State v. Russell , 2021 Ohio 3982 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Russell, 2021-Ohio-3982.]
COURT OF APPEALS
LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
:
DALE M. RUSSELL, JR. : Case No. 2021 CA 0026
:
Defendant-Appellant :
: OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Licking County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 20CR59
JUDGMENT: Affirmed in part; Reversed in part;
Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 8, 2021
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
WILLIAM C. HAYES WILLIAM T. CRAMER
Licking County Prosecutor 40 Olde Worthington Road, Suite 200
By: PAULA M. SAWYERS Westerville, OH 43082
Assistant Prosecutor
20 S. Second Street, 4th Floor
Newark, OH 43055
[Cite as State v. Russell, 2021-Ohio-3982.]
Gwin, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Dale Russell, Jr. [Russell] appeals his convictions and
sentences after a jury trial in the Licking County Court of Common Pleas.
Facts and Procedural History
{¶2} On May 29, 2020 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Jeremy Hart returned to the
home he shared with his girlfriend of nine years and their four children. Hart was holding
his head and had blood all over him. He was crying and kept asking why Russell who
was also known as “Mikey” had hit him in the head. Hart was hugging his children
and saying goodbye. Hart’s girlfriend Kim Rothgeb had to keep slapping Hart to keep
him awake because he was going unconscious and she thought he might die.
Rothgeb called 9-1-1.
{¶3} Kyle Sands a firefighter EMT with the Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District
and the Thorn Township Fire Department responded to the home and found Hart to
be alert and oriented but confused as to why he had been hit.
{¶4} Officer Eric Shaw responded to the initial call and found Hart bleeding from
the top of his head. Hart did not remember exactly what happened but said he believed
that Russell hit him in the head with a pipe wrench. Hart said that Russell assumed he
was sleeping with his wife.
{¶5} Hart testified that on the night of May 28, 2020, he and Russell walked next
door to another trailer where several people had gathered to smoke drugs. At some point,
Russell asked to speak alone with Hart about Russell’s wife. Hart put Russell off until later
saying it was not a good time to talk. Russell asked if Hart had any methamphetamine
and Hart gave Russell a gram because they were friends. Hart then heard Russell walk
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 3
to the tool chest behind him and heard a clinking sound. Just as Hart was handing the
bong to another friend, he turned and saw Russell hit him with a pipe wrench. Russell
wrestled Hart to the ground and said: "Did you think I was fucking playing? I told you not
to fuck with my wife." Russell went to hit him again, but one of the other men stopped
him.
{¶6} Hart admitted using methamphetamine that night along with the other
people who were at the other trailer. Hart admitted he was addicted to meth and that was
what he did socially with that group of people. Hart testified that he had to be life-flighted
from Licking Memorial Hospital to Grant Hospital due to bone fragments lodging in his
brain.
{¶7} A few weeks after the incident, Russell came by to apologize and gave
Rothgeb $100.00. Russell told her he had done this to people before, but he was very
sorry about this one because he knew that Hart was not having an affair with his wife.
Russell said something about the devil taking over his body that night. Rothgeb testified
that since the incident, Russell's wife and some mutual friends had been pressuring them
to leave and not testify against Russell. Rothgeb said they felt threatened by some of the
mutual friends. Rothgeb testified that a neighbor gave the pipe wrench to Hart, but Hart
gave it to Russell because he was trying to maintain their friendship even after the
incident.
{¶8} On December 15, 2020, Officer James Martin of the Hebron Police
Department interviewed Russell. Russell began by saying that he was not the one who
hit Hart, but also admitted that he had a violent history. Russell said he ran away from the
trailer park afterwards because he knew he would be blamed due to his violent past.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 4
Russell admitted that he had been arguing with his wife and claimed that Hart was upset
about communications between the wife and Rothgeb. Russell said that Hart did some
posturing, and Russell told him that if they were going to fight they would fight, but nothing
came of it.
{¶9} On cross-examination, Officer Martin read from his report indicating that
Russell said that Hart was involved with some bad people dealing drugs. Two unknown
men came over that night and Hart went outside to talk with them. At some point, Russell
looked outside and Hart was on the ground and the two men appeared to be robbing him.
Russell and two other men ran outside and chased off the unknown men. When Russell
tried to help Hart back into the trailer, Hart became hostile and asked why he had hit him.
Russell then ran off because he knew he would be blamed since Hart thought it was him.
{¶10} Officer Martin testified that he took the December statement from Hart. In
that statement, Hart indicated that he had been dealing with two other individuals and
was standing in the door to the other trailer when he heard a clicking sound and saw a
white flash. Hart said he did not know who hit him, but thought it was Russell because he
was standing over him.
{¶ 11} Hart testified that he gave a different statement because he was trying to
cover for Russell, who was an old friend. Russell had been trying to maintain their
friendship by taking Hart fishing and apologizing. Russell had even attempted to
arrange jobs for Ha r t a n d Ro th geb . In June 2020, Hart provided a written statement
to the police identifying Russell as the assailant.
{¶12} Erik McCourt, an investigator with the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office
identified a number of phone calls and phone visits between Russell and his wife. In these,
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 5
Russell appear to be attempting to ensure that Hart would not be available to testify
against him.
{¶13} The parties stipulated Hart had suffered “serious physical harm” as a result
of being hit in the head with an object on May 29, 2020. T. at 178-179.
{¶14} The jury found Russell guilty of felonious assault with a deadly weapon in
violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2) and felonious assault causing serious physical harm
in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), both second-degree felonies. The trial court
proceeded directly to sentencing and imposed concurrent indeterminate prison
terms of eight to twelve years on each count.
Assignments of Error
{¶15} Russell raises two Assignments of Error,
{¶16} “I. APPELLANT'S CONVICTIONS FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT
WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶17} “II. APPELLANT WAS IMPROPERLY SENTENCED ON A SECOND
FELONIOUS ASSAULT THAT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED ON THE RECORD
DURING THE SENTENCING HEARING.”
I.
{¶18} In his First Assignment of Error, Russell argues that the jury verdict is
against the manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically, Russell argues that the jury lost
their way in determining that he was actually the one who hurt Hart, based upon an
argument that the jury could not have found Hart credible due to his inconsistent
statements.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 6
{¶19} Russell was convicted of two counts of felonious assault. The first count
related to the use of a deadly weapon and required proof that Russell knowingly caused
or attempted to cause physical harm to another by means of a deadly weapon. R.C.
2903.11(A)(2).The second count required proof that Russell knowingly caused serious
physical harm to another. R.C. 2903.11(A)(1). The parties stipulated Hart had suffered
“serious physical harm” as a result of being hit in the head with an object on May 29,
2020. T. at 178-179. Accordingly, the only issue was the identity of the person who struck
Hart.
Standard of Appellate Review – Manifest Weight.
{¶20} As to the weight of the evidence, the issue is whether the jury created a
manifest miscarriage of justice in resolving conflicting evidence, even though the
evidence of guilt was legally sufficient. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386–387,
678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds as
stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668, 1997–Ohio–355; State v.
Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67, 752 N.E.2d 904 (2001).
“[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against
the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every
reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the
finding of facts.
***
“If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the
reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent with
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 7
the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and
judgment.”
Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn.
3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192 (1978).
{¶21} The reviewing court must bear in mind, however, that credibility generally is
an issue for the trier of fact to resolve. State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67, 752 N.E.2d
904 (2001); State v. Murphy, 4th Dist. Ross No. 07CA2953, 2008–Ohio–1744, ¶ 31.
Because the trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses and is particularly competent to
decide whether, and to what extent, to credit the testimony of particular witnesses, the
appellate court must afford substantial deference to its determinations of credibility.
Barberton v. Jenney, 126 Ohio St.3d 5, 2010–Ohio–2420, 929 N.E.2d 1047, ¶ 20. In
other words, “[w]hen there exist two fairly reasonable views of the evidence or two
conflicting versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, it is not our province to
choose which one we believe.” State v. Dyke, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 99 CA 149, 2002–
Ohio–1152, at ¶ 13, citing State v. Gore, 131 Ohio App.3d 197, 201, 722 N.E.2d 125(7th
Dist. 1999). Thus, an appellate court will leave the issues of weight and credibility of the
evidence to the fact finder, as long as a rational basis exists in the record for its decision.
State v. Picklesimer, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 11CA9, 2012–Ohio–1282, ¶ 24.
{¶22} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, an appellate court may
not merely substitute its view for that of the jury, but must find that “‘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. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,
quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721(1st Dist.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 8
1983). Accordingly, reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “the exceptional
case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” Id.Issue for Appellate Review: Whether the jury clearly lost their way and created
such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the convictions for felonious assault must be
reversed and a new trial ordered.
{¶23} The jury as the trier of fact was free to accept or reject any and all of the
evidence offered by the parties and assess the witness’s credibility. “While the trier of
fact may take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly * * *
such inconsistencies do not render defendant’s conviction against the manifest weight or
sufficiency of the evidence.” State v. Craig, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 99AP–739, 1999 WL
29752 (Mar 23, 2000) citing State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 95APA09–1236, 1996
WL 284714 (May 28, 1996). Indeed, the trier of fact need not believe all of a witness’
testimony, but may accept only portions of it as true. State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin
No. 02AP–604, 2003–Ohio–958, ¶ 21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197
N.E.2d 548 (1964); State v. Burke, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP–1238, 2003–Ohio–2889,
citing State v. Caldwell, 79 Ohio App.3d 667, 607 N.E.2d 1096 (4th Dist. 1992). Although
the evidence may have been circumstantial, we note that circumstantial evidence has the
same probative value as direct evidence. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574
N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph one of the syllabus, superseded by State constitutional
amendment on other grounds as stated in State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 102 at n.4,
684 N.E.2d 668 (1997).
{¶24} In the case at bar, the jury heard the witnesses and viewed the evidence.
The jury saw and hear Hart subject to cross-examination. The jury heard Hart’s previous
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 9
statements about what led up to his injury as well as his explanations about his motivation
for lying to the police and claiming Russell did not strike him. Thus, a rational basis exists
in the record for the jury’s decision.
{¶25} We find that this is not an “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs
heavily against the conviction.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386–387, 678
N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. Based upon
the foregoing and the entire record in this matter we find Russell’s conviction is not against
the sufficiency or the manifest weight of the evidence. To the contrary, the jury appears
to have fairly and impartially decided the matters before them. The jury heard the
witnesses, evaluated the evidence, and was convinced of Russell’s guilt. The jury neither
lost their way nor created a miscarriage of justice in convicting Russell of felonious
assault.
{¶26} Finally, upon careful consideration of the record in its entirety, we find that
there is substantial evidence presented which if believed, proves all the elements of the
crime of felonious assault for which Russell was convicted.
{¶27} Russell’s First Assignments of Error is overruled.
II.
{¶28} In his Second Assignment of Error, Russell argues that the trial court erred
by sentencing him on two counts of Felonious Assault in its judgment entry at sentencing,
arguing that he was not sentenced on two counts of Felonious Assault during the actual
sentencing hearing. Russell further maintains, “Although the parties never raised the
issue of merger in the trial court, this case seems like an obvious situation for merger
under R.C. 2941.25. Russell was merely accused of striking a single victim one time, and
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 10
the two assault counts were pled as alternative means of committing the same offense.
It seems likely that the parties remained silent on the issue of merger because they
assumed that was what the court was doing when it only imposed one prison term.”
[Appellant’s Brief at 9].
Standard of Review – Plain Error
{¶29} In this case, Russell failed to object to his sentences in the trial court. In
State v. Rogers, the Ohio Supreme Court recently examined a case where the defendant
was convicted of multiple offenses pursuant to a guilty plea. State v. Rogers 143 Ohio
St.3d 385, 2015–Ohio–2459, 38 N.E.3d 860. The defendant appealed and argued for the
first time on appeal that some of the convictions should have merged for sentencing. Id.
at ¶ 11. The matter was certified as a conflict and presented to the Ohio Supreme Court.
In making its decision, the Court clarified the difference between waiver and forfeiture as
it pertains to allied offenses. Id. at ¶19–21. The Court rejected the argument that by
entering a guilty plea to offenses that could be construed to be two or more allied offenses
of similar import, the accused waives the protection against multiple punishments under
R.C. 2941.25. Id. at ¶ 19. The Court held that an accused's failure to seek the merger of
his or her convictions as allied offenses of similar import in the trial court, the accused
forfeits his or her allied offenses claim for appellate review. Id. at ¶ 21. “[F]orfeiture is the
failure to timely assert a right or object to an error, and * * * ‘it is a well-established rule
that “an appellate court will not consider any error which counsel for a party complaining
of the trial court's judgment could have called but did not call to the trial court's attention
at a time when such error could have been avoided or corrected by the trial court.” ‘“Id. at
¶ 21.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 11
{¶30} The accused may raise a forfeited claim on appeal through Crim.R. 52(B).
Pursuant to Crim.R. 52(B), “plain errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be
noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” The Court held in
Rogers:
An accused's failure to raise the issue of allied offenses of similar
import in the trial court forfeits all but plain error, and a forfeited error is not
reversible error unless it affected the outcome of the proceeding and
reversal is necessary to correct a manifest miscarriage of justice.
Accordingly, an accused 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; absent
that showing, the accused cannot demonstrate that the trial court's failure
to inquire whether the convictions merge for purposes of sentencing was
plain error.
Rogers, 2015–Ohio–2459, ¶ 3. The Court in Rogers reaffirmed that even if an accused
shows the trial court committed plain error affecting the outcome of the proceeding, the
appellate court is not required to correct it. Id. at ¶ 23. The Supreme Court stated:
We have “admonish[ed] courts to notice plain error ‘with the utmost
caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest
miscarriage of justice.’ “(Emphasis added.) Barnes at 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240,
quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978), paragraph
three of the syllabus.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 12
Rogers at ¶ 23. Accord, State v. Carr, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 15-CA-00007, 2016-Ohio-9,
¶ 10- 12; State v. Starr, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 16-COA-019, 2016-Ohio-8179, ¶10-12.
Issue for Appellate Review: Whether the trial court committed plain error by not
merging Russell’s convictions as allied offenses.
{¶31} R.C. 2941.25, Multiple counts states:
Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or
information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may
be convicted of only one.
(B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses
of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of
the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as
to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such
offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.
{¶32} In State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015–Ohio–995, 34 N.E.2d 892, the
Ohio Supreme Court revised its allied-offense jurisprudence,
1. In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar
import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must evaluate three
separate factors-the conduct, the animus, and the import.
2. Two or more offenses of dissimilar import exist within the meaning
of R.C. 2941.25(B) when the defendant’s conduct constitutes offenses
involving separate victims or if the harm that results from each offense is
separate and identifiable.
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 13
Ruff, at syllabus. The Court further explained,
A trial court and the reviewing court on appeal when considering
whether there are allied offenses that merge into a single conviction under
R.C. 2941.25(A) must first take into account the conduct of the defendant.
In other words, how were the offenses committed? If any of the following is
true, the offenses cannot merge and the defendant may be convicted and
sentenced for multiple offenses: (1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or
significance—in other words, each offense caused separate, identifiable
harm, (2) the offenses were committed separately, and (3) the offenses
were committed with separate animus or motivation.
***
An affirmative answer to any of the above will permit separate
convictions. The conduct, the animus, and the import must all be
considered.
{¶33} In the case at bar, only one criminal act was alleged and proven during
Russell’s jury trial. Hart was struck one time with an object resulting in serious physical
harm.
{¶34} “Deadly weapon” is defined in part as “any instrument, device, or thing
capable of inflicting death and ... possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.” R.C.
2923.11(A). In the case at bar, the weapon used was a pipe wrench. The evidence
presented at trial established that the pipe wrench was wielded as a weapon. Hart testified
that he had to be life-flighted from Licking Memorial Hospital to Grant Hospital due to
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 14
bone fragments lodging in his brain. Thus, the evidence at trial established the pipe
wrench’s capability to inflict death.
{¶35} In the case at bar, Russell was indicted with alternative means of committing
a single criminal act. Pursuant to Rogers, it is Russell’s burden to demonstrate a
reasonable probability that the convictions were for allied offenses of similar import
committed with the same conduct and without a separate animus. On this record, we find
that Russell has demonstrated a probability that he was convicted of allied offenses of
similar import committed with the same conduct and with the same animus.
{¶36} In the case at bar, we find that the felonious assault charge under R.C.
2903.11(A)(1) and R.C. 2903.11(A)(2) were committed through a single criminal act and
with single state of mind. Therefore, the charges in count one and two are allied offenses
and should have been merged. The state retains the right to elect which allied offense to
pursue on resentencing. Therefore we find that the trial court committed plain error in
failing to merge the offenses for sentencing.
{¶37} In cases in which the imposition of multiple punishments is at issue, R.C.
2941.25(A)’s mandate that a defendant may only be “convicted” of one allied offense is a
protection against multiple sentences rather than multiple convictions. See, e.g., Ohio v.
Johnson, 467 U.S. 493, 498, 104 S.Ct. 2536, 81 L.Ed.2d 425 (1984). A defendant may
be indicted and tried for allied offenses of similar import, but may be sentenced on only
one of the allied offenses. State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569, 895
N.E.2d 149, ¶ 42. Because R.C. 2941.25(A) protects a defendant only from being
punished for allied offenses, the determination of the defendant’s guilt for committing
allied offenses remains intact, both before and after the merger of allied offenses for
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 15
sentencing. State v. Whitfield, 124 Ohio St.3d 319, 2010-Ohio-2, 922 N.E.2d 182, ¶ 27.
Thus, the trial court should not vacate or dismiss the guilt determination on each count.
Id.{¶38} We recognize that the trial court imposed the sentence for Count One
concurrently with the sentence for Count Two. However, the imposition of concurrent
sentences is not the equivalent of merging allied offenses. State v. Damron, 129 Ohio
St.3d 86, 2011-Ohio-2268, 95 N.E.2d 512, ¶17. Therefore, a trial court must merge the
crimes into a single conviction and impose a sentence that is appropriate for the offense
chosen for sentencing. Id. citing State v. Brown, 119 Ohio St.3d 447, 2008-Ohio-4569,
895 N.E.2d 149, at ¶ 41–43.
{¶39} “When a cause is remanded to a trial court to correct an allied-offenses
sentencing error, the trial court must hold a new sentencing hearing for the offenses that
remain after the state selects which allied offense or offenses to pursue. R.C. §§
2929.19(A), 2941.25.” State v. Wilson, 121 Ohio St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d
381 at paragraph one of the syllabus. Only the sentences for the offenses that were
affected by the appealed error are reviewed de novo; the sentences for any offenses that
were not affected by the appealed error are not vacated and are not subject to review.
Wilson at ¶15 citing State v. Saxon, 109 Ohio St.3d 176, 2006-Ohio-1245, 846 N.E.2d
824, at paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶40} Russell’s Second Assignment of Error is sustained.
{¶41} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Licking County, Ohio, is
affirmed in part, and reversed in part. Russell’s sentences on Count One and Count Two
are vacated. In accordance with the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Wilson,
Licking County, Case No. 2021CA 0026 16
129 Ohio St.3d 214, 2011–Ohio–2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, we remand this case to the trial
court for further proceedings consistent with that opinion.
By Gwin, P.J.,
Wise, John, J., and
Delaney, J., concur