[Cite as State v. Pullin, 2016-Ohio-1179.]
COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO : Hon Sheila G. Farmer, P.J. : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : -vs- : : Case No. 2015CA00134 KIP MARESE PULLIN : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2015CR0042(B)
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 21, 2016
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN D. FERRERO BERNARD HUNT BY RONALD MARK CALDWELL 2395 McGinty Road N.W. STARK COUNTY PROSECUTOR North Canton, OH 44720 110 Central Plaza S. Canton, OH 44702 Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 2
Gwin, J.
{¶1} Appellant Kip Marese Pullin was convicted after a jury trial in the Stark
County Court of Common Pleas of one count of attempted murder, with a firearm
specification, one count of felonious assault with a firearm specification, and one count of
carrying concealed weapons.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} On December 22, 2014, Craig McCoy was living with Charles Benjamin at
902 Johnson Street located in Massillon, Ohio. He originally moved in about mid-
November. Chelsea Smith moved into the home in mid-December with her three children,
ages 10, 3 and 1. McCoy slept downstairs while the others slept upstairs.
{¶3} McCoy knew appellant’s father, Kip A. Pullin, by sight. McCoy knew “Big
Kip" since 1990. McCoy also knew “Little Kip,” the appellant.
{¶4} On December 21, 2014, McCoy had gone to sleep downstairs. He was
suddenly awakened around seven o'clock the next morning when he heard the back door
to the residence "bust open.” As McCoy got up to see what was going on, appellant, who
was wearing a hoodie, met him. McCoy did not recognize appellant right away as he was
immediately shot by him and was wounded in his right arm. McCoy nonetheless ran
towards appellant, grabbed him, and threw him to the ground. McCoy then struggled with
appellant trying to get the handgun away from him. As he was fighting, McCoy realized
that his assailant was appellant. McCoy then realized that someone else was shooting
at him from behind. In order to protect himself, McCoy tried to use appellant as a shield.
Many bullets were now being fired at him, and it was during this time that McCoy now Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 3
realized that Big Kip was firing his handgun at him. McCoy also saw a third assailant, but
he did not know him, only seeing that this third man had a lump on his eye.
{¶5} Little Kip approached McCoy who was lying on the floor and shot him in the
face. McCoy also suffered from gunshot wounds to his side and his leg, as well as the
shots to his right arm. Leaving McCoy in a pool of his own blood, the three men then ran
out of the house.
{¶6} Massillon Police Officer James Slutz arrived at the residence in response
to a 9-1-1 call. He was met by Charles Benjamin at the front door and was told that
someone had been shot in his home. Officer Slutz found McCoy lying on the living room
floor with Chelsea Smith tending to him. Officer Slutz asked McCoy who had shot him,
and McCoy replied that he did not know. Officer Slutz noticed that McCoy was in pain
and was holding his face. Officer Slutz also asked Smith who had done the shooting, and
she replied that they did not know. Both McCoy and Smith were short and brief with
Officer Slutz. Massillon Police Detective David McConnell soon arrived at the scene and
attempted to interview Benjamin, Smith, and McCoy. Smith appeared very nervous and
frightened, and was not providing McConnell with much information. The detective
noticed that Benjamin, who was also very nervous and secretive, was whispering with
Smith. McCoy also did not identify any of the shooters for McConnell. Other Massillon
police officers noticed that Smith was passive and rather quiet, while Benjamin was
erratic, upset, and agitated.
{¶7} McCoy admitted at trial that he did not tell Detective McConnell who had
shot him while he was at the scene. McCoy explained that he was in shock because of
what had just happened to him, and it all seemed like a dream to him. He was in shock Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 4
that he had been shot and was now seriously wounded. Once the paramedics arrived,
McCoy was immediately taken to the hospital. Detective McConnell eventually followed
McCoy to the hospital, where he attempted to speak with McCoy. McCoy did not offer who
had shot him at this time. McConnell left his business card with McCoy's son, and told him
to have his father contact him when he was in better condition to talk.
{¶8} The Massillon police processed the crime scene that day, taking
photographs of the scene and of the evidence recovered. This evidence included spent
shell casings and bullets, some of which were .25 caliber. A search of the house turned
up no weapons.
{¶9} McCoy was subsequently discharged on Christmas Day from the hospital
after being treated for his numerous gunshot wounds so that he could be home with his
children. McCoy went back to the same residence and had Smith contact McConnell the
next day. When McConnell arrived, McCoy told the detective that two of the three men
who barged into the home and shot him were the Pullins. With this information,
McConnell obtained arrest warrants for both men for the shooting.
{¶10} Later that day, McCoy received a phone call from Benjamin's sister
(Candice Benjamin), who lived in the neighborhood, as did the Pullins. Upon receiving
this phone call, McCoy immediately called McConnell and told him that the Pullins were
walking in the neighborhood near Walnut and 14th Streets. McConnell immediately
relayed this information over the radio, and Officer Slutz, who was on routine patrol at this
time, received this dispatch call. Officer Slutz knew that both men had been developed
as suspects in the shooting of McCoy and that were there now warrants for their arrest.
As other police approached, Big Kip immediately surrendered. He was placed under Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 5
arrest and a loaded .357 Magnum semiautomatic handgun was recovered from his
waistband. Appellant, however, fled the scene and a chase ensued. Officer Sean
Dadisman chased appellant through the neighborhood, losing him briefly after he jumped
over a security fence. Before reaching this fence, Officer Dadisman saw appellant
throwing things away, which were later recovered and determined to be his cap, an
aerosol can containing cash and drug paraphernalia, and a .45 caliber handgun. After
getting around the fence, Officer Dadisman resumed the chase, eventually losing sight of
him as appellant ran between houses. Officer Joshua Edwards was searching the
neighborhood for appellant when he saw him walking towards him. Officer Edwards
ordered appellant to stop, but he replied that he had already talked with the police in the
area and that he was good. Appellant continued walking and Officer Edwards
emphatically ordered him to stop. Upon doing so, appellant was placed under arrest.
{¶11} Appellant's cousin, Marquez Smith, also lived in this neighborhood and
spotted the Pullins walking together. Smith had talked to appellant a couple days earlier,
after the shooting, and notice that he had a scratch on his nose. Smith asked his cousin
about it, and appellant responded that he got scratch while wrestling with someone. After
this conversation, Smith later talked with appellant on the phone, and appellant told Smith
that he had shot McCoy. Smith was not sure if his cousin was just joking, but he
nonetheless knew that the police were searching for appellant. Thus, when he noticed
the Pullins walking and the police presence in the neighborhood, Smith opted to go into
his house, as he did not want any trouble with the police. About fifteen minutes later,
appellant banged on his door, asking to be let him. Again, because of his own legal
troubles, Smith did not want to get involved so he refused to open the door. He relented, Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 6
however, and gave appellant different clothes to wear. Appellant changed into those
clothes, leaving his pants on the porch. After appellant left, Smith eventually went outside
onto his porch, and found a .25 caliber handgun in a pocket of appellant’s pants. He
traded the gun to Philip Bledsoe in exchange for drugs.
{¶12} Later that night, Detective McConnell received another phone call from
McCoy. This time, McCoy told the detective that Philip Bledsoe had come into possession
of the gun that appellant used during the shooting. McConnell told him he would come there
to retrieve it first thing next morning. When Detective McConnell arrived the next morning,
McCoy was not home. Charles Benjamin, however, gave the .25 caliber Ravens Arms
handgun to the detective.
{¶13} In addition, a ballistics expert from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification
& Investigation compared cartridges and bullets retrieved from the scene and McCoy.
This expert could not confirm or deny that the recovered cartridges were fired from the
recovered .25 caliber handgun, mainly because of the particular characteristics of this cheap
handgun, which make comparison difficult. The expert, however, was able to conclude
within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty that two of the fired bullets that were
recovered were fired from this handgun to the exclusion of all other handguns in the world.
{¶14} Chelsea Smith testified at trial that she was awakened that morning with the
noise from the back door, followed shortly by gunshots. After the fight was over, she looked
outside of her upstairs bedroom window and saw appellant and two other men running away
from the back door. One of these two other men could have been Big Kip. Smith admitted
that she did not initially tell the police this information out of fear. However, once McCoy Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 7
was released from the hospital, she opted to cooperate. After the Pullins were arrested,
Smith and McCoy left the home for their own safety.
{¶15} Appellant did not testify at trial. He did, however, have a cousin, Alicia
Austin, testify. Austin asserted that appellant came to her house the night before the
shooting and was sick with the flu. She allowed him to sleep over since her entire family
was sick at the time. The next morning, the morning of the shooting, Austin testified that
appellant woke her up shortly before noon to tell her that he was leaving and would be staying
either at his father's or at a friend's.
{¶16} The jury found appellant guilty. The trial court sentenced appellant on the
charge of attempted murder to 10 years. On the firearm specification, appellant was
sentenced to 3 years consecutive. The trial court merged the felonious assault charge
with the attempted murder charge, and the firearm specification was merged with the
previous firearm specification. The trial court sentenced appellant on the carrying
concealed weapon charge to 12 months, consecutive, resulting in an aggregate sentence
of 14 years.
Assignments of Error
{¶17} Appellant raises three assignments of error,
{¶18} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED THE APPELLANT'S
MOTION TO DISMISS UNDER CRIMINAL RULE 29 (A).
{¶19} “II. THE JURY VERDICTS IN THIS CASE WERE AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL. Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 8
{¶20} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DENIED
THE APPELLANT'S CRIMINAL RULE 33, MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL BASED UPON
THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE DISCOVERY.”
I. & II.
{¶21} Appellant’s first and second assignments of error raise common and
interrelated issues; therefore, we will address the arguments together.
{¶22} In his first assignment of error, appellant alleges that the trial court erred in
not granting his Crim. R. 29 motion for acquittal. In determining whether a trial court erred
in overruling an appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal, the reviewing court focuses
on the sufficiency of the evidence. See, e.g., State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 553,
651 N.E.2d 965(1995); State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574 N.E.2d 492(1991),
superseded by State constitutional amendment on other grounds in State v. Smith, 80
Ohio St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668(1997). In his second assignment of error, appellant
contends his conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence produced by the
state at trial.
{¶23} Our review of the constitutional sufficiency of evidence to support a criminal
conviction is governed by Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61
L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), which requires a court of appeals to determine whether “after viewing
the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could
have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.; see also
McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S. 120, 130 S.Ct. 665, 673, 175 L.Ed.2d 582(2010) (reaffirming
this standard); State v. Fry, 125 Ohio St.3d 163, 926 N.E.2d 1239, 2010–Ohio–1017,
¶146; State v. Clay, 187 Ohio App.3d 633, 933 N.E.2d 296, 2010–Ohio–2720, ¶68. Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 9
{¶24} Weight of the evidence addresses the evidence's effect of inducing belief.
State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), superseded by
constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d
89, 684 N.E.2d 668, 1997-Ohio–355. Weight of the evidence concerns “the inclination of
the greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue
rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party having the burden of
proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing the evidence in their minds, they shall
find the greater amount of credible evidence sustains the issue, which is to be established
before them. Weight is not a question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in
inducing belief.” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting Black's Law
Dictionary (6th Ed. 1990) at 1594.
{¶25} When a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis
that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a
“’thirteenth juror’” and disagrees with the fact finder’s resolution of the conflicting
testimony. Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102
S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). However, an appellate court may not merely
substitute its view for that of the jury, but must find that “‘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. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State v.
Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721 (1st Dist. 1983). Accordingly,
reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “‘the exceptional case in which the
evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’” Id. Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 10
“[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against
the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every
reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the
finding of facts.
***
“If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the
reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent with
the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and
judgment.”
{¶26} Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273
(1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192
(1978).
{¶27} In the case at bar, there is no dispute that McCoy was shot with a handgun
five times and suffered serious physical harm. (1T. at 157-158). Accordingly, the state
presented sufficient evidence that the victim suffered “serious physical harm.” R.C.
2901.01(A) (5). Further, the state presented sufficient evidence that a “firearm” was used
during the commission of the offenses. R.C. 2923.11; R.C. 2941.145. Appellant’s main
argument is that there was insufficient evidence to identify him as the assailant in the
shooting of McCoy. He argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient
because there were no fingerprints, DNA, or other physical evidence that linked appellant
to the crimes, and that witnesses changed their stories.
{¶28} In the case at bar, McCoy testified that appellant shot him. (1T. at 151-155).
Marques Smith testified that appellant admitted to shooting McCoy. (1T. at 192). Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 11
Appellant asked Smith for a change of clothes and left the .25 caliber handgun on Smith’s
porch with his clothing. (1T. at 196-197). Evidence was presented during appellant’s jury
trial that two of the fired .25 caliber bullets found at the home on the night of the attack
were fired from this gun. (2T. at 391-392). Officer Sean Dadisman chased appellant and
observed him throw a loaded .45 caliber handgun from his person. (1T. at 260; 272-273).
{¶29} A conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence simply
because the jury believed the prosecution testimony. State v. Morris, 10th Dist. No.
05AP–1139, 2009–Ohio–2396, ¶33. The jury heard all of the evidence and chose to
believe the victim's version of events over appellant's version. This was within the
province of the jury. Id., citing State v. Lee, 10th Dist. No. 06AP–226, 2006–Ohio–5951,
¶ 14.
{¶30} Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we
conclude that a reasonable person could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that
appellant committed the crimes of attempted murder, felonious assault and carrying a
concealed weapon. We hold, therefore, that the state met its burden of production
regarding each element of the crimes, and accordingly, there was sufficient evidence to
support appellant’s convictions.
{¶31} As an appellate court, we are not fact finders; we neither weigh the evidence
nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant,
competent and credible evidence, upon which the fact finder could base his or her
judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries, 5th Dist. Stark No. CA–5758, 1982 WL 2911(Feb. 10,
1982). Accordingly, judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence going
to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed as being against the manifest Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 12
weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction, 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376
N.E.2d 578(1978). The Ohio Supreme Court has emphasized: “‘[I]n determining whether
the judgment below is manifestly against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable
intendment and every reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment
and the finding of facts. * * *.’” Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 334, 972 N.E. 2d
517, 2012-Ohio-2179, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80,
461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review,
Section 603, at 191–192 (1978). Furthermore, it is well established that the trial court is
in the best position to determine the credibility of witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, 9th
Dist. No. 21004, 2002–Ohio–3405, ¶ 9, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St .2d 230, 227
N.E.2d 212(1967).
{¶32} Ultimately, “the reviewing court must determine whether the appellant or the
appellee provided the more believable evidence, but must not completely substitute its
judgment for that of the original trier of fact ‘unless it is patently apparent that the fact
finder lost its way.’” State v. Pallai, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 198, 2008-Ohio-6635,
¶31, quoting State v. Woullard, 158 Ohio App.3d 31, 2004-Ohio-3395, 813 N.E.2d 964
(2nd Dist. 2004), ¶ 81. In other words, “[w]hen there exist two fairly reasonable views of
the evidence or two conflicting versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, it is
not our province to choose which one we believe.” State v. Dyke, 7th Dist. Mahoning No.
99 CA 149, 2002-Ohio-1152, at ¶ 13, citing State v. Gore, 131 Ohio App.3d 197, 201, 722
N.E.2d 125 (7th Dist. 1999).
{¶33} The weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses
are issues for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212(1967), Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 13
paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960
N.E.2d 955, ¶118. Accord, Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86
L.Ed. 680 (1942); Marshall v. Lonberger, 459 U.S. 422, 434, 103 S.Ct. 843, 74 L.Ed.2d
646 (1983).
{¶34} The jury as the trier of fact was free to accept or reject any and all of the
evidence offered by the parties and assess the witness’s credibility. "While the jury may
take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly * * * such
inconsistencies do not render defendant's conviction against the manifest weight or
sufficiency of the evidence.” State v. Craig, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 99AP-739, 1999 WL
29752 (Mar 23, 2000) citing State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 95APA09-1236, 1996
WL 284714 (May 28, 1996). Indeed, the jury need not believe all of a witness' testimony,
but may accept only portions of it as true. State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-
604, 2003-Ohio-958, ¶21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d 548
(1964); State v. Burke, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-1238, 2003-Ohio-2889, citing State
v. Caldwell, 79 Ohio App.3d 667, 607 N.E.2d 1096 (4th Dist. 1992). Although the
evidence may have been circumstantial, we note that circumstantial evidence has the
same probative value as direct evidence. State v. Jenks, supra.
{¶35} We find that this is not an “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs
heavily against the conviction.’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541,
quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. The jury neither lost his way nor
created a miscarriage of justice in convicting appellant of the charges.
{¶36} Based upon the foregoing and the entire record in this matter, we find
appellant's convictions are not against the sufficiency or the manifest weight of the Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 14
evidence. To the contrary, the jury appears to have fairly and impartially decided the
matters before them. The jury as a trier of fact can reach different conclusions concerning
the credibility of the testimony of the state’s witnesses and appellant’s witnesses. This
court will not disturb the trier of facts finding so long as competent evidence was present
to support it. State v. Walker, 55 Ohio St.2d 208, 378 N.E.2d 1049 (1978). The jury heard
the witnesses, evaluated the evidence, and was convinced of appellant's guilt.
{¶37} Finally, upon careful consideration of the record in its entirety, we find that
there is substantial evidence presented which if believed, proves all the elements of the
crimes of attempted murder, felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon beyond
a reasonable doubt.
{¶38} Appellant’s first and second assignments of error are overruled.
III.
{¶39} In his third assignment of error appellant challenges the failure of the trial
court to grant a mistrial because of alleged discovery violations by the state.
{¶40} During the first day of trial, Massillon Police Officer Sean Dadisman testified
about his chase of appellant when appellant and his father were confronted by police four
days after the shooting. During this chase, Dadisman saw appellant throw things, which
Dadisman later recovered. On cross-examination, Dadisman was asked if these items
were photographed before being recovered. He answered that they had been. (1T.at
276). On redirect, he was asked where these photographs were located. Dadisman
explained that such photos are stored on a computer, but that when he went to look at
the allegedly stored photos, he could not find them. He even searched unsuccessfully in Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 15
miscellaneous files, but could not locate the missing photos. (1T.at 279). Appellant did
not immediately object or move for a mistrial.
{¶41} In this case, the photographs of the items recovered during the police chase of
appellant were apparently not saved on the Massillon Police Department computer. The
items themselves, however, were recovered and presented at trial. The prosecution cannot
disclose and turn over to the defense what it does not have, thus there was no discovery
violation. Furthermore, appellant was free to argue this police mishap to the jury and how
this may have somehow tainted the investigation. Appellant did not do so, or move for a
mistrial.
{¶42} Appellant argues that the state “did have exculpatory evidence...that was
not turned over at trial.” Appellant’s Brief at 19.
{¶43} Depending on the nature of the evidence, different tests are applied to
determine whether the state's failure to preserve evidence amounts to the level of a due
process violation. State v. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233, 2012 Ohio 2577, ¶ 73-77, 971
N.E.2d 865. The state's failure to preserve ‘materially exculpatory‘ evidence, regardless
of whether such failure was done in good faith or bad faith, violates due process.
California v. Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 489, 104 S.Ct. 2528, 81 L. Ed. 2d 413 (1984).
“Evidence is constitutionally material when it possesses ‘an exculpatory value that was
apparent before the evidence was destroyed, and [is] of such a nature that the defendant
would be unable to obtain comparable evidence by other reasonably available means.’”
Powell at ¶ 74, quoting Trombetta at 489. The defendant bears the burden to show that
the evidence was materially exculpatory. Powell at ¶ 74. See State v. Powers, 12th Dist. Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 16
No. CA2004-12-110, 2005 Ohio 4340, ¶ 15 (noting that burden shifts to state when
defendant requests preservation of evidence prior to evidence's destruction).
{¶44} However, a different rule is used when the evidence is merely “potentially
useful.” State v. Geeslin, 116 Ohio St.3d 252, 2007 Ohio 5239 at ¶ 9-10, 878 N.E.2d 1.
“Unless a criminal defendant can show bad faith on the part of the police, failure to
preserve potentially useful evidence does not constitute a denial of due process of law.”
Arizona v. Youngblood, 488 U.S. 51, 58, 109 S.Ct. 333, 102 L. Ed. 2d 281 (1988). Bad
faith implies more than bad judgment or negligence, rather “[i]t imports a dishonest
purpose, moral obliquity, conscious wrongdoing, breach of a known duty through some
ulterior motive or ill will partaking of the nature of fraud.” Powell at ¶ 81.
{¶45} We find that appellant's due process rights were not violated when the state
failed to preserve the photographs. The pictures would not provide exculpatory evidence.
Testimony was presented that Officer Dadisman observed appellant discard items as he
ran from the police four days after the shooting. A search of the area found the items,
specifically a cap, an aerosol can containing cash and drug paraphernalia, and a .45
caliber handgun. The actual items were presented in court.
{¶46} Even assuming that pictures of the area or the items would be potentially
useful, appellant has failed to point to any evidence to show how it was destroyed in bad
faith.
{¶47} Thus, the trial court did not err in failing to grant a motion for a new trial.
{¶48} Appellant next contends that the state on the second day of trial disclosed
to the defense a police report concerning Marquez Smith, who had already testified. In
this report, Smith is reported to have told the police that he traded the .25 caliber handgun Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 17
he found on his porch to Philip Bledsoe for drugs. The prosecutor represented to the trial
court that he only knew that Smith had given the gun to Bledsoe, but did not know that
the quid pro quo was drugs. In preparing for that day's testimony, the prosecutor talked
with Detective McConnell, and asked him on a whim if he knew why Smith gave the gun
to Bledsoe. McConnell told the prosecutor that he had talked with Smith when he got out
of jail, and Smith told him about the trade for drugs, at which time he prepared a
supplement. Upon learning of this information that morning, the prosecutor immediately
disclosed this information to the defense and gave a copy of the report to the defense.
The prosecutor then offered to stipulate to this fact. 2T. at 312-316. The defense
responded, however, by moving for a mistrial, arguing that the evidence was exculpatory.
2T.at 316-317. Upon inquiry from the court, the prosecutor replied that he would locate
Marquez Smith and produce him for further cross-examination. 2T .at 320, 327. The trial
court then overruled the mistrial motion, reading into the record the police report. 2T.at
323-326.
{¶49} Defense counsel then conferred with appellant, after which he told the court
"he does not want me to have Marquez Smith back on the stand.” 2T.at 329-330.
Defense counsel stated that appellant was satisfied with the strategy that they were
already pursuing, which the court confirmed with appellant. 2T.at 332. Defense counsel
specifically did not want the detective to testify about anything in this report. 2T.at 333.
{¶50} In the case at bar, appellant led the trial judge to believe that he was
withdrawing his motion for a mistrial. Appellant rejected the opportunity to correct the
error before the jury was charged. (2T. at 332-333). Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 18
{¶51} The general rule is that “an appellate court will not consider any error which
counsel for a party complaining of the trial court's judgment could have called but did not
call to the trial court's attention at a time when such error could have been avoided or
corrected by the trial court.” State v. Childs, 14 Ohio St. 2d 56, 236 N.E. 2d 545(1968),
paragraph three of the syllabus; State v. Glaros, 170 Ohio St. 471, 166 N.E.2d 379(1960),
paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Lancaster, 25 Ohio St.2d 83], 267 N.E.2d
291(1971), paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Williams, 51 Ohio St.2d 112, 117, 364
N.E.2d 1364(1977). Likewise, “[c]onstitutional rights may be lost as finally as any others
by a failure to assert them at the proper time.” State v. Childs, supra, 14 Ohio St. 2d at
62, 236 N.E. 2d 545, citing State v. Davis (1964), 1 Ohio St.2d 28, 203 N.E.2d 357(1964);
State, ex rel. Specht, v. Bd. of Edn., 66 Ohio St.2d 178, 182, 420 N.E.2d 1004(1981),
citing Clarington v. Althar, 122 Ohio St. 608, 174 N.E. 251(1930), and Toledo v. Gfell
(1958), 107 Ohio App. 93, 95, 156 N.E.2d 752(6th Dist. 1958). See also, State v.
Chandler, 157 Ohio App.3d 72, 813 N.E.2d 65, 2004-Ohio-3436(5th Dist.), ¶ 72; State v.
Hughett, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 04 CAA 06051, 2004-Ohio-6207, ¶58.
{¶52} As the United States Supreme Court observed in Puckett v. United States,
556 U.S. 129, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 1428, 173 L.Ed.2d 266(2009),
If an error is not properly preserved, appellate-court authority to
remedy the error (by reversing the judgment, for example, or ordering a new
trial) is strictly circumscribed. There is good reason for this; ‘anyone familiar
with the work of courts understands that errors are a constant in the trial
process, that most do not much matter, and that a reflexive inclination by Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 19
appellate courts to reverse because of unpreserved error would be fatal.’”
(Citation omitted).
Puckett, 556 U.S. at 143,
{¶53} “[A]n appellate court may, in its discretion, correct an error not raised at trial
only where the appellant demonstrates that (1) there is an error; (2) the error is clear or
obvious, rather than subject to reasonable dispute; (3) the error affected the appellant’s
substantial rights, which in the ordinary case means it affected the outcome of the district
court proceedings; and (4) the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public
reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Marcus (May 24, 2010), 560 U.S. __,
130 S.Ct. 2159, 2010 WL 2025203 at 4. (Internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
{¶54} In the case at bar, appellant made a calculated decision after conferring
with his attorney to forgo the remedy offered by the trial court. It is disingenuous for
appellant to now argue that the state should have disregarded his and his attorney’s
wishes, and instead, sua sponte ordered a mistrial. The trial court specifically found that
the state did not act intentionally or in bad faith concerning the failure to disclose. (2T. at
330).
{¶55} Accordingly, the trial court did not did not abuse its discretion in overruling
the motion for a mistrial.
{¶56} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled. Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00134 20
{¶57} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Stark County Court of
Common Pleas, Stark County, Ohio is affirmed.
By Gwin, J.,
Farmer, P.J.,
Delaney, J., concur