State v. McClain , 2011 Ohio 1623 ( 2011 )


Menu:
  • [Cite as State v. McClain, 
    2011-Ohio-1623
    .]
    COURT OF APPEALS
    GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    STATE OF OHIO                                 :      JUDGES:
    :
    :      Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
    Plaintiff-Appellee     :      Hon. John W. Wise, J.
    :      Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
    -vs-                                          :
    :      Case No. 10-CA-10
    DOUGLAS MCCLAIN                               :
    :
    :
    Defendant-Appellant     :      OPINION
    CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Appeal from the Guernsey County Court of
    Common Pleas Case No. 2009-CR-0097
    JUDGMENT:                                         AFFIRMED
    DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           March 30, 2011
    APPEARANCES:
    For Plaintiff-Appellee:                              For Defendant-Appellant:
    DANIEL G. PADDEN 0038781                             GEORGE URBAN 0062725
    Guernsey County Prosecutor                           116 Cleveland Ave. N., Ste. 808
    139 W. Eighth St.                                    Canton, Ohio 44702
    Cambridge, Ohio 43725
    [Cite as State v. McClain, 
    2011-Ohio-1623
    .]
    Delaney, J.
    {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant Douglas McClain appeals the judgment of the
    Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, convicting him of one count of murder, an
    unclassified felony, in violation of R.C. 2903.02, with a firearm specification in violation
    of R.C. 2941.145.
    {¶2}     In August, 2008, Appellant met Candace O’Neill. Although O’Neill had her
    own residence, she moved into Appellant’s trailer, which was owned by his parents. In
    December, 2008, O’Neill began expressing concerns about Appellant’s behavior, stating
    that he was acting secretive about where he went. Appellant allegedly told O’Neill that
    she needed to move out of his home. On the evening of December 27, 2008, O’Neill
    spoke to her daughter, Meghan. On December 27, O’Neill, who had a college degree in
    psychology, asked Meghan to obtain paperwork so that O’Neill could apply for a license
    to be a childcare provider in Summit County.
    {¶3}     O’Neill’s friend, Kate Hillman, stated that she spoke with O’Neill at
    approximately 2:00 p.m. on the day that O’Neill died, December 28, 2008, and that
    O’Neill stated that her relationship with Appellant was not going well. Hillman stated
    that she told O’Neill that if the relationship was not working out, O’Neill should walk to
    the nearby home of O’Neill’s sister, Michelle and telephone Hillman when she arrived at
    Michelle’s house. O’Neill indicated that she would, however, she never called Hillman
    back.
    {¶4}     On December 28, 2008, at 4:35 p.m., Appellant called 911, stating that he
    had just been shot. According to dispatcher, Christine Galbreth, Appellant was difficult
    to understand on the phone. Appellant told the dispatcher that the person who shot him
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                       3
    had died. When the dispatcher asked who had shot him, he stated that he needed help
    and hung up. Appellant then called his mother and told her “goodbye.”
    {¶5}   When authorities arrived, Appellant was pacing around the outside of the
    trailer where he lived. He stated that his girlfriend shot him and he shot her back. The
    emergency medical squad arrived at 4:39 p.m., and observed that Appellant had a
    through and through gunshot wound on the right side of his chest.
    {¶6}   Despite his injury, Appellant insisted on going to the backyard to say
    goodbye to his pet wolves and refused assistance getting into the ambulance. He
    refused assistance in removing his hoodie and removed his own sweatshirt in the
    ambulance.     Appellant was transported to the hospital with two fractured ribs, a
    hematoma on his lung, and was placed in intensive care. He later left the hospital
    against medical advice. Subsequently, he returned to the hospital and was readmitted
    with a partially collapsed lung and a pneumothorax.         Dr. Clark Leslie, Appellant’s
    treating physician, testified that it was possible that Appellant’s gunshot wound was self-
    inflicted.
    {¶7}   As sheriff’s deputies searched the inside of the home on December 28,
    2008, they discovered the body of Candace O’Neill lying in the trailer between the
    kitchen and the entry to the master bedroom. Her body was lying face up with her feet
    facing the front door. The coroner discovered a .38 caliber bullet entry wound was in
    the middle of her back. The coroner discovered that the bullet had traveled in a slightly
    downward trajectory and exited her body in the middle of the front of her chest. The
    bullet then struck a portable, folded-up treadmill near her body, before stopping under a
    living room chair in front of O’Neill’s body. There was minimal blood around O’Neill, as
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                        4
    the coroner testified that a large amount of blood was pooled in her abdominal cavity,
    likely due to the fact that her body had been turned over after being shot. DNA testing
    did not exclude Appellant as a contributor to the blood found on O’Neill’s neck, the
    kitchen floor or the treadmill.
    {¶8}   The coroner testified that when O’Neill was shot, she was facing away
    from the kitchen and toward the front door. Deputies found the .38 caliber pistol on the
    kitchen counter and the .45 caliber pistol on the kitchen table in the corner of the kitchen
    furthest away from O’Neill’s body, just to the left of the back door of the residence.
    {¶9}   O’Neill’s clothing was tested for gunshot residue and it was determined
    that when Appellant shot her, he was between one and three feet away from her. Both
    Appellant and O’Neill tested positive for gunshot residue on their hands. There was
    testimony that the gunshot residue on O’Neill’s hand could have been deposited there
    based on the proximity of her body to the gun from when Appellant shot her.
    {¶10} Guernsey County Deputy Sheriff Jason May testified that there was blood
    in the kitchen, on the kitchen floor, in both bathrooms, and on both toilets. Officer Curtis
    Braniger, who arrived three hours after the shooting, testified that there was so much
    blood in the residence, that had he collected it all, he would still be collecting it on the
    day of trial. May also testified that there was marijuana in the toilets and that the police
    also found paraphernalia used to cultivate marijuana in the back bedroom. They also
    located a black gun holster in the master bedroom on top of a clothing armoire, which
    had blood evidence on it, that did not exclude the blood of Appellant.
    {¶11} May located a spent .45 caliber shell casing to a .45 caliber handgun
    under the kitchen table and located the .45 caliber bullet in the wall near the kitchen
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                      5
    table. The bullet retrieved from the wall was determined to have been fired by the gun
    located in Appellant’s residence.
    {¶12} In the months following O’Neill’s death, Appellant told one person that
    O’Neill shot him in the kitchen and that he shot her while she leaned over him as he lay
    prone on the kitchen floor.     Such a scenario was refuted by the testimony of the
    coroner. Appellant told two other people that he shot O’Neill in the chest and then shot
    himself to make it look like self-defense.
    {¶13} In March, 2009, Thomas Snyder, Jr. met Appellant when Appellant was
    introduced to Synder’s father, Thomas Snyder, Sr., who killed himself on September 28,
    2009.
    {¶14} The junior Snyder testified that in June, 2009, Appellant was at the Snyder
    residence drinking whiskey and beer. He stated that Appellant told him and his father
    that Appellant shot himself after he shot O’Neill in the chest while she was in the
    kitchen. Snyder further testified that Appellant stated that he tried to shoot himself in
    the rib, but accidentally “took out his lung.” Snyder also testified that Thomas Snyder,
    Sr.’s girlfriend, Ashley Goughenour and her two children left Snyder, Sr., in May and
    June, 2009, to briefly live with Appellant while they had a romantic relationship.
    Goughenour returned to Snyder, Sr., in June, 2009. Snyder claimed that Snyder, Sr.
    killed himself because of Appellant.
    {¶15} On July 8, 2009, Appellant was indicted on count of murder, in violation of
    R.C. 2903.02, with a firearm specification, in violation of R.C. 2941.145. On January
    26, 2010, Appellant proceeded to trial in front of a jury and was convicted as charged.
    The trial court sentenced Appellant to an indefinite term of fifteen years to life for the
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                     6
    murder conviction, to run consecutive to a mandatory three year prison term for the
    firearm specification.
    {¶16} Appellant filed a timely appeal and raises six Assignments of Error:
    {¶17} “I.     THE TRIAL COURT’S FINDING OF GUILT IS AGAINST THE
    MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.
    {¶18} “II.    THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED ERROR BY ADMITTING
    EXCESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE WHICH WERE GRUESOME AND
    INFLAMMATORY.
    {¶19} “III.   THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED ERROR BY IMPROPERLY
    CHARGING THE JURY.
    {¶20} “IV. THE APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF DUE PROCESS OF [SIC] BY
    THE MISCONDUCT OF THE PROSECUTOR.
    {¶21} “V.     THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADMITTING EVIDENCE WHICH
    WAS UNFAIRLY PREJUDICIAL.             THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADMITTING
    EVIDENCE WHICH WAS UNFAIRLY PREJUDICIAL.[SIC]
    {¶22} “VI. THE APPELLANT WAS DENIED HIS RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS
    AND OF ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AS BECAUSE HIS TRIAL COUNSEL
    PROVIDED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE.”
    I.
    {¶23} In his first assignment of error, Appellant argues that his convictions were
    not supported by sufficient evidence and that said convictions were against the manifest
    weight of the evidence.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                      7
    {¶24} When reviewing a claim of sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court’s
    role is to 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. State v. Jenks (1991), 
    61 Ohio St.3d 259
    , 
    574 N.E.2d 492
    . Contrary
    to a manifest weight argument, a sufficiency analysis raises a question of law and does
    not allow the court to weigh the evidence. State v. Martin (1983), 
    20 Ohio App.3d 172
    ,
    175. 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. Thompkins, 
    78 Ohio St.3d 380
    ,
    386, 
    1997-Ohio-52
    , 
    678 N.E.2d 541
    .
    {¶25} Conversely, when analyzing a manifest weight claim, this Court sits as a
    “thirteenth juror” and in reviewing the entire record, “weighs the evidence and all
    reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses, and determines 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.”           State v.
    Thompkins (1997), 
    78 Ohio St.3d 380
    , 387, 
    678 N.E.2d 541
    , 548, quoting State v.
    Martin (1983), 
    20 Ohio App.3d 172
    , 175.
    {¶26} In the present case, the State had to prove that Appellant purposely
    caused the death of another with a firearm.      R.C. 2903.02; R.C. 2941.145. When
    viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, as we are required
    to do under a sufficiency analysis, we find that there was sufficient evidence to support
    Appellant’s conviction.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                        8
    {¶27} Forensic evidence supports the State’s theory that Appellant shot and
    killed O’Neill as she was turned away from him.           Evidence, as adduced at trial,
    demonstrated that Appellant shot O’Neill from less than three feet away in her back, and
    that the bullet was headed in a downward trajectory, exiting several inches below the
    entrance wound. The bullet then struck the treadmill that was in front of O’Neill’s body.
    Moreover, Appellant told two people that he shot O’Neill and then shot himself to make
    it appear that he had shot her in self-defense. This evidence is sufficient to support
    Appellant’s conviction.
    {¶28} Moreover, the evidence supporting Appellant’s conviction is not against
    the weight of the evidence. Appellant has failed to show that the jury lost its way in
    convicting Appellant of murder with a firearm specification.
    {¶29} Appellant failed to testify on his own behalf and in order to show that he
    acted in self-defense, which is an affirmative defense that he would have to prove by a
    preponderance of the evidence, he would have to show (1) that he was not at fault in
    creating the situation giving rise to the affray; (2) that he had a bona fide belief that he
    was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that his only means of
    escape from such danger was the use of deadly force; and (3) that he did not violate
    any duty to retreat or to avoid the danger. State v. Robbins (1979), 
    58 Ohio St.2d 74
    ,
    
    388 N.E.2d 755
    , paragraph two of the syllabus. There was no evidence submitted on
    Appellant’s behalf that meet these criteria, and as such, we cannot find that the jury lost
    its way in convicting Appellant of murder and declining to find that he acted in self-
    defense.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                            9
    {¶30} Moreover, based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury reasonably
    could have concluded that Appellant purposely caused the death of O’Neill.
    {¶31} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
    II.
    {¶32} In Appellant’s second assignment of error, he argues that the trial court
    erred by permitting the introduction of gruesome and inflammatory photographs during
    the trial.
    {¶33} Initially, we note that Appellant failed to object to this alleged error at trial.
    “It is a general 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.”   State v. Campbell (1994), 
    69 Ohio St.3d 38
    , 40, 
    630 N.E.2d 339
    , 344,
    quoting State v. Childs (1968), 
    14 Ohio St.2d 56
    , paragraph three of the syllabus.
    {¶34} Accordingly, Appellant has waived all but plain error in this regard. State
    v. Hill (2001), 
    92 Ohio St.3d 191
    , 196, 
    749 N.E.2d 274
    , 279; Crim. R. 52(B). “Notice of
    plain error under Crim.R. 52(B) is to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional
    circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long
    (1978), 
    53 Ohio St.2d 91
    , paragraph three of the syllabus, 
    372 N.E.2d 804
    . Plain error
    will not be found absent a showing by Appellant that “but for the error, the outcome of
    the trial clearly would have been otherwise.” State v. Williams, 
    99 Ohio St.3d 439
    , 458,
    
    2003-Ohio-4164
    , at ¶ 40, quoting Long, supra, at paragraph two of the syllabus.
    {¶35} Additionally, trial courts are granted broad discretion with respect to the
    admission or exclusion of evidence at trial. State v. Sage (1987), 
    31 Ohio St.3d 173
    ,
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                                10
    180, 
    510 N.E.2d 343
    , 348. Thus, an appellate court will not reverse a trial court’s ruling
    absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Myers, 
    97 Ohio St.3d 335
    , 348, 2002-Ohio-
    6658, ¶75.        “The term ‘abuse of discretion’ connotes more than an error of law or
    judgment;    it     implies    that   the   court's   attitude   is   unreasonable,   arbitrary   or
    unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 
    5 Ohio St.3d 217
    , 219.
    {¶36} “Although a photograph may be rendered inadmissible by its inflammatory
    nature, the mere fact that it is gruesome or horrendous is not sufficient to render it
    inadmissible if the trial court, in the exercise of its discretion, feels that it would prove
    useful to the jury.” State v. Woodards (1966), 
    6 Ohio St.2d 14
    , 25, 
    215 N.E.2d 568
    ,
    577.
    {¶37} We do not find that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the
    complained of photographs. The photographs clarified the position that the body was
    found in and the placement of the wound on the victim’s body. While a couple of the
    photographs were repetitive, we do not find the admission of these photographs to rise
    to the level of plain error.
    {¶38} Moreover, even if the admission of the photographs of the victim alive with
    Appellant standing with Appellant’s pet wolves rose to the level of plain error, Appellant
    has not proven that he was prejudiced by the introduction of such photographs.
    Appellant admitted to Thomas Snyder that he shot O’Neill and the forensic evidence
    supports his admission.
    {¶39} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                          11
    III.
    {¶40} In his third assignment of error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred
    in instructing the jury. Specifically, Appellant argues that the trial court failed to properly
    instruct the jury on the issue of self defense. However, Appellant’s argument appears to
    complain more about the manner of the verdict form than the jury instruction. Appellant
    has provided no legal authority that states that a jury must reject an affirmative defense
    on a verdict form. We further find no law in the state of Ohio requiring the jury verdict
    forms to provide a place for a jury to reject an affirmative defense. Moreover, we have
    already determined that Appellant failed to present evidence that he acted in self-
    defense.
    {¶41} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.
    IV.
    {¶42} In his fourth assignment of error, Appellant argues that the prosecutor
    committed misconduct, thereby depriving him of his right to a fair trial.
    {¶43} The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the prosecutor's
    comments and remarks were improper and if so, whether those comments and remarks
    prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the accused. State v. Lott (1990), 
    51 Ohio St.3d 160
    , 
    555 N.E.2d 293
    , certiorari denied (1990), 
    498 U.S. 1017
    , 
    111 S.Ct. 591
    , 
    112 L.Ed.2d 596
    . In reviewing allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, we must review the
    complained of conduct in the context of the entire trial. Darden v. Wainwright (1986),
    
    477 U.S. 168
    , 
    106 S.Ct. 2464
    , 
    91 L.Ed.2d 144
    .
    {¶44} Again, Appellant failed to object to the complained of conduct at trial,
    therefore a plain error standard applies as well. Long, supra.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                         12
    {¶45} Appellant first argues that the prosecutor improperly commented on
    Appellant’s right not to testify in voir dire. In Ohio, the test has been established that in
    order for a remark by a prosecutor on this matter to be prohibited or violative of a
    defendant’s right, the court must determine whether the remark was manifestly intended
    to refer to the defendant’s failing to testify or whether the jury “naturally and necessarily”
    would have taken the remark to be a comment on the defendant’s failing to testify.
    State v. Ferguson (1983), 
    5 Ohio St.3d 160
    , 
    450 N.E.2d 265
    . We do not find that the
    prosecutor’s remark that “All members of the jury understand that the State of Ohio is
    not permitted to call the Defendant as a witness in a case? Everybody understand
    that?” to meet the test set forth in Ferguson.         Accordingly, we reject Appellant’s
    argument in this regard.
    {¶46} Next, Appellant argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by
    implying that Appellant had the burden of proof “above and beyond what he incurred for
    the affirmative defense of self-defense” (Appellant’s brief, p. 18), when the prosecutor
    stated in closing argument, “The defense has failed miserably at the burden of proof in
    this case and cannot meet the burden of proof in self-defense, and he’s guilty of murder
    by shooting an unarmed woman in the back at close range.” We do not find this
    statement to be either a misstatement of the law or to be in error. Appellant’s argument
    is again rejected.
    {¶47} Appellant next argues that the State improperly played on the sympathies
    of the jury by having O’Neill’s daughter testify that O’Neill had a college degree and had
    inquired about moving to Summit County to become a childcare provider.                  Such
    evidence goes to show that O’Neill’s relationship with Appellant was deteriorating and
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                     13
    permissibly aided in proving the State’s case. We further do not find that the testimony
    of Kate Hillman was improperly admitted or rose to the level of plain error. Hillman
    spoke to O’Neill on the day of her death and testified that O’Neill and Appellant were
    having problems.    Moreover, Appellant called Hillman as a witness; to charge the
    prosecutor with misconduct for cross-examining a defense witness would require that
    Appellant jump a serious hurdle in proving that the prosecutor’s remarks substantially
    hurt Appellant’s case when viewed in the context of the whole trial.
    {¶48} Appellant’s argument that the State withheld evidence and committed a
    Brady violation is outside the scope of the record, and is therefore not appropriate for
    review on appeal. Nurse Blackburn testified at trial that she had not turned over her
    personal charting notes to either the prosecutor or the defense; therefore we do not see
    how Appellant has shown that the prosecutor could have committed a discovery
    violation in not supplying the defense with evidence it did not have.
    {¶49} Appellant also asserts that the prosecutor’s statement in closing
    argument of “[t]hank you for allowing me to serve you,” was improper. “Misleading and
    ingratiating statements such as these are designed to disguise the fact that the
    prosecution needs to win cases with an abundance of publicity in order to win
    reelection.” (Appellant’s brief, p. 18). Closing arguments are considered in the entirety
    of the trial. Ferguson, supra.   While most attorneys, in both civil and criminal cases,
    both for plaintiffs and defendants, thank the jury for their service either during opening
    statements or closing arguments, we do not find the prosecutor’s statement to be
    improper.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                        14
    {¶50} None of the complained of conduct amounts to error, much less plain
    error, on behalf of the prosecution.
    {¶51} Appellant’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
    V.
    {¶52} In his fifth assignment of error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in
    admitting evidence that was unfairly prejudicial. Specifically, Appellant argues that it
    was improper for the trial court to permit evidence to be admitted that Appellant had
    marijuana in his residence as well as equipment in his residence for growing marijuana
    in his residence.
    {¶53} Again, this evidence was not objected to at trial, and therefore is subject to
    a plain error standard of review. Long, supra. Moreover, Appellant cross-examined
    witnesses regarding this evidence at trial, thereby waiving any alleged error. See, e.g.,
    State v. Miller (1988), 
    56 Ohio App.3d 130
    , 
    565 N.E.2d 840
    {¶54} We find the State’s argument persuasive that evidence of Appellant’s
    attempt to dispose of the marijuana after he had suffered a gunshot wound, self-inflicted
    or not, was relevant as a possible motive for the murder of O’Neill.          The fact that
    Appellant went from room to room, as evidenced by the blood trail, attempting to
    dispose of marijuana, while he was suffering from a severe gunshot wound, is certainly
    relevant to motive. Evid. R. 404(B).
    {¶55} Moreover, Appellant’s argument that the diagram of the interior of the
    house trailer was not to scale and that it was inaccurate goes to weight, not
    admissibility. State v. Landrum (1990), 
    53 Ohio St.3d 107
    , 
    559 N.E.2d 710
    .
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                    15
    {¶56} Again, we do not find the admission of this evidence to rise to the level of
    plain error.
    {¶57} Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.
    VI.
    {¶58} In his sixth assignment of error, Appellant argues that he received
    ineffective assistance of counsel.
    {¶59} To succeed on a claim of ineffectiveness, a defendant must satisfy a two-
    prong test. Initially, a defendant must show that his trial counsel acted incompetently.
    Strickland v. Washington (1984), 
    466 U.S. 668
    , 
    104 S.Ct. 2052
    . In assessing such
    claims, “a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within
    the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must
    overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action ‘might
    be considered sound trial strategy.’” 
    Id. at 689
    , quoting Michel v. Louisiana (1955), 
    350 U.S. 91
    , 101, 
    76 S.Ct. 158
    , 164.
    {¶60} “There are countless ways to provide effective assistance in any given
    case. Even the best criminal defense attorneys would not defend a particular client in
    the same way.” Strickland, 
    466 U.S. at 689
    . The question is whether counsel acted
    “outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance.” 
    Id. at 690
    .
    {¶61} Even if a defendant shows that his counsel was incompetent, the
    defendant must then satisfy the second prong of the Strickland test. Under this “actual
    prejudice” prong, the defendant must show that “there is a reasonable probability that,
    but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
    different.” Strickland, 
    466 U.S. at 694
    .
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                                        16
    {¶62} Appellant’s sole argument in this regard is that trial counsel was ineffective
    for failing to call a ballistics expert to prove that Appellant acted in self-defense. Such a
    matter is again outside the record, and therefore not appropriate for appellate review.
    App. R. 16(A)(7) provides that his brief must contain, “An argument containing the
    contentions of the appellant with respect to each assignment of error presented for
    review and the reasons in support of the contentions, with citations to the authorities,
    statutes, and parts of the record on which appellant relies.” (Emphasis added).
    {¶63} We have previously held that our review on appeal is limited to facts within
    the record that were before the trial court. W.M. Specialty Mortgage v. Mack, 5th Dist.
    No.2007CA49, citing State v. DeMastry, 
    155 Ohio App.3d 110
    , 119-120, 
    799 N.E.2d 222
    , 
    2003-Ohio-5588
     and State v. Ishmail (1978), 
    54 Ohio St.2d 404
    , 
    377 N.E.2d 500
    .
    See also State v. Showalter, 5th Dist. No. 06CAC100081, 
    2004-Ohio-7166
    . Additionally,
    the Eighth District, in Weisbarth v. The Geauga Park District, 8th Dist. No.2005-G-2675,
    
    2007-Ohio-211
    , at ¶ 30, noted that appellate review is limited to the evidence and the
    record as it existed prior to the notice of appeal being filed.
    {¶64} As trial counsel’s reasoning for not calling such an expert witness is
    outside of the record, we decline to address Appellant’s argument.
    {¶65} Appellant’s sixth assignment of error is overruled.
    Guernsey County, Case No. 10-CA-10                                              17
    {¶66} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Guernsey County Court of
    Common Pleas is affirmed.
    By: Delaney, J.
    Gwin, P.J. and
    Wise, J. concur.
    HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
    HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
    HON. JOHN W. WISE
    [Cite as State v. McClain, 
    2011-Ohio-1623
    .]
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    STATE OF OHIO                                 :
    :
    Plaintiff-Appellee     :
    :
    :
    -vs-                                          :    JUDGMENT ENTRY
    :
    DOUGLAS MCCLAIN                               :
    :
    Defendant-Appellant     :    Case No. 10-CA-10
    :
    For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the
    judgment of the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs assessed
    to Appellant.
    _________________________________
    HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
    _________________________________
    HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
    _________________________________
    HON. JOHN W. WISE