State v. Allen , 2013 Ohio 3715 ( 2013 )

[Cite as State v. Allen, 2013-Ohio-3715.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs- :
:
JAMES ALLEN : Case No. 2012CA00196
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 2012CR963
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: August 26, 2013
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN D. FERRERO JACOB T. WILL
Prosecuting Attorney 116 Cleveland Avenue, NW
Suite 808
By: KATHLEEN O. TATARSKY Canton, OH 44702
110 Central Plaza South
Suite 510
Canton, OH 44702-1413
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 2
Farmer, P.J.
{¶1} On August 6, 2012, the Stark County Grand Jury indicted appellant,
James Allen, on one count of vehicular assault in violation of R.C. 2903.08 and one
count of endangering children in violation of R.C. 2919.22. Said charges arose from an
incident wherein appellant drove his vehicle off the roadway, striking a house. His
passengers therein, his wife and two children, sustained injuries.
{¶2} A jury trial commenced on September 11, 2012. The jury found appellant
guilty as charged. By judgment entry filed September 24, 2012, the trial court
sentenced appellant to an aggregate term of five years in prison.
{¶3} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
I
{¶4} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING THE PROSECUTOR TO
USE PRIOR HEARSAY STATEMENTS TO IMPEACH A WITNESS PURSUANT TO
EVID. R. 613."
II
{¶5} "THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS FOR ONE COUNT OF
VEHICULAR ASSAULT IN VIOLATION OF R.C. 2903.08 AND ONE COUNT OF
ENDANGERING CHILDREN IN VIOLATION OF R.C. 2919.22 WERE AGAINST THE
MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE."
I
{¶6} Appellant claims the trial court erred in permitting the state to use prior
hearsay statements to impeach a witness pursuant to Evid.R. 613. We disagree.
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 3
{¶7} Evid.R. 613 provides the following in pertinent part:
(B) Extrinsic evidence of prior inconsistent statement of
witness. Extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness
is admissible if both of the following apply:
(1) If the statement is offered solely for the purpose of impeaching
the witness, the witness is afforded a prior opportunity to explain or deny
the statement and the opposite party is afforded an opportunity to
interrogate the witness on the statement or the interests of justice
otherwise require;
(2) The subject matter of the statement is one of the following:
(a) A fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action
other than the credibility of a witness;
(b) A fact that may be shown by extrinsic evidence under Evid.R.
608(A), 609, 616(A), or 616(B);
(c) A fact that may be shown by extrinsic evidence under the
common law of impeachment if not in conflict with the Rules of Evidence.
{¶8} Evid.R. 801(C) defines "hearsay" as "a statement, other than one made by
the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth
of the matter asserted."
{¶9} The court called to the stand Anna Allen, appellant's wife, pursuant to
Evid.R. 614(A) which states: "The court may, on its own motion or at the suggestion of a
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 4
party, call witnesses, and all parties are entitled to cross-examine witnesses thus
called." Ms. Allen testified to the events leading up to the accident, the accident itself,
and what occurred at the hospital thereafter. She testified the cause of the accident
was appellant hitting a bump in the road (T. at 125):
A. Um-m, we hit a bump, I had a pop in my hand, the pop went in
the air. It startled me because the back end started to slide almost
immediately after hitting the bump underneath us. So the pop went up in
the air, into his face.
When I looked up, we were going to head towards a vehicle. My
husband pulled the wheel this way to avoid hitting the car that was this
way. And then after that, um-m, we just started to - - we continued to
spiral out of control. I remember looking over at him and he was trying to
get control of the wheel.
{¶10} Because of inconsistencies between her trial testimony, her grand jury
testimony, and prior statements made to hospital staff and police, the state asked Ms.
Allen about her prior inconsistent statements. Ms. Allen testified she could not recall
her statements made at the hospital. T. at 131-132. Thereafter, the following exchange
occurred (T. at 137-138):
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 5
Q. Ms. Allen, isn't it true, while in the hospital you told the officers
that James stated he was going to take us all out and he swerved twice
and that he slammed into the house and the car?
A. Not to my knowledge. I have been told by my daughter, by the
officer, by Victims Assistance, and a number of other people what I said,
but I don't have any recollection of saying those things being that I had
been up for days and I was under the influence.
THE COURT REPORTER: I'm sorry?
THE WITNESS: I had been up for days and I was under the
influence. I had been up for three days, I was under the influence. Um-m,
I was panicking, I don't know what I said at the time. I've been told by
other people these are the things that I said so I'm not denying them, I'm
just telling you that's not what happened and that's not what I can
remember saying.
{¶11} As our brethren from the Second District set forth in State v. Reed, 2nd
Dist. Montgomery No. 19674, 2003-Ohio-6536, ¶ 30:
"If the witness admits making the conflicting statement, then there
is no need for extrinsic evidence. If the witness denies making the
statement, extrinsic evidence may be admitted, provided the opposing
party has an opportunity to query the witness about the inconsistency, and
provided the 'evidence does not relate to a collateral matter[.]***'
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 6
However, if the witness says he cannot remember the prior statement, 'a
lack of recollection is treated the same as a denial, and use of extrinsic
impeachment evidence is then permitted.' " (Citations omitted.) State v.
Harris (Dec. 21, 1994), Montgomery App. No. 14343, 1994 WL 718227;
see, also, State v. Taylor (July 26, 1996), Montgomery App. No. 15119,
1996 WL 417098 ("A prior statement of a witness may be proved by
extrinsic evidence if the witness denies the statement or claims he cannot
remember the statement").
{¶12} Based upon Ms. Allen's testimony at trial, an issue existed as to her
credibility. She was afforded the opportunity to explain or deny her statements, and
defense counsel was afforded the opportunity to interrogate her on her statements. We
find Evid.R. 613(B)(1) was satisfied.
{¶13} Following Ms. Allen's testimony, the state called to the stand Debra
Stewart, the Emergency Room trauma nurse who treated Ms. Allen. Ms. Stewart
testified while obtaining Ms. Allen's medical history for purposes of diagnosis and
treatment, Ms. Allen made certain statements to her. T. at 158. Ms. Allen was upset
and crying, but alert and oriented. T. at 159-161. Ms. Stewart testified to the following
exchange with Ms. Allen (T. at 162-163):
A. She kept repeating, He hates me, he hates me. And in trying to
get her children - - get her to calm down for her children's sake, I asked
her, you know, what do you mean, you know, because I was trying to find
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 7
out - - we have to question them as far as, like, how did the accident
happen, what did you hit, the mechanism of injury because that can
change the whole outlook on what tests you do and stuff, whether they
were belted, whether they hit another object or another car. And she just
kept saying, He hates me, he hates me. I asked her what she means by
that, and she said her husband hates her, that they were fighting and he
said he was going to kill them all, he just turned the wheel and lost control
of the car.
Q. When she provided that information to you, were you concerned
at that point?
A. Yes.
Q. And why?
A. Well, because that's a whole 'nother can of worms. And I didn't
want to get too involved in it. I just went out and the Jackson Police
officer, I believe he was in the other room with the person who was driving
the car, and when he came out I just said, I got to tell you what this patient
said to me. So I explained it to him, and then he went in and talked to the
patient.
{¶14} Ms. Allen's testimony at trial was meant to exonerate her husband from
the injuries caused by the accident. We find the impeachment also qualified under
Evid.R. 613(B)(2)(b). In addition, Evid.R. 616(A) provides for the use of the bias
method of impeachment: "Bias, prejudice, interest, or any motive to misrepresent may
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 8
be shown to impeach the witness either by examination of the witness or by extrinsic
evidence."
{¶15} Apart from the use of the impeachment tool, Ms. Allen's statements to Ms.
Stewart also qualified under the hearsay exceptions of Evid.R. 803(3) (then existing,
mental, emotional, or physical condition) and (4) (statements for purposes of medical
diagnosis or treatment).
{¶16} Assignment of Error I is denied.
II
{¶17} Appellant claims his convictions were against the sufficiency and manifest
weight of the evidence. We disagree.
{¶18} On review for sufficiency, a reviewing court is to examine the evidence at
trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would support a conviction. State
v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991). "The relevant inquiry is 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 the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt." Jenks at
paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). On
review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine 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 jury 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. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175 (1st Dist.1983). See
also, State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 1997–Ohio–52. The granting of a new
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 9
trial "should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs
heavily against the conviction." Martin at 175.
{¶19} Appellant was convicted of vehicular assault in violation of R.C.
2903.08(A)(2)(b) which states: "No person, while operating or participating in the
operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft,
shall cause serious physical harm to another person or another's unborn in any of the
following ways:***Recklessly."
{¶20} Appellant was also convicted of endangering children in violation of R.C.
2919.22(A) which states the following in pertinent part:
No person, who is the parent, guardian, custodian, person having
custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child under eighteen
years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under twenty-
one years of age, shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of
the child, by violating a duty of care, protection, or support.
{¶21} As set forth in R.C. 2901.22(C):
A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the
consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that his conduct is
likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A
person is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 10
indifference to the consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk
that such circumstances are likely to exist.
{¶22} It is appellant's position that the injuries were the result of a pothole and/or
animal in the road, not recklessness.
{¶23} While at the hospital, Jackson Township Police Officer Thomas
Minarcheck took Ms. Allen's statement wherein she stated, "he stated he was going to
take us all out, and he swerved twice, and then he slammed into the house and the car."
T. at 256-266. A witness to the accident, Terre Arnold, testified to the following (T. at
193-195):
A. I was coming back and - - to my daughter's house, and I
witnessed a car that was coming towards me, and he - - well, the car
jerked like towards the shoulder and then straightened out and then went
across the double yellow line, went back into its lane, came back acrossed
and tipped up a little bit.
I pulled over into - - there's a church parking lot, or a driveway
acrossed from my daughter's home, and I pulled in that to get out of the
way because I didn't know if he was going to roll or hit me or what he was
going to do, the car. So I just stayed there.
And them, um-m, the vehicle shot acrossed my daughter's
driveway.***
***
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 11
So I went over, and as the car crossed the driveway and slammed
into the house, it slid down the house into her car. And there was big
bushes there, about six feet tall, and the force took all the bushes out so
they were smashed between the vehicle that hit the house and my
daughter's car.
{¶24} Ms. Allen, who was trapped inside the car, told Ms. Arnold "he did it on
purpose, he did it on purpose." T. at 198. Ms. Arnold testified she travels the road a lot
and there were no bumps or anything in the road. T. at 200.
{¶25} Jackson Township Police Officer Josh Escola wrote out the accident
report and took measurements at the scene. T. at 219. Officer Escola spoke to
appellant who told him "something ran in from of him, his car." T. at 220. Officer Escola
testified there were no skid marks on the road to indicate braking, but "yaw marks." T.
at 223, 225. He explained what yaw marks were and testified the yaw marks indicated
appellant cut the wheel "all the way to the right." T. at 224-225. The car never spun
out, indicating the brakes were not applied. T. at 226. From the first time the car went
off the road, it traveled 545 feet and 5 inches to its final resting place at the house. T. at
228. Officer Escola explained the car left the roadway at three different points (T. at
245):
A. Yes, ma'am. Two times on the north, one time was the initial
movement off the road, which was the Q and R mark. R was the initial
movement off the road, crossed two lanes of travel on the left side of the
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 12
vehicle, went off the road, both tires, the right tires did not go off the road,
and then crossing the lanes of travel. And on I and J, these two marks,
the vehicle went off the road for the final time.
{¶26} Even after a thorough investigation of the area, there was no indication
that the brakes had been applied to the car. T. at 240.
{¶27} We find Ms. Allen's statements were corroborated by the accident
investigation report and the eyewitness testimony.
{¶28} Upon review, we find sufficient evidence to establish recklessness, and no
manifest miscarriage of justice.
{¶29} Assignment of Error II is denied.
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00196 13
{¶30} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is
hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, P.J.
Wise, J. and
Baldwin, J. concur.
_______________________________
Hon. Sheila G. Farmer
_______________________________
Hon. John W. Wise
_______________________________
Hon. Craig R. Baldwin
SGF/sg 805
[Cite as State v. Allen, 2013-Ohio-3715.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
JAMES ALLEN :
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2012CA00196
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the
judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to
appellant.
_______________________________
Hon. Sheila G. Farmer
_______________________________
Hon. John W. Wise
_______________________________
Hon. Craig R. Baldwin