Court Opinion

ID: 2699857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:10:31.771203+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:33:54.102056
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Morrow, 2011-Ohio-5797.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                      JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO                                 :       Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
                                              :       Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                     Plaintiff-Appellee       :       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                              :
v.                                            :
                                              :       Case No. 2010CAA100082
JAMES MORROW                                  :
                                              :
                    Defendant-Appellant       :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Criminal Appeal from the Delaware County
                                                  Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                                  10-CR-I-08-461

JUDGMENT:                                         Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           November 7, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                            For Defendant-Appellant

CAROL HAMILTON O'BRIEN                            BRIAN G. JONES
Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney              Law Offices of Brian Jones
                                                  2211 U.S. Highway 23 North
DOUGLAS DUMOLT                                    Delaware, OH 43015
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
140 North Sandusky Street, 3rd Floor
Delaware, OH 43015
[Cite as State v. Morrow, 2011-Ohio-5797.]

Hoffman, P.J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant James Morrow appeals his conviction and sentence

entered by the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-appellee is the State

of Ohio.

                                STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶ 2} On May 23, 2010, Appellant and Brad Dunay visited the home of Robert

Croy, a seventy-three year-old acquaintance of Dunay.

        {¶ 3} The next morning, May 24, 2010, Appellant returned to Croy’s home.

Croy believed Appellant had returned with some DVD’s to sell at a yard sale. However,

when Croy opened the door, Appellant put a knife to Croy’s neck and ordered him into a

bedroom. Appellant then demanded Croy give him all of his money. Croy produced

some money from his back pocket and retrieved a black fanny pack containing

approximately $5,700.

        {¶ 4} Appellant then dragged Croy to a bathroom by his shirt collar. Once in the

bathroom, Appellant had Croy open a safe. When no additional money was found,

Appellant pushed Croy to the floor and bound his hands with drawstring from a nearby

sweatshirt. As Appellant left the bathroom, he slammed the door shut, trapping Croy in

the bathroom as the door had no interior door knob.

        {¶ 5} At trial, the State presented several witnesses who testified Appellant had

told them he robbed an “old drug dealer” and had received approximately $6,000. The

State further presented witnesses who saw Appellant with a black fanny pack.

Specifically, Jennifer Tiller testified Appellant gave a black fanny pack to her step-father

Martin Keifer. Martin Keifer testified Appellant gave him a black fanny pack. A black
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                3

fanny back was later found in Martin Keifer’s belongings, and Croy then identified the

black fanny pack as the one containing the money Appellant stole from his residence.

       {¶ 6} On September 9, 2010, Appellant was convicted of aggravated burglary,

in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A) ; aggravated robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1);

kidnapping, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(B)(1); kidnapping, in violation of R.C.

2905.01(B)(2); robbery, in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(1), theft, in violation of R.C.

2913.02(A)(1); and possession of criminal tools, in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A).

       {¶ 7} The trial court sentenced Appellant to a ten year prison term on the

aggravated robbery charge, and a four year prison term to be served consecutively on

the second kidnapping charge.       The trial court also imposed a five year term of

mandatory post-release control. Appellant now appeals, assigning as error:

       {¶ 8} “I. APPELLANT’S CONVICTION IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT

OF     THE   EVIDENCE     BECAUSE       THERE     WAS     NOT    ENOUGH      CREDIBLE,

COMPETENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT’S ALLEGATIONS.

       {¶ 9} “II. APPELLANT WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO PRESENT A DEFENSE

THROUGH CROSS EXAMINATION AND CONFRONTATION UNDER THE SIXTH

AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I SECTION

10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION WHEN THE TRIAL COURT PRECLUDED TRIAL

COUNSEL FROM INQUIRING INTO THE COMPLAINING WITNESS’S MOTIVE’S TO

LIE.

       {¶ 10} “III. APPELLANT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER THE

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND

ARTICLE I SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I SECTION
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                    4

10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION WHEN THE TRIAL COURT IMPOSED

SENTENCES FOR BOTH AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING.”

                                                 I.

       {¶ 11} In the first assignment of error Appellant contends his convictions are

against the manifest weight of the evidence as there was not enough credible,

competent evidence to support the State’s allegations. Specifically, Appellant questions

the credibility of the State’s witnesses.

       {¶ 12} Appellant cites the testimony of Croy wherein he states Appellant and

Dunay never returned to his home on the 24th; however, Dunay testified he and

Appellant went back to Croy’s later in the evening on the 24th to get more money for

video games. Appellant also contends Croy gave him $900 on the second visit to

purchase cocaine.      Further, Appellant raises issues with regard to the credibility and

reliability of the testimony of other witnesses due to their felony convictions and

propensity for dishonesty.

       {¶ 13} Manifest weight of the evidence claims concern the amount of evidence

offered in support of one side of the case. We must determine whether the jury, in

interpreting the facts, so lost its way that its verdict results in a manifest miscarriage of

justice, State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, 1997–Ohio–52,

superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v. Smith,

80 Ohio St.3d 89, 1997–Ohio–355, 684 N.E.2d 668. 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 the witnesses and determine whether in resolving

conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                       5

miscarriage of justice that the judgment must be reversed. The discretionary power to

grant a new hearing should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the

evidence weighs heavily against the judgment.” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio

St.3d at 387, citing State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175. Because the trier

of fact is in a better position to observe the witnesses' demeanor and weigh their

credibility, the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are primarily

for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212,

syllabus 1; See also, State v. Bell, 2006-Ohio-6560.

       {¶ 14} Robert Croy testified at trial:

       {¶ 15} “Q. Now, when he came into your - - came up to your door, did you open

the screen door or did he open the screen door?

       {¶ 16} “A. I put the latch on, unlocked it and he opened it.

       {¶ 17} “Q. And what happened next?

       {¶ 18} “A. He put a knife at my throat.

       {¶ 19} “Q. Do you know if it was a small knife or a large knife?

       {¶ 20} “A. He said, ‘Don’t look at the knife; don’t look at me or I’ll cut your throat.’

       {¶ 21} “Q. And what was his - - I assume he had a knife in one hand or was it in

two?

       {¶ 22} “A. He had one. I was wearing this shirt that day. He grabbed the back of

my shirt and he never let go the whole time he was there. He never took the knife away

from my throat.

       {¶ 23} “Q. So describe what happened when he takes you inside?
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                6

       {¶ 24} “A. He shoves me into my bedroom and says, ‘I want all your money, I

want it now or I’m going to cut your throat’.

       {¶ 25} “Q. So what did you do when he demanded the money?

       {¶ 26} “A. I gave it to him; told him where it was at.

       {¶ 27} “Q. And where was it?

       {¶ 28} “A. Under my pillow.

       {¶ 29} “Q. Can you point on the diagram where it was?

       {¶ 30} “A. (Indicating). Under my pillow.

       {¶ 31} “Q. So you give him the money. What was it in at the time?

       {¶ 32} “A. I gave him the fanny pack and everything that that I had that wasn’t in

my pockets.

       {¶ 33} “Q. So what happens next?

       {¶ 34} “A. He asked if I had any other money. And I said, ‘Yes, in my pants

pocket.’ I pulled that out and I gave that to him. And I had change in my right pocket

and he says, ‘I don’t want the damn change.’

       {¶ 35} “Q. What happened next?

       {¶ 36} “A. He drags me to the bathroom, takes like a black rope out of a

sweatshirt, a black hooded sweatshirt and ties me up with it. Before he done that, he

made me open the safe that had my army discharge and everything like that is in the

safe. He thought there was money there. So he made me open that.

       {¶ 37} “Q. So where are the safes located?

       {¶ 38} “A. Sitting on top of a black file cabinet I had in my bathroom.

       {¶ 39} “Q. And what did you normally keep in your safes?
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                     7

        {¶ 40} “A. In that safe, I had army discharge papers, numerous watches,

miscellaneous items special for me.

        {¶ 41} “* * *

        {¶ 42} “Q. So he takes you into the bathroom and he orders you to open the safe.

What happens then at that point?

        {¶ 43} “A. He seen that there wasn’t anything there. So he throwed [sic] me

down on the floor and took the black tie out and proceeded to tie me up.

        {¶ 44} “Q. Now, were you still in the bathroom at that point when he tied you up.

        {¶ 45} “A. Yes, on the floor.

        {¶ 46} “Q. Was the sweatshirt in the bathroom at that time or did he bring it from

somewhere else?

        {¶ 47} “A. It belongs beside the bathtub. There’s a clothes line that’s across the

tub and it was hanging up there. The string had come out and it was lying on the floor.

So that was the handiest thing he could find, you know.

        {¶ 48} “* * *

        {¶ 49} “Q. Now after you where [sic] tied up in your bathroom, what happened

next?

        {¶ 50} “A. I didn’t hear any sounds or anything, so I immediately proceeded to try

my best to get loose. When I got loose - - it took me a while to get up off the floor and

get a hold of something to stand upright. And I took a chance and opened the bathroom

door and there was nobody in the house that I could see. So I proceeded to get an old

cell phone I had and called 911. He had stole mine from the side of my bed so I

couldn’t use it.”
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                  8

       {¶ 51} Tr. at 66-72.

       {¶ 52} The State then presented the testimony of Amber Steiner Appellant’s ex-

wife who testified Appellant told her he had “ganked a drug dealer and took drug

money” in the amount of “six thousand dollars,” and he was going back to prison. Tr. at

110.

       {¶ 53} Kisten Mathis testified at trial in May of 2010 Appellant called her and

asked her to pick him up to return a van. Tr. At 122. She picked him up at a Super 8

Motel, dropped off the van and then took Appellant to Walmart. Id. At the Walmart,

Appellant told Mathis he “robbed a drug dealer.” Tr. at 123. He told her “he tied him up

and he hit him,” and “he got six grand.” Tr. at 123. When they left Walmart, Appellant

got out of the car and threw his cell phone down into a sewer. Tr. at 124. At the

Walmart the phone kept ringing, and Appellant told Mathis, “They’re probably trying to

find me, trying to find where I’m at because I took this phone.” Tr. at 124. She then

testified to seeing Appellant with the “exact same” fanny pack as that introduced at trial.

Tr. at 128.

       {¶ 54} Similarly, Jessica Aldridge testified Appellant told her “he went to

somebody’s house and he had seen a money and he had beat the guy up pretty well

and he took the money and it had six thousand dollars in it and he left.” Tr. at 142.

       {¶ 55} Jennifer Tiller, with whom Appellant resided, testified to seeing a black

fanny pack in his laundry basket on top of the dryer. Tr. at 158. She testified Appellant

told her he had robbed a drug dealer and had gotten six thousand dollars. Tr. at 158.

She then testified Appellant gave the fanny pack to her step father. Tr. at 159-160.
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                    9

       {¶ 56} Based upon the above mentioned in support of Appellant’s conviction, we

do not find Appellant’s conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       {¶ 57} The first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                 II.

       {¶ 58} In his second assignment of error, Appellant maintains he was denied the

right to present a defense and to cross-examine and confront witnesses when the trial

court precluded him from inquiring into the complaining witnesses’ motive to lie.

Specifically, Appellant cites the trial court’s sustaining objections to evidence relating to

Croy’s indictments and related behavior on at least four occasions.

       {¶ 59} Initially, we note the admission or exclusion of relevant evidence is within

the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Sage (1987), 31 Ohio St.3d 173.

       {¶ 60} First, Appellant cites the trial court’s exclusion of testimony relating to

money allegedly seized by the Delaware County Drug Task Force:

       {¶ 61} “Q. Now, there was also some money you had that wasn’t in your

possession; right?

       {¶ 62} “A. Pardon?

       {¶ 63} “Q. There was also a large amount of money that wasn’t in your

possession on that day?

       {¶ 64} “A. That wasn’t in my possession?

       {¶ 65} “Q. Yes.

       {¶ 66} “A. I wouldn’t know anything about that.

       {¶ 67} “Q. Did the Delaware County Task Force - - -

       {¶ 68} “Ms. O’Brien: Objection.
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                10

      {¶ 69} “The Court: Approach.

      {¶ 70} (Side-bar conference as follows.)

      {¶ 71} “The Court: What is your objection.

      {¶ 72} “Mr. Dumolt: Your Honor, that’s what we talked about before with the

indictment.

      {¶ 73} “The Court: Okay.

      {¶ 74} “Mr. Dumolt: It’s going to the fact that the money was forfeited. It was

physically forfeited. He’s trying to talk about the money that’s in the indictment, the

possession of the Delaware County Task Force.

      {¶ 75} “Mr. Cornely: He said that was all the money he had.

      {¶ 76} “Mr. Dumolt: You can’t prove that, and you’re stuck with the - - -

      {¶ 77} “The Court: What’s the date of that? This is September ’09.

      {¶ 78} “Mr. Cornely: The indictment May 23rd and it hasn’t been resolved. He

said that’s all the money he had, your honor.

      {¶ 79} “The Court: Do you want to argue this to the jury or me, John?

      {¶ 80} “Mr. Cornely: Sorry.

      {¶ 81} “The Court: I’ll sustain the objection.

      {¶ 82} (Side-bar completed).”

      {¶ 83} Tr. At 90-91.

      {¶ 84} Ohio Evidence Rule 404(B) provides,

      {¶ 85} “Other crimes, wrongs or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts

is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity

therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                 11

opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or

accident.”

       {¶ 86} Upon review of the record Appellant has not demonstrated the relevance

of the evidence. It is not evident from the record the trial court abused its discretion in

excluding the testimony, and Appellant has not demonstrated otherwise.

       {¶ 87} Appellant’s second citation refers to Appellant’s trial counsel questioning

Croy as to whether he ever traded drugs for money. Tr. at p. 97. The trial court allowed

Croy to answer the question, but sustained the objection when counsel asked Croy

whether he was ever charged with selling drugs.

       {¶ 88} The third and fourth occasions reference Appellant’s testimony Croy is

“one of his dudes that kind of gets…” and Croy’s selling things at yard sales and trading

things for drugs.

       {¶ 89} Upon review of the testimony in its entirety, we find the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in excluding the testimony cited by Appellant. The trial court herein

did allow testimony to establish Croy had a history in dealing drugs. As set forth in the

testimony cited in the analysis and disposition of the first assignment of error, numerous

references were made to Appellant’s robbing a “drug dealer.” Appellant had ample

opportunity throughout the trial to establish Croy was a drug dealer, and his theory of

the case centered on the victim attempting to purchase drugs from him. Assuming,

arguendo, it was error to exclude the aforementioned testimony, we find Appellant has

not demonstrated prejudice as a result thereof.

       {¶ 90} The second assignment of error is overruled.
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                12

                                               III.

       {¶ 91} In the third assignment of error, Appellant asserts the trial court erred in

sentencing him on both the aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges as they are

allied offenses of similar import.

       {¶ 92} Ohio Revised Code 2941.25 provides,

       {¶ 93} “(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute

two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain

counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.

       {¶ 94} “(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of

dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or

similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment

or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be

convicted of all of them.”

       {¶ 95} Recently, the Ohio Supreme Court, in State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d

1405, 2010–Ohio–6314, modified the test for determining whether offenses are allied

offenses of similar import. In Johnson, the Ohio Supreme Court directed us to look at

the elements of the offenses in question and determine whether or not it is possible to

commit one offense and commit the other with the same conduct. If the answer to such

question is in the affirmative, the court must then determine whether or not the offenses

were committed by the same conduct. If the answer to the above two questions is yes,

then the offenses are allied offenses of similar import and will be merged. If, however,

the court determines that commission of one offense will never result in the commission
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                                         13

of the other, or if there is a separate animus for each offense, then the offenses will not

merge according to Johnson, supra.

       {¶ 96} Appellant was convicted of aggravated robbery, in violation of R.C.

2911.11, which reads:

       {¶ 97} “(A) No person, in attempting or committing a theft offense, as defined in

section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or

offense, shall do any of the following:

       {¶ 98} “(1) Have a deadly weapon on or about the offender's person or under the

offender's control and either display the weapon, brandish it, indicate that the offender

possesses it, or use it;

       {¶ 99} “(2) Have a dangerous ordnance on or about the offender's person or

under the offender's control;

       {¶ 100}        “(3) Inflict, or attempt to inflict, serious physical harm on another.”

       {¶ 101}        Appellant was further convicted of kidnapping, in violation of R.C.

2905.01(B)(2):

     {¶ 102} “(B) No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim

under the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any means, shall knowingly do

any of the following, under circumstances that create a substantial risk of serious

physical harm to the victim or, in the case of a minor victim, under circumstances that

either create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the victim or cause physical

harm to the victim:

     {¶ 103} “(1) Remove another from the place where the other person is found;

     {¶ 104} “(2) Restrain another of the other person's liberty.”
Delaware County, Case No. 2010CAA100082                                              14

     {¶ 105} The record indicates Appellant entered Croy’s residence, held a knife to

his throat, and forced him to the bedroom. Appellant demanded, “I want all your money,

I want it now, or I am going to cut your throat.” Appellant then received the $5,700 in

cash Croy had in his bedroom. At this point in the series of events, Appellant had

committed aggravated robbery. Appellant then led Croy to the bedroom and forced him

to enter the safe, which he found did not contain money. However, Appellant then takes

the separate act, which is unnecessary to the commission of the already completed

aggravated robbery, of binding Croy with the cord of a sweatshirt. He then leaves Croy

on the floor of the bathroom, and slams the door shut with no handle on the inside, and

exiting the residence with Croy’s phone. We do not find the trial court erred in finding

Appellant’s commission of aggravated robbery and kidnapping were not allied offenses

of similar import under the facts and circumstances as presented in this case.

     {¶ 106} The third assignment of error is overruled.

     {¶ 107} For the reasons set forth above, Appellant’s conviction and sentence in

the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas are affirmed.

By: Hoffman, P.J.

Farmer, J., and

Wise, J. concur

                                            s/ William B. Hoffman _________________
                                            HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                            s/ Sheila G. Farmer __________________
                                            HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                            s/ John W. Wise _____________________
                                            HON. JOHN W. WISE
[Cite as State v. Morrow, 2011-Ohio-5797.]

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO

                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                 :
                                              :
                      Plaintiff-Appellee      :
                                              :
                                              :
v.                                            :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                              :
JAMES MORROW                                  :
                                              :
                                              :
                       Defendant-Appellant    :        CASE NO. 2010CAA100082

     For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion, Appellant’s conviction and

sentence in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas are affirmed.             Costs to

Appellant.

                                                  s/ William B. Hoffman ________________
                                                  HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                                  s/ Sheila G. Farmer __________________
                                                  HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                                  s/ John W. Wise ____________________
                                                  HON. JOHN W. WISE