In the Matter of Cherry, Unpublished Decision (4-22-2004)
In the Matter of Cherry, Unpublished Decision (4-22-2004)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, Rashad Cherry, appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch, which adjudicated him delinquent for committing aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree; robbery, a felony of the second degree; and robbery, a felony of the third degree. For the following reasons, we affirm.{¶ 2} According to the state's evidence, on January 27, 2003, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Mary Ellen Kahn stopped at a Big Bear grocery store on Whittier Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, to pick up a few items. While Kahn was shopping, Kahn noticed that several young men who were dressed alike in black clothing were also in the store.
{¶ 3} As Kahn was loading groceries into her trunk, the young men who were dressed alike in black clothing approached Kahn. Appellant then stepped forward, pointed a gun at Kahn's head, and stated, "Give me the damn purse." (Tr. 7, 10-11.) Appellant grabbed the purse. When Kahn saw the gun barrel, Kahn released her grip on the purse and ducked because she was fearful that appellant would shoot her. After the robbery, the group of young men ran in a southeast direction toward Whittier Avenue and Kahn ran into the store and yelled for assistance.
{¶ 4} At the time of the robbery, appellant stood within arm's length of Kahn, approximately three or four feet away from her. Appellant wore a black hood and Kahn could only see appellant's face and eyes. According to Kahn, appellant appeared relatively young, approximately 14 years old, and had medium-brown skin. Kahn did not notice any facial hair, glasses, or distinctive features. According to Kahn, the area where the robbery occurred was sufficiently lit so that Kahn had a very good look at appellant, and she observed appellant for approximately 30 seconds.
{¶ 5} Police responded to the scene within approximately 10 to 15 minutes. According to Kahn, a police officer informed her that officers had apprehended some suspects. Kahn accompanied police, who drove Kahn to three different locations to provide Kahn with an opportunity to identify any of the suspects.
{¶ 6} At the first location, police brought two suspects in front of the car. Kahn informed police that she was "pretty sure" that appellant, the taller of the two suspects and who at that time had a white hood, was her assailant. (Tr. 15.) At trial, Kahn recalled that she told police, "I believe that's him." (Tr. 16.) According to Kahn, an officer then stated, "`Well, we have two other suspects. Let's take a look at them as well.'" Id.
{¶ 7} After Kahn saw appellant the first time, she informed police that she wanted to confirm that she had identified the correct suspect. Police then took Kahn back to the grocery store where she reviewed the store's videotape. After reviewing the videotape, Kahn realized the group of young men that she had seen in the store had followed her out of the store. Kahn could not see the boys' faces on the videotape.
{¶ 8} Later, however, because Kahn wanted to get a closer look at appellant, she asked for a second opportunity to view appellant. After viewing appellant a second time, Kahn positively identified appellant as the person who robbed her at gunpoint. At this second viewing, police pulled a dark hood, not a white hood, over appellant's head. Because Kahn had observed appellant with both a white hood and a black hood, Kahn theorized that appellant wore two layers of clothing at the time of the robbery and appellant's apprehension. Kahn was not able to positively identify any other individuals.
{¶ 9} Following the robbery, Kahn's purse was recovered in an alley near the grocery store. All items in the purse were eventually returned, except for approximately $75 in cash.
{¶ 10} On January 28, 2003, police filed a complaint in juvenile court, alleging aggravated robbery, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 11} After several continuances, on April 16, 2003, the juvenile court held a hearing to consider whether probable cause existed that appellant had committed the alleged crimes and to consider the state's motion to relinquish jurisdiction. Finding probable cause existed, the juvenile court ordered appellant to submit to an alcohol and drug assessment.
{¶ 12} On April 22, 2003, the juvenile court amended count one of the complaint "to include displaying of a firearm and a category 2 offense as stipulated to by all parties." (Judgment entry filed April 22, 2003.) The juvenile court continued the matter for a determination concerning appellant's amenability to rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system.
{¶ 13} On May 1, 2003, finding appellant was amenable to rehabilitation as a juvenile, the juvenile court denied the state's motion for relinquishment of jurisdiction. In its entry of May 1, 2003, the juvenile court ordered some language to be deleted from appellant's alcohol and drug assessment, and the court admitted the amended alcohol and drug assessment along with a bindover packet into evidence.
{¶ 14} On May 7, 2003, the juvenile court conducted an adjudicatory hearing. Following the adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile court proceeded immediately to disposition of the matter. At the adjudicatory hearing, the sole witness for the prosecution was Kahn who testified about the robbery. The state did not call any police officers to testify about appellant's apprehension. Except for Kahn's testimony and a map, no other evidence was introduced by the state at the hearing.
{¶ 15} The juvenile court adjudicated appellant as a delinquent minor child and found appellant had committed aggravated robbery, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 16} On May 21, 2003, appellant timely appealed from the juvenile court's judgment of May 7, 2003. Concurrent with the filing of appellant's notice of appeal, appellant's trial counsel moved for appointment of appellate counsel. On June 19, 2003, this court appointed the Franklin County Public Defender to represent appellant in this appeal.
{¶ 17} Appellant assigns the following errors:
{¶ 18} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 19} Appellant's first assignment of error asserts the judgment is not supported by sufficient evidence and is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 20} To the extent appellant challenges his conviction as not supported by sufficient evidence, we construe the evidence in favor of the prosecution and determine whether such evidence permits any rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks
(1991),
{¶ 21} When presented with a manifest weight argument, we engage in a limited weighing of the evidence to determine whether the jury's verdict is supported by sufficient competent, credible evidence to permit reasonable minds to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Conley, supra. See, also, State v.Thompkins (1997),
{¶ 22} Here, in his first assignment of error, appellant contends the eyewitness identification evidence was obtained through a suggestive procedure and should have been excluded due to unreliability.
{¶ 23} As a preliminary matter, because appellant failed to object to Kahn's testimony and to her eyewitness identification, appellant has waived all arguments except plain error. State v.Williams (1977),
{¶ 24} Although a "showup" identification is inherently suggestive, State v. Martin (July 31, 2001), Franklin App. No. 99AP-150, "`[t]here is no prohibition against viewing a suspect alone in what is called a "one-man showup" when this occurs near the time of the alleged criminal act; such a course does not tend to bring about misidentification but rather tends under some circumstances to insure accuracy.'" Id. quoting State v.Madison (1980),
{¶ 25} Previously, this court has observed:
To set aside [a] defendant's conviction on the basis that the admission of eyewitness identification violated due process, defendant must show the identification procedure was "so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification." Simmons v.United States (1968),
Martin, supra.
{¶ 26} Here, Kahn viewed appellant's face for approximately 30 seconds when he pointed a gun toward her head; the area where the robbery occurred was sufficiently lit so that Kahn had a very good look at appellant; only a short period of time elapsed, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, between the robbery and Kahn's initial confrontation with appellant whereupon she provisionally identified appellant; and only a relatively short period of time elapsed after the robbery, approximately 30 to 45 minutes, whereupon Kahn positively and with certainty identified appellant as the person who robbed her at gunpoint. (Tr. 21-22.)
{¶ 27} Furthermore, because Kahn could not see any facial features when she reviewed the store's videotape, we do not find Kahn's viewing of the videotape before Kahn's second identification of appellant rendered Kahn's second identification to be impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification.
{¶ 28} Therefore, based upon these facts and based upon the factors in Neil v. Biggers (1972),
{¶ 29} Moreover, we are not persuaded by appellant's contentions that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient and the judgment was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 30} Pursuant to R.C.
(A) No person, in attempting or committing a theft offense, as defined in section
(1) Have a deadly weapon on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control and either display the weapon, brandish it, indicate that the offender possesses it, or use it;
(2) Have a dangerous ordnance on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control;
(3) Inflict, or attempt to inflict, serious physical harm on another.
* * *
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree.
(D) As used in this section:
(1) "Deadly weapon" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same meanings as in section
{¶ 31} Under R.C.
(A) No person, in attempting or committing a theft offense or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, shall do any of the following:
(1) Have a deadly weapon on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control;
(2) Inflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict physical harm on another;
(3) Use or threaten the immediate use of force against another.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of robbery. A violation of (A)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the second degree. A violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the third degree.
(C) As used in this section:
(1) "Deadly weapon" has the same meaning as in section
(2) "Theft offense" has the same meaning as in section
See, also, R.C.
{¶ 32} Here, according to Kahn's sworn testimony, appellant displayed a gun; appellant pointed the gun at her head thereby threatening the immediate use of force; and without privilege appellant removed Kahn's purse from her possession.
{¶ 33} Furthermore, although presumably the state could have admitted into evidence appellant's clothing that appellant was wearing on the day of his apprehension, or the state could have subpoenaed police officers to testify about appellant's clothing at the time of appellant's apprehension, we do not conclude the evidence presented at trial concerning a white hood and a black hood constitutes reasonable doubt or renders Kahn's identification unreliable. See, e.g., R.C.
{¶ 34} On direct examination, Kahn testified:
Q. [By prosecutor] Okay. All right. Well, when you said you were pretty sure it was him [at the first identification], what — what made you think that? Did you —
A. Because I recognized his — they — he actually — he was — they — they brought — they brought a hood up. He had a white — they pulled up a white hood, which he did not have on when — I mean the person that robbed me wasn't wearing a white hood, but it — the face — I looked at the face because he was looking right into my eyes when — you know, because he was about the same height. So, I just thought it — I mean, the face, just the eyes and the nose, because I was looking, staring right at him, that's why I thought it was him.
(Tr. 16.)
{¶ 35} Later, on redirect examination, Kahn testified:
Q. [By prosecutor] Okay. And, Ms. Kahn, let's just clarify the clothing issue one more time. The first time you saw him was when he approached you with the gun?
A. Right.
Q. And he had on a —
A. A dark — he had a dark hood pulled up —
Q. A dark —
A. — around his face so that all that I could see was his face.
Q. Okay. So the hood was very tight —
A. All right. So he was he —
Q. — around his face?
A. Pardon?
Q. So the hood was pretty tight around his face? There wasn't a lot —
A. It — it — it wasn't teed [sic], but it was like pulled way forward so that you could only just see the face.
Q. Okay. And then the second time that you saw him was that time that — near Bruck Street, at East Whittier and Reinhard?
A. With the police, that's right. And when they took him out of the police car he did not have any hood on at all.
Q. Okay.
A. They brought him in front of the car and then the police officer pulled up a white hood over his — you know, up over his head.
Q. Okay. So when he pulled up the white hood, did he have on just a white sweatshirt then or —
A. No, he was — he was all dressed in black. They just pulled — he must have had the black sweatshirt and hooded sweatshirt over the white. The only thing that I can figure is that he had at least two layers of clothing on —
Q. Okay.
A. — because he was still all dressed in black, they just pulled this white hood up.
Q. Did the officer then lift a black hood at all —
A. No.
Q. — or just the white?
A. Not — I didn't see — I didn't — the police didn't put the black hood up until I saw him on Mound Street, then they pulled up the black hood.
Q. Okay. Okay. Thank you, Ms. Kahn.
(Tr. 36-38.)
{¶ 36} As stated on direct examination, Kahn identified appellant based upon her recognition of appellant's face, rather than upon the color of the hood that appellant wore. We conclude Kahn's testimony, if believed, is of such character that an ordinary person would be willing to rely and act upon it in the most important of his or her own affairs. See, also, State v.DeHass (1967),
{¶ 37} In addition, Kahn's conflicting recollections concerning the number of young men or boys who were involved the robbery (see Tr. 27), does not render appellant's conviction against the manifest weight of the evidence or sufficiency of the evidence.
{¶ 38} In State v. Craig (Mar. 23, 2000), Franklin App. No. 99AP-739, appeal denied,
As this court has previously stated, "[w]hile the jury may take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly, see [State v.] DeHass [(1967),
{¶ 39} Therefore, construing the evidence in favor of the state, we conclude the evidence, if believed, permits any rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of aggravated robbery and robbery beyond a reasonable doubt. Furthermore, we conclude the verdict of the trial court, as the trier of fact, is supported by sufficient competent, credible evidence to permit reasonable minds to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See, e.g., State v. Epley (Sept. 17, 1998), Franklin App. No. 97APA12-1611 (holding that an eyewitness identification was not against the manifest weight of the evidence when a crime victim was face-to-face with the defendant; the victim was less than one foot way from the robber; the entire incident took less than 30 seconds; the victim only had approximately 10 to 15 seconds to observe the robber; and the victim only saw the robber from the eyebrows down because the robber was wearing a hat).
{¶ 40} Accordingly, appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 41} Appellant's second assignment of error asserts appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel.
{¶ 42} The
{¶ 43} The burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel is upon a defendant. State v. Smith (1985),
{¶ 44} As this court stated in State v. Howard, Franklin App. No. 03AP-453, 2003-Ohio-6941, at ¶ 16:
* * * To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must meet a two-part test. Strickland v. Washington
(1984),
{¶ 45} Here, appellant argues that because the identification procedure was suggestive and lacked reliability, trial counsel's failure to move to suppress Kahn's identification of appellant constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶ 46} Notwithstanding appellant's contention that the identification procedure was suggestive and lacked reliability, here, applying the Neil factors, we do not find the identification procedure was unduly suggestive or lacked reliability. In this case, Kahn viewed appellant's face for approximately 30 seconds when appellant pointed a gun toward her head; the area where the robbery occurred was sufficiently lit so that Kahn had a very good look at appellant; only a short period of time elapsed, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, between the robbery and Kahn's initial confrontation with appellant; and a relatively short period of time elapsed after the robbery, approximately 30 to 45 minutes, whereupon Kahn positively and with certainty identified appellant as the person who held a gun toward her head and robbed her.
{¶ 47} Furthermore, because Kahn could not see any facial features when she reviewed the store's videotape, we do not find Kahn's viewing of the videotape before Kahn's second identification of appellant rendered Kahn's second identification to be impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification.
{¶ 48} Consequently, because "`[a] defendant does not state a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel unless his attorney acted unreasonably given the facts of the case, and the unreasonable conduct was prejudicial to the defense[,]'" Statev. Lee, Franklin App. No. 02AP-1340, 2003-Ohio-4059, at ¶ 13, appeal not allowed,
{¶ 49} Appellant further argues that trial counsel's failure to inquire about whether probable cause existed to detain appellant also constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. Appellant's argument is based upon speculation and presumes that probable cause may not have existed. However, there is no evidence in the record to support such a presumption. To find support for a contention that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to inquire about probable cause would require review of evidence outside the record about the circumstances of the police detainment of appellant. Such a review is impermissible on appeal. See Napper v. Napper, Allen App. No. 1-02-82, 2003-Ohio-2719, at ¶ 5 ("[u]pon review, appellate courts are confined, pursuant to App.R. 12(A), to the record before it as defined in App.R. 9(A). Stated otherwise, an appellate court's review is strictly limited to the record that was before the trial court, no more no less"). (Footnote omitted.)
{¶ 50} Because evidence to support appellant's contention that trial counsel was ineffective because he did not inquire whether police had probable cause to detain appellant is not within the record, we find that on appeal appellant cannot support a contention that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the issue of probable cause. Therefore, appellant's contention that trial counsel was ineffective because he did not inquire about probable cause is not persuasive.
{¶ 51} Accordingly, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 52} Consequently, having overruled appellant's two assignments of error, the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch, is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Bryant and Sadler, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter Of: Rashad Cherry, Alleged Delinquent Minor, (Appellant).
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished