State v. Cunningham , 2021 Ohio 2710 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Cunningham, 2021-Ohio-2710.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF MEDINA )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 19CA0081-M
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
BENJAMIN W. CUNNINGHAM COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF MEDINA, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 19 CR 0126
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: August 9, 2021
CARR, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Benjamin W. Cunningham appeals the judgment of the
Medina County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} Cunningham and the victim were married and lived together in January 2019. At
the time, the victim had two children, a daughter and a son. Cunningham was only the father of
the son. In addition, the victim was then pregnant with Cunningham’s child.
{¶3} In the early morning hours of January 27, 2019, the victim called 911 and whispered
that she needed help. The police arrived and the victim provided a written statement to police
wherein she described Cunningham assaulting her on and off throughout the prior day into the
night. She indicated that he repeatedly slapped her in the face, dragged her by her hair, kicked in
a door, punched her in the head twice, and threw a lighter at her. A contusion was noted on her
head and she was transported to the hospital. Cunningham was arrested but was later released on
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bond. In February 2019, Cunningham was indicted on one count of domestic violence in violation
of R.C. 2919.25(A)/(D)(5). The indictment included an allegation that Cunningham knew the
victim was pregnant at the time, causing the offense to be a fifth-degree felony. See R.C.
2919.25(D)(5).
{¶4} On April 22, 2019, the victim called the police a second time. The victim told
police that she had received text messages from Cunningham earlier that day. Those messages
stated that, “You ruined my career” and “I won’t be happy until I kill you[.]” Sometime after
receiving the messages, she left the house to pick up her daughter. While waiting outside the
building, she saw Cunningham in his car. The victim then drove away, and Cunningham continued
to follow her for about 15 minutes. The victim called Cunningham and asked why he was
following her, but he just hung up on her. The victim then called the police. Cunningham was
again arrested.
{¶5} Following that incident, a supplemental indictment was filed in May 2019 charging
Cunningham with one count of menacing by stalking in violation of R.C.
2903.211(A)(1)/(B)(2)(b). Because it was alleged that Cunningham made a threat of physical
harm to or against the victim, the crime was charged as a fourth-degree felony. See R.C.
2903.211(B)(2)(b).
{¶6} The matter proceeded to a jury trial. The jury found Cunningham guilty of both
counts, and the trial court sentenced Cunningham accordingly. Cunningham has appealed, raising
two assignments of error for our review.
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II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
PRESENTED BY THE STATE OF OHIO TO SUPPORT THE DEFENDANT’S
CONVICTION OF MENACING BY STALKING[.]
{¶7} Cunningham argues in his first assignment of error that the evidence was
insufficient to support his conviction for menacing by stalking. Specifically, he maintains that
there was insufficient evidence that he engaged in a pattern of conduct.
{¶8} When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must review the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether the evidence before the
trial court was sufficient to sustain a conviction. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 279 (1991).
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. 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.
Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶9} R.C. 2903.211(A)(1) provides:
No person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall knowingly cause another
person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or
a family or household member of the other person or cause mental distress to the
other person or a family or household member of the other person. In addition to
any other basis for the other person’s belief that the offender will cause physical
harm to the other person or the other person’s family or household member or
mental distress to the other person or the other person’s family or household
member, the other person’s belief or mental distress may be based on words or
conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association, or
other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person
belongs.
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Menacing by stalking is a fourth-degree felony when, “[i]n committing the offense under division
(A)(1) * * * of this section, the offender made a threat of physical harm to or against the victim *
* *.” R.C. 2903.211(B)(2)(b).
“Pattern of conduct” means two or more actions or incidents closely related in time,
whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or
incidents, or two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or
not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents,
directed at one or more persons employed by or belonging to the same corporation,
association, or other organization. Actions or incidents that prevent, obstruct, or
delay the performance by a public official, firefighter, rescuer, emergency medical
services person, or emergency facility person of any authorized act within the
public official’s, firefighter’s, rescuer’s, emergency medical services person’s, or
emergency facility person’s official capacity, or the posting of messages, use of
intentionally written or verbal graphic gestures, or receipt of information or data
through the use of any form of written communication or an electronic method of
remotely transferring information, including, but not limited to, a computer,
computer network, computer program, computer system, or telecommunications
device, may constitute a “pattern of conduct.”
R.C. 2903.211(D)(1).
{¶10} Thus, a pattern of conduct requires only two or more actions or incidents. See id.;
see also K.N. v. Render, 9th Dist. Medina No. 19CA0018-M, 2019-Ohio-3981, ¶ 17. “A court
must take everything into consideration when determining if [a person’s] conduct constitutes a
pattern of conduct, even if some of the person’s actions may not, in isolation, seem particularly
threatening.” Id., quoting P.S. v. High, 9th Dist. Medina No. 18CA0008-M, 2019-Ohio-437, ¶ 8.
“In addition, ‘R.C. 2903.211(D)(1) does not require that a pattern of conduct be proved by events
from at least two different days. Arguably, a pattern of conduct could arise out of two or more
events occurring on the same date, provided that there are sufficient intervals between them.’”
K.N. at ¶ 17, quoting Wagner v. Holland, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 15CA-56, 2016-Ohio-5028, ¶ 30;
see also State v. Kirkendoll, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 19CA011465, 2019-Ohio-5019, ¶ 49. “In failing
to delimit the temporal period within which the two or more actions or incidents must occur, the
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statute leaves that matter to be determined by the trier of fact on a case-by-case basis.” (Internal
quotations and citations omitted.) Echemann v. Echemann, 3d Dist. Shelby No. 17-15-19, 2016-
Ohio-3212, ¶ 35.
{¶11} Here, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, we conclude there
was sufficient evidence presented whereby a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that
Cunningham engaged in a pattern of conduct.
{¶12} The victim informed the police, that on April 22, 2019, Cunningham sent her two
text messages. One stating, “You ruined my career[,]” and a second which read, “I won’t be happy
until I kill you[.]” The victim also told police that she took his texts as a serious threat. She
indicated that Cunningham “had been making her life miserable” for the past four days because he
lost a job or did not get a job because of the pending domestic violence charge.
{¶13} The victim reported to police that, a short time after receiving the text messages,
she left to go to the Medina County Career Center to pick up her daughter. When she arrived there,
she noticed that Cunningham was behind her vehicle in his vehicle. The victim then called a friend
to pick up her daughter. The victim drove off because she feared for her safety and wanted to try
to separate herself from him. Cunningham followed her around town for about 15 minutes. The
victim tried to call Cunningham, but he would answer the phone and then hang up. After about
15 minutes, the victim called the police. She told police that Cunningham was following her and
there was a no-contact order issued against him. An officer observed Cunningham following the
victim and pulled his vehicle over. The victim reported to the police department where she
provided police with a written statement.
{¶14} The officer who pulled Cunningham over reported that Cunningham told the officer
that he was following the victim because she was driving erratically, and he was concerned that
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his son was in the car. He then claimed that he was trying to call the Brunswick police.
Cunningham denied knowing anything about threatening text messages. Police discovered that,
as part of his bond conditions, Cunningham was to have no contact with the victim. As
Cunningham was being arrested, he mentioned something about the victim stealing his
prescription.
{¶15} While the victim later sent a letter to the prosecutor to attempt to get the charge
dismissed, and also testified at trial that she sent the text messages to herself from Cunningham’s
phone, that Cunningham only followed her for seconds, and that she was not threatened by him,
such conflicting testimony goes to issues of credibility and weight of the evidence, not sufficiency.
See State v. McCormick, 9th Dist. Summit No. 29121, 2019-Ohio-2204, ¶ 20. Nevertheless, in
that testimony, the victim indicated that the text messages were sent around 10:30 or 10:45 a.m.
and that Cunningham was not stopped for following her until after 2:00 p.m. Thus, viewing the
evidence in a light most favorable to the State, a few hours passed between when the texts were
sent and when Cunningham was arrested after following the victim.
{¶16} Given the foregoing, we conclude that sufficient evidence was presented whereby
a reasonable trier of fact could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Cunningham engaged in
a pattern of conduct as contemplated by R.C. 2903.211(D)(1). While Cunningham describes the
texts and the act of following the victim as one incident, the record discloses that there was
sufficient evidence presented that the events could be viewed as being separated sufficiently in
time to constitute two incidents. See K.N., 2019-Ohio-3981, at ¶ 17.
{¶17} Cunningham’s first assignment of error is overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE JURY’S FINDING OF GUILTY ON THE CHARGE OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND MENACING BY STALKING WAS AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE[.]
{¶18} Cunningham argues in his second assignment of error that the jury lost its way in
finding him guilty of domestic violence and menacing by stalking. In so doing, Cunningham
primarily relies upon the fact that the victim recanted her statements to police. He maintains that
the evidence was overwhelming that the victim fabricated both incidents because she was angry
with Cunningham for contacting other women.
{¶19} A conviction that is supported by sufficient evidence may still be found to be
against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997);
Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, ¶ 12.
In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and
all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of 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 ordered.
State v. Otten, 33 Ohio App.3d 339, 340 (9th Dist.1986).
{¶20} Given that the charges stem from two separate incidents, we will discuss the facts
relating to each separately.
Domestic Violence
{¶21} In her statement to the police, the victim indicated that, on January 26, 2019,
Cunningham woke up in a bad mood and she tried to stay away from him. However, anytime that
she would go to sit in another room, he would come in and smack her in the face. She told
Cunningham several times to stop hitting her or she would call the police. In the afternoon, he
dragged her by her hair and then left the house. The victim then called a family friend and went
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over there with the children. When she went back home, Cunningham was watching TV and he
started to be mean to her again. The victim took her daughter to her daughter’s bedroom because
Cunningham tended to take things out on the daughter because he was not her father. Cunningham
kept following the victim around and asking for her keys. She refused to give them to him and so
he smacked her in the face again. The victim told Cunningham to stop hitting her in front of the
children. After she put their son to bed, Cunningham came back in the room asking for the keys
and slapped her in the face again when she failed to comply. This woke their son up and
Cunningham then threatened to wake the daughter up. Cunningham kicked in the door to the
daughter’s room. The victim stayed with the daughter to calm her down and their son also came
in the room. Then Cunningham came back into that room and punched the victim twice in her
head. He left, but then came back in the room and threw a lighter at her. Ultimately, early in the
morning on January 27, 2019, the victim called 911.
{¶22} Police dispatch reported that a woman had called 911 and whispered that she
needed help. Police arrived to a dark house; however, within minutes, the victim opened the door.
The victim appeared to be frightened and was carrying her son. The victim was only speaking in
whispers. She appeared to have been crying and her face was red. The victim, who was six months
pregnant at the time, told police that Cunningham was upstairs, and she did not want him to hurt
the children. Photos of the victim’s injuries were taken, and those photos were presented to the
jury as exhibits.
{¶23} The officer who spoke to Cunningham described him as confrontational. He also
indicated that Cunningham was slurring his words and had an odor of alcoholic beverage on his
person. Cunningham denied making any threats and said he had been asleep for an hour or so.
When he was arrested, he claimed that the victim had a history of making up domestic violence
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claims. While Cunningham was in the police cruiser, he stated that any injuries the victim had
were from her punching herself in the head. Two of the officers noticed that Cunningham’s
knuckles appeared to be slightly reddened. Cunningham’s knuckles were photographed at the
station; however, the photograph did not come out as clear as it appeared in person. One of the
officers reported finding the door frame to the daughter’s room broken and opined that the door
had been recently forced in.
{¶24} Later in the morning on January 27, 2019, Cunningham called the victim from jail.
He began the phone call by telling the victim to not hang up. Cunningham stated that he “felt bad
all night[ and] didn’t get to sleep.” He went on to say, “all night I was mad at myself. You didn’t
do anything.” Cunningham told the victim, “It’s not fair. It’s me taking my stress out and it’s not
fair * * *. You know, I’m sorry.” The victim told Cunningham, “I’m not your punching bag and
you treated me like it the entire time.” Cunningham replied, “You’re not. I don’t know what it is,
and I don’t think I can have an analogy to find someone as a punching bag. I need to find a
different solution how to handle stuff[.]” The victim informed Cunningham that she told his mom
that “all [the victim] want[ed] was to know [Cunningham] [was] never going to hit [her] again,
then [they could] make this work.” Cunningham then reminded the victim that they were “on these
phones” and that he never hit her and never wanted to hit her. Cunningham later asked the victim
to accept his apology and the victim stated that she “just want[ed] to be safe again.” The victim
then indicated that she would call the police station and ask what she could do for Cunningham.
In April 2019, the victim sent a letter to the prosecutor recanting her allegations.
{¶25} At trial, the victim testified to a different version of events. She testified that she
began arguing with Cunningham the morning of January 26, 2019, after she saw that Cunningham
had texts from another woman. The victim confronted Cunningham about it, but he denied
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knowing what she was talking about. The victim was very upset. Cunningham then left. The
victim contacted a friend and they met up and took the children to a play area. While she was
there, the victim claimed she fell chasing after her son. The victim then went to a family friend’s
house before going home around 6:00 p.m.
{¶26} When the victim returned home, Cunningham was watching TV. The victim said
something to Cunningham, and he ignored her, so she pulled the plug from the TV. Cunningham
went into their bedroom and locked the door and continued to ignore her. While the victim was
doing some things around the house, their son locked himself in her daughter’s bedroom. The
victim testified that it took one kick for her to kick in the door. Later, the victim tried to talk to
Cunningham about his unfaithfulness and he laughed at her and told her he did not want her. The
victim again became very upset and began hurting herself; she claimed that she pinched and
slapped herself, punched herself in the head with her ring, and hit her head into the wall. Then the
victim called 911.
{¶27} The victim testified that she lied to the police about Cunningham assaulting her and
that she did so because she wanted to get him in trouble and thought it would help her with a
divorce. The victim testified that she had been previously a victim of domestic violence at the
hands of someone else, and, thus, knew how the system worked. The victim indicated that
Cunningham was apologizing on the jail call for his infidelity and that she said on the call that he
hit her because she knew that the call was monitored, and that Cunningham would get in more
trouble.
{¶28} Cunningham’s mother also testified. She indicated that on January 27, 2019, the
victim called her early in the morning asking her to get to the hospital because Cunningham had
been cheating on the victim and the victim was going to make Cunningham suffer. The victim did
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not mention Cunningham hitting the victim. The victim later told Cunningham’s mother that the
victim had lied about what Cunningham did and did so because she believed he was having an
affair and wanted him to suffer.
{¶29} After considering all of the evidence, we cannot say that the jury lost its way in
finding Cunningham guilty of domestic violence. “While the jury was presented with conflicting
evidence, [w]e remain mindful that the jury had an opportunity to view the witnesses and was in
the best position to assess the credibility of the evidence presented by the parties at trial.” State
v. Bracy, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28745, 2018-Ohio-2542, ¶ 28, quoting State v. Garrett, 9th Dist.
Summit No. 28638, 2018-Ohio-1368, ¶ 15. Moreover, it is well settled that “[t]he trier of fact is
free to believe all, part, or none of the testimony of each witness.” State v. Field, 9th Dist. Medina
No. 19CA0074-M, 2020-Ohio-3525, ¶ 21.
{¶30} The jury could have reasonably concluded that the victim’s testimony at trial about
how she obtained her injuries was not believable, and that, instead, the versions of events she told
the police was more credible. Moreover, the jury had before it the transcript of the jail call
Cunningham made to the victim. During that call, Cunningham apologized to the victim, and the
victim again raised allegations of Cunningham hitting her. While Cunningham denied hitting her
while on the call, he also pointed out to the victim that they were “on these phones[,]” which the
jury could have viewed as Cunningham acknowledging that they had to be careful what they said.
Finally, the jury had before it the testimony of police officers, one of whom described the victim
as appearing frightened and others who noted that Cunningham’s knuckles appeared a little red.
Overall, we cannot say that Cunningham has demonstrated that the verdict finding him guilty of
domestic violence was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Cunningham’s argument is
overruled.
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Menacing by Stalking
{¶31} The menacing by stalking charge was based upon the events of April 22, 2019.
The version the victim reported to the police was previously detailed above in the assignment of
error addressing the sufficiency of the evidence. However, the victim recanted her statement to
police at the trial.
{¶32} At the trial, the victim testified that on April 22, 2019, the victim called
Cunningham’s mother and asked if she could go over and get the iPad that had been left there.
Cunningham’s mother agreed, and the victim let herself in the house. The victim located the iPad
and also saw Cunningham’s phone. The victim knew that Cunningham was supposed to be in
court that morning. The victim looked through Cunningham’s phone and saw that he was
contacting other women. She became upset. The victim then sent the above-described texts to
herself from Cunningham’s phone and deleted those texts from Cunningham’s phone. The victim
testified that she sent the texts to get Cunningham in trouble. The victim then grabbed the iPad
and left around 10:30 or 10:45 a.m.
{¶33} The victim went home for a while and then got a message that a prescription was
ready and so she went and picked it up. It turned out it was a prescription for Cunningham. The
victim then called Cunningham and told him that she had his prescription, and he was very upset.
The victim told Cunningham to meet her in Medina because she had to go there to pick up her
daughter. While the victim was driving around, she noticed that Cunningham’s vehicle was behind
her vehicle for about fifteen seconds and so she decided to call the police to get Cunningham in
trouble. The victim denied feeling threatened by him.
{¶34} Cunningham’s mother confirmed that the victim called her on April 22, 2019,
asking to pick up the iPad. Cunningham’s mother also testified that Cunningham was due in court
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at the time and his phone was near the iPad. Around 3:00 p.m., the victim called Cunningham’s
mother; the victim was irate. The victim was talking about Cunningham texting other women.
The victim then told Cunningham’s mother about using Cunningham’s phone to text the victim’s
phone. Cunningham’s mother could not believe that the victim would send those messages from
Cunningham’s phone to herself. Cunningham’s mother could not understand why the victim
would want to destroy Cunningham in that way.
{¶35} After carefully considering all the evidence presented, we cannot conclude that
Cunningham has demonstrated that the verdict finding him guilty of menacing by stalking is
against the weight of the evidence. The jury again had a difficult task of wading through
conflicting testimony. However, after reviewing the evidence, this Court cannot say that the jury
was unreasonable in its credibility determinations. The jury could have reasonably concluded that
the victim’s statements to police were more credible and determined that she recanted for reasons
unrelated to truthfulness.
{¶36} Cunningham’s second assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶37} Cunningham’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Medina
County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Medina, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of
this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
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Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period
for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to
mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the
docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
HENSAL, P. J.
TEODOSIO, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
KRISTOPHER K. AUPPERLE, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
S. FORREST THOMPSON, Prosecuting Attorney, and VINCENT V. VIGLUICCI, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.