[Cite as State v. Furman, 2023-Ohio-3019.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ASHTABULA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2022-A-0029
Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the -v- Court of Common Pleas
JOHN FURMAN, Trial Court No. 2020 CR 00577 Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION
Decided: August 28, 2023 Judgment: Affirm
Colleen M. O’Toole, Ashtabula County Prosecutor, and Michael J. Bodyke, Assistant Prosecutor, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson OH 44047 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Edward M. Heindel, 2200 Terminal Tower, 50 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113 (For Defendant-Appellant).
EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.
{¶1} Appellant, John Furman, appeals his convictions for kidnapping, rape, and
domestic violence following a jury trial. We affirm.
{¶2} In December 2020, Furman was indicted on the following charges resulting
from allegations that on two separate dates he had kidnapped, assaulted, and raped his
wife: (1) kidnapping, a first-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4) and (C)(1),
with a sexual motivation specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.147(A); (2) rape, a first-
degree felony in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) and (B); (3) domestic violence, a third-
degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A); (4) kidnapping, a first-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4) and (C)(1), with a firearm specification pursuant to R.C
2941.145(A), and a sexual motivation specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.147(A); (5)
rape, a first-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) and (B), with a firearm
specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.145(A); and (6) domestic violence, a third-degree
felony, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A) and (D)(4), with a firearm specification pursuant to
R.C. 2941.145(A). The first three of these charges pertained to incidents alleged to have
occurred on or about October 23, 2020. The latter three charges pertained to incidents
alleged to have occurred on or about October 29, 2020.
{¶3} Following the filing of the indictment, the state moved for a competency
evaluation. The issue of Furman’s competency to stand trial was ongoing throughout
much of the trial court’s proceedings. On November 1, 2021, the trial court issued an
entry deeming Furman competent to stand trial.
{¶4} Prior to the competency determination, on September 16, 2021, Furman
moved to dismiss, arguing that his speedy trial time had elapsed.1 The state responded
in opposition. Ultimately, the trial court overruled the motion.
{¶5} The case proceeded to jury trial. The jury acquitted Furman on the first
three charges, which pertained to the October 23, 2020 incidents. The jury found Furman
guilty of the following with respect to the October 29, 2020 incidents: kidnapping and the
attendant sexual motivation specification, rape, and domestic violence. The trial court
referred Furman for a presentence investigation and report, ordered the parties to prepare
sentencing briefs, and set the matter for sentencing.
1. In a magistrate’s order issued following the arraignment, the magistrate noted that “A Time Waiver was executed by the Defendant.” However, no time waiver appears in the record. 2
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶6} At sentencing, the trial court sentenced Furman to 10 years of imprisonment
on the kidnapping count, a minimum of 10 years of imprisonment on the rape count, and
24 months of imprisonment on the domestic violence count. The court ordered the
kidnapping and rape sentences to run consecutively and the domestic violence count to
run concurrently, for a minimum aggregate prison term of 20 years to a maximum term of
25 years.
{¶7} In his first assigned error, Furman contends:
{¶8} “Furman was denied his constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial.”
{¶9} “The right to a speedy trial is set forth in the Sixth Amendment to the United
States Constitution and is obligatory on the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.” State
v. Sitko, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2020-T-0016, 2021-Ohio-788, ¶ 34, citing State v.
Broughton, 62 Ohio St.3d 253, 256, 581 N.E.2d 541 (1991). “‘Speedy-trial issues present
mixed questions of law and fact.’” Sitko at ¶ 36, quoting State v. Kist, 173 Ohio App.3d
158, 2007-Ohio-4773, 877 N.E.2d 747, ¶ 18 (11th Dist.). “When reviewing a defendant’s
claim that he or she was denied the right to a speedy trial, we apply a de novo standard
of review to questions of law and the clearly erroneous standard to questions of fact.”
Sitko at ¶ 36, citing State v. Evans, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2003-T-0132, 2005-Ohio-
1787, ¶ 32.
{¶10} Pursuant to R.C. 2945.71(C)(2), a person charged with a felony must be
brought to trial within 270 days of that person’s arrest. For purposes of computing this
time, each day that “the accused is held in jail in lieu of bail on the pending charge shall
be counted as three days.” R.C. 2945.71(E).
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶11} R.C. 2945.72 extends the time that an accused must be brought to trial for
the following periods:
(A) Any period during which the accused is unavailable for hearing or trial, by reason of other criminal proceedings against the accused, within or outside the state, by reason of confinement in another state, or by reason of the pendency of extradition proceedings, provided that the prosecution exercises reasonable diligence to secure availability of the accused;
(B) Any period during which the accused is mentally incompetent to stand trial or during which the accused’s mental competence to stand trial is being determined, or any period during which the accused is physically incapable of standing trial;
(C) Any period of delay necessitated by the accused’s lack of counsel, provided that such delay is not occasioned by any lack of diligence in providing counsel to an indigent accused upon the accused’s request as required by law;
(D) Any period of delay occasioned by the neglect or improper act of the accused;
(E) Any period of delay necessitated by reason of a plea in bar or abatement, motion, proceeding, or action made or instituted by the accused;
(F) Any period of delay necessitated by a removal or change of venue pursuant to law;
(G) Any period during which trial is stayed pursuant to an express statutory requirement, or pursuant to an order of another court competent to issue such order;
(H) The period of any continuance granted on the accused’s own motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own motion;
(I) Any period during which an appeal filed pursuant to section 2945.67 of the Revised Code is pending;
(J) Any period during which an appeal or petition for a writ filed pursuant to section 2930.19 of the Revised Code is pending. 4
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶12} Here, Furman maintains that he was arrested on November 17, 2020;
however, the Ashtabula Municipal Court’s entry issued prior to this matter being bound
over to the grand jury indicates that Furman was arrested on October 30, 2020, and, on
appeal, the state acknowledges that Furman was arrested on October 30, 2020. Thus,
the speedy trial time commenced on October 31, 2020, the day after Furman’s arrest.
See Evans, 2005-Ohio-1787, at ¶ 33 (the day of the arrest is not counted in the speedy
trial time). The record does not indicate that Furman posted bond to secure any pretrial
release. “[F]or purposes of Ohio’s speedy trial statute, a trial commences when voir dire
begins.” State v. Knight, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2003 CA 14, 2004-Ohio-1941, ¶ 10. The
transcript indicates that voir dire commenced on February 14, 2022, long past the first 90
days Furman spent in pretrial confinement.
{¶13} However, the state maintains that several tolling events occurred which
extended the speedy trial time. First, pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(E), speedy trial time was
tolled commencing the day following defense counsel’s motion to reduce bond on
November 5, 2020. State v. Toler, 4th Dist. Ross No. 09CA3103, 2009-Ohio-6669, ¶ 19
(“[W]e do not include the date a motion was filed when calculating speedy trial time,
unless that date also was the date the court entered an order resolving the motion.”).
Shortly thereafter, on November 12, 2020, the defense moved for a transcript, which
continued the tolling period. The municipal court denied the motion to reduce bond on
November 13, 2020; however, the tolling period continued until the transcript was
completed, which the state maintains, and Furman does not dispute, occurred on
December 14, 2020.
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶14} After the case was bound over to the trial court, Furman requested
discovery and a bill of particulars on December 21, 2020, which the state supplied on
December 29, 2020. Thus, speedy trial time was again tolled from December 22, 2020
through December 29, 2020, pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(E). See State v. Rivera, 11th Dist.
Ashtabula No. 2011-A-0023, 2011-Ohio-6854, ¶ 20; and State v. Brown, 98 Ohio St.3d
121, 2002-Ohio-7040, 781 N.E.2d 159, ¶ 18 (“A demand for discovery or a bill of
particulars is a tolling event pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(E).”).
{¶15} Next, Furman’s competency was questioned by the state through its motion
filed on January 8, 2021. On January 15, 2021, the trial court ordered Forensic
Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio, Inc. to conduct the evaluation and prepare a written
statement. Thereafter, a hearing was held due to Furman’s refusal to participate in the
evaluation, eventually resulting in the trial court ordering competency to be determined
through a 20-day inpatient evaluation. The evaluation determined that Furman was
competent to stand trial, but, because Furman refused to stipulate to the report, the trial
court set the matter for further hearing to allow the evaluating doctor to testify. After this
hearing, the court found Furman competent to stand trial in a November 1, 2021 judgment
entry.
{¶16} R.C. 2945.72(B) thus operated to toll the speedy trial time during the period
“which [Furman’s] mental competence to stand trial [was] being determined.” In State v.
Palmer, 84 Ohio St.3d 103, 106, 702 N.E.2d 72 (1998), paragraph one of the syllabus,
the Ohio Supreme Court held that the tolling provision of R.C. 2945.72(B) commences
from the date the accused files the motion to determine competency. Unlike Palmer,
here, the state, not the accused, moved for a competency evaluation. Furman contends
Case No. 2022-A-0029 that because he did not move for the evaluation, and he was competent to stand trial, the
speedy trial time should not have been tolled. However, pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(B),
speedy-trial time is tolled for “[a]ny period during which the accused is mentally
incompetent to stand trial or during which his mental competence to stand trial is being
determined[.]” (Emphasis added.) See State v. Saunders, 2022-Ohio-4739, 204 N.E.3d
1237, ¶ 22 (2d Dist.), citing State v. Ridley, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-10-1314, 2013-Ohio-
1268, ¶ 19, citing State v. Patton, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 08AP-800, 2009-Ohio-1382, ¶
10 (“Although [the defendant] did not seek the competency evaluation, tolling
nevertheless applied provided that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining
the State’s motion and ordering an evaluation.”). While Furman maintains that the
evaluation was unnecessary, he has not advanced an argument on appeal that the trial
court abused its discretion in granting the state’s motion to determine his competency.
{¶17} Accordingly, the speedy trial time was tolled from January 9, 2020 through
November 1, 2021, when the court determined that Furman was competent to stand trial.
{¶18} Moreover, while Furman’s competency was being evaluated, Furman
moved to dismiss on speedy trial grounds on September 16, 2021. The trial court denied
the motion on January 7, 2022. Accordingly, the speedy trial time was tolled pursuant to
the motion to dismiss from September 17, 2021 through January 7, 2022.2
{¶19} Based on the foregoing, as of January 7, 2022, the following time periods
were charged against the state for purposes of speedy trial time: October 31, 2020
2. In addition, defense counsel moved to continue the trial date due to medical reasons. However, as the parties have not argued that this period of continuance should be charged against Furman, and as it does not affect the outcome of this assigned error, we proceed to compute the trial time without regard to defense counsel’s continuances. 7
Case No. 2022-A-0029 through November 5, 2020 (6 days or 18 jail days); December 15, 2020 through
December 21, 2020 (7 days or 21 jail days); and December 30, 2020 through January 8,
2021 (10 days or 30 jail days). Accordingly, after denying the motion to dismiss on
January 7, 2022, there remained 67 days to commence the trial while Furman remained
in confinement. Trial thereafter commenced on February 11, 2022, well within the
remaining time.
{¶20} Therefore, Furman’s first assigned error lacks merit.
{¶21} In his second assigned error, Furman argues:
{¶22} “The trial court erred when [it] defined ‘reasonable doubt’ in a manner not
consistent with the statutory definition.”
{¶23} R.C. 2901.05(C) provides that “[a]s part of its charge to the jury in a criminal
case, the court shall read the definitions of ‘reasonable doubt’ and ‘proof beyond a
reasonable doubt,’ contained in division (E) of this section.” R.C. 2901.05(E) provides:
“Reasonable doubt” is present when the jurors, after they have carefully considered and compared all the evidence, cannot say they are firmly convinced of the truth of the charge. It is a doubt based on reason and common sense. Reasonable doubt is not mere possible doubt, because everything relating to human affairs or depending on moral evidence is open to some possible or imaginary doubt. “Proof beyond a reasonable doubt” is proof of such character that an ordinary person would be willing to rely and act upon it in the most important of the person’s own affairs.
{¶24} “In a criminal case, where the trial court's charge to the jury amplifies upon
the statutory definition of reasonable doubt, mandated by [former] R.C. 2945.04, the
complained of amplification must be erroneous and prejudicial to the complaining party
before the judgment of the trial court will be disturbed.” State v. Sargent, 41 Ohio St.2d
85, 322 N.E.2d 634, 635 (1975), paragraph two of the syllabus. 8
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶25} Here, the trial court instructed the jury on “reasonable doubt” as follows:
The legislature of the State of Ohio has defined the term reasonable doubt and that definition is as follows; reasonable doubt is present when jurors after they have carefully considered and compared all the evidence, cannot say they are firmly convinced of the truth of the charge. It is a doubt based on reason and common sense. Reasonable doubt is not a mere possible doubt, because everything relating to human affairs or depending on moral evidence is open to some possible or imaginary doubt.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof of such character that an ordinary person would be willing to rely and act upon it in the most important of his own affairs. You should not convict this defendant unless the evidence removes from your mind all reasonable doubt of his guilt. On the other hand, you should not acquit this defendant upon trivial suppositions.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶26} On appeal, Furman challenges the last portion of the trial court’s instruction,
that the jury “should not acquit this defendant upon trivial suppositions.” Furman
maintains he was prejudiced by the addition of this phrase to the instruction because “[i]t
is a phrase that has a tendency to make a conviction more likely.”
{¶27} However, the defense did not object to the instruction. Therefore, Furman
has forfeited all argument relative to this issue aside from plain error. “Crim.R. 52(B)
affords appellate courts discretion to correct ‘[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial
rights notwithstanding the accused’s failure to meet his obligation to bring those errors to
the attention of the trial court.” State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-2459, 38
N.E.3d 860, ¶ 22. “However, the accused bears the burden of proof to demonstrate plain
error on the record, * * * and must show ‘an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal rule’ that
constitutes ‘an “obvious” defect in the trial proceedings[.]’” Id., quoting State v. Barnes,
94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002). “[E]ven if the error is obvious, it must have 9
Case No. 2022-A-0029 affected substantial rights,” meaning “‘that the trial court’s error must have affected the
outcome of the trial.’” Rogers at ¶ 22, quoting Barnes at 27.
{¶28} This court has previously addressed an identically phrased addition to the
instruction in the context of plain error. State v. McMillen, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 94-A-
0050, 1995 WL 907889, *9 (Oct. 2, 1995). In McMillen, we relied on State v. Jester, 32
Ohio St.3d 147, 512 N.E.2d 962 (1987), and State v. Manross, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No.
1295, 1987 WL 14175 *8 (July 10, 1987). In Jester and Manross, the trial courts
employed the “trivial supposition” language in the jury charge, but the appellants failed to
demonstrate prejudice arising from the addition. Likewise, here, although Furman
speculates that the jury may have been unaware of the meaning of “trivial supposition,”
such speculation does not in itself demonstrate the requisite prejudice. As we stated in
McMillen, “[w]hile we agree that any amplification upon the definitions provided in R.C.
2901.05(D) is unnecessary and inadvisable, the amplification complained of in the instant
case certainly does not constitute plain error.” McMillen at *9, citing State v. Long, 53
Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978).
{¶29} Accordingly, Furman’s second assigned error lacks merit.
{¶30} In his third and fourth assigned errors, Furman maintains:
{¶31} “[3.] The convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence.”
{¶32} “[4.] There was insufficient evidence against Furman.”
{¶33} The “[w]eight of the evidence concerns ‘the inclination of the greater amount
of credible evidence * * * to support one side of the issue rather than the other.’”
(Emphasis sic.) State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997),
quoting Black’s Law Dictionary 1594 (6th Ed.1990). When considering challenges to the
Case No. 2022-A-0029 weight of the evidence, the appellate court reviews “‘the entire record, weighs the
evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and
determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and
created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and
a new trial ordered.’” Thompkins at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172,
175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). “When a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a
trial court on the basis that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate
court sits as a ‘“‘thirteenth juror’”’ and disagrees with the factfinder’s resolution of the
conflicting testimony.” Thompkins at 387, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102
S.Ct. 2211, 2218, 72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). “The discretionary power to grant a new trial
should be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily
against the conviction.” Thompkins at 387, quoting Martin at 175.
{¶34} Unlike a manifest weight review, the question of whether sufficient evidence
supports the conviction “is a test of adequacy,” which we review de novo. Thompkins at
386. “In a sufficiency-of-the-evidence inquiry, the question is whether the evidence
presented, when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, would allow any
rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
State v. Dent, 163 Ohio St.3d 390, 2020-Ohio-6670, 170 N.E.3d 816, ¶ 15, citing State v.
Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 259-60, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶35} Thus, “[w]hen an appellant raises both sufficiency and manifest weight
arguments in an appeal, the appellate court is only required to review the latter argument
because “‘a determination of whether a conviction is or is not supported by the weight of
the evidence ‘necessarily rests on the existence of sufficient evidence.’’”
Case No. 2022-A-0029 State v. Fiederer, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2019-L-142, 2020-Ohio-4953, ¶ 11, quoting State
v. DiBiase, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2011-L-124, 2012-Ohio-6125, ¶ 38, quoting State v.
Pesec, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2006-P-0084, 2007-Ohio-3846, ¶ 44.
{¶36} Here, as set forth in our recitation of the procedural history, the jury
acquitted Furman of the first three charges pertaining to allegations related to October
23, 2020, but it found Furman guilty of the following charges related to his alleged actions
on October 29, 2020: kidnapping, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4) and (C)(1), with a
sexual motivation specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.147(A); rape, in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(2) and (B); and domestic violence, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A) and (D)(4).
Accordingly, we will focus our discussion on the evidence pertaining to the October 29,
2020 incidents, while addressing evidence pertaining to the alleged October 23, 2020
incident for background purposes.
{¶37} With respect to kidnapping, R.C. 2905.01(A)(4) provides:
No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim under the age of thirteen or mentally incompetent, by any means, shall remove another from the place where the other person is found or restrain the liberty of the other person * * * [t]o engage in sexual activity, as defined in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code, with the victim against the victim’s will.
R.C. 2905.01(C)(1) generally classifies kidnapping as a first-degree felony. “Sexual
motivation” for purposes of the R.C. 2941.147 specification, means that the offense was
committed with “a purpose to gratify the sexual needs or desires of the offender.” R.C.
2971.01(J).
{¶38} With respect to rape, R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) provides, “No person shall engage
in sexual conduct with another when the offender purposely compels the other person to
Case No. 2022-A-0029 submit by force or threat of force.” R.C. 2907.02(B) generally classifies rape as a first-
degree felony.
{¶39} With respect to domestic violence, R.C. 2919.25(A) provides, “No person
shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household
member.” R.C. 2919.25(D)(4) provides that, where the offender has previously been
convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence, a violation of R.C. 2919.25(A) is
classified as a third-degree felony.
{¶40} In support of these charges, at trial, the state presented the testimony of the
victim, the victim’s mother, a sexual assault nurse examiner, a forensic scientist, and
police officers.
{¶41} The victim testified that she and Furman had been married since November
2015, and they have three children together. In July 2020, the victim informed Furman
that she wanted a divorce, and Furman refused to consent. Thereafter, the family moved
into a home in Ashtabula County, Ohio. At that time, Furman was working as a tree
trimmer in New York, where he would reside in motels during the week, and he would
return home on Friday nights for the weekend. The victim was working night shifts at a
casino approximately one hour from their home, and she would return home at
approximately 3:30 a.m. each morning on Tuesday through Saturday. Due to their work
and sleep schedules, the victim’s mother would watch the children at her home overnight
and return the children to the victim at 11:00 a.m.
{¶42} With respect to the Friday, October 23, 2020 allegations, the victim testified
that she returned home from work at approximately 3:30 a.m. She heard a noise in the
basement, and when she went to investigate, she located Furman on the basement stairs.
Case No. 2022-A-0029 She was surprised Furman was there because he does not typically get home from work
until Friday night, and she had not seen his car. Furman approached her and drew a
knife. He then held the blade to the victim’s face and stated that the victim would not be
cheating on him so much if her “pretty little face [was] all scarred up.” Furman then
instructed her to go the basement and masturbate in front of him. After that, she and
Furman went to the kitchen, and the victim made coffee and the two spoke for some time.
Eventually, they went to the bedroom and had intercourse. The victim indicated that
Furman had his knife in his possession the entire time, and, although she was not “in the
mood” to have intercourse with Furman, she “didn’t fight him off or anything.” The victim
indicated that, at the time of this incident, their marriage was “[v]ery rocky[.]” The next
day, Furman agreed to a divorce if they had one more family day with the children, and
they proceeded to take the children to a pumpkin patch. The victim and Furman agreed
that Furman should seek medical care for his aberrant behavior. On cross-examination,
the victim affirmed that she had testified in another proceeding that she voluntarily had
sex with Furman during the weekend following the October 23 incident. She also
acknowledged that, following that incident, Furman stayed at their home.
{¶43} The victim and the victim’s mother testified that they discussed the October
23, 2020 incident. Due to their concerns for the victim’s safety, they decided that, in case
the victim felt herself to be in danger thereafter, she would send a text message to her
mother asking if she had any “weed” as a code that she needed assistance.
{¶44} With respect to the Thursday, October 29, 2020 allegations, the victim
testified that she came home from work and fell asleep on the couch. She was awoken
by Furman flipping her off the couch. When she got up from the floor, Furman hit her on
Case No. 2022-A-0029 the left side of her face, and she fell back down. The victim began to scream, and Furman
covered her mouth with his hand. Furman informed her that he was going to kill himself,
and he wanted her to tell their children that their dad had died because their mom was “a
whore.” Furman then hit her twice more, asking where her gun was. She informed him
that it was above the refrigerator. Furman then retrieved the gun and cocked it. He held
it to his head, and then to the victim’s head. Thereafter, he forced vaginal intercourse
with the victim, and demanded she call out the name of the man with whom Furman
believed she was cheating. For about four hours Furman attempted to make the victim
confess that she was cheating on him, and, when she would not, he would strike her.
During this time, Furman also dumped coffee on the victim and chased her around their
dining table. As it approached the time when the victim’s mother would normally return
the children, Furman instructed the victim to text her mother and tell her not to bring the
children home and, instead, the victim would pick them up. The victim texted her mother
saying she would pick up the children, followed by, “do you have any reefer[?]” The victim
indicated that Furman knew that the reference to marijuana was code, and he struck her
again. The victim suggested they leave the house because she thought it would be safer
if she were not alone in the home with him. Furman agreed and led the victim to the
victim’s car and directed her through the driver’s side into the passenger seat. The victim
did not see Furman’s car anywhere. Furman and the victim then drove to Pennsylvania.
Furman continued to have possession of the gun, and he continued to threaten to kill
himself.
{¶45} The victim’s mother testified that on the morning of October 29, 2020, she
took the children to get lunch and then drove them home. When they arrived, the garage
Case No. 2022-A-0029 door was open, which was unusual, and the victim’s car was gone. The victim’s mother
was concerned due to the discussion she had with the victim regarding the October 23,
2020 incident. Accordingly, she told the victim’s children to wait in the car, and she then
began to look for the victim. Inside the home, she heard the victim’s phone ringing in the
garbage can in the kitchen. The house was in disarray, and coffee had been spilled and
chairs knocked over. The victim’s mother called the police and notified them of her
suspicions that Furman had abducted the victim. When the police arrived, the victim’s
mother checked her own phone to verify the victim’s last contact with her, and at that
point, she saw that the victim had sent her their agreed distress code.
{¶46} An officer from the Ashtabula City Police Department testified that he was
dispatched to the victim’s home on October 29, 2022 to meet with the victim’s mother,
who believed the victim to be missing. After speaking with the victim’s mother, officers
entered the victim’s residence and noticed that coffee had been spilled on the floor, and
an ashtray and chair were overturned in the dining room. Because it appeared that an
altercation had occurred, the officer notified a detective.
{¶47} A detective who arrived at the scene was briefed by responding officers and
spoke to the victim’s mother. Based upon information received from the victim’s mother,
the detective confirmed that a cell phone located in the home belonged to the victim and
a cell phone located in the back yard belonged to Furman. Officers then began to search
for the two cars owned by the victim and Furman.
{¶48} Another detective testified that he located Furman’s car at a funeral home
down the road from the victim’s house. Officers then arranged for the car to be towed to
the police station.
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶49} Meanwhile, the victim testified that she and Furman continued driving for
several hours in Pennsylvania. Eventually, Furman agreed to return to get his car, to let
the victim take her car home, and to go their separate ways. However, when they went
to retrieve Furman’s car from the funeral home, it had been towed. Realizing that the
police may now be involved, Furman agreed to drive the victim near to her mother’s house
and drop her off. He told the victim that he planned to wait for an officer to get behind
him and commit suicide via police. The victim kissed Furman goodbye on his lips, wished
him good luck, and gave him all of the money in her wallet. The victim then walked to her
mother’s house, and Furman drove away. After arriving at her mother’s house, the police
were notified of her return.
{¶50} On cross-examination, the victim indicated that, during the October 29
incident, she did drive the car during portions of the day. She further verified that they
did makes stops at a gas station for fuel and along the road to urinate. However, she did
not attempt to flee. The victim indicated that she uses marijuana daily, usually four times
per day, and she had been diagnosed as bipolar in 2018, but does not use the prescribed
medication.
{¶51} The state further elicited testimony regarding the victim’s injuries. The
victim’s mother testified that when the victim returned to her house, she was shaking and
bruised, and her voice was cracking. Thereafter, the victim went to the police station and
was interviewed. The detective who interviewed the victim testified that she had visible
trauma to the left side of her face, her neck, and her lower forearm. The victim was then
transported to the hospital, where the detective photographed the victim’s injuries.
Case No. 2022-A-0029 {¶52} A sexual assault nurse examiner testified that she performed an
examination and administered a rape kit on the victim. The nurse indicated that the victim
had bruising behind her ear, under her chin, and on the left side of her face from under
the chin to her hairline. The victim also had lacerations on her foot. There was no injury
noted from the pelvic examination, but the nurse indicated that it is not unusual for women
to not experience injury to the pelvic area from a sexual assault after puberty. A forensic
scientist that tested the swabs from the rape kit testified that some of the swabs indicated
the presence of semen.
{¶53} The state provided several pictures of the scene and the victim that were
identified through the above witnesses. The state further offered certified copies of two
prior convictions of Furman for domestic violence, and these convictions were admitted
into evidence without objection.
{¶54} On appeal, Furman contends that the victim was not credible, and no
reasonable jury could believe her testimony. In support, Furman references the victim’s
behavior prior to leaving the car on October 29, 2020, when she kissed Furman goodbye,
gave him money, and wished him well. Further, Furman points to the victim’s
acknowledgment to having consensual sex with Furman following the alleged October
23, 2020 incident as well as her other statements made on cross-examination as
demonstrating her lack of credibility.
{¶55} Although the victim’s behavior to which she testified may not be typical or
expected, the jury was in a superior position than this court to assess her credibility. See
State v. Fiederer, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2019-L-142, 2020-Ohio-4953, ¶ 13. The victim
testified that Furman repeatedly assaulted her, pointed a gun at her, and forced vaginal
Case No. 2022-A-0029 intercourse with her on October 29, 2020. The victim’s behavior is not so unusual that
we can say that this is the exceptional case where the evidence weighs heavily against
Furman’s convictions. Accordingly, the convictions are not against the weight of the
evidence and are supported by sufficient evidence.
{¶56} Therefore, Furman’s third and fourth assigned errors lack merit.
{¶57} In his fifth assigned error, Furman contends:
{¶58} “Furman was denied his right to the effective assistance of counsel in
violation of the Sixth Amendment and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.”
{¶59} To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, “a defendant must
prove that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the defendant was prejudiced by
counsel’s deficient performance.” State v. Davis, 159 Ohio St.3d 31, 2020-Ohio-309, 146
N.E.3d 560, ¶ 10, citing State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142, 538 N.E.2d 373
(1989); and Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674
(1984). “Thus, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness and that there exists a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Davis at
¶ 10, citing Bradley at paragraphs two and three of the syllabus.
{¶60} Furman first argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to move for
immediate discharge based on speedy trial grounds. However, as set forth in our
recitation of the procedural history as well as our discussion of the first assigned error,
counsel did move to dismiss the indictment on speedy trial grounds. To the extent that
Furman maintains that such a motion should have been later renewed, as set forth in our
Case No. 2022-A-0029 discussion of the first assigned error, there existed no speedy trial violation. Accordingly,
defense counsel was not ineffective on this basis.
{¶61} Furman next argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the
trial court’s definition of reasonable doubt. However, as set forth in our discussion of
Furman’s second assigned error, he has not established prejudice resulting from the trial
court’s instruction. Furman’s fifth assigned error likewise fails to establish prejudice
resulting from counsel’s failure to object to the court’s instruction. See State v. Walker,
11th Dist. Lake No. 2022-L-077, 2023-Ohio-1949, ¶ 33, citing Rogers at ¶ 22 (“both plain
error and ineffective assistance of counsel claims require a showing of an error and that
there exists a reasonable probability that the error affected the outcome of trial”).
{¶62} Accordingly, Furman’s fifth assigned error lacks merit.
{¶63} Having found no merit to Furman’s assigned errors, the judgment is
affirmed.
JOHN J. EKLUND, P.J.,
MARY JANE TRAPP, J.,
concur.
Case No. 2022-A-0029