State v. Parke

2019 Ohio 3629

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 5, 2019
• Docket: 18-CA-118
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Parke, 2019-Ohio-3629.]

COURT OF APPEALS LICKING COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES: : : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. -vs- : : Case No. 18-CA-118 : PAUL PARKE : : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Licking Municipal Court, Case No. 18-CRB-2427

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 5, 2019

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:

TRICIA M. MOORE CHRIS BRIGDON ASSISTANT LAW DIRECTOR 123 Stirling Way 40 West Main St. Etna, OH 43062 Newark, OH 43055 Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 2

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Paul Parke appeals his November 21, 2018 conviction

and sentence by the Licking County Municipal Court. Plaintiff-Appellee is the State of

Ohio.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} Jane Doe was in a romantic relationship and resided with Defendant-

Appellant Paul Parke. Their relationship ended and on October 10, 2018, Jane Doe

obtained an ex parte Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order against Parke. The CPO

was issued for a period of two years.

{¶3} On October 12, 2018, Jane Doe contacted the Newark Police Department

and Officer Bill Eberts reported to Jane Doe’s home, where she seemed concerned and

scared. Jane Doe stated that morning, a mutual friend of Jane Doe and Parke sent her a

screenshot of a Facebook Messenger post allegedly posted by Parke that day. The post

included Parke’s name, profile picture, and was time-stamped “just now.” The post read,

“OK [A.R.S.] whatever your name is, I can see your not home you think I won’t blow the

car up wrong I got plans to fuck you up mite be my 1st murder charge if they catch me I

want the shit from the house best believe I will get it a cpo is paper I got hands I’m coming

for you[.]”

{¶4} When she received the screenshot, Jane Doe looked outside and saw a

blue truck identical to Parke’s blue truck parked across the street. She saw someone

screaming out of the truck, “Hey you, fuck.” The blue truck then drove off. After receiving

the screenshot and seeing the person screaming in the blue truck, Jane Doe contacted

the police. Officer Eberts patrolled the area looking for the blue truck but did not see one Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 3

in the area, even though Jane Doe reported someone nearby owned an identical blue

truck. At the time of the post, Jane Doe and Parke were communicating about the use of

Parke’s vehicle and collecting his belongings from the shared residence. Jane Doe

believed the Facebook Messenger post was from Parke because only a few people

including Parke knew her name was A.R.S.

{¶5} When Officer Eberts returned to the station after taking the report from Jane

Doe, he looked up Parke’s Facebook page. He saw screen shots of messages between

Parke and Jane Doe posted in the feed on Parke’s Facebook page. Officer Eberts took

screenshots of the messages, which were dated “Yesterday at 5:10 pm.”

{¶6} On October 15, 2018, Jane Doe dismissed the CPO against Parke.

{¶7} On October 23, 2018, Parke was charged with Violating a Protection Order

in violation of R.C. 2919.27, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was arraigned on October

29, 2018 and entered a plea of not guilty. A bench trial was held on November 21, 2018.

{¶8} At trial, the State introduced State’s Exhibit 3, which was the screenshot of

the Facebook post allegedly posted by Parke, during Jane Doe’s testimony. The State

also introduced Exhibit 4, which were screenshots of messages between Parke and Jane

Doe, during the testimony of Officer Eberts. Parke did not object to the submission of

State’s Exhibits 3 or 4. Parke did not testify.

{¶9} At the conclusion of evidence, the trial court found Parke guilty of Violating

a Protection Order. Prior to posting bond, Parke served 12 days in jail. The trial court

sentenced Parke to time served and imposed a fine of $150.00 plus court costs. The

sentence was journalized on November 21, 2018.

{¶10} It is from this judgment Parke now appeals. Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 4

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶11} Parke raises one Assignment of Error:

{¶12} “APPELLANTS [SIC] CONVICTION OF VIOLATING A CIVIL

PROTECTION ORDER WAS IN ERROR DUE TO INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE.

ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE’S RELIANCE UPON STATE’S EXHIBITS 3 AND 4 COULD

NOT HAVE CONVINCED A REASONABLE MIND OF GUILT BEYOND A REASONABLE

DOUBT; AND AFTER DRAWING REASONABLE INFERENCES, THE CONVICTION

WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.”

ANALYSIS

{¶13} Parke argues in his sole Assignment of Error that his conviction under R.C.

2919.27 was against the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence. Parke

specifically contends State’s Exhibits 3 and 4 were insufficient evidence and against the

manifest weight of the evidence to sustain Parke’s conviction for Violating a Protection

Order. We disagree.

Standard of Review

{¶14} The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the evidence

are both quantitatively and qualitatively different. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380,

1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, paragraph two of the syllabus. The standard of review for

a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is set forth in State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d

259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991) at paragraph two of the syllabus, in which the Ohio Supreme

Court held, “An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence

to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine

whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 5

guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The 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.”

{¶15} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the court of appeals functions as the “thirteenth juror,” and after “reviewing 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 overturned and a new trial ordered.” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387.

Reversing a conviction as being against the manifest weight of the evidence and ordering

a new trial should be reserved for only the “exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.” Id.

Admission of Evidence

{¶16} Parke first argues State’s Exhibit 3 was improperly authenticated pursuant

to Evid.R. 901(B)(1). The transcript shows Parke’s trial counsel did not object to the

admission of State’s Exhibit 3 into evidence. It is well-settled that a party must object in

order to preserve an issue for appeal. Feister v. Felton, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No. 2018

AP 02 0008, 2018-Ohio-3345, 2018 WL 4002093, ¶ 33 citing Morris v. McQuillen, 5th

Dist. Richland No. 2008-CA-87, 2009-Ohio-2848. Because Parke failed to object to the

admission of the exhibit, we must determine whether the trial court committed plain error

in allowing the admission of the exhibit.

{¶17} Pursuant to Crim.R. 52(B), “plain errors or defects affecting substantial

rights may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” The Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 6

rule places several limitations on a reviewing court's determination to correct an error

despite the absence of timely objection at trial: (1) “there must be an error, i.e., a deviation

from a legal rule,” (2) “the error must be plain,” that is, an error that constitutes “an

‘obvious’ defect in the trial proceedings,” and (3) the error must have affected “substantial

rights” such that “the trial court's error must have affected the outcome of the trial.” State

v. Dunn, 5th Dist. No. 2008-CA-00137, 2009-Ohio-1688, 2009 WL 943968, citing State v.

Morales, 10 Dist. Nos. 03-AP-318, 03-AP-319, 2004-Ohio-3391, 2004 WL 1446117, at ¶

19 (citation omitted).

{¶18} The decision to correct a plain error is discretionary and should be made

“with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest

miscarriage of justice.” State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978),

paragraph three of the syllabus.

{¶19} Parke contends the State did not properly authenticate State’s Exhibit 3

before its admission pursuant to Evid.R. 901(B)(1). The evidentiary rule states:

(A) General Provision. The requirement of authentication or identification as

a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to

support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.

(B) Illustrations. By way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, the

following are examples of authentication or identification conforming with

the requirements of this rule:

(1) Testimony of Witness With Knowledge. Testimony that a matter is what

it is claimed to be. Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 7

{¶20} Jane Doe testified as to State’s Exhibit 3. She stated it was a screenshot of

a Facebook Messenger post allegedly posted by Parke. Jane Doe received the

screenshot from a mutual friend on October 12, 2018. The post included Parke’s name,

profile picture, and was time-stamped “just now.” The post read, “OK [A.R.S.] whatever

your name is, I can see your not home you think I won’t blow the car up wrong I got plans

to fuck you up mite be my 1st murder charge if they catch me I want the shit from the

house best believe I will get it a cpo is paper I got hands I’m coming for you[.]”

{¶21} Parke contends Jane Doe did not have any personal knowledge of the

contents of the screenshot. She did not personally observe the Facebook post on Parke’s

Facebook page. Jane Doe testified she received the screenshot from a mutual friend,

who did not testify at the trial.

{¶22} “[A] trial court is vested with broad discretion in determining the admissibility

of evidence in any particular case, so long as such discretion is exercised in line with the

rules of procedure and evidence.” Westfield Ins. Group v. Silco Fire & Sec., 5th Dist. Stark

No. 2018CA00122, 2019-Ohio-2779, 2019 WL 2775601, ¶ 52 citing Huth v. Kus, 5th Dist.

No. 2017 AP 06 0015, 2018-Ohio-1931, 113 N.E.3d 140, 2018 WL 2230727, ¶ 30 quoting

Rigby v. Lake Cty., 58 Ohio St.3d 269, 271, 569 N.E.2d 1056 (1991). We find no abuse

of discretion for the trial court to allow the admission of State’s Exhibit 3 based on Jane

Doe’s testimony. Jane Doe testified she received the screenshot of the Facebook post

from her and Parke’s mutual friend. At trial, Jane Doe testified that some of the phrases

on the Facebook post did not sound like things Parke would say, such as, “I got hands.”

The Facebook post, however, referred to a CPO, which was issued against Parke on

October 10, 2018. The Facebook post further referred to Jane Doe’s full name, which she Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 8

stated only a few people knew, including Parke. Jane Doe also testified she and Parke

were having a dispute about the ownership of a car. We no plain error and that the trial

court exercised its discretion in accordance with Evid.R. 901(B)(1) because Jane Doe

testified the screenshot of the Facebook post was what it was claimed to be, a post from

Parke.

Insufficiency and Manifest Weight

{¶23} Parke next contends State’s Exhibit 3 and 4 were insufficient to sustain a

conviction of Violating a Protection Order. The October 10, 2018 domestic violence civil

protection order restrained Parke from committing acts of abuse or threats of abuse

against the petitioner, Jane Doe. In the Facebook post entered into evidence in State’s

Exhibit 3, Parke threatened to blow up Jane Doe’s car, murder Jane Doe, ignore the CPO

and use his hands on Jane Doe, and come for Jane Doe. State’s Exhibit 4 was a text

message exchange between Jane Doe and Parke regarding their dispute over property

at the former shared residence.

{¶24} Parke’s conviction for Violating a Protection Order was not solely based on

State’s Exhibit 3 and 4. Jane Doe and Officer Eberts also testified at trial. Jane Doe

testified after she received the Facebook post from her friend, she observed a blue truck,

identical to Parke’s, parked outside her residence and the driver of the truck yelled, “Hey

you, fuck” and drove off.

{¶25} The trial court remarked the State’s case was largely dependent on

circumstantial evidence. If the State relies on circumstantial evidence to prove an

essential element of an offense, it is not necessary for “ ‘such evidence to be irreconcilable

with any reasonable theory of innocence in order to support a conviction.’ “ State v. Crist, Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 9

5th Dist. Fairfield No. 15-CA-63, 2016-Ohio-7750, 2016 WL 6695996, ¶ 39 quoting State

v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574 N.E.2d 492(1991) at paragraph one of the syllabus.

“ ‘Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence inherently possess the same probative

value [.]’ “ Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at paragraph one of the syllabus. Furthermore, “ ‘[s]ince

circumstantial evidence and direct evidence are indistinguishable so far as the jury's fact-

finding function is concerned, all that is required of the jury is that i[t] weigh all of the

evidence, direct and circumstantial, against the standard of proof beyond a reasonable

doubt.’ “ Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at 272, 574 N.E.2d 492. While inferences cannot be based

on inferences, a number of conclusions can result from the same set of facts. State v.

Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 168, 555 N.E.2d 293 (1990), citing Hurt v. Charles J. Rogers

Transp. Co., 164 Ohio St. 329, 331, 130 N.E.2d 820(1955). Moreover, a series of facts

and circumstances can be employed by a jury as the basis for its ultimate conclusions in

a case. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d at 168, 555 N.E.2d 293, citing Hurt, 164 Ohio St. at 331, 130

N.E.2d 820.

{¶26} In this case, we find the threatening language in the Facebook post that

included details Parke would know, the blue truck parked outside of Jane Doe’s

residence, and the related Facebook exchanges between Parke and Jane Doe lead to

the inference that Parke violated the terms of the domestic violence civil protection order

by committing threats of abuse against the petitioner, Jane Doe. We find Parkes’

conviction for violation of a protection order was not against the manifest weight or

sufficiency of the evidence.

{¶27} Parke’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled. Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-118 10

CONCLUSION

{¶28} The judgment of the Licking County Municipal Court is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.,

Gwin, P.J. and

Hoffman, J., concur.