State v. Stone

2020 Ohio 502
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 5, 2020
Docket19CA1086
StatusPublished

This text of 2020 Ohio 502 (State v. Stone) 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. Stone, 2020 Ohio 502 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Stone, 2020-Ohio-502.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ADAMS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, : : Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 19CA1086 : vs. : : CRYSTAL STONE, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT : ENTRY Defendant-Appellant. : _____________________________________________________________ APPEARANCES:

Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Stephen P. Hardwick, Assistant Public Defender, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.

David Kelley, Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, and Michele L. Harris, Assistant Adams County Prosecutor, West Union, Ohio, for Appellee. _____________________________________________________________

Smith, P.J.

{¶1} Crystal Stone appeals the Adams County Court’s February 4,

2019 Judgment Entry finding defendant guilty and imposing sentence after a

bench trial. Stone (“Appellant”) was convicted of theft, a violation of R.C.

2913.02, and a misdemeanor of the first degree. On appeal, Appellant

essentially argues that the “knowing” element of the crime was not proven

and therefore, her conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence. Adams App. No. 19CA1086 2

Based upon our review of the record, we find no merit to Appellant’s sole

assignment of error. Thus, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} Mineral Springs Lake is a campground in Adams County. A

yearly fundraiser event is held there over Labor Day weekend to benefit

Kamp Dovetail, a summer enrichment camp for handicapped children. On

September 2, 2018, approximately 300 people attended the benefit,

including Appellant, Heath Robinson, Nicole Ogden, and Jamion Jones.

The event festivities included live music, an auction, and a raffle.

{¶3} Appellant and Robinson arrived in Robinson’s orange Jeep.

Ogden and Jones arrived in a black jeep. The group of four were drinking

alcohol at the Ogden family’s campsite. They later proceeded to the raffle

held at a shelterhouse. Appellant was later asked to leave after being

accused of stealing a Coach purse. The Coach purse was located in

Robinson’s orange Jeep. Its contents, a wallet and some MaryKay makeup

were located in the black Jeep. All items were returned to the event

organizers.

{¶4} A few days later, Appellant presented to the Adams County

Sheriff’s Department because she had heard “through the grapevine” that

charges had been pressed against her. Appellant gave a videotaped Adams App. No. 19CA1086 3

statement to Deputy John Shope. Appellant essentially advised Deputy

Shope that she “thought she had won the purse” and it was all a huge

“misunderstanding.” However, Appellant was charged with theft, a

misdemeanor of the first degree. She entered a not guilty plea and

eventually elected to have a bench trial.

{¶5} At trial on December 28 and December 31, 2018, the State

presented several witnesses, including Tara Mongold, who attended the

event; Tyler Cantrell, a trustee at Mineral Springs Lake and campground;

Devin Trammell, an employee at Mineral Springs; Tim Smalley, an owner

of the lake and campground; Nicole Ogden, Appellant’s friend; and, Deputy

John Shope, an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy who was working special

duty assignment at the event. The State also played Appellant’s videotaped

statement and the trial court admitted it into evidence.

{¶6} Appellant and Heath Robinson testified on behalf of the defense.

The trial court made a finding of guilty and passed the matter for

presentence investigation. On February 4, 2019, Appellant was sentenced to

a 180-day jail sentence with all days suspended, a $300.00 fine, 16 hours of

community service, and $1,418.80 in court costs.

{¶7} This timely appeal followed. Where pertinent, additional facts

are set forth below. Adams App. No. 19CA1086 4

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

“I. CRYSTAL STONE’S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT SHE BELIEVED SHE HAD WON THE PURSE.”

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶8} In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the

manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court must review the entire

record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the

credibility of witnesses, and determine whether, in resolving conflicts in the

evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest

miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed. State v.

Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997); State v. Hunter,

131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 119; State v.

Hammond, 4th Dist. Ross No. 18CA3662, 2019-Ohio-4253, at ¶ 55.

{¶9} The weight and credibility of evidence are to be determined by

the trier of fact, citing State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73, 2014-Ohio-

1966, 15 N.E.3d 818, at ¶ 132; Hammond, at ¶ 56. The trier of fact is free to

believe all, part, or none of the testimony of any witness, and we defer to the

trier of fact on evidentiary weight and credibility issues because it is in the

best position to gauge the witnesses’ demeanor, gestures, and voice Adams App. No. 19CA1086 5

inflections, and to use these observations to weigh their credibility. State v.

Dillard, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA9, 2014-Ohio-4974, at ¶ 28, citing State v.

West, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 12CA3507, 2014-Ohio-1941, ¶ 23.

{¶10} “ ‘Weight of the evidence concerns “the inclination of the

greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of

the issue rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party

having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing

the evidence in their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible

evidence sustains the issue which is to be established before them. Weight

is not a question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing

belief.” ’ ” State v. Schroeder, 4th Dist. Adams No. 18CA1077, 2019-Ohio-

4136 at ¶ 61; State v. Wickersham, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 13CA10, 2015-Ohio-

2756 at ¶ 24, quoting Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012–Ohio–

2179, 972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 12, quoting Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387,

quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1594 (6th Ed.1990).

{¶11} “ ‘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,” we 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, quoting State v. Konya, 2nd Dist. Adams App. No. 19CA1086 6

Montgomery No. 21434, 2006–Ohio–6312, ¶ 6, quoting State v. Lawson,

2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 16288 (Aug. 22, 1997). As the Eastley court

explained:

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

against the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment

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.' ”

Eastley at ¶ 21, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v.

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Related

State v. Hunter
2011 Ohio 6524 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2011)
State v. Kirkland (Slip Opinion)
2014 Ohio 1966 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2014)
Eastley v. Volkman
2012 Ohio 2179 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2012)
City of Barberton v. Jenney
2010 Ohio 2420 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2010)
State v. West
2014 Ohio 1941 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2014)
State v. Dillard
2014 Ohio 4974 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2014)
State v. Martin
485 N.E.2d 717 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1983)
State v. Dunn
2017 Ohio 518 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2017)
Seasons Coal Co. v. City of Cleveland
461 N.E.2d 1273 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Thompkins
678 N.E.2d 541 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)
State v. Lindsey
721 N.E.2d 995 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2000)

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2020 Ohio 502, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-stone-ohioctapp-2020.