[Cite as State v. Luce, 2018-Ohio-3865.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

STATE OF OHIO 

 Plaintiff-Appellee 

-vsDANIELLE LUCE 

 Defendant-Appellant 

JUDGES: 

Hon. John W. Wise, P. J. 

Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. 

Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J. 

Case No. 17 COA 040 

O P I N I O N 

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common 

Pleas, Case No. 17 CRI 026 

JUDGMENT: Affirmed 

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 24, 2018 

APPEARANCES: 

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant 

CHRISTOPHER R. TUNNELL BRIAN A. SMITH 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY BRIAN A. SMITH LAW FIRM 

VICTOR R. PEREZ 755 White Pond Drive 

ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR Suite 403 

110 Cottage Street Akron, Ohio 44320 

Ashland, Ohio 44805 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 2

Wise, John, P. J. 

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Danielle R. Luce appeals her multi-count conviction, 

in the Court of Common Pleas, Ashland County, for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated 

drug trafficking, corrupting another with drugs, and other offenses. Appellee is the State 

of Ohio. The relevant facts leading to this appeal are as follows: 

{¶2} On August 8, 2016, officers from the Ashland Police Department responded 

to a suspected drug overdose at the Cleveland Avenue trailer residence of Appellant 

Danielle Luce and her husband, Christopher Luce. Officers observed that Christopher 

was unresponsive and having difficulty breathing. Emergency personnel administered 

multiple doses of Narcan and were able to revive Christopher. In the meantime, appellant 

appeared to have difficulty comprehending what was happening, was unsteady on her 

feet, and seemed to be under the influence of something. 

{¶3} Responding police officers found items potentially related to drug use in the 

Luces' trailer, including a line of powder and a marijuana pipe in a dresser. Tr. at 204. 

They also discovered a wooden box inside a closet. The box contained “multiple” 

syringes, along with various tubes of made of plastic, glass, and/or metal. Tr. at 187. 

Officers also found razor blades, a shoe lace, syringe caps, syringes, a crack pipe, two 

spoons, cotton, and a syringe filled with a brown liquid. Tr. at 208-209, 216, 218. Appellant 

admitted to having recently snorted heroin, which she had purchased near a gas station 

in Mansfield, Ohio. She told officers the heroin in question did not smell or taste right, but 

she did not say anything at that time about selling any of it to someone else. She was 

eventually taken into police custody. 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 3

{¶4} The next day, on August 9, 2016, Jeffrey Sanders was discovered by his 

sister in his residence at the Almond Tree Inn, a trailer court. He was slumped over the 

tub in the bathroom with blood and vomit around him. Tr. at 283. Ashland Assistant Fire 

Chief Gabriel Campbell was one of the first responders on the scene. He estimated 

Sanders had been dead for five or six hours by observing the body’s lividity. Tr. at 309. 

{¶5} Detective Brian Evans was assigned to investigate. Det. Evans found a 

spoon with cotton, syringe, and a Q-tip in Sanders' bathroom. Tr. at 414. He learned that 

there had been an overdose incident at the Luces' residence the evening before. Tr. at 

420. He also found that the Luces lived just one block away from Sanders. 

{¶6} Officers had collected appellant’s cell phone as evidence and obtained 

permission from appellant to search it. Det. Evans thereupon reviewed appellant’s cell 

phone history, noting that several texts and/or calls had been made on August 8, 2016 

between her and a contact listed as “Jeffrey S.A.” One text from Jeffrey S.A. stated that 

this individual only had $6.00 to spend, but asked “would you work a trade with me?” Tr. 

at 431. 

{¶7} Det. Evans continued his investigation. Ultimately, appellant admitted to him 

that Sanders had come to the Luces’ trailer with $20.00 cash, left the money, and took 

with him a small quantity of drugs in a “corner bag” that had been left for him on a tray. 

{¶8} Det. Evans also collected security video from “Donna D's,” a store in the 

vicinity of the Luces’ trailer. He requested video in the time frame of 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 

on August 8, 2016. In one segment, Sanders is seen riding a bike in a direction that leads 

to the Luces' residence. Sanders is also later seen riding in a direction away from the 

Luces' residence. 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 4

{¶9} An autopsy was conducted on Sanders, as further discussed infra. His 

cause of death was determined to be acute intoxication by Carfentanil. 

{¶10} On March 9, 2017, the Ashland County Grand Jury indicted appellant as 

follows: 

{¶11} Count 1: involuntary manslaughter, R.C. 2903.04(A), a felony of the first 

degree; Count 2: corrupting another with drugs, R.C. 2925.02(A)(3), a felony of the 

second degree; Count 3: aggravated trafficking in drugs, R.C. 2925.03(A)(1), a felony of 

the fifth degree; Count 4: aggravated trafficking in drugs, R.C. 2925.03(A)(2), a felony of 

the fifth degree; Count 5: aggravated possession of drugs, R.C. 2925.11(A), a felony of 

the fifth degree; Count 6: possession of drug abuse instruments, R.C. 2925.12(A), a 

misdemeanor of the second degree; Count 7: illegal use or possession of drug 

paraphernalia, R.C. 2925.14(C)(1), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; Count 8: illegal 

use or possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia, R.C. 2925.141(C), a minor 

misdemeanor; Count 9: aggravated possession of drugs, R.C. 2925.11(A), a felony of the 

fifth degree; Count 10: possession of drug abuse instruments, R.C. 2925.12(A), a 

misdemeanor of the second degree; Count 11, possession of drugs, R.C. 2925.11(A), a 

misdemeanor of the first degree. 

{¶12} Appellant initially pled not guilty to all eleven counts. However, appellant 

subsequently entered pleas of guilty to Counts 9, 10, and 11. The matter then proceeded 

to a jury trial on Counts 1 through 8 commencing on August 1, 2017. Christopher Luce 

was also tried as a co-defendant. 

{¶13} After hearing the evidence and arguments, the jury found appellant guilty 

on all eight counts. On October 3, 2017, the trial court sentenced appellant inter alia to 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 5

eight years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, merging therewith the offense of 

corrupting another with drugs. On the two felony counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, 

appellant received sentences of nine months each in prison, concurrent. On the felony 

counts of aggravated possession of drugs, appellant received a sentence of six months 

each in prison, also concurrent. On the remaining counts, all misdemeanors, all jail 

sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. Appellant’s aggregate prison 

sentence was therefore eight years, to be served consecutively to her sentence under 

Ashland County Common Pleas number 17-CR-016. 

{¶14} On November 1, 2017, appellant filed a notice of appeal. She herein raises 

the following three Assignments of Error: 

{¶15} “I. APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS FOR INVOLUNTARY 

MANSLAUGHTER AND CORRUPTING ANOTHER WITH DRUGS WERE NOT 

SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. 

{¶16} “II. APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS FOR COUNTS ONE THROUGH 

EIGHT OF THE INDICTMENT WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE 

EVIDENCE. 

{¶17} “III. APPELLANT’S SENTENCE WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE 

RECORD.” 

I. 

{¶18} In her First Assignment of Error, appellant argues her convictions for 

involuntary manslaughter and corrupting another with drugs were not supported by 

sufficient evidence. We disagree. 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 6

{¶19} In reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, “[t]he relevant inquiry is 

whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any 

rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond 

a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492, 

paragraph two of the syllabus. It is well-established that the State bears the burden of 

establishing each and every element of a charged crime and must do so with proof 

beyond a reasonable doubt. See In re L.R., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93356, 2010–Ohio–

15, 2010 WL 27862, ¶ 11. 

Involuntary Manslaughter 

{¶20} Appellant herein was convicted inter alia of involuntary manslaughter 

(Count 1), which is set forth in R.C. 2903.04(A) as follows: “No person shall cause the 

death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy as a proximate result 

of the offender's committing or attempting to commit a felony.” 

{¶21} The predicate offense in this instance (the same as Count 3) was 

aggravated trafficking in drugs, in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1). This statute states that 

“[n]o person shall knowingly *** [s]ell or offer to sell a controlled substance or a controlled 

substance analog.” 

{¶22} R.C. 2901.22(B) states as follows: “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 the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist. When knowledge of 

the existence of a particular fact is an element of an offense, such knowledge is 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 7

established if a person subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence 

and fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning the fact.” 

{¶23} Ohio courts have recognized that “[t]he element of proximate cause is 

satisfied where the defendant, ‘sets in motion a sequence of events that make the death 

of another a direct proximate and reasonably inevitable consequence.’ ” State v. Feltner, 

12th Dist. Butler No. CA2008–01–009, 2008–Ohio–5212, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Lovelace, 

137 Ohio App.3d 206, 215 (1st Dist.1999) (internal quotations partially omitted).. 

{¶24} Appellant first challenges the nexus between Sanders’ death and the 

presence of Carfentanil. The record reveals that Jennifer Acurio, a forensic scientist from 

BCI, performed tests on some of the evidence in this case. Tr. at 377. Acurio tested 

State's Exhibit 17, a sample of residue found in the Luces' residence, which was found to 

“show” Carfentanil. Tr. at 382. Acurio further tested State's Exhibit 18, brown liquid from 

a syringe from the Luces' residence, which was also found to contain Carfentanil. Tr. at 

384. Finally, Acurio tested State's Exhibit 19, the pipe found in the Luces' residence, and 

found it contained marijuana. Tr. at 385. 

{¶25} The Ashland County Coroner, Dr. Dale Thomae, oversaw the investigation 

of Sanders' death. Tr. at 333. However, he arranged for Cuyahoga County officials to 

perform the autopsy, which was ultimately handled by Dr. Todd Barr. Tr. at 319. Dr. Barr 

testified that Sanders was a healthy twenty-one year old male. Tr. at 353. The toxicology 

testing in Cuyahoga County showed that there were indicators of a “fentanyl analog” in 

his blood. Tr. at 356. However, Cuyahoga County was not equipped to reach a conclusion 

on the specifics of said analog; therefore, necessary samples were sent to AIT Laboratory 

in Indianapolis. Tr. at 353-356. The toxicology report from AIT indicated that Carfentanil 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 8

was found in Sanders’ blood and urine. Tr. at 356. He estimated that Sanders had been 

dead at least eight hours when first responders arrived, in contrast to Assistant Fire Chief 

Campbell’s estimate of five to six hours. See Tr. at 338. 

{¶26} Dr. Barr told the jury that Carfentanil is an analog of fentanyl. Tr. at 355. Dr. 

Barr testified that someone with Carfentanil in his or her system would have a bloody fluid 

buildup in his lungs that could come out of the nose and mouth. Tr. at 357-359. Dr. Barr 

concluded that Sanders' cause of death was acute intoxication by Carfentanil. Tr. at 359. 

Dr. Barr further testified that any amount of Carfentanil can be lethal. Tr. at 368. Dr. 

Thomae declared Sanders' cause of death to be from "sudden cardiopath due to deep 

ventricular arrhythmia and due to acute intoxication by Carfentanil." Tr. at 335. Dr. 

Thomae also testified that Carfentanil was designed to be used on large animals, not 

humans. Tr. at 342. Carfentanil is stronger than fentanyl, which itself is stronger than 

heroin. Id. 

{¶27} In sum, while the initial testing showed “there were certain peaks consistent 

with a fentanyl analog” in Sanders’ blood (see Tr. at 356), further testing by an outside 

lab provided evidence that the analog was indeed Carfentanil, leading to the coroner’s 

determination that intoxication via this substance was the cause of the victim’s death. We 

therefore find no grounds for reversal on this basis for want of sufficient evidence. 

{¶28} Appellant next contends the State failed to prove that appellant “knowingly” 

supplied Sanders with Carfentanil. She notes that Dr. Thomae, the Ashland County 

Coroner, testified that he had not previously seen any Carfentanil overdoses in his eight 

years in office. Tr. at 345. Trial counsel for Christopher Luce proferred that Cuyahoga 

County was limited on testing for Carfentanil because “this is a new issue that has been 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 9

on the streets ***.” Tr. at 326. Appellant urges that even though she tried to tell Sanders 

not to use the heroin because it had a strange taste or smell, there was no proof that she 

knew about the Carfentanil in it and the dangers of the latter substance. Assistant Fire 

Chief Campbell said he had started seeing Carfentanil in the “recent past” but could not 

give a more specific time frame. Tr. at 314-315. Dr. Barr noted that he had seen just ten 

Carfentanil cases in the last year. Tr. at 365. 

{¶29} However, we first note that “[i]t is not necessary that the accused be in a 

position to foresee the precise consequence of his conduct; only that the consequence 

be foreseeable in the sense that what actually transpired was natural and logical in that it 

was within the scope of the risk created by his conduct.” State v. Wells, 12th Dist. Warren 

No. CA2016-02-009, 2017-Ohio-420, ¶ 35, citing State v. Losey, 23 Ohio App.3d 93, 96 

(10th Dist.1985). Furthermore, “*** the word ‘knowingly’ is an adverb which modifies the 

verb ‘sell’ or ‘offer.’” State v. Ward, 3rd Dist. Crawford No. 3-17-02, 2017-Ohio-8518, ¶ 

15, citing State v. Patterson, 69 Ohio St.2d 445, 447, 432 N.E.2d 802 (1982), overruled 

in part on other grounds. Ohio courts are thus not required to read into R.C. 2925.03(A) 

an additional element of knowledge of the nature of the substance. Id. In other words, the 

State is only required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused knowingly 

sold or offered to sell a controlled substance. Ward at ¶ 15, citing State v. Stover, 11th 

Dist. Lake No. 2015–L–041, 2016–Ohio–1361, ¶ 14 (emphasis added). 

{¶30} Thus, even if appellant “only” sought to sell heroin on this occasion and had 

no interest in supplying anyone with Carfentanil, she was still choosing to engage in the 

dangerous and illegal business of street-level trafficking in controlled substances. Before 

this Court takes the step of overturning a jury verdict on the basis of insufficient evidence, 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 10

we must remind ourselves that our standard is based on the “rational trier of fact” standard 

set forth in Jenks, supra. Perhaps the General Assembly will further consider whether 

updates are needed in the Revised Code to more specifically address these types of 

tragic “drug within a drug” fatalities. However, as summarized above, upon review of the 

present record and transcript in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that 

reasonable jurors could have found appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the 

offense of involuntary manslaughter as charged. 

Corrupting Another with Drugs 

{¶31} Appellant was also convicted (Count 2) of corrupting another with drugs 

under R.C. 2925.02(A)(3), which states as follows: “No person shall knowingly * * * [b]y 

any means, administer or furnish to another or induce or cause another to use a controlled 

substance, and thereby cause serious physical harm to the other person, or cause the 

other person to become drug dependent.” 

{¶32} Appellant points out that Carfentanil was the only substance named in 

Count 2 of the indictment under the “to wit” language. However, as summarized above, 

upon review of the record and transcript in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we 

find that reasonable jurors could have found appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt 

of the offense corrupting another with drugs as charged. 

{¶33} Appellant's First Assignment of Error is overruled. 

II. 

{¶34} In her Second Assignment of Error, appellant argues her convictions for 

Counts 1 through 8 of the indictment were against the manifest weight of the evidence. 

We disagree. 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 11

{¶35} Our standard of review on a manifest weight challenge to a criminal 

conviction is stated as follows: “The court, reviewing the entire record, weighs the 

evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and 

determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and 

created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and 

a new trial ordered.” State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. 

See, also, State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d 541. 

{¶36} Even though a manifest weight analysis may involve an appellate court's 

consideration of credibility (see State v. Sanders, 76 N.E.3d 468, 2016–Ohio–7204 (5th 

Dist.), ¶ 38), the weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses 

are primarily issues for the trier of fact (see, e.g., State v. Jamison (1990), 49 Ohio St.3d 

182, 552 N.E.2d 180). 

Counts 1 through 4 

{¶37} As discussed above, the first three counts against appellant in this matter 

were, respectively, involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs, and 

aggravated trafficking in drugs (R.C. 2925.03(A)(1)). The fourth count was also 

aggravated trafficking in drugs, but under R.C. 2925.03(A)(2). This latter statute states: 

No person shall knowingly *** [p]repare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for 

distribution, or distribute a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog, when 

the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance or 

a controlled substance analog is intended for sale or resale by the offender or another 

person.” 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 12

{¶38} Appellant first calls into question some of the video evidence, namely, 

security footage from a nearby business showing Sanders passing by on his way to and 

from appellant’s residence on the day of the drug transaction. Because the time 

recordings shown on the video were inaccurate, appellant challenges the State’s attempt 

to connect Sanders’ trip with the texts and calls from appellant to Sanders.1 We note the 

State argued that based on the shadows in the video caused by the sun, Sanders passed 

the business between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on August 8, 2016, and that Sanders 

appeared to be wearing the same clothing as when his body was discovered. However, 

Charles McCarty, a defense witness called by appellant’s co-defendant Christopher Luce, 

testified that Sanders was visiting at McCarty’s residence from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on 

August 8, 2016. Tr. at 658. McCarty stated on cross-examination that he (McCarty) had 

used Suboxone and consumed three or four drinks that night, but that he was not high. 

Tr. at 668-669. 

{¶39} Appellant also refers to evidence that Lieutenant Steven Hoover of the 

Ashland Police Department received a report of an unidentified automobile pulling up to 

Sanders’ trailer at about 2:30 AM on August 9, 2016. Tr. at 539, 679. This appears to 

stem from an observation made by Thomas Hatberg, who also testified as a defense 

witness for Christopher Luce. Hatberg, a neighbor of Sanders, told jurors that he had seen 

an unfamiliar car sitting near Sanders’ trailer between 1:00 AM and 3:15 PM on the early 

morning of August 9, 2016. Tr. at 641. We note Detective Evans appeared to have 

 

1 The State called Mason Xiebel, an employee of the security company, Smart Digital, 

to testify concerning the footage. He explained that “[t]he DVR was not set to Eastern 

Standard Time.” Tr. at 466. However, defense counsel objected to an additional question 

concerning how the recording device had been set up with an erroneous time. The trial 

court sustained the objection, finding that the answer was speculative. Id.
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 13

concluded that the car’s description did not match that of the vehicle owned or used by 

Christopher Luce. Tr. at 552. 

{¶40} Appellant secondly reiterates some of the argument as to causation and 

knowledge presented as part of her “sufficiency” claim, supra.

2 

{¶41} It has been aptly stated that a jury, in making factual determinations, “cannot 

help but rely upon the collective wisdom embodied in the life-experiences of the individual 

jurors ***.” State v. Bays, 2nd Dist. Greene No. 95-CA-118, 1998 WL 32595, aff'd, 87 

Ohio St.3d 15, 1999-Ohio-216, 716 N.E.2d 1126 (1999). Furthermore, although the 

testimony of witnesses on behalf of the State and the defense may conflict, a conviction 

is not against the manifest weight because the jury chose to credit the State's version of 

events. See State v. Breneman, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 11CA0039, 2012-Ohio-3632, ¶ 9, 

citing State v. Peasley, 9th Dist. No. 25062, 2010–Ohio–4333, ¶ 18 (internal quotations 

omitted). Specifically, even in addressing a manifest weight claim, we remain mindful that 

the jurors, as the firsthand triers of fact, are patently in the best position to gauge the truth 

as to a defendant’s advancement of an alibi. See State v. Smith, 5th Dist. Licking No. 14 

CA 83, 2015-Ohio-1610, ¶ 24. 

{¶42} Upon review, we find the jury, in weighing the testimony of the various 

witnesses, and taking into account appellant’s admissions to law enforcement concerning 

the heroin transaction, did not clearly lose its way and create a manifest miscarriage of 

 

2 Appellant also presents a cursory challenge regarding the lack of testimony “regarding 

the contents and methodology of the AIT report” from the lab in Indianapolis. Appellant’s 

Brief at 13. Without additional comment, we note R.C. 313.17 states in pertinent part that 

“[a] report shall be made from the personal observation by the coroner or his deputy of 

the corpse, from the statements of relatives or other persons having any knowledge of 

the facts, and from such other sources of information as are available, or from the 

autopsy.” (Emphasis added.) 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 14

justice requiring that appellant's convictions under Counts 1 through 4 be reversed and a 

new trial ordered. 

Counts 5 through 8 

{¶43} As an initial matter, we note that while Count 5 was felony of the fifth degree, 

Counts 6 and 7 were misdemeanors for which appellant received thirty-day jail sentences, 

to be served concurrently with some of the other counts, and fines of zero dollars. Finally, 

Count 8 was a minor misdemeanor, for which he was fined $100.00. We have recognized 

that where a defendant, convicted of a misdemeanor criminal offense, has voluntarily paid 

the fine or completed the sentence for that offense, an appeal is moot when no evidence 

is offered from which an inference can be drawn that the defendant will suffer some 

collateral disability or loss of civil rights from such judgment or conviction. See State v. 

Crandell, 5th Dist. Licking No. 02CA115, 2003–Ohio–2512, (citation omitted). The briefs 

do not discuss this potential mootness issue, and we observe that the trial court also 

ordered court costs and restitution, the present payment status of which is unknown to 

this Court. 

{¶44} We therefore proceed to the merits of appellant’s argument, which chiefly 

challenges the proof of her identity, as opposed to that of Christopher Luce, as the 

possessor of the substances, drug instruments, and paraphernalia found inside the trailer. 

She adds that the jury was not instructed in this case on constructive possession or 

complicity. 

{¶45} In essence, Count 5 of the indictment went to possession of Carfentanil, 

Count 6 went to possession of a hypodermic device for shooting drugs, Count 7 went to 

possession of drug paraphernalia in the form of a zipper pouch, spoons, a wooden box, 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 15

cotton, tubes, and a glass dish, and Count 8 went to possession of a marijuana pipe. It is 

well-established that the granting of a new trial should be exercised only in the exceptional 

case in which the evidence “weighs heavily” against the conviction. See Martin, supra, at 

175, 485 N.E.2d 717. The evidence at trial demonstrated that appellant admittedly had 

used heroin and sold it out of her residence, allowing the jurors to properly infer that the 

contraband items in question were connected to her. Upon review, we hold the finders of 

fact did not clearly lose their way and create a manifest miscarriage of justice requiring 

that appellant's convictions on Counts 5 through 8 be reversed and a new trial ordered. 

{¶46} Appellant's Second Assignment of Error is overruled. 

III. 

{¶47} In her Third Assignment of Error, appellant challenges her sentence, in 

essence contending that the “seriousness” factors set forth by the General Assembly in 

R.C. 2929.12 weigh against her eight-year prison term for involuntary manslaughter. 

{¶48} The General Assembly, under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), has set forth our general 

standard of review in felony sentencing matters. However, this Court recognized that 

subparagraph (G)(2)(a) does not reference R.C. 2929.11 or the seriousness and 

recidivism factors of R.C. 2929.12. See State v. Schuttinger, 5th Dist. Licking No. 13 CA 

83, 2014-Ohio-3455 ¶ 25. We thus continued to recite the Kalish approach in regard to 

R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 issues. See State v. Oester, 5th Dist. App. No. 2012CA00118, 

2013–Ohio–2676, ¶ 51, citing State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St.3d 23, 896 N.E.2d 124, 2008–

Ohio–4912. But the Ohio Supreme Court has now made clear that Kalish is not the proper 

standard for R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 appellate review. See State v Marcum, 146 Ohio 

St.3d 516, 2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 23. 
Ashland County, Case No. 17 COA 040 16

{¶49} Appellant points inter alia that she had no prior felony convictions at the time 

of her sentencing, and that she showed remorse for what occurred. She also reiterates 

her position that she did not know about the specific presence of Carfentanil in the drug 

transaction at issue. Finally, she points to her score of “low to moderate” for recidivism 

set forth in the PSI. 

{¶50} A presumption of regularity attaches to all trial court proceedings. See, e.g.,

Black v. Chiropractic Assocs. of Zanesville, L.L.C., 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2013–

0012, 2014–Ohio–192, ¶ 20, citing Chari v. Vore (2001), 91 Ohio St.3d 323, 325, 744 

N.E.2d 763. Upon review, we hold the eight-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter 

(which was also the aggregate term for all of the offenses) was within the pertinent 

statutory ranges, and we otherwise do not find by clear and convincing evidence that the 

record does not support her sentence. 

{¶51} Appellant's Third Assignment of Error is overruled. 

{¶52} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Court 

of Common Pleas, Ashland County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed. 

By: Wise, John, P. J. 

Delaney, J., and 

Wise, Earle, J. concur. 

 

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