State v. Asp

2023 Ohio 290, 207 N.E.3d 893
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 31, 2023
Docket22 CA 11
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 2023 Ohio 290 (State v. Asp) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Asp, 2023 Ohio 290, 207 N.E.3d 893 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Asp, 2023-Ohio-290.]

COURT OF APPEALS GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. Hon. John W. Wise, J. -vs- Case No. 22 CA 11 JAMES C. ASP

Defendant-Appellant OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 20 CR 131

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 31, 2023

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

LINDSEY K. ANGLER GEORGE URBAN PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 116 Cleveland Avenue, NW JASON R. FARLEY Suite 808 ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR Canton, Ohio 44702 409 Wheeling Avenue Cambridge, Ohio 43725 Guernsey County, Case No. 22 CA 11 2

Wise, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant James C. Asp appeals his conviction and sentence on

one count of Assault, entered in the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas following

a jury trial.

{¶2} Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶3} For purposes of the appeal, the relevant facts and procedural history are as

follows:

{¶4} In the morning hours of June 9, 2020, Sergeant Robbie Oakley of the

Guernsey County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the residence of Appellant

James Asp’s mother and stepfather. (T. at 332). Appellant's wife was also there at the

time. They reported to Sergeant Oakley that Appellant had been making threats and had

spun gravel at them as he left the residence. (T. at 333-335).

{¶5} A second call was received by the Sheriff’s Department later that evening

on a report of a verbal altercation at Appellant’s residence. Deputies Stoney and Terrell

arrived at the residence where they were met outside by Appellant’s wife. (T. at 365-370).

She climbed through a window, unlocked the door, and let the deputies inside. (T. at 370).

Based on the earlier incident, in conjunction with the second call, it was immediately

determined that Appellant be placed under arrest. Deputy Stoney ordered Appellant to

turn around, but Appellant refused to follow commands and a scuffle between the

deputies and Appellant ensued. (T. at 372). Guernsey County, Case No. 22 CA 11 3

{¶6} Dep. Stoney testified that Appellant bit him during the altercation. (T. at 437-

439) Dep. Stoney testified that he was bit in the right arm, chest and armpit area. (T. at

465). Dep. Stoney also testified that he was cut on his forearm. (T. at 439).

{¶7} On June 18, 2020, the Guernsey County Grand Jury returned an indictment

against Appellant James Asp charging him with one count of Assault, in violation of R.C.

§2903.13, a felony of the fourth degree.

{¶8} On June 26, 2020, a plea of not guilty was entered.

{¶9} On October 29, 2020, the trial court ordered that Appellant be evaluated to

determine his competency to stand trial.

{¶10} On December 17, 2020, after the parties stipulated to the report on

competency of Dr. Adkins, the trial court found Appellant was not competent to stand trial,

but could be restorable within the time allowed by law.

{¶11} On April 30, 2021, the trial court entered a finding that, pursuant to Dr. Scott,

Appellant was restored to competency and the matter would proceed to trial.

{¶12} On June 21, 2021, Appellant's trial counsel filed a Motion to Suppress,

which was opposed by Motion filed by the State on June 22, 2021.

{¶13} On July 6, 2022, the trial court denied Appellant's Motion to Suppress.

Shortly thereafter, counsel for Appellant withdrew, and Appellant proceeded to engage in

self-representation with standby counsel.

{¶14} On March 15, 2022, a jury trial commenced in this matter.

{¶15} At trial, the jury heard testimony on behalf of the state of Ohio from Ashley

Harper, Major Jeremy Wilkinson, Sgt. Robbie Oakley, Deputy Matt Terrell and Deputy

Chancellor Stoney. Guernsey County, Case No. 22 CA 11 4

{¶16} Ashley Harper, a licensed social worker and crisis screener employed by

Allwell Behavioral Services and Genesis Healthcare, testified that she performed a crisis

screen of Appellant when he was at the jail. She recalled that Appellant was edgy and

anxious and “seemed angry and kind of mad at the world.” (T. at 218). She testified that

Appellant told her that he was in jail “because of a domestic violence, but that the cops

entered his home without a warrant.” (T. at 219). He told her that he “fought them and

was biting at them.” Id.

{¶17} Major Jeremy Wilkinson testified that he responded to the domestic violence

call at Appellant’s house after hearing it come over the radio because he had known

Appellant for over 40 years and thought he could talk to him. (T. at 286). He stated that

no one was at the residence when he arrived. (T. at 287-288).

{¶18} He further explained to the jury that a warrant is not required to arrest an

individual when active charges exist, which in this case were domestic violence charges.

(T. at 288, 296). The officers only need to have probable cause. (T. at 296). He explained

that in domestic violence cases such as these, where the both the victim and suspect are

in the home,

you want to bring the suspect under control as quickly as you can. If

they start backing up from you, many case studies show they may be

backing up to get a weapon because it is their house, they know where

everything is in that house.

You’re just coming in, you don’t know if there’s a shotgun behind the

door if there’s a knife on the counter, so you want to subdue them and bring

them under control as quickly as you can.” (T. at 294). Guernsey County, Case No. 22 CA 11 5

{¶19} Major Wilkinson also testified that he reviewed the body-camera footage

from both Deputy Terrell and Deputy Stoney and that it was his opinion that “there was

no violation of the use of force during the course of that arrest.” (T. at 291). He stated that

his only critique of the situation was that he “would have used my taser a lot sooner”

because Appellant had his hands raised in an offensive position. (T. at 294-295).

{¶20} Deputy Robbie Oakley testified that he responded to the domestic

disturbance call at the home of Appellant’s parents on June 9, 2020. (T. at 330-332).

After speaking with Appellant’s parents and his wife, who was also present, he

determined there was probable cause for a charge of domestic violence against Appellant

based on their statements concerning Appellant’s erratic behavior and spinning his tires

and throwing gravel at them when he left. (T. at 332, 334). He stated that it was not

reported that any physical violence had occurred but that the charge was based on the

report of threats. (T. at 335-336). He testified that he notified all officers on duty, as well

as other agencies, that there were active charges against Appellant. (T. at 336).

{¶21} Deputy Matt Terrell testified that he was dispatched to Appellant’s home at

approximately 9:00 pm on June 9, 2020, for a call regarding a male yelling at a woman.

(T. at 366). He stated that at that time he was already aware of the domestic violence

charges out for Appellant. Id. He recalled that he and Deputy Stoner both responded to

the call and arrived at the scene in separate police cruisers. (T. at 367). He testified that

Appellant’s wife met them outside and that she climbed in through a window and then

unlocked a door and let the deputies in to the house. (T. at 369-370).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Callan v. Callan
2026 Ohio 845 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2026)
State v. Higginbotham
2026 Ohio 84 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2026)
State v. Moses
2025 Ohio 5515 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Simpson
2025 Ohio 4797 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Wilson
2025 Ohio 3038 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Sida
2025 Ohio 2021 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Johnson
2025 Ohio 1962 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Rodriguez
2025 Ohio 53 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Larrick
2023 Ohio 4663 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2023)
State v. Brooks
2023 Ohio 3986 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2023)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2023 Ohio 290, 207 N.E.3d 893, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-asp-ohioctapp-2023.