[Cite as State v. Zehenni, 2016-Ohio-8233.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
WARREN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, : CASE NO. CA2016-03-020 Plaintiff-Appellee, : OPINION : 12/19/2016 - vs - :
ANDRE J. ZEHENNI, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM MASON MUNICIPAL COURT Case No. 15CRB00130
Bethany Bennett, Mason Municipal Court Prosecutor, 5950 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, Ohio 45040, for appellee
Albert Giuliani and Joseph Morse, 323 West Lakeside, Suite 300, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, for appellant
Nicholas Graman and Charles Rittgers, 12 East Warren Street, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for appellant
M. POWELL, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Andre Zehenni, appeals his convictions in the Warren
County Court of Common Pleas for operating a vehicle under the influence ("OVI") and using
a weapon while intoxicated. Zehenni, driving home from Buffalo Wild Wings ("BW3") on
Super Bowl Sunday 2015, rear-ended a vehicle travelling on the same road. After the Warren CA2016-03-020
collision, Zehenni stopped momentarily but then continued driving at about ten miles per
hour. The other driver followed Zehenni and contacted police.
{¶ 2} Mason Police Officer Slone responded and initiated a traffic stop. Zehenni
briefly drove off the road as he was pulling over. Officer Slone approached Zehenni's vehicle
and observed that the airbags had deployed. Slone stood behind the driver side door and
observed Zehenni's behavior for about 30 seconds before approaching the vehicle window.
Slone observed Zehenni turned away from him and "fumbling" for a pack of gum in the
vehicle's center console. When Slone knocked on the vehicle window, Zehenni slowly turned
away from the center console, assumed a normal driving position, and stared out through the
windshield without acknowledging the officer.
{¶ 3} Slone opened the vehicle door and asked Zehenni if he knew he had been in a
crash. Zehenni said "yes." Slone then detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage and
asked Zehenni if he had been drinking. Zehenni replied, "no." For some time, Zehenni
simply replied "no" to every question Slone asked. Zehenni refused to identify himself and
also refused to leave the vehicle.
{¶ 4} Slone told Zehenni that if he did not exit the vehicle he would be arrested.
Zehenni responded by extending his left arm out of the vehicle and slowly stepping towards
Slone, while stating "you know I used to be a cop." Slone took Zehenni by the arm and led
him between Zehenni's vehicle and the police cruiser.
{¶ 5} By checking the vehicle's license plate, Slone was aware that Zehenni had a
permit to carry a concealed weapon. Slone asked Zehenni whether there was a weapon in
the vehicle. Zehenni responded affirmatively and indicated he thought the gun was in the
trunk. A second officer who arrived searched the trunk.
{¶ 6} Zehenni moved towards the trunk several times in an apparent effort to help the
police locate the gun. Slone repeatedly warned Zehenni to stop moving towards the trunk -2- Warren CA2016-03-020
and, when he persisted, eventually placed him in handcuffs. Zehenni then recalled that the
gun was not in the trunk but in the vehicle's front passenger-side compartment instead. The
other officer retrieved Zehenni's loaded revolver, which was holstered and located in a bag
on the passenger side floorboard.
{¶ 7} Throughout the stop, Slone continued to detect the smell of an alcoholic
beverage coming from Zehenni's breath, which would increase when Zehenni spoke. The
officer asked Zehenni to perform the walk-and-turn field sobriety test. Zehenni declined,
explaining that he had a broken femur and ankle trauma because of an earlier vehicle
accident and did not believe he could perform the test. Zehenni also declined to perform the
horizontal gaze nystagmus test, but without providing a reason.
{¶ 8} Slone placed Zehenni under arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated,
using a weapon while intoxicated, and various traffic violations. Later at the police station,
Zehenni refused to submit to the breathalyzer test.
{¶ 9} The city tried Zehenni by jury. Slone and the other officer testified about their
observations and interactions with Zehenni. On cross-examination, both officers testified that
they did not know if Zehenni's revolver was operable.
{¶ 10} Zehenni testified in his own defense. After he got off work that Sunday, his
friend Roberta Frazier invited him to her house. En route, he picked up a bottle of vodka.
When he arrived at Frazier's, he made himself a cocktail of orange juice and about a shot of
vodka. Zehenni drank about half of this cocktail then he, Frazier, and Frazier's friend, Lianne
Harris, made their way to BW3 to watch the second half of the Super Bowl. Zehenni was not
feeling well and he drove separate from Frazier and Harris.
{¶ 11} Everyone arrived at BW3. But Zehenni briefly remained in his vehicle to make
some work calls. He then entered BW3 and informed his two companions that he was going
home because he was not feeling well. Zehenni testified that he had no other alcoholic -3- Warren CA2016-03-020
drinks before the cocktail and none after.
{¶ 12} Frazier and Harris testified that the only drink that they observed Zehenni drink
that night was the cocktail at Frazier's house and that he did not seem impaired. Both also
confirmed that he left the bottle of vodka at Frazier's house, where it remained when they
returned later that evening.
{¶ 13} Zehenni claimed that the last memory he had before the accident was turning
out of the BW3 parking lot. His memory then resumed, somewhat foggily, around the time
Officer Slone placed him in the back of the police car. In the accident, Zehenni sustained a
broken sternum, which he sought treatment for some time later. Zehenni also sustained a
"knot" or "mark" on his head from the accident for which he never sought treatment.
{¶ 14} The jury found Zehenni guilty of OVI and using a weapon while intoxicated. On
appeal, Zehenni raises six assignments of error.
{¶ 15} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 16} THE JURY ERRED WHEN IT ENTERED A JUDGMENT AGAINST THE
APPELLANT WHICH WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO FIND
DEFENDANT GUILTY.
{¶ 17} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 18} THE JURY ERRED WHEN IT ENTERED A JUDGMENT AGAINST THE
APPELLANT WHICH WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
PRESENTED AT TRIAL.
{¶ 19} Zehenni argues that his OVI conviction was not supported by sufficient
evidence and that the greater weight of the evidence demonstrated that he was not
intoxicated but rather sustained a head injury in the traffic accident. Zehenni further argues
that his conviction for using a weapon while intoxicated was not supported by sufficient
evidence because the city failed to offer evidence that the gun recovered from his vehicle -4- Warren CA2016-03-020
was operable.
OVI
{¶ 20} Zehenni argues that he only had half of a single alcoholic beverage, that his two
witnesses testified that they did not observe him to be impaired, that he did not smell of an
alcoholic beverage to his witnesses, and that any indicia of impairment observed by police
that evening was consistent with head trauma occurring because of the traffic accident. The
city counters that there was ample evidence indicating that Zehenni was impaired, including
his own admission that he consumed alcohol, the accident, and his behavior during the traffic
stop.
{¶ 21} When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction,
an appellate court's function is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine
whether such evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, would convince
the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jones, 12th
Dist. Butler No. CA2012-03-049, 2013-Ohio-150, ¶ 17. In determining whether a judgment is
against the manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court must look at 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 and
a new trial ordered. State v. Cooper, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-05-113, 2011-Ohio-1630,
¶ 7. The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be exercised only in exceptional
cases where the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction. State v. Thompkins, 78
Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997).
{¶ 22} The evidence at trial demonstrated that Zehenni crashed his vehicle into an
another vehicle that was traveling in the same direction. The other driver testified that her
speed was 35 miles per hour and described the impact as "very hard." Zehenni's airbags -5- Warren CA2016-03-020
deployed. The front of Zehenni's car sustained substantial damage as did the rear of the
other driver's car. Despite the accident and airbag deployment, Zehenni continued to drive at
an unusually slow speed.
{¶ 23} Zehenni behaved oddly during the traffic stop and was generally non-compliant
in responding to basic questions and commands from the police. Both Slone and the other
officer testified that they detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from Zehenni's
breath, that his eyes were glassy, and that his movements were slow and deliberate. We
find that these facts constitute sufficient evidence to allow the jury to consider whether
Zehenni was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of OVI.
{¶ 24} This court also cannot conclude that the jury lost its way in convicting Zehenni
of OVI. The jury clearly rejected Zehenni's claim that he only consumed half of a cocktail that
night or was otherwise not impaired from alcohol or drugs. The jury also presumably rejected
Zehenni's contention that his behavior and loss of memory was because of an undiagnosed
and untreated head injury. With respect to credibility determinations, we defer to the fact-
finder. State v. Andrews, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-02-052, 2010-Ohio-108, ¶ 46.
{¶ 25} Even if the jury believed Zehenni's witnesses' testimony, it still could have
concluded that he was guilty of OVI. Both witnesses testified that they interacted with
Zehenni for a relatively short time before the accident occurred. Neither could know for
certain whether Zehenni had consumed any other drinks or drugs that day. Finally, while
Zehenni's behavior could have been explained by a medical issue, like head trauma, another
reasonable interpretation of the evidence is simply that Zehenni was too drunk to drive.
{¶ 26} After carefully reviewing the record, we find that there was sufficient evidence to
support Zehenni's conviction for OVI. Further, we do not find that the jury lost its way or
created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that his conviction must be reversed.
Consequently, the first and second assignments of error, as they relate to Zehenni's OVI -6- Warren CA2016-03-020
conviction, are overruled.
Using Weapons While Intoxicated
{¶ 27} Zehenni argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for
using weapons while intoxicated because the city failed to submit evidence that the gun
found in his vehicle was operable. "Using weapons while intoxicated" under City of Mason
Codified Ordinance ("Mason City Code") 549.03 required the city to prove that Zehenni
carried a "firearm." The city code defines "firearm" as:
(1) Any deadly weapon capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant. FIREARM includes an unloaded firearm, and any firearm that is inoperable but that can readily be rendered operable.
(2) When determining whether a firearm is capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant, the trier of fact may rely upon circumstantial evidence, including, but not limited to, the representations and actions of the individual exercising control over the firearm.
Mason City Code 549.01(i).1
{¶ 28} Accordingly, the city was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the
gun's operability. State v. Murphy, 49 Ohio St.3d 206, 208-09 (1990). Viewing the evidence
in a light most favorable to the prosecution, this court concludes that a rationale jury could
not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Zehenni's gun was operable or could be
easily rendered so.
{¶ 29} Despite the ease at which it could be accomplished, the city failed to offer any
direct evidence of operability. Slone and the other officer both confirmed that they did not
know if the gun was operable and it appears no one else at the city ever test-fired the gun.
Zehenni testified but the city failed to use this opportunity to ask him any questions related to
1. Mason City Code 549.01(i) mirrors R.C. 2923.11(B). -7- Warren CA2016-03-020
the gun's operability.
{¶ 30} The evidence on operability was circumstantial and was produced during
counsel's examination of other aspects of the case. Zehenni testified that he owned the gun
for safety reasons because his work was located in a bad neighborhood. The gun was
loaded when recovered by police. The state submitted the gun and its ammunition into
evidence. However, the jury was not instructed by the court on the statutory definition of
firearm, including its operability element. Therefore, it begs the question to argue that the
admission of the gun and ammunition into evidence constitutes evidence of operability, as
absent an instruction on operability, the jury would have no occasion to examine the gun to
consider whether it was operable.2 Hence, we do not find that the gun and ammunition
themselves may be relied upon as evidence of operability based upon the specific facts of
this case.
{¶ 31} While circumstantial evidence can be used to prove the operability of a gun, the
state's burden is still proof beyond a reasonable doubt. And we cannot find on these facts
that any rationale trier of fact could determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, the gun's
operability. Other courts have concluded similarly when the state has failed to meet its
burden of proof on operability. In re Arledge, 4th Dist. Ross No. 95 CA 2164, 1991 WL
511658 (Sept. 4, 1996), *5 ("It would have been a simple matter to either test fire the
weapon, or at least to ask the owner about its operability. However, the state did neither");
see also State v. Boyd, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-97-1366, 1998 WL 833534 (Dec. 4, 1998).
Accordingly, we find that the city failed to prove an essential element of the crime of using
weapons while intoxicated. And we therefore sustain Zehenni's second assignment of error
as to the charge of using weapons while intoxicated.
2. Zehenni raises this issue in his third assignment of error, which we do not address in light of our reversal here. -8- Warren CA2016-03-020
{¶ 32} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶ 33} APPELLANT WAS DEPRIVED OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS A RESULT
OF THE TRIAL COURT'S FAILURE TO INSTRUCT THE JURY ON THE DEFINITION OF
"FIREARM," AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE OF USING WEAPONS WHILE
INTOXICATED.
{¶ 34} Zehenni argues that the trial court erred when it failed to instruct the jury on the
statutory definition of "firearm" in using weapons while intoxicated under Mason City Code
549.03. This assignment of error is moot based upon our reversal on Zehenni's second
assignment of error.
{¶ 35} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶ 36} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW BY DENYING
APPELLANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS AS THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT PROBABLE
CAUSE TO ARREST APPELLANT FOR OVI.
{¶ 37} Before trial, Zehenni moved to suppress all evidence obtained from the traffic
stop and the trial court denied the motion after an evidentiary hearing. In this assignment of
error, Zehenni argues that Officer Slone did not have probable cause to arrest him for OVI
because the only evidence indicating that he was impaired could have been the result of
injuries he sustained in the traffic accident. Furthermore, Zehenni argues that the odor of an
alcoholic beverage on his breath, coupled with a traffic accident, does not establish probable
cause for an OVI arrest.
{¶ 38} Appellate review of a ruling on a motion to suppress presents a mixed question
of law and fact. State v. Cochran, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2006-10-023, 2007-Ohio-3353, ¶
12. The trial court, as the factfinder, is in the best position to resolve factual questions and
evaluate witness credibility. Therefore, when reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, a
reviewing court is bound to accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by -9- Warren CA2016-03-020
competent, credible evidence. This court, however, independently reviews the trial court's
legal conclusions based on those facts and determines, without deference to the trial court's
decision, whether as a matter of law, the facts satisfy the appropriate legal standard. Id.
{¶ 39} An officer must have probable cause to arrest a person without a warrant.
State v. Aslinger, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2011-11-014, 2012-Ohio-5436, ¶ 13, citing Beck v.
Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S.Ct. 223 (1964). The test for establishing probable cause to
arrest without a warrant is whether the facts and circumstances within an officer's knowledge
were sufficient to warrant a prudent individual in believing that the defendant had committed
or was committing an offense. A probable cause determination is based upon the totality of
the facts and circumstances. Id.
{¶ 40} Zehenni cites State v. Huening, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA94-01-017, 1994 WL
506218 (Sept. 19, 1994), for the proposition that a traffic accident, coupled with detecting the
odor of an alcoholic beverage does not provide a police officer with probable cause to arrest
for OVI. The facts in Huening are distinguishable from those here. The defendant in
Huening was not at fault in the accident and the investigating officer had no knowledge that
she was driving erratically or that her driving was impaired in any way. Id. at *3.
{¶ 41} At the suppression hearing, Officer Slone testified that he was aware that
Zehenni caused the traffic accident and left the scene of the accident. Slone observed that
Zehenni had issues removing his seat belt, displayed unusual behavior during the stop, had
an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, had "glassy" eyes, showed elongated motor
movements and was "fumbling" to retrieve a pack of chewing gum, presumably to mask the
odor of his breath, at the time of the traffic stop. This court finds that these facts and
circumstances provided Slone with the requisite probable cause to arrest Zehenni for
impaired driving. That there may be an alternate explanation for these occurrences, i.e.,
injuries from a traffic accident, does not eliminate the existence of probable cause. - 10 - Warren CA2016-03-020
Accordingly, the fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 42} Assignment of Error No. 5:
{¶ 43} THE PROSECUTOR'S MISCONDUCT VIOLATED APPELLANT'S RIGHT TO
A FAIR TRIAL GURANTEED BY THE DUE PROCESS PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1,
SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
{¶ 44} Zehenni argues that the prosecutor engaged in prosecutorial misconduct during
closing arguments. The prosecutor commented that the state believed that Zehenni was
lying about his lack of memory before and after the accident. Zehenni argues that this
comment prejudiced him because it swayed the jury with respect to his credibility. Zehenni
did not object at the time the prosecutor's comments were made, and our standard of review
is therefore plain error affecting substantial rights. Crim.R. 52(B).
{¶ 45} The prosecution is entitled to a certain degree of latitude in its concluding
remarks. State v. Layne, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2009-07-043, 2010-Ohio-2308, ¶ 58. A
court will find prosecutorial misconduct only when the remarks made during closing were
improper and those improper remarks prejudicially affected substantial rights of the
defendant. Id. The focus of an inquiry into allegations of prosecutorial misconduct is the
fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor. State v. Gray, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2011-09-176, 2012-Ohio-4769, ¶ 57. Therefore, a finding of prosecutorial misconduct will
not be grounds for reversal unless the defendant has been denied a fair trial because of the
prosecutor's prejudicial remarks. Layne at ¶ 60.
{¶ 46} It is improper for a prosecutor to attack the credibility of a defendant or a
witness in a trial based only upon the prosecutor's personal beliefs and not based on the
evidence that was submitted at trial. State v. Ross, 135 Ohio App.3d 262, 273 (12th Dist.
1999). While prosecutors should always avoid voicing their personal opinions about the guilt - 11 - Warren CA2016-03-020
of the defendant, such statements are not necessarily prejudicial per se. State v. Stephens,
24 Ohio St.2d 76, 82 (1970).
{¶ 47} In closing arguments, the prosecutor said the following concerning Zehenni's
claim that he could not remember what occurred before and after the traffic accident: "The
State believes that he's completely making up that he has no memory of it, that's what the
State believes. . . But it doesn't matter necessarily what I believe, what does matter is what
he has testified to is unreasonable."
{¶ 48} The remark was made in the context of discussing video evidence that the
prosecutor believed contradicted Zehenni's claims that he had no memory of the accident.
The choice of words was unfortunate, but placed in its proper context we do not find that the
comment was improper. Even if we concluded that the comment was improper, viewing this
isolated and brief remark in the context of the entire trial, we would find that Zehenni received
a fair trial on the OVI charge. That conviction was supported by the greater weight of the
evidence and we do not perceive that this remark could have possibly affected that result.
There is no plain error here and the fifth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 49} Assignment of Error No. 6:
{¶ 50} APPELLANT WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
UNDER THE SIXTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WHEN
THAT COUNSEL'S REPRESENTATION WAS PROFESSIONALLY UNREASONABLE, IS
PREJUDICIAL TO DEFENDANT, AND FELL BELOW AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF
REASONABLENESS.
{¶ 51} Zehenni claims his trial counsel was ineffective for: (1) failing to introduce
medical records, (2) failing to retain an expert witness, and (3) failing to object to the lack of a
"firearm" definition in the jury instructions. We do not address the third argument because it
is moot based on our reversal on the second assignment of error. - 12 - Warren CA2016-03-020
{¶ 52} Counsel is strongly presumed to have rendered adequate assistance and made
all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. State v.
Hendrix, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-05-109, 2012-Ohio-5610, ¶ 14. To prevail on an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Zehenni must show his trial counsel's performance
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that he was prejudiced as a result.
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-688, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984).
{¶ 53} In order to demonstrate prejudice, Zehenni must establish that, but for his trial
counsel's errors, there is a reasonable probability that the result of trial would have been
different. State v. Kinsworthy, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2013-06-053, 2014-Ohio-1584, ¶ 42.
A "reasonable probability" is a probability that is "sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome." Strickland at 694. The failure to make an adequate showing on either prong is
fatal to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Kinsworthy at ¶ 42.
Failure to Introduce Medical Records
{¶ 54} Zehenni argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce certain
medical records into evidence, which he claims would have corroborated his defense of
having suffered a head injury. The record reflects that Zehenni intended to introduce two
sets of medical documents, one from the Warren County Jail a day or so after his arrest,
which reflect that he complained to the medical staff about chest pains and a headache, and
records from UC Health over a month after the accident, where Zehenni was apparently
diagnosed with a broken sternum.
{¶ 55} We do not find that trial counsel's performance fell below a reasonable
standard of effectiveness for failing to submit these medical records into evidence. Zehenni
testified about his medical complaints at the Warren County Jail as well as his diagnosis at
UC Health for the broken sternum. These facts were not controverted by the city.
{¶ 56} The documents would have been simply duplicative of Zehenni's testimony. - 13 - Warren CA2016-03-020
Moreover, these documents do not corroborate Zehenni's defense of having suffered
significant head trauma, which resulted in his behavior during the traffic stop. At best, the
record reflects that Zehenni complained of a headache a day or two after the accident, an
ailment for which he never sought treatment. Accordingly, this argument is meritless.
Failure to Present Expert Testimony
{¶ 57} Zehenni also argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to secure the
testimony of a medical doctor who could explain to the jury how an individual in a vehicle
accident might exhibit behavior consistent with an intoxicated driver. The decision of whether
or not to call an expert witness is a matter of trial strategy. State v. Coleman, 45 Ohio St.3d
298, 307-308 (1989). As such, a decision by trial counsel not to call an expert witness
generally will not sustain an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. State v. Nicholas, 66
Ohio St.3d 431, 436 (1993); State v. Thompson, 33 Ohio St.3d 1, 10-11 (1987).
{¶ 58} We cannot conclude that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to secure an
expert who would testify along the lines suggested by Zehenni. Evid.R. 703 provides that
"[t]he facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference
may be those perceived by the expert or admitted in evidence at the hearing." Zehenni did
not seek any medical treatment related to his purported head injury. Consequently, no
medical expert could offer an opinion based on providing treatment to Zehenni at or around
the time of the accident or based upon a review of medical records concerning the claimed
head injury. Accordingly, any expert would be limited to the evidence introduced at trial
concerning Zehenni's alleged head injuries. That evidence showed that Zehenni was in an
accident where an airbag deployed and later complained of a headache. Evid.R. 702
requires that an expert's testimony be based on reliable and scientific information. An
opinion rendered by an expert that Zehenni was more likely suffering from a head injury –
derived from this limited amount of information – would seem far too speculative to be - 14 - Warren CA2016-03-020
admissible. Accordingly, this argument is meritless.
{¶ 59} Judgment reversed as to appellant's conviction for using weapons while
intoxicated and appellant is hereby discharged on that conviction. In all other respects, the
judgment is hereby affirmed.
S. POWELL and PIPER, JJ., concur.
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