[Cite as State v. Cowan, 2012-Ohio-5723.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

No. 97877 

STATE OF OHIO 

 

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

vs. 

CRAIG A. COWAN

 DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

JUDGMENT: 

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED; 

SENTENCE VACATED IN PART; 

REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING

Criminal Appeal from the 

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 
Case No. CR-550536 

BEFORE: Jones, P.J., Cooney, J., and E. Gallagher, J. 

 

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 6, 2012

 

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT 

 

Thomas A. Rein 

Leader Building, Suite 940 

526 Superior Avenue 

Cleveland, Ohio 44114 

 

FOR APPELLANT 

 

Craig A. Cowan 

Inmate No. 622-034 

Trumbull Correctional Institution 

5701 Burnett Road 

Leavittsburg, Ohio 44430 

 

 

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty 

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor 

BY: Brad S. Meyer 

Assistant County Prosecutor 

The Justice Center, 8th Floor 

1200 Ontario Street 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 
LARRY A. JONES, SR., P.J.: 

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Craig A. Cowan (“Cowan”), appeals his 

convictions for felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near a 

prohibited premises, having weapons while under disability, and improperly 

handling firearms in a motor vehicle. His attorney filed five assignments of 

error, and Cowan filed three pro se assignments of error for our review.1 

For the following reasons, we affirm Cowan’s convictions but vacate his 

sentence in part and remand for further proceedings. 

{¶2} The Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Cowan on nine counts: 

three counts of felonious assault, three counts of kidnapping with firearm 

specifications, notice of prior conviction, and repeat violent offender 

specifications attached, and one count each of having a weapon while under 

disability, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, and discharge of 

a firearm on or near a prohibited premises. Cowan agreed to bifurcate and 

try to the bench the notice of prior conviction, repeat violent offender 

specifications, forfeitures, and the charges for improperly handling a firearm 

in a motor vehicle, and having a weapon while under disability. 

{¶3} Cowan filed a motion to suppress; after conducting a hearing, the 

trial court denied the motion and the matter proceeded to a jury trial. 

{¶4} Toni Walcott testified that on the afternoon of May 19, 2011, she, 

 1

See appendix. 
her brother Robert, her cousin Artemus Blandling, her aunt Kim Blandling, 

Robert’s girlfriend Celena Glover, Celena’s cousin Albert Glover,2 and Cowan 

were socializing and drinking. They first convened at Cowan’s home and 

then at Kim’s home. At some point that evening, they decided to go to a bar 

on Miles Avenue. 

{¶5} They drove in two cars because they could not all fit in one. 

Celena drove Robert and Albert, and Cowan drove Toni, Artemus, and Kim. 

According to Toni, Cowan got into an argument with Kim causing Artemus to 

tell Cowan he did not like how he was talking to his mother. Cowan stopped 

the vehicle and reached under his seat, which caused them all to think he had 

a gun. Instead, he got out of the car, as did the others. He then pulled a 

gun out of the trunk and held it to Artemus’s head. Toni was able to talk 

Cowan out of harming Artemus. Cowan then sat in the car and shot two 

times into the ground. He then left. 

{¶6} Toni called Celena, who came to pick up the stranded passengers. 

At that point, Toni told her brother that Cowan had her laptop at his house. 

She attempted to call Cowan to ask for permission to retrieve the computer, 

but Cowan hung up on her. Her brother then called him and told him they 

were on their way to pick up the computer. 

{¶7} Because of the earlier altercation with Artemus, Celena parked 

 2

The witnesses will be referred to by their first names to prevent confusion 

due to shared surnames. 
the car down the street, and Toni and Robert walked the rest of the way to 

Cowan’s house. As they reached his house, Cowan jumped out from behind a 

tree with two guns drawn. According to Robert, Cowan ordered them to “lay 

it down,” an expression used when robbing someone. Robert said Cowan was 

four to five feet away from him. He grabbed Cowan’s hand and twisted it 

and at the same time the gun went off. Robert and Toni ran in different 

directions while Cowan continued to shoot at them. According to Celena, he 

also started shooting at her car, causing her to drive in reverse to get away. 

Celena later located Toni running in the street. Toni then used Celena’s cell 

phone to call police. 

{¶8} Darrell Gunter lived next to Cowan. He stated that at around 

10:30 p.m. he heard someone loudly say, “I’m going to get you mother f—er.” 

He then heard gunshots. He looked out the window and saw a man wearing 

the same clothes the other witnesses had described Cowan wearing, firing a 

gun. He could not see who he was shooting at, but claimed he shot about 

three rounds. Gunter called 911. 

{¶9} Officer Vasile Nan testified that he and his partner received a call 

about shots being fired in the area of East 142nd and Kinsman Road. As they 

were canvassing the area to locate the vehicle described in that shooting, they 

received a call regarding a shooting at East 139th Street. As they approached 

the scene, they saw Toni waving her hands frantically, crying, and yelling. 
She told them her brother had been shot down the road and gave Cowan’s 

name as the shooter, a description of his car, and his address. Because the 

car matched the description of the car from the earlier shooting, the officer 

realized the shootings were related. 

{¶10} The officers proceeded to Cowan’s house, which was a two-family 

duplex. The door of the downstairs unit was open. The residents living 

there verified that Cowan lived upstairs. The officers then went upstairs 

where they found Cowan’s apartment door open but Cowan was not present. 

{¶11} The next morning, Officer Terrance Smith located Cowan’s 

vehicle near Cowan’s residence and notified his supervisor. When back-up 

arrived, two officers went upstairs to Cowan’s apartment and knocked loudly 

and announced “police.” They received no response; therefore, the SWAT 

unit was called. As the SWAT unit and Cleveland police set up a perimeter 

around the house, one of the SWAT officers who was standing near an 

abandoned house next to Cowan’s house discovered two weapons near a tree, 

a 9 millimeter and a revolver. 

{¶12} A SWAT officer, using the PA system from the SWAT mobile, 

announced several times “Cleveland Police SWAT Unit” and requested that 

“Craig Cowan” come out. Cowan eventually exited the home on his own with 

his arms up. He kneeled on the driveway as directed and was handcuffed by 

SWAT officers. As he was being escorted to the zone car he stated, “What’s 
the big deal? I didn’t hit anybody.” One of the arresting officers read 

Cowan his Miranda rights and inquired if he had any more weapons. 

According to the officer, Cowan turned and looked toward the tree where the 

weapons were recovered and said, “no that was it.” 

{¶13} Prior to the jury deliberation, the state dismissed one count of 

felonious assault and two counts of kidnapping. The jury found Cowan 

guilty of one count of felonious assault against Robert along with the one- and 

three-year firearm specifications, notice of prior convictions, repeat violent 

offender and forfeiture specifications, and one count of discharging a firearm 

near or on a prohibited premises, along with the firearm specification. The 

jury found him not guilty of one count of felonious assault and one count of 

kidnapping. At a separate hearing, the trial court found Cowan guilty of 

having a weapon while under disability and improperly handling firearms in 

a motor vehicle, along with the forfeiture specification. The trial court 

sentenced Cowan to a total of 18 years in prison. 

Search Warrant

{¶14} In his first assignment of error, Cowan argues the trial court 

erred by denying his motion to suppress. Specifically, he argues the police 

needed a warrant to search his home because none of the exceptions to a 

warrantless search existed. As a result, he argues that because he was 

illegally arrested, his statements to police should be suppressed. 
{¶15} Appellate review of the denial of a motion to suppress presents a 

mixed question of law and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 

2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. When considering a motion to suppress, 

the trial court assumes the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best 

position to resolve factual questions and evaluate the credibility of witnesses. 

State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 552, 1995-Ohio-104, 651 N.E.2d 965; State 

v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366, 582 N.E.2d 972 (1992). 

{¶16} Consequently, when reviewing a ruling on a motion to suppress, 

deference is given to the trial court’s findings of fact so long as they are 

supported by competent, credible evidence. Burnside at ¶ 8. However, an 

appellate court reviews de novo whether the trial court’s conclusions of law, 

based on those findings of fact, are correct. State v. Anderson, 100 Ohio 

App.3d 688, 691, 654 N.E.2d 1034 (4th Dist.1995). 

{¶17} “[A] search conducted without a warrant issued upon probable 

cause is per se unreasonable [and is] subject only to a few specifically 

established and well-delineated exceptions.” State v. Posey, 40 Ohio St.3d 

420, 427, 534 N.E.2d 61 (1988), citing Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 

218, 219, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (1973), quoting Katz v. United States, 

389 U.S. 347, 357, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967). If a search or 

seizure is found to be unreasonable, the evidence derived from the 

unreasonable search or seizure is subject to exclusion. Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 
643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1961). 

{¶18} The Ohio Supreme Court has determined that there are “four 

exceptions to the warrant requirement which justify a warrantless search of a 

home: (1) an emergency situation, (2) search incident to an arrest, (3) ‘hot 

pursuit’ and (4) easily destroyed or removed evidence. State v. Cheers (1992), 

79 Ohio App.3d 322, 325, 607 N.E.2d 115.” State v. King, 8th Dist. No. 80573, 

2003-Ohio-1143, ¶ 16. 

{¶19} A review of the evidence submitted at the suppression hearing 

indicates that the only warrantless entry by police into Cowan’s apartment 

occurred minutes after Cowan shot at multiple individuals. The police 

testified they received the call of the shots being fired at 10:40 p.m. and 

because they were less than a mile away, arrived by 10:43 p.m. Thus, their 

entry into the apartment could fall under the existence of an emergency 

situation because they were searching for an armed person who had just shot 

at several individuals. Moreover, because no evidence was recovered from 

the apartment at this time, the entry into the apartment was harmless error. 

 Officers did state that they saw in plain view a box of gun shells on Cowan’s 

dresser, but this evidence was not admitted at trial. 

{¶20} Cowan’s statement to police, “What’s the big deal? I didn’t hit 

anyone” was made the next day after he voluntarily exited the house at the 

SWAT team’s request. The officers did not have an arrest warrant; 
therefore, Cowan contends the trial court should have suppressed this 

statement. An arrest without a warrant is constitutionally invalid unless 

the arresting officer had probable cause to make the arrest. The test for 

probable cause to justify an arrest is 

whether at that moment the facts and circumstances within [the 

officers’] knowledge and of which they had reasonably 

trustworthy information were sufficient to warrant a prudent 

man in believing that the [arrestee] had committed or was 

committing an offense. 

Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S.Ct. 223, 13 L.Ed.2d 142 (1991). Probable 

cause requires more than a generalized suspicion of criminal conduct, 

although less certainty than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. 

Watson, 8th Dist. No. 67396, 1995 Ohio App. LEXIS 1724 (Apr. 27, 1995). 

Probable cause must exist at the time of the arrest; it cannot be established 

later by evidence gathered from the suspect after his illegal arrest. Beck. 

{¶21} Here, the totality of the facts and circumstances were sufficient 

for the officers to believe that Cowan had committed an offense. Toni and 

Robert Walcott had told the officers that Cowan had threatened their cousin 

with a gun and had shot at them outside of his home. Therefore, probable 

cause supported his arrest. 

{¶22} Cowan’s statement, “What’s the big deal? I didn’t hit anybody” 

was also made prior to any question being posed to him. He was being 

escorted to the zone car when he made the statement. Therefore, the 
statement was uncoerced and voluntarily given. After he was read his 

Miranda rights, the officers asked if he had any other weapons. It was at 

that point that Cowan looked toward the area under the trees and said, “No, 

that’s it.” Thus, the statements made by Cowan were properly deemed 

admissible by the trial court judge. Accordingly, Cowan’s first assigned error 

is overruled. 

Insufficient Evidence

{¶23} We will address Cowan’s second and third assignments of error 

together. Cowan argues that his convictions were not supported by sufficient 

evidence and were against the manifest weight of the evidence. 

{¶24} Crim.R. 29 mandates that the trial court issue a judgment of 

acquittal where the state’s evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction for 

the offense. Crim.R. 29(A) and a sufficiency of the evidence review require the 

same analysis. State v. Tenace, 109 Ohio St.3d 255, 2006-Ohio-2417, 847 

N.E.2d 386, ¶ 37. In analyzing whether a conviction is supported by 

sufficient evidence, the reviewing court must view the evidence “in the light 

most favorable to the prosecution” and ask whether “any rational trier of fact 

could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a 

reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 

L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), 

paragraph two of the syllabus. 
{¶25} Cowan contends that his convictions were not supported by 

sufficient evidence because there was no evidence that the guns were his. 

The guns were discovered next to Cowan’s property by a tree. No one lived 

in the house by the tree. When the officer asked Cowan if he had any other 

weapons, Cowan looked towards the tree and replied, “No, that was it” 

indicating that he was aware of where he had last placed the guns. 

Moreover, Robert identified the guns at trial as the ones that Cowan was 

pointing at him from a short distance of four to five feet. Therefore, 

sufficient evidence was presented that the guns discovered were Cowan’s. 

{¶26} Cowan also argues that his convictions were not supported by 

sufficient evidence because the guns were not test-fired to show that they 

were in fact operable. It is not necessary for a gun to be test-fired to prove 

that it is operable. The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “proof of 

operability can be established beyond a reasonable doubt by testimony of lay 

witnesses who were in a position to observe the instrument and the 

circumstances surrounding the crime.” State v. Murphy, 49 Ohio St.3d 206, 

551 N.E.2d 932 (1990), syllabus. Moreover, whether a firearm was operable or 

capable of being readily rendered operable at the time of the offense is 

determined within the context of “all relevant facts and circumstances 

surrounding the crime, which include any implicit threat made by the 

individual in control of the firearm.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 
387, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, at paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. 

Crawford, 8th Dist. No. 82833, 2004-Ohio-500. 

{¶27} We conclude the totality of the circumstances provided proof the 

guns were operable. Celena, Toni, and Robert all testified that Cowan shot 

at Robert from close range. In fact, Robert saw a flash from one of the guns 

as it fired. Additionally, Cowan’s neighbor testified that he heard gunshots 

and when he looked outside, he saw Cowan shooting at someone down the 

street. 

{¶28} Cowan argues his conviction for having a weapon while under 

disability was not supported by sufficient evidence because no evidence of his 

prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter was presented. However, 

Cowan stipulated to his prior conviction, and a certified copy of Cowan’s 

sentencing entry from the prior crime was admitted into evidence. 

{¶29} Cowan also argues his convictions were against the manifest 

weight of the evidence. The concept of manifest weight of the evidence 

differs from that of sufficiency of the evidence. Weight of the evidence 

indicates that the greater amount of credible evidence supports one side of an 

issue more than the other. Thompkins at 387. The Ohio Supreme Court has 

explained the standard to be applied to determine whether a criminal 

conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence as follows: “When a 

court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis that the 
verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a 

‘thirteenth juror’ and disagrees with the factfinder’s resolution of the 

conflicting testimony.” Id. citing Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 

2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). 

{¶30} To determine whether a case is an exceptional case where the 

evidence weighs heavily against conviction, an appellate court must review 

the record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, and consider the 

credibility of witnesses. Thompkins at 387, citing State v. Martin, 20 Ohio 

App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). An appellate court should 

reverse the conviction and order a new trial only if it concludes that the trier 

of fact clearly lost its way in resolving conflicts in evidence and created a 

manifest miscarriage of justice. Thompkins. 

{¶31} Cowan argues that because the witnesses were admittedly 

intoxicated their testimony was not credible. However, the resolution of 

issues of credibility is a matter primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass, 

10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraph one of the syllabus. 

The jury was well aware that the witnesses had been drinking, but chose to 

believe their testimony. Moreover, Cowan’s neighbor testified that he 

observed a man on the street in front of his home, with the same build as 

Cowan and dressed in the same attire as described by the other witnesses, 

shooting a gun several times. The neighbor, who was not intoxicated, gave 
testimony that corroborated that of the other witnesses. Therefore, we 

cannot conclude the jury lost its way in finding Cowan guilty. Accordingly, 

Cowan’s second and third assignment of errors are overruled. 

Allied Offenses

{¶32} In his fourth assignment of error, Cowan argues the trial court 

erred by not merging the offenses, which he claims were allied offenses. He 

contends the felonious assault, having a weapon while under disability, 

improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and discharge of a firearm 

near a prohibited premises, were committed with one animus and should 

have merged. 

{¶33} In State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 

N.E.2d 1061, ¶ 43, the Ohio Supreme Court stated that the purpose of 

merging allied offenses as follows: 

[It has been] consistently recognized that the purpose of R.C. 

2941.25 is to prevent shotgun convictions, that is, multiple 

findings of guilt and corresponding punishments heaped on a 

defendant for closely related offenses arising from the same 

occurrence. [Maumee v.] Geiger, 45 Ohio St. 2d at 242, 344 N.E.2d 

133. This is a broad purpose and ought not to be watered down 

with artificial and academic equivocation regarding the 

similarities of the crimes. When “in substance and effect but one 
offense has been committed,” the defendant may be convicted of 

only one offense. [State v.] Botta, 27 Ohio St.2d at 203, 271 

N.E.2d 776. 

{¶34} With this purpose in mind, the Johnson court established a new 

two-part test for determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar 

import under R.C. 2941.25. In so doing, the supreme court expressly 

overruled State v. Rance, 85 Ohio St.3d 632, 1999-Ohio-291, 710 N.E.2d 699, 

which required a “comparison of the statutory elements in the abstract” to 

determine whether the statutory elements of the crimes correspond to such a 

degree that the commission of one crime will result in the commission of the 

other. The Johnson court held that rather than compare the elements of the 

crimes in the abstract, courts must consider the defendant’s conduct. 
[Cite as State v. Cowan, 2012-Ohio-5723.]

{¶35} Under Johnson, the first inquiry focuses on “whether it is 

possible to commit one offense and commit the other with the same conduct * 

* *.” Id. at ¶ 48. It is not necessary that the commission of one offense will 

always result in the commission of the other. Id. Rather, the question is 

whether it is possible for both offenses to be committed by the same conduct. 

Id. Conversely, if the commission of one offense will never result in the 

commission of the other, the offenses will not merge. Id. at ¶ 51. 

{¶36} If the multiple offenses can be committed with the same conduct, 

the court must then determine whether the offenses were in fact committed 

by a single act, or performed with a single state of mind. Johnson at ¶ 49. If 

the answer to both questions is yes, the offenses are allied offenses of similar 

import and must be merged. Id. at ¶ 50. On the other hand, if the offenses are 

committed separately or with a separate animus, the offenses will not merge. 

Id. at ¶ 51. 

{¶37} We conclude that there was a separate animus for each offense; 

therefore, the offenses do not merge. Under R.C. 2941.25(B), “animus” is 

defined as “purpose or, more properly, immediate motive.” State v. Logan, 60 

Ohio St.2d 126, 131, 397 N.E.2d 1345 (1979). If the defendant acted with the 

same purpose, intent, or motive, the animus is identical for the offenses. State 

v. Lewis, 12th Dist. No. CA2008-10-045, 2012-Ohio-885, ¶ 13. Here, Cowan’s 

actions occurred during different times. 

{¶38} The felonious assault conviction was the result of Cowan 
shooting at Robert. However, the improper handling of a firearm in a motor 

vehicle and discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises occurred 

approximately one hour before. The improper handling of a firearm 

concerned Cowan’s driving away with a loaded revolver after stranding his 

passengers. The discharge of a firearm concerned Cowan shooting his gun 

twice at the ground while sitting in the vehicle, after threatening Artemus. 

Therefore, these offenses each involved a separate animus and could not 

result in the commission of each other under these factual circumstances. 

{¶39} We also conclude that the animus of having a weapon under 

disability is making a conscious choice to possess a weapon. Here, Cowan 

necessarily acquired the guns sometime prior to committing the other crimes. 

 The fact that he then used the weapons to commit the other crimes does 

not absolve Cowan of the criminal liability that arises solely from his decision 

to illegally possess the weapons. See State v. Jones, 1st Dist. No. C-110059, 

2011-Ohio-6633; State v. Dillingham, 12th Dist. No. CA2011-03-043, 

2011-Ohio-6348; State v. Bray, 2d Dist. No. 2010 CA 14, 2011-Ohio-4660. 

Accordingly, Cowan’s fourth assignment of error is overruled. 

Consecutive Sentence Findings

{¶40} In his fifth assignment of error, Cowan argues the trial court did 

not make the appropriate findings in support of consecutive sentences as 

required by H.B. 86. 

{¶41} The General Assembly recently amended former R.C. 
2929.14(E)(4), renumbered R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), and enacted new language 

requiring fact-finding for consecutive sentences. Am.Sub.H.B. No. 86. Because 

Cowan was sentenced after the statute took effect, the trial court was 

required to sentence him according to the revisions implemented in H.B. 86. 

{¶42} R.C. 2929.14(C)(4), as revised, now requires that a trial court 

engage in a three-step analysis in order to impose consecutive sentences. 

First, the trial court must find that a “consecutive sentence is necessary to 

protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender.” Id. Next, the 

trial court must find that “consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to 

the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and to the danger the offender poses 

to the public.” Id. Finally, the trial court must find that at least one of the 

following applies: (1) the offender committed one or more of the multiple 

offenses while awaiting trial or sentencing, while under a sanction, or while 

under postrelease control for a prior offense; (2) at least two of the multiple 

offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, and the 

harm caused by two or more of the offenses was so great or unusual that no 

single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the 

courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender’s 

conduct; or (3) the offender’s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that 

consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by 

the offender. Id.

{¶43} In each step of this analysis, the statutory language directs that 
the trial court must “find” the relevant sentencing factors before imposing 

consecutive sentences. R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). In making these findings, a trial 

court is not required to use “talismanic words to comply with the guidelines 

and factors for sentencing.” State v. Brewer, 1st Dist. No. C-000148, 2000 

Ohio App. LEXIS 5455 (Nov. 24, 2000). But it must be clear from the record 

that the trial court actually made the findings required by statute. See State 

v. Pierson, 1st Dist. No. C-970935, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 3812 (Aug. 21, 

1998). A trial court satisfies this statutory requirement when the record 

reflects that the court has engaged in the required analysis and has selected 

the appropriate statutory criteria. See State v. Edmonson, 86 Ohio St.3d 324, 

326, 1999-Ohio-110, 715 N.E.2d 131. 

{¶44} In the instant case, the trial court failed to articulate the 

appropriate findings required by R.C. 2929.14(C)(4). In fact, the court 

merely recited Cowan’s convictions and the accompanying sentence for each 

offense. Accordingly, we must remand the case to the trial court to consider 

whether consecutive sentences are appropriate under H.B. 86, and if so, to 

enter the proper findings on the record. Accordingly, Cowan’s fifth assigned 

error is sustained. 

Pro Se Assignments of Error

{¶45} Although Cowan assigned three pro se errors for our review, we 

will not review them because he has exceeded the ten-page limitation we set 

in allowing him to file the supplemental pro se assigned errors. Cowan’s 
brief is 21 pages long, and he does not commence his legal arguments until 

the 12th page. Page limitations are a valid exercise of judicial power. Even 

in capital cases, the Ohio Supreme Court has upheld page limitations, finding 

that they force counsel to winnow out weaker arguments and focus on key 

issues. State v. Davis, 62 Ohio St.3d 326, 352, 581 N.E.2d 1362, (1991), cert. 

denied (1992), 506 U.S. 803, 113 S.Ct. 302, 121 L.Ed.2d 6; State v. Bonnell, 

61 Ohio St.3d 179, 186, 573 N.E.2d 1082 (1991), cert. denied (1992), 502 U.S. 

1107, 112 S.Ct. 1205, 117 L.Ed.2d 444. Accordingly, Cowan’s pro se brief is 

stricken. 

{¶46} Convictions affirmed; sentence affirmed in part and vacated in 

part; case remanded for the trial court to consider whether consecutive 

sentences are appropriate under H.B. 86, and if so, to enter the proper 

findings on the record. 

It is ordered that appellee and appellant share the costs herein taxed. 

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this 

judgment into execution. The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed, 

any bail pending appeal is terminated. 

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

Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

 
LARRY A. JONES, SR., PRESIDING JUDGE 

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCURS; 

COLLEEN CONWAY COONEY, J., CONCURS 

IN JUDGMENT ONLY 

APPENDIX 

COUNSEL’S ASSIGNED ERRORS:

I. The trial court erred when it denied appellant’s motion to 

suppress. 

II. The trial court erred in denying appellant’s motion for 

acquittal as to the charges when the state failed to present 

sufficient evidence against appellant. 

III. Appellant’s convictions are against the manifest weight of 

the evidence. 

IV. The trial court erred by ordering convictions and a 

consecutive sentence for separate counts of felonious assault 

and the other weapons counts because the offenses are allied 

offenses pursuant to R.C. 2941.25 and they are part of the same 

transaction under R.C. 2929.14. 

V. The trial court erred by ordering appellant to serve a 

consecutive sentence without making the appropriate findings 

required by R.C. 2929.14 and HB 86.

PRO SE ASSIGNED ERRORS:

VI. The trial court erred to the prejudice of 

defendant/appellant when it did not give appellant a pre-trial 

hearing for his motion of self-representation that was filed 

properly, timely, knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. 

VII. The trial court erred to the prejudice of 

defendant/appellant conviction. [sic] Appellant’s due process 

was violated when the trial court allowed the jury to deliberate 

with appellant’s prior convictions. 

VIII. The trial court erred to the prejudice of 

defendant/appellant conviction [sic]. Appellant contends that 
the evidence was insufficient to convict him of firing weapons, 

felonious assault, and having weapons in his vehicle.