State v. Hazel, Unpublished Decision (6-23-2003)
State v. Hazel, Unpublished Decision (6-23-2003)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} On June 5, 2002, the Stark County Grand Jury indicted appellant, Daniel Mark Hazel, on one count of aggravated burglary in violation of R.C.
{¶ 2} Prior to trial, the state dismissed the felonious assault count. A jury trial on the aggravated burglary count commenced on September 9, 2002. The jury found appellant guilty of subsection (A)(2). By judgment entry filed October 15, 2002, the trial court sentenced appellant to three years community control.
{¶ 3} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
{¶ 8} The giving of jury instructions is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Martens (1993),
{¶ 9} Appellant was indicted on one count of aggravated burglary in violation of R.C.
{¶ 10} "(A) No person, by force, stealth, or deception, shall trespass in an occupied structure or in a separately secured or separately occupied portion of an occupied structure, when another person other than an accomplice of the offender is present, with purpose to commit in the structure or in the separately secured or separately occupied portion of the structure any criminal offense, if any of the following apply:
{¶ 11} "(1) The offender inflicts, or attempts or threatens to inflict physical harm on another;
{¶ 12} "(2) The offender has a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control."
{¶ 13} The crime of aggravated trespass includes the following elements [R.C.
{¶ 14} "No person shall enter or remain on the land or premises of another with purpose to commit on that land or those premises a misdemeanor, the elements of which involve causing physical harm to another person or causing another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to him."
{¶ 15} In State v. Kidder (1987),
{¶ 16} "A criminal defendant is entitled to a lesser-included-offense instruction, however, only where the evidence warrants it. * * * Thus, the trial court's task is two fold: first, it must determine what constitutes a lesser included offense of the charged crime; second, it must examine the facts and ascertain whether the jury could reasonably conclude that the evidence supports a conviction for the lesser offense and not the greater." (Citations omitted.)
{¶ 17} In State v. Deem (1988),
{¶ 18} "An offense may be a lesser included offense of another if (i) the offense carries a lesser penalty than the other; (ii) the greater offense cannot, as statutorily defined, ever be committed without the lesser offense, as statutorily defined, also being committed; and (iii) some element of the greater offense is not required to prove the commission of the lesser offense. (State v. Kidder [1987],
{¶ 19} Pursuant to this test, we find the greater offense of aggravated burglary can be committed without committing the lesser offense of aggravated trespass. An individual could trespass into an occupied structure with the purpose of committing a criminal offense, while having a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, but without the purpose to commit a misdemeanor causing or threatening physical harm. For example, an individual could trespass into an occupied structure after having broken the lock with a crowbar. The individual's intent was to use the crowbar to break the lock, enter the premises and steal valuables, not to threaten or injure anyone. Nevertheless, the crowbar is a deadly weapon.
{¶ 20} Based upon the foregoing, we find the offense of aggravated trespass is not a lesser included offense of aggravated burglary.
{¶ 21} Further, it is clear from the evidence that on May 8, 2002, appellant trespassed by force into the victim's residence with the purpose to commit a criminal offense. Specifically, appellant announced his intention to "beat" the victim's "ass" and entered the occupied structure by force, kicking in the door to the residence, before attacking the victim. T. at 95, 98, 110, 122. Two independent witnesses testified appellant had a pocketknife on his person that fell to the ground during his removal from the residence. T. at 100-101, 126-127.
{¶ 22} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's request for a jury instruction on aggravated trespass.
{¶ 23} Assignment of Error I is denied.
{¶ 25} On review for sufficiency, a reviewing court is to examine the evidence at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would support a conviction. State v. Jenks (1991),
{¶ 26} Appellant argues the state failed to prove one of the essential elements of R.C.
{¶ 27} Appellant argues there was no pocketknife in evidence and the witnesses who observed the pocketknife fall to the ground stated it was closed. T. at 101, 127. The knife either came from appellant's pocket or hand. T. at 131. The victim was covered with gashes, scrapes and scratches as a result of appellant's attack. T. at 66, 102, 127. The jury also had a photo, State's Exhibit 1, that depicted the lacerations on the victim's neck. T. at 77.
{¶ 28} From the evidence presented, we find the jury could have reasonably found the pocketknife inflicted the gashes, scrapes or scratches on the victim, thereby fulfilling the definition of a deadly weapon (being capable of inflicting death because of the knife blade), and was specifically used by appellant to cause the victim's injuries.
{¶ 29} Upon review, we find sufficient credible evidence of aggravated burglary pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 30} Assignment of Error II is denied.
{¶ 32} It is clear from the record the trial court gave the jury only one verdict form. T. at 175. The trial court stated it will "now read to you the verdict forms," but only read the (A)(2) form. Id. Defense counsel did not object during the reading of the charge nor at the reading of the verdict nor at the trial court's polling of the verdict. T. at 182-185. The trial court invited counsel to review the signed verdict form, but both counsel declined. T. at 183.
{¶ 33} Because there was no objection on the record, we must review this issue under the plain error standard. An error not raised in the trial court must be plain error for an appellate court to reverse.State v. Long (1978),
{¶ 34} The state argues this was but a clerical error that does not rise to the level of plain error. On the other hand, appellant argues he was indicted under R.C.
{¶ 35} We note the punishments for violating R.C.
{¶ 36} Upon review, we find this matter does not rise to the level of plain error because as we found in Assignment of Error II, there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict.
{¶ 37} Assignment of Error III is denied.
{¶ 38} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, J., Gwin, P.J., and Boggins, J. concur.
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