Court Opinion

ID: 9949440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-11 17:09:49.423098+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:26:09.374563
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Greer, 2024-Ohio-694.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,
                                                           CASE NO. 1-23-01
         PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

    v.

TAROCKIS L. GREER,                                         OPINION

         DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CR 2021-0268

                                       Judgment Affirmed

                           Date of Decision: February 26, 2024

APPEARANCES:

         William T. Cramer for Appellant

         John R. Willamowski, Jr. for Appellee
Case No. 1-23-01

ZMUDA, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant Tarockis L. Greer (“Greer”) appeals the judgment

of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas, alleging that his convictions were

against the manifest weight of the evidence. For the reasons set forth below, the

judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

                           Facts and Procedural History

       {¶2} At 8:50 A.M. on July 12, 2021, Patrolman Scott Luedeke (“Patrolman

Luedeke”) of the Lima Police Department received a report that a gun was fired in

a residential area on West Wayne Street and that a person was seen fleeing from this

location. Tr. 119. Ex. 46. When he arrived at the scene, Patrolman Luedeke

encountered three people who were identified as Robbie Blevins (“Blevins”), Jodi

Troy (“Troy”), and Jason High (“High”). Tr. 120-121. Troy had a head injury and

initially reported that she did not know what had happened. Ex. 54. High reported

that “[h]e believed he might have been pistol whipped in the back of the head.” Tr.

121. However, Blevins, Troy, and High did not identify the person who caused

these injuries while Patrolman Luedeke was present. Tr. 125. Ex. 54.

       {¶3} Detective Steven J. Stechschulte, Jr., (“Detective Stechschulte”) of the

Lima Police Department arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and examined the

premises. Tr. 236. The investigators located a spent shell casing in the vicinity of

a bullet hole that was discovered in the floor of the living room. Tr. 211. They also

located a second spent shell casing in an upstairs bedroom that was in the vicinity

                                           -2-
Case No. 1-23-01

of a bullet hole in the bedroom wall. Tr. 211, 217. One bullet was recovered during

this investigation and sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing

along with the two shell casings from the house. Tr. 241. Detective Stechschulte

then conducted several interviews as part of this investigation. Tr. 244.

       {¶4} Blevins spoke with Detective Stechschulte and later gave his account

of what had transpired at trial. He testified that he had known Troy for about four

years and had spent the night of July 11, 2021 at her house on West Wayne Street.

Tr. 150, 152. After Blevins woke up the next morning, Greer visited the house with

Durand Tyson (“Tyson”). Tr. 155-156. Blevins, Troy, Tyson, and Greer then sat

down in the living room while High was sleeping in a bedroom upstairs. Tr. 157.

After using some of the drugs that Tyson had brought, Blevins decided to leave. Tr.

157, 163. Blevins testified that he went upstairs to get some tools that he had lent

to High, though he ultimately did not obtain these items. Tr. 157.

       {¶5} Blevins testified that, as he was walking down the stairs, Greer was

walking up the steps towards the second floor. Tr. 158-159. Blevins further testified

that, once he reached the first floor, no one was in the living room and that he then

heard the sound of a gunshot coming from the upstairs. Tr. 159. In response, he

ran outside of the house and towards his car across the street. Tr. 158. Blevins

drove his car onto a side street and then saw Greer and Tyson exit the house together.

Tr. 160.

                                         -3-
Case No. 1-23-01

       {¶6} From his vantage point, Blevins observed Greer and Tyson get into a

white van and drive away. Tr. 160. He also saw High crawl out of a second story

window and onto the roof before crawling back through the window and into the

house. Tr. 161. Blevins stated that he then went back inside the house where he

saw Troy on the ground with a “big ole gash” in her head. Tr. 161-162. He testified

that Troy appeared “stunned” and told him that she had been “hit in the head with a

gun.” Tr. 162.

       {¶7} High was also interviewed by Detective Stechschulte and later gave

his account of what had transpired at trial. Tr. 244. High testified that he had been

partying at Troy’s house until he went to sleep at 4:00 A.M. on the morning of July

12, 2021 in one of her upstairs bedrooms. Tr. 171. When he woke up several hours

later, he saw Greer pointing what appeared to be a Glock handgun at him. Tr. 172.

High testified that Greer said, “I want to get high, too. Where’s it at?” Tr. 173.

       {¶8} High stated that he responded by acting as though he did not “have

anything” of value and that Greer then “smack[ed]” him on the left side of his head

with the handgun. Tr. 173. High then complied when Greer ordered him to get out

of bed. Tr. 174. After removing a few hundred dollars from High’s pockets and

taking High’s cell phone from the bed, Greer began backing towards the bedroom

door. Tr. 174-175. According to High, Greer pointed the gun directly at him and

fired a shot. Tr. 175. The bullet missed High and struck the bedroom wall. Tr. 175.

                                         -4-
Case No. 1-23-01

      {¶9} High testified that, after Greer went downstairs, Troy began yelling

before he heard the sound of a gunshot. Tr. 176-177.      Believing that Troy may

have been “killed,” High sought to escape by getting out of the bedroom window

and onto the roof above the front porch. Tr. 177. However, he decided to reenter

the house after saw Greer and Tyson walk outside, get into a white minivan, and

drive away. Tr. 178-179. High testified that he went downstairs where Troy was

“hysterical” and “flipped out.” Tr. 179. Troy stated that she had been hit on the

head with the gun. Tr. 179. High also represented that Blevins then reentered the

house. Tr. 179.

      {¶10} During one of these interviews, Detective Stechschulte was notified

that High’s cellular phone had been located near the intersection of Faurot Avenue

and Nye Street. Tr. 245. Troy’s cellular phone had also been reported as stolen that

morning but was never recovered. Tr. 245, 264. While High was able to give

Greer’s name to the police, Detective Stechschulte conducted a photo lineup with

Blevins to determine whether he was able to identify Greer in a picture. Tr. 246,

255. Blevins ultimately selected a photo of Greer, stating that “he was eighty

percent confident” that the picture depicted the person he had witnessed with Tyson

at the West Wayne Street house. Tr. 246.

      {¶11} Based on this information, Detective Stechschulte contacted a friend

of Greer named Dwayne Wilson-Smith (“Wilson-Smith”), who agreed to cooperate

with the police investigation. Tr. 247. After being fitted with a recording device,

                                        -5-
Case No. 1-23-01

Smith spent some time speaking with Greer while they drove around town together

on July 13, 2021. Tr. 189. After receiving this recording from Wilson-Smith, the

police sought arrest warrants for Greer and Tyson. Tr. 250.

       {¶12} The police learned that Greer was at the house where the mother of his

children, Chastity, lived. Tr. 251. When the police arrived, Greer was working on

Chastity’s white minivan. Tr. 251-252. After explaining that a search warrant for

the house was forthcoming, Greer directed Chastity to go inside and get a handgun.

Tr. 251. Chastity did as instructed, bringing a “Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun” to

the officers. Tr. 252. Subsequent testing established that this Glock handgun had

fired the two spent shell casings that were discovered in Troy’s house. Tr. 232.

       {¶13} Tyson eventually gave an account of what had transpired on the

morning of July 12, 2021 and testified as a witness for the State at trial. He stated

that he was Greer’s uncle and that Greer referred to him as “Unk.” Tr. 147. Tr.

130, 143-144. On July 12, 2021, Greer came to his house, and they got into the

minivan that Greer had driven there. Tr. 130, 131, 144. Tyson testified he was

smoking marijuana while Greer was drinking alcohol. Tr. 131. At some point, they

decided to visit Troy’s house and traveled to West Wayne Street in the minivan. Tr.

132, 133. Once inside Troy’s house, Tyson sold some cocaine for twenty dollars.

Tr. 135. Tyson, Blevins, and Troy then used cocaine together. Tr. 135.

       {¶14} Tyson testified that Blevins went upstairs to retrieve some money to

buy more cocaine and that Troy indicated that she was going to the basement to do

                                         -6-
Case No. 1-23-01

some laundry. Tr. 135-137. Tyson followed Troy into the basement. Tr. 137.

While they were downstairs, Tyson heard a gunshot and a scream. Tr. 137. Troy

went up the stairs to the main floor while Tyson lingered in the basement. Tr. 138.

Tyson testified that, after a few minutes, he decided to go upstairs. Tr. 138. When

he reached the main floor, Tyson saw Greer descending the stairs that led to the

second floor. Tr. 138. Troy was walking down the stairs in front of Greer, who had

a gun pointed at the back of Troy’s head. Tr. 138.

       {¶15} Tyson testified that Greer pointed the gun at him and that Troy fell to

the ground. Tr. 139. Tyson said, Greer “pointed the gun back at her [Troy]. He

pointed the gun back at me. He shoots to the ground. Pow. He points at me and

says * * * ‘You come with me.’” Tr. 139. In response, Tyson left the house and

headed towards the minivan with Greer. Tr. 139-140. He stated that Greer knocked

out one of the van windows, “jumped in,” and then unlocked the door. Tr. 140.

Tyson then got into the minivan, and Greer drove away. Tr. 140. Tyson testified

that he got out of the vehicle after Greer had parked the minivan at “Eureka and Nye

Street.” Tr. 140.

       {¶16} On September 16, 2021, Greer was indicted on one count of

aggravated burglary in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(2), a first-degree felony; one

count of aggravated robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), a first-degree

felony; and two counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2),

second-degree felonies. Each of these four charges carried a three-year firearm

                                        -7-
Case No. 1-23-01

specification under R.C. 2941.145(A). A jury trial on these charges was held on

November 1 and November 2, 2022.                Blevins, High, Wilson-Smith, Tyson,

Patrolman Luedeke, and Detective Stechschulte testified as witnesses for the State.

      {¶17} A transcript of the recorded conversation between Wilson-Smith and

Greer was admitted at trial. This transcript contained the following statements:

      Greer: He was sleep. I don’t give a f**k n***a’. I do s**t how I do s**t.

      Wilson-Smith: Out for the blood, when you start doing that though?
      * * * What he do?

      Greer: N***a woke up

      ***

      Greer: He was like, come on man.

      ***

      Greer: I said, where the f**k that mutha’ f**kin’ dope at. I said, I
      want to get high too. Because I thought he didn’t know me.

      ***

      Greer: I was like, I want to get high too, where the dope at.

      ***

      Greer: * * * Unk came and got me and said, I got a sweet one

      Greer: He like n***a’, gut go in there and do you. I’m like, alright
      n***a’ don’t be . . . My n***a’, I . . . (Unintelligible) . . . at Unk before
      we left that b***h and made him come with me

      Greer: * * * The neighbors the ones who called the police.

                                          -8-
Case No. 1-23-01

      Wilson-Smith: Right, right

      Greer: I threw all the phones in the river over there.

      ***

      Greer: * * * Like I told Unk, he the one I ain’t even trippin’ about
      nothing with whoever saying what. Like I told Unk, he the one scared.
      He talking about they looking for us. I said, what? * * *

      ***

      Greer: Ask Unk, I had a K in the car n***a’. I had a 40 with me. The
      K was in the car the whole time, n***a’ on my kid. * * *

      ***

      Greer: Come on n***a, I blew that b***h right by him. BOW! Get
      your b***h a*s up and get down on the floor. I blew that b***h in
      the arm of the couch. BOW! Get your b***h a*s up, you coming
      with me. Come on. On everything. I came down there right after I
      blew and uh smack dude with the gun. Of course he gone get around
      anybody n***a’ and talk stuff my n***a’

      Wilson-Smith: Right, right

      Greer: Anyways, mutha’ f***kin’ soon as I came downstairs, I hit
      the b***h with the butt of that b***h. Sit you’re a*s down b***h,
      where the (unintelligible) at?

      ***

      Greer: the b***h that live there, the old white n***a’, them two don’t
      know me and the dude upstairs, that was it.

      Greer: * * * But n***a’ I thought I locked the keys in the car and I
      didn’t. They was in my pocket the whole time so I jumped through
      the back van window. The whole b***h fell off. It ain’t break or
      nothing. I picked that b***h up and got straight in the car. I pulled
      off slow as f**k n***a’. * * *

                                        -9-
Case No. 1-23-01

       ***

       Greer: I’m the one doing the robbery. F**k you talking about? He
       can’t get me on nothing his b***h a*s scared to do because if he
       wasn’t scared to do it, he would’ve did it by hisself. He needed me.
       I ain’t need him. He took his a*s downstairs the whole time n***a’.
       I went up there. I don’t need no crowd n***a’. Hold up (Makes
       clicking sound) soon as ol’ girl went to the bathroom, I walked
       straight. He was like Blam-blam! Exactly what Unk did, he was like,
       Blam-blam! (Laughs) He did this, look, he was like this Blam-blam
       and pointed upstairs.

Ex. 45. Portions of this recorded conversation between Wilson-Smith and Greer

were also played at trial. Tr. 192. Ex. 44.

       {¶18} After the State rested, Greer testified in his own defense. He stated

that he had never been in Troy’s house on West Wayne Street. Tr. 275. He also

stated that he had never seen High, Troy, or Blevins in his life but admitted that he

knew Tyson. Tr. 275-276. Greer also affirmed that he was “just talking smack” in

the recorded conversation that he had with Wilson-Smith. Tr. 281.

       {¶19} Greer then gave an account of what transpired on July 12, 2021. He

testified that Tyson had called him to ask for a favor. Tr. 281. According to Greer,

Tyson had been using cocaine for a few days and needed someone to provide an

alibi to his girlfriend. Tr. 282. Greer was asked to tell Tyson’s girlfriend that Tyson

had been at Greer’s house during the days in which Tyson had been using cocaine.

Tr. 283. After agreeing to provide this alibi, Greer got into a black car driven by

Tyson to go to the girlfriend’s house. Tr. 283. On entering the vehicle, Greer

                                         -10-
Case No. 1-23-01

noticed that Tyson was carrying a gun. Tr. 284. Since Greer was on probation,

Tyson put the handgun in the trunk of the vehicle. Tr. 285.

       {¶20} Greer testified that they went to see Tyson’s girlfriend, but when they

were leaving her house, Tyson realized that his vehicle was out of gas. Tr. 285-286.

Tyson then called his friend, Ed, and asked him to give them a ride. Tr. 286. Ed

picked Tyson and Greer up in a white van. Tr. 286. Greer was in the back seat of

the minivan and could not hear what Ed and Tyson were saying to each other. Tr.

288. Ed drove the van to a place on Wayne Street or Elm Street. Tr. 287. After

parking the van, Ed and Tyson went into a house with a gun while Greer waited in

the vehicle. Tr. 288-289. Greer stated that he fell asleep while he was waiting for

them to return. Tr. 289.

       {¶21} Greer stated that he woke up when Ed and Tyson came rushing back

to the minivan. Tr. 289. Since Greer locked the doors, Ed pushed one of the

windows out in order to enter the van. Tr. 290. As Ed drove away, Tyson told him

to go faster. Tr. 290. Greet testified that, when Tyson asked him to throw a phone

out of the window, he refused and that Tyson then threw the phone out of the

window himself. Tr. 291. Greer stated that, after they arrived at Chastity’s house,

Tyson asked if he could store his gun there. Tr. 292. Greer refused to store the gun

for Tyson and then went inside to tend to one of his children. Tr. 292.

       {¶22} Greer further testified that Tyson called him later and said that he had

stashed the gun under the back porch of Chastity’s house. Tr. 293. Greer stated

                                        -11-
Case No. 1-23-01

that he then hid the gun in the ceiling tiles above the porch so that his children could

not access it. Tr. 293. He testified that he told Tyson to retrieve his gun but that

Tyson never came. Tr. 294. Chastity later discovered the gun when it fell through

the ceiling and onto the floor. Tr. 294. Greer then stored the handgun in a kitchen

cabinet where it was located when the police arrested him. Tr. 295.

       {¶23} On November 2, 2022, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on all four

charges against Greer and on the corresponding gun specifications. The trial court

issued its judgment entry of sentencing on December 6, 2022.

                                 Assignment of Error

       {¶24} Greer filed his notice of appeal on January 3, 2023. On appeal, he

raises the following assignment of error:

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

In particular, he questions the credibility of the witnesses who identified him as the

perpetrator of the offenses at the West Wayne Street house.

                                   Legal Standard

       {¶25} A manifest-weight challenge asserts that the verdict is not supported

by the greater amount of credible evidence. State v. Harvey, 3d Dist. Marion No.

9-19-34, 2020-Ohio-329, ¶ 12.

       On appeal, courts “must review the entire record, weigh the evidence
       and all of the reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of
       witnesses, and determine whether in resolving conflicts in the
       evidence, the factfinder ‘clearly lost its way and created such a

                                         -12-
Case No. 1-23-01

       manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed
       and a new trial ordered.’”

State v. Randle, 2018-Ohio-207, 104 N.E.3d 202, ¶ 36 (3d Dist.), quoting State v.

Plott, 2017-Ohio-38, 80 N.E.3d 1108, ¶ 73 (3d Dist.), quoting State v. Thompkins,

78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997).

       {¶26} In this process, “the appellate court sits as a ‘thirteenth juror’ and

examines conflicting testimony.” State v. Bush, 2023-Ohio-4473, --- N.E.3d ---, ¶

138 (3d Dist.), quoting Thompkins at 387. “Only in exceptional cases, where the

evidence ‘weighs heavily against the conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn

the trial court’s judgment.” State v. Haller, 2012-Ohio-5233, 982 N.E.2d 111, ¶ 9

(3d Dist.), quoting State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d

955, ¶ 119.

       {¶27} Further, “the credibility of witnesses is primarily a determination for

the trier of fact.” State v. Morris, 2022-Ohio-3608, 198 N.E.3d 1024, ¶ 41 (3d

Dist.), quoting State v. Banks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96535, 2011-Ohio-5671, ¶

13. As the trier of fact, a jury “is free to believe all, some, or none of the testimony

of each witness appearing before it.” Harvey at ¶ 47, quoting State v. Houdeshell,

3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-18-02, 2018-Ohio-5217, ¶ 39. Thus, “[a] verdict is not

against the manifest weight of the evidence because the [jury] chose to believe the

State’s witnesses rather than the defendant’s version of the events.” State v. Hooper,

                                         -13-
Case No. 1-23-01

3d Dist. Allen No. 1-21-35, 2022-Ohio-2990, ¶ 29, quoting State v. Martinez, 9th

Dist. Wayne No. 12CA0054, 2013-Ohio-3189, ¶ 16.

       {¶28} For these reasons, “[a] reviewing court must * * * allow the trier of

fact appropriate discretion on matters relating to the weight of the evidence and the

credibility of the witnesses.” State v. Sullivan, 2017-Ohio-8937, 102 N.E.3d 86, ¶

38 (3d Dist.), quoting State v. Coleman, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-13-53, 2014-Ohio-

5320, ¶ 7. “Only in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs heavily against

the conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court’s judgment.” State

v. Little, 2016-Ohio-8398, 78 N.E.3d 323, ¶ 27 (3d Dist.), quoting State v. Hunter,

131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 119.

                                   Legal Analysis

       {¶29} Greer asserts that the evidence that the State introduced to establish

that he was present at Troy’s house during the commission of the crimes was not

credible and that his convictions are, therefore, against the manifest weight of the

evidence. We turn to examining Greer’s arguments about the trial testimony from

the witnesses who were present during the incident, the recorded conversation

obtained by Wilson-Smith, and the physical evidence presented at trial.

       {¶30} First, three people who were present at Troy’s house on the morning

of July 12, 2021 testified at trial and identified Greer as being present during the

incident. Tr. 129-130, 155-156, 172. The first of these witnesses, Tyson, also stated

that he saw Greer point a gun at Troy and fire a shot while on the main floor of

                                        -14-
Case No. 1-23-01

Troy’s house. Tr. 138-139. Tyson testified that he is Greer’s uncle and has known

Greer for over a decade.1 Tr. 131, 143. He also testified that he and Greer had gone

to a gathering at Troy’s house roughly one week before the incident. Tr. 145.

           {¶31} During his testimony, Tyson did admit that he was incarcerated at the

time of trial; had felony convictions on his record; and was charged for his

involvement in this incident at Troy’s house. Tr. 129. He specified that he was not

testifying at trial pursuant to any agreement with the State. Tr. 141. Rather, he

voluntarily chose to testify to “clear * * * [his] name.” Tr. 142. He indicated that

he had been in a physical altercation with Greer five or six years prior to trial. Tr.

143. His testimony also indicated that he had used cocaine and marijuana the

morning of the incident at Troy’s house. Tr. 131, 135. Greer also testified that

Tyson was a gang member and a drug addict. Tr. 278, 284.

           {¶32} Next, Blevins testified that he saw Greer go up the stairs at Troy’s

house just before he heard a gunshot. Tr. 158-159. He stated that he was in the first

floor with Greer before the incident and that he had previously seen Greer during a

gathering at Troy’s house roughly week prior to July 12, 2021. Tr. 154-155, 166.

After the incident, Blevins was able to identify a picture of Greer during a photo

lineup conducted by Detective Stechschulte. Tr. 166.

1
    Greer disputes whether Tyson is, in fact, his uncle. Tr. 143.

                                                      -15-
Case No. 1-23-01

       {¶33} When Detective Stechschulte testified, defense counsel questioned

him about the accuracy of Blevins’s photo lineup identification.           Detective

Stechschulte indicated that Blevins narrowed the photo lineup down to two pictures.

Tr. 260-261. However, Blevins then pointed at one of the pictures and stated that

he was eighty percent sure that this photo depicted Greer. Tr. 246, 261. The picture

that he expressed eighty percent certainty about was the one that depicted Greer.

Tr. 246. Detective Stechschulte noted that the picture of Greer that was used in the

lineup was several years old and that Greer’s hair was styled differently at the time

that the photo was taken. Tr. 260-261.

       {¶34} During his testimony, Blevins also admitted that, prior to the incident,

he had used some illegal drugs that Tyson had brought to Troy’s house. Tr. 157.

However, he testified that he was not high by the time of the incident and that the

drugs that Tyson brought did not “phase” him. Tr. 163. He also indicated that he

had been partying at Troy’s house the night before the incident but woke up with a

clear mind on the morning of July 12, 2021. Tr. 152.

       {¶35} At trial, High also identified Greer as the person who took money from

his pockets at gunpoint and fired a shot that struck the bedroom wall. Tr. 174-175.

He testified that he had met Greer one time at a gathering that occurred at Troy’s

house one or two weeks prior to the incident. Tr. 182. High stated that he met Greer

through Wilson-Smith. Tr. 182.

                                         -16-
Case No. 1-23-01

       {¶36} At the time of trial, High was incarcerated, having been convicted of

trafficking in cocaine. Tr. 169. He testified that he was not high at the time his

money had been stolen but had used illegal drugs the night before the incident. Tr.

183. However, he testified that he had not used illegal drugs for a couple of hours

before he went to bed on the morning of July 12, 2021. Tr. 183. On cross-

examination, High admitted that he did not initially tell the police who had pointed

the gun at him and that he had only heard one gunshot. Tr. 182-183, 185. He then

admitted that he lied to the police as he was afraid of getting into trouble. Tr. 183.

       {¶37} Greer testified in his own defense at trial. He unequivocally stated that

he had never been inside Troy’s house and that he had never met Troy, High, or

Blevins. Tr. 275-276. His testimony indicated that he had been with Tyson that

morning but that another person went with Tyson into the house. Tr. 289. On cross-

examination, Greer stated that the witnesses who identified him as the perpetrator

of the offenses in the indictment were not telling the truth. Tr. 303. He also stated

that Tyson had assaulted him in the past over a family dispute. Tr. 277-278.

       {¶38} Second, we turn to examining the recorded conversation between

Greer and Wilson-Smith. In this recording, Greer mentioned that he was “the one

doing the robbery.” Ex. 45. Further, several statements that Greer made align

closely with several of the events that Tyson, High, and Blevins described as

occurring on July 12, 2021. For example, Greer indicated that he approached a

sleeping person and said, “I want to get high too, where the dope at.” Ex. 45. At

                                         -17-
Case No. 1-23-01

trial, High testified that Greer woke him up and said, “I want to get high, too.

Where’s it at?” Tr. 173.

       {¶39} In his conversation with Wilson-Smith, Greer also mentioned that

Tyson was “downstairs the whole time” and that he made “Unk” leave with him.

Ex. 45. He also indicated that he jumped through the back window of his vehicle

because he thought he had left the keys in the van. Ex. 45. These were details

mentioned by Tyson in his trial testimony. Tr. 139, 140. Greer further told Wilson-

Smith that he had “a 40 with me” and that he “threw all the phones in the river * *

*.” Ex. 45. The State introduced evidence that the shell casings recovered at Troy’s

house were fired by a forty caliber handgun. Tr. 228, 232, 252. Detective

Stechschulte also testified that Greer had reportedly stolen two cellular phones,

though one of these phones was recovered. Tr. 244.

       {¶40} Wilson-Smith testified that he believed that he and Greer were

discussing what had happened to High on July 12, 2021. Tr. 193. In response,

Greer admitted that it was his voice in the recorded conversation.         Tr. 303.

However, he testified that he was variously talking smack or describing what he

“heard happened” to High in this conversation. Tr. 304. He also affirmed that he

was not “necessarily referring to the Wayne Street crime” and was speaking of other

situations involving other individuals. Tr. 299. Greer also stated that Wilson-Smith

was a “criminal” who had “been to prison most of his life.” Tr. 296.

                                       -18-
Case No. 1-23-01

       {¶41} Third, we turn to examining the physical evidence presented at trial.

Detective Stechschulte testified that, when Greer was arrested at the house where

his kids lived, Chastity turned over a handgun to the police. Tr. 252. Subsequent

testing established that the two shell casings that were recovered at Troy’s house

were fired from this weapon. Tr. 232. Ex. 43. However, Greer testified that this

handgun had been “stashed” under his porch by Dyson. Tr. 293. He stated that,

after he learned of the whereabouts of the gun, he hid it in the ceiling tiles above his

back porch. Tr. 293. Greer testified that he told Tyson to get the gun but that Tyson

never came to retrieve the firearm. Tr. 293-294.

       {¶42} In summary, three witnesses identified Greer as being present at

Troy’s house on July 12, 2021. All three of these witnesses had met Greer prior to

that morning. The jury was made aware of the criminal histories and drug usage of

these three individuals. The consistency of their accounts of the incident was also

the subject of extensive cross-examination. While Greer denied ever being in

Troy’s house, the jury was free to believe his testimony or the testimony of the

State’s witnesses. Hooper, supra, at ¶ 29.

       {¶43} Further, on the recording of his conversation with Wilson-Smith,

Greer can be heard making statements that described the events that occurred in

Troy’s house on the morning of July 12, 2021. The two shell casings located at in

Troy’s house were fired by a handgun that was found in Greer’s possession. While

the Defense asserted that Greer provided explanations as to why this evidence did

                                         -19-
Case No. 1-23-01

not link him to the offenses at Troy’s house, the finders of fact were free to

disbelieve Greer’s testimony and draw different conclusions from those advocated

by Greer.

       {¶44} For these reasons, the record demonstrates that Greer’s convictions are

not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Since the record contains no

indication that the jury lost its way in reaching these verdicts, the sole assignment

of error is overruled.

                                    Conclusion

       {¶45} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars

assigned and argued, the judgment of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas is

affirmed.

                                                                Judgment Affirmed

ZIMMERMAN and MILLER, J.J., concur.

** Judge Gene A. Zmuda of the Sixth District Court of Appeals, sitting by
Assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

                                        -20-