State v. Dent, Unpublished Decision (9-4-2002)
State v. Dent, Unpublished Decision (9-4-2002)
Opinion of the Court
This cause was heard upon the record in the trial court. Each error assigned has been reviewed and the following disposition is made: {¶ 1} Appellant, Leonard J. Dent, appeals the decision of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, which found him guilty of domestic violence. This Court affirms.
{¶ 3} Appellant timely appealed, setting forth two assignments of error for review.
{¶ 4} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GIVING CONFUSING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY REGARDING THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS CHARGED IN THE INDICTMENT."
{¶ 5} In his first assignment of error, appellant challenges the trial court's instructions to the jury. This Court finds that appellant waived any objection to the jury instructions, absent plain error.
{¶ 6} This Court notes initially that an appellate court will not consider as error any issue a party was aware of but failed to bring to the trial court's attention. Failure to object at the trial court level, when the issue is apparent at that time, constitutes a waiver of that issue, and therefore the issue need not be heard for the first time on appeal. State v. Awan (1986),
{¶ 7} In the case sub judice, appellant argues that the trial court erred when it instructed the jury regarding the definition of "recklessly" and "threat of force." However, appellant did not object to the instructions given to the jury at trial. Therefore, appellant cannot argue that the trial court erred in giving the instructions for the first time on appeal. Appellant must, therefore, be able to prove that the error amounts to plain error. Appellant offered no evidence to prove that the result of the trial would have been different had the trial court not instructed the jury. Upon a review of the record, this Court cannot conclude that the outcome of the trial would have been different had the trial court not given the instructions regarding "recklessly" and "threat of force."
{¶ 8} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 9} "APPELLANT'S CONVICTIONS WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE."
{¶ 10} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that his convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence. This Court disagrees.
{¶ 11} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, this Court must:
{¶ 12} "Review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered." State v. Otten (1986),
33 Ohio App.3d 339 ,340.
{¶ 13} An appellate court that overturns a jury verdict as against the manifest weight of the evidence acts in effect as a "thirteenth juror," setting aside the resolution of testimony and evidence as found by the trier of fact. State v. Thompkins (1997),
{¶ 14} In the present case, the victim testified that appellant pushed, grabbed, and choked her. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed bruises on her face and saw the blood from her injuries. The police documented the victim's injuries with photographs.
{¶ 15} After reviewing the record, this Court cannot conclude that the jury clearly lost its way. Appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
SLABY, P.J., WHITMORE, J. CONCUR.
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