Cleveland v. Mincy , 118 N.E.3d 1163 ( 2018 )

[Cite as Cleveland v. Mincy, 2018-Ohio-3565.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 106224
CITY OF CLEVELAND
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
GEORGE MINCY
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
VACATED AND REMANDED
Criminal Appeal from the
Cleveland Municipal Court
Case No. 2017 CRB 011051
BEFORE: Boyle, J., E.A. Gallagher, A.J., and Laster Mays, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 6, 2018
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Mark A. Stanton
Cuyahoga County Public Defender
BY: Cullen Sweeney
Robert Blanshard McCaleb
Assistant Public Defenders
310 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 200
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Barbara Langhenry
City of Cleveland Law Director
BY: Angela Rodriguez
Assistant City Prosecutor
Justice Center, 8th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
MARY J. BOYLE, J.:
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, George Mincy (“Mincy”), appeals his conviction and
raises the following assignments of error for our review:
1. The trial court deprived George Mincy of a fair trial when it commented
unfavorably on his decision to exercise his Fifth Amendment right to
remain silent.
2. The trial court committed reversible error when it found George Mincy
guilty of violating R.C. 2919.25(A) based on a finding sufficient only to
support a violation of R.C. 2919.25(C), which was not charged and is not a
lesser included offense of R.C. 2919.25(A).
3. The trial court erred when it found evidence sufficient to convict George
Mincy of only a fourth degree misdemeanor but nevertheless sentenced
Mincy as if he had been convicted of a first degree misdemeanor.
4. There was insufficient evidence to permit a reasonable trier of fact to find
beyond a reasonable doubt that George Mincy violated R.C. 2919.25(A).
5. The trial court deprived George Mincy of a fair trial when it * * *
questioned the complainant after trial but before rendering a verdict.
{¶2} We find that there was sufficient evidence to support Mincy’s conviction
for domestic violence and, therefore, overrule his fourth assignment of error. We also
overrule his fifth assignment of error. Nevertheless, finding merit to Mincy’s first
assignment of error, we vacate Mincy’s conviction and remand for a new trial. Our
resolution of Mincy’s first assignment of error renders his second and third assignments
of error moot.
I. Procedural History and Factual Background
{¶3} On May 30, 2017, Mincy was charged with domestic violence under R.C.
2919.25(A), which states, “No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical
harm to a family or household member.” The charges were based on statements made
by the complainant and alleged victim, Charrell Mincy (“Charrell”), George Mincy’s
21-year-old daughter.
{¶4} Mincy pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the matter proceeded to a bench
trial, where the following evidence was presented.
{¶5} On May 29, 2017, Charrell was at her parents’ house where she lived with
her son. Charrell stated that around 7:00 p.m. she went inside to grab a can of pop from
the kitchen. According to Charrell, Mincy was in the kitchen and they had an argument
about her taking the last can of pop and cursed at one another. Charrell testified that she
walked out of the house with the can. She stated that Mincy followed her outside and
said, “You’d better watch who you’re talking to,” to which Charrell responded that Mincy
should “get out [of her] face.” She testified that Mincy then stated that he was going to
“slap the s*** out [of her],” and that she responded, “You smack me, I’ll beat your a**.”
She stated that Mincy then “walked up to [her] then he walked away and then he walked
back and he smacked the pop out of [her] hand and then he smacked [her]” in the head.
{¶6} Charrell testified that she called the police, who arrived and took Charrell’s
statement as well as pictures. Charrell testified that she did not suffer any injury as a
result of Mincy’s smack.
{¶7} Officer James Sanders of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Police Department testified that he was dispatched to Mincy’s house on May 29, 2017,
for a report of domestic violence. After speaking to Charrell, Sanders testified that he
spoke to Mincy, who told him that “there was a verbal argument between him and his
daughter.” He stated that another officer on the scene advised him to place Mincy under
arrest.
{¶8} The city then rested, and Mincy moved for an acquittal under Crim.R. 29.
The trial court denied Mincy’s motion. Mincy then rested and renewed his Crim.R. 29
motion, which the court again denied.
{¶9} After the city and Mincy presented their closing arguments, the court asked
Charrell a number of questions about her son, educational level, work history, and about
the events on May 29, 2017. The trial court also commented on Charrell’s verbal
pronunciation and asked her to enroll her child in daycare and go back to school. The
city objected to the trial court’s questions.
{¶10} The trial court also made a number of comments concerning Mincy’s
decision not to testify. Specifically, the trial court stated, “I’m just trying to get some
stuff clear in my head. This is an interesting set of facts. This young man chose not to
testify. I had some questions. That’s the only reason I’m asking.” Moments later, the
trial court stated:
I have similar questions for this young man, but he didn’t testify. * * * I
cannot find some questions I need answers to. And it’s his right. It’s his
right not to testify. Everybody has a right to remain silent and not testify.
Public defender is relying upon the unknown, for the testimony to carry
itself.
{¶11} The trial court also stated, “I would like to ask how this could have been
avoided, but I can’t ask him because he chose not to say anything, so I can’t ask him.”
{¶12} The trial court ultimately found Mincy guilty and sentenced him to a
180-day suspended term of incarceration and imposed a $1,000 fine of which $700 was
suspended.
{¶13} Mincy appealed, and we sua sponte remanded the case to the trial court to
correct a clerical error contained in the trial court’s August 9, 2017 journal entry;
specifically, the entry did not show that the trial court found Mincy guilty of violating
R.C. 2919.25(A). The trial court corrected the clerical error on March 13, 2018, and
Mincy’s appeal is now properly before us.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶14} For the ease of discussion, we will address Mincy’s assignments of error out
of order.
A. Sufficiency
{¶15} In his fourth assignment of error, Mincy argues that his conviction under
R.C. 2919.25(A) was not supported by sufficient evidence.
{¶16} A sufficiency challenge essentially argues that the evidence presented was
inadequate to support the jury verdict as a matter of law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). “‘The relevant question is whether, after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’
(Emphasis sic.)” State v. Getsy, 84 Ohio St. 3d 180, 193, 702 N.E.2d 866 (1998),
quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). “[A]
conviction based on legally insufficient evidence constitutes a denial of due process.”
Thompkins at 386, citing Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 102 S. Ct. 2211, 72 L. Ed. 652
(1982). When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we review the evidence in
a light most favorable to the prosecution. State v. Hill, 75 Ohio St. 3d 195, 205, 661
N.E.2d 1068 (1996).
{¶17} Mincy argues that there was insufficient evidence that Charrell suffered
“physical injury” as required under R.C. 2919.25(A). We disagree.
{¶18} “R.C. 2919.25(A) does not require the state to prove that a victim has
sustained actual injury since a defendant can be convicted of domestic violence for
merely attempting to cause physical harm to a family member.” State v. Spade, 5th Dist.
Delaware No. 08 CAC 04 0017, 2009-Ohio-2004, ¶ 26, citing State v. Nielsen, 66 Ohio
App.3d 609, 585 N.E.2d 906 (6th Dist.1990). We have recognized that principle on a
number of occasions. See State v. Stover, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104388,
2017-Ohio-291, ¶ 15, citing Cleveland v. Amoroso, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100983,
2015-Ohio-95 (“[A]n offender does not have to cause a tangible injury to his victim in
order to be convicted of domestic violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A).”);
Strongsville v. Beall, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103051, 2016-Ohio-1222, ¶ 7 (A defendant
can be convicted of domestic violence under R.C. 2919.25(A) “even without a tangible
injury * * * [if there is evidence that the defendant] was attempting to cause physical
harm[.]”).
{¶19} While Charrell stated that she did not suffer any injury as a result of Mincy’s
strike, she testified that Mincy followed her outside, cursed at her and told her he was
going to “slap the s*** out of you[,]” slapped her drink out of her hand, and struck her on
the side of her head. Like Stover and Beall, Charrell’s testimony establishes that Mincy
was attempting to cause her physical harm by striking her in the head. See Ankenbruck
v. Ankenbruck, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 99-T-0144, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5757, 7
(Dec. 8, 2000), citing State v. Blonski, 125 Ohio App. 3d 103, 707 N.E.2d 1168 (9th
Dist.1997) (“By itself, an open-handed slap to the face has been considered an attempt to
cause bodily injury, and, thus, constituted domestic violence.”).
{¶20} Mincy also argues that there was insufficient evidence that he acted
“knowingly.” “A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware
that his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain
nature.” R.C. 2901.22(B). Charrell testified that Mincy smacked her in the head.
That testimony alone is sufficient to show that Mincy acted knowingly. See State v.
Habo, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2012-P-0056, 2013-Ohio-2142, ¶ 18 (finding sufficient
evidence that the appellant “knowingly caused or attempted to cause physical harm to
sustain a conviction of domestic violence” because a witness testified that the appellant
“smack[ed] their daughter across the face”); State v. Hill, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
20678, 2005-Ohio-3701, ¶ 9 (“Hill’s conviction can rest independently upon his having
allegedly punched Edmondson ‘into the gut,’ which a reasonable finder of fact could find
to have been an act whereby Hill would have been aware that his conduct would probably
cause injury, satisfying the culpability state of knowingly[.]”).
{¶21} Further, while Charrell was the only witness to testify, courts consistently
hold that a victim’s testimony can constitute sufficient evidence for a conviction. See
State v. White, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-16-21, 2017-Ohio-1488, ¶ 36, citing State v.
Roberts, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040547, 2005-Ohio-6391 (a rape victim’s testimony
was sufficient evidence of penetration); State v. Quinn, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2014-CA-44,
2016-Ohio-139, ¶ 52 (“Based on [the victim’s] testimony, which was consistent with the
statements she made to others on the evening of the incident, the record supports a
conclusion that the jury had sufficient evidence to convict Quinn of two counts of
domestic violence.”); State v. W.J., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-457, 2015-Ohio-2353, ¶
35, citing State v. Timmons, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-103, 2014-Ohio-3520 (“A
victim’s testimony is sufficient evidence to support sexual conduct by vaginal intercourse
or fellatio.”); State v. Bacho, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93828, 2010-Ohio-4885, ¶ 13
(“S.W.’s testimony provides ample support for appellant’s conviction of these charges.”);
State v. Wring, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 85711, 2005-Ohio-5443, ¶ 11 (The state
“presented sufficient evidence to support the theft conviction through the victim’s
testimony.”); State v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 57464, 1990 Ohio App. LEXIS
5221, 5 (Nov. 29, 1990) (“A victim’s testimony, if believed, is sufficient to obtain and
sustain a rape conviction.”).
{¶22} In fact, in Amoroso, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100983, 2015-Ohio-95, we
stated:
Amoroso contends that his conviction was not supported by sufficient
evidence because it was based solely upon Patricia’s testimony. He
maintains that there was no physical evidence of her injuries. Looking at
the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, however, Patricia’s
testimony was sufficient to establish that Amoroso committed domestic
violence against her beyond a reasonable doubt.
Id. at ¶ 30.
{¶23} Although not directly related to the issue of sufficiency, the dissent finds it
“absurd” that Mincy was unable to argue the parental-discipline affirmative defense
because Charrell was older than 18.
{¶24} Foremost, whether Mincy was entitled to an affirmative defense has no
bearing on the sufficiency of the evidence underlying his conviction. See State v.
Hancock, 108 Ohio St. 3d 57, 2009-Ohio-160, 840 N.E.2d 1032, ¶ 37, quoting Caldwell v.
Russell, 181 F.3d 731 (6th Cir.1999) (“[T]he due process ‘sufficient evidence’ guarantee
does not implicate affirmative defenses, because proof supportive of an affirmative
defense cannot detract from proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused had
committed the requisite elements of the crime.”); State v. Simes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
103672, 2016-Ohio-7300, ¶ 20, citing Hancock (“[A] sufficiency challenge does not
implicate affirmative defenses.”).
{¶25} Further, it is clear that the parental-discipline affirmative defense is
inapplicable when the victim is “legally an adult.” State v. Blevins, 133 Ohio App. 3d
196, 198, 727 N.E.2d 169 (12th Dist.1999); see also State v. Miller, 134 Ohio App. 3d
649, 652, 731 N.E.2d 1192 (1st Dist.1999), citing R.C. 2912.22(B) (“[A] parent may use
reasonable corporal punishment as a means to discipline a child who is under the age of
eighteen[.]”). Here, Charrell was 21 years old at the time of the incident and, therefore,
that affirmative defense was clearly not available to Mincy.
{¶26} Finally, to the extent that the dissent reasons that Mincy was the
“head-of-household who, * * * provide[d] a home and support for [Charrell] and her
child” and therefore had a “right to reasonably discipline or demand respect in his home,”
once again, the right to reasonably discipline one’s child with physical force is not
eternal. Instead, that right ends when the child turns 18. While we are sympathetic to
the fact that a minor family feud over a can of pop has resulted in criminal charges that
could have lasting implications for Mincy, we cannot excuse Mincy’s conduct simply
because he financially supports his adult daughter and grandchild.
{¶27} Therefore, we find that there is sufficient evidence to support Mincy’s
conviction for domestic violence under R.C. 2919.25(A) based upon Charrell’s
testimony and overrule his fourth assignment of error.
B. Mincy’s Right to a Fair Trial
{¶28} Mincy’s first and fifth assignments of error both argue that the trial court
deprived him of a fair trial when it (1) “commented unfavorably on his decision to
exercise his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent,” and (2) “questioned the
complainant after trial but before rendering a verdict.”
{¶29} Because the trial court questioned Charrell before it commented on Mincy’s
right to remain silent, we will analyze the trial court’s questioning of Charrell first.
{¶30} Evid.R. 614(B) allows a trial court to interrogate witnesses in an impartial
manner.
In questioning a witness pursuant to Evid.R. 614(B), a court may not
indicate by its intensity, tenor, range, and persistence the court’s opinion of
a witness’s credibility or the sufficiency of the evidence. * * * Furthermore,
a trial judge’s questions must be relevant and void of a suggestion of bias[.]
State v. Wilbon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82934, 2004-Ohio-1784, ¶ 8, citing State v.
Davis, 79 Ohio App. 3d 450, 607 N.E.2d 543 (4th Dist.1992), and Sandusky v. DeGidio,
51 Ohio App. 3d 202, 555 N.E.2d 680 (6th Dist.1988).
{¶31} We review “a trial court’s interrogation of a witness for an abuse of
discretion.” Wilbon at ¶ 9, citing State v. Prokos, 91 Ohio App. 3d 39, 631 N.E.2d 684
(4th Dist.1993).
{¶32} Here, after the trial concluded, the trial court asked Charrell about how she
cared for her child, her level of education, work history, and manner of speech. A
review of the transcript of the proceedings shows that the trial court was scolding Charrell
for her life choices and admonishing her for the way she spoke. Specifically, the trial
court made the following statements:
TRIAL COURT: You’ve got one child?
CHARRELL: Yeah.
TRIAL COURT: Yeah?
CHARRELL: Yes.
TRIAL COURT: How do you spell yeah?
CHARRELL: Hmm.
TRIAL COURT: Huh. How do you spell huh?
CHARRELL: H-u-m.
***
TRIAL COURT: Have you attempted to go back to school? Have you
enrolled back in a school?
CHARRELL: No.
TRIAL COURT: So you said you’re still trying to go back?
CHARRELL: Yeah.
TRIAL COURT: Yeah?
CHARRELL: Yes.
TRIAL COURT: Is yeah proper English?
CHARRELL: No.
TRIAL COURT: Why do you continue to say it, especially in court?
Where you are sitting like this, aren’t you supposed to
be talking proper English?
CHARRELL: Yes.
***
TRIAL COURT: Now Ms. Mincy, if you would do me a favor, maybe
yourself, if you can call Head Start, see if you can
enroll your child in the program and get some daycare
and that might be helpful because if your child’s gonna
grow up talking like you, that might be a problem.
Your communication skills are somewhat lacking.
And it would be nice if you would also in my opinion
enroll in school. I cannot make you go to school, but
after you’ve had the work experiences you’ve had and
the life experiences you’ve had, it might be beneficial
that you get back to school for your degree so you can
further your education.
{¶33} While we find the trial court’s timing of its questions as well as its
questioning of, statements to, and treatment of Charrell to be concerning, the trial court’s
questions were not prejudicial to Mincy. See State v. Baston, 85 Ohio St. 3d 418, 426,
709 N.E.2d 128 (1999), citing Sandusky (overruling the appellant’s assignment of error
concerning the panel’s questions because “[t]he questioning was neither excessive nor
prejudicial to the defendant.”). If anything, the trial court’s questions were prejudicial to
the city, which objected to the trial court’s questions. Moreover, Mincy has not shown
which questions were prejudicial to him and, therefore, we overrule his fifth assignment
of error.
{¶34} Turning to Mincy’s first assignment of error and his argument concerning
his right to remain silent, the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
provides that no person “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself[,]” and applies to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment. Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 6, 84 S. Ct. 1489, 12 L. Ed. 2d 653 (1964).
“When a defendant is instructed that he has the ‘right to not testify at trial,’ it follows that
he has a right to remain silent at trial and cannot be compelled to testify against himself.”
State v. McElroy, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 104639, 104640, and 104641,
2017-Ohio-1049, ¶ 27, citing State v. Hayes, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2014-P-0044,
2016-Ohio-2794. This is often called the privilege against self-incrimination. Id.
{¶35} To warrant reversal, a trial court’s error regarding a defendant’s privilege
against self-incrimination must be structural. In re K.B., 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2006-03-077, 2007-Ohio-1647, ¶ 22. A structural error occurs when a defendant
suffers a violation of his constitutional rights. See State v. Miller, 9th Dist. Summit No.
27048, 2015-Ohio-279, ¶ 8 (“A court commits structural error when it wrongfully denies
a defendant his [Sixth Amendment right to his] counsel of choice[.]”); State v. Williams,
10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-507, 2003-Ohio-2694, ¶ 45, citing State v. Hill, 92 Ohio
St.3d 191, 749 N.E.2d 274 (2001) (“Structural errors ‘deprive defendants of basic
protections without which a criminal trial cannot [reliably] serve its function as a vehicle
for determination of guilt or innocence.’”). Such an error “affect[s] the framework
within which the trial proceeds,” and is more than “simply an error in the trial process
itself.” Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 310, 111 S. Ct. 1246, 113 L. Ed. 2d 302
(1991).
{¶36} “[N]either a prosecutor nor a judge may comment on a criminal defendant’s
failure to testify. * * * Consistent with [that] principle, a trial judge, sitting as a trier of
fact, may not consider a criminal defendant’s failure to testify as evidence of the
defendant’s guilt.” In re K.B. at ¶ 10-11.
{¶37} Nevertheless, “[i]n a bench trial, the trial court is presumed to have
considered only admissible evidence unless the record indicates otherwise.” State v.
Reddy, 192 Ohio App. 3d 108, 2010-Ohio-5759, 948 N.E.2d 454, ¶ 58 (8th Dist.), citing
Cleveland v. Welms, 169 Ohio App. 3d 600, 2006-Ohio-6441, 863 N.E.2d 1125 (8th
Dist.). “This presumption ‘may be overcome only by an affirmative showing to the
contrary by the appellant.’” State v. Pearson, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 14AP-793 and
14AP-816, 2015-Ohio-3974, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Wiles, 59 Ohio St. 3d 71, 571 N.E.2d
97 (1991).
{¶38} In In re K.B., the trial court “made multiple, specific comments concerning
appellant’s failure to testify[,]” including, “And I guess the biggest let down I had
because I anxiously awaited, and I think any jury or anybody would anxiously await what
[appellant] has to say. [He] didn’t want to speak at the trial[,]” and “No, he never got on
the stand and that was critical. It’s a trial tactic, whatever.” Id. at ¶ 17-19. On
appeal, the Twelfth District found that the court’s statements, especially its statement that
the appellant’s failure to testify was “critical,” “strongly suggest that it considered
appellant’s silence in reaching its delinquency decision” and violated the appellant’s Fifth
Amendment rights. Id. at ¶ 20. The court found that the trial court’s “repeated
statements regarding appellant’s silence * * * strongly suggest a shift in the burden of
proof from the state to appellant, requiring appellant to explain his conduct.” Id. at ¶ 22.
As a result, the court found that the trial court’s error was structural and required
reversal. Id. at ¶ 23.
{¶39} In contrast, in Pearson, the trial court, before rendering its verdict,
“wondered why the appellants would go into that closed motel with a cluttered and
dangerous hall and stairway, stay 15 minutes, give or take, if not to do a theft?” Id. at ¶
10. On review, the Tenth District chose not to interpret “the trial court’s comments as
referring to Hammond’s decision not to testify.” Id. at ¶ 14. Instead, the court found
that the trial court’s comments referred “to issues raised at trial but not sufficiently
addressed to the trial court’s satisfaction.” Id.
{¶40} Similarly, in Reddy, we found that when the trial court stated “that Reddy
failed to explain the evidence against him,” it meant that “his defense did not adequately
address all of the evidence against him.” Id. at ¶ 59. We, therefore, found that the trial
court’s statement “did not reference Reddy’s decision not to testify[,]” and we overruled
his assignment of error. Id.
{¶41} After questioning Charrell but prior to rendering its verdict, the trial court
stated, “I’m just trying to get some stuff clear in my head. This is an interesting set of
facts. This young man chose not to testify. I had some questions. That’s the only
reason I’m asking.” Moments later, the trial court stated, “I have similar questions for
this young man, but he didn’t testify. * * * I cannot find some questions I need answers
to. And it’s his right. It’s his right not to testify. Everybody has a right to remain
silent and not testify. Public defender is relying upon the unknown, for the testimony to
carry itself.” The trial court also stated, “I would like to ask how this could have been
avoided, but I can’t ask him because he chose not to say anything, so I can’t ask him.”
The trial court then found Mincy guilty of domestic violence.
{¶42} After comparison to In re K.B., Pearson, and Reddy, we find that the trial
court’s statements concerning Mincy’s decision not to testify violated his Fifth
Amendment rights. Unlike Pearson and Reddy, the trial court’s statements were not
expressing its belief that Mincy’s defense counsel failed to address the evidence against
him. Instead, like In re K.B. and despite the trial court’s recognition of Mincy’s right to
not testify, the trial court made numerous statements suggesting that Mincy failed to
answer questions that the trial court found to be important by choosing to exercise that
right. We find that, like In re K.B., the trial court’s “repeated statements regarding
appellant’s silence * * * strongly suggest a shift in the burden of proof from the [city] to
[Mincy], requiring [Mincy] to explain his conduct.” Id. at ¶ 22.
{¶43} Therefore, in conclusion, we overrule Mincy’s fourth and fifth assignments
of error, sustain Mincy’s first assignment of error, vacate Mincy’s conviction, and remand
for a new trial. Further, our resolution of Mincy’s first assignment of error renders his
second and third assignments of error moot.
{¶44} The conviction is vacated and the case is remanded for a new trial.
It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee 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 Cleveland
Municipal Court 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.
MARY J. BOYLE, JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, A.J., CONCURS;
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., DISSENTS WITH
SEPARATE OPINION
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J., DISSENTING:
{¶45} I concur with the majority’s first assignment of error concerning Mincy’s
right to remain silent and would sustain this assignment. However, I respectfully dissent
regarding the sufficiency of the evidence assignment of error. I would find that the
evidence was insufficient to support the conviction. I would therefore vacate the
conviction and discharge the defendant.
{¶46} Mincy was convicted of domestic violence pursuant to R.C. 2919.25(A), a
first-degree misdemeanor after a bench trial. R.C. 2919.25(A) provides that “[n]o person
shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household
member.” Id. The mens rea of knowingly for purposes of R.C. 2919.25 is supported
where, “regardless of purpose * * * the person is aware that the person’s conduct will
probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature.” R.C. 2901.22(B).
“Physical harm to persons” is defined as “any injury, illness, or other physiological
impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(3).
{¶47} The fact that Charrell is a family and household member is not in issue.
The remaining inquiry is whether Mincy “knowingly caused or attempted to cause”
physical harm to Charrell. Strongsville v. Beall, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103051,
2016-Ohio-1222, ¶ 3.
{¶48} The city argues that an alleged domestic violence victim does not have to
suffer any injury at all for an offender to be guilty of domestic violence pursuant to R.C.
2919.25(A). Cited in support of the city’s position are four cases decided by this court.
In each of the cited cases, there was supplemental evidence of injury or circumstances
that distinguish the cases from the instant case and support the elements of the offense.
{¶49} In Middleburg Hts. v. Musa, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97914,
2013-Ohio-366, the husband physically dragged the wife around the house and outside of
the residence, causing bruising. In Cleveland v. Amoroso, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
100983, 2015-Ohio-95, a “he said, she said” account of domestic violence without
witnesses or visible injuries, the evidence included past incidents of domestic violence
between the parties. The conviction was affirmed.
{¶50} Beall involved a couple with a contentious history. The husband tackled
the wife, knocking her to the ground, and wrestled the wife’s cell phone from her grasp,
injuring one of her fingers. Id. at ¶ 5. This court held that the tackle plus injury
constituted proof of culpability and physical harm and upheld the conviction under R.C.
2919.25(A).
{¶51} The city also cites State v. Stover, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104388,
2017-Ohio-291. Stover was not welcome at his mother’s home. Id. at ¶ 5. The mother
was playing cards with her friends when she heard Stover banging on the door. A sofa
was pushed against the door and the mother called the police. Id.
{¶52} Stover broke into the door, ran to the kitchen and “retrieved two steak
knives.” Id. at ¶ 6. The mother and Stover were then “face-to-face,” and Stover
threatened his mother with the knives, making twirling “martial arts” gestures with them.
Stover told his mother that “somebody is going to die tonight,” prompting a hasty exit by
most of the mother’s friends. Id.
{¶53} The mother rushed to prevent Stover from locking himself in the bathroom
as was his custom but Stover pushed her “so hard that she fell to the ground.” Id. at ¶ 7.
The mother claimed that she was not injured and officers said that she and a friend that
had remained with her were “nervous and fearful.” Id. at ¶ 8. This court affirmed,
finding that Stover was aware that his actions would probably cause injury. Id. at ¶ 30.1
{¶54} Generally in a parent-child domestic violence case, a parental right exists
to administer reasonable and proper corporal punishment based on the totality of the
circumstances.
[T]he Supreme Court of Ohio [has] indicated the legislature did not intend
to prohibit “proper and reasonable parental discipline” but, rather, incidents
of corporal punishment that cause substantial physical injuries. State v.
Suchomski, 58 Ohio St. 3d 74, 567 N.E.2d 1304 (1991); State v. Hicks, 88
Ohio App. 3d 515, 624 N.E.2d 332 (1993); cf., State v. Ivey, 98 Ohio
App.3d 249, 648 N.E.2d 519 (1994) (construing R.C. 2919.22,
Endangering Children).
State v. Jones, 140 Ohio App. 3d 422, 428-429, 747 N.E.2d 891 (8th Dist.2000).
{¶55} Mincy is the head of household who, along with his wife who is also
Charrell’s mother, provides a home and support for Charrell and her child. Charrell
admits that Mincy helps her care for the child. Yet, because Charrell’s age is beyond the
1
The dissent questioned the sufficiency of the evidence and suggested that the sole focus
should be on whether Stover knowingly attempted to cause his mother physical harm. Id. at ¶ 36.
scope of the corporal punishment defense to domestic violence charges,2 the absurd result
is that Mincy’s right to reasonably discipline or demand respect in his home has expired.
See State v. Miller, 134 Ohio App. 3d 649, 731 N.E.2d 1192 (1st Dist.1999), where the
father’s disciplinary defense was invalid because his daughter was 18 years of age. The
Miller dissent rejected application of a “‘bright-line rule’” and urged the adoption of an
obligation-to-support until the age of 21 or similar analysis, arguably an analytical
framework that is more suited to modern family circumstances. Id. at 654. I would do
so in this case.
{¶56} Charrell’s self-serving testimony is the sole evidence in the record that
Mincy slapped the soda from Charrell or that he touched her at all. This is true in spite
of the fact that there allegedly were other witnesses to the outside exchange. Mincy told
police that the altercation was verbal and, according to police testimony, he was calm and
cooperative at the time. No evidence depicting the presence of the soda can was
introduced.
{¶57} Even accepting that Mincy was close enough to touch or slap Charrell, she
denied suffering any injury, was not fearful, and in fact, admitted that she was trying to
fight with her father, who she repeatedly referred to as “b**ch,” and threatened to “beat
[his] a**.” (Tr. 19 and 22.) Surely, if Mincy was attempting to inflict physical harm, he
was in a position to do so. I would find this case to be a case of mutual combat.
2
Evidence that Charrell suffered from a physical or mental disability extends the corporal
punishment defense to the age of 21.
{¶58} I would also point out that the trial court’s verdict did not support the
presence of the elements of R.C. 2919.25(A) which holds that “[n]o person shall
knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member.”
The trial court stated that the “elements of [domestic violence] are that there’s a threat of
violence and the threat was proven here.” (Tr. 52.) Mincy correctly states that the
elements cited by the trial court are actually from R.C. 2919.25(C). “No person, by
threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the
offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member.” Id.
R.C. 2919.25(C) was not charged in this case.
{¶59} “R.C. 2919.25(C) is not a lesser included offense of R.C. 2919.25(A).”
Cleveland v. Jenkins, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 80758, 2002-Ohio-6046, ¶ 15, citing State
v. Rihm, 101 Ohio App. 3d 626, 629, 656 N.E.2d 372 (2d Dist.1995). In Jenkins, the
appellant’s conviction was affirmed because the complaint tracked the language of R.C.
2919.25(A) and (C) “almost verbatim.” Id. at ¶ 16. In this case, the complaint recites
the provision of R.C. 2919.25(A) and (A)(2)3 only. No element of the charged offense
in this case involves a threat of violence.
{¶60} Based on a thorough review of the record, I would find that, when viewed
in a light most favorable to the city, the evidence is not sufficient to support that the
elements of R.C. 2919.25(A) have been established in this case.
3
R.C. 2919.25(A)(2) provides that the violation is a first-degree misdemeanor.