Court Opinion

ID: 4199508
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-28 18:16:40.87328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:23.442898
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. McKenzie, 2017-Ohio-7366.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,                                    :

        Plaintiff-Appellee,                       :    Case No. 16CA23

v.                                                :
                                                       DECISION AND
DONALD MCKENZIE,                                  :    JUDGMENT ENTRY

        Defendant-Appellant.                      :    RELEASED: 08/22/2017

                                               APPEARANCES:

Bryan Hicks, Lebanon, Ohio for Appellant.

Anneka Collins, Highland County Prosecuting Attorney, and James Roeder, Assistant Highland
County Prosecuting Attorney, Hillsboro, Ohio for Appellee.

Hoover, J.

        {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Donald McKenzie, appeals the judgment of the Highland

County Court of Common Pleas convicting him of possessing chemicals used to manufacture

methamphetamine in violation of R.C. 2925.041(A), a felony of the third degree. On appeal,

McKenzie argues that his conviction is supported by insufficient evidence, or alternatively, is

against the manifest weight of the evidence.

        {¶ 2} McKenzie claims that the record does not support the conclusion that he possessed

the chemicals. He essentially argues that the State’s key witness is not credible and without her

testimony, no evidence exists that he had any involvement or knowledge of what was happening.

        {¶ 3} In addition, McKenzie argues that the jury lost its way. He contends that this is

demonstrated through the findings of the jury that he possessed the chemicals, but nonetheless
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                   2

found that his truck (which contained the chemicals) was not subject to forfeiture. He claims that

the verdicts are inconsistent.

        {¶ 4} Upon review of the record, we conclude that McKenzie’s conviction is supported

by sufficient evidence and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The State presented

testimony that, if believed, supports McKenzie’s conviction; and this is not an exceptional case

where the evidence weighs heavily in favor of McKenzie and where it is clear that the jury lost

its way or created a manifest miscarriage of justice.

        {¶ 5} Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                   I. Facts and Procedural History

        {¶ 6} On May 3, 2016, a Highland County Grand Jury indicted McKenzie on one count

of possessing chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine in violation of R.C. 2925.04(A),

a felony of the third degree, and an attendant forfeiture specification. The charge arose after

police found pseudoephedrine, ammonium nitrate pellets, and lithium inside McKenzie’s truck

during a traffic stop.

        {¶ 7} On September 12, 2016, the case proceeded to trial where the following evidence

was presented, in relevant part:

        {¶ 8} On December 29, 2016, Deputy Vincent Antinore of the Highland County

Sherriff’s Office was on routine patrol in Highland County when he passed a Ford F-150 truck

with a poorly lit license plate. He turned around and confirmed that the plate was not properly lit

and then initiated a routine traffic stop.

        {¶ 9} Deputy Antinore approached the car and requested identification from the

occupants. The passenger, later identified as Kaitlyn Webb, immediately got out of the truck and

admitted that she had an outstanding warrant. By that time, Detective Chris Bowen of the
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                 3

Highland County Sheriff’s Office had arrived on the scene. Detective Bowen placed Webb under

arrest and put her in the back of his cruiser.

       {¶ 10} Meanwhile, Deputy Antinore asked the driver, later identified as McKenzie,

where he and Webb were coming from and where they were going. McKenzie stated that they

were coming from his sister’s house on Heathermore Trail; and they were going to his mother’s

house on Dundee Drive. Deputy Antinore thought this was odd because “the location we were at

on North Bend Road from where he said he was coming from on Heathermore, it would not

make sense for him to be on North Bend Road, because Dundee, where he was supposedly

headed was parallel to where he was at.”

       {¶ 11} As they were talking, Deputy Antinore noticed something covered-up on the floor

of the front seat. When he returned to his cruiser to run McKenzie’s information, he asked Webb

about the item; and Webb indicated that it was a bag containing chemicals. Deputy Antinore

returned to the truck and ordered McKenzie out of the car. McKenzie denied knowing what was

in the bag and said that Webb had put the bag in the truck. Deputy Antinore told McKenzie that

he was free to leave but that his truck was going to be detained.

       {¶ 12} Before leaving, McKenzie asked Deputy Antinore if he could get a few things out

of his truck. Deputy Antinore and Detective Brown accompanied McKenzie to the truck where

McKenzie “cautiously” removed a book from underneath the covered-up bag. In doing so, the

bag fell over; and several bottles of chemicals fell out, some of which were leaking.

       {¶ 13} Suspecting that there may be an active meth lab in the truck, Deputy Antinore and

Detective Bowen searched the truck. The bag contained a bottle of Coleman fuel, a bottle of

muriatic acid, a bottle of Crystal drain opener, an ice compress, a package of “Damper It”, and

clear plastic tubing. The passenger compartment contained a plastic baggy containing a white
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                       4

substance, later identified as 13.45 grams of pseudoephedrine, two lithium batteries, and a

receipt showing that McKenzie had purchased some batteries several days earlier.

       {¶ 14} According to Deputy Antinore and Detective Bowen, McKenzie’s truck contained

nearly everything needed to manufacture methamphetamine. Detective Bowen explained,

       There are many different * * * ways of producing methamphetamine. The one-pot

       method basically consists of a soda bottle. You place ephedrine, uh, sodium

       hydroxide, which is a crystal drain opener, lithium batteries, solvents. All these

       ingredients go into one bottle and, each chemical reacts with another chemical,

       and each chemical has its own function and job. Uh, basically what it does is it

       produces meth oil. Then there is a separate phase. Once meth oil is created, you

       have to use acid and Damper It which creates hydrochloric gas. You drip

       hydrochloric gas into the meth oil to solidify it to make it a useable solid form.

       ***

       Lithium batteries is used in the reaction phase in the one-pot. Uh, ammonium

       nitrate pellets and sodium hydroxide, which is the drain cleaner, those two items

       react inside the soda bottle to create ammonia gas. Ammonia gas is needed to

       break down the lithium, which the end result is solvated electrons are produced,

       and when those are produced, that’s what produces methamphetamine.

       ***

       Coleman Fuel is used as a solvent in the production of methamphetamine. What

       that does, it extracts the ephedrine from pseudoephedrine. * * * Muriatic acid is

       used in the slating out phase, that is the last phase. That’s when I spoke earlier of

       solidifying the meth oil into useable form. That’s what the acid helps do in this
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                                    5

           process. Crystal Heat * * * this is the base. What drain opener does, it’s added in

           the one-pot, and it is mixed with, uh, it produces the ammonia gas. With the

           ammonia nitrate pellets, it produces ammonia gas. * * * The cold packs contain

           ammonia nitrate pellets. The ammonia nitrate pellets is also a product used to

           create ammonia gas. * * * Damper It is a substitute for salt, that’s mixed in with

           the acid in the salting out phase to create hydrochloric acid. * * * The tubing is

           used in the process, uh, typically its glued on to the end of bottle caps. And the

           tubing is used when they drip the hydrochloric gas into the meth oil that solidifies

           it. Basically, the hydrochloric gas travels through this tube, and they drip that into

           the meth oil, and that’s how it solidifies it.

           ***

           [Pseudoephedrine is] very important. It’s a huge factor in producing

           methamphetamine. And without it, you can’t produce methamphetamine.1

Trial Tr., p. 60-71.

           {¶ 15} Several witnesses also testified about the days and hours leading up to the traffic

stop. According to Webb, on the day of the traffic stop, she texted her friend, T.J. Barney, and

asked him for a ride. McKenzie and Barney picked her up in a black truck. From there, the three

went to Donna McKenzie’s house on Lois Lane and dropped Barney off. She and McKenzie then

went to McKenzie’s mother’s house on Dundee Street where McKenzie began gathering items in

a purple bag. She did not know exactly what McKenzie was putting in the bag; but she assumed

he was gathering items to cook methamphetamine because their plan was to go back to Lois

Lane and cook it. When McKenzie was finished gathering materials, he asked Webb to take the

1
    Detective Bowen was declared an expert in the identification and dismantling of methamphetamine labs.
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                               6

bag to the truck; and she did. He also asked her to cover-up the bag when they got pulled over by

police.

          {¶ 16} Webb admitted that the day before the traffic stop, she met Barney to see about

cooking methamphetamine; and at that time, she had pseudoephedrine with her. However, she

maintained that she gave her supply of pseudoephedrine away and that the pseudoephedrine and

other items found in McKenzie’s truck were not hers.2

          {¶ 17} According to Barney, when he met Webb the day before the traffic stop to cook

methamphetamine, Webb had pills and a light blue or purple bag containing all the necessary

chemicals. Donna McKenzie, McKenzie’s sister, also testified that Webb had the bag the day

before the traffic stop. According to her, Webb came to her mom’s house the day before the

traffic stop and asked her for a ride. She then drove Webb to Adams Road where Webb picked

up the purple bag and put it in the trunk of the car. When the two got back to the house, Webb

took the bag and left. Teresa McKenzie, McKenzie’s other sister, recalled seeing Webb with the

purple bag the following day, when Webb arrived at her mother’s house.

          {¶ 18} Ultimately, the jury found McKenzie guilty of possessing chemicals used to

manufacture methamphetamine. However, it found that his truck was not subject to forfeiture.

McKenzie was sentenced to 36 months in prison.

          {¶ 19} He timely appeals.

                                         II. Assignments of Error

          {¶ 20} McKenzie presents the following assignments of error for our review:

Assignment of Error No. I:

          THE VERDICT WAS AGAINST THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.

2
  Webb also pleaded guilty to possessing chemicals for the manufacturing of methamphetamine and agreed to testify
truthfully at McKenzie’s trial. According to Webb, McKenzie offered her money to “take the fall for everything.”
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                     7

Assignment of Error No. II:

       THE VERDICT WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE
       EVIDENCE.

                                      III. Law and Analysis

       {¶ 21} Because McKenzie’s assignments of error are interrelated, we address them

jointly. McKenzie argues that his conviction is not supported by sufficient evidence, or

alternatively, is against the manifest weight of the evidence, because the record does not support

the conclusion that he possessed the chemicals. We disagree.

       {¶ 22} Whether a conviction is supported by sufficient evidence is a question of law that

we review de novo. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997); State v.

Allah, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 14CA12, 2015-Ohio-5060, ¶ 8. In making this determination, we must

determine whether the evidence adduced at the trial, if believed, reasonably could support a

finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Davis, 4th Dist. Ross No. 12CA3336, 2013–

Ohio–1504, ¶ 12. “The standard of review is whether, after viewing the probative evidence and

inferences reasonably drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any

rational trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of the offense beyond a

reasonable doubt.” Id., citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d

560 (1979).

       {¶ 23} In determining whether a criminal conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, an appellate court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable

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 the conviction must be reversed. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                     8

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

“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. But the weight and credibility of evidence are to be

determined by the trier of fact. State v. West, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 12CA3507, 2014-Ohio-1941, ¶

23. A trier of fact “is free to believe all, part or none of the testimony of any witness who appears

before it.” Id. 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.

       {¶ 24} R.C. 2925.041(A) provides, “No person shall knowingly assemble or possess one

or more chemicals that may be used to manufacture a controlled substance in schedule I or II

with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance in schedule I or II in violation of section

2925.04 of the Revised Code.” Thus, R.C. 2925.041(A) consists of the following elements: (1)

knowingly, (2) assemble or possess (3) chemicals that may be used to manufacture a schedule 1

or schedule II controlled substance, and (4) intent to manufacture a schedule 1 or schedule II

controlled substance. State v. Creech, 188 Ohio App.3d 513, 2010–Ohio–2553, 936 N.E.2d 79, ¶

20. Methamphetamine as a schedule II controlled substance. R.C. 3719.41, Schedule II, (C)(2).

       {¶ 25} “A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware that his

conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has

knowledge of circumstances when he is aware that such circumstances probably exist.” R.C.

2901.22(B). “Because knowing precisely what existed in a defendant’s mind at the time of the

wrongful act may be impossible, the trier of fact may consider circumstantial evidence, i.e., the

facts and circumstances surrounding the defendant’s wrongful act, when determining if the
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                  9

defendant was subjectively ‘aware that his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will

probably be of a certain nature.’ ” State v. Chambers, 4th Dist. Adams No. 10CA902, 2011-

Ohio-4352, ¶ 36, quoting R.C. 2909.22(B).

       {¶ 26} Possession is defined as “having control over a thing or substance, but may not be

inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of

the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.” R.C. 2925.01(K). Possession may be

actual or constructive. State v. Butler, 42 Ohio St.3d 174, 176, 538 N.E.2d 98 (1989); State v.

Fry, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 03CA26, 2004-Ohio-5747, ¶ 39.

       {¶ 27} “Actual possession exists when the circumstances indicate that an individual has

or had an item within his immediate physical possession.” State v. Kingsland, 177 Ohio App.3d

655, 2008-Ohio-4148, 895 N.E.2d 633, ¶ 13 (4th Dist.), quoting Fry at ¶ 39.

“Constructive possession exists when an individual knowingly exercises dominion and control

over an object, even though that object may not be within his immediate physical possession.”

State v. Hankerson, 70 Ohio St.2d 87, 434 N.E.2d 1362 (1982), paragraph one of the

syllabus; State v. Brown, 4th Dist. Athens No. 09CA3, 2009–Ohio–5390, ¶ 19. For

constructive possession to exist, the State must show that the defendant was conscious of the

object’s presence. Hankerson at 91; Kingsland at ¶ 13. Both dominion and control, and whether

a person was conscious of the object’s presence, may be established through circumstantial

evidence. Brown at ¶ 19. “Moreover, two or more persons may have joint

constructive possession of the same object.” Id.

       {¶ 28} “ ‘With regard to the ability to prove an offender’s intentions, the Ohio Supreme

Court has recognized that “intent, lying as it does within the privacy of a person’s own thoughts,

is not susceptible [to] objective proof.” ’ ” State v. Moon, 4th Dist. Adams No. 08CA875, 2009–
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                 10

Ohio–4830, ¶ 20, quoting State v. Wilson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2006–01–007, 2007–Ohio–

2298, ¶ 41, quoting State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St.3d 49, 60, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995).

Accordingly, “[i]ntent must often * * * be inferred from the act itself and the surrounding

circumstances, including the acts and statements of the defendant surrounding the time of the

offense.” Id., quoting Wilson at ¶ 41, citing State v. Hutchinson, 135 Ohio App.3d 459, 463, 734

N.E.2d 454 (12th Dist.1999).

       {¶ 29} McKenzie contends that his conviction is based on insufficient evidence because

Webb is not credible and without her testimony, no evidence exists that he had any involvement

or knowledge of what was happening. “Questions of witness credibility are irrelevant to the issue

of whether there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction, however.” State v. Ruark, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-50, 2011-Ohio-2225, ¶ 24, citing State v. Preston–Glenn, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 09AP–92, 2009–Ohio–6771, ¶ 38. “In determining whether a conviction is based

on sufficient evidence, we do not assess whether the evidence is to be believed, but whether, if

believed, the evidence against a defendant would support a conviction.” Id., citing State v.

Smith, 10th Dist. No. 08AP–736, 2009–Ohio–2166, ¶ 26, State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574

N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus and State v. Yarbrough, 95 Ohio St.3d 227,

2002–Ohio–2126, 767 N.E.2d 216, ¶ 79.

        {¶ 30} Webb’s testimony, if believed, is sufficient to supported McKenzie’s conviction.

Webb testified that she and McKenzie went to Dundee Street after dropping Barney off on Lois

Lane. She stated that she saw McKenzie gathering items in a purple bag. Webb admitted that she

did not know what was in the bag; but she suspected it was chemicals used to cook

methamphetamine because they had planned to cook it later that day. Finally, Webb stated that

McKenzie asked her to take the bag to the truck and cover-up the bag when they were pulled
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                   11

over by police. Based on this evidence, a jury could reasonably conclude that McKenzie

possessed chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine. Thus, McKenzie’s conviction is

indeed supported by sufficient evidence.

       {¶ 31} McKenzie argues that his conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence for similar reasons. He argues that the jury clearly lost its way in weighing his

knowledge as to the presence of chemicals because his witnesses’ testimony outweighed Webb’s

testimony. “However, * * * a conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence

simply because the jury believed the prosecution testimony. * * * Therefore, as the trier of fact,

the jury was free to believe or disbelieve all, part, or none of the testimony of the witnesses

presented at trial.” (Citations Omitted.) State v. Erickson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-10-

131, 2015-Ohio-2086, ¶ 42.

       {¶ 32} The jury apparently believed Webb’s testimony that McKenzie knew about the

chemicals and excised some control over them; and they were free to do so. State v. Shirley, 4th

Dist. Ross No. 16CA3562, 2017-Ohio-1520, ¶ 23. Importantly, her testimony was corroborated,

in part, by the testimony of Deputy Antinore, who testified that McKenzie “cautiously” removed

his book from underneath the covered-up bag during the traffic stop.

       {¶ 33} After a thorough review of the record, we cannot say that this is an exceptional

case where the evidence weighs heavily in favor of McKenzie and where it is clear that the jury

lost its way or created a manifest miscarriage of justice.

       {¶ 34} Finally, McKenzie argues that his conviction is supported by insufficient

evidence, or alternatively, is against the manifest weight of the evidence because the verdicts are

inconsistent. He claims that “[o]ne cannot find that he knew the chemicals were present in the

truck and had placed them in the vehicle and then conclude that he was not using the truck in
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                   12

some way to aid in the commission of the offense.” However, McKenzie has not separately

argued that the trial court erred by accepting inconsistent verdicts, so our consideration of this

argument is limited to whether it bears on the sufficiency and weight of the evidence underlying

his possession conviction. State v. Phillips, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27552, 2017-Ohio-1186, ¶ 20.

For the reasons discussed above, it does not.

                                          IV. Conclusion

       {¶ 35} Having concluded that McKenzie’s conviction is supported by sufficient evidence

and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence, we overrule McKenzie’s assignments of

error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                                         JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Highland App. No. 16CA23                                                                      13

                                       JUDGMENT ENTRY

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

        The Court finds that reasonable grounds existed for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Highland 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.

Harsha, J. and McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

                                                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.