Court Opinion

ID: 2700530
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:22:15.25932+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:44.008879
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hufnagel, 2014-Ohio-1799.]
                           STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                  )   CASE NO. 12 MA 195
                                               )
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE                     )
                                               )
VS.                                            )   OPINION
                                               )
BRIAN HUFNAGEL                                 )
                                               )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT                    )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                          Criminal Appeal from the County Court
                                                   No. 2 of Mahoning County, Ohio
                                                   Case No. 11 CRB 1329

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee:                            Atty. Paul J. Gains
                                                   Mahoning County Prosecutor
                                                   Atty. Ralph M. Rivera
                                                   Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                   21 West Boardman Street, 6th Floor
                                                   Youngstown, Ohio 44503

For Defendant-Appellant:                           Atty. Christopher A. Maruca
                                                   The Maruca Law Firm, LLC
                                                   201 E. Commerce Street
                                                   Suite 316
                                                   Youngstown, Ohio 44503

JUDGES:

Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
                                                   Dated: April 21, 2014
[Cite as State v. Hufnagel, 2014-Ohio-1799.]
WAITE, J.

        {¶1}     Appellant Brian Hufnagel is appealing his conviction and sentence for

domestic violence. He challenges the conviction on the grounds that the jury verdict

is against the manifest weight of the evidence. He relies almost exclusively on his

own testimony at trial to try to persuade us to overturn the conviction, but the victim's

testimony, the corroborating testimony of one of the arresting officers, and even

some of Appellant's own testimony more than amply support the conviction.

Appellant also challenges the sentence because the victim, as part of her victim's

impact statement at sentencing, spoke about prior instances of domestic violence

and abuse, made a recommendation about the length of the sentence, and he

believes was overly emotional in giving her statement. Appellant failed to ask for a

continuance to rebut the victim's statement and any argument relative to error about

new evidence being introduced at sentencing was waived. A victim is permitted to

recommend a sentence under R.C. 2930.13(C)(4), and there was no error in asking

for the maximum penalty to be imposed. Appellant has not cited any relevant law

that would create reversible error due to a victim giving an emotional statement at

sentencing. Appellant has raised a number of capital murder cases that have no

bearing on the instant appeal with respect to a victim-impact statement. Appellant's

two assignments of error are overruled and the conviction and sentence are affirmed.

                                               Background

        {¶2}     On October 2, 2011, Boardman Township Police responded to a

domestic violence call at 5333 Old Oxford Lane, the home of Appellant and Tanya

Hufnagel. Appellant and Tanya were married at the time and lived with their 2-year
                                                                                   -2-

old daughter and Tanya's son from a previous relationship. Tanya had called 911

twice that evening to report that Appellant was hitting her. Two officers arrived, and

one spoke to each of the parties. Tanya told Boardman Township Sergeant Brian

Habeger that they had an argument about cooking dinner when Appellant picked her

up by the neck and threw her into a couch while she was holding her child. She also

said Appellant pushed a chair into her stomach, hit her in the chest with the palm of

his hand, and repeatedly struck her. Tanya was upset, crying, and had redness on

her neck as well as a bruised thigh. No photographs were taken of her injuries. She

told Habeger that she wanted Appellant arrested because she was afraid that he

might hurt her or her child.

       {¶3}   Boardman Township Officer Heather Douglas spoke with Appellant,

who said that he and Tanya were arguing over cigarettes. He had scratches on his

arm and photographs were taken. Douglas did not interview or speak to Tanya about

the assault, and did not notice that she had any injuries. Douglas noted that Tanya

seemed overly upset based on the information given to her by Appellant.

       {¶4}   Appellant was immediately arrested and charged in Mahoning County

Court No. 2 with one count of first degree misdemeanor domestic violence, R.C.

2919.25(A). He had a jury trial on May 10, 2012. The victim testified at great length

about the attack. She said they and the two children resided at 5333 Old Oxford

Lane in Boardman, Ohio. On October 2, 2011, Tanya returned home at 4:00 p.m.

from her son's football game. Appellant was sleeping on the couch. Tanya asked

Appellant if he wanted anything to eat, and he said no, he wanted to continue
                                                                                       -3-

sleeping. When Tanya later sat down on the couch, Appellant yelled and cursed at

her for not making him anything to eat. This verbal abuse lasted 45 minutes. The

two-year old child was frightened and crying.       When Tanya picked up the child,

Appellant grabbed Tanya by the throat and squeezed her neck, lifting them both off

the ground. He threw Tanya and the child against the couch. Appellant then hit

Tanya in the head and chest a few times. When she leaned forward, he hit her in the

back of the head.     Appellant then went to the computer room as if nothing had

happened. (5/10/12 Tr., pp. 23-25.)

       {¶5}   Tanya called the police, but hung up because Appellant had threatened

in the past to kill her if she called the police. (5/10/12 Tr., p. 27.) She asked to go to

the store to buy milk for her daughter, but he refused, and said if she took the car he

would report it as a stolen vehicle. She made dinner, but Appellant refused to eat it.

She went into the computer room, and Appellant slammed a chair into her stomach,

again cursed her and started hitting her head. (5/10/12 Tr., p. 29.) He continued

hitting her throughout the house. Tanya called the police again and waited outside

until they arrived.

       {¶6}   Officers Habeger and Douglas also testified at trial. Habeger confirmed

most of the testimony given by the victim. Habeger noted that Tanya told him that

Appellant's violent behavior had gone on for years and that a prior domestic violence

incident occurred when the Hufnagels lived in Girard. (5/10/12 Tr., p. 29.) He noted

that the victim was very upset, crying, and had red marks on her neck and a bruise

on her thigh. The officers determined that Appellant was the primary aggressor and
                                                                                    -4-

arrested him. Tanya was too afraid that Appellant might hurt her again if she filed a

criminal complaint, so Habeger filed and signed the domestic violence complaint.

        {¶7}   Appellant testified that he told Tanya he wanted a divorce on Friday,

September 30, 2011. He arrived home the next morning at 3:00 a.m., bringing with

him his assistant in his wedding DJ business, Alana Bauer. Appellant stated he had

to perform at a wedding on Saturday. After he woke up Saturday, he and Tanya had

an argument about the request for divorce. Appellant and Alana left for their wedding

job. After he returned, he and Tanya talked for a while about their marriage, and he

then went to bed.

        {¶8}   On Sunday, October 2nd, he got up to go to work as an announcer for

the Boardman Little Spartans football game, but the game was cancelled because of

rain so he left. Tanya was out picking up her son from the game when Appellant

returned home. Appellant fell asleep on the couch. Tanya arrived home and asked

him if he wanted anything to eat. He said no and went back to sleep. He woke up at

5:00 p.m. and asked her if she was going to make dinner. She said no, because she

made dinner at 4:00 p.m. and he did not want it then. They had an argument about

this, but Appellant insisted that he was not verbally abusive during the argument. He

went out to get cigarettes, and went into the computer room. They had an argument

over cigarettes in the computer room, and Appellant stated that Tanya scratched his

arms.

        {¶9}   Appellant denied causing the large bruise on Tanya's thigh. He said

Tanya had tripped and “hit her leg off the wall and I was not home.” (5/10/12 Tr., 91.)
                                                                                    -5-

He did admit that he “bumped into her,” causing Tanya to fall onto the couch.

(5/10/12 Tr., p. 97.) He denied choking her or hitting her with his chair.

       {¶10} Alana Bauer testified that she was at the Hufnagel residence on

October 1, 2011, the day before the domestic violence incident occurred.           She

witnessed the parties having a very loud argument. She noticed a bruise on Tanya's

leg at that time. She stated that she had never seen Appellant hit Tanya. She

testified that Tanya phoned her on the night of October 2, 2011, and told her that

Appellant hit her.

       {¶11} The jury convicted Appellant of domestic violence.         The sentencing

hearing took place on October 18, 2012. Tanya spoke at the sentencing hearing.

She discussed prior instances of abuse and assault by Appellant going back to 2007.

Appellant's counsel objected. The court responded by stating: “Well, it's going to the

Court, so the Court will overrule the objection.”        (10/18/12 Tr., p. 4.)   At the

conclusion of her statement, Tanya asked the court to impose the maximum

sentence. (10/18/12 Tr., p. 11.) Appellant's counsel did not ask for a continuance to

respond to the allegations regarding the alleged prior assaults.

       {¶12} The court sentenced Appellant to 180 days in jail, 150 days suspended,

one year of community control to the probation department, anger management

treatment, a $500 fine, and ordered him to have no contact with Tanya.             The

sentencing judgment entry was filed on October 18, 2012, and this timely appeal

followed. Appellant presents two assignments of error on appeal.

                          ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
                                                                                     -6-

      THE JURY'S VERDICT IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF

      THE EVIDENCE.

      {¶13} Appellant argues that the conviction is against the manifest weight of

the evidence, primarily focusing on the issue of whether he caused any physical

harm to the victim. Weight of the evidence deals with the inclination of the greater

amount of credible evidence to support one side of the issue over the other. State v.

Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In reviewing a manifest

weight of the evidence argument, the reviewing court examines the entire record,

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

witnesses, and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of

fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the

conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. Id. A reversal on weight of the

evidence is ordered only in exceptional circumstances. Id.

      {¶14} In conducting its review, the appellate court proceeds under the theory

that when there are two fairly reasonable views of the evidence or two conflicting

versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, it is not for the court of appeals

to choose which one should be believed. State v. Gore, 131 Ohio App. 3d 197, 201,

722 N.E.2d 125 (7th Dist.1999). Rather, a reviewing court defers to the fact-finder,

who is best able to weigh the evidence and judge the credibility of witnesses by

viewing the demeanor, voice inflections, eye movements, and gestures of the

witnesses testifying before it. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St. 2d 230, 231, 227 N.E.2d
212 (1967).
                                                                                    -7-

      {¶15} R.C. 2919.25(A) requires proof of physical harm as part of the definition

of domestic violence. Appellant believes there was conflicting evidence regarding

whether he physically harmed Tanya. He claims that he did not choke the victim, hit

her multiple times, or slam a chair into her stomach.

      {¶16} Appellant himself admitted that they were fighting and yelling at each

other for a long period of time the day of the assault, and that he “bumped” into her,

causing her to fall into the couch. Whether or not criminal intent could be inferred

from the circumstances surrounding this was for the trier-of-fact to decide. Appellant

also agreed with Tanya as to almost all of the surrounding circumstances of the

assault. There was evidence introduced as to red marks on Tanya's neck when the

police arrived. There was conflicting evidence about the bruise on Tanya’s leg, but

the jury may have believed Tanya’s evidence instead of the testimony of Appellant

and Alana Bauer. Appellant's anger is apparent in reading the transcript. He argued

with Tanya for not making dinner when she had asked him earlier whether he wanted

to eat and he said no and went back to sleep. She asked for a cigarette, and instead

of giving her one told her to take the car and get her own, but if she did, he would

report the car was stolen. He picked up baby toys and threw them on the floor.

When asked if he denied every instance of physically assaulting Tanya, he stated: “I

don’t deny every instance.” (5/10/12 Tr., p. 110.)

      {¶17} A domestic violence conviction can be sustained on the basis of a

single witness and without any physical evidence of visible injuries. State v. Blonski,

125 Ohio App. 3d 103, 114, 707 N.E.2d 1168 (9th Dist.1997). In the instant case,
                                                                                   -8-

there are multiple witnesses who testified to the basic parameters of the assault.

There were two witnesses (including Appellant) who testified that Appellant pushed

Tanya into their couch and two witnesses who testified that Tanya had red marks on

her neck when the police arrived. Appellant's own testimony revealed there had

been many angry and violent arguments with Tanya. Tanya's testimony alone would

have been enough to sustain the conviction.        The transcript reflects much more

evidence was admitted at trial to confirm her testimony. The weight of the evidence

supports the conviction, and Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.

                          ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING A VICTIM IMPACT

       STATEMENT        WHICH      INCLUDED       NEW     MATERIAL       FACTS,

       FOCUSED ON ALLEGED EVENTS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO

       THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME, AND RECOMMENDED A

       MAXIMUM SENTENCE.

       {¶18} Appellant challenges a number of aspects of the victim-impact

statement in this case and asks that he be resentenced. A victim is permitted to

make a statement at sentencing under R.C. 2930.13 and 2930.14. Appellant argues

that a victim-impact statement may not contain new evidence, and if it does, the court

should grant a continuance so that the defendant can adequately respond to the new

evidence. Appellant contends that the victim's discussion about a wide range of prior

assaults he had allegedly committed against her constituted new evidence that

should have resulted in a continuance of the sentencing hearing.
                                                                                     -9-

       {¶19} Appellant cites State v. Sturgeon, 138 Ohio App. 3d 882, 742 N.E.2d
730 (1st Dist.2000), which briefly mentions that, under 2930.14(B), a defendant

should be given an opportunity to respond if new material evidence is introduced as

part of a victim's statement at sentencing.

       {¶20} R.C. 2930.14(B) states:

       (B) The court shall consider a victim's statement made under division

       (A) of this section along with other factors that the court is required to

       consider in imposing sentence or in determining the order of

       disposition. If the statement includes new material facts, the court shall

       not rely on the new material facts unless it continues the sentencing or

       dispositional proceeding or takes other appropriate action to allow the

       defendant or alleged juvenile offender an adequate opportunity to

       respond to the new material facts.

       {¶21} Appellant's argument is not persuasive for a variety of reasons. First,

the testimony that Appellant had previously assaulted Tanya was not new evidence,

because it was discussed at trial at length and without objection. (5/10/12 Tr., pp. 31-

32, 69.) In fact, it was Appellant’s counsel who first raised the issue of the prior

abuse when cross-examining Tanya. (5/10/12 Tr., p. 31.) Second, after a defendant

has been made aware that there is some new information the court “use[d] in

imposing sentence upon a defendant, and the defendant does not seek a

continuance to rebut that information, then such information will not be found to

constitute ‘new material facts' that trigger the continuance requirement in R.C.
                                                                                 -10-

2930.14(B).” (Emphasis sic.) State v. Marple, 12th Dist. No. CA2004-09-073, 2005-

Ohio-6272, ¶38, citing State v. Brown, 146 Ohio App. 3d 654, 660, 2001-Ohio-4266,

767 N.E.2d 1192 (1st Dist.). Even if we could view Tanya’s statement as containing

new evidence, instead of asking for a continuance, Appellant's counsel decided to

directly challenge the information in the victim-impact statement as being irrelevant.

(10/18/12 Tr., p. 12.)   Counsel therefore waived any potential error under R.C.

2930.14(B). State v. Harris, 2d Dist. No. 20841, 2005-Ohio-6835, ¶7.

      {¶22} We have also held that: “It is well-established that sentencing courts

can consider arrests and even prior allegations that did not result in conviction.”

State v. Mayor, 7th Dist. No. 07 MA 177, 2008-Ohio-7011, ¶16; see also, State v.

Cooey, 46 Ohio St. 3d 20, 544 N.E.2d 895 (1989) (at sentencing, a court may

consider mere allegations of crimes for which the defendant is never prosecuted).

      {¶23} Finally, Appellant cannot show there was any prejudice from the victim-

impact statement because the statement was presented to the judge rather than the

jury, and “judges are presumed to know the law and expected to consider only

relevant, material, and competent evidence during their deliberations.”      State v.

Thomas, 97 Ohio St. 3d 309, 2002-Ohio-6624, 779 N.E.2d 1017, ¶57. The trial judge

pointed this out to defense counsel when he overruled the objection concerning the

discussion of prior assaults in the victim-impact statement.

      {¶24} Appellant next contends that the court erred by allowing the victim to

give a sentencing recommendation. Tanya recommended Appellant be given the
                                                                                  -11-

maximum sentence. R.C. 2930.13(C)(4) specifically allows the victim to make a

sentencing recommendation:

      (C) A statement made by the victim under division (A) or (B) of this

      section may include the following:

      ***

      (4)   The victim's recommendation for an appropriate sanction or

      disposition for the defendant or alleged juvenile offender regarding that

      crime or specified delinquent act.

      {¶25} Appellant cites a number of capital murder cases for the proposition

that a victim cannot recommend a sentence as part of a victim-impact statement.

Many years ago, special due process considerations specific to capital cases

originally prohibited relatives of the victim from making any statements at all at

sentencing, but this changed in Ohio in 1992 in State v. Evans, 63 Ohio St. 3d 231,

586 N.E.2d 1042 (1992), when the Ohio Supreme Court recognized that victim-

impact statements were admissible even in capital cases.        See also, Payne v.

Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S. Ct. 2597, 115 L. Ed. 720 (1991). We note that the

sentencing phase of some capital murder cases is presented to the jury, which raises

different concerns than most other sentencing issues that are presented only to the

trial judge rather than a jury.   R.C. 2929.03(D).   As already stated, a judge is

presumed to know and follow the law regarding sentencing, and any errors in a victim

making a sentencing recommendation can be ignored by the judge. Thomas, supra,
                                                                                    -12-

97 Ohio St. 3d 309, ¶57.        Appellant cites no non-capital cases regarding the

permissible content of a victim's statement at sentencing.

       {¶26} Appellant also objects to the emotional tone of the victim-impact

statement. Once again, Appellant cites to a capital murder case, State v. Lang, 129
Ohio St. 3d 512, 2011-Ohio-4215, 954 N.E.2d 596, ¶237, which warns against a

victim-impact statement from becoming “overly emotional.” Again, this concern arose

in capital cases because sentencing is primarily a function of the jury in those cases,

who might be overly swayed by emotional appeals. Most felony sentencing hearings

are argued only to the trial judge, who can fairly apply the law even after hearing

emotional statements from those affected by the crime. Appellant has not cited to

any non-capital case in which the emotional tone of the victim's statement at

sentencing had any bearing on the validity of the sentence. Even if it were a concern

in non-capital cases, there is nothing about the victim's statement in this case that

can be labeled as overly emotional. In fact, when the victim began to get emotional

in recounting the long history of Appellant's abuse, she allowed someone else to

finish reading her statement for her. (10/18/12 Tr., p. 6.)

       {¶27} None of Appellant's arguments regarding the victim-impact statement at

sentencing have any merit, and his second assignment of error is overruled.

                                      Conclusion

       {¶28} Appellant first challenges his conviction as being against the manifest

weight of the evidence. The victim testified extensively about her physical injuries

inflicted by Appellant on the night of the crime, and officer Habeger testified about red
                                                                                  -13-

marks on the victim's neck and chest and a bruise on her thigh, which were

consistent with the victim's allegations. Appellant himself testified that he “bumped

into” the victim, causing her to fall into the couch. Appellant admitted that he had

many violent arguments with Tanya, and it would not have been difficult for the jury to

believe that his anger erupted into physical violence. The manifest weight of the

evidence supports the conviction. Appellant also argues that the victim improperly

added new evidence at sentencing in addressing prior assaults, made an improper

recommendation about the length of the sentence, and was overly emotional at

sentencing. There was no error in allowing the victim to talk about prior assaults

when it was Appellant himself who raised the issue of the prior assaults at trial. Even

if this were not the case, there was no prejudice in the discussion about prior

assaults, as the trial judge was able to ignore any inappropriate comments.          In

addition, Appellant failed to ask for a continuance to rebut the victim impact

statement, and thus waived any alleged errors.               Regarding the victim’s

recommendation that the maximum sentence be imposed, a victim is permitted by

statute to give an opinion about the length of the sentence. Finally, there is no

indication that the victim's statement was overly emotional, and any error in the tone

of the victim's statement could be ignored by the trial judge. Neither of Appellant's

assignments of error have merit, and the conviction and sentence are affirmed.

Vukovich, J., concurs.

DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.