Court Opinion

ID: 4213267
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-20 13:12:23.102226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:41.473114
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Buck, 2017-Ohio-8242.]

                          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                 FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
                            HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO,                             :   APPEAL NO. C-160320
                                               TRIAL NO. B-1400664-A
     Plaintiff-Appellee,                   :

  vs.                                      :         O P I N I O N.

ANDRE BUCK,                                :

     Defendant-Appellant.                  :

Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas

Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed in Part, Sentence Vacated in Part, and Cause
                           Remanded

Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: October 20, 2017

Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Melynda J. Machol,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,

Raymond T. Faller, Hamilton County Public Defender, and Joshua A. Thompson
and Demetra Stamatakos, Assistant Public Defenders, for Defendant-Appellant.
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

MYERS, Judge.

       {¶1}   Defendant-appellant Andre Buck appeals the judgment of the

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court convicting him, after a jury trial, of the

kidnapping of Tyrell George.

       {¶2}   Buck was indicted for kidnapping, with firearm specifications, and for

having a weapon while under a disability. Three codefendants, Anthony Barrow,

Timothy Watson, and Lonnie Rucker, were also indicted for the kidnapping.

       {¶3}   Buck filed a motion to suppress, which the trial court denied. Buck

and Barrow were tried together. The jury found Buck guilty of kidnapping, but

acquitted him of the gun specifications and the weapon-under-disability charge. The

trial court sentenced Buck to 11 years in prison.

       {¶4}   Buck now appeals. In six assignments of error, he challenges: (1) the

denial of his motion to suppress; (2) the denial of his rights to due process by the

prosecutor; (3) the denial of his rights to due process by the trial court; (4) the

admission of certain photographs; (5) his sentence; and (6) the weight and

sufficiency of the evidence. We conclude that the court committed reversible error

when it failed to properly award jail-time credit, but we affirm the trial court’s

judgment in all other respects.

                                  Buck’s Motion to Suppress

       {¶5}   In his first assignment of error, Buck argues that the trial court erred

by denying his motion to suppress. He contends that the court failed to apply the

appropriate legal standard when it determined that exigent circumstances existed to

justify the warrantless search of his person and his apartment, and the search of the

contents of his cell phone. He asserts that the exigent-circumstances exception to

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

the requirement for a warrant requires both probable cause and exigent

circumstances.

       {¶6}   Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of

law and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 787 N.E.2d 71,

¶ 8. We must accept the trial court’s factual findings if they are supported by

competent and credible evidence, but we review the court’s legal conclusions de

novo. Id.

       {¶7}   The Suppression Hearing.        At the hearing on Buck’s motion to

suppress, Cincinnati Police Detective Bill Hilbert testified that Tyrell George was

kidnapped on February 6, 2014, between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. The kidnappers called

George’s brother Timothy Kellam and demanded $100,000 for his return. They

warned Kellam that if he failed to pay the ransom money, George would be killed. In

one of the ransom calls, George told Kellam that the kidnappers had shot him.

       {¶8}   By 10:00 p.m., Kellam worked with Detective Hilbert and other

investigators who monitored every ransom call made by the kidnappers to Kellam.

During the night of the 6th and the morning of the 7th, Kellam received numerous

ransom calls from two different men who continually made threats to hurt or kill

George. Throughout the night, the police covertly worked with Kellam so that it

would appear to the kidnappers that Kellam was complying with their demands.

After several hours, however, the police became concerned that the kidnappers

suspected police involvement and that they would act on their threats to kill George.

       {¶9}   At one point, the kidnappers demanded that Kellam meet them at a

Shell gas station at Colerain Avenue and Hopple Street. Two undercover officers,

one of whom dressed like Kellam, drove Kellam’s car to the Shell station and parked

at the agreed meeting place.     For the next two and a half to three hours, the

kidnappers demanded in multiple phone calls to Kellam that he move his vehicle to

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

different locations, but Kellam, at the instruction of the police, told the kidnappers

he would not do so.

       {¶10} Then Detective Hilbert instructed the undercover officers in Kellam’s
car to drive it around the block. As they did so, the kidnappers, who were speaking

to Kellam on the phone, identified a nearby street by name and told Kellam to

change lanes immediately. With that, Detective Hilbert knew that the kidnappers

were conducting counter-surveillance to the police surveillance on both the Shell

station and on Kellam’s car.    The fact that the kidnappers had the foresight to

operate in that manner heightened police concern for George’s safety.

       {¶11} According to Detective Hilbert, the police still had no idea where
George was. Hoping that George was somewhere near the Shell station, police were

looking for suspicious things in that area. Hilbert said, “[O]ur number one goal right

then [was] to find Mr. George and find him alive.”

       {¶12} The police identified two telephone numbers from which ransom calls
had been made to Kellam’s phone, one of which was (513) 498-2051, and made an

“emergency exigent request” to Cincinnati Bell for records pertaining to that number.

In addition, Cincinnati Police Officer Timothy Bley of the fugitive-apprehension unit

testified that his unit had “access to a lot of computer programs and databases that

the average police officer wouldn’t have access to and we use those sometimes to

track people [and] try to locate them.” He testified that on the morning of February

7, 2014, using information from various databases, police were able to track phone

calls to (513) 498-2051, and “by tracking those people backwards,” were able to

identify Buck as the user of the cell phone. This involved linking people and their

connections to each other by the use of various databases.         In analyzing this

information, the police were able to connect Buck as the user of the phone.

       {¶13} Police identified Buck’s address as 2872 Montana Avenue, Apartment
4, and learned that the (513) 498-2051 phone was “pinging” from a nearby cell tower

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

that morning. Police knew that recovery of that phone was vital to locating George,

and that the delay necessitated by the process of obtaining a search warrant could

have impaired police attempts to locate George and could have placed George in

greater danger.

       {¶14} Officer Bley and other officers went to Buck’s apartment and knocked
on the door. Buck answered the door. He was alone in the apartment. Officers

entered the apartment to look for George to make sure that he “wasn’t lying inside

tied up or anything like that.” George was not inside.

       {¶15} Police recovered a cell phone from Buck, and dialed (513) 498-2051 to
ensure that it was the phone that they were looking for. Buck’s cell phone rang.

       {¶16} Meanwhile, during the time that police officers were at Buck’s
apartment, Kellam was at the police station on the phone with another one of the

kidnappers.

       {¶17} Police officers took Buck and his phone to Detective Hilbert at the
homicide unit. The police asked Buck for his assistance in locating George, but Buck

would not cooperate. In speaking with Buck, Detective Hilbert recognized Buck’s

voice from the numerous ransom calls he had monitored.

       {¶18} At that point, police still did not know where George was, but they
were aware that a second kidnapper was still contacting Kellam for ransom money.

Detective Hilbert believed that the danger to George had increased: “[W]e were

pretty desperate at that point.” So the police made another emergency request to

Cincinnati Bell to download electronic data from Buck’s cell phone. According to

Detective Hilbert, the police were concerned that obtaining a search warrant would

cost valuable time and might increase the danger to George. The detective testified

that “every second counted.”

       {¶19} Warrantless Search of Buck and His Home. Buck first argues that
exigent circumstances did not justify the warrantless search of Buck and his

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

apartment. “[W]arrants are generally required to search a person’s home or his

person unless the ‘exigencies of the situation’ make the needs of law enforcement so

compelling that the warrantless search is objectively reasonable under the Fourth

Amendment.” Brigham City v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 403, 126 S.Ct. 1943, 164

L.Ed.2d 650 (2006), quoting Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 393-394, 98 S.Ct.

2408, 57 L.Ed.2d 290 (1978). Where exigent circumstances exist, a warrantless

search is reasonable because “there is a compelling need for official action and no

time to secure a warrant.” Michigan v. Tyler, 436 U.S. 499, 509, 98 S.Ct. 1942, 56

L.Ed.2d 486 (1978).

       {¶20} Exigent circumstances allow a warrantless entry into a residence if
probable cause to arrest or to search exists. See State v. Robinson, 103 Ohio App.3d

490, 496, 659 N.E.2d 1292 (1st Dist.1995), citing Steagald v. United States, 451 U.S.

204, 101 S.Ct. 1642, 68 L.Ed.2d 38 (1981); State v. Upton, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-

050076, 2006-Ohio-1107, ¶ 17; State v. Martin, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040150,

2004-Ohio-6433, ¶ 22; State v. Sheppard, 144 Ohio App.3d 135, 141, 759 N.E.2d 823

(1st Dist.2001). Police may make a warrantless entry into a residence to prevent the

imminent destruction of evidence, State v. Grant, 67 Ohio St.3d 465, 470, 620

N.E.2d 50 (1993), or to engage in “hot pursuit” of a fleeing suspect, Middletown v.

Flinchum, 95 Ohio St.3d 43, 765 N.E.2d 330 (2002), syllabus; State v. Mitchem, 1st

Dist. Hamilton No. C-130351, 2014-Ohio-2366, ¶ 24.

       {¶21} The United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Ohio
have recognized a narrower subset of exigent circumstances where law enforcement

officers need to respond to emergency situations to protect people from death or

serious injury. Brigham City at 403; State v. Dunn, 131 Ohio St.3d 325, 2012-Ohio-

1008, 964 N.E.2d 1037, ¶ 21. The “emergency-aid” exception allows police to enter a

home without a warrant and without probable cause when they reasonably believe,

based on specific and articulable facts, that a person within the home is in need of

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

immediate aid. See Mincey at 392; State v. Applegate, 68 Ohio St.3d 348, 349-350,

628 N.E.2d 942 (1994); State v. Sladeck, 132 Ohio App.3d 86, 88, 724 N.E.2d 488

(1st Dist.1998); State v. Secriskey, 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 28093 and 28094, 2017-

Ohio-4169, ¶ 9; State v. Fisher, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 13 CA 35, 2014-Ohio-3029, ¶

39, citing State v. Gooden, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23764, 2008-Ohio-178, ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, a warrantless entry justified by the emergency-aid exception must be

strictly circumscribed by the exigency that initially justified it, and “once the

emergency has been alleviated, further intrusion must be sanctioned by a warrant.”

State v. Newell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21567, 2006-Ohio-5980, ¶ 13.

       {¶22} To determine whether police faced an emergency that justified acting
without a warrant, courts look to the totality of the circumstances. Missouri v.

McNeeley, 569 U.S. 141, 149, 133 S.Ct. 1552, 185 L.Ed.2d 696 (2013), citing Brigham

City at 406. To that end, one important consideration in determining whether an

exigency existed is the nature of the underlying crime. See Welsh v. Wisconsin, 466

U.S. 740, 754, 104 S.Ct. 2091, 80 L.Ed.2d 732 (1984).

       {¶23} Police officers do not need “ironclad proof” of a life-threatening injury
to invoke the emergency-aid exception. Dunn at ¶ 19, quoting Michigan v. Fisher,

558 U.S. 45, 49, 130 S.Ct. 546, 175 L.Ed.2d 410 (2009). The question as to whether

exigent circumstances exist is viewed through the eyes of a reasonable police officer.

Id., citing Brigham City, 547 U.S. at 404, 126 S.Ct. 1943, 164 L.Ed.2d 650.

       {¶24} Here, the police had an objectively reasonable basis for believing that
the still-missing victim had been shot and would be killed based on the facts

available to them and the escalating kidnappers’ ransom demands.              The police

reasonably believed that both the injured victim whose life was in jeopardy and the

(513) 498-2051 cell phone used by a kidnapper to make ransom calls to the victim’s

brother were in the apartment.      Even though the victim was not found in the

apartment, the police reasonably believed that the cell phone was essentially a

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

lifeline to bring him home safely. Under the totality of the circumstances, therefore,

the warrantless search of Buck’s home and person was justified by the emergency-aid

exception.   And contrary to Buck’s assertion, the state was not required to also

demonstrate probable cause that he was involved in the crime before the police

entered his home. See Gooden, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23764, 2008-Ohio-178, at ¶ 6

(the emergency-aid exception allows officers to enter a home without a warrant and

without probable cause).

       {¶25} Warrantless Search of Buck’s Cell-Phone Data. In the context of
cell phones, police officers must generally obtain a warrant to search data contained

in a cell phone, even if the phone was seized incident to an arrest. See Riley v.

California, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 2473, 2493, 189 L.Ed.2d 430 (2014); see also

State v. Smith, 124 Ohio St.3d 163, 2009-Ohio-6426, 920 N.E.2d 949, syllabus. But

the United States Supreme Court recognized in Riley that the exigent-circumstances

exception may justify the warrantless search of a cell phone’s data:

       Such exigencies could include the need to prevent the imminent

       destruction of evidence in individual cases, to pursue a fleeing suspect,

       and to assist persons who are seriously injured or are threatened with

       imminent injury. * * * In light of the availability of the exigent

       circumstances exception, there is no reason to believe that law

       enforcement officers will not be able to address some of the more

       extreme hypotheticals that have been suggested: a suspect texting an

       accomplice who, it is feared, is preparing to detonate a bomb, or a

       child abductor who may have information about the child’s location on

       his cell phone.

Riley at 2494; Smith at ¶ 29. See United States v. Fifer, 863 F.3d 759, 766 (7th

Cir.2017); United States v. Gilliam, 842 F.3d 801, 805 (2d Cir.2016).

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       {¶26} In this case, the warrantless search of Buck’s cell phone was justified
by exigent circumstances where the still-missing kidnapping victim’s life was in

danger, and the police reasonably believed that the phone had been used in the

kidnapping operation. The exigency did not evaporate upon the recovery of Buck’s

cell phone and his arrest. On the contrary, those circumstances led the police to

believe that the peril to the kidnapping victim had increased because a second

kidnapper was still trying to negotiate a ransom from Kellam and would surely

discover that his accomplice was in police custody. The police had probable cause to

search the cell phone under these exigent circumstances and the exigent

circumstances had not abated (which would have required a warrant).

       {¶27} Consequently, we hold that the trial court properly concluded that the
warrantless searches of Buck, his home, and his cell phone were justified by exigent

circumstances. We overrule the first assignment of error.

                         Weight and Sufficiency of the Evidence

       {¶28} For ease of discussion, we address the remaining assignments of error
out of order. In his sixth assignment of error, Buck argues that his conviction for

kidnapping was against the manifest weight of the evidence and based upon

insufficient evidence. Buck does not claim that the state failed to prove that the

kidnapping of George occurred. Rather, he asserts that the state failed to prove that

he was involved in the kidnapping.

       {¶29} Evidence Presented at Trial. At the jury trial, the state presented the
testimony of Tyrell George, his brother Timothy Kellam, codefendant Lonnie Rucker,

a telephone-records custodian, forensic specialists, and multiple investigators,

including Detective Hilbert and Officer Bley, in addition to numerous exhibits.

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                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       {¶30} Telephone records revealed that on the morning of February 6, 2014,
Buck and his codefendant Anthony Barrow communicated about 20 times, and in

one text, Buck had asked Barrow, “Babysitter still on dek?” The term babysitter

referred to a person who watched over a kidnapped victim to make sure he would not

escape, while other kidnappers secured ransom money.

       {¶31} Later that day, Barrow called George on the pretense of wanting to buy
marijuana. George did not know Barrow, but Barrow convinced him that he had

bought marijuana from George before. The two exchanged calls and agreed to meet.

When George met up with Barrow, he got into Barrow’s van, where he was assaulted

by Barrow and a second man. The men bound George with duct tape, wiped his

clothing and neck with bleach, and then drove away.

       {¶32} George was moved into a second van where two more kidnappers,
Timothy Watson and Lonnie Rucker, “babysat” him through the night and into the

next day.

       {¶33} Rucker testified that Watson had contacted him on February 6th about
being a babysitter. That night, Rucker picked up Watson and drove to a spot where a

person was tied up in the back of a van. Watson said they had to sit and watch the

victim until the other kidnappers came back with the money.

       {¶34} Communications continued between Kellam and the kidnappers. The
officers became more and more concerned about George’s safety.

       {¶35} As discussed in more detail under the first assignment of error, the
police were ultimately able to locate Buck and a phone that had been used to make

ransom calls. At trial, Officer Bley clarified that Buck’s phone was recovered from

Buck’s pocket.

       {¶36} Buck was arrested at about 9:30 a.m., on the 7th, but the police still
had no idea where George was.

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       {¶37} Within hours of Buck’s arrest, Watson and Rucker were frustrated that
the ransom had not been paid and were concerned that Kellam had gone to the

police. So they left the area, leaving George alone in the van.

       {¶38} At about 2:00 p.m., George escaped from the van and ran to a nearby
home. The occupant called the police who responded, and the police brought George

to the homicide unit. The police recovered pieces of duct tape from George’s socks,

noted bleach stains on his clothing, and photographed abrasions on his wrists,

caused by the duct tape.

       {¶39} Police recovered the van that George had escaped from. In the van,
they found duct tape, pieces of mail addressed to Barrow, and Barrow’s and Watson’s

fingerprints.

       {¶40} Telephone records revealed that Kellam had received about 45 ransom
calls from two different telephone numbers, (513) 498-2051 and a second number

that Barrow admitted was his.

       {¶41} A Cincinnati Bell representative, Paula Papke, testified that the “IMEI,
which is basically the serial number for the phone, which would be contained within

the phone itself” for Buck’s cell phone matched the IMEI listed in the subscriber

record for (513) 498-2051, a prepaid account. She said that subscribers who use

prepaid accounts usually provide fictitious personal information when setting up the

account. Prepaid-account subscribers have to provide a date of birth as the password

for the account, and, without the password, a subscriber cannot access the account.

Papke said that many prepaid-account subscribers provide a date of birth that is a

single digit off from their actual birthdate. She said that the number (513) 498-2051

was subscribed in the name “Tone Montrell,” and that the account password was

“11/2/76.” Buck’s date of birth is November 2, 1977.

       {¶42} Telephone records confirmed that Buck and Barrow communicated
with each other and with Kellam and Watson through the evening of the 6th and the

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

morning of the 7th.      In addition, the records confirmed that Buck’s cell phone

“pinged” off cell towers at times and locations that corresponded to those of George’s

abduction, the kidnappers’ movements, and the officer’s arrival at his apartment.

        {¶43} In recorded telephone calls from the jail, Buck complained to his
mother that his live-in girlfriend had been talking to people about the case,

specifically about his cell phone, an important part of the case against him, according

to Buck. Buck also angrily confronted his girlfriend about her disclosing the fact that

he had purchased his cell phone from her son, when she was well aware that “this

whole case [is] surrounded by a cell phone.”

        {¶44} Barrow testified in his defense that George was a friend of his.
According to Barrow, George’s brothers were known to be “[i]nto the high-end drug

trade.” George hatched an extortion plan with Barrow, Watson, Profit, Little D, and

Little C to get $100,000 from George’s brother. George was to receive $40,000.

        {¶45} Barrow said that George got into his van voluntarily and that they
drove around. At one point, Barrow said, they sat at the Shell station to see if

George’s brother would come with the money. At that point, they realized that the

police might be involved, so Barrow left the group. He did not know where George

went.

        {¶46} Barrow testified that he knew Buck, but that Buck was not involved in
the kidnapping. He said that he had spoken to several people “through that Buck

phone,” one of them being Buck.

        {¶47} Buck did not testify at trial.

        {¶48} Our Standard of Review. In a challenge to the sufficiency of the
evidence, the question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the state, any rational trier of fact could have found all the essential

elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio

St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. When considering

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

a challenge to the weight of the evidence, the court must examine the entire record,

weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the

witnesses, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury

clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Thompkins,

78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997).

       {¶49} To find Buck guilty of kidnapping pursuant to R.C. 2905.01(A)(1), the
jury was required to find that he, by force, threat, or deception, removed George

from the place where he was found or restrained George’s liberty for the purpose of

holding him for ransom. On appeal, Buck challenges the evidence identifying him as

one of the perpetrators of the kidnapping.

       {¶50} Buck’s Phone.       Buck contends that the state presented no direct

evidence that he was the person using the (513) 498-2051 cell phone to make ransom

calls to the victim’s brother. The phone was in his pocket and contained selfie

photographs and videos of Buck. The required-birthdate password for the prepaid

account on the phone was one digit different than Buck’s actual birthdate. And in his

jail calls, Buck made it clear that he knew that his phone was damning evidence

against him. The jury could reasonably conclude that he was the person using the

phone for ransom calls.

       {¶51} Voice Identification.     Buck also contends that Detective Hilbert’s

identification of his voice as one of the kidnapper’s voices was “fundamentally

incredible” because the detective was neither an expert at voice identification nor

had familiarity with Buck’s voice at the time of the offense. Buck did not object to

the identification at trial, but his defense counsel cross-examined the detective about

the identification.

       {¶52} A witness identifying a person’s voice does not have to be an expert in
voice recognition. See State v. Seay, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-090233, 2010-Ohio-

896, ¶ 27; State v. Pettaway, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-14-18, 2015-Ohio-1597, ¶ 37. A

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

witness may give an opinion identifying a voice “based upon hearing the voice at any

time under circumstances connecting it with the alleged speaker.”        See Evid.R.

901(B)(5).

       {¶53} The evidence demonstrated that Detective Hilbert spoke to Buck the
morning of his arrest and immediately recognized Buck’s voice as that of one of the

kidnappers who had made multiple calls to Kellam. Phone records confirmed that

while Detective Hilbert was listening in on the ransom calls, Buck had called Kellam

at least seven times. Five of those calls lasted between three and 11.5 minutes.

Detective Hilbert’s credibility was for the jury to determine. See State v. DeHass, 10

Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraph one of the syllabus.

       {¶54} Following our review of the record, we hold that Buck’s conviction was
supported by sufficient evidence and was not against the manifest weight of the

evidence.    Buck was found in possession of a cell phone used to make ransom

demands, and Detective Hilbert recognized his voice as one of the callers. And

Buck’s jail calls demonstrated that he was involved in the crime and knew the

incriminating nature of the phone. We overrule the sixth assignment of error.

                                Prosecutorial Misconduct

       {¶55} In his second assignment of error, Buck argues that his right to due
process was violated by prosecutorial misconduct. He asserts that the prosecutor

failed to disclose a second police interview with Tyrell George, and then presented a

theory of prosecution based in part on a statement “proven false” by the undisclosed

interview. In addition, he argues that the prosecutor allowed a state’s witness to

“present likely perjured testimony without correction.”

       {¶56} Generally, prosecutorial misconduct will not provide a basis for
overturning a conviction unless, on the record as a whole, the misconduct can be said

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

to have deprived the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 166,

555 N.E.2d 293 (1990). The test for whether prosecutorial misconduct mandates

reversal is whether the prosecutor’s remarks or actions were improper, and, if so,

whether they prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the accused. State v.

Smith, 97 Ohio St.3d 367, 2002-Ohio-6659, 780 N.E.2d 221, ¶ 45.

       {¶57} Failure to Disclose the Second Interview of Tyrell George. First,
Buck argues that the prosecutor failed to disclose that he and Detective Hilbert had

interviewed George ten to 15 days after the detective’s February 7th interview of

George. Buck contends that in the second interview, George revealed that he had

voluntarily gotten in the van driven by Barrow to sell marijuana to Barrow. In the

first interview, he told Detective Hilbert that he was grabbed off the street.

       {¶58} At trial, George testified that he had foolishly gotten into the van at
Barrow’s direction, and that Barrow “had somebody in the back waiting on me,

snatched me up, choking me out.” On cross-examination, George acknowledged that

he had told the police that the “van pulled down on me and snatched me up,” and

that later on in the first interview, he had said, “[T]hey was already parked and dude

say hey. I’m walking. I turned around a little bit, next thing you know I’m in the

back of the van fighting with this dude[.]” When asked whether the police had

interviewed him a second time, George initially denied it and then stated, “Not that I

can remember. I don’t know. I don’t remember. I just remember I came up a couple

days after it happened and they talked to me, showed me a couple picture.”

       {¶59} The issue of a second George interview arose during the cross-
examination of Detective Hilbert by Buck’s attorney. The attorney asked whether

George, when interviewed on the date of his escape, had mentioned that he was

selling marijuana when he was kidnapped. The detective responded that George had

not. Then the detective said that he was not surprised when, ten to 15 days later,

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                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

George told him about the arranged and attempted marijuana sale. At that point,

codefendant Barrow’s counsel asked the court for a sidebar conference.

       {¶60} At sidebar, Barrow’s attorney indicated that he was not aware that the
police had interviewed George a second time. Buck’s attorney, on the other hand, at

no time asserted that he was unaware of a second interview. Instead, his focus was

on exploiting the inconsistencies between George’s trial testimony and his first police

interview, noting specifically, “my problem is not with [the prosecutor] or Detective

Hilbert.”

       {¶61} The prosecutor explained to the trial court that he believed he had
provided information about the second interview to defense counsel, noting that

both defendants had been represented by previous counsel. The trial court noted

that there had been no suggestion that the prosecutor had withheld any information.

       {¶62} As an accommodation to Barrow’s counsel, the trial court allowed a
brief recess during which the prosecutor and both defense counsel spoke with

Detective Hilbert about the second interview. Afterwards, the court noted that the

content of the second interview included George’s acknowledgement to Detective

Hilbert that he had omitted telling the detective that he had arranged to meet Barrow

to sell him marijuana.

       {¶63} Then the court allowed Barrow’s counsel to further cross-examine
Detective Hilbert about the second interview and whether he had divulged that

interview to defense counsel.

       {¶64} It is not clear from the record that the prosecutor failed to disclose the
second George interview. Even if we assume the discovery violation occurred, we

hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its handling of the matter.

       {¶65} Crim.R. 16 controls the discovery process, the purpose of which is “to
provide all parties in a criminal case with the information necessary for a full and fair

adjudication of the facts, to protect the integrity of the justice system and the rights

                                            16
                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

of defendants, and to protect the well-being of witnesses, victims, and society at

large.” See Crim.R. 16(A). The rule gives the trial court the discretion to determine

an appropriate sanction for a discovery violation. See Crim.R. 16(L); State v. Wiles,

59 Ohio St.3d 71, 78, 571 N.E.2d 97 (1991). In making such a determination, the

court must consider whether (1) the failure to disclose was a willful violation of

Crim.R. 16, (2) whether foreknowledge of the undisclosed material would have

benefited the defendant in the preparation of a defense, and (3) whether the

defendant was prejudiced. State v. Darmond, 135 Ohio St.3d 343, 2013-Ohio-966,

986 N.E.2d 971, ¶ 35, citing State v. Parson, 6 Ohio St.3d 442, 453 N.E.2d 689

(1983), syllabus. The court “must impose the least severe sanction that is consistent

with the purpose of the discovery rules.”      Id. at syllabus, quoting Lakewood v.

Papadelis, 32 Ohio St.3d 1, 511 N.E.2d 1138 (1987), paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶66} In this case, the record demonstrates that, even if the prosecutor failed
to disclose George’s second interview to Buck’s counsel, the discovery violation was

not willful. Buck does not contend that his defense would have changed if he had

known that George had voluntarily gotten into Barrow’s van initially. His defense

was not that the victim was not kidnapped, but that he was not involved in the

kidnapping.

       {¶67} The trial court’s remedy for the discovery issue was to recess to allow
defense counsel to meet with Detective Hilbert and to allow counsel to fully cross-

examine the detective on the matter. We note that Buck’s counsel expressed no

dissatisfaction following his discussion with Detective Hilbert. And Buck has failed to

demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the alleged discovery violation. Under these

circumstances, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in handling

the potential discovery violation. In addition, as we discuss in addressing Buck’s

third assignment of error, the trial court properly denied Buck’s request for a

mistrial.

                                          17
                    OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

         {¶68} On appeal, Buck asserts that, in addition to failing to disclose the
second George interview, the prosecutor perpetuated George’s “false” narrative about

being grabbed off the street in the bill of particulars and in his opening statement at

trial.

         {¶69} The Bill of Particulars.        Under Crim.R. 7(E), upon request, “the

prosecuting attorney shall furnish the defendant with a bill of particulars setting up

specifically the nature of the offense charge and of the conduct of the defendant

alleged to constitute the offense.” The limited purpose of a bill of particulars is “to

elucidate or particularize the conduct of the accused,” but not “to provide the accused

with specifications of evidence or to serve as a substitute for discovery.” State v.

Sellards, 17 Ohio St.3d 169, 171, 478 N.E.2d 781 (1985). Under Crim.R. 33(E)(2), a

variance between the allegations against the defendant and the evidence at trial is

not reversible error unless the defense is prejudiced or misled thereby. “Even a

significant factual flaw in the bill of particulars is not reversible error unless the

defendant can establish prejudice wherein he was denied a fair trial.”         State v.

Montoya, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2012-02-015, 2013-Ohio-3312, ¶ 24.

         {¶70} In this case, the bill of particulars stated in part:
                At approximately 7:00 P.M. on February 6, 2014, Defendants,

         acting as principal offenders and/or working in complicity with each

         other, * * * purposefully by force, threat or deception, removed Tyrelle

         George from the place where he was found or restrained him of his

         liberty for the purpose of holding him for ransom or as a shield or as a

         hostage.

                Specifically, Defendants approached the victim as he was

         walking at or near 330 Forest in the District 4 area of Cincinnati. The

         victim was overpowered and was thrown into a vehicle. He was bound

                                             18
                    OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       and blindfolded and was then driven from the area to unknown

       locations.

       {¶71} The essential elements of kidnapping and the conduct of the
defendants were sufficiently spelled out in the bill of particulars: whether George

had entered the van voluntarily or not, the defendants overpowered him, blindfolded

him, and took him from the street where he had been. See Sellards at 171. Buck has

not demonstrated that any variance between the evidence presented at trial and the

bill of particulars regarding the manner in which George got into the van was

misleading or impaired his ability to defend himself.

       {¶72} The Prosecutor’s Opening Statement. In opening statement, the
prosecutor told the jury:

              Tyrell George will tell you that he walked out of his parents’

       house and was walking down the street * * * and a black van pulls up. *

       * * Mr. Barrow pulls the car up. Mr. Watson gets out as Mr. George is

       just walking down the street and grabs him and wrestles with him and

       throws him in the back of this van.

              And Mr. George is not a huge guy. Looks like he’s in pretty

       good shape to me. He’s not going quietly. He’s frightened and he’s

       trying to get away. They’re trying to put a blindfold on him. They’re

       trying to tie him up. He’s trying to resist.

       {¶73} The prosecutor’s opening statement was not evidence and his assertion
that George was grabbed and thrown into the back of the van was contradicted by the

evidence presented at trial.     The trial court properly instructed the jury, “The

important thing to remember about opening statements, opening statements are not

evidence.” We presume that the jury followed the court’s instruction, and that it

based its decision on the evidence presented at trial.      Even if the prosecutor

                                           19
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

misstated what the evidence would show, it did not deprive Buck of a fair trial. See

State v. Diar, 120 Ohio St.3d 460, 2008-Ohio-6266, 900 N.E.2d 565, ¶ 145.

       {¶74} The Use of False Testimony.             Next, Buck contends that the

prosecutor committed misconduct by “failing to correct” (1) George’s “false”

testimony that he had not been interviewed a second time by police, and (2) the

“likely perjured testimony” of codefendant Rucker that the police had made no

promises to him in exchange for his cooperation.

       {¶75} In a claim of prosecutorial misconduct based on the use of false or
perjured testimony, the defendant has the burden to “show that (1) the statement

was actually false; (2) the statement was material; and (3) the prosecution knew it

was false.” State v. Iacona, 93 Ohio St.3d 83, 97, 752 N.E.2d 937 (2001), quoting

United States v. Lochmondy, 890 F.2d 817, 822 (6th Cir.1989). Buck has not met

this burden.

       {¶76} At first, George denied that police had interviewed him a second time,
but then said he could not remember, and then said he had talked to them a few days

after it happened. “Mere inconsistencies in testimony do not establish the knowing

use of false testimony by the prosecutor.” State v. Widmer, 12th Dist. Warren No.

CA2012-02-008, 2013-Ohio-62, ¶ 41, quoting Monroe v. Smith, 197 F.Supp.2d 753,

762 (E.D.Mich.2001). Additionally, the fact “that a witness contradicts [himself] or

changes [his] story also does not establish perjury.” Id.

       {¶77} With respect to Rucker’s denial that the police had made promises to
him, Buck points to a statement in a presentence investigation report: “Detective

Hilbert states that they were finally able to get one of the defendants to agree to a

plea deal if he helped the investigation.” The record reveals, however, that Detective

Hilbert testified to the same information at trial to explain why Rucker had not been

indicted for a firearm specification: “[Rucker was] a cooperating defendant in a

kidnapping investigation and we used him as a witness in this case.” And Rucker

                                          20
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

acknowledged during his testimony that, while the police had made no promises to

him, he hoped to avoid prison by testifying about his role in the kidnapping.

       {¶78} Buck has failed to show that either George’s or Rucker’s testimony was
false and, therefore, has failed to meet his burden to show that the prosecutor

committed misconduct by knowingly using false or perjured testimony.

       {¶79} Consequently, we hold that none of the actions by the prosecutor were
improper, and therefore, did not amount to misconduct. See Smith, 97 Ohio St.3d

367, 2002-Ohio-6659, 780 N.E.2d 221, at ¶ 45. We overrule the second assignment

of error.

                                        Due Process

       {¶80} In his third assignment of error, Buck argues that he was denied a fair
trial. He contends that the trial court: (1) ceased to be impartial after instigating a

confrontation with his trial counsel and then conducting a hearing on the incident

outside of his presence; (2) failed to investigate a potential conflict of interest

between Buck and his codefendant’s counsel; (3) failed to grant a mistrial after the

prosecutor’s misconduct; and (4) failed to record sidebar conferences. Buck claims

that these failures denied him due process and resulted in an unfair trial.

       {¶81} Lack of Impartiality. The record reveals that on the fifth day of the
trial, the judge conducted an in-chambers discussion that occurred on the record and

outside the presence of the jury at the request of Buck’s defense counsel.         The

discussion centered on an incident that had just occurred outside the courtroom,

wherein the trial judge angrily ordered defense counsel to the courtroom. Defense

counsel took umbrage, and asserted that the judge had demonstrated bias. The

judge explained that he had reacted in that manner because he was frustrated by

counsel’s tardiness, and apologized.

                                          21
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       {¶82} It is fundamentally unfair for a criminal defendant to be tried before a
biased judge. State v. LaMar, 95 Ohio St.3d 181, 2002-Ohio-2128, 767 N.E.2d 166, ¶

34, citing Rose v. Clark, 478 U.S. 570, 577, 106 S.Ct. 3101, 92 L.Ed.2d 460 (1986). A

trial before a judge that is not impartial results in structural constitutional error that

would require reversal without resort to a harmless-error analysis. State v. Sanders,

92 Ohio St.3d 245, 278, 750 N.E.2d 90 (2001), citing Arizona v. Fulminante, 499

U.S. 279, 309-310, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991).

       {¶83} The Supreme Court of Ohio has described judicial bias as “a hostile
feeling or spirit of ill will or undue friendship or favoritism toward one of the

litigants or his attorney, with the formation of a fixed anticipatory judgment on the

part of the judge, as contradistinguished from an open state of mind which will be

governed by the law and the facts.” State ex rel. Pratt v. Weygandt, 164 Ohio St.

463, 132 N.E.2d 191 (1956), paragraph four of the syllabus.

       {¶84} Confrontation and Hearing Outside Defendant’s Presence. First,
he points to the judge’s angry confrontation with his defense counsel. “[S]harp words

spoken by a trial court to counsel do not by themselves establish impermissible bias.

There is a ‘modicum of quick temper that must be allowed even judges.’ ” Sanders at

278, citing United States v. Donato, 99 F.3d 426, 434 (D.C.Cir.1996), quoting Offutt

v. United States, 348 U.S. 11, 17, 75 S.Ct. 11, 99 L.Ed. 11 (1954). The United States

Supreme Court has explained:

       [J]udicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or

       disapproving of, or even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases,

       ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge. * * * Not

       establishing bias or partiality, however, are expressions of impatience,

       dissatisfaction, annoyance, and even anger, that are within the bounds

       of what imperfect men and women, even after having been confirmed

       as federal judges, sometimes display. A judge’s ordinary efforts at

                                           22
                    OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

        courtroom administration—even a stern and short-tempered judge’s

        ordinary efforts at courtroom administration—remain immune.

Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555-556, 114 S.Ct. 1147, 127 L.Ed.2d 474

(1994).

        {¶85} In this case, even if the judge used profanity in speaking with defense
counsel and expressed impatience with counsel, the episode occurred outside the

courtroom and out of the jury’s presence, and by itself demonstrated no bias or

partiality of the judge.

        {¶86} Buck also complains that he was denied due process because he was
not present at the in-chambers discussion about the incident between the trial judge

and defense counsel. He argues that he was entitled to be at the discussion because

it was a critical stage of the trial.

        {¶87} While a criminal defendant has a fundamental right to be present at all
critical stages of his trial, State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St.3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892

N.E.2d 864, ¶ 100; Article I, Section 10, Ohio Constitution; Crim.R. 43(A),

prejudicial or constitutional error does not necessarily result from the defendant’s

absence. State v. Frazier, 115 Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶

139; State v. Green, 90 Ohio St.3d 352, 371, 738 N.E.2d 1208 (2000). “[I]n certain

circumstances, a defendant’s absence from a discussion at which his counsel are

present does not offend due process.” State v. Conway, 108 Ohio St.3d 214, 2006-

Ohio-791, 842 N.E.2d 996, ¶ 50, citing United States v. Gagnon, 470 U.S. 522, 527,

105 S.Ct. 1482, 84 L.Ed.2d 486 (1985).

        {¶88} Buck has failed to establish that he suffered any prejudice from not
being present for this in-chambers and on-the-record discussion. Moreover, Buck

implicitly waived his presence for the discussion because it occurred and was

recorded at the request of defense counsel, who was authorized to waive Buck’s

presence. See State v. Brinkley, 105 Ohio St.3d 231, 2005-Ohio-1507, 824 N.E.2d

                                         23
                   OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

959, ¶ 122, quoting Gagnon at 528 (the trial court “need not get an express ‘on the

record’ waiver from the defendant for every trial conference which a defendant may

have a right to attend”).

         {¶89} Conflict of Interest with Codefendant’s Counsel.              Next, Buck

argues that the trial court failed to investigate a potential conflict of interest between

Buck and his codefendant’s trial counsel, who had once represented Buck in a

criminal case. Buck asserts that the court’s failure to investigate the conflict arising

from counsel’s successive representation of him and then Barrow denied him a fair

trial.

         {¶90} A trial court has a duty to inquire into a potential conflict only where it
knows or reasonably should know of an attorney’s possible conflict of interest in the

representation of a criminal defendant. State v. Gillard, 78 Ohio St.3d 548, 552, 679

N.E.2d 276 (1997); Mickens v. Taylor, 535 U.S. 162, 168, 122 S.Ct. 1237, 152 L.Ed.2d

291 (2002); Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 347, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 64 L.Ed.2d 333

(1980). This “is not to be confused with when the trial court is aware of a vague,

unspecified possibility of conflict, such as that which ‘inheres in almost every

instance of multiple representation.’ ” Mickens at 168-169, quoting Cuyler at 348.

         {¶91} The court’s failure to conduct the inquiry, however, does not require a
reversal unless an actual conflict is found. Gillard at 552. An actual conflict may be

found where counsel actively represents conflicting interests. State v. Manross, 40

Ohio St.3d 180, 182, 532 N.E.2d 735 (1988). “Conflicts may arise when an attorney

simultaneously represents clients with different interests (multiple representation),

or when an attorney representing a defendant has previously represented co-

defendants or trial witnesses (successive representation).” Moss v. United States,

323 F.3d 445, 459 (6th Cir.2003), quoting United States v. Shepard, 675 F.2d 977

979 (8th Cir.1982). “It is more difficult for a defendant to show that counsel actively

                                            24
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

represented conflicting interests in cases of successive rather than simultaneous

representation.” Id.

       {¶92} Here, on the tenth day of trial, just before closing arguments, Buck’s
counsel informed the court that Buck had just told him that Barrow’s counsel had

represented him nine years earlier. At that point, Barrow’s counsel told the court

that he could not recall if he had represented Buck. The trial court expressed

skepticism about the timing of Buck’s concern because the trial was in its second

week and because Barrow’s counsel had been involved in the case for quite some

time. The court pointed out that Barrow testified that Buck had had nothing to do

with the charged offense and that Barrow’s counsel had done nothing to try to

incriminate Buck. Buck’s response was that he had not realized earlier that there

was a potential conflict.

       {¶93} Buck has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced as a result of
Barrow’s counsel’s representation of him nine years earlier. At most, he claims that

if he had testified, “it would have behooved co-defendant’s counsel to press Mr. Buck

to testify that a staged kidnapping is in fact what took place—a proposition that

would have been directly contradictory to Mr. Buck’s defense.” But Buck did not

testify, and any potential effect of the previous representation is speculative.

Therefore, the trial court did not err by failing to further investigate the matter.

       {¶94} Failure to Grant a Mistrial. Buck also argues that the trial court erred
by denying his motion for a mistrial because the prosecutor purposely failed to

disclose the second police interview with George. He asserts that he was deprived of

the opportunity to cross-examine George on the discrepancies between the two

interviews.

       {¶95} The decision whether to grant or deny a mistrial “lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 59, 656 N.E.2d 623

                                           25
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

(1995). A mistrial should be declared only when justice requires and when a fair trial

is no longer possible. State v. Franklin, 62 Ohio St.3d 118, 127, 580 N.E.2d 1 (1991).

       {¶96} As we have stated, a trial court has discretion in determining a
sanction for a discovery violation. Darmond, 135 Ohio St.3d 343, 2013-Ohio-966,

986 N.E.2d 971, at ¶ 33. See discussion at ¶ 65.

       {¶97} At the close of the state’s case, Barrow’s defense attorney moved for a
mistrial on the basis that he had believed that the police had only interviewed George

once, and that Barrow had been prejudiced as a result. Buck’s defense attorney

joined in the motion, but offered no argument. We note that it is not clear from the

record that the prosecutor had not disclosed the second interview to Buck because

his attorney never made such a representation to the court.

       {¶98} The prosecutor responded that he had had meetings with the defense
and had provided them with all the information that he had. He said that he and

Detective Hilbert had communicated the substance of the second interview to

Barrow’s prior counsel.     He said that Barrow’s trial counsel had told him that

Barrow’s prior counsel had gotten rid of his case file, so the prosecutor did his best to

ensure that both defense counsel had all of the information that had been previously

disclosed.

       {¶99} The trial court denied the motions for a mistrial, stating that while
there was a discrepancy as to “who knew or who didn’t know and what was turned

over to prior counsel,” the defense had adequately dealt with what they had learned

about the second interview.

       {¶100} When the codefendant’s counsel asserted surprise at the second
interview, the court noted that there had been no assertion that the prosecutor

willfully withheld the information and that it may have been provided to prior

defense counsel. The court recessed so that defense counsel could meet with the

prosecutor and Detective Hilbert to discuss the content of the second interview and

                                           26
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

allowed counsel to cross-examine the detective about whether the interview had been

withheld.

       {¶101} Buck asserts, for the first time on appeal, that the late disclosure
prevented him from cross-examining Detective Hilbert about the discrepancies

between the two interviews. He does not say how the discrepancies would have

aided his defense. According to Detective Hilbert, there were no discrepancies, just

new information about a prearranged marijuana sale.            And Buck’s counsel had

already begun cross-examining the detective about the drug deal before Barrow’s

counsel asserted surprise at another interview.

       {¶102} At trial, Buck’s counsel raised no concern about discrepancies between
the two interviews. Rather, he explained to the trial court that the only discrepancies

he wanted to explore were those between George’s first interview and his trial

testimony. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court abused its

discretion by overruling Buck’s motion for a mistrial related to the alleged discovery

violation. Buck has failed to establish that a fair trial was no longer possible.

       {¶103} Failure to Record Sidebar Conferences. Buck complains that the
trial court denied his right to a public trial and violated Crim.R. 22 by failing to

record all of the sidebar conferences. During recesses throughout the trial, the court

summarized the content of preceding sidebar conferences, and then asked whether

the parties had additions or corrections to make to the summaries. Defense counsel

did not object to this procedure.

       {¶104} Crim.R. 22 requires the trial court to record all proceedings (including
sidebar conferences) in serious-offense cases, and the court’s summary of sidebar

conferences in lieu of a recording is error. State v. Simmons, 2014-Ohio-3695, 19

N.E.3d 517, ¶ 80 (1st Dist.); State v. Davis, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130198, 2014-

Ohio-794, ¶ 13. However, the defendant must show prejudice from the failure to

                                           27
                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

record, especially where the defendant fails to object to the procedure used the by

trial court. Simmons at ¶ 81.

       {¶105} In this case, defense counsel was given an opportunity to comment on
the trial court’s summary, to add anything counsel wanted, to clarify the summary,

or to object to it in any way. Counsel did not do so, and we therefore presume the

summaries are accurate.

       {¶106} If Buck believed that the trial court’s summaries were inaccurate, he
had the burden to supplement the record. Where a trial court fails to record sidebar

conferences, the defendant bears the burden of reconstructing the off-the-record

discussion pursuant to App.R. 9(C).      Davis at ¶ 14.    In this case, by failing to

supplement the record with an alternative statement of what transpired, Buck has

accepted the trial court’s summaries as accurate representations of what occurred

during the unrecorded sidebar conferences. Id.

       {¶107} The trial court erred by failing to record the sidebar conferences. But
because Buck has failed to demonstrate any resulting prejudice, we overrule the third

assignment of error.

                                      Tattoo Evidence

       {¶108} In his fourth assignment of error, Buck argues that the trial court erred
by admitting into evidence two photographs of his tattoos, over his objection. One

photograph depicted a shirtless Buck with multiple tattoos on his arms and upper

body. The second photograph depicted a tattoo of a gun on Buck’s left forearm. The

tattoo was described at trial as a hand on the trigger of a pistol-grip shotgun, with

smoke coming from its barrel, above the words “by all means.” Buck contends that

both photographs were irrelevant, and that even if relevant, their probative value was

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. See Evid.R. 403.

                                          28
                 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

       {¶109} The admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial
court. See State v. Obermiller, 147 Ohio St.3d 175, 2016-Ohio-1594, 63 N.E.3d 93, ¶

61. We will not disturb a trial court’s ruling on evidentiary issues on appeal absent

an abuse of discretion and proof of material prejudice. State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio

St.3d 261, 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508, ¶ 181; State v. Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d 165,

2016-Ohio-1581, 74 N.E.3d 319, ¶ 116.       An abuse of discretion occurs if the trial

court’s decision is “unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.”       Blakemore v.

Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).

       {¶110} Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence of
any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or

less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Evid.R. 401. All relevant

evidence is admissible unless its probative value is substantially outweighed by the

danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. McKelton

at ¶ 144, citing Evid.R. 402 and 403(A).

       {¶111} Courts have found evidence that a defendant has a particular tattoo to
be relevant for various purposes. For example, tattoo evidence may be relevant to

the identification of the defendant. McKelton at ¶ 195-196; State v. Doan, 12th Dist.

Clinton No. CA97-12-014, 2000 WL 221963, *14 (Feb. 28, 2000). Or to rebut a

defendant’s statements. State v. Adams, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-11-293, 2011-

Ohio-536, ¶ 35; State v. Chisolm, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 05CA008782, 2006-Ohio-

5051, ¶ 22. Or to establish motive. State v. Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-

Ohio-5084, 854 N.E.2d 1038, ¶ 75; State v. Jenkins, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 05CA7,

2006-Ohio-2546, ¶ 53.

       {¶112} In this case, we find that the tattoo evidence meets none of these
relevance criteria and that the court abused its discretion in admitting the

photographs. See State v. Huff, 145 Ohio App.3d 555, 566, 763 N.E.2d 695 (1st

Dist.2001). Even if the tattoo evidence was relevant, if it invites the jury to draw an

                                           29
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

improper inference about the defendant’s character, its probative value may be

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. McKelton, 148 Ohio

St.3d 261, 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508, at ¶ 196. In this case, any probative value

that the tattoo photographs may have had was substantially outweighed by the

danger of unfair prejudice because the photographs may have encouraged the jury to

draw an improper inference about Buck’s familiarity with guns and his willingness to

use firearms to commit crimes. See id. at ¶ 196 (“straight killer” tattoo showed the

defendant’s “comfort with death and guns” and may have led to an improper

inference that he committed murders).       The trial court abused its discretion in

admitting the tattoo photographs. Id.

       {¶113} Even so, we hold that the error in the admission of the photographs
was harmless because there is no reasonable probability that the evidence

contributed to Buck’s conviction. State v. Morris, 141 Ohio St.3d 399, 2014-Ohio-

5052, 24 N.E.3d 1153, ¶ 28. Given the overwhelming evidence of Buck’s guilt, we

cannot say that but for the tattoo photographs, the outcome of the trial would have

been different. McKelton at ¶ 197; State v. Arnold, 147 Ohio St.3d 138, 2016-Ohio-

1595, 62 N.E.3d 153, ¶ 50, citing State v. Harris, 142 Ohio St.3d 211, 2015-Ohio-166,

28 N.E.3d 1256, ¶ 37. We overrule the fourth assignment of error.

                                      Jail-Time Credit

       {¶114} In his fifth assignment of error, Buck argues that his sentence was
contrary to law because the trial court failed to properly calculate jail-time credit to

include the days that he was held on a parole holder predicated solely on the

kidnapping offense. See State v. Gonzales, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2016-A-0048,

2017-Ohio-2720.    The state concedes the error.      See State v. Bowden, 1st Dist.

Hamilton No. C-140462, 2015-Ohio-3740, ¶ 18 (trial court’s failure to include the

                                          30
                  OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

appropriate amount of jail-time credit in the sentencing entry is plain error). The

state agrees that Buck is entitled to 761 days of jail-time credit.

       {¶115} Therefore, we vacate Buck’s sentence in part, and we remand the cause
for the sole purpose of including 761 days of jail-time credit in the sentencing entry.

                                          Conclusion

       {¶116} Accordingly, we vacate Buck’s sentence in part, and we remand the
cause for the proper inclusion of jail-time credit.       The trial court’s judgment is

affirmed in all other respects.

           Judgment affirmed in part, sentence vacated in part, and cause remanded.

MOCK, P.J., and ZAYAS, J., concur.

Please note:

       The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.

                                            31