State v. Mason, Unpublished Decision (4-11-2002)
State v. Mason, Unpublished Decision (4-11-2002)
Concurring Opinion
The sole issue on appeal is whether Colton Mason removed Elaina Worthington from the place where she was found. There is no serious doubt that he acted knowingly or that he used force to move her.
When R.C.
This section defines a lesser included offense to kidnapping, distinguished mainly by the lesser degree of potential harm to the victim.
The first two parts of the section prohibit removing another from the place where he is found or restraining him of his liberty under circumstances which pose a risk of harm to him or place him in fear. As in kidnapping, the removal need not be for a great distance, and the manner of restraint is unimportant. Unlike kidnapping, however, deception is not listed as one of the means to effect the removal or restraint, nor is any special exception made with respect to the means to abduct children and incompetents. Force or threats must be used in every case. Also, the risk of harm to the victim is less than that required in kidnapping, and it is sufficient if the victim is merely made to fear for his safety.
As noted in the Committee Comment "the removal need not be for a great distance."
The Committee Comment for R.C.
An offense under this section does not depend on the distance the victim is removed or the manner in which he is restrained. Rather, it depends on whether the removal or restraint is such as to place the victim in the offender's power and beyond immediate help, even though temporarily. Thus, removal of the victim may be for only a short distance, such as from one car to another. * * *
The testimony in Mr. Mason's trial indicated that he grabbed Elaina's arm, pushed her against the wall and slammed her on the patio table. There facts fit either R.C.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant-appellant, Colton Mason, appeals the July 26, 2001 judgment entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, finding him guilty of abduction and sentencing him to two years incarceration. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.This case stems from two separate incidents, both occurring at 586 Napoleon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The first incident took place December 30, 1999, between appellant and Elaina Worthington, and the second incident took place on January 4, 2000, allegedly between appellant and Elaina's mother, Gale Worthington.
On December 30, 1999, Elaina returned home from a date with her boyfriend, Orlando White. As she was in her room changing her clothes, Elaina heard a knock on her bedroom window. Elaina thought it was Orlando coming back to the house. Elaina went outside and looked around, but saw no one. As she was entering back into the house, Elaina saw someone or something jump from behind a chair on the patio. Elaina ran into the house and slammed the door shut. Elaina then heard someone say, "hey." (Tr. 19.) She opened the door to see who it was. The person identified himself as Colton, Orlando's friend. Elaina opened the door to see what he wanted. Appellant told Elaina that he was running from the police and that he needed to come in the house. Elaina told appellant no because her mother was at home, and she was asleep. Appellant then pulled out a list of credit card numbers and told Elaina that she could work for him. Elaina again told him no and brushed him off. Elaina testified that appellant grabbed her arm, pushed her against the wall of the back porch, slammed her on the patio table and tried to kiss her. (Tr. 19-20, 23-24.) When Elaina screamed, appellant threw her off the table, and told her he would return later. Appellant left and Elaina ran back into the house.
On January 4, 2000, around 1:00 a.m., Gale testified that a man wearing a ski mask entered her home while she was asleep, tied her up, tried to suck on her breasts, and proceeded as though he was going to take off her pajama bottoms. (Tr. 120-125.) Before the intruder left, he had Gale lay face down on the bed, facing the headboard. When Gale heard the intruder leave out the back door, she untied herself and called the police. Gale later identified the intruder to be appellant.
On January 24, 2000, appellant was indicted on three counts of gross sexual imposition in violation of R.C.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT ENTERED JUDGMENT AGAINST THE DEFENDANT ON THE CHARGE OF ABDUCTION WHEN THE JUDGMENT WAS AGAINST BOTH THE WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED SINCE THERE WAS INADEQUATE PROOF TO SHOW THAT THE DEFENDANT REMOVED THE COMPLAINANT FROM THE PLACE WHERE SHE WAS FOUND.
In his sole assignment of error, appellant challenges the sufficiency and weight of the evidence to support his conviction of abduction. Our review of the record reveals, however, that appellant's conviction is supported by sufficient evidence and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Sufficiency of the evidence tests the adequacy of the evidence and asks whether the evidence introduced at trial is legally sufficient as a matter of law to support a verdict. Id. "The relevant inquiry is 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),
Even though supported by sufficient evidence, a conviction may still be reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence. Thompkins, at 387. In so doing, the court of appeals, sits as a "`thirteenth juror'" and, after "`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 [or in this case the trial court] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.'" Id. (quoting State v. Martin (1983),
Appellant was indicted and convicted for abduction, in violation of R.C.
No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly do any of the following:
(1) By force or threat, remove another from the place where the other person is found[.]
Here, appellant contends that under the facts presented, the state inappropriately indicted and charged him under the wrong subsection of R.C.
As to appellant's contention that he was charged under the wrong subsection of R.C.
Appellant contends that, while Elaina was moved a slight distance within the screened-in patio, the evidence failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he removed her from the inside of the screened-in patio and, as such, she was not removed from the place where she was found. We find that, even if appellant was charged under the wrong subsection of the abduction statute, as he alleges, the evidence presented was sufficient to sustain the conviction under the subsection of the statute he was charged under. Evidence was presented to demonstrate that appellant grabbed Elaina, moved her from the doorway of the screened-in patio, and forced her onto the patio table. While no evidence was presented as to the exact distance between the doorway and the patio table, the fact remains that Elaina was removed from the place where she was found and, as a result, appellant violated R.C.
For the foregoing reasons, appellant's sole assignment of error is overruled, and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
PETREE, J., concurs.
TYACK, P.J., concurs separately.
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