State v. Didion

877 N.E.2d 725, 173 Ohio App. 3d 130, 2007 Ohio 4494
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 4, 2007
DocketNo. 13-06-25.
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 877 N.E.2d 725 (State v. Didion) 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. Didion, 877 N.E.2d 725, 173 Ohio App. 3d 130, 2007 Ohio 4494 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

Willamowski, Judge.

{¶ 1} The defendant-appellant, Max Didion, appeals the judgment of conviction and sentence filed by the Seneca County Common Pleas Court.

{¶ 2} On November 13, 2005, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Didion was operating a Dodge pickup truck southbound on State Route 67 near the village of Melmore in Seneca County. At the intersection of State Route 67 and County Road 1066, Didion lost control of the truck, which left the roadway, traveled through a patch of grass, a church parking lot, and a grass yard, and then struck a residence. The truck was completely inside the home when it came to rest. The collision injured Richard Dible and Christina Wollett, as well as their eight-year-old daughter, Riehelle Dible, who later died from her injuries. Several other children in the home escaped unharmed. The truck eventually caught fire, causing the home to ignite. Although he was also injured, Didion assisted in removing the victims from the home, and firefighters suppressed the fire.

{¶ 3} On the night of the collision, the temperature was approximately 50 degrees, the skies were overcast, it was raining, and there were wind gusts of up to 21 miles per hour. Due to these weather conditions and the darkness, visibility was poor. The posted speed limit on State Route 67 is 55 miles per hour; however, near the village limits, there is a curve in the road. Because the curve begins at the intersection of State Route 67 and County Road 1066, the intersection is at an odd angle. Approximately two-tenths of a mile before the curve, the state posted a road sign warning motorists of the upcoming curve and advising a speed limit of 30 miles per hour in the curve. Closer to the curve is another road sign, reducing the speed limit on State Route 67 to 45 miles per hour.

{¶ 4} Didion told investigators that he had been operating the vehicle at 56 or 57 miles per hour, and he apparently took a portable breath test at the scene, which indicated a blood-alcohol content of .143. Later that morning, Didion was transported to the police station, where officers attempted to administer a breath-alcohol test. After some manipulation of the device, Didion eventually refused to *134 take the test. The officers obtained a search warrant for a blood sample, drew the blood sample, and tested it. The test revealed a blood-alcohol content of .072.

{¶ 5} On December 8, 2005, the Seneca County Grand Jury returned a seven-count indictment against Didion. The indictment charged Didion as follows: count one, aggravated vehicular homicide, a violation of R.C. 2903.06(A)(1), a second-degree felony; counts two and three, aggravated vehicular assault, violations of R.C. 2903.08(A)(1)(a), third-degree felonies; count four, aggravated vehicular assault, a violation of R.C. 2903.06(A)(2)(b), a third-degree felony; counts five and six, vehicular assault, violations of R.C. 2903.08(A)(2)(b), fourth-degree felonies; and count seven, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, a violation of R.C. 2923.16(D)(1), a fifth-degree felony. Didion pleaded not guilty to each of the offenses at arraignment.

{¶ 6} Eventually, the case proceeded to jury trial, and the court permitted a jury view of the crime scene during daylight hours, over Didion’s objection. After seven days of trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts on counts four, five, and six. At the sentencing hearing on July 6, 2006, the trial court ordered Didion to serve an aggregate prison term of five years and three months. 1 The court also ordered Didion to pay restitution in the amount of $162,809.50. Didion appeals the court’s judgment, setting forth five assignments of error for our review.

First Assignment of Error

The trial court erred in ordering restitution for $2000 engagement ring and $7000.00 Ford truck.

Second Assignment of Error

The trial court erred in ordering restitution of $162,809.50 without inquiry into the defendant’s ability to pay per O.R.C. 2929.18 and 2929.19(B)(6).

Third Assignment of Error

The trial court erred in ordering restitution of $162,809.50 without verification of the values of personal property items purportedly lost or destroyed.

Fourth Assignment of Error

The trial court erred and abused its discretion in granting state’s motion for a daylight jury view of the accident scene.

*135 Fifth Assignment of Error

The trial court erred and abused its discretion under 2929.14 and 2929.41 in sentencing the defendant [to] consecutive sentences which exceeded the maximum sentence for the most serious conviction.

{¶ 7} For ease of analysis, we elect to address the assignments of error out of order. In support of the fourth assignment of error, Didion contends that the trial court abused its discretion by allowing a daytime jury view of the crime scene. Didion contends that several road signs at the time of the collision had been replaced with new signs, some of which contained lower speed limits than those existing on the night of the collision. Although the state had the original information displayed on the signs prior to the jury view, Didion contends that those signs were not the exact signs that were in place on November 13, 2005, and therefore, the jury did not have an accurate sense of the reflective nature of the signs due to the variance in reflectivity among road signs. Didion argues that recklessness was a material element of the offenses for which he was convicted, and therefore, the jury was entitled to view the scene under the same conditions that existed at the time of the collision, specifically, at night and with the same presence or absence of reflectivity on the road signs. Didion contends that at the very least, the trial court should have given the jury a cautionary instruction concerning the changed conditions.

{¶ 8} In response, the state contends that the trial court did not abuse its discretion. The state argues that a jury view is not evidence, and the court visited the scene with counsel prior to its decision to allow a jury view. To support its argument concerning the reflective nature of the road signs, the state contends that Didion produced no evidence other than his bare assertion.

{¶ 9} R.C. 2945.16 governs jury views and states:

When it is proper for the jurors to have a view of the place at which a material fact occurred, the trial court may order them to be conducted in a body, under the charge of the sheriff or other officer, to such place, which shall be shown to them by a person designated by the court.

What the jury observes when viewing a crime scene “ ‘is not considered evidence, nor is it a crucial step in the criminal proceedings.’ ” State v. Frost (Nov. 13, 1998), 2nd Dist. No. 16564, 1998 WL 864907, quoting State v. Hopfer (1996), 112 Ohio App.3d 521, 679 N.E.2d 321, citing State v. Richey (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 353, 367, 595 N.E.2d 915; State v. Smith

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Bluebook (online)
877 N.E.2d 725, 173 Ohio App. 3d 130, 2007 Ohio 4494, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-didion-ohioctapp-2007.