Court Opinion

ID: 6218174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-10 17:11:28.32432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:13.125645
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Nicholson, 2022-Ohio-374.]

                               COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO,                                       :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,                 :
                                                              No. 110522
                 v.                                  :

NASIM NICHOLSON,                                     :

                 Defendant-Appellant.                :

                                JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

                 JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
                 RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 10, 2022

         Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                             Case No. CR-19-644528-A

                                               Appearances:

                 Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
                 Attorney, and John Hirschauer, Assistant Prosecuting
                 Attorney, for appellee.

                 Maxwell Martin, for appellant.

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J.:

                 Defendant-appellant, Nasim Nicholson (“Nasim”), appeals from the

trial court’s judgment finding him guilty of participating in a criminal gang and

sentencing him to an indefinite term of 9 to 12 years’ incarceration. Finding no merit

to the appeal, we affirm.
I.   Background

            In October 2019, Nasim was charged in a 25-count indictment. Count

1, participating in a criminal gang, stemmed from Nasim’s conduct from August 1,

2018, to June 19, 2019. The other counts — 4 counts of attempted murder, 13 counts

of felonious assault, 3 counts of discharge of a firearm at or near prohibited

premises, 2 counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, and 2 counts

of improperly discharging firearm at or into habitation — arose out of three separate

shooting incidents that occurred on December 4, 2018, January 27, 2019, and

January 29, 2019. Nasim was charged with two codefendants — his brother Onaje

Nicholson and his nephew Jesse Sanders.

            Prior to trial, codefendant Sanders entered into a plea agreement with

the state whereby he agreed to plead guilty to three counts of felonious assault

related to the three shootings and testify against Nasim and Onaje at trial. After he

testified, the remaining firearm specifications and charges against him were nolled,

and the trial court sentenced him to four years’ probation.

             Sanders testified that he has known Nasim, known as Nas, and Onaje

his entire life, and Malik Booker, known as ManMan, and James Booker, known as

Mister, for at least ten years. Sanders testified that on December 4, 2018, he, Nasim,

Onaje, and Mister were riding in Sanders’s car. According to Sanders, Onaje was

driving, Sanders was in the front passenger seat, Nasim was in the rear passenger

seat behind him, and Mister was in the rear passenger seat behind Onaje. Sanders

said that as their car travelled on Forest Avenue near East 116th Street, a gray Ford
passed them going the opposite direction. Sanders testified that as the Ford went

by, Onaje said, “there go Ty,” referring to Tykis Banks, whom Onaje believed was

involved in the murder of an individual named Muddy. Sanders said that upon

seeing the Ford, Onaje rolled his window down, blew the car’s horn, and then put

two fingers out the window and made the peace sign. Onaje then turned the car

around and sped up next to Ty’s car. Sanders said that when they saw the rear

passenger window of the Ford go down, Nasim leaned out of the rear window of

their car and fired three to five shots at the Ford with a Glock handgun before Onaje

sped away.

             The next shooting incident occurred six to seven weeks later. Sanders

testified that on January 27, 2019, he was again riding with Nasim and Onaje in his

car. This time Sanders was driving, Onaje was in the front passenger seat, and

Nasim was in the rear. Sanders said that as they drove up Svec Avenue toward East

140th Street, Onaje identified a brownish-gold Chevy Impala parked on the street as

belonging to an individual named Pablo and then leaned out the window and shot

at the car as they drove by. Sanders testified that he kept driving, turned the corner,

drove around the block, and passed by the Impala again. Sanders said that this time,

Nasim got out of the car and fired more shots at an individual who was trying to

duck for cover.

             The third shooting occurred two days later. Sanders testified that he

knows Delvonte Philpotts, known as Yelly, from Instagram.            He said that at

approximately 4 a.m. on January 29, 2019, he, Onaje, and Nasim left the Nicholsons’
house in South Euclid and drove to Cato Avenue in Maple Heights. Onaje drove,

Sanders sat in the front passenger seat, and Nasim sat in the rear. Sanders said that

Onaje identified a home on Cato Avenue as Yelly’s house. Sanders testified that he

parked the car around the corner on Arch Street, and Onaje and Nasim got out of

the car and ran toward Yelly’s house. Sanders said that he heard at least ten

gunshots, after which Onaje and Nasim ran back to the car. Sanders testified that

later the same day, he received a call from Darren Allen, known as Puff, who said

that Yelly’s sister was posting about the shooting on Facebook and blaming it on

Puff, Onaje, and Nasim. Sanders said he texted Onaje and told him, “one of y’all

grazed a baby,” and Onaje responded, “how you know?” Sanders said that when he

texted Onaje that “Puff called and said they posted it on Facebook,”              Onaje

responded, “bet,” which means “okay.”1

             Although Sanders denied being a member, he testified that Nasim,

Onaje, and Puff identified themselves as members of a “group” called the Real

Shooters, which he said they abbreviated as “RS.”            Sanders identified Puff’s

Instagram account from state’s exhibit No. 405 as “rs_puffdiditagain,” Nasim’s

Instagram account as “rs_nas4rmtha6,” and Onaje’s account as “rs_ojayy116.”

Sanders identified Nasim and Onaje from their Instagram pictures on state’s exhibit

No. 405, and confirmed that Onaje was wearing a hoodie with the words “President

      1 No one was injured in any of the shootings. Ashley Brooks, who lived in the house
on Cato Avenue with her brother Yelly and her three children, testified at trial that she
posted on Facebook about the shots hitting a baby to scare the shooters and let them know
that “things like that can happen when you shoot into a house with children.”
RS” in his Instagram picture. Sanders said that Onaje and Nasim carried guns

“every day” in 2o18 and 2019 and different guns would be passed around the group.

Sanders also identified state’s exhibit No. 407 as a picture of Nasim holding a Glock

with a laser light attachment.

             Sergeant Alfred Johnson, supervisor of the Cleveland Police

Department Gang Impact Unit, testified that he became aware of the Real Shooters

gang before Nasim was implicated in the three shootings for which he was charged

after an incident near 117th Street and Kinsman Avenue where an arrest was made

and several firearms were recovered. Later, after the December 2018 shooting

incident in this case, Sgt. Johnson spoke with the mother of one of the intended

victims and, in light of what she told him, he began investigating the social media

accounts of Nasim, Onaje, Puff, and Malik Booker, as well as the accounts of the

people who followed them or commented on their posts. Sgt. Johnson testified that

the posted pictures were generally of males holding guns, which he said is how gangs

boast to each other on social media. He testified that gangs typically use illegally

obtained firearms and frequently trade the guns among the gang members,

especially if a gun has been used by a member in a shooting.

             He testified that the social media posts viewed by the detectives in the

gang unit established that the Real Shooters gang operated near the area of East

116th Street in the city of Cleveland, between Kinsman and Buckeye Roads.

Detective Michael Harrigan, who took over the investigation from Sgt. Johnson in

January 2019, and was qualified at trial as a gang expert, testified that as a result of
his investigation, he concluded there were six members of the Real Shooters gang,

including Puff, brothers Nasim and Onaje, and codefendant Jesse Sanders.

              Both Sgt. Johnson and Det. Harrigan testified that although the Real

Shooters was a criminal gang in and of itself, the RS gang associated itself with the

Heartless Felons gang. Both Sgt. Johnson and Det. Harrigan identified social media

posts and pictures that established consistent hand signs used by the gang members,

which for the Real Shooters was either pointing a real gun or a finger gun at the

person’s own head, and for the Heartless Felons, a hand sign with two middle fingers

folded down into the palm and the other fingers extended. The social media posts

viewed by the detectives also included other text or graphic symbols representing

gang membership, such as the trademark broken heart symbol of the Heartless

Felons, and identifying apparel (a tee-shirt with the letters RS and broken hearts

and a hoodie stating “President RS”).

             With respect to Nasim’s association with the Real Shooters, Sgt.

Johnson and Det. Harrigan identified state’s exhibit Nos. 717-721, 729-732, and 779

as pictures from social media of Nasim, often with the other codefendants or known

associates of the gang, either holding up gang signs for the Real Shooters or

Heartless Felons, a gun, or both.

              Sgt. Johnson testified that Nasim used several Instagram accounts,

one of which was “rs_nas4rmtha6.” Sgt. Johnson testified that other suspected

members of the Real Shooters had the similar prefatory “rs” on their Instagram

account names. Det. Harrigan testified that there was also a graphic small “r” and
money sign on the “rs_nas4rmtha6” profile page, used to show membership in the

Real Shooters, as well as a broken heart for the Heartless Felons, and the numbers

1, 1, and 6, indicating the Real Shooter’s geographic territory on East 116th Street.

Sgt. Johnson testified that Nasim’s other Instagram accounts — “naso4rm116” and

“nas_heartless” — likewise established connections with the Real Shooters and

Heartless Felons.

             In addition to the social media posts establishing his membership in

the Real Shooters from August 1, 2018, to June 19, 2019, the evidence produced at

trial implicated Nasim in the December 14, 2018, January 27, 2019, and January 29,

2019 shootings. As set forth above, codefendant Sanders testified that Nasim was

involved in each shooting. Additionally, Det. Harrigan testified that in his post-

arrest interview, Nasim admitted to carrying a Glock — which according to Kristen

Koeth, the forensic scientist who examined recovered shell casings, was the gun used

in two of the shootings — although Nasim later recanted this statement.

              Nasim also admitted at one point in his interview with Det. Harrigan

to his involvement in the January 27, 2019 shooting, stating that “they started

shooting and we shot back,” a statement Det. Harrigan testified he knew to be untrue

but that established Nasim’s presence at the scene. Nasim also told Det. Harrigan

that he knew about the “beef” with Pablo that prompted the shooting. Similarly,

with respect to the January 29, 2019 shooting in Maple Heights, Nasim told Det.

Harrigan he was aware there was an ongoing argument on Instagram involving Yelly

and two other males.
              Nevertheless, there was conflicting evidence regarding Nasim’s

involvement in the three shootings. Sgt. Johnson testified that the victims of the

December 4, 2018 shooting identified the shooters in their written statements to

police as Puff and Onaje and made no mention of Nasim.              Moreover, a still

photograph from a surveillance camera from a home on Forest Avenue showed an

individual leaning out of the driver’s side rear passenger window of Sanders’s car

with his arm extended as if he were shooting, calling into question Sanders’s

testimony that Nasim, who according to Sanders was sitting in the rear passenger

seat behind the front passenger, was the shooter. Likewise, Sanders testified that

Nasim used a 1911 silver gun in the second shooting, but no casings consistent with

a 1911 firearm were found at the scene. With regard to the third shooting incident,

Ashley Brooks, who lived in the house on Cato Avenue with her brother Yelly and

her three children, told the Maple Heights patrolman who responded to the scene

after the shooting that she thought Puff and Onaje were the perpetrators because

they had been threatening her on Instagram prior to the shooting. She made no

mention of Nasim’s involvement in the Instagram threats.

              The jury found Nasim guilty of Count 1, participating in a criminal

gang, as well as the one- and three-year firearm specifications, and not guilty of the

remaining charges.     The trial court sentenced him to 3 years on the firearm

specification, consecutive to an indefinite sentence of 6 to 9 years on the underlying

offense, for a total sentence of 9 to 12 years. This appeal followed.
II. Law and Analysis

      A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

              In his first assignment of error, Nasim contends that the evidence was

insufficient to support his conviction for participating in a criminal gang.

              The test for sufficiency requires a determination of whether the

prosecution met its burden of production at trial. State v. Hill, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 98366, 2013-Ohio-578, ¶ 13. An appellate court’s function when reviewing the

sufficiency of evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence

admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince

the average mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id., citing

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). The relevant

inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the

prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the

crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

              Nasim was convicted of participating in a criminal gang from August 1,

2018, to June 19, 2019, in violation of R.C. 2923.42(A), which states:

      No person who actively participates in a criminal gang, with knowledge
      that the criminal gang engages in or has engaged in a pattern of
      criminal gang activity, shall purposely promote, further, or assist any
      criminal conduct, as defined in division (C) of section 2923.41 of the
      Revised Code, or shall purposely commit or engage in any act that
      constitutes criminal conduct, as defined in division (C) of section
      2923.41 of the Revised Code.

              Under this statutory section, the state is required to prove four

elements:
      (1) the existence of a criminal gang, (2) appellant’s active participation
      in the gang, (3) appellant’s knowledge that the gang engages in or has
      engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and (4) appellant’s
      purposeful promotion, furtherance, or assistance of, or commission of
      or engagement in, any criminal conduct.

State v. Roberson, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-16-1131, 2017-Ohio-4339, ¶ 72. We address

each element in turn.

      1. Existence of a criminal gang

              Under R.C. 2923.41(A), a criminal gang is defined as an ongoing

organization, association, or group, consisting of three or more persons who engage

in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, which has as one of its

primary activities the commission of one or more felonies, has a common name or

common identifying signs, symbols, or colors, and the persons in the organization,

association, or group individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a

pattern of criminal activity.

              Nasim does not dispute that the Real Shooters was a criminal gang.

Nevertheless, we find that the state introduced sufficient testimony at trial to

establish that fact. Det. Harrigan testified that there were six members of the Real

Shooters gang. Sgt. Johnson testified that the Real Shooters operated in the area of

East 116th Street in the city of Cleveland between Kinsman Road and Buckeye Road.

He testified further that Real Shooters’ members could be identified by their

repeated and deliberate use of hand signs, including either pointing a real gun or a

finger gun at the person’s own head. Gang association was also established by the

members’ pervasive use of social media showing both gang hand signs and
suspected illegal possession of firearms traded among members, which Sgt. Johnson

testified is common among gang members; the identifying mark of “rs” in gang

member social media user names; apparel with Real Shooters insignia on it; and text

and graphic symbols, such as broken hearts or a small “r” and money sign,

representing gang membership.        The state also produced evidence that Real

Shooters’ members had engaged in three separate shooting incidents within a short

time of each other. This evidence, considered in a light most favorable to the state,

is sufficient to prove the first element of participating in a criminal gang under R.C.

2923.42(A).

      2. Active participation

              “[T]he active participation element of the criminal gang statute

requires the state [to] demonstrate that appellant actually — not just nominally —

took part in the criminal gang.” State v. Smith, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-15-1027, 2017-

Ohio-776, ¶ 38. “Actual participation requires that the appellant perform ‘some role

to benefit the gang.’” State v. Roberson, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-16-1131, 2017 Ohio-

4339, at ¶ 76, quoting Smith at ¶ 39.

              The state presented sufficient direct and circumstantial evidence that

Nasim was an active member of the Real Shooters gang. Nasim maintained multiple

Instagram accounts — “rs_nas4rmtha6,” “naso4rm116,” and “nas_heartless” — that

established his affiliation with both the Real Shooters and the Heartless Felons.

Several of the photographs introduced by the state, which were screenshots of both

Nasim’s and other Real Shooters members’ social media accounts, were posted by
Nasim’s own Instagram account; the others were posted by individuals that Nasim

was known to associate with. The photographs depicted Nasim and other gang

members flashing gang signs, wearing clothing with gang insignia, and brandishing

firearms traded among the members and used in the shootings for which Nasim was

charged.

              The state also produced evidence that would lead a reasonable

factfinder to believe that Nasim actually took part in the gang and performed a role

to benefit the gang. Specifically, the state produced evidence that Nasim was an

active participant in the three shootings for which he was indicted. Although there

was conflicting evidence regarding Nasim’s participation, the state produced

sufficient evidence that, if believed, demonstrated that he was involved in all three

shootings. Indeed, codefendant Sanders gave detailed testimony regarding Nasim’s

active participation in each incident. Furthermore, Nasim’s postarrest interview

with Det. Harrigan established that Nasim knew about the “beefs” with Pablo and

Yelly that led to the two shootings in January 2019. Nasim also initially admitted in

this interview to owning a Glock, the gun used in two of the shootings. He also

admitted before recanting that he was involved in the January 27, 2019 shooting.

This evidence, if believed, established that Nasim did more than simply flash the

hand sign of the Real Shooters on social media; he actively engaged in conduct that

furthered some interest of the gang. Accordingly, we find that the state produced

sufficient evidence of the second element of R.C. 2923.42(A).
      3. Knowledge of the gang’s pattern of criminal activity

              Having found the state’s evidence sufficient to prove the first two

elements of R.C. 2923.42(A), we now consider the third element — Nasim’s

knowledge that the Real Shooters gang engages in or engaged in a pattern of

criminal activity.

              A pattern of criminal gang activity occurs when “persons in the

criminal gang have committed, attempted to commit, conspired to commit, been

complicitors in the commission of, or solicited, coerced, or intimidated another to

commit, or be in complicity in the commission of two or more” specified offenses.

R.C. 2923.41(B)(1). The specified offenses include offenses committed by a juvenile

that would be felonies if committed by an adult. R.C. 2923.41(B)(1)(a).2

               There is a “pattern” of criminal activity regarding the specified

offenses when at least one of the two or more specified offenses is a felony, at least

one of the offenses occurred on or after January 1, 1999, the most recent of the

offenses occurred within five years of another of the specified offenses, and the

specified offenses are committed on separate occasions by two or more persons.

R.C. 2923.41(B)(2).

              The state produced evidence that two or more Real Shooters members

were involved in shootings on December 4, 2018, January 27, 2019, and January 29,

2019, which establishes a pattern of criminal gang activity. The state also produced

      2Nasim was 17 years old when the felony offenses for which he was charged were
committed.
evidence that the shootings occurred while Nasim was a member of the Real

Shooters, and in fact, that he was an active participant in the shootings. In light of

this evidence, the trier of fact could reasonably infer that Nasim had knowledge of

the gang’s pattern of criminal activity. Accordingly, we conclude that the state

produced sufficient evidence to prove the third element of R.C. 2923.42(A).

      4. Purposeful promotion, furtherance, or assistance of, or
         commission of or engagement in any criminal conduct

              Finally, we must consider whether the state produced sufficient

evidence to establish the fourth element of R.C. 2923.42(A); i.e., that Nasim

purposely promoted, furthered, assisted, or engaged in any criminal conduct.

              Sgt. Johnson testified that gangs boast to each other on social media

by displaying guns and that Nasim appeared in numerous social media posts either

flashing gang symbols, holding firearms, or both. Thus, the jury could reasonably

interpret Nasim’s social media posts and appearances as purposeful promotion,

furtherance, and assistance of the Real Shooters gang.

              Furthermore, codefendant Sanders testified that Nasim was one of the

shooters in each of the shooting incidents. If believed, this evidence would certainly

permit the trier of fact to conclude that Nasim committed criminal conduct.

Additionally, the jury viewed Nasim’s postarrest interview with Det. Harrigan in

which Nasim admitted before recanting both to owning a Glock, the gun used in two

of the shootings, and to participating in the second shooting.

              Upon consideration, we find the state’s evidence, if believed, sufficient

to prove Nasim’s purposeful promotion, furtherance, assistance of, or commission
of criminal conduct. Having also found the state’s evidence sufficient as to the other

three elements of participating in a criminal gang under R.C. 2923.42(A), we find

no merit to Nasim’s sufficiency argument on appeal. The first assignment of error

is therefore overruled.

      B. Jury Instructions

              Nasim was charged in Count 1 with participating in a criminal gang as

follows:

      [Nasim] did actively participate in a criminal gang, with knowledge that
      the criminal gang engages in or had engaged in a pattern of criminal
      gang activity, and did purposely promote, further, or assist any
      criminal conduct, as defined in division (C) of section 2923.41 of the
      Revised Code, or did purposely commit or engage in any act that
      constituted criminal conduct, as defined in division (C) of section
      2923.41 of the Revised Code, to wit: Attempted Murder, R.C.
      2923.02/R.C. 2903.02 and/or Aggravated Robbery, R.C. 2911.01
      and/or Robbery, R.C. 2911.02 and/or Felonious Assault, R.C. 2903.11
      and/or Improper Discharge into a Habitation, R.C. 2923.161 and/or
      Discharge Over a Roadway, R.C. 2923.162 and/or Improperly
      Handling of a Firearm, R.C. 2923.16.

              In his second assignment of error, Nasim contends that the jury was

not instructed on the elements of aggravated robbery, robbery, or discharge over a

roadway with respect to the fourth element of participating in a criminal gang, i.e.,

purposely promoting, furthering, or assisting any criminal conduct, or purposely

committing or engaging in criminal conduct. Thus, he contends that the trial court

committed plain error by not instructing the jury on the essential elements of all the

offenses upon which the state relied to support a conviction in Count 1.
               Nasim concedes that he did not object to the charge,3 but maintains

that the error was a plain error affecting his substantial rights.4

               Plain error is an obvious error or defect in the trial court proceedings

that affects a substantial right. State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-

2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 22. An alleged error is plain error only if the error is obvious

and it affected the outcome of the trial. Id. We take notice of plain error with the

“utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent a manifest

miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978),

paragraph three of the syllabus. The burden of demonstrating plain error is on the

party asserting the error. Rogers at id.; State v. McFeeture, 2015-Ohio-1814, 36

N.E.3d 689, ¶ 84 (8th Dist.).

               Nasim contends the faulty instructions resulted in plain error because

“the jury may have mistakenly convicted [him] of participating in a criminal gang

due to a belief that he committed aggravated robbery, robbery, or discharge over a

roadway, even though they were never instructed on the elements of these offenses.”

               “As a general rule, a defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed

on all elements that must be proved to establish the crime with which he is charged.”

       3 Crim.R. 30(A) states, in pertinent part, that “[o]n appeal, a party may not assign
as error the giving or the failure to give any instructions unless the party objects before
the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter objected to and the
grounds of the objection.”
       4Crim.R. 52(B) states that “[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights
may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.”
State v. Wamsley, 117 Ohio St.3d 388, 2008-Ohio-1195, 884 N.E.2d 45, ¶ 17.

However, “the failure to instruct on each element is not necessarily reversible as

plain error.” Id. “Rather, an appellate court must review the instructions as a whole

and the entire record to determine whether a manifest miscarriage of justice has

occurred as a result of the error in the instructions.” Id.

               We find no plain error. First, there was no evidence of aggravated

robbery or robbery produced at trial and, therefore, no error in the trial court’s

failure to instruct on the elements of these offenses. Indeed, any instruction on the

offenses would have been improper. See State v. Sims, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2001-L-

081, 2003-Ohio-324, ¶ 60 (“The trial court may not instruct a jury where there is no

evidence to support a particular issue.”).

              Moreover, under R.C. 2923.42(A), to prove the fourth element of

participation in a criminal gang, the state must prove that the defendant purposely

promoted, furthered, or assisted any criminal conduct or purposely committed or

engaged in criminal conduct. Thus, the jury could have found this element of the

participating-in-a-criminal-gang offense satisfied if it concluded that Nasim

promoted, furthered, and assisted in criminal conduct by the Real Shooters, without

any finding that he committed or engaged in aggravated robbery, robbery, or

discharge over a roadway. Significantly, the jury found Nasim not guilty of Counts

8, 12, and 23, which charged him with discharging a firearm on or near prohibited

premises, strongly indicating that the jury did not consider the discharge-over-a-

roadway offense in reaching its verdict on Count 1.
              Because Nasim cannot demonstrate that the trial court’s failure to

instruct on the elements of aggravated robbery, robbery, or discharge over a

roadway affected the jury’s verdict in any way, he has not met his burden of proving

plain error. The second assignment of error is overruled.

      C. Manifest Weight of the Evidence

              In his third assignment of error, Nasim contends that his conviction

for participating in a criminal gang was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

              In contrast to a sufficiency argument, a manifest weight challenge

questions whether the state met its burden of persuasion. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12.            A reviewing court “weighs the

evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and

determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way

and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be

reversed and a new trial ordered.” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 388, 678 N.E.2d

541. A conviction should be reversed as against the manifest weight of the evidence

only in the most “exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the

conviction.” Id.

              Nasim contends that his conviction was against the manifest weight

of the evidence because Sanders’s testimony was not credible, as reflected in the

jury’s verdict finding him not guilty of all charges relating to his involvement in the

three shootings. He further contends that Sgt. Johnson’s and Det. Harrigan’s

testimony that he was a gang member was “unsupported by evidence” and that the
only evidence he was a gang member came from photographs of him holding guns

and flashing what the detectives considered to be “gang signs.” Last, he asserts that

the jury verdict was inconsistent because he was found not guilty of the charges

regarding the shootings and, therefore, his conviction on Count 1 was against the

manifest weight of the evidence.

               Based on the record before this court, we cannot say that in resolving

conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest

miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.

               With respect to Sanders’s credibility, although we review credibility

when considering the manifest weight of the evidence, we are cognizant that

determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the

testimony are primarily for the trier of fact. State v. Bradley, 8th Dist Cuyahoga No.

97333, 2012-Ohio-2765, ¶ 14, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d

212 (1967). The trier of fact is best able “to view the witnesses and observe their

demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing

the credibility of the proffered testimony.” State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382,

2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 24.            The jury may take note of any

inconsistencies and resolve them accordingly, “believ[ing] all, part, or none of a

witness’s testimony.” State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-604, 2003-

Ohio-958, ¶ 21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d 548 (1964).

               The jury heard Sanders’s testimony and was free to determine his

credibility.   The jury apparently did not believe his testimony about Nasim’s
involvement in the shootings, but did believe his testimony that RS stood for Real

Shooters and that Nasim was a member of the “group.” They were free to do so.

Likewise, the jury was free to believe or disbelieve the testimony of Sgt. Johnson and

Det. Harrigan, who both testified that based on their extensive experience

investigating gang units, the numerous social media postings they examined and

testified to demonstrated that the Real Shooters was a criminal gang that operated

near the area of East 116th Street between Kinsman and Buckeye Roads and that

Nasim was an active member of the gang.

              Finally, contrary to Nasim’s assertion, the fact that the jury found him

guilty of participating in the Real Shooters criminal gang, while not guilty of

participating in the three shooting incidents for which he was also charged, does not

undermine confidence in the jury’s resolution of the case.        As this court has

explained:

      Juries can reach inconsistent verdicts for any number of reasons,
      including mistake, compromise, and leniency. * * * [I]t would be
      incongruous for a defendant to accept the benefits of an inconsistent
      verdict without also being required to accept the burden of such
      verdicts.

State v. Wells, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109787, 2021-Ohio-2585, ¶ 40, quoting State

v. Taylor, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89629, 2008-Ohio-1626, ¶10. Thus, “courts have

consistently rejected the argument that inconsistent verdicts would render a

defendant’s conviction against the manifest weight of the evidence.” Wells at id.,

citing State v. Jones, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108050, 2019-Ohio-5237, ¶ 33, citing

State v. Norman, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-680, 2011-Ohio-2870, ¶ 14.
              Furthermore, we find no inconsistency in the verdict. The jury was

free to believe Sgt. Johnson’s and Det. Harrigan’s testimony that Nasim was a

member of and participated in the Real Shooters criminal gang, while

simultaneously finding he did not participate in the three shooting incidents. This

is not the case where the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction, and,

accordingly, we find that Nasim’s conviction was not against the manifest weight of

the evidence. The third assignment of error is overruled.

      D. Improper and Irrelevant Evidence

             In his fourth assignment of error, Nasim contends that he was

prejudiced by the introduction of improper and irrelevant evidence at trial.

Specifically, he contends that comments about a separate murder case with which

he was charged were shown to the jury when the state played a video of his post-

arrest interview with the police. The comments related to Nasim “feeling bad” about

something and wishing he could “talk to the family.”

              Our review of the record demonstrates that prior to trial, the

prosecutor conferred with Nasim’s counsel about the interview, giving defense

counsel an opportunity to request that additional portions of the interview be

redacted beyond those already noted for redaction by the state. Text messages

exchanged between counsel (court’s exhibit No. 1) demonstrate that defense counsel

did not request that the state redact the portion of the interview to which Nasim now

objects.
              The record reflects that immediately after defense counsel objected to

the statement, the trial court asked the state and defense counsel to “come up with

an agreeable curative instruction” regarding that part of the interview.

              Defense counsel told the trial judge:

      I think that we should give a general curative instruction at the time
      that you give the jury charge, not now, that generally would say —
      comment again on the fact that there’s silent parts for evidentiary
      reasons that have nothing to do with this case, and again say you’ve
      heard things that may be said about other events. You’re directed to
      disregard anything that doesn’t have to do with the charges of this case.
      That would be something — and then it doesn’t overemphasize and it’s
      taken at the same time when they’re giving instructions. I don’t think
      the state has an objection to that.

(Tr. 1270-1271.)

              Shortly thereafter, defense counsel again told the judge that she

wanted the curative instruction to be given at the conclusion of trial during the

general jury charge, rather than immediately:

      [T]o draw attention to a specific thing is like a highlight and it would
      only affect primarily my client and so I would ask not to do that at this
      time. If you want to make it more specific at the time we give the
      curative instruction, I’m okay with that, I just don’t want to do it at this
      point when they resume the video today.

(Tr. 1275.) The prosecutor then informed the judge that the state was “fine” with

whatever curative instruction the court determined to be best for the jury.

              Ultimately, the trial court accepted a version of the curative

instruction drawn up by counsel for Onaje. Nasim’s counsel suggested a few changes

to the instruction and then endorsed it. The curative instruction was read to the jury

at the conclusion of the jury charge and stated, “Any reference to feeling badly and
desiring to speak to someone’s family has nothing to do with any of the parties in

this case or any of the matters before you.”

              Despite Nasim’s assertion that he was unfairly prejudiced by the

admission of improper evidence and the “damaging curative instruction,” we find

no error. As demonstrated by court’s exhibit No. 1, although given the opportunity,

defense counsel did not ask the state to redact that portion of Nasim’s statement to

which he now objects. “The defense cannot invite error and later complain about its

prejudicial effect on appeal.” State v. Spirko, 59 Ohio St.3d 1, 8, 570 N.E.2d 229

(1991).

              Moreover, the remedy requested by defense counsel — a curative

instruction regarding Nasim’s statement given during the general jury charge — was

adopted in full by the trial court. And defense counsel specifically approved the

wording of the curative instruction.

              Finally, the record reflects that the jury was not aware of the separate

homicide with which Nasim was charged, no mention was made of it at trial, and

Nasim’s statement at issue did not identify any specific facts or names. Thus, in light

of the jury’s verdict finding Nasim not guilty of the majority of the charges against

him and the overwhelming evidence of his participation in a criminal gang, the 1 out

of 25 counts on which he was found guilty, we cannot find that Nasim was prejudiced

by the admission of the brief snippet of his postarrest interview that was not

redacted. The fourth assignment of error is overruled.
      E. Sentencing

               In his fifth assignment of error, Nasim contends that the trial court

erred in sentencing him under the Reagan Tokes Law, which became effective

March 22, 2019.      Under the law, qualifying first- and second-degree felonies

committed on or after March 22, 2019, are subject to the imposition of indefinite

sentences. The law specifies that these terms will consist of a minimum term

selected by the sentencing judge from a range of terms set forth in R.C. 2929.14(A)

and a maximum term determined by formulas set forth in R.C. 2929.144.

              Nasim contends that the Reagan Tokes Law is unconstitutional

because it violates his constitutional rights to trial by a jury, separation of powers,

and due process. We decline to address Nasim’s constitutional challenge to the law.

               “[T]he question of the constitutionality of a statute must generally be

raised at the first opportunity and, in a criminal prosecution, this means in the trial

court.” State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St.3d 120, 122, 478 N.E.2d 277 (1986). The record

reflects that Nasim did not raise any constitutional challenge to the Reagan Tokes

Law in the trial court. His failure to do so forfeits the argument.

               Nasim also contends that the Reagan Tokes Law should not be applied

to him because the dates of the three shootings for which he was charged and which

he contends “the state relied upon as foundational for the gang charge,” all preceded

March 22, 2019, the effective date of the law. Defense counsel raised this argument

in the trial court, and therefore, we will address it.
              We find it has no merit, however. The date range for the conduct in

Count 1, participating in a criminal gang, for which Nasim was found guilty, was

between August 21, 2018, and June 19, 2019, which obviously includes a time period

after the Reagan Tokes Law became effective. As discussed above with respect to

Nasim’s argument regarding the manifest weight of the evidence, the fact that Nasim

was not guilty of the three shooting incidents is not determinative of his guilt on

Count 1. Because Nasim was found guilty of conduct encompassed by the Reagan

Tokes Law, the trial court did not err in sentencing him under the law. The fifth

assignment of error is overruled.

              Judgment affirmed.

      It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.

      The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

      It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the

common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s

conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending is terminated. Case remanded to

the trial court for execution of sentence.

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule

27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, JUDGE

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J., and
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J., CONCUR