Court Opinion

ID: 2692710
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 21:51:47.731865+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:22:05.534860
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Kay, 2014-Ohio-2676.]

                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                               SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  MONTGOMERY COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                   :
                                                 :     Appellate Case No. 25761
           Plaintiff-Appellee                    :
                                                 :     Trial Court Case No. 2012-CR-1589/1
 v.                                              :
                                                 :
 LINDA ROCIA KAY                                 :     (Criminal Appeal from
                                                 :     (Common Pleas Court)
           Defendant-Appellant                   :
                                                 :
                                             ...........

                                            OPINION

                                Rendered on the 20th day of June, 2014.

                                             ...........

MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by CARLEY J. INGRAM, Atty. Reg. #0020084, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, 301 West
Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
       Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

WILLIAM O. CASS, JR., Atty. Reg. #0034517, 135 West Dorothy Lane, Suite 209, Kettering,
Ohio 45429
       Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                            .............

FAIN, J.

        {¶ 1}     Defendant-appellant Linda Kay appeals from her conviction and sentence for
                                                                                                   2

Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Felonious Assault, and Tampering with

Evidence.   She contends that the trial court committed plain error by failing to merge the

convictions for Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Robbery. She further contends that the

trial court erred by imposing maximum, consecutive sentences. Finally, Kay claims that the

State did not present sufficient evidence to support the convictions, and the convictions are

against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       {¶ 2}    We conclude that upon this record, Kay did not establish that the Aggravated

Burglary and Aggravated Robbery offenses were not committed separately, so that the trial court

did not commit plain error in failing to merge them. We further conclude that the record

contains evidence sufficient to support the convictions, and the convictions are not against the

weight of the evidence. Finally, the State concedes that the trial court erred when it imposed

consecutive sentences without making the findings required by statute. Accordingly, that part of

the judgment of the trial court imposing consecutive sentences is Reversed, the judgment of the

trial court is Affirmed in all other respects, and this cause is Remanded for further proceedings on

the issue of whether the sentences imposed shall be served consecutively or concurrently.

                                    I. The State’s Evidence

       {¶ 3}    This case involves the May 21, 2012 shooting and death of Robert Munday. At

trial, the State presented the testimony of Gary Grier, who testified that he had known both Kay

and Munday for years. He testified that the night of May 20, he was on Ron Lewis’s front

porch along with Lewis, Munday, and another friend named Jeffrey Brant. Grier testified that

Lewis lived next door to Munday. Grier testified that around midnight, he saw Kay and an
                                                                                               3

unknown male pull up in front of the homes. According to Grier, Munday left the porch, met

Kay and the man with her, and the three proceeded to the back of Munday’s home. Grier

testified that he could hear arguing in Munday’s home, and could hear Munday yelling. He

testified that he then heard a gunshot, followed by a second shot, following which everyone on

the porch scattered. There were a total of three gunshots. Grier went between the two homes to

the back of the houses, where he saw Kay exit from Munday’s back door. Grier testified that she

appeared to be waiting on someone. He testified that he then saw the unknown male come out

of the home. The man had a gun in his hand. Kay and the man, who was limping due to a

gunshot wound, hurried to Kay’s car and drove off.

       {¶ 4}    The State also presented the testimony of Lewis, who corroborated Grier’s

testimony. Lewis stated that he heard Munday yell, “what the f***,” and then heard the gunfire.

 Lewis called the police.

       {¶ 5}    The State next presented Tara Hughes, who testified that Munday was her

boyfriend. She testified that Munday sold drugs from his kitchen and that, at the time of the

shooting, he had $6,510 stored in a dresser in a bundle. She testified that Munday had loaned

Kay $1,200 and a gun. After the shooting, the money was gone, but a few crumpled bills were

laying around the dresser.

       {¶ 6}    Jacob Mann, an Ohio State Trooper, testified that at 12:50 a.m. on May 21, he

initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle traveling 75 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone on southbound

Interstate 75 in the city of Moraine. Kay was alone in the vehicle. Mann noted that there were

“crumpled bills” lying on the passenger floorboard and seat . Mann asked Kay where she

obtained the money, to which she replied that she had won it at a “dice game.” She further
                                                                                                 4

informed Mann that she was traveling to “the boat,” which he understood to be a casino. Mann

testified that Kay was calm during the stop, and did not cause him any concern. He then issued a

citation and ended the encounter.

       {¶ 7}    Jason Young, an Indiana State Police Officer assigned to Hollywood Casino,

testified that Kay was in the casino on May 21 at 3:28 a.m. He testified that Kay was noted for

“suspicious activity,” because she went to the “cage” and exchanged $1,300, in five and ten

dollar bills, for larger bills. He further testified that Kay was observed entering the restroom

wearing a long-sleeved dark shirt, and exiting the restroom wearing a white tank top.

       {¶ 8}    Will Keltyk, a cage cashier at Hollywood Casino, testified that Kay came to his

cage to exchange $1,300, in five and ten dollar bills, for larger bills. He testified that Kay’s

money was “crumpled up, a little, possibly torn.”        He further testified that he alerted his

supervisor, because the transaction was suspicious and indicative of money laundering. He

further testified that Kay was “fidgety and nervous,” and did not want to provide her

identification. He further testified that she attempted to “rush” him in the exchange.

       {¶ 9}     The State presented Amy Ryan, who testified that she had been involved in a

romantic relationship with Kay for approximately two years.         Ryan testified that Kay and

Munday were close friends, and that he had loaned Kay money. Ryan testified that Kay was not

employed, and “a couple weeks prior to [the shooting], we had went [sic] to the casino and [Kay]

lost all of her money, all of it.” On the date of the alleged offenses, Kay told Ryan that she was

“going to go out and try to make some money.” Ryan testified that she next heard from Kay

again at about 1:30 a.m., when Kay telephoned her and told her to “take a deep breath in because

they had bodied him.” She further testified that Kay arranged for Ryan and Kay’s mother to
                                                                                                  5

pack up a few items for Kay and to meet her at Hollywood Casino. Ryan testified that she and

Kay’s mother met Kay in the parking garage of the casino around 4:00 a.m., at which time Kay

and her mother discussed disposing of Kay’s vehicle. Kay then returned to her car and followed

her mother out of the casino. They traveled past several houses until they reached a body of

water. Kay had a black backpack with her when she exited the car. Kay put the car into neutral

and rolled it into the water.

        {¶ 10} According to Ryan, Kay’s mother then drove Kay and Ryan to a hotel in Ohio,

where she left them. During the ride, Kay told Ryan that she had been involved in a robbery that

“had gone bad,” and someone had been shot. Ryan testified that Kay told her to register a room

in Ryan’s name. Kay gave Ryan cash to pay for the room. Once in the room Kay told Ryan

that she “and some other people were going to rob somebody and that [Kay] had sent somebody

in and he had a gun on him just for protection because [Munday] had guns in his house.” Ryan

testified that Kay told her she was merely the “getaway driver” and did not get out of the car.

        {¶ 11} Ryan testified that they went out to a carry-out gas station where they purchased

some snacks and scissors. Once back in the room, Kay proceeded to cut her “really long braids”

off, put her hair in a bag, and throw the bag in the hotel dumpster. They then decided to go to a

different hotel, so they called a cab. At the new hotel, Kay again gave Ryan cash and told her to

register in Ryan’s name. They then went to a nearby Walmart, where Kay spent $538 in cash to

purchase a laptop computer, luggage, a cellular telephone and DVD’s. Kay also purchased, with

cash, a MoneyGram in the amount of $700. Ryan testified that the next day Kay bought her a

car for $1,500 in cash “for what she’d put her through.” Ryan testified that they then returned to

their apartment. Kay went to the leasing office to attempt to pay rent in advance, so that Ryan
                                                                                                                                              6

would be able to stay there if Kay went to jail. Kay was arrested at the leasing office. Ryan

testified that about one month later she found about $2,000 stuffed inside a plastic bottle of

conditioner that was inside the luggage Kay had purchased. Ryan gave the police the bottle, the

car, and about $460 in cash that Kay had given her.

                                              II. The Course of Proceedings

         {¶ 12} Kay was arrested and indicted on three counts of Murder, two counts of

Aggravated Burglary, two counts of Aggravated Robbery, two counts of Felonious Assault and

one count of Tampering with Evidence. The jury convicted Kay on all indicted counts. At

sentencing, the trial court merged the three counts of Murder, and sentenced Kay to a prison term

of fifteen years to life for that offense. The two counts of Aggravated Burglary were merged,

and Kay was sentenced to a prison term of eleven years for that offense. The two counts of

Aggravated Robbery were also merged, and the trial court imposed a prison term of eleven years

for that offense. The two counts of Felonious Assault were merged with one another, and with

the Murder conviction. Kay was sentenced to a three-year prison term on the Tampering with

Evidence charge.

         {¶ 13} The trial court ordered the prison terms be served consecutively, for a total

sentence of 43 years to life.1 Kay appeals.

           III. The Trial Court Did Not Commit Plain Error when it Failed to Merge

            1
              The sentence includes a three-year prison term for the firearm specifications, which, by statute, must be served consecutively to,
 and before, the other sentences.
[Cite as State v. Kay, 2014-Ohio-2676.]
                 the Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Robbery Convictions

        {¶ 14} Kay’s First Assignment of Error states as follows:

                 THE COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO PROPERLY MERGE

        THE ALLIED OFFENSES.

        {¶ 15} Kay contends that the trial court should have merged the convictions of

Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Robbery.

        {¶ 16} Kay has waived all but plain error by failing to raise any objection to the

imposition of multiple punishments at the sentencing hearing. State v. Mooty, 2014-Ohio-733, 9

N.E.3d 443, ¶ 46 (2d Dist.).          “To prevail under the plain error standard, an appellant must

demonstrate both that there was an obvious error in the proceedings and that but for the error, the

outcome of the trial clearly would have been otherwise.” Id., citing State v. Noling, 98 Ohio

St.3d 44, 2002-Ohio-7044, 781 N.E.2d 88; State v. Turner, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24421,

2011-Ohio-6714, ¶ 8.

        {¶ 17} Pursuant to the statute governing allied offenses, “[w]here 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.”         R.C. 2941.25(A).     Conversely, “[w]here 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.” R.C. 2941.25(B).

        {¶ 18} In determining whether the offenses are allied offenses of similar import, “the

question is whether it is possible to commit one offense and commit the other with the same
                                                                                                      8

conduct, not whether it is possible to commit one without committing the other. * * * If the

offenses correspond to such a degree that the conduct of the defendant constituting commission

of one offense constitutes commission of the other, then the offenses are of similar import.”

State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061. “If the multiple

offenses can be committed by the same conduct, then the court must determine whether the

offenses were committed by the same conduct, i.e., ‘a single act, committed with a single state of

mind.’ ” Johnson at ¶ 49, quoting State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569, 895

N.E.2d 149, at ¶ 50 (Lanzinger, J., dissenting). “If the answer to both questions is yes, then the

offenses are allied offenses of similar import and will be merged.” Id. “Conversely, if the court

determines that the commission of one offense will never result in the commission of the other,

or if the offenses are committed separately, or if the defendant has separate animus for each

offense, then, according to R.C. 2941.25(B), the offenses will not merge.” Id. at ¶ 51.

        {¶ 19} The defendant has the burden of proving entitlement to merger.                 State v.

Jackson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24430, 2012-Ohio-2335, ¶ 134.

        {¶ 20} Kay was convicted of Aggravated Burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(2),

which states in pertinent part that “[n]o person, by force, stealth, or deception, shall trespass in an

occupied structure * * *with purpose to commit in the structure * * * any criminal offense, if * *

* [t]he offender has a deadly weapon * * *.” She was also found guilty of Aggravated Robbery,

in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) which provides that “[n]o person person in attempting or

committing a theft offense * * * shall * * * [h]ave 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.”
[Cite as State v. Kay, 2014-Ohio-2676.]
        {¶ 21} This court has held that Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Robbery are often

not allied offenses of similar import because they involve two separate crimes; entering into a

premises by force, stealth or deception, and then committing a theft offense. In other words, “a

burglary is complete upon entry into the victim’s home, and a robbery subsequently committed

inside the home constitutes a new, separate offense.” State v. Jackson, 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 24430, 2012-Ohio-2335, ¶ 137. See also State v. McClurkin, 10th Dist. Franklin No.

11AP-944, 2013-Ohio-1140; State v. Adams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-120059, 2013-Ohio-926.

        {¶ 22} Aggravated Burglary is complete upon an offender’s entrance while the

Aggravated Robbery requires additional conduct. Separate conduct is present in this case. The

evidence shows that Munday, Kay, and the accomplice entered into the house together. A few

moments later, yelling was heard followed immediately by gunshots. The evidence shows that a

struggle occurred in Munday’s kitchen and that he was killed in the kitchen. However, the

money taken from Munday was located in a dresser in the bedroom. The jury could reasonably

infer that Kay entered the premises under false pretenses or deception for the purpose of robbing

Munday, that a struggle ensued in the kitchen during which Munday was shot and killed, and that

either Kay or the accomplice then went to the bedroom to retrieve the money.

        {¶ 23} In contending that the offenses should merge, Kay argues in her reply brief:

                 The [State] argues that the manner of entry does not matter because they

        [Kay and her companion] became trespassers when Munday revoked their

        privilege when he said “What the [f***], man?” or “What the [f***], bruh?” At

        this point, the [State] asserts both counts of aggravated burglary were complete.

        The [State] contends that the aggravated robbery was not complete until they shot

        him, took the money and fled. The problem with this conclusion is there is no
                                                                                                      10

       evidence verifying this sequence of events the [State] relies on.

               Nevertheless, the deadly weapon subsection of aggravated robbery, which

       the [State] elected, was completed when [Kay] and/or her accomplice demanded

       money from Munday at gun point. At that point they were attempting a theft

       offense while armed with a deadly weapon. R.C. 2911.11(A)(2). Therefore,

       even under the [State’s] theory, this count was completed at the exact same time

       the aggravated burglary was completed because they only became trespassers

       when they committed the aggravated robbery. Therefore, the aggravated burglary

       and aggravated robbery were committed by the same act, at the same time and

       they should have been merged.

       {¶ 24} The problem with this analysis is that it reverses the parties’ burdens. Kay has

the burden of demonstrating, on this record, that the Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated

Robbery offenses were committed at the same time, and with the same animus. And Kay’s

burden is elevated because she has forfeited all but plain error by having failed to assert, in the

trial court, that the offenses should have been merged.

       {¶ 25} Kay’s factual analysis of the merger issue makes assumptions about what

transpired within Munday’s residence that are speculative in view of the dearth of evidence as to

exactly what occurred, and in what order. Upon this record, we do not conclude that the trial

court committed plain error when it failed to find that the two offenses were committed at the

same time, with the same animus, and merge them.

       {¶ 26} The First Assignment of Error is overruled.
                                                                                                 11

              IV. The Trial Court Erred when it Imposed Consecutive Sentences

                          without Making the Required Statutory Findings

        {¶ 27} Kay asserts the following for her Second Assignment of Error:

                   THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT IMPOSED MAXIMUM,

        CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES ON THE APPELLANT.

        {¶ 28} Kay contends that the trial court erred in imposing maximum consecutive

sentences, because the trial court failed to make the findings of fact required by R.C.

2929.14(C)(4). While Kay mentions the imposition of maximum sentences, she does not claim

that the maximum sentences were improper. Her argument addresses the trial court’s failure to

make the findings of fact required for the imposition of consecutive sentences. She further

requests that we not remand this issue to the trial court, but enter an order “running [her]

sentences concurrently.” The State concedes error as to the failure to make the necessary

findings of fact regarding the consecutive sentences, but requests that we remand the matter to

the trial court.

        {¶ 29}       R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), which authorizes the trial court to impose consecutive

prison terms for convictions on multiple offenses, states that consecutive sentences can be

imposed if the court finds that: (1) a consecutive sentence is necessary to protect the public from

future crime or to punish the offender; and (2) consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to

the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public.

Additionally, the statute requires that the trial court must find any of the following:

                   (a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the

        offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant
                                                                                               12

       to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under

       post-release control for a prior offense.

              (b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or

       more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple

       offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any

       of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately

       reflects the seriousness of the offender's conduct.

              (c) The offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that

       consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the

       offender.

Id.

       {¶ 30} We agree that the trial court failed to make the findings required by the statute.

Therefore, we conclude that the imposition of consecutive sentences must be reversed. But we

decline to enter an order making the sentences run concurrently. It is for the trial court to

determine whether to make the statutory findings. Then, if it does make those findings and

re-imposes consecutive sentences, our narrow standard of review is set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G).

       {¶ 31} The Second Assignment of Error is sustained.

          V. Kay’s Conviction for Murder Is Supported by Sufficient Evidence,

                   and Is Not Against the Manifest Weight of the Evidence

       {¶ 32} Kay’s Third and Fourth Assignments of Error state:

              THE     EVIDENCE        WAS      INSUFFICIENT      TO    SUPPORT      THE

       APPELLANT’S CONVICTION FOR MURDER.
                                                                                                 13

               THE APPELLANT’S CONVICTION FOR MURDER WAS AGAINST

       THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

       {¶ 33} Kay contends that the State failed to prove that Munday’s death was a proximate

result of committing Aggravated Robbery. In support, she argues that there is no evidence in the

record to support a finding that Munday was killed during the commission of the Aggravated

Robbery.

       {¶ 34} A sufficiency-of-the-evidence argument challenges whether the State has

presented adequate evidence on each element of the offense to allow the case to go to the jury or

to sustain the verdict as a matter of law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d

541 (1997). “An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to

support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether

such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt. 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. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d

492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 35} In a weight-of-the-evidence challenge, an appellate court “review[s] the entire

record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses

and determines 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. The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be exercised only in the exceptional

case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
                                                                                               14

St .3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997) quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485

N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist. 1983).

       {¶ 36} Kay was convicted of Murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B), which provides

that “[n]o 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 * * *.” The offense of violence committed as a predicate to the Murder charge in this

case is Aggravated Robbery, which is proscribed by R.C. 2911.01(A)(1). That statute states that

“[n]o 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 * * * [h]ave 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[.]”

       {¶ 37} Ryan testified that Kay told her that “they bodied him.” According to Ryan, Kay

subsequently stated that “they shot somebody.” Kay eventually told Ryan that she was going to

rob someone, and she sent someone else in with a gun for protection because Munday had guns

in his home. Grier and Lewis both testified that Kay and her accomplice entered Munday’s

home with Munday. They then heard arguing followed by gunfire. Grier testified that after the

gunshots, he observed first Kay, then the accomplice, leave the scene. The money in Munday’s

dresser was missing following the event. Kay spent large amounts of money following the

shooting.

       {¶ 38} A reasonable jury could find that Kay went to Munday’s home with the intention

to rob him, and she told her accomplice to carry a gun. While in the home, Munday was shot

and killed. Further, a reasonable jury could infer that the fatal shooting took place during a
                                                                                               15

robbery from the fact that money was missing from Munday’s drawer and Kay was in

possession of a large amount of money after the shooting. Also, Kay left the house a few

moments after the shooting, but did not seek help. Instead, she waited on her accomplice and

then drove away from the scene. Flight can be considered as evidence of guilt. We conclude

that the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction.

       {¶ 39} Also, we do not conclude, based upon the evidence in this record, that the jury

lost its way in convicting Kay of Murder, creating such a manifest miscarriage of justice that a

new trial is required. This is not the exceptional case where the evidence weighs heavily against

conviction.

       {¶ 40} The Third and Fourth Assignments of Error are overruled.

                                         VI. Conclusion

       {¶ 41} Kay’s First, Third, and Fourth Assignments of Error having been overruled, and

her Second Assignment of Error being sustained, that part of the judgment of the trial court

imposing consecutive sentences is Reversed; the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed in all

other respects; and this cause is Remanded for further proceedings with respect to the issue of

whether the sentences should be imposed consecutively or concurrently.

                                          .............

DONOVAN and WELBAUM, JJ., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Mathias H. Heck
Carley J. Ingram
                         16

William O. Cass, Jr.
Hon. Barbara P. Gorman