State v. Osler

2011 Ohio 3219

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 24, 2011
• Docket: 10-CA-31
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Osler, 2011-Ohio-3219.]

COURT OF APPEALS LICKING COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

: JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO : John W. Wise, P.J. : Julie A. Edwards, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Patricia A. Delaney, J. : -vs- : Case No. 10-CA-31 : : ERIC S. OSLER : OPINION

Defendant-Appellant

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from Licking County Court of Common Pleas Case No. 09-CR-607

JUDGMENT: Affirmed In Part, Reversed and Remanded In Part

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: June 24, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

EARL L. FROST SCOTT D. SCHOCKLING Licking County Assistant 5073 Bixby Road Prosecuting Attorney Groveport, Ohio 43125 20 South Second Street Fourth Floor Newark, Ohio 43055 [Cite as State v. Osler, 2011-Ohio-3219.]

Edwards, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Eric Osler, appeals his conviction and sentence from

the Licking County Court of Common Pleas on one count each of trafficking in crack

cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession of marijuana. Plaintiff-appellee is

the State of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} On November 30, 2009, the Licking County Grand Jury indicted appellant

on one count of trafficking in crack cocaine in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1)(C)(4)(a), a

felony of the fifth degree, one count of possession of crack cocaine in violation of R.C.

2925.11(A)(C)(4)(d), a felony of the second degree, and one count of possession of

marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(3)(a), a minor misdemeanor. At his

arraignment on December 8, 2009, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

{¶3} Subsequently, a jury trial commenced on March 24, 2010. The following

testimony was adduced at trial.

{¶4} Officer Jarrod Conley of the Newark Police Department testified that he

was part of a neighborhood impact unit normally known as Team 7 that deals primarily

with drugs. On November 17, 2009, Officer Conley was in uniform working patrol when

they received a call from dispatch to call Peggy Dunlap. Officer Conley testified that he

was with Dunlap when she had a series of phone conversations with appellant that were

recorded. According to the Officer, during the calls, Dunlap ordered $50.00 worth of

crack cocaine and appellant agreed to sell her the same. After appellant and Ralph

Pettigrew went to the boarding house where Dunlap lived, they knocked on the door

and Officer Conley opened the door and said “Newark Police.” Officer Conley then Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 3

grabbed appellant’s right arm and gave him to Officer Doug Wells who restrained and

handcuffed him.

{¶5} Officer Conley testified that he helped detain Pettigrew, who was

attempting to flee. When asked whether Pettigrew could have thrown a bag of crack

cocaine that was found on the ground, Officer Conley testified that Pettigrew could not

have thrown the same because he was watching Pettigrew’s hands the entire time.

{¶6} At trial, Peggy Dunlap testified that she had prior felonies for passing bad

checks, burglary and breaking and entering. She testified that she contacted the

Newark Police Department after appellant told her that he was going to punch her if she

did not have the $50.00 when he arrived at her boarding house. Dunlap testified that

she had several phone calls with appellant that date about purchasing crack cocaine

and that, at some point during the calls, appellant indicated that he was going to send a

man named “Ralphie” over with the crack cocaine. According to Dunlap, during the

calls, appellant agreed to sell her crack cocaine.

{¶7} Officer Doug Wells of the Newark Police Department testified that he was

present when Dunlap made several telephone calls to appellant about purchasing

drugs. He testified that he saw appellant throwing a bag of crack cocaine onto the

ground after the police made contact with him at Dunlap’s boarding house. The

following is an excerpt from his testimony at trial:

{¶8} “Q. Okay. Now, what happens? He’s [appellant] got his hands in his

pockets. What are you doing?

{¶9} “A. I’ve got him bent over the banister. I’m ordering him to take his hands

out of his pockets. He’s refusing to do it. I order several times, take your hands - - Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 4

move your hands out of your pockets. He refuses to do so, so at that time I strike Mr.

Osler in the back of the head and neck area with a hammer fist strike ordering him to

take his hands out. At that time his right hand comes out in a motion like this

(indicating) where his hand opens up. As I look up, I see this bag hit the house next to

us, which is because the opening is only maybe two feet apart from the two houses. It

hits that house and then lands on the ground. I continue with Mr. Osler trying to get his

hands behind his back to get him handcuffed. He’s refusing to listen and obey my

orders of putting his hands behind his back so I strike him again on the back of the

neck.” Transcript at 85.

{¶10} When asked, Officer Wells testified that he saw the bag in appellant’s

hands, saw appellant throw the same and then saw the bag when it hit the ground. He

further testified that it was not possible that Pettigrew could have thrown the bag to the

ground. The bag tested positive for 12.7 grams of crack cocaine.

{¶11} Officer Wells further testified that he believed that a small bag of

marijuana was recovered from appellant. Testimony was adduced at trial that the bag

contained 1.07 grams of marijuana.

{¶12} After appellee rested, the defense called Misty Sherman as a witness.

Sherman testified that she had known appellant since 2004 and that they were really

good friends. She testified that she had a misdemeanor charge for theft in 2001. When

asked how she found out about the incident in this case, Sherman testified that she

was home in bed the early morning or later evening of November 17 or 18th when

“Ralphie” came busting in my door…” Transcript at 118. She testified that Ralphie was

a friend of her daughter’s. The following occurred on the record: Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 5

{¶13} “Q. Did he [Pettigrew] indicate where he was coming from?

{¶14} “MR. FROST: Objection.

{¶15} “THE COURT: Counsel want to approach.

{¶16} “(WHEREUPON, A DISCUSSION WAS HELD AT THE BENCH, OFF THE

RECORD AND OUT OF THE HEARING OF THEY JURY.)

{¶17} “THE COURT: The State’s objection will be granted.

{¶18} “MS COCHRAN: I have no further questions.

{¶19} “THE COURT: Cross-examination.

{¶20} “MR. FROST: No sir.

{¶21} “THE COURT: witness may step down.” Transcript at 119-120.

{¶22} Shannon Johnson, appellant’s girlfriend, testified that she was home on

the night of November 17th or early morning of November 18th and that appellant was at

her house around 11:30 p.m. with Ralph Pettigrew and a man named Lonny. Johnson

testified that she was present when appellant started receiving calls from Peggy Dunlap.

Johnson testified that Pettigrew had the crack cocaine to sell to Dunlap and that

appellant did not. On cross-examination, Johnson testified that appellant had set up a

deal to sell crack cocaine to Dunlap.

{¶23} At the conclusion of the evidence and the end of deliberations, the jury, on

March 24, 2010, found appellant guilty of trafficking in crack cocaine and possession of

crack cocaine. The trial court found appellant guilty of possession of marijuana. As

memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on March 25, 2010, appellant was sentenced to

an aggregate prison sentence of four (4) years and eleven (11) months.

{¶24} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal: Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 6

{¶25} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DID NOT ALLOW HEARSAY

TESTIMONY ADMISSIBLE UNDER EVID. R. 504(B)(3) THAT THE CRACK COCAINE

BELONGED TO PETTIGREW.

{¶26} “II. THE JURY VERDICTS FINDING OSLER GUILTY OF THE CRACK

COCAINE OFFENSES ARE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

{¶27} “III. THE TRIAL JUDGE’S DECISION FINDING OSLER GUILTY OF

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE

EVIDENCE.”

I

{¶28} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred

when it refused to allow Misty Sherman to testify about statements that Ralph Pettigrew

allegedly made to her that he, not appellant, was the source of the crack cocaine

recovered at Dunlap’s boarding house. Appellant contends that the trial court erred in

refusing to allow such hearsay testimony because it satisfied the requirements of Evid.

R. 804(B)(3).

{¶29} In the case sub judice, Sherman testified that Ralph Pettigrew came to her

house on the late evening of November 17th or the early morning of November 18th.

When asked if he indicated where he was coming from, appellee objected, allegedly on

the basis of hearsay. After a discussion was held off of the record, the trial court

sustained the objection and Sherman was excused. Pettigrew had been subpoenaed for

trial but did not appear.

{¶30} As is stated above, appellant contends that while in Sherman’s presence,

Pettigrew stated that he, not appellant, was the source of the crack cocaine found at the Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 7

boarding house and that the trial court erred in not allowing such testimony. However,

there is no indication in the transcript that such testimony was actually proffered.1

Appellant specifically cites to the following as evidence that while in Sherman’s

presence Pettigrew stated that he, rather than appellant, was the source of crack

cocaine:

{¶31} “THE COURT: There was an objection by the State to hearsay testimony

that was to be elicited out of the testimony of Misty Sherman. Let’s put that on the

record at this time. Ms. Cochran, did you wish to place on the record the basis for your

wanting the testimony.

{¶32} “MS. COCHRAN: Yes, Your Honor. The declarant in this case is

unavailable. The defense had tried to serve him at both addresses that the Court had,

that this Court had and that the municipal court had for him. And as the statements, the

alleged statements or the statements that we wanted to be admitted were against his

interest, we had asked that they be admitted against his interest. There should have

been or there was reasonable indicia of reliability. The statement was voluntary; it was

self-inculpatory; there were other witnesses to the statement; it was contemporaneous

to the incident or close in time. There was not an attempt by the accomplice to

completely exonerate himself and shift the blame to the Defendant. It was spontaneous

and there was firsthand - - well, not firsthand knowledge, but the speaker had firsthand

knowledge of the incident.

{¶33} “Also, this was the declaration of a person that was at the scene and

present and we would ask that the Court allow that those statements against interest be

admitted.” Transcript at 127-128. 1 It appears that Sherman’s alleged testimony may have been discussed off-the-record. Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 8

{¶34} However, what Sherman’s alleged testimony would have been is unclear

from the record and was not proffered.

{¶35} The failure to proffer or object at trial does not preserve the issue for

appellate review. State v. Grubb (1986), 28 Ohio St.3d 199, 203, 503 N.E.2d 142.

{¶36} Appellant’s first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

II, III

{¶37} Appellant, in his second and third assignments of error, argues that his

convictions for trafficking in crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and possession

of marijuana are against the manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶38} When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, our inquiry focuses

primarily upon the adequacy of the evidence; that is, whether the evidence, if believed,

reasonably could support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v.

Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, 546, State v.

Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574 N.E.2d at 503. The standard of review is whether,

after viewing the probative evidence and inferences reasonably drawn therefrom in the

light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found all the

essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at

273.

{¶39} 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 the

witnesses and determine whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact

clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the judgment

must be reversed. The discretionary power to grant a new hearing should be exercised Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 9

only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the

judgment.” Thompkins, supra at 387, citing State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172,

175. Because the trier of fact is in a better position to observe the witnesses' demeanor

and weigh their credibility, the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses

are primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d

212, syllabus 1.

{¶40} Appellant was convicted of trafficking in cocaine pursuant to R.C.

2925.03(A)(1)(C)(4)(A.). R.C. 2925.03 states, in relevant part, as follows: “(A) No

person shall knowingly do any of the following: (1) Sell or offer to sell a controlled

substance…”

{¶41} Appellant specifically maintains that appellee failed to show that he either

offered to sell or sold crack cocaine to Dunlap. He notes that Shannon Johnson testified

that Ralph Pettigrew had the crack cocaine.

{¶42} However, Johnson, on cross-examination testified that appellant set up

the deal to sell crack cocaine to Peggy Dunlap. Moreover, as is stated above, Officer

Conley testified that during a series of telephone calls that were recorded, appellant

agreed to sell Dunlap $50.00 worth of crack cocaine. The officer testified that he

recognized appellant’s voice based on his past contact with appellant. Officer Doug

Wells, who was also present when the calls were made, similarly testified that he

recognized appellants’ voice on the calls. Officer Wells also testified that when

appellant showed up at Dunlap’s residence, he saw appellant throw a bag onto the

ground. The bag tested positive for crack cocaine. Based on the foregoing, we find that Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 10

appellant’s conviction for trafficking in crack cocaine is not against the manifest weight

or sufficiency of the evidence.

{¶43} Appellant further challenges his conviction for possession of crack cocaine

in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(4)(d). R.C. 2925.11 states, in relevant part, as follows:

“(A) No person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance.” R.C.

2925.01(K) provides that “‘possess’ or ‘possession’ means having control over a thing

or substance, but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance

through ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is

found.”

{¶44} Appellant specifically argues that the testimony shows that he did not

possess or have control over the crack cocaine on the date in question. However, as

stated above, Officer Wells testified that he saw appellant throw a bag that was later

determined to contain crack cocaine onto the ground. In addition, Officer Conley

testified that he saw appellant throw the bag and that it was impossible for Pettigrew to

have thrown the bag of crack cocaine on the ground because he watched Pettigrew’s

hands the entire time. The jury, as trier of fact, clearly found their testimony credible. We

find that appellant’s conviction for possession of crack cocaine is not against the

manifest weight or sufficiency of the evidence.

{¶45} Finally, appellant argues that the trial court erred in convicting him of

possession of marijuana. At trial, Officer Wells testified that he “believed” that a small

bag that tested positive for marijuana was recovered from appellant. That was the only

testimony adduced at trial with respect to such charge. Based on such testimony, we Licking County App. Case No. 10-CA-31 11

find that appellant’s conviction for possession of marijuana was against the manifest

weight and sufficiency of the evidence.

{¶46} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled and appellant’s third

assignment of error is sustained.

{¶47} Accordingly, the judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas

is affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part.

By: Edwards, J.

Wise, P.J. and

Delaney, J. concur

______________________________

JUDGES

JAE/d0509 [Cite as State v. Osler, 2011-Ohio-3219.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR LICKING COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : : Plaintiff-Appellee : : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : ERIC S. OSLER : : Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 10-CA-31

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

judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part and reversed

and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. Costs assessed 80% to

appellant and 20% to appellee.

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