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Date: 05-03-2021
Case Style:
STATE OF OHIO vs. MARLON SHEPARD
Case Number: C-190747
Judge: Beth A. Myers
Court: IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
Plaintiff's Attorney: Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Alex Scott Havlin,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Cincinnati, Ohio - Criminal defense attorney represented Marlon Shepard with appealing the trial court’s judgment convicting him of aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary, and two counts of kidnapping.
{¶3} On July 19, 2013, Brandon Simms, Lateesha Wright, and their young
daughter were accosted in their garage by two assailants. They were held at
gunpoint, their home was robbed, and both Simms and Wright were shot. Simms
died from his injuries.
{¶4} For a lengthy period of time these crimes remained unsolved. But
eventually Shepard and his half-brother Brandon Harris were identified as suspects.
For his role in these offenses, Shepard was indicted on May 10, 2017, for aggravated
murder, two counts of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of felonious assault,
two counts of kidnapping, and aggravated burglary. Each count carried an
accompanying firearm specification. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
3
{¶5} Prior to trial, the state filed a notice of intention to use evidence of
other robberies committed by Shepard and Harris pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B) and
R.C. 2945.59. It argued that evidence of the other robberies was relevant to
establishing Shepard’s identity and motive. Following a hearing, the trial court held
that the other-acts evidence was admissible because there was substantial proof that
Shepard committed the other acts and because the evidence assisted in establishing
Shepard’s identity and motive in the present case.
{¶6} The case was tried to the bench.
1. Testimony Concerning the Charged Offenses
{¶7} Lateesha Wright testified that on July 19, 2013, she, Simms, and their
daughter returned to their home in Woodlawn around 10:00 p.m. Simms pulled
their car into the garage, but before the three could exit from their vehicle, both the
driver’s door and the front passenger’s door were opened from the outside by two
assailants. Simms was startled when the doors were opened. A shot was fired into
the car and the bullet hit Simms. Although Wright did not realize it at the time, the
bullet traveled through Simms and lodged in her shoulder. Simms later died from
his injuries.
{¶8} The assailants demanded that Simms and Wright hand over their keys,
phones, and money. They took two cell phones from the car, as well as Wright’s
engagement ring and money from Simms’s pocket. The assailant on Simms’s side of
the vehicle, who had fired the shot, remained in the garage and held them at
gunpoint while the other assailant went into their home. Wright later heard the
gunman tell the second assailant to “go get the car,” and she heard what she believed
to be a small car pulling up their driveway. The assailants left, and after waiting a OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
4
few seconds, Wright and her daughter ran to a neighbor for help. Wright later
discovered that her home was ransacked and that multiple items were taken,
including clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, a video game system, and a television.
{¶9} Wright testified that both assailants were African American. She
described the gunman who had shot Simms as “a brown skin black man” and stated
that he wore a hooded sweatshirt that was either red and blue or red and black. That
gunman had a winter glove on one hand and a clear latex glove on the other. He
wore a hood over his head and a white t-shirt tied around his face. Wright explained
that the second assailant had darker skin and carried what she characterized as a
“hatchet,” or a knife with a wooden handle.
{¶10} Woodlawn Assistant Police Chief Don Fourth testified that Woodlawn
requested assistance with the investigation of these crimes from the Bureau of
Criminal Investigation (“BCI”). While BCI agents handled the bulk of the
investigation, Assistant Chief Fourth tracked the stolen cell phones, which were
found discarded in locations not far from the crime scene.
{¶11} BCI Special Agent Seth Hagaman assisted Woodlawn police in the
investigation, but struggled to develop any leads. In August of 2014, he received a tip
from Antonio Gray, an inmate in the Hamilton County Justice Center, who came
forward with information on Simms’s murder that he claimed he received from
Brandon Harris. Agent Hagaman interviewed Gray, and then later fitted him with a
recording device on four separate occasions to record conversations with Harris in
the Justice Center. He also developed a list of potential suspects, including Shepard,
Harris, Renay Johnson, and Ellonzo Martin. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
5
{¶12} Agent Hagaman interviewed Shepard about Simms’s murder, but
Shepard denied involvement. Shepard did discuss other robberies that Agent
Hagaman questioned him about and admitted that he was responsible for selecting
the targets of those robberies. Shepard explained the efforts he took to disguise his
identity, stating that he would wear long sleeves to cover his tattoos and a white tshirt over his face.
{¶13} Brandon Harris, Shepard’s half-brother, admitted to his role in the
murder of Simms and the robbery. He further testified as to Shepard’s involvement
in the crimes. Harris testified that Shepard selected Simms and Wright’s home as
their robbery target because he believed it would contain money and drugs. Harris
and Shepard received no answer after knocking on the door, so they waited behind
the home for the residents to return. A third person—who Harris claimed not to
know—served as their driver and waited in a car nearby. When Simms and Wright
eventually returned home, Harris and Shepard followed them into the garage.
Shepard was armed with a gun, and Harris carried a knife. According to Harris, he
wore a dark hooded sweatshirt, while Shepard wore a red hooded sweatshirt. They
both wore the hoods over their heads, gloves, and covered their faces with a t-shirt.
{¶14} After the residents pulled into the garage, Shepard opened the driver’s
door and fired a shot into the vehicle. Harris opened the front passenger’s door and
obtained keys to the house from Wright’s purse. He ransacked the home for drugs
and money, but was unable to find either, and ultimately took various other items,
including a television and clothing. Harris and Shepard were picked up by their
getaway driver, who then dropped Shepard off at Little Caesars. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
6
{¶15} Harris testified that he was arrested for his role in several other
robberies, and that while housed in the Hamilton County Justice Center, he confided
to fellow inmate Antonio Gray about the offenses in this case. He told Gray that
Shepard fired the gun and later discarded that weapon in a river. Harris
acknowledged that in return for his testimony against Shepard, he struck a deal to
plead to the offense of manslaughter and receive a 20-year prison sentence for his
role in these offenses. This sentence would be served concurrently to the sentences
he received for his role in several other robberies.
{¶16} Donovan Clark testified that he was housed with Shepard in the
Hamilton County Justice Center in both 2015 and 2017. The two talked during
recreational time, and Shepard confided in Clark that his brother was trying to “sink
him for a murder.” Shepard told Clark that he and Harris had been ready to “hit a
lick,” and that Shepard “upped a pistol” and shot one of the victims after following
him into a garage. Shepard wanted Clark’s help in “flipping the situation” on Harris.
{¶17} William Wietmarschen, an assistant office manager in the Hamilton
County Sheriff’s Department, testified that he was responsible for determining where
inmates are housed when they are in the Justice Center. Wietmarschen verified that
Shepard and Donovan Clark were both jailed in the Justice Center at the same time
for a period of time in 2014, 2015, and 2017.
{¶18} Kara Hayes testified that in July of 2013, she was a store manager at
Little Caesars in Woodlawn. As part of her duties, she was in charge of other
employees’ schedules. According to Hayes, she and Shepard were well acquainted;
they had previously worked together at a different restaurant and had engaged in a
sexual relationship. Hayes promoted Shepard to assistant manager at Little Caesars OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
7
and allowed him to clock in and then leave the store at various times without
clocking out. Hayes testified that Shepard often wore a red hooded sweatshirt and
that when it was particularly hot outside, he would wear a white t-shirt around his
head.
{¶19} Hayes recalled that she and Shepard both worked the evening of July
19, 2013. She explained that Shepard had clocked in for work, but later left, claiming
he had to take his sick child to an appointment. Hayes was surprised when Shepard
returned less than an hour later. After he returned, she saw him showing money to
another employee.
2. Other-Acts Testimony
{¶20} Pursuant to the court’s pretrial ruling, the state offered testimony of
prior robberies committed by Harris and Shepard.
{¶21} Colerain Township Sergeant Dustin Weekly testified concerning a
robbery that occurred at Pippin Market on August 12, 2013, several weeks after the
charged offenses. Shepard admitted to Sergeant Weekly that he, Harris, and Ellonzo
Martin had committed the robbery, that he carried a firearm, and that he wore a red
hooded sweatshirt. Harris also testified about this robbery, stating that he and
Shepard wore hoods over their heads and covered their faces with their shirts during
the robbery. Money and a cell phone were taken; the cell phone was later found
several miles away from the market.
{¶22} Sergeant Weekly also testified about another robbery of Pippin Market
that occurred on October 16, 2013. Shepard again admitted his role in this robbery
to Sergeant Weekly, stating that he had not carried a weapon but had pulled his
sleeve over his hand to indicate that he had a firearm. Shepard, who wore a dark OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
8
gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, fled the store without obtaining any goods
or money after an employee pointed a firearm at him.
{¶23} Cincinnati Police Detective Marcus McNeil testified regarding a
robbery that occurred at the Reading Road Drive-Thru on September 7, 2013.
Shepard again admitted his involvement in this robbery. He told Detective McNeil
that he drove the getaway car while Harris committed the robbery. Harris also
testified about this robbery, stating that he entered the store while Shepard and his
girlfriend Renay waited in the car, which Harris described as a red Hyundai.
{¶24} Detective McNeil testified about a second robbery of the Reading Road
Drive-Thru that occurred on October 14, 2013. During an interview with Detective
McNeil, Shepard admitted that he and Harris jumped the counter, forced the clerk
into a bathroom, and looked through the register. Shepard wore a red hooded jacket
and blue gloves in this robbery; Harris wore a gray hooded sweatshirt. Harris also
testified about this robbery. He corroborated Shepard’s description of their clothing
and stated that they both wore masks.
{¶25} Both Cincinnati Police Detective Brian Wheeler and Harris testified
about an aggravated robbery that occurred on September 13, 2013, at the Clifton
International Market. Harris stated that he and Shepard committed the robbery and
took cash from the market. According to Harris, Shepard wore gloves and a gray
hooded sweatshirt, while Harris wore a striped Adidas hooded sweatshirt. Shepard
carried a gun and fired two shots into the air during the robbery.
{¶26} Springfield Township Police Detective Jim Stroud testified about an
aggravated robbery that took place at the Shamrock gas station on September 13,
2013. Harris also testified about this robbery and admitted that it was committed by OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
9
him and Shepard. Harris wore a striped Adidas hooded sweatshirt, Shepard covered
his face with a t-shirt, and they both wore gloves.
{¶27} Both Detective Stroud and Harris testified about a robbery of a BP gas
station on Vine Street on September 29, 2013. Harris admitted that he and Shepard
committed this robbery. Both wore hooded sweatshirts; Shepard’s was red and
Harris’s was gray. They also both wore gloves. Detective Stroud testified that both
suspects wore masks and threatened to shoot the clerk.
{¶28} Assistant Police Chief Fourth testified about a robbery of a Little
Caesars restaurant in Woodlawn on October 1, 2013. Shepard admitted to Assistant
Chief Fourth his involvement in this robbery, stating that he was fired from Little
Caesars for stealing money, and that he and Kara Hayes, who was also fired from the
restaurant, planned the robbery with Harris. Shepard further stated that Renay was
the getaway driver that night. Harris testified that he carried a shotgun and wore a
gray hooded sweatshirt, while Shepard wore a red hooded sweatshirt. They both
wore masks.
3. Verdict and Sentence
{¶29} The trial court found Shepard guilty of all offenses. For purposes of
sentencing, it merged the two murder offenses, the aggravated-robbery offense, and
one of the felonious-assault offenses with the offense of aggravated murder.
{¶30} Shepard was sentenced to 30 years to life imprisonment for the offense
of aggravated murder. The trial court imposed a sentence of eight years for the
offense of felonious assault, 11 years for each of the kidnapping offenses, and 11 years
for the offense of aggravated burglary. A three-year sentence was imposed for each
firearm specification, to be served consecutively to the underlying felony the OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
10
specification accompanied. The trial court ordered the sentences for all the
underlying felonies to be served concurrently. It further ordered that the sentences
imposed for the firearm specifications for both kidnapping offenses and for the
offenses of felonious assault and aggravated burglary be served concurrently to each
other, but consecutively to the sentence imposed for the firearm specification for the
aggravated-murder offense. This resulted in an aggregate sentence of 36 years to life
imprisonment.
Other-Acts Evidence
{¶31} In his first assignment of error, Shepard argues that the trial court
abused its discretion in allowing evidence of prior bad acts, the other robberies. He
contends that the trial court admitted evidence concerning these other crimes in
violation of Evid.R. 403 and 404(B).
{¶32} As set forth above, prior to trial the state filed a notice of intention to
use evidence of other robberies committed by Shepard and Harris pursuant to
Evid.R. 404(B) and R.C. 2945.59. It argued that evidence of the other robberies was
relevant to establishing Shepard’s identity and motive. Following a hearing, the trial
court permitted the state to use the other-acts evidence. The state subsequently
presented testimony from multiple officers and Harris concerning eight other
robberies that were linked to Shepard and Harris.
{¶33} Evid.R. 404(B) provides that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as
proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
absence of mistake or accident.” R.C. 2945.59 similarly provides that: OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
11
In any criminal case in which the defendant’s motive or intent, the
absence of mistake or accident on his part, or the defendant’s scheme,
plan, or system in doing an act is material, any acts of the defendant
which tend to show his motive or intent, the absence of mistake or
accident on his part, or the defendant’s scheme, plan, or system in
doing the act in question may be proved, whether they are
contemporaneous with or prior or subsequent thereto,
notwithstanding that such proof may show or tend to show the
commission of another crime by the defendant.
{¶34} The Supreme Court of Ohio recently set forth a road map for
analyzing the admissibility of other-acts evidence under Evid.R. 404(B). The court
first recognized the long-standing principle that other-acts evidence may not be used
to establish a defendant’s propensity to commit crime or to demonstrate that an
accused committed the crime in question because of her or his proclivity to commit
crime in general. State v. Hartman, 161 Ohio St.3d 214, 2020-Ohio-4440, 161
N.E.3d 651, ¶ 21. To be admissible, the other-acts evidence must be “probative of a
separate, nonpropensity-based issue.” Id. at ¶ 22. Whether other-acts evidence is
admissible is a question of law that we review de novo. Id.
{¶35} The first step in an Evid.R. 404(B) other-acts analysis is to determine
whether the evidence is relevant for the particular purpose for which it is being
offered. Id. at ¶ 26. In other words, it must be relevant to a particular purpose
allowed under Evid.R. 404(B). Relevant evidence is that which has “any tendency to
make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the
action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
12
Evid.R. 401. The evidence must be relevant for a nonpropensity purpose and “must
go to a ‘material’ issue that is actually in dispute between the parties.” Hartman at ¶
27.
{¶36} Here, the state contends that the other-acts evidence was relevant to
establishing Shepard’s identity as the perpetrator of the charged crimes, his modus
operandi, and his common scheme or plan.
{¶37} We agree that the other-acts evidence was relevant to establishing
Shepard’s identity as the perpetrator of the offenses in this case, which was a
material issue—if not the only issue—in dispute between the parties. See Hartman at
¶ 27. The key question in this case was the identity of the person with Harris the
night of the crimes. Wright’s testimony established that the crimes were committed
by two suspects. Harris admitted committing the crimes and testified that he had
acted in concert with Shepard. The material issue in dispute was whether, as Harris
testified, Shepard was the second suspect. Where other acts, such as robberies,
“[form] a unique, identifiable plan of criminal activity, sufficiently probative as to
identity,” their admission may be warranted under Evid.R. 404(B). State v.
Jamison, 49 Ohio St.3d 182, 183, 552 N.E.2d 180 (1990).
{¶38} The evidence adduced at trial established that the charged crimes were
committed by two African American assailants, one of whom wore either a red and
blue or red and black hooded sweatshirt, a different type of glove on each hand, and
a white t-shirt tied around his face. A gun was used during the robbery and a shot
was fired. The assailants were picked up by a driver in a small car, and the victims’
cell phones were taken during the robbery and discarded nearby. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
13
{¶39} Evidence established that the other robberies were committed close in
time to, and shared characteristics in common with, the July 2013 offenses. For
example, in all of the other robberies, with the exception of the robbery of Pippin
Market on October 16, 2013, Shepard and Harris acted in concert and committed the
robberies together. While Harris linked Shepard to all eight of the other robberies,
Shepard definitively admitted his involvement in five of the other robberies,
specifically both robberies of Pippin Market, both robberies of the Reading Road
Drive-Thru, and the robbery of Little Caesars. And like the charged offenses, the
robbery of the Reading Road Drive-Thru on September 7 and the robbery of Little
Caesars also involved a getaway driver waiting in a car.
{¶40} The other-acts evidence further established that Shepard wore a
hooded sweatshirt in six of the other robberies, and, like the offenses in this case, the
sweatshirt he wore was red in the October 14 robbery of the Reading Road DriveThru and the robberies of the BP gas station and Little Caesars. Shepard covered his
face with a t-shirt in the August 12 robbery of Pippin Market and the robbery of the
Shamrock gas station. He wore gloves in the October 14 robbery of the Reading
Road Drive-Thru and in the robberies of the Shamrock gas station and BP gas
station. He wore a mask in the robberies of the BP gas station and Little Caesars and
in the October 14 robbery of the Reading Road Drive-Thru.
{¶41} Shepard either brandished or intimated that he carried a weapon in
five of the eight other robberies. He actually fired shots during the robbery of the
Clifton International Market. And like the July 2013 offenses, Shepard took a cell
phone during the August 12 robbery of Pippin Market and discarded it nearby. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
14
{¶42} Collectively, the other-acts evidence, if believed, established that
Shepard and Harris acted in concert to commit a series of eight robberies in 11
weeks. While committing these robberies, they wore hooded sweatshirts (often red
for Shepard), gloves, masks, and t-shirts tied around their faces. They often
brandished and/or fired a weapon, had a getaway driver waiting for them, and took
cell phones from the victims that were later discarded. It is the collective
circumstances and characteristics of these other acts that are relevant towards
establishing Shepard’s identity as the person who, with Harris, committed the crimes
against Simms and Wright.
{¶43} That each robbery did not share all the characteristics of this robbery
does not render the other-acts evidence irrelevant or inadmissible under Evid.R.
404(B). In Jamison, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that evidence of other
robberies was properly admitted under Evid.R. 404(B) to establish the accused’s
identity. Jamison, 49 Ohio St.3d at 187, 552 N.E.2d 180. Appellant argued in
Jamison that the other-acts evidence was “sufficiently dissimilar” in details to the
charged offense, and specifically challenged the admissibility of the other robberies
because “a variety of businesses were robbed, [ ] the offenses occurred over several
months, and [ ] the robber acted alone or with an accomplice. Sometimes the robber
used a firearm; at other times, no gun was observed. Also, the robber escaped on
foot or by bicycle.” Id. at 184. The Jamison court rejected that argument, stating
that “[a]dmissibility is not adversely affected simply because the other robberies
differed in some details.” Id. at 187.
{¶44} Differences between the other-acts evidence and the charged offense
go to the weight of the evidence, rather than its admissibility. Id.; State v. Knight, OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
15
131 Ohio App.3d 349, 353, 722 N.E.2d 568 (1st Dist.1998). Like the Jamison court,
we conclude that despite the fact that no two robberies were identical, the other-acts
evidence was relevant to establishing Shepard’s identity. Because the evidence was
admissible to show the identity of Shepard as the perpetrator, we need not decide
whether it was also admissible to show modus operandi or Shepard’s common
scheme or plan.
{¶45} We now consider whether the probative value of the evidence was
substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Hartman, 161 Ohio St.3d 214,
2020-Ohio-4440, 161 N.E.3d 651, at ¶ 29. “Weighing the probative value of the
evidence against its prejudicial effect is a highly fact-specific and context-driven
analysis.” Id. at ¶ 30. We accordingly review a trial court’s determination that the
probative value of the other-acts evidence was not substantially outweighed by its
prejudicial effect for an abuse of discretion. Id. Relevant considerations to such a
determination are the extent to which the other-acts evidence is directed to an issue
in dispute and whether the state can present the same fact with alternative, less
prejudicial, evidence. Id. at ¶ 31-32. “As the importance of the factual dispute for
which the evidence is offered to the resolution of the case increases, the probative
value of the evidence also increases and the risk of unfair prejudice decreases.” Id. at
¶ 31.
{¶46} Here, the other-acts evidence was used to establish Shepard’s identity
as the perpetrator of the charged crimes, an issue directly in dispute. We are aware
of no alternative evidence that could have been used to prove this through less
prejudicial means. Consequently, the probative value of the other-acts evidence was
high. To be certain, other-acts evidence of eight robberies is prejudicial. But we OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
16
cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion in determining that the
probative value of the other-acts evidence was not substantially outweighed by its
prejudicial effect.
{¶47} Further, as this was a bench trial, we presume that the trial court did
not rely on evidence for an improper purpose (such as using the prior robberies as
evidence that Shepard acted in conformity with his propensity to commit robberies)
in reaching a verdict. State v. Pennington, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-170199 and C170200, 2018-Ohio-3640, ¶ 46. Rather, “we presume that the court considered only
‘relevant, material, and competent evidence’ unless the record affirmatively discloses
otherwise.” Id., quoting State v. Post, 32 Ohio St.3d 380, 384, 513 N.E.2d 754
(1987). Here, the record contains no indication that the trial court considered the
other-acts evidence for an improper purpose and we presume that it did not do so.
{¶48} The first assignment of error is overruled.
Allied Offenses
{¶49} In his second assignment of error, Shepard argues that the trial court
erred in failing to merge allied offenses of similar import.
{¶50} Under R.C. 2941.25, separate sentences may be imposed on a
defendant whose conduct supports multiple offenses if the offenses were dissimilar
in import, were committed separately, or were committed with a separate animus.
State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, paragraph three of
the syllabus; State v. Pettus, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-170712, 2019-Ohio-2023, ¶ 74.
{¶51} Because Shepard failed to raise a merger argument before the trial
court, he has forfeited all but plain error. State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-
Ohio-2459, 38 N.E.3d 860, ¶ 3. Such error is only reversible if it affected the OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
17
outcome of the proceedings and reversal is necessary to correct a manifest
miscarriage of justice. Id. Shepard “has the burden to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the convictions are for allied offenses of similar import committed
with the same conduct and without a separate animus.” Id.
{¶52} Shepard first contends that his conviction for kidnapping Wright must
merge with his felonious-assault conviction because Wright was the victim of both
offenses and they were not committed separately or with a separate animus. In
determining whether kidnapping and another offense are subject to merger, the
primary question is “whether the restraint or movement of the victim is merely
incidental to a separate underlying crime or, instead, whether it has a significance
independent of the other offense.” State v. Logan, 60 Ohio St.2d 126, 135, 397
N.E.2d 1345 (1979); State v. Jackson, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-180341, 2019-Ohio2027, ¶ 10. “Where the restraint of the victim is prolonged, the confinement of the
victim secretive, or the movement of the victim is substantial, there exists a separate
animus for each offense.” Jackson at ¶ 10.
{¶53} Here, the offense of felonious assault occurred immediately; Shepard
shot Simms as soon as he opened the car door, and the bullet traveled through
Simms and struck Wright. The kidnapping occurred when Shepard held Wright at
gunpoint while Harris ransacked her house. The restraint of Wright was prolonged,
it was done for the purpose of confining her while Harris burglarized her home, and
it was not merely incidental to the felonious assault. We accordingly find that each
of these offenses was committed with a separate animus.
{¶54} Shepard additionally argues that his conviction for kidnapping Wright
should merge with his aggravated-robbery conviction. But Shepard was not OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
18
convicted of aggravated robbery, as the trial court merged the offense of aggravated
robbery into the offense of aggravated murder, and no sentence was imposed for that
offense.
{¶55} Shepard next argues that his conviction for aggravated burglary should
have merged with his conviction for aggravated murder. We disagree. The offense of
aggravated burglary was complete when Shepard entered the garage with the intent
to steal drugs and money. See State v. Jackson, 149 Ohio St.3d 55, 2016-Ohio-5488,
73 N.E.3d 414, ¶ 129 (the offense of aggravated burglary was complete when the
defendant entered the residence with the intent to commit murder, theft, or
kidnapping). The aggravated murder was separately committed when he purposely
opened the door of Simms’s vehicle and shot Simms. Because these offenses were
committed separately, they were not subject to merger.
{¶56} Shepard last contends that the trial court erred in imposing sentence
on multiple firearm specifications. The trial court imposed a sentence of three years
for each accompanying firearm specification. It ordered that the sentences on the
firearm specifications imposed for the offenses of felonious assault, kidnapping, and
aggravated burglary be served concurrently to each other, but consecutively to the
sentence imposed for the firearm specification for aggravated murder, for a total of
six years on the specifications.
{¶57} We find Shepard’s argument to be without merit, as R.C.
2929.14(B)(1)(g) permitted the imposition of sentences for all firearm specifications
in this case. This statute provides that:
If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to two or more felonies, if
one or more of those felonies are aggravated murder, murder, OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
19
attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery,
felonious assault, or rape, and if the offender is convicted of or pleads
guilty to a specification of the type described under division (B)(1)(a) of
this section in connection with two or more of the felonies, the
sentencing court shall impose on the offender the prison term specified
under division (B)(1)(a) of this section for each of the two most serious
specifications of which the offender is convicted or to which the
offender pleads guilty and, in its discretion, also may impose on the
offender the prison term specified under that division for any or all of
the remaining specifications.
R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(g). As Shepard was convicted of at least one of the specified
felony offenses, the trial court was required to impose sentence on the two most
serious specifications, and was permitted to impose sentence on all specifications.
{¶58} The trial court properly sentenced Shepard on each offense. The
second assignment of error is accordingly overruled.
Sufficiency and Weight
{¶59} In his third and fourth assignments of error, Shepard challenges the
sufficiency and the weight of the evidence supporting his convictions.
{¶60} In a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the question is
whether after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
any rational trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492
(1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. In contrast, when considering a challenge to
the weight of the evidence, the court must examine the entire record, weigh the OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
20
evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and
determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the court clearly lost its
way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d
380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997).
{¶61} Shepard argues that the state failed to establish his identity as the
perpetrator of the charged offenses. On this point, Harris testified that he and
Shepard committed the offenses against Simms, Wright, and their daughter. He
testified that Shepard carried a gun and shot Simms, and that he (Harris) searched
the house for drugs and money. Donovan Clark testified that Shepard confided to
him while they were incarcerated together in the Justice Center that he “upped a
pistol” and shot a victim whom he followed into a garage when attempting to “hit a
lick.” Kara Hayes’s testimony supported the testimony that Shepard committed
these crimes. Hayes testified that on the evening that these offenses were
committed, Shepard clocked in for work but later left, claiming he had to take his
sick child to an appointment. Shepard returned less than an hour later, and Hayes
saw him showing money to another employee. In addition, the other-acts evidence
established Shepard’s identity as the perpetrator of the offenses. Viewed in the light
most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence was sufficient to establish that
Shepard had committed the charged offenses. See Jenks at paragraph two of the
syllabus.
{¶62} We further find that Shepard’s convictions were not against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Defense counsel thoroughly cross-examined Harris
and Clark on their motivations for testifying and the veracity of their statements.
The trial court was in the best position to judge the credibility of each of the OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
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witnesses, and it was entitled to believe some, all, or none of their testimony.
See State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraph one of the
syllabus; State v. Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-180574, 2020-Ohio-1367, ¶ 36.
Corroborating Harris’s testimony that Shepard had committed these crimes was the
testimony of Hayes, as well as the other-acts evidence establishing Shepard’s identity
as the perpetrator.
{¶63} Shepard’s convictions were supported by sufficient evidence and were
not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The third and fourth assignments of
error are accordingly overruled.
Ineffective Assistance
{¶64} In his fifth assignment of error, Shepard argues that he received
ineffective assistance from his trial counsel.
{¶65} Counsel will not be considered ineffective unless her or his
performance was deficient and caused actual prejudice to the defendant. Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989). Counsel’s performance
will only be deemed deficient if it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
Strickland at 688; Bradley at 142. A defendant is only prejudiced by counsel’s
performance if there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceedings
would have been different but for the deficient performance. Strickland at
694; Bradley at 142.
{¶66} Shepard specifically argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing
to engage an expert to testify regarding the unreliability of the state’s cooperating
witnesses. But this court has consistently held that whether to call an expert witness OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
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is a matter of trial strategy, and that the failure to present expert testimony does not
constitute ineffective assistance. State v. Smith, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-190507,
2020-Ohio-4976, ¶ 74.
{¶67} Defense counsel thoroughly cross-examined the cooperating witnesses
on their motivations for testifying and any “deals” they may have received. We
cannot say that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different but for
counsel’s failure to call an expert witness. The fifth assignment of error is overruled.
Outcome: Having found no merit to Shepard’s assignments of error, we affirm
the trial court’s judgment.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: