Court Opinion

ID: 9945387
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-27 19:10:59.755569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:28.017207
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Tolley, 2024-Ohio-713.]

                                          COURT OF APPEALS
                                         STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                      FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

  STATE OF OHIO                                   :   JUDGES:
                                                  :
                                                  :   Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
         Plaintiff-Appellee                       :   Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                                  :   Hon. Andrew J. King, J.
  -vs-                                            :
                                                  :   Case No. 2023 CA 00040
                                                  :
  JOSHUA JACK TOLLEY                              :
                                                  :
                                                  :
       Defendant-Appellant                        :   OPINION

 CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                             Appeal from the Stark County Court of
                                                      Common Pleas, Case No. 2022 CR
                                                      2589

 JUDGMENT:                                            AFFIRMED

 DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                              February 26, 2024

 APPEARANCES:

  For Plaintiff-Appellee:                             For Defendant-Appellant:

  KYLE L. STONE                                       BERNARD L. HUNT
  STARK COUNTY PROSECUTOR                             2395 McGinty Rd. NW
                                                      North Canton, OH 44720
  CHRISTOPHER A. PIEKARSKI
  110 Central Plaza South, Suite 510
  Canton, OH 44702-1413
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                   2

Delaney, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-Appellant Joshua Jack Tolley appeals his March 13, 2023

conviction and sentence by the Stark County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-Appellee

is the State of Ohio.

                          FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       {¶2} On January 6, 2023, the Stark County Grand Jury issued an indictment

charging Defendant-Appellant Joshua Jack Tolley with one count of aggravated

possession of drugs (to wit: methamphetamine), a second-degree felony in violation of

R.C. 2925.11(A)/(C)(1)(c), and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs (to wit:

methamphetamine), a second-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2)/(C)(1)(d).

Tolley entered a not guilty plea to the indictment.

                                         Jury Trial

       {¶3} A jury trial was held on March 7 and 8, 2023. The following facts were

adduced from the trial.

       {¶4} On December 3, 2022, at approximately 6:53 p.m., City of Canton Police

Department Detectives Camden Sens and Matthew Thomas were following a tan Jeep

Liberty through the City of Canton. The detectives were in an unmarked vehicle.

       {¶5} The detectives observed the Jeep Liberty stop at a residence on Webster

Avenue NE in the City of Canton. When the vehicle stopped, a person exited the vehicle

from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and went into a residence. The person was

inside the residence for approximately one minute, left the residence, and got back into

the rear passenger side of the Jeep Liberty. Because of the lighting, the detectives could

not get a good description of the person who exited and entered the vehicle.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                     3

       {¶6} The Jeep Liberty continued traveling in the City of Canton when the

detectives observed the vehicle commit a traffic violation. They called a nearby police

cruiser to initiate a traffic stop of the Jeep Liberty, which was effectuated at Belden

Avenue NE.

       {¶7} Det. Sens and Det. Thomas assisted with the traffic stop. Det. Sens

approached the driver’s side of the Jeep Liberty and Det. Thomas approached the

passenger’s side. Four occupants were present inside the Jeep Liberty: A.M. (the

registered owner of the vehicle) was in the driver’s seat; S.N. was in the front passenger’s

seat; Z.H. was in the back seat on the driver’s side; and Tolley was in the rear passenger’s

seat. The occupants of the vehicle were asked to exit the vehicle. Det. Thomas ordered

Tolley to exit the vehicle and he complied. Det. Thomas observed that Tolley was wearing

a Cleveland Browns hoodie and a Cleveland Browns jacket. He patted Tolley down and

found a glass pipe, typically used to smoke methamphetamine, and a cell phone.

       {¶8} Det. Sens came over to the passenger side of the vehicle where the rear

passenger side door was still open. On the floor of the rear passenger side where Tolley

had been seated, Det. Sens observed a plastic baggy filled with a light-colored substance.

Det. Sens also saw several denominations of U.S. currency on the floor of the rear

passenger side where Tolley had been seated. Det. Sens and Det. Thomas discovered

that the plastic baggy on the floor contained three smaller, knotted baggies. The three

baggies contained a cloudy, off-white, rock-like substance that appeared to the detectives

to be either crack, cocaine, or methamphetamine. The discovery of cash and the baggies

appeared to the detectives to be indicative of drug trafficking. They continued searching

the Jeep Liberty and found a backpack located in the center of the rear passenger seat,
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                      4

within arm’s reach of Tolley. The detectives did not find any baggies or U.S. currency on

the floor of the rear driver’s side where Z.H. was seated.

       {¶9} Det. Sens searched the front passenger side and inside the glove box, he

found a plastic baggy similar to the three baggies found on the floor of the rear passenger

side. The baggy in the glove box contained a fine, white, powdery substance.

       {¶10} On the driver’s side, the detectives found a Hi-Point .380 pistol between the

driver’s seat and the driver’s side door. The gun’s magazine was loaded.

       {¶11} The detectives spoke to the four occupants of the Jeep Liberty at the scene,

but the detectives chose to transport Tolley back to the Detective Bureau of the police

station for further questioning. Tolley executed a written notice of waiver of constitutional

rights prior to questioning. His interview was recorded and played for the jury in State’s

Exhibit 10A. Tolley told the detectives that the police found all the baggies. When asked

where the baggies came from, Tolley stated that they all had baggies, but not A.M. or

S.N. He did not mention Z.H. Tolley admitted that his fingerprints would be on the gun but

did not know why the gun was passed up to A.M.

       {¶12} The detectives did not open the backpack found in the Jeep Liberty until

December 6, 2022. Inside the backpack, the detectives found a black knit stocking cap,

which contained three plastic baggies containing a methamphetamine-like substance and

empty plastic baggies. The backpack also contained three digital scales. One of the digital

scales had a Cleveland Browns logo on it. One of the digital scales had a white, powdery

residue on it. Finally, the detectives found multiple cell phones inside the backpack. The

backpack was searched on December 6, 2022 and Tolley was interviewed by the police

on December 3, 2022. The detectives never asked Tolley whether the backpack belonged
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                     5

to him or any of the occupants of the Jeep Liberty; the detectives did not bring Tolley in

for another interview to ask about the backpack. No one in the Jeep Liberty claimed or

denied ownership of the backpack.

       {¶13} None of the evidence found in the Jeep Liberty on December 3, 2022,

including the contents of the backpack discovered on December 6, 2022, were sent out

for DNA testing or fingerprint testing. The cell phones found in the backpack were not

examined to determine the registered owner.

       {¶14} Jennifer Creed, a criminalist with the Canton/Stark County Crime

Laboratory, testified that she tested the contents of the baggies found in the Jeep Liberty.

Creed determined the three baggies found on the floor of the rear passenger side, the

one baggie found in the glove box, and the three baggies found in the black knit stocking

cap contained methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance. Creed testified that while she

weighed the bags individually and recorded the weights in her lab notes, her official lab

report admitted at trial stated the baggies weighed as follows: (1) the three baggies found

on the floor of the rear passenger side and the one baggie found in the glove box (four

baggies total) contained 6.90 grams (plus or minus 0.04 grams) of methamphetamine

and (2) the three baggies found inside the black knit stocking cap contained 9.32 grams

(plus or minus 0.03 grams) of methamphetamine. The total weight, 16.22 grams, was

greater than five times the bulk amount. The white residue on the digital scale was

methamphetamine but the amount was not weighable.

       {¶15} The State rested and Tolley moved for a Crim.R. 29 dismissal, which the

trial court denied. Tolley then rested.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                          6

                                         Jury Verdict

       {¶16} The matter was sent to the jury with the following jury verdict forms. First,

the jury was asked whether it found Tolley guilty or not guilty of aggravated possession

of drugs, as charged pursuant to R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(1)(c). The jury was asked to make

an additional finding if they found Tolley guilty of aggravated possession of drugs. The

additional finding stated:

       We, the jury in this case, duly impaneled and sworn, having found the

       defendant, Joshua Tolley, guilty of aggravated possession of drugs,

                     that the amount of methamphetamine exceeded five times the

       bulk amount but was less than fifty times the bulk amount.

       (*) insert in ink – “do find or do not find”. If the jury does not find this amount,

       please   indicate the amount of methamphetamine                   the   jury finds:

                             .

Second, the jury was asked whether it found Tolley guilty or not guilty of aggravated

trafficking of drugs, as charged pursuant to R.C. 2925.03(A)(2)(C)(1)(d).

       {¶17} After deliberation, the jury returned their verdict, finding Tolley (1) not guilty

of aggravated trafficking of drugs and (2) guilty of aggravated possession of drugs. The

jury completed the additional finding because it found Tolley guilty of aggravated

possession of drugs. It completed the additional finding as follows:

       We, the jury in this case, duly impaneled and sworn, having found the

       defendant, Joshua Tolley, guilty of aggravated possession of drugs, do not

       find that the amount of methamphetamine exceeded five times the bulk

       amount but was less than fifty times the bulk amount.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                          7

       (*) insert in ink – “do find or do not find”. If the jury does not find this amount,

       please indicate the amount of methamphetamine the jury finds: less than

       6.90.

                                          Sentencing

       {¶18} After the jury issued its verdict that found Tolley guilty of aggravated

possession of drugs, counsel for Tolley argued that because the jury found the amount

of methamphetamine was less than 6.90 grams, the degree of the offense would be a

fifth-degree felony and not a third-degree felony. The trial court asked the parties to brief

the issue. In its post-conviction memorandum of law, the State conceded the degree of

the offense was a felony of the fifth degree based on the jury’s specific finding that the

amount was “less than 6.90.” See R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(1)(a).

       {¶19} Tolley appeared for the sentencing hearing on March 13, 2023. The trial

court sentenced Tolley pursuant to a fifth-degree felony. On the record, the trial court

imposed the following sentence: community control for a period of three years, a thirty-

hour per week employment or complete thirty hours of community service per week,

complete treatment with Stark Regional Community Correction Center, complete Reentry

Court, complete two-hundred hours of community service through Day Reporting,

complete substance abuse treatment, and complete a mental health assessment.

       {¶20} On March 13, 2023, the trial court filed a “CRIMINAL HEARING

DISPOSITION SHEET.” The disposition sheet checked the box stating, “COMMUNITY

CONTROL GRANTED ENTRY TO FOLLOW 3 YRS, 1SP.” The trial court checked the

box for, “DEFENDANT SENTENCED ENTRY TO FOLLOW.” The judge signed the

disposition sheet.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                     8

       {¶21} On March 24, 2023, the trial court issued a judgment entry entitled, “FOUND

GUILTY BY JURY IN PART AND FOUND NOT GUILTY IN PART AND SENTENCE

DEFERRED.” In the judgment entry, the trial court set forth the facts of Tolley’s conviction

of aggravated possession of drugs. The judgment entry further stated:

       * * * Thereupon the Prosecuting Attorney moved that sentence be

       pronounced against said defendant.

       Whereupon the Court was duly informed in the premises on the part of the

       State of Ohio, by the Prosecuting Attorney, and on the part of the defendant,

       by the defendant and his Counsel, and thereafter the court asked the

       defendant whether he had anything to say as to why judgment should not

       be pronounced against him, and the defendant, after consulting with his

       Counsel, said that he had nothing further to say except that which he had

       already said.

       Thereupon the Court ordered that sentencing is deferred until March 13,

       2023.

“Thereupon the Court ordered that sentencing is deferred until March 13, 2023” is the

final sentence in the judgment entry. The judgment entry does not set forth the sentence

imposed by the trial court on March 13, 2023. The judgment entry is signed by the judge,

the Stark County Prosecutor, and the Assistant Prosecutor.

       {¶22} On March 31, 2023, the trial court issued a judgment entry entitled,

“PROBATION TOLLED.” The judgment entry signed by the judge stated,

       This day, 3/13/2023, this cause having come on for consideration by the

       Court after being informed that the defendant was placed on community
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                    9

      control sanctions by this Court on 3/13/2023, for a period of 3 years

      Intensive Supervision.

      IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the

      Defendant’s probation be and the same hereby is tolled on Case No. 2022-

      CR-2589 pending his release from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation

      and Correction.

                                   Notice of Appeal

      {¶23} On April 24, 2023, Tolley filed a Notice of Appeal. Tolley states in the Notice

of Appeal that he is appealing the trial court’s decisions on or about March 9, 2023 and

the Judgment Entry of Sentencing filed on March 24, 2023. Tolley attached the March 13,

2023 disposition sheet and the March 24, 2023 judgment entry to his Docketing

Statement.

      {¶24} On December 6, 2023, this Court remanded the matter to the trial court to

issue a final appealable order in conformance with the requirements of State v. Lester,

130 Ohio St.3d 303, 2011-Ohio-5204, 958 N.E.2d 142. The trial court issued a final

appealable order pursuant to the Lester requirements on January 5, 2024, where it

journalized the sentence imposed by the trial court at the March 13, 2023 sentencing

hearing.

      {¶25} It is from this judgment entry that we now review.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

      {¶26} Tolley raises one Assignment of Error:

      APPELLANT’S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT

      OF THE EVIDENCE.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                        10

                                         ANALYSIS

       {¶27} In his sole Assignment of Error, Tolley contends his conviction for

aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), was

against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.

                                    Standard of Review

       {¶28} Upon a challenge to the weight of the evidence, the issue is whether the

jury created a manifest miscarriage of justice in resolving conflicting evidence, even

though the evidence of guilt was legally sufficient. State v. Ashcraft, 5th Dist. Richland

No. 2021-CA-0024, 2023-Ohio-2378, ¶ 14, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380,

386–387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). “Weight of the evidence” addresses the evidence's

effect of inducing belief. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541

(1997); State v. Williams, 99 Ohio St.3d 493, 2003-Ohio-4396, 794 N.E.2d 27, ¶ 83. When

a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis that the verdict is

against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a “thirteenth juror” and

disagrees with the fact finder's resolution of the conflicting testimony. Thompkins at 387,

678 N.E.2d 541, citing Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652

(1982) (quotation marks omitted); State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202,

865 N.E.2d 1244, ¶ 25, citing Thompkins.

       {¶29} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, an appellate court may

not merely substitute its view for that of the jury but must find that “ ‘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.’ ” Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State

v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721(1st Dist. 1983). The Ohio
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                     11

Supreme Court has emphasized: “ ‘[I]n determining whether the judgment below is

manifestly against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every

reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts.

* * *.’ ” Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 334, 972 N.E.2d 517, 2012-Ohio-2179,

quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273

(1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 603, at 191–

192 (1978).

               Conviction Supported by the Weight of the Evidence

      {¶30} Tolley was convicted of a violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(1)(a) for

possession of methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance:

      (A) No person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled

      substance or a controlled substance analog.

      ***

      (C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of one of the

      following:

      (1) If the drug involved in the violation is a compound, mixture, preparation,

      or substance included in schedule I or II, with the exception of marihuana,

      cocaine, L.S.D., heroin, any fentanyl-related compound, hashish, and any

      controlled substance analog, whoever violates division (A) of this section is

      guilty of aggravated possession of drugs. The penalty for the offense shall

      be determined as follows:

      (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(1)(b), (c), (d), or (e) of this

      section, aggravated possession of drugs is a felony of the fifth degree, and
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                   12

      division (B) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining

      whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

      {¶31} In his appeal, Tolley contends the jury lost its way when it convicted him of

aggravated possession of methamphetamine because there was no direct evidence

linking Tolley to the baggies of methamphetamine found in the vehicle. He points to the

evidence that Tolley was not the owner or the driver of the vehicle where the baggies of

methamphetamine were found. The Canton Police Department did not find

methamphetamine on Tolley’s person. The police did not attempt to obtain fingerprints or

conduct DNA testing on the baggies or the knit stocking hat. There were three other

people in the vehicle to whom the methamphetamine could have belonged.

      {¶32} The evidence presented to the jury in this case was largely circumstantial.

It is well-settled that circumstantial evidence has the same probative value as direct

evidence. State v. Nelson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2021CA00112, 2022-Ohio-4170, 2022 WL

17168527, ¶ 42 citing State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991).

Possession is defined by R.C. 2925.01(K) as “having control over a thing or substance,

but [is] not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through

ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.”

“Possession may be actual or constructive.” State v. Kuhn, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 22CA40,

2023-Ohio-2740, 2023 WL 5091884, ¶ 18 quoting State v. Harvath, 5th Dist. Stark No.

2005CA00330, 2006-Ohio-5549, ¶ 31, citing State v. Kobi, 122 Ohio App.3d 160, 174,

701 N.E.2d 420 (6th Dist.1997). To establish constructive possession of illegal drugs, the

evidence must prove that the defendant was able to exercise dominion and control over

the contraband. Id., citing State v. Wolery, 46 Ohio St.2d 316, 329, 348 N.E.2d 351
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                     13

(1976). Dominion and control may be proven by circumstantial evidence alone. Id., citing

State v. Trembly, 137 Ohio App.3d 134, 141, 738 N.E.2d 93 (8th Dist.2000).

Circumstantial evidence that a defendant was located in very close proximity to readily

usable drugs may show constructive possession. Id., citing State v. Barr, 86 Ohio App.3d

227, 247-248, 620 N.E.2d 242 (8th Dist.1993).

       {¶33} The police detectives observed Tolley in the rear passenger seat. On the

floor of the rear passenger side where Tolley had been seated, the detectives found a

plastic baggy containing three baggies. The three baggies were tested and determined

to contain methamphetamine. Another baggie containing methamphetamine was found

in the glove box. The detectives also found a backpack located in the center of the rear

passenger seat, within arm’s reach of Tolley. Inside the backpack, the detectives found a

black knit stocking cap, which contained three plastic baggies of methamphetamine.

       {¶34} Tolley admitted during his interview with the detectives that “we all had

baggies.”

       {¶35} The baggies were all weighed and tested by the Canton/Stark County Crime

Laboratory. The criminalist determined all the baggies found in the vehicle contained

methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance. When weighing the bags, the criminalist

testified that she weighed the bags individually and recorded the weights in her lab notes

but her official lab report admitted at trial stated the baggies weighed as follows: (1) the

three baggies found on the floor of the rear passenger side and the one baggie found in

the glove box (four baggies total) contained 6.90 grams of methamphetamine and (2) the

three baggies found inside the black knit stocking cap contained 9.32 grams of

methamphetamine.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                                   14

       {¶36} In making its verdict finding Tolley guilty of aggravated possession of

methamphetamine, the jury found that Tolley possessed “less than 6.90 grams” of

methamphetamine. The evidence of weight supports the jury’s weighing of the evidence.

By the jury’s finding of “less than 6.90 grams,” the jury found the State did not meet its

burden as to the three baggies found in the knit stocking cap (which weighed in total 9.32

grams) and found beyond a reasonable doubt that Tolley possessed less than the three

baggies found on the floor of the rear passenger side and the one baggie found in the

glove box (which weighed in total 6.90 grams). The jury’s weight determination, and its

not guilty finding on the charge of aggravated trafficking, shows the jury considered the

evidence and discerned beyond a reasonable doubt that Tolley knowingly obtained,

possessed, or used methamphetamine.

       {¶37} We find that this is not an “ ‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.’ ” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386–387, 678 N.E.2d

541 (1997), quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. Based upon the

entire record, we find Tolley’s conviction was not against the manifest weight of the

evidence. On the contrary, the jury appears to have fairly and impartially decided the

matters before them. The jury heard the witnesses, evaluated the evidence, and was

convinced of Tolley’s guilt as to only less than 6.90 grams.

       {¶38} Tolley’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2023 CA 00040                                               15

                                   CONCLUSION

       {¶39} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.,

Gwin, P.J. and

King, J., concur.