State v. Watson , 2015 Ohio 283 ( 2015 )

[Cite as State v. Watson, 2015-Ohio-283.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 27257
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
JIBREE L. WATSON COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. CR 13 02 0510
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: January 28, 2015
BELFANCE, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Jibree L. Watson appeals from the judgment of the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
I.
{¶2} Just before midnight, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Jared Haslar noticed a
vehicle he believed was being driven down the road without its headlights illuminated. While
the parking lights and fog lights were illuminated, he observed that the main headlights were not
lit. He continued to observe the vehicle and stopped it after it failed to properly use a turn signal.
Subsequently, Trooper Haslar smelled burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle and saw what he
believed to be a marijuana cigarette in plain view. A search of the vehicle ensued, which
revealed more marijuana, a loaded .38 revolver and a prescription bottle containing an unknown
substance.
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{¶3} Mr. Watson was then placed under arrest for carrying a concealed weapon. He
was transported to the Summit County Jail, where field sobriety tests were administered. Mr.
Watson was then asked to consent to a urine test, which he did. Mr. Watson was searched again
upon being admitted to the jail and an additional amount of marijuana was found in his
undergarments.
{¶4} Ultimately, Mr. Watson was charged with prohibition of conveyance of weapons,
drugs of abuse, or intoxicating liquor onto grounds of specified governmental facility, carrying
concealed weapons, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, operating under the
influence of alcohol or drugs, and possession of marijuana. Mr. Watson filed a motion to
suppress, along with a supplement to his motion. The trial court held a hearing and allowed
post-hearing briefing, which both sides submitted. Thereafter, the trial court denied Mr.
Watson’s motion to suppress. Mr. Watson pleaded no contest to carrying concealed weapons
and operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The remaining charges were dismissed.
The trial court sentenced Mr. Watson to 12 months in prison but suspended the sentence upon
condition of Mr. Watson completing 12 months of community control.
{¶5} Mr. Watson has appealed, raising two assignments of error for our review.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT DENIED
THE DEFENDANT’S FOURTH AMENDMENT AND OHIO
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AGAINST ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SEIZURE
BASED UPON HIS MOTION TO SUPPRESS AND SUPPLEMENTAL
MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE.
{¶6} Mr. Watson argues in his first assignment of error that the trial court erred in
denying his motion to suppress because Trooper Haslar lacked probable cause or reasonable
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suspicion to stop Mr. Watson’s vehicle, that the search of the vehicle was unconstitutional, and
that the urine test was not performed in compliance with applicable procedures.
{¶7} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that
[a]ppellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law and
fact. When considering a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of
trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to resolve factual questions and
evaluate the credibility of witnesses. Consequently, an appellate court must
accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent,
credible evidence. Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court must then
independently determine, without deference to the conclusion of the trial court,
whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal standard.
(Internal citations omitted.) State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 8.
Traffic Stop
{¶8} Mr. Watson first asserts that Trooper Haslar lacked probable cause or reasonable
suspicion to stop his vehicle.
{¶9} The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 14 of the
Ohio Constitution protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. State v. Roberts,
9th Dist. Medina No. 13CA0065-M, 2014-Ohio-4126, ¶ 6. Searches and seizures conducted
outside the judicial process are per se unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, subject to
well-delineated exceptions. Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 357 (1967). Stopping a vehicle
and detaining its occupants constitutes a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. Delaware v.
Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 653 (1979). “Probable cause is * * * a complete justification for a traffic
stop * * *.” State v. Mays 119 Ohio St. 3d 406, 2008-Ohio-4539, ¶ 23. In addition, an
investigative traffic stop does not violate the Fourth Amendment where an officer has reasonable
suspicion that the individual is engaged in criminal activity. Maumee v. Weisner, 87 Ohio St. 3d
295, 299 (1999). “[I]f the specific and articulable facts available to an officer indicate that a
driver may be committing a criminal act, which includes the violation of a traffic law, the officer
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is justified in making an investigatory stop.” (Internal quotations and citations omitted.) State v.
Campbell, 9th Dist. Medina No. 05CA0032-M, 2005-Ohio-4361, ¶ 10. Whether reasonable
suspicion exists is based on the totality of the circumstances. Mays at ¶ 7.
{¶10} Trooper Haslar was the sole witness at the suppression hearing. He stated that, on
the evening of February 14, 2013, he was on patrol and traveling south on Dover Avenue in
Akron when he noticed a vehicle traveling north on Dover avenue that did not have its headlights
on but only had its parking lights and fog lights illuminated. Trooper Haslar then observed the
vehicle turn onto Cadillac Avenue and then onto Winton Avenue. When the vehicle approached
the intersection of Winton Avenue and Copley, Trooper Haslar noticed that the driver failed to
use a turn signal 100 feet before the intersection. At that point in time, after the vehicle turned
west onto Copley Road, Trooper Haslar initiated the stop. When asked by the prosecutor why he
stopped the vehicle, he stated the stop was based on the headlight violation and the turn signal
violation.
{¶11} Mr. Watson argues that he did have his headlights on such that a headlight
violation could not be a valid basis for the stop. He also maintains that Trooper Haslar did not
notice that Mr. Watson did not use his turn signal in accordance with the law and only put that
information in his report after the fact. Accordingly, it is Mr. Watson’s contention that, because
Trooper Haslar was not aware of the turn signal violation at the time of the stop, it could not be a
basis upon which to justify the traffic stop.
{¶12} The trial court in its entry did not address the alleged violation of the headlight
law, instead finding that Trooper Haslar, prior to conducting the stop, observed that Mr. Watson
failed to use his turn signal at least 100 feet prior to making a left turn. The trial court found this
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to be a valid basis for the stop and noted that Mr. Watson’s failure to use his turn signal in
accordance with the law was uncontested.
{¶13} On appeal, Mr. Watson does not contest that he failed to use his turn signal in
accordance with the law or that such a violation would be a valid basis for a stop. Instead, he
essentially challenges the credibility of the trooper’s testimony. He maintains, because Trooper
Haslar did not mention the turn signal violation to Mr. Watson at the time of the stop, did not cite
him for the violation, and did not include the violation in his report until after he had watched the
video of the stop, Trooper Haslar did not actually observe the violation prior to the stop and did
not stop Mr. Watson for that violation. Thus, Mr. Watson challenges the trial court’s factual
findings.
{¶14} As noted above, Trooper Haslar testified on direct that he initiated the traffic stop
“[b]ased on the headlight violation and the turn signal violation * * *.” On cross-examination,
he did acknowledge that he did not inform Mr. Watson of the turn signal violation or cite him for
it and also acknowledged that he did not include the turn signal violation in any report until after
he viewed the video of the stop. However, Trooper Haslar never indicated that he did not
observe the turn signal violation prior to initiating the stop. Additionally, Trooper Haslar never
recanted his statement that the turn signal violation was part of the reason that he decided to stop
Mr. Watson’s vehicle. Although it is apparent that Mr. Watson presented evidence in an effort to
challenge Trooper Haslar’s credibility as to his basis for initiating the stop, it appears from the
trial court’s entry that it found Trooper Haslar’s testimony credible and there is evidence in the
record to support the trial court’s findings. Accordingly, irrespective of whether Trooper Haslar
was justified in stopping Mr. Watson’s vehicle for a headlight violation, given the trial court’s
finding that Trooper Haslar observed the turn signal violation prior to initiating the stop, its
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determination that Trooper Haslar had a valid basis to stop Mr. Watson’s vehicle was not
erroneous. See Campbell, 2005-Ohio-4361, at ¶ 10.
Search of the Vehicle
{¶15} The Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized that “‘[t]he smell of marijuana,
alone, by a person qualified to recognize the odor, is sufficient to establish probable cause to
search [the passenger compartment of] a motor vehicle’ without a warrant.” State v. Farris, 109
Ohio St. 3d 519, 2006-Ohio-3255, ¶ 12, 50, quoting State v. Moore, 90 Ohio St. 3d 47, 47 (2000).
In addition, “[u]nder the plain view exception [to the warrant requirement], an officer may seize
an item without a warrant if the initial intrusion leading to the item’s discovery was lawful and it
was immediately apparent that the item was incriminating.” (Internal quotations and citations
omitted.) State v. Littell, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27020, 2014-Ohio-4654, ¶ 10.
{¶16} In the instant matter, Trooper Haslar testified on direct that, “[i]mmediately upon
making contact with [Mr. Watson], [he] could smell a strange odor of burnt marijuana coming
from inside the vehicle. [He] also observed in plain view in the center console area what [he]
believed to be the end of a burnt marijuana cigarette.” He further averred that “[t]hrough [his]
training and [his] experience on the job over the years and that kind of thing, that’s definitely
what [he] believed it was.” Mr. Watson does not suggest that Trooper Haslar would not have
possessed probable cause to search the passenger compartment of the vehicle if he had smelled
the odor of burnt marijuana as he approached the vehicle and upon making initial contact with
the driver saw what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette in plain view. See Farris at ¶ 12, 50.1
In its entry, the trial court determined that Trooper Haslar smelled the burnt marijuana odor as he
approached Mr. Watson’s vehicle. Mr. Watson maintains, however, that Trooper Haslar did not
1
We note that Mr. Watson does not contend that Trooper Haslar was not a person
qualified to detect the odor.
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smell the odor of burnt marijuana or see the marijuana cigarette prior to placing his head through
the window of the vehicle. Consequently, Mr. Watson maintains that Trooper Haslar’s act of
placing his head inside the vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment. Mr. Watson argues that his
factual assertion is correct because Trooper Haslar did not comment on the marijuana smell to
Mr. Watson until after he allegedly placed his head inside the vehicle.
{¶17} We note that the video of the stop is not of ideal quality and it is difficult to
determine whether Trooper Haslar in fact did place his head inside the vehicle. Nonetheless,
consistent with the trial court’s factual determinations, there is evidence in the record from which
one could conclude that Trooper Haslar smelled the burnt marijuana and observed the marijuana
cigarette prior to that point in time. When asked on cross-examination about why Trooper
Haslar stuck his head in the car before he told Mr. Watson that he smelled marijuana, Trooper
Haslar stated that he “could smell it when [he] was walking up to the car, and when [he] got up
there, [he] asked [Mr. Watson] for the documents, and he was reaching around inside the car
over the passenger seat area trying to get those documents. That’s when [he] poked [his] head
right there near the car.” Trooper Haslar indicated that he did not know whether his head was
inside the window and later said, if his head entered inside the window, it was only by an inch.
Mr. Watson’s argument is premised upon his assertion that the officer placed his head into Mr.
Watson’s vehicle prior to smelling the odor of burnt marijuana and seeing the cigarette in plain
view. However, the trial court’s factual determination that Trooper Haslar smelled the marijuana
as he approached Mr. Watson’s vehicle is supported by the record. Accordingly, we cannot say
the trial court erred in overruling Mr. Watson’s motion to suppress on this basis.
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Urine Test
{¶18} Mr. Watson also asserts that the trial court erred in failing to suppress the results
of the urine test because the State failed to comply with the procedures outlined in the Ohio
Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code.
{¶19} In Burnside, the Supreme Court of Ohio set forth the framework for considering
challenges to blood and urine test results. Burnside, 100 Ohio St. 3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, ¶ 24.
The defendant must first challenge the validity of the [drug] test by way of a
pretrial motion to suppress; failure to file such a motion waives the requirement
on the state to lay a foundation for the admissibility of the test results. After a
defendant challenges the validity of test results in a pretrial motion, the state has
the burden to show that the test was administered in substantial compliance with
the regulations prescribed by the Director of Health. Once the state has satisfied
this burden and created a presumption of admissibility, the burden then shifts to
the defendant to rebut that presumption by demonstrating that he was prejudiced
by anything less than strict compliance. Hence, evidence of prejudice is relevant
only after the state demonstrates substantial compliance with the applicable
regulation.
(Internal quotations and citations omitted.) Id.
{¶20} The State presented evidence during the suppression hearing concerning the
circumstances surrounding the urine test. In light of the arguments advanced, the trial court
granted the State and Mr. Watson leave to file post-hearing briefs on the issue of whether the
urine test was conducted in accordance with applicable law. In its entry, the trial court
concluded that Trooper Haslar’s collection of the urine sample complied with Ohio law. The
trial court focused on Ohio Adm.Code 3701-53-05(F) and found that the trooper substantially
complied with that provision and that Mr. Watson had not demonstrated he was prejudiced by
the lack of strict compliance. It is clear that, in making its ruling, the trial court considered the
post-hearing briefs.
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{¶21} Mr. Watson’s appellate brief focuses solely on the testimony at the suppression
hearing and he, thus, maintains that the trooper’s testimony did not establish substantial
compliance with the appropriate laws. Additionally, while Mr. Watson mentions numerous
points that he asserts evidence lack of compliance, he does not associate the alleged failures with
a provision in the revised code or the administrative code that would establish lack of
compliance. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Mr. Watson also does not acknowledge the State’s post-
hearing brief and does not explain how, when considering the testimony and the post-hearing
briefs and exhibits together, the State failed to demonstrate substantial compliance. Further,
assuming that there was substantial compliance, Mr. Watson has failed to explain how he was
prejudiced by less than strict compliance. See Burnside at ¶ 24.
{¶22} Notwithstanding, we will briefly examine Mr. Watson’s allegation concerning
substantial compliance as to refrigeration of the urine specimen. Ohio Adm.Code 3701-53-05(F)
states that, “[w]hile not in transit or under examination, all blood and urine specimens shall be
refrigerated.” Mr. Watson challenges only the period of time between when the specimen was
collected and when it was placed in the mail. The trial court calculated this time to be 63
minutes, and this finding has not been challenged on appeal. There is likewise no dispute that
the specimen was not refrigerated during this time period. We note that Mr. Watson has not
pointed to a single case that holds that lack of refrigeration for just over an hour amounts to a
failure to substantially comply with Ohio Adm.Code 3701-53-05(F). Although Mr. Watson
relies upon State v. Plummer, 22 Ohio St. 3d 292 (1986), in that case, the Supreme Court found
that the failure to refrigerate the specimen for the 1 hour and 25 minutes prior to mailing
amounted to substantial compliance with the regulation. See id. at 294-295. Accordingly, in
light of Mr. Watson’s limited argument, see App.R. 16(A)(7), we cannot conclude the trial court
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erred in finding substantial compliance with Ohio Adm.Code 3701-53-05(F). See, e.g., State v.
Morris, 5th Dist. Licking No. 11 CA 106, 2012-Ohio-3210, ¶ 24 (noting examples of substantial
compliance, as well an example of the failure to substantially comply).
{¶23} In summary, in light of the limited arguments made on appeal, we cannot say that
Mr. Watson has demonstrated that the trial court erred in refusing to suppress the results of the
urine test.
{¶24} Mr. Watson’s first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT DENIED
THE DEFENDANT’S FIFTH AMENDMENT AND OHIO CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION BASED UPON HIS MOTION
TO SUPPRESS AND SUPPLEMENTAL MOTION TO SUPPRESS
EVIDENCE.
{¶25} Mr. Watson asserts in his second assignment of error that the trial court erred in
failing to grant his motion to suppress certain statements he made to Trooper Haslar. We do not
agree.
{¶26} It appears that Mr. Watson seeks to suppress statements that he made after he was
required to exit his vehicle and was subjected to a search of his person. At that point, Mr.
Watson maintains that Trooper Haslar’s questioning amounted to a custodial interrogation and
that Trooper Haslar did not initially read Mr. Watson his Miranda rights. Further, Mr. Watson
asserts that, when Trooper Haslar finally did read Mr. Watson his Miranda rights and then
continued questioning him, the statements were still subject to suppression as the questioning
violated his constitutional rights. We begin by pointing out that Mr. Watson has not specifically
detailed which statements he believes should have been suppressed, nor has he listed any
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evidence that was obtained directly from those statements which also could be subject to
suppression.
{¶27} “A defendant need not be under arrest * * * to be in custody for Miranda
purposes.” (Internal quotations omitted.) Farris, 109 Ohio St. 3d 519, 2006-Ohio-3255, at ¶ 13.
“Although a motorist who is temporarily detained as the subject of an ordinary traffic stop is not
in custody for the purposes of Miranda, * * * if that person thereafter is subjected to treatment
that renders him in custody for practical purposes, he will be entitled to the full panoply of
protections prescribed by Miranda.” (Internal quotations and citations omitted.) Id.
{¶28} In Farris, the Ohio Supreme Court concluded that the defendant was in custody
when the officer patted the defendant down, took the defendant’s keys, had him get into the
police cruiser, and told the defendant his vehicle was about to be searched. Id. at ¶ 14. The
Court held that “a reasonable man in [the defendant’s] position would have understood himself
to be in custody of a police officer as he sat in the cruiser.” Id.
{¶29} It is clear that Mr. Watson believes his situation is analogous to the situation of
the defendant in Farris. However, even if that were so, Mr. Watson made incriminating
statements prior to the point in time he challenges. Trooper Haslar testified that, upon
approaching the vehicle, he could smell the odor of burnt marijuana. Mr. Watson has not
asserted that the trooper could not question Mr. Watson to dispel the concern created by that
initial encounter. The record reflects that, upon initially approaching the vehicle, Trooper Haslar
asked Mr. Watson a series of questions about the smell of marijuana and its association with Mr.
Watson. At the end of the series of questions, Mr. Watson, responded affirmatively to the
questions, indicating his connection to the marijuana.
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{¶30} Mr. Watson has not explained why this initial admission to Trooper Haslar would
be inadmissible. See Farris at ¶ 13 (“[A] motorist who is temporarily detained as the subject of
an ordinary traffic stop is not in custody for the purposes of Miranda * * *.”) (Internal quotations
omitted.). Given that admission, and the fact that Mr. Watson has failed to identify the particular
subsequent statements he challenges, we are unable to determine that his subsequent statements,
even if they should have been suppressed, prejudiced him. Assuming Mr. Watson sought to
suppress his subsequent admission to using marijuana a short time prior to the stop, under the
circumstances of this case, the failure to suppress those statements would be harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt. See State v. Bowshier, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2309, 1987 WL 33784, *2 (Dec. 23,
1987), citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (1967); State v. Brown, 65 Ohio St. 3d 483,
485 (1992).
{¶31} Given the trial court’s factual findings, Trooper Haslar smelled the odor of burnt
marijuana coming from the vehicle and saw the end of a burnt marijuana cigarette upon
approaching the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, Trooper Haslar also noted that Mr. Watson
smelled of marijuana. Pursuant to the valid probable cause search, additional marijuana was
found in Mr. Watson’s vehicle. Finally, Trooper Haslar obtained a positive urine sample from
Mr. Watson, the results of which we have already determined were admissible given the
arguments made about its collection. Mr. Watson has not argued that Trooper Haslar would not
have sought a urine sample absent the statements made by Mr. Watson. Accordingly, we fail to
see how the admission of the statements made by Mr. Watson subsequent to his removal from
the vehicle could be prejudicial to him in light of the other admissible evidence. Accordingly,
upon consideration of the argument contained in Mr. Watson’s appellate brief, we cannot say his
assignment of error has merit.
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{¶32} Mr. Watson’s second assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶33} The judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy
of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
EVE V. BELFANCE
FOR THE COURT
WHITMORE, J.
HENSAL, J.
CONCUR.
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APPEARANCES:
KANI HARVEY HIGHTOWER, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and RICHARD S. KASAY, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.