State v. Hennigan

2024 Ohio 404
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 5, 2024
Docket2023-L-058
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2024 Ohio 404 (State v. Hennigan) 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. Hennigan, 2024 Ohio 404 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Hennigan, 2024-Ohio-404.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT LAKE COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, CASE NO. 2023-L-058

Plaintiff-Appellee, Criminal Appeal from the - vs - Court of Common Pleas

COREY J. HENNIGAN, Trial Court No. 2022 CR 001199 Defendant-Appellant.

OPINION

Decided: February 5, 2024 Judgment: Affirmed

Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Prosecutor, and Jennifer A. McGee, Assistant Prosecutor, Lake County Administration Building, 105 Main Street, P.O. Box 490, Painesville, OH 44077 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Brian A. Smith, Brian A. Smith Law Firm, LLC, 123 South Miller Road, Suite 250, Fairlawn, OH 44333 (For Defendant-Appellant).

ROBERT J. PATTON, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Corey J. Hennigan (“Appellant”), appeals from his

conviction of Domestic Violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, Failure to Comply With

Order or Signal of Police Officer, a felony of the third degree, and Obstructing Official

Business, a felony of the fifth degree, from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas. For

the following reasons, we affirm.

{¶2} On December 20, 2022, the Lake County Grand Jury returned a four-count

indictment charging appellant with, Abduction, a third degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A)(2) (Count 1), Domestic Violence, a first degree misdemeanor, in violation of

R.C. 2923.161(A) (Count 2), Failure to Comply with Order or Signal of Police Officer, a

third degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2921.331(B) (Count 3), and Obstructing Official

Business, a fifth degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2921.31 (Count 4).1

{¶3} Appellant entered a plea of not guilty at arraignment on December 27, 2022,

and bond was continued at $75,000.00. On January 25, 2023, appellant filed a notice of

alibi, alleging that at the time of the charged offenses, he was at or near property located

in Follansbee, West Virginia. 2

{¶4} On April 5, 2023, the State filed a motion to determine the admissibility of

evidence, certified Verizon records, or, in the alternative, to allow for witness to testify via

remote means. Similar motions were filed by the State pertaining to certified Google

records on April 12, 2023.

{¶5} This matter proceeded to a jury trial on April 17, 2023.

{¶6} The following facts were established at trial.

{¶7} A.M. testified that she and appellant were visiting appellant’s parents in

Rock Creek, Ohio on April 11, 2022. According to A.M., she and appellant left around

5:00 or 6:00 p.m. in a white Chevy hatchback. A.M. believed that they were going to see

the appellant’s niece. A.M. testified that appellant then travelled in a different direction

travelling toward Fairport Harbor. A.M. and appellant began to argue. Appellant then

punched A.M. in the face multiple times. A.M. testified that she tried to exit the moving

vehicle several times, but appellant would maneuver the vehicle to cause the door to

1. This case originated in Painesville Municipal Court, Case No. 22CRA01683, which was bound over on October 27, 2022. 2. At some point, the alibi was withdrawn as noted by defense counsel during the trial. T.p. Vol. III, p. 228. 2

Case No. 2023-L-058 close. A.M. also testified she attempted to move to the back seat to avoid appellant’s

strikes but was unsuccessful. She called 911.

{¶8} At 5:59 p.m. on April 11, 2022, Fairport Harbor Police Officer Kyle Ochsner

(“Officer Ochsner”) was dispatched for a 911 hang up. Dispatch was able to conduct a

fast person search and identified the phone number of the caller as belonging to A.M.

Officer Ochsner responded to the area of High Street and Sixth Street in Fairport Harbor,

Lake County, Ohio. A.M. testified that when she saw the police officer’s vehicle, she was

able to get out of the Chevy driven by appellant.

{¶9} Officer Ochsner located A.M. walking on the corner of Sixth Street and Plum

Street. He testified that A.M.’s face was “covered in blood and she had blood on her shirt.”

Officer Ochsner requested the fire department to assist given A.M.’s injuries. Jeffrey

Smith, a firefighter/paramedic for Fairport Harbor Fire Department arrived to assess

A.M.’s injuries. He testified that A.M. was “obviously assaulted. She had blood dripping

from her face, her hands, and her shirt were covered in blood as well.” Photographs were

taken of her injuries.

{¶10} A.M. reported to Officer Ochsner that the appellant hit her and provided a

description of the vehicle. During their encounter, the appellant drove by in the Chevy

Malibu Maxx (a white hatchback) and A.M. was able to point out the vehicle to Officer

Ochsner. Officer Ochsner left A.M. with the fire department for treatment and pursued

appellant. Appellant then led Officer Ochsner on a high-speed pursuit lasting

approximately 16 minutes and spanning approximately 21 miles. Officer Ochsner testified

that appellant was driving more than the posted speed limits and in places exceeding 100

miles per hour. According to Officer Ochsner and the dash cam video of the pursuit,

Case No. 2023-L-058 Appellant failed to stop at several stop signs, and nearly hit other vehicles. The roadways

were wet, it was raining, and visibility was diminished. The pursuit was ultimately

terminated without apprehension.

{¶11} A.M., who was without health insurance, refused to go to the hospital.

Instead, she was taken to the Fairport Harbor Village Hall. Officer Ochsner returned to

speak with A.M. and he took additional photographs of her injuries. A.M. provided

appellant’s phone number and two email addresses, as well as appellant’s possible

location at Andover Lake Campgrounds.

{¶12} A search warrant was obtained for Google records from the email

addresses as well as the Verizon phone records for appellant’s cell phone number. Officer

Kevin Rastall of the Willoughby Police Department utilized the Zetx program to upload

the electronic records obtained from Google and Verizon into Google Earth. This

information put appellant’s phone in Erie or Greater Edinboro, PA the following day, April

12, 2022.

{¶13} On April 19, 2023, the jury found appellant guilty of Count 2, Domestic

Violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A); Count 3, Failure to

Comply With Order or Signal of Police Officer, a felony of the third degree, in violation of

R.C. 2921.331(B); and Count 4, Obstructing Official Business, a felony of the fifth degree,

in violation of R.C. 2921.31. The jury did not return a verdict on Count 1, Abduction. Bond

was revoked and a presentence investigation (“PSI”) was ordered.

{¶14} A sentencing hearing was held on May 17, 2023. The trial court determined

that Count 3 and 4 merged for purposes of sentencing and the State elected to proceed

Case No. 2023-L-058 on Count 3. The court below sentenced appellant to 180 days on Count 2 which was

ordered to run concurrently with the 36-month sentence imposed on Count 3.

{¶15} Appellant timely appeals and raises the following assignments of error:

[1]. Appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence.

[2].

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Bluebook (online)
2024 Ohio 404, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hennigan-ohioctapp-2024.