State v. Hamm

Citations

• 2017 Ohio 5595

Syllabus

OTHER ACTS - JOINDER - HEARSAY - EXCITED UTTERANCE - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW/CRIMINAL - CONFRONTATION CLAUSE - DUE PROCESS - WITNESSES - COUNSEL - CUMULATIVE ERROR: The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting other-acts evidence under Evid.R. 404(B) and R.C. 2945.59 where the evidence was relevant, where it was admitted to show defendant's motive and intent, and where the court properly instructed the jury that the other-acts evidence could be considered only in regard to the charge it was admitted in connection with and that the evidence could not be considered to prove defendant's character or that he acted in conformity with that character in committing the crime charged. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence that defendant had threatened two jail-house informants who had agreed to testify against him, because evidence of threats or intimidation of witnesses reflected a consciousness of guilt and was admissible as an admission by conduct. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in joining defendant's indictments for trial where the evidence of each crime charged was simple and direct and the trial court instructed the jury to consider each charge separately. Generally, an excited utterance is not testimonial in nature and does not implicate the Confrontation Clause. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing a statement into evidence as an excited utterance where there had been a startling event, in this case a shooting, the statement had been made within a minute or two after the event, the statement related to the event, and the declarant had personally observed the matters asserted. Defendant was not denied the effective assistance of trial counsel on the record presented: the ineffective-assistance arguments made on appeal were not based on counsel's actual performance as shown in the record, but on unsworn representations and inconclusive evidence of a potential conflict of interest. Defendant was not