State v. Fazenbaker , 2021 Ohio 3447 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Fazenbaker, 2021-Ohio-3447.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 29108
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
ANDREW S. FAZENBAKER COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. CR 18 03 0749
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: September 30, 2021
CARR, Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Andrew S. Fazenbaker, appeals the judgment of the Summit County
Court of Common Pleas. Although this Court initially reversed the trial court’s judgment, the
Supreme Court of Ohio subsequently reversed this Court’s decision and remanded the matter to
address Fazenbaker’s remaining assignments of error that had previously been deemed moot.
Upon consideration of Fazenbaker’s remaining assignments of error, this Court affirms in part,
reverses in part, and remands.
I.
{¶2} This matter arises out of an alleged breaking and entering that occurred at a
storage facility in Akron, Ohio. This Court set forth many of the relevant procedural facts in its
prior decision:
On May 31, 2017, D.B. and R.B. traveled to Storage Zone in Akron, Ohio, in
order to prepare their travel trailer for an upcoming camping trip. When they
arrived at the storage facility, they discovered that someone had broken into the
trailer and stolen electronic equipment.
2
Thereafter, the Summit County Grand Jury indicted Fazenbaker on one count of
breaking and entering. Fazenbaker pleaded not guilty to the charge at
arraignment and the matter proceeded to trial. The jury found Fazenbaker guilty
of the sole charge in the indictment. The trial court imposed a 12-month prison
sentence and ordered the sentence to be served consecutively to Fazenbaker's
sentence in a separate criminal case.
State v. Fazenbaker, 9th Dist. Summit No. 29108, 2019-Ohio-3972, ¶ 2-3.
{¶3} Fazenbaker appealed and raised five assignments of error. This Court reversed
Fazenbaker’s conviction on sufficiency grounds on the basis that the State did not demonstrate
that the trailer in question met the definition of unoccupied structure for the purposes of R.C.
2911.13(A). Fazenbaker, 2019-Ohio-3972, at ¶ 18-19; but see ¶ 22-30 (Teodosio, J., dissenting).
The Supreme Court of Ohio subsequently reversed this Court’s decision, holding that “a
structure that is specifically designed for overnight accommodation and physically capable of
being occupied, but is winterized, covered, stored, and uninhabited at the time of a break-in, is an
unoccupied structure for the purposes of R.C. 2911.13(A).” State v. Fazenbaker, 163 Ohio St.3d
405, 2020-Ohio-6731, ¶ 1. The high court remanded the matter for this Court to consider
Fazenbaker’s assignments of error that had previously been deemed moot. Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶4} Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s remand, this Court now addresses Fazenbaker’s
remaining assignments of error.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL WAS INSUFFICIENT TO
SUSTAIN A FINDING OF GUILT FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTING DEFENSE COUNSEL’S
[CRIM.R. 29] MOTION.
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{¶5} In his first and third assignments of error, Fazenbaker challenged the sufficiency
of the evidence on the basis that the trailer at issue in this case did not constitute an unoccupied
structure for the purposes of R.C. 2911.13(A). As noted above, the Supreme Court of Ohio has
addressed this issue and concluded that the State presented evidence that the trailer did, in fact,
constitute an unoccupied structure. Fazenbaker, 163 Ohio St.3d 405, 2020-Ohio-6731, at ¶ 14.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE VERDICT OF GUILTY FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING WAS
AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶6} In his second assignment of error, Fazenbaker argues that his conviction for
breaking and entering was against the manifest weight of the evidence. This Court disagrees.
{¶7} Fazenbaker was convicted of violating R.C. 2911.13(A), which provides, “[n]o
person by force, stealth, or deception shall trespass in an unoccupied structure, with purpose to
commit therein any theft offense, as defined in [R.C. 2913.01], or any felony.” R.C. 2911.13(C)
provides that “[w]however violates this section is guilty of breaking and entering, a felony of the
fifth degree.”
{¶8} 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).
{¶9} “When a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis that the
verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and
disagrees with the fact[-]finder’s resolution of the conflicting testimony.” State v. Thompkins, 78
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Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997), quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42 (1982). An appellate
court should exercise the power to reverse a judgment as against the manifest weight of the
evidence only in exceptional cases. Otten at 340.
{¶10} In support of his manifest weight challenge, Fazenbaker argues that “[i]n the
present case it is clear that the jury ignored the obvious fact that a fully covered winterized trailer
that had been parked in a storage area and unused for over a year is not an unoccupied structure
pursuant to R.C. 2911.13.” Fazenbaker maintains that the weight of the evidence supports the
conclusion that the trailer in this case, much like the Volkswagen bus at issue in State v. Carroll,
62 Ohio St.2d 313 (1980), fell outside the definition of unoccupied structure.
{¶11} Fazenbaker’s argument is without merit. The State presented evidence that
Fazenbaker broke into a hard body travel trailer that contained a bedroom, a living room, a
bathroom, and a kitchenette. The trailer was winterized, covered, and placed in a storage facility.
This Court remains mindful that the Supreme Court held that “a structure that is specifically
designed for overnight accommodation and physically capable of being occupied, but is
winterized, covered, stored, and uninhabited at the time of a break-in, is an unoccupied structure
for the purposes of R.C. 2911.13(A).” Fazenbaker, 163 Ohio St.3d 405, 2020-Ohio-6731, at ¶ 1.
It follows that this is not the exceptional case where the weight of the evidence supports the
conclusion that the trier of fact clearly lost its way.
{¶12} The second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
THE TRIAL COURT DENIED DEFENDANT DUE PROCESS BY FAILING
TO PROPERLY CHARGE THE JURY ABOUT “UNOCCUPIED
STRUCTURE” AND BY ALLOWING THE STATE TO ASK A QUESTION
THAT PRESUMED DEFENDANT’S GUILT.
5
{¶13} In his fourth assignment of error, Fazenbaker contends that the trial court violated
his due process rights when it gave jury instructions that presumed that the trailer in question was
“a structure[.]” Fazenbaker further contends that the trial court improperly permitted the State to
ask Officer Shawn Brady how Fazenbaker may have entered the trailer. This Court disagrees
with both assertions.
Jury Instructions
{¶14} Fazenbaker argues that “[a] review of the jury charges indicates that the [t]rial
[c]ourt falsely assumed the trailer in question was a structure, which gave the impression to the
jury that the fully covered trailer was a structure pursuant to R.C. 2911.13.” Fazenbaker
maintains that the trial court’s failure to define the term unoccupied structure created confusion
for the jury.
{¶15} A review of the record reveals that when Fazenbaker moved for a judgment of
acquittal on the basis that the State failed to demonstrate that this case involved an “unoccupied
structure[,]” the trial court noted that there had been a “lengthy discussion” about the issue in
chambers. The trial court noted that the term unoccupied structure was not defined in the Ohio
Revised Code. Based on the definition of occupied structure set forth in R.C. 2909.01(C),
however, the trial court observed that the trailer in this case could be considered an unoccupied
structure given that it was a “shelter or structure” intended for temporary living that was not in
use at the time of the break in. The trial court ultimately denied the Crim.R. 29(A) motion on the
basis that the issue should go to the jury because reasonable jurors could differ as to whether the
State had proven whether the trailer constituted an unoccupied structure. The trial court
instructed the jury shortly thereafter. While the trial court set forth the elements of breaking and
entering, and further instructed the jury that the State was required to prove every element of the
6
charged offense, the trial court did not define the term “unoccupied structure.” Fazenbaker did
not object to the jury instructions.
{¶16} Pursuant to Crim.R. 52(B), “[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights
may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” “In order to
constitute plain error, an error must be obvious and have a substantial adverse impact on the
integrity of and the public’s confidence in judicial proceedings.” State v. Tichon, 102 Ohio
App.3d 758, 767 (9th Dist.1995). A reviewing court must take notice of plain error only with the
utmost caution, and only then to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Bray, 9th
Dist. Lorain No. 03CA008241, 2004-Ohio-1067, ¶ 12. This Court will not reverse the judgment
of the trial court on the basis of plain error unless appellant has demonstrated that the outcome of
trial clearly would have been different but for the alleged error. State v. Kobelka, 9th Dist.
Lorain No. 01CA007808, 2001 WL 1379440, *2 (Nov. 7, 2001).
{¶17} Fazenbaker cannot prevail on his challenge to the jury instructions. Absent plain
error, a party waives any challenge to jury instructions unless the party “objects before the jury
retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter objected to and the grounds of the
objection.” Crim.R. 30(A). Here, Fazenbaker did not object to the trial court’s jury instructions
pursuant to Crim.R. 30(A). Accordingly, he has forfeited all but plain error. Fazenbaker has not
set forth a plain error argument on appeal. “[T]his Court will not undertake a plain error analysis
sua sponte when the appellant has failed to assert such an argument in his brief.” State v. Gray,
9th Dist. Wayne No. 08CA0057, 2009-Ohio-3165, ¶ 7. Accordingly, this Court declines to
create a plain error argument on Fazenbaker’s behalf.
7
Testimonial Evidence
{¶18} Fazenbaker contends that the trial court improperly permitted the State to elicit
Officer Brady’s opinion as to how Fazenbaker may have entered the trailer. Though Fazenbaker
references due process in his assignment of error, he has not pointed to a constitutional standard
in support of his position. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Instead, Fazenbaker simply asserts that the
State’s question was highly prejudicial because it presumed his guilt.
{¶19} This Court generally reviews a trial court’s decision to admit testimony for an
abuse of discretion. See State v. Green, 9th Dist. Summit No. 29120, 2019-Ohio-4967, ¶ 18. An
abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment; it means that the trial court was
unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable in its ruling. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d
217, 219 (1983).
{¶20} Officer Brady was dispatched to Storage Zone on May 31, 2017, in response to a
reported breaking and entering. Officer Brady testified that upon arriving at Storage Zone, he
encountered D.B. and R.B., who explained that someone had broken into their trailer. D.B. and
R.B. had not used the trailer since late 2015. When they arrived to do some work on the trailer
in preparation for an upcoming camping trip, they noticed that the window on the side of the
trailer was open. Officer Brady entered through the man door and found the inside of the trailer
in disarray. Several items had been stolen. Officer Brady also found a cigarette butt on the floor
of the trailer. Given that D.B. and R.B. did not smoke, Officer Brady took the cigarette butt into
evidence.1
1
The State filed a pretrial motion pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B) to introduce evidence that
Fazenbaker had been involved in a separate theft at the same storage facility where law
enforcement had discovered a cigarette butt. DNA testing on the cigarette butt matched
Fazenbaker’s DNA profile. The trial court granted the motion. Prior to Officer Brady taking the
witness stand, Detective Lombardi testified that in January 2017 he investigated a theft involving
8
{¶21} On cross-examination, defense counsel inquired as to whether the perpetrator
used force in entering the trailer. Officer Brady acknowledged that it did not appear force was
used. Pressing the point, defense counsel then asked, “[s]o * * * there was no evidence
presented to you that anyone manipulated any sort of locks or windows to enter the RV?”
Officer Brady responded in the negative and explained, “There was just no force on the door. * *
* Nobody used a crowbar to get in and pull the door open or anything like that.” After
establishing that Officer Brady did not obtain fingerprints at the scene, defense counsel then
asked whether “[t]he defendant’s DNA was [] derived from any other sources [other than] the
cigarette butt[.]” Officer Brady testified that the cigarette butt was the sole source of DNA
evidence and that he did not recover any other evidence at the scene.
{¶22} On re-direct examination, the State asked Officer Brady if there was anything that
caught his attention when he first saw the trailer. Officer Brady testified that he saw a small
window popped open with the screen missing. The State then asked, “based upon your
professional experience, how do you believe the defendant may have entered that vehicle?”
Defense counsel objected and the trial court overruled the objection. Officer Brady then
answered, “I believe through the window.”
{¶23} The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it permitted Officer Brady to
answer the State’s question regarding how Fazenbaker may have entered the vehicle. The
testimony at issue occurred during a line of questioning regarding how the trailer may have been
breached. On cross-examination, defense counsel acknowledged the fact that Fazenbaker’s
a Matco Tool truck at the storage facility. DNA testing on a cigarette butt found at the scene in
that case resulted in a match with Fazenbaker. The parties stipulated to the BCI report from the
prior case. Subsequently, after Officer Brady had testified, the State called a forensic analysist
from BCI who testified that DNA testing on the cigarette butt found at the scene in this case also
matched Fazenbaker’s DNA profile.
9
DNA was found on the cigarette butt located inside the trailer. In turn, the State took up a line of
questioning on redirect examination regarding how Fazenbaker might have entered the trailer.
Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court’s decision to overrule the objection
was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable given the context of Officer Brady’s testimony.
See Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219. Even assuming arguendo that overruling Fazenbaker’s
objection was improper, any error was harmless given that the State presented separate evidence
that Fazenbaker’s DNA was on the cigarette butt located inside the trailer. See Crim R. 52(A);
State v. Williams, 6 Ohio St.3d 281 (1983), at paragraph six of the syllabus.
{¶24} The fourth assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR BY
SENTENCING DEFENDANT TO CONSECUTIVE PRISON SENTENCES
AFTER HE INSISTED ON HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRIAL.
{¶25} In his final assignment of error, Fazenbaker raises multiple arguments in support
of his contention that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences. Most notably,
Fazenbaker contends that the trial court did not make the required findings in support of its
decision to impose consecutive sentences.
{¶26} At sentencing, the trial court imposed a 12-month prison sentence on the sole
count of breaking and entering and ordered Fazenbaker to pay $500 in restitution. The trial court
further ordered the sentence in this matter to be served consecutive to the sentence in Case No.
CR-2017-05-1544, where Fazenbaker was already serving an 18-month prison term for grand
theft.
{¶27} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “an appellate court may vacate or
modify a felony sentence on appeal only if it determines by clear and convincing evidence that
10
the record does not support the trial court’s findings under relevant statutes or that the sentence is
otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 1; R.C.
2953.08(G)(2).
{¶28} R.C. 2929.41 states, in part, that except as provided under R.C. 2929.14(C), “a
prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment shall be served concurrently with any other
prison term, jail term, or sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court of this state[.]” In order
to impose consecutive sentences, “a trial court is required to make the findings mandated by R.C.
2929(C)(4) at the sentencing hearing and incorporate its findings into its sentencing entry * * *.”
State v. Bonnell, 140 Ohio St.3d 209, 2014-Ohio-3177, syllabus. Notably, however, the trial
court “has no obligation to state reasons to support its findings.” Id. R.C. 2929.14(C) does not
differentiate between imposing consecutive sentences on multiple counts in a single case and
imposing consecutive sentences on multiple counts in separate cases. See State v. Gossett, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 107871, 2019-Ohio-3284, ¶ 8.
{¶29} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) provides as follows:
If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of multiple
offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison terms
consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is necessary to protect
the public from future crime or to punish the offender and that consecutive
sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and
to the danger the offender poses to the public, and if the court also finds any of the
following:
(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the
offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant
to section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post-
release control for a prior offense.
(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more
courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple offenses
so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the
offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately reflects
the seriousness of the offender’s conduct.
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(c) The offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive
sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.
{¶30} A review of the record in this case reveals that the trial court did not make
findings in support of consecutive sentences at the sentencing hearing, nor did it set forth such
findings in its sentencing entry. The State has conceded error on this point on appeal. This
matter must be remanded for the limited purpose of providing the trial court with an opportunity
to make findings in support of its decision to impose consecutive sentences.
{¶31} The fifth assignment of error is sustained to the extent that the trial court did not
make the requisite findings in support of its decision to impose consecutive sentences.
III.
{¶32} Fazenbaker’s second and fourth assignments of error are overruled. Fazenbaker’s
fifth assignment of error is sustained to the limited extent that this matter must be remanded to
provide the trial court with an opportunity to make findings in support of its decision to impose
consecutive sentences. The judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed
in part, reversed in part, and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this
decision.
Judgment affirmed in part,
reversed in part,
and cause remanded.
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 Summit, 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 equally to both parties.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
HENSAL, P. J.
TEODOSIO, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
JAMES W. ARMSTRONG, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and JACQUENETTE S. CORGAN, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.