Court Opinion

ID: 3169704
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-14 18:06:42.549553+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:01.560345
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Murray, 2016-Ohio-107.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                      No. 102779

                                      STATE OF OHIO
                                                     PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                               vs.

                                    FULLER MURRAY
                                                     DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                            JUDGMENT:
                                             AFFIRMED

                                    Criminal Appeal from the
                             Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                   Case No. CR-14-589379-A

        BEFORE: Boyle, J., Stewart, P.J., and S. Gallagher, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED:                      January 14, 2016
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

Thomas A. Rein
700 W. St. Clair Avenue
Suite 212
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Stephanie N. Hall
Assistant County Prosecutor
Justice Center, 8th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, J.:

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Fuller Murray, appeals his conviction, raising the

following four assignments of error.

              I. Appellant’s rights to due process and equal protection under the
       Ohio and United States Constitutions were violated when the state excluded
       an African-American juror without providing a satisfactory race-neutral
       reason.

             II. The trial court erred in denying Appellant’s motion for acquittal
       when the state failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.

             III. Appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the
       evidence.

             IV. Appellant was denied his right to a fair trial when the
       prosecutor improperly disclosed a prior conviction.

       {¶2} After a thorough review of the record and arguments raised, we affirm.

       A. Procedural History and Facts

       {¶3} Fuller was indicted on five counts: improperly discharging into a habitation,

in violation of R.C. 2923.161(A)(1); two counts of felonious assault, in violation of R.C.

2903.11(A)(2); unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, in violation of R.C.

2923.17(A); and having weapons while under disability, in violation of R.C.

2923.13(A)(2).    The first three counts carried one- and three-year firearm specifications

and all the counts carried a forfeiture specification.   He pleaded not guilty to the charges,

and the matter proceeded to a jury trial where the following evidence was presented.

       {¶4} On the evening of September 14, 2014, Murray and his next-door neighbor,

Yul Martin, got into an argument over Murray’s cell phone. Yul Martin testified that he
asked Murray, who was sitting in his car parked outside of his house, to borrow his cell

phone to make a phone call because Yul’s phone had been turned off for nonpayment of

his bill.   Yul explained that he and Murray are usually “cool” so he did not expect a

problem, but Murray had been drinking and “kept like saying stuff to me like he was

looking at me.” Yul walked away and then Murray hopped out of his car and insisted on

Yul using his phone. Yul told him no and then left to go pay his phone bill.

       {¶5} While Yul was gone, his wife, Bianca, returned home from work and

encountered Murray on her front porch.     Bianca testified that Murray was looking for

her husband and had indicated that he and Yul “had words” about Murray’s phone.

According to Bianca, Murray was intoxicated and acting “very aggressive.”

       {¶6} Ten minutes later, Yul returned home, spoke to his wife, and then called

outside for Murray. Yul testified that Murray “was cussing like going off” and that

Murray was grabbing his clothes. Yul kept “breaking him away,” telling Murray to get

his hands off of him. According to Yul, the altercation lasted three to five minutes

before he left to go inside.   Throughout the encounter, Bianca was calling for Yul to

return inside.

       {¶7} Approximately 15 to 20 minutes later, while Yul and Bianca were inside

their bedroom, they heard a loud noise and glass shattering in their dining room. Bianca

immediately called 911.

       {¶8} Murray also called 911 following the shooting.        According to Khadija

Kelly, the 911 dispatcher who took Murray’s 911 call, Murray had slurred speech and
stated that “he just needs somebody to come get him.” Kelly attempted to identify

Murray’s location.    Murray repeatedly stated that he was “running through the alley.”

Kelly testified that Murray never stated that he shot into a home, nor did he state that he

accidentally discharged a shotgun.

        {¶9} The state presented the testimony of the Cleveland officers that responded

to the scene and the officer who picked up Murray a couple of blocks from his residence.

 Cleveland police officer Westley Woods testified that he found Murray walking

southbound on East 100th Street, toward Wade Avenue — approximately two blocks

from Murray’s residence.    Officer Woods arrested Murray, placed him in the back of his

patrol car, and returned to Dunlap Avenue where several other officers were already on

the scene.   Officer Woods testified that Murray was intoxicated, “saying I didn’t do

nothing.”    Officer Woods ultimately transferred Murray to the zone car of Officer Karl

Lloyd — the lead officer on the scene.

        {¶10} Cleveland police officer Timothy Hannon testified that he and his partner,

Officer Lloyd, arrived on the scene and immediately spoke with the victims.       Inside the

victims’ home, Officer Hannon observed the dining room window that had been “broken

out.”   According to Officer Hannon, “there was glass all over the floor and when we

looked at the wall parallel to it, it was full of pellet holes or a hundred pellet holes just

peppered through the wall which would be cognizant like a shotgun blast bird shot.” He

further explained that he noticed that the kitchen window of the house next door was also

“broken out,” prompting the officers to go next door.
       {¶11} The officers knocked on Murray’s residence and obtained consent from

Murray’s wife to search the house.   Officer Hannon testified that they were searching for

a shotgun based on the bird shot rounds identified in the victims’ house. Under a

missing floorboard in the attic, the police discovered four bird shot shell casings. The

police also ultimately discovered a sawed off shotgun hidden between two bags in

Murray’s basement. The shotgun had a spent shotgun shell still inside.

       {¶12} Officer Lloyd testified that Murray’s demeanor was “very bad” while he

awaited in the patrol car.   Officer Lloyd was forced to put up the window in the back

seat after Murray yelled profanities out the window to Yul (who was standing outside his

house) and threatened that “he was going to fuck him up when he got out.”         Officer

Lloyd further testified that Murray was highly intoxicated.

       {¶13} Officer Lloyd also testified as to his observations of Murray’s kitchen

window that had been fired upon. According to Officer Lloyd, the “window was shot

out from close range” based upon the fact that the glass from Murray’s window did not

spread.

       {¶14} The state also produced evidence of Murray’s prior 2008 conviction for

aggravated assault.

       {¶15} Murray testified on his own behalf. Murray admitted to possessing the

sawed off shotgun and admitted to having a prior conviction for aggravated assault.    He

also acknowledged that he was intoxicated on Sunday, September 14. According to

Murray, he felt threatened after his encounter with his neighbor and believed that the
“Heartless Felons” were coming for him.        Based on this belief, Murray retrieved his

shotgun from the attic and placed it on his refrigerator — he did not want his wife to see

the gun but wanted to be “ready.”    Murray further testified that he pulled the trigger “to

see if the safety engaged” but did not believe that there was any way that the gun would

discharge.   Murray stated that, after the firearm was discharged, he was “in shock” but

that he still called 911 to “come clean.”   Murray further testified that he did not tell the

officers that it was an accident because “they was beyond the point of caring.”

       {¶16} On cross-examination, Murray stated that he had owned the shotgun for four

years and assumed that he loaded the shotgun, but did not remember doing so.

According to Murray, he had been drinking ever since he got out of church that day but

denied being “that drunk.”   Murray stated that he placed the gun in the basement to keep

it away from the kids. Upon the prosecutor questioning Murray on his 911 call, Murray

stated that he was referring to himself when telling the operator that he was “going to

fuck somebody up.”

       {¶17} The jury ultimately found Murray guilty on all counts, and the trial court

imposed a total sentence of six years in prison. This appeal follows.

       B. Batson Challenge

       {¶18} In his first assignment of error, Murray, who is African American, argues

that his constitutional rights were violated when the trial court allowed the state to

peremptorily excuse prospective Juror R., an African-American male, over his Batson

objection.   We disagree.
         {¶19} In Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 89, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69

(1986), the United States Supreme Court held that purposeful discrimination in the use of

peremptory challenges to exclude members of a minority group violates the Equal

Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.

         {¶20} Trial courts are to apply a three-step procedure for adjudicating a Batson

claim. First, the opponent of the peremptory strike must make a prima facie case of

racial discrimination.     Id. at 96.    To establish a prima facie case of purposeful

discrimination in choosing jurors, the accused must demonstrate (1) that members of a

recognized racial group were peremptorily challenged, and (2) that the facts and

circumstances raise an inference that the prosecutor used the peremptory challenge to

exclude the jurors on account of their race. Id.      Second, if the trial court finds that the

opponent has set forth a prima facie case, then the proponent of the strike must come

forward with a racially neutral explanation for the strike. Id. at 95.          However, the

“explanation need not rise to the level justifying exercise of a challenge for cause.” Id.

at 97.    Finally, if the proponent puts forth a racially neutral explanation, the trial court

must decide, based on all the circumstances, whether the opponent has proved purposeful

racial discrimination. Id.

         {¶21} At the final stage of the Batson inquiry, the court “must examine the

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

State v. Frazier, 115 Ohio St. 3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 65. The

judge must “assess the plausibility” of the prosecutor’s reason for striking the juror “in
light of all evidence with a bearing on it.” Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 252, 125
S. Ct. 2317, 162 L. Ed. 2d 196 (2005).       “[T]he ultimate burden of persuasion regarding

racial motivation rests with, and never shifts from, the opponent of the strike.”   Purkett

v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 768, 115 S. Ct. 1769, 131 L. Ed. 2d 834 (1995) (per curiam); Rice v.

Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338, 126 S. Ct. 969, 163 L. Ed. 2d 824 (2006).

       {¶22} “A trial court’s finding of no discriminatory intent will not be reversed on

appeal unless clearly erroneous.”            State v. Pickens, 141 Ohio St. 3d 462,

2014-Ohio-5445, 25 N.E.3d 1023, ¶ 64, citing State v. Frazier, 115 Ohio St. 3d 139,

2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 64. This deferential standard arises from the fact

that step three of the Batson inquiry turns largely on the evaluation of credibility by the

trial court. See State v. Herring, 94 Ohio St. 3d 246, 257, 2002-Ohio-796, 762 N.E.2d
940, citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 98, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69.

       {¶23} Following the state’s use of its third peremptory strike on prospective Juror

R., the defense raised a Batson challenge.    At that point, the state had already moved to

excuse two other African-American individuals      — (1) an African-American male, who

is a criminal-defense attorney known to the prosecutor, defense counsel, and trial judge,

and (2) an African-American female, whose son had been convicted approximately one

month earlier for a gun violation.

       {¶24} In response to the trial court’s inquiry, the prosecutor provided the following

reasons for excusing Juror R.:

              He’s falling asleep. He appears, during the voir dire, he appears to
       be disinterested. Outside of the fact when we cleared up why he was upset
      with your example of the bias and prejudice. As I sit next to him
      throughout your questioning, he had very strong body language and
      positioning of himself in the seat during the time you were asking about the
      bias and prejudice. I just thought, one, he was offended like he said he
      was, and then as we went on throughout the voir dire process, he seems
      disinterested, falling asleep, as if he has something else he would rather be
      doing.

      {¶25} The defense counsel responded to the prosecutor’s remarks as follows:

             Obviously [the prosecutor] is seated closer to him, but I didn’t see
      him falling asleep, I didn’t notice that disinterested aspect, maybe the Court
      did, but I did not notice that, I would say that.

      {¶26} The trial judge stated that he had not noticed the same things described by

the prosecutor, but acknowledged that he had not been watching Juror R.     The trial judge

ultimately rejected the defense counsel’s Batson challenge after discussing the basis of

each previously exercised peremptory strike and implicitly finding no pretext for racial

discrimination.    The record reflects that, after the trial judge excused Juror R., one

African-American woman remained among the 12 in the jury box and a single

African-American male remained among the three potential jurors left in the jury pool.

      {¶27} Murray argues that the state failed to provide a race-neutral explanation to

exclude Juror R.    The prosecutor relied on Juror R.’s demeanor and body language as

grounds to exclude him, stating that he initially seemed offended when the trial judge

discussed bias and prejudice and then ultimately disinterested to the point of “falling

asleep.”   Contrary to Murray’s assertion, “[b]ody language and demeanor are

permissible race-neutral justifications for exercising a peremptory challenge.” State v.
Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130277, 2014-Ohio-1526, ¶ 40, citing State v. Brown,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84059, 2004-Ohio-6862.

       {¶28} The record reflects that, upon questioning from the prosecutor, Juror R.

admitted to the prosecutor during voir dire that he initially took offense to the judge’s

statements regarding bias and stereotypes.            Specifically, upon the prosecutor

commenting to Juror R. on his demeanor during the trial judge’s discussion of bias and

stereotypes, Juror R. stated that he “kind of took offense to it.” It is clear from the

record that Juror R.’s body language initially raised a red flag with the prosecutor,

causing the prosecutor to pay particular attention to Juror R.    Notably, the prosecutor’s

assessment of Juror R.’s strong body language and the inference of him taking offense

was confirmed by Juror R.’s acknowledgment.           We further note that, while the trial

judge may not have seen Juror R. falling asleep, the trial judge did specifically comment

on Juror R. appearing “tired” earlier in the voir dire process.

       {¶29} While it is true that a trial judge’s first-hand observations are of great

importance when the explanation for a peremptory challenge invokes a juror’s demeanor,

a trial judge may still accept the prosecutor’s explanation even if the trial judge does not

personally recall the juror’s demeanor.    State v. Moseley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92110,

2010-Ohio-3498, ¶ 39.        Indeed, “the best evidence of the intent of the attorney

exercising a strike is often that attorney’s demeanor.” Thaler v. Haynes, 559 U.S. 43,

49, 130 S. Ct. 1171, 175 L. Ed. 2d 1003 (2010), citing Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472,

128 S. Ct. 1203, 170 L. Ed. 2d 175 (2008), and Hernandez v. N.Y., 500 U.S. 352, 365, 111
S. Ct. 1859, 114 L. Ed. 2d 395 (1991) (plurality opinion).             And here the trial court

determined that the prosecutor’s stated reason was not pretextual for discrimination.

          {¶30} We likewise find this court’s decision in State v. Strong, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 100699, 2015-Ohio-169, to be distinguishable and does not support reversing the trial

court’s decision in this case. In Strong, the prosecutor’s proffered reason for exercising

a peremptory strike against a juror was that he had concerns of the juror being able to pay

attention because “[h]e has an extremely wide-eyed look, like he has a thousand-yard

stare.”     We held that the trial court failed to appropriately evaluate the context of the

prosecutor’s proffered reasoning for excusing a juror under the third step of Batson,

especially since the juror’s responses during the voir dire process directly refuted any

claim of an inability to pay attention. Id. at ¶ 29.          We also found the prosecutor’s

proffered explanation both offensive and disconcerting, emphasizing that “it was not the

juror’s body language that was being questioned but his physical appearance.” Id. at ¶

23.

          {¶31} Unlike Strong, there is no evidence in the record refuting the prosecutor’s

explanation to excuse Juror R., and the prosecutor’s stated reasoning had nothing to do

with Juror R.’s physical appearance.

          {¶32} Based on the record before us, we cannot say that the trial court’s denial of

Murray’s Batson challenge was clearly erroneous.

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

          C. Sufficiency of the Evidence
       {¶34} In his second assignment of error, Murray argues that the state failed to

present sufficient evidence that he acted “knowingly” to support the convictions for

felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation.   We disagree.

       {¶35} When an appellate court reviews a record upon a sufficiency challenge,

“‘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.’”        State v. Leonard, 104 Ohio St. 3d 54,

2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229, ¶ 77, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574
N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶36} R.C. 2923.161(A)(1) defines the offense of improperly discharging into a

habitation and provides that “[n]o person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly * *

* [d]ischarge a firearm at or into an occupied structure that is a permanent or temporary

habitation of any individual.”

       {¶37} Under R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), felonious assault, “[n]o person shall knowingly

* * * [c]ause or attempt to cause physical harm to another * * * by means of a deadly

weapon or dangerous ordnance.”

       {¶38} “A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware that

his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature.

A person has knowledge of circumstances when he is aware that such circumstances

probably exist.” R.C. 2901.22(B).
       {¶39} The state presented evidence that Murray fired his sawed-off shot gun

following his altercation with Yul. The shotgun was discharged from Murray’s kitchen

window at close range, firing a bird shot casing directly through the Martins’ dining room

window.    The record further revealed that Murray was intoxicated at that time, fled his

house immediately following the shooting, and then called 911 and asked for the police to

come get him.    Murray never stated that he accidentally shot the sawed-off shot gun.

The record further revealed that Murray was extremely angry and acted erratic even after

the police arrested him and placed him in the patrol car.     Construing this evidence in a

light most favorable to the state, we find that any reasonable juror could find beyond a

reasonable doubt that Murray “knowingly” fired the shotgun.

       {¶40}    The second assignment of error is overruled.

       D. Manifest Weight of the Evidence

       {¶41} In his third assignment of error, Murray argues that his convictions are

against the manifest weight of the evidence.   We disagree.

       {¶42} In contrast to a sufficiency argument, a manifest weight challenge questions

whether the state met its burden of persuasion. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12. When reviewing a claim challenging the manifest weight

of the evidence, “the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and disagrees with the

factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting testimony.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d
380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). After reviewing the entire record, the reviewing court

must
      weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of
      witnesses, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the
      trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of
      justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.

Id.

      {¶43} Murray essentially argues that the jury lost its way in convicting him

because he did not knowingly fire his shotgun. Murray relies on his testimony in support

of this claim. Although Murray testified that he accidentally discharged his shotgun, the

jury obviously found his testimony not credible. And based on the evidence presented by

the state, we find that the jury reasonably discarded Murray’s testimony. Murray’s

actions severely undermined any claim that he accidentally discharged the shotgun.

Notably, Murray retrieved the shotgun immediately following his altercation with Yul and

specifically stated to the 911 dispatcher following the shooting that he was “going to fuck

somebody up.” Further, Murray never once stated to the 911 dispatcher or the officers

arriving on the scene that he “accidentally” discharged the shotgun. And while Murray

damaged his own kitchen window by shooting through it and into the Martins’ dining

room window, we do not find that conclusive of an accidental shooting. Indeed, Murray

was highly intoxicated and angry at the time of the shooting. Further, the testimony

revealed that the firearm was fired at close range from his kitchen window and that the

bird shot casing traveled directly into the Martins’ dining room. We find that the state’s

evidence overwhelmingly belies any claim of an accidental shooting.

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

       E. Prosecutorial Misconduct
       {¶45} In his final assignment of error, Murray argues that he was denied a fair trial

when the prosecutor improperly questioned him on a prior conviction of domestic

violence. He argues that the prosecutor’s question amounts to prosecutorial misconduct

that deprived him of a fair trial.   We disagree.

       {¶46} In addressing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, we must determine

whether the prosecutor’s remarks were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially

affected Murray’s substantial rights.     State v. Smith, 14 Ohio St. 3d 13, 14, 470 N.E.2d
883 (1984). When applying this test, we consider the effect the misconduct had on the

jury in the context of the entire trial. State v. Tilley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96756,

2012-Ohio-1533, ¶ 19.      We will not deem a trial unfair if, in the context of the entire

trial, it appears beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have found the defendant

guilty even without the improper comments. Smith at 15. (Citation omitted.)

       {¶47} Murray complains of the following line of questioning by the prosecutor

during her cross-examination of him:

              [Prosecutor] Q.: Now, you’ve not only been convicted of aggravated
       assault, you’ve been convicted of a couple of violent crimes, it that correct?

              [Murray]: A.: Yes.

              [Prosecutor]: Q.: Domestic violence?

              [Defense Counsel]: Objection, your Honor.      May I approach?

              [Murray]: I was never charged with that.

       {¶48} The parties then engaged in a sidebar discussion wherein the defense

counsel objected to the prosecutor asking Murray about his domestic violence conviction
— a conviction that occurred more than ten years ago.       The prosecutor urged the trial

court to allow the evidence of the prior conviction on the grounds that it involved a

violent offense like the instant case.   The trial court refused and provided the following

curative instruction:

               Ladies and gentlemen, you are instructed to disregard the last
       question and answer with respect to whether the defendant was ever
       convicted of an offense of domestic violence. You are to ignore the
       question and any response given to that question.
               Furthermore, I instruct you once again that the fact of a person’s
       prior conviction, whether a witness or a defendant, may only be used by the
       jury in assessing that individual’s credibility. You may consider it as one
       of the factors in determining whether or not you believe the testimony given
       by the individual on the witness stand but you may not consider it in
       determining whether that individual is guilty of any offense as charged in
       the indictment. Do you all understand that?

              The Jury:     Yes.

       {¶49} The state concedes that the trial court properly excluded any testimony

regarding Murray’s domestic violence conviction but argues that the prosecutor’s

question did not prejudicially affect Murray’s substantial rights.      We agree.     While

Murray initially answered the prosecutor’s question affirmatively, he expressly denied

having been convicted of domestic violence.         But more importantly, the trial court

immediately gave a curative instruction. See State v. Charley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

82944, 2004-Ohio-3463, ¶ 51, citing State v. Loza, 71 Ohio St. 3d 61, 75, 641 N.E.2d
1082 (1994) (jury is presumed to follow the instructions, including curative instructions,

given by a trial judge).     Further, the jury was already aware of Murray’s previous

aggravated assault conviction based on Murray’s own testimony; thus, the impact on the
jury of an improper reference to a prior conviction is considerably diminished by the

jury’s knowledge of Murray’s previous aggravated assault conviction. Based on the

totality of the record, we cannot say that Murray was denied a fair trial — it appears clear

beyond a reasonable doubt the jury would have found Murray guilty even without the

improper comment.

       {¶50} The fourth assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶51} Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant the 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 conviction 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.

MARY J. BOYLE, JUDGE

MELODY J. STEWART, P.J., and
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR