State v. Frye
State v. Frye
Opinion
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Marlon D. Frye ("Frye"), appeals the July 11, 2017 judgment entry of sentence of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
{¶ 2} On December 15, 2016, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Frye on three counts, including: Count One of having weapons while under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(3), (B), a third-degree felony, Count Two of tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), (B), a third-degree felony, and Count Three of aggravated possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(1)(a), a fifth-degree felony. (Doc. No. 4). The indictment contains a firearm specification under R.C. 2941.141(A) and a forfeiture specification under R.C. 2941.1417(A) as to Count One. ( Id. ). The forfeiture specification identifies "a .22 Caliber Derringer" as property subject to forfeiture. ( Id. ).
{¶ 3} On December 23, 2016, Frye appeared for arraignment and entered pleas of not guilty. (Doc. No. 13).
{¶ 4} On December 28, 2016, Frye filed a motion to suppress evidence "of the unwarranted searches of Mr. Frye's trash and invasion of his privacy." (Doc. No. 14). Specifically, Frye argued "that the trash pulls were done without warrant and over an unreasonable number of pulls." ( Id. ). The State filed its response to Frye's motion to suppress evidence on January 24, 2017. (Doc. No. 21). After a hearing on March 6, 2017, the trial court denied Frye's motion to suppress evidence. (Doc. No. 30).
{¶ 5} Frye filed a motion to dismiss Count Three of the indictment on January 17, 2017. (Doc. No. 18). In his motion, Frye argued that "ADB-Fubinaca is not yet a Schedule I controlled substance, or at least was not one as of the date of the act leading to Count [Three] in the Indictment." ( Id. ). Frye filed a supplement to his motion to dismiss Count Three of the indictment on February 7, 2017. (Doc. No. 27). The trial court denied Frye's motion to dismiss Count Three of the indictment on March 7, 2017. (Doc. No. 31).
{¶ 6} On April 21, 2017, Frye filed a motion in limine requesting that Cornelius Patterson ("Patterson") and Timothy Frye ("Timothy") be granted immunity in exchange for their testimony. (Doc. No. 36). After a hearing on May 16, 2017, the trial court denied Frye's request to grant Patterson and Timothy immunity in exchange for their testimony on May 17, 2017. (Doc. No. 57).
{¶ 7} On May 23-25, a jury trial was held. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. I, at 1); (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. IV, at 642). On May 25, 2017, the jury found Frye guilty *572 as to the counts and specifications in the indictment. (Doc. Nos. 62, 63, 64); (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. IV, at 639-640). The trial court filed its judgment entry of conviction on May 26, 2017. (Doc. No. 65).
{¶ 8} On May 31, 2017, Frye filed a motion for a new trial under Crim.R. 33(A)(1) and (5) as to Count Three of the indictment arguing that the trial court "erred by adopting (over objection) an incorrect definition of 'constructive possession' into the Jury Instructions." (Doc. No. 69). On June 7, 2017, the trial court denied Frye's motion for a new trial. (Doc. No. 70).
{¶ 9} On July 10, 2017, the trial court sentenced Frye to 36 months in prison on Count One, one year in prison on the firearm specification, 9 months in prison on Count Two, and 9 months in prison on Count Three, and ordered that Frye serve the terms consecutively for an aggregate sentence of 54 months in prison. (Doc. No. 73). The trial court ordered forfeited the .22 Derringer. ( Id. ). The trial court filed its judgment entry of sentence on July 11, 2017. ( Id. ).
{¶ 10} Frye filed his notice of appeal on July 24, 2017. (Doc. No. 76). He raises eight assignments of error for our review. To facilitate our discussion, we will first address Frye's sixth and seventh assignments of error together, followed by his first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth assignments of error.
Assignment of Error No. VI
The convictions for all three counts were against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Assignment of Error No. VII
The conviction for Possession of ADB-Fubinaca was not supported by sufficient evidence.
{¶ 11} In his seventh assignment of error, Frye argues that his possession-of-drugs conviction is based on insufficient evidence. In particular, he argues that the State presented insufficient evidence that he had constructive possession of the ADB-Fubinaca. In his sixth assignment of error, Frye argues that his convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Regarding his possession-of-drugs conviction, he argues that the weight of the evidence shows that he did not knowingly possess a controlled substance.
{¶ 12} Manifest "weight of the evidence and sufficiency of the evidence are clearly different legal concepts."
State v. Thompkins
,
{¶ 13} "An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
State v. Jenks
,
*573
See also
State v. Berry
, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03,
{¶ 14} On the other hand, in determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, a reviewing court must examine the entire record, " 'weigh[ ] the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider[ ] the credibility of witnesses and determine[ ] whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [trier of fact] 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,
{¶ 15} At trial, the State offered the testimony of Investigator Jesse Harrod ("Investigator Harrod") of the Lima Police Department, assigned to the Lima/Allen County Interdiction Task Force ("Task Force"), who testified that the Task Force began investigating Frye in June 2016 after receiving a tip that an individual "that lived at 1109 St. Johns Avenue in Lima [ ] was dealing in large amounts of narcotics, specifically crack cocaine." (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 230-231, 233). According to Investigator Harrod, through his five-month investigation, he learned that Frye resided at 1109 St. Johns Avenue. ( Id. at 234-235).
{¶ 16} Investigator Harrod testified that the Task Force conducted "a series of trash pulls from" 1109 St. Johns Avenue, which occurred "on Friday mornings, early Friday mornings-August 19th of 2016, October 28th of 2016 and November 4th of 2016." ( Id. at 236). On November 4, 2016, Investigator Harrod prepared a search-warrant affidavit referencing the evidence discovered from the trash pulls as well as additional information he gathered over the course of his investigation. ( Id. ). After obtaining the search warrant, Investigator Harrod "met with other Investigators with the Allen County Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. team [ ("SWAT team") ] to brief them on the location" because the SWAT team "was going to be securing the residence for us before the Investigators searched it." ( Id. at 244).
{¶ 17} Once law enforcement arrived at the residence and began to secure it, Investigator Harrod heard Investigator Trent Kunkleman ("Investigator Kunkleman") of the Lima Police Department, assigned to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force, "announce that there was a subject looking out of an upstairs bedroom window." ( Id. at 246-247). Within seconds of Investigator Kunkleman's announcement, the SWAT team entered the residence. ( Id. at 247). According to Investigator Harrod, based on that timing, the person looking out the bedroom window could not "have made it downstairs and then back upstairs before [the SWAT team] went in the front door." ( Id. ). After the residence was secure, law enforcement discovered two individuals in the residence-Frye and Patterson. ( Id. at 247-248). "Frye was located in the downstairs *574 bathroom, the first floor bathroom, and Mr. Patterson was located in an upstairs bedroom on the second floor." ( Id. at 248).
{¶ 18} Investigator Harrod identified State's Exhibits 3-16 as photographs taken of the residence as it appeared on November 4, 2016. ( Id. at 250). ( See State's Exs. 3-16). Investigator Harrod described the items found by law enforcement:
In the kitchen area there were multiple different areas where there were rubber gloves similar to the ones we found in the trash. There was a microwave plate that was located that contained a white crusty substance[, which tested positive for cocaine.] There was a small amount of marijuana, along with different drug paraphernalia, a grinder, a marijuana pipe, inside * * * the upper right hand cupboard in the kitchen. We located a small brown leather holster * * * for a gun.
* * *
There was not a gun in it at the time it was located. Also located in that same cupboard was a plastic container containing what appeared to be a green leafy substance. However, it did not appear to be, through [Investigator Harrod's] training and experience, it did not appear to be marijuana. It appeared to [Investigator Harrod] to be K2, or a synthetic marijuana.
(May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 256-257). Investigator Harrod identified State's Exhibit 17 as a photograph depicting the cupboard in which the narcotics paraphernalia, holster, and "green leafy substance" were found. ( Id. at 257-258). He identified State's Exhibit 18 as a photograph depicting "the green leafy substance that did not have the same odor as marijuana" yet "appeared to have the same characteristics of [marijuana] just by looking at it," which was discovered in the cupboard. ( Id. at 258). ( See also State's Ex. 20). He identified State's Exhibit 19 as a photograph depicting the holster. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 259). ( See also State's Ex. 21).
{¶ 19} Investigator Harrod further testified that law enforcement discovered "a firearm * * * submerged in water inside the toilet bowl" while searching the bathroom. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 261). ( See State's Exs. 22-27). According to Investigator Harrod, the firearm was loaded and the hammer was cocked back. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 263-265).
{¶ 20} Investigator Harrod testified that he interviewed Patterson on November 4, 2016 and that Patterson informed him that "[h]e was on vacation from Mississippi," that "[h]e had been [in Lima] for approximately two to three weeks," and that "[h]e was a longtime friend of [Frye]." ( Id. at 270). He testified that his investigation of Patterson did not reveal any "legal reason" prohibiting Patterson from having a firearm. ( Id. at 279). Investigator Harrod testified that, just prior to the time the SWAT team entered the residence, Patterson "had been in the bathroom brushing his teeth prior to going upstairs to the bedroom, the second floor bedroom. He was opening the blinds when he observed the Officers approaching the house." ( Id. ). Stated differently, Patterson was not in the bathroom when the SWAT team entered the residence. ( Id. ).
{¶ 21} On cross-examination, Investigator Harrod described the synthetic marijuana. ( See id. at 286-291). He also testified that law enforcement discovered marijuana in a mason jar while searching the residence; however, he testified that law enforcement "did not charge anybody with it" because "[i]t was at a minor misdemeanor level." ( Id. at 291-292).
{¶ 22} Investigator Harrod testified that he learned that Patterson was arrested for *575 "felony drug trafficking" in 2001 in Mississippi; however, Investigator Harrod did not know whether that arrest resulted in a conviction. ( Id. at 298). Investigator Harrod agreed that a felony-drug-trafficking conviction "would typically create a weapons disability." ( Id. ).
{¶ 23} He testified that the residence contains one bathroom, which is located in the "back" of the residence next to the stairway. ( Id. at 308, 310). When the SWAT team entered the residence, Patterson was found on the second floor of the residence and Frye was found on the first floor of the residence. ( Id. at 309). According to Investigator Harrod, Patterson told him that he was the person looking out the second-floor-bedroom window. ( Id. at 309-310). Specifically, Patterson told Investigator Harrod that, prior to law enforcement's entry into the residence, "[h]e went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth" and then "went back upstairs he said he was opening up the blinds and when he looked out he saw the Officers approaching." ( Id. at 310). More specifically, Patterson informed Investigator Harrod that he was on the porch smoking a cigarette approximately five minutes before law enforcement entered the residence. ( Id. at 313). After Patterson finished smoking his cigarette, he returned to the residence and went to the bathroom-the only bathroom in the residence and the bathroom in which the firearm was found-to brush his teeth. ( Id. at 314-315). After brushing his teeth, Patterson then went upstairs to look out the window "to look at the neighbors." ( Id. at 315-316). After Patterson saw law enforcement approaching the residence, Frye went downstairs to the kitchen "right before the breach of the house." ( Id. at 313, 316). To get to the kitchen from the stairway, Frye "had to walk from the stairs, past the bathroom, and to the kitchen." ( Id. at 316-317).
{¶ 24} Investigator Harrod testified that law enforcement did not search the firearm, the plastic container containing the synthetic marijuana, or the firearm holster for fingerprints or DNA evidence. ( Id. at 317-319).
{¶ 25} On re-direct examination, Investigator Harrod testified that Patterson's "lengthy" criminal record contains misdemeanor and "traffic convictions." ( Id. at 320). He testified he did not see anyone outside of the residence when law enforcement "set up a perimeter for execution of the search warrant." ( Id. at 321).
{¶ 26} On re-cross examination, he clarified that, although it is unclear because it contains offenses in other states, Patterson's criminal history also includes arrests for offenses that "appear" to be felonies. ( Id. at 324-325).
{¶ 27} As its next witness, the State presented the testimony of Investigator Kunkleman, who testified that he assisted with the November 4, 2016 search-warrant execution. ( Id. at 326-327). He testified that he was "assigned to the perimeter" at the time law enforcement entered the residence. ( Id. at 328). He did not observe anyone outside when he arrived at the residence. ( Id. ). While establishing a perimeter, Investigator Kunkleman
watched as the Sheriff's Department's S.W.A.T. team began making their way to the front door of the house, which faces to the west. As they were doing that [he] looked up and at the second story window furthest to the north * * * there was somebody that peeked out the window. [He] could see * * * the blinds flip down and then flip back up.
( Id. at 329-330). Investigator Kunkleman announced his observation. ( Id. at 330). "Seconds" later, law enforcement entered the residence. ( Id. ). He testified that it was not "possible [ ] that the person who was *576 peeking out the blinds could have made it from that room, downstairs, and then back upstairs prior to the S.W.A.T. team making entrance." ( Id. at 331). He testified that Patterson was found in the bedroom in which Investigator Kunkleman saw the person peeking out of the window. ( Id. at 331-332).
{¶ 28} Investigator Kunkleman testified that he spoke with Frye after the search-warrant execution and testified that Frye "stated that he only smoked Loud," which is a type of marijuana. ( Id. at 332-333). According to Investigator Kunkleman, Frye admitted that "that [law enforcement] probably found [Frye's Loud] in the house." ( Id. at 332).
{¶ 29} On cross-examination, Investigator Kunkleman confirmed that it was "under a minute [for him] to go from [his] car, to observing this person peeking, to the house being breached and entry made into the house." ( Id. at 352-353).
{¶ 30} Next, Lieutenant Gary Hook ("Lieutenant Hook") of the Allen County Sheriff's Office testified that he assisted with the November 4, 2016 search-warrant execution as part of the SWAT team. ( Id. at 359-361). He indicated that his "assignment th[at] particular day was the point position, or the number one position in the line," meaning that he was the "person [who] led the team into the residence." ( Id. at 361-362).
{¶ 31} Lieutenant Hook described the search-warrant execution:
Once we arrived it was a no-knock search warrant, which means we basically walk up to the residence and we breach the door. We announce as we enter. We continue with the search. So, from the time our team left the van to the approach of the door was roughly anywhere between fifteen and thirty seconds.
( Id. at 363). He described what he observed when law enforcement entered the residence:
Once the door was breached I immediately observed * * * an entry room and * * * a further room. I observed a black male, wearing no shirt, standing in the doorway. At that time I yelled "Sheriff's Office-S.W.A.T., search warrant, get on the ground". The subject darted off to what would have been my right. So, my job at that point would be to close the distance so then they could secure that subject. I made my way through that first entryway and what I believe was a kitchen and turned to the right, the direction he was running, and I saw a door moving shut. I approached the door at the same time another S.W.A.T. operator approached the same door and he kicked it at about the same time that I arrived at it. Once the door came open I observed [Frye], who was to my left, and I ordered him down to the ground. He laid down to my right. So, I basically stood guard over [Frye] until I had another guy come up with a set of handcuffs. He secured [Frye]. When he did, I told him, "Make sure you check that area to the left carefully," because that's the area that I last saw him in. So, from that point he was secured. I left to perform a secondary search with another team member. When I returned to [Frye], who was still there, they were looking to the toilet and I seen [sic] a small handgun laying in the bottom of the actual toilet bowl.
( Id. at 363-364).
{¶ 32} Lieutenant Hook identified State's Exhibits 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 30 as photographs of the residence as it appeared on November 4, 2016. ( Id. at 364-368). He testified how those photographs illustrate his description of events. ( See id. ).
*577 {¶ 33} On cross-examination, Lieutenant Hook clarified that, when he entered the residence, he "saw an individual go running from the kitchen" which he believed was Frye. ( Id. at 375). However, because of the way that the residence is constructed, Lieutenant Hook "lost sight" of that individual running from the kitchen. ( Id. at 375-376). ( See also 369-375); (State's Exs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 30). Lieutenant Hook testified that he did not see Frye with a firearm or see him reach into any cabinets. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 376).
{¶ 34} On re-direct examination, Lieutenant Hook testified that he lost sight of Frye for "less than ten seconds" after he saw him run from the kitchen. ( Id. at 377). He testified that he did not see anyone else in the bathroom. ( Id. at 377-378).
{¶ 35} Thereafter, the State moved to admit Exhibits 1-28, which were admitted without objection, and rested. ( Id. at 446, 460). Next, Frye made a Crim.R. 29(A) motion, which the trial court denied. ( Id. at 461-462).
{¶ 36} Frye testified in his defense. ( Id. at 463). Frye testified that he grew up in Mississippi and that he has known Patterson since they were six or seven years old. ( Id. ). Patterson was at Frye's residence on November 4, 2016. ( Id. at 464). Frye testified that he was "[a]sleep upstairs" "[i]mmediately prior to law enforcement coming into the house." ( Id. ). According to Frye, Patterson "was downstairs [because he] had a habit of every single morning [of getting] up about seven/seven-thirty in the morning cooking breakfast." ( Id. at 464-465). Frye testified that he was still asleep on November 4, 2016 when law enforcement entered his residence because he "came home probably like five-thirty" in the morning. ( Id. at 465). Frye described:
[I] heard [Patterson] from downstairs. * * * I heard him holler. He called my name. I jumped up. I immediately jumped up out of my sleep. When I jumped up he was like, "Marlon, Marlon, something's going on. They're out there." That's what he was saying. As he was running up the stairs I jumped up and run [sic] down the stairs. At this time I was hearing windows busting and people at the door I could hear from the outside because it was a very loud commotion and it was loud outside. The door-somebody was hitting the door, the front door. As I was running down the stairs he was coming up the stairs. So, we kind of like crossed each other. By the time I made it to the living room * * * before I could even get to the kitchen, I could see the door when it first comes open. * * * So, my first reaction was, "oh, something's going on and I don't want to get shot". * * * My first move was to dive into the bathroom to get out of the line of fire. * * * So, I ran into the bathroom.
( Id. at 465-466).
{¶ 37} Frye testified that the gun found in the toilet is not his and he did not put it in the toilet. ( Id. at 467). Frye admitted that the marijuana discovered in the kitchen is his marijuana. ( Id. at 468). Frye also admitted that he saw another container containing "a green leafy substance" in his kitchen but denied that it belonged to him. ( Id. at 469-470). Frye testified that he thought the container was "[t]rash" or low-grade marijuana, which he does not use. ( Id. at 469). Frye opined that the ADB Fubinaca belonged to Patterson. ( Id. at 470).
{¶ 38} On cross-examination, Frye testified that Lieutenant Hook's testimony that he discovered Frye by the toilet is "inaccurate." ( Id. at 476-477).
{¶ 39} Thereafter, the defense rested. ( Id. at 481).
*578 {¶ 40} The State offered the rebuttal testimony of Lieutenant Hook. ( Id. at 483). He testified that, when law enforcement entered the residence, "it was a one hit shot to the door" with "the ram device." ( Id. at 485-486). Because he was the first in, Lieutenant Hook saw Frye standing "in the doorway" and "yelled, 'Get on the ground. Search warrant. Get on the ground.' " ( Id. at 486-487). Despite Lieutenant Hook's commands, Frye "disappear[ed] to the right." ( Id. at 487). Lieutenant Hook "went through [the kitchen] doorway and took a right and that's where [Lieutenant Hook] saw the wood door close." ( Id. at 488). Lieutenant Hook identified State's Exhibit 9 as a photograph of the bathroom depicting the wood door that he saw close. ( Id. ). After another law-enforcement officer "kicks in" the bathroom door, Lieutenant Hook saw Frye "standing" near "the toilet and there was some clothes baskets or some clothes down here on the ground." ( Id. at 491-495). Lieutenant Hook ordered Frye to the ground, which Frye complied. ( Id. at 495).
{¶ 41} On re-direct examination, Lieutenant Hook testified that "[i]t was a matter of seconds" for Lieutenant Hook to follow Frye to the bathroom when Frye did not comply with Lieutenant Hook's initial order "to get on the ground." ( Id. at 514).
{¶ 42} On re-cross examination, Lieutenant Hook testified that, when he saw Frye standing in the bathroom, Frye was not leaning over the toilet. ( Id. at 521).
{¶ 43} The State did not present any additional witnesses on rebuttal, and Frye renewed his Crim.R. 29(A) motion, which the trial court denied. ( Id. at 522, 550). The matter was submitted to the jury, which found Frye guilty as to the counts and specification of the indictment. (May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. IV, at 637, 639-640).
{¶ 44} As an initial matter, we must address Frye's argument that his having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence. Although Frye asserts that he is challenging the weight of the evidence supporting his convictions in the statement of his sixth assignment of error, his argument pertains only to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting those convictions. As such, we will limit our discussion to addressing the sufficiency of the evidence supporting those convictions.
Accord
State v. Yoder
, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 15AP0017,
{¶ 45} As such, we first review the sufficiency of the evidence supporting Frye's having-weapons-while-under-disability, tampering-with-evidence, and possession-of-drugs convictions.
State v. Velez
, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-10,
{¶ 46} The criminal offense of having weapons while under disability is codified in R.C. 2923.13, which provides, in relevant part:
(A) Unless relieved from disability under operation of law or legal process, no person shall knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance, if any of the following apply:
* * *
(3) The person is under indictment for or has been convicted of any felony offense involving the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, distribution, or trafficking in any drug of abuse * * *.
R.C. 2923.13(A)(3). R.C. 2921.12 sets forth the offense of tampering with evidence and provides, in relevant part:
(B) No person, knowing that an official proceeding or investigation is in progress, or is about to be or likely to be instituted, shall do any of the following:
(1) Alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing, with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence in such proceeding or investigation[.]
R.C. 2921.12(A)(1). Frye does not dispute the evidence concerning the underlying elements of his having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions; rather, he disputes the issue of identity as to the conviction.
See
State v. Missler
, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-14-06,
{¶ 47} In support of his sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge, Frye argues that a rational trier of fact could not have found that he put the gun in the toilet. He specifically argues that his convictions are based on insufficient evidence because "the entire case was circumstantial" since "[t]here was no observation of this alleged act, and the State had no physical evidence." (Appellant's Brief at 31). However, " 'direct or circumstantial evidence is sufficient to establish the identity of a defendant as the person who committed a crime.' "
Missler
¶ 13, quoting
Collins
at ¶ 19, citing
Lawwill
at ¶ 11. " 'Circumstantial evidence' is the 'proof of facts by direct evidence from which the trier of fact may infer or derive by reasoning or other facts.' "
Lawwill
at ¶ 12, quoting
State v. Wells
, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2006-02-029,
{¶ 48} Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found that Frye was the person who put the gun in the toilet. In other words, the jury's decision to find that Frye had a weapons disability and tampered with evidence is rational-that is, that Frye was the last person to be seen where the gun was found. The State presented evidence that Frye was found in the bathroom and was observed standing near the toilet.
See
State v. Davis
, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 97CA006691,
{¶ 49} Based on that evidence, a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Frye was the person who put the gun in the toilet. That is, a rational trier of fact could have found that Frye had a weapon under disability and tampered with evidence. Therefore, Frye's having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions are based on sufficient evidence.
{¶ 50} We also reject Frye's argument that his possession-of-drugs conviction is based on insufficient evidence. The criminal offense of possession of drugs is codified in R.C. 2925.11, which provides, "No person shall knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog." R.C. 2925.11(A). " '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). "The issue of whether a person charged with drug possession knowingly possessed a controlled substance 'is to be determined from all the attendant facts and circumstances available.' "
State v. Brooks
, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-11-11,
{¶ 51} "Possession of drugs can be either actual or constructive."
State v. Bustamante
, 3d Dist. Seneca Nos. 13-12-26 and 13-13-04,
{¶ 52} Under his seventh assignment of error, Frye contends that there is insufficient evidence that he constructively possessed the ADB Fubinaca because "the State offered no evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that [Frye] intended to possess" that substance. (Appellant's Brief at 32). Because it is the only element Frye challenges on appeal, we review the sufficiency of the evidence supporting only whether he had constructive possession of the drugs.
Compare
State v. Watts
, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-12-34,
{¶ 53} Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we conclude that Frye's possession-of-drugs conviction is supported by sufficient evidence. A rational trier of fact could have found that Frye had constructive possession of the ADB Fubinaca-that is, that he exercised dominion and control over the ADB Fubinaca. Indeed, Frye testified that he knew the ADB Fubinaca was in the cupboard in his kitchen.
Compare
State v. Durr
, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 11CA3411,
*582
{¶ 54} Based on the facts and circumstances of this case, the jury could properly infer that Frye exercised dominion and control over the ADB Fubinaca. Therefore, we conclude that the State presented sufficient evidence that Frye constructively possessed the ADB Fubinaca.
See
State v. Miller
, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 1911,
{¶ 55} Having concluded that Frye's having-weapons-while-under-disability, tampering-with-evidence, and possession-of-drugs convictions are based on sufficient evidence, we next address Frye's argument that his possession-of-drugs conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Velez
,
{¶ 56} In his challenge to the weight of the evidence regarding his possession-of-drugs conviction, Frye contends that the evidence supporting that Patterson possessed the ADB Fubinaca is weightier than the evidence that Frye possessed the ADB Fubinaca. Again, since it is the only element that he challenges, we will address the weight of the evidence supporting only whether Frye had constructive possession of the ADB Fubinaca. "Even removing the lens of favorability in favor of the prosecution, through which we examine the sufficiency of the evidence, this is not an exceptional case where the evidence weighs heavily against the convictions."
State v. Suffel
, 3d Dist. Paulding No. 11-14-05,
{¶ 57} Frye argues that the weight of the evidence shows that Patterson brought the ADB Fubinaca with him from Mississippi since it was contained in a "plastic Tupperware" container, which is "consistent with travel." (Appellant's Brief at 31). As we noted above, it is irrelevant who
brought
the ADB Fubinaca to the residence; rather, the relevant inquiry is whether the weight of the evidence demonstrates that Frye exercised dominion and control over the ADB Fubinaca.
See
State v. Hilton
, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21624,
{¶ 58} We conclude that the jury could reasonably infer from the evidence presented at trial that Frye exercised dominion and control over the ADB Fubinaca. "A jury can make reasonable inferences from the evidence."
State v. Knight
, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 16AP-288,
*583
" 'The weight given to an inference is a question for the trier of fact and will not be disturbed unless it is such that reasonable minds could not reach such a conclusion.' "
{¶ 59} Frye's sixth and seventh assignments of error are overruled.
Assignment of Error No. I
The Trial Court should have suppressed the fruits of the unwarranted searches of Mr. Frye's trash and invasion of his right to privacy under the Ohio Constitution.
{¶ 60} In his first assignment of error, Frye argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence. In particular, he argues that the trial court erred by concluding that the three "trash pulls" conducted by law enforcement did not violate his right to privacy under the Ohio Constitution.
{¶ 61} A review of the denial of a motion to suppress involves mixed questions of law and fact.
State v. Burnside
,
{¶ 62} Because it is the only issue that Frye challenges on appeal, we address only whether the trial court erred as a matter of law in concluding that Frye did not have a constitutionally protected privacy interest in the trash.
{¶ 63} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution generally prohibits warrantless searches and seizures, and any evidence obtained during an unlawful search or seizure will be excluded from being used against the defendant.
State v. Steinbrunner
, 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2-11-27,
{¶ 64} Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution provides that the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated." This language is "virtually identical to the language of the Fourth Amendment."
State v. Hoffman
,
{¶ 65} In advancing his argument, Frye concedes that the United States Supreme Court concluded that the protections of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution do not extend to trash that is voluntarily left for trash collection in an area which is susceptible to open inspections and "[a]ccessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and to other members of the public."
California v. Greenwood
,
{¶ 66} Although there are certain situations in which Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution provides greater protection than the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, a warrantless trash pull is not one of those situations.
Accord
id.
at ¶ 16.
See
State v. Adkins
, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2014-02-036 and CA2014-06-141,
reasoned that garbage voluntarily left for trash collection in an area which is susceptible to open inspections is not protected by the Fourth Amendment because "garbage is accessible to the public, anyone is free to examine it. Therefore the police are likewise free to *585 search it for evidence of criminal activity."
Quinn
at ¶ 16, quoting
Young
at ¶ 16, citing
State v. Sautter
, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-88-324,
{¶ 67} In addition, Frye argues that we should enlarge the Ohio Constitution's protections based on the decisions of "four State Supreme Courts [that] have deemed a trash pull to violate their State constitution": New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Vermont. (Appellant's Brief at 8, citing
State v. Crane
,
{¶ 68} Accordingly, we conclude that Frye does not have a constitutionally protected privacy interest in the trash. Quinn at ¶ 18 ("Thus, in light of the Ohio Supreme Court's reluctance to expand the Ohio Constitution, our previous cases, and the lack of persuasive reasons appellant advances to enlarge the Ohio Constitution's protections, we find that appellant did not have a constitutionality protected privacy interest in the garbage."); Adkins at ¶ 42 ("[Adkins's] trash was not protected under Article I, Section 14 of Ohio's Constitution. The police were free to conduct the trash pull without a search warrant or reasonable suspicion."). As such, the trial court did not err by denying Frye's motion to suppress evidence.
{¶ 69} Frye's first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
The Trial Court should have dismissed Count III of the Indictment because the charge results from an unlawful delegation of legislative authority and because ADB-Fubinaca is in fact not a Schedule I drug.
{¶ 70} In his second assignment of error, Frye argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss Count Three of the indictment. Specifically, Frye contends that he could not be charged with possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), (C)(1)(a) for possessing a substance-ADB Fubinaca-that did not constitute a schedule I controlled substance at the time of his arrest.
{¶ 71} "A motion to dismiss charges in an indictment tests the sufficiency of the indictment, without regard to the quantity or quality of evidence that may be produced by either the State or the defendant."
State v. Balo
, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-10-48,
{¶ 72} An appellate court reviews de novo a trial court's denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment.
State v. Tayse
, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23978,
{¶ 73} The Ohio Legislature has set forth its policies and guidelines regarding controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act contained in R.C. Chapter 3719. R.C. 3719.41 details the schedules of drugs subject to control by the Ohio Legislature, while R.C. 3719.43 and 3719.44 contain provisions for altering and updating the drug schedules. R.C. 3719.43 essentially states that when the United States Attorney General determines that a drug should be scheduled, the drug is automatically placed on the corresponding Ohio schedule. R.C. 3719.44 provides for the state board of pharmacy's review and amendment of the Ohio drug schedules at any time and also details guidelines for the board's consideration when it determines whether a compound should be added to or transferred from a particular schedule.
State v. Ingram
,
{¶ 74} Frye argues that ADB Fubinaca did not constitute a controlled substance under Ohio law at the time of his arrest under R.C. 3719.41 or by virtue of R.C. 3719.43 or 3719.44. Although it concedes that ADB Fubinaca was not designated as a federally controlled substance at the time of Frye's arrest, the State argues that ADB Fubinaca was classified as a schedule I controlled substance under Ohio law at the time of Frye's arrest under Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02.
{¶ 75} However, in response to the State's argument, Frye contends that the State Board of Pharmacy exceeded its rulemaking authority when it enacted Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02. "A challenge to an administrative agency's rulemaking authority is a question of law, and, therefore, we exercise de novo review."
Parrott v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio
, 10th Dist.,
"The purpose of administrative rule-making is to facilitate the administrative agency's placing into effect the policy declared by the General Assembly in the statutes to be administered by the agency. In other words, administrative agency rules are an administrative means for the accomplishment of a legislative end."
Parrott
at ¶ 25, quoting
Nelson v. Mohr
, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-130,
{¶ 76} Frye advances three arguments that Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 exceeds the rulemaking authority conferred to the State Board of Pharmacy by the legislature: (1) that "the authorizing statute does not authorize the State Board of Pharmacy to include a class of chemicals onto a schedule by general description; (2) that it is "an unlawful delegation by the State Board of Pharmacy to the degree that the State Board of Pharmacy extends the power to establish a chemical substance as a Schedule I controlled substance by the action of 'an established forensic laboratory' " and (3) that the State Board of Pharmacy did not consider the factors under R.C. 3719.44(B) in "determining whether to include or not include the substance and where to put the substance on the schedules." (Appellant's Brief at 13, 14).
{¶ 77} First, we note that the Ohio legislature constitutionally delegated the authority under R.C. 3719.43 and 3719.44 to the State Board of Pharmacy to revise the schedule of controlled substances.
See
State v. Klinck
,
{¶ 78} Turning to whether the State Board of Pharmacy acted unlawfully
*588
or unreasonably in enacting Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 to classify synthetic cannabinoids-synthetic marijuana-as schedule I controlled substances, we conclude that the State Board of Pharmacy neither acted unlawfully nor unreasonably in establishing the rule. The Supreme Court of Ohio has addressed an issue similar to that raised by Frye.
See
Sterling Drug
. Specifically, the Court addressed whether the State Board of Pharmacy exceeded its scope of authority when "the board by rule, Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02, amended Schedule II to include pentazocine."
{¶ 79} Regarding the authority of the State Board of Pharmacy to generally classify pentazocine as a schedule II controlled substance, the Court stated,
R.C. 3719.44(A)(1) expressly authorizes the board to add a previously unscheduled compound , mixture , preparation or substance to any schedule. Nowhere in the legislative grant did the General Assembly limit or otherwise direct where, in an existing schedule, a new substance should be placed.
(Emphasis added.)
Id.
at 24,
{¶ 80} In this case, in addition to the authority under R.C. 3719.44, the State Board of Pharmacy enacted Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 under the authority of R.C. 3719.28 and 4729.26. R.C. 3719.28 provides, in relevant part:
(A) The state board of pharmacy * * * shall adopt rules for administration and enforcement of Chapter 3719. of the Revised Code * * *. Such rules shall be designed to:
(1) Facilitate surveillance of traffic in drugs, to prevent the improper acquisition or use of controlled substances or their diversion into illicit channels;
(2) Aid the state board of pharmacy and state, local, and federal law enforcement officers in enforcing the laws of this state and the federal government dealing with drug abuse and control of drug traffic.
R.C. 3719.28(A).
{¶ 81} These statutes provided the State Board of Pharmacy with the ability to enact Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02.
See
Sterling Drug
at 24,
{¶ 82} Moreover, Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 is not unreasonable or unlawful to the extent that the State Board of
*589
Pharmacy relies on the chemical analysis conducted by an established forensic laboratory to determine if a substance constitutes a synthetic cannabinoid. It is well settled that the General Assembly may grant the authority to an administrative agency to promulgate "subordinate rules within prescribed limits" and determine the "facts to which the legislative policy is to apply" so long as the "General Assembly has laid down the policy and established the standards."
Burger Brewing Co. v. Thomas
,
{¶ 83} To effectively aid law enforcement enforce the law, deal with drug abuse, and control drug traffic, it is necessary to provide the State Board of Pharmacy the authority to revise the schedules of controlled substances based on its knowledge and expertise.
See
Reed
,
{¶ 84} By way of illustration, Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02, known as the "Pharmacophore Rule," was promulgated to assist law enforcement in identifying, in part, the chemical structure of synthetic cannabinoids.
See
Ohio Attorney General's Center for the Future of Forensic Science at Bowling Green State University,
The Pharmacophore Rule
, http://forensic.project.agileoasis.com/one/1.html (accessed Jan 31, 2018). "The Pharmacophore Rule is a scientific approach utilized by the State of Ohio to schedule current and future yet unidentified synthetic cannabinoids."
(B) Except as otherwise provided in section 3719.41 of the Revised Code, any compound that meets at least three of the following pharmacophore requirements to bind at the CB1 and CB2 receptors, as identified by a report from an established forensic laboratory, is a schedule I controlled substance hallucinogen:
(1) A chemical scaffold consisting of substituted or non-substituted ring structures that facilitate binding of required elements (such as: indole compounds, *590 indazoles, benzimidazoles or other ring types);
(2) Alkyl or aryl side chain off the chemical scaffold providing hydrophobic interaction with the CB1 and CB2 receptors;
(3) Carbonyl or ester or equivalent for hydrogen bonding;
(4) Cyclohexane, naphthalene ring, substituted butanamide or equivalent for steric requirements for CB1 and CB2 receptor binding.
Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02(B). Under the rule, a "pharmacophore" is defined as "the portion of a chemical structure that confers the activity of the substance." Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-01. More plainly, "[a] pharmacophore represents the minimum required parts of a drug or molecule needed to bind to a receptor. Binding to a receptor generates an effect in the body (usually in the brain), which has been documented by scientific studies." Ohio Attorney General, Drug Chemistry Unit , http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Law-Enforcement/Bureau-of-Criminal-Investigation/Laboratory-Division/Drug-Chemistry-Unit (accessed Jan. 31, 2018).
{¶ 85} Given the ever-evolving drug culture, especially with "synthetic designer drugs," Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 was established to provide "an established forensic laboratory the ability to identify the synthetic cannabinoid pharmacophore found within a larger drug molecule."
{¶ 86} Based on the purpose of the Pharmacophore Rule outlined above, the rule is reasonable and consistent with the General Assembly's delegation of power to the State Board of Pharmacy to facilitate the administration and enforcement of controlled substances. That is, Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 is intended to facilitate surveillance of traffic in synthetic cannabinoids as well as to prevent the improper acquisition and use of synthetic cannabinoids. That an established forensic laboratory must identify the pharmacophore properties of a substance does not constitute an unlawful delegation of authority from the State Board of Pharmacy to that laboratory. Rather, Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02(B) is a tool utilized by the Board of Pharmacy to determine factual information regarding a substance.
Compare
Cooper
,
{¶ 87} We also reject Frye's argument that the State Board of Pharmacy was without authority to adopt Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 because it did not consider the legislative factors under R.C. 3917.44(B). That statute provides:
(B) In making a determination to add, remove, or transfer pursuant to division (A) of this section, the board shall consider the following:
(1) The actual or relative potential for abuse;
(2) The scientific evidence of the pharmacological effect of the substance, if known;
(3) The state of current scientific knowledge regarding the substance;
(4) The history and current pattern of abuse;
(5) The scope, duration, and significance of abuse;
*591 (6) The risk to the public health;
(7) The potential of the substance to produce psychic or physiological dependence liability;
(8) Whether the substance is an immediate precursor.
R.C. 3917.44(B).
{¶ 88} Frye failed to meet his burden of proving that the State Board of Pharmacy did not comply with the conditions of R.C. 3917.44(B) in enacting Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02. Frye does not point to any specific evidence that those legislative conditions were not met. Rather, the administrative-rule history reflects that the State Board of Pharmacy considered those legislative conditions. In establishing the rule, the State Board of Pharmacy identified that synthetic cannabinoids "are likely to share effects with two Schedule I substances," including symptoms of "agitation, paranoia, confusion, violence, convulsions, unconsciousness, lethargy, nervousness, erratic behavior, driving as if intoxicated, inability to stand and slurred speech." State Board of Pharmacy,
Scheduling of Compounds, Rule Summary and Fiscal Analysis (Part A)
, http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/4729/0/11/4729-11-02_PH_OF_A_RS_20140806_1533.pdf (accessed Jan. 31, 2018). Further, the State Board of Pharmacy proffered as a rationale for the administrative rule that "potential reformulations of banned synthetic cannabinoids * * * pose an emerging threat to the health and well-being of Ohio citizens."
{¶ 89} For these reasons, we conclude that Ohio Adm.Code 4729-11-02 is reasonable and consistent with the authority granted to the State Board of Pharmacy.
See
Hinton Adult Care Facility v. Ohio Dept. of Mental Health & Addiction Servs.
, 4th Dist. Ross No. 16CA3566,
{¶ 90} Frye's second assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. III
The Trial Court erred in rejecting Mr. Frye's due process requests as to witness immunity consideration.
{¶ 91} In his third assignment of error, Frye argues that the trial court erred by denying his request for immunity under R.C. 2945.44 for Patterson and Timothy-witnesses he intended to call as part of his defense. Frye makes two arguments: (1) that the trial court should have granted Patterson and Timothy "Testimonial, or 'Use,' Immunity" and (2) that R.C. 2945.44 is "unconstitutional because of obvious Due Process and Equal Protection concerns in granting a right to the prosecution to compel witnesses to testify that is not equally extended to the defendant, who has a constitutional right to compulsory process." (Appellant's Brief at 15, 16).
{¶ 92} "In [Ohio], criminal procedure is governed entirely by statute."
*592
State ex rel. Leis v. Outcalt
,
(A) In any criminal proceeding in this state * * *, if a witness refuses to answer or produce information on the basis of the witness's privilege against self-incrimination, the court of common pleas of the county in which the proceeding is being held, unless it finds that to do so would not further the administration of justice, shall compel the witness to answer or produce the information, if both of the following apply:
(1) The prosecuting attorney of the county in which the proceedings are being held makes a written request to the court of common pleas to order the witness to answer or produce the information, notwithstanding the witness's claim of privilege;
(2) The court of common pleas informs the witness that by answering, or producing the information the witness will receive immunity under division (B) of this section.
(B) If, but for this section, the witness would have been privileged to withhold an answer or any information given in any criminal proceeding, and the witness complies with an order under division (A) of this section compelling the witness to give an answer or produce any information, the witness shall not be prosecuted or subjected to any criminal penalty in the courts of this state for or on account of any transaction or matter concerning which, in compliance with the order, the witness gave an answer or produced any information.
R.C. 2945.44(A), (B).
See
Outcalt
at 148,
{¶ 93} As an initial matter, we must address whether Frye properly preserved this issue on appeal. Assuming without deciding that Frye properly raised the issue in his pretrial motion, as with similar pretrial motions requesting the trial court for a preliminary order, Frye was obligated to preserve the error with an objection, proffer, or ruling on the record at the proper point during trial.
See
State v. Maurer
,
{¶ 94} Crim.R. 52(B) governs plain-error review in criminal cases.
State v. Risner
,
{¶ 95} It was not plain error for the trial court to deny Frye's request for immunity for Patterson and Timothy under R.C. 2945.44 for two reasons. First, Frye requested that the trial court grant Patterson and Timothy "use" immunity. Under R.C. 2945.44, "Ohio courts may grant
only
transactional immunity," which "protects the witness from prosecution for any criminal activity about which he testified within the limits of the grant." (Emphasis added.)
Grogan
,
{¶ 96} Second, the trial court did not have the statutory authority to grant Patterson or Timothy immunity because neither witness was called to testify. Because neither witness was called to testify, neither Patterson nor Timothy refused to testify on Fifth Amendment grounds.
See
id.
at 149,
{¶ 97} Moreover, to the extent that Frye attacks the constitutionality of R.C. 2945.44, the trial court did not commit plain error in rejecting his argument. At first glance, it appears that Frye is facially attacking the constitutionality of R.C. 2945.44 on equal-protection grounds. However, Frye's argument does no more than hint that R.C. 2945.44"seems to be a violation of equal protection principles, as one party (the prosecution) has an enhanced ability to compel testimony, a power enhanced over the constitutional right of the accused." (Appellant's Brief at 16). Rather, Frye's argument requests that this court adopt the procedure adopted in
Carter v. United States
,
remand the case with instruction to conduct a hearing as to whether the proffered testimony would have been material. The Trial Court should be directed to then, if so ruling, submit the question to the prosecution per the Carter procedure, somewhat in a modified hearing along the lines of a new trial motion.
(Appellant's Brief at 20).
{¶ 98} Because a party challenging the constitutionality of a statute carries the burden of proving that it is unconstitutional, we decline to address Frye's "statement" regarding the constitutionality of R.C. 2945.44 since he offered no argument in support of any constitutional challenge.
See
In re Washington
, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-429,
{¶ 99} Turning to Frye's argument urging this court to adopt the procedure illustrated by the court in Carter , we decline to do so. The procedure prescribed by the court in Carter provides:
If, after a hearing, the trial court were to conclude that, all circumstances considered, the defendant will not receive a fair trial without the testimony of a crucial defense witness whose testimony meets the mandatory requirements we have previously spelled out in this opinion (exculpatory evidence, etc.), and importantly, the government does not submit to the court a reasonable basis for not affording use immunity to the crucial witness in order to procure the vital defense testimony, then the trial court would be justified in informing the government that it must make the choice between dismissal of the indictment or some other commensurate remedy which the court may fashion on Sixth Amendment and due process grounds, or affording use immunity to the crucial defense witness involved who is shown *595 to be the only witness who, if believed, would clearly establish a reasonable doubt on the defendant's guilt.
Carter at 343.
{¶ 100} Carter is entirely distinguishable from the facts of this case. Namely, not only did the witness-immunity statute at issue in Carter authorize "use" and "transactional" immunity, the analysis in Carter focuses only on "use" immunity. See id. at 340, fn. 5, 342. Since, as we discussed above, Ohio authorizes only transactional immunity, we reject Frye's argument. For these reasons, the trial court did not commit plain error in rejecting Frye's request.
{¶ 101} Frye's third assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. IV
Mr. Frye was denied a fair trial because the Trial Court over objection defined possession in the context of a controlled substance and improperly denied the defense motion for a new trial on that issue.
{¶ 102} In his fourth assignment of error, Frye argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a new trial on the basis that the trial court incorrectly defined "possession" for the jury.
{¶ 103} Motions for new trial are governed by Crim.R. 33(A), which provides, in relevant part, that a trial court may grant a new trial when there is an "[i]rregularity in the proceedings, or in any order or ruling of the court, or abuse of discretion by the court, because of which the defendant was prevented from having a fair trial" or an "[e]rror of law occurring at the trial." Crim.R. 33(A)(1), (5). "A reviewing court will not disturb a trial court's decision granting or denying a Crim.R. 33 motion for new trial
*596
absent an abuse of discretion."
State v. Sanders
,
{¶ 104} In support of his claim that a new trial is warranted, Frye argues that the trial court erred by submitting to the jury, the following jury instruction defining "possession":
A person has constructive possession if he is able to exercise dominion and control over an item, even if the individual does not have immediate physical possession of it. For constructive possession to exist, it must also be shown that the person was conscious of the presence of the object. The State may prove the existence of the various elements of constructive possession of drugs by circumstantial evidence alone.
(Emphasis added.) (Doc. No. 69, quoting May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. IV, at 627). Frye argues that the trial court's instruction is an incorrect definition of constructive possession under Ohio law and that that the trial court should have replaced the mens rea of that definition of constructive possession-"able to"-with "knowingly." ( See Appellant's Brief at 24).
{¶ 105} "Ordinarily, the trial court has discretion to decide to give or refuse a particular instruction, and an appellate court will not disturb that decision absent an abuse of discretion."
State v. Teitelbaum
, 10th Dist.,
{¶ 106} The trial court's jury instruction is not an incorrect statement of law. This court has defined "constructive possession" on a number of occasions using the "able to" language as well as the "knowingly" language.
See, e.g.
,
Watts
,
{¶ 107} Although it does not define "constructive possession,"
Ohio Jury Instructions
directs readers to a case defining constructive possession with the "able to" language.
Ohio Jury Instructions
, CR Section 525.11 (Rev. Dec. 10, 2016);
State v. Mason
, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 78606,
{¶ 108} For these reasons, we conclude that the trial court's jury instruction did not mislead the jury and is a correct statement of law.
Compare
Warren
at ¶ 28-29 (rejecting Warren's argument that the jury instruction was flawed because it used the "able to" language);
Harris
,
{¶ 109} As such, Frye was not prejudiced or prevented from having a fair trial. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Frye's motion for a new trial.
{¶ 110} Frye's fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. V
Prosecutorial misconduct deprived Mr. Frye of a fair trial.
{¶ 111} In his fifth assignment of error, Frye points to two instances that he argues demonstrates prosecutorial misconduct and denied him a fair trial. Specifically, he argues that the State failed to disclose "a printout of Mr. Patterson's arrest record" and elicited false and prejudicial testimony.
{¶ 112} "The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the remarks were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected the accused's substantial rights."
*598
State v. Liles
, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-14-61,
{¶ 113} Frye's two arguments are necessarily intertwined. That is, Frye takes issue with "[t]he method of enabling * * * the jury [to] reach th[e] false inference." (Appellant's Brief at 29). He argues that, despite his request "for criminal records of intended State witnesses," the State failed to disclose Patterson's "arrest record" even though the State originally intended to call Patterson as a witness. ( Id. at 29). He argues, "[a]t trial, the State refused to provide [Patterson's] criminal record, however, claiming at the last minute that the State had decided not to call Mr. Patterson as a witness, rendering that information non-discoverable." ( Id. ). Instead, "[a]fter handing a printout of Mr. Patterson's arrest record to their law enforcement witness, a printout not yet shared with the defense (despite objection), the prosecution asked the officer if anything in that record established that Mr. Patterson had a weapons disability, to enable the answer, 'No.' " ( Id. at 29-30). Frye contends that the State's deceptive behavior prejudiced his trial because "[n]ot revealed to the jury were the extensive felony arrest record and the fact law enforcement made no effort to follow up on 'disposition unknown' entries in the arrest record." ( Id. at 30).
{¶ 114} Crim.R. 16 provides the discovery rules for criminal proceedings.
State v. Engle
,
(B) Discovery: Right to Copy or Photograph. Upon receipt of a written demand for discovery by the defendant, and except as provided in division (C), (D), (E), (F), or (J) of this rule, the prosecuting attorney shall provide copies or photographs, or permit counsel for the defendant to copy or photograph, the following items related to the particular case indictment, information, or complaint, and which are material to the preparation of a defense, or are intended for use by the prosecuting attorney as evidence at the trial, or were obtained from or belong to the defendant, within the possession of, or reasonably available to the state, subject to the provisions of this rule:
* * *
(2) Criminal records of the defendant, a co-defendant, and the record of prior convictions that could be admissible under Rule 609 of the Ohio Rules of Evidence of a witness in the state's case-in-chief, or that it reasonably anticipates calling as a witness in rebuttal.
Crim.R. 16(B)(2).
See
State v. Leonard
, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 93 CA 42,
{¶ 115} The failure to comply with Crim.R. 16 is governed by Crim.R. 16(E)(3), which provides:
"If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with this rule or with an order issued pursuant to this rule, the court may order such party to permit the discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, *599 or prohibit the party from introducing in evidence the material not disclosed, or it may make such other order as it deems just under the circumstances."
Engle at ¶ 7, quoting Crim.R. 16(E)(3).
{¶ 116} "The trial court's decision regarding a Crim.R. 16 discovery sanction is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard."
State v. Stiles
, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-08-12,
{¶ 117} The prosecution's violation of Crim.R. 16 is reversible error "only when there is a showing that (1) the prosecution's failure to disclose was willful, (2) disclosure of the information prior to trial would have aided the accused's defense, and (3) the accused suffered prejudice."
State v. Jackson
,
{¶ 118} In this case, the trial court determined that the State did not violate the discovery rules; yet, it ordered the State to provide Patterson's criminal-history printout to Frye. Although we defer to the trial court's discovery-violation determinations, we highly discourage the State's conduct in this case.
See
State v. Darmond
,
{¶ 119} In 2010, the Supreme Court of Ohio "amended the discovery process in criminal cases."
State v. Athon
,
Crim.R. 16(A) now states, "This rule is to provide all parties in a criminal case with the information necessary for a full and fair adjudication of the facts, to protect the integrity of the justice system and the rights of defendants, and to protect the well-being of witnesses, victims, and society at large." Crim.R. 16(A) further indicates that "[a]ll duties and remedies are subject to a standard of due diligence, apply to the defense and the prosecution equally, and are intended to be reciprocal."
{¶ 120} The State's conduct in this case is not emblematic of the spirit of the discovery rules.
See
State v. Johnson
, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 36580,
{¶ 121} Nonetheless, the trial court exercised proper discretion in concluding that the State did not violate the rules of discovery while still ordering the State to provide Frye a copy of Patterson's criminal history. Indeed, the rule requires the provision of criminal records of state's witnesses; however, the rule does not explicitly state when provision of that record is required. Rather, the timeliness determinations are left to the discretion of the trial court. Moreover, Frye did not seek any additional remedy, such as a continuance.
See
State v. Orsborne
, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-06-94,
{¶ 122} Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that the State did not violate the discovery rules, there is no error, let alone a reversible error. As such, Frye cannot demonstrate that his substantial rights were prejudicially affected or that the outcome of his trial would have been different.
Compare
{¶ 123} In addition, Frye takes issue with the State's use of Patterson's criminal record to elicit testimony from Investigator Harrod, which, according to Frye, misrepresented Patterson's criminal past. That is, Frye alleges that the State "intentionally and unconscionably created a false view to the jury that Cornelius Patterson had no weapons disability and hence no motive, knowing full well that this suggestion was likely false." (Appellant's Brief at 29).
{¶ 124} The particular exchange that Frye points to as creating the improper inference is as follows:
[The State]: Okay. So, once investigators had completed their search and all the evidence was collected and secured you said you went to the Lima Police Department and briefly spoke with Cornelius Patterson as well as the defendant, Marlon, Frye; correct?
[Investigator Harrod]: Yes, ma'am.
[The State]: Okay. After speaking with Cornelius Patterson were you able to determine what he was doing at 1109 St. Johns Avenue?
[Investigator Harrod]: He was on vacation from Mississippi-Natchez, Mississippi. He had been here for approximately two to three weeks. He was a long time friend of Marlon Frye's-all the way back to elementary school.
[The State]: And after speaking with him did you run a check of his criminal history?
[Investigator Harrod]: I did.
[The State]: Anything that showed that he wasn't allowed-
(May 23-25, 2017 Tr., Vol. II, at 270). At that time, Frye objected. ( Id. ). After the trial court concluded that the State did not violate the rules of discovery and ordered the State to provide to Frye a copy of Patterson's criminal history, the State continued its direct examination of Investigator Harrod:
[The State]: Did your investigation reveal any legal reason why Cornelius Patterson couldn't have a firearm?
[Investigator Harrod]: No, ma'am.
(
Id.
at 279). Frye contends that this line of questioning constituted misconduct because it impermissibly permitted the jury to infer that Patterson did not have a criminal history that would have established a weapons disability, which would have supplied him motive to dispose of the gun.
Compare
State v. Obermiller
,
{¶ 125} Even if we assume without deciding that the State's questions were improper, Frye cannot demonstrate that the State's questions were prejudicial or that
*602
the outcome of his trial would have been different.
See
id.
at ¶ 106.
See also
State v. Hayes
, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-938,
{¶ 126} For these reasons, Frye presented no evidence that the result of his trial would have been different. Frye's fifth assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. VIII
The Trial Court erred by refusing to merge Counts I and II.
{¶ 127} In his eighth assignment of error, Frye argues that the trial court erred by failing to merge his having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions.
{¶ 128} Whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import is a question of law that this court reviews de novo.
State v. Stall
, 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-10-12,
{¶ 129} R.C. 2941.25, Ohio's multiple-count statute, states:
(A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶ 130} The Supreme Court of Ohio directs us to apply a three-part test to determine whether a defendant can be convicted of multiple offenses:
"As a practical matter, when determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must ask three questions when defendant's conduct supports multiple offenses: (1) Were the offenses dissimilar in import or significance? (2) Were they committed separately? and (3) Were they committed *603 with separate animus or motivation? An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate convictions. The conduct, the animus, and the import must all be considered."
State v. Earley
,
{¶ 131} Because it is dispositive, we will first address the separate-animus question of the tripart test. "The term 'animus' means ' "purpose or, more properly, immediate motive." ' "
State v. Ramey
, 2d Dist.,
{¶ 132} " 'Like all mental states, animus is often difficult to prove directly, but must be inferred from the surrounding circumstances.' "
Id.
at ¶ 71, quoting
Logan
at 131,
{¶ 133} Other Ohio courts of appeal have concluded that having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions do not merge.
See
State v. Lyons
, 7th Dist.,
{¶ 134} Based on the evidence adduced at trial, we conclude that Frye did not commit the having-weapons-while-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence crimes with the same animus. In other words, there is
no
evidence in the record that Frye acquired the firearm with an immediate, virtually simultaneous intent to conceal it to impair its availability as evidence in an investigation.
Compare
Clark
at ¶ 31. Rather, the record reflects that the firearm was in Frye's residence prior to law enforcement's entry. Indeed, law enforcement discovered a firearm holster in the cabinet in which law enforcement also discovered narcotics. For the same reasons we concluded in Frye's sixth and seventh assignments of error that he possessed the ADB Fubinaca, it is reasonable to conclude that Frye possessed the firearm. Specifically, it is reasonable to conclude that Frye possessed the firearm prior to intending to conceal it from law enforcement by placing it in the toilet. Accordingly, we conclude Frye necessarily acquired the firearm prior to law enforcement's entry into his residence and prior to the time he intended to conceal it from law enforcement by placing it in the toilet. Therefore, Frye committed the offenses with separate animus.
See
Lyons
at ¶ 42 ;
Wilcox
at ¶ 20. Because "we may end our analysis upon an affirmative response to any of the three [
Ruff
] questions[,]" we need not address whether the offenses are of dissimilar import or whether Frye committed the offenses separately.
State v. Bailey
, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-140129,
{¶ 135} Frye's eighth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 136} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
ZIMMERMAN, J., concurs.
SHAW, J., concurs in Judgment Only.
The Supreme Court of Ohio has defined "constructive possession" on three occasions.
See
State v. Wolery
,
Although the "two-step" analysis prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in
Logan
has been overruled, the court's discussion of animus remains relevant under the current tripart test prescribed in
Ruff
.
See, e.g.
,
State v. Lundy
, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105117,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Ohio, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Marlon D. FRYE, Defendant-Appellant.
- Cited By
- 39 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- The defendant-appellant's having-weapons-while-under-disability, tampering-with-evidence, and possession-of-drugs convictions are based on sufficient evidence. The defendant-appellant's possession-of-drugs conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The trial court did not err by denying the defendant-appellant's motion to suppress evidence because the trash pulls did not violate his rights under the Ohio Constitution. The trial court did not err by denying the defendant-appellant's motion to dismiss one of the counts in the indictment because ADB Fubinaca was a schedule I controlled substance in Ohio at the time of the defendant-appellant's arrest. The trial court did not commit plain error by rejecting the defendant-appellant's request for immunity under R.C. 2945.44 for witnesses he intended to call as part of his defense. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying the defendant-appellant's motion for a new trial because the trial court's jury instruction was not an incorrect statement of law. The defendant-appellant was not denied a fair trial based on prosecutorial misconduct. The trial court correctly concluded that the defendant-appellant's having-weapons-under-disability and tampering-with-evidence convictions are not allied offenses of similar import.