Court Opinion

ID: 3177136
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-12 20:25:37.088731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:36.683161
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hofacker, 2016-Ohio-519.]

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

 STATE OF OHIO                                      :
                                                    :   Appellate Case No. 2015-CA-5
         Plaintiff-Appellee                         :
                                                    :   Trial Court Case No. 14-CR-176
 v.                                                 :
                                                    :   (Criminal Appeal from
 RANDY L. HOFACKER                                  :    Common Pleas Court)
                                                    :
         Defendant-Appellant                        :
                                                    :

                                               ...........
                                              OPINION
                           Rendered on the 12th day of February, 2016.
                                               ...........

R. KELLY ORMSBY, III, Atty. Reg. No. 0020615, and DEBORAH S. QUIGLEY, Atty. Reg.
No. 0055455, Darke County Prosecutor’s Office, Courthouse, 504 South Broadway
Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331
       Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee

SCOTT S. DAVIES, Atty. Reg. No. 0077080, Sebaly Shillito + Dyer, L.P.A., 1900
Kettering Tower, 40 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45423
       Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

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

FAIN, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Randy Hofacker appeals from his conviction and

sentence for Robbery. Hofacker contends the trial court erred by failing to excuse biased
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jurors, and that his counsel was ineffective by failing to file a motion to suppress. The

State contends the record does not support that the challenged jurors were biased. The

State further contends that defense counsel’s alleged error was not prejudicial.

       {¶ 2} We conclude Hofacker has not established that he was prejudiced by his

counsel’s failure to file a motion to suppress. We also find no defect in the jury selection

process. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.

                I. Late Night Intrusion and Theft of 90-Year-Old Victim

       {¶ 3} Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Hofacker knocked on the door of the victim’s home.

The victim arose out of bed, and answered the door. Hofacker asked to come in to use

the bathroom. Prior to this evening, he had been to the victim’s house on two occasions,

at night, when he borrowed money for gas and to feed his children, and had promised to

repay her. When he stated that he had the money he owed her, the victim let him in the

house.    After he entered the house, Hofacker physically attacked the victim and

demanded money. Hofacker took the only money the victim had in the house, $2.00.

The victim’s screams for help were heard by a neighbor, who came to the house and saw

Hofacker running out the back. The neighbor only saw Hofacker for a few seconds, could

not see Hofacker’s face, and could only generally describe him as wearing dark pants

and a dark shirt. The neighbor’s wife called the police. When the police arrived, the

victim identified her attacker as a man she knew as “Jeff.” The attack on the victim left

bruises on her arms and her chin. At the time of the offense, the victim was 90 years old,

and was not wearing her prescription glasses. She was later unable to recall some details

of the events; in the arrest warrant it is alleged that the offender threatened to kill her with

a pair of scissors, but at trial she testified that she never saw any scissors.
                                                                                         -3-

       {¶ 4} The following day, the police questioned the neighbor again, at the victim’s

residence. At that time, the neighbor identified Hofacker by name, and said that he had

seen Hofacker around the victim’s home on previous occasions, but did not say when

these visits occurred. The officer used the computer in his police vehicle to run the name,

which resulted in two hits: a Randall Hofacker and a Randy Hofacker. The system

included a mug shot photo of Randy Hofacker, so the officer called the station and asked

another officer to print out the photo and bring it to the scene. The neighbor confirmed

Hofacker’s identity from the photo the police showed him. Although the officer did not

show the photo to the victim at this time, she was on the porch with the neighbor and the

officer, and she also saw the photo identified by her neighbor as Hofacker. She agreed

that it was her attacker. The next day, the victim was shown a photo array of six

photographs, and positively identified Hofacker. As a result of this photo identification, a

complaint was filed charging Hofacker with Aggravated Robbery, and an application for

an arrest warrant was filed. The arrest warrant application, signed by Det. J.E. Marion,

stated:

       [The neighbor] saw the suspect run through the house and out of the back

       door. He didn’t give chase because he tended to the victim. On 08/03/14,

       P.O. Benge developed a possible suspect of Randy Hofacker because he

       had been at the house 2 times previously scamming the victim out of

       money. On 08/04/14, I prepared a photo line-up and Det. Kiryluk, ECO

       Jones and I went to the victim’s house. ECO Jones was the blind

       administrator since she didn’t know the name or identity of Hofacker. Almost

       immediately, the victim identified Randy Hofacker. She stated, “Right
                                                                                        -4-

       there’s the one!” Det. Kiryluk asked if that was the guy that was here and

       she stated, “That’s…yes indeed. I know it’s him.” I asked if she was positive

       and how certain and she stated, “Yes. Yes. 100%.”

       {¶ 5} The next day, Hofacker was arrested, and a sample of his DNA was obtained.

Hofacker’s DNA was found to match a DNA sample taken from the victim’s bathrobe she

was wearing on the night of the incident.

                             II. The Course of Proceedings

       {¶ 6} Hofacker was indicted on one count of Aggravated Robbery, a felony of the

first degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), and one count of Robbery, a felony of the

second degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2). Hofacker was acquitted of the

Aggravated Robbery charge and was found guilty of Robbery. Hofacker was sentenced

to serve a 7-year term of imprisonment, and ordered to pay costs and restitution.

       {¶ 7} Prior to trial, the police obtained a DNA sample from Hofacker and from the

victim. Also, touch DNA samples were extracted from the victim’s home and from the

bathrobe she was wearing on the night of the incident. A DNA expert from the Ohio

Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted DNA testing on the samples and found no

DNA on any of the extracted samples from the house, but did find a match on the victim’s

bathrobe. The bathrobe contained a mixed profile that included DNA from both the victim

and Hofacker. The accuracy of Hofacker’s DNA identification was one in 259 quadrillion,

200 trillion. Hofacker filed a motion, requesting an independent analysis, but the record

does not contain an entry granting or denying the request. Hofacker did not present the

testimony of an independent DNA expert at trial.

       {¶ 8} Prior to trial, defense counsel filed a motion in limine asking the court to
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deny the admission of certain evidence during the trial, including any evidence revealing

the defendant’s past criminal history, anything regarding a polygraph exam, and all

evidence involving the defendant’s identification through the photo array. The motion

specifically raised the impropriety of the photo identification “because prior to conducting

of said photo lineup, Officer Benge, in showing a single photograph of the Defendant to

[the neighbor], negligently permitted the victim, [R.C.,] to observe said photograph.

Further, after she chose the Defendant from the photo lineup, she commented that she

had seen the Defendant’s picture before.” Dkt. #34. During cross-examination of the

neighbor who initially named Hofacker as a suspect, the neighbor testified that he had a

prior conviction for trafficking in drugs, and that his conviction was based on a controlled

buy with a confidential informant. It was also established that Hofacker had acted as a

confidential informant for the local police. The neighbor also testified that he had known

Hofacker for 40 years, and after thinking about it during the day following the incident, he

came to the conclusion that it was Hofacker who had attacked his neighbor. During the

trial, both the victim and the neighbor positively identified Hofacker, in the courtroom, as

the person who committed the offense.

       {¶ 9} The record does not contain a written ruling on the motion in limine to exclude

the testimony regarding the photo array identification. Defense counsel did not file a

motion to suppress, or object, during the trial, to the testimony of the officer concerning

the photo array identification by the victim. The officer admitted upon cross-examination

that the process used for the photo identification of Hofacker was not in accordance with

the established procedures of the Greenville Police Department. In the final jury charge,

the trial court gave the jury the following cautionary instruction:
                                                                                       -6-

             The testimony indicates that a photo array was used to identify the

      alleged perpetrator. However, there is testimony that a photo of the

      Defendant similar to one used in the array was previously seen by the

      victim. This prior viewing may have resulted in the array being

      inappropriately suggestive. You are to consider whether the prior viewing of

      a single photo was suggestive of the identity of the perpetrator. If

      suggestive, you are to consider whether this prior view affects the weight

      that you give to the identification based on the photo array and based upon

      all the evidence at trial regarding identification.

      {¶ 10} During voir dire, three prospective jurors expressed concern over their

ability to be fair and impartial. After Ms. B. stated that she had read about the case in

the local newspaper, she stated that she could not say for sure whether it would cause

her to have a preconceived opinion about the defendant’s guilt. After further questioning,

Ms. B. explained that she believed what she read in the paper, so she would expect the

defendant to prove that he did not commit the crimes. However, she also said that she

understood that Hofacker was presumed innocent. Mr. R. stated that he would find a

police officer more credible than other witnesses. Mr. H. indicated that he personally

knew Hofacker and his reputation. Mr. H. said that he would like to think he could set

that aside, but he was not sure if he could. Follow-up questions were posed by the trial

court to correct any misconceptions each juror might have about the juror’s duty to set

aside personal beliefs and decide the case on the evidence admitted and the law provided

by the court. The trial court overruled the challenge for cause of Mr. H., Mr. R., and Ms.

B. Mr. R. was removed through a peremptory challenge made by the defense. The
                                                                                             -7-

defense exercised one other peremptory challenge, but did not utilize the right to use a

peremptory challenge on Mr. H. or Ms. B., both of whom served on the jury.

       {¶ 11} After Hofacker was convicted of Robbery, the trial court sentenced

Hofacker to serve 7 years in prison, with mandatory post-release control for 3 years.

Hofacker was ordered to pay costs, and restitution to the victim in the amount of $2.00.

                                  III. Standard of Review

       {¶ 12} “It is the role of the court to determine the individual juror's ability to follow

the law and be impartial.” State v. Jakobiak, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-07-1158, 2008-Ohio-

5030, ¶ 10, citing State v. Williams, 79 Ohio St. 3d 1, 8, 679 N.E.2d 646 (1997). “Because

the trial court exercises its discretion when determining whether to excuse a juror for

cause, the trial court's ruling will not be overturned on appeal ‘unless it is manifestly

arbitrary and unsupported by substantial testimony, so as to constitute an abuse of

discretion.’” Jakobiak, supra, quoting State v. Jackson, 107 Ohio St. 3d 53, 2005-Ohio-

5981, 836 N.E.2d 1173, ¶ 38.

       {¶ 13} “To reverse a conviction based on ineffective assistance of counsel, it must

be demonstrated that trial counsel's conduct fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness and that the errors were serious enough to create a reasonable

probability that, but for the errors, the result of the trial would have been different.” State

v. Veal, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25253, 2013-Ohio-1577, ¶ 7, citing Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984), adopted by the

Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).

Trial counsel is entitled to a strong presumption that his or her conduct falls within the

wide range of reasonable assistance. Id.
                                                                                             -8-

          IV. Hofacker Was Not Prejudiced by the Jury Selection Process

       {¶ 14} Hofacker’s First Assignment of Error asserts as follows:

              THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT

       OVERRULED A CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS

       WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL

       {¶ 15} A juror's disclosure during voir dire that he or she cannot be a fair and

impartial juror is good cause for challenging a juror. Crim.R. 24(C)(9); State v. Jakobiak,

6th Dist. Lucas No. L-07-1158, 2008-Ohio-5030, ¶ 10. A juror’s initial opinion can be

rehabilitated by additional inquiry. Crim R. 24(C)(9). We have recognized that a trial

court can properly rehabilitate a juror by correcting misconceptions and verifying that the

juror can put aside the juror’s personal experiences and be fair and impartial, but that it

is not proper for the trial court to rehabilitate a juror through leading questions that suggest

what the juror is expected to say. State v. Mundy, 99 Ohio App. 3d 275, 298, 650 N.E.2d
502 (2d Dist.1994), in which we opined:

              Trial judges often, wittingly or unwittingly, exert considerable

       influence upon jurors, who, due to the nature of their role in the courtroom,

       can be expected to pick up their cues from the trial judge concerning how

       they should behave. Trial judges may certainly conduct voir dire; a trial

       judge may interrogate a prospective juror in order better to ascertain

       whether he is actually biased and prejudiced, and the trial judge may clear

       up any misconceptions that the prospective juror may have concerning his

       role and duties as a juror. However, a trial judge must be careful not to cross
                                                                                          -9-

      the fine line between: (i) a trial judge's voir dire that merely explores what

      the prospective juror is really saying about his inability or ability to try the

      issues fairly and impartially, or that clears up any misconception that the

      prospective juror may have as to his proper role and duties, on the one hand

      and, on the other hand, (ii) a voir dire by the trial judge that communicates

      to the prospective juror that what the judge wants and expects the

      prospective juror to say is that he will put aside any bias and prejudice, and

      try the issues fairly and impartially. Because of the pervasive influence that

      a trial judge can ordinarily be expected to have on the behavior of jurors, as

      the expert, neutral embodiment of justice in an adversary process with

      which the juror ordinarily will be unfamiliar, the latter kind of voir dire by a

      trial judge is not sufficient to rehabilitate a prospective juror who has already

      undermined confidence in his ability to try the issues fairly and impartially,

      to the extent that he should be excused for cause.

Mundy, at 298-299, citing State v. Leavell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 10919, 1989 WL
33104 (Apr. 7, 1989).

      {¶ 16} Based upon our review of the record, we conclude that it was not arbitrary

or unreasonable for the trial court to conclude that each of the challenged jurors could be

fair and impartial. Furthermore, Hofacker has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced

by the trial court’s failure to excuse the challenged jurors for cause. The record reveals

that one of the three jurors was excused from jury service pursuant to a peremptory

challenge. The record also reveals that defense counsel had the opportunity to, but did

not, exercise peremptory challenges to excuse the other two challenged jurors, instead
                                                                                          -10-

passing on remaining peremptory challenges available to Hofacker, thereby expressing

satisfaction with the jury as it was then constituted. Pursuant to R.C. 2945.21(A)(1), and

Crim. R. 24 (D), a single defendant, charged with a felony, has the right to exercise four

peremptory challenges to dismiss potential jurors. After exercising two peremptory

challenges to excuse two jurors, Hofacker had the opportunity to excuse two more jurors.

“The failure of a party to exercise a peremptory challenge constitutes a waiver of that

challenge.” Crim. R. 24 (E). “If the trial court erroneously overrules a challenge for cause,

the error is prejudicial only if the accused eliminates the challenged venireman with a

peremptory challenge and exhausts his peremptory challenges before the full jury is

seated.” State v. Tyler, 50 Ohio St. 3d 24, 30-31, 553 N.E.2d 576 (1990), citing State v.

Eaton, 19 Ohio St. 2d 145, 249 N.E.2d 897 (1969), paragraph one of the syllabus.

       {¶ 17} In the case before us, the record supports the conclusion that after

Hofacker’s challenges for cause were denied, he had the opportunity to, but did not

excuse those two jurors through his remaining peremptory challenges. “It logically follows

from this that the failure to eliminate a contested venireman with a peremptory challenge

would render any error in overruling a challenge for cause as non-prejudicial and, thus,

not reversible.” State v. Wolfe, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 95CA04, 1996 WL 344092, *3 (June

17, 1996).

       {¶ 18} The First Assignment of Error is overruled.

V. Hofacker Was Not Prejudiced by Counsel’s Failure to File a Motion to Suppress

       {¶ 19} Hofacker’s Second Assignment of Error asserts as follows:

              MR. HOFACKER WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF

       COUNSEL.
                                                                                      -11-

       {¶ 20} “[T]he failure to file a motion to suppress does not necessarily constitute

ineffective assistance of counsel.” State v. Layne, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2009-07-

043, 2010-Ohio-2308, ¶ 46, citing State v. Madrigal, 87 Ohio St. 3d 378, 389, 721 N.E.2d
52 (1999). It is only considered ineffective assistance of counsel when the record

demonstrates that the motion to suppress would have been successful if made. State v.

Resendiz, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2009-04-012, 2009-Ohio-6177, ¶ 29, citing State v.

Brown, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2002-03-026, 2002-Ohio-5455, ¶ 11. The court in

Resendiz presumed that trial counsel was effective if he could have reasonably decided

that filing a suppression motion would be a futile act, even if there is some evidence in

the record to support a motion. Resendiz at ¶ 29. See also State v. Conkright, 6th Dist.

Lucas No. L-06-1107, 2007-Ohio-5315, ¶ 50.

       {¶ 21} “The Sixth Amendment does not require counsel to pursue a motion to

suppress in every case.” State v. Bell, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2015-L-017, 2015-Ohio-4775,

¶ 48, citing State v. Jefferson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 20156, 2001 WL 276343 (Mar. 21,

2001). “However, the failure to file a motion to suppress can constitute ineffective

assistance of counsel if the motion implicates matters critical to the defense and if the

failure results in prejudice.” Id.

       {¶ 22} “Where the basis of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim is counsel's

failure to file a motion to suppress evidence, the defendant making that claim must prove

that the basis of the suggested suppression claim is meritorious.” In re D.D., 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 22740, 2009-Ohio-808, ¶ 3, citing Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S.
365, 106 S. Ct. 2574, 91 L. Ed. 2d 305 (1986); State v. Pillow, 2d Dist. Greene No. 07CA95,

2008-Ohio-6046.
                                                                                          -12-

       {¶ 23} In the case before us, the basis of a motion to suppress would have been

the procedurally defective process used to identify the offender. “Due process may

require a court to suppress eyewitness testimony when the identification results from an

unduly suggestive identification procedure.” State v. Adams, Slip Opinion No. 2015-

Ohio-3954, ¶ 208, citing Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440, 442, 89 S. Ct. 1127, 22 L. Ed. 2d
402 (1969). “A lineup is unduly suggestive if it steers the witness to one suspect,

independent of the witness's honest recollection.” Id., citing Wilson v. Mitchell, 250 F.3d
388, 397 (6th Cir.2001).

       {¶ 24} “When a witness who identifies a defendant has been confronted with a

live or photographic lineup of suspects, due process requires the court to suppress

evidence of the witness's identification of the defendant if the confrontation was unduly

suggestive of the defendant's guilt and the witness's identification of the defendant was

unreliable under the totality of the circumstances.” In re D.D., 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

22740, 2009-Ohio-808, ¶ 4, citing State v. Waddy, 63 Ohio St. 3d 424, 588 N.E.2d 819

(1992); State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 747 N.E.2d 765 (2001). “In applying the

totality of the circumstances test the court must consider (1) the opportunity of the witness

to view the criminal at the time of the crime, (2) the witness's degree of attention, (3) the

accuracy of the witness's prior description of the criminal, (4) the level of certainty

demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation, and (5) the length of time between the

crime and the confrontation.” Id., citing Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 199-200, 93 S. Ct.
375, 34 L. Ed. 2d 401 (1972). “The Biggers standards look to the reliability of the

identification itself instead of the suggestive nature of the procedures that produced the

identification. Nevertheless, ‘[a]gainst these factors is to be weighed the corrupting effect
                                                                                          -13-

of the suggestive identification itself.’” Id. at ¶ 5, quoting Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S.
98, 114, 97 S. Ct. 2243, 53 L. Ed. 2d 140 (1977).

       {¶ 25} Here, the photo identified by the victim was first identified by her neighbor,

even though he admittedly did not see the face of the person in the victim’s home, only

saw him for about two seconds, observing only his back as he ran away from the house,

in the dark. On the night of the incident, the neighbor could only describe the intruder as

a man wearing dark pants and a dark shirt. The photo array shown to the victim included

the same photo shown to the neighbor in the presence of the victim when he positively

identified the photo as Hofacker. Although the victim was certain that the photo depicted

the same person who attacked her, she knew that her neighbor had positively identified

Hofacker from the same photo, she was not wearing her glasses, she believed the person

to whom she had previously loaned money was named Jeff, not Randy, and before she

saw the photo she had not given the police any physical description of her attacker. Based

on the totality of the circumstances, it does appear that the methods employed were

unduly suggestive and that the victim’s identification of Hofacker was not otherwise

reliable. “[D]ue process requires the court to suppress evidence of the witness's

identification of the defendant if the confrontation was unduly suggestive of the

defendant's guilt and the witness's identification of the defendant was unreliable under

the totality of the circumstances.” In re D.D., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22740, 2009-Ohio-

808, ¶ 4.

       {¶ 26} Even if the victim’s initial identification of Hofacker was tainted, the DNA

evidence submitted at trial was overwhelming proof of his identity. It can be concluded

that unless the DNA evidence was admitted, there was a substantial probability that a
                                                                                        -14-

conviction would not have been secured. Therefore, we must address whether the

impropriety of the police conduct resulting in the tainted identification must also require

the exclusion of the DNA evidence. The record does establish that Hofacker was initially

identified based on the tainted photo identification process, which led to his arrest, and

that his DNA sample was obtained at the time of his arrest. But for his arrest, the DNA

analysis would not have been completed. When a DNA sample is obtained incident to an

arrest, and the arrest warrant is issued on the basis of a constitutionally deficient photo

identification process, the question arises as to what effect, if any, this constitutional

violation has on evidence obtained as a result of that tainted identification process. The

Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that the suppression of evidence pursuant to the

exclusionary rule applies only to those searches that are carried out in violation of an

individual's constitutional rights. State v. Wilmoth, 22 Ohio St. 3d 251, 262, 490 N.E.2d
1236 (1986), citing Kettering v. Hollen, 64 Ohio St. 2d 232, 234-235, 416 N.E.2d 598

(1980).

       {¶ 27} “[T]he ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ doctrine, also known as the derivative

evidence rule, does not require the exclusion of all evidence that might not have been

discovered ‘but for’ the illegal actions of the police.” State v. Pearson, 130 Ohio App. 3d
577, 584, 720 N.E.2d 924 (3d Dist.1998), citing Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S.
471, 487, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441 (1963). The rule only operates to exclude derivative

evidence discovered as a result of a constitutional violation. Id., citing Wong Sun at 484-

486, 83 S. Ct. at 415-417, 9 L.Ed.2d at 452–454. Evidence obtained pursuant to an

independent source unrelated to the constitutional violation is admissible. Pearson at 584.

       {¶ 28} “The exclusionary rule operates to exclude evidence obtained by the
                                                                                          -15-

government in violation of the United States Constitution.” State v. Helton, 160 Ohio

App.3d 291, 2005-Ohio-1789, 826 N.E.2d 925, ¶ 14 (11th Dist.). “The purpose of this rule

is to deter police misconduct.” Id. “The exclusionary rule reaches not only primary

evidence obtained as a direct result of an illegal search or seizure, but also evidence that

is subsequently discovered and derivative of that prior illegality.” State v. McLemore, 197
Ohio App. 3d 726, 2012-Ohio-521, 968 N.E.2d 612, ¶ 20 (2d Dist.). Thus: “[t]he derivative-

evidence rule, or fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine as it is widely known, requires

suppression of evidence that was seized in a seemingly lawful manner but about which

police learned because of a prior constitutional violation such as an illegal search or

seizure.” Id.

       {¶ 29} The exclusionary rule is not a personal right or a means to redress

constitutional injury; rather, it is used to deter future violations. Davis v. United States,

564 U.S. 229, 131 S. Ct. 2419, 180 L. Ed. 2d 285 (2011). Deterrence alone is insufficient

to justify the exclusionary rule, because the benefits of deterrence must outweigh the

costs of excluded evidence, such as “letting guilty and possibly dangerous defendants go

free.” Herring v. United States, 555 U.S. 135, 141, 129 S. Ct. 695, 172 L. Ed. 2d 496 (2009).

In keeping with this principle, the exclusionary rule generally applies where police exhibit

“ ‘deliberate,’ ‘reckless,’ or ‘grossly negligent’ disregard for Fourth Amendment rights, * *

* ” but not “when the police act with an objectively ‘reasonable good-faith belief’ that their

conduct is lawful.” Davis v. United States, supra, 131 S.Ct. at 2427. If the police “conduct

involves only simple, ‘isolated’ negligence, the deterrence rationale loses much of its

force, and exclusion cannot ‘pay its way.’” Id. at 2427-2428, citing United States v. Leon,

468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984). “[A]n assessment of the flagrancy
                                                                                         -16-

of the police misconduct constitutes an important step in the calculus.” Leon at 911, 104
S. Ct. 3405.

       {¶ 30} “We need not hold that all evidence is ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ simply

because it would not have come to light but for the illegal actions of the police. Rather,

the more apt question in such a case is ‘whether, granting establishment of the primary

illegality, the evidence to which instant objection is made has been come at by exploitation

of that illegality or instead by means sufficiently distinguishable to be purged of the

primary taint.’” Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 487-88, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d
441 (1963).

       {¶ 31} In the case before us, the DNA evidence was obtained as a result of an

arrest warrant and the warrant was supported by an affidavit, signed by a detective,

outlining the results of his investigation, which involved more than the victim’s

identification of Hofacker. The affidavit also stated that Hofacker was identified as a

suspect after being seen at the victim’s home on two previous occasions, “scamming the

victim out of money.” “Suppression therefore remains an appropriate remedy if the

magistrate or judge in issuing a warrant was misled by information in an affidavit that the

affiant knew was false or would have known was false except for his reckless disregard

of the truth.” United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 923, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677

(1984), citing Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S. Ct. 2674, 57 L. Ed. 2d 667 (1978).

Hofacker has not established that the affidavit for the arrest warrant contained misleading

information that the officer knew or should have known was false except for his reckless

disregard for the truth. Furthermore, Hofacker has failed to demonstrate that the police

committed gross negligence, or acted in a deliberate manner, willfully disregarding
                                                                                          -17-

Hofacker’s constitutional rights when obtaining a DNA sample from him at the time of his

arrest. We conclude that although the police acted negligently by failing to follow

established procedures to conduct a proper photo array identification, the DNA sample

was obtained by means sufficiently independent to be purged of the primary taint.

Without establishing that the motion to suppress would have been granted to exclude the

DNA evidence, Hofacker has not established prejudice by his counsel’s error in not filing

a motion to suppress.

       {¶ 32} Accordingly, Hofacker’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                      VI. Conclusion

       {¶ 33} Both of Hofacker’s assignments of error having been overruled, the

judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.

                                           ..........

WELBAUM, J., concurs.

HALL, J., concurring:

       I concur separately only to express my view that had a motion to suppress been

filed, it is likely that it would not have been granted. The victim readily knew the offender

by sight, just not by his correct name. The robbery was at least the third time Hofacker

had been in the victim’s house. In my view, even if the police had intentionally, rather than

inadvertently, shown the single picture of Hofacker to the victim [a show-up rather than a

lineup] there is nothing to indicate that the identification of the image of the person she

knew was unreliable.

                                           ..........
                        -18-

Copies mailed to:

R. Kelly Ormsby
Deborah S. Quigley
Scott S. Davies
Hon. Jonathan P. Hein