Court Opinion

ID: 4361773
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-24 21:08:19.452931+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:22.327275
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Tumey, 2019-Ohio-219.]

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                 FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                       ADAMS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                :       Case No. 18CA1060

        Plaintiff-Appellee,                   :

v.                                            :       DECISION AND
                                                      JUDGMENT ENTRY
CHARLES TUMEY,                                :

        Defendant-Appellant.                  :       RELEASED 01/17/2019

                                           APPEARANCES:

Matthew F. Loesch, Portsmouth, Ohio, for appellant.

C. David Kelley, Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, and Kris D. Blanton, Adams County
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, West Union, Ohio, for appellee.

Hoover, J.
        {¶1}    An Adams County jury found Charles Tumey (“Tumey”) guilty of four counts of

felonious assault stemming from him beating his girlfriend, Donna Baker, (“Baker”) over a

period of several days. The trial court convicted Tumey upon the jury verdict and sentenced him

to prison.

        {¶2}    On appeal, Tumey first asserts that his convictions for felonious assault are

against the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence. Tumey does not claim that Baker

was not the victim of felonious assault; instead he argues that he was not the perpetrator because:

(1) Baker had the DNA of an unknown male under her fingernails; and she failed to identify who

that person could be; (2) Baker had a motive to falsely accuse Tumey of the crimes—he

repeatedly cheated on her and sold and disposed of her property and money; (3) Tumey had no

visible injuries to his hands, indicating that he did not commit the crimes; and (4) Baker suffered
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                                2

a traumatic brain injury as a result of the beatings she endured, resulting in her having difficulty

in remembering details about them and giving inconsistent accounts.

       {¶3}    However, the jury was free to credit the state’s evidence, which included Baker’s

consistent and credible testimony at trial that Tumey inflicted the beatings on her that resulted in

serious physical harm to her. Baker further testified that although she still loved Tumey, she

wanted to tell the truth about what he did to her and did so through her trial testimony. The state

also introduced evidence that Baker’s blood was underneath Tumey’s fingernails on both of his

hands. In addition, Tumey did not introduce evidence that supported his alibi that he was away

from the camper during the entire period that the crimes against Baker occurred. After reviewing

the record, we are not persuaded that his convictions are against the manifest weight and

sufficiency of the evidence.

       {¶4}    Tumey next contends that the trial court erred in failing to merge his convictions

for felonious assault because the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish any

discernible time period or other distinction to support a finding of guilt and separate sentences

for four separate assaults. Tumey’s contention is meritless because a defendant’s conduct that

constitutes two or more offenses against a single victim can support multiple convictions if the

harm that results from each offense is separate and identifiable from the harm of the other

offenses. Here the evidence supports Tumey’s four separate convictions for felonious assault

because Baker sustained at least four separate and identifiable harms from his beatings of her: (1)

a broken nose; (2) damage to one of her ears; (3) broken ribs on her left side; and (4) a broken rib

on her right side.

       {¶5}    Tumey also claims that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing

to call necessary and available witnesses, including exculpatory medical witnesses. Tumey
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                                 3

cannot establish deficient counsel performance because the decision to call witnesses constitutes

trial strategy and will not be second-guessed by a reviewing court. Moreover, there is no

evidence in the record that expert and other witnesses were available, what their testimony would

be, and whether it would be merely cumulative of evidence already elicited. Tumey has not

established a reasonable probability that, but for his trial counsel’s failure to call witnesses, the

result of his jury trial would have been different. Therefore, we reject his ineffective assistance

of counsel claim.

        {¶6}    Tumey further argues that his case should have been dismissed because he was

not brought to trial within the time mandated by the speedy-trial statute. However, Tumey

waived our consideration of this issue because he did not file a timely motion to dismiss in the

trial court raising this issue.

        {¶7}    Tumey finally asserts that cumulative errors deprived him of a fair trial and

require reversal of his convictions. However, because we have found no error, much less

multiple errors, we refuse to apply the cumulative-error doctrine.

        {¶8}    Therefore, we reject Tumey’s claims and affirm his convictions and sentence.

                                  I. Facts and Procedural Background

        {¶9}    In October 2016, the Adams County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging

Tumey with two counts of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(3), a felony of the first

degree, and four counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), a felony of the

second degree. Tumey entered a not-guilty plea to the charges, and the case proceeded to a four-

day jury trial. Tumey filed a notice of alibi that during the period of the crimes charged in the

indictment, i.e., October 9-12, 2016, he was in “Section A of Mineral Spring’s Campground and
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                              4

during said time period at various points’ left said Section A to go to the bank in Sardinia, Ohio

and/or to obtain groceries or eat meals.” (Sic.)

       {¶10} At trial, the state’s primary witness was the victim, Baker. Baker testified that in

October 2016, she lived in a camper with her boyfriend, Tumey, on a lot in the Mineral Springs

Lake Resort campground in Adams County, Ohio. According to Baker, in the time period from

the October 9 through 12, 2016, Tumey repeatedly hit her, usually with his open hand, causing

her to incur several severe injuries. More specifically, she testified that Tumey fractured her nose

by repeatedly hitting her. Tumey also smacked her ear repeatedly with his open hand, ultimately

causing it to “explode” after being swollen, throwing blood and tiny hunks of tissue over the top

of the camper and on the covers of their bed. Even at the trial more than a year later, she still had

pain in her ear. Tumey also hit her repeatedly on her left and right sides with his open hand,

fracturing at least one rib on both sides, making it painful for her to move. Baker also testified

that during this period, they went someplace about every day, including to a gas station, to

someone else’s house, and to Sardinia, where Tumey went inside a bank, with her staying mostly

in the car at Tumey’s direction. During each of the three nights during this period, after Tumey

finished hitting her, he gave her Seroquel to sedate her and make her fall asleep while he left the

camper for a few hours. He also gave her heroin a couple times to help ease her pain caused by

his beatings. Baker claimed that she did not attempt to leave during this four-day period because

she was drugged and also hoped things would get better. On the early morning of October 12,

2016, Tumey hit her and had her take Seroquel, and the next thing she knew, she woke up later

that day in a hospital in Cincinnati. Later, when Tumey was in jail awaiting trial on the pending

charges, she and he corresponded with each other because she still loved him despite Tumey

assaulting her and inflicting the severe injuries she incurred.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                            5

       {¶11} On cross-examination, Tumey’s trial counsel engaged in lengthy and vigorous

questioning of Baker. Baker admitted that in one of Tumey’s letters to her, he expressed concern

about why she was continuing to lie. She also said she would not be surprised that when she

awoke in the Cincinnati hospital following the assaults that she told a nurse that she did not

remember what happened to her. She also responded that it would not be surprising that when

she was interviewed a couple days later by a police sergeant that she told him that October 11

and 12 were “big blanks” and she really did not remember what happened. She did not remember

the interview with the police sergeant starting with him saying, “I’m here to talk about Charles

Ruben Tumey assaulting you,” and her replying, “That’s what they told me.” Baker testified that

she suffered minor brain damage as a result of Tumey’s assaults on her during that time period,

which affected her memory, but did not affect her memory about Tumey hitting her repeatedly

between October 9 through 12, 2016.

       {¶12} Baker further testified on cross-examination that she would get mad at Tumey

during their six-year relationship because he would disappear for days at a time, usually to see

other women. He also urged her to sell her trailer and some real property, and the proceeds were

used to buy the camper, a truck, and a car, with Tumey titling the truck in his name even though

he did not pay for it. Baker was infuriated when she saw one of Tumey’s other girlfriends driving

the truck she had bought him. Right before the period in which Tumey’s assaults occurred, she

got upset at him, packed his stuff up, and told him to get out. She also stated that she was not

around any other men during the period that Tumey assaulted her and that she had no doubt that

Tumey caused her injuries.

       {¶13} On the morning of October 12, 2016, Tumey called 911 to report that Baker had

been severely injured. He advised paramedics and officers who arrived in response to his call
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                            6

that he “did not do this” and that Baker had “been running with” other men. Paramedics

observed multiple bruises on Baker’s face and body, some bleeding and dried blood, and further

noted that Baker was unconscious and had difficulty breathing. Officers arrested Tumey at the

scene and took photographs of his hands, which had blood under the fingertips. A forensic

scientist with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (“BCI”) testified that she performed DNA

testing on swabs of blood from Tumey’s fingernails and concluded that the blood from the

fingernails on his right hand contained a major profile consistent with Baker’s DNA and a minor

profile consistent with Tumey’s DNA. She also concluded that the blood on the fingernails of his

left hand contained a major profile consistent with Tumey’s DNA and a minor profile consistent

with Baker’s DNA. Tumey’s attorney argued that Tumey had Baker’s DNA on him because of

instructions from the 911 operator that he assist and move Baker.

       {¶14} After being taken from her camper while she was still unconscious, Baker was

transported to the emergency room of the University of Cincinnati Hospital. Dr. Roderick

Fontenette testified that he treated Baker in the emergency room and diagnosed her as suffering

from many injuries, including: (1) a broken nose; (2) two broken ribs on her left side; (3) one

broken rib on her right side; (4) marked swelling to her left ear, consistent with what was

referred to as “cauliflower ear,” i.e., disfigurement of the ear caused by blunt trauma; and (5)

severe traumatic brain injury caused by blunt-force trauma.

       {¶15} One of the BCI forensic scientists also testified that upon testing Baker’s

fingernail scrapings, the major DNA profile was consistent with her DNA, and additional testing

of male DNA it was mixed with revealed a major profile from an unknown male and a minor

profile consistent with Tumey’s. Tumey told officers that the unknown male DNA might be from

a couple men Baker knew or her son, but DNA testing of those individuals revealed that the
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                              7

unknown male DNA on Baker’s fingernails did not match any of them. Baker testified that she

did not know who that DNA came from, but she knew that Tumey was the person who

repeatedly assaulted her and caused her injuries in the period between October 9 through 12,

2016.

        {¶16} Tumey elected not to testify and he presented only one witness, a bank branch

manager in Sardinia, who testified that based on bank records, on October 11, 2016, Tumey

appeared at the branch and withdrew money from a checking account.

        {¶17} The jury returned verdicts finding Tumey guilty of all four counts of felonious

assault and not guilty of the two kidnapping counts. The trial court convicted Tumey of the four

felonious-assault counts based on the jury verdicts, and proceeded to sentencing, where Tumey’s

counsel argued that the felonious-assault charges should merge because they were allied offenses

of similar conduct. The trial court denied the request to merge the counts and sentenced Tumey

to six years for each count, to be run consecutively to each other, and to a one-year sentence for

his violation of post-release control, which he was on during the commission of the crimes, for

an aggregate 25-year prison term. This appeal followed.

                                    II. Assignments of Error

        {¶18} Tumey assigns the following errors for our review:

        I. APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT WERE
        AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE
        EVIDENCE.

        II. THE TRIAL COURT IMPROPERLY FAILED TO MERGE THE FOUR
        FELONIOUS ASSAULT COUNTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SENTENCING.

        III. APPELLANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE IN FAILING TO
        CALL NECESSARY AND AVAILABLE WITNESSES ALONG WITH
        EXCULPATORY MEDICAL WITNESSES.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                               8

       IV. APPELLANT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO TRIAL IN THE TIME
       MANDATED BY OHIO’S SPEEDY TRIAL STATUTE.

       V. CUMULATIVE ERRORS COMMITTED PRIOR TO AND DURING
       APPELLANT’S TRIAL DEPRIVED HIM OF A FAIR TRIAL AND REQUIRE
       A REVERSAL OF HIS CONVICTIONS.

                                      III. Law and Analysis

A. Tumey’s Convictions for Felonious Assault are Not Against the Manifest Weight of the

                        Evidence and are Supported by Sufficient Evidence

                                     1. Standard of Review

       {¶19} In his first assignment of error, Tumey asserts that his felonious-assault

convictions are not supported by sufficient evidence and are against the manifest weight of the

evidence. “When a court reviews the record for sufficiency, ‘[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. Maxwell, 139 Ohio St.3d 12, 2014-Ohio-1019, 9 N.E.3d 930, ¶ 146, quoting State v. Jenks, 61

Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus; Jackson v. Virginia, 443

U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). A sufficiency assignment of error challenges

the legal adequacy of the state’s prima facie case, not its rational persuasiveness. State v. Koon,

4th Dist. Hocking No. 15CA17, 2016-Ohio-416, ¶ 17. “That limited review does not intrude on

the jury’s role ‘to resolve conflicts in testimony, to weigh the evidence, and to draw reasonable

inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts.’ ” Musacchio v. United States, ––– U.S. ––––, 136

S.Ct. 709, 715, 193 L.Ed.2d 639 (2016), quoting Jackson at 319, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61

L.Ed.2d 560.

       {¶20} By contrast, in determining whether a criminal conviction is against the manifest

weight of the evidence, we must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                                    9

inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses, and determine whether in resolving conflicts in

the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of

justice that we must reverse the conviction. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678

N.E.2d 541 (1997); State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 119.

To satisfy its burden of proof, the state must present enough substantial credible evidence to

allow the trier of fact to conclude that the state has proven all the essential elements of the

offense beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v. Adams, 2016-Ohio-7772, 84 N.E.3d 155, ¶ 22

(4th Dist.) citing State v. Eley, 56 Ohio St.2d 169, 383 N.E.2d 132 (1978), syllabus, (superseded

by state constitutional amendment on other grounds in State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684

N.E.2d 668 (1997)).

        {¶21} Although a court of appeals may determine that a judgment of a trial court is

sustained by sufficient evidence, that court may nevertheless conclude that the judgment is

against the weight of the evidence. Thompkins at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541. However, we are

reminded that generally, it is the role of the jury to determine the weight and credibility of

evidence. See State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73, 2014-Ohio-1966, 15 N.E.3d 818, ¶ 132. “ ‘A

jury, sitting as the trier of fact, is free to believe all, part or none of the testimony of any witness

who appears before it.’ ” State v. Reyes-Rosales, 4th Dist. Adams No. 15CA1010, 2016-Ohio-

3338, ¶ 17, quoting State v. West, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 12CA3507, 2014-Ohio-1941, ¶ 23. We

defer to the trier of fact on these evidentiary weight and credibility issues because it is in the best

position to gauge the witnesses’ demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and to use these

observations to weigh their credibility. Id.; State v. Koon, 4th Dist. Hocking No. 15CA17, 2016-

Ohio-416, ¶ 18.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                            10

       {¶22} Moreover, “[w]hen an appellate court concludes that the weight of the evidence

supports a defendant’s conviction, this conclusion necessarily also includes a finding that

sufficient evidence supports the conviction.” State v. Adkins, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 13CA17,

2014-Ohio-3389, ¶ 27. “Thus, a determination that [a] conviction is supported by the weight of

the evidence will also be dispositive of the issue of sufficiency.” State v. Puckett, 191 Ohio

App.3d 747, 2010-Ohio-6597, 947 N.E.2d 730, ¶ 34 (4th Dist.).

                                           2. Analysis

       {¶23} The jury found Tumey guilty of four counts of felonious assault in violation of

R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), which provides in pertinent part that “[n]o person shall knowingly * * *

[c]ause serious physical harm to another * * *.” “Serious physical harm” includes harm that

produces “temporary, substantial incapacity,” “temporary, serious disfigurement,” or “acute pain

of such duration as to result in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of prolonged or

intractable pain.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(5)(c), (d), and (e).

       {¶24} Tumey does not claim that Donna Baker was not the victim of felonious assault as

defined in R.C. 2901.11(A)(1). Instead, he argues that the state did not establish that he was the

perpetrator of the crimes because: (1) Baker had the DNA of an unknown male under her

fingernails, and she failed to identify who that person could be; (2) Baker had a motive to falsely

accuse Tumey of the crimes—he repeatedly cheated on her and sold and disposed of her property

and money; (3) Tumey had no visible injuries to his hands, indicating that he did not commit the

crimes; and (4) Baker suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the beatings she endured,

resulting in her having difficulty in remembering details about them and giving inconsistent

accounts.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                              11

       {¶25} We reject Tumey’s assertion because the jury was free to credit the state’s

evidence, which included Baker’s consistent and credible testimony at trial that Tumey

repeatedly beat her in the four-day period from October 9-12, 2016, and that these beatings

resulted in serious physical harm to her, i.e., a broken nose, two broken left ribs, one broken right

rib, and swelling and pain in her left ear. The state also introduced evidence that Baker’s DNA

was found underneath Tumey’s fingernails on both his hands and that Tumey’s DNA, albeit in a

smaller quantity than an unknown male’s DNA, was found on Baker’s fingernails. And Tumey

did not introduce evidence that he was away from the camper during the entire pertinent period

of the assaults on Baker; in fact, even his notice of alibi stated that he was in a section of the

campgrounds during much of that time.

       {¶26} The jury, as the trier of fact, was free to conclude that the unknown male’s DNA

on Baker’s fingernails was irrelevant, that although Baker had a motive to falsely accuse Tumey

of the crimes, she was telling the truth and she loved him, that Tumey did not need to have

visible injuries to his hands to hit Baker repeatedly, and that Baker’s traumatic brain injury did

not prevent her from remembering that Tumey had assaulted her.

       {¶27} Therefore, after reviewing the entire record, weighing the evidence and all

reasonable inferences and considering the credibility of witnesses with due deference to the

jury’s determination, we are not persuaded that in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury

clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that we must reverse

Tumey’s felonious-assault convictions. Therefore, the convictions are neither against the

manifest weight of the evidence nor supported by insufficient evidence.

       {¶28} We overrule Tumey’s first assignment of error.

              B. The Trial Court Did Not Err by Failing to Merge Tumey’s
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                          12

                                 Felonious-Assault Convictions

                                     1. Standard of Review

       {¶29} In his second assignment of error, Tumey contends that the trial court erred by

rejecting his request to merge his felonious-assault convictions for purposes of sentencing

because they were allied offenses of similar import.

       {¶30} The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States

Constitution provides that no person shall “be subject for the same offence to be twice put in

jeopardy of life or limb.” This protection applies to Ohio citizens through the Fourteenth

Amendment and is additionally guaranteed by Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution.

This constitutional protection prohibits multiple punishments for the same offense in the absence

of a clear indication of contrary legislative intent. North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 717,

89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969), overruled on other grounds, Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S.

794, 109 S.Ct. 2201, 104 L.Ed.2d 865 (1989); Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, 691–692,

100 S.Ct. 1432, 63 L.Ed.2d 715 (1980).

       {¶31} The General Assembly enacted R.C. 2941.25 to identify when a court may

impose multiple punishments:

       (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or

           more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may

           contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted of

           only one.

       (B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar

           import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses of the same or

           similar kind committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                            13

            indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses, and the

            defendant may be convicted of all of them.

       {¶32} Appellate courts apply a de novo standard to review a trial court’s determination

of whether offenses constitute allied offenses of similar import requiring merger under R.C.

2941.25. State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St.3d 482, 2012-Ohio-5699, 983 N.E.2d 1245, ¶ 28; State

v. Cole, 4th Dist. Athens No. 12CA49, 2014-Ohio-2967, ¶ 7. Merger is a sentencing question

where the defendant bears the burden of establishing his entitlement to the protection of R.C.

2941.25. State v. Washington, 137 Ohio St.3d 427, 2013-Ohio-4982, 999 N.E.2d 661, ¶ 18.

                                           2. Analysis

       {¶33} In State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, 34 N.E.3d 892, the Supreme

Court of Ohio clarified the appropriate analysis to determine whether two or more offenses

merge under R.C. 2941.25. “In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar

import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must evaluate three separate factors—the

conduct, the animus, and the import.” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus. “Under R.C.

2941.25(B), a defendant whose conduct supports multiple offenses may be convicted of all the

offenses if any one of the following is true: (1) the conduct constitutes offenses of dissimilar

import, (2) the conduct shows that the offenses were committed separately, or (3) the conduct

shows that the offenses were committed with separate animus.” Id. at paragraph three of the

syllabus.

       {¶34} Tumey contends that the trial court erred by denying his request to merge his four

convictions for felonious assault because the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to

establish any discernible time period or other distinction to support a finding of guilt and

separate sentences for four separate assaults.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                            14

       {¶35} We reject Tumey’s contention because the evidence here establishes that the four

charges of felonious assault were committed separately. “[A] defendant’s conduct that

constitutes two or more offenses against a single victim can support multiple convictions if the

harm that results from each offense is separate and identifiable from the harm of the other

offense[s].” Ruff at ¶ 26; State v. Gillman, 2015-Ohio-4421, 46 N.E.3d 130, ¶ 23-24 (4th Dist.)

(multiple offenses supported separate convictions and sentences when harm from each offense

was separate and identifiable); State v. Gates, 2015-Ohio-4950, 50 N.E.3d 1027, ¶ 36-37 (5th

Dist.) (trial court did not err in overruling defendant’s motion to merge two felonious-assault

offenses because harm from one offense was separate and identifiable from the other offense).

       {¶36} Here, Tumey committed four separate felonious assaults with separate and

identifiable harms to Baker: (1) a broken nose; (2) damage to her left ear; (3) two broken ribs on

her left side; and (4) one broken rib on her right side. Tumey readily admits that the primary case

he relies on in support of his proposition, State v. Craig, 4th Dist. Athens No. 15CA22, 2017-

Ohio-4342, is factually distinguishable. (Ant. Brief, p. 17)

       {¶37} We overrule Tumey’s second assignment of error.

            C. Tumey’s Trial Counsel did not provide Ineffective Assistance

                                  By Failing to Call Witnesses

                                     1. Standard of Review

       {¶38} In his third assignment of error, Tumey claims that his trial counsel provided

ineffective assistance by failing to call necessary and available witnesses, including exculpatory

medical witnesses.

       {¶39} To prevail on his claim, Tumey must establish (1) deficient performance by

counsel, i.e., performance falling below an objective standard of reasonable representation; and
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                              15

(2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the

proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct.

2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); State v. Short, 129 Ohio St.3d 360, 2011-Ohio-3641, 952 N.E.2d

1121, ¶ 113. The defendant has the burden of proof because in Ohio, a properly licensed attorney

is presumed competent. State v. Gondor, 112 Ohio St.3d 377, 2006-Ohio-6679, 860 N.E.2d 77, ¶

62. Failure to satisfy either part of the test is fatal to the claim. Strickland at 697, 466 U.S. 668,

687, 104 S.Ct. 2052; State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 143, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).

                                             2. Analysis

        {¶40} Tumey claims that his trial counsel was ineffective because they failed to present

witnesses supporting his alibi, Baker’s motive to lie, and independent medical testimony

concerning the lack of injuries to his hands.

        {¶41} Tumey’s claim is meritless. First, “ ‘counsel’s decision whether to call a witness

falls within the rubric of trial strategy and will not be second-guessed by a reviewing court.’ ”

State v. Pickens, 141 Ohio St.3d 462, 2014-Ohio-5445, 25 N.E.3d 1023, ¶ 203, quoting State v.

Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 490, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001). “ ‘Because calling witnesses is within

the realm of trial tactics, defense counsel did not have a duty to call an expert witness.’ ” State v.

Delawder, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 14CA12, 2015-Ohio-1857, ¶ 34, quoting State v. Goza, 8th

Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89032, 2007-Ohio-6837, ¶ 58.

        {¶42} Moreover, there is no evidence in the record that these expert and alibi witnesses

were available or that their testimony would have benefitted Tumey or been something more

than merely cumulative of evidence already elicited, be it through counsel’s vigorous cross-

examination of Baker or otherwise. Under these circumstances, Tumey cannot establish a

reasonable probability of a different outcome. See Delawder at ¶ 35 (“we cannot speculate about
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                             16

testimony that was not presented or proffered at trial”); State v. White, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

101576, 2017-Ohio-7169, ¶ 14 (“the mere failure to call [alibi] witnesses does not render

counsel’s assistance ineffective absent a showing of prejudice”). At best, Tumey is basing his

ineffective-assistance claim on speculation that evidence outside the record would establish a

reasonable probability of a not-guilty verdict on the felonious-assault charges; but postconviction

relief rather than direct appeal is the proper vehicle to raise an ineffective-assistance claim

premised on evidence outside the record. See State v. Williams, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 15CA3,

2016-Ohio-733, ¶ 37, citing State v. Hampton, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 15CA1, 2015-Ohio-4171,

¶ 28.

        {¶43} Finally, Tumey’s reliance on State v. Yarber, 102 Ohio App.3d 185, 656 N.E.2d

1322 (12th Dist.), is misplaced. In that case, the court found that trial counsel was ineffective

because he failed to object to leading questions, did not question the alleged rape victim

concerning inconsistencies in his statements or discuss these inconsistencies during closing

argument, mounted insubstantial cross-examination that elicited responses helpful to the

prosecution, and made objections and asked questions that were confusing and made no sense;

the representation represented a “complete dereliction of duty.” Id. Conversely, here, Tumey’s

trial counsel subjected the victim to vigorous cross-examination, including her alleged

inconsistent statements and her motives to potentially falsify her allegations against him. His trial

counsel’s performance was not tantamount to a “complete dereliction of duty.”

        {¶44} Because Tumey has not established a viable claim of ineffective assistance of his

trial counsel, we overrule his third assignment of error.

                           D. Tumey Waived his Speedy-Trial Claim
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                               17

        {¶45} In his fourth assignment of error, Tumey argues that his case should have been

dismissed because it was not brought to trial within the statutory speedy-trial limits of R.C.

2945.71.

        {¶46} R.C. 2945.71(B) requires that an accused file a motion to dismiss raising this

speedy-trial issue at or before the commencement of trial. State v. Powell, 4th Dist. Ross Nos.

17CA3586 and 17CA3587, 2018-Ohio-1276, ¶ 22; State v. Ross, 4th Dist. Ross No. 04CA2780,

2005-Ohio-1888, ¶ 20. Because Tumey did not timely file a motion to dismiss based on his

speedy-trial claim, he waived it. Powell at ¶ 23; Ross at ¶ 20.

        {¶47} We overrule Tumey’s fourth assignment of error.

                       E. The Cumulative-Error Doctrine is Inapplicable

        {¶48} In his fifth assignment of error, Tumey asserts that cumulative errors deprived

him of a fair trial and require a reversal of his convictions.

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

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

even though each of numerous instances of trial court error does not individually constitute cause

for reversal.’ ” State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 64, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995), citing State v.

DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 509 N.E.2d 1256 (1987), paragraph two of the syllabus.

        {¶50} We reject Tumey’s assertion because “[t]he doctrine is not applicable * * * as we

do not find multiple instances of harmless error.” Garner at 64; State v. Hunt, 4th Dist. Scioto

No. 17CA3811, 2018-Ohio-4183, ¶ 97.

        {¶51} We overrule Tumey’s fifth assignment of error.

                                           IV. Conclusion
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                          18

       {¶52} The trial court did not commit error in convicting and sentencing Tumey on his

four felonious-assault counts. Having overruled all of his assignments of error, we affirm the

judgment of the trial court.

                                                                       JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Adams App. No. 18CA1060                                                                               19

                                       JUDGMENT ENTRY

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

        The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Adams County
Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.

        IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE UPON BAIL HAS
BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL COURT OR THIS COURT, it is
temporarily continued for a period not to exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The
purpose of a continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an
application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If a stay is continued by
this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of
the Appellant to file a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day
appeal period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal prior to expiration of sixty days,
the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment and Opinion.
McFarland, J.: Concurs in Judgment Only.

                                                For the Court

                                                By: _________________________
                                                    Marie Hoover, Judge

                                      NOTICE TO COUNSEL

       Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and
the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.