State v. Cummings

491 N.E.2d 354, 23 Ohio App. 3d 40, 23 Ohio B. 84, 1985 Ohio App. LEXIS 10101
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 25, 1985
Docket48509
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 491 N.E.2d 354 (State v. Cummings) 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. Cummings, 491 N.E.2d 354, 23 Ohio App. 3d 40, 23 Ohio B. 84, 1985 Ohio App. LEXIS 10101 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

Patton, J.

This appeal arises from the judgment entered by the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas which found the appellant, Frank Cummings, a.k.a. Frank Knabb, guilty of felonious assault with a gun, in violation of R.C. 2903.11. The facts giving rise to this appeal as contained in the record provide the following.

On June 7, 1982, appellant was indicted for the felonious assault of Leonard McClure, in violation of R.C. 2903.11. The indictment contained a gun specification.

On March 22,1984, trial commenced before a jury. After presentation of the state’s case-in-chief, the defense moved the court pursuant to Crim. R. 29 for a judgment of acquittal. The motion was overruled. On March 27, 1984, the defense completed its presentation. Thereafter, the jury began its deliberations.

On March 29, 1984, the jury returned its verdict and found appellant guilty of felonious assault with a gun. The case was passed for sentencing to April 2, 1984, at which time appellant was sentenced to a term of five to fifteen years in the Columbus Correctional Facility. On April 11, 1984, appellant filed his notice of appeal.

This case arises from a shooting incident on March 24, 1982, at the Couch Lounge located at 3875 East 93 Street, Cleveland, Ohio, at approximately 12:30 a.m. The victim, Leonard McClure, is the manager of the bar. In the late evening of March 23, 1982, and early hours of March 24,1982, McClure made one of his routine supervisory visits to the bar.

McClure testified that at approximately 12:30 a.m., he was sitting at the bar talking with a barmaid by the name of Jacqueline LaVette. McClure testified that a man entered the bar, walked up to them and asked LaVette where the restroom was located and then went into it. McClure stated that he saw another person just outside the door so he got up from his bar stool to investigate.

McClure stated that upon reaching the front door, he turned when he heard someone say “Leonard, look out.” He also heard someone else say “he got a gun.” As McClure turned, he saw the man emerge from the restroom. McClure testified that he saw an object in the man's hand and heard three gunshots. McClure dropped to the ground and attempted to crawl to safety as the assailant ran out the door. He testified that he realized he had been hit after he felt a stinging sensation in his leg. At trial, the victim identified appellant as his assailant. The defense counsel also stipulated to a copy of the emergency room report of McClure.

McClure testified that he had seen appellant “quite a few times” before the night of the shooting. He testified that he knew appellant to go by the name of “Frank” but was unaware of his last name. McClure stated that about one month prior to the shooting, in February 1982, appellant had had “a few words” with one of the barmaids. After the victim offered to pay for the appellant’s beer, appellant stated that he felt he was being picked on, and threw a punch at McClure. McClure testified that he knocked appellant down and some other men carried him out of the bar. McClure testified that he told the appellant not to come back.

The police spoke to McClure on the night of the shooting, again on March 30,1982, and then took his statement on June 7, 1982. In April 1982, the victim looked at a number of photographs at the Justice Center. Appellant’s photograph did not appear in the photo arrays shown to McClure. Therefore, no identification was made.

*42 On May 5,1982, as McClure parked his car across the street from the bar, a barmaid came out and told him that “Frank” was in the bar. McClure proceeded to flag down an approaching police car and told the officers that appellant was the man who had shot him.

As appellant left the bar, the police officers asked to speak with him. Appellant was searched, but no weapons were found. He was then arrested and taken to jail.

Jacqueline LaVette, the barmaid working at the time of the incident, testified that appellant was about five feet from her and beneath a light when he asked her about the restroom. Appellant was only in the bathroom for a few seconds before he came back out. She testified that she looked directly at appellant’s face when he exited the restroom. She observed appellant with a silver gun in his hand. She testified that she yelled to warn McClure, then ducked so she was only able to hear the shooting. In May 1982, LaVette picked appellant out of a lineup at the Justice Center.

The state also presented the testimony of the various police officers involved with the investigation and the arrest.

The defense then presented testimony of various witnesses to confirm appellant’s alibi. Gail Cummings, appellant’s older sister, testified that appellant was at her house on the night in question and left sometime after midnight. Beverly Smith testified that appellant arrived at her house at approximately 1 a.m. on March 24, 1982, and spent the rest of the night with her. Appellant also testified. He confirmed the testimony of his sister and Smith and denied shooting McClure.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty and appellant assigns four errors on appeal:

“I. The trial court erred in not allowing appellant’s counsel to inspect Leonard McClure’s statement of March 24, 1982, contained in the police report.

“II. The trial court erred in -not allowing appellant’s counsel to inspect the report prepared by Sharon Caine, and used by her to refresh her recollection before testifying.

“III. In-court identification of appellant by state witnesses Leonard McClure and Jacqueline LaVette violated appellant’s right to a fair trial and due process of law.

“IV. The verdict which found appellant guilty of felonious assault with a gun was against the manifest; weight of the evidence.”

I

In his first assignment of error, appellant contends that he should have been allowed to inspect McClure’s “statement” of March 24, 1982, which was contained in a police report. This contention is without merit.

As its first witness, the state called the victim of the shooting, Leonard McClure. McClure testified that he made a police report on the night of. the shooting, March 24, 1982, as well as giving the police a sworn statement in June. Prior to the cross-examination of McClure, appellant’s counsel requested in camera inspections for both reports. Appellant’s counsel was allowed to inspect only the statement of June 7,1982.

Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g) provides for an in camera inspection of a witness’ statement following direct examination. The rule provides in part:

“* * * [T]he court on motion of the defendant shall conduct an in camera inspection of the witness’ written or recorded statement with the defense attorney and prosecuting attorney present and participating, to determine the existence of inconsistencies, if any, between the testimony of such witness and the prior statement.”

Before the document may be inspected, it must be determined whether *43 or not it is a “statement” as used in Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g). In State v. Johnson (1978), 62 Ohio App. 2d 31 [16 O.O.3d 74], at 35-36, the court examined Crim. R. 16(B)(1)(g) and held:

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Bluebook (online)
491 N.E.2d 354, 23 Ohio App. 3d 40, 23 Ohio B. 84, 1985 Ohio App. LEXIS 10101, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cummings-ohioctapp-1985.