Morgan County Prosecutor 33 West Main Street, Suite 109 Newark, Ohio 43055 JANNA C. WOODBURN Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 19 East Main Street McConnelsville, Ohio 43756 Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 2

Hoffman, J. {¶1} Defendant-appellant Brooke Miller appeals the May 23, 2019 Sentencing

Entry on Community Control Violation entered by the Morgan County Court of Common

Pleas, which sentenced her to a period of incarceration of 24 months after finding she

had violated a condition of her community control. Plaintiff-appellee is the state of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE1

{¶2} On April 28, 2015, Appellant was indicted on one count of aggravated

trafficking in drugs, in violation of R.C. 2929.03(A)(1)(C)(1)(c), a felony of the third degree.

Appellant appeared before the trial court on September 29, 2015, withdrew her former

plea of not guilty, and entered a plea of guilty to the sole count contained in the Indictment.

On November 23, 2015, the trial court sentenced Appellant to five years of community

control.

{¶3} Parole Officer Matthew Cook filed a Motion to Revoke Community Control

on February 26, 2019, alleging Appellant had violated Condition 1: “I will obey federal,

state and local laws and ordinances. I will conduct myself as a responsible law-abiding

citizen.” Specifically, the motion alleged, “On or about 02/11/2019 the offender did

knowingly cause another to believe that she would cause them serious physical harm.”

{¶4} After Appellant waived the probable cause hearing, the trial court scheduled

a full hearing on the motion to revoke for April 10, 2019. At the hearing, Parole Officer

Cook testified Appellant came under his supervision on November 23, 2015. Due to

issues with substance abuse, positive drug tests, multiple complaints Appellant was

threatening others through social media, and an arrest and jail time, P.O. Cook

1 A Statement of the Facts underlying Appellant’s original conviction is unnecessary for our disposition of this appeal. Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 3

implemented a system of progressive discipline, which included increased reporting,

increased drug testing, and substance abuse counseling. Despite the additional

conditions, Appellant continued to harass and threaten individuals through social media,

and continued to use drugs, testing positive for methamphetamines as well as, most

recently, testing positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and cocaine. The last

drug test occurred immediately following a court hearing approximately one month prior

to the hearing on the motion to revoke. Appellant refused to participate in an intensive

outpatient program which was recommended as a result of her substance abuse

counseling.

{¶5} P.O. Cook testified regarding the current community control violation. P.O.

Cook indicated he was contacted by an individual who was worried and upset about

comments Appellant made to her through social media. The individual provided P.O.

Cook with screen shots of the social media messages. P.O. Cook took the comments

made by Appellant as a threat of physical harm or the use of a firearm. Over Appellant’s

objection, a copy of the social media post was admitted as State’s Exhibit “A”. P.O. Cook

stated he showed the post to Appellant. Appellant admitted she sent the post, explaining

she had given the individual money, asked the individual to pay her back, and an

argument ensued. P.O. Cook read the post into the record. He indicated Appellant had

been counseled in the past over similar conduct.

{¶6} The post read:

Bitch I know you real well I just seen you over in parkersburg you

have smoked so much crack you don’t even have a voice I was in rehab Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 4

with you bitch I know you really well fake ass crack whore I know your

husband Carl and I know you and your nigger drug dealer just moved to

Vienna I’m on my way to pick up Eric and he is going to take care of this

and he will get my money that you and Michelle has smoked up I’m calling

the beauty college that is my family you are sick bitch 80 lbs crackhead eat

a fuckin cheeseburger put down the stem and eat bitch one way or the other

if the crack don’t kill you this 380 will.

{¶7} On cross-examination, P.O. Cook testified he believed the individual who

received the messages was in fear for her safety based upon the individual’s description

of the events. P.O. Cook had reason to believe Appellant was in possession of a firearm.

He explained an investigation had been initiated because Appellant’s aggression and

threats of violence were escalating. As part of the investigation, P.O. Cook needed to

determine whether Appellant was in possession of any firearms. When he asked

Appellant if she had a .380, Appellant stated she did and indicated she had given the

firearm to her sister. P.O. Cook reiterated Appellant admitted sending the messages.

Appellant never suggested to P.O. Cook a third party was using her Facebook account

to send the messages.

{¶8} Appellant testified on her own behalf. She stated her ex-husband had full

and total access to her cell phone. She left her phone unattended “all the time”. Tr. at 28.

Appellant and her ex-husband resided together on February 11, 2019, the date of the

incident. Appellant explained she met the individual to whom the messages were sent in

rehab. The individual owed her money and Appellant’s ex-husband was aware of this Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 5

fact. Appellant testified she had not owned a firearm since July, 2016, and never owned

a .380. Appellant alleged her ex-husband and the individual were having an affair.

Appellant added the individual as well as another woman and “this black guy” had beaten

her “to a pulp unconscious” on February 11, 2019. Tr. at 34. She added she was taken

to jail rather than the hospital.

{¶9} Appellant recalled P.O. Cook advised her the Washington County Sheriff’s

Department was coming to her home to search for a .380. She informed her parole officer

there were no guns in her residence. Appellant denied seeing the social media message

until the day of the court hearing. She claimed P.O. Cook had only told her about the

message, but did not show it to her.

{¶10} Via Journal Entry filed April 12, 2019, the trial court found Appellant had

violated the terms of her community control supervision. The trial court sentenced

Appellant to 24 months with credit for time served. The trial court memorialized the

sentence via Sentencing Entry on Community Control Violation filed May 23, 2019.

{¶11} It is from the trial court’s finding she violated the terms of her community

control Appellant appeals, assigning as error:

I. THE TRIAL COURT DEPRIVED MS. MILLER HER DUE

PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES BY

ALLOWING HEARSAY EVIDENCE TO BE ADMITTED, THUS DENYING

MS. MILLER HER RIGHTS OF CONFRONTATION. Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 6

II. THE STATE OF OHIO DID NOT PRESENT SUFFICIENT

EVIDENCE THAT MS. MILLER HAD VIOLATED THE TERMS OF HER

COMMUNITY CONTROL BY CAUSING ANOTHER TO BELIEVE THAT

SHE WOULD CAUSE THEM SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM.

I.

{¶12} In her first assignment of error, Appellant asserts the trial court violated her

right to due process by admitting hearsay evidence and denying her the right of

confrontation.

The Confrontation Clause

{¶13} The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment states, “In all criminal

prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to be confronted with the witnesses

against him.” Out-of-court statements by a witness which are testimonial in nature are

barred, under the Confrontation Clause, unless the witness is unavailable and the

defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the witness. Crawford v. Washington,

541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004). If testimony qualifies as

nonhearsay, it does not implicate the Confrontation Clause. Id. at 59, citing Tennessee v.

Street, 471 U.S. 409, 414, 105 S.Ct. 2078, 85 L.Ed.2d 425 (1985); State v. Maxwell, 139

Ohio St. 3d 12, 9 N.E.3d 930, 2014-Ohio-1019, ¶131. Evid. R. 801(C) defines hearsay as

“a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing,

offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”

{¶14} In Blanks v. Maryland, 228 Md.App. 335, 351–352, 137 A.3d 1074, 1083–

1084 (2016), the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland observed: Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 7

In the twelve years since Crawford was decided, ten federal courts

of appeals have addressed whether the Crawford standard for admissibility

of testimonial hearsay applies in a revocation of probation (or parole)

proceeding. All ten courts have held that because the rights guaranteed by

the Sixth Amendment only apply to “criminal prosecutions,” neither the Sixth

Amendment right to confrontation nor the Crawford Court's interpretation of

that right applies in such a proceeding.

{¶15} Since Crawford, “an overwhelming majority of federal circuit and state

appellate courts that have addressed this issue have concluded that Crawford does not

apply to a revocation of probation hearing.” State v. Esquilin, 179 Conn.App. 461, 179

A.3d 238 (2018), at n. 10. (Citations omitted.)

Hearsay and Revocation Hearings

{¶16} As set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Gagnon v. Scarpelli,

411 U.S. 778, 786, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973), the due process requirements

of Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972), with regard

to parole violation hearings, are applicable to probation revocation proceedings. The

minimal due process requirements for final revocation hearings include:

(a) [W]ritten notice of the claimed violations of (probation or) parole;

(b) disclosure to the (probationer or) parolee of evidence against him; (c)

opportunity to be heard in person and to present witnesses and

documentary evidence; (d) the right to confront and cross-examine adverse Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 8

witnesses (unless the hearing officer specifically finds good cause for not

allowing confrontation); (e) a “neutral and detached” hearing body such as

a traditional parole board, members of which need not be judicial officers or

lawyers; and (f) a written statement by the factfinders as to the evidence

relied on and reasons for revoking (probation or) parole. (Emphasis added).

Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. at 782, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973),

citing Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. at 489, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484

(1972).

{¶17} “Whether there is ‘good cause’ for not allowing confrontation during a

revocation hearing should be determined by using a balancing test. State v. Fears, 5th

Dist. Richland No., 2018 -Ohio- 1468, citing State v. Esquilin, 179 Conn.App. 461, 472,

179 A.3d 238 (2018). “This test requires the court . . . to balance, on the one hand, the

defendant's interest in confronting the declarant, against, on the other hand, the

government's reasons for not producing the witness and the reliability of the proffered

hearsay.” (Citations omitted. Internal quotation marks omitted.)

{¶18} Parole Officer Matthew Cook testified he had been Appellant’s parole officer

since November, 2015, and continued to act in that capacity until the revocation hearing.

P.O. Cook was directly contacted by the individual regarding Appellant’s social media

messages. He indicated he confronted Appellant regarding the messages, showing her

screen shots of the same. Appellant admitted to P.O. Cook she sent the messages to

the individual. Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 9

{¶19} Courts have “held that minimum due process requirements are satisfied

where the parolee admits the alleged parole violation at the revocation hearing. Helton v.

Ohio Adult Parole Auth. (June 26, 2001), Franklin App. No. 00AP–1108, 2001 WL

709946. We find Appellant was not denied her right to due process. P.O. Cook’s

testimony Appellant admitted she sent the social media messages was independently

corroborated by other evidence presented at the hearing.

{¶20} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

II.

{¶21} In her second assignment of error, Appellant challenges the trial court’s

determination she violated the terms of her community control as such finding was based

upon insufficient evidence. Specifically, Appellant contends the state failed to establish

she caused another to believe she would cause them serious physical harm.

{¶22} Because a community control revocation hearing is not a criminal trial, the

state does not have to establish a violation with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. State

v. Wolfson, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 03CA25, 2004-Ohio-2750, 2004 WL 1178724, ¶ 7.

See, also, State v. Payne, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2001-09-081, 2002 WL 649403; State

v. Hylton, 75 Ohio App.3d 778, 782, 600 N.E.2d 821 (4th Dist. 1991). Instead, the state

need only present “substantial” proof a defendant willfully violated the community control

conditions. See, Hylton, 75 Ohio App.3d at 782, 600 N.E.2d 821. “The test ordinarily

applied is highly deferential to the decision of the trial court and is akin to a preponderance

of the evidence burden of proof. Accordingly, the court's conclusion must be sustained if

there is competent credible evidence to support it.” State v. Hayes, 6th Dist. Wood No.

WD–00–075, 2001 WL 909291 (Aug. 10, 2001) (Internal citations omitted). Additionally, Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 10

the “[d]etermination of the credibility of the witnesses is for the trier of fact.” State v. Brank,

5th Dist. Tusc. No. 2006 AP 090053, 2007-Ohio-919.

{¶23} Once a trial court finds a defendant violated community control conditions,

it possesses discretion to revoke the defendant's community control. In that event,

appellate courts should not reverse trial court decisions unless it finds the trial court

abused its discretion. Wolfson, 2004-Ohio-2750, 2004 WL 1178724, ¶ 8.

{¶24} Thus, the appropriate review in this matter is twofold. First, we review the

record to determine whether there is some competent credible evidence to support the

court's finding Appellant violated the terms of her community control. If so, then we review

the sanction under the more deferential abuse of discretion standard. In the Matter of

C.M.C., 4th Dist. Washington No. 09CA15, 2009–Ohio–4223, ¶ 17; State v. Amos, 4th

Dist. Gallia No. 15CA5, 2016-Ohio-917, ¶ 9.

{¶25} An abuse of discretion exists where the reasons given by the court for its

action are clearly untenable, legally incorrect, or amount to a denial of justice, or where

the judgment reaches an end or purpose not justified by reason and the evidence. State

v. Firouzmandi, 5th Dist. Licking No. 2006-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-5823, 2006 WL 3185175, ¶

54.

{¶26} 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, 552 N.E.2d 180,

certiorari denied (1990), 498 U.S. 881, 111 S.Ct. 228, 112 L.Ed.2d 183. Reviewing courts

should accord deference to the trial court's decision as the trial court is in the best position

to observe the witnesses' demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections which cannot be Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 11

conveyed to us through the written record. Miller v. Miller, 37 Ohio St.3d 71, 523 N.E.2d

846(1988).

{¶27} The evidence presented at the revocation hearing established P.O. Cook

was contacted by an individual who was worried and upset about comments Appellant

made to her through social media. The individual provided P.O. Cook with screen shots

of the social media messages. P.O. Cook took the comments made by Appellant as a

threat of physical harm or the use of a firearm. P.O. Cook stated he showed the post to

Appellant. Appellant admitted she sent the post, explaining she had given the individual

money, asked the individual to pay her back, and an argument ensued. Appellant stated

her ex-husband had full and total access to her cell phone, and she left her phone

unattended “all the time”. Tr. at 28. Appellant explained her ex-husband was aware the

individual to whom the messages were sent owed her money. Appellant alleged her ex-

husband and the individual were having an affair. Appellant added she was in jail on

February 11, 2018. Appellant denied seeing the social media message until the day of

the court hearing. She claimed P.O. Cook had only told her about the message, but did

not show it to her.

{¶28} We find there was relevant, competent, and credible evidence upon which

the trial court could find Appellant violated the terms of her community control. The trial

court, as the trier of fact, was free to accept or reject the testimony of the witnesses. The

trial court clearly believed P.O. Cook’s statement Appellant admitted sending the social

media messages, which caused the recipient to become upset and sufficiently worried to

contact P.O. Cook. We further find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in so finding

and revoking Appellant’s community control. Morgan County, Case No. 19CA0003 12

{¶29} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

{¶30} The judgment of the Morgan County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By: Hoffman, J. Gwin, P.J. and Delaney, J. concur