State v. Hosier, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006)

2006 Ohio 5540
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 20, 2006
DocketNo. 2005-CA-016.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 2006 Ohio 5540 (State v. Hosier, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Hosier, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006), 2006 Ohio 5540 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Jerry A. Hosier appeals from his convictions and sentences in the Morgan County Court of Common Pleas on one count of trafficking in marijuana, i.e. preparing for shipment or distribution, in an amount exceeding two hundred grams but less than one thousand grams, a felony of the fourth degree in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2)(C)(3)(c); one count of possession of LSD, in an amount exceeding fifty unit doses but less than two hundred fifty unit doses, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(5)(c); one count of possession of marijuana in an amount exceeding two hundred grams but less than one thousand grams, a felony of the fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A)(C)(3)(c). Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio. The following facts give rise to this appeal.

{¶ 2} On December 8, 2004 the Grand Jury for Morgan County, Ohio returned an indictment against appellant alleging one count of trafficking in LSD in an amount exceeding ten unit doses but less than fifty unit doses, a felony of the fourth degree in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1)(c)(5); one count of trafficking in marijuana, i.e. preparing for shipment or distribution, in an amount exceeding two hundred grams but less than one thousand grams, a felony of the fourth degree in violation of R.C.2925.03(A)(2)(C)(3)(c); one count of possession of LSD, in an amount exceeding fifty unit doses but less than two hundred fifty unit doses, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.2925.11(A)(C)(5)(c); one count of possession of marijuana in an amount exceeding two hundred grams but less than one thousand grams, a felony of the fifth degree in violation of R.C.2925.11(A)(C)(3)(c); and one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth degree in violation of R.C.2923.12(A).

{¶ 3} Appellant plead not guilty. No pre-trial motions were filed on behalf of appellant; nor did trial counsel file a request for discovery or a request for a bill of particulars. Appellant's case proceeded to a jury trial on May 17, 2005.

{¶ 4} Appellant's trial counsel did not make an opening statement to the jury. The sole witness to testify at trial was Sheriff Tom Jenkins.

{¶ 5} Sheriff Jenkins testified that on January 25, 2003 officers had received information which led them to believe that appellant had a large quantity of drugs and a loaded handgun in a vehicle. (T. at 26). Officers proceed to the Malta Manufacturing parking lot and placed appellant under arrest. (Id. at 29-30; 31). Sheriff Jenkins was not present when appellant was taken into custody. (Id. at 30). Appellant was taken to jail while the officers obtained a warrant to search a Kenworth Tractor Trailer semi-truck and a pick-up truck parked next to the Kenworth. (Id. at 28-29; 30; 38). Sheriff Jenkins remained outside while other officers searched the interior of the semi truck. (Id. at 363-7).

{¶ 6} The keys to the truck were found inside the driver's compartment. (T. at 35-36). A temporary license plate tag for the vehicle and a bill of sale for the vehicle were also recovered from the driver's compartment. (Id. at 35; 46). The truck also had a sleeper berth that was six feet deep and extended the width of the driver's compartment. (Id. at 43). Inside this area was a bunk, shelving and a cabinet. (Id.).

{¶ 7} A loaded nine millimeter pistol was found on a self. (Id. at 43-44). Sixty unit does of LSD were recovered from inside a greeting card found on the top shelf of the sleeper. (Id. at 45). On the bottom self of the cabinet in the sleeper area officers recovered a white plastic bag containing two plastic bags. The first plastic bag had four smaller baggies containing marijuana; the second bag contained six baggies of marijuana. (Id. at 45-46). The officers did not collect items of personal clothing and hygiene found in the sleeper area of the truck. (Id. at 56). Appellant's trial counsel stipulated to the identity and weight of the drugs recovered from the Kenworth truck. (Id. at 57).

{¶ 8} On direct examination Sheriff Jenkins testified that the bill of sale and temporary license tag for the truck were written out to appellant. (Id. at 35). However, on cross examination the witness testified that he was mistaken and in fact a Jeremy Wardreff owned the truck in which the drugs and the handgun were found. (Id. at 798-0). The witness further noted that the vehicle was registered to Mr. Wardreff. (Id. at 80). The witness further testified that the handgun was in plain view to anyone standing on the steps of the semi's cab and looking inside the window. (Id.). Sheriff Jenkins testified that he had seen appellant operate the truck on previous occasions, but he could not remember the dates. (Id. at 79). Further the witness admitted that he had not seen appellant sleep in the truck. (Id. at 83). However, appellant admitted to the officer that he was asleep in the truck prior to the deputies arriving to arrest him. (Id.). Further, appellant requested the return of the keys to the truck after his release from custody so he could use the truck pending disposition of this case. (Id. at 35-36). The keys were in fact returned to appellant. (Id.).

{¶ 9} Appellant did not testify or present any evidence.

{¶ 10} The jury returned verdicts of guilty on the charges of trafficking in marijuana, possession of LSD, and possession of marijuana. The trial court sentenced appellant to a term of seventeen months on the trafficking in marijuana count; three years on the possession of LSD count and eleven months on the possession of marijuana count. The trial court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

{¶ 11} Appellant timely appeals raising the following errors for our review:

{¶ 12} "I. THE VERDICT IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE."

{¶ 13} "II. THE DEFENDANT WAS DENIED HIS RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL."

I.
{¶ 14} In his First Assignment of Error, appellant maintains that his convictions for trafficking in marijuana, possession of LSD and possession of marijuana are against the weight of the evidence. We disagree.

{¶ 15} Our standard of reviewing a claim a verdict was not supported by sufficient evidence is to examine the evidence presented at trial to determine whether the evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in the 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. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St. 3d 259.

{¶ 16} The Supreme Court has explained the distinction between claims of sufficiency of the evidence and manifest weight. Sufficiency of the evidence is a question for the trial court to determine whether the State has met its burden to produce evidence on each element of the crime charged, sufficient for the matter to be submitted to the jury.

{¶ 17}

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 5540, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hosier-unpublished-decision-10-20-2006-ohioctapp-2006.