State v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (3-21-2003)
State v. Johnson, Unpublished Decision (3-21-2003)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Russell Johnson appeals from the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, without a hearing. Johnson contends that the trial court erred by failing to hold a hearing on his petition.{¶ 2} This was Johnson's second petition for post-conviction relief. Consequently, the trial court was not permitted to entertain the petition unless Johnson could show that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found him guilty of the offense of which he was convicted. R.C.
{¶ 4} In 1996, Johnson filed a petition for post-conviction relief. The State moved for summary judgment, and judgment was rendered against Johnson on his petition, without a hearing, in 1997. That decision was affirmed by this court in 1998.
{¶ 5} Johnson filed a second petition for post-conviction relief in 2001. That petition was denied without a hearing in 2002. From the denial of his second petition for post-conviction relief, without a hearing, Johnson appeals.
{¶ 7} "The Trial Court Erred In Failing To Order A Hearing On Appellant's Second Petition To Vacate Plea When The Appellant Meets The Requirements Of R.C.
{¶ 8} A person convicted of a criminal offense may petition for post-conviction relief pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 9} "The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted . . ."
{¶ 10} The above-quoted condition imposes a strict limitation upon consideration of second and successive petitions for post-conviction relief, in recognition of the value of finality of judgment.
{¶ 11} Johnson asserts three constitutional errors at trial. In the first of these, he contends that the prosecutor suppressed exculpatory evidence, in violation of Brady v. Maryland (1963),
{¶ 12} What Johnson failed to do was to indicate what Jewell Dockery's statements to the polygraph examiner were. Without knowing that, there is no way that the trial court could determine that, but for the alleged constitutional error of the State having failed to produce the statements, no reasonable factfinder would have found Johnson guilty of the charged offense. R.C.
{¶ 13} Next, Johnson contends that the State suppressed a tape recording of his interrogation by police officers. Again, however, he has made no showing of what that tape recording would have proven, had it been preserved and made available to defense counsel at trial. Without knowing what the tape recording would have proven, there is no way to make the determination, required by R.C.
{¶ 14} Johnson cites State v. Singerman (January 29, 1999), Montgomery App. No. 17477. We fail to see how that citation is of any help to Johnson at all, but he may be attempting to rely upon our earlier decision in State v. Singerman (1996),
{¶ 15} Finally, Johnson alleges juror misconduct. Specifically, he contends that an investigator has discovered, from talking with the foreperson of his jury, that one of the jurors "who wore a hearing aid had turned it off during the presentation of evidence and had commented to [the foreperson] that he didn't need it since he read about the case in the newspapers." Again, this claimed error, in order to be entertained in a second petition for post-conviction relief, must satisfy the R.C.
{¶ 16} With respect to none of the matters that Johnson claims to have been a constitutional error at trial, is the requirement of R.C.
{¶ 17} Johnson's First Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 19} "The Trial Court Erred In Failing To Order A Hearing On Appellant's Second Petition For Post Conviction Relief Due To The Ineffectiveness Of Post Conviction Counsel."
{¶ 20} In connection with this assignment of error, Johnson argues that the counsel who handled his first petition for post-conviction relief was ineffective. This circumstance, even if true, does not relieve him of the requirement, imposed by R.C.
{¶ 21} As noted in Part II, above, we conclude that Johnson has failed to make the requisite showing that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found him guilty of the offense of which he was convicted. Accordingly, the trial court was not permitted to entertain his petition, and Johnson's Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
GRADY and YOUNG, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.