Court Opinion

ID: 2698150
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:46:09.855443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:57.781685
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Woods, 2014-Ohio-2375.]

                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                     STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                      :   JUDGES:
                                                   :   Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
  Plaintiff-Appellee                               :   Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                                   :   Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-                                               :
                                                   :
SAMUEL DARRELL WOODS                               :   Case No. 2013CA00176
                                                   :
   Defendant-Appellant                             :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                               Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                       Pleas, Case No. 2013CR0399

JUDGMENT:                                              Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                      June 2, 2014

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                                    For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO                                           WAYNE E. GRAHAM, JR.
Prosecuting Attorney                                      4450 Belden Village Street, NW
                                                          Suite 703
By: RONALD MARK CALDWELL                                  Canton, OH 44718
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
110 Central Plaza South
Suite 510
Canton, OH 44702
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                      2

Farmer, P.J.

      {¶1}     On April 23, 2013, the Stark County Grand jury indicted appellant, Samuel

Woods, on one count of murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02 and one count of felonious

assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11, both with firearm and repeat violent offender

specifications, and one count of having weapons while under disability in violation of

R.C. 2923.13 and one count of illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit

premises in violation of R.C. 2923.121. Said charges arose from a shooting at the

Friendly Corner Inn, a bar in Canton, and the subsequent death of Roosevelt Newell.

      {¶2}     The illegal possession of a firearm count was subsequently dismissed,

and the weapons while under disability count was tried to the bench.          A jury trial

commenced on July 29, 2013. The trial court found appellant guilty of the weapons

count, and the jury found appellant guilty of the remaining counts. By judgment entry

filed August 2, 2013, the trial court sentenced appellant to an aggregate term of thirty-

one years in prison.

      {¶3}     Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

                                            I

      {¶4}     "APPELLANT'S CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE."

                                            II

      {¶5}     "THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN ADMITTING

GRUESOME         PHOTOS       WHICH      WERE      INFLAMMATORY         AND      HIGHLY

PREJUDICIAL."
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                        3

                                             III

       {¶6}   "THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT ALLOWED

TESTIMONY UNDER THE EXCITED UTTERANCE EXCEPTION TO HEARSAY."

                                              I

       {¶7}   Appellant claims his convictions were against the sufficiency and manifest

weight of the evidence, challenging the credibility of the eyewitness testimony, the lack

of physical evidence linking him to the crimes, and the failure of the coroner to establish

beyond a reasonable doubt the cause of the victim's death. We disagree.

       {¶8}   On review for sufficiency, a reviewing court is to examine the evidence at

trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would support a conviction. State

v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259 (1991). "The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the

evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have

found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt." Jenks at

paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). On

review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine the entire record, weigh the

evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and

determine "whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, 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. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175 (1st Dist.1983). See

also, State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 1997-Ohio-52. The granting of a new trial

"should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily

against the conviction." Martin at 175. We note the weight to be given to the evidence

and the credibility of the witnesses are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Jamison, 49
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                        4
Ohio St. 3d 182 (1990). The trier of fact "has the best opportunity to view the demeanor,

attitude, and credibility of each witness, something that does not translate well on the

written page." Davis v. Flickinger, 77 Ohio St. 3d 415, 418, 1997-Ohio-260.

       {¶9}   Appellant's challenges under this assignment pertain to the murder and

felonious assault convictions because the issues addressed are identification and

causation. Appellant was convicted of murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B) which

states: "No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the

offender's committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of

the first or second degree and that is not a violation of section 2903.03 or 2903.04 of the

Revised Code." Appellant was also convicted of felonious assault in violation of R.C.

2903.11(A)(2)   which    states:   "No   person   shall   knowingly   do   either   of   the

following:***Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn

by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance."

                             IDENTIFICATION TESTIMONY

       {¶10} There were two eyewitnesses to the shooting, Jasamine Tyson and

Ashley Kelly. Both of them were sitting in a car in the parking lot of the Friendly Corner

Inn at closing time. T. at 138, 154-155. Both testified they observed a slight, black

male with a gun in his hand approach the victim and say "stop fucking with me," heard

two gun shots, and observed the shooter run away. T. at 138-139, 156-158. Ms. Kelly

recalled seeing the shooter earlier in the evening while she was outside smoking,

"flashing a gun." T. at 153, 157-158, 161-162. Ms. Tyson testified she observed the

individual flashing the gun, but it was not the same person as the shooter. T. at 142.

Both eyewitnesses failed to identify appellant in a photo array, although Ms. Tyson
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                      5

picked one photograph that was not appellant. T. at 144-145, 159-160, 257. During her

testimony, Ms. Kelly emphatically identified appellant in the courtroom as the shooter.

T. at 163.

       {¶11} A third witness, Deangelo Milini, testified he observed appellant and the

victim inside the bar engaged in a verbal confrontation, and later saw appellant

confronting his friend Dreane. T. at 189-191. Mr. Milini grabbed his friend and exited

the bar, whereupon he heard two gun shots and ran behind the building after he looked

around and saw appellant with a gun in his hand. T. at 191-193, 209. Mr. Milini

positively identified appellant as the shooter from a photo array and in the courtroom. T.

at 195-196, 203, 209.

       {¶12} We note the trial court's jury instructions on identification testimony and

photo array were extensive. T. at 409-419. Further, after appellant was notified that he

was under arrest for murder, he stated "he had an out-of-state attorney for this one and

that he could do five to eight years standing on his head." T. at 237.

       {¶13} It is undisputed that the victim was shot and spent bullet casings were

recovered from the scene. We find the jury could have easily relied on the testimony of

Mr. Milini alone to establish that appellant was the shooter.

                                   CAUSE OF DEATH

       {¶14} The victim did not die at the scene. He was transported to the hospital,

whereupon he gave a statement to the police and died some six hours later. T. at 312-

313. The Stark County Coroner, P.S. Murthy, M.D., testified the victim died as a result

of 1) a gunshot wound and massive hemorrhaging, 2) enlarged heart, and 3) morbid

obesity. T. at 303. Dr. Murthy readily admitted the enlarged heart and morbid obesity
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                     6

did not help the situation, but they were only secondary factors as the gunshot wound

was the cause of death, "no question about that." T. at 303-304. Dr. Murthy ruled the

manner of death was homicide. T. at 304-305.

       {¶15} Upon review, we find the record is replete with sufficient, credible

evidence on the issues of identification and causation to support the convictions, and do

not find any manifest miscarriage of justice.

       {¶16} Assignment of Error I is denied.

                                                II

       {¶17} Appellant claims the trial court erred in admitting two autopsy photographs

which were inflammatory and highly prejudicial. We disagree.

       {¶18} In State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St. 3d 239 (1984), paragraph seven of the

syllabus, the Supreme Court of Ohio held the following:

              Properly authenticated photographs, even if gruesome, are

       admissible in a capital prosecution if relevant and of probative value in

       assisting the trier of fact to determine the issues or are illustrative of

       testimony and other evidence, as long as the danger of material prejudice

       to a defendant is outweighed by their probative value and the photographs

       are not repetitive or cumulative in number.

       {¶19} Evid.R. 104 places the trial court in the position of determining

admissibility of evidence. Evid.R. 401 defines "relevant evidence" as "evidence having

any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                     7

determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the

evidence." Evid.R. 402 states the following:

              All relevant evidence is admissible, except as otherwise provided

       by the Constitution of the United States, by the Constitution of the State of

       Ohio, by statute enacted by the General Assembly not in conflict with a

       rule of the Supreme Court of Ohio, by these rules, or by other rules

       prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Evidence which is not relevant

       is not admissible.

       {¶20} Further consideration is required under Evid.R. 403(A) which states:

"Although relevant, evidence is not admissible if its probative value is substantially

outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, of confusion of the issues, or of

misleading the jury."

       {¶21} Defense counsel objected to State's Exhibits 9B and C, two autopsy

photographs depicting hemorrhaging near the gunshot wound. T. at 369. The trial

court ruled as follows (T. at 370-371):

              THE COURT:         The Court on Exhibit 9, now that 9D has been

       withdrawn by the State, and I would indicate on the record that I had the

       opportunity to review the photos before this point in the trial and I had

       indicated to the State that I had some concerns with 9D, they have now

       withdrawn that exhibit.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                    8

              Based on that withdrawal, the Court would find that the other two

       exhibits, which basically show the wound site and the hemorrhaging that

       occurred with it, that those were relevant, they were relevant to the

       doctor's testimony. The Court would find that they are as tasteful as those

       type of photos can be. There's nothing there.

              9D was gruesome, and that's why the Court had some concerns,

       but that's been voluntarily withdrawn by the State. The other two exhibits

       that were objected to I think are relevant, they do show things that the

       Coroner has discussed, and the Court finds that they are not overly

       prejudicial or overly graphic other than what is necessary to show the

       point that was being made as part of the autopsy. So they will be admitted

       over objection.

       {¶22} None of the photographs were displayed or passed to the jury per the trial

court's ruling in limine (T. at 12-13):

              THE COURT: Let me indicate this, you've all done cases with me

       before, what I will do and I know Mr. Barr's practice is that he will not

       publish these photos to the jury for them to look at until the Court has the

       opportunity, with counsel, to determine their actual admissibility. They'll

       simply be identified and indicated that they are photos from the scene. I

       have absolutely no problem with that.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                      9

              If, as we go through those, you start to think there's too many being

       at least identified, then come up and we'll deal with it at that point. But

       prior to admission, then I will go through the photos, look at those myself,

       and we can do this at sidebar, and make a determination as to what will

       then actually be published to the jury by way of either being used in

       closing argument or go back to the jury room.

       {¶23} During the objection discussion cited above, the prosecutor noted

the following (T. at 371-372):

              MR. BARR: And just for the record, Your Honor, I would like the

       record to reflect that when Dr. Murthy looked at State's Exhibit 9D, he did

       not publish it to the jury and we kept it hidden from the jury so the jury did

       not see that photograph.

              THE COURT: No, and I would indicate we had discussed that at a

       sidebar and by pretrial conference, and the State exactly followed my

       directive.   And, in fact, I would indicate that Mr. Barr basically stood

       between the jury and Dr. Murthy in case he would have accidentally

       turned the photo around for some reason, which he did not do. So it was

       not published to the jury.

       {¶24} Evidence that is gruesome or unpleasant may still be admitted if it is

relevant to the particular facts of the case. State's Exhibit 9B depicted a large incision
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                       10

(10 inches) on the victim's thigh with extensive hemorrhaging of the tissue, and State's

Exhibit 9C was a closer view of the same area. T. at 308-309. Dr. Murthy testified as to

the extent of the victim's injuries and his external/internal examination of the victim. T.

at 298-300. Dr. Murthy's "final anatomic diagnosis" consisted of a "gunshot wound of

left thigh with multiple fractures and massive hemorrhage," "cardiomegaly with

biventricular hypertrophy" (enlarged heart), and "morbid obesity," with the gunshot

wound being the cause of death, "no question about that." T. at 303-304.

       {¶25} On cross-examination, defense counsel inquired about the time between

the victim's hospitalization and death, pointed out there was no damage to his femoral

artery, and asked if the victim's enlarged heart, morbid obesity, and alcohol intoxication

were factors in his death. T. at 312-319. Defense counsel attempted to minimize the

gunshot wound as the cause of death.

       {¶26} Based upon the cross-examination of Dr. Murthy, we find the admission of

State's Exhibits 9B and C were relevant, and given the extensive discussion of the

victim's physical size, not unduly prejudicial. The trial court did not err in admitting the

complained of photographs.

       {¶27} Assignment of Error II is denied.

                                             III

       {¶28} Appellant claims the trial court erred in permitting hearsay testimony under

the excited utterance exception of Evid.R. 803(2). We disagree.

       {¶29} Under Evid.R. 803(2), excited utterances are not excluded by the hearsay

rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness. An excited utterance is a
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                                     11

"statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under

the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition."

      {¶30} Specifically, appellant complains of testimony offered by Canton Police

Patrolman Michael Roberts. Patrolman Roberts testified that about twenty minutes after

the shooting, he went to the hospital and spoke with the victim who stated appellant was

the shooter. T. at 175, 177. Patrolman Roberts agreed the victim was "still under the

stress of the shooting" and was being treated by doctors and nurses in the trauma room

in the emergency department. T. at 175.

      {¶31} Upon objection, the trial court concluded that a statement made some

twenty minutes after the shooting while receiving treatment was an ongoing emergency

and qualified under the excited utterance rule. T. at 176-177.

      {¶32} Given the ongoing treatment, the corroborative testimonies of Mr. Milini

and Ms. Kelly, and the need to develop the remaining testimony concerning appellant's

arrest and subsequent statement, we conclude the trial court did not err in permitting the

complained of testimony.

      {¶33} Assignment of Error III is denied.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00176                                         12

      {¶34} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is

hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, P.J.

Wise, J. and

Baldwin, J. concur.

SGF/sg 514