State v. Robinson , 2010 Ohio 6579 ( 2010 )

[Cite as State v. Robinson, 2010-Ohio-6579.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAWRENCE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No: 10CA6
:
v. :
: DECISION AND
WILLIAM R. ROBINSON, : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
Defendant-Appellant. : File-stamped date: 12-21-10
APPEARANCES:
Warren N. Morford, Jr., Ironton, Ohio, for Appellant.
J.B. Collier, Jr., Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney, and Robert C. Anderson,
Lawrence County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Ironton, Ohio, for Appellee.
Kline, J.:
{¶1} William R. Robinson (hereinafter “Robinson”) appeals the judgment of the
Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. After a jury trial, Robinson was found guilty
of felonious assault. Robinson’s appellate counsel has advised this court that, after
reviewing the record, he cannot find a meritorious claim for appeal. As a result,
Robinson’s appellate counsel has moved to withdraw under Anders v. California (1967),
386 U.S. 738. After independently reviewing the record, we agree that Robinson’s
appeal is wholly frivolous. Accordingly, we (1) grant counsel’s request to withdraw and
(2) affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 2
{¶2} Robinson spent the evening of October 25, 2009, at the Fuzzy Duck, a full
service bar and restaurant in Ironton, Ohio. While at the Fuzzy Duck, Robinson saw
Molly Matthews (hereinafter “Matthews”) and Sally Patrick (hereinafter “Patrick”)
dancing together. Robinson approached Matthews and Patrick, but the two women
rebuffed his advance. Sometime later, Robinson returned to his seat.
{¶3} After Matthews and Patrick finished dancing, Matthews wanted to smoke a
cigarette outside. Patrick agreed to join her, so they went outside to stand on the Fuzzy
Duck’s attached deck. Initially, Matthews and Patrick were alone on the deck, but
Robinson joined them a couple minutes later. After Patrick asked Robinson to leave,
Robinson apparently became agitated and said, “I am going to [f--k] you up.” Transcript
at 146, 147. Robinson then asked Matthews if she would “like to go [f--k]” in Robinson’s
van. Transcript at 146, 147. (At trial, Robinson denied making these comments.)
Patrick once again asked Robinson to leave them alone, but he kept moving closer to
Matthews. Alarmed, Patrick went back inside the Fuzzy Duck to get help.
{¶4} In the meantime, Michael Staten (hereinafter “Staten”) and another man
went outside to check on Matthews. Staten saw Robinson near Matthews and asked
him to leave her alone. At about the same time, Patrick returned to the deck with Britt
Delawder (hereinafter “Delawder”), the owner of the Fuzzy Duck. Delawder grabbed
the beer out of Robinson’s hand and told him to leave the premises. Tensions
escalated, and soon Robinson was engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with
Staten and Delawder.
{¶5} Eventually, Staten and Delawder backed Robinson down a “wheelchair
ramp” that led from the deck into the parking lot. Once Robinson was in the parking lot,
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 3
Delawder walked back up the ramp to talk to Patrick. Staten, however, remained at the
bottom of the ramp and kept telling Robinson to leave. Throughout this time, Robinson
jumped around the parking lot in an agitated and aggressive manner. While jumping
around, Robinson also screamed various threats, including “I’m going to cut you up.”
Transcript at 153, 240. Then, Robinson lunged at Staten and sliced at him with a knife.
Staten was not hurt, but his shirt was cut open. Robinson continued to shout and jump
around, but he soon walked through the parking lot, crossed a road, and exited through
an opening in a floodwall. Nobody chased Robinson as he left the scene.
{¶6} About ten-or-twenty minutes later, Robinson returned to the Fuzzy Duck
parking lot. Delawder saw him, ran after Robinson, and chased him into the street. The
chase lasted until a police officer saw Delawder and Robinson in the middle of an
intersection. The officer stopped her cruiser, called for additional officers, and
positioned herself in between Delawder and Robinson. A short time later, the police
secured the knife from Robinson’s front pocket and placed him under arrest.
{¶7} A Lawrence County Grand Jury indicted Robinson with felonious assault.
Robinson entered a not guilty plea, and the case proceeded to a jury trial.
{¶8} At trial, Robinson claimed that he acted in self defense when he sliced his
knife at Staten, and the trial court instructed the jury on the use of deadly force in self
defense. Nevertheless, the jury found Robinson guilty of felonious assault.
II.
{¶9} Although Robinson has appealed his conviction, Robinson’s appellate
counsel has filed both a motion to withdraw and an Anders brief. “In Anders, the United
States Supreme Court held that if counsel determines after a conscientious examination
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 4
of the record that the case is wholly frivolous, counsel should so advise the court and
request permission to withdraw. Id. at 744. Counsel must accompany the request with
a brief identifying anything in the record that could arguably support the appeal. Id.
Counsel also must furnish the client with a copy of the brief and request to withdraw and
allow the client sufficient time to raise any matters that the client chooses. Id. Once
these requirements have been satisfied, the appellate court must then fully examine the
proceedings below to determine if meritorious issues exist. Id. If the appellate court
determines that the appeal is frivolous, it may grant counsel’s request to withdraw and
dismiss the appeal without violating constitutional requirements or may proceed to a
decision on the merits if state law so requires. Id. Alternatively, if the appellate court
concludes that any of the legal points are arguable on their merits, it must afford the
appellant the assistance of counsel to argue the appeal. Id.” State v. Wise, Lawrence
App. No. 08CA40, 2009-Ohio-5264, at ¶11. See, also, State v. Taylor, Montgomery
App. No. 23833, 2010-Ohio-4276, at ¶2 (stating that an appellant must be afforded
“time to file a pro se brief”).
{¶10} Upon receiving an Anders brief, we must “conduct ‘a full examination of all
the proceeding[s] to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous.’” Penson v. Ohio
(1988), 488 U.S. 75, 80, quoting Anders at 744. If we find only frivolous issues on
appeal, we may then proceed to address the case on its merits without affording
appellant the assistance of counsel. Penson at 80. However, if we conclude that there
are nonfrivolous issues for appeal, we must afford appellant the assistance of counsel
to address those issues. Anders at 744; Penson at 80; see, also, State v. Alexander
(Aug. 10, 1999), Lawrence App. No. 98CA29.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 5
{¶11} Here, Robinson’s counsel has satisfied the requirements of Anders. And
although Robinson has not filed a pro se brief, Robinson’s counsel has raised the
following potential assignments of error: I. “The appellant, William R. Robinson, may
assert as an assignment of error, that the jury erred in failing to find he established the
affirmative defense of self defense.” II. “The appellant, William R. Robinson, may assert
as an assignment of error that the verdict is not supported by sufficient evidence.” And
III. “The appellant, William R. Robinson, may assert as an assignment of error that the
trial court erred, to his material prejudice, when it improperly instructed the jury on the
issue of self-defense.” We will examine these potential assignments of error – and the
entire record below – to determine if Robinson’s appeal lacks merit.
III.
{¶12} For ease of analysis, we will review Robinson’s second potential
assignment of error out of order. The second potential assignment of error is that
insufficient evidence supports Robinson’s conviction.
{¶13} When reviewing a case to determine if the record contains sufficient
evidence to support a criminal conviction, we must “‘examine the evidence admitted at
trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind
of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The relevant inquiry is 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. Smith, Pickaway App. No. 06CA7, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶33,
quoting State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, at paragraph two of the syllabus.
See, also, Jackson v. Virginia (1979), 443 U.S. 307, 319.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 6
{¶14} The sufficiency-of-the-evidence test “raises a question of law and does not
allow us to weigh the evidence.” Smith, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶34, citing State v. Martin
(1983), 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175. Instead, the sufficiency-of-the-evidence test “‘gives
full play to the responsibility of the trier of fact fairly to resolve conflicts in the testimony,
to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate
facts.’” Smith, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶34, quoting Jackson at 319. This court will “reserve
the issues of the weight given to the evidence and the credibility of witnesses for the
trier of fact.” Smith, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶34, citing State v. Thomas (1982), 70 Ohio
St.2d 79, 79-80; State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St. 2d 230, at paragraph one of the
syllabus.
{¶15} Robinson was convicted of felonious assault. R.C. 2903.11(A)(2) provides
that “[n]o person shall knowingly * * * [c]ause or attempt to cause physical harm to
another or to another’s unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.”
“Under Ohio law, a knife is not presumed to be a deadly weapon. State v. Perkins (May
13, 1996), Fayette App. No. CA95-08-020[,] citing City of Columbus v. Dawson (1986),
28 Ohio App. 3d 45, 46 * * *. Instead, the prosecution must prove either (1) that the
knife was designed or specifically adapted for use as a weapon, or (2) the defendant
possessed, carried, or used the knife as a weapon. Perkins[.]” State v. Pringle, Butler
App. No. CA2007-08-193 & CA2007-09-238, 2008-Ohio-5421, at ¶43; see, also, State
v. Hill, Franklin App. No. 09AP-398, 2010-Ohio-1687, at ¶30; State v. Schooler,
Montgomery App. No. 19627, 2003-Ohio-6248, at ¶20.
{¶16} Here, under the circumstances, Robinson’s knife clearly qualifies as a
deadly weapon. First, Patrick and Staten both testified that Robinson said, “I’m going to
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 7
cut you up.” Transcript at 153, 240. By making this statement, Robinson demonstrated
that he intended to use the knife as a weapon. See Pringle at ¶44; Schooler at ¶25.
Moreover, on cross-examination, Robinson testified that he took the knife out of his
pocket and “sliced it like that[.]” Transcript at 312. The prosecution asked Robinson to
clarify what he meant by “sliced.”
{¶17} “Q. But then you used the word on cross examination the word sliced.
That implicated to me that you were doing something.
{¶18} “A. That’s attempting to cut somebody that was going to hurt me yes.
{¶19} “Q. Okay, that’s what I’m making clear.
{¶20} “A. Yeah.” Transcript at 313.
{¶21} Thus, Robinson admitted to actually using the knife as a weapon. And
accordingly, the knife clearly qualifies as a deadly weapon under R.C. 2903.11(A)(2).
{¶22} The evidence also supports the remaining elements of felonious assault.
First, Robinson testified that he “attempt[ed] to cut” Staten. Transcript at 313. Second,
Delawder and Staten testified to a similar series of events; that is, Robinson either
“[s]wung at” or “lunged at” Staten. Transcript at 188, 240. Finally, Staten’s shirt was
cut, and the police recovered the knife from Robinson shortly after the altercation. In
short, the evidence against Robinson is overwhelming, especially considering
Robinson’s own testimony that he (1) brandished a knife and (2) sliced it at Staten.
{¶23} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any
rational trier of fact could have found that Robinson knowingly attempted to cause
physical harm to Staten by means of a deadly weapon. Therefore, we agree that
Robinson’s second potential assignment of error is without merit.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 8
IV.
{¶24} We will next address Robinson’s third potential assignment of error. Here,
Robinson’s counsel states that the trial court might have erred by giving the self-
defense instruction pertaining to the use of deadly force. Instead, Robinson argues
that, perhaps, the trial court should have given the self-defense instruction for the use of
non-deadly force.
{¶25} Robinson did not object to the deadly-force instruction at the trial court
level. Therefore, with regards to the jury instruction, Robinson has forfeited all but plain
error on appeal. See, e.g., State v. Cooper, 170 Ohio App. 3d 418, 2007-Ohio-1186, at
¶30 (citations omitted); see, also, Crim.R. 30(A). However, because Robinson’s
counsel has filed an Anders brief, we must examine the entire proceedings for potential
error. As a result, we will review Robinson’s second potential assignment of error as
though he did object to the deadly-force instruction. This is so because the failure to
object to a jury instruction may constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. See, e.g.,
State v. Baltzer, Washington App. No. 06CA76, 2007-Ohio-6719, at ¶20-31. And if we
can find no error under the more lenient standard of review – that is, no error even if
Robinson’s trial counsel had objected – there can be no meritorious issues related to
the trial court’s choice of self-defense instruction. See State v. Norman, Ross App. Nos.
08CA3059 & 08CA3066, 2009-Ohio-5458, at ¶69 (“Defense counsel’s failure to raise
meritless issues does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.”) (internal
quotation omitted); State v. Woullard, 158 Ohio App. 3d 31, 2004-Ohio-3395, at ¶44
(finding that “a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel cannot be predicated upon a
matter which did not constitute error”).
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 9
{¶26} “Generally, a trial court has broad discretion in deciding how to fashion
jury instructions. A trial court must not, however, fail to ‘fully and completely give the
jury all instructions which are relevant and necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence
and discharge its duty as the fact finder.’ State v. Comen (1990), 50 Ohio St. 3d 206[,
at] paragraph two of the syllabus. Additionally, a trial court may not omit a requested
instruction, if such instruction is ‘a correct, pertinent statement of the law and [is]
appropriate to the facts * * *.’ State v. Lessin (1993), 67 Ohio St. 3d 487, 493[,] (quoting
State v. Nelson (1973), 36 Ohio St. 2d 79[, at] paragraph one of the syllabus).
{¶27} “In determining whether to give a requested jury instruction, a trial court
may inquire into the sufficiency of the evidence to support the requested instruction.
See id. at 494. A trial court is therefore vested with discretion to determine whether
sufficient evidence was presented at trial [to] require[] a particular jury instruction.
[State v. Mitts, 81 Ohio St. 3d 223, 228, 1998-Ohio-635.] If, however, the evidence does
not warrant an instruction a trial court is not obligated to give the requested instruction.
See Lessin * * * at 494. Thus, in our review we must determine whether the trial court
abused its discretion by finding that the evidence was insufficient to support the
requested charge. See Mitts [at 228]; State v. Wolons (1989), 44 Ohio St. 3d 64[, at]
paragraph two of the syllabus; see, also, State v. Elijah (July 14, 2000), Montgomery
App. No. 18034. Generally, an abuse of discretion may be found if a trial court’s
attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. See, e.g., State v. Montgomery
(1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d 410, 413[.]” Smith v. Redecker, Athens App. No. 08CA33, 2010-
Ohio-505, at ¶51-52. See, also, State v. Gary, Hamilton App. No. C-090643, 2010-
Ohio-5321, at ¶23; State v. Jordan, Trumbull App. No. 2009-T-0110, 2010-Ohio-5183,
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 10
at ¶27; State v. McClendon, Montgomery App. No. 23558, 2010-Ohio-4757, at ¶13; but,
see, State v. Howard, Ross App. No. 07CA2948, 2007-Ohio-6331, at ¶27 (“[T]he issue
of whether an instruction is required presents a question of law for de novo review.”).
{¶28} “The self-defense instruction based on the use of deadly force requires a
defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) that he was not at fault in
creating the situation giving rise to the altercation; (2) that he had a bona fide belief that
he was in immediate danger of bodily harm and that his only means of escape from
such danger was the use of force; and (3) that he did not violate any duty to retreat or to
avoid the danger.” State v. Vu, Franklin App. No. 09AP-606, 2010-Ohio-4019, at ¶10,
citing State v. D.H., 169 Ohio App. 3d 798, 2006-Ohio-6953, at ¶30, in turn citing State
v. Jackson (1986), 22 Ohio St. 3d 281, 284. See, also, State v. Braylock, Lucas App.
No. L-08-1433, 2010-Ohio-4722, at ¶24, citing State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St. 3d 21, 24,
2002-Ohio-68, in turn citing State v. Robbins (1979), 58 Ohio St. 2d 74, at paragraph two
of the syllabus.
{¶29} “In contrast, the non-deadly force instruction requires a defendant to
establish (1) that the defendant was not at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the
altercation and (2) that he had reasonable grounds to believe and an honest belief,
even [if] mistaken, that he was in imminent danger of bodily harm and his only means to
protect himself from such danger was by the use of force not likely to cause death or
great bodily harm.” State v. Griffin, Montgomery App. No. 20681, 2005-Ohio-3698, at
¶18, citing 4 Ohio Jury Instructions (2006), Section 411.33; State v. Hansen, Athens
App. No. 01CA15, 2002-Ohio-6135, at ¶24; see, also, State v. Jeffers, Lake App. No.
2007-L-011, 2008-Ohio-1894, at ¶67.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 11
{¶30} “‘Deadly force’ means any force that carries a substantial risk that it will
proximately result in the death of any person.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(2). In this regard, we
have found “that slashing another person with a lock-blade knife carries a substantial
risk of death. * * * And, likewise, we [have also found] that a deadly-force, self-defense
instruction is appropriate when physical harm was inflicted by means of a deadly
weapon or dangerous ordnance.” Hansen at ¶29, citing State v. Wagner (July 14,
2000), Lake App. No. 99-L-043; State v. Chlebowski (May 28, 1992), Cuyahoga App.
No. 60808. See, also, State v. Kewer, Lorain App. No. 07CA009128, 2007-Ohio-7047,
at ¶7; State v. Sims, Cuyahoga App. No. 85608, 2005-Ohio-5846, at ¶16-17; Griffin at
¶20. Here, we have already found that Robinson’s knife qualifies as a deadly weapon.
And Robinson himself admitted that he “sliced” the knife at Staten. Therefore, sufficient
evidence supports the self-defense instruction pertaining to the use of deadly force, and
we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion by choosing the deadly-force
instruction.
{¶31} Accordingly, we agree that Robinson’s third potential assignment of error
has no merit.
V.
{¶32} Robinson’s first potential assignment of error is that he should have been
acquitted based on the affirmative defense of self defense. Essentially, Robinson
contends that the jury’s finding of guilt was, perhaps, against the manifest weight of the
evidence. See, e.g., State v. King, Lorain App. No. 10CA009755, 2010-Ohio-4400, at
¶20-21 (reviewing a self-defense claim under the manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 12
standard); State v. Smiley, Cuyahoga App. No. 93565, 2010-Ohio-4002, at ¶¶13, 25
(same).
{¶33} “The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the
evidence are both quantitatively and qualitatively different.” State v. Thompkins, 78
Ohio St. 3d 380, 1997-Ohio-52, at paragraph two of the syllabus. Sufficiency is a test of
the adequacy of the evidence, but “‘[w]eight of the evidence concerns the inclination of
the greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the
issue rather than the other[.]’” State v. Sudderth, Lawrence App. No. 07CA38, 2008-
Ohio-5115, at ¶27, quoting Thompkins at 387 (other internal quotation omitted).
{¶34} “Even when sufficient evidence supports a verdict, we may conclude that
the verdict is against the manifest weight of the evidence, because the test under the
manifest weight standard is much broader than that for sufficiency of the evidence.”
Smith, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶41. We “must review the entire record, weigh the evidence
and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine
whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and
created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and
a new trial granted.” Smith, 2007-Ohio-502, at ¶41, citing State v. Garrow (1995), 103
Ohio App. 3d 368, 370-371; Martin at 175. However, “[o]n the trial of a case, * * * the
weight to be given the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are primarily for the
trier of the facts.” DeHass, at paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶35} “By claiming self-defense, [Robinson] concedes [that] he had the purpose
to commit the act, but asserts that he was justified in his actions. * * * [Robinson] had
the burden at trial to prove self-defense by a preponderance of the evidence.” King at
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 13
¶20 (internal quotation and citations omitted). We have already found that the self-
defense instruction pertaining to the use of deadly force was appropriate. And here, the
evidence clearly demonstrates that Robinson could have escaped any danger by fleeing
into the parking lot. Immediately before the slicing incident, Delawder stood near the
top of the ramp while Staten stood at the bottom. Robinson, however, was entirely off
the ramp and jumping around the parking lot – anywhere from six feet to fifteen feet
away from Staten. Transcript at 240. And as Robinson’s own testimony demonstrates,
he had wide open access to the parking lot.
{¶36} “Q. Somebody, there was a person behind you?
{¶37} “A. Naw.
{¶38} “Q. No, okay. Was there a parking lot behind you?
{¶39} “A. Yeah cars right here, cars over here and a little deck, whatever that is.”
Transcript at 316.
{¶40} Thus, nobody involved in the confrontation was behind Robinson;
Robinson was not “surrounded”; and Robinson had a wide open and unabated means
of escape. But rather than escape, Robinson lunged forward and sliced his knife in
Staten’s direction. For these reasons, the jury could have reasonably concluded that
deadly force was not justified because Robinson had other means of escape.
Therefore, we cannot find that the jury created a manifest miscarriage of justice.
{¶41} Accordingly, we agree that Robinson’s first potential assignment of error
has no merit.
V.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 14
{¶42} We find no merit in any of Robinson’s potential assignments of error.
Furthermore, after fully examining the proceedings below, we have found no other
potential issues for appeal. Because we agree that Robinson’s appeal is wholly
frivolous, we (1) grant Robinson’s counsel’s motion to withdraw and (2) affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 15
Harsha, J., concurring:
{¶43} I concur in judgment and opinion except for the discussion at ¶27 applying an
abuse of discretion standard to determine whether the evidence warrants a particular
jury instruction. Although the discussion correctly cites State v. Mitts, 81Ohio St.3d
223, 228, 1998-Ohio-635, I continue to apply the Supreme Court’s directive in Murphy v.
Carrollton Manufacturing Company (1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d 585 at 591 (citing the syllabus
of Feterle v. Huettner (1971), 28 Ohio St. 2d 54, which concludes:
In reviewing a record to ascertain the presence of sufficient evidence to
support the giving of a[n]*** instruction, an appellate court should
determine whether the record contains evidence from which reasonable
minds might reach the conclusion sought by the instruction.
{¶44} Thus, I would review the issue on a de novo basis keeping in mind that
ordinarily a court should give a requested instruction if it is a correct statement of
the law applicable to the case and reasonable minds could reach the conclusion
sought by the instruction. Id.
Lawrence App. No. 10CA6 16
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED. Appellant shall pay the costs
herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the
Lawrence County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
McFarland, P.J.: Concurs In Judgment and Opinion.
Harsha, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion with Opinion.
For the Court
BY:_____________________________
Roger L. Kline, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.