State v. Cephas, 2021 Ohio 4356

Appellant Tekoia Cephas and Chikira Abrams were neighbors; a civil stalking protection order (CSPO) was issued against Cephas on March 5, 2020, prohibiting contact and presence within 100 feet of Abrams.
On July 29, 2020, Abrams testified Cephas drove a white vehicle and twice "charged" Abrams's car in the apartment complex parking area; Abrams's mother and an independent contractor (Dustin Booth) corroborated the second encounter.
Cephas denied the incidents, presenting testimony from two neighbors and her minor daughter that (1) the white vehicle was inoperable at the time and (2) either did not witness the event or recalled a different account.
Cephas was convicted in Hamilton Municipal Court of recklessly violating the CSPO under R.C. 2919.27(A)(2), sentenced to 180 days (155 suspended), and placed on two years' probation.
On appeal, Cephas challenged the conviction as being against the manifest weight of the evidence, arguing witness inconsistencies, credibility problems, and conflicting testimony about the vehicle's operability.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Was the conviction against the manifest weight of the evidence?	State: Witnesses (Abrams, her mother, Booth) provided credible, consistent evidence that Cephas used her vehicle to charge Abrams in violation of the CSPO; trial court credited them.	Cephas: Testimony conflicts (vehicle color/location), witnesses for defense said her white car was inoperable, and contradictions undermine credibility—so conviction is against the manifest weight.	Affirmed. Appellate court held the trial court, as factfinder, reasonably credited the prosecution witnesses; inconsistencies and conflicting testimony did not create a manifest miscarriage of justice.

State v. Myers, 154 Ohio St.3d 405 (Ohio 2018) (a verdict can be against the manifest weight of the evidence even if legally sufficient evidence supports it)