Court Opinion

ID: 9882764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-05 22:19:43.23506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:57.166334
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hicks, 2023-Ohio-3517.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:                 NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF LORAIN                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                          C.A. No.        22CA011871

        Appellee

        v.                                             APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                       ENTERED IN THE
HARRY HICKS                                            COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                       COUNTY OF LORAIN, OHIO
        Appellant                                      CASE No.   21CR103881

                                  DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: September 29, 2023

        SUTTON, Presiding Judge.

        {¶1}      Defendant-Appellant Harry Hicks appeals from his judgment of conviction in the

Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms.

                                                  I.

        {¶2}      Mr. Hicks was indicted by a grand jury for one count of rape in violation of R.C.

2907.02(A) and one count of gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4). The

victim in this case was Mr. Hicks’ biological daughter, who was 10 years old at the time of the

sexual assault.

        {¶3}      The case proceeded to jury trial, originally scheduled for January 19, 2022. Two

weeks before the trial date, a capias warrant was issued for Mr. Hicks’ arrest for violating the

conditions of his pre-trial release. Mr. Hicks failed to appear for the January 19, 2022 trial and the

capias warrant remained in effect. Mr. Hicks was taken into custody on February 16, 2022 and

remained in custody until a new trial date was set for June 8, 2022.
                                                   2

       {¶4}    On the morning of the trial, Mr. Hicks’ counsel made an oral motion to withdraw

as counsel. Counsel told the court that the prosecutor had informed him of a threat Mr. Hicks’

sister had made against counsel during a phone call between Mr. Hicks and his sister from jail. In

addition to the information Mr. Hicks’ counsel provided to the court regarding the threat that had

been made against him, Mr. Hicks himself informed the trial court that the attorney-client

relationship had broken down. The trial court denied the request and proceeded with the trial.

       {¶5}    During cross-examination of the victim, Mr. Hicks’ daughter, Mr. Hicks requested

that he be allowed to cross-examine his daughter. The trial court informed Mr. Hicks that would

not be possible, and that he could only cross-examine witnesses if he proceeded pro se. Mr. Hicks

then expressed his desire to proceed pro se. The trial court engaged in a long colloquy with Mr.

Hicks, informing him of his right to self-representation and advising him of the pitfalls of self-

representation. Mr. Hicks maintained he wanted to proceed pro se. The trial court granted Mr.

Hicks’ request and terminated defense counsel’s representation of Mr. Hicks, but asked defense

counsel to remain as standby counsel to advise Mr. Hicks or in case Mr. Hicks changed his mind.

The State objected to Mr. Hicks proceeding pro se. Mr. Hicks refused to sign a written waiver of

counsel.

       {¶6}    After the trial court allowed Mr. Hicks to proceed pro se, Mr. Hicks engaged in

various outbursts and interrupted several trial participants. The trial court repeatedly warned Mr.

Hicks, both with and without the jury present, about the possible repercussions of his behavior.

Before closing arguments, and after Mr. Hicks attempted to call the trial judge, the prosecutor, and

the bailiff to the stand as part of his case, the trial court issued the following admonition:

       [M]embers of the jury, I’m going to give you an admonition at this point, and I’m
       going to repeat this when I give you your formal jury instructions. Please do not
       hold Mr. Hicks’ outbursts or his commentary against him. You are to decide this
       case based on the facts and the evidence that you’ve heard from the witness stand.
                                                  3

       Despite the fact that this has not gone really smoothly, I do not want you to hold
       that against him or take into account in any way his conduct, his outburst[s], or his
       demeanor. Your decision must be made solely based upon the evidence.

The trial court repeated a similar admonition during the formal jury instructions.

       {¶7}    The jury returned a guilty verdict on both counts. The trial court sentenced Mr.

Hicks to life in prison with parole eligibility after 10-15 years on the rape count, and five years in

prison on the gross sexual imposition count with the sentences to be served concurrently.

       {¶8}    Mr. Hicks timely appealed, assigning two errors for our review.

                                                 II.

                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

       THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DENIED
       DEFENSE COUNSEL’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW AND FAILED TO
       APPOINT NEW COUNSEL.

       {¶9}    In his first assignment of error, Mr. Hicks argues that the trial court abused its

discretion in denying his attorney’s motion to withdraw as counsel. We disagree.

       {¶10} Pursuant to the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Section 10,

Article I of the Ohio Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to counsel. State v. Milligan,

40 Ohio St.3d 341 (1988), paragraph one of the syllabus. It is well established that an indigent

defendant is not entitled to the counsel of his choosing, but rather, only the right to competent,

effective representation. See State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 516, 523 (2001). A criminal defendant

does not have the right to counsel with whom he has a rapport or with whom he can develop a

meaningful lawyer-client relationship. State v. Henness, 79 Ohio St.3d 53, 65 (1997).

       {¶11} As this Court has previously noted:

       The right to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the United States
       Constitution and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution does not always
       mean counsel of one’s own choosing. The right to counsel must be tempered by the
       public’s right to a prompt, orderly and efficient administration of justice. Attorneys
                                                  4

          cannot be shed at every stage of the proceeding so as to impede that orderly
          administration. On the other hand, there is a right to discharge counsel because of
          the personal nature of the services being performed.

State v. Marinchek, 9 Ohio App.3d 22, 23-24 (9th Dist.1983). In Marinchek, this Court concluded

“it is the trial court’s duty to balance the defendant’s right to counsel of his preferential choosing

against the public interest in the administration of justice.” Id. Additionally, “[i]t is well settled

that a motion to withdraw as counsel is committed to the sound discretion of the trial court” and

“an appellate court will not reverse the decision of the trial court in the absence of an abuse of

discretion.” State v. Tiger, 148 Ohio App.3d 61, 68 (9th Dist.2002).           “The term ‘abuse of

discretion’ connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the court’s attitude is

unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219

(1983).

          {¶12} In order for a criminal defendant to discharge a court-appointed attorney, the

defendant must show a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship of such magnitude as to

jeopardize the defendant’s right to the effective assistance of counsel. See State v. Coleman, 37

Ohio St.3d 286 (1988), paragraph four of the syllabus. Thus, an indigent defendant is entitled to

new counsel “only upon a showing of good cause, such as a conflict of interest, a complete

breakdown in communication, or an irreconcilable conflict which leads to an apparently unjust

result.” State v. Stewart, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105649, 2018-Ohio-684, ¶ 13.

          {¶13} Here, the following exchange took place on the record:

          [DEFENSE COUNSEL]:            The client has expressed that he has zero faith in me.
                                        ***

          THE COURT:                    The [] issue you want[] to address dealt with your
                                        client’s thoughts or some concerns about your
                                        representation?
                                5

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]:   Yes. I would move for a motion to withdraw from
                     representation. I know it’s * * * the 11th hour, but
                     during the phone call * * * the defendant’s sister,
                     [K.T.] is, like, threatening to cut my throat. And,
                     look, defense counsel takes a beating. I’m * * * [a]
                     prosecutor for the City of Westlake in the Rocky
                     River Muni Court, and * * * he just told me after we
                     went down that he feels like I’m prosecuting him not
                     defending him.

                     And * * * in addition to his sister cutting my throat,
                     yes, I wrote down [the defendant thinks defense
                     counsel is] “stupid as fuck,” but - - so, clearly
                     between the client’s feelings toward me and this new
                     evidence of - - it becomes - - look I do my job, but it
                     becomes very antagonistic. [I]t’s laughable to them
                     because they’re chuckling, but a sister threatening to
                     cut my throat. And I got [to] think it’s a broken
                     relationship, and I would - - don’t care to try [the
                     case] under these circumstances.

                     And just as much for the client, he just - - he feels
                     that he’s got two prosecutors on his case, and while I
                     disagree, he - - I think the relationship is broken.

THE COURT:           I appreciate that, [defense counsel].

                     Mr. Hicks, do you want to add anything or be heard
                     relative to [defense counsel]’s statement, comments,
                     and concerns he’s just expressed?

THE DEFENDANT:       No. I felt the relationship was broken when he made
                     a mockery of me in court last time, about how I
                     couldn’t afford the $300,000 bond. And it gets into
                     some real property to put up and stuff. You weren’t
                     on the bench. I don’t know why. * * *

THE COURT:            Okay. Did you do - - you do remember how long
                     ago that was?

THE DEFENDANT:       That was February 25th.

THE COURT:           So about four months ago.

THE DEFENDANT:       About 10:00 o’clock in the morning.
                            6

THE COURT:       Did you do anything in the last four months to bring
                 that to my attention or my - -

THE DEFENDANT:   I - - [defense counsel] was supposed to file a bond
                 reduction hearing. He was supposed to - -

THE COURT:       I’m not talking about a bond reduction.

THE DEFENDANT:   I wrote you. I wrote you.

THE COURT:       Okay. And you addressed the concerns that you had
                 with your lawyer?

THE DEFENDANT:   [N]o. No, sir. * * *

THE COURT:       You didn’t put me on notice or give me any
                 indication that you believe that your relationship had
                 broken down, that you were - - had lost confidence
                 in your lawyer. You didn’t give me that information,
                 did you?

THE DEFENDANT:   No.

THE COURT:       Well, look - - let me address a couple of issues. First
                 of all, [defense counsel], if your recitation of that
                 conversation is accurate, and I have no reason to
                 think it’s not, then that recording ought to be turned
                 over to law enforcement immediately for * * * law
                 enforcement to consider the appropriate criminal
                 charges, if they deem that’s appropriate. That’s not
                 my responsibility or my jurisdiction. But if a lawyer
                 in my courtroom is being threatened by anybody,
                 particularly in a manner as graphic and disturbing as
                 what you’re conveying, then that person should be
                 subject to criminal prosecution.              I believe
                 intimidation of an attorney in the course of his or her
                 representation is a felony of the third degree. And I
                 will tell you, from my perspective, I will not tolerate
                 any attorneys, especially court-appointed attorneys
                 fighting for their clients, to be threatened. And if that
                 is the case, I would urge you to work with the
                 prosecutor’s office and the appropriate law
                 enforcement agency to look into that.

                 On the other hand, this [c]ourt has competing
                 interests to weigh relative to the release of a lawyer
                                7

                     from responsibility of [the] representation [of] a
                     client. And of paramount concern to this [c]ourt is -
                     - while taking into consideration what you’re
                     suggesting, the concerns you’ve expressed, a lack of
                     trust * * * your client has in you, and the fact that
                     you’re upset by being threatened by your client’s
                     family members, certainly is a substantial issue that
                     does raise some concerns for the [c]ourt.

                     On the other hand, you’ve not suggested that your
                     client has threatened you in any way, shape, or form.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]:   He has not.

THE COURT:           I appreciate that. And we are on the morning of trial.
                     If this - - you were appointed, I note from the docket,
                     on * * * April 1st, 2021. You were appointed to this
                     case therefore 14 months ago. And in 14 months, I
                     haven’t heard a single issue of a breakdown in the
                     attorney-client relationship prior to the morning of
                     trial. The prosecutor has subpoenaed witnesses and
                     is prepared for trial. This Court has order[ed] 75
                     citizens of this county to drop what they’re doing and
                     come to court to hear this case. Mr. Hicks is
                     incarcerated for his failure to appear at his last trial,
                     which means if I grant your * * * motion, he’s going
                     to have to sit in jail for another God knows when to
                     get a new lawyer up to speed and get this case on the
                     trial docket, which is probably months out,
                     [prosecutor], would you say?

[PROSECUTOR]:        Probably November.

THE COURT:           So the bottom line is, this [c]ourt is not going to
                     release you on the morning of trial for a very serious
                     case, with witnesses, the public called in, when * * *
                     the substantial concern that you’ve expressed is a
                     threat by your client’s sister, which again, I respect
                     as being troubling, but it’s not from your client, and
                     the fact that your client didn’t like how you handled
                     the bond hearing.

                     If I had a dollar for every criminal defendant
                     incarcerated who didn’t like the results of a bond
                     hearing, whether it was from the lawyer or a judge, I
                     would probably be a millionaire, because I denied his
                                                  8

                                       bond request. And so I understand him being
                                       frustrated with you. * * *

                                       In any event, the motion is going to be denied. * * *

                                       I should also put on the record that the case was
                                       indicted in February of ’21, almost a year-and-a-half
                                       ago, the case has been pending for more than a year,
                                       and a jury is finally brought here. And by the way,
                                       let me say one other thing. [Mr. Hicks] missed a trial
                                       date which would have potentially resolved the case
                                       months earlier, so we’re going forward today. * * *

                                       Mr. Hicks, keep one other thing in mind, and then I’ll
                                       move on. If I was to grant your attorney’s request to
                                       get off the case or let * * * you get a new lawyer, it’s
                                       going to be months before I can get a new lawyer
                                       who knows the case, who’s seen the evidence, who’s
                                       met with you, who can get up to speed, let alone find
                                       a new trial date. And since you missed a trial date,
                                       you’re going to sit in jail until this case is done. * *
                                       * [T]hat’s a big part of it.

       {¶14} Here, the trial court inquired of the defendant as to the nature of the breakdown of

the attorney-client relationship. The trial court noted that while Mr. Hicks maintained that the

attorney-client relationship broke down months ago, Mr. Hicks did not bring the breakdown of the

relationship to the attention of the trial court until the morning the trial was to proceed. The trial

court was then required to balance Mr. Hicks’ desire with the public’s interest in the administration

of justice. The trial court noted that the case had been pending for over a year, that Mr. Hicks had

already missed one trial date, and that jurors had already been summoned to the court for a jury

trial to begin that date. While this Court is troubled by the threats made against counsel, in the

context of this case, we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion

to withdraw as counsel. The trial court seriously considered counsel’s motion and weighed the

competing interests in the administration of justice.

       {¶15} Mr. Hicks’ first assignment of error is overruled.
                                                  9

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO DECLARE A MISTRIAL
       SUA SPONTE BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
       OCCURRING DURING THE PROCEEDINGS, AND THE FAILURE TO
       DO SO CONSTITUTED PLAIN ERROR WHICH PREJUDICED [MR.
       HICKS].

       {¶16} In his second assignment of error, Mr. Hicks argues it was plain error for the trial

court to not sua sponte declare a mistrial due to his own misconduct during the proceedings. For

the reasons that follow, we disagree.

       {¶17} Mr. Hicks argues that the trial court erred when it failed to declare a mistrial when

he made a motion to dismiss his counsel and proceed pro se during the middle of the cross-

examination of the victim, and when it failed to declare a mistrial after he repeatedly interrupted

the judge, the prosecutor, and various witnesses with his own outbursts. Because no objection was

made to the trial court, Mr. Hicks has forfeited all but plain error on appeal. “To prevail, appellant

must show that an error occurred, that the error was plain, and that the error affected his substantial

rights.” State v. Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-1562, ¶ 52, citing State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio

St.3d 21, 27 (2002); see Crim.R. 52(B). “We take ‘notice of plain error * * * with the utmost

caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.’”

Wilks at ¶ 52, quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.

       {¶18} Here, Mr. Hicks argues that it was plain error for the trial court to not declare a

mistrial after the trial court (1) failed to appoint new counsel, (2) did not allow Mr. Hicks time to

prepare for trial when he decided to proceed pro se, and (3) prevented Mr. Hicks from “making an

incessant series of prejudicial outbursts, disruptions, and inappropriate remarks[.]”

       {¶19} However, under the invited error doctrine, a defendant may not “‘take advantage of

an error which he himself invited or induced.’” State v. Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-
                                                 10

4539, ¶ 279, quoting Hal Artz Lincoln-Mercury, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., Lincoln-Mercury Div., 28

Ohio St.3d 20 (1986), paragraph one of the syllabus. “‘A litigant cannot be permitted, either

intentionally or [unintentionally] to induce or mislead a court into the commission of an error and

then procure a reversal of the judgment for an error for which he was actively responsible.’”

(Alteration in original.) State v. Grether, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28977, 2019-Ohio-4243, ¶ 27,

quoting State v. Ealy, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 15AP-600, 2016-Ohio-1185, ¶ 30.

       {¶20} Here, assuming arguendo it was error for the trial court to fail to declare a mistrial,

the actions that Mr. Hicks alleges constituted prejudicial conduct were actions that he himself

undertook during trial.     During cross-examination of his daughter, Mr. Hicks repeatedly

interrupted his counsel to make a motion to the trial court to proceed pro se because Mr. Hicks

wanted to cross-examine his own daughter. The trial court repeatedly warned Mr. Hicks of the

risks in representing himself. When Mr. Hicks insisted on proceeding pro se, the trial court

repeatedly asked Mr. Hicks if he was making his waiver of counsel knowingly, voluntarily and

intelligently. Despite the forgoing, Mr. Hicks now asks this Court to declare as prejudicial error

the trial court’s decision to grant his wish to proceed pro se. Even if this Court assumes error on

allowing his pro se representation, however, any alleged error was invited by Mr. Hicks and is

therefore not reversible error under the invited error doctrine.

       {¶21} Additionally, after being allowed to proceed pro se, the record shows that Mr. Hicks

repeatedly interrupted the trial judge, the prosecutor, and the witnesses. Mr. Hicks did so despite

multiple warnings from the trial court about the ramifications of his conduct. “[T]he invited error

doctrine precludes [the defendant] from taking advantage of any prejudice that resulted from his

own ‘outbursts and interruptions.’” State v. Welninski, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-16-039, WD-16-

040, 2018-Ohio-778, ¶ 74, quoting State v. Gonzalez, 4th Dist. Athens No. 97CA52, 1998 WL
                                                  11

823737 (Nov. 18, 1998). See also State v. McCollum, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 111370, 2023-Ohio-

69, ¶ 12 (“[T]his court has held that when the defendant is the culprit of the emotional outburst,

the issue falls under the invited error doctrine.”).

        {¶22} Because the alleged errors were actions that Mr. Hicks himself undertook or moved

the trial court to undertake, under the invited error doctrine, Mr. Hicks is not permitted to take

advantage of the alleged errors.

        {¶23} Mr. Hicks’ second assignment of error is overruled.

                                                  III.

        {¶24} Mr. Hicks’ first and second assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of

the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

                                                                               Judgment affirmed.

        There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

        We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Lorain, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of

this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

        Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period

for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to

mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the

docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
                                          12

      Costs taxed to Appellant.

                                                 BETTY SUTTON
                                                 FOR THE COURT

STEVENSON, J.
CONCURS.

CARR, J.
CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

APPEARANCES:

PAUL E. MEYER, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

J.D. TOMLINSON, Prosecuting Attorney, and C. RICHLEY RALEY, JR., Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for Appellee.