State v. McAfee, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2000)
State v. McAfee, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2000)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On May 5, 1999, the Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted appellant, James McAfee, on one count of aggravated robbery in violation of R.C.I THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR BY FAILING TO MAKE THE WRITTEN JURY INSTRUCTIONS, PROVIDED TO THE JURY, A PERMANENT PART OF THE RECORD FOR USE ON APPEAL.
II THE VERDICT OF CONVICTION OF AGGRAVATED ROBBERY IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
III THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PREVENTING THE DEFENSE FROM PURSUING ISSUES REGARDING RACIAL PREJUDICE BY SO-CALLED VICTIM, RICK RHOADES.
IV THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN IMPOSING "BAD TIME" PURSUANT TO REVISED CODE §
2967.11 AS PART OF THE SENTENCE.
However, Crim.R. 30(A) provides in pertinent part the following: At the close of the evidence or at such earlier time during the trial as the court reasonably directs, any party may file written requests that the court instruct the jury on the law as set forth in the requests. Copies shall be furnished to all other parties at the time of making the requests. The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action on the requests prior to counsel's arguments to the jury and shall give the jury complete instructions after the arguments are completed. The court also may give some or all of its instructions to the jury prior to counsel's arguments. The court need not reduce its instructions to writing.
Pursuant to Crim.R. 1(C), Crim.R. 30 supercedes R.C.
In Rockey v. 84 Lumber Company (1993),
The Civil Rules are the law of this state with regard to practice and procedure in our state courts. Bishop v. Grdina (1985),
Based upon the foregoing, we find the trial court was not obligated to provide the jury with a written copy of the instructions. Appellant argues the trial court did in fact provide a written copy of the instructions to the jury therefore, it should have been made a part of the record. Pursuant to a stipulated order submitted by the parties to this court on November 30, 2000, the trial court cannot recall "whether the instructions were in fact provided to the jury." The parties agree "[n]o written instructions were returned by the jury and/or made a part of the record after the verdict was returned." From our review of the record, we are unable to determine whether or not the jury received a written copy of the instructions. We note the stipulation states "neither side objected to the jury instructions as written." There is no claim that the trial court erred in instructing the jury. Assignment of Error I is denied.
(1) Have a deadly weapon on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control and either display the weapon, brandish it, indicate that the offender possesses it, or use it;
Appellant argues the victims by their own admission were drunk, and the testimony of the co-defendant, Gary Rush, lacked credibility. We disagree that all of the evidence lacked credibility. When questioned by investigators, appellant admitted to partying with the victims, Mr. Grant and Mr. Rhoades, and driving around with them to purchase drugs. T. at 335. Both victims testified to the same activities that evening. T. at 174-195, 245-265. The victims were drinking at bars until 2:30 a.m. and then went to a party and drank. T. at 178, 181, 248, 250. At the party, the victims met up with appellant and Mr. Grant arranged for appellant to purchase drugs for him for $100. T. at 184-185, 255. After appellant supplied the drugs, all four individuals, appellant, the co-defendant and the two victims, returned to the party until Mr. Grant complained that the drugs were fake. T. at 188, 257. All four left the party to get their money back. T. at 191, 257-258. Appellant directed the driver, Mr. Rush, on where to go and what to do. Appellant stopped at various locations and at one stop, he picked up a shotgun. T. at 193-194, 262. Appellant then directed Mr. Rush to drive out into the country to an oil well and told everyone to get out of the vehicle. T. at 195, 263-264. Appellant used the shotgun to force the victims to remove their clothing and told Mr. Rush to gather up the clothes. T. at 195-196, 265-266, 268. Mr. Grant had approximately $500 on him and Mr. Rhoades's wallet contained some money. T. at 189, 268. A farmer, Albert Crock, saw Mr. Rhoades coming onto his property with no clothes on but his socks. T. at 128. Mr. Crock assisted Mr. Rhoades and called the sheriff. T. at 129-130. Sheriff deputies found Mr. Grant, also clothesless, at the same location. T. at 135. The deputies recovered the victims' pants along the roadway. T. at 141-142. While being taken to the sheriff's office, Mr. Rhoades spotted the vehicle he had been traveling in. T. at 143-144. The deputy followed the vehicle until it parked. T. at 144-145. When the occupants of the vehicle exited, Mr. Rhoades identified them as being the robbers. T. at 145. The individuals were appellant and Mr. Rush. When Mr. Grant arrived on the scene, he identified them also. T. at 170. Mr. Rhoades's penknife was found in the vehicle. T. at 272, 303. Mr. Rush told precisely the same story with emphasis as to his lack of knowledge. T. at 359-369. The resident of the home where appellant got the shotgun testified that appellant asked for the weapon to have "firepower" to get money back. T. at 294. The identical direct testimony and the circumstantial evidence about the shotgun and the area, coupled with appellant's admission of being with the victims, lead us to conclude the jury did not lose its way in finding appellant guilty. Upon review, we find sufficient evidence to convict appellant and no manifest miscarriage of justice. Assignment of Error II is denied.
(1) subject to Evid.R. 403, evidence that a witness other than the accused has been convicted of a crime is admissible if the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year pursuant to the law under which the witness was convicted.
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(3) notwithstanding Evid.R. 403(A), but subject to Evid.R. 403(B), evidence that any witness, including an accused, has been convicted of a crime is admissible if the crime involved dishonesty or false statement, regardless of the punishment and whether based upon state or federal statute or local ordinance.
Apparently, Mr. Rhoades had a prior conviction for ethnic intimidation. Said crime does not involve "dishonesty or false statement." Appellant did not establish what punishment appellant received. If appellant was convicted of the crime as a misdemeanor, he would not have been sentenced "in excess of one year." Based upon Evid.R. 609, the trial court was correct in preventing defense counsel from cross-examining Mr. Rhoades on his prior conviction. Further, we note defense counsel questioned Mr. Rhoades on whether or not he had ever called anyone racial names and Mr. Rhoades testified in the affirmative. T. at 281. Mr. Rhoades even admitted to having problems with ethnic intimidation in the past. Id. Clearly appellant was able to expose potential bias on the part of Mr. Rhoades. Assignment of Error III is denied.
By Farmer, J. Hoffman, P.J. and Reader, V.J. concur.
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