McGrady v. Muench

2019 Ohio 2677

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 1, 2019
• Docket: CA2018-12-145
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as McGrady v. Muench, 2019-Ohio-2677.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

WARREN COUNTY

KELLY ANNE MCGRADY, :

Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2018-12-145

: OPINION - vs - 7/1/2019 :

CHRISTOPHER M. MUENCH, :

Appellant. :

APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION Case No. 18DV8251

The Bonecutter Firm, Brenda L. Bonecutter, 530 York Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071, for appellee

Pinales, Stachler, Young, & Burrell Co., LPA, Eric G. Eckes, 455 Delta Avenue, Suite 105, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, for appellant

S. POWELL, J.

{¶ 1} Appellant, Christopher M. Muench, appeals the decision of the Warren County

Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, granting a domestic violence civil

protection order ("DVCPO") to appellee, Kelly Anne McGrady. For the reasons outlined

below, we affirm. Warren CA2018-12-145

Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} Muench and McGrady are the parents of one child, D.M., born on April 27,

2016. Muench and McGrady were never married. McGrady is D.M.'s sole legal custodian.

Although ordered to pay child support, Muench has never requested custody nor has

Muench ever requested any court ordered parenting time with D.M. However, although not

provided with any court ordered parenting time, McGrady had nevertheless permitted

Muench to visit D.M. on a fairly consistent basis. This was due in large part to McGrady

and Muench's on-again-off-again romantic relationship in the year following D.M.'s birth.

{¶ 3} On May 1, 2018, approximately two years after D.M. was born, McGrady

petitioned the domestic relations court for a DVCPO against Muench. In support of her

petition, McGrady alleged that she had permitted Muench to take D.M. to a local restaurant

for a belated birthday celebration. However, rather than taking D.M. to a restaurant,

Muench instead took D.M. to his parents' house. Not wanting D.M. to be at Muench's

parents' house due to her claims they had previously given D.M. sips of alcohol, McGrady

went to the Muench house to retrieve her son from Muench and his family.

{¶ 4} Once at the Muench house, McGrady alleged Muench and his mother refused

to return D.M. to her care. McGrady alleged Muench grabbed D.M. and "ran inside to lock

[McGrady] away from [her] son." Undeterred by Muench's efforts to keep her away from

her son, McGrady alleged a physical altercation took place between herself and Muench.

During this scuffle, McGrady alleged Muench shoved her into the wall, placed her in a choke

hold, lifted her off the ground, and forcibly removed her from the property. To this, McGrady

alleged she "struck Muench in the face with her keys" and pleaded for him to release her

from his choke hold.

{¶ 5} Due to her pleadings for Muench to release her from his choke hold, McGrady

alleged Muench eventually let one of her arms free from his grasp. Once her arm was

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released, McGrady called 9-1-1 and watched as Muench's friend "removed [his] hold and

brought him inside." After the police arrived at the scene, McGrady alleged the "group"

claimed she "broke in," "jumped" Muench, and struck him in the face. Due to their conflicting

statements to police, McGrady alleged the police arrested her and took her to jail, thereby

allowing D.M. to remain in Muench's care. Due to Muench and Muench's mother's efforts

to avoid returning D.M. to McGrady, the record indicates D.M. remained in Muench's care

for 15 days after this altercation occurred.

{¶ 6} Upon receiving McGrady's petition, the domestic relations court granted an ex

parte DVCPO to McGrady. Several months later, on August 21, 2018, the matter proceeded

to a full hearing held before a domestic relations court magistrate. During this hearing, the

magistrate heard testimony from McGrady, Muench, Muench's mother, and two of

Muench's friends/acquaintances. This included McGrady's testimony that Muench hit her

with the door "over and over" while she was trying to retrieve D.M. from the Muench home.

McGrady also testified Muench shoved her into the door frame several times and "picked

[her] up in a choke hold and carried [her] down the stairs and down the sidewalk." This,

according to McGrady's testimony, caused her to suffer injuries to her person and put her

in fear of Muench. This fear was further exacerbated by the fact Muench had access to "a

lot" of firearms stored in his parent's basement. Muench thereafter testified and

acknowledged that he "owned" several semi-automatic rifles and "a handful of handguns."

{¶ 7} On August 24, 2018, the magistrate issued a decision granting a full DVCPO

to McGrady. The magistrate based its decision upon finding the testimony offered by

Muench and his supporting witnesses was "inconsistent at best." The magistrate instead

found McGrady's testimony credible that Muench had repeatedly "struck [her] with a door

to try to keep her from entering a home to recover [D.M.]" The magistrate also found

credible McGrady's testimony that Muench had "shoved [her], then grabbed her, lifting her

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off the ground, and removed her from the home's porch." This, as the magistrate found,

caused McGrady to suffer physical harm to her person and placed McGrady in fear of

additional bodily harm from Muench. The magistrate's decision set the DVCPO's expiration

date for May 1, 2020, during which time Muench was ordered to surrender his firearms to

the local authorities.

{¶ 8} On August 31, 2018, Muench filed objections to the magistrate's decision. In

support, Muench argued the magistrate's decision was against the manifest weight of the

evidence. Muench supported this claim by noting his testimony alleging McGrady was the

"primary physical aggressor," whereas he was merely acting in self-defense. Muench also

argued that it was improper for the magistrate to order him to surrender his firearms to the

local authorities since there was "no sufficient nexus" between the domestic violence

incident at issue and any firearms that he may own. Muench later supplemented his

objections by arguing there was no evidence McGrady had a reasonable fear of imminent

serious physical harm to her person that necessitated the domestic relations court issuing

a full DVCPO.

{¶ 9} On November 20, 2018, the domestic relations court issued a decision

overruling Muench's objections. In so holding, the domestic relations court found

McGrady's testimony credible that Muench injured her by shutting the door on her as she

tried to enter the Muench home. The domestic relations court also found McGrady's

testimony credible that Muench shoved her, grabbed her, and "then lifting her off the ground

as he removed [her] from his front porch. With such action, he went beyond what was

required to act in self-defense." The domestic relations court further found that McGrady

was not required to "demonstrate additional acts of domestic violence [had occurred after

the ex parte order was issued] in order to justify further implementation of the DVCPO."

{¶ 10} In addition to these findings, the domestic relations court found no merit to

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Muench's claim that he should not be ordered to surrender his firearms to the local

authorities. The domestic relations court based its decision on the language found in 18

U.S.C. § 922(g)(8). Pursuant to that statute, it is unlawful for any person who is subject to

court order restraining that person from "harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate

partner" to possess a firearm. Specifically, in applying the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §

922(g)(8), the domestic relations court held:

Father next objects to the condition of the DVCPO that requires him to turn over his firearms. Father claims that he does not "possess" weapons because they are part of a "private trust" which is memorialized on a piece of paper, notarized, with the signatures of himself, his parents, and a family friend. He also cites several Ohio appellate cases addressing the issue.

The Court disagrees with Father's objection. The Court finds that Father has an obvious intention to circumvent the law. He admitted in his testimony that he "owns" the firearms. Moreover, the name of the private trust is CMM, which are Father's initials. The Court finds nothing in this trust agreement that places the exclusive control of Father's firearms into an entity beyond his control, particularly since his mother testified she knew nothing of the private trust.

The state appellate cases Father cites are trumped by federal law. 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) forbids Father from possessing weapons and ammunition once he is subject to a protection order. Putting one's weapons into a private trust is not sufficient to subvert federal law. Father must surrender the firearms.

Appeal

{¶ 11} Muench now appeals from the domestic relations court's decision, raising a

single assignment of error for review. In his single assignment of error, Muench challenges

the domestic relations court's decision finding it was necessary to grant a full DVCPO to

McGrady. Muench also challenges the domestic relations court's decision ordering him to

surrender his firearms to the local authorities. We find no merit to Muench's claims.

Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order

{¶ 12} A petition for a DVCPO is governed by R.C. 3113.31. Crawford v. Brandon,

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12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2013-08-150 and CA2013-08-151, 2014-Ohio-3659, ¶ 6, citing

Wolfe v. Wolfe, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2013CA00196, 2014-Ohio-2159, ¶ 7. Pursuant to that

statute, to obtain a DVCPO the petitioner must prove by a preponderance of the evidence

that the respondent has engaged in an act of domestic violence against the petitioner or

petitioner's family or household members. McBride v. McBride, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2011-03-061, 2012-Ohio-2146, ¶ 12, citing Felton v. Felton, 79 Ohio St.3d 34 (1997),

paragraph two of the syllabus. "Preponderance of the evidence" means the greater weight

of the evidence, or evidence that leads the trier of fact to find that the existence of the

contested fact is more probable than its nonexistence. Halcomb v. Greenwood, 12th Dist.

Clermont Nos. CA2018-03-008, CA2018-03-010, CA2018-03-012, and CA2018-03-013,

2019-Ohio-194, ¶ 3, citing Eckstein v. Colian, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 11 CO 22, 2012-

Ohio-4038, ¶ 14.

{¶ 13} As defined by R.C. 3113.31(A)(1)(a), and as relevant here, the phrase

"domestic violence" means "[a]ttempting to cause or recklessly causing bodily injury" to a

"family or household member." Pursuant to R.C. 3113.31(A)(3)(b), a "family or household

member" includes "[t]he natural parent of any child of whom the respondent is the other

natural parent or is the putative other natural parent." And, while R.C. 3113.31 does not

define the term "bodily injury," for purposes of the offense of domestic violence under R.C.

2901.01(A)(3), "'physical harm' to a person means 'any injury, regardless of its gravity or

duration.'" J.R. v. E.H., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 16AP-431, 2017-Ohio-516, ¶ 13, quoting

State v. Reynolds, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 03AP-701, 2004-Ohio-3692, ¶ 14.

Standard of Review

{¶ 14} "A trial court's decision to grant or deny a DVCPO will not be reversed where

such decision is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence." Barrett v. Barrett, 12th

Dist. Warren No. CA2016-04-033, 2017-Ohio-250, ¶ 19. The standard of review for a

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manifest weight challenge in a civil case is the same as that applied to a criminal case.

Dunn v. Clark, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2015-06-055, 2016-Ohio-641, ¶ 8, citing Eastley v.

Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, ¶ 17. In considering a manifest weight

challenge, a reviewing court weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers

the credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence,

the finder of fact clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice warranting

reversal and a new trial ordered. Hacker v. House, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2014-11-230,

2015-Ohio-4741, ¶ 21, citing Eastley at ¶ 20. A judgment will not be reversed as being

against the manifest weight of the evidence where the judgment is supported by some

competent, credible evidence going to all essential elements of the case. Sterling Constr.,

Inc. v. Alkire, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2016-12-032, 2017-Ohio-7213, ¶ 8.

Analysis

{¶ 15} Muench initially argues the domestic relations court erred by issuing the

DVCPO since there were conflicting accounts regarding the domestic violence incident at

issue. Muench is essentially arguing that the domestic relations court acted improperly by

crediting McGrady's testimony over his testimony and the testimony of his supporting

witnesses. However, it is well-established that a trial court, particularly a domestic relations

court, is in the best position to assess the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given

to their testimony. Greenwood, 2019-Ohio-194 at ¶ 40. Therefore, because the domestic

relations court was best suited to assess the credibility and the weight to be given to the

witnesses' testimony, this court should not, and will not, substitute our judgment for that of

the domestic relations court. It is not the role of this court to substitute its own determination

of credibility in place of the domestic relations court. Crawford v. Brandon, 12th Dist. Butler

Nos. CA2013-08-150 and CA2013-08-151, 2014-Ohio-3659, ¶ 15. Muench's claim

otherwise lacks merit.

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{¶ 16} Muench next argues the domestic relations court erred by issuing the DVCPO

since there was no evidence he and McGrady had been involved in any additional domestic

violence incidents, nor any evidence that he had made any new threats towards McGrady,

after the ex parte order was issued. However, while past acts alone are not enough to

support the issuance of a DVCPO, see McVean v. McVean, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2018-

03-054, 2018-Ohio-4062, ¶ 20, there is no requirement that the petitioner be a victim of

further domestic violence incidents to justify the issuance of a full DVCPO. If that were the

case the domestic relations court would be limited to issuing a DVCPO only in those cases

where the respondent was found to have violated an earlier ex parte order. That was clearly

not the General Assembly's intent when enacting the domestic violence statutes. See

Felton, 79 Ohio St.3d at 37 ("[t]he General Assembly enacted the domestic violence

statutes specifically to criminalize those activities commonly known as domestic violence

and to authorize a court to issue protection orders designed to ensure the safety and

protection of a complainant in a domestic violence case").

{¶ 17} Despite Muench's claims, a petitioner need not be a victim of a respondent's

prolonged, continuous, or repeated acts of domestic violence after an ex parte order has

been issued before a DVCPO can be ordered. The petitioner instead need only show "'by

a preponderance of the evidence that petitioner or petitioner's family or household members

are in danger of domestic violence.'" Kohus v. Daly, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2015-05-

042, 2016-Ohio-73, ¶ 42, quoting Felton at paragraph two of the syllabus. McGrady, as the

petitioner in this case, satisfied that burden. This is confirmed by McGrady's testimony that

Muench hit her with the door "over and over" while she was trying to retrieve D.M. from the

Muench home, shoved her into the door frame several times, and "picked [her] up in a

choke hold and carried [her] down the stairs and down the sidewalk."

{¶ 18} Muench finally argues the domestic relations court erred by requiring him to

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surrender his firearms to the local authorities. The domestic relations court denied

Muench's argument upon finding 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) forbid him – as an "intimate partner"

to McGrady as that term is defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(32) – from possessing any

firearms until the DVCPO issued to McGrady expired. As noted above, pursuant to 18

U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), it is unlawful for any person who is subject to court order restraining that

person from "harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner" to possess a firearm.

{¶ 19} While the General Assembly has not made it a requirement that any

respondent who is subject to a DVCPO be restricted from possessing a firearm, Cee v.

Stone, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-17-06, 2017-Ohio-8687, we find no error in the domestic

relations court's decision to include such a restriction in the DVCPO at issue here. See

Woolum v. Woolum, 131 Ohio App.3d 818, 824 (12th Dist.1999) ("trial court was within its

discretion to incorporate the remedy provided by congress" in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) where

appellant was subject to a DVCPO).1

{¶ 20} "A trial court can include a prohibition about firearms in an order if it finds,

after a full hearing, that the order is equitable, fair, and necessary to bring about a cessation

or prevention of domestic violence." Snell v. Snell, 5th Dist. Richland No. 09-CA-134, 2010-

Ohio-2245, ¶ 35. The fact that Muench may have placed his firearms in a so-called "private

trust" does not change this outcome. This is because, just as the domestic relations court

found, "[p]utting one's weapons into a private trust is not sufficient to subvert federal law."

This is particularly true here when considering Muench's testimony that it was he, and not

a private trust, that "owned" the firearms subject to the DVCPO.

Conclusion

{¶ 21} The domestic relations court did not err by granting a DVCPO to McGrady

1. For more information on the firearms prohibition found in 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) see https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/domesticViolence/resources/firearms.pdf. -9- Warren CA2018-12-145

where the evidence supported its decision finding Muench had engaged in an act of

domestic violence against her. This is true despite the fact that Muench did not engage in

any further domestic violence incidents against McGrady after the original ex parte DVCPO

was issued. The domestic relations court also did not err by ordering Muench, as a

statutorily defined "intimate partner" to McGrady, to surrender his firearms to the local

authorities until the DVCPO expired. Therefore, finding no merit to any of the arguments

raised herein, Muench's single assignment of error lacks merit and is overruled.

{¶ 22} Judgment affirmed.

HENDRICKSON, P.J., and RINGLAND, J., concur.

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