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Date: 01-11-2019
Case Style:
STATE OF OHIO vs. OCIE WILLIAMS
Case Number: 106998
Judge: MARY EILEEN KILBANE
Court: Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
Plaintiff's Attorney: Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
Jillian Eckart
Mary M. Frey
Assistant County Prosecutors
Defendant's Attorney: Thomas A. Rein
Description:
In April 2017, Williams was charged with four counts of aggravated burglary,
three counts of felonious assault, two counts of kidnapping, all with firearm specifications
attached. Williams was also charged with one count of improper discharging a firearm into a
habitation and one count of having weapons while under disability.
{¶3} Williams pleaded not guilty at the arraignment, and the matter proceeded to a jury
trial on all the charges, except that of having weapons while under disability, which was tried to
the bench. At the jury trial, through the testimony of 12 witnesses, the following information
was adduced.
{¶4} Shortly after midnight on April 3, 2017, patrol officers from the Cleveland Police
Department (“CPD”) responded to an address on East 119th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, on report
of a burglary and of shots fired. When the officers arrived, a male was lying on the floor in a
pool of blood, and he had sustained three gunshot wounds. The male, later identified as Joseph
Hurns (“Hurns”), was conscious, but not responsive. The officers applied first aid until the
emergency medical service (“EMS”) arrived and transported Hurns to the hospital. The officers
recovered three spent cartridges in the front yard, one bullet stuck in the carpet, and one lodged in
the wall. The officers also observed three bullet holes in the front door.
{¶5} The officers obtained information from a witness to the shooting that the suspect
was Williams. The witness, later identified as Russell Porch (“Porch”), gave the officers a
description of the vehicle Williams had been driving and a potential address linking him to a
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (“CMHA”) property on West 25th Street.
{¶6} The officers relayed this information to the CMHA police, who later notified them
that Williams was at the property. CPD officers arrested Williams at the CMHA property.
While in custody, Williams stated he had been present at the house on East 119th Street, had
seen men pistol whip Hurns, and that other men fired gun shots into the house. The CPD later
obtained a search warrant for Williams’s apartment, but did not find any evidence upon its
execution. The CPD subsequently developed a photo array and showed it to Hurns, who
identified Williams as the shooter.
{¶7} Hurns, 69 years old at the time of trial, testified that for approximately six weeks
prior to the incident, he had been renting a bedroom in the house on East 119th Street from Tina
Ronny (“Tina”), who was the tenant actually renting the property. Hurns testified that Williams
was Tina’s boyfriend who would often spend the night at the house and that he had seen
Williams about ten times prior to the incident on April 3, 2017. Hurns testified that a week prior
to the incident, he and his friend Russell Porch (“Porch”) had decided to move to Columbus,
Ohio, but had not made that fact public.
{¶8} Hurns testified that on April 2, 2017, he and Porch were at the laundromat, when
Tina called to ask if he could pick her up from the train station. Hurns picked up Tina from the
train station and drove back to the house. Hurns testified that when they arrived at the house,
Tina asked to borrow his car, and he agreed.
{¶9} Hurns testified that while he and Porch were waiting for Tina to return with his
car so he could leave for Columbus, Williams arrived. Williams, accompanied by a man Hurns
had not seen before, asked for Tina. Hurns testified that when he told Williams that Tina was
not at home and that she had borrowed his car to go to her mother’s house, Williams proceeded
to search every room, while the other man appeared to be just watching and listening. Williams
and the other man then left the house.
{¶10} Hurns testified that approximately two hours later, Williams and the other man
returned. Williams asked if Tina was back. Hurns testified that when he told Williams Tina
had not made it back, Williams stated that “[S]he stole your car, man, because she stole my
$11,000 watch.” Williams stayed about 15 minutes and then left.
{¶11} Hurns testified that about an hour after Williams left the house the second time, he
heard what appeared to be the sound of keys rattling. Believing it was Tina, Hurns proceeded to
unlock the door. Hurns testified that Williams pushed past him and the other man stood in the
doorway. Williams began looking throughout the house for Tina and stated that “[S]he stole
your car, you ain’t got no car, she took my watch, she stole your car.”
{¶12} Hurns testified that as Williams was about to leave, he turned around and said,
“[H]ell with that,” and Williams pulled out a gun and hit him in the head, causing him to fall to
the floor. Williams then walked out. Hurns testified that while attempting to get off the floor,
he heard gunshots and realized he had been shot when he felt a burning sensation and saw blood
oozing from his arm. Hurns testified that he heard four gunshots.
{¶13} The jury found Williams guilty of all four counts of aggravated burglary, with the
firearm specifications attached; two counts of felonious assault, with the firearm specifications
attached, and guilty of improperly discharging into habitation with the firearm specifications
attached. The trial court also found Williams guilty of the bifurcated count of having weapons
while under disability. The trial court sentenced Williams to a total prison term of ten years,
with five years of postrelease control.
{¶14} Williams now appeals assigning the following errors for our review.
Assignment of Error One
The State failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction against [Williams].
Assignment of Error Two
[Williams’s] convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Assignment of Error Three
[Williams’s] rights against self-incrimination were violated when the trial court imposed a harsher sentence after it found that appellant had no remorse.
Sufficiency of Evidence
{¶15} In the first assignment of error, Williams argues that the state failed to present
sufficient evidence to sustain the convictions.
{¶16} A claim of insufficient evidence raises the question whether the evidence is legally
sufficient to support the verdict as a matter of law. State v. Amey, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
105847, 2018-Ohio-4207, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541
(1197). In reviewing a sufficiency challenge, “‘[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing
the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Thompkins,
quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶17} In the instant case, the jury found Williams guilty of felonious assault in violation
of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), which provides:
(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:
(2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another’s unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.
{¶18} Hurns testified that as Williams was about to leave the house the third time that
day, Williams turned and knocked him in the head with a gun, causing him to fall to the floor.
Hurns also testified gunshots were fired into the house within moments of Williams exiting the
house. The evidence established that three of the four bullets fired into the residence struck
Hurns, who had to undergo life-saving surgery.
{¶19} In addition, Porch, whose testimony comports with Hurns’s, also testified Williams
knocked Hurns several times in the head with a gun. Porch also testified that gun shots were
fired into the house within moments of Williams and his companion exiting the house.
{¶20} Viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we find a
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of felonious assault was proven
beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶21} Nonetheless, Williams claimed the state’s evidence was not sufficient because the
state did not produce any physical evidence that he possessed a firearm, no gunshot residue, or
any DNA.
{¶22} However, Williams’s claim lacks merit. Physical evidence is not required to
sustain a conviction. State v. Binford, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105414, 2018-Ohio-90, citing
State v. Lopez, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94312, 2011-Ohio-182, ¶ 62, citing Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d
259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph one of the syllabus. “Proof of guilt may be made by
circumstantial evidence as well as by real evidence and direct or testimonial evidence or any
combination of these three classes of evidence.” Jenks at 272.
{¶23} In addition, at trial, CPD detective, Todd Clemens, explained that the department
did not perform a gun residue test on Williams because the residue would most likely have been
lost between the time the shots were fired and when Williams was apprehended several hours
later.
{¶24} Further, Williams’s expert witness, Jessica York (“York”), of the DNA Diagnostic
Center, hired to conduct DNA testing on the spent cartridges and bullets recovered at the scene,
explained how the lack of DNA was possible. York, who was unable to obtain DNA from two
of the three cartridges and one of the two bullets, but partial DNAs from the third cartridge and
second bullet, opined:
[YORK]: [P]otentially I know if you had DNA, it passes through an item, the ability to obtain DNA profile would probably be harder. I would expect that that DNA, if on there prior to passing through — prior to passing through the door, then it could — the door itself could retain some of the biological material or the fluids that were on there. If it passes through the door prior to DNA being deposited, I wouldn’t expect anything, but if it happened after the DNA was — or potential DNA was on the bullet, then I would anticipate it to then reduce or make it harder to obtain the DNA profile from the item.
{¶25} Here, given that the gunshots were fired through the closed door, entered and then
exited through Hurns’s body, it is quite possible, as York opined, for DNA to be picked up or
lost after coming in contact with other surfaces or other persons.
{¶26} The above testimony, if believed, is sufficient to sustain the conviction for
felonious assault.
{¶27} The jury also found Williams guilty of aggravated burglary in violation of R.C.
2911.11(A)(2), which provides:
(A) No person, by force, stealth, or deception, shall trespass in an occupied structure or in a separately secured or separately occupied portion of an occupied structure, when another person other than an accomplice of the offender is present, with purpose to commit in the structure or in the separately secured or separately occupied portion of the structure any criminal offense, if any of the following apply:
* * *
(2) The offender has a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance on or about the offender’s person or under the offender’s control.
{¶28} Williams argues there was no evidence presented that he entered the residence by
force, stealth, or deception.
{¶29} However, Hurns’s testimony negates Williams’s argument. Hurns testified that
after Williams left the second time, he locked both doors because Williams had become
increasingly angry. When he heard what sounded like keys rattling, he remarked to Porch that it
must be Tina, who always had trouble with her key, so he opened the inside door, but was
surprised that it was Williams. Hurns testified that Williams was determined to get into the
house because the outer steel door had been locked.
{¶30} Relevantly, Hurns testified as follows:
[HURNS]: The door it had like a mesh, a steel mesh on the outside of the steel door like a mesh. And it was pushed in, okay, it was pushed in and, you, know, and you could slide your hand and now unlock the steel door. And I know that’s what he did.
[STATE]: At some point on April 3rd, you had locked the front door?
[HURNS]: Very much so. After the second time he came, I decided to keep that door locked, I should have mentioned that. You know, I know the door was locked. And that steel mesh was not moved, okay, that’s why it didn’t bother me just to open the door and say she still ain’t here, man, you see the car, that’s exactly what he was coming out with when he came walking right on in.
{¶31} The above excerpt, if believed, provided sufficient evidence that Williams gained
entrance, by force, despite Hurns’s attempt to prevent him access by locking both doors after
Williams left the second time. As such, there was sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction
for aggravated burglary.
{¶32} Accordingly, the first assignment of error is overruled.1
Manifest Weight of Evidence
{¶33} In the second assignment of error, Williams argues his convictions were against the
manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶34} In contrast to a sufficiency argument, a manifest weight challenge questions
whether the state met its burden of persuasion. State v. Riedel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104929,
2017-Ohio-8865, citing State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12.
A reviewing court “weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of
witnesses and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its
way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a
new trial ordered.” Bowden, citing Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 388, 678 N.E.2d 541. A
conviction should be reversed as against the manifest weight of the evidence only in the most
“exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” Thompkins at 1 Williams does not separately challenge his conviction for having weapons while under disability, therefore, we summarily affirm this conviction. In addition, except for his blanket statement in the first assigned error that all his convictions should be vacated, Williams does not separately raise any argument relating to his conviction for improperly discharging into a habitation. Based on our resolution of the first assigned error, we also affirm this conviction.
547.
{¶35} Williams argues that Hurns’s and Porch’s testimonies are unreliable because they
admitted to having substance abuse challenges. Despite their substance abuse challenges, both
men offered substantially the same testimony regarding the events transpiring that night.
{¶36} Although we review credibility when considering the manifest weight of the
evidence, we are cognizant that determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses and the
weight of the testimony are primarily for the
trier of fact. State v. Burks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106639, 2018-Ohio-4777, citing State v.
Bradley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97333, 2012-Ohio-2765, ¶ 14, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio
St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967).
{¶37} Further, the trier of fact is best able “to view the witnesses and observe their
demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing the credibility
of the proffered testimony.” Id., citing State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865
N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 24. The jury may take note of any inconsistencies and resolve them accordingly,
“believ[ing] all, part, or none of a witness’s testimony.” Burks at ¶ 48, citing State v. Raver, 10th
Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-604, 2003-Ohio-958, ¶ 21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67,
197 N.E.2d 548 (1964).
{¶38} William again raises the lack of DNA evidence, which we have already addressed
in the first assignment of error.
{¶39} After reviewing the record, we cannot say that Williams’s convictions for felonious
assault and aggravated burglary are against the manifest weight of the evidence. The jury heard
the witnesses’s testimony and was able to take into account any inconsistencies and assess the
credibility of the witnesses. Thus, we cannot say that this is the exceptional case where the
evidence weighs heavily against the convictions, nor that the jury clearly lost its way and created
a manifest miscarriage of justice.
{¶40} Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
Sentence
{¶41} In the third assignment of error, Williams argues the trial court imposed a harsher
sentence after a finding of lack of remorse. We find no merit to Williams’s argument.
{¶42} When sentencing a defendant, the court must consider the purpose and principles
of felony sentencing set forth in R.C. 2929.11 and the serious and recidivism factors in R.C.
2929.12. State v. Jenkins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105881, 2018-Ohio-2397, citing State v.
Hodges, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99511, 2013-Ohio-5025, ¶ 7. R.C. 2929.11(A) and (B) states
that the “overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by
the offender and others to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions that the court
determines accomplish those purposes” and requires that the sentence be “commensurate with
and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and its impact upon the victim *
* *.”
{¶43} R.C. 2929.12 sets forth a nonexhaustive list of factors that the court must consider
in relation to the seriousness of the underlying crime and likelihood of recidivism, including “(1)
the physical, psychological, and economic harm suffered by the victim, (2) the defendant’s prior
criminal record, (3) whether the defendant shows any remorse, and (4) any other relevant
factors.” Jenkins at ¶ 72, citing State v. Kronenberg, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101403,
2015-Ohio-1020, ¶ 26, citing R.C. 2929.12(B) and (D).
{¶44} In the instant case, the state asked the court to impose a sentence in the range of 15
to 20 years because one of the bullets struck one of Hurns’s major arteries, causing him to almost
bleed to death. Yet, the trial court imposed a prison term of just one year above the minimum
sentence.
{¶45} Williams’s contention that he was punished for displaying a lack of remorse is not
borne out by the record. At the sentencing hearing, the following exchange took place:
[COURT]: Would you like to say anything on your own behalf, Mr. Williams?
[WILLIAMS]: No.
[COURT]: No?
[WILLIAMS]: Yes, I would like to say something.
[COURT]: This is your choice.
[WILLIAMS]: No, sir.
[COURT]: Now let the record reflect that people in the back of the room telling you not to say anything. As I indicated to you at the appropriate time during the trial when it was your moment of truth and your moment to take the witness stand, and your counsel indicated that you were going to exercise your Fifth Amendment rights not to speak. I made sure that I had interaction with you, directly, to make sure that that was your decision, not anybody else’s. And I want to make this clear. Every defendant convicted of a crime has an opportunity for allocution, to present mitigation. And so this is your opportunity. No one else’s. Not your pastor’s. No one else in the back of the room. So, if you want to say something, you say it now.
[WILLIAMS]: I thank you for going over, watching, I mean, I appreciate you. I’m asking for mercy of the Court. That’s all I could do. They don’t want me to say nothing, I’m not going to say nothing because I got a lot to say. Because this right here, don’t make no sense. Ain’t no way in the world. 61 years old. I don’t touch guns. I don’t like guns. I don’t like guns. And this is why I would never do this.
{¶46} After the above exchange, the trial court indicated it was sorry to hear Williams’s
response, then proceeded to point out it believed in the adversarial system, though fallible. The
trial court noted that it would likely never know who Williams was with or who fired the shots
into the house, but underscored that the advent of the body camera was probably one of the most
important advancements in the criminal justice system. The trial court stated that, in this case,
the body camera had captured Williams admitting that he was present at the house and that he
had gone to the house three times that night looking for a woman because his watch had come up
missing.
{¶47} Prior to imposing sentence, the trial court stated:
[COURT]: And just so you’re aware, I don’t just impose a criminal sentence from a gut reaction. I take into consideration all of the mitigation, all of the — I have to listen to what the victims are going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives. They didn’t deserve that. The psychological impact that they’re going to have to suffer for the rest of their lives. * * * I take into consideration the fact that you haven’t led a violent life as your attorney said. Nothing would indicate that the length of this sentence the State is asking for today is necessary to protect the public in light of your past behavior. * * * [O]ne thing the law isn’t about vengeance. The criminal sentence is not about vengeance, okay, and it’s not all about mercy. The judge has to exercise compassion.
{¶48} Our review indicates the trial court considered the factors set forth in R.C. 2929.12.
We find nothing in the record to support Williams’s claim that he received a harsher sentence
for displaying a lack of remorse.
{¶49} Accordingly, the third assignment of error is overruled.
Outcome: Judgment affirmed.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: