Court Opinion

ID: 2707858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-05 13:42:41.143386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:59:37.244424
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Alltop, 2014-Ohio-1695.]

                                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                             FAYETTE COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                     :
                                                          CASE NO. CA2013-06-018
        Plaintiff-Appellee,                        :
                                                                OPINION
                                                   :             4/21/2014
    - vs -
                                                   :

TIMOTHY M. ALLTOP,                                 :

        Defendant-Appellant.                       :

      CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM FAYETTE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                           Case No. 13CRI00047

Jess C. Weade, Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney, James B. Roach, 110 East Court
Street, Washington C.H., Ohio 43160, for plaintiff-appellee

Rose & Dobyns Co., L.P.A., Blaise Underwood, 97 North South Street, Wilmington, Ohio
45177, for defendant-appellant

        M. POWELL, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Timothy M. Alltop, appeals his conviction in the Fayette

County Court of Common Pleas for aggravated robbery.

        {¶ 2} On the evening of February 11, 2013, Phillip Armbrust was using his laptop

computer in the cab of his truck in the parking lot of the Washington Court House public

library. At approximately 10:30 P.M., two men approached Armbrust's truck, pulled him out
                                                                      Fayette CA2013-06-018

of the driver's side door, and struck and kicked him repeatedly, resulting in several fractures

in the bones of his face. The two men then removed Armbrust's wallet from his jacket

pocket, and fled on foot with his wallet, computer, and computer accessories. Armbrust did

not see the face of his assailants, but he later told police that both men were about six feet

tall, and wearing brown jackets, gloves, and ski masks.

       {¶ 3} When police conducted a search of the surrounding area, they found a brown

jacket with a ski mask stuffed in the sleeve, and the computer and missing accessories. A K-

9 unit began a "disturbance tracking" from the spot where the computer was found, and

followed the scent trail until the scent was lost at a railroad trestle crossing a creek. Once on

the other side of the creek, the K-9 unit reengaged the scent trail and followed it to a couple

of blocks from where appellant lived with his co-defendant, Brent Adams. No suspects were

apprehended that evening.

       {¶ 4} On February 21, 2013, a warrant was issued for appellant's arrest, and on

February 23 he turned himself in at the Fayette County Jail. At that time, appellant's clothing,

boots, and personal items were placed in a bag and locked in an individual locker located in

the jail's limited-access property room. On the morning of February 25, Officer Thomas

Queen visited the jail to execute a search warrant to collect an oral swab of appellant for

DNA testing. Acting on a tip that appellant's boots were likely stained with blood from kicking

Armbrust, Officer Queen also collected the boots while at the jail. He then forwarded the

boots, appellant's oral swab, the brown jacket discovered on the evening of the attack, and

known DNA samples from Adams and Armbrust to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation

("BCI") for a DNA analysis.

       {¶ 5} On March 22, 2013, appellant was indicted for aggravated robbery, robbery,

felonious assault, and theft. Prior to trial, appellant filed a motion for an appropriation of

funds to retain a DNA expert. After a hearing, the trial court overruled the motion for funds.
                                               -2-
                                                                                     Fayette CA2013-06-018

Appellant also moved to suppress the DNA testing done on his boots on the ground that both

the seizure of the boots and the subsequent testing were done without a warrant. After a

hearing, the trial court overruled the motion to suppress.

         {¶ 6} A jury trial was held on June 11, 2013. At trial, Raymond Peebles, a forensic

scientist in the DNA section of the BCI laboratory, testified that DNA samples taken from the
                                                                                                                   1
brown jacket were consistent with the known DNA sample taken from appellant's oral swab.

In addition, Abbie Schwaderer, also a forensic scientist in the DNA section of the BCI

laboratory, testified that a DNA sample taken from a red-brown stain on one of appellant's

boots was consistent with Armbrust's known DNA sample.2 The state argued to the jury that

this evidence, along with testimony regarding the K-9's tracking of the perpetrators' scent trail

to a location near appellant's residence, was sufficient to convict appellant. That same day,

the jury returned a verdict finding appellant guilty of aggravated robbery, robbery, felonious

assault, and theft.

         {¶ 7} A sentencing hearing was held on June 12, 2013. At the hearing, the trial court

found that appellant's offenses were allied offenses of similar import, and the state elected to

merge the robbery, felonious assault, and theft offenses into the aggravated robbery offense.

Appellant was sentenced to ten years in prison. He now appeals, raising two assignments of

error.

         {¶ 8} Assignment of Error No. 1:

         {¶ 9} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR

APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR A DNA/FORENSICS EXPERT.

1. For reasons discussed at trial, BCI scientists conducting a DNA comparison use a statistic to speak to how
rare a DNA profile is, rather than to the degree of certainty of a match. The statistic speaks to how many people
a scientist would need to test before he could expect to see a particular profile again.

2. Schwaderer testified that a scientist would need to test 193.6 quintillion people to find a DNA profile similar to
Armbrust's. In effect, this meant that the likelihood the DNA sample from appellant's boot belonged to someone
other than Armbrust was 1 in 193.6 quintillion.
                                                        -3-
                                                                                 Fayette CA2013-06-018

        {¶ 10} Appellant argues that his due process rights were violated when the trial court

denied his motion for an appropriation of funds for a DNA expert.

        {¶ 11} At the hearing on his motion, appellant first argued it would be helpful to

defense counsel to have an expert to consult with regarding the cross-examination of the

state's DNA experts. Appellant also argued that additional DNA testing was needed to show

there may be DNA present from other individuals inside the boot upon which Armbrust's DNA

was found. The trial court overruled appellant's motion on the ground he failed to make a

particularized showing both of a reasonable probability that the requested expert would aid in

his defense, and that a denial of the requested expert assistance would result in an unfair

trial. In so ruling, the trial court noted that the requested DNA analysis of the inside of the

boot would not determine the outcome of the case.

        {¶ 12} In noncapital cases, there is no authority requiring the trial court to authorize an
                                                     3
appropriation of funds for a defendant's expert fees. State v. Hurley, 3d Dist. Putnam No.

12-11-01, 2012-Ohio-310, ¶ 15, citing State v. Weeks, 64 Ohio App.3d 595, 598 (12th

Dist.1989). Thus, the standard to be applied is abuse of discretion, and this court must

determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in overruling appellant's motion.

Weeks at 598.

        {¶ 13} In State v. Mason, 82 Ohio St.3d 144 (1998), the Ohio Supreme Court held

that:

                due process, as guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth
                Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 16,
                Article I of the Ohio Constitution, requires that an indigent
                criminal defendant be provided funds to obtain expert assistance
                at state expense only where the trial court finds, in the exercise
                of a sound discretion, that the defendant has made a
                particularized showing (1) of a reasonable probability that the

3. By contrast, in capital cases, R.C. 2929.024 does require a trial court to authorize investigation services,
experts, or other services that are reasonably necessary for the proper representation of a defendant charged
with aggravated murder.
                                                     -4-
                                                                     Fayette CA2013-06-018

              requested expert would aid in his defense, and (2) that denial of
              the requested expert assistance would result in an unfair trial.

Id. at 150.

       {¶ 14} Consistent with this standard, courts have considered two factors to determine

whether a trial court abused its discretion in denying an appropriation of funds for an expert:

the value of the expert assistance to the defendant's proper representation at trial, and the

availability of other means to perform the same functions as an expert. State v. Vore, 12th

Dist. Warren No. CA2011-08-093, 2012-Ohio-2431, ¶ 53; see also State v. Jenkins, 15 Ohio

St.3d 164, 193 (1984).      The defendant bears the initial burden of establishing the

reasonableness of his request, and must present the trial court with sufficient facts upon

which the court can base its decision. Weeks at 598, citing State v. Scott, 41 Ohio App.3d

313, 315 (8th Dist.1987). If the defendant fails to make "a showing of demonstrable

prejudice," the trial court can legitimately refuse funds. Mason, 82 Ohio St.3d at 151.

       {¶ 15} Appellant failed to show that the assistance of an expert would be of any

particular value to his representation at trial. He did not cite to any facts that called into

question the integrity of the state's DNA samples, nor did he identify why the want of an

expert could not be overcome by counsel's diligent research. He simply argued that it would

be helpful to have someone to consult with to know what questions to ask on cross-

examination. Asserting the mere possibility that an expert would be of assistance did not

satisfy appellant's initial burden to establish the reasonableness of his request. See State v.

Campbell, 90 Ohio St.3d 320, 328 (2000).

       {¶ 16} Further, other means were available to appellant to serve the same function as

an expert. "DNA evidence is not 'novel' to Ohio courts." State v. Adams, 103 Ohio St.3d

508, 2004-Ohio-5845, ¶ 80. Hence, there are ample materials available by which resourceful

counsel can educate himself sufficiently to formulate an effective cross-examination. See,

                                              -5-
                                                                       Fayette CA2013-06-018

e.g., Annotation, Admissibility of DNA Identification Evidence, 84 A.L.R.4th 313 (1991)

(providing a comprehensive primer on the use of DNA evidence, as well as a lengthy

compendium of other resources).

       {¶ 17} Lastly, the denial of funds for an expert witness does not impact the fairness of

the trial where the expert's testimony will not be outcome determinative. State v. Huston,

12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2010-12-020, 2011-Ohio-3912, ¶ 8-11. Appellant sought additional

testing to show the presence of DNA from other individuals inside appellant's boot. However,

the trial court rightly noted that such evidence would not be outcome determinative here

because, as appellant's counsel effectively demonstrated at trial, DNA testing cannot prove

who was wearing the boots at the time Armbrust's DNA was transferred to them.

       {¶ 18} Having reviewed the record, we find no particularized showing by appellant that

denial of the requested expert assistance would result in an unfair trial. Nor do we find that

the denial resulted in an unfair trial. Cross-examination of the state's forensic expert

witnesses demonstrated that defense counsel adequately understood DNA testing. He was

able to ask pointed questions in regards to the DNA of other unknown individuals on the

brown jacket, the inconclusive results of the DNA testing on the ski mask, and the inability of

DNA testing to determine how long appellant's DNA had been on the jacket, or who was

wearing appellant's boots when Armbrust's DNA was transferred to them.

       {¶ 19} For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion

in denying appellant's motion for appropriation of funds for an expert witness. Appellant's

first assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶ 20} Assignment of Error No. 2:

       {¶ 21} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO

SUPPRESS.

       {¶ 22} Appellant argues that his Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable
                                               -6-
                                                                     Fayette CA2013-06-018

searches and seizures was violated when the trial court denied his motion to suppress all

evidence obtained as a result of the DNA testing of his boots.

       {¶ 23} At the suppression hearing, appellant argued that even though the boots were

in the jail at the time they were seized, he retained his expectation of privacy in them

because they remained his property. On this ground, appellant argued that the "search

incident to lawful arrest" exception to Fourth Amendment did not apply, and that the state

was required to obtain a warrant to send the boots to BCI for testing. The trial court

overruled appellant's motion, noting that appellant was wearing his boots at the time of his

arrest, and that the decision of the United States Supreme Court in United States v.

Edwards, 415 U.S. 800, 94 S.Ct. 1234 (1974), and its progeny allow warrantless searches

and seizures involving property on a defendant's person at the time of lawful arrest.

Appellant now contends that Edwards has been superseded by a "special needs" analysis for

warrantless searches justified by administrative ends.

       {¶ 24} Appellate review of a ruling on a motion to suppress presents a mixed question

of law and fact. State v. Quinn, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-06-116, 2012-Ohio-3123, ¶ 11,

citing State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8. The trial court is in the

best position to resolve questions of fact, and a reviewing court must accept the trial court's

findings of fact so long as they are supported by competent, credible evidence. Quinn at ¶

11. "After accepting the trial court's factual findings as true, the appellate court must then

determine, as a matter of law, and without deferring to the trial court's conclusions, whether

the trial court applied the appropriate legal standard." Id.

       {¶ 25} "It is well established that searches conducted without a warrant are per se

unreasonable, subject to certain 'jealously and carefully drawn' exceptions." State v. Smith,

124 Ohio St.3d 163, 2009-Ohio-6426, ¶ 10, quoting Jones v. United States, 357 U.S. 493,

499, 78 S.Ct. 1253 (1958). Therefore, review of the trial court's decision to allow the
                                              -7-
                                                                      Fayette CA2013-06-018

evidence obtained by the state when it sent appellant's boots to BCI for DNA testing without

a warrant requires this court to determine whether the state's action fits within one of these

exceptions.

       {¶ 26} At the outset, we address appellant's argument that Edwards has been

superseded by a "special needs" analysis for warrantless searches justified by administrative

ends. The cases to which appellant refers discuss exceptions that have been developed in

Fourth Amendment jurisprudence for circumstances either beyond "the normal need for law

enforcement," or involving the execution of an administrative warrant. See Ashcroft v. al-

Kidd, 131 S.Ct. 2074, 2080-81 (2011), citing Vernonia School Dist. 47J v. Acton, 515 U.S.

646, 653, 115 S.Ct. 2386 (1995), and Camara v. San Francisco, 387 U.S. 523, 535-538, 87

S.Ct. 1727 (1967) (observing that Vernonia considers the "special need" of deterring drug

use in public schools, and Camara discusses an administrative warrant to inspect residential

premises to assure compliance with housing code). But the United States Supreme Court

has been very clear that "those exceptions do not apply where the officer's purpose [for

conducting a search] is not to attend to the special needs or to the investigation for which the

administrative inspection is justified." Ashcroft at 2081.

       {¶ 27} Here, the purpose of the search was neither to attend to special needs beyond

the normal need for law enforcement, nor to execute an administrative warrant. Rather, the

search was conducted incident to appellant's arrest. A "search incident to arrest" is a well-

established exception to the general rule against warrantless searches that allows arresting

officers to search both an arrestee's person and the area within the arrestee's immediate

control. Smith, 124 Ohio St.3d at ¶ 11, citing Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 762-763, 89

S.Ct. 2034 (1969). "The exception derives from interests in officer safety and evidence

preservation that are typically implicated in arrest situations." Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332,

338, 129 S.Ct. 1710 (2009). (Emphasis added.) Thus, Edwards is determinative of the
                                              -8-
                                                                      Fayette CA2013-06-018

instant issue.

       {¶ 28} In Edwards, the defendant was lawfully arrested in Lebanon, Ohio and charged

with attempting to break into a post office building. Id. at 801. Soon after the defendant was

taken to the local jail, investigation of the crime scene led authorities to believe that the

perpetrator of the offense would likely have paint chips on his clothing. Id. The morning after

the defendant's arrest, police confiscated his clothing and sent it to a laboratory for testing.

Id. at 802. At trial, the prosecution was allowed to present evidence that the testing revealed

the presence of paint chips on the defendant's clothing. Id.

       {¶ 29} The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine "whether the

Fourth Amendment should be extended to exclude from evidence certain clothing taken from

[the defendant] while he was in custody at the city jail approximately 10 hours after his

arrest." Edwards, 415 U.S. at 801. In holding that Fourth Amendment rights should not be

so extended, the Supreme Court found the search incident to arrest exception to permit that

"clothing or other belongings [of an accused] may be seized upon arrival of the accused at

the place of detention and later subjected to laboratory analysis * * *." Id. at 804, citing

United States v. Caruso, 358 F.2d 184, 185 (2d Cir.1966). "This was no more than taking

from [the accused] the effects in his immediate possession that constituted evidence of a

crime." Id. at 805. Hence, the Supreme Court concluded that "'[w]hile the legal arrest of a

person should not destroy the privacy of his premises, it does – for at least a reasonable time

and to a reasonable extent – take his own privacy out of the realm of protection from police

interest in weapons, means of escape, and evidence.'" Id. at 808-809, quoting United States

v. DeLeo, 422 F.2d 487, 493 (1st Cir.1970).

       {¶ 30} The circumstances of the present case are similar. Appellant was arrested in

the late afternoon of Saturday, February 23, 2013, and detained at the Fayette County Jail.

Immediately upon his detention, appellant's clothing, boots, and personal effects were
                                              -9-
                                                                    Fayette CA2013-06-018

bagged up and placed in a locker in the jail's property room. On the morning of Monday,

February 25 – less than 48 hours after appellant's arrest and detention – Officer Queen,

acting on a tip received from appellant's co-defendant and housemate, retrieved appellant's

boots from the jail and sent them to BCI for testing. "[I]t is difficult to perceive what is

unreasonable about the police's examining and holding as evidence those personal effects of

the accused that they already have in their lawful custody as the result of a lawful arrest."

Edwards, 415 U.S. at 806.

      {¶ 31} Accordingly, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to

suppress. Appellant's second assignment of error is therefore overruled.

      {¶ 32} Judgment affirmed.

      HENDRICKSON, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.

                                            - 10 -