State v. GregoryState v. Gregory
ROGERS, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Trace Elliot Gregory, appeals the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Hardin County, finding him guilty of domestic violence and sentencing him to a 36 month prison term. On appeal, Gregory contends that the verdict form is insufficient under
{¶2} On August 13, 2011, Julie Hobarty appeared at Glenn Moyer‘s residence covered in blood and asked him to call law enforcement. According to Moyer, Hobarty informed him that a man had beaten her. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Hobarty at Moyer‘s residence and observed blood coming from her nose and covering her clothing. Hobarty informed the officers that her boyfriend, Gregory, had struck her in the nose.
{¶3} On September 9, 2011, the Hardin County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Gregory with a single count of domestic violence in violation of
{¶5} It is from this judgment Gregory appeals, presenting the following assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
THE TRIAL COURT [ERRED] IN SENTENCING THE DEFENDANT TO 36 MONTHS IN PRISON AS THE VERDICT FORM WAS SUFFICIENT ONLY TO CONVICT THE DEFENDANT OF A FIRST DEGREE MISDEMEANOR.
Assignment of Error No. II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT INFORMED THE DEFENDANT THAT HE WAS SUBJECT TO THREE YEARS OF OPTIONAL POST-RELEASE CONTROL.
Assignment of Error No. I
{¶6} In his first assignment of error, Gregory contends that the verdict form is insufficient under
{¶7} Initially, we note that Gregory did not object to the verdict form at trial. As a result, Gregory has forfeited all but plain error. State v. Eafford, 132 Ohio St.3d 159, 2012-Ohio-2224, ¶ 11. In order to have plain error under
{¶8}
(A) When the presence of one or more additional elements makes an offense one of more serious degree:
* * *
(2) A guilty verdict shall state either the degree of the offense of which the offender is found guilty, or that such additional element or elements are present. Otherwise, a guilty verdict constitutes a finding of guilty of the least degree of the offense charged.
{¶9} The Supreme Court first considered the effect of not complying with
We, the jury, upon the issues joined in this case, do find the Defendant, David L. Pelfrey, Guilty of the offense of Tampering With Records as charged in the indictment. State v. Pelfrey, 2d Dist. No. 19955, 2005-Ohio-5006, ¶ 10.
Subsequently, Pelfrey was convicted of tampering with records as a third degree felony. While Pelfrey did not challenge the verdict form before the trial court or
{¶10} The Supreme Court addressed the following certified question:
Whether the trial court is required as a matter of law to include in the jury verdict form either the degree of the offense of which the defendant is convicted or to state that the aggravating element has been found by the jury when the verdict incorporates the language of the indictment, the evidence overwhelmingly shows the presence of the aggravating element, the jury verdict form incorporates the indictment and the defendant never raised the inadequacy of the jury verdict form at trial. Pelfrey, 112 Ohio St.3d 422, 2007-Ohio-256, at ¶ 1.
The majority‘s response to this question was yes. Id. The majority held “that pursuant to the clear language of
{¶11} Contrary to the majority‘s holding, the dissent found Pelfrey‘s argument unavailing in two respects. First, the dissent disagreed with the majority‘s application of strict compliance, arguing that the standard should be one of substantial compliance. Id. at ¶ 19 (O‘Donnell & Lundberg Stratton, JJ., dissenting). Applying this standard, the dissent found that the phrase “as charged in the indictment” contained within the verdict form substantially complied with
{¶12} Second, the dissent argued that even if there was no substantial compliance, Pelfrey did not preserve the issue for appeal and therefore the issue was waived absent plain error. Id. at ¶ 31. Under plain error, the dissent found that there was no question that the jury understood that Pelfrey was accused of tampering with government records. Id. at ¶ 33. As a result, the dissent concluded
{¶13} Recently, the Supreme Court revisited the effect of not complying with
We, the Jury in this case being duly impaneled and sworn, do find the Defendant, Donald Eafford, guilty of Possession of Drugs in violation of
§ 2925.11(A) of the Ohio Revised Code , as charged in Count Two of the indictment. (Emphasis deleted.) Id. at ¶ 6.
Subsequently, Eafford was convicted of possession of drugs as a fifth degree felony. While Eafford did not challenge the verdict form before the trial court, he did assign error to the verdict form on appeal arguing that it did not comply with
{¶14} On appeal, the court reversed the court of appeals. In doing so, the majority recognized that Eafford, having not objected to the verdict form before the trial court, forfeited all but plain error. Id. at ¶ 11. Under plain error, the
{¶15} Contrary to the majority‘s holding, the dissent found that the matter should have been dismissed as having been improvidently allowed. Id. at ¶ 25 (Lanzinger & Pfeifer, JJ., dissenting). The dissent found that a reversal of the of the court of appeals’ judgment was a violation of Eafford‘s Sixth Amendment rights. Id. at ¶ 20. Specifically, the dissent argued that “by holding that a verdict form can be modified by the indictment, the evidence at trial, the argument of counsel, and the jury instructions, the majority allows a judge to supplant the language of the jury verdict and the jury‘s findings.” Id.
{¶16} Applying Pelfrey, the dissent found that the court of appeals properly reversed the trial court‘s judgment because the verdict form neither included the degree of the offense nor a finding concerning the aggravating element. Id. at ¶ 22, 25. In so finding, the dissent noted that “[t]his situation could have been avoided by the prosecutor‘s careful review of the verdict form before it
{¶17} Though the majority in Eafford does not mention Pelfrey, it appears that its decision conflicts with the holding in Pelfrey. In both cases, the defendants did not object to the verdict forms before the trial court. In Pelfrey, the court, conscious of the defendant‘s failure to object to the verdict forms before the trial court, stated that the requirement of
{¶18} Although the court‘s decisions in Pelfrey and Eafford apparently contradict each other, the Eafford Court did not expressly overrule Pelfrey. Indeed, Eafford contains no reference to its effect on Pelfrey. In light of Eafford‘s
{¶19} Here, Gregory was charged with domestic violence in violation of
{¶20} At trial, Gregory stipulated that he has two prior convictions of domestic violence, and copies of those convictions were admitted into evidence. After the parties’ closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury, in relevant part, as follows:
Before you can find the Defendant guilty, you must find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about August 13th, 2011, and in Hardin County, Ohio, the Defendant knowingly caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and further you must find Defendant has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses.1 Trial Tr., p. 156.
We, the Jury in this case find the Defendant, Trace Elliot Gregory, guilty of the offense of Domestic Violence. (Docket No. 25).3
Clearly, the verdict form does not include either the degree of the offense (i.e., a third degree felony) or the aggravating element (i.e., two prior domestic violence convictions), as required by
{¶22} The State, however, contends that the verdict form does comply with
{¶23} In both Sessler and Schwable, this court determined that the verdict forms at issue did not comply with
{¶24} Contrary to the State‘s interpretation, we find that our holdings in Sessler and Schwable do not stand for the proposition that
{¶25} Having found the State‘s argument unavailing, and having found the verdict form insufficient to convict Gregory of a third degree felony, we must reverse Gregory‘s conviction of domestic violence as a third degree felony and remand the matter for the trial court to enter a judgment convicting Gregory of domestic violence as a first degree misdemeanor.
{¶26} Accordingly, we sustain Gregory‘s first assignment or error.
Assignment of Error No. II
{¶27} In his second assignment of error, Gregory contends that the trial court erred when it informed him that he was subject to three years of optional post-release control. Given our disposition of Gregory‘s first assignment of error, Gregory‘s second assignment of error is moot and we decline to address it.
Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded
WILLAMOWSKI, J., Concurs Separately.
{¶28} I find that
SHAW, J., DISSENTS.
{¶29} I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion. Plain error requires that “but for the error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been otherwise.” (Emphasis added). State v. Biros, 78 Ohio St.3d 426, 431 (1997). Pursuant to the directives of the Ohio Supreme Court‘s recent holding in State v. Eafford, 132 Ohio St.3d 159, 2012-Ohio-2224, the circumstances of this case do not create a “manifest miscarriage of justice” as is required for us to reverse the trial court‘s holding under a plain error standard.
{¶31} In addition, both oral and written closing instructions were presented to the jury informing the jury that before it could find Gregory guilty of the offense charged, the jury had to find that Gregory committed two prior domestic violence offenses. Throughout all of the proceedings, there is no indication that the jury was anything but completely informed that it was required to find prior convictions of domestic violence before finding Gregory guilty of the sole domestic violence charge in the indictment.
{¶32} In Eafford, the Ohio Supreme Court conducted the following analysis:
Count Two of the indictment alleged that Eafford possessed cocaine, expert testimony confirmed that the substance at issue tested positive for cocaine, and throughout the trial the parties and the court treated the phrase “possession of drugs” as synonymous with possession of cocaine. Further in its jury instructions—a copy of which the court submitted to jurors who had it in the deliberating room during deliberations—the trial court explained to the jury that it could not find Eafford guilty of possession of drugs as charged in Count Two unless it found the drug involved to be cocaine or a compound, mixture,
preparation, or substance containing cocaine. And, as we observed in State v. Johnson, 71 Ohio St.3d 332, 340, 643 N.E.2d 1098 (1994), “[j]uries are presumed to follow the court‘s instructions.” Thus, when the jury found Eafford guilty as charged in Count Two of the indictment, its finding necessarily related to possession of cocaine. Eafford therefore failed to demonstrate that the trial court committed plain error in these circumstances. The verdict form used the phrase “possession of drugs” but did not ask jurors to specify whether the drug involved in this case was or was not cocaine. The jurors found Eafford “guilty of Possession of Drugs in violation of
§2925.11(A) of the Ohio Revised Code , as charged in Count Two of the indictment.” The finding in the verdict cannot be described as error, let alone an obvious defect in the trial proceedings, and it did not affect Eafford‘s substantial rights. He knew from the outset that the state intended to prove his guilt of possession of cocaine. And it did. The form of the jury verdict did not affect the outcome of the trial. The state intended to prove the accused guilty of possession of cocaine, it did so, and the jury in accordance with its findings rendered a verdict in conformity with the evidence presented by the state that Eafford possessed cocaine.
(Emphasis sic). Eafford, at ¶ 17-18. Following this analysis, the Ohio Supreme Court came to this conclusion:
Count Two of the indictment charged Eafford with possession of cocaine, the state provided testimony that he possessed cocaine, and the jury returned its verdict on the only verdict form the court submitted to it. That verdict form reflected a finding of guilty as charged in Count Two of the indictment, referring to possession of cocaine. Thus, Eafford has not shown that but for the use of this verdict form, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Had he made a timely objection, the court could have modified the verdict form, but Eafford still would have been found guilty of possession of cocaine, because the only evidence in the case demonstrated his possession of cocaine, as he did not offer any defense in this case. Accordingly, we reverse
the judgment of the court of appeals and reinstate the sentence imposed by the trial court.
(Emphasis sic). Eafford, at ¶ 19.
{¶33} Clearly, Eafford directs us to look specifically at all of the circumstances of the trial and all of the information that was presented to the jury. The fact that the verdict form in the case before us did not contain the phrase “as charged in the indictment” does not diminish the significance of the remaining factors cited in Eafford, identically present in this case, beyond the mere use of that one phrase. In no event would the outcome of the case before us have been altered by any amount of speculation concerning this jury verdict form. There simply is no other rational construction of the verdict given the evidence and instructions in this case.
{¶34} Inexplicably, the majority chooses to disregard the “totality of the circumstances” analysis and the holding in Eafford on the basis that the Ohio Supreme Court‘s decision in State v. Pelfrey, 112 Ohio St.3d 422, 2007-Ohio-256, was not expressly overruled in Eafford. In addition, based upon nothing more than an apparent personal preference for the Pelfrey decision, the majority then declares that it will not follow Eafford and will continue to apply only the Pelfrey analysis in these cases. I am aware of no legal basis for an intermediate court of appeals taking such a position with regard to the most recent decision of the Ohio
{¶35} Consequently, in the case before us, employing the methods of Eafford, I would look first to the indictment, which reads as follows:
COUNT 1
[T]he defendant, TRACE ELLIOT GREGGORY, * * *: on or about August 13, 2011, in Hardin County, Ohio, did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and further, said Trace E. Gregory has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of two or more offenses of Domestic Violence or two or more violations or offenses of the type described in Ohio Revised Code §2919.25(D)(3) involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses; in violation of Ohio Revised Code §2919.25(A), (D)(4), Domestic Violence [F3], a felony of the third degree.
(Doc. 2).
{¶36} Next, I would note that the parties entered into a stipulation prior to the trial regarding the prior domestic violence offenses. The stipulation reads as follows:
The parties hereby stipulate that Trace E. Gregory has two prior convictions of Domestic Violence. The first conviction for Domestic Violence being an [F4], a felony of the fourth degree, in violation of Ohio Revised Code §2919.25, filed March 11, 1194 in Clark County Common Pleas Court Case No. 94-CR0116; and a second conviction of Domestic Violence, [F5] a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of Ohio Revised Code §2919.25 filed April 4, 2001, in Logan County Common Pleas Court Case No. CR00-10-0172. There is no need for testimony from the Clerk of Courts or other witness. Therefore, the parties stipulate that a file
stamped copy of this Entry may be used and/or admitted by the parties consistent with the rules of evidence and the rulings of this Court without the need for identification, authentication or other foundation testimony.
(Doc. 24). At the trial, judgment entries reflecting the prior convictions were, in fact, introduced into evidence for the jury to consider in making its decision. No evidence rebutting the prior convictions was presented by the defense.
{¶37} After the State presented its case, the defense called no witnesses. The court then proceeded to turn the case over to the jury, giving the jury its closing instructions. As part of the closing instructions, the court stated:
I will now read the indictment to you. State of Ohio, Hardin County, Court of Common Pleas, in the August 25th, 26th, 2011 session, the jurors of the Grand Jury of the State of Ohio within and for the body of the county aforesaid on their oaths, in the name and by the authority of the State of Ohio, do find and present that count one, there‘s only one count, the Defendant, Trace Elliott Gregory, in Hardin County, Ohio, did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and further, that said Trace E. Gregory has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations. Domestic violence, in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 2919.25(A), (D)(4). Now what does that all mean?
* * *
Before you can find the Defendant guilty, you must find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about August 13th, 2011, and in Hardin County, Ohio, the Defendant knowingly caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and further you must find Defendant has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic
violence involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses.
(Emphasis added). (Tr. at 155-56).
{¶38} The court‘s oral closing instructions were accompanied by written closing instructions reflecting the same information. The written instructions read:
The Defendant is charged in count one of the indictment with domestic violence. Before you can find the Defendant guilty, you must find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about August 13th, 2011, and in Hardin County, Ohio, the Defendant knowingly caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and further you must find Defendant has pleaded guilty to or has been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶39} Based on these oral and written instructions, the jury was duly notified that before it found Gregory guilty, it had to find that he had been convicted twice previously of domestic violence.
{¶40} The jury verdict form is captioned: “Offense: Domestic Violence in violation of
{¶41} As pointed out by the majority, the verdict form does not include the language “as charged in the indictment.” Nevertheless, based upon all of this information, I fail to see how we could find that plain error existed. There is no indication that had the verdict form read any differently that the outcome would not have been the same at Gregory‘s trial. In fact, Gregory presented no evidence to rebut the prior convictions, which were stipulated to by the defense. Thus the only evidence at all in the record reflects that Gregory did have two prior convictions. This is identical to Eafford where the only evidence presented was that the substance was, in fact, cocaine. In Eafford the Ohio Supreme Court directs us to find that plain error does not exist in such circumstances. Accordingly, pursuant to Eafford, and the facts and circumstances of this case, I would affirm the jury verdict and judgment of conviction entered in the trial court.
/jlr