State v. Rosebrook
Citation2017 Ohio 9261
Date Filed2017-12-26
Docket2016-G-0099
JudgeWright
Cited3 times
StatusPublished
Syllabus
CRIMINAL LAW - conspiracy to commit aggravated murder mistrial not warranted because no error shown no denial of effective assistance of trial counsel convictions for aggravated murder and kidnapping supported by sufficient evidence and not against manifest weight of evidence.
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
[Cite as State v. Rosebrook,2017-Ohio-9261
.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2016-G-0099
- vs - :
JOSEPH ROSEBROOK, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal from the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2015 C
000116.
Judgment: Affirmed.
James R. Flaiz, Geauga County Prosecutor, and Christopher J. Joyce, Assistant
Prosecutor, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, Suite 3A, Chardon, OH 44024 (For
Plaintiff-Appellee).
Donald Gallick, 190 North Union Street, #102, Akron, OH 44304 (For Defendant-
Appellant).
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Joseph Rosebrook, appeals his convictions for aggravated
murder and kidnapping with a firearm specification after he hired another to kill Daniel
Carl Ott. We affirm.
{¶2} In 2006, Rosebrook was already incarcerated for the attempted
aggravated murder of Curtis Frazier. Daniel Carl Ott was supposed to kill Frazier, but
he never did. Instead, Ott went to the authorities, recorded his conversations with
Rosebrook, and agreed to testify against him. Ott’s cooperation with the police resulted
in Rosebrook’s indictment and 2006 conviction.
{¶3} While incarcerated, Rosebrook hatched a plan to have his snitch killed,
and he arranged for Chad South, a fellow inmate who was soon to be released, to kill
Ott. Upon South’s release, he broke into the home of the wrong Daniel Ott and killed
him.
{¶4} Following a prolonged investigation, Rosebrook was indicted and charged
in 2015 with conspiracy to commit the aggravated murder of Daniel E. Ott, two counts of
aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, and multiple specifications including a
firearm specification.
{¶5} A jury found Rosebrook guilty of all charges and following merger of
several offenses, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for aggravated
murder in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A) consecutive to ten years for kidnapping Ott’s
girlfriend, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2), consecutive to three years for the gun
specification under R.C. 2941.145(A).
{¶6} Rosebrook raises four assigned errors. His first argument asserts:
{¶7} “The trial court erred in denying multiple requests for a mistrial as
appellant’s constitutional rights to a fair trial, under the confrontation clause, and to due
process were violated.”
{¶8} This assigned error raises four sub-issues. First, Rosebrook challenges
testimony regarding his prior convictions. He also takes issue with the impeachment of
his ex-sister-in-law’s testimony via her prior inconsistent statement to detectives. Third,
2
he asserts that the cumulative effect of these errors warrants a mistrial. Finally,
Rosebrook argues he was denied due process via the denial of access to transcripts
from his codefendant’s trial.
{¶9} A trial court is entitled to broad discretion in considering a motion for a
mistrial, and our standard of review is whether the trial court abused its discretion.
State v. Love, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 02 CA 245, 2006-Ohio-1762,2006 WL 890994
, ¶95, citing State v. Schiebel,55 Ohio St.3d 71
,564 N.E.2d 54
(1990) paragraph one of the syllabus. The decision to grant a mistrial “is an extreme remedy only warranted in circumstances where a fair trial is no longer possible and it is required to meet the ends of justice.” State v. Bigsby, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 12 MA 74,2013-Ohio-5641
,2013 WL 6797395
, ¶58, citing State v. Jones,83 Ohio App.3d 723
,615 N.E.2d 713
(2d Dist.1990). A mistrial will only be granted when the substantial rights of a party are adversely affected. State v. Lukens,66 Ohio App.3d 794, 809
,586 N.E.2d 1099
(10th
Dist.1990).
{¶10} Rosebrook first asserts a mistrial was warranted in light of the introduction
of testimony as to his other criminal offenses and resulting prejudice.
{¶11} “In Ohio, the general rule is that ‘the introduction of evidence tending to
show that a defendant has committed another crime wholly independent of the offense
for which he is on trial is prohibited.’” State v. Breedlove, 26 Ohio St.2d 178, 183,271 N.E.2d 238
(1971), citing State v. Hector,19 Ohio St.2d 167
,249 N.E.2d 912
(1969),
paragraph one of the syllabus. Exceptions exist, however, including those in Evid.R.
404(B), which states:
3
{¶12} “Other Crimes, Wrongs or Acts. Evidence 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. In criminal cases, the proponent of evidence to be offered under
this rule shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the court
excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the general nature of any such
evidence it intends to introduce at trial.”
{¶13} As for evidence of Rosebrook’s prior convictions, the state offered
evidence of Rosewood’s criminal past to establish his motive to have Ott killed. Early
on in the case, the state informed the court and defense counsel of its intent to use
Rosewood’s prior criminal record to show his reason for having Ott killed. Rosewood
opposed the introduction of this evidence, and the issue was argued the first day of trial,
outside the jury’s presence. The issue again arose during Detective Keogh’s testimony,
and the trial court issued its limiting instruction permitting the testimony following a
hearing, stating:
{¶14} “I am going to allow it for that limited purpose, that is, to show why the
Detective investigated as he did and his actions. I am going to limit it to the prior record
connected with this offense, and I will give a limiting instruction to the effect of that
evidence at the appropriate time that the defense asks. And I will say that the evidence
was received only for a limited purpose. It was not received, and you may not consider
it, to prove the character of the Defendant in order to show that he acted in conformity
with that character.
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{¶15} “If you find that the evidence of the other wrongs or acts is true and that
you believe that the Defendant committed them, you may consider that only for the
purposes of deciding whether it proves a motive, intent or purpose or plan to commit the
offense charged in this trial.”
{¶16} Rosebrook argues he was prejudiced via Detective Keough’s testimony
that he was in prison based on auto theft charges. As the state contends, defense
counsel had already informed the jury in its opening statements that Rosebrook was in
prison at the time the murder occurred. And the court sustained the objection to any
testimony regarding Rosebrook’s auto theft charges. Thereafter and during a recess
out of the jury’s presence, the trial court denied the request for a mistrial and advised
the parties that it would allow limited testimony that Rosebrook was in prison for the
attempted murder of Curtis Frazier because it supplies the necessary motive under
Evid.R. 404(B).
{¶17} Keough testified, under objection, about the connection between
Rosebrook, Curtis Frazier, and Daniel Carl Ott, stating that they were involved in a
“chop shop” in Logan County. “Upon the arrest of those individuals, Curtis Frazier had
agreed to testify against Joe Rosebrook. And the information we received is that a hit
had been placed on Curtis Frazier by Joe Rosebrook. And he wanted Daniel Carl Ott to
do it.
{¶18} “Daniel Carl Ott decided not to, and instead, went to the authorities and
then wore a wire when the details of the hit were discussed.
{¶19} “And that led to the conviction of Joe Rosebrook on the attempted murder
charge.”
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{¶20} The trial court repeatedly cautioned the jury to limit its consideration of this
testimony as to Rosebrook’s motive here, not to show that he is a bad man who acted in
conformity with his bad character. Thus, there was no abuse of discretion since this
testimony was permissible under Evid.R. 404(B).
{¶21} Rosebrook also asserts that Keough’s testimony during which he relayed
what an Ohio State Highway Patrolman told him was inadmissible hearsay. Keough
testified what the patrolman told him in order to explain why Keough began looking into
Rosebrook as a suspect. Keough explained that the patrolman was working as an
investigator for the National Insurance Crime Bureau and had been investigating a
different Daniel Ott, who was a career auto thief. The patrolman told Keough he should
look into this different Daniel Ott to see if there was a connection.
{¶22} The trial court concluded that this testimony was not hearsay because it
was not offered for the truth of the matter asserted, but instead to explain why Keough
took certain actions during his investigation. Evid.R.801(C) defines hearsay as “a
statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing,
offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”
{¶23} “Evidence offered to explain an officer's conduct during an investigation is
not hearsay and the statements are not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted.
State v. Lynn (2000), 137 Ohio App.3d 402, 406,738 N.E.2d 868
.” State v. Neal, 2d Dist. Champaign Nos. 2000-CA-16 and 2000-CA-18,2002-Ohio-6786
, ¶ 48 (Sept. 30, 1993); State v. Wilks, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 13654,1993 WL 386246
, *4. Here
Keough relayed the patrolman’s statements to him to show why Keough began
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investigating Rosebrook via the possibility that this was a case of mistaken identity, not
for the truth of the matter asserted. Thus, we find no error.
{¶24} Next Rosebrook challenges the state’s impeachment of his ex-sister-in-
law, Pamela Rosebrook. The trial court allowed the state to use her prior inconsistent
statement to impeach her credibility under Evid.R. 607(A). The prosecutor initially
asked Pamela questions consistent with the summary of her statement to detectives,
and she said the summary was “all wrong” and that she did not tell them “half of this
crap.”
{¶25} Thus, pursuant to Evid.R. 607(A), the court was going to allow the state to
play the audio recording of her conversation with detectives the next day. But when her
testimony began, she invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify. Contrary to
Rosebrook’s assertion, the trial court did not hold Pamela in contempt. Instead, upon
Pamela’s invocation of her right not to testify, the court, outside the presence of the jury,
appointed her counsel to help her avoid a contempt charge and then recessed the trial
for the day.
{¶26} After consulting with an attorney and being granted immunity for her
testimony, Pamela was again called to testify. The state was permitted to play portions
of her recorded interview with detectives when she testified contrary to her prior
statements. She confirmed that it was her voice in the recordings, and that she told
detectives that her ex-husband Jeff handled some of Joe’s money while he was in
prison, and that Joe “might” have had hundreds of thousands of dollars.
{¶27} Pursuant to Evid.R. 607(A), the court’s decision to allow the state to play
the audio recording of her conversation with detectives was permissible. The state
7
established it was surprised by her testimony to the contrary and that it was affirmatively
damaged since the state was unaware that Pamela was going to change her story from
her statements made to detectives a month prior. State v. O’Brien, 5th Dist. Licking No.
2004CA00034, 2004-Ohio-7275, ¶18.
{¶28} Furthermore, the court issued a limiting instruction to the jury, stating that
the use of Pamela’s prior statements was “for impeachment purposes. It relates to the
credibility of the witness, and you may consider it for that purpose only. It is not offered
for, nor may you consider it, to prove the acts or elements of the charged offenses.”
Thus, because the trial court allowed the testimony consistent with Evid.R. 607(A), we
find no error.
{¶29} Next Rosebrook argues that the cumulative effect of the errors at trial
denied him a fair trial. Although a conviction can be reversed because the cumulative
effect of legal errors throughout the trial results in a deprivation of the right to a fair trial,
the doctrine is inapplicable absent multiple instances of harmless error. State v.
Boynton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93598, 20100-Ohio-4248, ¶60, quoting State v.
Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64,656 N.E.2d 623
(1995). Because we find none of
Rosebrook’s sub-arguments meritorious, there is no cumulative error.
{¶30} Finally, Rosebrook argues he was improperly denied access to transcripts
from his co-defendant’s case, and had his trial counsel had access, he would have been
better able to prepare for trial. However, Rosebrook’s counsel did have access to the
transcripts of Chad South’s trial at the state’s expense pursuant to the trial court’s July
15, 2016 order. Thus, this argument lacks merit.
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{¶31} Based on the foregoing, Rosebrook’s first assigned error lacks merit in its
entirety.
{¶32} Rosebrook’s second assigned error alleges:
{¶33} “Appellant suffered from plain error and ineffective assistance of counsel
when the state repeatedly used inadmissible prior bad act evidence to show propensity
violating the right to a fair trial and due process.”
{¶34} In order to succeed on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, an
appellant must establish his counsel erred and resulting prejudice.
{¶35} “Counsel's performance will not be deemed ineffective unless and until
counsel's performance is proved to have fallen below an objective standard of
reasonable representation and, in addition, prejudice arises from counsel's
performance. (State v. Lytle [1976], 48 Ohio St.2d 391,2 O.O.3d 495
,358 N.E.2d 623
; Strickland v. Washington [1984],466 U.S. 668
,104 S.Ct. 2052
,80 L.Ed.2d 674
,
followed.)
{¶36} “To show that a defendant has been prejudiced by counsel's deficient
performance, the defendant must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that,
were it not for counsel's errors, the result of the trial would have been different.” State v.
Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136,538 N.E.2d 373
(1989), paragraphs two and three of the
syllabus.
{¶37} Rosebrook claims his trial counsel erred in allowing the admission of his
prior bad acts. In particular, he argues counsel should have objected to Detective
Keough’s testimony that Rosebrook was already serving time in prison for attempted
murder and that this reference constitutes plain error. As stated, Keough testified,
9
under objection, about the connection between Rosebrook, Curtis Frazier, and Daniel
Carl Ott and Rosebrook’s reason for wanting Daniel Carl Ott killed.
{¶38} Rosebrook also continues to assert that his prior offense of conspiracy to
commit the aggravated murder of Curtis Frazier should not have been admitted in light
of the resulting prejudice. As explained under Rosebrook’s first assigned error,
however, the trial court allowed the testimony pursuant Evid.R. 404(B) with the requisite
limiting instructions to the jury.
{¶39} As stated previously, defense counsel pointed out in openings statements
that Rosebrook was in prison at the time of the offense, and half of the witnesses were
inmates either during the trial or knew Rosebrook while serving prison time with him.
And in light of the nature of the offense, which arose because the intended victim
“snitched” on Rosebrook for another offense, the references to Rosebrook’s prior
offense were permissible.
{¶40} Accordingly, Rosebrook was not denied effective assistance of trial
counsel because even assuming his counsel erred, Rosebrook cannot establish
prejudicial harm as a result. Accordingly, his second assigned error lacks merit.
{¶41} We address Rosebrook’s third and fourth assigned errors collectively,
which assert:
{¶42} “The trial court erred by denying the Criminal Rule 29 motion because the
state provided insufficient evidence that appellant participated in any criminal act.
{¶43} “The convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence because
they are based on hearsay and the testimony of witnesses who have admitted to
providing false testimony.”
10
{¶44} “A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction
requires that we consider ‘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.’ State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259,574 N.E.2d 492
(1991), paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia,443 U.S. 307, 319
,99 S.Ct. 2781
,61 L.Ed.2d 560
(1979). We will not ‘disturb a verdict on appeal on sufficiency grounds unless “reasonable minds could not reach the conclusion reached by the trier-of-fact.”’ Ketterer,111 Ohio St.3d 70
,2006-Ohio-5283
,855 N.E.2d 48
, at ¶ 94, quoting State v. Dennis,79 Ohio St.3d 421, 430
,683 N.E.2d 1096
(1997).
{¶45} “In contrast, a manifest-weight challenge ‘concerns “the inclination of the
greater amount of credible evidence * * * to support one side of the issue rather than the
other.”’ (Emphasis sic.) State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387,678 N.E.2d 541
(1997), quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1594 (6th Ed.1990). A manifest-weight challenge requires us to consider the entire record, including the credibility of the witnesses, the weight of the evidence, and any reasonable inferences, and determine whether ‘“the [panel] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.”’Id.,
quoting State v. Martin,20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175
,485 N.E.2d 717
(1st Dist.1983); accord R.C. 2953.02.” State v. Montgomery,148 Ohio St.3d 347
,2016-Ohio-5487
,71 N.E.3d 180, ¶74-75
, reconsideration granted in part,147 Ohio St.3d 1438
,2016-Ohio-7677
,63 N.E.3d 157
.
{¶46} A finding that a conviction is supported by the manifest weight of the
evidence, necessarily includes a finding that the conviction is supported by sufficient
11
evidence. State v. Brady, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13 MA 88, 2014-Ohio-5721, ¶26; State v. McGowan, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 14JE37,2016-Ohio-48, ¶4
.
{¶47} A conviction is “the combined occurrence of a finding of guilty and the
imposition of a sentence.” State v. Payne, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2014-A-0001, 2014-
Ohio-4304, ¶17, citing, State v. Henderson, 58 Ohio St.2d 171, 178,389 N.E.2d 494
(1979).
{¶48} Here, the jury found Rosebrook guilty of multiple offenses, but the court
only imposed sentences on two and a gun specification. The others merged for
sentencing. Thus, we only address the weight and sufficiency of Rosewood’s
aggravated murder conviction, in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A), and his kidnapping of
Mary Ann Ricker offense in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) and the gun specification
under R.C. 2941.145(A). Payne, supra.
{¶49} Rosebrook was indicted and charged with murder for hire or being
complicit in the aggravated murder of Ott. A charge of complicity may be stated in
terms of the principal offense. R.C. 2923.03(F); State v. Skatzes, 104 Ohio St.3d 195,2004-Ohio-6391
,819 N.E.2d 215
, ¶32. Rosebrook was on notice that evidence was
going to be presented that he was complicit in the aggravated murder of Ott via his
soliciting, hiring, and conspiring with South to kill Daniel Carl Ott.
{¶50} Under the theory of accomplice liability, anyone who is an accomplice to a
crime shall be prosecuted and punished as if she were a principal offender. R.C.
2923.03(F). An accomplice is a person “acting with the kind of culpability required for
the commission of an offense,” and can act by soliciting and procuring another to
12
commit the offense or via conspiring with another to commit the crime. R.C.
2923.03(A)(1) and (3).
{¶51} Rosebrook was convicted of aggravated murder in violation of R.C.
2903.01(A), which prohibits a person from “purposely, and with prior calculation and
design, caus[ing] the death of another * * *.”
{¶52} He was also convicted of kidnapping Mary Ann Ricker in violation of R.C.
2905.01(A)(2) and with a gun specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145(A).
{¶53} R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) states in part,
{¶54} “(A) No person, by force, threat, or deception, * * * shall remove another
from the place where the other person is found or restrain the liberty of the other
person, for any of the following purposes:
{¶55} “* * *
{¶56} “(2) To facilitate the commission of any felony or flight thereafter * * *.”
{¶57} R.C. 2941.145(A) provides for a three-year prison term if the offender had
a firearm on or about the person or under his control while committing the offense and
displayed the firearm, brandished the firearm, or used it to facilitate the offense.
{¶58} Here, each of appellant’s convictions is supported by sufficient evidence
and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶59} Mary Ann Ricker was Daniel E. Ott’s live-in girlfriend. She testified that
she and Daniel E. Ott were sleeping when she heard her dog, which woke her. She
then heard footsteps and saw a person dressed in dark clothing with a shotgun inside
their home. The man ordered her and Ott to roll onto their stomachs, which they did.
13
The intruder asked Ott what his name was and tied Ott up with tape. Ricker could hear
the sound of the tape.
{¶60} Ricker then recalls Ott standing up and running toward the intruder, who
shot him in the chest. Ricker heard the shot being fired. She then got up and saw a
Ford Taurus backing out of their driveway. Ricker grabbed a towel and held it to Ott’s
wound until the police arrived. Ott died later that day from his gunshot wound. Ricker
had no idea who had killed Ott.
{¶61} Sergeant Graley with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Department was the
first officer at the home. He found Ott with duct tape on his wrists and Ricker hysterical
and covered with blood.
{¶62} Retired Detective Joseph Keough from the Geauga County Sheriff’s
Department recalled that upon investigating Daniel E. Ott’s death, nothing made sense
and that eventually he looked into Rosebrook upon the suggestion of an Ohio State
Highway Patrolman that he investigate another Daniel Ott, Daniel Carl Ott.
{¶63} Keough testified that Rosebrook, Curtis Frazier, and Daniel Carl Ott were
involved in a “chop shop” in Logan County and Frazier had agreed to testify against the
others. Rosebrook hired Daniel Carl Ott to murder Frazier, but Ott decided not to follow
through with the plan, but went to the police instead and eventually testified against
Rosebrook.
{¶64} Upon investigating a possible connection with the murder of Daniel E. Ott,
Keough monitored Rosebrook’s recorded prison phone calls and heard references to
conversations that were not in his other recorded prison calls. Thus, Keough believed
14
that Rosebrook had access to a cellular telephone. The investigation into Daniel E.
Ott’s murder eventually stalled, and Keough retired.
{¶65} Clarence Scott was an inmate at the Northeast Ohio Correctional
institution at the same time as Rosebrook. Scott was Curt Frazier’s son-in-law. He
recalls Rosebrook befriending him and sharing his list of people he wanted dead.
Daniel Carl Ott was at the top of his list because Ott had snitched on him and “wired up”
on Rosebrook. He asked Scott if he knew anyone who would be interested in “doing
some dirt.” Rosebrook spoke about paying someone $10,000 before and $10,000 after.
Rosebrook told Scott that his brother Jeff handled his money. Scott heard Rosebrook
mention this offer around fellow inmates Chad South and Steve Clemens.
{¶66} Sometime later and while still in prison, Scott saw on the news that a
Daniel Ott was shot. Chad South had already been released from prison before Scott
saw that Ott was killed.
{¶67} Rosebrook argues that Clarence Scott’s testimony is incredible because
he admitted to submitting a false affidavit in exchange for cigarettes. This evidence was
before the jury for it to consider and weigh Scott’s credibility.
{¶68} Curt Frazier testified that he had bought and sold stolen car parts with
Rosebrook. He testified that Rosebrook went to prison for conspiring with Daniel Carl
Ott to have him killed, but Ott wore a wire and assisted authorities in prosecuting
Rosebrook.
{¶69} Frazier was relaying information his son-in-law, Scott, told him while in
prison with Rosebrook to a Detective John Stout, who later got charged with crimes and
is no longer a detective.
15
{¶70} Keith Levan, a retired Logan County Detective, explained that he had
asked Curt Frazier, who was in jail at the time, to help him obtain information from
Rosebrook via his son-in-law about a matter unrelated to the murder of Daniel Carl Ott.
{¶71} Detective Juanita Vetter also testified for the state. She explained that the
Geauga County Sheriff’s office interviewed 50-70 people while investigating this murder
and that all leads had come up empty until Keough looked up the victim in a police
database and noticed that another investigator had recently searched Ott’s name. The
detectives then considered that they were investigating a murder based on mistaken
identity. Vetter advised that Daniel Carl Ott was a professional car thief who was much
older than the victim, Daniel E. Ott.
{¶72} Vetter met with Clarence Scott, who told her that Rosebrook had been
recruiting inmates to kill a snitch. Scott also advised her that Rosebrook had a cell
phone in prison. Upon tracing certain phone calls between the phone Rosebrook had in
prison, Vetter determined that his phone was used to call a phone in the name of
Bonnie Rothen, who lived with Chad Smith and his girlfriend at the time of the murder.
Rosebrook eventually got in trouble for having a cellular phone in prison.
{¶73} Another inmate told Vetter that South did not want to kill Ott, but that he
had to since he charged at him.
{¶74} Rosebrook’s ex-sister-in-law, Pamela Rosebrook, testified that she was
married to Rosebrook’s brother Jeff for 39 years. Jeff handled some of Joe’s money
while he was in prison.
{¶75} As previously stated, Pamela’s testimony was inconsistent with her
statement to detectives. She was given a copy of her summary of her audio statement
16
and said it was “all wrong.” She denied ever saying Joe Rosebrook was dangerous and
that she was afraid of him. She also denied telling them that Jeff was in charge of Joe’s
money while he was in prison or that Jeff was holding hundreds of thousands of dollars
of Joe’s money.
{¶76} The next day she was again asked about her statements to the detectives
and she invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer. She was eventually granted
immunity with regard to her testimony.
{¶77} Her testimony about the recordings is in evidence following the trial court’s
determination that she was impeached via her prior inconsistent testimony. Upon being
confronted with the prior recordings of her statements to detectives, Pamela testified
that she told detectives that Jeff “may” have had hundreds of thousands of dollars in
envelopes and that he kept a ledger of the money in the envelopes. She agreed that
Jeff was in control of some of Joe’s money while he was in prison, but that she really did
not know how much money Jeff handled for Joe and that she was not afraid of him,
because she hardly ever saw him.
{¶78} Bonnie Rothen explained that she knew Chad South because she was
friends with his girlfriend, Kathy Baker. Rothen lived with Baker and her children when
South was released from prison. He moved in as well and would often borrow her cell
phone.
{¶79} Edward Penwell, another inmate, who was serving a life sentence for
murder, testified and explained that for a time he was incarcerated with Rosebrook.
Rosebrook told him he wanted his snitch killed, but at the time of trial, Penwell could not
remember the snitch’s name.
17
{¶80} Penwell introduced Rosebrook to Chad South and Timmy Minehart.
South was getting out of prison soon and “wanted to get back on his feet.” Rosebrook
told them he wanted the snitch killed and that Chad and Timmy were supposed to work
together and get $10,000 each in cash from Rosebrook’s brother consisting of $10,000
before and $10,000 after he was dead. The group discussed the hit three or four times,
and Penwell told South how to avoid getting caught.
{¶81} Rosebrook claims that Penwell’s testimony is speculative because he said
he remembered Rosebrook saying he wanted to kill somebody, but he could not
remember who he wanted dead. Although Penwell did not know or recall the name of
the snitch, he nevertheless recounted that Rosebrook sought to have his snitch killed
and that the conversations Penwell relayed at trial had happened years before his trial
testimony.
{¶82} Rosebrook also argues that Keough improperly speculated in his
testimony that Rosebrook had access to a cell phone in prison. However, Vetter
confirmed that Rosebrook was charged with having a cell phone in prison, that the
phone was used to call Rosebrook’s friends and family, and that his voice was heard on
the recordings.
{¶83} Rosebrook also takes issue with the lack of evidence showing that any
money was exchanged between him and South. However, the actual exchange of
money or payment was not required to establish that Rosebrook solicited or conspired
with South to kill Daniel Carl Ott. To the contrary, the evidence shows that Rosebrook
conspired with Chad South to “purposely, and with prior calculation and design,” cause
the death of his snitch, Daniel Carl Ott. Pursuant to their conspiracy, South entered the
18
home of Daniel E. Ott, tied him up with duct tape, and ordered Ott and Ricker onto their
stomachs while holding a shotgun. South then shot and killed Daniel E. Ott when Ott
charged at him.
{¶84} Based on the foregoing, Rosebrook’s convictions for aggravated murder
and kidnapping with a firearm specification are not against the manifest weight of the
evidence, and are likewise supported by sufficient evidence to establish the essential
elements of the crimes. Accordingly, his third and fourth assignments of error lack
merit.
{¶85} The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J.,
COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J.,
concur.
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