State v. Beyer, Unpublished Decision (11-17-2005)
State v. Beyer, Unpublished Decision (11-17-2005)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} A jury trial commenced on December 16, 2004. The jury found appellant guilty. By judgment entry filed March 23, 2005, the trial court sentenced appellant to three years in prison.
{¶ 3} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
{¶ 7} On review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine 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 jury 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. Martin (1983),
{¶ 8} Appellant was convicted of felonious assault in violation of R.C.
{¶ 9} Five witnesses testified they observed appellant grab Mr. Thorpe as he was exiting a vehicle, slam him to the ground and kick him. T. at 113, 126-127, 154, 172-173, 192, 224. No one witnessed a vehicle hit Mr. Thorpe, in fact, one witness observed Mr. Thorpe's head in front of the front tire. T. at 141, 174, 192.
{¶ 10} The attending physician and nurse noted Mr. Thorpe's abrasions to his head were in the outline of a shoe. T. at 238, 250.
{¶ 11} Upon review, we find sufficient evidence to establish that appellant attacked Mr. Thorpe and stomped on his head causing his injuries, despite appellant's witness who claimed an assault did not occur. There was sufficient evidence by numerous witnesses and the driver of the motor vehicle that the vehicle did not hit Mr. Thorpe. We find no manifest miscarriage of justice.
{¶ 12} Assignment of Error I is denied.
{¶ 14} 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),
{¶ 15} Crim.R. 30(A) governs instructions and states as follows:
{¶ 16} "At the close of the evidence or at such earlier time during the trial as the court reasonably directs, any party may file written requests that the court instruct the jury on the law as set forth in the requests. Copies shall be furnished to all other parties at the time of making the requests. The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action on the requests prior to counsel's arguments to the jury and shall give the jury complete instructions after the arguments are completed. The court also may give some or all of its instructions to the jury prior to counsel's arguments. The court need not reduce its instructions to writing.
{¶ 17} "On appeal, a party may not assign as error the giving or the failure to give any instructions unless the party objects before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter objected to and the grounds of the objection. Opportunity shall be given to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury."
{¶ 18} Appellant did not object to the trial court's jury instructions. Based upon appellant's failure to object to the instructions and bring the issue to the trial court's attention for consideration, we must address this assignment under the plain error doctrine. State v. Williford (1990),
{¶ 19} Appellant argues the instruction was deficient because the word "all" was used instead of "any":
{¶ 20} "If you find the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt all of the essential elements of the offense of felonious assault as charged, your verdict must be guilty of felonious assault as charged. However, if you find the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt all of the essential elements of felonious assault, then your verdict must be not guilty of that offense * * *. T. at 448. (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 21} Because the jury found appellant guilty, it would never have had to use the second part of the instruction. The sole issue raised by the evidence was causation. Appellant claimed he did not cause Mr. Thorpe's injuries and the state claimed there was sufficient evidence, if believed, that appellant did cause Mr. Thorpe's injuries. The use of the word "all" instead of "any" is a semantic error and given the evidence presented, does not rise to the level of plain error.
{¶ 22} Assignment of Error II is denied.
{¶ 23} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Coshocton County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
Farmer, J., Gwin, P.J. and Wise, J. concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Benjamin F. Beyer
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished