STATE OF OHIO v. ANTOINNE WYNN
No. 103824
Cоurt of Appeals of Ohio, EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT, COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
June 1, 2017
[Cite as State v. Wynn, 2017-Ohio-4062.]
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION; JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED; Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. CR-15-595910-A
John H. Lawson
The Brownhoist Building
4403 St. Clair Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44103
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Michael C. O‘Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Owen M. Patton
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
{1} Defendant-appellant Antoinne Wynn appeals his felonious assault conviction in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Facts and Procedural Background
{2} On May 26, 2015 Wynn was indicted for one count of felonious assault. The case proceeded to a jury trial with Wynn representing himself, pro se, until late in the trial when he chose to have standby counsel handle his case. The following facts were adduced at trial.
{3} On May 10, 2015 Wynn and Ramona Roberts engaged in an argument outside the St. Andrew‘s Towers apartments in Cleveland. Wynn and Roberts had been involved in a relationship that ended in April 2015. The argument culminated in Roberts throwing a hair product canister at Wynn‘s feet. Roberts then entered the apartment complex and visited a friend on the sixth floor. She spent five minutes on the sixth floor before taking the stairs to the second floor where she was living with her friend, Amanaah Bass. Upon exiting the second floor stairwell, Roberts was attacked by Wynn who struck her several times in the face and head with his fists. Roberts suffered significant bleeding from a 5 cm laceration to her forehead and her right eye was swollen shut. The attack occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. and ended with Roberts entering the second floor apartment she shared with Bass. Bass called 911 and Roberts was examined at the scene by responding emergency medical services personnel but she
{4} The jury returned a verdict of guilty to the charge of felоnious assault in violation of
Law and Analysis
I. Motion for Continuance
{5} In his first assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court erred in denying an oral motion for continuance made on the day of trial.
{6} A determination of whether to grant or to deny a continuance is a matter left to the discretion of the trial judge, and an appellate court may not disturb the trial court‘s ruling absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 67, 423 N.E.2d 1078 (1981). “The term ‘abuse of discretion’ connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it imрlies that the court‘s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
{7} A reviewing court determines, on a case-by-case basis, whether the trial court‘s denial of a continuance motion was so arbitrary as to deprive the defendant of due process, paying particular attention to the reasons presented to the trial judge at the time the request was denied. Unger at 67, citing Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921 (1964).
{8} In determining whether the trial court abused its discretion, an appellate cоurt “weighs * * * any potential prejudice to a defendant [against] concerns such as a court‘s right to control its own docket and the public‘s interest in the prompt and efficient dispatch of justice.” Id.
{9} The Unger court stated that, in evaluating a motion for a continuance, a court should consider: (1) the length of the delay requested; (2) whether other continuances have been requested and received; (3) the inconvenience to litigants, witnesses, opposing counsel and the court; (4) whether the requested delay is for legitimate reasons or whether it is dilatory, purposeful or contrived; (5) whether the defendant contributed to the circumstance that gives rise to the request for a continuance; (6) and other relevant factors, depending on the unique facts of each case. Id. at 67-68, citing United States v. Burton, 584 F.2d 485, 189 U.S. App. D.C. 327 (D.C.Cir.1978); Giacalone v. Lucas, 445 F.2d 1238 (6th Cir.1971).
{10} In this instance, Wynn moved for a continuance on the day of trial due to the fact that (1) he had been provided with the criminal history of Amanaah Bass on the morning of trial and (2) portions of security guard notes from St. Andrew‘s Towers wеre
{11} In regards to the redacted discovery materials, the state represented to the trial court that the redacted portions were limited to personal information of individuals, including addresses and dates of birth, that were not associated with the case.
{12} Finally, for the first time on appeal Wynn argues that the state failed to disclose Cleveland police officer Matthew Nycz as a witness. However, Wynn did not make a motion for continuance with respect to Officer Nycz and the record reflects that the state disclosed to Wynn during a pretrial that it intended to call the arresting officer from his traffic stop and Wynn failed to object to Officer Nycz‘s testimony.
{13} In light of the above facts, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Wynn‘s motion for a continuance.
{14} Wynn‘s first assignment of error is overruled.
II. Motion to Dismiss
{15} In his second assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court erred in denying a motion to dismiss the indictment due to the state‘s failure to provide him with a preliminary hearing following his arrest on May 16, 2015. Wynn also argues that his motion to dismiss should have been granted because his indictment was defective.
{16} We review a trial court‘s decision on a motion to dismiss an indictment pursuant to a de novo standard of review. State v. Knox, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 103662 and 103664, 2016-Ohio-5519, ¶ 12, citing State v. Gaines, 193 Ohio App.3d 260, 2011-Ohio-1475, 951 N.E.2d 814, ¶ 14 (12th Dist.). “De novo review requires an independent review of the trial court‘s decision without any deference to the trial court‘s determination.” Id., quoting State v. Clay, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2015-CA-17, 2016-Ohio-424, ¶ 5.
{17} Wynn‘s argument that he was denied a preliminary hearing in violation of
{18} Wynn‘s argument that the indictment was defective due to a lack of detail is also without merit. A felony defendant is entitled to an indictmеnt disclosing the nature
In an indictment or information charging an offense, each count shall contain, and is sufficient if it contains in substance, a statement that the accused has committed some public offense therein specified. Such statement may be made in ordinary and concise language without any technical averments or any allegations not essential to be proved. It may be in the words of the section of the Revised Code describing the offense or declaring the matter charged to be a public offense, or in any words sufficient to give the accused notice of the offense of which he is charged.
{19} A review of Wynn‘s indictment shows that it does, in fact, set forth sufficient material facts to comply with
{20} Wynn‘s second assignment of error is overruled.
III. Jury Instructions on a Lesser Included Offense and an Inferior- Degree Offense
{21} In his third assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court committed plain error in failing to provide jury instructions for the lesser included offense of assault and the inferior-degree offense of aggravated assault.
{22} Wynn failed to object to the claimed error in the jury instructions at trial and has waived all but plain error. State v. Majid, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96855, 2012-Ohio-1192, ¶ 72. Moreover, any error in the jury instructions is not plain error unless, but for the error, the outcome of the trial clearly would have been different. Id.
{23} A charge on a lesser included offense is only required where the evidence presented at trial would reasonably support both an acquittal on the crime charged and a conviction upon the lesser included offense. State v. Collins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95415, 2011-Ohio-3241, ¶ 35, citing State v. Thomas, 40 Ohio St.3d 213, 533 N.E.2d 286 (9th Dist.1988), paragraph two of the syllabus. The court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant when deciding whether to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense. State v. Campbell, 69 Ohio St.3d 38, 1994-Ohio-492, 630 N.E.2d 339. An instruction is not warranted, however, every time “some evidence” is presented on a lesser included offense. State v. Smith, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 90478, 2009-Ohio-2244, ¶ 12, citing State v. Shane, 63 Ohio St.3d 630, 590 N.E.2d 272 (5th Dist.1992).
To require an instruction * * * every time some evidence, however minute, is presented going to a lesser included (or inferior-degree) offense would mean that no trial judge could ever refuse to give an instruction on a lesser included (or inferior-degree) offense.
Id., quoting Shane at 633.
{24} A trial court has discretion in determining whether the record contains sufficient evidentiary support to warrant a jury instruction on a lesser included offense; we will not reverse that determination absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Henderson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89377, 2008-Ohio-1631, ¶ 10, citing State v. Wright, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 01 CA2781, 2002-Ohio-1462.
{25} Assault under
{26} Wynn argues that a jury could have reasonably found that (1) his actions resulted in physical harm rather than serious physical harm to the victim and (2) his actions were reckless as required by
{27}
- Any mental illness or condition of such gravity as would normally require hospitalization or prolonged psychiatric treatment;
- Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
- Any physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or that involves some temporary, substantial incapacity;
- Any physical harm that involves some permanent disfigurement or that involves some temporary, serious disfigurement;
- Any physical harm that involves acute pain of such duration аs to result in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.
{28} “This court has consistently held that the need for stitches constitutes serious physical harm for purposes of a felonious assault conviction.” State v. Studgions, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94153, 2010-Ohio-5480, ¶ 10; see State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98210, 2013-Ohio-573, ¶ 19 (observing that “[t]his court has repeatedly held that the
{29} In this instance the record reflects that Roberts sustained a laceration to her forehead requiring seven stitches and resulting in a permanent scar. Furthermore, Roberts’ right eye was swollen shut for two weeks as a result of Wynn‘s attack. These facts established that Roberts suffered serious physical harm.
{30} In regards to the mens rea component, the testimony established that Wynn surprised Roberts as she exited the second floor stairwell and attacked her by punching her in and about the head and face several times. For the purposes of instructing on the appropriate assault offense, this court has held that a person acts “knowingly” as opposed to “recklessly” when he punches another person in the face. State v. Clark, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104076, 2016-Ohio-5143, ¶ 24.
{31} Under these facts, we cannot say that the trial court committed plain error in failing to instruct on simple assault because a jury could not have reasonably found that Roberts suffered physical harm as opposed to serious physical harm or that Wynn acted recklessly in this instance. We next consider Wynn‘s argument that the trial cоurt committed plain error in failing to instruct the jury on aggravated assault. Aggravated assault is an “inferior degree” of the offense of felonious assault because the elements of the offense are identical except for the additional mitigating element of serious provocation. State v. Ruppart, 187 Ohio App.3d 192, 2010-Ohio-1574, 931 N.E.2d 627, ¶ 25 (8th Dist.). In a trial for felonious assault, the jury instruction for aggravated assault must be given when the defendant presents sufficient mitigating evidence of serious provocation. State v. Blair, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 76511, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 3046 (July 6, 2000).
{32} Serious provocation for aggravated assault is defined by
{33} Furthermore, even if the interaction between Wynn and Roberts had amounted to a serious provocation, after the initial confrontation Roberts had time to
{34} We find no plain error in the trial court‘s failure to include a jury instruction on aggravated assault.
{35} Wynn‘s third assignment of error is overruled.
IV. Testimony Regarding Wynn‘s Arrest
{36} In his fourth assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court erred in allowing the state to introduce the testimony of Cleveland police officer Matthew Nycz who described pulling over a vehicle with four men on May 16, 2015. All four men fled from the vehicle, Nycz apprehended Wynn and Wynn provided him with a false name. The trial court excluded from Nycz‘s testimony the fact that drugs were found in the vehicle.
{37} Wynn objected to Nycz‘s testimony and the state conceded that the testimony was not relevant to a potential act of flight in the present case. The state explained that it did not know why Wynn fled from the vehicle and it instead intended to use his departure from the scene of the offense on May 10 to support a flight instruction. Nonetheless, the trial court overruled Wynn‘s objection reasoning that (1) the jury
{38} “The admission of evidence lies within the broad discretion of a trial court, and a reviewing court should not disturb evidentiary decisions in the absence of an abuse of discretion that has created material prejudice.” State v. Noling, 98 Ohio St.3d 44, 2002-Ohio-7044, 781 N.E.2d 88, ¶ 43, citing State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 2001-Ohio-1290, 752 N.E.2d 904. Within this broad discretion is the trial court‘s duty “to determine whether testimony is relevant and to balance its potential probative value against the danger of unfair prejudice.” State v. Clark, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95928, 2011-Ohio-4109, ¶ 32.
{39} In this instance, we find no relevance in the testimony of Officer Nycz to the charge of felonious assault in light of the state‘s concession that the testimony was not offered to support a flight instruction. We are unaware of any authority to support the trial court‘s conclusion that Wynn‘s failure to object to statements made by the state during opening arguments, which are not evidence, waived his ability to object to
{40} This does not, however, end our inquiry. Although we find that Officer Nycz‘s testimony should have been excluded because it lacked relevance, we apply the nonconstitutional harmless-error analysis to evidentiary errors such as this. State v. Mims, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100520, 2014-Ohio-5338, ¶ 60; State v. Bell, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97123, 2012-Ohio-2624, ¶ 59. Pursuant to
{41} In this instance, the state presented substantial evidence to support the guilty verdict. Disregarding Officer Nycz‘s testimony, we find that the record contains overwhelming evidence to support Wynn‘s conviction. For this reason, we find that the trial court‘s error in admitting the testimony in question was harmless.
{42} Wynn‘s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
V. Sufficiency of the Evidence
{43} In his fifth assignment of error, Wynn challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his сonviction for felonious assault under
{44} A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction requires a determination of whether the state has met its burden of production at trial. State v. Hunter, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 86048, 2006-Ohio-20, ¶ 41, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 390, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541. When reviewing sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court must determine “whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of thе crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Leonard, 104 Ohio St.3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229, ¶ 77, quoting State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. In a sufficiency inquiry, an appellate court does not assess whether the state‘s evidence is to be believed but whether, if believed, the evidence admitted at trial supported the conviction. State v. Starks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 91682, 2009-Ohio-3375, ¶ 25, citing Thompkins at 387; Jenks at paragraph two of the syllabus.
{45} Wynn reiterates the same arguments he presented in his third assignment of error — that evidence was not presented establishing that he caused serious physical harm or aсted “knowingly.” For the same reasons set forth as to the third assignment of error, we reject his arguments.
{46} Wynn‘s fifth assignment of error is overruled.
VI. Manifest Weight
{47} In his sixth assignment of error, Wynn argues that his conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{48} A manifest weight challenge attacks the credibility of the evidence presented and questions whether the state met its burden of persuasion at trial. State v. Whitsett, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101182, 2014-Ohio-4933, ¶ 26, citing Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541; State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266, 2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 13. Because it is a broader review, a reviewing court may determine that a judgment of a trial court is sustаined by sufficient evidence, but nevertheless conclude that the judgment is against the weight of the evidence.
{49} “When considering an appellant‘s claim that a conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence, the court of appeals sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and may disagree with the factfinder‘s resolution of conflicting testimony.” Thompkins at 387, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). The reviewing court must examine the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the witnesses’ credibility, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. Thompkins at 387, citing State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). In conducting such a review, this court remains mindful that the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence are matters primarily for the trier of fact to assess. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraphs one and two of the syllabus. Reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for the “exceptional
{50} Wynn argues solely that the victim‘s testimony was not credible because she offered inconsistent statements regarding when she initially became acquainted with him. Wynn also cites her drug and alcohol use. We do not agree with Wynn‘s assessment of the credibility of Roberts’ testimony. We cannot say that the jury clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice when it chose to believe her testimony regarding the assault.
VII. Authentication of the State‘s Photograph Exhibits
{51} In his seventh assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court errеd by overruling his objection to the admission of several photograph exhibits offered by the state.
{52} We again apply an abuse of discretion standard to the trial court‘s decision to admit evidence. Pursuant to
{53} In this instance, the state introduced 22 photographs and asked Roberts if she generally recognized them. Roberts indicated that she recognized all of them and
{54} While we find that the trial court erred in admitting the photographs that were not individually identified, we find any error to be harmless in light of the fact that the photоgraphs that were not specifically discussed depicted material that was duplicative of other properly admitted photographs.
{55} Wynn‘s seventh assignment of error is overruled.
VIII. Flight Instruction
{56} In his eighth assignment of error, Wynn argues that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to a flight instruction.
{57} “A trial court should give a proposed jury instruction if it is a correct statement of the law and is applicable to the facts of the particular case.” State v. Rose, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89457, 2008-Ohio-1262, ¶ 18. “Flight from justice means some escape or affirmative attempt to avoid apprehension.” State v. Wesley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 80684, 2002-Ohio-4429, ¶ 19. Flight is more than merely leaving the scene of a crime — it would be unrealistic to expect persons who commit crimes to remain on the scene for ready apprehension. State v. Santiago, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95516, 2011-Ohio-3058, ¶ 30. Flight in this context requires the defendant to appreciate that he has been identified as a person of interest in a criminal offense and is taking active measures to avoid being found. State v. Ramos, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103596, 2016-Ohio-7685, ¶ 28. The trier of fact may infer that such circumstances show that the defendant is avoiding the police only because he knows that he is guilty and wishes to avoid the inevitable consequences of his crime. Id. The court has discretion to decide whether to issue an instruction on flight. State v. Hill, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98366, 2013-Ohio-578, ¶ 48. A trial court does not abuse its discretion by issuing an instruction on flight if sufficient evidence exists in the record to support the charge. Id. at ¶ 49.
{58} We find that the trial court abused its discretion in providing a flight instruction in this case. The state argues that a flight instruction was appropriate duе to the fact that Wynn did not remain at the scene of the alleged offense until police arrived. However, there is no evidence in the record to demonstrate that Wynn appreciated that he had been identified as a person of interest in a criminal offense and actively took measures to avoid being found. Leaving the scene of the crime is not the same as actively avoiding detection.
{59} However, we find the error to be harmless in this instance because it did not change the underlying faсts of the case which, with or without the instruction,
{60} Wynn‘s eighth assignment of error is overruled.
{61} The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE
MELODY J. STEWART, J., and
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., CONCUR