State v. Woodson, 2022 Ohio 2528

Asia Woodson was charged after a December 22, 2019 incident with assault (1st‑degree misdemeanor), five counts of aggravated menacing (1st‑degree misdemeanors), and criminal damaging (2nd‑degree misdemeanor).
Bench trial occurred Oct. 7, 2020 and Mar. 10, 2021; the State presented Officer Beck and four victims; Woodson testified in her own defense.
Witnesses said Woodson — uninvited to a Christmas gathering — refused to leave, punched C.G. in the face, then got into her car, drove at the group, and rear‑ended/damaged C.G.’s parked car and garage; physical evidence included fresh tire marks, heavy rear damage with an imprint of Woodson’s license plate, a hood emblem, and a short video of a car leaving the scene.
Woodson’s account: she was there to pick up her girlfriend, was allegedly assaulted by several women, and hit C.G.’s car while trying to escape; she claimed self‑defense.
The trial court convicted Woodson on assault, four aggravated menacing counts, and criminal damaging (one aggravated menacing count was dismissed at Crim.R. 29). It sentenced her to suspended jail terms, 3 years’ probation, and $10,000 restitution to C.G.
On appeal the Sixth District affirmed: it held Woodson failed to present evidence tending to show entitlement to self‑defense and that the convictions were not against the manifest weight of the evidence despite some witness discrepancies.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether Woodson may invoke self‑defense to negate criminal damaging (rear‑ending C.G.’s car)	State: Woodson created/voluntarily extended the hostile encounter; thus she cannot claim self‑defense	Woodson: she was assaulted/under attack and damaged the car while fleeing; self‑defense applies to the property damage	Court: Woodson failed to present evidence tending to show she was not at fault; burden never shifted to State; self‑defense rejected and conviction affirmed
Whether the assault conviction (punching C.G.) is against the manifest weight	State: victims’ accounts and scene evidence support conviction	Woodson: witnesses contradicted each other; insufficient proof she punched C.G.	Court: victim testimony largely consistent and corroborated; trial court credibility finding sustained; conviction affirmed
Whether aggravated menacing convictions (driving at partygoers) are against the manifest weight	State: multiple witnesses, physical marks, and damage corroborate driving at the group	Woodson: witness accounts were “wildly different” and unreliable	Court: discrepancies were not fatal; core facts corroborated by evidence and Woodson’s own testimony; convictions affirmed

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d 541 (Ohio 1997) (explaining the manifest‑weight standard)
State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 197 N.E.2d 548 (Ohio 1964) (trial court is sole judge of witness credibility)
State v. Henley, 138 Ohio App.3d 209, 740 N.E.2d 1113 (Ohio Ct. App.) (self‑defense may extend to related property crimes when actions are intertwined)
State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (Ohio Ct. App.) (reversal on manifest weight is reserved for exceptional cases)
State v. Melchior, 56 Ohio St.2d 15, 381 N.E.2d 195 (Ohio 1978) (explaining the threshold for evidence that "tends to support" a defense)
State v. Petway, 156 N.E.3d 467 (Ohio App.) (discussing what evidence "tends to support" self‑defense and the elements required)
In re N.K., 180 N.E.3d 78 (Ohio App.) (elements for self‑defense using nondeadly force)