[Cite as State v. Wilson, 2022-Ohio-3763.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT 

CLARK COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

TYLER WILSON

Defendant-Appellant

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

Appellate Case No. 2021-CA-68

Trial Court Case No. 2021-CR-371

(Criminal Appeal from

Common Pleas Court)

. . . . . . . . . . .

O P I N I O N

Rendered on the 21st day of October, 2022. 

. . . . . . . . . . . 

IAN A. RICHARDSON, Atty. Reg. No. 0100124, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Clark

County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, 50 East Columbia Street, Suite 449, 

Springfield, Ohio 45502

Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

 

CARLY EDELSTEIN, Atty. Reg. No. 0095950, Assistant State Public Defender, Ohio 

Public Defender’s Office, 250 East Broad Street, Suite 1400, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

WELBAUM, J.
-2-

{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Tyler Wilson, appeals from his conviction, after a jury 

trial, on one count of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), a felony of the 

second degree, along with a three-year firearm specification and a five-year firearm 

specification. The trial court imposed an indefinite sentence of eight to twelve years for 

felonious assault and ordered the firearm specifications to be served consecutively to the 

felonious assault term, for an aggregate sentence of 16 to 20 years.

{¶ 2} According to Wilson, trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing 

to ask for an instruction on self-defense and erroneously concluding that self-defense did 

not apply to the case. We disagree; the trial court properly performed its obligations and 

correctly found that Wilson had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify a selfdefense instruction. Settled descriptions of the nature of affirmative defenses involve

concession of the prosecution’s facts and independent or substantive matter exempting 

a defendant from liability. The defense also may not negate any elements of the charged 

crime. In this case, Wilson did not concede that the prosecution’s factual claims were 

true; instead, he attempted to negate the elements of the crime with which he was 

charged. As a result, a self-defense instruction was not warranted on these facts, and 

trial counsel did not render ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to request such an

instruction. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.

I. Facts and Course of Proceedings

{¶ 3} On June 15, 2021, an indictment was filed charging Wilson with felonious 

assault and the attendant specifications, as well as one count of attempted murder, in 
-3-

violation of R.C. 2903.02(A), with two attendant firearm specifications. After Wilson pled 

not guilty, a one-day jury trial was held on October 26, 2021. 

{¶ 4} The charges against Wilson arose from an incident that occurred on June 8, 

2021, at a Shell gas station at the corner of Leffel Lane and South Limestone Street in 

Springfield, Ohio. The State presented several witnesses, including the victim, Billy 

Reffett, eyewitnesses to the crime, and police officers who investigated. Wilson testified 

on his own behalf and presented no other witnesses. 

{¶ 5} The State’s first witness, James Henry, testified that on June 8, 2021, he was 

working at the Shell station at the corner of Leffel Lane and South Limestone Street. 

Transcript of Proceedings (“Tr.”), p. 73. Henry identified a June 8, 2021 video obtained 

from four surveillance cameras at the Shell station (State’s Exhibit 28). The video was 

played for the jury. Id. at p. 74-79. 

{¶ 6} Henry testified that the video reflected a male customer (later identified as 

Wilson), who left his vehicle at pump three and entered the store at around 6:58 a.m. Id. 

at p. 76 and 81-82. Henry waited on Wilson, who purchased food and wanted to buy 

cigarettes. However, Henry did not sell Wilson cigarettes because Wilson lacked

identification. Id. at p. 77. Wilson left, then he reentered the store shortly after 7:03. 

At that point, Wilson tried to return the food he had purchased and instead use a food 

card to buy the food. Wilson again left the store less than a minute later and did not 

reenter. Id. at p. 77-79. During cross-examination, Henry stated that Wilson was not 

angry or agitated while in the store. Id. at p. 82-83. 

{¶ 7} At around 7:11 a.m., a truck pulled up next to Wilson’s car, and then backed 
-4-

up. Id. at p. 75-76. Henry’s daughter, Brianna, then came to the gas station to get gas 

and visit her father. She pulled up at pump one and was there at about 7:13 a.m. Id. at 

p. 77 and 97-98. A white vehicle (the car Wilson was driving) and a brown truck (Reffett’s 

vehicle) were also there. Id. at p. 98. Brianna heard one person say, “you hit my car,” 

and another one say, “No, I didn’t.” There was a bunch of name-calling. Brianna got 

out of her car to tell her father that people were arguing in the parking lot. When she got 

to the store’s front door, she heard a big boom, which sounded like a gunshot. Id. at p. 

99.

{¶ 8} Henry also heard gunfire and looked out of the window, trying to see where 

it came from. Tr. at p. 80. He then walked outside, but a truck obscured his view. 

When Henry walked around that vehicle, he saw Wilson getting in his white car, and 

Wilson and the gentleman in the truck went left. Maybe two minutes later, they turned 

around and were in a high speed chase. Henry called the police at around 7:26 a.m. 

Id. at p.77, 80, and 83. 

{¶ 9} Reffett testified that he owns a tree company. On June 8, 2021, he and a 

passenger stopped at the Shell station for gas; they were on the way to Cincinnati to finish 

a job Reffett had scheduled for that day. Id. at p. 85 and 92. When Reffett pulled into 

the station, Wilson was in a car at pump three, and Reffett had to pull in between Wilson’s 

car and another vehicle. Id. at p. 86. Reffett stated that, “Evidently, by me pulling in, I 

was pulling to the pump behind him [Wilson]. He must have thought I was too close to 

his vehicle.” Both vehicles’ windows were down, and Wilson spoke to Reffett. 

According to Reffett, “I didn’t even finish pulling up to the pump. I put it in reverse. 
-5-

Pulled back up beside his vehicle.” Id. The men then began to “exchange words” about 

Reffett’s proximity to Wilson’s vehicle. Id. Reffett looked and did not think he was too 

close to the car; he felt Wilson said what he had for no reason. Id. 

{¶ 10} Reffett testified that “[t]here was more stuff said” and then said:

It made me mad. I said, your car is a piece of sh* * anyways, and 

his [Wilson’s] girl at the time at the window spoke up and said, you would 

feel bad actually if knew what happened to my car. I said, naw, actually I 

wouldn’t, and that really pissed them off. He [Wilson] starts fumbling 

around.

I’m thinking like in my head, I’m thinking like, man, this dude ain’t 

gonna pull up no gun or nothing. Seconds later, he pulled up a gun and 

instantly shoots at me. Instantly shoots at me out of his window at my 

head.

I, you know, I believe I already put it back in drive after I had backed 

and put it in reverse, so when he did that, you know, sh** happened so 

quick. I’m like, damn, he really shot at me. I pulled forward. He didn’t 

take off instantly, you know, like I thought someone shot at me would. I do 

a U-turn in the parking lot. He’s still sittin’ at the pump at that second when 

I got turned around, so then he takes off, and I take pursuit chasing him. 

Tr. at p. 87-88. 

{¶ 11} The following exchange then occurred:

Q. * * * Did you show any weapons to him? Did you draw any 
-6-

weapons on him?

A. No.

Q. Did you have any weapons on you?

A. Sure didn’t. I had tools in the back of the truck to go to work. 

Saws, chains. I was going to work.

Q. But you admit you were cussing at him, right?

A. Yes. * * *

Tr. at p. 88.

{¶ 12} Reffett testified that Wilson headed down Leffel Lane after leaving the Shell 

station. According to Reffett, Wilson “probably didn’t think I was gonna chase him like I 

did. So once he noticed that, he quickly turns[,] did a U-turn at Bob Evans at that little 

bus area right there to jump on the highway so at that time, you know, I’m fumbling 

around. First time ever being shot at, you know what I mean? For no reason, for no 

reason. An argument. So I’m fumbling around trying to get 911.” Id. at p. 89.

{¶ 13} Reffett was able to reach 911, and a recording of the call was played for the 

jury (State’s Exhibit 33). Id. at p. 90. When asked how far away he was from the car 

Wilson was driving during the pursuit, Reffett said he “was a pretty good distance away. 

I mean, of course, I shouldn’t have been going that fast, but the dude shot at me, man.” 

Id. Ultimately, Reffett was able to get close enough to obtain a partial tag number for 

Wilson’s car. Id. at p. 90-91 and State’s Ex. 33. 

{¶ 14} During the pursuit, which occurred mostly on Interstate 70, Reffett was

traveling 90 miles an hour, trying to catch up with Wilson. At one point, Wilson exited 
-7-

the eastbound interstate and immediately entered the interstate again, heading in the 

opposite direction, back toward where the shooting had occurred. Ultimately, Wilson 

slowed way down. While Reffett could have pulled up behind Wilson, he was concerned 

because of what Wilson had done. As a result, Reffett pulled off to the left side of the 

highway to be safer and have other traffic between them. Wilson then stopped his car 

and began backing down the highway in reverse and went to a turnaround to go east 

again. At that point, Reffett continued to travel westbound, as he had given the 

dispatcher a description of Wilson’s vehicle, a partial license number, and the mile marker 

where Wilson was located. Tr. at p. 91, 135, 140-141, and Ex. 33. 

{¶ 15} During the call, the 911 dispatcher told Reffett to go a Certified gas station

to meet the police. Although Reffett went to that station, the police were not there yet, 

and it was not where the incident had happened. As a result, Reffett went back to the 

Shell station to pick up his friend (who had jumped out of the car because he was “scared 

to death”). Id. at p. 92. The two men then went to Cincinnati to finish their job. Id. 

{¶ 16} On his way to work that morning, Detective Jordan of the Springfield Police 

Department heard the 911 call. Based on what Jordan heard, Reffett sounded very 

upset and very emotional, and Jordan thought if he could talk to Reffett one-on-one, he 

could get a better idea of what had happened. Id. at p. 114-116. After obtaining 

Reffett’s phone number, Jordan called Reffett, who was still driving on the interstate and 

was still emotional. Id. at p. 116. Jordan told Reffett to focus on his driving and to 

continue where he was headed, and Jordan said he would talk to Reffett when he got to 

his job site. Id. Jordan then met with Reffett that afternoon, after Reffett returned from 
-8-

Cincinnati. Id. at 92 and 116. 

{¶ 17} In the meantime, when Wilson turned around on the interstate, his car ran 

out of gas. However, he managed to get off at the West Jefferson exit. Tr. at p. 136. 

At about 8:00 a.m., officers from West Jefferson and Madison County responded to 

Wilson’s location. Id. at p. 106 and 109. At the time, the officers were unaware of what 

had taken place in Springfield. Officer Teders of West Jefferson believed that both 

individuals in Wilson’s car were under the influence. Id. at p. 108. Wilson had 

misdemeanor warrants and was taken to jail, and Wilson’s passenger was taken to the 

hospital for an injury. An inventory search of the car revealed a semi-automatic pistol in 

a black bag. Id. at p. 107, 110-112, 125, 128, and 143. 

{¶ 18} Reffett arrived at the Springfield police station around 1:00 or 2:00 that 

afternoon, with the truck he had been driving. Id. at p. 92. The police took photos, which 

showed a dent on the window frame of the driver’s side of the vehicle, at about the same 

height as Reffett’s head. Id. at p. 92-95, 100-102, and 120-121, and State’s Ex. 1-12

and 17. Based on the conversation with Reffett, Jordan and another detective went to 

the Shell station to look for evidence of a shooting and to show witnesses a photo lineup. 

Id. at p. 117. There, Jordan found “a piece of the jacketing from a projectile or bullet that 

was lying on the parking lot several feet next to pump three.” Id. at p. 118-119, and 

State’s Ex. 15 and 16.

{¶ 19} Reffett identified State’s Exhibit 4 as a photograph of himself in his truck 

and the dent, which showed how close the bullet came to hitting his head. Id. at p. 94. 

Reffett stated that the dent had not been there previously. Id. 
-9-

{¶ 20} After the State rested, Wilson testified. His testimony was as follows. On 

June 8, 2021, Wilson was driving the car of a friend, Alaina Drugroyal. At around 7:00 

a.m., they stopped at the Shell station for gas, donuts, and milk. Tr. at p. 124 and 127. 

Alaina was from Florida, and Wilson was aware that she had a gun in her car. He had 

discovered this a day or two before, when Alaina came up from Florida. Id. at p. 127-

128. According to Wilson, Alaina had the gun for protection because she was a single 

female traveling across the country by herself. Id. at p. 128.

{¶ 21} When Wilson returned from the store to the car, “Mr. Reffett came pulling 

in, about clipped us, and like I was worried about it.” Id. at p. 126. The car windows 

were down because it was warm. Id. at 126-127. At that point, Wilson said, “Man, what 

the hell? You almost hit me.” Id. at p. 127. Reffett had already driven past, so he hung 

out his window and said, “what did you say, bitch?” Id. Reffett then backed right up to 

Wilson’s window. According to Wilson, he was already on guard because this stranger 

had pulled back up to him. Id. Reffett was so close that Wilson could not even open 

his door to get out. Id. at p. 129. 

{¶ 22} Alaina’s car sat lower than Reffett’s truck, and Reffett was a couple feet 

away, “spitting in [Wilson’s] face” and yelling at him aggressively. Id. Reffett had a 

buddy with him, and they acted like they were going to jump on Wilson. Wilson argued 

back, stating, “I’m not scared of you. I’ll beat you both up one on one.” Id. Wilson also 

told Reffett to back up, that he was not playing with him. Id. According to Wilson, at 

that point, Reffett said, “what you gonna do? I’ll smoke you out here.” Id. Reffett then 

raised a gun at Wilson. Id. 
-10-

{¶ 23} The following exchange then occurred:

Q. So what did you do when you saw this?

A. I was scared for my life.

Q. So what did you do?

A. I grabbed the gun, which I knew where it was at and did the only 

thing I knew. I’m not experienced with guns either. I grabbed that as fast 

as I could and just up and fired. I didn’t aim at the vehicle at all, but he was 

so close to me it couldn’t do nothing but probably hit there.

I don’t think that bullet hole was even from me. That wasn’t even a 

bullet hole. That dent. That close. I just aimed out the window and fired 

up.

Q. Did you intend to strike him?

A. No. I intended to scare him and back him off because that man 

had a gun to me, either way he had a gun to me, so instinct, I grabbed that 

as fast as I could to protect me and her.

Q. So it looked like he pulled away from you, circled around, and 

his passenger got out, correct?

A. I didn’t see his passenger get out, but the video shows the 

passenger getting out so when he was behind me, I thought it was both of 

them still, so I figured they either had more artillery than me, you know, 

maybe not just one gun but two guns, and two males after me, I did, man, I 

had to go.
-11-

I looked back. He pulled around. He must have dropped dude off. 

I looked back. I’m trying to start the car. That’s why I was there still.

Q. You sat there for like 30 seconds?

A. Yes.

Q. Why did you do that?

A. Because the car was hesitating to start. My luck. * * * I looked 

back and this man let dude out, and it looked like he was gonna come after 

me, which he did. He proceeded to come after me. It finally started and 

got me out of there. You see he still almost got us, and I wish you got more 

video from around there.

But this man was literally trying to ram me off the road. You heard 

on that 911 call that was [sic] man after me. I was running for my life. 

There was only one shot out the window. Nobody got hit. I didn’t intend 

to hurt or touch or kill nobody at all.

Q. So why did you get up to 80 or 90 miles an hour?

A. I was running for my life.

Q. Why did you back up on the highway?

A. I was running for my life.

Q. At any time during that chase did he show you a gun again?

A. Man, actually the girl, when we were getting onto the highway, 

she said, baby, look. I looked in the rearview, and she was scared to death. 

Man, that girl was scared to death. I looked in the rearview. I was too for 
-12-

real. * * *

I looked in the rearview and that truck is right on my ass with a gun 

out the window. I don’t know whether he had 911 on speaker. I mean, I 

was trying to think how he was hanging the gun out the window and being 

on the phone at the same time, but I seen [sic] it out the window in the 

rearview mirror.

Tr. at p. 130-132. 

{¶ 24} Wilson stated that his criminal history included “a lot of miscellaneous, low 

felony drug charges” but that he had never been convicted of domestic violence, assault,

or weapons charges. Id. at p. 133. After Wilson described being pursued by Reffett, 

the following exchange occurred:

Q. So when you were back at the gas station, at any time did you 

try to shoot Billy [Reffett]?

A. Excuse me?

Q. Did you intend to shoot Billy at that time? 

A. No.

Q. Did you intend to murder him?

A. All I wanted to do was make noise to get him out of my face. 

That man had a gun to me, and I don’t even know how. I got one shot out 

of the vehicle and it did its job for real. He got away from me, and the car 

wouldn’t start or I would have had a little more time to get away.

Tr. at p 136.
-13-

{¶ 25} Later, during cross-examination, the following exchange occurred:

Q. You admit that that was you that fired that shot, correct?

A. I admit to firing a shot.

Q. You admit firing that shot from this gun?

A. I believe so.

Q. You admit that you were in your car when you fired that shot?

A. I was in the car.

Q. You were in the car. You admit you aimed it at him.

A. No.

Q. Do you agree that the bullet hit about half of an inch from his 

head?

A. I don’t. And you’re saying that the trajectory from that shot was 

aimed at his head. I’m not sure that was even a bullet hole to begin with. 

Let’s just say it was. Let’s say it was now and - -

Q. Well, you fired your gun at him, right?

A. No. Let’s just say, hold on.

Q. You fired your gun at him.

A. Are you gonna let me finish?

Q. I’m gonna ask you the questions, and you’re gonna answer.

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you fire your gun at him?

A. I fired her gun in the air.
-14-

Q. Did you hear a noise where it struck the truck?

A. No.

Q. Did you see the mark right by Mr. Reffett’s head?

A. You guys had him sit back in his seat to make it look like it was 

in line with his head, when, in fact, he was hanging out his window. In the 

middle of his window. That’s a couple feet from his head. That’s a big 

difference from a direct line to his head.

* * *

Q. I’ll show you State’s Exhibit # 7. That’s one where we seen [sic]

Mr. Reffett there with that circular hole or dent right by his head. Do you 

see that?

A. Yes.

Q. Now, you’re saying that you shot at him but - -

A. I didn’t shoot at - -

Q. - - you didn’t cause that dent right by that - -

A. I shot out of my window to make noise. This dent right here, if 

he was in full confrontation with me, his face would be in the middle of the 

window, hanging out of it. Even if he wasn’t hanging out of it and he would 

be looking towards me, there’s no way he’s sitting back in his seat like 

(indicating) this, like you took this picture behind him.

Tr. at p. 137-139 and 143-144.

{¶ 26} After the defense rested and the jurors left the courtroom, the following 
-15-

exchange occurred:

THE COURT: * * * Before we get to closing arguments I did want to 

address an issue with respect to jury instructions. I want to state the way I 

view the evidence and then I’ll let counsel comment on that and make 

whatever argument you’d like with respect to whatever jury instructions you

think should apply.

At first I thought we were looking at a self-defense case, but the more 

I heard the defendant testify, I believe that the defense in this case is that 

the defendant did not aim the gun at the victim, did not intend to hurt the 

victim or kill the victim.

His testimony was that he fired the gun in the air to scare them off. 

So to me, that’s the defense.

Now, that being said, because of that I don’t think a self-defense 

instruction is warranted, but I certainly think the defense has every right to 

argue that the reason he fired the shot in the air was because he was afraid 

perhaps for his life.

I don’t have a problem with that argument. But I don’t see it as a 

true self-defense case because he’s saying he didn’t fire the shot at the 

victim. 

Is that how you see it, [both counsel]”?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes.

[THE PROSECUTOR]: I agree, yes.
-16-

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I agree too.

THE COURT: * * * So I don’t want to prevent the defense in any 

way from arguing that the defendant was afraid for his life and that’s the 

whole reason why he grabbed the gun and fired it.

But again, I think the defense from that point is that I fired the gun 

into the air to scare them off, which * * * doesn’t really fit with a true selfdefense claim. But again, [Defense Counsel], I will give you the full latitude 

to argue essentially what the defendant’s testimony was.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I believe that’s accurate. You described 

it.

THE COURT: * * * That’s the way I saw it. * * * So I won’t put a selfdefense in the jury instructions but again, I think there’s a component of selfdefense in this, so I will let counsel argue that point to whatever extent you 

want.

Tr. at p. 145-147.

{¶ 27} During the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor asserted that Wilson 

had “attempted to kill Billy Reffett and he did so using a firearm.” The prosecutor also 

argued that “it was an intention when you point a gun at someone’s head and you pull the 

trigger, the reasonable consequences of that is, a bullet is coming out of the other end of 

the gun. When you’re aiming it, you miss by that (indicating) much, I don’t think there’s 

any question what his purpose was.” Tr. at p. 149 and 150.

{¶ 28} In contrast, defense counsel asserted, in part, as follows:
-17-

There is no proof to show that he committed the crimes that he’s 

charged with. He didn’t really act in self-defense. Self-defense would be 

if he tried to shoot somebody. That’s true self-defense. There is a bearing 

there of self-defense, but he was acting more of himself than others when 

he shot in the air.

He wasn’t shooting at the person, so that’s not true self-defense. 

There is an element there, but that’s why you need it. That’s what you 

need to think about. He did not intend to murder, did not intend to hit. He 

tried to ward off and scare, and get out of that situation, and that’s why he 

took off and was pursued by a man with a gun that was waving it out the 

window.

* * *

So when go you go back there and deliberate, I just want to point out 

that the State has not met its burden. He did not attempt to hurt or murder 

anybody. He shot in the air in defense of himself and his passenger.

Tr. at p. 155-156.

{¶ 29} After hearing the evidence, the jury found Wilson not guilty of attempted 

murder and guilty of felonious assault and the attendant gun specifications, and he was 

sentenced accordingly. With this background in mind, we will consider Wilson’s sole 

assignment of error.

II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
-18-

{¶ 30} Wilson’s assignment of error states that:

Trial Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance of Counsel by Failing 

to Ask That the Jury Be Instructed on Self-Defense and Erroneously 

Concluding that Self-Defense Does Not Apply to the Facts and 

Circumstances of Mr. Wilson’s Case.

{¶ 31} Wilson contends that while this is not a classic self-defense case, his 

encounter with Reffett caused him to fear for his life. Thus, while Wilson “did not shoot 

the firearm with the intent to kill or injure, he acted with the intent to protect himself and 

Ms. Drugroyal and satisfied his burden of production on each of the self-defense 

elements.” Wilson Brief at p. 10. In addition, Wilson argues that failing to request a selfdefense instruction in such a situation “constitute[d] deficient performance [by counsel] 

and cannot be said to reflect reasonable trial strategy.” Id. According to Wilson, 

defense counsel “was operating under the uninformed impression that Ohio law does not 

permit a self-defense instruction where a defendant fires a warning shot rather than 

shooting to kill or injure.” Id. at p. 11. Wilson also argues that “without making any 

argument or providing any case law, trial counsel merely acquiesced to the position of the 

trial court and prosecution that self-defense does not apply to an intentional and erratic 

warning shot.” Id. 

{¶ 32} Furthermore, Wilson argues that, although Ohio prohibits self-defense 

where a defendant claims innocence and a weapon is accidentally discharged, warning 

shots are different because they are intentional. From this perspective, self-defense 

instructions must be given where a defendant, as here, claims to have feared for his life, 
-19-

was unable to retreat, and was not responsible for creating the situation. Consequently, 

because Wilson’s testimony presented these facts, a jury could have concluded, with 

proper instruction, that he acted in self-defense.

{¶ 33} In response, the State contends that warning shots cannot support the 

necessary element of force for self-defense. The State further notes that Wilson’s trial 

counsel followed a legitimate trial strategy to avoid having to admit that Wilson directed 

force against Reffett. Finally, the State argues that because warning shots are not forces 

actually directed at an aggressor, they cannot satisfy the elements of the affirmative selfdefense provided in R.C. 2901.05. 

{¶ 34} Before addressing these points, we will outline the standards that apply to 

ineffective assistance of counsel.

A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

{¶ 35} “A convicted defendant's claim that counsel's assistance was so defective 

as to require reversal of a conviction or death sentence has two components. First, the 

defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient. This requires showing 

that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ 

guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the defendant must show 

that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that 

counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose 

result is reliable.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 

L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). “An error by counsel, even if professionally unreasonable, does not 
-20-

warrant setting aside the judgment of a criminal proceeding if the error had no effect on 

the judgment.” Id. at 691. 

{¶ 36} “To show that a defendant has been prejudiced by counsel's deficient 

performance, the defendant must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that, 

were it not for counsel's errors, the result of the trial would have been different.” State v. 

Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 137, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph three of the syllabus. 

See also Strickland at 696. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to 

undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland at 694.

{¶ 37} In Strickland, the court stressed that “[j]udicial scrutiny of counsel's 

performance must be highly deferential. It is all too tempting for a defendant to secondguess counsel's assistance after conviction or adverse sentence, and it is all too easy for 

a court, examining counsel's defense after it has proved unsuccessful, to conclude that a 

particular act or omission of counsel was unreasonable. * * * A fair assessment of attorney 

performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of 

hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to 

evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time. Because of the difficulties 

inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong presumption that 

counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that 

is, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the 

challenged action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’ ” Id. at 689, quoting Michel 

v. Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101, 76 S.Ct. 158, 100 L.Ed. 83 (1955).

{¶ 38} With these standards in mind, we will consider whether trial counsel was 
-21-

ineffective in failing to ask for a self-defense instruction.

B. Discussion 

{¶ 39} Having considered the law and evidence, we conclude that Wilson’s trial 

counsel did not render ineffective assistance of counsel, because a self-defense 

instruction was not warranted under the facts of this case. 

{¶ 40} “After arguments are completed, a trial court must fully and completely give 

the jury all instructions which are relevant and necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence 

and discharge its duty as the fact finder.” State v. Comen, 50 Ohio St.3d 206, 553 N.E.2d 

640 (1990), paragraph two of the syllabus. “A court's jury instructions must be based on 

the actual issues in the case as presented by the evidence. * * * Thus, a court should not 

give an instruction unless it is specifically applicable to the facts in the case.” State v. 

Scimemi, 2d Dist. Clark No. 1994-CA-58, 1995 WL 329031, *6 (June 6, 1995), citing State 

v. Guster, 66 Ohio St.2d 266, 421 N.E.2d 157 (1981). To decide if a self-defense 

instruction is warranted, “the trial court must determine ‘whether the defendant has 

introduced sufficient evidence, which, if believed, would raise a question in the minds of 

reasonable men concerning the existence of such issue.’ ” Id., quoting State v. Melchior, 

56 Ohio St.2d 15, 381 N.E.2d 195 (1978), paragraph one of the syllabus. “Generally, 

the failure to request jury instructions is purely a matter of trial tactics and will not be 

disturbed upon review.” State v. Herrington, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25150, 2010-Ohio6455, ¶ 11, citing State v. Clayton, 62 Ohio St.2d 45, 47-49, 402 N.E.2d 1189 (1980). 

{¶ 41} Before discussing this point in detail, we will consider recent amendments 
-22-

to Ohio’s self-defense statute, R.C. 2901.05, to see if they have changed settled law about 

when instructions on self-defense are appropriate.

{¶ 42} As noted, Wilson argues that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance 

of counsel by failing to argue for a self-defense instruction. The trial court rejected selfdefense, stating that while a “component of self-defense” existed, Wilson’s defense was 

that he “did not aim the gun at the victim, [and] did not intend to hurt the victim or kill the 

victim,” which did not fit a true self-defense claim. Tr. at p. 146. 

{¶ 43} The trial court’s decision was consistent with State v. Poole, 33 Ohio St.2d 

18, 294 N.E.2d 888 (1973), in which the Supreme Court of Ohio said that:

This court has consistently recognized that there are certain 

“justification(s) for admitted conduct” allowed to a defendant in a criminal 

case, provable for the most part under the plea of not guilty, which are 

referred to as “affirmative defenses.” As characterized by one authority, 

they represent not a mere denial or contradiction of evidence which the 

prosecution has offered as proof of an essential element of the crime 

charged, but, rather, they represent a substantive or independent matter 

“which the defendant claims exempts him from liability even if it is conceded 

that the facts claimed by the prosecution are true.”

(Footnotes omitted.) Id. at 19, quoting McCormick, Evidence, Section 801 (2d Ed.), and 

Anderson, 1 Wharton's Criminal Evidence, Section 19, at 54 and 55 (12 Ed.). At the

time, in these situations (which included self-defense), the defendant had to prove the 

affirmative defense “by a preponderance of the evidence.” Id., citing State v. Vargo, 116 
-23-

Ohio St. 495, 507, 156 N.E. 600 (1927). 

{¶ 44} Our court has also commented that “[n]on-affirmative defenses seek to 

negate the state's proof of an element * * *. * * * Since the burden to prove all the elements 

of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt rests on the state – and never shifts – no part 

of an affirmative defense may negate an element of the offense.” State v. Ellis, 2d Dist. 

Montgomery No. 24003, 2011-Ohio-2967, ¶ 28, citing Poole at 19, and State v. Nucklos, 

171 Ohio App.3d 38, 2007-Ohio-1025, 869 N.E.2d 674, ¶ 38 (2d Dist.) (Other citations 

omitted.) 

{¶ 45} When Poole was decided in 1973, R.C. 2901.05 was not yet in effect, and 

Ohio followed common law rules concerning self-defense. The first version of R.C. 

2901.05, which was enacted in 1974, changed the common law burden of proof by 

providing that “ ‘ “[e]very person accused of an offense is presumed innocent until proven 

guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the burden of proof is upon the prosecution. The 

burden of going forward with the evidence of an affirmative defense is upon the 

accused.” ’ ” State v. Brooks, Ohio Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-2478, __ N.E.3d __, 

¶ 17, quoting State v. Humphries, 51 Ohio St.2d 95, 98, 364 N.E.2d 1354 (1977), which 

in turn quoted former R.C. 2901.05(A).

{¶ 46} The 1974 version of the statute did not exist for long. “Effective November 

1, 1978, R.C. 2901.05(A) was amended to read that, ‘(e)very person accused of an 

offense is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the 

burden of proof for all elements of the offense is upon the prosecution. The burden of 

going forward with the evidence of an affirmative defense, and the burden of proof, by a 
-24-

preponderance of the evidence, for an affirmative defense, is upon the accused.’ ” State 

v. Jones, 67 Ohio St.2d 244, 247, 423 N.E.2d 447 (1981), reversed on other grounds,

State v. Webb, 70 Ohio St.3d 325, 638 N.E.2d 1023 (1994), paragraph one of the 

syllabus. Thus, the burdens reverted to what the common law had dictated. 

{¶ 47} R.C. 2901.05 remained in that form until 2018, when it was amended 

significantly to make changes in the burdens relating to self-defense. Brooks at ¶ 13. 

At that point, the law was amended to “modify the law governing * * * the grounds for selfdefense and the burden of proof.” Am.Sub.H.B. 228, 2018 Ohio Laws 159. According 

to the Bill Analysis, the amendment “[s]hifts to the state the burden to prove beyond a 

reasonable doubt that a person charged with an offense that involved the use of force 

against another did not use that force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of 

that person's residence” and “[r]equires that a person charged with an offense present 

evidence that tends to support that the accused acted in self-defense, defense of another, 

or defense of that person's residence.” Ohio Legislative Service Commission Bill 

Analysis for Sub.H.B. 228, p. 2 (Dec. 7, 2018). Thus, the law returned essentially to what 

it had been in 1974. “The only thing that the amendments to R.C. 2901.05 changed is 

which party has the burden of proving or disproving a self-defense claim at trial.” Brooks

at ¶ 15. 

{¶ 48} R.C. 2901.05 was amended again in 2020, with the changes being effective 

on April 6, 2021. See Am.S.B. 175, 2020 Ohio Laws 78. The most recent version of 

the statute would apply here, because Wilson’s crimes were committed on June 6, 2021, 

which was after the effective date of the amendments. However, these amendments 
-25-

were not substantive and would not affect any relevant issues here. See Am.S.B. 175, 

2020 Ohio Laws 78, and Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Final Bill Analysis, p. 2 

(Jan. 21, 2021).

{¶ 49} The most current version of R.C. 2901.05 provides that:

(A) Every person accused of an offense is presumed innocent until 

proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the burden of proof for all 

elements of the offense is upon the prosecution. The burden of going 

forward with the evidence of an affirmative defense, and the burden of proof, 

by a preponderance of the evidence, for an affirmative defense other than 

self-defense, defense of another, or defense of the accused's residence 

presented as described in division (B)(1) of this section, is upon the 

accused.

(B)(1) A person is allowed to act in self-defense, defense of another, 

or defense of that person's residence. If, at the trial of a person who is 

accused of an offense that involved the person's use of force against 

another, there is evidence presented that tends to support that the accused 

person used the force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of 

that person's residence, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable 

doubt that the accused person did not use the force in self-defense, defense 

of another, or defense of that person's residence, as the case may be.

(Emphasis added.) 

{¶ 50} Poole was decided in 1973, before R.C. 2901.05 was first enacted, and was 
-26-

based on the common law. Thereafter, regardless of the version of R.C. 2901.05 in 

effect, courts used settled descriptions of the nature of affirmative defenses, which 

involved concession of the state’s facts, independent or substantive matter exempting a 

defendant from liability, and the fact that the defense may not negate any elements of the 

crime. E.g., Poole, 33 Ohio St.2d at 19, 294 N.E.2d 888; Walden v. State, 47 Ohio St.3d 

47, 50, 547 N.E.2d 962 (1989); State v. Martin, 21 Ohio St.3d 91, 94, 488 N.E.2d 166 

(1986), superseded by statute as noted in Brooks, Ohio Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-2478, 

__ N.E.3d __, at ¶ 15; State v. Armstrong-Carter, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28571, 2021-

Ohio-1110, ¶ 33; Ellis, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24003, 2011-Ohio-2967, ¶ 28; State v. 

Henderson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28975, 2021-Ohio-3943, ¶ 24; State v. Petway, 

2020-Ohio-3848, 156 N.E.3d 467, ¶ 45 (11th Dist.); and State v. Mallory, 10th Dist. 

Franklin No. 08AP-942, 2009-Ohio-2401, ¶ 26. 

{¶ 51} A decision the Supreme Court of Ohio issued when considering the 1974 

version of R.C. 2901.05 is also instructive. In State v. Robinson, 47 Ohio St.2d 103, 351 

N.E.2d 88 (1976), the court noted that commentators and courts had “increasingly 

recognized” the “ambiguous and confusing” nature of the term “burden of proof.” Id. at 

106-107. This term had been used in two different senses: (1) “the burden of going 

forward with or producing evidence”; and (2) the “burden of persuasion.” Id. at 107. 

After discussing the respective meanings of these terms in both civil and criminal cases, 

the court rejected the State’s contention that the 1974 amendments had only partially 

codified a common law principle, such that defendants still retained “the common law 

burden of proving self-defense by a preponderance of the evidence.” Id. at 110. In 
-27-

this regard, the court said that:

The obvious meaning of R.C. 2901.05(A) is that the state bears the 

burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt through the trial, and that the 

burden not shift to the defendant. In order to raise an affirmative defense, 

which is now statutorily defined as either “a defense expressly designated 

as affirmative” or “a defense involving an excuse or justification peculiarly 

within the knowledge of the accused, on which he can fairly be required to 

adduce supporting evidence” (R.C. 2901.05(C)), evidence of a nature and 

quality sufficient to raise the issue must be introduced, from whatever 

source the evidence may come. The procedural steps to be taken by the 

trial court are well stated in State v. Millett, supra (273 A.2d at 508):

“ * * * When such evidence is forthcoming the trial court must first, 

viewing that evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant, determine 

whether or not it is adequate to raise the self-defense issue, and, if believed, 

would under the legal tests applied to a claim of self-defense permit a 

reasonable doubt as to guilt, stemming from that claim, to arise. Having 

concluded as a matter of law that the self-defense issue is thus properly 

tendered, the trial court need only instruct the jury as to the elements of selfdefense. He will have no occasion to speak of burden of proof other than 

to explain the State's burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

If the evidence adduced, so viewed, is legally insufficient to raise the issue, 

the trial court will have no occasion or obligation to instruct the jury on the 
-28-

elements essential to a valid claim of self-defense, but rather will remove 

the issue of self-defense from jury consideration.”

Id. at 110-113, quoting State v. Millett, 273 A.2d 504, 508 (Me.1971).

{¶ 52} In light of the consistent interpretation of the nature of self-defense claims, 

the trial court properly performed its obligation and correctly found that Wilson had failed 

to provide sufficient evidence to justify a self-defense instruction. Specifically, Wilson did 

not concede that the prosecution’s factual claims were true; instead, he attempted to 

negate the elements of the crime with which he was charged. 

{¶ 53} Wilson was charged with attempted murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A), 

felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), and firearm specifications. He was 

convicted of felonious assault and the firearm specifications. Because Wilson was 

acquitted of attempted murder, no possible ineffective assistance of counsel could have 

occurred in connection with that verdict. As a result, we will only discuss the elements 

of felonious assault. 

{¶ 54} The elements of felonious assault are as follows:

(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

* * *

(2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to 

another's unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.

{¶ 55} Under R.C. 2901.22(B), “[a] person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, 

when the person is aware that the person's conduct will probably cause a certain result 

or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when 
-29-

the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.” 

{¶ 56} By his own admission, Wilson did not try to cause or attempt to cause harm 

to another. To the contrary, he specifically denied that he had intended to shoot Reffett 

or to hurt or kill anyone. Tr. at. p. 131. Since R.C. 2903.11(A)(2) requires that a 

defendant knowingly cause or attempt to cause harm to another by means of a deadly 

weapon, Wilson’s denial of any such attempt is inconsistent with a claim of self-defense, 

and no self-defense instruction would have been appropriate. 

{¶ 57} Furthermore, as the State notes in its brief, Wilson also did not use force 

against Reffett or anyone else, as that term is defined in R.C. 2901.01(A)(1), because, 

again, by his own admission, Wilson’s warning shot was not “violence * * * physically 

exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.” State’s Brief, p. 6. “Force,”

as used in the Ohio Revised Code, “means any violence, compulsion, or constraint 

physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(1). 

Because Wilson stressed that he did not shoot at anyone, the warning shot was not 

exerted upon or against a person. 

{¶ 58} In arguing that self-defense applies, Wilson has relied on a Florida appellate 

case. See Wilson Brief at p. 12-13, citing Miller v. State, 613 So.2d 530 (Fla.App.1993). 

Before discussing this point, we note our observation in State v. Grant, 2d Dist. Darke No. 

2019-CA-13, 2020-Ohio-3055, that “ ‘[g]enerally, the failure to request jury instructions is 

purely a matter of trial tactics and will not be disturbed upon review.’ ” Id. at ¶ 27, quoting 

State v. Herrington, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25150, 2010-Ohio-6455, ¶ 11. (Other citation 

omitted.) Therefore, we begin with that principle in mind. 
-30-

{¶ 59} In Grant, our court “found counsel ineffective for failing to request selfdefense instructions because there was some evidence presented in each case upon 

which jurors could have found the defendant acted in self-defense.” Id. However, the 

three cases that Grant referenced (where self-defense instructions were given), all 

involved situations where the defendant actually physically assaulted the victim. In one 

case, the defendant hit the victim; in another, the defendant “shoved the victim and also 

pushed the victim into a wall” and “hit, bit and slapped the victim.” Grant at ¶ 27, citing 

State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-7424, 96 N.E.3d 1128, ¶ 14 (2d Dist.), and State v. Patterson, 

2d Dist. Greene No. 2015-CA-57, 2016-Ohio-2750, ¶ 7. In the third case, “the defendant 

testified that he used force to remove his perceived attacker's hand from his face.” Id., 

citing State v. Fritz, 163 Ohio App.3d 276, 2005-Ohio-4736, 837 N.E.2d 823, ¶ 23 (2d 

Dist.). Clearly, in these cases, the defendants were not negating the elements of the 

crimes with which they had been charged; they admitted they struck the victims, but 

claimed their actions were done in self-defense. 

{¶ 60} In Grant, we found that the defendant, who had attacked the victim with his 

cane and attempted to hit the victim with a hammer, was not entitled to a self-defense 

instruction. Grant, 2d Dist. Darke No. 2019-CA-13, 2020-Ohio-3055, at ¶ 20-21. We 

reasoned that the defendant’s “trial strategy was based upon the claim that he was not 

physically involved in the altercation and never hit [the victim]. This theory of the case 

suggests that he did not act knowingly and did not cause physical harm to [the victim]. 

Such a strategy is inconsistent with self-defense, which concedes that the defendant had 

the purpose to commit the act but asserts that he was justified in his actions. In other 
-31-

words, [the defendant] could not have been acting in self-defense if, as he claims, he did 

not act at all.” Id. at ¶ 20. We rejected the ineffective assistance of counsel claim 

(based on failure to request a self-defense instruction) for the same reason. Id. at ¶ 28. 

The case before us is similar to Grant, in that Wilson attempted to negate the elements 

of the charged crimes, and his actions were inconsistent with self-defense.

{¶ 61} State v. Hubbard, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-945, 2013-Ohio-2735, has 

facts similar to the case before us. In Hubbard, the defendant’s daughter and a neighbor 

had several altercations throughout the day. That evening, while the defendant, his 

daughter, and her friends were inside the house, the neighbor and a friend came down 

the street and threw a cement block through the front window. The defendant then came 

outside onto his porch and fired a gun, resulting in the death of one person and injury to 

another. A witness testified that the defendant had shot the gun toward a crowd of 

people who were down the street and that no one had been in front of the defendant’s 

house when he shot. Id. at ¶ 3-5 and 8. In contrast, the defendant testified that he had 

fired a shot to “warn” people to back up, and that he “fired his gun ‘down towards the 

ground’ in the direction of the abandoned house immediately north from his house and in 

the vicinity of a green trash can sitting in front of the abandoned house. * * * Defendant 

explained that he did not intend to kill or harm anyone when he shot his gun.” Id. at ¶ 7.

{¶ 62} After being convicted of attempted murder, felonious assault, murder, and 

firearm specifications, the defendant appealed. Among the assignments of error was a 

claim that the trial court had erred in refusing to instruct the jury on self-defense. Id. at 

¶ 47. The Tenth District disagreed, stating that “[a] defendant claiming self-defense 
-32-

‘concedes he had the purpose to commit the act, but asserts that he was justified in his 

actions.’ * * * Thus, when an individual testifies that they did not intend to cause harm, 

such testimony prevents the individual from claiming self-defense.” Id. at ¶ 54, quoting 

State v. Barnd, 85 Ohio App.3d 254, 260, 619 N.E.2d 518 (3d Dist.1993). (Other 

citations omitted.)

{¶ 63} The facts in State v. Collins, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 19AP-373, 2020-Ohio3126, are also similar to Hubbard and to our case. In Collins, the court commented that:

In the instant case, appellant testified on direct examination that he 

fired the first shot “towards the ground” in order to “get [Bonet] [the victim] 

away so I could run back inside my house and call the police.” (Tr. at 545.) 

He further averred that after Bonet started running away, he fired three more 

shots to “get [Bonet] at least to the other side of Deshler, far enough for me 

to run back up through the middle of the houses and back inside the house 

through the back.” Id. at 547. On cross-examination, he admitted that he 

intentionally fired his weapon four times in Bonet's direction; however, he 

denied that he was trying to shoot him. Rather, he “was trying to shoot 

near him to scare him off with the gunshots.” Id. at 561. He also stated 

that he “was trying to shoot at the ground by him but not directly at him.” 

Id. at 563. As in Hubbard, appellant's testimony that he did not fire his gun 

with the intention of harming Bonet prevented him from claiming that he 

fired his gun in self-defense.

Id. at ¶ 36. 
-33-

{¶ 64} According to the dissent, Hubbard is based on faulty reasoning because a 

case it cited involved an accident. The dissent also notes that some other cases we 

have cited also involved accidents. However, whether a situation involves an accident 

or a deliberate act misses the point. The reason Hubbard and other courts have rejected 

self-defense is because the defendants claimed they did not intend to harm the victim. 

This is inconsistent with a self-defense claim, where a defendant “ ‘concedes he had the 

purpose to commit the act, but asserts that he was justified in his actions.’ ” Hubbard

at ¶ 54, quoting Barnd at 260. 

{¶ 65} Cases from the Eighth District Court of Appeals have also followed the wellestablished principle that “[b]ecause self-defense presumes an intentional, willful use of 

force, ‘ “ ‘when an individual testifies that they did not intend to cause harm, such 

testimony prevents the individual from claiming self-defense.’ ” ’ ” State v. Travis, 8th 

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 110514, 2022-Ohio-1233, ¶ 26, quoting Hubbard at ¶ 54. See also 

State v. Dixon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 110972, 2022-Ohio-2582, ¶ 24; State v. Davis, 

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109890, 2021-Ohio-2311, ¶ 38. In Davis, the court further noted 

that “[s]elf-defense presumes that the facts of the crime, as alleged in the indictment or 

complaint, are true, but asserts that there are further facts that justify the defendant's 

actions and exempt him or her from liability.” Id. at ¶ 39, citing Poole, 33 Ohio St.2d at 

18-20, 294 N.E.2d 888. 

{¶ 66} According to the dissent, self-defense is judged on a case’s facts rather 

than “the charges the State elects to bring and must prove.” However, as noted, the 

established principle is that “a defendant claiming self-defense does not seek to negate 
-34-

an element of the offense.” State v. Dykas, 185 Ohio App.3d 763, 2010-Ohio-359, 925 

N.E.2d 685, ¶ 18 (8th Dist.). See also State v. Gardner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 110606, 

2022-Ohio-381, ¶ 21; Cleveland v. Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 81369, 2003-Ohio31, ¶ 10. Thus, the charges the State elects to bring, and their elements, are significant. 

Again, Wilson's self-defense claim did seek to negate an element of his offense, and the 

trial court, therefore, did not err in rejecting an instruction on self-defense. 

{¶ 67} As to Miller, 613 So.2d 530, it was a brief per curiam decision and did not 

address the same issues as the case before us. Furthermore, “no court in this state is 

bound by a decision of another state court applying that state's own law.” Solomon v. 

Cent. Trust Co. of Northeastern Ohio, 63 Ohio St.3d 35, 41, 584 N.E.2d 1185 (1992). 

See also State ex rel. Yost v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, 2019-Ohio-5084, 137 

N.E.3d 1267, ¶ 30 (10th Dist.). We find no reason to follow the decision in Miller.

{¶ 68} The issue in Miller was whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on 

the justifiable use of deadly force rather than on the justifiable use of non-deadly force. 

Miller at 531. The court of appeals found that firing a warning shot in the air involved the 

use of deadly force as a matter of law, because a firearm is a deadly weapon and can 

cause harm when fired in the vicinity of people. Id. However, the court did not address 

whether the defendant’s position was an attempt to negate the elements of the crime or 

whether his denial of an attempt to harm was inconsistent with assertions of self-defense. 

The court likely focused on deadly force because in Florida, courts consider which type 

of instruction to give juries based on whether force is deadly or non-deadly.

{¶ 69} Other than amendments implementing neutralizing gender changes in 
-35-

1997, Florida’s current law on use of force and deadly force is similar to what it was when 

Miller was issued in 1993. See S.B. 438, 1997 Fla. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 97-102, 

amending Fla. Stat. Ann. 776.012. Under the pre-1997 version of that statute, “[a] 

person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, against another when and to 

the extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself 

or another against such other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, he is justified 

in the use of deadly force only if he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to 

prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the 

imminent commission of a forcible felony.” Id. In contrast, R.C. 2901.05 does not rely 

on distinctions between deadly and non-deadly force. 

{¶ 70} In Florida, “ ‘[i]f the type of force used is clearly deadly or non-deadly as a 

matter of law, only the applicable instruction should be given.’ ” Larsen v. State, 82 So.3d 

971, 974 (Fla.App.2011), citing Cruz v. State, 971 So.2d 178, 182 (Fla.App.2007). 

“ ‘Where the evidence at trial does not establish that the force used by the defendant was 

deadly or non-deadly as a matter of law, the question is a factual one to be decided by 

the jury, and the defendant is entitled to jury instructions on the justifiable use of both 

types of force.’ ” Id., quoting Cruz. For the reasons stated, Miller is not persuasive.

{¶ 71} If we were inclined to rely on out-of-state authority, we could use State v.

Cook, 254 N.C.App. 150, 802 S.E.2d 575 (2017), affirmed per curiam, 370 N.C. 506, 809 

S.E.2d 566 (2018).

{¶ 72} In Cook, the defendant was convicted on two counts of “felonious assault 

with a firearm on a law enforcement officer.” Id. at 151. When police were attempting 
-36-

to serve a warrant, the defendant shot at his bedroom door. He claimed he was asleep, 

had not heard the police, thought intruders had entered the house, and “ ‘had no specific 

intention’ and ‘was just scared’ ” when he fired his weapon. Id. at 151-152. 

{¶ 73} The court of appeals rejected the defendant’s claim that a self-defense 

instruction should have been given. In this regard, the court stated that:

Because Defendant essentially testified that he did not intend to 

shoot anyone when he fired his gun, we are compelled by Supreme Court

precedent to conclude that he was not entitled to a self-defense instruction, 

notwithstanding the fact that there may have been other evidence from 

which the jury could infer that Defendant did intend to shoot the officer, e.g., 

that he fired the shots towards the bedroom door. Accordingly, we find no 

error.

Cook, 254 N.C.App. at 152, 802 S.E.2d 575. 

{¶ 74} Relying on cases outside Ohio is unnecessary, however, as ample authority 

exists in Ohio, including Grant and the other cases discussed, to reject Wilson’s claim 

that a self-defense instruction should have been given and/or that trial counsel was 

ineffective in failing to ask for one.

{¶ 75} As a final matter, the dissent also believes that trial counsel had no true 

strategy and was deficient in failing to object more often, especially to questions and 

argument about Wilson’s pre-arrest and post-arrest silence, to introduction of evidence 

about Wilson’s juvenile record, and in failing to ask for an instruction on aggravated 

menacing as a lesser included offense. Wilson did not raise any of these points on 
-37-

appeal, however, and we cannot construct arguments for the parties. 

{¶ 76} For the reasons stated, self-defense does not apply to the facts of this case, 

and trial counsel did not provide ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to request a 

self-defense instruction. Accordingly, Wilson’s assignment of error is overruled. 

III. Conclusion

{¶ 77} Wilson’s sole assignment of error having been overruled, the judgment of 

the trial court is affirmed.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

LEWIS, J., concurs. 

DONOVAN, J., dissents:

{¶ 78} The majority’s decision encourages an individual to only shoot to kill or 

maim when confronted by an armed assailant. This cannot be the law. The law 

necessarily places a value on human life. As this court noted in State v. Blair, 2d Dist. 

Montgomery No. 28904, 2021-Ohio-3370: “ ‘To warrant an instruction on self-defense, 

R.C. 2901.05(B)(1) mandates there must be evidence that supports that the defendant 

used force to defend himself or herself.’ ” Id. at ¶ 11, citing State v. James, 2d Dist. 

Montgomery No. 28892, 2021-Ohio-112, ¶ 20. “To support a claim of self-defense, a 

defendant must demonstrate that he acted out of fear or he felt that his life was 

threatened.” State v. Crawford, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22314, 2008-Ohio-4008, ¶ 26. 

The deadly force exerted need not be upon an aggressor, but merely against an 

aggressor. Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th Edition, defines against as “adverse to, contrary; 
-38-

without the consent of; in conflict with.” Wilson admitted he intentionally and knowingly 

had discharged a firearm capable of causing death or great bodily harm against and in 

proximity to Reffett. His purpose was to repel a perceived attack upon him. He was 

entitled to a self-defense instruction. Wilson need only have had “reasonable grounds 

to believe and an honest belief that such force as was used was necessary to protect 

himself.” State v. Kucharski, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 20815, 2005-Ohio-6541, ¶ 18.

{¶ 79} The applicability of self-defense must be determined on the particular facts 

of each case, not the charges the State elects to bring and must prove. Wilson adduced 

evidence that tended to support that he had both an objective and subjective belief that 

force was necessary. “The use of a gun constitutes the use of deadly force.” State v. 

Dale, 2d. Dist. Montgomery No. 2012-CA-20, 2013-Ohio-2229, ¶ 15. Self-defense

“presumes intentional, willful use of force to repel force or escape force.” State v. 

Champion, 109 Ohio St. 281, 286-287, 142 N.E. 141 (1927).

{¶ 80} Although the Hubbard case cited by the majority suggests that when an 

individual asserts that he did not intend to cause harm, it precludes a claim of selfdefense, Hubbard rests upon faulty reasoning. Hubbard, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP945, 2013-Ohio-2735. Hubbard cited State v. Johnson, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 06 AP878, 2007-Ohio-2792, which was an accidental discharge case wherein the defendant 

denied any intentional use of deadly force. Hence it is of no value to our analysis. Any 

claim that a gun accidentally discharged is indeed contrary to a claim of self-defense. 

Likewise, the Poole, Barnd, and Travis cases cited by the majority involved accident 

defenses. Thus, in my view, they are not persuasive binding authority in deciding 
-39-

Wilson’s case. 

{¶ 81} By raising a defense of accident, a defendant denies any intent. To the 

contrary, Wilson admitted that the action he took, discharging a firearm (the actus rea) 

taken to defend himself, was a purposeful, deliberate, knowing, and intelligent act. 

Wilson testified, “All I wanted to do was make noise to get him out of my face. That man 

had a gun to me. * * * I got one shot out of the vehicle, and it did its job for real. He got 

away from me.” This claim of self-defense, a shot fired in defense of Wilson himself and 

his female companion, tended to support that he was not criminally liable for employing 

deadly force. Wilson asserted he was put under the necessity or apparent necessity of 

doing so without fault or violence on his part. He argued that he did so in order to protect 

himself from the peril of death or serious bodily harm at the hands of a man who, by 

Wilson’s account, pulled a gun and threatened to “ghost him.” Succinctly put, Wilson 

claimed a justifiable shooting. He claimed he was reacting to the aggressive conduct of 

Reffett. 

{¶ 82} In my view, the majority’s analysis not only places upon Wilson a burden to 

prove his self-defense claim but also relieves the State of its burden to establish all the 

elements of felonious assault beyond a reasonable doubt. Self-defense is not a crime, 

and it is not unlawful; rather it is an act of justification. The defense of self-defense

asserted herein involved the question of whether the shot fired by Wilson was a crime ab 

initio. Did Wilson employ justifiable defensive force against Reffett? His testimony 

tended to support that he did. Hence, he was entitled to the instruction. It can’t be 

“some element” of self-defense as suggested initially by the trial court and later by the 
-40-

defendant’s attorney himself. I do not agree with the majority that a criminal defendant 

is required to “admit” anything in the sense of acknowledging that any particular facts are 

true in order to assert self-defense. To the extent that a defendant in raising self-defense

accepts for the sake of the argument that he committed the act alleged in a charge, the 

defendant may do so only for the limited purpose of raising self-defense. If the jury 

reasonably believed that Wilson’s single shot, characterized as a “warning shot” (not by 

Wilson), was reasonably necessary to protect him and his girlfriend, such conduct would 

have been privileged and could not result in criminal liability. 

{¶ 83} Wilson admitted that the shot fired was intentional. Self-defense

reasonably requires that he admit the shooting was intentional and not accidental. In 

other words, it was done to protect oneself or another. Notably, Wilson did not assert 

that he fired into the ground. 

{¶ 84} Where no construction of the evidence would support a finding that Wilson 

shot in self-defense, the trial court properly may refuse to charge on self-defense;

however, this clearly was not the scenario as it existed on this record. However the shot 

was characterized, Wilson’s justification/defense for his action was self-defense, and the 

jury should have been so instructed. This case was essentially “one on one,” Reffett’s 

version versus Wilson’s account. On this record, defense counsel’s performance 

unquestionably prejudiced Wilson. Furthermore, the Ohio Supreme Court and this court 

have never held that a shot deemed a “warning shot” (after the fact) cannot constitute 

self-defense. Unquestionably, according to Wilson’s account, his motive was of a 

defensive nature.
-41-

{¶ 85} The majority suggests that the failure to request a self-defense instruction 

was just trial strategy. But a careful reading of the record reveals that trial counsel had 

no true trial strategy. In fact, defense counsel made not one objection during the entirety 

of an attempted murder/felonious assault trial. Further, counsel ignored questions and 

closing argument about Wilson’s pre-arrest and post-arrest silence. 1 Furthermore, 

counsel’s deficient performance is illuminated by the fact that he introduced Wilson’s 

juvenile record!2

1 For example, on cross-examination, the following exchange occurred regarding 

Wilson’s encounter with law enforcement in West Jefferson after he ran out of gas:

Q. When you got to where the vehicle was stopped in West 

Jefferson, there’s three deputies and two officers there around you, correct?

A. * * * There was a lot of cops there.

* * *

Q. You never told them about having a gun pulled on you, did you?

* * *

A. No.

Q. And it was less than an hour, right?

A. Yeah. * * *

Q. You never told them you were chased all the way there, correct?

A. No. I didn’t tell them anything about that. I’m a convicted felon. I 

shouldn’t have touched the gun at all. * * *

Q. At no point after this chase, no point after that you reach out to 

Springfield Police Department Detective Jordan, I need to talk to you man. 

I need to tell you what happened. Did you ever do that?

A. I don’t know him.

* * *

Q. You had nearly four weeks to reach out to the Springfield Police 

Department. 

A. I had no time. I had a warrant out on my head two days later before 

I could even get to a phone, got on Facebook. * * *

Further, in closing argument, the prosecutor argued that Wilson “didn’t mention a word 

about what happened. Nothing. Didn’t call the police either. Didn’t call Detective Jordan 

or anyone even after he told you on the stand that they knew he had a warrant.” The 

prosecutor also used this argument in rebuttal. 

2 The following exchange occurred during direct examination:
-42-

{¶ 86} If the defense attorney’s real trial strategy in Wilson’s defense was that he 

“only wanted to frighten,” then an instruction for aggravated menacing should have been 

requested. It was not. In deciding whether to provide a lesser-included or inferior 

offense instruction, a trial court must find sufficient evidence to allow a jury to reasonably 

reject the greater offense and to find a defendant guilty on a lesser-included or inferiordegree offense. State v. Ferrell, 2020-Ohio-6879, 165 N.E.3d 743, ¶ 34-35 (10th Dist.). 

When the evidence pertaining to a lesser-included or inferior-degree offense meets the 

test, a trial court must instruct the jury on the lesser-included or inferior-degree offense. 

State v. Conley, 2015-Ohio-2553, 43 N.E.3d 775, ¶ 32 (2d Dist.). At a minimum, 

Wilson’s account met this test and an aggravated menacing instruction should have been 

requested. 

{¶ 87} If indeed a self-defense instruction was not warranted, although I strongly 

disagree with this conclusion by the majority, additional instructions on justification or an

inferior offense should have been given. It is illogical to allow defense counsel to argue 

“some element” of self-defense but not instruct on self-defense. 

{¶ 88} I would reverse and remand for a new trial. 

Q. Anything as a minor?

* * *

Q. When you were a minor, did you have - -

A. * * * I was a bad little kid.

Q. Well, what convictions?

A. A couple thefts, obstruction of justice. I think a burglary. Little stuff, 

drugs, marijuana. 
-43

-

Copies sent to: 

Ian A. Richardson

Carly Edelstein

Hon. Douglas M. Rastatter