State v. Goff

[Cite as State v. Goff, 2013-Ohio-42.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAWRENCE COUNTY
State of Ohio, :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
: Case No. 11CA20
v. :
: DECISION AND
Megan R. Goff, : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
Defendant-Appellant. : Filed: January 7, 2013
______________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
Paula Brown, William H. Bluth, and Richard R. Parsons, Kravitz, Brown & Dortch, LLC,
Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.
J.B. Collier, Jr., Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney, and Brigham M. Anderson,
Lawrence County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Ironton, Ohio, for Appellee.
______________________________________________________________________
Kline, J.:
{¶1} Megan Goff (hereinafter “Megan”) appeals the judgment of the Lawrence
County Court of Common Pleas, which convicted her of murdering her husband, William
Goff (hereinafter “William”). Megan contends that the trial court erred when the court
referenced the duty to retreat in its self-defense instruction. Because the evidence at
trial supported an instruction on the duty to retreat, we disagree. Next, Megan contends
that her conviction should be reversed based on various errors in connection with the
grand jury proceedings. Megan argues that improper evidence from the grand jury
proceedings demonstrates that the trial court should have granted her motion to
dismiss. Because Megan cannot show that the indictment was invalid on its face, we
disagree. Megan also argues that reversal is warranted because the state failed to
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 2
record the entirety of the grand jury proceedings. Because Megan cannot show that
she was prejudiced by this error, reversal is not warranted on this basis. Next, Megan
contends that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on the imperfect self-
defense doctrine. Ohio does not recognize the imperfect self-defense doctrine.
Consequently, the trial court did not err when it refused to instruct the jury on the
imperfect self-defense doctrine. Next, Megan contends that her conviction should be
reversed because the trial court’s murder instruction prevented the jury from considering
the inferior offense of voluntary manslaughter. Because there was no evidence that
Megan was under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage when she
shot her husband, a voluntary manslaughter instruction was not warranted. Therefore,
Megan cannot show that she was prejudiced by the trial court’s alleged error. Finally,
Megan contends that the trial court erred when it denied her motion to disqualify the
Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and one of the state’s witnesses. Because
Megan cannot demonstrate the prejudice necessary to justify granting a motion to
disqualify, we disagree. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I.
{¶2} When Megan was 15 years old, she and her family moved next door to
William. At the time, William was 40 years old, and he lived alone. Eventually, Megan
and William developed a sexual relationship. Megan married William when she was 19
years old. When Megan was 21 years old, she gave birth to a daughter. A few years
later, Megan gave birth to a son. Megan claimed that William was often emotionally
abusive during the marriage. Additionally, Megan claimed that William had threatened
to become violent on several occasions.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 3
{¶3} Megan and William’s marital difficulties escalated in late 2005 and early
2006. Megan claimed that, during that time period, William told her that he was going to
kill her and the children. According to Megan, William kicked the couple’s son in the
stomach on January 18, 2006. Later that same day, Megan left the marital residence
with her children. They went to a domestic violence shelter in Kentucky. Megan also
filed domestic violence charges against William. (As a result of the domestic violence
charges, law enforcement removed 63 guns from the home.) In addition to filing the
domestic violence charges, Megan initiated divorce proceedings.
{¶4} Megan claimed that William attempted to track her and the children down
after they left the residence. While Megan and the children were staying at the
domestic violence shelter in Kentucky, an employee of the shelter spotted a man
resembling William near the shelter. This caused the shelter to go on lock down.
Shortly after that incident, Megan and the children left the shelter. Eventually, they
moved into an apartment in West Virginia.
{¶5} In early March 2006, Megan recorded a phone conversation that she had
with William. (The recording was played at trial.) At the beginning of the conversation,
Megan informed William that she was recording the call. During the conversation,
William admitted that he previously said he was going to kill Megan and the children.
He claimed the statement was for “shock value” based on statements Megan had made
about suicide. (Megan responded by telling William that he was taking her comments
out of context and that she had been referring to what she would do if she was ever
terminally ill.)
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 4
{¶6} Apparently, Megan and William had at least one unrecorded phone
conversation on March 17, 2006. According to Megan, William again told her that he
would kill her and the children. She testified that, after speaking with William on March
17, she became convinced that he was going to carry out his threat.
{¶7} Megan drove to William’s house on Saturday, March 18, 2006. She stated
that she intended to persuade William to kill her but not the children. Megan claimed
that she believed that if William killed her, it would somehow prevent him from killing the
children.
{¶8} Megan arrived at the house armed with two handguns. (Megan claimed
that she carried two guns because, earlier in their marriage, William had advised her to
always carry two guns in case one of the guns jammed.) Megan testified that, after she
knocked on the door, William answered and said, “I didn’t think you had the guts.”
August 2011 Trial Tr. at 396. She also claimed that William told her to “get in here.” Id.
Next, Megan stated that, after she entered the house, she did not feel that she could get
out of the house because William blocked the door. Megan testified that William told
her that her mother “was going to have a birthday present and it was going to be two
dead grand kids and a dead daughter.” Id. at 402. (Megan’s mother’s birthday was on
the following Monday, i.e., March 20.)
{¶9} Shortly thereafter, Megan shot William multiple times, and he died as a
result of the gunshot wounds. Megan called 911 to report that she had shot William.
The recording of the 911-call was played at trial. During the 911-call, the dispatcher
struggled to convince Megan to calm down. Megan claimed she feared that William
would still be able to harm her despite his multiple gunshot wounds.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 5
{¶10} Detective Aaron Bollinger investigated the incident on the evening of the
shooting. Megan agreed to give taped statements to Det. Bollinger, and the statements
were played at trial. In the statements, Megan told Det. Bollinger that she killed William
because she feared that he would kill her and the children.
{¶11} On March 28, 2006, a grand jury indicted Megan on one count of
aggravated murder. In late April and early May 2007, a bench trial was held, and
Megan was found guilty of aggravated murder with a firearm specification. Megan
appealed, and we affirmed her conviction. See State v. Goff, 4th Dist. No. 07CA17,
2009-Ohio-4914, ¶ 160. The Supreme Court of Ohio, however, reversed our decision
because a witness for the state provided testimony that violated Megan’s right against
self-incrimination. See State v. Goff, 128 Ohio St. 3d 169, 2010-Ohio-6317, 942 N.E.2d
1075, ¶ 1.
{¶12} Following the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision, Megan received a new
trial. Megan’s case was tried to a jury in August 2011. At trial, Megan claimed that she
shot William in self-defense and that she suffered from battered woman’s syndrome. A
psychiatrist testified that, in his opinion, Megan believed that she and her children were
in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury when she shot William. The jury
nevertheless found Megan guilty of murder with a firearm specification.
{¶13} Megan appeals and asserts the following assignments of error: I. “IT WAS
ERROR TO INSTRUCT THE JURY THAT DEFENDANT-APPELLANT HAD A DUTY
TO RETREAT WHEN SHE SHOT HER HUSBAND IN THE MARITAL RESIDENCE.
(Defendant’s Proposed Special Instructions to the Jury (Exhibit F); Court Exhibit 1
(Exhibit G): Tr. 349-78, 382-84, 577, 595, 681-87.)” II. “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 6
TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE DEFENDANT WHEN IT DENIED THE DEFENDANT’S
[sic] FAILURE TO PROPERLY RECORD ALL OF THE PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT
TO CRIM.R. 22 AND THE OHIO SUPREME COURT’S HOLDING IN STATE V.
GREWELL, 45 Ohio St. 3d 4, AND BECAUSE THE GRAND JURY WAS NEVER
INSTRUCTED ON THE LAW AND WAS MISLED BY THE STATE, ALL IN VIOLATION
OF MS. GOFF’S FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION [sic]. (July 22, 2012, Pretrial Motion hearing, Tr. 18-19; Grand Jury
Transcript (‘GJ Tr.’) 1-151; Entry August 2, 2011; Entry April 13, 2011.)” III. “IT WAS
ERROR TO REFUSE TO CHARGE THE JURY ON THE DOCTRINE OF IMPERFECT
SELF-DEFENSE WHICH, IF ACCEPTED BY THE JURY, WOULD HAVE MITIGATED
DEFENDANT’S CRIME FROM MURDER TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. (911
Tape (State’s Trial Exhibit 3); Defendant’s Proposed Special Instructions to the Jury
(Exhibit F); 370-71, 373, 391-93, 395, 401-02, 490, 496-97, 574, 589, 595, 770-72.)” IV.
“THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN IT FAILED TO
PROPERLY INSTRUCT THE JURY AS TO WHEN IT SHOULD CONSIDER THE
INFERIOR OFFENSE OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND ABUSED ITS
DISCRETION IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL REGARDING
THIS ISSUE. (Jury Instructions (Exhibit N); Tr. 769:18-21, 770:7-13, 791, 794-95.)”
And V. “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO GRANT THE
DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY THE LAWRENCE COUNTY
PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE AND APPOINT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR AND
DISQUALIFY DETECTIVE BOLLINGER FROM TESTIFYING IN THIS CASE IN
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 7
VIOLATION OF MS. GOFF’S RIGHTS TO A FAIR TRIAL UNDER THE UNITED
STATES AND OHIO CONSTITUTIONS. (July 22, 2011 Pretrial hearing Tr. 44-47, 54)”
II.
{¶14} In her first assignment of error, Megan argues that the trial court erred
when it included the duty to retreat in its self-defense instruction.
{¶15} A trial court generally has broad discretion in deciding how to fashion jury
instructions. See State v. Hamilton, 4th Dist. 09CA330, 2011-Ohio-2783, ¶ 69.
However, “a trial court must fully and completely give the jury all instructions which are
relevant and necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence and discharge its duty as the
fact finder.” State v. Comen, 50 Ohio St. 3d 206, 553 N.E.2d 640 (1990), paragraph two
of the syllabus. “Additionally, a trial court may not omit a requested instruction, if such
instruction is ‘a correct, pertinent statement of the law and [is] appropriate to the facts * *
*.’” (Alteration sic.) Hamilton at ¶ 69, quoting Smith v. Redecker, 4th Dist. No. 08CA33,
2010-Ohio-505, ¶ 51, in turn quoting State v. Lessin, 67 Ohio St. 3d 487, 493, 620
N.E.2d 72 (1993).
{¶16} “‘In determining whether to give a requested jury instruction, a trial court
may inquire into the sufficiency of the evidence to support the requested instruction.’”
Hamilton at ¶ 70, quoting Redecker at ¶ 52; see also Lessin at 494. Therefore, a trial
court is vested with discretion “to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to require
a jury instruction * * *.” State v. Mitts, 81 Ohio St. 3d 223, 228, 690 N.E.2d 522 (1998);
see also State v. Wolons, 44 Ohio St. 3d 64, 541 N.E.2d 443 (1989), paragraph two of
the syllabus. “‘If, however, the evidence does not warrant an instruction a trial court is
not obligated to give the requested instruction.’” Hamilton at ¶ 70, quoting Redecker at
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 8
¶ 52. Thus, “‘we must determine whether the trial court abused its discretion by finding
that the evidence was insufficient to support the requested charge.’” Id.1 “The term
‘abuse of discretion’ connotes more than an error of law or of judgment; it implies that
the court’s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.” State v. Adams, 62
Ohio St. 2d 151, 157, 404 N.E.2d 144 (1980).
{¶17} At trial, Megan claimed (1) that she suffered from battered woman’s
syndrome and (2) that she acted in self-defense and in defense of her two children
when she shot William. Generally, to establish self-defense, a defendant must prove by
a preponderance of the evidence
(1) [that she] was not at fault in creating the situation
giving rise to the affray, (2) [that she] had reasonable
grounds to believe and an honest belief that [she] was
in immediate danger of death or great bodily harm
and that [her] only means of escape from such danger
1
See also State v. Fulmer, 117 Ohio St. 3d 319, 2008-Ohio-936, 883 N.E.2d 1052, ¶ 72
(“[T]he trial judge is in the best position to gauge the evidence before the jury and is
provided the discretion to determine whether the evidence adduced at trial was
sufficient to require an instruction.”); see also State v. Gary, 1st Dist. No. C-090643,
2010-Ohio-5321, ¶ 23; State v. Reese, 2d Dist. No. 22907, 2009-Ohio-5046, ¶ 34; State
v. Chaney, 3d Dist. No. 13-07-30, 2008-Ohio-3507, ¶ 38; State v. Carter, 4th Dist. No.
10CA3169, 2010-Ohio-6316, ¶ 51; State v. Cutts, 5th Dist. No. 2008CA79, 2009-Ohio-
3563, ¶ 72; State v. Jones, 6th Dist. No. S-08-034, 2010-Ohio-1780, ¶ 20; State v.
Phipps, 7th Dist. No. 04 MA 52, 2006-Ohio-3578, ¶ 10; State v. Sekic, 8th Dist. No.
95679, 2011-Ohio-4809, ¶ 34; State v. Smith, 9th Dist. No. 23542, 2007-Ohio-5119, ¶ 9;
State v. Peterson, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-34, 2009-Ohio-5088, ¶ 15; State v. Dukes, 11th
Dist. No. 2010-P-27, 2011-Ohio-6849, ¶ 45; State v. Tucker, 12th Dist. No. CA2010-10-
263, 2012-Ohio-139, ¶ 31; but see State v. Howard, 4th Dist. No. 07CA2948, 2007-
Ohio-6331, ¶ 27 (“[T]he issue of whether an instruction is required presents a question
of law for de novo review.”), quoting State v. Depew, 4th Dist. No. 00CA2562, 2002-
Ohio-6158, ¶ 24, in turn quoting State v. Powell, 4th Dist. No. 96CA2257, 1997 WL
602864, *1 (Sept. 29, 1997).
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 9
was by the use of force, and (3) [that she] had not
violated any duty to escape to avoid the danger.
State v. Hendrickson, 4th Dist. No. 08CA12, 2009-
Ohio-4416, ¶ 23.
{¶18} Megan argues that the trial court erred by including duty-to-retreat
language in its self-defense instruction. According to Megan, she did not have a duty to
retreat because she was in her home when the incident occurred. Megan claimed that,
even though she and the children left the marital residence in January 2006, the
residence was still her home on the date of the incident. As a result, Megan provided
the trial court with a proposed self-defense instruction that did not include language on
the duty to retreat. Instead, the proposed instruction asked the jury to consider only the
first two elements of self-defense listed above. The trial court, however, declined to
adopt Megan’s proposed instruction. Thus, we must analyze whether the evidence
required the trial court to omit an instruction on the duty to retreat.
{¶19} Megan contends that she had no duty to retreat because she was a
cohabitant in the home where the shooting occurred. To support this argument, Megan
relies on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in State v. Thomas, 77 Ohio St. 3d 323,
673 N.E.2d 1339 (1997). In Thomas, the court held that “[t]here is no duty to retreat
from one’s own home before resorting to lethal force in self-defense against a
cohabitant with an equal right to be in the home.” Id. at syllabus. Of course, the
applicability of Thomas depends upon whether the defendant was a cohabitant of the
home where the incident occurred. “Although the location of [one’s] ‘home’ may change
depending upon circumstances, the place inhabited by a person at the time of an
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 10
altercation constitutes [her] ‘home’ for self-defense purposes.” State v. Taylor, 2d Dist.
No. 95-CA-25, 1996 WL 562796, *6 (Sept. 27, 1996); see also State v. Johnson, 10th
Dist. No. 06AP-878, 2007-Ohio-2792, ¶ 45.
{¶20} Here, Thomas does not apply because, at the time of the incident, Megan
did not inhabit the residence where the shooting occurred. The evidence shows that,
when she shot William, Megan had moved out of the residence and had no intention of
returning. Megan left the residence on January 18, 2006, and she filed for divorce
shortly thereafter. In early February 2006, Megan’s divorce attorney and William’s
divorce attorney reached an agreement regarding the residence. William’s divorce
attorney testified that there was an agreement that William would receive the residence.
And at some point before the incident, either Megan’s attorney or someone from
Megan’s family delivered Megan’s keys to the residence to William’s attorney’s office.
Moreover, Det. Bollinger interviewed Megan shortly after the shooting occurred. When
Det. Bollinger was preparing a Miranda-rights waiver form, Megan informed him that her
address was an apartment in West Virginia. Megan also admitted on cross-examination
that she was living in West Virginia on the date of the incident.
{¶21} Furthermore, Megan’s statements to William during the recorded phone
conversation show that she did not consider the residence her home. During the
conversation, Megan stated the following to William: “We’re getting a divorce. I want
you not to have visitation, unsupervised, with my children. I want you to be able to keep
your house. * * * That’s what I want. Keep your house and let me and the kids go and *
* * just quit even trying to find us.” (Emphasis added.) August 2011 Trial Tr. at 432-
433.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 11
{¶22} Additionally, Megan’s testimony shows that she did not intend on returning
to the residence as a co-inhabitant. Just before Megan left the residence on January
18, 2006, she attempted to film William’s abusive behavior. The video was played at
trial. And at one point in the video, Megan took an inventory of the items in the house.
At trial, her explanation for taking the inventory was as follows: “My mom told me to
inventory everything in the house and show how many clothes, toys, stuff like that. I
knew I wasn’t going back and I knew we couldn’t get all that stuff out of the house. I
was really afraid that he would burn it down, destroy their stuff.” (Emphasis added.) Id.
at 378-379. Finally, regarding why she went to the residence on the date of the
incident, Megan testified, “I needed [William] to know I was serious that I wasn’t coming
back.” Id. at 392.
{¶23} Thus, the evidence shows that Megan was not a cohabitant in the
residence where the incident occurred. As a result, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it instructed the jury to consider whether Megan violated a duty to
retreat.
{¶24} Accordingly, we overrule Megan’s first assignment of error.
III.
{¶25} In her second assignment of error, Megan argues that the trial court erred
when it failed to dismiss the indictment based on (1) the state’s failure to record all of
the grand jury proceedings and (2) allegedly improper testimony during the grand jury
proceedings.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 12
{¶26} Megan’s motion to dismiss does not require us to examine factual findings
made by the trial court. As a result, our review is de novo. See State v. Preztak, 181
Ohio App. 3d 106, 2009-Ohio-621, 907 N.E.2d 1254, ¶ 12 (8th Dist.)
{¶27} As indicated above, there are two components to Megan’s arguments in
this assignment of error. Megan bases an argument on the fact that the grand jury
proceedings were not recorded in their entirety. Megan also bases an argument on the
portions of the grand jury proceedings that were recorded.
A.
{¶28} We will first address Megan’s argument that the trial court should have
granted her motion to dismiss based on the recorded portion of the grand jury
proceedings. She contends that the recorded portions of the proceedings reveal
improper testimony that should have caused the trial court to grant her motion to
dismiss. However, “[a] motion to dismiss tests the sufficiency of the indictment, without
regard to the quantity or quality of evidence that may be produced at trial. * * * A pretrial
motion must not involve a determination of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the
indictment. If the indictment is valid on its face, a motion to dismiss should not be
granted.” Preztak at ¶ 12. And here, the indictment is valid on its face. Additionally,
Megan’s assertions regarding the recorded portions of the grand jury testimony require
“examination of evidence beyond the face of the complaint.” Cleveland v. Olivares, 197
Ohio App. 3d 78, 2011-Ohio-5271, 966 N.E.2d 285, ¶ 8 (8th Dist.). Therefore, Megan’s
arguments regarding this evidence should have been “presented as a motion for
acquittal under Crim.R. 29 at the close of the prosecution’s case.” Id.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 13
{¶29} Thus, for the reasons stated above, the trial court did not err in denying
Megan’s motion to dismiss based on the recorded portions of the grand jury testimony.
B.
{¶30} Next, we consider Megan’s argument that the trial court should have
granted her motion to dismiss because portions of the grand jury proceedings were not
recorded.
{¶31} In general, “[g]rand jury proceedings are secret, and an accused is not
entitled to inspect grand jury transcripts either before or during trial unless the ends of
justice require it and there is a showing by the defense that a particularized need for
disclosure exists which outweighs the need for secrecy.” State v. Patterson, 28 Ohio
St.2d 181, 277 N.E.2d 201 (1971), paragraph three of the syllabus; accord State v.
Lang, 129 Ohio St. 3d 512, 2011-Ohio-4215, 954 N.E.2d 596, ¶ 41. “A particularized
need is established ‘when the circumstances reveal a probability that the failure to
provide the grand jury testimony will deny the defendant a fair trial.’” Id. at ¶ 41, quoting
State v. Sellards, 17 Ohio St. 3d 169, 173, 478 N.E.2d 781 (1985).
{¶32} Crim. R. 22 provides that “[i]n serious offense cases all proceedings shall
be recorded.” And “[p]ursuant to Crim. R. 22 grand jury proceedings in felony cases
must be recorded.” State v. Grewell, 45 Ohio St. 3d 4, 9, 543 N.E.2d 93 (1989). Thus,
“if the defendant demonstrates a particularized need, Crim.R. 6(E) gives him or her the
right to inspect all relevant portions of that testimony.” State v. Henness, 10th Dist. No.
94APA02-240, 1996 WL 52890, *11 (Feb. 6, 1996). See also State v. Greer, 66 Ohio
St.2d 139, 420 N.E.2d 982 (1981), paragraph four of the syllabus.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 14
{¶33} Here, Megan and the state stipulated that Megan had a particularized
need to review the grand jury transcript. Megan and the state filed a joint motion for the
production of the grand jury transcript, which the trial court granted. Although a
significant amount of the grand jury proceedings were recorded, there were portions of
the grand jury proceedings that were not recorded. Moreover, Megan and the state
simply stipulated to a particularized need without actually articulating the particularized
need. Consequently, we cannot determine whether the trial court provided Megan the
“relevant” portions of the grand jury proceedings.
{¶34} As a result, based on (1) Megan’s stipulated particularized need to review
the grand jury transcripts and (2) the state’s failure to provide the full transcripts as
required, Megan has established error in the proceedings below. That is, Megan has
shown that there was a “‘[d]eviation from a legal rule.’” (Alteration sic.) State v. Fisher,
99 Ohio St. 3d 127, 2003-Ohio-2761, 789 N.E.2d 222, ¶ 7, quoting United States v.
Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-733, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 123 L. Ed. 2d 508 (1993).
{¶35} Next, we “must engage in a specific analysis of the trial court record – a
so-called ‘harmless error’ inquiry – to determine whether the error ‘affect[ed] substantial
rights’ of the criminal defendant.” (Alteration sic.) Fisher at ¶ 7, quoting Crim.R. 52(A)
(“Any error, defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall
be disregarded.”). “This language has been interpreted to ‘mean[] that the error must
have been prejudicial: It must have affected the outcome of the [trial] court
proceedings.’” (Emphasis and alterations sic.) Fisher at ¶ 7, quoting Olano at 734.
Here, Megan asserts that the error “affected the substantial rights of the accused,” but
she does not articulate how the failure to record the grand jury proceedings affected the
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 15
outcome of the proceedings. Appellant’s Merit Brief at 11. Instead, Megan focuses her
argument on the fact that the instructions of law to the grand jury were not recorded.
{¶36} Megan’s argument does not demonstrate that she was prejudiced by the
state’s failure to record the entirety of the grand jury proceedings. “[T]he purpose of the
grand jury is to determine if probable cause exists to believe that the crime alleged has
been committed and that the defendant committed it * * *.” State v. Hunsaker, 78 Ohio
App.3d 251, 256, 604 N.E.2d 247 (3d Dist.1992). Here, the grand jury indicted Megan
on one count of aggravated murder in violation of R.C. 2903.01(A) with a firearm
specification. R.C. 2903.01(A) provides that “[n]o person shall purposely, and with prior
calculation and design, cause the death of another * * *.” The recorded portions of the
grand jury proceedings demonstrate that the state presented sufficient evidence to
establish probable cause that Megan committed aggravated murder and that she used
a firearm in committing the offense. As a result, the fact that the instructions to the
grand jury were not recorded did not affect the outcome of the trial court proceedings.
Consequently, Megan was not prejudiced by the failure to record the grand jury
proceedings in their entirety.
{¶37} Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, we overrule Megan’s second
assignment of error.
IV.
{¶38} In her third assignment of error, Megan argues that the trial court erred by
not instructing the jury on the so-called imperfect self-defense doctrine.
{¶39} As stated above, a trial court is vested with discretion “to determine
whether the evidence is sufficient to require a jury instruction * * *.” Mitts, 81 Ohio St.3d
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 16
at 228, 690 N.E.2d 522. And we must determine “whether the trial court abused its
discretion by finding that the evidence was insufficient to support the requested charge.”
Hamilton, 2011-Ohio-2783, at ¶ 70.
{¶40} The imperfect self-defense doctrine would have allowed Megan to mitigate
her murder conviction to a voluntary manslaughter conviction if she had an honest, but
unreasonable, belief that she was in danger of death or great bodily harm from William.
See Dykes v. State, 319 Md. 206, 213, 571 A.2d 1251 (1990). As Megan
acknowledges, Ohio does not recognize the imperfect self-defense doctrine. Megan,
however, argues that “[t]he doctrine of imperfect self-defense as a means of mitigating
an intentional, but not premeditated, killing to voluntary manslaughter has a long history
in the criminal law.” Appellant’s Merit Brief at 18. Megan notes that thirteen
jurisdictions have adopted the imperfect self-defense doctrine. She asserts that the trial
court should have given the jury her proposed imperfect-self-defense instruction.
{¶41} As stated, a trial court has discretion to determine whether the evidence is
sufficient to require a jury instruction. And here, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by refusing to instruct the jury on a doctrine that Ohio law does not recognize.
Thus, the trial court did not err when it refused to instruct the jury on the imperfect self-
defense doctrine.
{¶42} Accordingly, we overrule Megan’s third assignment of error.
V.
{¶43} In her fourth assignment of error, Megan argues that the trial court’s
instructions were erroneous because the wording of the murder instruction foreclosed
consideration of the voluntary manslaughter instruction.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 17
{¶44} Our review of “whether jury instructions correctly state the law is de novo.”
State v. Kulchar, 4th Dist. No. 10CA6, 2011-Ohio-5144, ¶ 15. “However, reversible
error should not be predicated upon one phrase or one sentence in a jury charge;
instead, a reviewing court must consider the jury charge in its entirety.” Id., citing State
v. Porter, 14 Ohio St. 2d 10, 13, 235 N.E.2d 520 (1968). “[I]f an instruction correctly
states the law, its precise wording and format are within the trial court’s discretion.”
Kulchar at ¶ 15.
{¶45} Megan argues that the trial court’s jury instruction for murder prevented
the jury from considering whether Megan committed voluntary manslaughter. The trial
court instructed the jury as follows: “If you find that the State has proved beyond a
reasonable doubt all the essential elements of murder, your verdict must be guilty.”
August 2011 Trial Tr. at 769; see also Jury Charge at 13. Megan claims that, even if
her conduct amounted to murder, the jury still had to consider whether the mitigating
elements of voluntary manslaughter were present. According to Megan, by instructing
the jury that it must find Megan guilty if the elements of murder were satisfied, the trial
court prevented the jury from considering the mitigating elements of voluntary
manslaughter.
{¶46} “Voluntary manslaughter is an inferior degree of murder.” State v.
Alexander, 4th Dist. No. 08CA3221, 2009-Ohio-1401, ¶ 62; accord State v. Shane, 63
Ohio St. 3d 630, 632, 590 N.E.2d 272 (1992).
A defendant on trial for murder or aggravated murder
bears the burden of persuading the fact finder, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that he or she acted
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 18
under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden
fit of rage, either of which was brought on by serious
provocation occasioned by the victim that was
reasonably sufficient to incite the defendant into using
deadly force, R.C. 2903.03(A), in order for the
defendant to be convicted of voluntary manslaughter
rather than murder or aggravated murder. State v.
Rhodes, 63 Ohio St. 3d 613, 590 N.E.2d 261 (1992),
syllabus.
{¶47} Additionally, when a voluntary manslaughter instruction is appropriate, a
trial court should instruct the jury “to consider the mitigating evidence to determine
whether [the defendant] proved voluntary manslaughter.” State v. Benge, 75 Ohio St. 3d
136, 140-141, 661 N.E.2d 1019 (1996).
{¶48} We will assume that the trial court’s instruction prevented the jury from
considering the voluntary manslaughter charge. However, “[i]t is axiomatic that in order
for there to be reversible error, there must be prejudice to the appellant.” State v.
Rembert, 5th Dist. No. 04 CA 66, 2005-Ohio-4718, ¶ 15, citing State v. Dean, 94 Ohio
App. 540, 16 N.E.2d 767 (1st Dist.1953); Tingue v. State, 90 Ohio St. 368, 108 N.E. 222
(1914).
{¶49} Here, Megan cannot demonstrate prejudice because the evidence at trial
did not warrant a voluntary manslaughter instruction. This is so because there was no
subjective evidence that Megan killed William while she was under the influence of
sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage. Therefore, Megan cannot show that she was
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 19
prejudiced if the trial court’s murder instruction prevented the jury from considering the
voluntary manslaughter instruction.
{¶50} As indicated above, a voluntary manslaughter instruction requires both
objective and subjective evidence. First, there must be “evidence of reasonably
sufficient provocation occasioned by the victim * * * to warrant such an instruction.”
Shane, 63 Ohio St. 3d 630, 590 N.E.2d 272, paragraph one of the syllabus. “In making
that determination, trial courts must apply an objective standard: ‘For provocation to be
reasonably sufficient, it must be sufficient to arouse the passions of an ordinary person
beyond the power of his or her control.’” State v. Elmore, 111 Ohio St. 3d 515, 2006-
Ohio-6207, 857 N.E.2d 547, ¶ 81, quoting Shane at 635.
{¶51} If the objective component is met, “the inquiry shifts to the subjective
component of whether this actor, in this particular case, actually was under the influence
of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage.” Shane at 634.
{¶52} When analyzing the subjective component, “evidence supporting the
privilege of self-defense, i.e., that the defendant feared for [her] own and [others’]
personal safety, does not constitute sudden passion or a fit of rage as contemplated by
the voluntary manslaughter statute.” State v. Harris, 129 Ohio App. 3d 527, 535, 718
N.E.2d 488 (10th Dist.1998). “While self-defense requires a showing of fear, voluntary
manslaughter requires a showing of rage, with emotions of ‘anger, hatred, jealously,
and/or furious resentment.’” State v. Levett, 1st Dist. No. C-040537, 2006-Ohio-2222, ¶
29, quoting State v. Perdue, 153 Ohio App. 3d 213, 2003-Ohio-3481, 792 N.E.2d 747, ¶
12 (7th Dist.), in turn quoting Harris at 535; accord State v. Sudderth, 4th Dist. No.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 20
07CA38, 2008-Ohio-5115, ¶ 14; see also Hendrickson, 2009-Ohio-4416, at ¶ 45-46;
State v. Caldwell, 10th Dist. No. 98AP-165, 1998 WL 890232, *7 (Dec. 17, 1998).
{¶53} Here, the evidence at trial did not satisfy the subjective prong of the
voluntary manslaughter test. Even assuming there was evidence of circumstances
sufficient to arouse the passions of an ordinary person beyond the power of his or her
control, there was no evidence that Megan was actually under the influence of sudden
passion or in a sudden fit of rage. Instead, the subjective evidence consisted of
Megan’s fear of William. That is, the evidence at trial supported a self-defense theory,
not a voluntary manslaughter theory.
{¶54} Megan repeatedly testified that she feared William, but there was no
evidence that Megan killed William in an act of sudden passion or in a fit of rage.
Megan testified that she did not return to the residence after leaving in January 2006
because she “was afraid to” return. August 2011 Trial Tr. at 382. Megan stated that,
during the time leading up to the incident, she grew “progressively scared.” Id. at 467.
She also claimed that William’s threat to kill the children on March 20 caused her to be
“very scared.” Id. at 473. Additionally, Megan testified that, just before she shot
William, she observed that he had something “that made [her] uncomfortable.” Id. at
485. The evidence at trial shows that Megan actually observed William’s cell phone, but
her testimony implies that she thought it might have been a firearm. Finally, Megan
testified that when she shot William she had “an honest belief that he was going to kill
[her].” Id. at 496.
{¶55} Dr. Bobby Miller is a psychiatrist who testified that Megan suffered from
battered woman’s syndrome. Dr. Miller’s testimony indicated that Megan feared
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 21
William. For example, in December 2005, Megan took a vacation without William.
Apparently, William objected to the trip, and Dr. Miller testified that Megan expressed a
“morbid fear” as to the consequences she would face when she returned. Id. at 570.
Dr. Miller also testified that, in early 2006, there were changes occurring within Megan
and William’s marriage that made William’s behavior less predictable. Dr. Miller testified
that this unpredictability “sent [Megan] into a panic.” Id. at 573. After Megan left with
the children in January, William had apparently learned where she and the children
were staying. Dr. Miller testified that this also “created a sense of panic” in Megan. Id.
at 586. Finally, Dr. Miller testified that his professional opinion was as follows: “At a
time [sic] of the alleged offense as a consequence of [Megan’s] being a victim of marital
abuse she had reason to believe and reasonably believed that she and her children
were in eminent [sic] danger of death or serious physical injury.” Id. at 595.
{¶56} Thus, the subjective evidence at trial supports a theory that Megan feared
William. There is no evidence, however, that Megan actually was under the influence of
sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage when she shot William. Consequently, the
evidence at trial did not support a manslaughter conviction. As a result, even if the trial
court’s murder instruction precluded the jury from considering the voluntary
manslaughter charge, Megan cannot demonstrate that she was prejudiced by the
alleged error.
{¶57} Accordingly, we overrule Megan’s fourth assignment of error.
VI.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 22
{¶58} In her fifth assignment of error, Megan argues that the trial court erred by
denying her motion to disqualify. Megan moved to disqualify both the Lawrence County
Prosecutor’s Office and Det. Bollinger.
{¶59} Appellate courts review a motion to disqualify under an abuse of discretion
standard. Ross v. Olsavsky, 7th Dist. No. 09 MA 05, 2010-Ohio-1310, ¶ 40; see also
State v. White, 8th Dist. 82066, 2004-Ohio-5200, ¶ 24.
{¶60} In her motion to disqualify, Megan argued that the trial court should
disqualify Det. Bollinger as a witness based on his relationship with Samantha Fields,
who was one of Megan’s former attorneys. Megan’s motion, however, did not directly
implicate any members of the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.
{¶61} “The mere appearance of impropriety is insufficient to warrant []
disqualification * * *.” White at ¶ 25. A motion to disqualify should be granted only
“when actual prejudice is demonstrated.” Id. at ¶ 26. “Prejudice will not be presumed
by an appellate court where none is demonstrated.” Id.
{¶62} As stated above, Megan was convicted of murder following her first trial,
which occurred in April 2007. Megan appealed that conviction. We affirmed Megan’s
conviction, but the Supreme Court of Ohio reversed our decision. Fields was an
associate attorney with a law firm that represented Megan in her first trial. Fields’s
employment with the firm lasted from October 2005 until October 2006. Thus, Fields’s
employment with that firm ended prior to Megan’s first trial. Nevertheless, Fields was
employed with the firm when it represented Megan in connection with William’s death.
{¶63} Fields and Det. Bollinger began dating in July 2007, after the conclusion of
Megan’s first trial. And in April 2009, Fields married Det. Bollinger.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 23
{¶64} The trial court held a hearing on Megan’s motion to disqualify, and the
evidence at the hearing shows that Megan was not prejudiced by Fields’s relationship
with Det. Bollinger. Fields acknowledged that she had access to Megan’s files while
she worked at the firm. Fields also testified that she had a couple of conversations with
Megan when Megan was in jail awaiting trial. Following one of those conversations,
Fields took some of Megan’s handwritten notes from the jail to the firm. Fields testified
that she did not know the content of those notes. Fields also stated that she did not do
legal research on Megan’s case. Additionally, Fields testified that she did not have
conversations with any partners at the firm regarding how Megan’s trial would be
conducted. Moreover, Fields did not recall overhearing any such conversations. The
trial court specifically inquired of Fields as follows: “But you did not have any discussion
or strategy or anything of that nature or help in the case preparation of discuss [sic] any
of that with your partners in the murder case?” July 22, 2011 Pretrial Tr. at 49. Fields
responded, “No I did not your Honor.” Id.
{¶65} There was a discrepancy between Fields’s testimony and Det. Bollinger’s
testimony. This discrepancy, however, does not demonstrate prejudice. Fields testified
as follows regarding conversations she had with Det. Bollinger about Megan’s case:
Q. Okay, and during that time did you have
conversations [with Det. Bollinger] concerning what
was happening to Megan Goff?
A. We had some conversations about the appeal
process and what the status of the appeal was.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 24
Q. Did you have conversation [sic] when the appeal
in the Fourth District was affirmed?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you have further conversations after the
Supreme Court of Ohio reversed the decision?
A. Yes, just as to the status of that ruling. July 22,
2011 Pretrial Tr. 46.
{¶66} In contrast, Det. Bollinger testified as follows:
Q. So you were, you were married at the time this
Megan Goff case was going through appeal?
A. Through appeal yes.
Q. And you had discussions with your wife regarding
that case?
A. No Mam.
Q. You never discussed that case?
A. No Mam.
Q. You were married to your wife when this Megan
Goff case was reversed by the Ohio Supreme Court?
A. Yes.
Q. In December 2010?
A. Yes.
Q. And you had discussions then with your wife
regarding this matter?
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 25
A. I don’t discuss legal cases. I don’t even know who
my wife represents on cases. We don’t work any
cases, she doesn’t defend anyone on cases that I
work, just not our topic of conversation at home. Id.
at 53-54.
{¶67} Even assuming the discrepancy between Fields’s testimony and Det.
Bollinger’s testimony creates the appearance of impropriety, the discrepancy does not
demonstrate prejudice sufficient to warrant disqualification. At most, the testimony
shows that Fields and Det. Bollinger discussed the status of Megan’s appeal following
her first trial. There is no indication, however, that Fields divulged any information to
Det. Bollinger that could have disadvantaged Megan’s defense. Thus, Megan has not
demonstrated that Fields’s relationship with Det. Bollinger prejudiced Megan’s ability to
receive a fair trial.
{¶68} Because Megan cannot show that she was prejudiced by Fields’s
relationship with Det. Bollinger, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied
her motion to disqualify Det. Bollinger and the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.
{¶69} Accordingly, we overrule Megan’s fifth assignment of error.
{¶70} In conclusion, having overruled all of Megan’s assignments of error, we
affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 26
Harsha, J., concurring:
{¶71} I concur in judgment and opinion on the second and fifth assignment of
error but concur in judgment only on the first, third and fourth assignments of error. The
principal opinion correctly cites State v. Fulmer, 117 Ohio St. 3d 319, 2008-Ohio-936, ¶
72; State v. Mitts, 81 Ohio St. 3d 223, 228; and State v. Wolons, 44 Ohio St. 3d 64,
paragraph two of the syllabus, as holding the trial court is vested with discretion to
determine whether the evidence warrants a requested jury instruction. However, the
Supreme Court of Ohio has also held that requested instructions should be given if they
are correct statements of the law applicable to the facts in the case and reasonable
minds might reach the conclusion sought by the instruction. Murphey v. Carrollton Mfg.,
Co. (1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d 585, 591. In Murphey the court went on to declare “In
reviewing the record to ascertain the presence of sufficient evidence to support the
giving of a[n] * * * instruction, an appellate court should determine whether reasonable
minds might reach the conclusion sought by the instruction.” Id. And in State v. Comen
(1990), 50 Ohio St. 3d 206, paragraph two of the syllabus, the court held “ * * * a trial
court must fully and completely give the jury all instructions which are relevant and
necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence and discharge its duty as the fact finder.”
These directives indicate de novo review, not the abuse of discretion standard posited
in Fulmer, Mitts, Wolons and the principal opinion.
{¶72} I realize one can justify using the latter standard by assuming Fulmer has
overruled Murphey sub silentio. But in light of the inconsistency between the two lines
of cases, the fact that Murphey and Comen have not been overruled, limited, or
clarified, I continue to believe that the more appropriate standard of review remains de
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 27
novo. See Murphey (Harsha, J., concurring in judgment and opinion), and State v.
Powell, 4th Dist. No. 00CA2562, 2002-Ohio-6158, ¶ 24.
{¶73} Finally, looking to the fourth assignment of error, I conclude there was no
error because the evidence did not warrant instructions on involuntary manslaughter
and the jury’s duty to consider mitigating evidence. In other words, I believe the jury
instruction was correct as given, rather than being erroneous but not prejudicial as the
principal opinion concludes.
Lawrence App. No. 11CA20 28
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED. Appellant shall pay the 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
Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Exceptions.
Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment & Opinion.
Harsha, J: Concurs in Judgment & Opinion as to A/E II & A/E V.
Concurs in Judgment Only as to A/E I, III, & IV, with Opinion.
For the Court
BY:_____________________________
Roger L. Kline, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.