State v. Holbert, Unpublished Decision (3-8-2007)
State v. Holbert, Unpublished Decision (3-8-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Holbert and two co-defendants, Charles Scott and Adam Michael, were charged with three counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications. Holbert's indictment also contained repeat violent offender specifications and notices of a prior conviction. Michael entered into a plea agreement with the state. Michael was allowed to plead guilty to obstruction of justice, in exchange for his testimony against Holbert and Scott. Holbert and Scott pled not guilty, and a jury trial ensued. At the close of the state's case, the state nolled the felonious assault count that named Herman Toney, III as a victim.
{¶ 3} At trial, the testimony revealed that Scott was related to Herman Toney, Jr. (victim) and Herman Toney, III (son). Scott and the son are cousins and were close at one time. Nevertheless, problems between the two started over a girl named Danielle. Scott continuously called the Toney house, threatening the son and threatening to shoot up the Toney house.
{¶ 4} On October 30, 2004 at approximately 3:30 a.m., Scott called the house again and spoke with the victim. He was threatening to shoot up the victim's house. The victim told Scott to "come on over." At about 4:00 a.m., Scott called and said he was outside. The victim got dressed and went outside with a glass of tea. His *Page 3 son followed. Charlene Smith, the victim's daughter, and her boyfriend, Patrick Greaver, came outside, too.
{¶ 5} The victim testified that he walked up to the passenger's side door of the vehicle and tried to open it, but it was locked. He went around to the driver's side door, where Scott was sitting with a shotgun. Scott had the window partially down. They argued and struggled over the gun. Scott pulled the gun back into the car and pulled away. The victim testified that he threw his glass at the rear window of the car.
{¶ 6} The victim stated that Scott stopped the car, and Scott and Holbert got out of the car with guns. Both began shooting at the victim. The victim testified that he was running back to his house when he was shot in the back and fell in his driveway. Scott drove away. The victim was treated at Lakewood Hospital and released. The bullet was removed four months later.
{¶ 7} Michael testified that he was in the backseat of the car when everything happened. He said that there was a lot of yelling and people were throwing things at the car. He testified that Scott did not have a shotgun but that Holbert had a gun. He testified that Holbert got out of the car and shot at the victim. Michael testified that when he first spoke with the police, he lied and said he was not involved.
{¶ 8} Greaver identified Holbert for the first time at trial. He indicated that Holbert was the passenger who got out of the car and started shooting at the victim. *Page 4 The victim and his daughter could not identify Holbert because he had a dark hooded sweatshirt on, with the hood pulled up.
{¶ 9} Holbert was convicted of two counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications, repeat violent offender specifications, and notices of a prior conviction. He was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison. Holbert appeals, advancing four assignments of error for our review. Holbert's first assignment of error states the following:
{¶ 10} "Whether the trial court erred by denying appellant's motion to dismiss based upon a violation of appellant's speedy trial rights."
{¶ 11} The
{¶ 12} R.C.
{¶ 13} When reviewing a speedy trial question, the appellate court must count the number of delays chargeable to each side and then determine whether the number of days not tolled exceeded the time limits under R.C.
{¶ 14} In Holbert's appellate brief, he "incorporates" the dates set forth in his motion to dismiss that was filed with the trial court; however, no dates were set forth in his motion to dismiss. The summarized dates set forth in Holbert's appellate brief are inaccurate. The transcript of the motion to dismiss includes two dates, and the prosecutor makes reference to numerous dates that pertain to Holbert's co-defendant. The dates in the state's brief are also inaccurate. Finally, the chronology of events in the docket is unclear. It appears that Holbert was arrested on December 9, 2004 and remained in jail until trial; however, a summons and warrant *Page 6 were issued December 22, 2004 for Holbert's home address. On December 23, 2004, the docket indicates that Holbert is in custody. In addition, it appears from the transcript that Holbert had numerous cases pending against him during the time he was being held in this case, yet the docket and the state fail to set forth when he was indicted on his other cases, which would indicate when his time started running one-for-one. Nevertheless, his attorney indicates that he was on post-release control "since [October] 18" (no year was specified, or whether there was a "holder" placed on him), and his attorney admits "he's classically one-for-one."
{¶ 15} Although the record before us is confusing, we have determined that Holbert was arrested on December 9, 2004, and remained in jail until his trial finally commenced on January 5, 2006. Keeping in mind that speedy trial statutes are strictly construed against the state, we have determined that Holbert's time was running three-for-one, because he was in jail and according to the docket in this case there were no holders or other cases pending. Thus, the state had ninety days to bring Holbert to trial.
{¶ 16} As a result, Holbert's time began to run on December 10, 2004, the day after he was arrested, because the day of arrest does not count against the state for purposes of determining whether a criminal defendant's right to a speedy trial has been violated. State v.Pierson,
{¶ 17} At the February 15 pretrial, the case was continued at "the request of the defendant" until March 22.2 The time was tolled from February 15 to March 22, because R.C.
{¶ 18} The next pretrial was held on June 2 and continued at the request of the *Page 8 defendant until June 23. Nothing was docketed for June 1 or June 23. The next docket entry was for June 28, and the trial was continued at the request of the defendant until July 18; therefore, six more days passed.
{¶ 19} Further, nothing was docketed on July 18, and the next entry was for July 22; therefore, four more days passed. On July 22, the trial was continued at the request of the defendant until August 29. On August 29, the trial was continued at the request of the defendant until September 6. On September 6, a pretrial was held and the trial was continued to October 17 at the defendant's request.
{¶ 20} Holbert's motion to dismiss for speedy trial violation was filed September 19. R.C.
{¶ 21} On November 22, trial commenced. At that point, fifty-nine days had passed, which is well within the ninety-day requirement; therefore, Holbert's speedy *Page 9 trial rights had not been violated.
{¶ 22} Nevertheless, on November 22, upon Holbert's own motion, a mistrial was declared during voir dire. The trial was continued at the defendant's request until December 19.
{¶ 23} In State v. Fanning (1982),
{¶ 24} Since the court declared a mistrial, our review now changes to whether the delay in the second trial date was reasonable. "InBarker v. Wingo (1972),
{¶ 25} On December 19, no jurors were available and the trial was continued until January 4, 2006. In State v. Phillips, Cuyahoga App. No. 82886,
{¶ 26} We find that the delay from when the first mistrial was declared and the second trial ensued was reasonable. As a result, Holbert's speedy trial rights were not violated. Accordingly, Holbert's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 27} Holbert's second and third assignments of error state the following:
{¶ 28} "Whether the state failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain appellant's convictions."
{¶ 29} "Whether the appellant's convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence."
{¶ 30} Under these two assignments of error, Holbert argues that the state *Page 11 failed to present competent, credible evidence establishing his identity and that there was no direct evidence of his involvement. He argues that the testimony of Michael, a co-defendant, identifying him as the gunman should not be believed and neither should Greaver's testimony. Holbert contends that his convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶ 31} When an appellate court reviews a record upon a sufficiency challenge, "`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.'" State v. Leonard,
{¶ 32} In reviewing a claim challenging the manifest weight of the evidence, the question to be answered is whether "there is substantial evidence upon which a jury could reasonably conclude that all the elements have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. In conducting this review, we must examine the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether 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." State v. Leonard,
{¶ 33} In the case at bar, the testimony established that the victim was shot by *Page 12 a handgun and that Holbert had a handgun, while Scott allegedly had a shotgun. Michael was in the car when Holbert exited and shot at the victim. Greaver identified Holbert in court as one of the shooters. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, we find that sufficient evidence was presented to establish that Holbert shot the victim.
{¶ 34} Furthermore, after examining the entire record, weighing the evidence and all reasonable inferences, and considering the credibility of the witnesses, we cannot say that the jury clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. Accordingly, Holbert's second and third assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 35} Holbert's fourth assignment of error states the following:
{¶ 36} "Whether the trial court erred when it denied the appellant's motion for severance from his co-defendant Charles Scott."
{¶ 37} Holbert argues that the court erred in joining his case with his co-defendant Scott because the defenses were antagonistic to one another. Holbert also argues that he was prohibited from calling Scott as a witness and that the accumulation of wrongdoing by Scott prejudiced Holbert.
{¶ 38} The state argues that the trial court did not err because Holbert failed to make a motion to sever, as well as to renew the motion at the close of the evidence. Further, the state contends that it was not plain error for the trial court not to sever the two defendants.
{¶ 39} Crim.R. 8(B) provides that "two or more defendants may be charged in *Page 13
the same indictment, information or complaint if they are alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction or in the same acts or transactions constituting an offense or offenses, or in the same course of criminal conduct." Joinder of defendants and the avoidance of multiple trials are favored in the law because it "conserves judicial and prosecutorial time, lessens the not inconsiderable expenses of multiple trials, diminishes inconvenience to witnesses, and minimizes the possibility of incongruous results in successive trials before different juries." State v. Thomas (1980),
{¶ 40} If a defendant is prejudiced by joinder with other defendants at trial, the court shall grant a severance or provide such other relief as justice requires. Crim.R. 14; Thomas, supra, at 226. To prevail on a claim that the trial court erred in denying a motion to sever, the defendant must affirmatively demonstrate (1) that his or her rights were prejudiced; (2) that at the time of the motion to sever, the defendant provided the trial court with sufficient information so that it could weigh the considerations favoring joinder against the defendant's right to a fair trial; and (3) that given the information provided to the court, it abused its discretion in refusing to separate the charges for trial. State v. Schaim,
{¶ 41} A Crim.R. 14 motion for severance due to prejudicial misjoinder is waived unless it is renewed at the close of the state's case or at the conclusion of all the evidence. State v. Henry (1983),
{¶ 42} We also note that at the time of the motion to sever hearing, Holbert did not provide the trial court with any information so that it could weigh the considerations favoring joinder against his right to a fair trial. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it failed to sever the trial of Holbert and Scott. Accordingly, Holbert's fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant's conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 *Page 15 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
JAMES J. SWEENEY, P. J., and PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Thomas Holbert
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Unpublished