State v. Kyle , 2020 Ohio 3281 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Kyle, 2020-Ohio-3281.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 108702
v. :
JEWAN KYLE, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: June 11, 2020
Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CR-19-638252-A
Appearances:
Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting
Attorney, and Carson Strang, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for appellee.
Brian R. McGraw, for appellant.
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, A.J.:
Defendant-appellant, Jewan Kyle (“Kyle”), appeals from his having
weapons while under disability conviction following a jury trial. He raises the
following assignment of error for review:
Kyle’s conviction for having a weapon while under disability fails for
sufficiency and is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Specifically, Kyle should have been acquitted of having a weapon while
under disability because he possessed a firearm in self-defense.
After careful review of the record and relevant case law, we affirm
Kyle’s conviction.
I. Procedural and Factual History
In March 2019, Kyle was named in a seven-count indictment,
charging him with murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A), with one- and three-year
firearm specifications; murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B), with one- and three-
year firearm specifications; felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), with
one- and three-year firearm specifications; attempted murder in violation of R.C.
2923.02 and 2903.02(A), with one- and three-year firearm specifications; felonious
assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), with one- and three-year firearm
specifications; discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises in violation
of R.C. 2923.162(A)(3), with one- and three-year firearm specifications; and having
weapons while under disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), with one- and
three-year firearm specifications. The indictment stemmed from allegations that
Kyle shot and killed Cedric Carter (“Carter”) on November 29, 2017.
The matter proceeded to a jury trial in May 2019. At trial, Officer
Daniel Ziegler (“Officer Ziegler”), of the Cleveland Police Department, testified that
during the early hours of November 29, 2017, he received a dispatch to respond to
the Union Club bar, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Officer Ziegler was advised that a
male was reported to have been shot. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Ziegler
observed the victim, later identified as Carter, “[lying] in the street on his back.” (Tr.
521.)
Officer Ziegler testified that two individuals, Rayshawn Williams
(“Williams”) and Antwon Jones (“Jones”), were present at the scene. Initially
suspicious of the men, Officer Ziegler and his partner performed a pat-down search
and secured Williams and Jones for questioning. No weapons were discovered on
Williams or Jones at that time. Officer Ziegler stated that Williams and Jones
appeared to be intoxicated and “had trouble standing up, slurred speech, and glassy
eyes.” (Tr. 523.)
According to Officer Ziegler, Jones expressed that he had just come
out of the bar and did not witness the shooting. In contrast, Williams was “upset”
and “was crying.” (Tr. 523.) He was cooperative with the officers and provided a
description of the shooter. In addition, Williams indicated that the shooter fled the
scene in a black Porsche with Georgia license plates. Officer Ziegler testified that
Williams and Jones were subsequently transported to the homicide unit for further
questioning.
Forensic pathologist, Daniel Galita, M.D. (“Dr. Galita”), testified that
he was assigned to perform the autopsy on Carter in this matter. Dr. Galita stated
that he performed an external examination of Carter’s body and discovered an
“entrance gunshot wound located on the left side of the face, on the left cheek.” (Tr.
570.) Dr. Galita also discovered an “exit wound located on the right occipital skull
in the back of the head on the right side.” (Tr. id.) Dr. Galita explained that the
gunshot wound was instantaneously fatal. Accordingly, Dr. Galita opined with a
reasonable degree of scientific certainty that Carter’s official cause of death was “a
gunshot wound on left face with skeletal and soft tissue injuries.” (Tr. 581.) Carter’s
manner of death was classified as a “homicide,” meaning “a human being killed by
another human being.” (Tr. id.)
Thomas Ciula (“Ciula”), a forensic video specialist for the Cleveland
Police Department, testified that he was assigned to collect relevant video evidence
in this case. Ultimately, Ciula recovered surveillance video footage from three
separate sources (1) the Union Club bar, (2) a nearby pawn shop, and (3) a nearby
law firm. Ciula testified that he reviewed the video footage and determined which
camera angles best captured the persons and areas of interest in the police
investigation.
Using the most relevant video footage retrieved from each
surveillance source, Ciula formatted a single video file that followed the person of
interest during the relevant time periods. The surveillance video footage, marked
State’s exhibit No. 3B, was played for the jury. Ciula testified that surveillance
footage captured by the pawn shop shows the person of interest, later identified as
Kyle, arriving at the Union Club bar in a black vehicle at 1:40:45 a.m. Kyle is seen
exiting the driver’s side of the vehicle and walking towards the Union Club bar. A
second individual, later identified as Jones, is seen exiting the passenger’s side of
the black vehicle and accompanying Kyle into the bar. As Kyle and Jones enter the
Union Club bar, the exhibit switches to the video footage captured by the bar’s
interior surveillance cameras. The exhibit depicts the person of interests’
movements inside the Union Club bar until he exits the bar at approximately 2:05
a.m.
Ciula also compiled a video file, marked State’s exhibit No. 3C, that
followed the movements of Carter on the night of the shooting. The video depicts
Carter inside the Union Club bar, where he is observed greeting and conversing with
bar patrons, including Kyle and Jones. As the bar is closing for the evening, Carter
is seen leaving the front entrance of the bar with his friend, Williams.
The prosecution then played State’s exhibit No. 3E, which depicts an
altercation that transpired after Kyle, Jones, Williams, and Carter exited the Union
Club bar. The video shows two individuals, later determined to be Kyle and
Williams, engaging in a verbal and physical altercation near Kyle’s vehicle at 2:09:27
a.m. Ciula testified that in the midst of the altercation, Kyle appeared to enter his
vehicle before re-engaging with Williams. (Tr. 793.) All four men are seen on the
video at 2:10:20 a.m. Although Ciula qualified that he could not be certain given the
limitations of the video footage, he agreed with the prosecution’s suggestion that
Kyle “possibl[y]” entered the black vehicle a second time during the altercation. (Tr.
799.) While Kyle and Williams continue their argument near the driver’s side area
of the vehicle, Carter is seen shoving Jones near the rear of the vehicle at 2:10:42
a.m. Within seconds, Carter was shot in the head by Kyle at 2:10:45 a.m. Carter
immediately fell to the ground. A second shot was fired in the direction of Williams
at 2:10:49 a.m. Thereafter, Kyle got into the black vehicle, without Jones, and fled
the scene at 2:11:01 a.m.
Detective Arthur Echols (“Det. Echols”), of the Cleveland Police
Department, testified that he was assigned to investigate Carter’s death. In the
course of his investigation, Det. Echols interviewed Williams and Jones, and learned
that the suspect’s nickname was “Beeka.” Ultimately, Det. Echols received
“information that Beeka might be Jewan Kyle.” (Tr. 830.) Det. Echols obtained a
photograph of Kyle from a law enforcement database, and presented the photograph
to Williams in an effort to confirm the shooter’s identity. Det. Echols was not
permitted to divulge the specific information he gathered from Williams during this
second interview. However, Det. Echols confirmed that he obtained a warrant for
Kyle’s arrest following his conversation with Williams. Kyle was eventually located
and arrested in February 2018. Det. Echols testified that, since his initial
conversations with Williams and Jones, they have not been cooperative with the
investigation and have failed to appear for court proceedings despite having
warrants issued for their arrest.
Det. Echols also had the opportunity to review the relevant
surveillance video footage obtained in this case. As the surveillance video footage
played for the jury, Det. Echols identified Kyle, Jones, Williams, and Carter, and
described their movements inside the bar and during the subsequent altercation
outside the bar. Det. Echols confirmed that the surveillance footage captured Carter
being shot. He further reiterated that Kyle fled the scene in the black Porsche after
the shooting occurred.
Following the state’s case, Kyle testified in his own behalf. Kyle
testified that he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and has known Jones, Williams, and
Carter since he was 12 years old. Kyle stated that he dropped out of high school and
became involved in the “drug culture,” leading to “seven or eight” drug convictions.
Kyle testified that Carter and Williams also became involved in drug trafficking and
commonly carried firearms.
Regarding the night of the shooting, Kyle testified that he borrowed a
friend’s black Porsche, and picked up Jones before driving to the Union Club bar.
Kyle stated that when he parked the vehicle, Jones placed his gun “on the side of the
seat” before exiting the vehicle to go inside the bar. (Tr. 939.) Once inside the Union
Club bar, Kyle observed Williams and Carter. He confirmed that he hugged Carter
because “that’s how I embrace my friends.” (Tr. 939.)
According to Kyle, Jones and Carter also embraced each other, and
“began reminiscing about a physical altercation that they had before.” (Tr. 941.)
Kyle testified that he could sense there was “some tension” between Jones and
Carter. (Tr. 941.) As Jones and Carter’s conversation became more aggressive, Kyle
became increasingly concerned because Jones and Carter were both highly
intoxicated, and Carter was in possession of a firearm. Kyle explained that he knew
Carter was in possession of a firearm based on statements Carter was making to
Jones during their conversation. (Tr. 942.)
As the bar was closing, Kyle exited the front entrance and was
suddenly confronted by Williams. Kyle testified that he was not expecting a
confrontation with Williams because he did not interact with Williams inside the bar
that evening. Kyle indicated that the confrontation stemmed from statements he
had made to Carter about Williams owing Jones money. Kyle testified that Williams
was “angry, aggressive * * * and flashed his gun, coming towards me.” (Tr. 950.)
Williams also used threatening language. Kyle stated that he was nervous and
believed his life was in danger. Kyle testified that Carter was encouraging Williams
during the altercation, and also made threatening statements while in possession of
a firearm.
When Williams displayed his gun, Kyle “backed up with his hands
up,” and urged Williams to calm down and “let it go.” (Tr. 962.) Kyle stated that he
then made his way towards his vehicle in an attempt to leave the scene. Once at his
vehicle, however, Kyle did not feel free to leave because Williams followed him and
continued to make threatening statements. (Tr. 958.) Eventually, Kyle was able to
reach inside the vehicle “for the gun that [Jones] had on the side of the seat.” (Tr.
958.) Kyle stated that he put the gun into his sweatshirt pocket and “hurried back
out of the car so [Williams] wouldn’t make an attempt to shoot me.” (Tr. id.)
When the confrontation between Kyle and Williams escalated, Jones
got in the middle of the two men to act as a “peacemaker.” (Tr. 961.) During this
interaction, Carter shoved Jones. Kyle testified that after Carter pushed Jones,
Carter appeared to reach for a gun. Believing Carter intended to shoot himself and
Jones, Kyle stepped forward and fired one shot, shooting Carter in the head. He
then fired a second shot “towards the ground” near Williams. (Tr. 963.) Once he
felt he could leave safely, Kyle got into his vehicle with the gun and fled the scene
without Jones.
At the conclusion of trial, the court determined that it was appropriate
to provide the jury with a self-defense instruction on each count of the indictment.
(Tr. 1066.) Following jury deliberations, Kyle was found guilty of having weapons
while under disability and the attached firearm specifications, as charged in Count
7 of the indictment. However, Kyle was found not guilty of all remaining offenses.
Prior to sentencing, Kyle filed a motion to set aside the verdict on the
firearm specification attached to the having weapons while under disability
conviction pursuant to R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(e). The trial court granted the motion,
stating:
In consideration of the defendant’s motion and arguments presented,
defendant’s motion is granted. Court grants acquittal as to the 1 year
and 3 year firearm specifications in Count 7. Defendant to be sentenced
on Count 7 — HWWUD without firearm specifications.
At sentencing, the trial court imposed a 36-month prison term.
Kyle now appeals from his conviction.
II. Law and Analysis
In his sole assignment of error, Kyle argues his having weapons while
under disability conviction is not supported by sufficient evidence and is against the
manifest weight of the evidence. Kyle contends that he should have been acquitted
of the charge because he only possessed a firearm to defend himself and Jones.
The test for sufficiency requires a determination of whether the
prosecution met its burden of production at trial. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12. An appellate court’s function when
reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction 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. Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 543, 747 N.E.2d 765 (2001).
“‘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. Walker, 150 Ohio St. 3d
409, 2016-Ohio-8295, 82 N.E.3d 1124, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d
259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
It is well established that the elements of an offense may be proven
by direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or both. See State v. Durr, 58 Ohio
St.3d 86, 568 N.E.2d 674 (1991). Direct evidence exists when “a witness testifies
about a matter within the witness’s personal knowledge such that the trier of fact is
not required to draw an inference from the evidence to the proposition that it is
offered to establish.” State v. Cassano, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97228, 2012-Ohio-
4047, ¶ 13. Circumstantial evidence, on the other hand, is evidence that requires
“the drawing of inferences that are reasonably permitted by the evidence.” Id. See
also State v. Hartman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90284, 2008-Ohio-3683, ¶ 37
(“[c]ircumstantial evidence is the proof of facts by direct evidence from which the
trier of fact may infer or derive by reasoning other facts in accordance with the
common experience of mankind.”).
Circumstantial and direct evidence are of equal evidentiary value.
State v. Santiago, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95333, 2011-Ohio-1691, ¶ 12. “Although
there are obvious differences between direct and circumstantial evidence, those
differences are irrelevant to the probative value of the evidence.” Cassano at ¶ 13,
citing State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St. 3d 460, 485, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001). In some
cases, circumstantial evidence may be “‘more certain, satisfying and persuasive than
direct evidence.’” State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St. 3d 160, 167, 555 N.E.2d 293 (1990),
quoting Michalic v. Cleveland Tankers, Inc., 364 U.S. 325, 330, 81 S. Ct. 6, 5 L. Ed. 2d
20 (1960).
A manifest weight challenge questions whether the state met its
burden of persuasion. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, at
¶ 12. A reviewing court “‘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 and a new trial ordered.’” State v.
Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting State v. Martin,
20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). “A conviction should be
reversed as against the manifest weight of the evidence only in the most ‘exceptional
case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’” State v. Burks,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106639, 2018-Ohio-4777, ¶ 47, quoting Thompkins at 387.
Although we review credibility when considering the manifest weight
of the evidence, we are cognizant that determinations regarding the credibility of
witnesses and the weight of the testimony are primarily for the trier of fact. State v.
Bradley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97333, 2012-Ohio-2765, ¶ 14, citing State v.
DeHass, 10 Ohio St. 2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967). “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,’ we 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, quoting State v. Lawson, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 3709, 4 (Aug. 22, 1997). “The
jury may take note of any inconsistencies and resolve them accordingly, ‘believ[ing]
all, part, or none of a witness’s testimony.’” State v. Burks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
106639, 2018-Ohio-4777, ¶ 48, quoting 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).
In this case, Kyle was found guilty of having weapons while under
disability in violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2). The statute provides, in relevant part:
[u]nless relieved from disability under operation of law or legal process,
no person shall knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any firearm or
dangerous ordnance, if * * * [t]he person is under indictment for or has
been convicted of any felony offense of violence or has been adjudicated
a delinquent child for the commission of an offense that, if committed
by an adult, would have been a felony offense of violence.
R.C. 2923.13(A)(2).
A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is
aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a certain result or
will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of
circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances
probably exist. When knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is
an element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a person
subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence and
fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning
the fact.
R.C. 2901.22(B).
On appeal, Kyle does not dispute that he was under disability based
on his prior felony drug conviction in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-14-583968. (Tr. 850-
851; 934.) Rather, Kyle asserts that his having weapons while under disability
conviction must be reversed because he only acquired, had, or used the subject
firearm to act in self-defense.
In support of his position, Kyle relies on this court’s prior decision in
State v. Hardy, 60 Ohio App. 2d 325, 330, 397 N.E.2d 773 (8th Dist.1978). In
Hardy, the defendant, while under disability, was employed in a beverage store,
where he was the victim of a robbery. In order to stop the armed robber, the
defendant seized a rifle from the counter, to which all employees had access, and
shot the robber. Id. at 325-326. This court found that prior to firing the gun, the
defendant lacked the type of possession of the gun contemplated by the disability
statute. Id. at 328. “A legitimate act of self-defense is much more a mere reflex
action than one committed voluntarily.” Id. at 329.
This “self-defense exception,” is applied in very limited
circumstances:
The so-called self-defense exception to the charge of carrying a weapon
while under disability is an extremely narrow exception. Implicit in this
court’s decision in Hardy is the recognition that all individuals,
including those under disability, have a right to defend themselves
against an immediate threat of deadly force, provided, however, they
did not knowingly acquire, have, carry or use the firearm previously.
State v. Fryer, 90 Ohio App. 3d 37, 45, 627 N.E.2d 1065 (8th Dist.1993); State v.
Martin, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 63153, 1993 Ohio App. LEXIS 4660 (Sept. 30, 1993)
(finding the trial court did not err by refusing to give the self-defense charge for the
disability count where the defendant was under no immediate threat of death or
great bodily harm).
This court has recognized that “the self-defense exception does not
apply in circumstances where the defendant had possession of the weapon prior to
the incident giving rise to the charges or in anticipation of a confrontation.” State v.
Armstrong, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103423, 2016-Ohio-2842, ¶ 25, citing State v.
Hawthorne, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89345, 2008-Ohio-1815 (declining to apply the
Hardy exception where the defendant knowingly possessed the weapon prior to the
incident); State v. Gripper, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-396, 2013-Ohio-2740, ¶
26 (conviction for having weapons while under disability upheld where evidence
showed the defendant obtained the gun “in anticipation of the confrontation, not in
response to the confrontation”); State v. Martz, 163 Ohio App. 3d 780, 790, 2005-
Ohio-5428, 840 N.E.2d 648 (5th Dist.) (finding defendant’s “mere possession” of
the weapon in anticipation of a possible confrontation sufficient evidence to support
the conviction of having weapons while under disability); State v. Escoto, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 98AP-481, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 512 (Feb. 18, 1999) (Hardy
exception not applicable where defendant brought the gun into the situation).
Thus, the relevant inquiry in this case is not whether Kyle violated
R.C. 2923.13(A)(2) by possessing a firearm at the moment he acted in self-defense.
Rather, for the purposes of this appeal, the focus is whether Kyle possessed the
firearm prior to, or in anticipation of, the altercation with Williams and Carter.
To “have” a firearm within the meaning of R.C. 2923.13(A), a person
must have actual or constructive possession of it. State v. Davis, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 104221, 2016-Ohio-7964, ¶ 13, citing State v. Adams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
93513, 2010-Ohio-4478, ¶ 19.
Actual possession is ownership or physical control. State v. Jones,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101311, 2015-Ohio-1818, ¶ 46. In contrast, constructive
possession exists when an individual knowingly exercises dominion and control
over an object, even though that object may not be within his or her immediate
physical possession. State v. Wolery, 46 Ohio St. 2d 316, 329, 348 N.E.2d 351
(1976); State v. Washington, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 98882 and 98883, 2013-
Ohio-2904, ¶ 22. “[C]ircumstantial evidence is sufficient to support the element of
constructive possession.” State v. Brooks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94978, 2011-
Ohio-1679, ¶ 17. Thus,
if the evidence demonstrates that the defendant was in close proximity
to the contraband, such that the defendant was able to exercise
dominion or control over the contraband, this constitutes
circumstantial evidence that the defendant was in constructive
possession of the items.
State v. Walker, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106378, 2018-Ohio-3588, ¶ 9, quoting
Brooks at id. Furthermore, a person may knowingly possess or control property
belonging to another; the state need not establish ownership to prove constructive
possession. See State v. Robinson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90751, 2008-Ohio-5580,
¶ 84.
However, “[c]onstructive possession cannot be inferred by a person’s
mere presence in the vicinity of contraband” or “mere access” to contraband or to
the area in which contraband is found. State v. Jansen, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
73940, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 2060, 8 (May 6, 1999); State v. Burney, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 11AP-1036, 2012-Ohio-3974, ¶ 22-24, 32, quoting State v. Hall, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 66206, 1994 Ohio App. LEXIS 5391, 5 (Dec. 1, 1994). It must be
shown that the person was “conscious of the presence of the object.” State v.
Hankerson, 70 Ohio St. 2d 87, 91, 434 N.E.2d 1362 (1982); Washington at ¶ 22;
State v. Bray, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92619, 2009-Ohio-6461, ¶ 21.
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we
find the state presented sufficient evidence that Kyle, while under disability, did
knowingly acquire, have, carry or use a firearm prior to the altercation that required
him to use the firearm in self-defense. The evidence introduced at trial
demonstrated that Kyle arrived at the Union Club bar in a black vehicle and exited
the driver’s side door of the vehicle before walking into the bar with Jones. Kyle
subsequently became engaged in a verbal and physical dispute with Williams
outside the bar, near his black vehicle. In the midst of the confrontation, Kyle
reached into the driver’s side area of his vehicle, and immediately retrieved a gun.
In contrast to the circumstances presented in Hardy, we find Kyle
had more than mere physical access to the gun. Rather, the state presented
sufficient circumstantial evidence that Kyle had constructive possession of the
firearm when he arrived at the Union Club bar in his vehicle on November 29, 2017.
There is no dispute that Kyle arrived to the bar with a loaded gun inside his vehicle.
Moreover, there is no indication that the firearm was moved between the time Kyle
parked his vehicle outside the Union Club bar and the moment he picked up the
firearm to use in self-defense. From the surveillance video footage introduced by
the state, it is clear that when Kyle leaned into his vehicle during the confrontation
with Williams, he understood that a firearm was within reach. From this evidence,
a rational trier of fact could conclude that when Kyle parked his vehicle outside the
Union Club bar, he was consciously aware of the firearm’s presence inside the
vehicle, and that the firearm was placed in a location that was readily accessible and
in close proximity to the driver of the vehicle.
Under these circumstances, we find the state presented sufficient
evidence that, prior to his act of self-defense, Kyle had access to a weapon and had
the ability to control its use. See State v. Long, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 85754, 2005-
Ohio-5344, ¶ 17; State v. Tolliver, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 56990, 1990 Ohio App.
LEXIS 1915, 5 (May 17, 1990) (“A trier of fact may reasonably infer possession where
the accused is in close proximity to the firearm as an occupant of a motor vehicle.”),
citing State v. Moncrief, 69 Ohio App. 2d 51, 431 N.E.2d 336 (8th Dist.1980).
Whether Kyle did, or did not, own the firearm is of no consequence. State v. Davis,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104221, 2016-Ohio-7964, ¶ 20. Accordingly, we find Kyle’s
having weapons while under disability conviction was supported by sufficient
evidence.
Moreover, weighing the strength and credibility of the evidence
presented and the inferences to be reasonably drawn therefrom, we find Kyle’s
conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Contrary to Kyle’s
position on appeal, the jury’s determination that there was credible evidence
supporting his having weapons while under disability conviction is not inconsistent
with its verdict on the remaining charges of the indictment. See State v. Brown, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89754, 2008-Ohio-1722 (rejecting argument that conviction on
bench-tried weapon under disability count was overridden by jury verdicts of not
guilty on attempted murder and felonious assault); State v. Douthitt, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 18AP-547, 2019-Ohio-2528, ¶ 10 (“[Defendant]’s contention that the
jury verdicts of acquittal precluded his conviction for having a weapon while under
disability is not well-taken.”); State v. Smith, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-33, 2014-
Ohio-5443, ¶ 27 (affirming trial court judgment of guilt on weapon count despite
jury verdicts of not guilty on aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, and
kidnapping).
As discussed, the evidence supporting Kyle’s having weapons while
under disability conviction relies on circumstances that are independent of the
shooting, and pertain to Kyle’s conduct prior to the act of self-defense. The jury was
free to believe Kyle’s testimony that he acted in self-defense at the time he shot
Carter and attempted to shoot Williams, while simultaneously rejecting his
testimony that he did not possess the firearm prior to using it in self-defense. As
stated, the state presented credible evidence that, while under disability, Kyle had
constructive possession of the firearm at the time he arrived at the Union Club bar
on November 29, 2017. Despite Kyle’s assertion that the firearm belonged to Jones,
his own testimony at trial corroborated the state’s contention that the gun retrieved
during the altercation was located inside a vehicle that was under Kyle’s control, in
an area of the vehicle that was readily accessible to the driver of the vehicle, and that
Kyle was consciously aware of the firearm’s presence inside the vehicle.
Under the foregoing circumstances, we are unable to conclude that
the jury lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that a new
trial should be ordered. As the factfinder, the jury was entitled to reconcile any
differences and inconsistencies in the testimony and determine that the manifest
weight of the evidence supported a finding of guilt. See DeHass, 10 Ohio St. 2d at
231, 227 N.E.2d 212. Kyle’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
Finally, although not raised in an assignment of error pursuant to
App.R. 16, we briefly reject Kyle’s suggestion that the trial court was required to
“explain how the concepts of self-defense might apply differently to ‘action’ crimes
(like murder) versus ‘status’ crimes (like having weapons while under disability).”
Kyle appears to argue that, under authority of Hardy, the trial court should have
instructed the jury that a person under a disability may possess a weapon while
acting in self-defense, provided he did not knowingly acquire it previously.
In this case, the trial court’s self-defense instruction was consistent
with the language set forth under R.C. 2901.05 and Ohio Jury Instructions, CR
Sections 421.21 and 421.211 (Rev. Apr. 13, 2019). (Tr. 1123-1125.) Kyle did not object
to the self-defense instruction that was provided to the jury on each charge of the
indictment. Crim.R. 30. In addition, Kyle has cited no statutory provisions or case
law to suggest the trial court erred by failing to provide an alternative or modified
self-defense instruction on the having weapons while under disability offense.
Finally, given our discussion of the evidence supporting Kyle’s conviction, there is
no basis to suggest the outcome of the trial clearly would have been different had the
jury been given a more specific self-defense instruction on the having weapons while
under disability offense. Under these circumstances, we are unable to conclude that
the trial court’s failure to so instruct the jury rose to the level of plain error. As such,
we find no merit to Kyle’s contention that “the court erred in its instruction by failing
to explain how self-defense would apply to this specific crime.”
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant 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
common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant’s
conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending is terminated. Case remanded to
the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., and
MICHELLE J. SHEEHAN, J., CONCUR