State v. Robinson, 2019 Ohio 3144

On Nov. 3, 2017 a 13-year-old (J.A.) was assaulted in an alley in Hamilton, Ohio; assailants stole his backpack and sneakers and fled. J.A. sustained facial injuries and a concussion.
Appellant Gregory W. Robinson, who lived nearby, was indicted for second-degree robbery (R.C. 2911.02(A)(2)).
J.A. consistently identified Robinson: told police on Nov. 27, 2017, picked him from a photo lineup on Dec. 21, 2017, and testified at trial that he recognized Robinson by face, clothing, and neighborhood familiarity.
Defense presented an alibi (Brewer and Hensler) and a recanting witness (Upshaw) who said different suspects (Alvarez and Karr) committed the offense; prosecution rebutted with recorded statements and inconsistencies in defense witnesses’ accounts.
Jury found Robinson guilty; trial court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment and $250 restitution. Robinson appealed, arguing the conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence	State: J.A.’s consistent in-person ID, photo lineup selection, medical injuries, and rebuttal evidence supported conviction	Robinson: misidentification; alibi and Upshaw’s testimony point to other perpetrators; delays in ID undermine reliability	Court: Jury credibility determinations reasonable; evidence does not weigh heavily against verdict; conviction affirmed

Thompkins v. Ohio, 78 Ohio St.3d 380 (1997) (defines standard for manifest-weight review)
State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230 (1967) (establishes that credibility determinations are for the trier of fact)