State v. Mitchell, Unpublished Decision (3-6-2002)
State v. Mitchell, Unpublished Decision (3-6-2002)
Opinion of the Court
Defendant-appellant, Gregory Mitchell, was indicted for, and subsequently found guilty by a jury of, burglary in violation of R.C.
In his first assignment of error, Mitchell argues that it was error for him to be convicted based on circumstantial evidence, and that, as a result, his conviction should be reversed and he should be discharged. Because Mitchell's request for relief relates essentially to the sufficiency of the evidence, we address it under that standard. A claim of insufficient evidence is based on the argument that, with the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, there is a failure of proof on at least one element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.1 When a sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim is sustained, the defendant is entitled to discharge because the prosecution's case-in-chief has not been proved as a matter of law.2
To prove the elements of burglary under R.C.
The second and third assignments have been filed pro se in the form of a supplemental brief. In the second assignment of error, Mitchell contends that he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel. He contends that trial counsel should not have solicited evidence about his prior criminal record, that counsel should have moved for disclosure of all exculpatory and impeachment evidence, and that counsel should have sought to sequester the jurors individually to question them during voir dire.
Reversal of a conviction for ineffective assistance of counsel requires that the defendant show, first, that counsel's performance was deficient and, second, that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense so as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial.3 Nothing in the record demonstrates that counsel's performance was deficient. And even if we were to presume a deficiency, Mitchell has failed to demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.4 The second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Mitchell alleges prosecutorial misconduct in the third assignment of error. The test to determine whether there was prosecutorial misconduct is whether there were improper remarks, and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected the substantial rights of the accused.5 Based on this record, we cannot say that the prosecutor's remarks about Mitchell's past criminal convictions were improper because they were admitted to impeach Mitchell's own testimony pursuant to Evid.R. 609. Because Mitchell's crimes had been committed in the prior ten years and involved dishonesty, the prosecutor was entitled to engage in impeaching Mitchell concerning his prior criminal record. Accordingly, we overrule the third assignment of error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
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.
Painter, P.J., Sundermann and Winkler, JJ.
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