State v. Foster, Unpublished Decision (9-22-2004)
State v. Foster, Unpublished Decision (9-22-2004)
Opinion of the Court
Defendant-appellant Kenneth Foster appeals from his conviction for trafficking in cocaine in violation of R.C.
In reviewing a sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim, an appellate court must examine the evidence presented at trial and determine whether the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the state, could have convinced any rational trier of fact that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.1 When reviewing a weight-of-the-evidence question, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice.2
R.C.
In his third assignment of error, Foster argues that the trial court erred by allowing his statement to be used for impeachment, when the state had failed to disclose the entire statement in discovery. The trial court sanctioned the state for its failure to provide the statement by not allowing the state to use Foster's statement in its case-in-chief. But Foster claims that the court's decision to allow the state to use his statement for impeachment affected his decision not to testify. Because Foster did not testify, the jury did not hear Foster's statement.
A trial court does not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence undisclosed in discovery, unless the record shows that the prosecutor's discovery violation was willful, that foreknowledge would have benefited the accused in preparing his defense, or that the accused was unfairly prejudiced.3 The Ohio Supreme Court, in dealing with the second prong of this test, has made it clear that a bald assertion that foreknowledge would have benefited the defendant in the preparation of a defense is insufficient to demonstrate that the trial court committed reversible error.4
In this case, trial counsel for the defendant agreed that the prosecutor's discovery violation was not willful. Moreover, Foster did not show how foreknowledge of this particular statement would have benefited his defense. Accordingly, we overrule Foster's 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.
Winkler, P.J., Hildebrandt and Gorman, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.