[Cite as State v. Ashcraft, 2021-Ohio-3897.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

STATE OF OHIO 

 Plaintiff-Appellee 

-vsRICHARD ASHCRAFT 

 Defendant-Appellant 

JUDGES: 

: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. 

: Hon. John W. Wise, J. 

: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. 

: 

: 

: Case No. 2021-CA-0024 

: 

: 

: OPINION 

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Richlad County 

Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2020-

CR-0734 

JUDGMENT: Affirmed 

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 2, 2021 

APPEARANCES: 

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant 

GARY BISHOP ANDREW S. WICK 

Prosecutor 23 East High Street 

By: VICTORIA BALL-MUNSON Mt. Gilead, OH 43338 

Assistant Prosecutor 

38 South Park Street, #2 

Mansfield, OH 44902 
Richland County, Case No. 2021-CA-0024 2 

Gwin, P.J. 

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Richard Ashcroft [“Ashcroft”] appeals his conviction 

and sentence after a jury trial in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas. 

Facts and Procedural History 

{¶2} Ashcroft has failed to file a transcript with this Court as required by App.R. 9. 

Accordingly, absent a complete transcript we are unable to review the facts underlying 

Ashcroft’s jury trial and conviction. The record transmitted to this Court establishes the 

following facts. 

{¶3} On December 7, 2020, the Richland County Grand Jury indicted the Richard 

Ashcraft on a two-count indictment for assault on a police officer as a felony of the fourth 

degree in violation of R.C. 2903.13(C)(5) and aggravated possession of drugs as a felony 

of the fifth degree in violation of R.C. 2925.11(C)(1)(A) as a result of an incident that 

occurred while the Ashcroft was attending the VOA program in Mansfield, Ohio. 

{¶4} Jury trial in this matter was originally scheduled to commence on February 

23, 2021, but was continued until March 23, 2021. Defense counsel filed a precipe for 

subpoenas for three persons: Josh Eaton, Residential Operations Manager; Nicole Chinn, 

Program Coordinator; and Dispatch and Communications on March 22, 2021. Defense 

counsel then filed a precipe for subpoena on Sgt. Patrick Williams on March 23, 2021. 

With the exception of Dispatch and Communications all subpoenas were returned 

undelivered due to no service on March 25, 2021 the last day of jury trial. 

{¶5} Ashcraft was found guilty by the jury on both counts and sentenced by the 

court on March 26, 2021 to serve 18 months on the assault charge, 6 months on the 

aggravated possession of drugs offense consecutive to the 18 months on the assault 
Richland County, Case No. 2021-CA-0024 3 

charge and then 900 days of PRC to be served consecutive to the previously ordered 24 

months from counts one and two. 

Assignment of Error 

{¶6} Ashcroft has raised one Assignment of Error, 

{¶7} “I. APPELLANT LACKED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL 

THROUGHOUT HIS COURT APPOINT COUNSEL'S REPRESENTATION AND TRIAL

COMMENCING MARCH 23, 2021.” 

Law and Analysis 

{¶8} In his sole assignment of error, Ashcroft maintains that his trial counsel was 

ineffective because counsel failed to investigate or follow-up on an eyewitness and 

delayed in issuing subpoenas until the day before the first day of trial leading to the lack 

of witness testimony to refute the state's claims. Ashcroft argues the failure to issue timely 

subpoenas and investigate the presence of an eyewitness were not strategic decisions 

on counsel's part. [Appellant’s Brief at 5]. 

Standard of Appellate Review – Ineffective Assistance of Counsel 

{¶9} To prevail on a Sixth Amendment claim alleging ineffective assistance of 

counsel, a defendant must show that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that 

his counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced him. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 

668, 694 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). To show deficiency, a defendant must 

show that “counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” 

Id., at 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052. And to establish prejudice, a defendant must show “that there 

is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the 
Richland County, Case No. 2021-CA-0024 4 

proceeding would have been different.” Id., at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Andtus v. Texas, 

590 U.S. __, 140 S.Ct. 1875, 1881 (June 15, 2020). 

 Issue for Appellate Review: Whether there is a reasonable probability 

that, but for counsel’s failure to timely file subpoenas and investigate potential 

eyewitness to the occurrence as set forth in Ashcraft’s First Assignments of Error the 

result of the proceeding would have been different. 

{¶10} Ashcraft argues that his attorney should have found eyewitnesses to the 

event and filed subpoenas sooner in the case. However, as no transcript has been filed, 

we do not know the evidence that was presented to the jury. Nor can we discern what 

any purported eyewitness may have testified to at trial. 

{¶11} Factual assertions appearing in a party's brief, but not in any papers 

submitted for consideration to the trial court below, do not constitute part of the official 

record on appeal, and an appellate court may not consider these assertions when 

deciding the merits of the case. Akro-Plastics v. Drake Industries, 115 Ohio App.3d 221, 

226, 685 N.E.2d 246, 249(1996). In Knapp v. Edwards Laboratories (1980), 61 Ohio 

St.2d 197, 199, 400 N.E.2d 384 (1980), the Supreme Court of Ohio held the following: 

“[t]he duty to provide a transcript for appellate review falls upon the appellant. This is 

necessarily so because an appellant bears the burden of showing error by reference to 

matters in the record. See State v. Skaggs (1978), 53 Ohio St. 2d 162. This principle is 

recognized in App.R. 9(B), which provides, in part, that ‘* * *the appellant shall in writing 

order from the reporter a complete transcript or a transcript of such parts of the 

proceedings not already on file as he deems necessary for inclusion in the record. * * *.’ 

When portions of the transcript necessary for resolution of assigned errors are omitted 
Richland County, Case No. 2021-CA-0024 5 

from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon and thus, as to those 

assigned errors, the court has no choice but to presume the validity of the lower court's 

proceedings, and affirm.” (Footnote omitted). 

{¶12} Additionally, under App.R. 12(A)(2), an appellate court may “disregard an 

assignment of error presented for review if the party raising it fails to identify in the record 

the error on which the assignment of error is based[.]” Ashcraft’s brief on appeal fails to 

identify in the record the grounds for his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. 

{¶13} Generally, counsel’s decision whether to call a witness falls within the rubric 

of trial strategy and will not be second-guessed by a reviewing court.” State v. Treesh, 

90 Ohio St.3d 460, 490, 739 N.E.2d 749(2001); State v. Hughbanks, 99 Ohio St.3d 365, 

2003-Ohio-4121, 792 N.E.2d 1081, ¶ 82. Moreover, “‘[a]ttorneys need not pursue every 

conceivable avenue; they are entitled to be selective.’” State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 

516, 542, 747 N.E.2d 765(2001), quoting United States v. Davenport 986 F.2d 1047, 

1049(7th Cir. 1993). 

{¶14} In the case at bar, Ashcroft’s arguments additionally concern matters de 

hors the record in the form of conversations between himself and his trial counsel, his 

family’s attempts to find private counsel, private counsel’s representations and his family’s 

conversations with trial counsel. [Appellant’s Brief at 2]. Further, Ashcroft has failed to 

even identify the name of the alleged eyewitness that he wished to call at trial. [Appellant’s 

Brief at 5]. 

{¶15} Ashcroft has failed to provide a complete transcript of the trial proceedings 

or identify in the record the grounds for his claims of error. Without a transcript of the jury 

trial and any hearings involving Ashcroft’s claims he had difficulty with assigned counsel, 
Richland County, Case No. 2021-CA-0024 6 

we cannot determine whether Ashcroft requested assigned counsel call any particular 

witness, or whether the expected substance of the testimony would have aided in his 

defense at trial. Ashcroft further has based many of his contentions that counsel was 

ineffective on matter outside the trial court record. There is simply nothing for us to review 

that substantiates any of the claims made in this appeal. Thus, we must presume the 

regularity of the proceedings and affirm. Knapp v. Edwards Lab., 61 Ohio St.2d 197, 400 

N.E.2d 384 (1980). 

{¶16} Ashcroft has failed in his burden to demonstrate that there is a reasonable 

probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would 

have been different. 

{¶17} Ashcroft’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled. 

{¶18} The judgment of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. 

By Gwin, P.J., 

Wise, John, J., 

Delaney, J., concur