[Cite as State v. Haugh, 2016-Ohio-8008.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

 LUCAS COUNTY 

State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. L-15-1115 

 

 Appellee Trial Court No. CR0201402037 

v. 

John Joseph Haugh DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Appellant Decided: December 2, 2016 

* * * * * 

 Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and 

 Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee. 

 Tim A. Dugan, for appellant. 

* * * * * 

 JENSEN, P.J. 

{¶ 1} Following a jury trial, defendant-appellant, John Haugh, appeals the 

March 31, 2015 judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, convicting him 

of aggravated murder. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court judgment. 
2.

I. Background 

A. Scott Warnka is Betrayed. Plans are Made to Retaliate. 

{¶ 2} On April 13, 2014, Thomas Przybysz was arrested for possession of heroin, 

a fifth-degree felony. He was told by Toledo Police Sergeant, Kerrie Williams, that the 

charge would be dismissed if he led police to a higher-level drug offender. Przybysz 

agreed to assist. He led police to his long-time friend, Scott Warnka. 

{¶ 3} Warnka was a drug dealer who sold drugs to Przybysz and Przybysz’s coworkers. Przybysz would place orders for his co-workers and leave the money for the 

drugs in his car at work. Warnka would then come by around 10:00 p.m., collect the 

money, and leave the drugs that had been ordered. Przybysz told police of this 

arrangement. 

{¶ 4} On May 14, 2014, an undercover officer arranged through Przybysz to buy 

$50 worth of cocaine from Warnka. The officer met Warnka in the parking lot. 

Following that transaction, Przybysz informed police that Warnka was going to be 

leaving town and wanted to get rid of about seven grams of cocaine. On May 21, 2014, 

Przybysz helped the undercover officer arrange another transaction. Przybysz told 

Warnka that the same customer had pooled his money with three other men and wanted 

to buy a quarter ounce of cocaine. The purchase price was $300. The officer met 

Warnka in the parking lot and exchanged the money for the cocaine. Police then 

swarmed the vehicle and arrested Warnka. He was charged with drug possession and 
3.

trafficking and was taken to the Lucas County jail. Warnka quickly realized that 

Przybysz had set him up. 

{¶ 5} Warnka was released from jail the next day on a $10,000 bond posted by his 

cousin, Roy Cerveny, his then-girlfriend (now-wife), Jessica Kinsey, and his drug 

supplier, Charles Holt, who picked him up. Almost immediately after posting bond, 

Warnka began texting Przybysz: “Guess who is out, you fucking snitch.” And “I’m 

going to whoop your ass.” Cerveny told Warnka that there was someone at his house 

who would take care of it and would “whoop [Przybysz’s] ass” for him. 

{¶ 6} After a few stops, Warnka, Jessica, Cerveny, and Cerveny’s wife, Laura, 

went to the Cervenys’ house. There were three men already gathered there, including 

Haugh. When Warnka saw Haugh, he knew immediately that it was Haugh who Cerveny 

had in mind to “whoop [Przybysz’s] ass.” Warnka started drinking and snorting cocaine, 

then sat down next to Haugh. They began talking about how Warnka had been set up, 

was angry, and wanted Przybysz’s “ass whooped.” Haugh asked Warnka where 

Przybysz lived. Warnka told him the street, about how far down the block he lived, what 

kind of car he drove, and what time he got off work. 

{¶ 7} Around midnight, Cerveny took Warnka and Jessica home. The next 

morning, Warnka woke up and saw on a news channel that someone had been stabbed in 

Point Place in Toledo. Warnka recognized Przybysz’s house on the news. Around the 

same time, he and Jessica turned on their phones and saw that there was a text message 

and a voice mail from Cerveny. The voice mail indicated that Warnka would be happy 
4.

and the text said “a hundred dollars with a bunch of money signs.” Warnka soon learned 

that Przybysz had died. 

B. Przybysz’s Death. 

{¶ 8} Around 3:45 a.m. on May 23, 2014, Przybysz’s neighbor called 9-1-1 from 

her home on 283rd Street. She reported that Przybysz had been stabbed and was at her 

front door covered in blood. Police and emergency crews responded and found Przybysz 

lying on the ground in front of the steps leading to his neighbor’s door, conscious, but 

fading. He had been stabbed multiple times. As the life squad transported Przybysz to 

the hospital, he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at St. Vincent Hospital at 

4:26 a.m. 

{¶ 9} Investigating officers followed a blood trail which helped them piece 

together what had happened. They concluded that Przybysz was attacked on his porch 

upon returning from work as he tried to open his front door. The storm door was propped 

open by his book bag, which held his lunchbox, safety goggles, and gloves, and his keys 

were on the ground in front of the door. After he was stabbed, Przybysz went to the 

house just south of his, and knocked on the door. When no one answered, he knocked on 

the door two houses north of his—skipping the house immediately next to his, probably 

because he knew it was vacant. Przybysz dropped his cell phone, which was smeared 

with blood, in his driveway. 

{¶ 10} The coroner determined that Przybysz had been stabbed at least 15 times in 

the neck, ear, chest, shoulder, back, hand, arm, thumb, and thigh. Some of the wounds 
5.

were deep while others were superficial. His jugular vein was pierced, causing 

substantial hemorrhaging. His right lung was punctured and was filled with blood; both 

lungs had collapsed. He was stabbed with enough force to fracture his sternum and 

several ribs. His thumb was also severed and was hanging by only soft tissue. 

C. The Investigation Leads to Warnka, Cerveny, and Haugh. 

{¶ 11} Toledo Police Detective Gregory Mattimore received information from two 

women who told him of Warnka’s recent arrest and his visit to the Cervenys’ house after 

posting bond. Detective Mattimore learned the names of the people who were at the 

Cerveny house in the hours leading up to Przybysz’s murder. He went to the home and 

talked to Laura Cerveny who verified that Warnka, Cerveny, Haugh, and others had been 

at her house that night. 

{¶ 12} Detective Mattimore also learned that on May 22, 2014, Przybysz called 

Sergeant Williams and told her that Warnka had been leaving threatening messages on 

his phone. Sergeant Williams instructed him to keep them because they could later 

charge Warnka with intimidation. She learned from a lieutenant the next day that 

Przybysz had been murdered. 

{¶ 13} With the information obtained from these sources, Detective Mattimore 

was able to secure a number of warrants. He also interviewed Cerveny, Warnka, Haugh, 

and others that had been at the Cerveny home that night, including Mark Fisher, Kevin 

Reed, and C. J. Basilius. 
6.

{¶ 14} Fisher told Detective Mattimore that he arrived at the Cervenys’ house 

between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. on May 23, 2014. Warnka had left by this point, but Fisher 

described that Cerveny and Haugh were “pretty fired up” about Przybysz’s betrayal of 

Warnka. He recalled that Cerveny and Haugh said that “there needs to be something 

done,” and that they needed to “kick his ass.” He saw Haugh change his clothes from 

jeans and a “wife beater”-style tank top into a red sweat suit. He then left. About an 

hour later, Haugh called Cerveny to come pick him up, and about an hour after that, the 

two returned. Upon their return, they said that “it was done,” and that Przybysz had 

gotten “his ass kicked.” They said “he got what he deserved.” Later that afternoon, 

Fisher learned that Przybysz had been killed. He realized that Haugh and Cerveny were 

involved. 

{¶ 15} Reed said he arrived at the Cerveny home before Warnka and Cerveny. He 

heard Warnka ask Haugh to beat up Przybysz. He said Haugh nodded. Later he heard 

Warnka tell Haugh where Przybysz lived, what shift he worked, and what car he drove. 

He recalled that Haugh left around 2:00 or 2:30 a.m., then returned. Reed found out the 

next day that Przybysz had been killed and it made him wonder if Haugh had something 

to do with it. 

{¶ 16} C. J. Basilius reported that he was living at the Cervenys’ home and was 

there that night. He said Warnka arrived around 8:00 p.m. on May 22, 2014, and was 

upset about having been in jail. He said he wanted to go beat up Przybysz. Haugh told 

Warnka, “I got it for you.” Basilius went to bed around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., and was 
7.

awoken around midnight or 1:00 a.m. Warnka and his girlfriend were gone by then. 

Basilius went back to bed a little while later and woke up for work at 5:00 a.m. Haugh 

was there. He heard Haugh say that Przybysz got what he deserved. He heard later that 

morning that Przybysz had been killed. At that point he started thinking that Haugh had 

something to do with it. The night before, however, the talk had been only that Haugh 

wanted to go over and beat him up. 

D. The Suspects Are Interviewed. 

{¶ 17} Detective Mattimore interviewed Warnka, Cerveny, and Haugh. Initially, 

all three denied any involvement in Przybysz’s murder. But after being arrested and 

charged with murder, Warnka and Cerveny became more forthcoming with the detective. 

{¶ 18} Warnka admitted that he had been angry with Przybysz and began sending 

menacing text messages to him immediately after Cerveny, Jessica, and Holt posted his 

bond. He told the detective that Cerveny had connected him with Haugh, who he said 

would “take care of it” and “whoop [Przybysz’s] ass.” He described that he drank some 

alcohol, snorted some cocaine, and sat down next to Haugh to talk to him about it. He 

admitted that before he and Jessica left, around midnight, he provided Haugh with the 

information he would need to find Przybysz. His understanding was only that Haugh 

“was going to whoop [Przybysz’s] ass.” 

{¶ 19} Warnka explained that he and Jessica had turned off their phones when 

they got home. He said that the next morning when they turned on their phones, there 

were a couple of text messages and a voice message left for Warnka on Jessica’s phone. 
8.

One text message was from Cerveny. It said “a hundred dollars with a bunch of money 

signs.” Warnka interpreted the text to mean that Cerveny wanted to buy some cocaine. 

The voice mail was also from Cerveny, telling Warnka that he would be happy. At first 

he did not understand the voice mail message. But after watching the news and learning 

of Przybysz’s stabbing, he realized what the voice mail message meant. 

{¶ 20} Warnka later spoke with Cerveny. Cerveny told him that he picked up 

Haugh at around 4:00 a.m. from a church on 108th or 116th Street and Haugh had a cut 

on his finger. Cerveny said that he knew that Haugh had “went and killed [Przybysz].” 

Warnka said he was surprised. He said “it was never suppose [sic] to happen like that. 

* * * [Przybysz] was just suppose [sic] to get his ass whooped.” 

{¶ 21} Warnka was ultimately offered a plea agreement. In exchange for his 

agreement to testify truthfully against Haugh, he was permitted to enter a plea of guilty to 

first-degree involuntary manslaughter, which carries a potential sentence of 3-11 years 

instead of the 15 years-to-life sentence for murder. 

{¶ 22} Cerveny also spoke to Detective Mattimore. He told him that Warnka had 

been complaining that night about having been set up by Przybysz, and he said he wanted 

someone to beat him up. Cerveny told him to talk to Haugh. Warnka said he was willing 

to pay someone $100. Haugh agreed to do it, but said he did not know what Przybysz 

looked like. Warnka showed Haugh a picture of Przybysz and told him where he lived, 

what kind of car he drove, and what time he got off work. Haugh said he would take care 

of it. Cerveny took Warnka and Jessica home around midnight. 
9.

{¶ 23} Cerveny said that around 3:00 a.m., Haugh said he had to take care of 

something and left. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. He was carrying a book bag that 

he always carried with him that contained clothing and other things he needed to stay the 

night at people’s places. He left on his bicycle. Around 4:00 a.m., Haugh called Cerveny 

and said he needed a ride. He said he hurt himself and sounded out of breath. Initially 

Cerveny could not find him. He called Haugh approximately three times. He eventually 

picked him up in Laura’s minivan at a church on 116th Street. He did not have his bike 

with him—he said he left it by the church. 

{¶ 24} Cerveny noticed that Haugh’s hand was wrapped up. He asked what 

happened and Haugh said he cut it when he went for Przybysz. Haugh said he did not 

know how bad he hurt Przybysz and he wanted Cerveny to drive by his house. They did 

and they saw the rescue squads. Cerveny asked why there would be rescue squads and 

Haugh said he stabbed at Przybysz but missed the first time and was not sure “how good 

he got him because he cut himself.” Cerveny concluded at that point that Haugh had hurt 

Przybysz a lot worse than he had agreed to, but he did not know that Przybysz was dead 

or dying. Haugh told Cerveny to call Warnka and tell him the job was done and he 

would be happy. Cerveny left that voice mail message. He also texted Warnka. 

{¶ 25} Cerveny and Haugh arrived back at the Cervenys’ house and Haugh asked 

for a first aid kit. He asked for something to put his gloves in because they were torn and 

there was blood on them. Haugh put the gloves in a cereal box and put the box in the trash. 
10. 

He put the knife in his backpack. Cerveny said Haugh was wearing a “wife-beater”-style 

tank top and shorts when he picked him up at 4:00 a.m.—he had changed clothes. 

{¶ 26} Like Warnka, Cerveny agreed to testify against Haugh. In exchange, he 

was permitted to enter a plea of guilty to third-degree involuntary manslaughter and 

obstructing justice. Each carries a sentence of one to three years’ imprisonment. 

{¶ 27} Haugh never admitted any involvement in Przybysz’s murder. Detective 

Mattimore asked him if he left the Cerveny home that night. He said he may have gone 

to a carryout to buy Long Island iced teas. Detective Mattimore checked the carryouts in 

the vicinity, however, and none were open until 3:00 a.m. Detective Mattimore asked 

Haugh what he was wearing. He said he wore a t-shirt and jeans that night and woke up 

the next morning wearing the same clothes. He denied having any conversations with 

Warnka that night, and he denied that anyone at the Cervenys’ house had been upset. He 

described Warnka as happy. 

E. Other Evidence Points to Haugh. 

{¶ 28} Police made a number of discoveries implicating Haugh in Przybysz’s 

murder. For one, a patrol officer found an abandoned bicycle on May 23, 2014, in the 

stairwell of a church located at 116th and 297th Streets. Because it was out of place and 

because of the nearby homicide, investigators kept the bike. They ultimately found a spot 

of blood on it. DNA testing was performed and the blood was found to be consistent 

with Haugh’s DNA. During questioning by Detective Mattimore, Haugh identified the 

bike as his and admitted that he rode that bike to the Cervenys’ house on May 22, 2016. 
11. 

Przybysz’s DNA was not found on the bike, however, and no other DNA evidence was 

found to link Haugh to Przybysz’s murder. 

{¶ 29} Investigators also recovered video surveillance from a homeowner, a gas 

station, and a school within the vicinity of the murder for the general time frame 

established by the investigation. Video from the gas station showed a minivan that 

looked like Cerveny’s pass by around the time he said he picked up Haugh, and it was 

traveling in a direction that coincided with Cerveny’s description of events. Video from 

the school—which is located at 4747 290th Street, between Cerveny and Przybysz’s 

houses—showed someone ride by on a bicycle. The bicyclist was wearing sweats and 

appeared to carry a backpack. And video surveillance from the homeowner, who lived 

four or five houses away from Przybysz, showed a person riding a bike westbound on 

108th Street, turn southbound onto 283rd Street, and cross the street. He was carrying a 

backpack. Approximately a minute-and-a-half later, a vehicle can be seen pulling up to a 

house and into a driveway. About two minutes later, the person on the bike can be seen 

riding northbound on 283rd Street, then eastbound on 108th Street. A porch light goes on 

a little less than three minutes after the bicyclist leaves, and emergency vehicles arrive 

about six minutes later. 

{¶ 30} The police also obtained cell phone records for Haugh and Cerveny’s 

phones. Those records evidenced a number of calls between 3:48 a.m. and 3:55 a.m. on 

May 23, 2014, as well as a call to Jessica at 4:08 a.m. 
12. 

{¶ 31} A couple of knives were found in the area in the weeks following 

Przybysz’s murder, but they were never processed because they had been outside and 

exposed to the elements for so long. None was established to be the murder weapon. 

{¶ 32} Police also recovered correspondence that Haugh mailed from the county 

jail to Laura and Roy Cerveny. The letter to Laura stated that Cerveny should not change 

anything that he told police initially. It said that the police had nothing and could not 

prove anything, and that they all needed to stay strong or they would “be screwed.” It 

suggested that reasonable doubt could be established if the police pursued other drug 

dealers Przybysz had set up. 

{¶ 33} In his letter to Cerveny, Haugh told him not to be scared. He said that the 

police had no evidence, no murder weapon, no DNA, and no eyewitnesses. He said that 

without a warrant, the police could not get phone records. He questioned the number of 

drug dealers Przybysz had “snitched” on. Haugh advised that as long as Cerveny did not 

take any deals, no one would be convicted. And he warned that if Cerveny allowed 

police to scare him into saying what they want him to say, he would be “sending [his] 

cousin to prison for 15 years or more, and sending John to the gas chamber, and sending 

yourself to prison for a long time.” He insisted to Cerveny that he committed no crime 

and the state could not win at trial unless Cerveny took a deal. 

{¶ 34} Finally, inmates from the Lucas County jail stepped forward with 

information. Brian Hackett-Foster was in jail in June of 2014, in connection with charges 

of first-degree aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree aggravated vehicular 
13. 

assault. He and Haugh both resided on the sixth floor of the jail and slept on cots next to 

each other. Haugh talked to Hackett-Foster about his case. He said that the day of the 

incident, he was upset because someone stole some scrap from him and he was “sort of 

pissed off.” He described that he went to a buddy’s house to drink and party and a guy 

named Roy had been bonded out of jail. Haugh said he was upset because another guy 

had set him up in a drug deal. They wanted Haugh to go over and beat the guy up. 

Haugh told Hackett-Foster that around 3:30 or 4:00, Haugh went over and waited in the 

bushes for the guy to get off work. He got into a fight with the guy and Haugh said the 

guy had gotten the better of him, so he ended up stabbing him. Hackett-Foster revealed 

this information in the hope of using it to his advantage during plea negotiations in his 

own case. He ultimately entered a plea to third-degree aggravated vehicular homicide 

and third-degree aggravated vehicular assault in exchange for his cooperation in 

testifying against Haugh. 

{¶ 35} Inmate Antwuan Lawson also provided information about Haugh. In June 

of 2014, he was incarcerated on charges of domestic violence. He and Haugh were 

involved in an altercation at that time. He met up with Haugh again in November of 

2014, when Lawson was incarcerated on a charge of robbery. He told of an incident 

where Haugh was cooking inside his jail cell and was caught by a corrections officer. 

Haugh said if he saw the corrections officer again he would kill him. At first Lawson did 

not take the threat seriously, but Haugh later showed him a razor blade. Lawson did not 

report him at that time, but a couple of months later, Haugh was angry because his lawyer 
14. 

told him that Hackett-Foster was going to testify against him. He said if he got the 

chance, he was going to kill Hackett-Foster. Lawson saw what he believed to be a 

makeshift knife created from a homemade razor blade and a toothbrush, so he reported it, 

and Haugh and his cell were searched. He said he saw Haugh slash his mattress with the 

knife. The weapon was recovered. Lawson received nothing from the state in exchange 

for this information. 

F. The Jury Convicts Haugh. 

{¶ 36} After a five-day jury trial, Haugh was convicted of aggravated murder. 

The trial court sentenced Haugh to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 

conviction and sentence were memorialized in a judgment entry journalized on March 31, 

2015. Haugh timely appealed and assigns the following errors for our review: 

 1) The State failed to produce legally sufficient evidence that 

Appellant committed Aggravated Murder. 

 2) Appellant’s conviction for Aggravated Murder fell against the 

manifest weight of the evidence. 

 3) The Trial Court erred in allowing the State to introduce evidence 

it untimely disclosed mere days before trial. 

II. Law and Analysis 

{¶ 37} In his first assignment of error, Haugh challenges the sufficiency of the 

evidence. In his second assignment of error, he argues that the jury’s verdict was against 

the manifest weight of the evidence. And in his third assignment of error, he claims that 
15. 

the trial court erred in allowing the state to present evidence that was not timely 

disclosed. 

{¶ 38} We address Haugh’s first and second assignments of error together before 

turning to his third assignment of error. 

A. Sufficiency and Manifest Weight of the Evidence. 

{¶ 39} Haugh was convicted of aggravated murder under R.C. 2903.01(A), which 

provides that “[n]o person shall purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause 

the death of another * * *.” Haugh contends that the state failed to prove the required 

mens rea of “prior calculation and design.” He insists that the state presented evidence 

showing only that the plan was to assault Przybysz—not to kill him. As such, he argues, 

the evidence was insufficient to support a guilty verdict as to the crime of aggravated 

murder. 

{¶ 40} Haugh also claims that there was a lack of physical evidence linking him to 

the crime. He says the video surveillance does not positively identify him as the 

bicyclist, and there is no evidence as to how long his blood was on the bike. He 

maintains that many of the state’s witnesses had been charged with crimes and were 

seeking a reduction in both the seriousness of and sentences for those offenses in 

exchange for their testimony. And he contends that the jury should not have been 

permitted to consider Lawson’s testimony about the homemade knife because it was 

unrelated to Przybysz’s murder. He argues, therefore, that the jury’s verdict was against 

the manifest weight of the evidence. 
16. 

{¶ 41} Whether there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction is a question of 

law. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In reviewing a 

challenge to the sufficiency of evidence, “[t]he 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.” 

(Internal citations omitted.) State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 113, 684 N.E.2d 668 

(1997). In making that determination, the appellate court will not weigh the evidence or 

assess the credibility of the witnesses. State v. Walker, 55 Ohio St.2d 208, 212, 378 

N.E.2d 1049 (1978). 

{¶ 42} When reviewing a claim that a verdict is against the manifest weight of the 

evidence, the appellate court must weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, 

consider the credibility of witnesses, and determine whether the jury clearly lost its way 

in resolving evidentiary conflicts so as to create such a manifest miscarriage of justice 

that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. Thompkins at 387. We do 

not view the evidence in a light most favorable to the state. “Instead, we sit as a 

‘thirteenth juror’ and scrutinize ‘the factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting testimony.’” 

State v. Robinson, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-10-1369, 2012-Ohio-6068, ¶ 15, citing 

Thompkins at 388. Reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “the exceptional 

case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” Thompkins at 387, 

quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). 
17. 

{¶ 43} Ohio courts recognize that to establish “prior calculation and design,” the 

state must show that the accused killed the victim purposefully after devising a plan or 

scheme to kill. State v. Davis, 8 Ohio App.3d 205, 206-207, 456 N.E.2d 1256 (8th 

Dist.1982). “There must be some kind of studied analysis with its object being the means 

by which to kill.” Id. “Momentary deliberation is insufficient.” (Internal citations and 

quotations omitted.) State v. Hill, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98366, 2013-Ohio-578, ¶ 19-

20. Whether there exists prior calculation and design is a factual determination 

determined on a case-by-case basis. State v. Jones, 91 Ohio St.3d 335, 345, 744 N.E.2d 

1163 (2001). 

{¶ 44} Here, the state presented evidence that Haugh agreed to “whoop Przybysz’s 

ass.” More than four hours after agreeing to do so, he rode off on his bike with his 

backpack, which held a change of clothes and a knife. He lay in wait in the bushes for 

Przybysz to return from work. Although Haugh claims there was no evidence that he 

intended anything more than to assault Przybysz, the evidence indicates otherwise. For 

one, he took the knife out of his backpack despite his purported plan only to beat up 

Przybysz. And even more telling is the viciousness of the attack itself and the severity of 

Przybysz’s injuries—15 stab wounds to his neck, chest, back, arm, ear, leg, finger, 

shoulder, some of which were forceful enough to fracture bones. These factors 

demonstrate prior calculation and design—not momentary deliberation. See, e.g., State v. 

Carter, 7th Dist. Jefferson No. 05 JE 7, 2007-Ohio-3502, ¶ 128 (“By waiting outside [the 
18. 

victim’s] home, [the defendant] demonstrated that he had a scheme designed to 

implement a calculated decision to kill.”). 

{¶ 45} Haugh suggests that his encounter with Przybysz could have started off as a 

fight that ultimately escalated. Again, however, we note that Haugh had taken the knife 

out of his backpack, and Przybysz suffered 15 stab wounds, some on his back, some on 

his front, and some defensive in nature. Haugh, on the other hand, walked away with 

only a cut on his finger. Accordingly we find that the state presented evidence going to 

each element of the offense of aggravated murder, and we find no error in the jury’s 

verdict. 

{¶ 46} As to the lack of physical evidence linking Haugh to the crime, “[p]hysical 

evidence is not required to sustain a conviction.” (Internal citations omitted.) State v. 

Malone, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101305, 2015-Ohio-2150, ¶ 31. The Eighth District 

Court of Appeals explained in State v. McFeeture, 2015-Ohio-1814, 36 N.E.3d 689, ¶ 43-

44 (8th Dist.): 

 Proof of guilt may be made by circumstantial evidence, real 

evidence, and direct evidence, or any combination of the three, and all three 

have equal probative value. 

 Circumstantial evidence is the proof of facts by direct evidence from 

which the trier of fact may infer or derive by reasoning other facts in 

accordance with the common experience of mankind. Although it requires 

the drawing of inferences, circumstantial evidence and direct evidence 
19. 

inherently possess the same probative value. The United States Supreme 

Court has long noted that circumstantial evidence is not only sufficient, but 

may also be more certain, satisfying, and persuasive than direct evidence. 

The Ohio Supreme Court has also instructed that circumstantial evidence is 

sufficient to sustain a conviction if that evidence would convince the 

average mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

(Citations and quotations omitted.) 

{¶ 47} Here, the state presented evidence that Haugh agreed to “whoop Przybysz’s 

ass” for setting up Warnka. Warnka provided him with the information necessary to find 

Przybysz. Haugh left the Cervenys’ house on his bike carrying a backpack, and 

Przybysz’s neighbor’s video surveillance showed a man on a bicycle with a backpack 

ride by and cross the street to what appeared to be Przybysz’s home. Within minutes 

after Przybysz’s vehicle turned into the driveway, the bicyclist is seen pedaling away, and 

it is around this time that Haugh called Cerveny to ask for a ride. When Cerveny picked 

up Haugh, his finger was bleeding and he told Cerveny he cut himself when he stabbed at 

Przybysz. Cerveny saw Haugh dispose of bloody gloves and put his knife in his 

backpack. Haugh’s blood was found on his bicycle. And Haugh also admitted to a 

cellmate that he stabbed Przybysz, and his letters from jail reflect his attempts to keep his 

co-defendants quiet. Any one of these facts alone may not have sufficed, but considered 

in their totality, the evidence certainly supports the jury’s verdict. 
20. 

{¶ 48} As to the testimony from co-defendants and inmates who had a motive to 

fabricate their testimony, the jury was presented with their plea agreements. It was wellinformed of the benefits received by the witnesses in exchange for their testimony. As 

such, the jury was free to assess the witnesses’ credibility in light of this information. 

State v. Rankin, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-1118, 2011-Ohio-5131, ¶ 30. While we 

must act as a thirteenth juror when considering whether a verdict is against the manifest 

weight of the evidence, the jury is in the best position to make credibility determinations. 

Id. at ¶ 29. We decline to conclude that a conviction is against the manifest weight of the 

evidence merely because the jury believed the state’s version of the facts over the 

defendant’s. Id. at ¶ 29. 

{¶ 49} We find Haugh’s first two assignments of error not well-taken. 

B. Admission of Evidence that was not Timely-Disclosed. 

{¶ 50} In his third assignment of error, Haugh argues that the trial court abused its 

discretion in allowing the state to present photographs that were not produced until the 

Friday before trial. He insists that trial counsel had no time to “adjust to, investigate, or 

otherwise question the accuracy” of the photos. He asserts that “a tactic like this by the 

State serves only to send a defendant’s counsel reeling.” 

{¶ 51} The state denies that any discovery violation occurred, and points out that 

far from “reeling,” trial counsel had time to file a motion to exclude the photographs. It 

also maintains that no discovery violation occurred, and even if a violation had occurred, 
21. 

the defendant bears the burden of demonstrating unfairness resulting from the late 

disclosure. 

{¶ 52} The photos at issue included exhibit No. 35 (a photo of the victim’s face at 

his autopsy, along with the autopsy number displayed), and exhibits Nos. 27-31 (photos 

of the church where Haugh’s bicycle was found). The state claims that there was no 

surprise to Haugh and his counsel because a CD with the photos had been provided to 

trial counsel. It also observes that it could have requested a jury view in lieu of 

presenting the photographs at trial. 

{¶ 53} The trial court allowed the parties to briefly argue the motion to exclude 

evidence. Trial counsel conceded that she had seen the autopsy photos before and that 

she had been to the church where the bike was found. The trial court found that there 

was no prejudice to Haugh. 

{¶ 54} The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter solely within the 

discretion of a trial court. Miller v. Defiance Regional Med. Ctr., 6th Dist. Lucas No. 

L-06-1111, 2007-Ohio-7101, ¶ 17. A reviewing court may reverse a court’s decision 

only where the trial court has abused its discretion. Id. To find an abuse of discretion, 

we must determine that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or 

unconscionable and was not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. 

Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). 
22. 

{¶ 55} Here, we agree with the trial court that Haugh failed to show that he was 

prejudiced by the failure to provide the handful of photos to trial counsel until the Friday 

before trial. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s decision. 

{¶ 56} Accordingly, we find Haugh’s third assignment of error not well-taken. 

III. Conclusion 

{¶ 57} We find Haugh’s three assignments of error not well-taken, and affirm the 

March 31, 2015 judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. Haugh is 

ordered to pay the costs of this appeal under App.R. 24. 

Judgment affirmed. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. 

See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4. 

Arlene Singer, J. _______________________________ 

JUDGE 

Thomas J. Osowik, J. 

_______________________________ 

James D. Jensen, P.J. JUDGE 

CONCUR. 

_______________________________ 

JUDGE