State v. Strong

2015 Ohio 169

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 22, 2015
• Docket: 100699
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Strong, 2015-Ohio-169.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 100699

STATE OF OHIO

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

vs.

DANA STRONG

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

JUDGMENT: REVERSED AND REMANDED

Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-13-574995-A

BEFORE: E.A. Gallagher, J., Boyle, P.J., and Rocco, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 22, 2015 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Robert A. Dixon 4403 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty Cuyahoga County Prosecutor BY: John Patrick Colan Assistant County Prosecutor Justice Center, 9th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 ON RECONSIDERATION1

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Dana Strong appeals his convictions from the Cuyahoga County

Court of Common Pleas. For the following reasons, we reverse.

{¶2} On June 11, 2013, appellant was charged in a five-count indictment with two counts

of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of theft. Strong plead not

guilty to all charges and the case proceeded to a jury trial.

{¶3} The facts of this case are that, on June 1, 2013, Strong entered the Unique Thrift

Store at 3333 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the store approximately nine hours,

during which time store employees noticed that the layers of clothing he was wearing were

increasing. When Strong attempted to purchase a used book bag, he was confronted by Carlos

Thompson, a store security guard. Thompson observed Strong wearing a shirt that had a price

tag attached and asked him to go to the back of the store.

{¶4} During that confrontation, Strong removed a knife from his pocket and attempted to

flee the store. Thompson reached out to take hold of Strong’s left arm and, as Strong moved past

Thompson, he slashed at Thompson’s left arm several times with his right hand which acts were

recorded by several security cameras in the store. Strong then ran into a line of shopping carts

before fleeing from the store. As a result of the knife swipes, Thompson sustained injuries to his

arm and finger necessitating 19 stitches and resulting in pain lasting for two to three weeks.

{¶5} Strong testified at trial that he felt that Thompson was “a loose cannon” and that he

1 The announcement of decision State v. Strong, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100699, 2014-Ohio-4928, released September 25, 2014, is hereby vacated. This opinion, issued upon reconsideration, is the court’s journalized decision in this appeal. See App.R. 22(C); see also S.Ct.Prac.R. 7.01. brandished the knife toward him in order to “halt [Thompson’s] advance.” Strong’s account was

not supported by the security footage of the event.

{¶6} The jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts of felonious assault and not guilty

on the remaining charges. At sentencing, the trial court merged the two counts of felonious

assault and imposed a prison term of two years. Strong appeals and his first assignment of error

provides:

The failure to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of simple assault pursuant to R.C. 2903.13 (B) denied the appellant his federal and state constitutional rights to trial by jury and due process guaranteed by the sixth and fourteenth amendments as well as by Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.

{¶7} A charge on a lesser included offense is only required where the evidence presented

at trial would reasonably support both an acquittal on the crime charged and a conviction upon the

lesser included offense. State v. Collins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95415, 2011-Ohio-3241, ¶ 35,

citing State v. Thomas, 40 Ohio St.3d 213, 533 N.E.2d 286 (9th Dist.1988). The court must

view the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant when deciding whether to instruct

the jury on a lesser included offense. State v. Campbell, 69 Ohio St.3d 38, 1994-Ohio-492, 630

N.E.2d 339. An instruction is not warranted, however, every time “some evidence is presented

on a lesser included offense.” State v. Smith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90478, 2009-Ohio-2244, ¶

12, citing State v. Shane, 63 Ohio St.3d 630, 590 N.E.2d 272 (1992).

{¶8} A trial court has discretion in determining whether the record contains sufficient

evidentiary support to warrant a jury instruction on a lesser included offense; we will not reverse

that determination absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Henderson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

89377, 2008-Ohio-1631, ¶ 10, citing State v. Wright, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 01 CA2781,

2002-Ohio-1462.

{¶9} Assault under R.C. 2903.13(A) is a lesser included offense of felonious assault under R.C. 2903.13. State v. Addison, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96514, 2012-Ohio-260, ¶ 34,

citing State v. Caster, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87783, 2006-Ohio-6594.

{¶10} Strong argues that a jury could have reasonably found that his actions, which

resulted in serious physical harm to the victim, were reckless as required by R.C. 2903.13(B),

rather than knowingly as required by R.C. 2903.11(A) and, therefore, he was entitled to an

instruction on the lesser included offense. We disagree.

{¶11} Strong testified that he removed the knife from his pocket because the victim was “a

loose cannon” and that he brandished the knife while telling the victim not to advance toward

him. Even if we accepted Strong’s self-serving account of the event, his testimony clearly

demonstrated that he knowingly introduced the knife into the situation as a weapon.

Furthermore, security camera footage from the scene of the incident shows Strong making

deliberate slashing motions with his right arm, toward the victim’s left arm on two occasions.

These actions, and Strong’s own testimony, are wholly inconsistent with the notion that Strong

acted in any way other than knowingly. A jury could not have reasonably found that Strong

acted recklessly in this instance and, as such, he was not entitled to a lesser included offense

instruction. Strong’s first assignment of error is overruled.

{¶12} Strong’s second assignment of error states:

The appellant was denied equal protection of law pursuant to the fourteenth

amendment to the United States Constitution due to purposeful racial discrimination

by the state in the jury selection process and failure of the trial court to follow

applicable law.

{¶13} In Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), the

United States Supreme Court recognized that the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits the use of peremptory challenges in a discriminatory manner to exclude

potential jurors solely on account of their race. Id. at 89; see also State v. Hernandez, 63 Ohio

St.3d 577, 581, 589 N.E.2d 1310 (1992).

{¶14} There are three steps involved in adjudicating a Batson claim. First, the opponent

of the peremptory challenge must make a prima facie case of racial discrimination. Second, if the

trial court finds this requirement fulfilled, the proponent of the challenge must provide a racially

neutral explanation for the challenge. However the “explanation need not rise to the level

justifying exercise of a challenge for cause.” Finally, the trial court must decide based on all the

circumstances, whether the opponent has proved purposeful racial discrimination. Batson at

96-98. See also Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 767-768, 115 S.Ct. 1769, 131 L.Ed.2d 834

(1995). A trial court’s finding of no discriminatory intent will not be reversed on appeal unless

clearly erroneous. State v. Hernandez, 63 Ohio St.3d 577, 583, 589 N.E.2d 1310 (1992),

following Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 114 L.Ed.2d 395 (1991).

{¶15} The record reflects that the jury panel consisted of 22 people of whom only two

were African-Americans. Counsel for appellant objected to the compilation of the panel as being

non-representative of the community. That objection was overruled.

{¶16} After counsel and the court conducted voir dire, the state moved to exercise a

peremptory challenge of one of the two African-American jurors without posing any questions to

him. This particular juror, upon questioning by defense counsel, was appropriately responsive

and articulate.

{¶17} Strong objected to the state’s peremptory strike of that juror and the trial court asked

the state to provide its reasoning, to which the state responded:

I don’t know if you have been able to observe his demeanor. He’s back in the corner, but it’s a little concerning to me. He has an extremely wide-eyed look, like he has a thousand-yard stare, and I have concerns that he will be able to pay attention.

{¶18} The trial court noted that it had not observed conduct by the juror consistent with

the state’s description but nonetheless accepted the challenge and overruled the objection without

any further inquiry into the matter.

{¶19} We note that the record reflects that the juror in this instance was to be an alternate

and the alternate juror who replaced him was not called upon to deliberate on the case.

However, the juror’s alternate status is irrelevant to a Batson analysis because “the harm inherent

in a discriminatorily chosen jury inures not only to the defendant, but also to the jurors not

selected because of their race, and to the integrity of the judicial system as a whole.” State v.

Were, 118 Ohio St.3d 448, 2008-Ohio-2762, 890 N.E.2d 263, quoting United States v. Harris,

192 F.3d 580, 587-588 (C.A.6, 1999); see also State v. Thompson, Slip Opinion No.

2014-Ohio-4751, ¶ 53 (Oct. 29, 2014) (holding that a trial court’s error in applying Batson is a

structural error and not subject to harmless-error review).

{¶20} This court has previously explained that in the third step of the Batson analysis, “the

trial court may not simply accept a proffered race-neutral reason at face value, but must examine

the prosecutor’s challenges in context to ensure that the reason is not merely pretextual.” State v.

Hudson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96986, 2012-Ohio-1345, ¶ 11, quoting State v. Frazier, 115

Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 65. “[T]he rule in Batson provides an

opportunity to the prosecutor to give the reason for striking the juror, and it requires the judge to

assess the plausibility of that reason in light of all evidence with a bearing on it.” Frazier at ¶

65, quoting Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 251-252, 125 S.Ct. 2317, 162 L.Ed.2d 196 (2005).

{¶21} In the case before us, we are deeply troubled by both the state’s proffered reason for

the peremptory strike and the lack of inquiry into the matter by the trial court in light of its admission that it had not observed the supposed inattentiveness of the juror. The state’s dubious

explanation for its peremptory challenge — that based solely on the “wide-eyed” look on the

juror’s face, the juror could not be attentive — essentially amounts to an expression of

displeasure with the physical characteristics of the juror. We find this explanation to be both

offensive and disconcerting. Our interpretation is bolstered by the prosecutor’s failure to make

any inquiry of the juror before concluding the juror could not be attentive solely due to his

appearance.

{¶22} The state cites this court’s decision in State v. Brown, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

84059, 2004-Ohio-6862, for the proposition that body language and demeanor are “permissible

race-neutral justifications for the exercise of a peremptory challenge.” In Brown, the state sought

to dismiss a juror whose body language gave it the impression that he “doesn’t like this case, he

doesn’t want to be here.” Id. at ¶ 26. We noted that while passivity, inattentiveness, or

inability to relate to other jurors are valid, race-neutral explanations for excluding jurors, such

reasons for striking a juror are subjective, and thus virtually impossible for this court to review on

appeal. Id. at ¶ 26. However, we further cautioned:

This is not to say that any dismissal on grounds of body language is essentially unreviewable. The potential for abuse is always present and the courts have the obligation to state adequate reasons on the record for denying challenges under those circumstances. However, the attorneys must take steps to “develop the record concerning the specific behavior by venire members that motivated the peremptory challenge * * *”

Id. at ¶ 29.

{¶23} Here, both the trial court and the state failed to sufficiently develop the record or

appropriately inquire into the concerns regarding this juror. In fact, it was not the juror’s body

language that was being questioned but his physical appearance. “[T]he state’s failure to engage in

any meaningful voir dire examination on a subject the state alleges it is concerned about is evidence suggesting that the explanation is a sham and a pretext for discrimination.” Miller-El v.

Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 246, 125 S.Ct. 2317, 162 L.Ed.2d 196 (2005), quoting Ex parte Travis, 776

So.2d 874, 881 (Ala. 2000).

{¶24} In State v. Moseley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92110, 2010-Ohio-3498, this court,

referencing Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472, 128 S. Ct. 1203, 170 L.Ed.2d 175 (2008), held that

the trial court need not undertake specific fact-finding exercises prior to rejecting a Batson

challenge and, further, Snyder held that a reviewing court should not give deference to a

demeanor-based explanation when there is no indication in the record that the court relied on it in

overruling the Batson challenge and the other reasons offered are proven to be pretext for

discrimination. Snyder at 485-486.

{¶25} Brown, Moseley and even Snyder are distinguishable from the present case because

in those cases the jury panel members whom the state sought to excuse were all questioned during

the voir dire process by the prosecuting attorney and in each case it was apparent that the

preemptory challenge exercised by the state was based on race-neutral reasoning.

{¶26} In this case, the court made initial inquiry of the juror at issue and counsel for the

defense also questioned him. He answered the questions posed of him which were essentially of a

biographical nature.

{¶27} We further explained in Moseley that although a trial court is not required to make

an independent determination of a prospective juror’s demeanor when such reason is offered as

grounds for a peremptory challenge, Snyder recognizes that this is clearly the preferred practice.

Moseley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92110, 2010-Ohio-3498, ¶ 38. We further noted that a silent

record as to the trial judge’s own observation of a prospective juror’s demeanor may be grounds

for reversal under certain circumstances. Id. {¶28} Our decision in this case does not create any new duty for the trial court to

investigate a juror’s demeanor when that explanation is offered by the state. Instead, the fact that

the trial court in this instance admitted that it had not observed the conduct complained of by the

state was just one factor to be considered as context for the evaluation of the state’s explanation.

Of far greater importance to our conclusion is the nature of the prosecutor’s explanation itself and

the fact that the both the defense and the trial court previously questioned the juror and he

answered questions appropriately.

{¶29} Even ignoring the lack of questioning on the matter by the state, the record is clear

that the trial court failed to appropriately evaluate the context of the proffered reasoning under the

third step of Batson. To the extent that the record touches upon this particular juror at all, it

refutes the state’s contentions. Prior to the peremptory challenge both the trial judge and Strong’s

attorney questioned the subject juror during voir dire. Such inquiry raised no concerns by the

judge or Strong’s counsel. In fact, the juror expressly indicated that he possessed no reservations

about his ability to serve as a juror and represented that he would listen and pay close attention to

the testimony. His responses were appropriate and articulate.

{¶30} On these facts we find that the trial court’s decision to overrule Strong’s objection

to the peremptory challenge was clearly erroneous.

{¶31} Strong’s second assignment of error is sustained.

{¶32} Strong’s third assignment of error is moot.

{¶33} We note that a reversal under Batson “does not mean that a guilty defendant must

go free. For indictments can be returned and convictions can be obtained by juries selected as the

Constitution commands.” Patton v. Mississippi, 332 U.S. 463, 469, 68 S.Ct. 184, 92 L.Ed. 76

(1947), citing Hill v. Texas, 316 U.S. 400, 406, 62 S.Ct. 1159, 86 L.Ed. 1559 (1942); State v. Russell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25467, 2013-Ohio-5166, ¶ 6; Winston v. Boatwright, 649 F.3d

618 (7th Cir. 2011) (“[W]hen a violation of equal protection in jury selection has been proven, the

remedy is a new trial, without the need for any inquiry into harmless error or examination of the

empaneled jury.”)

{¶34} The judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further proceedings

consistent with this opinion.

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas court

to carry this judgment into execution.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules

of Appellate Procedure.

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., CONCURS; KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART (SEE ATTACHED OPINION)

KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART:

{¶35} While I concur with the majority opinion’s disposition of Strong’s first assignment

of error, I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion’s disposition of Strong’s second

assignment of error. I would overrule it and, based upon my belief that Strong’s third assignment

of error also lacks merit, I would affirm his convictions.

{¶36} In his second assignment of error, Strong asserts that the trial court acted improperly

in rejecting his argument during voir dire, made pursuant to Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), that the state was impermissibly excluding black jurors from serving at his trial. In my

review of the record, I find this assertion groundless.

{¶37} In order to make a successful Batson claim, Strong was required first to establish “a

prima facie case of discrimination.” The state was not responsible for the fact that the jury panel

consisted of only two African-Americans.

{¶38} Moreover, the state used one peremptory strike to excuse Juror No. 20 from service.

One peremptory strike does not create an inference of purposeful exclusion on account of race.

Hicks v. Westinghouse Materials Co., 78 Ohio St.3d 95, 99, 676 N.E.2d 872 (1997).

{¶39} The Supreme Court further stated the following in Hicks:

Review of a Batson claim largely hinges on issues of credibility. Accordingly, we ordinarily defer to the findings of the trial court. See Batson at 98, 106 S. Ct. at 1724, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 89, fn. 21. Whether a party intended to racially discriminate in challenging potential jurors is a question of fact, and in the absence of clear error, we will not reverse the trial court’s determination. Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. at 369, 111 S. Ct. at 1871, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 412; State v. Hernandez, 63 Ohio St.3d at 583, 589 N.E.2d at 1314. Trial judges, in supervising voir dire, are best equipped to resolve discrimination claims in jury selection, because those issues turn largely on evaluations of credibility. See Batson at 98, 106 S. Ct. at 1724, 90 L. Ed. 2d at 89, fn. 21.

{¶40} In this case, the state offered a race-neutral explanation, i.e., that the juror exhibited a

demeanor that included a “thousand yard stare.” That term is perhaps unfamiliar to many people,

but, according to the Oxford Dictionaries, means “a vacant or unfocused gaze into the distance,

seen as characteristic of a war-weary or traumatized soldier.” See

www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definitions. (Accessed September 10, 2014.)

{¶41} Jury selection is a lengthy process, as is a trial. When defense counsel protested

about the prosecutor’s peremptory strike, the prosecutor presented a race-neutral reason; he was

concerned that the juror “will be able to pay attention” throughout the proceeding. Such a concern

would have been proper if defense counsel had expressed it, as well. {¶42} The majority opinion faults the trial court for focusing on each individual as he or

she was questioned, but counsel had the opportunity to watch the other potential members of the

panel during the voir dire. Under the circumstances presented in this case, I believe that the trial

court acted within its prerogative to assess the prosecutor’s credibility and accept that explanation.

This court should not second guess the trial court’s decision. Therefore, I would overrule Strong’s

second assignment of error.

{¶43} In addition, as outlined by the majority opinion’s description of the facts of the case,

I believe the manifest weight of the evidence also supports Strong’s convictions. I would

accordingly affirm them.