Court Opinion

ID: 3133489
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-21 15:12:50.581802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:53:55.884661
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Jackson, 2015-Ohio-4356.]

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

STATE OF OHIO                                       C.A. No.      27478

        Appellee

        v.                                          APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                    ENTERED IN THE
TRAVASKI JACKSON                                    COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                    COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellant                                   CASE No.   CR 2013 10 2869 (D)

                                 DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: October 21, 2015

        SCHAFER, Judge.

        {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant, Travaski Jackson, appeals from his convictions and

sentence in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and

remand.

                                               I.

        {¶2}     This case involves a plot between four individuals, Katrina Collins, Shyann

Cherry, Tyree Feaster, and Jackson, to rob a single victim, D.C.      Collins and Cherry were

acquaintances of the victim, knowing him to be an individual who carried large amounts of cash.

        {¶3}     On October 5, 2013, the four individuals planned to rob the victim at his

apartment in Akron, Ohio. The testimony elicited at trial reveals that two of the individuals,

Collins and Cherry, made plans to visit the victim at his apartment on the night of the robbery.

When the two women arrived at the victim’s apartment, the three of them initially sat in the

apartment’s downstairs living room watching a football game on television.         The women
                                                2

eventually went upstairs to the victim’s bedroom, and the victim followed them soon thereafter.

At some point, Cherry went back downstairs and unlocked the front door to the apartment.

       {¶4}    While the victim was upstairs in his bedroom talking with the two females, two

masked men wearing hooded sweatshirts and brandishing firearms entered the apartment, walked

upstairs, and pointed their firearms at the victim. The masked men, now known to be Jackson

and Feaster, demanded money and drugs. Jackson then pistol whipped the victim in the head.

The victim testified that he saw one of the men appear to strike one of the women with his

firearm, but thought that this was staged. He further testified that the men also pretended to rob

the two women.

       {¶5}    The masked men then took the victim downstairs. Still holding him at gunpoint,

Jackson ordered the victim into his own car. Leaving Feaster and the two women behind,

Jackson drove the victim around the city in search of more money. While sitting in the front

passenger seat, the victim was able to text his sister, informing her that he had been kidnapped

and where he was located. Later, a police cruiser approached the car and shone a spotlight into

the vehicle. At this time, Jackson exited from the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the victim

behind. In all, the masked men stole shoes and designer clothes from the victim, as well as the

victim’s television and $3,500.00 in cash.

       {¶6}    That night, based upon the victim’s statements to the police along with his phone

records, the Akron Police Department contacted Collins inquiring about the robbery. Collins

agreed to speak with the police about the incident. Collins went to the police station, confessed

to her role in the robbery, and identified Jackson and Feaster in a photo array as being the

masked men during the robbery.
                                                 3

       {¶7}    The grand jury indicted Jackson on one count of aggravated burglary in violation

of R.C. 2911.11(A)(2), one count of aggravated robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), one

count of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(1), and one count of having weapons while

under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2).       The aggravated burglary, aggravated

robbery, and kidnapping counts also carried separate firearm specifications in violation of R.C.

2941.145. The matter proceeded to trial, after which the jury convicted Jackson on all counts

and specifications.

       {¶8}     The trial court subsequently sentenced Jackson to five years on the aggravated

burglary count, eight years on the aggravated robbery count, eight years on the kidnapping count,

and three years on the having weapons while under disability count. The trial court also imposed

a three-year prison term for each firearm specification. The trial court ordered that the sentences

for Jackson’s aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping convictions run

consecutively. It also ordered that the sentences for the firearm specifications to Jackson’s

aggravated burglary and kidnapping convictions run consecutively.          The sentences for the

remaining firearm specification on the aggravated robbery count and Jackson’s conviction on

having weapons while under disability were ordered to run concurrently. As a result, the trial

court imposed a total prison term of 27 years.

       {¶9}    Jackson timely appeals from his convictions and sentence, raising five

assignments of error for our review.

                                                 II.

                                       Assignment of Error I

       Appellant was denied the constitutional right to counsel because lead counsel
       previously represented a key witness against appellant and the trial court
       failed to obtain a valid waiver as required by State v. Gillard.
                                                   4

          {¶10} In his first assignment of error, Jackson argues that his Sixth Amendment right to

effective assistance of counsel was violated because his lead attorney had previously represented

his co-defendant, Shyann Cherry, who testified on behalf of the State. We disagree.

          {¶11} The Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel secures to a

criminal defendant both the right to competent representation and the right to representation that

is free from conflicts of interest. Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. 261, 271 (1981). “[T]he United

States Constitution is violated by an actual conflict of interest, not a possible one.” State v.

Gillard, 78 Ohio St. 3d 548, 552 (1997). As a result, “[w]hen a possible conflict of interest

exists, a defendant is entitled only to an inquiry by the trial court.” Id.

          {¶12} A possibility of a conflict exists if the “‘interests of the defendants may diverge at

some point so as to place the attorney under inconsistent duties.’” State v. Dillon, 74 Ohio St. 3d
166, 168 (1995), quoting Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 356, fn. 3 (1980). An actual conflict

of interest “exists if, ‘during the course of the representation, the defendants’ interests do diverge

with respect to a material factual or legal issue.’” Id. at 169, quoting Cuyler at 356; accord,

Gillard at 552. The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “a lawyer represents conflicting interests

‘when, on behalf of one client, it is his duty to contend for that which duty to another client

requires him to oppose.’” Gillard at 553, quoting State v. Manross, 40 Ohio St. 3d 180, 182

(1997).

          {¶13} An “actual conflict of interest,” for purposes of the Sixth Amendment, is “a

conflict of interest that adversely affects counsel's performance.” Mickens v. Taylor, 535 U.S.
162, 172, fn. 5 (2002); see also Gillard at 552. Thus, to prove an “actual conflict of interest,” the

defendant must show that his counsel “actively represented conflicting interests,” and that the

conflict “actually affected the adequacy of his representation.” Id. at 166, 171, quoting Cuyler at
                                                 5

348–349. In order to show such a conflict, a defendant must “‘point to specific instances in the

record to suggest an actual conflict or impairment of [his] interests.’” United States v. Hall, 200
F.3d 962, 965–66 (6th Cir.2000), quoting Thomas v. Foltz, 818 F.2d 476, 481 (6th Cir.1987)

(internal quotation omitted). An “adverse effect” is established where the defendant points to

“some plausible alternative defense strategy or tactic [that] could have been pursued, but was not

because of the actual conflict impairing counsel's performance.” Perillo v. Johnson, 205 F.3d
775, 781 (5th Cir.2000) (internal quotation omitted); see also Gillard at 553. While it is not

necessary to prove that the defense theory would have been successful, it is necessary to show

that the alternative theory was viable.     Gillard at 553.     Additionally, an appellant “‘must

establish that the alternative defense was inherently in conflict with or not undertaken due to the

attorney's other loyalties or interests.’” Id., quoting United States v. Fahey, 769 F.2d 829, 836

(1st Cir.1985).

       {¶14} In this case, Jackson’s trial counsel informed the trial court during a sidebar at

trial that she was initially appointed to represent both Jackson and Cherry at the beginning of the

case. Trial counsel also informed the court that she immediately withdrew from representing

Cherry upon learning of this potential conflict and that she has never represented Cherry on any

prior case. The trial court then conducted an inquiry after hearing about this potential conflict of

interest. During this inquiry, trial counsel assured the trial court that she and Jackson had “talked

at length” when the potential conflict first arose. After the trial court informed Jackson about the

potential conflict, Jackson waived any potential conflict of interest. Jackson then reasserted his

waiver when the trial court inquired further to ensure that he understood the potential conflict.

       {¶15} However, the record indicates that Jackson did not object at trial.            Because

Jackson did not object to his attorney representing Cherry previously, Jackson bears the burden
                                                  6

of demonstrating that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his counsel’s performance.

Cuyler at 348. On appeal, Jackson merely points out that Cherry, his co-defendant turned State’s

witness, provided testimony that was beneficial to the prosecution. Such an argument, however,

fails to satisfy the requisite two-part showing required by Gillard. As such, we determine that

Jackson has failed to demonstrate the existence of an actual conflict of interest in this matter.

       {¶16} Lastly, Jackson contends that his waiver of the conflict of interest was

insufficient. However, because Jackson has failed to show the existence of an actual conflict of

interest, we need not address the adequacy of his oral waiver before the trial court.

       {¶17} Jackson’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                      Assignment of Error II

       The trial court erred in overruling the objection to the introduction of
       evidence of a prior felony conviction in the State’s case in chief, pursuant to
       Old Chief v. United States.

       {¶18} In his second assignment of error, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by

permitting the State to introduce evidence of his prior robbery conviction. Specifically, he

maintains that this evidence constituted impermissible “other acts” evidence under Evid.R.

404(B). We disagree.

       {¶19} The trial court possesses broad discretion in determining the admission of

evidence. State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St. 3d 239, 265 (1984). “As such, this court will not overturn

a trial court's evidentiary determination in the absence of an abuse of discretion that resulted in

material prejudice to the defendant.” State v. Myers, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25737, 2012–Ohio–

1820, ¶ 9. An abuse of discretion “implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary, or

unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219 (1983).
                                                7

       {¶20} Evid.R. 404(B) precludes the admission of evidence related to the defendant's

prior criminal acts when such evidence is offered to prove the defendant's character and that his

actions were in conformity with that character. The rule, however, does allow this evidence “for

other purposes.” “[T]he listed exceptions [in Evid.R. 404(B)] are not exclusive, and other acts

evidence not fitting within the enumerated categories may be admissible so long as it is admitted

for any proper purpose other than proving the defendant's propensity to act in conformity with a

particular trait of his character.” Myers at ¶ 10, citing State v. Smith, 49 Ohio St. 3d 137, 140

(1990). “This Court has held that ‘[w]hen a prior conviction is an element of the charged

offense, it may be admitted into evidence for the purpose of proving that element.” State v.

Rodriguez, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26858, 2014–Ohio–911, ¶ 4, quoting State v. Halsell, 9th Dist.

Summit No. 24464, 2009–Ohio–4166, ¶ 13; see also Myers at ¶ 11.

       {¶21} Here, Jackson was convicted on having weapons while under disability in

violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), which relevantly provides that “no person shall knowingly

have, carry, or use any firearm, if * * * [t]he person * * * has been convicted of any felony

offense of violence[.]” Under the plain terms of the statute, an essential element of having

weapons while under disability is that the offender has a previous conviction for a felony offense

of violence. As a result, the State had to prove this element and we conclude that the trial court

did not abuse its discretion in permitting the State to introduce evidence of his prior robbery

conviction. See State v. Horne, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25238, 2011-Ohio-1901, ¶ 10 (“The trial

court did not abuse its discretion by admitting testimony regarding the fact of [the defendant]’s

conviction because it was relevant and necessary to proving a necessary element of the charge of

having weapons while under disability.”).
                                                8

       {¶22} In support of his argument, Jackson cites to Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S.
172 (1997). In that case, the defendant was charged with violating 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which

prohibits convicted felons from possessing a firearm. The prosecution in that case refused to

accept the defendant’s proposed stipulation that he had a prior conviction. The United States

Supreme Court held that “a district court abuses its discretion if it spurns such an offer and

admits the full record of a prior judgment, when the name or nature of the prior offense raises the

risk of a verdict tainted by improper considerations, and when the purpose of the evidence is

solely to prove the element of prior conviction.” Id. at 174. However, Old Chief is inapplicable

in this case for two reasons. First, Jackson neither stipulated to nor offered to stipulate to his

prior robbery conviction. And second, “this Court has consistently declined to adopt the holding

in Old Chief.” State v. Inman, 9th Dist. Medina No. 13CA0074-M, 2014-Ohio-3538, ¶ 10, citing

Rodriguez at ¶ 8.

       {¶23} Jackson’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                    Assignment of Error III

       The prosecutor’s repeated emphasis on the agreement with the State’s
       witnesses to provide “truthful testimony” improperly bolstered the
       credibility of the witnesses.

       {¶24} In his third assignment of error, Jackson argues that he was denied his right to a

fair trial because the prosecutor repeatedly made statements and asked questions that were

designed to bolster the credibility of the State’s witnesses.        According to Jackson, the

prosecutor’s remarks and inquiries constitute prosecutorial misconduct. We disagree.
                                                 9

          {¶25} In this case, the State offered Collins and Cherry a deal1 in exchange for their

truthful testimony against their codefendant, Jackson, during his trial. While the State promised

nothing concrete in terms of a recommended sentence, the State agreed to take the women’s

cooperation into account at the time of their respective sentencing hearings. Jackson argues that

statements regarding this agreement improperly bolstered the witnesses’ credibility.

Specifically, he points to the prosecutor’s opening statement in which he told the jury that he

offered two of the State’s witnesses a deal “to cooperate and to testify truthfully against

[Jackson].” Moreover, Jackson identifies one instance where the prosecutor asked the victim

about the veracity of his testimony, nine instances where the prosecutor inquired about Collins’

truthfulness, and five instances where the prosecutor inquired about Cherry’s truthfulness.

          {¶26} “The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether remarks were improper and, if

so, whether they prejudicially affected substantial rights of the accused.” State v. Cornwell, 86
Ohio St. 3d 560, 570 (1999). “The touchstone of analysis ‘is the fairness of the trial, not the

culpability of the prosecutor.’” Id. at 570-71, quoting Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 219

(1982).       In deciding whether to reverse a conviction based upon improper statements, an

appellate court must review the claim against the entire record and determine whether the alleged

prosecutorial misconduct deprived the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d
259, 281 (1991). In this case, defense counsel never objected to any of the statements or

questions giving rise to Jackson’s claim of prosecutorial misconduct. As such, the issue is

forfeited except for plain error that would affect the outcome of the trial. Cornwell at 570, citing

State v. Long, 53 Ohio St. 2d 91 (1978), paragraph two of the syllabus. In order for this Court to

          1
        Collins and Cherry were also charged for their respective roles in the robbery of the
victim. Both women, however, pled guilty to aggravated robbery and the State dropped the
remaining counts. Both women testified against Jackson at his trial before they were sentenced.
                                                10

apply Crim.R. 52(B), it must be clear that the outcome of the trial would have been different but

for the alleged error. See State v. Lane, 108 Ohio App. 3d 477, 482 (1st Dist.1995).

        {¶27} Here, we determine that the prosecutor’s statements regarding the veracity of the

State’s witnesses during opening argument did not constitute prosecutorial misconduct that

deprived Jackson of a fair trial. During opening argument, the prosecutor informed the jury that

the State offered witnesses a deal “to cooperate and to testify truthfully against [Jackson].”

However, “attorneys are generally afforded wide latitude in opening statements, so long as the

matters referred to can be shown by competent or admissible evidence.” State v. Zack, 9th Dist.

Lorain Nos. 99CA007321, 98CA007270, 2000 WL 763329, * 7 (June 14, 2000), citing

Columbus v. Hamilton, 78 Ohio App. 3d 653, 657 (10th Dist.1992), citing Maggio v. Cleveland,

151 Ohio St. 136 (1949), paragraph two of the syllabus. “Moreover, ‘[n]ot every comment by

counsel can be a basis for reversal.’” Id., quoting State v. Frazier, 73 Ohio St. 3d 323, 341

(1995). We conclude that the prosecutor’s statement during opening argument did not rise to the

level of plain error.

        {¶28} Additionally, we determine that the prosecutor’s inquiries regarding the veracity

of the State’s witnesses during direct examinations of the victim, Collins, and Cherry did not

prejudicially affect Jackson’s substantial rights. Jackson avers that because no other evidence

exists linking him to the crimes except for the testimony of these witnesses, the cumulative effect

of the prosecutor’s questions was prejudicial. However, we cannot conclude that the jury’s

verdict would have been different but for the prosecutor’s inquiries. See Cornwell at 571 (“[T]he

jury might well have believed all three witnesses' testimony even if the prosecutor had not asked

questions concerning the plea agreement made in exchange for ‘truthful testimony.’”). Besides

the testimony of Collins and Cherry, the State also introduced inculpatory evidence at trial in the
                                                11

form of phone call records and text messages between Jackson, Collins, and Cherry that linked

Jackson to the robbery. Therefore, we conclude that the prosecutor’s questions regarding the

veracity of the State’s witnesses were not improper and did not prejudicially affect substantial

rights of Jackson.

       {¶29} Jackson’s third assignment of error is overruled.

                                    Assignment of Error IV

       The trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences for crimes against a
       single victim that the trial court never stated whether or not the crimes
       should merge.

       {¶30} In his fourth assignment of error, Jackson argues that the trial court erred by

imposing consecutive sentences without first addressing his argument at the sentencing hearing

that the offenses were allied. We agree.

       {¶31} We note at the outset that Jackson does not ask this Court to review whether any

or all of the offenses for which he was convicted are allied offenses of similar import. Rather,

Jackson assigns as error the trial court’s failure to make an explicit finding regarding the merger

issue prior to imposing consecutive sentences. We therefore confine our analysis to this issue.

       {¶32} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that when determining whether offenses are

allied offenses of similar import, “courts must evaluate three separate factors—the conduct, the

animus, and the import.” State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St. 3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, paragraph one of

the syllabus The Court has further described the test for allied offenses of similar import as

follows:

       If any of the following is true, the offenses cannot merge and the defendant may
       be convicted and sentenced for multiple offenses: (1) the offenses are dissimilar in
       import or significance—in other words, each offense caused separate, identifiable
       harm, (2) the offenses were committed separately, and (3) the offenses were
       committed with separate animus or motivation.
                                                12

Id. at ¶ 25.

        {¶33} After reviewing the record, we determine that the trial court made no finding as to

whether Mr. Jackson committed the offenses separately, with a separate animus, or whether the

offenses are of dissimilar import. Absent such a finding, we determine that the trial court erred

by separately sentencing Mr. Jackson on the aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery,

kidnapping, and having weapons while under disability offenses. See State v. Philpot, 145 Ohio

App.3d 231, 240 (12th Dist.2001) We therefore reverse appellant’s sentences and remand this

matter to the trial court for resentencing for the purpose of determining whether the offenses for

which Mr. Jackson was convicted should merge.

        {¶34} Mr. Jackson’s fourth assignment of error is sustained.

                                     Assignment of Error V

        The trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences without announcing
        at the sentencing hearing which finding required the sentences be served
        consecutively as mandated by State v. Bonnell.

        {¶35} In his fifth assignment of error, Mr. Jackson argues that the trial court erred by

sentencing him to consecutive sentences without properly going through the analysis contained

in R.C. 2929.14(C)(4).     In light of our disposition of the fourth assignment of error, Mr.

Jackson’s fifth assignment of error is moot and we decline to address it. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c);

see also State v. Bryant, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-703, 2013-Ohio-5105, ¶ 22 (“[I]n light of

our determination that this matter be remanded to the trial court for re-sentencing in order for the

trial court to * * * determine whether the offenses are subject to merger, the issue as to error by

the court in failing to make the requisite statutory findings before imposing consecutive

sentences is rendered moot.”). On remand, if the trial court determines that the offenses do not

merge, the trial court must then determine whether consecutive sentences are appropriate,
                                                13

pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), and make necessary findings for the imposition of consecutive

sentences.

                                                III.

       {¶36}    Mr. Jackson’s first, second, and third assignments of error are overruled. Mr.

Jackson’s fourth assignment of error is sustained and his fifth assignment of error is moot.

Accordingly, the judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part,

reversed in part, and this matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                                        Judgment affirmed in part,
                                                                                 reversed in part,
                                                                             and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
                                             14

      Costs taxed equally to both parties.

                                                  JULIE A. SCHAFER
                                                  FOR THE COURT

HENSAL, P. J.
CARR, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

DONALD GALLICK, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.