State v. Wells, Unpublished Decision (8-15-2001)
State v. Wells, Unpublished Decision (8-15-2001)
Opinion of the Court
Following a jury trial, defendant-appellant Deris A. Wells was convicted of two counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C.
In his first assignment of error, Wells challenges the weight and sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. We have reviewed the entire record, weighed the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considered the credibility of the witnesses, and have determined that the trier of fact did not clearly lose its way and create a miscarriage of justice in resolving the conflicts in the evidence. See State v.Thompkins (1997),
In his second assignment of error, Wells claims that the trial court erred by allowing the state to reopen its case in order to present the testimony of a witness that had been "rediscovered" by the state. "[T]he question of opening up a case for the presentation of further testimony is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and the court's action in that regard will not be disturbed on appeal unless under the circumstances it amounted to an abuse of discretion." See State v. Smith
(1990), Hamilton App. No. C-890073, unreported, citing Columbus v. Grant
(1981),
In this case, the record revealed that the state's witness had recently been arrested in Columbus, Ohio on an outstanding capias and was jailed there before being transferred to the Hamilton County Justice Center. The witness confirmed that, although he had been transferred to the local justice center at some point during Wells's trial, his attempts to contact the prosecutor to make her aware of his arrival in Cincinnati had been delayed. We cannot say that, under the facts of this case, the trial court abused its discretion when it permitted the state to reopen its case to present the witness's testimony. Wells's second assignment of error is overruled.
Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Further, a certified copy of this Judgment Entry shall constitute the mandate, which shall be sent to the trial court under App.R. 27. Costs shall be taxed under App.R. 24.
Gorman, P.J., Sundermann and Winkler, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.