State v. Shappie, 2025 Ohio 1629

Brandy A. Shappie was convicted in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas of felonious assault (R.C. 2903.11) and domestic violence (R.C. 2919.25) after an altercation during a child custody exchange in 2019.
The incident involved Shappie repeatedly striking J.W., the father of her children, with her vehicle in a Bob Evans parking lot during a dispute.
Video evidence from both cellphone and restaurant surveillance was presented, showing the vehicle moving in J.W.’s direction and making contact.
J.W. testified he suffered a knee injury from the encounter, and supporting photographic evidence showed post-incident swelling.
Shappie denied acting intentionally, instead asserting that any contact was accidental and due to J.W.’s aggressive approach to her vehicle.
The jury convicted Shappie, and she was sentenced to 24 months of community control. On appeal, she challenged the sufficiency and weight of the evidence.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Sufficiency of the Evidence	Evidence proved Shappie used her vehicle as a deadly weapon and caused harm.	Vehicle not a deadly weapon; lack of proof of serious harm or intent.	Evidence was sufficient for conviction.
Manifest Weight of the Evidence	Jury had ample basis to believe J.W. and convict Shappie.	J.W. not credible; injury uncorroborated; motive to lie due to acrimonious relationship.	Convictions not against manifest weight.

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380 (1997) (distinguishes sufficiency from manifest weight of evidence)
State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230 (1967) (credibility and weight of testimony are for the trier of fact)
State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61 (1964) (jury may believe all, part, or none of a witness's testimony)
Seasons Coal Co. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77 (1984) (trier of fact is best able to judge witness credibility)
State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172 (1st Dist. 1983) (standard for manifest weight reversals)