Court Opinion

ID: 2698601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:52:39.359652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:07.661881
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Cisse, 2013-Ohio-3895.]

                                         COURT OF APPEALS
                                     DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
                                     FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                   :   JUDGES:
                                                :
                                                :   Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
       Plaintiff-Appellee                       :   Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                                :   Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-                                            :
                                                :   Case No. 12 CAA 10 0074
                                                :
JAGA N. CISSE                                   :
                                                :
                                                :
       Defendant-Appellant                      :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                            Appeal from the Delaware County Court
                                                    of Common Pleas, case no. 12 CR I 06
                                                    0210 B

JUDGMENT:                                           AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                             September 6, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee:                             For Defendant-Appellant:

CAROL HAMILTON O’BRIEN                              DAVID H. BIRCH
DELAWARE CO. PROSECUTOR                             286 South Liberty St.
BRIAN J. WALTER                                     Powell, OH 40365
140 North Sandusky St.
Delaware, OH 43015
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                             2

Delaney, J.

         {¶1} Appellant Jaga N. Cisse hereby appeals from the September 20, 2012

Judgment Entry of conviction and sentence of the Delaware County Court of Common

Pleas. Appellee is the state of Ohio. This case is related to State of Ohio v. Dame

Cisse, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 12 CAA 09 0070.

                          FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

         {¶2} Appellants Dame and Jaga Cisse are brothers from Senegal who are

naturalized U.S. citizens.     Jaga’s first name was originally “Ndiaga,” but when he

became a citizen, he changed it to “Jaga” because the latter is easier for Americans to

pronounce. For the time period relevant to this case, Dame and Jaga lived together at

1776 Bairsford Drive, Columbus, Ohio.           Both brothers were employed, sometimes

working multiple jobs, and enrolled in college courses. According to Dame, they rarely

saw each other despite living in the same house. Mail for both brothers came to the

house.

                                     The JPMC Hiring Process

         {¶3} J.P. Morgan Chase (JPMC) operates a major enterprise in central Ohio

with offices throughout the region and thousands of employees engaged in myriad

activities involving banking, loans, and mortgages.

         {¶4} JPMC has an online application process by which applicants submit an

initial application online for a recruiter to review. If the applicant meets the initial criteria

for a position, the recruiter schedules an interview between the applicant and a JPMC

manager. The interview takes place at the office location where the manager is based.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                     3

       {¶5} If the applicant’s interview is successful, the recruiter contacts the

applicant again to schedule a background check which includes fingerprinting,

photographing, and a drug test.     This background check occurs at yet a different

location.   At the time of these events, all fingerprinting and photographing for

background checks for employment with JPMC in the Columbus area was performed at

1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, Ohio. This location is in Delaware County.

       {¶6} Finally, if the background check is successful, an offer of employment may

be extended. If something undesirable shows up in the background check, no offer of

employment is made and any offers already discussed are rescinded.

       {¶7} At trial, a JPMC investigator acknowledged the inherent flaw in this hiring

process: the interviewer is not present at the background check location, nor is the

recruiter present at the interview. The possibility exists, therefore, that the person

interviewed is not the person who shows up to be fingerprinted, photographed, and

subsequently background-checked.

             Dame Cisse is Rejected for a Position at JPMC and “Ndiaga” is Hired

       {¶8} On or around November 9, 2009, Dame Cisse submitted an online

application to JPMC for the position of Executive Resolution Analyst. This application

was rejected.

       {¶9} On January 12, 2010, “Ndiaga Cisse” submitted an online application to

JPMC which was duly reviewed by a recruiter. “Ndiaga’s” application was forwarded to

Robert Hall, the manager of a group called the Customer Request Management Team.

       {¶10} Hall met with “Ndiaga Cisse” in person for an interview at the JPMC facility

at 3415 Vision Drive, Columbus, known as the “Easton” facility and located in Franklin
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                       4

County. “Ndiaga” told Hall to call him “Jack.” “Jack” was working on a bachelor’s

degree in accounting and hoped that the temporary position might lead to a permanent

position with JPMC. “Jack” was very friendly and outgoing and Hall recommended him

to be hired. After the interview, Hall told the recruiter to contact “Jack” regarding the

background check process.

       {¶11} The background check seemingly went smoothly because a few weeks

later, in late January or early February, 2010, “Jack” became one of Hall’s new team

members. On his first day at JPMC, Hall met “Jack” and five or six other new hires in

the lobby at the Easton facility, escorted him to his new desk, and helped him start in his

new position.

       {¶12} About a week later, “Jack’s” JPMC ID badge arrived and Hall delivered it

to him. The badge is used to enter and exit the JPMC offices but employees usually do

not wear the badges throughout the workday.         The badges display a photo of the

employee and their name.

       {¶13} “Jack” worked on Hall’s team through May 2010; Hall described him as a

productive employee with an average work product, but very personable, friendly, and

always smiling. At the close of the busy season, Hall encouraged his team, including

“Jack,” to apply elsewhere for permanent positions with JPMC.

       {¶14} Carly Richardson worked as an “Investor Reporting Mortgage” for JPMC;

the team she supervised reported Freddie Mac loans for mortgages. Richardson also

worked at the Easton location. Someone on her team referred his friend “Jaga” to her

as a potential new team member and Richardson interviewed him.                “Jaga” had

accounting and mortgage experience on his resume and would not require another
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                      5

background check because he was already employed by JPMC. Richardson brought

him onto her team as a temporary employee with the title “Investor Reporter, Operations

Analyst.”

                   Supervisor Discovers Discrepancy on “Jaga’s” ID Badge

       {¶15} Richardson always referred to “Jaga” as “Jaga” but she heard other

employees call him “Jack.” She testified she was not impressed with his performance

as an employee and his slowness affected the competitiveness of her unit;

consequently, she visited “Jaga’s” cubicle frequently to make sure he stayed on task.

One day Richardson came into his cubicle and noticed “Jaga’s” JPMC ID badge lying in

plain sight; she was surprised to notice the photo was not of the man she knew as

“Jaga.” She said, “That’s not you,” and “Jaga” replied, “Yes it is; I lost weight.” “Jaga”

tried to snatch the badge from Richardson.

       {¶16} Richardson left “Jaga’s” cubicle and reported the matter to her immediate

supervisor, who had access to the JPMC employee Passport system containing

employee photos. Together they pulled up the photo of “Jaga,” and it was not the man

working for Richardson as “Jaga Cisse.”         Richardson looked on Facebook and

discovered that the man she knew as “Jaga” was in fact appellant Dame Cisse, and that

appellant Jaga (Ndiaga) Cisse was Dame’s brother.         At trial, Richardson identified

Dame as the man who worked for her under the name “Jaga,” and Jaga as the man

pictured in the JPMC employee ID badge used by Dame.

                                    The JPMC Investigation

       {¶17} Richardson reported the matter to corporate security and Kelly O’Reilly

launched an investigation. O’Reilly was aware of Richardson’s Facebook research and
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                    6

discovered through a LexisNexis search that Dame and Jaga lived at the same address.

Additional research tied the brothers together more closely. He found a blog written by

“Ndiaga Cisse” containing a photo that matched the photo on the JPMC employee ID

badge. He reviewed forensic imaging of “Jaga’s” JPMC computer that revealed emails

from the address papadame2000@gmail.com. One email contained an attachment of a

letter written by Dame Cisse to FINRA, a financial industries regulatory agency that

oversees brokers.

       {¶18} O’Reilly also discovered JPMC paychecks payable to “Ndiaga Cisse,”

endorsed by Ndiaga Cisse over to Dame Cisse.

       {¶19} O’Reilly’s next step was to interview Dame and Jaga Cisse. He met with

the JPMC employee known as “Jaga” on September 7, 2010 at the Easton facility.

“Jaga” stated his date of birth was March 4, 1977 and the last four digits of his Social

Security Number were 8575, consistent with the “real” Jaga Cisse. O’Reilly asked him

to explain the discrepancy in the photo on his employee ID badge. “Jaga” said there

was a delay in receiving his badge, and when he finally got it the photo was wrong, but

he never got around to asking for a new one. When his supervisor had confronted him

about the photo, “he was just joking” when he told her it was him but he lost weight.

“Jaga” said he didn’t have the badge on him during the interview, and also stated he

didn’t have any form of government ID on him, either; “Jaga” said he would get these

items and bring them back to the HR department that day. “Jaga” also stated he would

be willing to come back at a later date to be fingerprinted.

       {¶20} O’Reilly confronted “Jaga” with a picture of Dame Cisse printed out from

Facebook, and “Jaga” denied it was him, claiming Papa Dame Cisse is his cousin from
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                   7

Florida. “Jaga” declined to make a written statement and was suspended pending the

investigation.

       {¶21} That evening, after O’Reilly was gone for the day, someone came into the

HR office and provided a driver’s license for Jaga Cisse, date of birth March 4, 1977.

The photo on the license matches the photo on the JPMC employee ID badge, but does

not match the individual working at JPMC as “Jaga Cisse.” The person also brought in

the JPMC employee ID badge and the photo on the badge had been noticeably

scratched.

       {¶22} O’Reilly discovered an earlier JPMC application by Dame Cisse in the

company’s files dated November 9, 2009. A photograph of Dame Cisse had been taken

as part of the background check into that application: the person currently working for

JPMC as “Jaga Cisse” was in fact Dame Cisse.

       {¶23} Finally, O’Reilly discovered a temporary employee by the name “Jaga

Cisse” had been hired with JPMC in May or June, 2011, and this “Jaga Cisse” was a

different individual than the “Jaga Cisse” interviewed by O’Reilly. This individual was

still in training and had been hired through a temporary agency. He was able to work

for a while for JPMC before being “red flagged” by corporate security.

       {¶24} O’Reilly concluded Jaga and Dame worked together to evade the

background check for Dame because Jaga had obviously reported to the 1111 Polaris

Parkway location and undergone the background check, established by his photograph

on the employee ID badge and his fingerprints on file.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                     8

       {¶25} O’Reilly got in touch with the supervisor who was training the “real Jaga”

and asked him to make Jaga available for an interview. Jaga left the training room to

take a phone call and never returned. Consequently O’Reilly never met Jaga in person.

                        The Columbus Police Department Investigation

       {¶26} O’Reilly turned the results of his investigation over to the Columbus Police

Department. Detective Todd Schiff spoke to Jaga Cisse by telephone. Jaga confirmed

Dame was his brother but stated he had no means of reaching him. Schiff eventually

reached Dame Cisse by telephone; Dame denied working at JPMC during the dates in

question and said he last worked there as a temp in 2003.

       {¶27} Schiff prepared a photo lineup which was shown to Carly Richardson; she

selected Dame as the person who worked for her as “Jaga” and Jaga as the person

pictured on the JPMC employee ID badge.

       {¶28} Schiff obtained records of a Huntington Bank account held by Dame;

Dame had listed his current employer as JPMC.

                             First Indictment and Jury Trial: Mistrial

       {¶29} Dame Cisse and Jaga Cisse were originally indicted together on August

26, 2011; Dame was charged with two counts of identity fraud pursuant to R.C.

2913.49(E), both felonies of the fifth degree, and Jaga was charged with one count of

identity fraud pursuant to R.C. 2913.49(D), a felony of the fifth degree.

       {¶30} The case proceeded to joint jury trial. During appellee’s case in chief,

Schiff, testifying in narrative fashion and not in response to a specific question,

commented several times that appellants refused to speak to him without counsel

present. During cross-examination, Dame’s trial counsel, in the context of the general
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                          9

willingness of witnesses and suspects to speak with law enforcement, asked, “And in

your experience, is an illegal alien open and eager to talk with you?” Appellee objected

and the trial court recessed for the day.

       {¶31} Outside the presence of the jury, the trial court found pursuant to State v.

Leach, appellee allowed Schiff to raise an inference of guilt prejudicial to appellants by

referencing their pre-arrest silence. 102 Ohio St.3d 135, 2004-Ohio-2147, 807 N.E.2d

335.    Appellee objected to the trial court’s characterization of the prosecutor’s

questions, but the trial court prompted appellants’ trial counsel for motions, and

appellants both moved for mistrial.         The motions were granted and the trial court

observed, “Certainly there was no intention here on the part of [appellee] to create a

mistrial * * *. It’s obvious that there is substantial evidence that’s been presented here.

And this was after two days of trial something that was maybe brought out and certainly

not intended for that inference by [appellee] and probably not even by the detective, he

wasn’t really conscious of what he was saying regarding that issue.”

                                     Re-Indictment and Trial

       {¶32} On June 1, 2012, appellants were charged again by indictment.                 The

following information is taken from the joint indictment of Dame and Jaga, and

appellee’s bill of particulars. Each offense charged is a felony of the fifth degree.

Ct.    DEFT. OFFENSE              DATE(S) CONDUCT ALLEGED                         VERDICT
I.     Dame R.C.                  12/23/09- Pretended to be Jaga                  Not
             2913.49(E)           1/12/10   while applying for job                Guilty
             Identity Fraud                 with JPMC
II.    Jaga  R.C.                 12/23/09- Allowed Dame to use                   Not
             2913.49(D)           1/12/10   his ID info in applying               Guilty
             Identity Fraud                 for position w/JPMC
III.   Dame R.C.                  1/13/10- Pretended to be Jaga                   Not
             2913.49(D)           1/20/10   during interview with                 Guilty
             Identity Fraud                 Robert Hall
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                    10

IV.    Jaga   R.C.                 1/13/10-   Allowed Dame to use               Not
              2913.49(D)           1/20/10    his ID info during                Guilty
              Identity Fraud                  interview w/Hall
V.     Jaga   R.C.                 1/21/10    Permitted Dame to use             (No
              2913.49(D)                      his ID info during                Verdict)
              Identity Fraud                  background check
VI.    Dame   R.C.                 1/21/10    Held himself out as Jaga          (No
              2913.49(E)                      for purposes of background        Verdict)
              Identity Fraud                  check
VII.   Dame   R.C.                 1/21/10    Encouraged Jaga to allow          (No
              2923.03(A)(2)/                  him to use his ID info for        Verdict)
              R.C.                            purposes of background
              2913.49(D)                      check
              Aid & Abet
              Identity
              Fraud
VIII. Dame    R.C.                 2/1/10-    Posed as Jaga while               Guilty
              2913.49(E)           9/6/10     working for JPMC
              Identity Fraud
IX.    Jaga   R.C.                 2/1/10-    Allowed Dame to pose as           Guilty
              2913.49(D)           9/6/10     Jaga while working for
              Identity Fraud                  JPMC
X.     Dame   R.C.                 9/7/10     Pretended to be Jaga during       Guilty
              2913.49(E)                      interview with JPMC
              Identity Fraud                  corporate security (O’Reilly)
XI.    Jaga   R.C.                 9/7/10     Permitted Dame to use his ID      Guilty
              2913.49(D)                      info during interview with JPMC
              Identity Fraud                  corporate security (O’Reilly)

         Testimony of Dame and Jaga: Dame Makes Admissions but Both Claim Jaga
                             Didn’t Know About Identity Theft

       {¶33} Dame and Jaga testified at the second trial.       Dame admitted to using

Jaga’s identity to gain employment with JPMC. Dame testified that he was offered a job

at JPMC which was later withdrawn; he applied again under the name “Ndiaga Cisse,”

using his brother’s information.     He did not tell Jaga he was doing this or ask his

permission.   Dame was unaware Jaga had changed his name when he became a

citizen, from Ndiaga, hence the discrepancy. Dame submitted the online application

using Jaga’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, and pertinent information.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                   11

When JPMC called to schedule an interview, Dame attended the interview with Robert

Hall. He knew the next part of the process would be the background check. Dame

testified he told Jaga someone from JPMC called and said he should come in for a

background check; Dame encouraged him to go because maybe it would turn into a job.

He still did not tell Jaga he had applied for a job in his name.

       {¶34} Dame received a call from JPMC confirming his start date and began

working. He worked for Robert Hall for three months and then applied for another

position within JPMC. During his employment, he never told Jaga he was working

under his name. When Carly Richardson confronted him about the ID badge photo that

was not him, Dame admitted he claimed he lost weight, and said he told Kelly O’Reilly

that he knew it was a mistake but never bothered to correct it.           When he was

suspended after the interview, he took Jaga’s driver’s license and some identifying

information while Jaga was in the shower and brought it into the HR department and

dropped it off. He did not have Jaga’s permission to use the documents.

       {¶35} Dame insisted Jaga knew nothing about the identity fraud scheme. Dame

claimed that he signed the paychecks over to himself trying to make two signatures look

different.

       {¶36} Jaga in turn testified that he never knew Dame used his information to

apply for a job at and work for JPMC. When he got a call to come in for a background

check, he thought it was “weird,” but his resume information was on the Ohio State

University career services’ website and he thought perhaps JPMC contacted him in

connection with that. He thought he had nothing to lose by going in for the background

check even though at that point he had never applied for any position with JPMC.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                      12

       {¶37} The same day he was photographed and fingerprinted, he received an

offer letter in the mail from JPMC offering him a job. Jaga testified he thought about

taking it, but he was already going to school and working a different job, and it would be

too many hours. He claimed he called “a woman” at JPMC and turned the job down.

Jaga speculated at trial his brother set up a series of phone calls to make the possible

job scenario more believable so it was more likely Jaga would go in for the background

check. Jaga testified he never saw any paychecks in his name from JPMC, and he

never gave Dame permission to use his driver’s license or any other information. He

also testified the evidence regarding the JPMC hiring process is not accurate because

he was hired there in June 2011 without interviewing with any JPMC manager.

       {¶38} Appellant moved for judgments of acquittal at the close of appellee’s

evidence and at the close of all the evidence, and the motions were overruled.

Appellants were found not guilty of some counts, guilty of others, and the jury was

unable to reach a verdict on others, as shown on the chart, supra. After the jury was

unable to reach a verdict as to Counts V., VI., and VII., appellee dismissed those

counts.

       {¶39} Appellants were each sentenced to a term of community control, three

years for Dame and two years for Jaga. Appellants now appeal from the judgment

entries of their convictions and sentences.

       {¶40} Appellant Jaga Cisse raises four assignments of error:

                              ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶41} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT FINDING THAT JEOPARDY

ATTACHED TO THE APPELLANT WHEN A MISTRIAL WAS GRANTED.”
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                        13

       {¶42} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT FINDING THE APPELLEE’S

EXHIBITS HEARSAY AND PRECLUDING THEM.”

       {¶43} “III.   THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING APPELLANT’S

MOTION FOR ACQUITTAL MADE AT THE CLOSE OF ALL EVIDENCE.”

       {¶44} “IV. THE CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF

THE EVIDENCE.”

                                         ANALYSIS

                                              I.

       {¶45} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in not

finding jeopardy attached after granting a mistrial. We disagree. This argument is

similar to that raised by appellant’s co-defendant and we adopt the same rationale.

       {¶46} In Oregon v. Kennedy, 456 U.S. 667, 679, 102 S.Ct. 2083, 72 L.Ed.2d 416

(1982), the Supreme Court held: “ ‘ * * * [T]he circumstances under which such a

defendant may invoke the bar of double jeopardy in a second effort to try him are limited

to those cases in which the conduct giving rise to the successful motion for a mistrial

was intended to provoke the defendant into moving for a mistrial.” Prosecutorial

misconduct will bar a second trial only when such behavior was ‘intentionally’ calculated

to cause or invite mistrial. State v. Doherty, 20 Ohio App.3d 275, 276, 485 N.E.2d 783

(1st Dist.1984). Accordingly, not all retrials after jeopardy attaches are precluded. See

State v. Glover, 35 Ohio St.3d 18, 19, 517 N.E.2d 900 (1988). Rather, if a mistrial was

properly granted, then retrial is constitutionally permissible. Id., 19-20.

       {¶47} The reviewing court examines the trial court's decision to grant a mistrial

with deference. Glover, supra, 35 Ohio St.3d at 19. A balancing test is employed
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                        14

whereby appellant's right to be tried by the original tribunal is weighed against the

public's interest in the efficient implementation of justice. Id. At times, the public's

interest in a fair trial dominates over appellant's right to have his fate determined by a

certain tribunal. Id. Thus, “[w]here the facts of the case do not reflect unfairness to the

accused, the public interest in insuring that justice is served may take precedence.” Id.

In evaluating the propriety of a mistrial order, the reviewing court should apply flexible

standards “due to the infinite variety of circumstances in which a mistrial may arise.” Id.

at 19, citing United States v. Jorn, 400 U.S. 470, 480, 91 S.Ct. 547, 27 L.Ed.2d 543

(1971).

       {¶48} In this case, it was prejudicial comments of appellee’s witness,

unprompted by appellee, which resulted in the trial court properly sustaining the

defendants’ joint motion for mistrial. It is apparent from the record that neither appellee

nor the trial court “goaded” trial counsel into asking for a mistrial. We find the judge's

action in declaring a mistrial was not instigated by prosecutorial misconduct designed to

provoke a mistrial, nor was the declaration of a mistrial an abuse of discretion.

       {¶49} Accordingly, appellant’s protection against double jeopardy has not been

violated and his first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                 II.

       {¶50} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court should

have excluded the copies of Facebook pages taken from the web offered as exhibits by

appellee. We disagree.

       {¶51} The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter left to the sound

discretion of the trial court. Absent an abuse of discretion resulting in material prejudice
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                       15

to the defendant, a reviewing court should be reluctant to interfere with a trial court’s

decision in this regard. State v. Hymore, 9 Ohio St.2d 122, 128, 224 N.E.2d 126 (1967).

      {¶52} First we note the exhibits at issue here are distinguishable from those in

the case cited by appellant, State v. Tooley, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2004-P-0064, 2005-

Ohio-6709, reversed on other grounds, 114 Ohio St.3d 366, 2007-Ohio-3698, 872

N.E.2d 894, cert. denied by Tooley v. Ohio, 552 U.S. 1115, 128 S.Ct. 912, 169 L.Ed.2d

757 (2008). Tooley was a child pornography case in which a law enforcement witness

testified about the ages and countries of origin of victims in computer images. The

“layers of hearsay” in that case referred to the many layers of investigation which had

involved the Department of Homeland Security and international law enforcement in

identifying victims in images generated by a worldwide web of child exploiters.

      {¶53} In this case, as the trial court determined, the jury was free to look at the

photos from the Facebook pages and determine their weight. The Facebook photos

were only relevant to the investigation and how first Richardson and then investigators

determined who “Jaga Cisse” really was. In light of Dame’s subsequent admissions, the

admission of this evidence was harmless.

      {¶54} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                            III., IV.

      {¶55} Appellant’s third and fourth assignments of error challenge the manifest

weight and sufficiency of the evidence and will be considered together.           Appellant

argues appellee presented insufficient evidence of venue and the jury lost its way in

finding appellant knew of and participated in Dame’s plan of identity theft. We disagree.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                        16

       {¶56} Appellant was found guilty of two counts of identity theft pursuant to R.C.

2913.49(D), which states, “No person, with intent to defraud, shall permit another

person to use the person's own personal identifying information.”

       {¶57} The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the

evidence are both quantitatively and qualitatively different. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio

St.3d 380, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, paragraph two of the syllabus. The standard

of review for a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is set forth in State v. Jenks,

61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991) at paragraph two of the syllabus, in which

the Ohio Supreme Court held, “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.”

       {¶58} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the court of appeals functions as the “thirteenth juror,” and after “reviewing

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 overturned and a new trial ordered.” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78

Ohio St.3d at 387. Reversing a conviction as being against the manifest weight of the
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                         17

evidence and ordering a new trial should be reserved for only the “exceptional case in

which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” Id.

       {¶59} Appellant challenges the sufficiency of appellee’s evidence with respect to

the element of venue. It is axiomatic that “[v]enue, although not a material element of

the offense, must be proven by the state unless it is waived by the defendant.” State v.

Headley, 6 Ohio St.3d 475, 453 N.E.2d 716 (1983); State v. Draggo, 65 Ohio St.2d 88,

418 N.E.2d 1343 (1981). The issue of venue was raised several times through the

course of two trials; all parties have acknowledged the sole event which occurred in

Delaware County is the background check, to wit, Jaga Cisse reported to the JPMC

location at 1111 Polaris Parkway to be fingerprinted and photographed. The drug test

occurred elsewhere. The interview and work performed by Dame Cisse occurred at the

Easton location in Franklin County. Nevertheless, venue for all of the offenses is proper

in Delaware County, as it would have been in any county where any element of the

offense of identity theft occurred.

       {¶60} R.C. 2901.12(A) governs venue in criminal cases and states that the trial

should be “held in a court having jurisdiction of the subject matter, and in the territory of

which the offense or any element thereof was committed.” Therefore, venue can exist in

any jurisdiction where any element of the crime was committed. State v. Plants, 5th

Dist. Tuscarawas No. 2009 AP 10 0054, 2010-Ohio-2930, ¶ 39, citing State v.

Chakirelis, 11th Dist. Lake No. 95-L-041, 1996 WL 200605 (March 29, 1996). The

standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, although venue need not be proved in

express terms so long as it is established by all the facts and circumstances in the case.

State v. Dickerson, 77 Ohio St. 34, 82 N.E. 969 (1907), paragraph one of the syllabus.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                     18

      {¶61} All eleven counts of the indictment assert the offenses occurred in

Delaware County; appellee’s bill of particulars states each offense occurred as part of a

continuing course of conduct. R.C. 2901.12(H) states:

             When an offender, as part of a course of criminal conduct, commits

             offenses in different jurisdictions, the offender may be tried for all of

             those offenses in any jurisdiction in which one of those offenses or

             any element of one of those offenses occurred. Without limitation

             on the evidence that may be used to establish the course of

             criminal conduct, any of the following is prima-facie evidence of a

             course of criminal conduct:

             (1) The offenses involved the same victim, or victims of the same

             type or from the same group.

             (2) The offenses were committed by the offender in the offender's

             same employment, or capacity, or relationship to another.

             (3) The offenses were committed as part of the same transaction or

             chain of events, or in furtherance of the same purpose or objective.

             (4) The offenses were committed in furtherance of the same

             conspiracy.

             (5) The offenses involved the same or a similar modus operandi.

             (6) The offenses were committed along the offender's line of travel

             in this state, regardless of the offender's point of origin or

             destination.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                       19

       {¶62} In this case, the offenses were committed as part of the same transaction

or chain of events, in furtherance of the same purpose: Dame Cisse obtaining

employment with JPMC. We find all of the offenses were properly venued in Delaware

County as part of a course of criminal conduct. See, State v. Jewell, 5th Dist. Delaware

No. 01CAA03006, 2002-Ohio-226.

       {¶63} Appellant further argues there is no evidence Jaga knew of Dame’s

scheme of identity fraud, but we disagree. Jaga admittedly went to Polaris Parkway for

the background check; he claimed it was “weird” because he never applied for a job

with JPMC, but he went nevertheless. The jury was free to believe him or not. The

weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are determined by the trier of

fact. State v. Yarbrough, 95 Ohio St.3d 227, 231, 2002-Ohio-2126, 767 N.E.2d 216.

The jury also had the evidence of the paychecks payable to “Ndiaga” signed over to

Dame and the fact that the brothers lived together for months while this scheme went on

despite Jaga’s claims of ignorance. Dame was also able to access Jaga’s driver’s

license and other identifying paperwork, although both claimed Jaga did not give him

permission to do so.

       {¶64} In short, we are unable to find, upon reviewing the entire record, the jury

clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction

must be overturned and a new trial ordered.

       {¶65} Appellant’s two convictions for identity theft are supported by sufficient

evidence and are not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Appellant’s third and

fourth assignments of error are overruled.
Delaware County, Case No.12 CAA 10 0074                                                    20

                                    CONCLUSION

       {¶66} For the foregoing reasons, each of appellant’s four assignments of error is

overruled and the judgment of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas is

affirmed.

By: Delaney, J. and

Gwin, P.J.

Baldwin, J., concur.

                                        HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                        HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                        HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN