[Cite as State v. Ludwick, 2023-Ohio-1113.]

0

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

HIGHLAND COUNTY

State of Ohio, : Case No. 22CA9

 

Plaintiff-Appellee, :

v. : DECISION AND

JUDGMENT ENTRY

Aaron Ludwick, :

Defendant-Appellant. : RELEASED 3/29/2023

APPEARANCES:

Aaron Ludwick, Chillicothe, Ohio, pro se.

Anneka P. Collins, Highland County Prosecutor, and Adam J. King, Highland County 

Assistant Prosecutor, Hillsboro, Ohio, for appellee.

Hess, J.

{¶1} Aaron Ludwick appeals the trial court’s decision denying his petition for 

postconviction relief. Ludwick contends that the trial court erred when it denied his 

postconviction petition without conducting an evidentiary hearing. He argues that he was 

denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel because he had an alibi 

his trial attorney did not pursue and his attorney failed to impeach the victim. He also 

contends that the state used evidence in violation of his Fifth Amendment privilege and 

there were multiple errors in the trial court’s analysis of his postconviction relief petition 

that cumulatively deprived him of a fair trial. 

{¶2} We reject Ludwick’s contentions. A petitioner seeking postconviction relief 

is not automatically entitled to a hearing. Before granting an evidentiary hearing, the trial 

court must determine whether substantive grounds for relief exist. Here, the trial court 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 2

properly determined that substantive grounds for relief did not exist. The affidavits

Ludwick contends were “alibis,” were statements from friends or neighbors who claimed 

that during the times they visited Ludwick or were around him, they did not witness 

abusive behavior by Ludwick towards the victim. The trial court correctly held that such 

statements do not constitute “alibis,” nor would they be relevant impeachment evidence.

The trial court also reviewed the record and properly determined that none of the evidence 

Ludwick contends was obtained in violation of his Fifth Amendment was introduced as 

evidence at trial and, therefore, could not be the basis for vacating his convictions. 

{¶3} Finally, we reject his contention that there were cumulative errors in the trial 

court’s consideration of his postconviction relief petition. The “cumulative errors doctrine” 

applies to errors that occur in the criminal trial. A postconviction relief petition is a 

collateral civil attack. We have reviewed the trial court’s decision for “abuse of discretion” 

and found that the trial court’s decision to deny the petition without an evidentiary hearing 

was not an abuse of discretion. And, to the extent Ludwig asserts the cumulative error 

doctrine to his underlying claims of error in the criminal trial, he failed to raise it in his 

postconviction relief petition and cannot raise it for the first time on appeal.

{¶4} The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Ludwick’s petition 

for postconviction relief without a hearing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. 

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶5} A jury convicted Ludwick on four counts of rape of his daughter, N.L., a 

minor being less than 10 years of age, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), and one count 

of rape of N.L. by force or threat of force, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), all first-degree 

felonies. The trial court sentenced him to an 11-year prison term plus 4 consecutive terms 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 3

of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole and he was ordered a Tier III registered 

sex offender. Ludwick appealed, contending that the prosecution should not have been 

permitted to ask him about his sexual history, that his trial counsel rendered ineffective 

assistance for failing to object to certain testimony he argued was inadmissible and for 

failing to request the waiver of court costs, and that multiple errors cumulatively deprived 

him of a fair trial. We overruled his assignments of error and affirmed his convictions. 

State v. Ludwick, 4th Dist. Highland No. 21CA17, 2022-Ohio-2609.

{¶6} Ludwick filed a timely petition for postconviction relief. In the petition, 

Ludwick contended: (1) he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his 

attorney failed to research an alibi defense and impeach the victim’s testimony and (2) 

the state used evidence at trial obtained after he had exercised his Fifth Amendment 

privilege.

{¶7} To support his first claim, Ludwick submitted his own affidavit in which he 

stated that he had given his trial attorney the names of eight people that he was 

associated with during the timeframe covered by the indictment. However, the first day of 

trial his attorney advised him that he was not going to call any witnesses. Ludwick also 

included the following four affidavits:

(1) Jameson Carpenter, who stated that he has known Ludwick since 2003 and he was 

Ludwick’s neighbor from 2009 through 2011 and he “never witnessed any abuse nor odd 

behavior from Aaron towards his children or girlfriend.” 

(2) Nathaniel Peck, who stated that he has known Ludwick since 2009 and was a neighbor 

from 2010 until he moved. Peck stated that Aaron would be outside most of the time or 

quite often and after Ludwick moved away, Peck would visit him two to five times a week. 

All the times that Peck visited Ludwick, Peck saw no signs of Ludwick mistreating or 

neglecting his family in any shape or form. 

(3) Travis A. Lowe, who stated that he met Ludwick in 1997 and never witnessed any 

signs of abuse towards his family. 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 4

(4) Donald R. Davy II, who stated that he was Ludwick’s cousin and knew him his whole 

life. Davy stated that Ludwick was always outside with his neighbors when he lived in an 

apartment and Ludwick was always down at Davy’s house when Ludwick moved from the 

apartment into a house. Davy stated that Ludwick “always had a [sic] open door policy” 

and “any family and friends was [sic] welcome in his home.” 

{¶8} To support his second claim, Ludwick stated in his affidavit that he had 

asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege but after he asserted it, he was forced by threats 

of criminal charges to turn over passcodes to his cellphone and a secure folder on his 

cellphone. Ludwick included excerpts from the trial testimony of Detective Vincent 

Antinore concerning photographs discovered on Ludwick’s cellphone. In the excerpt 

Detective Antinore testified that he discovered “several photos with uh other women, 

various different other women that appeared in the same, I guess stature, then, small, 

dark hair, very much so resembled [victim].” Ludwick’s attorney objected and the trial 

court sustained the objection and instructed the jury to disregard that testimony. 

{¶9} The trial court denied Ludwick’s first claim because it found that the affidavit 

testimony did not constitute alibi testimony, “The fact that the four affiants never witnessed 

his commission of the crime is not an alibi.” Additionally, the trial court found that none of 

the four affidavits contained any allegations of falsity of any testimony of the victim and 

therefore did not impeach the victim:

Therefore, the testimony of the four affiants would have been of no support 

to an alibi defense or to impeach N.A.L. The fact that none of them 

witnessed the crimes or any other conduct described by the girlfriend and 

daughter at trial is not impeachment any more than a friend testifying that 

he/she had never seen a friend accused of bank robbery commit the crime. 

The testimony would likely not been admissible as it was not relevant and 

had no probative value. 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 5

The trial court found that Ludwick had failed to establish an ineffective assistance of 

counsel claim because he failed to show any prejudicial error by counsel as to either his 

alibi or his impeachment contentions. 

{¶10} In addressing his second claim, the trial court found that the photographs 

mentioned in Detective Antinore’s testimony were not admitted into evidence and the 

testimony Detective Antinore presented concerning the photographs was objected to by 

counsel and that objection was sustained by the trial court. The transcript excerpt also 

includes the trial court’s corrective instructions given to the jury to disregard it. The trial 

court also noted that Ludwick’s counsel had filed a motion to suppress statements he 

made when he was interviewed in January 2021, based on the argument that Ludwick 

had asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege but was questioned by law enforcement after 

that. The state conceded that claim and stipulated that it would not seek to introduce

Ludwick’s statements made after he invoked the Fifth Amendment. Finally, even though 

Ludwick contended that he was coerced into giving his cellphone codes, there was no 

evidence obtained from the cellphone that was offered or admitted into evidence at the 

trial. Thus, the trial court found Ludwick’s second claim lacked substantive grounds. The 

trial court denied Ludwick’s petition for postconviction relief and ordered him to pay costs.

{¶11} Ludwick filed a timely appeal.

II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

{¶12} Ludwick assigns the following errors for our review:

I. The Court erred by denying the defendant-appellant’s petition for postconviction relief without conducting an evidentiary hearing based upon 

petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.

II. The Court erred in denying the defendant’s petition for post-conviction 

relief without an evidentiary hearing. The State’s us [sic] of information at 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 6

trial, obtained after the defendant exercised his [F]ifth [A]mendment 

privilege, violating the Fifth Amendment of the United State Constitution and 

Article 1 Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.

III. The multiple errors cumulatively deprived the defendant, Mr. Ludwick, of 

his constitutional right to a fair trial. If this Court finds multiple errors 

occurred in this post-conviction relief petition appeal, but none individually 

warrant reversal, then this court should reverse under the cumulative-error 

doctrine.

III. LAW AND ANALYSIS

A. Standard of Review 

{¶13} Generally we review decisions granting or denying a postconviction relief 

petition filed pursuant to R.C. 2953.21 under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. 

Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 2006–Ohio–6679, 860 N.E.2d 77, ¶ 58. In Gondor, the 

Court recognized that the differences between a direct appeal and an appeal from a 

postconviction relief petition warranted different appellate standards of review. Id. at ¶ 53-

54. The Court stated, “A postconviction claim is not an ordinary appeal: ‘A postconviction 

proceeding is not an appeal of a criminal conviction, but, rather, a collateral civil attack on 

the judgment.’ ” Id. at ¶ 48, quoting State v. Steffen, 70 Ohio St.3d 399, 410, 639 N.E.2d 

67 (1994). The holding in Gondor broadly applies to all appellate postconviction petition 

review: “[A] trial court's decision granting or denying a postconviction petition filed 

pursuant to R.C. 2953.21 should be upheld absent an abuse of discretion; a reviewing 

court should not overrule the trial court's finding on a petition for postconviction relief that 

is supported by competent and credible evidence.” Gondor at ¶ 58; State v. Black, 4th 

Dist. Ross No. 15CA3509, 2016-Ohio-3104, ¶ 7. “A trial court abuses its discretion when 

its decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.” State v. Knauff, 4th Dist. 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 7

Adams No. 13CA976, 2014–Ohio–308, ¶ 19, citing Cullen v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. 

Co., 137 Ohio St.3d 373, 2013–Ohio–4733, 999 N.E.2d 614, ¶ 19.

{¶14} The postconviction relief process is a collateral civil attack on a criminal 

judgment rather than an appeal of the judgment. State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279, 

281, 1999-Ohio-102, 714 N.E.2d 905. The postconviction relief proceeding is designed 

to determine whether “there was such a denial or infringement of the person's rights as 

to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the Constitution of 

the United States.” R.C. 2953.21(A)(1)(a). Postconviction review is not a constitutional 

right; instead, it is a narrow remedy that gives the petitioner no more rights than those 

granted by statute. Id. It is a means to resolve constitutional claims that cannot be 

addressed on direct appeal because the evidence supporting the claims is not contained 

in the record. State v. Teets, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 17CA21, 2018-Ohio-5019, ¶ 14. “This 

means that any right to postconviction relief must arise from the statutory scheme enacted 

by the General Assembly.” State v. Apanovitch, 155 Ohio St.3d 358, 2018-Ohio-4744, 

121 N.E.3d 351, ¶ 35.

{¶15} A criminal defendant seeking to challenge a conviction through a petition 

for postconviction relief is not automatically entitled to an evidentiary hearing. Calhoun at 

282, citing State v. Cole, 2 Ohio St.3d 112, 443 N.E.2d 169 (1982). Before granting an 

evidentiary hearing, the trial court must determine whether substantive grounds for relief 

exist. R.C. 2953.21(D). In making such a determination, the court shall consider the 

petition, supporting affidavits, documentary evidence, and all the files and records from 

the case. Calhoun at 284 (noting that R.C. 2953.21 “clearly calls for discretion in 

determining whether to grant a hearing” on a petition for postconviction relief).
Highland App. No. 22CA9 8

{¶16} “Substantive grounds for relief exist and a hearing is warranted if the 

petitioner produces sufficient credible evidence that demonstrates the petitioner suffered 

a violation of the petitioner's constitutional rights.” In re B.C.S., 4th Dist. Washington No. 

07CA60, 2008-Ohio-5771, ¶ 11. Moreover, before a hearing is warranted, the petitioner 

must demonstrate that the claimed “errors resulted in prejudice.” Calhoun at 283. A court 

may dismiss a petition for postconviction relief without a hearing when the petitioner fails 

to submit evidentiary material “demonstrat[ing] that petitioner set forth sufficient operative 

facts to establish substantive grounds for relief.” Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus. See 

also State v. Lewis, 4th Dist. Ross No. 10CA3181, 2011-Ohio-5224, ¶ 11; State v. 

Slagle, 4th Dist. Highland No. 11CA22, 2012-Ohio-1936, ¶ 14.

A petitioner is not entitled to a hearing if his claim for relief is belied by the 

record and is unsupported by any operative facts other than Defendant's 

own self-serving affidavit or statements in his petition, which alone are 

legally insufficient to rebut the record on review. In reviewing petitions for 

post-conviction relief, a trial court may, in the exercise of its sound 

discretion, weigh the credibility of affidavits submitted in support of the 

petition in determining whether to accept the affidavit as true statements of 

fact. (Citations and internal quotations omitted.)

State v. Quinn, 2017-Ohio-8107, 98 N.E.3d 1184, ¶ 35 (2d Dist.); see also State v. Smith, 

4th Dist. Highland No. 19CA16, 2020-Ohio-116, ¶16-19.

B. Trial Court’s Decision Not To Hold An Evidentiary Hearing

{¶17} Under R.C. 2953.21(D), the trial court must determine whether substantive 

grounds for relief exist before granting a hearing on a postconviction relief petition:

Before granting a hearing on a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), 

(iii), or (iv) of this section, the court shall determine whether there are 

substantive grounds for relief. In making such a determination, the court 

shall consider, in addition to the petition, the supporting affidavits, and the 

documentary evidence, all the files and records pertaining to the 

proceedings against the petitioner, including, but not limited to, the 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 9

indictment, the court's journal entries, the journalized records of the clerk of 

the court, and the court reporter's transcript.

{¶18} The trial court reviewed Ludwick’s argument, affidavit, and “alibi” affidavits 

and determined that none of them constituted “alibis” and none of them contained 

information that could be used for impeachment purposes. Therefore, the trial court 

concluded, Ludwick failed to establish that his counsel was ineffective for failing to call 

these witnesses to testify or to use their testimony as impeachment evidence in the case. 

To prevail on an ineffective assistance claim, a defendant must show: “(1) 

deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling below an 

objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a 

reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the proceeding's result 

would have been different.” State v. Short, 129 Ohio St.3d 360, 2011-Ohio3641, 952 N.E.2d 1121, ¶ 113, citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 

668, 687-688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Failure to satisfy 

either part of the test is fatal to the claim. See Strickland at 697. The 

defendant “has the burden of proof because in Ohio, a properly licensed 

attorney is presumed competent.” State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 

2006-Ohio-6679, 860 N.E.2d 77, ¶ 62.

State v. Ludwick, 4th Dist. Highland No. 21CA17, 2022-Ohio-2609, ¶ 49.

{¶19} We have reviewed Ludwick’s argument and affidavits and agree with the 

trial court’s conclusions. The affidavits do not provide an alibi for Ludwick, they simply

state that the individuals did not witness the crimes. They also do not constitute 

impeachment evidence. “Impeachment” means “to call in question the veracity of a 

witness, by means of evidence adduced for such purpose, or the adducing of proof that 

a witness is unworthy of belief.” Black’s Law Dictionary 678 (5th Ed. 1979). Evid.R. 607,

608, 609, 610, 613, and 616 all govern matters related to witness impeachment, which is 

when “the credibility of a witness may be attacked.” The affidavit testimony Ludwick 

submitted with his postconviction relief petition is not impeachment evidence because the 

affidavits do not contain facts that contradict the victim’s testimony, nor do they fall within 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 10

the other categories of admissible impeachment evidence outlined in the Ohio Rules of 

Evidence. Because the affidavits provide neither an alibi, nor an impeachment, Ludwick 

has failed to submit substantive grounds for relief on this claim. 

{¶20} We have also reviewed Ludwick’s argument concerning his Fifth 

Amendment privilege and his contention that the state used information obtained in 

violation of the Fifth Amendment. There is no evidence in the record that the state 

introduced photographs or testimony in violation of his Fifth Amendment rights. In the 

trial excerpt he submitted with his petition, his defense counsel objected to the detective’s 

description of photographs on his cellphone, and the trial court sustained that objection 

and gave corrective instructions to the jury. “A jury is presumed to follow the instructions, 

including curative instructions, given it by a trial judge.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 

59, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995); State v. Meddock, 2017-Ohio-4414, 93 N.E.3d 43, ¶ 48 (4th

Dist.). In absence of any indication to the contrary, the trial court rightly presumed that the 

jury followed the court’s instructions. We find no merit to Ludwick’s second claim. 

{¶21} Based on a review of the petition, supporting documents, affidavits, and files 

and records from the case, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in 

denying Ludwick’s postconviction relief petition without an evidentiary hearing. 

C. Cumulative Errors

{¶22} For his third assignment of error, Ludwick contends that he was deprived of 

his constitutional right to a fair trial under the cumulative-error doctrine. He argues that 

the cumulative-error doctrine applies to the errors he alleges were committed by the trial 

court in its review of this postconviction relief petition and should merit a reversal of the 

trial court’s decision denying his petition and an evidentiary hearing on it. Specifically, he 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 11

argues, “If the cumulative error doctrine can merit reversal of a conviction, it can most 

certainly merit reversal and an evidentiary hearing in this case.” Ludwick cites no legal 

authority to support his assertion that the cumulative-error doctrine applies to a trial 

court’s denial of a postconviction relief petition, which is a collateral civil attack on a 

judgment.

{¶23} Under the cumulative-error doctrine, “a conviction will be reversed where 

the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a defendant of the constitutional right to 

a fair trial even though each of numerous instances of trial court error does not individually 

constitute cause for reversal.” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623 

(1995), citing State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 509 N.E.2d 1256 (1987), paragraph 

two of the syllabus; State v. Ruble, 2017-Ohio-7259, 96 N.E.3d 792, ¶ 75 (4th Dist.).

“Before we consider whether ‘cumulative errors’ are present, we must first find that the 

trial court committed multiple errors.” State v. Smith, 2016-Ohio-5062, 70 N.E.3d 150, ¶ 

106 (4th Dist.), citing State v. Harrington, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 05CA3038, 2006-Ohio4388, ¶ 57.

{¶24} The cumulative-error doctrine does not apply where the defendant “cannot 

point to ‘multiple instances of harmless error.’ ” See State v. Mammone, 139 Ohio St.3d 

467, 2014-Ohio-1942, 13 N.E.3d 1051, ¶ 148 (“And to the extent that Mammone more 

broadly invokes the doctrine of cumulative error, that doctrine does not apply because he 

cannot point to ‘multiple instances of harmless error.’ ”); State v. Fannon, 2018-Ohio5242, 117 N.E.3d 10, ¶ 124-125 (4th Dist.); State v. Thacker, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 

19CA18, 2021-Ohio-2726, ¶ 69-71.
Highland App. No. 22CA9 12

{¶25} To the extent that Ludwick is invoking the cumulative-error doctrine for his 

claims of (1) ineffective assistance of counsel and (2) a Fifth Amendment violation, we 

find that he failed to raise this claim in his postconviction relief petition and cannot raise it 

on appeal for the first time. State v. Barner, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 19CA11, 2021-Ohio-654, 

¶ 11 (“Barner's second assignment of error challenging the community control sanction 

was not raised in his petition for postconviction relief and is being raised for the first time 

on appeal. It is well settled that appellate courts will not consider errors raised for the first 

time on appeal.”).

{¶26} To the extent Ludwick seeks to apply the cumulative-error doctrine to his 

petition for postconviction relief – a collateral civil attack – by arguing that the trial judge 

made multiple harmless errors in denying him an evidentiary hearing, we find that the

question of whether the cumulative-error doctrine is applicable in the civil context appears 

to be a question of first impression in our district. 

{¶27} The Supreme Court of Ohio has only applied the cumulative-error doctrine 

in the criminal context, but the Eight District Court of Appeals has applied the cumulativeerror doctrine to civil appeals. See Daniels v. Northcoast Anesthesia Providers, Inc. 2018-

Ohio-3562, 120 N.E.3d 52, ¶ 4-5 (“While the Ohio Supreme Court has only applied the 

cumulative error doctrine in the criminal context, this court has applied the cumulative 

error doctrine in an unbroken, 30-year line of civil appeals.”) A number of other district 

have held that the cumulative-error doctrine is not employed in civil cases.

[S]ome appellate districts do not apply the cumulative error doctrine to civil 

cases. See, e.g., Wolf v. Rothstein, 2016-Ohio-5441, 61 N.E.3d 1, ¶ 96 (2d 

Dist.); J.P. v. T.H., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 14CA010715, 2016-Ohio-243, 2016 

WL 363247, ¶ 35; Stanley v. Ohio State Univ. Med. Ctr., 10th Dist. Franklin 

No. 12AP-999, 2013-Ohio-5140, 2013 WL 6157232, ¶ 124; Lambert v. 

Wilkinson, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2007-A-0032, 2008-Ohio-2915, 2008 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 13

WL 2404736, ¶ 110. These appellate districts are not, however, emphatic 

in rejecting the cumulative error doctrine in the civil context because they 

note that the doctrine is not “typically” or “generally” applicable. See, e.g., 

Stanley, supra, at ¶ 124 (“the cumulative error doctrine is not typically 

employed in civil cases”); Lambert, supra (“the cumulative error doctrine is 

generally not applicable in civil cases.”). In addition, two other appellate 

districts have not explicitly endorsed the application of the cumulative error 

doctrine in civil cases, but have rejected assignments of error on the 

assumption that it applied without actually deciding so. See, e.g., State, 

Dept. of Natural Resources v. Mark L. Knapke Revocable Living Trust, 

2015-Ohio-470, 28 N.E.3d 667, ¶ 57 (3d Dist.) (assuming without finding 

that cumulative error applies in civil cases); McQueen v. Goldey, 20 Ohio 

App.3d 41, 50, 484 N.E.2d 712 (12th Dist.1984) (“Without addressing the 

relative merits of the cumulative error concept, we conclude that even if we 

were to accept and apply the concept to a civil case, the accumulation of 

harmless errors in the case at bar did not constitute prejudicial error.”).

Daniels at ¶ 5; see also Painter and Pollis, Ohio Appellate Practice, Section 7:20 (Nov. 

2022) (“Courts are divided on the question whether the cumulative-error doctrine applies 

in civil cases; the First, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Districts have applied the doctrine in

civil appeals, while the Second, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Districts have rejected it.”). 

We note that in all of the cases cited by the Eight District, the parties had appealed a 

judgment rendered following a civil trial. None of the cases involved postconviction relief 

petitions in which the cumulative-error doctrine was applied to the trial court’s decision 

not to grant an evidentiary hearing.

{¶28} We need not answer the broader question of whether the cumulative-error 

doctrine is applicable to civil appeals generally. This is an appeal from a denial of a 

postconviction relief petition, which we review for “abuse of discretion.” We have found 

no abuse of discretion by the trial court in deciding not to grant an evidentiary hearing 

before it denied Ludwick’s petition. Thus, the cumulative-error doctrine has no relevance 

or application. We overrule Ludwick’s third assignment of error. 
Highland App. No. 22CA9 14

IV. CONCLUSION

{¶29} We overrule Ludwick’s assignments of error and affirm the judgment.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Highland App. No. 22CA9 15

JUDGMENT ENTRY

It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED. Appellant shall pay the costs.

The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the HIGHLAND 

COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, to carry this judgment into execution.

IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS 

BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is 

temporarily continued for a period not to exceed 60 days upon the bail previously posted. 

The purpose of a continued stay is to allow appellant to file with the Supreme Court of 

Ohio an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay 

is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the 60-day 

period, or the failure of the appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of 

Ohio in the 45-day appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of 

the Supreme Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the 

appeal prior to expiration of 60 days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such 

dismissal.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of 

the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

Smith, P.J. & Abele, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

For the Court

BY: ________________________

 Michael D. Hess, Judge

NOTICE TO COUNSEL

Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment 

entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with 

the clerk.