Court Opinion

ID: 4667290
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-12 16:14:11.155031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:55.184156
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Freeman, 2021-Ohio-734.]

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

 STATE OF OHIO                                     :
                                                   :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                        :   Appellate Case No. 2020-CA-33
                                                   :
 v.                                                :   Trial Court Case No. 2019-CR-521
                                                   :
 ANTHONY L. FREEMAN                                :   (Criminal Appeal from
                                                   :   Common Pleas Court)
         Defendant-Appellant                       :
                                                   :

                                              ...........

                                             OPINION

                            Rendered on the 12th day of March, 2021.

                                              ...........

MARCY A. VONDERWELL, Atty. Reg. No. 0078311, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney,
Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Greene County Courts Building,
61 Greene Street, Suite 200, Xenia, Ohio 45385
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

NICOLE RUTTER-HIRTH, Atty. Reg. No. 0081004, 2541 Shiloh Springs Road, Dayton,
Ohio 45426
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

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

EPLEY, J.
                                                                                         -2-

       {¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant Anthony L. Freeman was found guilty by a Greene

County jury of rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), and sentenced to three years in

prison. Freeman alleges that the trial court erred in denying his motions for a mistrial and

then a new trial, that the guilty verdict was not supported by sufficient evidence and was

against the manifest weight of the evidence, and that the court erred by admitting certain

evidence. Finally, he avers that the accumulation of all the errors deprived him of a fair

trial. For the following reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.

       I.      Facts and Procedural History

       {¶ 2} On February 20, 2019, C.B., a then-18-year-old freshman at Central State

University, was in the math building on campus when she met Freeman, another Central

State student. The two started talking, decided to exchange numbers, and then C.B. went

to class.

       {¶ 3} Later that day, C.B. and Freeman exchanged texts and Freeman suggested

that she come over to his apartment later to watch a movie. C.B. was apprehensive about

meeting up at his residence because they had just met, but after more texts back and

forth, the plan was made for C.B. to come over. It also was decided that C.B. would spend

the night, however she made it clear that they would not be “sleeping with each other.”

Trial Tr. at 691.

       {¶ 4} That evening, Freeman picked C.B. up at her dorm and drove back to the

apartment he shared with several other people. They entered through a back door, and

while C.B. did not see any other people there at the time, she heard what she believed to

be someone in another room playing video games. After a brief chat about having a
                                                                                          -3-

roommate who attended Wright State University, Freeman escorted C.B. to his room and

closed the door behind them. C.B. testified at trial that all the lights were out in the room

and the temperature was quite warm. The temperature in the room led C.B. to shed her

jacket and sweatpants, leaving her wearing a pair of running shorts (with a built-in liner)

and a t-shirt. Evidence was presented at trial that she was not wearing a bra or panties.

       {¶ 5} C.B. and Freeman started watching a movie on his computer. She was sitting

on the bed and Freeman was positioned laying down behind her. The two chatted

throughout the first part of the movie. C.B. testified that they talked about where they were

from, their birthdays and astrological signs, and that she had recently done her own hair,

leading to a sore back. Freeman offered a massage, but C.B. rejected the overture.

       {¶ 6} After watching the movie a little longer, Freeman, still behind C.B., removed

her shirt, leaving her unclothed from the waist up because she was not wearing a bra.

C.B. was surprised by the action and promptly laid down on her stomach so that she

would not be exposed. With C.B. laying down on her stomach, Freeman straddled her

back and began to massage her. Next, he tried to take off her shorts, but this action was

met with resistance from C.B., who told him to get off. Freeman complied, which allowed

C.B. to get off the bed. She retrieved her shirt and positioned herself facing the wall so

that she could get dressed with some degree of privacy.

       {¶ 7} Freeman then got off the bed and walked toward C.B. He managed to

relocate her so that she fell backward onto the bed, and he forcefully removed her clothes.

For the next 10-15 minutes, Freeman engaged in vaginal intercourse with C.B. She

testified that, throughout the encounter, she attempted to push him away and told him to

stop, but to no avail. When the ordeal was over, Freeman went to the bathroom and C.B.
                                                                                      -4-

got dressed. When he came back, C.B. told Freeman to take her home. Once back on

campus, Freeman said, “I’m sorry that tonight was rough for you, but I had a good time.”

       {¶ 8} When she arrived back in her dorm room, C.B. made several phone calls.

The first person she talked to was her friend named Jazzy. She and another friend, TJ,

quickly got to her room. C.B. also contacted her mother, who rushed over from out of

town. Campus police and Greene County deputies were then notified, and the decision

was made to drive to Greene Memorial Hospital for a sexual assault examination.

       {¶ 9} Based on the identification and information received from C.B., Greene

County deputies, led by Detective Jonathan Emery, were able to obtain search warrants

for Freeman’s apartment and DNA. The information gained from the execution of those

warrants ultimately led to Freeman’s arrest and indictment on rape (R.C. 2907.02(A)(2))

and gross sexual imposition (GSI) (R.C. 2907.05) charges.

       {¶ 10} After several COVID-19 related delays, the case proceeded to trial on July

7, 2020. Almost immediately defense counsel alleged irregularities. Before any witnesses

were called, defense counsel moved for a mistrial due to alleged misconduct between a

potential juror and a State’s witness. The motion was denied, and a jury was selected.

The State presented nine witnesses, including law enforcement, two forensic scientists,

a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), a social worker, a friend of C.B., and C.B.

herself.

       {¶ 11} Defense counsel made several motions during trial. At the close of the

State’s case-in-chief, Freeman’s trial counsel made a partially successful Crim.R. 29

motion. The GSI count was dismissed, but the rape charge remained. He also

unsuccessfully objected to the admission of several pieces of evidence, including the
                                                                                           -5-

SANE kit and its contents. Freeman did not testify.

       {¶ 12} After deliberating, the jury found Freeman guilty of rape and a disposition

date was set. In the meantime, defense counsel filed a motion for a new trial, alleging

irregularity in creating the jury pool. Both sides briefed and argued the matter, but the

court ultimately denied Freeman’s motion. The court then sentenced him to three years

in prison and classified him as a Tier III sex offender. Freeman now raises five

assignments of error.

       II.     Jury pool selection

       {¶ 13} In his first assignment of error, Freeman contends that he should have been

granted a new trial because the procedures used to create the jury pool, which excused

some people 65 years and older, violated his Sixth Amendment rights. We disagree.

       {¶ 14} R.C. 2313.16 and Crim.R. 24 control the selection of juries. Crim.R. 24(F)

states that either side “may challenge the array of petit jurors on the ground that it was

not selected, drawn or summoned in accordance with the law. A challenge shall be made

before the examination of the jurors pursuant to division (B) of this rule and shall be tried

by the court.” Crim.R. 24(F). Neither an array of petit jurors nor a jury’s verdict can be set

aside because the jury commissioner has returned such a jury or juror in any informal or

irregular manner, “if in the opinion of the court the irregularity is unimportant and

insufficient to vitiate the return.” Id.

       {¶ 15} There is no question that Freeman’s challenge to the jury array was made

after the examination of the jurors. In fact, it was not raised until after the trial had been

completed. Because the challenge was untimely, Freeman has waived the issue. See
                                                                                          -6-

Sate v. Curry, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2012-CA-50, 2014-Ohio-3836, ¶ 30. Nevertheless,

even if the argument were not waived, the argument fails on the merits.

       {¶ 16} Selecting a jury from a representative cross-section of the community is an

important element of the Sixth Amendment right to jury trial. Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S.

522, 528, 95 S.Ct. 692, 42 L.Ed.2d 690 (1975). The Sixth Amendment does not, however,

require that juries “mirror the community and reflect the various distinctive groups in the

population.” Id. at 538. It does demand, though, that the “jury wheels, pools of names,

panels or venires from which the juries are drawn must not systematically exclude

distinctive groups in the community.” Id.

       {¶ 17} The United States Supreme Court in Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 99

S.Ct. 664, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 (1979), held that to establish a prima facie violation of the

cross-section requirement, a defendant must demonstrate that (1) the group purported to

be excluded is a “distinctive” group in the community; (2) the representation of the group

in venires from which juries are picked is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number

of those persons in the community; and (3) the underrepresentation is because of the

systematic exclusion of the group in the selection process. Id. at 364. If there is a prima

facie showing, the State bears the burden of “justifying this infringement by showing

attainment of a fair cross section to be incompatible with a significant state interest.” Id.

at 368.

       {¶ 18} Freeman cannot meet even the first Duren prong. Freeman seems to argue

that the 65 years and older age bracket is a “distinctive” group in the community. He does

not, however, provide any information to demonstrate its distinctiveness. For instance, in

Duren, the appellant established that 54% of the adults in the county were women but
                                                                                            -7-

that only about half that number were summoned for jury duty in the months immediately

preceding his trial. Id. at 357. He further demonstrated that his male-only jury was chosen

from a panel of 53, of whom only five were females. Id. Freeman, on the other hand,

simply states that jurors over 65 who expressed COVID concerns were systematically

excluded.

       {¶ 19} The Ohio Supreme Court has given further guidance. “In determining

whether a group excluded from jury service is a distinctive one, courts have looked to

community prejudices toward the group.” State v. Puente, 69 Ohio St.2d 136, 139, 431

N.E.2d 987 (1982). See also Herdandez v. Texas, 347 U.S. 475, 74 S.Ct. 667, 98 L.Ed.

866 (1954). There is nothing in the record that demonstrates older Greene County

residents who have COVID-19 concerns are distinctive or that there is prejudice toward

them. See also Ellis v. State, 867 P.2d 1289, 1294 (Ok.App.1992) (persons over 70 years

of age are not a distinctive group).

       {¶ 20} Finally, it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion. The

decision to grant a new trial is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and this Court

will not disturb the decision absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Hartman, 2016-Ohio-

2883, 64 N.E.3d 519, ¶ 35 (2d Dist.). “An abuse of discretion implies an arbitrary,

unreasonable, or unconscionable attitude on the part of the court.” Id. This decision was

none of those.

       {¶ 21} On March 9, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency

(Executive Order 2020-01D) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few weeks later,

on March 20, 2020, the Ohio Supreme issued a document entitled: Guidance to Local

Courts COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The Supreme Court followed up with a
                                                                                          -8-

series of guidance bulletins that left “[to] the sound discretion of the local judiciary how

best to manage the daily challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic ha[d] foisted on local

courts.” State ex rel. McArtor v. Kovack, 158 Ohio St.3d 1472, 2020-Ohio-1489, 143

N.E.3d 508, ¶ 14 (Kennedy, J., dissenting).

       {¶ 22} The Chief Justice, along with the Ohio Jury Trial Advisory Group, also

released a report that gave recommendations on how to best resume jury trials amid the

pandemic. The report recommended that jurors share health concerns before trial, that

remote juror questionnaires be used, that COVID concerns should allow for deferment as

a medical condition, and that older and high risk jurors should be excused. Standards and

Practices Essential to the Resumption of Jury Trials in Ohio at 10-12.

       {¶ 23} In this case, the steps the trial court took to ensure the health and safety of

all parties involved were reasonable. According to the testimony of the jury commissioner

and the statements made by the court, all potential jurors were called to discuss COVID-

19 precautions and to ensure there were no concerns. Jurors aged 65 and older with

concerns about the disease were excused. However, if they did not have safety concerns,

they reported for duty as scheduled. Jurors under 65 with concerns were dismissed with

a doctor’s note. The court reasoned that this procedure was adopted for two reasons –

the health and safety of all parties involved, and so that there were no distracted jurors

worrying about their health and not the testimony being presented to them.

       {¶ 24} We take no position on the propriety of these steps in normal times, but in

the midst of a pandemic, the actions were reasonable, and the trial court did not abuse

its discretion. The first assignment of error is overruled.
                                                                                          -9-

       III.   Allegations of Jury Misconduct

       {¶ 25} Freeman next argues that he was entitled to a mistrial based on alleged

misconduct by a prospective juror and a witness for the State. “Mistrials need to be

declared only when the ends of justice so require, and a fair trial is no longer possible.”

State v. Patterson, 188 Ohio App.3d 292, 2010-Ohio-2012, 935 N.E.2d 439, ¶ 69 (2d

Dist.). The decision is within the trial court’s discretion, and to overturn it, an appellant

must demonstrate the decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable. Id.

       {¶ 26} According to the record, at some point during the lunch break – between

when the jury was selected and when testimony began – the attorneys from both sides

observed a State’s witness sitting on a bench outside of the courtroom talking to another

man. Because the man was wearing a mask, neither attorney recognized him, but both

felt the need to investigate further.

       {¶ 27} The lead detective in the case, Jonathan Emery, who was also in the

hallway at that time, went to inquire. He was informed that the individual talking with the

witness was a juror. Detective Emery told the man that he could not be sitting next to the

witness, so the juror got up and went into the jury room.

       {¶ 28} Detective Emery walked into the jury room (where several empaneled jurors

were waiting) to further inquire about the situation. The detective returned to the hallway

with the man a short time later and reported to the attorneys that the man was Juror

Number 12, someone who had already been excused.

       {¶ 29} After Juror Number 12 left the building, the court was informed, and the jury

was brought back into the courtroom. Once seated inside, the court asked who had been

in the jury room when Juror Number 12 and Detective Emery came in. Three jurors raised
                                                                                           -10-

their hands and were questioned individually. All three testified that Juror Number 12 said

nothing about the case, and that the incident would not keep them from being fair and

impartial. Further, all three testified that they did not hear Detective Emery say anything

when he was in the room. After the testimony of the jurors, defense counsel asked for a

mistrial. The court denied the motion but did give a curative instruction to the jury about

the incident.

       {¶ 30} Freeman argues that the conversations - between the excused juror and

the State’s witness in the hallway; between the excused juror and the empaneled jurors

in the jury room; and between Detective Emery and the excused juror – all were

prejudicial. The record, however, belies that argument.

       {¶ 31} First, whatever was said between the State’s witness and Juror Number 12

was not a conversation with an actual, empaneled juror. It is undisputed that Juror

Number 12 had already been dismissed by that time. With regard to conversations that

took place in the jury room, one of the jurors present testified that Juror 12 said “nothing

to do with why we’re here.” Trial Tr. at 164. Another juror present testified that:

       He was talking about – he was, he said he was outside sitting on a bench

       and a sheriff or someone from – a deputy came and sat near him; and even

       though they weren’t talking about the case at all, it sounded like he was going

       to have to be removed. That’s the extent of the conversation.

Trial Tr. at 166-167. Finally, a third juror told the court, “I heard nothing about the case. I

heard the gentleman outside saying, he had been called and canceled. Then he came in

and sat down. * * * I heard nothing about the case.” Trial Tr. at 167-168.

       {¶ 32} None of the jurors heard Detective Emery say anything.
                                                                                          -11-

       {¶ 33} The interactions between Juror Number 12, the witnesses, and the three

empaneled jurors, while arguably improper, were not prejudicial to Freeman. The

conversations could not have been about the case (testimony had not yet begun), and

while there should not be co-mingling between witnesses and jurors, Freeman has failed

to demonstrate that a fair trial was no longer possible. The trial court’s decision to deny

the mistrial motion was not an abuse of discretion. The second assignment of error is

overruled.

       IV.    Sufficiency and Weight of the Evidence

       {¶ 34} In his third assignment of error, Freeman argues that his conviction was not

supported by sufficient evidence and was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       {¶ 35} “[S]ufficiency is a term of art meaning that legal standard which is applied

to determine whether the case may go to the jury or whether the evidence is legally

sufficient to support the jury verdict as a matter of law.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d

380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). It is essentially a test of adequacy. “Whether the

evidence is legally sufficient to sustain a verdict is a question of law.” Id.

       {¶ 36} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the

evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to

determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the

defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Marshall, 191 Ohio App.3d 444,

2010-Ohio-5160, 946 N.E.2d 762, ¶ 52 (2d Dist.). “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.”
                                                                                         -12-

Id.

       {¶ 37} “A weight of the evidence argument challenges the believability of the

evidence and asks which of the competing inferences suggested by the evidence is more

believable or persuasive.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

22581, 2009-Ohio-525, ¶ 12; see Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-

2179, 972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 19. When reviewing an argument challenging the weight of the

evidence, an appellate court may not substitute its view for that of the trier of fact.

Rather, we review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences,

consider the credibility of witnesses, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the

evidence, the finder of fact “clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage

of justice” that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.          State v.

Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting State v. Martin, 20

Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983).

       {¶ 38} Because the trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses at trial, we must defer

to the factfinder’s decisions whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of

particular witnesses.   State v. Lawson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 WL

476684, *4 (Aug. 22, 1997).        The fact that the evidence is subject to different

interpretations does not render the conviction against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Wilson at ¶ 14. A judgment of conviction should be reversed as being against the

manifest weight of the evidence only in exceptional circumstances. Martin at 175.

       {¶ 39} Although sufficiency and manifest weight are separate legal concepts,

manifest weight can subsume sufficiency in conducting the analysis – finding that a

conviction is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence necessarily comprises a
                                                                                       -13-

finding of sufficiency. State v. Sizemore, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28151, 2019-Ohio-

4186, ¶ 16. As a result, “a determination that a conviction is supported by the weight of

the evidence will also be dispositive of the issue of sufficiency.” State v. Braxton, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-725, 2005-Ohio-2198, ¶ 15.

             A. Sufficiency

      {¶ 40} Both sides agree that Freeman and C.B. engaged in sexual conduct on the

late night or early morning hours of February 20-21, 2019. Freeman asserts that the

conduct was consensual.

      {¶ 41} Freeman was charged with rape, a violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2).

According to the statute, “[n]o person shall engage in sexual conduct with another when

the offender purposely compels the other person to submit by force or threat of force.”

R.C. 2907.02(A)(2). A victim does not need to prove physical resistance. R.C.

2907.02(C). Accordingly, the crime is completed “only if the perpetrator purposely

compels the other to submit by force or threat of force.” State v. Wilkins, 64 Ohio St.2d

382, 385, 415 N.E.2d 313 (1980).

      {¶ 42} We have previously held in rape cases that to prove the defendant acted

purposely, “the State must prove that it was the defendant’s intention to engage in sexual

conduct by forcefully compelling the other person to submit to the sexual conduct.” State

v. Hartman, 2016-Ohio-2883, 64 N.E.3d 519, ¶ 26 (2d Dist.); In re S.W.E., 2d Dist. Greene

No. 2020-CA-27, 2021-Ohio-80, ¶ 31. Evidence of consent (or lack thereof) is important

to the inquiry. It is not a static concept, though. Rape can be established when the two

participants start the encounter on a consensual basis, “but the consent is revoked by
                                                                                           -14-

words, actions or conduct that clearly communicates non-consent, the defendant fails to

respect the change in consent, and purposely proceeds to engage in sexual conduct

through force or threat of force evidenced by violence, physical restraint, or some type of

coercive or threatening conduct that creates a belief or fear that physical force will be

used if the victim does not consent.” Id. at 32.

       {¶ 43} Here, the State’s evidence established that C.B. did not consent to the

sexual encounter and that she made that fact clear from the early stages of their

communication, texting that they would not be “sleeping with each other.” She testified

that her text meant they would not be having sex. Once at Freeman’s apartment, when

he straddled C.B. and attempted to remove her shorts, she told him to get off. When he

pushed her back onto the bed and removed her clothes, C.B. testified that she told

Freeman to stop. When he vaginally penetrated her, C.B. told him to stop and tried to

push him away.

       {¶ 44} Throughout her time on the stand, C.B. maintained that Freeman did not

have consent to do any of the things he did to her, as illustrated in the following exchange

with the prosecutor:

       Prosecutor: [In the] late night hours of February 20th, early morning hours

       of February 21st of 2019, did you want to engage in sex with Defendant?

       C.B.: No.

       Prosecutor: What did you tell him to indicate you did not want to have sex

       with him?

       C.B.: I told him I didn’t want to have sex with him. I told him no. I told him to

       stop.
                                                                                         -15-

       Prosecutor: Once?

       C.B.: Multiple times.

Trial Tr. at 758.
       {¶ 45} Freeman, though, argues that he had consent; he points to the facts that

C.B. was not wearing a bra or panties and that she packed an overnight bag to buttress

his assertion. Even if there were not innocent explanations – C.B. testified that she packed

the bag because she had class early in the morning, and the shorts were running shorts

that had a built-in liner that acted as underwear – Freeman did not stop his advances

when C.B. asked him to, then told him to, then pleaded with him to. Neither did he stop

when she tried to push him off.

       {¶ 46} He also contends that the physical evidence did not point to force being

applied, rather it demonstrated a consensual encounter. While Freeman is correct that

there did not appear to be vaginal injuries, this topic was addressed by Samantha Griffith,

the SANE nurse who examined C.B. shortly after the incident. She testified that a lack of

visible, physical injuries, did not mean there was no assault. “Most of the time we do not

see vaginal injuries. * * * Younger women have a higher estrogen level. * * * The skin is

more elastic, and there is a lot more lubrication in that area, so most of the time you won’t

see * * * vaginal injuries on younger women.” Trial Tr. at 322.

       {¶ 47} Freeman also argues that C.B.’s actions after the incident – chatting with

Freeman on the car ride home, not alerting a nearby security guard, texting Freeman

once she returned to her room – were signs of a consensual encounter. This contention

was addressed at trial as well. Debbie Matheson, the executive director of the Family

Violence Prevention Center, testified that there is a range of ways that someone might
                                                                                              -16-

behave after sexual violence. “A victim’s experience is their own * * * and when they feel

safe and ready, they will communicate with someone that they believe they are safe to

communicate with, so that may not be the first person they see. It may not be the first

person that is, you know, near them.” Trial Tr. at 621.

       {¶ 48} The jury had before it ample evidence that C.B. did not consent to sex of

any kind, and that Freeman purposely compelled her to submit by force. The verdict was

supported by sufficient evidence.

               B. Manifest Weight

       {¶ 49} We turn now to the manifest weight of the evidence. Because there were

no issues in this case regarding identity – Freeman fully admits he was there and had sex

with C.B. – the dispositive issue for the jury was simply if C.B. was credible. They

apparently found her testimony credible and convicted Freeman of rape.

       {¶ 50} A case should not be reversed as being against the manifest weight of the

evidence except “in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against

the conviction.” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541. This Court has said

that it will not substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on the issue of witness

credibility “unless it is patently apparent that the trier of fact lost its way in arriving at its

verdict.” State v. Smith, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25462, 2013-Ohio-5345, ¶ 16.

       {¶ 51} We cannot say that the jury lost its way. C.B. maintained throughout her

testimony that she did not consent to sex with Freeman. Her story remained substantially

the same from the time she first met with Detective Emery shortly after the incident, all

the way through cross examination at trial. The jury believed her and we will not second

guess that determination.
                                                                                          -17-

        {¶ 52} The verdict was neither based in insufficient evidence nor against the

manifest weight of the evidence. The third assignment of error is overruled.

        V.      Admission of exhibits

        {¶ 53} Freeman’s fourth argument is that the trial court committed reversible error

when it admitted the SANE kit and its contents into evidence.

        {¶ 54} “The admission or exclusion of evidence rests within the sound discretion

of the trial court.” State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 180, 510 N.E.2d 343 (1987).

Disagreements about the admission of evidence are decided under an abuse of discretion

standard. Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus. “A trial court abuses its discretion when it

makes a decision that is unreasonable, unconscionable, or arbitrary.” State v. Darmond,

135 Ohio St.3d 343, 2013-Ohio-966, 986 N.E.2d 971, ¶ 34. This is a deferential review

and “does not permit an appellate court to simply substitute its judgment for that of the

trial court.” Id.

        {¶ 55} When it comes to physical evidence, authentication or identification is a

condition precedent to admissibility. Evid.R. 901(A). This condition can be satisfied with

a showing that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. Id.

        {¶ 56} At the close of the State’s case-in-chief, defense counsel objected to the

admission of the SANE kit and its contents (Exhibits 9, 11, 12, 13, 14), arguing that the

witness who completed the examination on C.B. had insufficient recollection to properly

authenticate it. While it is true that the witness had little memory about the details of this

specific exam, she was able to explain the process she always goes through when

collecting the evidence and giving the exams, recognized her signature (signifying she
                                                                                          -18-

did indeed do the exam), and remembered sealing the contents after its completion. In

other words, she testified that she knew she collected the SANE kit based on the

signature and notes. Based on this record, we cannot say the trial court abused its

discretion in admitting Exhibits 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

       {¶ 57} Freeman also argues that it was error for the court to admit the Ohio Bureau

of Criminal Investigation report, Exhibits 19A and B. These documents, though, were only

used to refresh the recollection of the witness, and the State did not move to admit them

into the evidence.

       {¶ 58} Finally, assuming, even for the sake of argument, it was error for the exhibits

to be admitted into evidence, it was harmless error. The SANE kit contained DNA used

to identify Freeman, but his identity was not an issue in this case. Freeman fully admitted

to engaging in sexual conduct with C.B.; he just contended it was consensual. Exhibits 9,

11, 12, 13, and 14 were superfluous, and their admission was not prejudicial.

       {¶ 59} The admission of the contested exhibits was not an abuse of discretion.

The fourth assignment of error is overruled.

       VI.    Cumulative Error

       {¶ 60} Finally, Freeman argues that the cumulative effect of all the purported errors

deprived him of a fair trial. The cumulative error doctrine states that a conviction will be

reversed where “the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a defendant of the

constitutional right to a fair trial even though each of numerous instances of trial court

error does not individually constitute cause for reversal.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d

49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995). This doctrine, however, only applies where there are
                                                                                          -19-

“multiple instances of harmless error.” Id.

       {¶ 61} To find cumulative we must find: (1) that multiple errors were committed at

trial, and (2) there is a reasonable probability that but for the multiple errors, the outcome

of the trial would have been different. State v. Goldblum, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25851,

2014-Ohio-5068, ¶ 58.

       {¶ 62} After exploring the record, Freeman has not demonstrated that multiple

errors occurred. That necessarily eliminates the possibility of reversal due to cumulative

error. The fifth assignment of error is overruled.

       VII.   Conclusion

       {¶ 63} The trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.

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

TUCKER, P. J. and HALL, J., concur.

Copies sent to:

Marcy A. Vonderwell
Nicole Rutter-Hirth
Successor of Judge Stephen Wolaver