State v. VonStein , 2021 Ohio 2984 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. VonStein, 2021-Ohio-2984.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO/CITY OF HAMILTON, :
Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2020-11-111
: OPINION
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:
JESSE H. VONSTEIN, :
Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM HAMILTON MUNICIPAL COURT
Case No. 19CRB03760A
Repper-Pagan Law, Ltd., and Christopher J. Pagan, for appellant.
BYRNE, J.
{¶1} The Hamilton Municipal Court found Jesse VonStein guilty of aggravated
menacing following a bench trial. VonStein appealed from the court's Judgment Entry of
Conviction. Based on a defective jury waiver, we reverse and vacate VonStein's conviction
and remand for further proceedings.
I. Factual and Procedural History
{¶2} In September 2019, the Butler County Sheriff's Office filed a complaint
charging VonStein with aggravated menacing. The complaint stated that VonStein, in the
midst of a dispute with a neighbor, told the alleged victim that he would "rip your lungs out."
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In October 2019, law enforcement served VonStein with the warrant on the complaint. The
same month, VonStein, through counsel, filed a written jury demand.
{¶3} VonStein's jury trial was scheduled to begin in October 2020. However, a few
days before trial, VonStein's counsel appeared before the trial court and represented that
VonStein – who was not present – had authorized a bench trial via telephone. Based on
counsel's representation, the court granted the request for a bench trial and provided
counsel with a written jury trial waiver form. Counsel signed the form on behalf of VonStein,
noting "per phone authorization." Counsel thereafter filed the jury waiver.
{¶4} At the commencement of the bench trial, the court noted that VonStein was
present with his counsel, that the matter had been set for a jury trial, but that the jury was
waived, and now it would be a trial to the bench. The trial then commenced.
{¶5} Following the trial, the court found VonStein guilty as charged. VonStein
appeals, raising three assignments of error.
II. Legal Analysis
{¶6} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶7} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY EXERCISING JURISDICTION WITHOUT A
VALID JURY WAIVER.
{¶8} VonStein argues that the trial court failed to have him acknowledge his jury
waiver in open court under R.C. 2945.05 and therefore the court lacked jurisdiction to
conduct a bench trial. R.C. 2945.05 provides:
In all criminal cases pending in courts of record in this state, the
defendant may waive a trial by jury and be tried by the court
without a jury. Such waiver by a defendant, shall be in writing,
signed by the defendant, and filed in said cause and made a
part of the record thereof. It shall be entitled in the court and
cause, and in substance as follows: "I _______________,
defendant in the above cause, hereby voluntarily waive and
relinquish my right to a trial by jury, and elect to be tried by a
Judge of the Court in which the said cause may be pending. I
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fully understand that under the laws of this state, I have a
constitutional right to a trial by jury."
Such waiver of trial by jury must be made in open court after the
defendant has been arraigned and has had opportunity to
consult with counsel. Such waiver may be withdrawn by the
defendant at any time before the commencement of the trial.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶9} "Therefore, to be valid, a [jury trial] waiver must meet five conditions. It must
be (1) in writing, (2) signed by the defendant, (3) filed, (4) made part of the record, and (5)
made in open court." State v. Lomax, 114 Ohio St.3d 350, 2007-Ohio-4277, ¶ 9; State v.
Reynolds, 12th Dist Warren No. CA2019-08-077, 2020-Ohio-4354, ¶ 8. The Ohio Supreme
Court further clarified:
a trial court does not need to engage in an extended colloquy
with the defendant in order to comply with the statutory
requirement that a jury waiver be made in open court. There
must be, however, some evidence in the record of the
proceedings that the defendant acknowledged the waiver to the
trial court while in the presence of counsel, if any. Absent such
evidence, the waiver does not comply with the requirements of
R.C. 2945.05 and is therefore invalid.
Lomax at ¶ 42.
{¶10} The "in open court" requirement is satisfied when the trial court inquires
whether the defendant has voluntarily signed a jury trial waiver. Id. "Absent strict
compliance with the requirements of R.C. 2945.05, a trial court lacks jurisdiction to try the
defendant without a jury." State v. Pless, 74 Ohio St.3d 333 (1996), paragraph one of the
syllabus.
{¶11} The record demonstrates that the trial court's brief reference to the jury trial
waiver at the commencement of trial did not satisfy the requirement of R.C. 2945.05 that
VonStein acknowledge his waiver in open court. See Reynolds, 2020-Ohio-4354 at ¶ 14.1
1. Although not argued by VonStein on appeal, we note that he did not sign the jury waiver form.
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Because VonStein's waiver was not made in open court, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to
conduct a bench trial. Reynolds at ¶ 15. Accord Pless at 339 ("Absent strict compliance
with the requirements of R.C. 2945.05, a trial court lacks jurisdiction to try the defendant
without a jury"). We therefore sustain VonStein's first assignment of error, reverse his
conviction for aggravated menacing, and remand the case for further proceedings.
{¶12} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶13} THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONVICT FOR
AGGRAVATED MENACING UNDER R.C. 2903.21(A).
{¶14} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶15} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY CONVICTING THE DEFENDANT OF
AGGRAVATED MENACING WHEN THE RECORD SUPPORTED A MENACING
CONVICTION.
{¶16} Given our disposition of VonStein's first assignment of error, and in
accordance with App.R. 12(A)(1)(c), we find his second and third assignments of error are
moot and need not be addressed.
{¶17} Judgment reversed and remanded.
M. POWELL, J., concurs.
PIPER, P.J., concurs separately.
PIPER, P.J., concurring separately.
{¶18} In concurring with the foregoing opinion, I write briefly to say that had it not
been for our resolution of the first assignment of error, I would have sustained VonStein's
second assignment of error.
{¶19} Over a period of years, VonStein and Brandenburg had ongoing disputes and
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various disagreements. Brandenburg considered VonStein as a "thorn in his side" and "like
a used car salesman he smiles at everybody and then will stab you when you're not
looking."
{¶20} Dramatic, exaggerated statements are often not meant to be taken literally
but rather to make a point. Of course, Brandenburg does not really believe car salesmen
go around killing people by stabbing them in the back. While disrespectful to salesmen,
Brandenburg was trying to get the point across that he considered Vonstein to be distrustful.
Being a thorn in the side, or distrustful, is not supportive of a realistic belief of life-threatening
harm. Despite the verbal abuse the two may have exchanged in the past, there is no
evidence of physical contact, let alone that either would cause the other "serious" physical
harm. After years of displeasure with one another, each seemed to know their limits. One
of Brandenburg's witnesses posited that VonStein was possibly in the vicinity but did not
personally get involved in the incident at hand and instead, sent an employee over "probably
to keep him (VonStein) from doing something rash." This suggests even Brandenburg's
employee believed VonStein, despite being "mad," wouldn't expose himself to the possibility
of a personal confrontation.
{¶21} There is little doubt that Brandenburg's flooding water onto VonStein's
property would rile VonStein. Similarly, there is little doubt VonStein's verbiage would let
Brandenburg know how upset and angry VonStein was about the water drainage continuing
onto his property. No one who saw and heard the exchange testified Brandenburg showed
signs of fear or serious distress indicative of a sincere concern for serious physical harm at
the hands of VonStein. There is nothing in the record describing trembling, a quivering
voice, actions to seek shelter, or conduct indicative of a fear involving serious physical harm.
Absent are any excited utterances that confirm the sincerity of Brandenburg's depth of
concern for serious physical harm. To the contrary, testimony suggests that those listening
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to Vonstein over the phone, were actually laughing and grinning – VonStein was "mad."
Every adult knows words spoken when "mad" are intensified and not fully meant. Common
knowledge tells us that in anger lies the absence of deliberation and reflection.
{¶22} Brandenburg's exaggerated statement that car salesmen go around stabbing
people when they are not looking was intended to make a point; Vonstein's exaggeration
was intended "to get him (Brandenburg) to stop" the flooding of his property.2 Lacking is
any credible evidence that this telephone exchange, or future disagreements, would lead
to physical harm, much less serious physical harm.
{¶23} The very definition of "hyperbole" is that exaggerated statements are not
meant to be taken literally. Regardless of how cartoonish one's imagination might be,
VonStein's words were incapable of being carried out literally. Such an act is inconsistent
with factual possibility. Additional hyperbole, incapable of performance, was Vonstein's
statement that he would "sue his (Brandenburg's) ass off." Yet, a statement to sue does
demonstrate an intention to resort to the legal system, not violence.
{¶24} Brandenburg refers to VonStein as a "bully." However, bullies tend to
intimidate, humiliate, or embarrass others, rarely engaging in serious physical harm. Rather
it is clear VonStein's dramatic words of anger comprised an attempt to inhibit Brandenburg
to discontinue the potential contamination of VonStein's ground water which feeds his pond.
However, this does not support a credible belief that VonStein was telegraphing a future
intention to cause Brandenburg "serious" physical harm. This is particularly true where
VonStein knew there were witnesses and the call was being recorded. While it appears the
two may have taunted and possibly aggravated one another for years, the record
establishes they have never been physical – not even the slightest scuffle or shove. A
2. The record supports that the flooding of Vonstein's property had been ongoing and that there was a concern
for the flooding contaminating a pond on Vonstein's property.
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genuine and sincere belief a heinous, and obscene injury was a realistic possibility appears
preposterous and the stated belief by Brandenburg that VonStein had the physical
capability to take lungs out via the throat is unconvincing.
{¶25} Among other factors, judging credibility involves accessing motive, physical
possibility, the reasonableness of explanations and attendant details, the context of
circumstances, the possibility of corroboration or supporting circumstantial evidence, and
in general the believability of testimony and how that testimony was delivered. It is a difficult
task to review the reasonableness of believing that serious physical harm was being
threatened.
{¶26} Appellate review becomes even more difficult when appellee files no
argument or brief in opposition to the appeal requesting reversal. Compounding the review
even more is a record that contains the use of leading questions with suggested answers
on material points, opinions tendered as conclusions unfollowed by explanations or
corroboration, and testimony referencing evidence not actually produced.3
{¶27} If not for the trial court's lack of jurisdiction, and even considering the evidence
most favorable to the non-moving party, in the absence of a reasonable belief as to the
actual threat of serious physical harm, I would reverse and vacate the conviction as the
Crim.R. 29 request for acquittal was proper.
3. For example, while portions of a recording were repeatedly referenced, the complete recording itself was
never produced; additionally, the complainant testified his employee would corroborate past threats being
made, but that never happened. There were no details as to the purported "threats" or the circumstances
involved. Never being connected or relevant to the event in question, it appears the "threats" were offered as
impermissible character evidence. As further example, the complainant upon direct examination was led to
testify that Vonstein actually said he would kill the complainant, yet no one else testified such a statement
occurred, including the responding officer, and the sole, isolated support for such a statement is found only in
the answer to a leading question. The entirety of the record negates the believability of such a statement
occurring – again exaggeration to make a point to convince the tribunal rather than to convey the facts.
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