State v. Stone ( 2020 )


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  • [Cite as State v. Stone, 
    2020-Ohio-502
    .]
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
    FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    ADAMS COUNTY
    STATE OF OHIO,                 :
    :
    Plaintiff-Appellee,       : Case No. 19CA1086
    :
    vs.                       :
    :
    CRYSTAL STONE,                 : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
    : ENTRY
    Defendant-Appellant.       :
    _____________________________________________________________
    APPEARANCES:
    Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Stephen P. Hardwick, Assistant
    Public Defender, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.
    David Kelley, Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, and Michele L. Harris,
    Assistant Adams County Prosecutor, West Union, Ohio, for Appellee.
    _____________________________________________________________
    Smith, P.J.
    {¶1} Crystal Stone appeals the Adams County Court’s February 4,
    2019 Judgment Entry finding defendant guilty and imposing sentence after a
    bench trial. Stone (“Appellant”) was convicted of theft, a violation of R.C.
    2913.02, and a misdemeanor of the first degree. On appeal, Appellant
    essentially argues that the “knowing” element of the crime was not proven
    and therefore, her conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                      2
    Based upon our review of the record, we find no merit to Appellant’s sole
    assignment of error. Thus, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    {¶2} Mineral Springs Lake is a campground in Adams County. A
    yearly fundraiser event is held there over Labor Day weekend to benefit
    Kamp Dovetail, a summer enrichment camp for handicapped children. On
    September 2, 2018, approximately 300 people attended the benefit,
    including Appellant, Heath Robinson, Nicole Ogden, and Jamion Jones.
    The event festivities included live music, an auction, and a raffle.
    {¶3} Appellant and Robinson arrived in Robinson’s orange Jeep.
    Ogden and Jones arrived in a black jeep. The group of four were drinking
    alcohol at the Ogden family’s campsite. They later proceeded to the raffle
    held at a shelterhouse. Appellant was later asked to leave after being
    accused of stealing a Coach purse. The Coach purse was located in
    Robinson’s orange Jeep. Its contents, a wallet and some MaryKay makeup
    were located in the black Jeep. All items were returned to the event
    organizers.
    {¶4} A few days later, Appellant presented to the Adams County
    Sheriff’s Department because she had heard “through the grapevine” that
    charges had been pressed against her. Appellant gave a videotaped
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                        3
    statement to Deputy John Shope. Appellant essentially advised Deputy
    Shope that she “thought she had won the purse” and it was all a huge
    “misunderstanding.” However, Appellant was charged with theft, a
    misdemeanor of the first degree. She entered a not guilty plea and
    eventually elected to have a bench trial.
    {¶5} At trial on December 28 and December 31, 2018, the State
    presented several witnesses, including Tara Mongold, who attended the
    event; Tyler Cantrell, a trustee at Mineral Springs Lake and campground;
    Devin Trammell, an employee at Mineral Springs; Tim Smalley, an owner
    of the lake and campground; Nicole Ogden, Appellant’s friend; and, Deputy
    John Shope, an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy who was working special
    duty assignment at the event. The State also played Appellant’s videotaped
    statement and the trial court admitted it into evidence.
    {¶6} Appellant and Heath Robinson testified on behalf of the defense.
    The trial court made a finding of guilty and passed the matter for
    presentence investigation. On February 4, 2019, Appellant was sentenced to
    a 180-day jail sentence with all days suspended, a $300.00 fine, 16 hours of
    community service, and $1,418.80 in court costs.
    {¶7} This timely appeal followed. Where pertinent, additional facts
    are set forth below.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                           4
    ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
    “I. CRYSTAL STONE’S CONVICTION WAS
    AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE
    EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING
    EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT SHE BELIEVED SHE
    HAD WON THE PURSE.”
    A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
    {¶8} In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the
    manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court must review the entire
    record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the
    credibility of witnesses, 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. State v.
    Thompkins, 
    78 Ohio St.3d 380
    , 387, 
    678 N.E.2d 541
     (1997); State v. Hunter,
    
    131 Ohio St.3d 67
    , 
    2011-Ohio-6524
    , 
    960 N.E.2d 955
    , ¶ 119; State v.
    Hammond, 4th Dist. Ross No. 18CA3662, 
    2019-Ohio-4253
    , at ¶ 55.
    {¶9} The weight and credibility of evidence are to be determined by
    the trier of fact, citing State v. Kirkland, 
    140 Ohio St.3d 73
    , 2014-Ohio-
    1966, 
    15 N.E.3d 818
    , at ¶ 132; Hammond, at ¶ 56. The trier of fact is free to
    believe all, part, or none of the testimony of any witness, and we defer to the
    trier of fact on evidentiary weight and credibility issues because it is in the
    best position to gauge the witnesses’ demeanor, gestures, and voice
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                            5
    inflections, and to use these observations to weigh their credibility. State v.
    Dillard, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA9, 
    2014-Ohio-4974
    , at ¶ 28, citing State v.
    West, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 12CA3507, 
    2014-Ohio-1941
    , ¶ 23.
    {¶10} “ ‘Weight of the evidence concerns “the inclination of the
    greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of
    the issue rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party
    having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing
    the evidence in their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible
    evidence sustains the issue which is to be established before them. Weight
    is not a question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing
    belief.” ’ ” State v. Schroeder, 4th Dist. Adams No. 18CA1077, 2019-Ohio-
    4136 at ¶ 61; State v. Wickersham, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA10, 2015-Ohio-
    2756 at ¶ 24, quoting Eastley v. Volkman, 
    132 Ohio St.3d 328
    , 2012–Ohio–
    2179, 
    972 N.E.2d 517
    , ¶ 12, quoting Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,
    quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1594 (6th Ed.1990).
    {¶11} “ ‘Because the trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses and is
    particularly competent to decide “whether, and to what extent, to credit the
    testimony of particular witnesses,” we must afford substantial deference to
    its determinations of credibility.’ ” Barberton v. Jenney, 
    126 Ohio St.3d 5
    ,
    2010–Ohio–2420, 
    929 N.E.2d 1047
    , ¶ 20, quoting State v. Konya, 2nd Dist.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                          6
    Montgomery No. 21434, 2006–Ohio–6312, ¶ 6, quoting State v. Lawson,
    2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 16288 (Aug. 22, 1997). As the Eastley court
    explained:
    “ ‘[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly
    against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment
    must be made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts.
    ***
    If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction,
    the reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation
    which is consistent with the verdict and judgment, most
    favorable to sustaining the verdict and judgment.' ”
    Eastley at ¶ 21, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 
    10 Ohio St.3d 77
    , 80, 
    461 N.E.2d 1273
     (1984), fn.3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d,
    Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192 (1978). Thus, an appellate court
    will leave the issues of weight and credibility of the evidence to the fact
    finder, as long as a rational basis exists in the record for its decision. State v.
    Picklesimer, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 11CA9, 2012–Ohio–1282,¶ 24; accord
    State v. Howard, 4th Dist. Ross No. 07CA2948, 2007–Ohio–6331, ¶ 6 (“We
    will not intercede as long as the trier of fact has some factual and rational
    basis for its determination of credibility and weight.”).
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                       7
    {¶12} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, the court
    may reverse the judgment of conviction only if it appears that the fact-finder,
    when resolving the conflicts in evidence, “ ‘ “clearly lost its way and created
    such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed
    and a new trial ordered.” ’ ” State v. Dunn, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 15CA1,
    
    2017-Ohio-518
    , at ¶ 17; Wickersham, supra, at ¶ 26, quoting Thompkins, 78
    Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 
    20 Ohio App.3d 172
    , 175, 
    485 N.E.2d 717
     (1st Dist.1983). A reviewing court should find a conviction
    against the manifest weight of the evidence only in the “ ‘exceptional case in
    which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’ ” 
    Id.,
     quoting
    Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175; State v. Lindsey, 
    87 Ohio St.3d 479
    , 483,
    
    721 N.E.2d 995
     (2000).
    B. LEGAL ANALYSIS
    {¶13} Appellant was charged and convicted of one count of theft,
    a first-degree misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2913.02, which provides, in
    pertinent part, as follows:
    (A) No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of
    property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert
    control over either the property or services in any of
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                            8
    the following ways: (1) Without the consent of the owner or
    person authorized to give consent * * *.”
    {¶14} On appeal, Appellant argues that the overwhelming weight
    of the evidence supports her own testimony that due to the chaos in the
    vicinity of the raffle, she mistakenly believed she had won the Coach purse
    and its contents. Appellant concludes that the weight of the evidence does
    not support her conviction and requests this court overturn her conviction.
    However, having weighed the evidence and all reasonable inferences,
    considered the credibility of the witnesses, and resolving conflicts in the
    evidence, we cannot say that the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created
    a manifest miscarriage of justice.
    {¶15} We begin by setting forth the relevant evidence presented at
    trial. Tyler Cantrell testified that all of the prizes are set up on several picnic
    tables. Each prize is numbered and has a corresponding box or bucket in
    front of it. Raffle participants place their raffle tickets into the buckets for
    the prizes they want to win. At the end of the night, each bucket is collected
    and the prize is drawn.
    {¶16} The person running the raffle takes the winning ticket and
    places it on a bulletin board with the prize and then writes the winner’s
    name. When a person realizes he or she has won, the person presents the
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                         9
    ticket, the ticket is verified, and the prize is awarded. People sometimes
    write their campsite numbers on the tickets as well. Cantrell testified that
    the persons running the raffle were announcing the winners and distributing
    prizes when it was realized that the Coach purse had not been claimed but
    had disappeared.
    {¶17} Tara Mongold testified she was in attendance at the raffle. She
    described the procedure for running the raffle and claiming prizes similarly.
    Mongold added that to her knowledge, there were no instructions on how to
    claim the prize items. She testified that it appeared to her that people were
    picking up their prize items as they won them and leaving.
    {¶18} Tara Mongold was standing next to the tall pink Coach purse
    with MaryKay makeup items and a Coach wallet inside when she observed
    two women with dark hair standing nearby. She was not paying close
    attention to what the women were doing. At one point, a male walked up
    behind the two dark-haired women. The group took the purse and walked
    away. Mongold did not see who picked up the purse; however, she
    identified Appellant as one of the women who left with it.
    {¶19} Mongold testified “everybody was freaking out,” and she
    didn’t understand because she assumed one of the women had won the
    purse. Then she overheard others talking. She advised that the two dark-
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                        10
    haired women walked away with the purse. Mongold pointed in the general
    direction where the women walked, where two Jeeps were parked. On
    cross-examination, Mongold testified she did hear numbers being called
    during the raffle. She testified she did not hear anyone’s name called to
    claim the Coach purse.
    {¶20} Devin Trammell testified Laura Vance, the director of Kamp
    Dovetail, was running the raffle. Vance approached him and asked for help
    with regard to the missing purse. Trammell went over to the Jeeps, which
    were parked side by side. Trammell located the purse which was in the back
    seat of an orange Jeep. He used a flashlight, looked underneath both Jeeps,
    and discovered the purse which he gave to Laura Vance. Trammel testified:
    “She, they kept saying, both of them kept saying that they didn’t do it and
    then, they proceeded to say that well, we thought it was ours, we thought it
    was ours.” At this point, it was decided to involve Cantrell and a deputy.
    On cross-examination, Trammell testified the purse was sitting in the middle
    of the back seat, not hidden.
    {¶21} Cantrell testified Appellant was not cooperative in identifying
    the purse in her vehicle. He also testified:
    Well at the beginning Ms. Stone repeatedly denied
    that she had taken it. She said that multiple times
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                     11
    that she had enough money to buy as many purses
    as she wanted, she had no reason to take it. And
    then she further denied that she had taken it and
    then ultimately she said I thought I had won. Which
    I did not believe because of how it[the raffle] was being
    held, there would be no, there’s no confusion as to
    whether you won something or not it was pretty clear.
    And the process in which you claimed was pretty clear.
    Even if you thought you’d won, you would’ve went up
    you said hey I think I won this and they would look to
    know you didn’t win it so, that is what she had said at
    that time.
    {¶22} On cross-examination, Cantrell testified there was music prior
    to the raffle but disagreed that the atmosphere was “chaotic.”
    {¶23} Tim Smalley testified that Laura Vance asked for assistance
    and they proceeded to the Jeeps. Smalley testified that the women did not
    want to cooperate with the Sheriff or the others. He also testified the purse
    was found in one Jeep and the wallet and makeup was found in the other
    one. The women indicated they did not know how it ended up in the Jeeps.
    Appellant and her boyfriend left in the orange Jeep. Smalley testified:
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                      12
    They said that they thought that they had won it and
    that there [sic] name was called. And like, there isn’t
    really no way for that because Laura is so organized
    with that stuff, um, you know there is the bulletin boards
    that you go immediately by. And she’ll only do like
    fifteen drawings at a time and she immediately sticks
    the stickers on there, and then she immediately goes
    to produce. And there was just no way for the mistake
    um, to happen * * *.
    {¶24} On cross-examination, Smalley testified the purse was pulled
    out from underneath the seat of the orange Jeep.
    {¶25} Nicole Ogden testified she was at her father’s campsite the
    entire day. Appellant and Heath Robinson showed up for a family birthday
    party around 6 o’clock. After the party, Appellant and she went to the
    shelterhouse where the raffle was held. It was very loud. They observed
    people calling off names and numbers and then the winners picking up
    prizes off the table. Appellant’s boyfriend bought the raffle tickets, and
    Appellant placed them for the Coach purse.
    {¶26} Ogden testified she assumed appellant won the purse because
    Appellant told her she heard her name and the lot number. Ogden denied
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                         13
    actually hearing her name and number. Appellant picked up the purse.
    They walked to the Jeeps, left the purse, and then went back to the shelter.
    {¶27} Ogden denied seeing Appellant place half of the prize in her
    Jeep. Appellant used the bathroom in front of the Jeep. Then they started to
    walk back to the shelterhouse. As they were in the process of walking back,
    a bunch of people bombarded them with accusations of stealing the purse.
    Ogden testified: “And at that point I didn’t think anybody stole anything.”
    The Smalley family asked them to leave.
    {¶28} On cross-examination, Ogden testified they both bid on the
    purse and agreed to split the contents. In her opinion, Appellant was not
    trying to hide it. They didn’t rush to the Jeeps and Appellant didn’t act
    nervous. Ogden admitted she did not see where the purse was placed.
    {¶29} Deputy John Shope testified he was called out to the shelter on
    the report of a theft of a purse. He then went to the two Jeeps sitting away
    from the shelter in an isolated area, approximately 50 feet from the shelter.
    Shope testified he asked Appellant if “they” took a purse and she didn’t
    really answer. She was cooperative but said she had to go use the restroom.
    The purse was located before the deputy arrived.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                       14
    {¶30} Appellant presented to the sheriff’s department a few days later
    and agreed to give a videotaped statement after being given her Miranda
    rights. Shope testified he asked why Appellant didn’t explain it that
    night. Appellant advised him “there was a lot of people around, had her
    nervous and she said she had to pee so bad, she had to leave, is what she
    told me.” Shope testified at no point, on September 2, 2018, did Appellant
    claim she thought she had won the purse. He testified neither one stated
    they thought they won the purse.
    {¶31} The State rested. The defense case began with Heath
    Robinson’s testimony that he dated Crystal Stone at the time of the alleged
    theft and was with her at Mineral Springs Campground that evening. He
    drove her to the campground in his orange Jeep.
    {¶32} Robinson was not present when the alleged theft occurred. He
    and Jamion Jones were watching kids play basketball. He bought raffle
    tickets and gave them to Appellant and Nicole Ogden. At no time did he see
    the purse or see Appellant with the purse.
    {¶33} Robinson had the keys to the Jeep but the top had been
    removed. The owners of the lake came to him and said there was a purse in
    his Jeep and a purse in the other one. The owners initially thought he had
    taken the purse.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                       15
    {¶34} Finally, Appellant testified, corroborating much of the prior
    testimony. She filled out the raffle tickets with Heath Robinson’s name and
    Ogden’s campsite number. Nicole and she put all the tickets into the bucket
    for the Coach purse, planning to share the prize.
    {¶35} Appellant testified the raffle scene was “madness.” People
    were coming and going, picking up prizes left and right. She picked up the
    Coach purse because she thought she won it. She thought the campsite
    number was announced. Appellant testified:
    Nicole verified, and was like “yeah, we you know, got
    this and then I just picked it up not thinking, because I
    thought we won it. I took it to the Jeep, just placed it on
    the back seat and just walked back to the shelter house
    to join everybody else and listen, you know.”
    {¶36} When they went back to the Jeeps, Appellant placed the purse
    in the orange vehicle. Nicole took the wallet and placed it in the other Jeep.
    Appellant put the purse in the back passenger seat in plain view. She
    testified she wasn’t trying to hide it and had no intent to steal.
    {¶37} On the way back, Appellant and Nicole were approached by a
    group of people who claimed the purse was missing. Appellant pointed her
    finger and said “It’s right there,” and indicated they thought they won it.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                     16
    She was angry because they came in a circle, pointing fingers and accusing
    her. She testified it was an honest mistake. Appellant testified she told
    Deputy Shope that it was a misunderstanding and he told her to come back
    to make a statement. Nicole also thought Appellant had won the purse and
    clarified it for her before she picked it up.
    {¶38} On cross-examination, Appellant identified herself in the
    videotaped statement, which was marked as Exhibit 1 and later admitted into
    evidence. In the video, Deputy Shope explained Appellant’s Miranda rights
    and began questioning her. Appellant told him she thought the number was
    called so she grabbed the purse and walked. She didn’t try to hide it. Shope
    asked her why she didn’t tell him that she thought she had won it before.
    Appellant answered:
    Because I got scared because everybody was like right
    there, then I had to pee, and I was like I have to, I just
    got scared because I’m not, I don’t ever get in trouble so,
    I didn’t know what would happen.
    {¶39} Shope asked why there were different “pieces” of the raffle
    prize in different vehicles. Appellant explained their agreement to split the
    win. Shope further questioned as follows:
    The owner stated that they asked you, did you think
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                        17
    you won it, you said we don’t got it. You told them you
    didn’t have it. So, then they found it in your Jeep, was
    you scared or what? They, they, that’s what they told me,
    that they asked you, they asked you both if you thought
    you guys won it. But, you didn’t, and you guys wouldn’t
    tell them you even had it. No so you wouldn’t tell them,
    they had to find it by looking in the vehicle with a flashlight
    outside the vehicle.
    {¶40} Appellant simply replied: “Yeah?” Shope inquired: “Why
    didn’t you just tell them like you’re telling me now, like I thought I won.”
    Appellant replied: “Yeah well, I should’ve yeah, we should’ve. We both
    didn’t and we should have.” Shope said, “And that was the question.”
    Appellant replied: “Like, I know and that’s why like I’m willing to
    apologize to them or it’s all a big misunderstanding.”
    {¶41} Shope continued: “But then you guys, but then you guys, when
    I showed up the question, you guys act like you didn’t know anything about
    it.” On redirect, Appellant reiterated that they put the purse in the Jeep after
    they divided the contents, as agreed.
    {¶42} The State called Tyler Cantrell on rebuttal. The prosecutor
    inquired: “Mr. Cantrell, when you came down to the Jeep area * * * what
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                     18
    did Crystal Stone * * * say to you regarding how the purse got in the
    vehicle”? Cantrell clarified that she spoke to the group that approached her,
    including himself, as follows:
    She, she made repeated comments about how she didn’t
    take it, she wouldn’t need to take it because she had enough
    money to buy them. And that the one Jeep wasn’t hers and
    so, you know, anything that was found in that wasn’t hers
    clearly she didn’t take anything out of that one.
    {¶43} On cross, defense counsel asked Cantrell if he ever asked her if
    she won it. Cantrell replied: “No, because it was clear that she didn’t.”
    Counsel continued: “You didn’t ask her if she thought she had won it?
    Cantrell replied, “No * * * because that was not believable because there
    was no issues with the fifty something prizes other than this one.”
    {¶44} On redirect, Cantrell was asked: “But, just to be clear, she was
    claiming she didn’t know how the purse got in the Jeep?” He answered,
    specifying Appellant stated:
    The one, I can’t remember which was in which Jeep but
    whatever the items were, because there [sic] makeup and the
    change purse, whatever the items were in the other Jeep,
    it was like those were not mine, I don’t know how they
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                       19
    got there.”
    {¶45} Given all the testimony, we cannot say that the trial court
    clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice that the
    conviction must be reversed. Nor can we say that this is an exceptional case
    in which the evidence weights heavily against conviction. There was some
    conflict in the evidence presented at trial. For example, Appellant and
    Ogden described the scene as “chaotic,” while Tyler Cantrell disagreed with
    that characterization. Upon review, the most significant conflicts occurred
    with regard to Appellant’s and Nicole Ogden’s testimony.
    {¶46} Nicole Ogden testified she never actually heard Appellant’s
    name and number called. Ogden emphasized repeatedly that she assumed
    Appellant won the purse because Appellant told her she heard her name and
    the lot number. However, in her testimony, Appellant twice testified that
    Ogden verified for her that she had won it.
    {¶47} Also, Devin Trammell testified the Jeeps were parked side by
    side. Ogden testified she did not see where the purse was placed and denied
    seeing Appellant place half of the prize in the other Jeep. However,
    Appellant testified that Nicole Ogden took the wallet and placed it in the
    other Jeep.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                       20
    {¶48} In addition, both Deputy Shope and Tyler Cantrell testified that
    Appellant did not immediately tell them she mistakenly thought she won the
    purse. Appellant indicated she was mistaken when she gave her videotaped
    statement a few days later. Deputy Shope asked her why she didn’t just
    explain she was mistaken at the time and Appellant responded that she was
    scared because everybody was there and she “had to pee.” Yet Nicole
    Ogden testified that Appellant used the bathroom in front of one of the Jeeps
    before they started to walk back to the shelterhouse where, on the way, they
    were confronted by the angry group. She testified that the confrontation
    occurred in “a matter of five minutes.”
    {¶49} The facts in evidence are incongruent. And, while we are not
    convinced that Ms. Ogden may have testified entirely truthfully, we decline
    to second-guess the trial court’s judgment. The trial court was in the best
    position to observe the witnesses’ demeanor, especially Appellant’s, weigh
    credibility, and resolve the conflicts within the evidence.
    {¶50} For the foregoing reasons, we find Appellant’s conviction for
    theft is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. We find no merit to
    Appellant’s assignment of error. As such, it is hereby overruled and the
    judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
    JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
    Adams App. No. 19CA1086                                                        21
    JUDGMENT ENTRY
    It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be
    assessed to Appellant.
    The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
    It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
    the Adams County Court to carry this judgment into execution.
    IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE
    UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL
    COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to
    exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a
    continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio
    an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If
    a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the
    expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a
    notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal
    period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme
    Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the
    appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date
    of such dismissal.
    A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
    Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
    Abele, J. & Hess, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
    For the Court,
    BY: __________________________________
    Jason P. Smith
    Presiding Judge
    NOTICE TO COUNSEL
    Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
    judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
    the date of filing with the clerk.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19CA1086

Judges: Smith

Filed Date: 2/5/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 2/13/2020