State v. Savage, Unpublished Decision (12-12-2002)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 12, 2002
DocketNo. 02AP-202 (Regular Calendar)
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Savage, Unpublished Decision (12-12-2002) (State v. Savage, Unpublished Decision (12-12-2002)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Savage, Unpublished Decision (12-12-2002), (Ohio Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Johnny Savage, appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas finding him guilty of one count of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, three counts of kidnapping, each with a firearm specification, and one count of carrying a concealed weapon.

{¶ 2} According to the state's evidence, on May 22, 2001, at approximately two o'clock in the afternoon, an African-American male, later identified as defendant, entered a freestanding Subway restaurant on Lockbourne Road, near the intersection of Lockbourne and Smith Road, through an unlocked rear door. Defendant wore a "hoodie," a blue hooded sweatshirt that was pulled over his head, and he brandished a silver pistol. He also had "burns on his hands" or scarring from burns, that were described as "whitish, going down the sides" of his right hand. (Tr. 303, 321.)

{¶ 3} After entering the restaurant, defendant inquired where money was located and ordered Kavan Miller, who at the time was the assistant manager of the restaurant, to get the money for him. Defendant ordered two other employees to go near the freezer. Miller, who had just completed a sale, attempted to comply with the robber's demand. However, after apparently growing impatient, defendant grabbed the remainder of the money that Miller had not already provided to him and exited through the rear door. A short time later, however, restaurant employees observed defendant in front of the restaurant; defendant then proceeded east on Smith Road.

{¶ 4} Miller pushed a "panic button," called restaurant supervisory personnel to inform them of the robbery and, in accordance with restaurant policy and procedure, closed the restaurant. Police arrived at the scene shortly after Miller pushed the panic button. Miller's district supervisor also arrived at the scene; the supervisor found no bills in the cash register and determined $238.06 was stolen in the robbery.

{¶ 5} After hearing the radio dispatch about the robbery, a plain-clothes detective drove to the area where the robber had fled and searched for the suspect. After speaking with an employee to determine the exact direction the robber fled, the detective resumed his search and observed a small vehicle, pulled over to the side of the road, with a male and a female occupant. The male occupant, an African-American, exited the vehicle and began whistling toward an apartment; the behavior caught the detective's attention. Receiving no response to his whistling, the male occupant then entered the apartment building. After a short time, he emerged, and re-entered the vehicle. Shortly thereafter another African-American male, who carried a light blue hooded sweatshirt, exited the apartment building, entered the vehicle, and sat in the back seat.

{¶ 6} Because the man who carried the blue hooded sweatshirt fit the description of the robbery suspect and was observed leaving the area from where witnesses stated the robbery suspect had fled, the detective followed the vehicle and requested uniformed police officers to stop the vehicle and investigate. The vehicle subsequently stopped at a gas station. The female occupant left the vehicle to enter the building. Police cruisers then pulled into the gas station and stopped next to the vehicle. Police observed defendant and a baby in the back seat; defendant had a blue hooded sweatshirt covering his hands. Police discovered defendant had scarred hands, and ordered him to exit the vehicle. During a search of defendant, defendant admitted to being armed. Police recovered a concealed nickel-plated automatic handgun and $237 from defendant; they subsequently arrested him.

{¶ 7} During the robbery, Miller was not able to get a good look at the robber's face because of the hooded sweatshirt and because Miller's attention was focused on the robber's weapon. However, at trial, Miller identified defendant's hands as those of the robber.

{¶ 8} According to defendant's evidence, on May 22, 2001, at approximately 1:45 p.m., defendant called Eric Jackson, a relative, to ask Jackson for a ride. Jackson agreed to pick up defendant at an apartment on the south side of Columbus. At approximately 2:00 p.m., Jackson, Jackson's girlfriend and Jackson's baby arrived at the designated apartment. Jackson whistled for defendant; after receiving no response, Jackson went into the apartment building where he found defendant. After defendant introduced Jackson to some of his friends, Jackson and defendant left the apartment, entered Jackson's girlfriend's vehicle, and drove away. According to Jackson and his girlfriend, at the time defendant left the apartment defendant did not have a blue hooded sweatshirt with him. After leaving the apartment, Jackson stopped at a gas station where police approached the vehicle and later apprehended defendant. A private investigator testified at trial that in interviews with the private investigator, Miller indicated the gun used in the robbery was dark gray or black, thereby impeaching Miller's trial testimony that the weapon used in the robbery was silver.

{¶ 9} By indictment filed June 1, 2001, defendant was charged with one count of aggravated robbery, two counts of robbery, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of abduction, each with two firearm specifications, and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. Upon agreement of the state, the trial court dismissed two counts of robbery and three counts of abduction, and dismissed some firearm specifications in the original indictment. The trial court also suppressed a "show-up" identification that police conducted following the robbery.

{¶ 10} Pursuant to a jury trial, the jury found defendant guilty of aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, three counts of kidnapping, each with a firearm specification, and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. The trial court sentenced defendant to a total of 21 years of incarceration. Defendant timely appeals, assigning three errors:

{¶ 11} "ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1:

{¶ 12} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT REQUIRED THE DEFENDANT TO DISPLAY HIS HANDS TO A WITNESS IN THE COURTROOM, IN VIOLATION OF HIS FIFTH AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

{¶ 13} "ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2:

{¶ 14} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRS WHERE, FOR SENTENCING PURPOSES, IT FAILS TO MERGE A KIDNAPPING CHARGE WITH AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY CHARGE, WHERE BOTH CHARGES ARE ALLIED OFFENSES OF SIMILAR IMPORT.

{¶ 15} "ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3:

{¶ 16} "A TRIAL COURT ERRS WHEN IT PERMITS THE PROSECUTION TO CALL A WITNESS TO TESTIFY WHERE THAT WITNESS IS NOT ON A WITNESS LIST AND THE DEFENDANT HAS NO ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF THE TESTIMONY."

{¶ 17} In his first assignment of error, defendant contends the trial court violated his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when it required defendant to display his hands to a witness in the courtroom.

{¶ 18} "The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination `protects an accused only from being compelled to testify against himself, or otherwise provide the State with evidence of a testimonial or communicative nature.' " State v. Hairston (1990), 67 Ohio App.3d 341,347, quoting Schmerber v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Schmerber v. California
384 U.S. 757 (Supreme Court, 1966)
Gilbert v. California
388 U.S. 263 (Supreme Court, 1967)
Simmons v. United States
390 U.S. 377 (Supreme Court, 1968)
Neil v. Biggers
409 U.S. 188 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Manson v. Brathwaite
432 U.S. 98 (Supreme Court, 1977)
State v. Anthony
332 So. 2d 214 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1976)
Urquhart v. Lockhart
557 F. Supp. 1334 (E.D. Arkansas, 1983)
State v. Naylor
436 N.E.2d 539 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1980)
State v. Hairston
586 N.E.2d 1200 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1990)
State v. Gatton
20 N.E.2d 265 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1938)
State v. Logan
397 N.E.2d 1345 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1979)
State v. Adams
404 N.E.2d 144 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Parson
453 N.E.2d 689 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1983)
State v. Jenkins
473 N.E.2d 264 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1984)
City of Lakewood v. Papadelis
511 N.E.2d 1138 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1987)
City of Newark v. Vazirani
549 N.E.2d 520 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1990)
State v. Rance
85 Ohio St. 3d 632 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Fears
715 N.E.2d 136 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1999)
Jenkins v. Ohio
473 U.S. 927 (Supreme Court, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
State v. Savage, Unpublished Decision (12-12-2002), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-savage-unpublished-decision-12-12-2002-ohioctapp-2002.