State v. Mast

2017 Ohio 8388

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 27, 2017
• Docket: 17CA11
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Mast, 2017-Ohio-8388.]

COURT OF APPEALS HOLMES COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J. : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. : -vs- : : Case No. 17CA11 ROY H. MAST : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Holmes County Court, Case No. 16CRB-294AB

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: October 27, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

SEAN WARNER DAVID HUNTER Holmes County Prosecutor 244 West Main Street 164 East Jackson Street Loudonville, OH 44842 Millersburg, OH 44654 Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 2

Gwin, J.,

{¶1} Appellant Roy H. Mast [“Mast”] appeals his conviction and sentence on one

count of Misconduct at an Emergency after a bench trial in the Holmes County Court.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} Members of the Richland Township Fire Department responded to a fire at

the Yoder farm on August 19, 2016. The fire belched out "heavy black smoke" and could

be seen from a mile and a quarter away. The first to arrive at the fire was Fire Chief

Melissa McCartney-Wells. Chief Wells began to assess and document the fire as she

waited for the arrival of firefighting equipment. Chief Wells observed burning in the fire,

tires, plastic and other trash. The heavy black smoke is indicative of such petroleum

products including plastic and rubber burning.

{¶3} The fire was burning in the farmyard near a barn and a formal manure pit

structure. The area is bordered by a cement drive or "alleyway.” Assistant Chief Jeff

Wells arrived driving the department's grass truck with firefighter Ballantyne. He parked

the truck on the cement alleyway. The grass truck's equipment includes a two hundred

gallon tank of water, heavy fire hoses and a pump to force the water. Firefighter

Ballantyne was assigned to "pump operator.” Ballantyne's job as the truck or pump

operator is important as she needs to make sure the pump stays running, and water

pressure is maintained or changed if needed to fight the fire. In case something goes

wrong..." she is "...kind of a safety officer.” The chief and assistant chief were operating

the hose.

{¶4} The firefighters were on scene for fifteen to twenty minutes actively engaged

in fire suppression. At that time, Mast drove a skid loader passed one fire truck and up Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 3

the cement alleyway. The skid loader approached the back of the grass truck. Firefighter

Ballantyne stepped away from her post at the back of the truck, raised her right hand, and

yelled at Mast to stop. Firefighter Ballantyne was also making a stop gesture with her

right hand. Mast did not stop. Firefighter Ballantyne yelled and gestures again. At this

point, she had to take her attention away from her firefighters and the pumps to

concentrate on Mast and the skid loader. Mast leaned out of the skid loader and yelled

at the firefighter "move that piece of shit or he would move it for you.” Ballantyne again

told Mast to stop and leave the area. Mast began to inch the skid loader forward

repeatedly stopping and going. Firefighter Ballantyne left her post, "because I thought he

was going to run over me.” (T. 54). Ballantyne continued to yell. Finally, Mast backed

up the skid loader, lowered his bucket again and began approaching the fire truck.

Ballantyne yelled at Mast, "Don’t threaten me with that. I will call the law and have your

ass arrested.” (T. 56). Mast repeated his moves with the skid loader which caused

firefighter Ballantyne to feel threatened. The encounter lasted "5 to 10 minutes.” (T.

63).

{¶5} Concerned for her firefighters' safety, Chief Wells yelled to firefighter

Ballantyne to get away from the truck. The Chief then left her post on the fire hose to

aide Ballantyne. As Chief Wells walked through the muck she saw "[Mast] put the

(unintelligible) down and starts inching towards the fire truck and towards firefighter

Ballantyne and it was a stop, go, stop, go, stop, go and he starts lifting the bucket

again." (T. 82).

{¶6} Mast is a worker on the Yoder farm. Mast admitted telling the firefighters to

move “that piece of shit”; however, he denied he threatened the firefighters. Mast Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 4

believed that the firefighters were upset because they had been to the Yoder farm several

times to extinguish illegal burns. Mast claimed the encounter lasted no more than thirty

seconds. (T. at 125). Mast admitted that he hid and did not respond when the police

came to his trailer to question him about the incident.

{¶7} Mast was charged with Misconduct at an Emergency in violation of R.C.

2917.13 and Disorderly Conduct in violation of R.C. 2917.11. The matter proceeded to a

bench trial. Mast was found guilty by the court of both counts. The court found that the

chargers merged as they were the result of the same conduct and Mast was sentenced

on the Misconduct at an Emergency charge to 30 days in jail and a $250.00 fine.

Assignment of Error

{¶8} Mast raises one assignment of error,

{¶9} “I. APPELLANT'S CONVICTION FOR MISCONDUCT AT AN

EMERGENCY IN VIOLATION OF OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 2917.13(A), WAS

AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”

Law and Analysis.

Standard of Review.

{¶10} When an appellate court considers a claim that a conviction is against the

manifest weight of the evidence, the court must dutifully examine the entire record, weigh

the evidence, and consider the credibility of witnesses. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d

380, 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), superseded by constitutional amendment on other

grounds as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668, 1997-Ohio–355.

The reviewing court must bear in mind, however, that credibility generally is an issue for

the trier of fact to resolve. State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67, 752 N.E.2d 904 (2001); Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 5

State v. Murphy, 4th Dist. Ross No. 07CA2953, 2008–Ohio–1744, ¶ 31. Because the

trier of fact sees and hears the witnesses and is particularly competent to decide whether,

and to what extent, to credit the testimony of particular witnesses, the appellate court

must afford substantial deference to its determinations of credibility. Barberton v. Jenney,

126 Ohio St.3d 5, 2010–Ohio–2420, 929 N.E.2d 1047, ¶ 20.

“[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against

the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every

reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the

finding of facts. * * *

“If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the

reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent with

the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and

judgment.”

Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn.

3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192 (1978).

Thus, an appellate court will leave the issues of weight and credibility of the evidence to

the fact finder, as long as a rational basis exists in the record for its decision. State v.

Picklesimer, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 11CA9, 2012–Ohio–1282, ¶ 24.

{¶11} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, an appellate court may

not merely substitute its view for that of the jury, but must find that “‘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.’” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,

quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721(1st Dist. Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 6

1983). Accordingly, reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “the exceptional

case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” Id.

Issue for appeal.

{¶12} Whether the trial court clearly lost its way and created such a manifest

miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.

Sufficiency of the Evidence.

Mast was convicted of Misconduct at an Emergence. R.C. 2917.13 provides,

(A) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) Hamper the lawful operations of any law enforcement officer,

firefighter, rescuer, medical person, emergency medical services person, or

other authorized person, engaged in the person’s duties at the scene of a

fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind;

(2) Hamper the lawful activities of any emergency facility person who

is engaged in the person’s duties in an emergency facility;

(3) Fail to obey the lawful order of any law enforcement officer

engaged in the law enforcement officer’s duties at the scene of or in

connection with a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind.

{¶13} In State v. Bryant, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 09CA009736, 2011–Ohio–4555, ¶22

the Court observed,

The Legislative Service Commission’s Note about this offense

explained that this section is “aimed primarily at controlling bystanders and

curiosity seekers at emergency scenes, in order to permit police, fire

brigades, rescue and medical personnel, and others, to perform their duties Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 7

with the utmost efficiency at such times.” The offense is described as “a

specific tool for crowd control at emergencies” but the offense “need not

necessarily arise from the collective conduct of a crowd but may be

committed by one person.” The Note sets forth an example of “one who

simply gets underfoot at an emergency and is consciously aware he is doing

so * * *.” R.C. 2917.13, Legislative Service Commission Note (1973).

{¶14} In the case at bar, the firefighters responded to an illegal burn on the Yoder

property. The evidence presented by the state is that Mast approached the firefighters

on a skid loader, yelled at the firefighter and made threatening gestures with the skid

loader as if he was going to use it to move a firetruck out of his way. This forced firefighter

Ballantyne and Chief McCartney-Wells to each leave her post and direct her attention

toward Mast. Both Ballantyne and McCartney-Wells instructed Mast to leave the scene.

Mast did not immediately desist his action and leave as he was instructed by the

firefighters.

{¶15} Viewing the evidence in the case at bar in a light most favorable to the

prosecution, we conclude that a reasonable person could have found beyond a

reasonable doubt that Mast was guilty of Misconduct at an Emergency. We hold,

therefore, that the state met its burden of production regarding Misconduct at an

Emergency and, accordingly, there was sufficient evidence to support Mast’s conviction.

Manifest weight of the Evidence.

{¶16} The Ohio Supreme Court has emphasized: “‘[I]n determining whether the

judgment below is manifestly against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable

intendment and every reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 8

and the finding of facts. * * *.’” Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 334, 972 N.E.

2d 517, 2012-Ohio-2179, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77,

80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review,

Section 603, at 191–192 (1978). Furthermore, it is well established that the trial court is

in the best position to determine the credibility of witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, 9th

Dist. No. 21004, 2002–Ohio–3405, ¶ 9, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227

N.E.2d 212(1967).

{¶17} Ultimately, “the reviewing court must determine whether the appellant or the

appellee provided the more believable evidence, but must not completely substitute its

judgment for that of the original trier of fact ‘unless it is patently apparent that the fact

finder lost its way.’” State v. Pallai, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 198, 2008-Ohio-6635,

¶31, quoting State v. Woullard, 158 Ohio App.3d 31, 2004-Ohio-3395, 813 N.E.2d 964

(2nd Dist. 2004), ¶ 81. In other words, “[w]hen there exist two fairly reasonable views of

the evidence or two conflicting versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, it is

not our province to choose which one we believe.” State v. Dyke, 7th Dist. Mahoning No.

99 CA 149, 2002-Ohio-1152, at ¶ 13, citing State v. Gore, 131 Ohio App.3d 197, 201, 722

N.E.2d 125(7th Dist. 1999).

{¶18} The judge as the trier of fact was free to accept or reject any and all of the

evidence offered by the parties and assess the witness’s credibility. "While the trier of

fact may take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly * * *

such inconsistencies do not render defendant's conviction against the manifest weight or

sufficiency of the evidence.” State v. Craig, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 99AP-739, 1999 WL

29752 (Mar 23, 2000) citing State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 95APA09-1236, 1996 Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 9

WL 284714 (May 28, 1996). Indeed, the trier of fact need not believe all of a witness'

testimony, but may accept only portions of it as true. State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin

No. 02AP-604, 2003-Ohio-958, ¶21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d

548 (1964); State v. Burke, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-1238, 2003-Ohio-2889, citing

State v. Caldwell, 79 Ohio App.3d 667, 607 N.E.2d 1096 (4th Dist. 1992). Although the

evidence may have been circumstantial, we note that circumstantial evidence has the

same probative value as direct evidence. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574

N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph one of the syllabus, superseded by State constitutional

amendment on other grounds as stated in State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 102 at n.4,

684 N.E.2d 668 (1997).

{¶19} In the case at bar, the judge heard the witnesses, viewed the evidence and

heard Mast’s arguments and explanations about his actions. A rational basis exists in the

record for crediting the testimony of the firefighters and discounting Mast’s testimony.

Mast injured his credibility at trial when he testified that he was attempting to do his

chores; however, after his encounter with the firefighters he did not finish his chores,

choosing instead to return to his trailer and hide from the police.

{¶20} We find that this is not an “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386-387, 678

N.E.2d 541 (1997), quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. The judge

neither lost his way nor created a miscarriage of justice in convicting Mast of the charges.

{¶21} Based upon the foregoing and the entire record in this matter, we find Mast’s

conviction is not against the sufficiency or the manifest weight of the evidence. To the

contrary, the judge appears to have fairly and impartially decided the matters before him. Holmes County, Case No. 17CA11 10

The judge heard the witnesses, evaluated the evidence, and was convinced of Mast’s

guilt.

{¶22} Finally, upon careful consideration of the record in its entirety, we find that

there is substantial evidence presented which if believed, proves all the elements of the

crime for which Mast was convicted.

Conclusion

{¶23} Mast’s sole assignment of error is overruled.

{¶24} The judgment of the Holmes County Court is affirmed.

By Gwin, J.,

Delaney, P.J., and

Hoffman, J., concur