State v. Almeyda , 2021 Ohio 862 ( 2021 )

[Cite as State v. Almeyda, 2021-Ohio-862.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 28727
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2019-CRB-2990
:
DANIEL ALMEYDA : (Criminal Appeal from Municipal Court)
:
Defendant-Appellant :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 19th day of March, 2021.
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MATTHEW KORTJOHN, Atty. Reg. No. 0083743, Assistant City of Dayton Prosecuting
Attorney, 335 West Third Street, Room 372, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
CARL BRYAN, Atty. Reg. No. 0086838, 120 West Second Street, Suite 603, Dayton,
Ohio 45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
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TUCKER, P.J.
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{¶ 1} Daniel Almeyda appeals from the trial court’s judgment convicting him of two
counts of violating a protection order. Almeyda’s appointed counsel has filed a brief
under the authority of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed. 2d 493
(1967), stating that he cannot not find any non-frivolous issues on appeal, and he has
asked to withdraw as counsel. Upon our independent review, we agree with counsel’s
assessment. Thus, the trial court’s judgment will be affirmed.
Procedural History
{¶ 2} By separate criminal complaints, Almeyda was charged with two counts of
violating a protection order, in violation of R.C. 2919.27(A)(1), both first-degree
misdemeanors. Following a jury trial, Almeyda was convicted on each count. The trial
court sentenced Almeyda to a 180-day jail term on each count, but the court suspended
120 days on the second count. The trial court ordered that the sentences be served
consecutively. In doing so, the trial court made the consecutive sentence findings
required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), and the findings were incorporated into the judgment
entry of conviction. In addition, Almeyda was sentenced to 2 years of supervised
probation. Almeyda appealed, and counsel was appointed for him. As noted, counsel
has filed an Anders brief. Almeyda was informed of his right to file a pro se brief, but no
pro se brief has been filed.
Anders Standard
{¶ 3} An appellate court, upon the filing of an Anders brief, has a duty to determine,
“after a full examination of the proceedings,” whether the appeal is, in fact, “wholly
frivolous.” Anders at 744; Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S. Ct. 346, 102 L. Ed. 2d
300 (1988). An issue is not frivolous based upon a conclusion that the State has a strong
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responsive argument. State v. Pullen, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19232, 2002-Ohio-
6788, ¶ 4. A frivolous issue, instead, is one about which, “on the facts and law involved,
no responsible contention can be made that offers a basis for reversal.” State v.
Marbury, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19226, 2003-Ohio-3242, ¶ 8. If we find that any issue
is not wholly frivolous, we must reject the Anders brief and appoint new counsel to
represent the defendant.
Anders Analysis
{¶ 4} Consistent with his duties under Anders, counsel has suggested as a
potential assignment of error that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by her
failure to make a Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Counsel states that, upon review, he
has concluded that the suggested assignment of error is without potential appellate merit.
We agree.
{¶ 5} Review of an assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel is governed by
the two-part test established by Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). The first step in the analysis is to determine whether counsel’s
performance “fell below an objective standard of reasonableness” so that the defendant
was deprived of the assistance of counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the
United States Constitution. State v. Hill, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25274, 2013-Ohio-
2016, ¶ 27, quoting State v. Matthews, 189 Ohio App. 3d 446, 2010-Ohio-4153, 938
N.E.2d 1099, ¶ 39 (2d Dist.). Assuming the first part of the test is met, the second prong
focuses on whether the defendant was prejudiced by the ineffective assistance. Id. To
prevail on this prong of the test, a defendant must “establish there is a reasonable
probability that, [but for counsel’s deficient performance], the result of the proceeding
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would have been different.” State v. Hartman, 2d Dist. Montgomery No 27162, 2017-
Ohio-7933, ¶ 31, citing State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St. 3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d
864, ¶ 204.
{¶ 6} A trial court reviews a Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal under the sufficiency of
the evidence standard. Under this standard, “the relevant inquiry, after viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, [is whether] any rational [juror]
could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
A different but related inquiry occurs when an appellate court reviews whether a verdict
is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence. In this circumstance, “an appellate
court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences,
and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [jury] ‘clearly lost its way
and created such a miscarriage of justice that the conviction musts be reversed and a
new trial ordered.’ ” Hill at ¶ 16, quoting State v. Hill, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25172,
2013-Ohio-717, ¶ 8, quoting State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541
(1997). Since the issue is whether the verdict creates an obvious miscarriage of justice,
a reversal based upon the manifest weight of the evidence is reserved for the “exceptional
case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” State v. Martin, 20
Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist. 1983).
{¶ 7} Although distinct legal concepts, a finding that a verdict is not against the
manifest weight of the evidence “includes a finding of sufficiency.” Hill, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 25274, 2013-Ohio-2016, at ¶ 31, quoting State v. McCrary, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 10AP-881, 2011-Ohio-3161, ¶ 11. Thus, a conviction that is “supported by
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the weight of the evidence will also be dispositive of the issue of sufficiency.” Id., quoting
State v. Braxton, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-725, 2005-Ohio-2198, ¶ 15.
{¶ 8} In this case, Almeyda was charged with two counts of violating a protection
order in violation of R.C. 2919.27(A)(1). The first instance occurred on June 2, 2019,
and the second occurred on June 20, 2019. R.C. 2919.27(A)(1) states, in relevant part,
that “no person shall recklessly violate the terms of * * * a protection order issued * * *
pursuant to * * * 3113.31 of the Revised Code.”
{¶ 9} Almeyda and Aubrey G., the complainant, had a 20-year relationship.
Almeyda is the father of Aubrey’s three daughters who, in June 2019, were ages 11 and
4 (the younger daughters are twins). Prior to May 23, 2019, Almeyda, Aubrey, and the
children resided together at a home in Dayton. On May 23, 2019, Aubrey obtained an
ex parte domestic violence civil protection order (CPO) under R.C. 3113.31. Among
other things, the CPO required Almeyda to vacate the parties’ home (which he did), and
“not to be present within 500 feet” of Aubrey. The evidence at trial established that the
CPO was in force on June 2 and June 20, 2019. The evidence also established that
Almeyda was served with the CPO on May 23, 2019.
{¶ 10} Aubrey testified that, on June 2, at approximately noon, she and her
daughters were outside in front of their home. Aubrey and her oldest daughter were
watching the twin daughters ride their bicycles. Aubrey further testified that Almeyda
drove past the home in his Honda Odyssey van at that time. Aubrey testified that
Almeyda then drove back in front of the home, and this time he stopped the van. Aubrey
testified that when Almeyda drove past the home and when he then stopped in front of
the home, he was less than 500 feet from her person. (This is obvious since 500 feet is
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almost 167 yards.) Then the following exchange occurred:
Q: * * * You said that [Almeyda] pulls up along the curb * * *
[Aubrey]: Yeah.
Q: * * * What does [Almeyda] do at that point?
[Aubrey]: He say, Aubrey, Aubrey and he’s crying and I kept saying, girls,
go in the house. Go in the house. He says Aubrey, I, what’s going on? I
just said Danny, I have a protection order. You’re not supposed to be here.
You need to go. I said, you need to get help. If you want to get, if you get
help, I’ll let you see the kids. I said –
Q: Okay. You’re, you’re telling him at this point –
[Aubrey]: Yeah.
Q: He needs to leave.
[Aubrey]: Yeah, I said you just need to go and I went into the house.
***
After this exchange, Aubrey went into her home. However, Almeyda did not immediately
leave, and while the van remained parked in front of the home, Aubrey took a photograph
which depicted Almeyda seated in the van. The photograph was introduced at trial as
State’s Exhibit 3.
{¶ 11} Aubrey called the Dayton Police Department to report Almeyda’s conduct,
and Officer Katherine Brooks responded to her home. Following a conversation with
Brooks regarding her options, Aubrey informed Brooks that she did not want to proceed
with a criminal complaint against Almeyda. Instead, Aubrey accepted Brooks’s offer to
call Almeyda, let him know that Aubrey had called the police, and inform Almeyda that his
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conduct violated the CPO. Brooks called the telephone number Aubrey provided and,
after confirming she was talking to Almeyda, she informed Almeyda that his conduct
violated the CPO and could result in a criminal charge. Almeyda admitted his knowledge
of the CPO but indicated, since “he saw the kids in the front yard” and did not see Aubrey,
he “thought it would be okay to * * * see his kids and then he left.”
{¶ 12} Aubrey testified that, on June 20, 2019, at approximately 9:00 p.m., she was
at home in her living room watching television. Aubrey indicated that some interior lights
were on, the living room curtains were open, and the front door was also open. While so
positioned, Aubrey observed Almeyda drive past the home several times; each time,
Almeyda was within 500 feet of Aubrey’s person. At this point, Aubrey turned off the
television and the downstairs lights, closed the living room curtains, and shut the front
door. Aubrey then went upstairs with the intent of going to bed. From an upstairs
bedroom window, Aubrey observed Almeyda’s van parked on a nearby intersecting
street. Aubrey testified that Almeyda’s decision to park the van and watch her closed-
up home concerned her, because she “had no idea what [Almeyda] was doing.” Thus,
Aubrey called 9-1-1.
{¶ 13} Kevin Ringler, Aubrey’s neighbor (and Almeyda’s former neighbor), testified
that on June 20, 2019, in the time frame described by Aubrey, he was outside his home,
and, while so situated, he observed Almeyda drive past Aubrey’s home. Ringler, who
was aware of the situation between Almeyda and Aubrey, sent Aubrey a text message at
9:41 p.m., which stated “[Almeyda] just drove by * * * I saw him.” The text message was
introduced as State’s Exhibit 4.
{¶ 14} The State’s final witness was Dayton Police Officer Christopher White, an
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officer dispatched in response to Aubrey’s 9-1-1 call on June 20. White testified that,
when he arrived in Aubrey’s neighborhood, he observed a Honda Odyssey van matching
the vehicle description he was provided. Upon making this observation, White made a
U-turn so that he could initiate a stop of the Honda van. White testified that, at this point,
the van “significantly speeded up.” Following policy, White did not initiate a pursuit, and
he lost sight of the van. White continued to patrol the area, and he again spotted the van
while doing so. White testified that, at this point, he “cut [his] vehicle in front of [the van],
threw [his] vehicle into park, activated the emergency light equipment, exited, and ordered
the person out of the [van].” The sole occupant of the van was Almeyda.
{¶ 15} After the State rested its case, Almeyda did not present any testimony or
admit any evidence, and the jury found Almeyda guilty on both counts.
{¶ 16} The State’s evidence in this case was overwhelming and unrebutted.
Given this, an assignment of error asserting that Almeyda’s conviction was not supported
by the manifest weight of the evidence would be without potential merit. And, since a
manifest weight argument would be without potential merit, a sufficiency of the evidence
argument would also be wholly frivolous. Finally, since counsel’s suggested Crim.R. 29
assignment of error is predicated on a sufficiency of the evidence analysis, the suggested
assignment of error would be equally frivolous.
{¶ 17} In addition, we have reviewed the entire record, including jury selection, the
opening statements, the closing arguments, and the jury instructions. This review has
not revealed any potentially meritorious appellate issues.
Conclusion
{¶ 18} Having found no non-frivolous appellate issues, counsel is permitted to
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withdraw, and the judgment of the Dayton Municipal Court is affirmed.
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HALL, J. and WELBAUM, J., concur.
Copies sent to:
Matthew Kortjohn
Carl Bryan
Daniel Almeyda
Hon. Deirdre E. Logan