State v. Tolle

2013 Ohio 5568
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 11, 2013
Docket13CA964
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2013 Ohio 5568 (State v. Tolle) 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. Tolle, 2013 Ohio 5568 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Tolle, 2013-Ohio-5568.]

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

STATE OF OHIO, : : Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 13CA964 : vs. : : DECISION AND JUDGMENT CHRISTOPHER TOLLE, : ENTRY : Defendant-Appellant. : Released: 12/11/13 _______________________________________________________ APPEARANCES:

Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Valerie Kunze, Assistant State Public Defender, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.

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

McFarland, P.J.

{¶1} Christopher Tolle appeals his convictions and sentences for

breaking and entering, a fifth degree felony in violation of R.C. 2911.13(A),

and theft, a first degree misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1)

imposed by the Adams County Court of Common Pleas after he was found

guilty by a jury. On appeal, Appellant contends that 1) his convictions for

breaking and entering and theft were supported by insufficient evidence in

violation of his right to due process; 2) his convictions for breaking and Adams App. No. 13CA964 2

entering and theft were against the manifest weight of the evidence and in

violation of his right to due process; and 3) the trial court erred when it

ordered restitution in the amount of $630.00 when the only economic loss

contained in the record was estimated to be $230.00. Having determined

that Appellant’s convictions were supported by sufficient evidence and were

not against the manifest weight of the evidence, Appellant’s first and second

assignments of error are overruled. Further, having found no plain error in

the trial court’s award of restitution, Appellant’s third assignment of error is

overruled. Accordingly, Appellant’s convictions and sentences are affirmed.

FACTS

{¶2} At 9:00 a.m. on February 28, 2012, Jeanne Wilson arrived at

Crossroads Dairy Bar in Seaman, Ohio, to find the back door open. Jeanne

Wilson is the daughter of Melissa Hupp, owner of Crossroads Dairy Bar.

Upon entering, Wilson noted there were footlongs thrown in the pizza oven,

ice cream that had been run out of the machine, and there were “pop and

cups sitting around.” Wilson further noted potato chips, ice cream, a bucket

of pennies and change from the cash register were missing. Also missing

were baby shower gifts being stored there. Wilson later noted that the

backdoor’s screen window had been removed and was on the ground near Adams App. No. 13CA964 3

the store. Deputy Mark Brewer responded to the call about the break-in.

Upon arriving he took photographs and made a report.

{¶3} Subsequently, on October 18, 2012, Christopher Tolle was

indicted on one count of breaking and entering, a fifth degree felony in

violation of R.C. 2911.13(A), and one count of theft, a first degree

misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), both stemming from the

incident at the Crossroads Dairy Bar. The matter was tried to a jury on

March 25, 2013. The State presented four witnesses, which included

Melissa Hupp, Jeanne Wilson, Deputy Mark Brewer, and Christopher

Abbott.

{¶4} Jeanne Wilson testified to arriving at the dairy bar on the day in

question to find the back door open and items missing and in disarray.

Melissa Hupp testified regarding being the owner of the business. She

testified that the door had been locked and that no one had been given

permission to enter the building or remove property from the building. She

also testified to the value of certain items that were taken, which amounted

to approximately $230.00. Deputy Brewer testified that he responded to the

call regarding the break in that occurred at the dairy bar and that when he

arrived he noted that “[s]omebody had jimmied with the screen on the back

door and reached through and unlocked it and went inside.” Adams App. No. 13CA964 4

{¶5} He further testified to what he found inside, which indicated

evidence that someone had ransacked the bathroom, as well as eaten some

food and ice cream. He stated that he took photographs of his findings. At

that time eight photographs were entered into evidence, which consisted of

the state of the dairy bar after the break-in, as well as a photograph of the

bathroom area where there appeared to be some blue latex gloves laying on

the floor. Lastly, Deputy Brewer testified that he was familiar with

Appellant and identified him by name as being present in the courtroom.

{¶6} Finally, Christopher Abbott testified on behalf of the State.

Abbott testified that he was with Appellant on the night of the dairy bar

break-in, and that he was the lookout while Appellant entered the dairy bar

through the back. He testified that he also entered the dairy bar to tell

Appellant to hurry up. He further testified that their purpose in entering the

dairy bar was to take stuff, and that they took pop, ice cream and chips. He

testified that he saw Appellant take some gift bags and that when the two got

back into Appellant’s car, Appellant had approximately twenty dollars worth

of loose change. Abbott also testified that Appellant wore blue latex gloves

while he was in the dairy bar, which he had seen Appellant use previously

while tattooing. Abbott identified the blue latex gloves in the photos as the

ones Appellant was wearing. Abbott further testified that he was currently Adams App. No. 13CA964 5

on probation as a result of being convicted of breaking and entering into the

Crossroads Dairy Bar. He stated that he was not promised any “deals” for

testifying.

{¶7} At the close of the State’s evidence, Appellant moved for

acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29, which was denied by the trial court.

Appellant then rested his case, without presenting any evidence or witnesses.

The jury ultimately found Appellant guilty of both charges, breaking and

entering and theft. As a result, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an

eleven month term of imprisonment on the felony charge and a six month

term of local incarceration on the misdemeanor charge, to be served

concurrently. The trial court further ordered Appellant to pay $630.00 in

restitution, as well as the costs of prosecution.1 It is from these convictions

and sentences that Appellant now brings his timely appeal, assigning the

following errors for our review.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

“I. CHRISTOPHER TOLLE’S CONVICTIONS FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFT WERE SUPPORTED BY INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF TOLLE’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION. 1 The restitution order specified as follows: “The defendant is further ordered to pay restitution to the victim, Michelle Hupp, in the amount of $630.00, jointly and severally with convicted co-defendant, Christopher Abbott. Adams App. No. 13CA964 6

II. CHRISTOPHER TOLLE’S CONVICTIONS FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFT WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE, IN VIOLATION OF TOLLE’S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITIED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION

III.

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2013 Ohio 5568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-tolle-ohioctapp-2013.