State v. Haney, Unpublished Decision (7-31-2006)

2006 Ohio 3899
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 31, 2006
DocketNo. CA2005-07-068.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 2006 Ohio 3899 (State v. Haney, Unpublished Decision (7-31-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Haney, Unpublished Decision (7-31-2006), 2006 Ohio 3899 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Jeffrey Haney, appeals his conviction and sentence in the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas for two counts of murder, one count of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. We affirm the conviction, but we reverse as to sentencing only.

{¶ 2} On January 25, 2003, appellant and his estranged wife, Robin Haney, were visiting the apartment of William Brittain in Union Township, Ohio. Appellant and Robin Haney had been living separately for approximately six months, during which time she became involved in an intimate relationship with Brittain. Appellant maintained a friendship with Brittain despite the relationship between Brittain and Robin Haney. That day, appellant assisted Brittain in moving out of Brittain's apartment. The three consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana during that time.

{¶ 3} Later that evening, appellant, Brittain, and Robin Haney went to a local bar where more alcoholic drinks were consumed. They returned to Brittain's apartment in Brittain's car because neither appellant nor Robin Haney had a driver's license. Back at the apartment, Robin Haney testified that appellant asked Brittain to place "something" in his beverage. She stated that appellant was "very aware" of what Brittain was giving him although she could not verify whether Brittain actually placed any drug in appellant's drink. At some point in the evening, Robin Haney removed a knife that Brittain had carried in his belt and playfully teased Brittain that she would cut her hair with it. She dropped the knife when Brittain reached for it and tickled her.

{¶ 4} Later still, appellant sought to have sexual intercourse with Robin Haney. Robin Haney, hoping that appellant would soon pass out, agreed to lie with him in Brittain's bedroom, but she did not consent to have sex. Appellant, however, insisted despite her refusals. Appellant then pulled out Brittain's knife, began slashing at Robin Haney, and said, "If I can't have you, nobody will." Robin Haney received cuts on her arms and behind her ear. In response to her cries for help, Brittain entered the room and pushed appellant off of her. Brittain had thought appellant slapped Robin Haney. Brittain was unaware that appellant had his knife.

{¶ 5} Brittain and Robin Haney went to the bathroom to inspect her injuries. Appellant followed soon after, still brandishing the knife. There was a struggle and appellant stabbed Brittain twice in the upper torso. Brittain fell to the floor and began bleeding profusely. Robin Haney went to Brittain's side. After the stabbing, appellant did not allow Robin Haney to call emergency 911. He threatened to kill her if she moved away from Brittain's body. Appellant, in an effort to create a false story of an intruder, retrieved Brittain's work boots, dipped them in Brittain's blood, and made footprints around the apartment. Appellant also threw the knife into the snow outside of the apartment. He called 911, some ten minutes after the stabbing, and said that an intruder had entered the apartment, stabbed Brittain, and fled through the sliding glass doors.

{¶ 6} At approximately 2:00 a.m., Officer Greg Jasper arrived on the scene. Appellant told the police officer the same story. Appellant and Robin Haney were separated at which point Robin Haney informed the police that appellant stabbed Brittain. Appellant was placed in handcuffs by Detective Keith Puckett and read his Miranda warning as he was transported to the Union Township police department. Appellant maintained his story that an intruder stabbed Brittain. Back at the apartment, a police dog located the knife outdoors, but did not locate the scent of any tracks leading from the apartment.

{¶ 7} At the police department, appellant was interrogated by Detective Anthony Rees. Appellant received a Miranda warning and signed a written waiver of his rights. Appellant changed his story and said that Brittain had hit him though no injuries were detected on his person. After being informed that Brittain in fact died as a result of the injuries, appellant stated, "Oh God, I must have killed him." He repeated a similar statement while being transported to the Clermont County Jail.

{¶ 8} Appellant was charged in two separate indictments. The cases were consolidated and the counts renumbered accordingly: Count 1-aggravated murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.01(A); Count 2 — murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(B); Count 3 — felonious assault of Robin Haney pursuant to R.C. 2903.11(A)(2); and Count 4 — tampering with evidence pursuant to R.C. 2921.12(A)(1). At a jury trial, appellant was found guilty on Count 1 of the lesser included offense of murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(A), and guilty on the remaining charges. The trial court imposed concurrent prison sentences of 15-years to life for Counts 1 and 2. The trial court also imposed a four-year term for the felonious assault and a two-year term for the tampering with evidence, counts to be served consecutively to each other and to the 15-year term for an aggregate term of 21 years to life. Appellant appeals the conviction and sentence raising seven assignments of error.

{¶ 9} Assignment of Error No. 1:

{¶ 10} "THE JUDGMENTS OF CONVICTION ARE CONTRARY TO LAW AND TO THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE ADDUCED TO ESTABLISH EACH AND EVERY ELEMENT OF EACH OFFENSE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT."

{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 3:

{¶ 12} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BY DENYING HER [sic] MOTIONS FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL PURSUANT TO CRIM. R. 29."

{¶ 13} In the first and third assignments of error, appellant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. Appellant argues that he was involuntarily intoxicated by Brittain and thus did not possess the requisite mental state to commit the crimes of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.

{¶ 14} In reviewing a record for sufficiency, "[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Tenace, 109 Ohio St.3d 255, 260,2006-Ohio-2417, ¶ 37, citing State v. Jenks (1991),61 Ohio St.3d 259, paragraph two of the syllabus. A motion for acquittal under Crim.R. 29(A) is governed by the same standard as the one for determining whether a verdict is supported by sufficient evidence. See State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 553, 1995-Ohio-104; State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 1997-Ohio-52.

{¶ 15} Appellant was found guilty of murder under R.C.2903.02(A) in Count 1 and murder under R.C. 2903.02(B) in Count 2.

{¶ 16} R.C.

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 3899, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-haney-unpublished-decision-7-31-2006-ohioctapp-2006.