Court Opinion

ID: 2738220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-30 15:07:29.764487+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:33:02.099335
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Morris, 2014-Ohio-4293.]

                                    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                         LAKE COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO,                                    :      OPINION

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,              :
                                                         CASE NOS. 2013-L-057
        - vs -                                    :                2013-L-058

KEVIN D. MORRIS,                                  :

                 Defendant-Appellant.             :

Criminal Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Case Nos. 12 CR
000223 and 13 CR 000140.

Judgment: Affirmed.

Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Prosecutor, and Teri R. Daniel, Assistant Prosecutor,
Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490, Painesville, OH
44077 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Thomas Rein, Leader Building, #940, 526 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 (For
Defendant-Appellant).

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-appellant, Kevin D. Morris, appeals his convictions for

Possession of Heroin and Possessing Criminal Tools, following a jury trial in the Lake

County Court of Common Pleas, and the denial of his Motion for New Trial. The issues

before this court are whether forensic evidence such as fingerprints and chemical

analysis is sufficient to support a conviction for possession of drugs found in another’s

dwelling, and whether a new trial is merited based on newly discovered evidence
tending to impeach one of the State’s witnesses. For the following reasons, we affirm

the judgments of the court below.

       {¶2}    On March 22, 2013, the Lake County Grand Jury issued an Indictment,

charging Morris with Trafficking in Heroin (Count 1), a felony of the fifth degree in

violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1); Possessing Criminal Tools (Count 2), a felony of the

fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2923.24; Possession of Heroin (Count 3), a felony of the

second degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11; and Possessing Criminal Tools (Count 4), a

felony of the fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2923.24. All Counts of the Indictment

carried a forfeiture specification, pursuant to R.C. 2941.1417 and 2981.04.

       {¶3}    On March 29, 2013, Morris appeared for arraignment and entered a plea

of “not guilty.”

       {¶4}    Morris’ case was tried to a jury from April 23 through 25, 2013.      The

following testimony was presented on behalf of the State:

       {¶5}    Sergeant Brad Kemp of the Lake County Narcotics Agency testified that,

on February 6, 2013, he participated in a “buy bust of heroin,” targeting “Kevin Morris,

a.k.a. Snake.” Kemp conducted surveillance of a two-family residence at 207 West

Jackson Street in Painesville, Ohio, while a confidential informant (CI) entered to

purchase heroin from Morris.

       {¶6}    After the CI departed, Sergeant Kemp observed a Pontiac and a Dodge

Dakota leave the residence. The Dodge was driven by Edward Nardi, a resident of 207

West Jackson Street, and was stopped at a nearby Clark gas station. Nardi later gave

his consent to search the residence.

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       {¶7}   Kemp continued his surveillance of the residence until Morris, Brian

Wicks, and Raymond Hardmon (a.k.a. Dro) exited on foot, walking northbound on

Jefferson Street. Morris was arrested and taken to jail. Kemp then conducted a search

of the residence with Nardi present.

       {¶8}   Kemp described the residence as a “very small” two bedroom apartment.

Nardi slept in one of the bedrooms. In the second bedroom, Kemp observed a digital

scale on top of a dresser. In the top drawer, there was a glass dinner plate, razor blade,

syringes, and a “brownish off-white substance” believed to be heroin. Underneath the

mattress in the second bedroom, Kemp found a press, which is used for diluting the

purity of heroin.   Kemp noted that the heroin on the plate had a cylindrical shape

consistent with the shape of the press.

       {¶9}   James Gerlosky (a.k.a. Dustin) testified that he is a recovering heroin

addict and confidential informant for the Mentor Police Department. Gerlosky, who was

already familiar with Morris, texted him and arranged to purchase $130 worth of heroin

(“about a gram”). Prior to the transaction, Gerlosky was searched and provided with

marked money and a “wire” recording device. Gerlosky was initially directed to the

Grant Street Apartments in Painesville.          When Morris did not appear, Gerlosky

contacted him again and was directed to a house on First Street. Recordings of Morris

directing Gerlosky to Grant and First Streets were played for the jury. Prior to arriving at

First Street, narcotics agents removed Gerlosky’s wire since Morris was acting

suspicious and asking questions.

       {¶10} After arriving at the house on First Street, Gerlosky was directed to 207

West Jackson Street.      Hardmon (Dro) answered the door and admitted Gerlosky.

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Hardmon threw Gerlosky against the wall and patted him down.            Morris then told

Gerlosky he would have to try some heroin before he would sell him the gram.

Gerlosky went to the bathroom with Hardmon and pretended to snort a line of heroin.

Gerlosky then tried to hand Morris the money but he refused to take it, telling Gerlosky

to hand it to an “older white gentleman” who was present. Morris gave Gerlosky the

heroin and Gerlosky departed.

       {¶11} Gerlosky admitted that, during the debriefing following the buy, he told the

narcotics agents that he handed the money to Morris and that he ingested some of the

heroin before blowing the rest of it away.

       {¶12} Kimberly Krall, a forensic chemist at the Lake County Crime Laboratory,

testified that the substance recovered from Gerlosky constituted 0.64 grams of heroin

and the substance found at the West Jackson residence constituted 27.65 grams of

heroin.

       {¶13} Douglas Rhode, the supervisor of chemistry and toxicology at the Lake

County Crime Laboratory, analyzed the heroin recovered from Gerlosky and the heroin

found in the West Jackson residence. Rhode testified that both quantities of heroin

contained other substances: diphenhydramine, mannitol, papaverine, noxetine and

acidulated codeine.      Diphenhydramine and mannitol are “cutting agents,” i.e.

“something that will be added to the pure drug.” Papaverine, noxetine and codeine are

components of poppy seed milk, occurring naturally in morphine, and may be present in

heroin as residue from the conversion process.       Based on the presence of these

substances in the two quantities of heroin, Rhode testified that it was “probable,” “60

percent, somewhere in that range,” that they came from the same source.

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       {¶14} Sergeant Toby Burgett of the Painesville Police Department testified that,

on February 6, 2013, he was performing surveillance of 207 West Jackson Street as

part of the controlled buy targeting Morris and participated in Morris’ arrest. Burgett

recovered “over $1,000 in one of [Morris’] front pockets.” Burgett assisted in the search

of the residence. Burgett described the second bedroom, where the scale, heroin, and

press were found, as having a bed with no sheets, a dresser, and a closet. Burgett

testified that “it didn’t appear anybody was actually living in that room.”

       {¶15} Special Agent 85 of the Lake County Narcotics Agency prepared Gerlosky

for the February 6, 2013 controlled buy. Agent 85 also participated in the surveillance

operation and collected the evidence from the West Jackson Street residence.

       {¶16} Detective Jason Hughes of the Painesville Police Department participated

in Morris’ arrest on February 6, 2013, seizing from him a cellular phone.        Hughes

testified about the unsuccessful efforts to recover the marked money used in the

controlled buy.

       {¶17} Special Agent 88 of the Lake County Narcotics Agency participated in the

surveillance operation and the arrest of Morris. Agent 88 testified that Morris’ cellular

number was 216-218-5769.

       {¶18} Marcela Delvalle testified that, on February 6, 2013, she was at Nardi’s

house on West Jackson Street with Nardi, David Dawson (her boyfriend), Morris, and

“random people.” She identified the residence as Nardi’s “home,” but noted that “people

just stayed there * * * and did whatever it was they did.” Delvalle asked Morris for

heroin that day but was told “it’s not good right now.” Delvalle assumed that Morris

needed “to cut it,” noting that Morris, like “everybody does,” cuts his heroin with

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mannitol. Delvalle recalled a white male coming to the house and buying drugs, which

she believed was crack, from Morris.

       {¶19} Delvalle admitted that she was arrested that day and charged with

Possession of Heroin. Pursuant to a cooperation agreement with the State, she would

be charged with a misdemeanor in exchange for her testimony.

       {¶20} Raymond Jorz, the senior fingerprint and firearms examiner for the Lake

County Crime Laboratory, examined the dinner plate taken from the West Jackson

Street residence. Jorz was able to develop a single partial latent fingerprint on the back

of the plate which he identified as belonging to Morris’ right little finger.

       {¶21} Detective Donald Seamon of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office maintains

the jail call system at the Lake County Jail. Seamon authenticated recordings of various

telephone conversations Morris had while at the Lake County Jail.

       {¶22} Special Agent 76 of the Lake County Narcotics Agency worked with

Gerlosky in setting up the buy bust. Gerlosky first called Morris to ask if he would “be

around later,” and Morris said yes. Gerlosky then texted Morris “got 130,” meaning

$130 of heroin, and received the reply “K,” meaning okay.             Agent 76 testified that

Gerlosky contacted Morris using the 216-218-5769 number.

       {¶23} On the day of the buy bust, Agent 76 followed Gerlosky from Grant Street

to First Street to West Jackson Street. Following the buy, Agent 76 met with Gerlosky

and received a physical description of Morris, which information he radioed to the other

officers and agents who effected Morris’ arrest.

       {¶24} At the close of Agent 76’s testimony, a recording of telephone

conversations Morris made while in jail was played for the jury. In these conversations,

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Morris explained that they “fucked the whole case up”: “I ain’t never get no marked

money. Pat got the marked money. They ain’t never get the marked money from Pat.”

Morris spoke about recovering the $1,080 seized at the time of his arrest: “That’s the

money I made off drugs period but * * * they gotta prove it, they can’t prove it.” Morris

spoke about having his telephones turned off: “Tell him it’s just the 218-5769 * * * that’s

the main one. That’s the one really need to get cut off.”

       {¶25} Morris identified Gerlosky (Dustin) as the informant, but claimed that he

could not have been with the DEA because “I seen that dude do drugs.” Morris also

stated that “Dustin could have never been no informant for that long * * * I would have

been catch him a long time ago when I first started fucking with him * * * he kind of like a

‘day one’ a little bit.” When discussing whether Gerlosky had a wire, Morris asserted

“we wiped that nigger down.” He continued that, even if Gerlosky had a wire, there was

too much noise in the house for a recording to be possible.

       {¶26} At the close of the State’s case, counsel for Morris moved for acquittal on

all charges pursuant to Criminal Rule 29. The trial court denied the motion.

       {¶27} The jury returned a verdict finding Morris guilty of all Counts and the

following items subject to forfeiture: the heroin, cellular phone, glass plate, digital scale,

razor blades, Sharpstone press, and $1,081 in cash.

       {¶28} On May 28, 2013, a sentencing hearing was held. The trial court ordered

Morris to serve a nine-month prison term for Trafficking in Heroin (Count 1), a nine-

month prison term for Possessing Criminal Tools (Count 2), a mandatory six-year prison

term for Possession of Heroin (Count 3), and a nine-month prison term for Possessing

Criminal Tools (Count 4). The sentences were to be served consecutively with each

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other for a total term of imprisonment of six years and consecutively with the sentence

imposed in Lake County Court of Common Pleas Case No. 12-CR-000223.

      {¶29} On May 31, 2013, the trial court memorialized Morris’ sentence in a written

Judgment Entry of Sentence.

      {¶30} On June 11, 2013, Morris filed his Notice of Appeal.

      {¶31} On March 12, 2014, the court issued a Judgment Entry, remanding the

appeal to allow the trial court to consider a Motion for a New Trial, initially filed on

February 12, 2014, and refiled after remand on March 24, 2014.

      {¶32} On April 23, 2014, the trial court issued an Opinion and Judgment Entry,

denying Morris’ Motion for New Trial.

      {¶33} On appeal, Morris raises the following assignments of error:

      {¶34} “[1.] The trial court committed prejudicial error in failing to grant

Defendant-Appellant’s Rule 29 Motion concerning Counts 3 and 4.            The evidence

presented by the State lacked sufficient weight to sustain a conviction on Counts 3 and

4.”

      {¶35} “[2.] The trial court failed to hold a hearing and/or conduct a due process

analysis to determine whether Defendant-Appellant Mr. Morris’ substantial rights have

been materially affected.”

      {¶36} In his first assignment of error, Morris argues that his convictions for

Possession of Heroin (Count 3) and Possessing Criminal Tools (Count 4) are supported

by insufficient evidence and/or are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Morris’

convictions for Possession of Heroin and Possessing Criminal Tools were based on the

27.65 grams of heroin and the glass dinner plate, respectively, found in the dresser in

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Nardi’s home.    Specifically, Morris contends that the State failed to prove that he

possessed either the heroin or the plate.

       {¶37} The manifest weight of the evidence and the sufficiency of the evidence

are distinct legal concepts. State v. Elmore, 111 Ohio St. 3d 515, 2006-Ohio-6207, 857
N.E.2d 547, ¶ 44. With respect to the sufficiency of the evidence, “[t]he 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.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991),

paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct.
2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979).

       {¶38} Whereas “sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy as to whether

the evidence is legally sufficient to support a verdict as a matter of law, * * * weight of

the evidence addresses the evidence’s effect of inducing belief.” State v. Wilson, 113
Ohio St. 3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 25, citing State v. Thompkins, 78
Ohio St. 3d 380, 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). “In other words, a reviewing court

asks whose evidence is more persuasive -- the state’s or the defendant’s?” Id. An

appellate court considering whether a verdict is against the manifest weight of the

evidence must consider all the evidence in the record, the reasonable inferences, the

credibility of the witnesses, and 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 at 387, quoting State v. Martin,

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

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      {¶39} “‘Possess’ or ‘possession’ means having control over a thing or

substance, but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance

through ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is

found.” R.C. 2925.01(K). “Constructive possession exists when an individual exercises

dominion and control over an object, even though that object may not be within his

immediate physical possession.” State v. Wolery, 46 Ohio St. 2d 316, 329, 348 N.E.2d
351 (1976).

      {¶40} This court has often affirmed “that constructive possession of contraband

may be supported solely by circumstantial evidence.” State v. Jackson, 11th Dist. Lake

No. 2011-L-107, 2012-Ohio-2123, ¶ 45 (cases cited).

      {¶41} Morris maintains that, while there was evidence that he “was selling drugs

within a residence used by many people,” there was no evidence “that [he] ever lived

there or kept his possessions there,” or that he “was ever in the bedroom or, indeed,

that he was aware of the contents.” We disagree. State v. Adams, 11th Dist. Ashtabula

No. 2012-A-0025, 2013-Ohio-1603, ¶ 39-40 (constructive possession may be found

where the offender neither owned nor exercised exclusive control of the premises

and/or contraband).

      {¶42} There was abundant circumstantial evidence that Morris exercised

dominion and control over the heroin and the plate. There was evidence that Morris

was selling heroin out of the residence where the heroin and plate were found. The

appearance and composition of the heroin sold matched the appearance and

composition of the heroin found in the drawer. Morris’ fingerprint was found on the

plate. Despite the fact that other people were present in the house, there was no

                                         10
evidence that any of them sold heroin and/or exerted control over the heroin and plate

found in the drawer. It was reasonable to infer that the heroin Morris sold to Gerlosky

was originally part of the heroin found in the drawer and that Morris used the plate and

other drug paraphernalia (scale, razor blades, press) in the drawer to prepare the heroin

for sale. Thus, Morris had sufficient control of the heroin and the plate to sustain his

convictions. Compare State v. Jester, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-10-264, 2012-Ohio-

544, ¶ 26-27 (Jester’s presence at a residence where drugs were found was sufficient

to establish constructive possession).

       {¶43} The first assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶44} In his second assignment of error, Morris argues the trial court erred by

denying his Motion for New Trial without hearing.

       {¶45} “A new trial may be granted on motion of the defendant * * * [w]hen new

evidence material to the defense is discovered, which the defendant could not with

reasonable diligence have discovered and produced at the trial.” Crim.R. 33(A)(6).

       {¶46} “To warrant the granting of a motion for a new trial in a criminal case,

based on the ground of newly discovered evidence, it must be shown that the new

evidence (1) discloses a strong probability that it will change the result if a new trial is

granted, (2) has been discovered since the trial, (3) is such as could not in the exercise

of due diligence have been discovered before the trial, (4) is material to the issues, (5)

is not merely cumulative to former evidence, and (6) does not merely impeach or

contradict the former evidence.”     State v. Petro, 148 Ohio St. 505, 76 N.E.2d 370

(1947), syllabus.

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        {¶47} “The granting of a motion for a new trial upon the ground [of newly

discovered evidence] is necessarily committed to the wise discretion of the court, and a

court of error cannot reverse unless there has been a gross abuse of that discretion.

And whether that discretion has been abused must be disclosed from the entire record.

* * *   The new testimony proffered must neither be impeaching nor cumulative in

character. Were the rule otherwise the defendant could often easily avail himself of a

new trial upon the ground claimed. Unless the trial court or court of error, in view of the

testimony presented to the court and jury, finds that there is a strong probability that the

newly discovered evidence will result in a different verdict, a new trial should be

refused.” State v. Lopa, 96 Ohio St. 410, 411, 117 N.E. 319 (1917).

        {¶48} Subsequent to Morris’ conviction and sentencing, it was revealed that

Gerlosky had been charged with Tampering with Evidence in Geauga County, based on

Gerlosky’s taking money and drugs while working as a CI. Gerlosky stated to a sheriff’s

deputy that, while “working with Mentor Police or Lake County Narcotics * * * that he

took money once and dope once.”

        {¶49} The trial court found that Morris failed to demonstrate that the newly

discovered evidence would have likely changed the result of trial, was material to the

issues, and did not merely impeach Gerlosky’s trial testimony. We agree.

        {¶50} Gerlosky’s theft of money and/or dope during a controlled buy is not

relevant to the issue of whether it was Morris who sold him the heroin. Rather, this

evidence would only serve to impeach Gerlosky’s credibility. Even on this issue, the

evidence was cumulative. At trial, Gerlosky admitted to giving contradictory statements

about snorting the heroin prior to the buy and to whom he handed the money for the

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buy.   As to whether it was Morris who sold Gerlosky the heroin, there was abundant

corroborative evidence such as the texts to Morris’ phone setting up the buy, Delvalle’s

testimony, the fingerprint linking Morris to the heroin found in the house, and Morris’

own statements made in the recorded jail conversations.

       {¶51} Morris argues that, since he “alleged that the prosecution suppressed

evidence, he is not subject to the usual burden required to obtain a new trial –

demonstrating that the newly discovered evidence probably would have resulted in

acquittal.”   We find no merit in the claim that the prosecution withheld exculpatory

evidence.

       {¶52} The Complaint against Gerlosky in Geauga County charges him with

conduct occurring on April 25, 2013, the same date that the jury returned its guilty

verdicts against Morris. The Complaint was not issued until July 23, 2013, at which time

Morris had already been sentenced. Thus, the newly discovered evidence on which

Morris relies did not exist until after the conclusion of his case. It was not possible for

the State to have withheld this evidence during Morris’ trial.

       {¶53} The second assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶54} For the foregoing reasons, Morris’ convictions for Possession of Heroin

and Possessing Criminal Tools and the denial of his Motion for New Trial are affirmed.

Costs to be taxed against the appellant.

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,

CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,

concur.

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