State v. Jones , 2015 Ohio 5029 ( 2015 )

[Cite as State v. Jones, 2015-Ohio-5029.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
BUTLER COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
CASE NO. CA2015-02-020
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
OPINION
: 12/7/2015
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:
DEANGELO J. JONES, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. CR2014-09-1435
Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, Kimberly L. Kasten, Government
Services Center, 315 High Street, 11th Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for plaintiff-appellee
Neal D. Schuett, 121 West High Street, Oxford Ohio 45056, for defendant-appellant
M. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Deangelo Jones, appeals his conviction in the Butler
County Court of Common Pleas for reckless homicide.
{¶ 2} Appellant was indicted in October 2014 on one count of involuntary
manslaughter with a firearm specification, one count of tampering with evidence, and one
count of possessing a defaced firearm. The state alleged that on September 6, 2014,
appellant shot his girlfriend (the victim) in the face with a .38 special caliber Smith & Wesson
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revolver, subsequently threw the revolver in the Miami River to conceal its discovery, and
otherwise possessed a .357 pistol with the serial number removed. A two-day jury trial was
held in January 2015. Several witnesses testified on behalf of the state, including the
detective who interviewed appellant on five separate occasions. Appellant did not testify or
present witnesses on his behalf. However, excerpts of his videotaped interviews were played
to the jury during the detective's direct examination. During his interviews and at trial,
appellant claimed the gunshot was accidental.
{¶ 3} Testimony at trial revealed that on September 6, 2014, appellant and the victim
watched a movie called "Truth or Die" which included a Russian roulette scene. Appellant
told the detective that after watching the Russian roulette scene, he decided to act it out and
put a bullet in his .38 special caliber, five-shot revolver because he "wanted to."
Subsequently, the victim started playing with the revolver, and despite appellant's admonition
that the gun was loaded with a bullet, "kept clicking it and clicking it." The victim pulled the
trigger four times. Subsequently, as the victim pointed the gun to her right temple, appellant
snatched the gun from her hand. Appellant told the detective the gun was in his hands when
it fired and shot the victim. Thereafter, instead of providing aid to the victim, appellant fled
the scene and threw the gun in the Miami River. He eventually turned himself in and helped
the police recover the gun. The victim died from the gunshot wound the following day.
{¶ 4} An autopsy was performed by the Warren County coroner. The coroner
testified that the victim died of a gunshot wound to the face and that the gun was fired 10 to
24 inches away from the victim's face. The coroner could not determine whether the manner
of death was homicide, suicide, or accident.
{¶ 5} At the close of the evidence, the trial court instructed the jury on involuntary
manslaughter, the lesser included offense of reckless homicide, and accident. On January
13, 2015, the jury found appellant guilty of reckless homicide with a firearm specification,
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tampering with evidence, and possessing a defaced firearm. Following the jury verdict, the
trial court immediately held a sentencing hearing and sentenced appellant to nine years in
prison.
{¶ 6} Appellant appeals, raising three assignments of error.
{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 8} THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL WAS VIOLATED
WHEN THE TRIAL COURT INCORRECTLY INSTRUCTED THE JURY ON THE
ELEMENTS OF "ACCIDENT."
{¶ 9} On the first day of trial, appellant submitted a written request for a specific jury
instruction on the defense of accident. The trial court declined to give the requested jury
instruction. Instead, and over appellant's objections, the trial court provided the jury with the
definition of "accident" from Black's Law Dictionary:
The Defendant, DeAngelo Jones, denies that he committed an
unlawful act and says the death of [the victim] was accidental.
An accident is an unforeseen injurious occurrence. It is
something that does not occur in the usual course of events or
that could not be reasonably anticipated. An accident is an
unforeseen and injurious occurrence not attributable to mistake,
neglect, or misconduct.
{¶ 10} The trial court specifically declined to provide the jury with the definition of
"accident" requested by appellant or as set forth in the Ohio Jury Instructions (OJI) because
both definitions refer to "purpose" or "intent." Because the jury was going to be instructed on
the lesser offense of reckless homicide, the trial court felt it was important for the jury to
consider that where something results from "mistake, neglect, or misconduct," it does not
constitute an "accident."
{¶ 11} Appellant argues that because there was evidence at trial that "the gun's
discharge was the result of an accident," the trial court's jury instruction on accident was
erroneous and contrary to Ohio law. Specifically, appellant takes issue with the trial court's
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instruction that an accident is "not attributable to mistake, neglect, or misconduct." Appellant
asserts that the phrase incorrectly defines "accident" and fails to instruct the jury that
"accident negates guilt," as required by the Ohio Supreme Court in State v. Robinson, 47
Ohio St. 2d 103 (1976).
{¶ 12} We review a trial court's jury instructions for an abuse of discretion. State v.
Standifer, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2011-07-071, 2012-Ohio-3132, ¶ 52. An abuse of
discretion implies that the court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable,
and not merely an error of law or judgment. State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St. 3d 57, 2006-
Ohio-160, ¶ 129-130. An appellate court may not reverse a conviction in a criminal case
based upon jury instructions unless "it is clear that the jury instructions constituted prejudicial
error." State v. Campbell, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-08-208, 2010-Ohio-1940, ¶ 13. An
appellate court's duty is to review the instructions as a whole, and, if taken in their entirety,
the instructions fairly and correctly state the law applicable to the evidence presented at trial,
reversible error will not be found merely on the possibility that the jury may have been misled.
State v. Shepard, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-223, 2007-Ohio-5405, ¶ 7.
{¶ 13} A trial court must fully and completely give jury instructions which are relevant
and necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence and discharge its duty as the fact finder.
State v. Comen, 50 Ohio St. 3d 206 (1990), paragraph two of the syllabus. Specifically, "a
court's instructions to the jury should be addressed to the actual issues in the case as posited
by the evidence and the pleadings." State v. Guster, 66 Ohio St.2d. 266, 271 (1981) (general
propositions, even though correct, ought not to be given unless specifically applicable to facts
in issue). In a criminal case, proposed jury instructions that are correct, pertinent, and timely
presented must be included, at least in substance, in the general charge. Id. at 269.
However, the trial court is not required to give a proposed jury instruction verbatim. The court
may use its own language to communicate the same legal principles in language it deems
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proper. State v. Sneed, 63 Ohio St. 3d 3, 9 (1992); State v. McLavin, 12th Dist. Fayette No.
CA2006-11-044, 2007-Ohio-5633, ¶ 17.
{¶ 14} Initially, we note that a trial court does not abuse its discretion simply because it
uses dictionary definitions to define terms not defined by statute. See State v. Jackson, 12th
Dist. Butler No. CA2011-06-096, 2012-Ohio-4219 (when words are not defined in a statute,
courts have used dictionary definitions to determine the plain and ordinary meaning of a
statutory term); State v. Rivera, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 56158, 1989 WL 136349 (Nov. 9,
1989) (Black's Law Dictionary meets the common usage standard under R.C. 1.42); State v.
Crotts, 104 Ohio St. 3d 432, 2004-Ohio-6550 (relying on Black's Law Dictionary to define the
legal term "prejudice").
{¶ 15} We also note that jury instructions found in the OJI "are not mandatory. Rather,
they are recommended instructions, based primarily upon case law and statutes. The
particular instruction to be given in a jury trial is fact specific and based upon the indictment,
testimony, evidence, and defenses available to the defendant." State v. Jordan, 11th Dist.
Lake No. 2009-L-006, 2009-Ohio-6152, ¶ 40.
{¶ 16} Upon reviewing the trial court's jury instructions as a whole, we find that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in providing the jury with the Black's Law Dictionary
definition of accident rather than the definition requested by appellant or set forth in the OJI.
{¶ 17} Accident is not an affirmative defense. Rather, "it is a factual defense that
denies that the accused acted with the degree of culpability or mens rea required for the
offense, when that involves purposeful conduct." In re F.D., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102135,
2015-Ohio-2405, ¶ 32. By raising the defense of accident, appellant denied that the gunshot
was intentional or purposeful (two synonymous terms here). But intent and purpose are not
dispositive in this case.
{¶ 18} Appellant was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, which required the state to
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prove that appellant knowingly caused serious physical harm to the victim and ultimately her
death by shooting her. The case also involved the lesser included offense of reckless
homicide, which required proof that appellant acted recklessly when he snatched the five-
shot revolver, loaded with one round, from the victim's hand after the fourth trigger-click.
{¶ 19} "Accident" is defined in OJI as follows:
An accidental result is one that occurs unintentionally and
without any design or purpose to bring it about. An accident is a
mere physical happening or event, out of the usual order of
things and not reasonably (anticipated) (foreseen) as a natural or
probable result of a lawful act.
(Emphasis added.) Ohio Jury Instructions, CR 421.01 (2013). The trial court was correct
that the OJI definition of "accident" was not appropriate in a case such as here where
"purpose" is not the culpable mental state. The OJI definition would have been confusing in
that the jury could have found that the appellant "recklessly" caused the victim's death yet
acquitted appellant of reckless homicide because he did not act with "design, intent or
purpose."
{¶ 20} Given the facts of the case, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
declining to provide the jury with the accident instruction requested by appellant or set forth in
the OJI, both of which refer to intent, design, and purpose. Likewise, given the facts of this
case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in providing the jury with the Black's Law
Dictionary definition of accident. The trial court had the duty to fully include all information
which is relevant and necessary for the fact finder in its jury instructions. Jackson, 2012-
Ohio-4219 at ¶ 36. The trial court's jury instruction on accident was fact specific and based
upon the indictment, testimony, evidence, and defenses available to appellant, and was thus
accurate and appropriate.
{¶ 21} Appellant also asserts that the trial court's jury instruction on accident is
inadequate because it fails to instruct the jury that "accident negates guilt," as required by the
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Ohio Supreme Court's decision in Robinson, 47 Ohio St. 2d 103.
{¶ 22} Appellant cites Robinson for the proposition that a proper jury instruction on
accident must "(1) include the elements of accident; and (2) explain that accident negates
guilt." The main issue in Robinson was "whether the trial court committed prejudicial error by
instructing the jury that the defendant bore the burden of proving his affirmative defense of
self-defense." Id. at 106. While Robinson briefly cites accident as a non-affirmative defense,
the supreme court's decision did not hold that a proper jury instruction on accident must
include the elements of accident and explain that accident negates guilt. In fact, Robinson
does not set forth any test at all for a jury instruction on accident. Accordingly, Robinson
does not apply here.
{¶ 23} In addition, had the jury credited appellant's claim that the gunshot was
accidental, then appellant was not "reckless" and the jury would have been required to find
him not guilty of reckless homicide pursuant to the trial court's overall jury instructions. See
State v. Wyatt, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-07-171, 2011-Ohio-3427. Because the trial
court properly instructed the jury on the burden of proof and the elements of reckless
homicide, the additional instruction that "accident negates guilt" added nothing of substance
to the general charge and would have been redundant. See State v. Glagola, 5th Dist. Stark
No. 2003CA00006, 2003-Ohio-6018.
{¶ 24} In light of all of the foregoing, we find that when taken in their entirety, the trial
court's jury instructions fairly and correctly stated the law applicable to the evidence
presented at trial. Appellant's first assignment of error is accordingly overruled.
{¶ 25} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 26} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT ADMITTED TEXT
MESSAGES INTO EVIDENCE OVER DEFENSE COUNSEL'S OBJECTION.
{¶ 27} Appellant challenges the admission into evidence and over his objections of
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text messages the victim sent to her father on the eve and day of the incident, and
particularly, two minutes before the gunshot. Appellant argues the text messages were
unfairly prejudicial, misleading, and confusing to the jury in violation of Evid.R. 403(A).
{¶ 28} The text messages showed that the victim was making plans for the next two
days. The state offered the text messages to show it was unlikely that someone who was
planning for the future was playing Russian roulette at the time of the incident as claimed by
appellant. The trial court overruled appellant's objection and gave the jury the following
limiting instruction: "the court is going to permit you to see the text messages, they're not
being offered * * * for the truth of the matter, it's being offered to show the timeline and * * *
what [the victim's] state of mind was and what she was doing at the time she was texting."
{¶ 29} A trial court has broad discretion in determining the admissibility of evidence at
trial. Wyatt, 2011-Ohio-3427 at ¶ 7. Absent an abuse of discretion and a showing the
appellant suffered material prejudice, an appellate court will not disturb a trial court's ruling as
to the admissibility of evidence. Id.
{¶ 30} Evid.R. 403(A) provides that "[a]lthough relevant, evidence is not admissible if
its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, of confusion
of the issues, or of misleading the jury." While evidence that tends to disprove a party's
rendition of the facts necessarily harms that party's case, only evidence that is unfairly
prejudicial is excludable under Evid.R. 403(A). Crotts, 2004-Ohio-6550 at ¶ 23. As the Ohio
Supreme Court stated, "Evid.R. 403 speaks in terms of unfair prejudice. Logically, all
evidence presented by a prosecutor is prejudicial, but not all evidence unfairly prejudices a
defendant. It is only the latter that Evid.R. 403 prohibits." State v. Skatzes, 104 Ohio St. 3d
195, 2004-Ohio-6391, ¶ 107; State v. Smith, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2008-03-063, 2009-
Ohio-5517, ¶ 60.
{¶ 31} We find that the text messages were neither unfair nor did they confuse the
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issues or mislead the jury. The text messages showed that the victim was planning for the
future, to wit, she needed to be picked up from appellant's house the day after the incident so
that she could retrieve her birth certificate and bring it to a place of employment. The last two
texts sent by the victim to her father two minutes before the gunshot, emphasized her need
to be picked up the following day. Earlier during trial, appellant's great-uncle testified that at
the time of the incident, appellant and the victim had been living together with him for about a
month, and that the great-uncle had been helping the victim as she wanted to get a job.
Following the admission of the text messages, the victim's father testified that the victim (1)
planned to stay with him on the day after the incident and do her laundry, (2) was applying for
a job on Monday, hence needed her birth certificate, and (3) was intent on getting a job that
Monday because she was seeking custody of her daughter.
{¶ 32} We find that the text messages did not unfairly prejudice appellant. Crotts,
2004-Ohio-6550 at ¶ 23. Accordingly, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
admitting the text messages. Appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 33} Assignment of Error no. 3:
{¶ 34} APPELLANT'S CONVICTION FOR RECKLESS HOMICIDE WAS AGAINST
THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶ 35} Appellant argues his conviction for reckless homicide is against the manifest
weight of the evidence because "credible testimony" and DNA evidence indicate the gunshot
was an accident rather than appellant acting recklessly.1 Accordingly, appellant asserts the
jury "clearly lost its way" and his conviction for reckless homicide must be reversed.
{¶ 36} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, this court, reviewing the entire record, must weigh the evidence and all reasonable
1. Testimony at trial indicates that more than one DNA was found on the weapon. However, the DNA could not
be identified.
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inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether in resolving
conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage
of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State v. Lang, 129
Ohio St. 3d 512, 2011-Ohio-4215, ¶ 220. The discretionary power to grant a new trial should
be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the
conviction. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387 (1997). When reviewing the
evidence, an appellate court must be mindful that the original trier of fact was in the best
position to judge the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given the evidence. State v.
Bailey, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2002-03-057, 2003-Ohio-5280, ¶ 22.
{¶ 37} Appellant was convicted of reckless homicide, in violation of R.C. 2903.041(A),
which states: "No person shall recklessly cause the death of another[.]" A person acts
recklessly when,
with heedless indifference to the consequences, he perversely
disregards a known risk that his conduct is likely to cause a
certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is
reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless
indifference to the consequences he perversely disregards a
known risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.
R.C. 2901.22(C).
{¶ 38} After a thorough review of the record, we find that the jury neither lost its way
nor committed a manifest miscarriage of justice in convicting appellant of reckless homicide.
{¶ 39} "It is common knowledge that a firearm is an inherently dangerous
instrumentality, use of which is reasonably likely to produce serious injury or death." State v.
Norris, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 91000, 2009-Ohio-34, ¶ 20. Testimony at trial revealed that
the victim was shot in the face with appellant's gun, a .38 special-caliber, five-shot revolver.
The coroner testified the gun was fired 10 to 24 inches away from the victim's face.
{¶ 40} During his interviews, appellant told the detective that after watching a Russian
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roulette scene in a movie, he decided to act out the scene and put a bullet in his .38 revolver
because he "wanted to." Subsequently, the victim started playing with the revolver, and
despite appellant's admonition that the gun was loaded with a bullet, "kept clicking it and
clicking it." Appellant told the detective that after the victim pulled the trigger four times, he
knew that if she pulled "the last click, it's over." Nevertheless, after the fourth click, appellant
snatched the loaded gun from the victim's hand as she pointed it to her head. Appellant told
the detective the gun was in his hands when it fired and shot the victim. Thereafter, instead
of providing aid to the victim, appellant fled the scene and threw the gun in the Miami River.
The victim died from the gunshot wound the following day.
{¶ 41} In light of the foregoing, we find the jury did not err in finding appellant guilty of
reckless homicide when he snatched the loaded revolver, a gun he had loaded himself, from
the victim's hand as she was pointing it close to her head, all the while knowing the five-shot
revolver was "on its last click" as the victim had already pulled the trigger four times. While
appellant argued at trial that the gunshot was an accident, it is well-established that "a
conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence simply because the jury believed
the prosecution testimony." State v. Bates, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-06-174, 2010-Ohio-
1723, ¶ 11; see also In re F.D., 2015-Ohio-2405 (whether to believe a defendant's accident
theory is within the purview of the trier of fact). As the trier of fact in this case, the jury was in
the best position to judge the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given the evidence.
State v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-06-143, 2011-Ohio-2207, ¶ 43.
{¶ 42} Appellant's conviction for reckless homicide is accordingly not against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Appellant's third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 43} Judgment affirmed.
PIPER, P.J., and S. POWELL, J., concur.
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