State v. Glenn

[Cite as State v. Glenn, 2011-Ohio-543.]
STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
SEVENTH DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO ) CASE NO. 09 MA 54
)
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE )
)
VS. ) OPINION
)
DEON GLENN )
)
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT )
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Criminal Appeal from the Court of
Common Pleas of Mahoning County,
Ohio
Case No. 07 CR 696
JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: Atty. Paul J. Gains
Mahoning County Prosecutor
Atty. Ralph M. Rivera
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
21 West Boardman Street, 6th Floor
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
For Defendant-Appellant: Atty. J. Dean Carro
Director Legal Clinic
University of Akron
School of Law
Office of Appellate Review
Akron, Ohio 44325-2901
JUDGES:
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Dated: February 4, 2011
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WAITE, P.J.
{1} Appellant, Deon Glenn, appeals the judgment entry of the Mahoning
County Court of Common Pleas convicting him on one count of murder, in violation of
R.C. 2903.02(A)(D), a felony of the first degree (a lesser included offense of the
original charge of aggravated murder), five counts of attempted murder, in violation of
R.C. 2903.02(A)(D), felonies of the first degree, and six firearm specifications
pursuant to R.C. 2941.146(A).
{2} According to the testimony at trial, Appellant, while riding in the front-
passenger seat of a car on the north side of Youngstown, drew a .380 caliber semi-
automatic handgun and fired approximately five shots at a group teenagers walking
from a block party on May 25, 2007. One of the teenagers, Maressia Patterson, was
fatally wounded. Another, Akeem Minor, was shot in the leg. The other five high
school students, Raheem Minor, Hanibol Minor, Dewaylon Green, Kenny Bullock and
Maurice McQueen, escaped without injury.
{3} Appellant contends that there was insufficient evidence to prove that he
purposely or voluntarily caused Patterson’s death or attempted to cause the death of
the other high school students based on the random pattern of gunshots. In the
alternative, he argues that the manifest weight of the evidence proves that he did not
purposely or voluntarily cause Patterson’s death or attempt to cause the death of the
other students based on the random pattern of the gunshots and the combination of
stimulants and depressants in his system that evening. For the following reasons,
both of Appellant’s assignments of error are overruled and his conviction is affirmed.
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{4} According to his testimony at trial, Appellant bought a HiPoint .380
semi-automatic pistol three days before the shootings to protect himself, his home,
and family. (Tr., pp. 798-799.) He was walking home from Life Skills, a charter
school catering to at-risk students in the city, and was approached by a
neighborhood acquaintance who offered to sell him the gun and ammunition for $80.
The gun was loaded when he purchased it. (Tr., p. 823.)
{5} Appellant considered himself a part of a group of students, mainly from
Chaney High School, who referred to themselves as “BMF,” an abbreviation for
“[b]itches, money, fame.” (Tr., pp. 343, 802.) BMF was not a criminal enterprise,
they were a group of friends who tried to be “the life of the part[y],” and engaged in
dance-offs with other groups. (Tr., pp. 343, 802.) One such group was comprised of
students, mainly from the Rayen School, who referred to themselves as “BBH,” an
abbreviation for “[b]rothers before hoes.” (Tr., pp. 342, 382.) Like “BMF,” “BBH” had
no criminal purpose, they were a group of friends who enjoyed flaunting their style
and dancing ability. (Tr., pp. 382, 551.)
{6} The two groups conversed and occasionally “trash talk[ed]” on
MySpace. (Tr., 383.) However, the testimony at trial established that the rivalry
between the groups was not always friendly. Hanibol Minor testified that the
MySpace exchanges were intended to incite violence, even though Raheem Minor
testified that this was not the main thrust of the dialogue. (Tr., pp. 344, 384.) Bullock
testified that a dispute existed between the two groups that began at a party a few
months before the shooting. (Tr., p. 581.) Raheem Minor admitted that there were
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problems between his twin brother, Akeem, and Robert Jackson (Tr., p. 344.)
Jackson testified that he had some disputes with the Minors, but they had been
resolved. (Tr., p. 451.) According to Jackson, he talked to the Minors and they
agreed that it was childish to fight every time they saw one another. After that
discussion, they had attended a prom after-party without any problems. (Tr., p. 451.)
{7} On May 25, 2007, Jackson called Appellant to invite him to attend a
party on the north side of the city. (Tr., p. 809.) Appellant testified that he took the
handgun to the party for his own safety even though he was not expecting any
trouble. (Tr., p. 810.) Jackson picked up Deandre Brooks and Braylyn Williams on
the way to the party. (Tr., p. 811.)
{8} The young men stopped at a gas station where Appellant purchased
three Rockstar energy drinks. (Tr., p. 813.) Appellant said he consumed these
drinks at the party, in addition to a styrofoam cup full of Hennessy, a cognac. He also
smoked one-half of a six inch cigar emptied of tobacco and filled with marijuana. (Tr.,
pp. 815-817.) Appellant testified that he was “not a smoker or a drinker,” but that he
had tried marijuana “probably one time” in the past. (Tr., pp. 818-819, 865.) He
further stated that he never consumed alcohol prior to that evening. (Tr., p. 818.)
{9} According to Appellant, he did not know Patterson, and did not see her,
the Minor brothers, Bullock, or McQueen at the party. (Tr., p. 819.) He testified that
he did not know the meaning behind the abbreviation “BBH” until the police told him
the day after the shooting. (Tr., p. 861.) Appellant further testified that the party
broke up when police arrived on the scene after gunshots were fired. (Tr., p. 822.)
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{10} According to his testimony, Appellant was leaning against Jackson’s car
when the police arrived, and the alcohol “rushed [him]” and he felt intoxicated. (Tr.,
p. 824.) The boys left the party in Jackson’s car with the intention of attending
another party on Benita Avenue. Appellant was seated in the front passenger seat.
(Tr., p. 417.)
{11} Appellant claimed at trial that he did not remember what occurred at the
intersection of Norwood Avenue and Ford Avenue that evening. (Tr., p. 825.) He
recalled firing the handgun but stated:
{12} “To be honest with you, I didn’t have a reason to really even, you know,
expose the weapon. I was -- I wasn’t in my right state of mind. I don’t know, I was
intoxicated. I didn’t really think -- I wasn’t thinking. I don’t know what I was thinking
at the time.” (Tr., p. 826.)
{13} Appellant testified that he did not intend to hurt anyone and that he did
not know any of the teenagers walking on Ford Avenue. (Tr., pp. 827-828.) He
claimed that he was aware of the consequences of pointing a gun at someone and
shooting at them, but he claimed that is not what he did. (Tr., p. 828.) He said he
was aiming the gun “in the air.” (Tr., p. 849.) He testified that he regretted taking the
handgun with him that evening and experimenting with alcohol and drugs because he
“[didn’t] know how much it would take to throw [him] off [his] rocks and everything.”
(Tr., p. 827.)
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{14} Appellant conceded that he fired every round in the handgun that
evening. (Tr., p. 878.) Appellant also conceded that he had to repeatedly pull the
trigger in order to continue firing the handgun. (Tr., p. 845.)
{15} At the second party, Jackson learned that a girl had died as a result of
the shooting and he so informed Appellant, who never left the car at the second
party. (Tr., p. 831.) When Appellant returned to his home, he went to the back of the
garage to “contemplat[e]” the fact that a girl had died and he may have killed her.
(Tr., pp. 830-831.) He says he considered suicide before discarding the handgun
behind the garage. (Tr., p. 832.) Appellant testified that he went to sleep hoping to
wake up in the morning and discover that no one had died as a result of the previous
evening’s events. (Tr., p. 833.) A police car was in Appellant’s driveway the
following morning when he awoke. (Tr., p. 833.)
{16} On cross examination, Appellant conceded that he did not divulge the
location of the gun when asked by the police, but he claimed that this failure was due
to his embarrassment about his suicidal thoughts. (Tr., p. 839.) He appeared
reluctant to admit that he had entertained suicidal thoughts at trial. (Tr., p. 871.)
{17} All of the teenage witnesses who had been walking from the party
testified, and each presented essentially the same testimony. They were walking
north on Ford Avenue when they saw Jackson’s red car turn onto Ford Avenue
travelling southbound, followed by another car. (Tr., pp. 348, 387, 503-504, 521-22.)
Someone in Jackson’s car called out, “[a]re y’all BBH.” (Tr., pp. 349, 387, 503, 521.)
Akeem, Green, and Bullock specifically identified Appellant as the person who asked
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the question. (Tr., pp. 522, 555, 580.) One of the teenagers responded, “[h]ell
yeah.” (Tr., pp. 350, 388, 505, 521, 581.) Jackson’s car turned right onto Norwood,
and shots were fired from the front passenger seat. (Tr., pp. 351, 388-389, 505-507,
555, 580.) Raheem and Hanibol testified that they heard five or six shots. (Tr., pp.
354, 389.) Bullock heard seven shots. (Tr., p. 583.)
{18} Raheem and Hanibol conceded that it is common for party guests to fire
handguns up in the air. (Tr., pp. 365, 389.) Green and Bullock both testified they
thought, at first, that Appellant was firing his handgun into the air. Green stated that
this was his belief until he saw that the handgun was aimed at the group. (Tr., p.
557.) Bullock thought the same until he heard the bullets whizzing past. (Tr., p. 583.)
{19} Raheem testified that the gunman was shooting “[d]irectly at [the
students walking on Ford Avenue].” (Tr., p. 373.) Hanibol also felt the bullets fly past
him. (Tr., p. 389.) Akeem testified that Appellant was “[a]iming towards [the
students] as a crowd.” (Tr., p. 524.)
{20} The teenagers scattered when they heard the gunfire. (Tr., pp. 353,
508, 524, 558.) Raheem ran behind a “wall of trees.” (Tr., p. 353.) Hanibol ran to an
abandoned house. (Tr., p. 391.) Patterson ran for cover behind a tree with
McQueen, then twice screamed, “I think I just got shot,” and fell to the ground. (Tr.,
pp. 352, 374, 390, 558.) Akeem was shot in the leg. (Tr., p. 525.) He ran behind a
house with Bullock, then Bullock carried him on his back to Saranac Avenue, where
friends took Akeem to the hospital. (Tr., p. 525.)
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{21} Akeem and Bullock both identified Appellant as the gunman when the
shooting started. (Tr., pp. 523, 582.) According to Raheem, Jackson’s car rode by a
second time, and at that point he recognized Appellant as the gunman. (Tr., p. 352.)
Green and Bullock also testified that Jackson’s car drove past the crime scene a
second time. (Tr., pp. 559, 589.) Green testified that as he stood over Patterson’s
body, Appellant said, “don’t run now, Big Boy, or something, I’m going to get you too.
Something like that.” (Tr., p. 559.)
{22} Jackson and Brooks, who were passengers in Jackson’s car, both
testified at the trial. Jackson testified that Appellant’s behavior was “regular” when
they left Lora Avenue on their way to the second party on Benita Avenue. (Tr., p.
446.) Jackson said that after he turned onto Norwood Avenue he suddenly “hear[d]
sparks flying out of a shotgun, shots.” (Tr., p. 421.) The shots were coming from his
passenger seat. (Tr., 421.) He could not see the direction in which Appellant was
shooting the handgun. (Tr., p. 466.) Jackson also said he did not hear any shouting
back and forth between Appellant and the group of students prior to the shooting.
According to Jackson, when Appellant was finished shooting he sat back in his seat,
and Jackson kept driving. (Tr., p. 424.)
{23} Brooks testified that he did hear Appellant yell, “[y]’all BBH” to the
students walking on Ford Avenue. (Tr., p. 478.) After the car turned onto Norwood
Avenue, Appellant started shooting. (Tr., p. 479.) Brooks did not see the direction of
the shots, either, but heard four or five shots. (Tr., p. 480.)
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{24} They attended the party on Benita, where everyone was talking about
the dead girl from the party on Lora. (Tr., p. 429.) Brooks testified that all of the
occupants of the car wanted to go home when they heard that Patterson was dead.
(Tr., p. 482.)
{25} Jackson drove his passengers to their respective homes and then he
went to a friend’s house, where his friend discovered five shell casings in his car.
(Tr., p. 431.) One shell casing was found on Norwood Avenue approximately 135
feet past the intersection of Ford Avenue and Norwood Avenue, and another was
found in the driveway of Appellant’s house. (Tr., pp. 622-623.)
{26} Detective Rick Spotleson was the lead detective assigned to the case.
He testified that Hanibol, Green, and McQueen were at the scene when he arrived,
and they told him that “Deon” was the gunman. (Tr., p. 674.) He contacted Jackson
and made arrangements to meet with him. (Tr., p. 674.) Based on the information
provided by Jackson, Spotleson obtained and executed an arrest warrant for
Appellant and searched his house. (Tr., pp. 682-683.)
{27} Jackson was charged with murder and attempted murder, but pleaded
to obstruction of justice and offered his testimony at trial in exchange for the
dismissal of the other charges. (Tr., p. 435.)
{28} Spotleson interviewed Appellant within ten hours of the shooting. (Tr.,
p. 684.) He testified that Appellant did not appear to be under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, and that Appellant asked him what Jackson had told the police
about the events of the previous evening. (Tr., p. 685.) Appellant also asked what a
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judge would believe, appeared to claim he did not intend to shoot anyone and asked
how much prison time he was likely to get. (Tr., p. 686.)
{29} When the conversation turned to the night of the shooting, Appellant
said that he was “mad that day about something. * * * And he said he had to put
somebody in line and because of that, he started drinking some energy -- Rockstar
energy drink, and according to him he drank a lot of -- a lot, a lot, a lot of Rockstar
energy drink* * *.” (Tr., p. 688.)
{30} According to Spotleson, Appellant said that he bought the gun for his
own protection because “[a] lot of people don’t like him for some reason and he had
to protect his valuables and himself.” (Tr., p. 689.) With respect to the shooting,
Spotleson said that Appellant told him that “he was going off the music* * *he was
twisted; that he wasn’t in the right state of mind; and he was going off the music,
listening to the music. He just hung out the window and just started shooting.” (Tr.,
pp. 689-690.)
{31} In this appeal, Appellant contends that he did not act purposely or
voluntarily when he fired into the group of teenagers walking on Ford Avenue. R.C.
2903.02(A) reads, in pertinent part, “[n]o person shall purposely cause the death of
another * * *.” In Ohio, a person is not guilty of an offense unless his conduct
includes a voluntary act, and he has the requisite degree of culpability for each
element as to which a culpable mental state is specified by the section defining the
offense. R.C. 2901.21(A).
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{32} Involuntary acts are defined by the code as, “[r]eflexes, convulsions,
body movements during unconsciousness or sleep, and body movements that are
not otherwise a product of the actor’s volition.” R.C. 2901.21(D)(2). A person acts
purposely when it is his specific intention to cause a certain result. R.C. 2901.22(A).
{33} Prior to October of 2000, voluntary intoxication was a defense if it was
shown to have prevented the defendant from forming the intent necessary to commit
the charged offense. State v. Love, 7th Dist. No. 02CA245, 2006-Ohio-1762, ¶63.
However R.C. 2901.21(C) was amended to read:
{34} “Voluntary intoxication may not be taken into consideration in
determining the existence of a mental state that is an element of a criminal offense.
Voluntary intoxication does not relieve a person of a duty to act if failure to act
constitutes a criminal offense. Evidence that a person was voluntarily intoxicated
may be admissible to show whether or not the person was physically capable of
performing the act with which the person is charged.”
{35} With respect to the determination as to whether Appellant acted
purposely, the trial court provided the following instruction to the jury: “Deadly
weapon: If a wound is inflicted upon a person with a deadly weapon in a manner
calculated to destroy life, the purpose to cause the death may be, but is not required
to be, inferred from the use of the weapon. The inference, if made, rests with you.”
(Tr., p. 955.)
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
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{36} “APPELLANT GLENN’S CONVICTIONS WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
THAT APPELLANT GLENN ACTED VOLUNTARILY AND PURPOSELY,
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO PROVE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER IN
VIOLATION OF THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENT (Transcript, passim).”
{37} To determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support a conviction,
a reviewing court must determine “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. Jenks (1991), 61
Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the syllabus. Sufficiency is a test
of adequacy. Whether the evidence is legally sufficient to sustain a verdict is a
question of law. State v. Robinson (1955), 162 Ohio St. 486, 124 N.E.2d 148. A
conviction based on legally insufficient evidence constitutes a denial of due process.
State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 286-87, 678 N.E.2d 541, citing Tibbs
v. Florida (1982), 457 U.S. 31, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652.
{38} In his first assignment of error, Appellant contends that the random
bullet pattern contradicts the jury’s finding that Appellant acted with volition and
purpose on May 25, 2007. Appellant claims that, “[b]ecause the shots were fired
immediately after Jackson’s car turned East [the car actually turned west] onto
Norwood, there were no obstacles blocking the path between [Appellant] and the
group walking. Testimony established that Mr. Jackson was not speeding nor had he
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sped up as he turned onto Norwood.” (Appellant’s Brf., p. 15.) Appellant further
argues that, “[d]espite [Appellant’s] proximity and the unobstructed path to the group,
the record evidenced that the shot pattern was wildly sporadic.” (Appellant’s Brf., p.
17.)
{39} Three residences contained evidence from the crime scene, 1607 Ford
Avenue, 1605 Ford Avenue, and 1603 Ford Avenue. The houses are aligned on
Ford Avenue from North to South. (State’s Exh. 15.) Spotleson testified that he
located a “fresh mark” in the brick of the house at 1607 Ford Avenue that “appeared
to be a gunshot” at “eye level.” (Tr., pp. 694, 696.) State’s Exhibit 35, a photograph
of 1607 Ford Avenue, reveals that the “fresh mark” is located on the south side of the
house next to 1605 Ford Avenue. A sandal, cell phone, and a pair of eyeglasses
were recovered from the tree line area in front of 1605 Ford Avenue. (Tr., p. 619.) A
slug was also recovered from the tree line area at 1605 Ford Avenue. (Tr., p. 692.)
Another slug was recovered from a second story bedroom at 1603 Ford Avenue.
(Tr., pp. 697-699.)
{40} Based on this evidence, Appellant states, “[t]he approximately 2,000
square foot area that [the] slugs were recovered from established that [Appellant’s]
actions were involuntary and that he never acted to purposely harm anyone.”
(Appellant’s Brf., pp. 17-18.) Appellant also claims that “[t]he record established that
[Appellant] was firing his pistol up in the air.” (Appellant’s Brf., p. 17.)
{41} First, Appellant’s argument regarding the trajectory of the bullets
ignores the majority of the testimonial evidence offered at trial. Raheem, Akeem, and
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Green testified that Appellant was shooting directly at them. Bullock and Hanibol
both testified that they felt the bullets whizzing past them.
{42} Second, the testimony of the students established that they scattered
when they heard the gunfire, some of them hiding behind trees and another seeking
cover behind an abandoned house. Consequently, the jury may have attributed the
random shot pattern to the scattering of targets in the midst of the gunfire.
{43} With respect to the argument that there was insufficient evidence to
establish that Appellant acted purposely, several of the teenagers testified that he
asked them if they were “BBH” before opening fire. There was testimony at trial that
animosity existed between BMF and BBH, and Spotleson’s testimony established
that Appellant was angry on May 25, 2007, and that he had to “put somebody in line.”
(Tr., p. 688.)
{44} Finally, the jury was permitted to infer from Appellant’s use of the
handgun that he acted with the purpose to cause death. Based on all of the
evidence of record, Appellant’s argument that the state failed to support the inference
at trial lacks merit.
{45} Viewing all of the evidence adduced at trial in a light most favorable to
the prosecution, the jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant
acted voluntarily and purposely when he fired the handgun in spite of the
disbursement of bullets among the three houses on Ford Avenue. Appellant’s first
assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
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{46} “APPELLANT GLENN’S CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE TESTIMONY AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
PRESENTED AT TRIAL INDICATING THE JURY LOST ITS WAY IN VIOLATION
OF SECTION 3(B)(3) , ARTICLE IV OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, THUS
CREATING A MANIFEST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE (Transcript, passim).”
{47} Even though a court of review may find that a verdict is supported by
sufficient evidence, it may still be found to be against the manifest weight of the
evidence. Thompkins at 387, citing Robinson at 487. “Weight of the evidence
concerns ‘the inclination of the greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial,
to support one side of the issue rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury
that the party having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on
weighing the evidence in their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible
evidence sustains the issue which is to be established before them. Weight is not a
question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing belief.’ ” (Emphasis
sic.) Id., quoting Black’s Law Dictionary (6th Ed.1990) 1594.
{48} “ ‘The court, 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 and a new trial
ordered. The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be exercised only in the
exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’ ”
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Thompkins at 387, quoting State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485
N.E.2d 717.
{49} Although Appellant concedes that he may not rely on his voluntary
intoxication to prove that he could not form the requisite intent to commit murder and
attempted murder, he argues that based on this record he “was intoxicated to the
point that he was physically incapable of aiming a gun,” and that “[his] physical
faculties were not under his control.” (Appellant’s Brf., p. 25.)
{50} Appellant’s argument in this record is based on his allegations
regarding the effect of the combination of energy drinks, Hennessey, and marijuana
at trial. Lack of volition on Appellant’s part is raised for the first time on appeal.
Because no expert testimony was offered on this issue, Appellant asks us to take
judicial notice of several documents attached to his appellate brief. These
documents include a list of the ingredients in Rockstar (Appellant’s Exh. C), a study
on the neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine (Appellant’s Exh. D), a study on the
popularity and effect of energy drinks on adolescents (Appellant’s Exh. E), a study
detailing alcohol’s effect on the brain (Appellant’s Exh. F), and a website that explains
the effects of marijuana (Appellant’s Exh. G.)
{51} It is important to note at the outset that the Ohio jury instruction given in
a case where a party asserts that he did not act voluntarily reads, in pertinent part:
“Where a person commits an act while unconscious as in a (coma) (blackout)
(convulsion) due to (heart failure) (disease) (sleep) (injury), such act is not a criminal
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offense even though it would be a crime if such act were the product of a person’s
(will) (volition).” Ohio Jury Instructions (2010), Section 417.07.
{52} Appellant in this case attempts to circumvent the 2000 amendment to
R.C. 2901.21(C) by arguing that his intoxication transformed his otherwise voluntary
acts into involuntary acts. However, the comment to the foregoing jury instruction
reads, in its entirety, “[u]se above with appropriate instruction on purpose or
knowledge. This instruction would not apply to one who recklessly or negligently
became intoxicated or drove a car while sleepy.” Likewise, the Tenth District rejected
a similar effort to argue that, even if intoxication cannot negate the intent
requirement, it can negate the volition requirement. State v. McClaskey, 10th Dist.
No. 05AP-882, 2006-Ohio-6646.
{53} In McClaskey, the defendant was convicted of intimidation after he
made a series of profanity-laden threats to a police officer while sitting in the back of
his patrol car. The defendant, who was intoxicated at the time, was placed in the
patrol car while the police officer called a taxi to take the defendant home.
{54} On appeal, the defendant argued that the trial court should have given
a jury instruction regarding the “blackout” defense because the defendant was
suffering from an alcoholic blackout when he threatened the police officer. The Tenth
District held:
{55} “The ‘blackout’ defense comes from R.C. 2901.21(A), which provides
that a defendant cannot be found guilty of an offense unless it is shown that liability is
predicated on a voluntary act, and that the defendant had the requisite mental state
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to commit the act as specified in the statute that establishes the offense. R.C.
2901.21(D)(2) excludes from the definition of voluntary acts ‘[r]eflexes, convulsions,
body movements during unconsciousness or sleep, and body movements that are
not otherwise a product of the actor’s volition[.]’
{56} “We note that ‘[v]oluntary intoxication may not be taken into
consideration in determining the existence of a mental state that is an element of a
criminal offense.’ R.C. 2901.21(C). Thus, the mere fact that appellant was
intoxicated, standing by itself, would not be sufficient to provide a defense to the
charge of intimidation. Instead, appellant’s condition would have to rise to the level
of unconsciousness before the blackout defense would be available.” Id. at ¶10-11.
{57} The Tenth District ultimately rejected the argument that the defendant in
McClaskey was unconscious, because of his active exchange with the police officer.
{58} The Fifth District Court of Appeals rejected the applicability of the
“blackout” defense in an assault case in State v. Hackendorn, 5th Dist. No. 2004-
COA-053, 2005-Ohio-1475. The Fifth District wrote:
{59} “Here, however, the offense is not one that could be committed as a
result of a blackout. No reflexes, convulsions, or other involuntary bodily movements
by appellant could be involved in the conduct described by the witnesses consisting
of calling the victim a vulgar name, striking the victim causing her to fall on her back,
getting on top of the victim and punching her several more times, grabbing hold of
her ankle as she attempted to fight him off and pull her back down onto the ground
as the victim was struggling and kicking appellant to finally escape. (T. at 64). The
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entire assault lasted over two (2) minutes. (Id.). Appellant then fled the scene upon
being observed by a neighbor. (Id. at 88-89). Additionally, Appellant presented no
medical testimony in support of his affirmative defense to establish that the appellant
was in an unconscious state at the time he committed the criminal acts.” Id. at ¶43.
{60} After reviewing this caselaw and the record in this matter, we must
conclude that Appellant’s argument that the manifest weight of the evidence
demonstrates that he did not act voluntarily fails for several reasons. First, like the
defendants in McClaskey and Hackendorn, the record of Appellant’s behavior on the
night of May 25, 2007 does not reflect that he was unconscious. Jackson testified
that he was “regular” on the way to the party on Benita Avenue. Several witnesses
testified that Appellant called out of the car window to the teenagers before opening
fire. Appellant testified that he never got out of the car at the second party, and that
he contemplated suicide after discovering that he may have been responsible for
Patterson’s death. Spotleson testified that Appellant claimed the following day that
he had to “put somebody in line.” The chain of events described by all of the
witnesses and by Appellant, himself, both during and following the events on
Norwood Avenue evince conscious action on his part.
{61} Turning to Appellant’s judicial notice argument, the facts provided by
Appellant in the attachments to his brief are not “capable of accurate and ready
determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be
questioned.” Evid.R. 201(B). Here, Appellant asks us to take judicial notice of a
series of documents in order to conclude that the shootings were not a voluntary act.
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As the Hackendorn Court observed, expert testimony would be required in order to
reach such a conclusion in this case.
{62} Insofar as Appellant cannot establish, based on the record before us,
that the alcohol and drugs in his system rendered him unconscious, the manifest
weight of the evidence supports the jury’s verdicts. As stated earlier, Raheem,
Akeem, and Green testified that Appellant was shooting directly at them. Bullock and
Hanibol both testified that they felt the bullets whizzing passed them. Appellant
asked if the teenagers were “BBH” before opening fire. There was testimony at trial
that animosity existed between BMF and BBH, and Spotleson’s testimony
established that Appellant was angry on May 25, 2007, and that he had to “put
somebody in line.”
{63} Simply stated, the greater amount of credible evidence supports the
jury’s verdicts in this case. Accordingly, Appellant’s second assignment of error is
overruled, and Appellant’s convictions are affirmed.
Vukovich, J., concurs.
DeGenaro, J., concurs.