Court Opinion

ID: 2707797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-05 13:41:55.827143+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:02:26.345469
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Shalash, 2014-Ohio-2584.]

                                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                              WARREN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                      :

        Plaintiff-Appellee,                         :     CASE NO. CA2013-06-052

                                                    :          OPINION
    - vs -                                                      6/16/2014
                                                    :

HAMZA SHALASH,                                      :

        Defendant-Appellant.                        :

      CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                           Case No. 12CR28290

David P. Fornshell, Warren County Prosecuting Attorney, Michael Greer, 500 Justice Drive,
Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for plaintiff-appellee

Rion, Rion and Rion, L.P.A., Inc., Jon Paul Rion, Nicole L. Rutter-Hirth, 130 West Second
Street, Suite 2150, P.O. Box 10126, Dayton, Ohio 45402, for defendant-appellant

        HENDRICKSON, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Hamza Shalash, appeals his conviction in the Warren

County Common Pleas Court on multiple counts of aggravated trafficking of controlled

substance analogs and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, for which he

was sentenced to 11 years in prison. For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the trial

court abused its discretion in not granting appellant's request for a Daubert hearing on his
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motion in limine to exclude the state's expert testimony on whether the substances seized

from his premises by police are, in fact, controlled substance analogs. Therefore, we reverse

Shalash's conviction and remand this matter for further proceedings consistent with this

opinion.

       {¶ 2} In August 2011, the Lebanon Police Department began receiving numerous

complaints and confidential information that certain "designer" or "synthetic" drugs were

being sold at a local Marathon gas station that is partially owned by appellant. In November

2011, Sergeant Mike McCutchin and Detective John Wetzel were involved in two traffic stops

in which they confiscated synthetic drugs that had been purchased at the Marathon station.

The officers went to the Marathon station and advised appellant that it was illegal to possess

or sell synthetic drugs. Appellant turned over seven samples of the substances he was

selling and agreed to stop selling them. The samples were sent to the Miami Valley Regional

Crime Laboratory (MVRCL).

       {¶ 3} On January 18, 2012, Officer Greg Spanel of the Warren County Drug Task

Force, working undercover, entered the Marathon station and asked for "Purple Kush." The

store clerk told Officer Spanel that they did not have any Purple Kush but did have other

types of "spice" or "K2" that he might like. The clerk produced two vials from underneath the

counter and told Officer Spanel that the price was $10 per vial. Officer Spanel gave the clerk

$20 for the vials. The vials were sent to the MVRCL. On that same day, Detective Wetzel

and other officers returned to the Marathon station and encountered Marcus Jordan, who the

officers found to be in possession of illegal drugs. The officers then went inside the

Marathon store and asked to speak with appellant. After appellant gave them consent to

search, the officers seized from the premises approximately 1,200 to 1,500 containers of

what they believed was spice and 60 containers of "bath salts."

       {¶ 4} On February 7, 2012, a confidential informant working with the Ohio
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Investigative Unit went into the Marathon station and asked for "Diesel," the street name for

spice. After the CI gave the clerk $20, the CI received a vial of a substance called "Kronic."

On February 10, 2012, the CI made another undercover buy at the Marathon station. On this

occasion, the CI paid $20 for a substance called "Pandora."

       {¶ 5} On February 13, 2012, Detective Wetzel and other police officers executed a

search warrant for the Marathon station and "seized approximately 157 containers of spice,

K2" that were located throughout the premises. Appellant told Detective Wetzel that he had

instructed his employees not to ring up sales of the designer or synthetic drugs and that he

personally had sold such drugs between 400 to 600 times, making $500,000. Appellant

admitted to Detective Josh Holbrook that he continued to sell the synthetic drugs even

though he knew it was illegal because he needed the money and that he had obtained the

substances from a friend and/or cousin in Cincinnati.         The MVRCL's analysis of the

substances that were being sold at appellant's Marathon station revealed that they were

JWH122, JWH210, JWH250, AM2201 and Alpha PVP which are substantially similar to

JWH018 and MDPV, both of which are controlled substances.

       {¶ 6} On May 21, 2012, appellant was indicted on five counts of aggravated

trafficking of a controlled substance analog in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a fourth-degree

felony (Counts One, Two, Three, Six and Seven); one count of aggravated trafficking of a

controlled substance analog in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2), a first-degree felony, with an

accompanying major drug offender (MDO) specification (Count Four); one count of

aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance analog in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2), a

third-degree felony (Count Five); one count of aggravated trafficking of a controlled

substance analog in violation of 2925.03(A)(2), a second-degree felony (Count Eight); one

count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in violation of R.C. 2923.32(A)(1), a first-

degree felony (Count Nine).

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       {¶ 7} Appellant moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the definition of

"controlled substance analog" in R.C. 3719.01(HH) is unconstitutional since it is "void for

vagueness." The trial court denied the motion. Appellant filed a motion in limine to exclude

the state's expert testimony that the substances seized from his premises were controlled

substance analogs and requested a Daubert hearing on the matter. The trial court, relying on

federal case law, denied appellant's motion to exclude the state's expert testimony, without

holding a Daubert hearing.

       {¶ 8} At appellant's two-day jury trial, the state presented testimony from the officers

involved in the case and several of the employees at appellant's Marathon station, including

Mary Cloven. Cloven testified that at appellant's direction, she always would keep money

from the sale of synthetic drugs separate from the money in the cash register by placing the

synthetic drug money she received in a bag. Cloven testified that if a customer asked for

synthetic drugs, she would send them to fellow employees, Justin Athey or Fiorinita "Ferdie"

Marinelli, who would give the customer a vial, take the money, and then give it to her to put

into the bag. Athey testified that he sold "spice potpourri" during January 2012 to February

2012 and that the "spice" was stored in the back room. Marinelli testified that appellant told

him to keep an eye on the potpourri and sell it to any customer who asked for it and that he

observed appellant selling the potpourri.

       {¶ 9} The state also presented the expert testimony of MVRCL forensic chemist,

Brooke Ehlers, who testified that several of the samples provided to her contained JWH122,

JWH210, JWH250 or AM2201 or a combination of those substances. She visually compared

a two-dimensional skeletal structure of the substances in those samples with a two-

dimensional skeletal structure of JWH018, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and opined

that each of the samples were "substantially similar" to JWH018. Ms. Ehlers testified that

several of the samples provided to her, which were labeled "heavenly soak, blissful bath
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salts," contained a substance called Alpha PVP, which is not a controlled substance. She

visually compared the two-dimensional skeletal structure of Alpha PVP with that of MDPV, a

Schedule I controlled substance, and opined that the two substances are substantially

similar.

       {¶ 10} The state also presented the expert testimony of Dr. Lorrine Marinetti, the chief

forensic toxicologist for the MVRCL, who has a doctorate in chemistry. Dr. Marinetti opined

that JWH122, JWH210, JWH250, AM2201 and JWH018 are more potent than regular

marijuana and that these substances affect a person's brain causing hallucinations, paranoia

and aggression, and can cause seizure or death. She testified that Alpha PVP cathinones

are natural plant materials converted into designer drugs by adding functional groups that

result in substitutive cathinones nicknamed bath salts.       She testified that substitutive

cathinones are stimulants that increase a person's energy causing euphoria. She testified

that Alpha PVP is a substitutive cathinone that increases a person's energy causing euphoria

and has the same effects as MDPV, a scheduled controlled substance. She also testified

that Alpha PVP has the same dangerous effects as synthetic cannabinoids on a person's

heart and brain but that substitutive cathinones are worse because the effects can last after

the drug itself wears off. Appellant countered the state's evidence by presenting the expert

testimony of Dr. Robert Belloto.

       {¶ 11} At the close of evidence, the trial court dismissed the MDO specification

attached to Count Four, pursuant to appellant's Crim.R. 29 motion. However, the jury

convicted appellant on all other charges. Prior to his sentencing, appellant moved to dismiss

or amend his convictions on Counts One through Eight on the ground that the evidence

showed that the substance he trafficked was a controlled substance, namely, spice, rather

than a controlled substance analog, and therefore he was not indicted under the proper

statute and the jury did not convict him under the proper statute. The trial court denied

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appellant's motion and sentenced him to an aggregate term of 11 years in prison.

       {¶ 12} Appellant now appeals, assigning the following as error:

       {¶ 13} Assignment of Error No. 1:

       {¶ 14} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO

AMEND HIS CONVICTION, AND IMPROPERLY HELD THAT THE SUBSTANCES AT

ISSUE ARE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ANALOGS, NOT 'SPICE', DESPITE WITNESS

TESTIMONY TO THE CONTRARY.

       {¶ 15} Assignment of Error No. 2:

       {¶ 16} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION IN LIMINE

TO EXCLUDE EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY, PURSUANT TO DAUBERT, WITHOUT A

HEARING.

       {¶ 17} Assignment of Error No. 3:

       {¶ 18} THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE

CONVICTIONS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT APPELLANT OFFERED TO

SELL THE AMOUNTS AS CHARGED, HE MERELY POSSESSED THE AMOUNTS.

       {¶ 19} Assignment of Error No. 4:

       {¶ 20} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING AN ELEVEN YEAR MANDATORY

SENTENCE FOR COUNT IV, AS THIS SENTENCE WAS CONTRARY TO LAW AND TO

THE COURT'S OWN FINDING THAT AN EIGHT YEAR SENTENCE WAS APPROPRIATE.

       {¶ 21} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in

determining that the substances seized by police were "controlled substance analogs" under

R.C. 3719.01(HH) rather than "spice" under former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8), and therefore the trial

court erred in denying his motion to amend his convictions on Counts One through Eight to

fifth-degree felonies. In support of his argument, appellant points out that at the time of his

indictment, trafficking in spice was a fifth-degree felony under former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8)
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while trafficking in a controlled substance analog was a fourth-degree felony under former

R.C. 2925.03(C)(1). Appellant also points out that the state's own witnesses testified that the

substances sold by or seized from him were spice and that the state's "entire argument at

trial was that all of these designer drugs – spice, synthetic marijuana, and analogs of

controlled substances – are the same." He asserts that since the controlled substance

analogs that he was charged with trafficking are similar to spice, he should have been

charged with trafficking in spice rather than trafficking in controlled substance analogs. He

also argues that since R.C. 2925.03(C)(1) and 2925.03(C)(8) operate to prohibit "identical"

activities, the trial court was obligated under the Equal Protection Clause to sentence him

under the section with the lesser penalty. We find these arguments unpersuasive.

       {¶ 22} Former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8), which was enacted on October 17, 2011, states:

            If the drug involved in the violation is 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole,
            1-Butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole,          1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-
            naphthoyl)indole,                 5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-
            hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol, or 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-
            hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol or a compound, mixture, preparation, or
            substance containing 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole, 1-Butyl-3-(1-
            naphthoyl)indole, 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole,
            5-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol, or 5-
            (1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol,
            whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of trafficking in
            spice. The penalty for the offense shall be determined as follows:
            (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(8)(b) of this section,
            trafficking in spice is a felony of the fifth degree, and division (C) of
            section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in determining
            whether to impose a prison term on the offender. (b) If the offense
            was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a
            juvenile, trafficking in spice is a felony of the fourth degree, and
            division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code applies in
            determining whether to impose a prison term on the offender.

       {¶ 23} At the time of the offenses in question, the list of Schedule 1 controlled

substances under former R.C. 3719.41(C), Hallucinogens, included the following drugs: (1)

1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole, which is known by the trade name, JWH018, former R.C.

3719.41(C)(35); (2) 1-Butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole, which is known by the trade name,
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JWH073, former R.C. 3719.41(C)(36); (3) 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole,

which is known by the trade name JWH200, former R.C. 3719.41(C)(37); (4) 5-(1,1-

dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol, which is known by the trade name

CP-47,497,        former   R.C.    3719.41(C)(38);     (5)   5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-

hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol,        which   is   known   by    the   trade,   or   other,   names:

cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47,497 C8 homologue, former R.C. 3719.41(C)(39).

       {¶ 24} At the time appellant committed the offenses with which he was charged, in

order to convict someone of trafficking in spice, it had to be shown that the person trafficked

in JWH018, JWH073, JWH200, CP47,497 or cannabicyclohexanol or CP47,497 C8

homologue. Former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8).

       {¶ 25} Here, there was no evidence presented to show that the substances seized

from appellant's premises constituted "spice" as defined in former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8). It is

true that several of the state's witnesses referred to some of the controlled substance

analogs that were sold or seized from appellant's Marathon station as being "spice" and that

at one point during closing argument, the prosecutor stated he "was just going to refer to the

substances as 'spice.'" It is also true that the state's expert, Ms. Ehlers, testified that the

substances seized by police, i.e., JWH122, JWH210, JWH250 and AM2201, are

substantially similar to JWH018. However, Ms. Ehlers never testified that the substances

seized were the same as JWH018 or any of the other chemicals that legally constitute spice

under former R.C. 2925.03(C)(8). Consequently, the trial court did not err in overruling

appellant's motion to amend his convictions on Counts One through Eight to fifth-degree

felonies.

       {¶ 26} Appellant also argues the definition of "controlled substance analog" in R.C.

3719.01(HH) is unconstitutional since it is void for vagueness. R.C. 3719.01(HH) states in

pertinent part:
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           (HH)(1) "Controlled substance analog" means, except as provided
           in division (HH)(2) of this section, a substance to which both of the
           following apply:

           (a) The chemical structure of the substance is substantially similar
           to the structure of a controlled substance in schedule I or II.

           (b) One of the following applies regarding the substance:

           (i) The substance has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic
           effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to
           or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect
           on the central nervous system of a controlled substance in schedule
           I or II.

           (ii) With respect to a particular person, that person represents or
           intends the substance to have a stimulant, depressant, or
           hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is
           substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or
           hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled
           substance in schedule I or II.

           (2) "Controlled substance analog" does not include any of the
           following:

           (a) A controlled substance;

           (b) Any substance for which there is an approved new drug
           application;

           (c) With respect to a particular person, any substance if an
           exemption is in effect for investigational use for that person
           pursuant to federal law to the extent that conduct with respect to
           that substance is pursuant to that exemption;

           (d) Any substance to the extent it is not intended for human
           consumption before the exemption described in division (HH)(2)(b)
           of this section takes effect with respect to that substance.

     {¶ 27} The definition of "controlled substance analog" in R.C. 3719.01(HH) is very

similar to the definition of "controlled substance analogue" in the Controlled Substance

Analogue (CSA) Enforcement Act of 1986, 21 U.S.C. 802(32), which states:

           (A) * * * [T]he term "controlled substance analogue" means a
           substance--

           (i) the chemical structure of which is substantially similar to the

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            chemical structure of a controlled substance in schedule I or II;

            (ii) which has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on
            the central nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater
            than the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the
            central nervous system of a controlled substance in schedule I or II;
            or

            (iii) with respect to a particular person, which such person
            represents or intends to have a stimulant, depressant, or
            hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is
            substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or
            hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled
            substance in schedule I or II.

            (B) The designation of gamma butyrolactone or any other chemical
            as a listed chemical pursuant to paragraph (34) or (35) does not
            preclude a finding pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
            that the chemical is a controlled substance analogue.

            (C) Such term does not include--

            (i) a controlled substance;

            (ii) any substance for which there is an approved new drug
            application;

            (iii) with respect to a particular person any substance, if an
            exemption is in effect for investigational use, for that person, under
            section 355 of this title to the extent conduct with respect to such
            substance is pursuant to such exemption; or

            (iv) any substance to the extent not intended for human
            consumption before such an exemption takes effect with respect to
            that substance.

       {¶ 28} No appellate court in this state has addressed whether R.C. 3719.01(HH) is

unconstitutionally vague. However, every federal circuit court that has addressed this issue

has "'held that the CSA's Analogue Provision is not unconstitutionally vague.'" United States

v. Turcotte, 405 F.3d 515, 531-532 (7th Cir. 2005).

       {¶ 29} For example, in United States v. Granberry, 916 F.2d 1008, 1010 (5th

Cir.1990), the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stated:

            Despite Granberry's contention to the contrary, the term "controlled
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             substance analogue" * * * is clearly and specifically defined, in
             terms readily comprehensible to the ordinary reader. [Footnote
             omitted.] It provides adequate notice of what conduct is prohibited.
             The statute makes plain that drugs which have been chemically
             designed to be similar to controlled substances, but which are not
             themselves listed on the controlled substance schedules, will
             nonetheless be considered as schedule I substances if 1) they are
             substantially similar chemically to drugs that are on those
             schedules, 2) if they produce similar effects on the central nervous
             system as drugs that are on those schedules, or 3) are intended or
             represented to produce effects similar to those produced by drugs
             that are on those schedules. There is nothing vague about the
             statute.

       {¶ 30} We agree with the reasoning in cases like Granberry, and thus reject

appellant's argument that R.C. 3719.01(HH)'s definition of "controlled substance analog" is

void for vagueness.

       {¶ 31} Appellant raises several other arguments in support of his contention that R.C.

3719.01(HH) is void for vagueness, including that "the chemical structure of a substance is

not commonly known to a reasonably educated person"; that "[i]f the State has to have the

substance tested by an expert to determine its chemical makeup, then it is unreasonable to

believe that the ordinary person would be aware that the substance they possess is contrary

to the substances allowed by the statute"; that "a reasonably educated person would not

know if a substance has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central

nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than that of a controlled substance in

Schedule I or II." However, these same arguments have been rejected by federal courts

interpreting the federal CSA statute in 21 U.S.C. 802(32).

       {¶ 32} For example, in United States v. Niemoeller, S.D.Ind., No. IP 02-09-CR-1H/F,

2003 WL 1563863 *4 (Jan. 24, 2003), the defendant argued that a person would need expert

advice from a chemist, a physician and/or a psychologist to determine whether a compound

is an analogue, and therefore the statute was unconstitutionally vague. The Niemoeller court

rejected that argument, determining that
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            [w]hen dealing with legislation on complex or technical matters[,] * *
            * Congress can expect a person who wishes to engage in the
            activity to acquire the necessary specialized knowledge to conform
            their conduct to the law. Similarly, when dealing with the
            distribution of organic chemical compounds for human consumption
            and with intended or hoped-for central nervous system effects,
            Congress could reasonably expect and require persons engaged in
            that activity to possess or obtain the specialized knowledge needed
            to conform their conduct to law.

Id.

      {¶ 33} We find the reasoning in Niemoeller persuasive, and therefore reject the similar

arguments that appellant is raising here.

      {¶ 34} In light of the foregoing, appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.

      {¶ 35} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in

denying his motion in limine to exclude the state's expert testimony on the substances seized

by police, without holding a Daubert hearing. We agree with this argument.

      {¶ 36} Evid.R. 702 states:

            A witness may testify as an expert if all of the following apply:

            (A) The witness' testimony either relates to matters beyond the
            knowledge or experience possessed by lay persons or dispels a
            misconception common among lay persons;

            (B) The witness is qualified as an expert by specialized knowledge,
            skill, experience, training, or education regarding the subject matter
            of the testimony;

            (C) The witness' testimony is based on reliable scientific, technical,
            or other specialized information. To the extent that the testimony
            reports the result of a procedure, test, or experiment, the testimony
            is reliable only if all of the following apply:

            (1) The theory upon which the procedure, test, or experiment is
            based is objectively verifiable or is validly derived from widely
            accepted knowledge, facts, or principles;

            (2) The design of the procedure, test, or experiment reliably
            implements the theory;

            (3) The particular procedure, test, or experiment was conducted in a
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             way that will yield an accurate result.

       {¶ 37} In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589, 113 S.Ct.

2786 (1993), the United States Supreme Court called upon district courts to act as a

"gatekeeper" in determining whether expert testimony on scientific matters is admissible

under Federal Rule of Evidence 702. The four factors the trial court was advised to consider

in evaluating an expert's theory or technique are (1) whether it can be, and has been, tested;

(2) whether it has been subjected to peer review and publication; (3) what its known, or

potential, rate of error is, and whether standards controlling its operation exist; and (4)

whether it is generally accepted in the field. Daubert at 593-594. The Ohio Supreme Court

has adopted the factors in Daubert for analyzing issues arising under Ohio's Evid.R. 702, in

both civil cases, Miller v. Bike Athletic Co., 80 Ohio St.3d 60 (1998), and criminal cases,

State v. Nemeth, 82 Ohio St.3d 202 (1999).

       {¶ 38} The factors identified in Daubert are not to be rigidly applied but, instead, are

intended to serve as guidelines for trial courts to consider in applying Evid.R. 702. The

Daubert court stated that "[t]he inquiry envisioned by Rule 702 is, we emphasize, a flexible

one," id. at 594, and that "[m]any factors will bear on the inquiry, and we do not presume to

set out a definitive checklist or test[.]" Id. at 593. In Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S.

137, 152-153, 119 S.Ct. 1167 (1999), the court pointed out that "Daubert's list of specific

factors neither necessarily nor exclusively applies to all experts or in every case[,]" id. at 141,

and whether the factors are even relevant in a given case will "depend[ ] on the nature of the

issue, the expert's particular expertise, and the subject of his testimony." Id. at 150 (internal

marks omitted).

       {¶ 39} In United States v. Brown, 279 F.Supp.2d 1238 (S.D. Alabama 2003), the

district court determined that the government's experts' testimony that a substance called 1, 4

butanediol (BD) was "substantially similar" to a controlled substance called gamma-
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hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and thus was a "controlled substance analogue" within the

meaning of the federal Controlled Substance Act in 21 U.S.C. 813, was reliable under

Evidence Rule 702 and Daubert. The government's experts used the "visual comparison

method" in determining whether the substances were substantially similar, in which they used

"sticks-and-letters" diagrams to illustrate their conclusions that the substances were

substantially similar. See id. at 1249.

       {¶ 40} In United States v. Brown, 415 F.3d 1257, 1266-1269 (11th Cir. 2005), the

court affirmed the district court's decision that the visual comparison or "visual assessment"

method used by the government's experts was reliable under Evid.R. 702 and Daubert even

though (1) the method met only one of the four Daubert factors, namely, it was deemed

"generally accepted" and (2) the governments' expert witnesses "conceded that their method

and conclusions were not quantitative or testable by the scientific method" but, instead, "were

based on visual comparisons of the molecular models combined with expert knowledge of

chemistry." Id. at 1268.

       {¶ 41} Here, the state presented the same type of expert testimony that was presented

in Brown, which the district court found to be reliable, and which the Eleventh Circuit affirmed

on appeal. The trial court in this case, citing the Eleventh Circuit's opinion in Brown,

determined that the methodology and testing procedures of the state's expert witnesses met

the threshold requirements of Evid.R. 702 and Daubert. The trial court also found that the

jury was ultimately responsible for deciding whether the substances in question were

"substantially similar" to illegal substances. We conclude, however, that the trial court

abused its discretion in not granting appellant's request for a Daubert hearing on appellant's

motion in limine to exclude the state's expert testimony.

       {¶ 42} Initially, this court is well aware that a trial court's decision whether or not to

hold a Daubert hearing is a matter within its sound discretion, and the court's decision is not
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to be overturned unless it abuses its discretion, i.e., the decision is arbitrary, unconscionable

or unreasonable.        See Brown, 415 F.3d at 1264-1266 (emphasizing the difficulty of

convincing an appellate court to reverse a district court's judgment on Daubert grounds and

the importance of granting trial courts discretion on Daubert–related issues). Nevertheless,

we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by not holding a Daubert hearing under

the circumstances of this case.

        {¶ 43} The visual assessment/comparison method used by the district court in Brown

and upheld as reliable under the Daubert factors by the Eleventh Circuit has come under

heavy criticism from scholars. See, e.g., 2 Paul C. Giannelli, Edward J. Imwinkelried, Andrea

Roth and Jane Campbell Moriarity, "Scientific Evidence" (5th Ed.2012), Section 23.06-23.07,

726-761 ("Giannelli and Imwinkelried"). Giannelli and Imwinkelried describe the "underlying

evidentiary problem in CSA cases as follows:

              On the one hand, prosecution experts consistently claim that a
              simple visual assessment of two-dimensional stick-and-letters
              diagrams is the "best method of forming an opinion on structural
              similarity and is generally accepted in the scientific community."
              [Footnote omitted.] On the other hand, defense experts are
              adamant that visual comparison of such diagrams is unscientific in
              the extreme because conclusions based on such comparisons are
              "not quantitative or testable by the scientific method." [Footnote
              ommitted.] Indeed, defense critics point out that some prosecution
              witnesses have frankly conceded that their conclusion is "a 'gut
              level thing' * * * based on intuition * * *." [Footnote ommitted.] * * *
              [This is] a troubling concession given the length of the sentences of
              imprisonment meted out for convictions based on such conclusions.
                  1
Id. at 734-735.

        {¶ 44} Giannelli and Imwinkelried concede that "exhibits depicting sticks-and-letters

diagrams of the substances' chemical structures are arguably [footnote omitted] logically

relevant" "[i]f the question is the degree of similarity between the chemical structure of two

1. The first "[f]ootnote omitted" from the above quote contained a citation to Brown, 279 F.Supp. 2d at 1244,
and the second and third "[f]ootnote[s] omitted" contained citations to Brown, 415 F.3d at 1267.
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drugs[.]" However, they insist that a visual comparison or assessment of sticks-and-letters

diagrams is "an inferior basis for the jury's decision" on that issue, stating as follows:

             The typical sticks-and-letters diagram submitted to a jury in a CS
             Analogue Act prosecution is a crude, very limited, two-dimensional
             depiction of some features of chemical structure in which each letter
             representing an atom is of the same size. The atomic mass units of
             atoms vary radically. For instance, while hydrogen atoms have an
             atomic mass unit of 1, the atomic mass unit of oxygen atoms is 16.
             Some sticks-and-balls diagrams use the same size balls for all
             atoms. Proportional sticks-and-balls diagrams, indicating the
             relative atomic weight of the atoms, are a more accurate depiction
             of chemical structure. Yet, as two-dimensional diagrams, both
             sticks-and-letters and sticks-and-balls diagrams are unrealistic.
             Objects such as atoms do not exist in only two dimensions; like
             human beings, they are three-dimensional. Just as sticks-and-balls
             diagram is more complete than a sticks-and-letters diagram, in turn
             a three-dimensional model is more accurate than a sticks-and-balls
             diagram. [Footnote omitted.] Further, all of these types of
             exhibits—two-dimensional sticks-and-letters diagrams sticks-and-
             balls diagrams, and three-dimensional models—embody scientific
             conventions. [Footnote omitted.] Most exhibits omit features, such
             as relative atomic weight and bonding. A chemist has a much
             better understanding of atomic weight than the typical layperson
             and certainly a superior knowledge of bonding rules. Given the
             ready availability of markedly superior potential evidence, it defies
             common sense to think that Congress wanted the jury's decision to
             rest solely on a lay assessment of sticks-and-letters notations.

Id. at 743-744.

       {¶ 45} Giannelli and Imwinkelried use a simple analogy to explain their objections to

the visual comparison/assessment test:

             It cannot be overemphasized how little information about chemical
             structure these [sticks-and-letters] diagrams convey. At the
             simplest level, an artist might draw a rudimentary stick figure—a
             circle for the head, one line for the body, two other lines for legs,
             and another two for arms. That type of drawing of a person roughly
             corresponds to a sticks-and-letters diagram of a molecule. To
             make the drawing more realistic, the artist might crook the arm and
             leg lines to depict elbows and knees. The artist could then add a
             short and pants or a skirt to indicate whether the person is male or
             female. Further, the artist could make the stick lines for legs
             proportionally thicker than those for arms. The artist might then
             progress to a doll and on to a mannequin. Even the mannequin,
             though, would not depict internal features such as a weak heart or a

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            bad back. Suppose that an artist prepared mannequins of two
            individuals. Standing alone, would a visual comparison of the
            mannequins be sufficient to support a judgment as to whether two
            persons were "substantially similar"? Quite frankly, it would make
            more sense to do that than to rest a judgment about the similarity of
            two molecules on a visual comparison of sticks-and-letters
            diagrams. It is highly doubtful that a professional chemist would
            accept such a comparison, without more, as an adequate basis for
            a conclusion that the structure of the two molecules is "substantially
            similar." [Footnote omitted.]

Id. at 749-750.

       {¶ 46} No appellate court in this state has addressed whether the visual

assessment/comparison method of analyzing possible controlled substance analogs, which

the trial court accepted as reliable in this case, is in fact reliable. However, one common

pleas court in this state, when confronted with issues similar to the ones presented here, has

determined that this method is not reliable under Evid.R. 702 and Daubert, and therefore

prohibited the state from presenting such evidence.

       {¶ 47} In State v. Silmi, Cuyahoga C.P., No. CR 561754, Journal Entry and Opinion

(Feb. 7, 2013), p. 1, the defendants were charged with six counts, including one count of

trafficking in a controlled substance analog and one count of possessing a controlled

substance analog, both first-degree felonies. The defendants moved to prohibit the state

from presenting lab reports and expert testimony from the Cuyahoga County Regional

Forensic Science Laboratory (CCRFSL) regarding the alleged controlled substance analogs

at issue in that case, arguing the lab reports and expert testimony were based "purely on

subjective observations" and thus should not be admitted into evidence. Id.

       {¶ 48} The trial court held a two-day Daubert hearing on defendants' motion to exclude

the CCRFSL's lab report and expert testimony. Id. The supervisor of CCRFSL's lab

chemistry drug section, Paul Boggs, testified that following the 2011 enactment of Ohio's

controlled substance analog statute, the CCRFSL began testing substances not only to

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determine if they were controlled substances, but also to determine if they had a chemical

structure "substantially similar" to a controlled substance and thus could be deemed a

controlled substance analog. Id. at p. 1-2. If one of the CCRFSL's chemists determined that

a potential analog was substantially similar to a controlled substance, the chemist's

determination would be presented to CCRFSL's other six chemists. Id. at p. 2. The CCRFSL

would issue an opinion determining that the potential analog was "substantially similar" to a

controlled substance only if there was 100 percent agreement among the chemists that the

standard of "substantial similarity" had been met. Id.

       {¶ 49} Over time, the CCRFSL established two guidelines:          First, in regards to

synthetic cannabinoids, an analog drug "had to be within the same chemical family" as the

controlled substance, and second, "the original structural backbone of the scheduled

substance had to be unchanged."         Id.   The CCRFSL's chemists compared the two

substances in question by placing, side by side, the "stick and letter" chemical structures of

the potential analog and the scheduled controlled substance. Id. While the CCRFSL had

made some limited consultations with other labs in Ohio regarding specific questions on

certain potential analogs, no statewide database, protocols or any formal organization or

mechanism of standardization regarding the testing of potential analogs exists. Id. Applying

this process to the case before it, the CCRFSL found two potential drug analogs: (1)

AM2201, which was determined to be an analog of JWH018, a controlled substance, with the

difference being that AM2201 has an additional fluorine atom, and (2) 4-MEC, which was

determined to be an analog of methcathinone, a controlled substance, with the difference

occurring in the nitrogen rings of the two substances. Id. at p. 2-3.

       {¶ 50} At the conclusion of the Daubert hearing, the common pleas court in Silmi

determined that the testimony and lab reports from the CCRFSL had to be excluded because

"[b]ased upon Daubert and Evid.R. 702, the theory upon which [CCRFSL's] test[ing] is based
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                                                                        Warren CA2013-06-052

is supposed to be objectively verifiable or derived from widely accepted knowledge, facts, or

principles[,]" yet there is "no objective, reliable test in the current testing of potential analogs

by the CCRFSL." Id. at p. 4. The common pleas court found that "[t]he vague and undefined

term of 'substantially similar' left the CCRFSL to devise an unguided subjective testing

procedure." Id. The common pleas court noted that both of the state's expert witnesses,

including Boggs, acknowledged that the CCRFSL test is a subjective test, with Boggs

admitting that CCRFSL's testing of potential analogs "is based on something. It is just not

based on something the way we would like it to be based on." Id.

       {¶ 51} The common pleas court in Silmi also stated that "[t]here is no statewide or

nationwide resource or protocol for th[e] [CCRFSL] lab to draw from and no formal

organization or guidance regarding the testing of potential analogs." Id. Noting that the

testing and procedures of the CCRFSL's lab "should be conducted in a way that will yield an

accurate result[,]" the court found that it was "hard to determine what would be an accurate

result when there has been no peer review, no error rates determined, and no real

comparison or common protocol even between counties in Ohio." Id. at p. 5. The common

pleas court also stated that it had "no way to determine if there is general acceptance to this

methodology because it has never been compared to any other lab's methodology." Id.

       {¶ 52} This court does not necessarily agree with the statements made by Gianelli and

Immwinkleried in Scientific Evidence or the common pleas court's decision in Silmi.

However, we are convinced that the nature of the issues presented by this case warranted a

Daubert hearing on appellant's motion in limine to exclude the state's expert testimony and

that the trial court abused its discretion by not granting him one.              The meaning of

"substantially similar" is a novel issue in Ohio. There is no precedent on the question except

for federal case law. Therefore, it was not appropriate for the trial judge to resolve this issue

during the trial. Additionally, holding such a hearing would have enabled the trial court to
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                                                                     Warren CA2013-06-052

establish a standard for the jury to consider in determining the meaning of the phrase

"substantially similar" rather than requiring the jury members to develop their own standard

on the question.

       {¶ 53} In light of the foregoing, appellant's second assignment of error is sustained to

the extent indicated.

       {¶ 54} In his third assignment of error, appellant argues his convictions were against

the sufficiency and weight of the evidence, and in his fourth assignment of error, he argues

the trial court erred in imposing an 11-year mandatory sentence for his conviction on Count

Four, as this sentence was contrary to law and contrary to the trial court's own finding that an

eight-year sentence was appropriate. However, appellant's third and fourth assignments of

error have been rendered moot as a result of our disposition of appellant's second

assignment of error, and therefore we need not decide them. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).

       {¶ 55} The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and this cause is remanded for

further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

       RINGLAND, P.J., and S. POWELL, J., concur.

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