State v. Steen

1 Ohio App. Unrep. 225
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 9, 1990
DocketCase No. WD-88-57
StatusPublished

This text of 1 Ohio App. Unrep. 225 (State v. Steen) 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. Steen, 1 Ohio App. Unrep. 225 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

GLASSER, J.

This matter is before the court on appeal from a judgment of the Wood County Court of Common Pleas.

On November 18, 1987, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Ginny LeFevre completed her work shift as a fuel desk clerk at the Truck Stop America ('TSA") located at 1-280 and Libbey Road in Lake Township, Ohio. LeFevre walked to her car and got in on the driver's side. Soon after she entered the vehicle, Oscar Bolin approached the car and made a gesture to LeFevre that evidently indicated he was interested in buying marijuana. LeFevre attempted to lock the car door as Bolin opened the door, entered the vehicle and forced LeFevre to move toward the passenger side.

While Bolin was entering LeFevre's car, defendant-appellant, David Edgar Steen, and Roger Hall were sitting in the cab of Bolin's semi-tractor trailer truck. The trio had driven the truck from Taylor, Michigan, and had stopped at the TSA only a short time before LeFevre finished her shift.

Bolin proceeded to pull LeFevre's car onto 1-280 and drive, with appellant and Hall following in the truck, for approximately one mile. Bolin drove the car off the highway into a gravel parking area Appellant parked the truck twenty feet from the car.

After approximately fifteen minutes, Bolin and LeFevre approached the truck. The passenger door opened and Bolin and LeFevre entered the cab. Bolin instructed appellant to follow 1-280 and then drive east on the Ohio Turnpike. Appellant was also told to turn off the citizen's band and regular radios.

As the truck approached the entrance to the turnpike, Bolin forced LeFevre into the sleeping area ("the sleeper") of the cab and closed the tarp separating the sleeper from the driver. Soon after leaving the turnpike entrance, Bolin raped LeFevre at gunpoint.

Approximately two hours later, appellant stopped the truck and he and Bolin changed places. Appellant and LeFevre spoke to one another at this point and there was some physical contact; however, LeFevre was not raped by appellant.

Appellant and Bolin switched places again prior to the truck crossing the Pennsylvania line. Shortly after entering Pennsylvania, appellant stopped the truck. LeFevre, blindfolded with her smock, was led by Bolin away from the truck, across a field and released.

Appellant was indicated by the Wood [226]*226County Grand Jury on January 21, 1988, for the kidnapping and rape of LeFevre. The bill of particulars, filed by plaintiff-appellee, the state of Ohio, on April 7,1988, alleged that appellant aided and abetted Bolin in the aforementioned crimes.

Following a jury trial, appellant was found guilty of aiding and abetting on both counts. On August 4,1988, appellant moved for a new trial and acquittal. In an entry dated August 22, 1988, appellant was ordered to serve two concurrent nine to twenty-five year sentences. Appellant's post-trial motion were denied on August 26, 1988.

It is from the judgment entry of sentencing that appellant has appealed assigning the following as error:1

"1. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT’S MOTIONS FOR ACQUITTAL BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CONVICTION.
"2. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR IN ITS CHARGE TO THE JURY REGARDING THE REQUISITE CRIMINAL CULPABILITY TO CONVICT APPELLANT.
"3. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ADMITTING EVIDENCE REGARDING THE VIOLENT CHARACTER TRAITS OF OSCAR BOLIN.
"4. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR IN ITS CHARGE TO THE JURY REGARDING THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE OF DURESS.
"5. RAPE AND KIDNAPPING ARE ALLIED OFFENSES OF SIMILAR IMPACT [sic] UNDER Oit.C. 2941.25, AND AS SUCH A SENTENCE FOR BOTH CHARGES CANNOT BE ORDERED BY THE COURT.
"6. THE TRIAL COURT ERRORED [sic] BY FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT'S MOTIONS FOR ACQUITTAL DUE TO INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CONVICTION AND FURTHER FAILING TO MAKE A RULING AT ALL.
"7. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTINGAPPELLANT'SMOTIONFOR A NEW TRIAL UNDER CRIM. R. 33 DUE TO NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE.
"8. APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, DUE PROCESS OF LAW, WERE VIOLATED BY DEFENSE COUNSELS [sic] FAILURE TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL DUTIES OWED THE DEFENDANT."

In his first assignment of error, appellant argues that it was error for the trial court to deny his motion for acquittal because there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. In essence, appellant asserts that his convictions were against the manifest weight of the evidence.

In order to support a conviction for aiding and abetting, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant had, in some way, participated in, or been a part of, the act or acts committed. Columbus v. Russell (1973), 39 Ohio App. 2d 139. A defendant's mere presence at the scene, or his acquaintance with the one committing such crime, in and of itself is not sufficient proof to support a conviction. The defendant "*** must incite, or procure, or encourage the criminal act, or assist or enable it to be done, or engage or counsel, or command the principal to do it." Morei v. United States (CA.6, 1942), 127 F. 2d 827, 830.

In evaluating an assignment of error that attacks the sufficiency of the evidence, a reviewing court's examination of the record is limited to a determination of whether evidence was presented, * * which if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’" State v. Eley (1978), 56 Ohio St. 2d 169, 172 (citations omitted). Accordingly, our review is restricted to an appraisal of whether there was substantial evidence to support appellant's convictions.

The evidence in this case proves that appellant followed Bolin as Bolin drove LeFevre's car away from TSA. Appellant parked Bolin's truck near LeFevre's car when Bolin stopped. Appellant continued to drive the truck after Bolin and LeFevre entered the cab. By driving Bolin's truck, appellant assisted Bolin in the commission of both the kidnapping and the rape. The rape occurred as the truck was driven, by appellant, down the highway. LeFevre remained in the truck when appellant and Bolin switched places to allow Bolin to drive. Shortly thereafter the pair switched [227]*227again and appellant resumed the role of driver as Bolin continued to hold LeFevre captive in the truck.

The evidence shows that appellant did much more than "* * * see the crime being committed." State v. Sims (1983), 10 Ohio App. 3d 56, 56. His actions were an active contribution to the unlawful acts. Accordingly, we find that there was substantial evidence upon which the jury could have concluded that appellant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the aforestated reasons, we find appellant's first assignment of error not well-taken.

In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court committed plain error in giving jury instructions regarding the requisite criminal culpability required to support a conviction. Appellant asserts that "purpose" was defined in two conflicting ways and that the inconsistent definitions had the effect of confusing the jury to appellant's prejudice.

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Bluebook (online)
1 Ohio App. Unrep. 225, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-steen-ohioctapp-1990.