Court Opinion

ID: 5133984
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-10 16:11:35.404755+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:41.377995
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Wilcoxson, 2021-Ohio-4339.]

                               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                  SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      MONTGOMERY COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                        :
                                                      :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                           :   Appellate Case No. 29053
                                                      :
 v.                                                   :   Trial Court Case No. 2021-CRB-1
                                                      :
 KEY’AUDI WILCOXSON                                   :   (Criminal Appeal from Municipal Court)
                                                      :
         Defendant-Appellant                          :
                                                      :

                                                 ...........

                                                 OPINION

                           Rendered on the 10th day of December, 2021.

                                                 ...........

STEPHANIE L. COOK, Atty. Reg. No. 0067101 and ANDREW D. SEXTON, Atty. Reg.
No. 0070892, City of Dayton Prosecutor’s Office, 335 West Third Street, Room 390,
Dayton, Ohio 45402
      Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee

ROBERT ALAN BRENNER, Atty. Reg. No. 0067714, P.O. Box 340214, Beavercreek,
Ohio 45434
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                                .............

WELBAUM, J.
                                                                                       -2-

       {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Key’Audi Wilcoxson, appeals from his conviction for

aggravated menacing following a bench trial in the Dayton Municipal Court. In support

of his appeal, Wilcoxson argues that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by

failing to move for a trial continuance and by failing to file a timely jury demand.

Wilcoxson also contends that he was denied his constitutional right to due process as a

result of the State’s failure to provide certain video evidence in discovery.     For the

reasons outlined below, the judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.

                           Facts and Course of Proceedings

       {¶ 2} On January 1, 2021, Wilcoxson was charged by complaint with one count of

aggravated menacing in violation of R.C. 2903.21(A), a misdemeanor of the first degree,

and one count of menacing in violation of R.C. 2903.22, a misdemeanor of the fourth

degree. The charges stemmed from allegations that Wilcoxson made threats of serious

physical harm to an employee of a laundromat where Wilcoxson was allegedly loitering.

Wilcoxson pled not guilty to the charges, and his case was set for a trial.

       {¶ 3} Wilcoxson’s trial was originally scheduled for January 14, 2021 but was later

continued to January 27, 2021. On January 22, 2021, the January 27th trial date was

removed from the trial court’s schedule. Before a new trial date was scheduled, on

February 3, 2021, Wilcoxson filed a handwritten letter requesting that the trial court

remove his appointed counsel on grounds that counsel was not communicating with him.

On February 17, 2021, the trial court removed Wilcoxson’s counsel and appointed new

counsel to represent him.      Also on February 17th, the trial court sent a notice to
                                                                                          -3-

Wilcoxson in jail notifying him that his trial date had been rescheduled for February 25,

2021.

        {¶ 4} At trial, Wilcoxson’s newly appointed counsel made an oral demand for a jury

trial and filed a written jury demand later the same day. The trial court found that the jury

demand was untimely and declined to delay Wilcoxson’s trial any further. The matter

was then tried to the bench as scheduled.

        {¶ 5} The State’s first trial witness was Tane Smith, who owned a laundromat in

Dayton called “At Your Service Coin Laundry.” Smith testified that when she arrived at

the laundromat at 1:10 p.m. on January 1, 2021, she observed Wilcoxson inside the

laundromat. Smith testified that when she initially saw Wilcoxson, she noticed that he

was following a lady around. However, Smith testified that she eventually saw Wilcoxson

put a load of laundry into a washer sometime before she left the laundromat at 2:00 p.m.

Smith testified that while she was away, she remotely monitored the laundromat’s security

cameras using her cell phone; when she checked the cameras at 3:30 p.m. she saw that

Wilcoxson was still inside the laundromat. Smith testified that she then contacted her

on-duty employee, Sarah Wagner, and asked Wagner to tell Wilcoxson to leave the

premises.

        {¶ 6} The State also called Wagner to testify at trial.      During her testimony,

Wagner confirmed that Smith had asked her to tell Wilcoxson to leave the laundromat.

Wagner testified that she approached Wilcoxson shortly before 4 p.m. and advised him

that he had to leave the premises because he had been there for multiple hours. Wagner

testified that Wilcoxson’s response was that “he didn’t have to fucking leave” and that “no

one could make him leave.” Trans., p. 27. Wagner testified that she called Smith back
                                                                                        -4-

and advised her that Wilcoxson refused to leave the laundromat. Wagner testified that

Smith instructed her to call the police in order to have Wilcoxson removed from the

premises, and Wagner called the police as instructed by Smith.

       {¶ 7} Wagner testified that, after she called the police, Wilcoxson told her that he

would “punch” and “kill” her and that she “would only bleed out for two minutes.” Id. at

28.   Wagner testified that these threats were made while she was standing by the

laundromat’s office and while Wilcoxson was standing 20 to 25 feet away at the front of

the laundromat. Wagner testified that she believed Wilcoxson’s threats and therefore

called the police a second time, because she feared that Wilcoxson was going to hurt her.

       {¶ 8} Continuing, Wagner testified that after making her second call to the police,

Wilcoxson began to approach her by the laundromat’s dryers. Wagner testified that as

Wilcoxson approached her, he had something in his hand that looked like a knife. The

“knife” was identified by Wagner at trial, and it is best described as a serrated cheese

spreader. See State’s Exhibit 1. Wagner testified that she told Wilcoxson to back up

as he was approaching her with the cheese spreader.             Wagner testified that as

Wilcoxson was approaching her, a patron of the laundromat, later identified as Carlos

Brewer, intervened. According to Wagner, Brewer and Wilcoxson began exchanging

words, and Wilcoxson pulled out a hammer and attempted to hit Brewer with it. The

hammer was also identified by Wagner at trial and admitted into evidence as State’s

Exhibit 2.

       {¶ 9} Wagner testified that she observed Brewer take the hammer from Wilcoxson

and throw the hammer outside across the parking lot; Wilcoxson and Brewer then began

fighting with each other outside. Wagner testified that Brewer eventually reentered the
                                                                                          -5-

laundromat, and Wilcoxson followed him. At that time, Wagner saw Wilcoxson pull out

the cheese spreader again. Wagner testified that Wilcoxson cut Brewer on the arm and

forehead with the cheese spreader. Thereafter, Wagner saw Wilcoxson go outside and

throw the cheese spreader and hammer on the roof of the laundromat. Wagner testified

that Wilcoxson then came back inside the laundromat and began calling her a whore and

a drug user.

      {¶ 10} Wagner testified that the entire incident with Wilcoxson lasted about an hour

and that she was concerned for her safety the entire time; she believed that Wilcoxson

would actually hurt her given his angry, aggressive demeanor. Wagner testified that she

was very scared at the time of the incident and that she was still scared of Wilcoxson.

      {¶ 11} The State next presented testimony from Officer Gregory Paxton of the

Dayton Police Department. Officer Paxton testified that he was the first officer to arrive

at the laundromat after Wagner’s call. Officer Paxton testified that upon his arrival, he

was approached by a very agitated Wilcoxson, and Wilcoxson told him that he threw the

hammer and cheese spreader on the roof of the laundromat in order to get them away

from Brewer. Officer Paxton testified that the fire department recovered the hammer and

cheese spreader from the roof, and that his fellow officer, Officer Hubbard, placed the

hammer and cheese spreader in the police department’s property room.

      {¶ 12} Officer Paxton also testified to transporting Wilcoxson to jail in his police

cruiser. Officer Paxton recalled speaking to Wilcoxson during the transport and noted

that Wilcoxson had told him that he wanted to press charges against Brewer. On cross-

examination, Officer Paxton confirmed that his police cruiser was equipped with cameras

for video and audio recording.
                                                                                          -6-

       {¶ 13} The State also presented testimony from Officer Phillip Hubbard of the

Dayton Police Department. Officer Hubbard testified that when he arrived at the scene,

he took witness statements from Wagner, Brewer, and Smith. Officer Hubbard testified

that after taking the witness statements, it was decided that Wilcoxson was going to jail.

Officer Hubbard testified that when he advised Wilcoxson that he was going to jail,

Wilcoxson attempted to kick the windows out of Officer Paxton’s police cruiser. Officer

Hubbard testified that when he instructed Wilcoxson to cease and desist, Wilcoxson

claimed to be a violent individual and indicated that he would not stop kicking the

windows. Officer Hubbard also confirmed that he had collected the cheese spreader and

hammer from the fire department and had placed those items in the police department’s

property room.

       {¶ 14} The last witness at trial was Wilcoxson, who testified in his own defense.

Wilcoxson testified that he was homeless and that he was at the laundromat on the day

in question for purposes of laundering his multiple layers of clothing that were wet from

the rain. Wilcoxson testified that a laundromat employee, Wagner, initially approached

him outside while he was smoking and drinking with a lady who was also at the

laundromat. According to Wilcoxson, Wagner told him that he was loitering and needed

to “mother fucking leave.” Trans., p. 87-88. Wilcoxson also claimed that Wagner told

him: “[I]f you won’t leave, I’m gonna call my sons and my boyfriend, my husband.” Id. at

88. Wilcoxson testified that he looked at Wagner like she was crazy because he was

still doing his laundry. Wilcoxson testified that he told Wagner: “Bitch you ain’t talking to

me. * * * You talking to me sideways. I’m not loitering. I’m paying--I’m an actual paying

customer.” Id. at 88-89.
                                                                                        -7-

       {¶ 15} Wilcoxson testified that he and Wagner continued their argument inside the

laundromat. Wilcoxson claimed that Wagner told him that her boyfriend or husband was

going to “fuck [him] up * * * because [he] was disrespecting her.” Id. at 89. Wilcoxson

testified that he told Wagner that he doesn’t “fear nobody but God and the police” and

that Wagner could call whoever she wanted to call. Id. Wilcoxson testified that he then

went back outside to smoke more cigarettes while Wagner called the police. Wilcoxson

testified that while he was outside, he placed a hammer that he carried for protection

upside down on the sidewalk. Wilcoxson testified that he did this because he had a

violent history and did not want the police to tase or shoot him for having a weapon.

       {¶ 16} Wilcoxson testified that when he went back inside the laundromat, he

noticed that Wagner had stopped the dryer in which he had been drying his clothes.

Wilcoxson testified that he began cussing at Wagner and said: “Bitch, why you touching

my clothes.” Id. at 91. Wilcoxson testified that he then went back outside and noticed

that his hammer was missing.       Wilcoxson testified that a patron of the laundromat,

Brewer, then came from behind the laundromat building and said: “Yeah, bitch I got your

hammer now.” Id. at 92.

       {¶ 17} Wilcoxson testified that he and Brewer started fighting outside and that

Brewer swung the hammer at him. Wilcoxson claimed that he deflected Brewer’s swing

with his arm and scratched Brewer on the head in the process. Wilcoxson also claimed

that he pulled out the cheese spreader and threw it on the roof of the laundromat because

he realized a cheese spreader was not going to help him defend himself against a

hammer. Wilcoxson testified that he eventually took the hammer away from Brewer and

threw it on the roof of the laundromat too. Continuing, Wilcoxson testified that the police
                                                                                       -8-

arrived shortly after he threw the cheese spreader and hammer on the roof. According

to Wilcoxson, the police arrested him before he could tell them what happened.

Wilcoxson claimed that as he was getting arrested, he asked the officers to get video

footage from surveillance cameras that he observed outside the businesses surrounding

the laundromat, so that he could prove that he had been defending himself against

Brewer.    Wilcoxson also confirmed that Wagner was not outside for most of the

altercation, and that he and Wagner had only exchanged threats.

       {¶ 18} On cross-examination, Wilcoxson admitted that he “went crazy” and

verbally threatened Wagner after she had threatened to have him removed from the

laundromat. Trans., p. 98. Wilcoxson, however, claimed that he could not remember

exactly what he said when he threatened Wagner. Wilcoxson also admitted to saying

that he was violent when Officer Hubbard asked him to stop kicking the back of the

cruiser.

       {¶ 19} Throughout the trial, Wilcoxson raised objections concerning the video

evidence that was discussed during the trial testimony. Wilcoxson advised the trial court

that the State had not provided him with the video footage from the laundromat’s security

cameras, the video footage from Officer Paxton’s police cruiser, or any surveillance video

footage from the businesses surrounding the laundromat. Wilcoxson argued that the

foregoing video evidence would have bolstered his credibility and contradicted the State’s

witnesses. Wilcoxson also argued that the video footage from the laundromat’s security

cameras would have been the best evidence of his altercation with Wagner. Wilcoxson

clarified that he was not raising a discovery violation under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S.

83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), but simply claimed that he was prejudiced by
                                                                                         -9-

the State’s failure to provide the aforementioned video evidence.

       {¶ 20} In response, the State indicated that it did not provide the video evidence to

Wilcoxson because none of the video evidence was in the State’s possession. The State

explained that it did not know about the laundromat security camera footage until the

owner of the laundromat, Smith, testified at trial. On cross-examination, Smith testified

that she left a voicemail with the police department advising that she had the laundromat

security camera footage on a USB drive at her office, but she claimed that no one from

the police department ever collected the USB drive. The State, therefore, advised the

trial court that it had never received any surveillance videos from the police department.

       {¶ 21} The State also indicated that it had never obtained the video footage from

Officer Paxton’s police cruiser because the aggravated menacing and menacing offenses

at issue occurred prior to Wilcoxson’s interaction with police.      The State noted that

Wilcoxson never requested the video footage in discovery and that it would have provided

Wilcoxson with the cruiser camera footage if Wilcoxson had asked for it.

       {¶ 22} After hearing the parties’ arguments, the trial court noted Wilcoxson’s

objection to the video evidence for the record but ultimately determined that the video

evidence at issue would not have corroborated or supported either party’s case. The

trial court found that the State would have been required to turn over the laundromat

security camera footage to Wilcoxson had it been in the State’s possession. However,

since it wasn’t in the State’s possession, and since there was nothing on the record

indicating that the laundromat security camera footage was equipped with audio, the trial

court found that the witnesses’ testimony was sufficient evidence of the statements made

during the altercation.
                                                                                         -10-

       {¶ 23} After the defense rested, and after the trial court addressed Wilcoxson’s

arguments, the trial court found Wilcoxson guilty of both aggravated menacing and

menacing. Thereafter, the State advised the trial court that the two offenses should

merge into one conviction and that the State would like to have Wilcoxson convicted for

aggravated menacing.        The trial court agreed that a merger of the offenses was

appropriate and thereafter sentenced Wilcoxson for aggravated menacing as elected by

the State.    The trial court sentenced Wilcoxson to 180 days in jail with 40 days

suspended and 68 days of jail-time credit. The trial court also ordered Wilcoxson to pay

a $25 fine and court costs.

       {¶ 24} Wilcoxson now appeals from his conviction, raising two assignments of

error for review.

                                 First Assignment of Error

       {¶ 25} Under his first assignment of error, Wilcoxson contends that his trial counsel

provided ineffective assistance because counsel failed to move for a trial continuance

despite counsel’s entering the case only a week before trial. Wilcoxson also contends

that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a timely jury demand.

       {¶ 26} In order to succeed on an ineffective assistance claim, a defendant must

establish: (1) his trial counsel’s performance was deficient; and (2) the deficient

performance prejudiced him. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052,

80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), paragraph two of the syllabus; State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d

136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus. The failure to make a

showing of either deficient performance or prejudice defeats a claim of ineffective
                                                                                          -11-

assistance of counsel. Strickland at 697.

       {¶ 27} To establish deficient performance, a defendant must show that his trial

counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable representation. Id.

at 688; Bradley at 142. In evaluating counsel’s performance, a reviewing court “must

indulge in a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of

reasonable professional assistance.”        Strickland at 689.     “[A] debatable decision

concerning trial strategy cannot form the basis of a finding of ineffective assistance of

counsel.” State v. Woullard, 158 Ohio App.3d 31, 2004-Ohio-3395, 813 N.E.2d 964,

¶ 37 (2d Dist.), citing Strickland at 689. (Other citation omitted.) To establish prejudice,

a defendant must show that there is “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s

errors, the proceeding’s result would have been different.” State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St.3d

118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d 864, ¶ 204, citing Strickland at 687-688 and Bradley at

paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 28} As previously noted, Wilcoxson first claims that his trial counsel provided

ineffective assistance by failing to move for a trial continuance. However, “the decision

whether to request a trial continuance is debatable, and involves a strategic choice of

counsel that falls ‘within the realm of trial strategy and tactics that will not ordinarily be

disturbed on appeal.’ ” State v. Wynn, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25097, 2014-Ohio-420,

¶ 90, quoting State v. Warner, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95750, 2012-Ohio-256, ¶ 11, citing

State v. Pasqualone, 121 Ohio St.3d 186, 2009-Ohio-315, 903 N.E.2d 270 and State v.

Frazier, 115 Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263. Because “requesting

continuances is a matter of trial tactics and strategy, * * * we will not second-guess trial

counsel’s decision in this regard.”     Id. at ¶ 5.    Therefore, Wilcoxson has failed to
                                                                                             -12-

establish deficient performance on the part of his trial counsel.

       {¶ 29} Wilcoxson also cannot establish that the outcome of his case would have

been different had his counsel requested a trial continuance; it is pure speculation as to

whether the trial court would have granted a trial continuance if one had been requested.

“Such speculation is insufficient to establish ineffective assistance.” State v. Short, 129

Ohio St.3d 360, 2011-Ohio-3641, 952 N.E.2d 1121, ¶ 119, quoting State v. Perez, 124

Ohio St.3d 122, 2009-Ohio-6179, 920 N.E.2d 104, ¶ 217, citing State v. Were, 118 Ohio

St.3d 448, 2008-Ohio-2762, 890 N.E.2d 263, ¶ 219 and State v. Elmore, 111 Ohio St.3d

515, 2006-Ohio-6207, 857 N.E.2d 547, ¶ 121.             As a result, Wilcoxson also cannot

establish that he was prejudiced by his trial counsel’s failure to request a trial continuance.

Therefore, Wilcoxson’s first ineffective assistance claim lacks merit.

       {¶ 30} For his second ineffective assistance claim, Wilcoxson contends that his

trial counsel performed deficiently and prejudiced him by failing to file a timely jury

demand. Crim.R. 23(A) provides that “[i]n petty offense cases, where there is a right of

jury trial, the defendant shall be tried by the court unless he demands a jury trial.” A jury

demand “must be made in writing and filed with the clerk of court not less than ten days

prior to the date set for trial, or on or before the third day following receipt of notice of the

date set for trial, whichever is later.” Crim.R. 23(A). “[A] defendant charged with a

misdemeanor waives the right to a jury trial unless he makes a timely written demand in

accordance with Crim.R. 23(A).”         (Citations omitted.)    State v. Matthews, 2d Dist.

Greene No. 2015-CA-73, 2016-Ohio-5055, ¶ 11. The time limits set forth in Crim.R.

23(A) “are to be computed with respect to the last scheduled trial date.”                City of

Tallmadge v. DeGraft-Biney, 39 Ohio St.3d 300, 530 N.E.2d 1310 (1988), syllabus.
                                                                                          -13-

Therefore “a continuance of the trial will renew the time within which to file a jury demand.”

Id.

       {¶ 31} In this case, Wilcoxson was tried for first-degree misdemeanor aggravated

menacing and fourth-degree misdemeanor menacing, both of which were petty offenses

with a right to jury trial. See Crim.R. 2(D) and R.C. 2945.17(A) and (B). Therefore,

Wilcoxson was required to file a timely, written jury demand in order to receive a jury trial

for those offenses. Crim.R. 23(A). The record indicates that the trial court sent a notice

to Wilcoxson on February 17, 2021, informing him that his trial was rescheduled for

February 25, 2021. Given the timing of that notice, Wilcoxson was required to file a

written jury demand “on or before the third day following the receipt of notice of the date

set for trial.” Crim.R. 23(A). Wilcoxson therefore had three days from February 17,

2021, to file his jury demand, which was February 20, 2021. Because February 20,

2021, fell on a Saturday, pursuant to Crim.R. 45(A), Wilcoxson had until Monday,

February 22, 2021, to file his jury demand.

       {¶ 32} There is no dispute that Wilcoxson’s trial counsel filed an untimely jury

demand on the day of Wilcoxson’s February 25th trial. However, even if we assume that

Wilcoxson’s trial counsel performed deficiently in that regard, the test for ineffective

assistance is whether any prejudice arose from counsel’s deficient performance. State

v. Ware, 2d Dist. Darke No. 2018-CA-8, 2019-Ohio-2595, ¶ 31, citing Bradley, 42 Ohio

St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, at paragraph two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 33} In this case, Wilcoxson has not established that he suffered any prejudice

as a result of his trial counsel’s performance.      More specifically, Wilcoxson has not

demonstrated that the outcome of his trial would have been different had his trial counsel
                                                                                          -14-

filed a timely jury demand. The mere fact that Wilcoxson could have had a jury trial had

his counsel filed a jury demand does not establish prejudice. See State v. Escobar, 1st

Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-200423, C-200424, 2021-Ohio-4001, ¶ 28, citing State v.

Fitzgerald, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22381, 2005-Ohio-2411, ¶ 13 (“merely argu[ing] that he

could have had a jury trial had his counsel filed a demand notice * * * fails to establish

prejudice”) and State ex rel. Maxwell v. Trikilis, 9th Dist. Medina No. 06CA0071-M, 2007-

Ohio-1355, ¶ 27 (“[w]ith respect to a jury demand, Appellant has failed to demonstrate

that the result of his bench trial would have been different but for his counsel's failure to

make a jury demand”). Accord State v. Stroud, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2017-A-0028,

2018-Ohio-904, ¶ 27; State v. Bullard, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 20AP0032, 2021-Ohio-4044,

¶ 23.

        {¶ 34} Furthermore, at trial, Wilcoxson admitted to verbally threatening Wagner on

the day in question and to telling the police that he was a violent person. Wagner also

unequivocally testified that Wilcoxson threatened to punch and kill her and that she

believed those threats due to Wilcoxson’s angry, aggressive demeanor.             Given the

testimony presented at trial, especially Wilcoxson’s admission to threatening Wagner, we

find that Wilcoxson has not demonstrated a reasonable probability that the outcome of

his trial would have been different had his counsel filed a jury demand. See Ware at

¶ 30 (finding that the evidence against defendant was so overwhelming that there was no

reasonable probability that the result of the proceedings would have been different absent

counsel’s failure to file a timely jury demand). Because Wilcoxson has not established

prejudice arising from counsel’s failure to file a jury demand, his second ineffective

assistance claim also lacks merit.
                                                                                          -15-

       {¶ 35} Wilcoxson’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                              Second Assignment of Error

       {¶ 36} Under his second assignment of error, Wilcoxson argues that his conviction

should be reversed because his constitutional right to due process was violated as a

result of the State failing to turn over: (1) the video footage recorded by the laundromat’s

security cameras; (2) the video footage recorded in Officer Paxton’s police cruiser; and

(3) the video footage recorded by businesses surrounding the laundromat. We note that

Wilcoxson’s due process argument is not based on an alleged violation of Brady, 373

U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215, i.e., that the State withheld exculpatory evidence

in discovery. Instead, Wilcoxson argues that the State’s failure to provide him with the

video evidence in discovery and the trial court’s decision to proceed with trial despite his

never receiving the video evidence prejudiced him and denied him due process. We,

however, disagree.

       {¶ 37} Discovery in a criminal case is governed by Crim.R. 16.           Pursuant to

Crim.R. 16(B), the prosecution must provide any evidentiary materials “which are material

to the preparation of a defense, or are intended for use by the prosecuting attorney as

evidence at the trial” upon written request of the defendant. If a party fails to comply with

the disclosure requirements of Crim.R. 16, the trial court has the discretion to “order such

party to permit the discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the party from

introducing in evidence the material not disclosed, or it may make such other order as it

deems just under the circumstances.” Crim.R. 16(L)(1).

       {¶ 38} A violation of Crim.R. 16 does not necessarily amount to a due process
                                                                                          -16-

violation. State v. Long, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2010-CA-47, 2011-Ohio-4293, ¶ 19 (finding

that “while the State’s failure to provide [video evidence] constituted a violation of the

discovery rules, we find no basis to conclude that [the defendant’s] constitutional rights

were violated by the State’s failures and the trial court’s subsequent orders limiting the

State’s disclosure obligations,”); Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 433, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 131

L.Ed.2d 490 (1995), citing U.S. v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 675 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d

481 (1985) (“the Constitution is not violated every time the government fails or chooses

not to disclose evidence that might prove helpful to the defense.”).         This court has

explained that “[t]he failure to provide copies [of video evidence in discovery] may result

in a denial of due process[,]” but that such a failure “is not a per se denial of the right to

due process; there must be evidence of some prejudice to the defendant.” (Citations

omitted.) Long at ¶ 21.

       {¶ 39} The trial court’s response to an alleged discovery violation under Crim.R.

16 is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. State v. Parson, 6 Ohio St.3d 442, 445, 453

N.E.2d 689 (1983). “A trial court abuses its discretion when it makes a decision that is

unreasonable, unconscionable, or arbitrary.” (Citation omitted.) State v. Darmond, 135

Ohio St.3d 343, 2013-Ohio-966, 986 N.E.2d 971, ¶ 34. “An abuse of discretion includes

a situation in which a trial court did not engage in a ‘ “sound reasoning process.” ’ ” Id.,

quoting State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, 972 N.E.2d 528, ¶ 14,

quoting AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio

St.3d 157, 161, 553 N.E.2d 597 (1990). “Abuse-of-discretion review is deferential and

does not permit an appellate court to simply substitute its judgment for that of the trial

court.” Id.
                                                                                          -17-

       {¶ 40} In this case, Wilcoxson conceded at trial that the State’s failure to provide

the video evidence in discovery was not due to a dereliction of the State’s obligation to

provide discovery. See Trans., p. 77. In addition, the record establishes that the State

did not provide the video evidence to Wilcoxson because the video evidence was either

unknown to the State and/or never in the State’s possession.              The record also

establishes that Wilcoxson’s discovery request did not specifically request any of the

video evidence at issue. Accordingly, there appears to be no violation of the State’s

obligations under Crim.R. 16. While the police department’s failure to collect the video

footage from the laundromat’s security cameras may have constituted sloppy police work,

there is nothing in the record to indicate that the police’s failure to retrieve that footage

was purposeful or in bad faith.

       {¶ 41} In any event, we find that Wilcoxson was not prejudiced by the lack of video

evidence in question and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it found that

the video evidence would not have corroborated either party’s version of the relevant

events. Although the video footage from the laundromat’s security cameras would have

showed the altercation between Wilcoxson and Wagner, the trial court correctly

determined that it was never established on the record that the video was equipped with

audio. See Trans., p. 37. Without audio, the video would have had little value, since it

was undisputed that Wilcoxson and Wagner had an altercation inside the laundromat on

the day in question and that Wilcoxson verbally threatened Wagner. Therefore, the

video would only have been helpful if it had audio, as it could have been used to determine

whether Wilcoxson threatened to cause Wagner serious, physical harm. Since it was

not established that the video was equipped with audio, the trial court reasonably relied
                                                                                      -18-

on the witnesses’ testimony to determine what statements were made during the

altercation. Because it is highly unlikely that the video footage from the laundromat’s

security cameras would have aided Wilcoxson’s defense, and given that Wilcoxson

admitted to threatening Wagner, we do not find that the lack of this evidence prejudiced

Wilcoxson at trial.

       {¶ 42} With regard to the video footage from Officer Paxton’s police cruiser, the

record establishes that the State never obtained that footage because the State’s case in

chief only concerned the verbal threats that Wilcoxson made to Wagner inside the

laundromat. Because the altercation between Wilcoxson and Wagner occurred prior to

the arrival of the police, the cruiser camera footage would not have aided Wilcoxson’s

defense against the aggravated menacing and menacing charges for which he was tried.

Accordingly, Wilcoxson was not prejudiced by the State’s failure to obtain the cruiser

camera footage.

       {¶ 43} Similarly, any surveillance video footage taken from businesses

surrounding the laundromat would have only shown Wilcoxson’s altercation outside with

Brewer. Wilcoxson’s and Wagner’s testimony both indicate that Wilcoxson threatened

Wagner while they were inside the laundromat. Wilcoxson himself testified that Wagner

was not outside the laundromat for much of the event. Therefore, surveillance footage

taken from neighboring businesses would not have aided either party’s case with regard

to the aggravated menacing and menacing charges. Accordingly, Wilcoxson was not

prejudiced by the State’s failure to obtain that video footage either.

       {¶ 44} Because Wilcoxson was not prejudiced by the lack of video evidence at

issue, we find no due process violation. The record indicates that Wilcoxson received a
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fair trial that resulted in a verdict worthy of confidence despite the absent video footage.

We also find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it decided to proceed

with trial, as the trial court reasonably determined that the video footage would not have

corroborated either party’s version of the relevant events.

       {¶ 45} Wilcoxson’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                       Conclusion

       {¶ 46} Having overruled both of Wilcoxson’s assignments of error, the judgment of

the trial court is affirmed.

                                     .............

TUCKER, P.J. and EPLEY, J., concur.

Copies sent to:

Stephanie L. Cook
Andrew D. Sexton
Robert Alan Brenner
Hon. Christopher D. Roberts