[Cite as State v. Washington, 2024-Ohio-1056.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 112914 v. :
BENNIE WASHINGTON, SR., :
Defendant-Appellant. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: March 21, 2024
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR-22-668858-A
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and Kristin M. Karkutt, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Scott J. Friedman, for appellant.
FRANK DANIEL CELEBREZZE, III, J.:
Appellant Bennie Washington, Sr. (“appellant”) brings this appeal
challenging his convictions for murder, felonious assault, gross abuse of a corpse,
and having a weapon while under a disability, along with accompanying firearm specifications. After a thorough review of the applicable law and facts, we affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
I. Factual and Procedural History
This matter arises from the murder of appellant’s girlfriend, Audreona
Barnes (“Barnes”), whose remains were discovered on the balcony of appellant’s
apartment.
Appellant and Barnes began dating in the spring of 2021. Barnes was
18 years old at the time, while appellant was 39. During the summer of 2021, Barnes
spent part of the time at her mother’s house and part of the time at appellant’s
residence on Warner Road in Cleveland.
On July 30, 2021, Barnes had an appointment with a recruiter for the
National Guard. The recruiter picked her up for the meeting and dropped her off at
appellant’s house when the meeting was over. This was the last time that anyone
reported seeing Barnes alive.
Barnes’s mother, Akua Avegnon (“Avegnon”) had spoken to her earlier
that day via FaceTime, and they had plans to get together in the evening. When
Barnes did not come home that night, Avegnon tried calling and texting her but was
unsuccessful. The next day, Avegnon went to appellant’s apartment, looked around,
and asked appellant if he knew where Barnes was. Appellant told her that he
thought that Barnes had gone home since he knew she had had plans that evening.
Avegnon looked for Barnes in every place she thought she might be, but when she
had not found her by the evening, Avegnon reported Barnes missing to the police. In March 2022, appellant was evicted from his apartment on Warner
Road. Bailiffs from Cleveland Housing Court entered the apartment and removed
some of appellant’s personal property. The bailiffs were not responsible for
removing any trash from the apartment.
A week later, representatives of the apartment’s management team,
including Judy Hloska (“Hloska”), who was also appellant’s neighbor, went into
appellant’s apartment to clean out any remaining trash.
During the clean-out, they discovered human remains on the balcony
of appellant’s apartment, wrapped in blankets and garbage bags, with pieces of
cardboard and duct tape. The property manager immediately notified Cleveland
police.
The remains were identified as Barnes, and an autopsy was performed.
The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot to the head. Barnes’s body had
been on the balcony for several months and was severely decomposed.
Appellant was charged with two counts of aggravated murder, three
counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, one
count of gross abuse of a corpse, and one count of having a weapon while under a
disability.
The matter proceeded to a jury trial. Appellant waived his right to a
jury trial as it pertained to the charge of having a weapon while under a disability
and that count was decided by the court. The jury found appellant guilty of two counts of murder, two counts of
felonious assault, and the sole count of gross abuse of a corpse, along with one- and
three-year firearm specifications accompanying the murder and felonious assault
charges. Appellant was found not guilty of the remaining charges.
The court found appellant guilty of having a weapon while under a
disability along with the 54-month firearm specification and the repeat-violent-
offender specification.
Appellant was sentenced to a total prison term of 38 years to life in
prison. He then filed the instant appeal, raising three assignments of error for our
review:
1. The trial court erred in permitting a detective to testify about the conclusions of a medical examiner, in violation of appellant’s right to confront witnesses under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
2. The trial court erred when it permitted a State’s witness to testify that appellant invoked his right to an attorney and right to remain silent, in violation of appellant’s rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
3. Appellant was denied the effective assistance of counsel, in derogation of his rights under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.
II. Law and Analysis
A. Testimony of Detective
In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court
erred in permitting a detective to testify that the remains from appellant’s balcony were identified as Barnes during the autopsy by the medical examiner’s office. He
contends that the detective was permitted to testify as to a hearsay statement made
by an unknown person at the medical examiner’s office and that this testimony
violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause. He asserts that the admission of
the testimony constituted plain error because the outcome of the trial would have
been different had the state not been able to identify the victim.
Det. Zara Hudson was a part of the initial investigation of the scene
where Barnes’s remains had been found. He testified as to the initial steps taken
and what he had seen on the balcony. Det. Hudson stated that when his department
is investigating a homicide, they utilize the assistance of other county agencies,
including the medical examiner’s office. He explained that they rely on the medical
examiner’s office for assistance in identifying bodies and did so in the instant matter.
The following exchange occurred during Det. Hudson’s direct examination:
PROSECUTOR: And as it relates to your investigation, how was Audreona Barnes identified as this being her remains?
WITNESS: Through the scientific measures that the Medical Examiner’s Office did during autopsy. She was identified through previous medical records.
PROSECUTOR: And is that information relayed to you and your team members as part of your investigation?
WITNESS: Yes, it was.
A trial court has broad discretion regarding the admission of evidence,
including whether evidence constitutes hearsay and whether it is admissible
hearsay. Solon v. Woods, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100916, 2014-Ohio-5425, ¶ 10. We will not disturb a trial court’s decision regarding the admissibility of hearsay
evidence absent an abuse of discretion and the defendant suffers material prejudice.
Id., citing State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St.3d 239, 265, 473 N.E.2d 768 (1984).
Appellant’s trial counsel did not object to this testimony, and thus we may only
review for plain error.
Hearsay is “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.” Evid.R. 801(C). If either element is missing — (1) a statement or
(2) offered for its truth — the testimony is not hearsay. State v. Holt, 9th Dist. Lorain
No. 97CA006985, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 4149, 8 (Sept. 8, 1996), citing Maurer at
262.
A “statement” is (1) an oral or written assertion or (2) nonverbal
conduct intended to be an assertion. Evid.R. 801(A). For hearsay purposes, an
“assertion” is “a statement about an event that happened or a condition that
existed.” State v. Wellman, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 05AP-386, 2006-Ohio-3808,
¶ 14, citing State v. LaMar, 95 Ohio St.3d 181, 2002-Ohio-2128, 767 N.E.2d 166,
¶ 61; State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 549, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995), quoting 2
McCormick, Evidence, Section 246, at 98 (4th Ed.1992) (“An ‘assertion’ for hearsay
purposes ‘simply means to say that something is so, e.g., that an event happened or
that a condition existed.’”).
The historic purpose of the hearsay rule is “to exclude statements of
dubious reliability that cannot be tested by cross-examination.” State v. Yarbrough, 95 Ohio St.3d 227, 2002-Ohio-2126, 767 N.E.2d 216, ¶ 70; State v. Armstead, 85
Ohio App.3d 247, 253, 619 N.E.2d 513 (3d Dist.1993), quoting Mikula v. Balogh, 9
Ohio App.2d 250, 224 N.E.2d 148 (2d Dist.1965) (“[T]he rule prohibiting hearsay
evidence is based upon ‘unreliability of such evidence and the impossibility of cross-
examination.’”).
Det. Hudson did not testify as to what the medical examiner’s office
had told him. He merely stated that the remains were identified as Barnes by the
medical examiner’s office through previous records and that this information was
relayed to the investigatory team as part of their investigation. The evidence was
introduced to provide context to the investigation and appellant’s arrest. It was not
offered for the truth of the statement and, therefore, did not constitute hearsay.
Moreover, there is no violation of the Confrontation Clause because
appellant had the opportunity to cross-examine a representative of the Medical
Examiner’s Office. “The admission of hearsay does not violate the Confrontation
Clause if the declarant testifies at trial.” State v. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233, 2012-
Ohio-2577, 971 N.E.2d 865, ¶ 64, citing California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149, 155, 90
S.Ct. 1930, 26 L.Ed.2d 489 (1970); State v. Keenan, 81 Ohio St.3d 133, 142, 689
N.E.2d 929 (1998). In the instant matter, Dr. Todd Barr, who was employed at the
time of the investigation at the medical examiner’s office, testified regarding
identification of the remains found on the balcony of appellant’s apartment. He
outlined the usual methods that the medical examiner’s office used for identification
but stated that the autopsy report did not identify the method in which Barnes had been identified. Ultimately, though, the remains had been identified as Barnes. Dr.
Barr testified that her name was on the autopsy report.
We do not find that the trial court plainly erred in admitting the
testimony of the detective, and appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
B. Testimony regarding appellant’s invocation of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment Rights
In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that Det. Gregory
Curry improperly testified that when he was investigating Barnes’s disappearance,
appellant “refused to talk” with law enforcement and told detectives to speak with
his attorney.
Det. Curry was assigned the case after Barnes had been reported
missing by her mother. He explained to the jury the normal steps in investigating
the disappearance of a person, including trying to figure out who the person was and
what was going on in their life, and obtaining information from their family and
friends.
Det. Curry testified that he learned that Barnes sometimes stayed with
appellant, who was her boyfriend. He learned that Barnes had met with the National
Guard recruiters on the last day that she had been seen alive and had been dropped
off at appellant’s apartment. He made contact with appellant on the street in front
of his apartment building. At this time, family and friends were canvassing the
neighborhood looking for Barnes. Det. Curry and his partner saw appellant sitting inside of an SUV parked on the street. They walked over to him and began to speak
with him.
Initially, appellant was pleasant, but after he learned that Det. Curry
and his partner were police officers, he declined to continue talking and walked away
from them. He stated that if Det. Curry had anything further to say, he could reach
out to his attorney.
Det. Curry testified that he tried to contact appellant a couple more
times and that appellant was going to come in to be interviewed, but he never
showed up.
Appellant argues that this testimony regarding his silence and his
invocation of his right to an attorney served no purpose other than to provide
evidence of his guilt. He argues that the testimony violated his right to remain silent
and right to an attorney. Again, appellant’s trial counsel did not object to this
testimony, and we are limited to reviewing for plain error.
In general, “[u]se of a defendant’s pre-arrest silence as substantive
evidence of guilt violates the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.”
State v. Leach, 102 Ohio St.3d 135, 2004-Ohio-2147, 807 N.E.2d 335, at syllabus.
However, one exception to this rule exists where the state uses a defendant’s
prearrest silence as evidence of the “course of the investigation.” Id. at ¶ 32.
At the time appellant made the above statements to Det. Curry, Barnes
had only been reported missing. Police did not know that she was deceased, and
appellant had not been implicated in any crime. Det. Curry’s testimony regarding his interactions with appellant was offered as he described how his investigation had
unfolded and was not offered as substantive evidence of appellant’s guilt.
Appellant has not demonstrated plain error, and his second
assignment of error is overruled.
C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In his third and final assignment of error, appellant argues that he was
denied the effective assistance of counsel when his trial counsel (1) did not object to
the detective’s testimony concerning a medical examiner’s conclusions; (2) did not
object to testimony that appellant invoked his right to an attorney and right to
remain silent; and (3) did not object to evidence of prior crimes and acts that were
inadmissible under Evid.R. 404(B). Appellant contends that the cumulative effect
of his trial counsel’s errors deprived him of the effective assistance of counsel.
In order to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant
must demonstrate that (1) counsel’s performance was deficient and fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness and (2) that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, there is a reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been
different. State v. Jenkins, 2018-Ohio-483, 106 N.E.3d 216, ¶ 28 (8th Dist.), citing
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674
(1984). The defendant must satisfy both prongs of the test in order to prove
ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Harris, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109083,
2020-Ohio-4138, ¶ 28, citing Strickland at 687. Under Ohio law, “every properly licensed attorney is presumed to be
competent.” State v. Knight, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109302, 2021-Ohio-3674, ¶ 47,
citing State v. Black, 2019-Ohio-4977, 149 N.E.3d 1132, ¶ 35 (8th Dist.), citing State
v. Smith, 17 Ohio St.3d 98, 100, 477 N.E.2d 1128 (1985). Therefore, when
“evaluating counsel’s performance on a claim of ineffective assistance counsel, the
court must give great deference to counsel’s performance and ‘indulge a strong
presumption’ that counsel’s performance ‘falls within the wide range of reasonable
professional assistance.’” Id., quoting Strickland at 689.
With regard to appellant’s first two assertions — that his counsel failed
to object to hearsay testimony and testimony that violated his right to remain silent
and his right to an attorney — we have already determined that no error had
occurred. Accordingly, any objection by appellant’s trial counsel to the presentation
of such testimony would have been meritless. “The failure to do a futile act cannot
be the basis for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, nor could such a failure
be prejudicial.” State v. New Bey, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109424, 2021-Ohio-1482,
¶ 58, citing State v. Kilbane, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99485, 2014-Ohio-1228, ¶ 37.
Appellant further contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to object to evidence of prior crimes and acts that were inadmissible under
Evid.R. 404. Specifically, he cites (1) Hloska’s testimony that Barnes had told her
that appellant had hit her, that he had harassed Hloska for a year, and that he had
broken into her apartment; and (2) Det. Curry’s testimony that there was “speculation” that appellant had caused a housefire but that there was no evidence
to prove it.
“Objecting is a tactical decision.” State v. Frierson, 2018-Ohio-391,
105 N.E.3d 583,¶ 25 (8th Dist.), citing State v. Johnson, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 16
JE 0002, 2016-Ohio-7937, ¶ 46. Accordingly, “‘the failure to make objections is not
alone enough to sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.’” Id., quoting
State v. Conway, 109 Ohio St.3d 412, 2006-Ohio-2815, 848 N.E.2d 810, ¶ 103.
Preliminarily, it appears that appellant’s trial counsel did, in fact,
object to Hloska’s testimony that Barnes had told her that appellant was “hitting her.”
This objection was sustained; the court struck the testimony and gave a curative
instruction to the jury.
Nevertheless, appellant’s trial counsel did not object to the testimony
that appellant had harassed Hloska and had broken into her apartment or to Det.
Curry’s testimony regarding the housefire that appellant was suspected of setting.
Appellant argues that this testimony was entirely irrelevant and not presented for
any legitimate purpose under Evid.R. 404(B).
Pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B), “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith.” The Supreme Court of Ohio has stated that “[t]his type of
evidence is commonly referred to as ‘propensity’ evidence because its purpose is to
demonstrate that the accused has a propensity or proclivity to commit the crime in
question. * * * Evid.R. 404(B) categorically bars the use of other-acts evidence to show propensity.” State v. Hartman, 161 Ohio St.3d 214, 2020-Ohio-4440, 161
N.E.3d 651, ¶ 21.
Evid.R. 404(B) does, however, allow evidence of the defendant’s other crimes, wrongs, or acts to be admitted “for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” (Emphasis added.) The key is that the evidence must prove something other than the defendant’s disposition to commit certain acts. Thus, while evidence showing the defendant’s character or propensity to commit crimes or acts is forbidden, evidence of other acts is admissible when the evidence is probative of a separate, nonpropensity-based issue. The admissibility of other-acts evidence pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B) is a question of law.
Id. at ¶ 22.
To determine whether other-acts evidence is admissible, “trial courts
should conduct a three-step analysis.”
The first step is to consider whether the other acts evidence is relevant to making any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Evid.R. 401. The next step is to consider whether evidence of the other crimes, wrongs, or acts is presented to prove the character of the accused in order to show activity in conformity therewith or whether the other acts evidence is presented for a legitimate purpose, such as those stated in Evid.R. 404(B). The third step is to consider whether the probative value of the other acts evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. See Evid.R 403.
State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, 983 N.E.2d 1278, ¶ 20.
As it relates to the testimony that appellant harassed Hloska and had
broken into her apartment, this testimony was elicited after Hloska was asked about
whether she had interacted with appellant after Barnes had gone missing. Hloska
had previously testified that she and Barnes had been friends and that she would go over to appellant’s apartment to visit Barnes when he was not around. She stated
that she did not interact with appellant after Barnes went missing but that he had
called her a “stupid white b****,” banged on her door, and had broken into her
apartment and left dishes in there. She testified that he had never been like that
prior to Barnes going missing and that he had been “cool” with her. At one point
after Barnes had been missing, Hloska asked him where she was. He responded that
she was in Georgia with a friend. Hloska testified that he began harassing her after
that.
We do not find that Hloska’s testimony was offered to prove
appellant’s propensity for violence. The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that
evidence of threats or intimidation of witnesses reflects a consciousness of guilt that
is similar to evidence of flight to avoid prosecution, efforts made to cover up a crime,
or intimidation of witnesses and is admissible as admission by conduct. State v.
McLeod, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 05 JE 15, 2006-Ohio-7076, ¶ 30, citing State v.
Richey, 64 Ohio St.3d 353, 357, 595 N.E.2d 915 (1992). See also State v. Group, 98
Ohio St.3d 248, 2002-Ohio-7247, 781 N.E.2d 980. Appellant’s behavior toward
Hloska changed after Barnes went missing and particularly after Hloska asked about
her whereabouts. Accordingly, testimony regarding appellant’s intimidating acts
toward Hloska, which were part of his efforts to conceal his crime, was admissible
at trial, and appellant’s trial counsel properly declined to object.
Finally, Det. Curry testified that there was no evidence that appellant
was involved in burning down the house. Thus, this was not an “other act” committed by appellant, and the detective’s testimony cannot constitute evidence of
appellant’s “other crimes, wrongs, or acts” under Evid.R. 404. There was no basis
for objection, and, therefore, appellant’s trial counsel was not ineffective in declining
to object.
Appellant has failed to demonstrate that the claimed other acts
evidence was improperly admitted and also has failed to show that he received
ineffective assistance of counsel. As we have determined that appellant’s trial
counsel was not ineffective, appellant’s argument regarding the “cumulative effect”
of his counsel’s errors must also necessarily fail.
Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.
III. Conclusion
The trial court did not allow hearsay testimony or testimony that
violated appellant’s right to remain silent or his right to counsel. In addition,
appellant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel. All of appellant’s
assignments of error are overruled, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
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. The defendant’s
convictions having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case
remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence. A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
FRANK DANIEL CELEBREZZE, III, JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, P.J., and ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., CONCUR