State v. Cornelius, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2002)
State v. Cornelius, Unpublished Decision (3-29-2002)
Opinion of the Court
Tanya Heard was driving appellant, her cousin, in his vehicle on September 25, 2000. Tanya claims she was driving the vehicle at appellant's direction so appellant could arrange drug deals from the car. Tanya stated she was paid in crack cocaine for driving appellant.
Later that evening, Tanya used appellant's vehicle without his knowledge. Appellant phoned the police to report the vehicle stolen. When Tanya returned the vehicle the night of September 25, 2000, a fight ensued and Tanya was injured. Tanya claims appellant grabbed her, punched her, knocked her down to the ground, and kicked her in the stomach. Tanya was seven months pregnant at the time.
After the fight, Tanya walked to her father's house. Her father's house was "a five minute walk" from where she returned the vehicle to appellant. During the walk, Tanya noticed she was bleeding vaginally. Her father's house did not have a phone so Tanya walked to her mother's house. Her mother's house was "a ten minute walk" from her father's house. At her mother's house, the paramedics were called. The paramedics arrived and transported Tanya to Middletown Hospital. From Middletown Hospital, she was taken by Care Flight to Miami Valley Hospital. Tanya prematurely gave birth to a son soon after her arrival at Miami Valley Hospital.
Appellant was charged with two counts of assault: one count for an assault upon Tanya and one count for an assault upon the unborn child carried by Tanya. Appellant appeals the conviction raising five assignments of error.
Assignment of Error No. 1:
THE FINDING OF GUILT IN THE CASE SUB JUDICE WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
An appellate court will not reverse a judgment as against the manifest weight of the evidence in a jury trial unless it unanimously disagrees with the fact-finder's resolution of any conflicting testimony. Statev. Thompkins (1997),
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.
Id. at 387, quoting State v. Martin (1983),
The evidence before the jury included Tanya's testimony. Tanya testified that appellant "started hitting me and punching me and kicking me" when she got out of the car. Tanya testified that the punching and kicking caused her to fall down and the kicking continued after she fell to the ground. Paramedic Steve Soellner testified that upon his arrival Tanya was complaining of vaginal bleeding. Paramedic Scott Bruggeman testified that when he asked Tanya what happened to cause the bleeding, she replied, a "hit in the stomach."
Vanessa McGee, who was present when Tanya returned the vehicle, testified for the defense and stated that she never saw appellant hit Tanya. Vanessa testified that appellant "reached for the [car] keys" and then Tanya went "down to the ground." When asked if appellant could have kicked Tanya when she was on the ground, Vanessa replied, "I wasn't watching his feet." Kathy Allen, who was also present, testified that she did not see appellant hit Tanya, but saw him "grab for his keys." Then Kathy testified the next thing she saw was "Vanessa in the middle of" appellant and Tanya, "to make sure that didn't anything [sic] happen."
Considering this evidence, mindful that the jury was in the best position to judge the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to the evidence, we cannot find that the jury clearly lost its way by finding appellant guilty of assault. Therefore, the first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. 2:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY PERMITTING HEARSAY TESTIMONY TO BE ADMITTED AT TRIAL.
Appellant argues the testimony of Jeremiah Wallace [sic] and Patrolman Ezerski [sic] which was permitted into evidence, contained hearsay evidence that was prejudicial to him and, therefore, the convictions should be reversed.1 The testimony that appellant attributes to Jeremiah Wallace was actually the testimony of Reverend Otto Wallace, Tanya's fiancé. The identification of a witness as Patrolman Ezerski is also erroneous. The testimony attributed to Patrolman Ezerski was actually that of Detective Fred Shumake.The record in the present case reveals no objections made by appellant's counsel on the ground of hearsay, or any other grounds, to the responses of Detective Shumake and Otto Wallace that appellant argues are prejudicial. Where a response contains hearsay and there is no objection to that response, the evidence may be considered. State v. Nichols (1976),
Assignment of Error No. 3:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY PERMITTING A PROSECUTION WITNESS, TONYA HEARD, TO REMAIN IN THE COURT ROOM [SIC] AT TRIAL WHILE OTHER WITNESSES TESTIFIED AFTER A MOTION FOR SEPARATION OF WITNESSES WAS REQUESTED.
Evid.R. 615 requires the court to order the separation of witnesses upon a motion to do so. Under Evid.R. 615(C), such an order cannot exclude from the courtroom "a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of the party's cause."
The prosecution asked for the separation of witnesses and asked that Tanya be permitted to remain in the courtroom to assist the prosecution. The trial court granted the separation of witnesses and stated, Tanya "will be permitted to remain in the courtroom to assist the prosecutor in the case." Appellant made no objection to Tanya remaining at the prosecutor's table in the trial court. We find no error in this ruling by the trial court. See City of Cleveland v. Wirtz (July 29, 1993), Cuyahoga App. No. 62751, unreported. Therefore, the third assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. 4:
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED SO MANY [SIC] CUMULATIVE ERRORS WARRANTING A REVERSAL OF DEFENDANT-APPELLANT'S CONVICTION.
Appellant appears to argue that he was deprived of his right to a fair trial because the trial court committed "so many cumulative errors."
Although a particular error might not constitute prejudicial error in and of itself, a conviction may be reversed if the cumulative effect of the errors deprive a defendant of a fair trial, despite the fact that each error individually does not constitute cause for reversal. Statev. Fears (1999),
Assignment of Error No. 5:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING FINES AND COSTS IN THE CASE SUB JUDICE.
In his final assignment of error, appellant claims that, when imposing a $250 fine and ordering him to pay court costs on each count, the trial court failed to consider his inability to pay. Appellant maintains that his inability to pay the fines and costs is demonstrated by the municipal court judge's finding that he was indigent for purposes of receiving appointed counsel.
R.C.
R.C.
Imposition of fines will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. See State v. Stevens (1992),
The trial court did not specifically question appellant about his ability to pay the $250 fines without undue hardship. However, R.C.
Judgment affirmed.
YOUNG and VALEN, JJ., concur.
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