State v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (3-17-2000)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 17, 2000
DocketNo. 98-P-0075.
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (3-17-2000) (State v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (3-17-2000)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (3-17-2000), (Ohio Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

OPINION
This appeal originates from the Portage County Court of Common Pleas. Appellant, Matthew S. Chapman, appeals his conviction and sentence.

On April 16, 1998, appellant was indicted on three counts: (1) aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1) ("count one"); (2) felonious assault, a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and/or (A)(3) ("count two"); and (3) kidnapping, a felony of the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) and/or (A)(3) ("count three"). On April 21, 1998, appellee, the state of Ohio, filed a motion to amend all three counts of the indictment, which was granted on May 20, 1998.1 At the arraignment on April 22, 1998, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges and bail was set.

On May 18, 1998, appellant filed a motion to suppress the identification of him as the perpetrator. A suppression hearing was held on June 4, 1998. On June 5, 1998, the trial court overruled appellant's motion to suppress.

On June 8, 1998, appellee filed a notice of intent to use evidence of admissions by appellant's accomplice, Seth Charles Dean ("Dean"), pertaining to the kidnapping of Mr. Joe Schossler ("the victim"). Appellant entered a written plea of guilty to aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree, and felonious assault, a felony of the second degree. However, he denied any involvement in the kidnapping. Further, he was informed of the maximum penalties for both charges: ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine for the aggravated felony and eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine for the felonious assault. On June 9, 1998, a bench trial was held on count three of the indictment, kidnapping.2 Prior to the commencement of the trial, the trial judge went over appellant's plea with him.

At the trial, appellee called Dean to the stand. He related that on the evening of April 8, 1998, he was shooting pool at Laundry 101, a laundromat that has pool tables and serves alcohol. He placed a telephone call to his friend, appellant, but appellant was not home. Thereafter, Dean stated that the victim, whom he had never met before, approached him at the tavern about playing a game of pool. While the two were playing pool, appellant returned Dean's telephone call. After the two finished their game, the victim asked if Dean knew of any parties. Dean replied that he and appellant were planning on attending a party later that evening. When Dean and the victim exited to the parking lot, they discussed each other's vehicles. The victim mentioned that he wanted to sell his car and Dean suggested that his brother might be interested in buying the car.3 Dean noticed that the victim's vehicle had chrome rings on it and a car stereo. At that point, the thought crossed his mind to rob the victim. The victim proceeded to tell Dean that he needed a place to stay because he was homeless.

Dean again spoke with appellant and told him about the victim's car stereo and rims and that it was a prospect for theft. Thereafter, Dean dropped his vehicle off at home and he and the victim went to pick appellant up at a bar. The three men drove around trying to find a party where they could meet some girls. Appellant then directed the victim to McClintocksburg Road. After they exited the vehicle, appellant asked the victim how much he paid for the rims. The victim replied that he spent about $800. The conversation turned to the car stereo and appellant acted as though he was interested in buying the victim's auto. The three men began walking and appellant pulled out two iron pipes.4 He kept one and handed Dean the other one. Dean admitted that it was at that point that the assault and robbery took place. He and appellant stole the victim's car. Appellant and Dean proceeded to pick up Dean's girlfriend, Amy Fotheringham ("Fotheringham"). They disclosed to Fotheringham what they had done.

Fotheringham recalled that when Dean and appellant picked her up, they mentioned "[s]omething about the kid [the victim]." They told her that they had taken his car and she noticed blood on appellant's hands. Basically, Fotheringham's testimony was in corroboration with the events as depicted by Dean.

Following Fotheringham's testimony, the victim took the stand. He related that on the evening in question, he went to the tavern to do his laundry. He saw Dean playing pool alone and asked if he could join the game. As the two continued their game, they discussed "[g]irls and cars and pool." The victim testified that Dean's cellular phone rang five to ten times that night. The victim recalled that Dean asked him if wanted to attend a party. The two proceeded to the parking lot to inspect the victim's auto after he mentioned that he wanted to sell it. Dean indicated that his brother might be interested in purchasing the automobile. The victim was under the impression that appellant was Dean's brother. The victim revealed that he and Dean left the bar in separate cars, dropped Dean's vehicle off at his apartment, and then picked up appellant. The victim explained that he was taking directions from both Dean and appellant. According to the victim, it was during the drive that appellant acted as though he was interested in buying the car.

The victim's version of the events that transpired that night was virtually the same as that described by Dean. However, the victim stated that he did not tell anyone he was homeless, but he said that since he had argued with his mother, he was not going home that night. The victim was asked if he felt he was in danger when he pulled his car over and started walking. He replied that he did not feel he was.

At the conclusion of appellee's case-in-chief, appellant moved for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29, which the trial court overruled.

Appellant took the stand in his own defense. He testified that he received an initial phone call from Dean at about 9:30 p.m. During that conversation, the two only spoke about their plans for the evening. Dean called appellant three to four more times that night and it was during the third call that Dean mentioned wanting to rob the victim. Appellant stated that there were no plans to take the victim to a party or on "a wild goose chase." He related that he did not give any directions to the victim that night nor did he have any idea where they were going. Appellant explained that he did not do anything to make the victim drive his car anywhere, he did not intimidate or threaten the victim, and he did not do anything to mislead the victim about going to a party.

On cross-examination, appellant revealed that he threw all of the clothes he was wearing that night away except for his jacket. He indicated that he and Dean "didn't do it for the money." He also stated that he knew he might run into resistance and that was why he was carrying the weapons. At the conclusion of appellant's testimony, appellant renewed his motion for acquittal, but the trial court overruled it. The trial court found appellant guilty of kidnapping and ordered a presentence investigation.

On June 19, 1998, appellant filed a sentencing memorandum claiming that R.C. 2941.25(A) was applicable to his case, and thus, he should not be sentenced on every count. Appellee filed a response to appellant's memorandum. A sentencing hearing took place on June 22, 1998. At that hearing, appellant's attorney made a statement and then appellant spoke in his own behalf.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
State v. Chapman, Unpublished Decision (3-17-2000), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-chapman-unpublished-decision-3-17-2000-ohioctapp-2000.