Court Opinion

ID: 9382368
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-27 15:06:33.309408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:38.200677
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hibbard, 2023-Ohio-983.]

                                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                            TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

                                             BUTLER COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO,                                    :

        Appellee,                                  :         CASE NO. CA2022-09-086

                                                   :              OPINION
     - vs -                                                        3/27/2023
                                                   :

 JEFFREY LYNN HIBBARD,                             :

        Appellant.                                 :

       CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                          Case No. CR2022-05-0605

Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, and John Heinkel, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

The Law Office of Wendy R. Calaway, Co., LPA, and Wendy R. Calaway, for appellant.

        M. POWELL, J.

        {¶ 1} Appellant, Jeffrey Lynn Hibbard, appeals his conviction in the Butler County

Court of Common Pleas for burglary.

        {¶ 2} Michael Peters lives alone in a house located at the corner of two streets in

Hamilton, Ohio. One of the streets is McKinley Avenue. One can enter the home through
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a backdoor hidden by a lattice fence on McKinley Avenue. The backdoor opens into the

kitchen. On April 5, 2022, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Peters left his home to drive a

neighbor and her pet to a veterinary appointment; the errand took approximately two hours.

While he was gone, someone burglarized his home. The burglar gained entry into the home

by breaking the plexiglass pane of the backdoor. The house was ransacked; Peters' kitchen

garbage bag was emptied onto the kitchen floor. Police investigation revealed that the black

garbage bag and a white and blue pillowcase with a distinctive zigzag pattern were missing

from Peters' home. Other missing items included two computer tablets, baseball gloves,

collectible baseball "bobble heads," and other sports memorabilia.

        {¶ 3} Appellant was known to Peters from having done odd jobs for him at his home.

Following the burglary, Peters' son talked to nearby neighbors and appellant was identified

as a suspect. Around 9:00 p.m. on the day of the burglary, the police officer who was

dispatched earlier to Peters' home met with Peters' son at a local gas station where he took

three photographs of appellant. The photographs depict appellant wearing a black t-shirt

with a prominent red and grey Choppers design on the front and a distinctive black leather

vest or jacket. The jacket has four clasps on one side but only three buttons on the other

side.

        {¶ 4} The detective assigned to the case reviewed surveillance videos from security

cameras in the vicinity of Peters' home. The videos depict a man entering Peters' house

through the backdoor, remaining inside for 15 minutes, and then leaving carrying a black

bag and a pillowcase. "Still shots" of the man were taken from the videos. They depict a

man wearing a distinctive dark vest, sporting a tattoo visible on his right wrist, and carrying

a black bag and a pillowcase with a zigzag pattern. The pillowcase appears to contain

several rectangular objects. Based upon the similarity of the still shots to the photographs

taken of appellant at the gas station, appellant was arrested. When arrested, appellant was

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in possession of a black leather vest matching the jacket he was wearing at the gas station

and that of the burglar as depicted in the videos and still shots. Appellant also had a barbed-

wire tattoo on his right wrist. Police questioned appellant concerning the burglary and

showed him a still shot of the burglar walking away from Peters' home with the black bag

and pillowcase. Appellant denied that it was him in the still shot. However, during a

recorded jail-telephone call, appellant admitted to his mother that he was the man depicted

in the still shot.

        {¶ 5} On June 1, 2022, appellant was indicted on one count of second-degree

felony burglary. The matter proceeded to a jury trial. Peters, the police officer, and the

detective testified on behalf of the state. Appellant did not testify or present witnesses on

his behalf. On August 2, 2022, the jury found appellant guilty as charged.

        {¶ 6} Appellant appeals his conviction, raising one assignment of error:

        {¶ 7} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONVICTING APPELLANT BASED ON

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND IN CONVICTING HIM AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.

        {¶ 8} Appellant argues that his burglary conviction is not supported by sufficient

evidence and is against the manifest weight of the evidence because the state failed to

prove (1) that someone was likely to be present in the victim's home during the burglary,

and (2) that appellant broke into the victim's home.

        {¶ 9} When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence underlying a criminal

conviction, an appellate court examines the evidence to determine whether such evidence,

if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable

doubt. State v. Bradbury, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-06-111, 2016-Ohio-5091, ¶ 16. The

"relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the

prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime

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proven beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991), paragraph

two of the syllabus.

       {¶ 10} To determine whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the reviewing court must look at the entire record, weigh the evidence and all

reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether in

resolving the 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. Bradbury at ¶ 17. An appellate court will overturn a conviction due to the manifest

weight of the evidence only in extraordinary circumstances when the evidence presented

at trial weighs heavily in favor of acquittal. Id. at ¶ 18. "[A] determination that a conviction

is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence will also be dispositive of the issue of

sufficiency." State v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-06-143, 2011-Ohio-2207, ¶ 40.

       {¶ 11} Appellant was convicted of burglary in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), which

provides that "[n]o person, by force, stealth, or deception, shall [t]respass in an occupied

structure * * * that is a permanent or temporary habitation of any person when any person

other than an accomplice of the offender is present or likely to be present, with purpose to

commit in the habitation any criminal offense."

                                     Likely to Be Present

       {¶ 12} Appellant argues the state failed to prove that someone was likely to be

present in Peters' home during the burglary.

       {¶ 13} In determining whether persons are likely to be present under R.C.

2911.12(A)(2), a defendant's knowledge is not material. State v. Petit, 12th Dist. Madison

No. CA2016-01-005, 2017-Ohio-633, ¶ 21. The issue is not whether the burglar subjectively

believed that persons were likely to be there, but whether it was objectively likely. Id.

Although the term "likely" connotes something more than a mere possibility, it also connotes

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something less than a probability or reasonable certainty. Id.1 A person is likely to be

present when a consideration of all the circumstances would seem to justify a logical

expectation that a person could be present. Id.

        {¶ 14} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that the "likely to be present" element is

satisfied where the structure is a permanent dwelling house which is regularly inhabited,

the occupants were in and out of the house on the day in question, and the occupants were

temporarily absent when the burglary occurred. State v. Kilby, 50 Ohio St.2d 21, 23 (1977).

On the other hand, courts have found insufficient evidence that the occupants were likely

to be present when they were absent for an extended period, such as a vacation, and no

one else was regularly checking on the house. See, e.g., State v. Hibbard, 12th Dist. Butler

Nos. CA2001-12-276 and CA2001-12-286, 2003-Ohio-707; State v. Cantin, 132 Ohio

App.3d 808 (8th Dist.1999); and State v. Brightman, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 20344, 2005-

Ohio-3173.

        {¶ 15} The fact that a permanent or temporary habitation has been burglarized does

not give rise to the presumption that a person was present or likely to be present. Petit,

2017-Ohio-633 at ¶ 23; State v. Fowler, 4 Ohio St.3d 16, 18-19 (1983). Likewise, "[t]he fact

that a dwelling is used as a residence is not, standing alone, sufficient to show that someone

is 'likely to be present' at the time of a burglary." State v. Jackson, 188 Ohio App.3d 803,

2010-Ohio-1846, ¶ 9 (4th Dist.). The state must adduce specific evidence that people were

present or likely to be present. Petit at ¶ 23.

1. In his brief, appellant asserts that "there must be a greater than 50% likelihood that someone will be in the
dwelling at the time of the burglary," and cites In re Meatchem, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-050291, 2006-Ohio-
4128, ¶ 17, in support. In addition to the First District Court of Appeals, this proposition has been cited by the
Fourth and Sixth Districts Courts of Appeals. See, e.g., State v. Bennington, 4th Dist. Adams No. 18CA1078,
2019-Ohio-4386; In re D.P., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-10-1054, 2011-Ohio-285. Although we have cited In re
Meatchem in two of our opinions, we have never cited it for the proposition above. We decline to follow or
adopt the First District's statement that for purposes of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), there must be "a greater than 50%
likelihood that someone will be in the dwelling at the time of the burglary."
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                                                                      Butler CA2022-09-086

       {¶ 16} Peters, a 64-year-old retired man, testified he has lived in his home for over

30 years and that the house is his permanent habitation. Peters testified that he is home

most days and that he is "in and out" of his home most days. In support of his argument,

appellant relies heavily on Peters' testimony that whenever his car is not parked in front of

his house, that means he is not home. However, Peters testified that while he generally

parks his car in front of his house, he sometimes parks it on a side street. Regardless, the

fact that a victim's car is not parked in front of or nearby the victim's residence does not

necessarily mean that the victim is not likely to be present in the residence. The victim's

car could be at a car dealership or mechanic's garage for repairs. The evidence further

shows that Peters had temporarily left his house to help a neighbor when the burglary

occurred.

       {¶ 17} Based upon Peters' testimony, we find that the state presented sufficient

evidence that Peters' home was his permanent habitation where he was likely to be present

when the burglary occurred. Kilby, 50 Ohio St.2d 21; State v. Baker, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2003-01-016, 2003-Ohio-5986 (likely to be present element satisfied where occupant

was a retiree with no fixed schedule who was away from his home for about two hours to

have lunch with his daughter); State v. Beverly, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2005 CA 85, 2007-Ohio-

1028 (likely to be present element satisfied where occupants were away from the house for

approximately 90 minutes during the evening); State v. Rogers, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2018-

L-119, 2019-Ohio-4834 (likely to be present element satisfied where occupant had

temporarily left the house to run errands).

       {¶ 18} We further conclude that the manifest weight of the evidence supports the

jury's conclusion that Peters was likely to be present in his home during the burglary. See

State v. V.A.C., 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2017-01-011, 2017-Ohio-5779. Peters was the

only witness who testified as to the "likely to be present" element in R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), and

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as discussed above, his testimony was sufficient to prove the "likely to be present" element.

Baker at ¶ 22. Appellant did not present evidence at trial to contradict Peters' testimony

and there was no other testimony presented relevant to the "likely to be present" element.

Id.

                                    Identity of the Burglar

       {¶ 19} Appellant further argues the state failed to prove he was the individual who

broke into Peters' house. Specifically, appellant asserts there was no physical evidence

tying him to the burglary such as fingerprints or DNA, Peters had identified three white men

in the area that may have been people of interest, one cannot see the face of the man

depicted in the surveillance videos and still shots, and appellant denied breaking into Peters'

home, stating he had found the bags he was carrying in the garbage.

       {¶ 20} It is well settled that in order to warrant a conviction, the evidence must

establish beyond a reasonable doubt the identity of the accused as the person who

committed the crime at issue. State v. Jividen, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2020-10-067,

2021-Ohio-2720, ¶ 11. There is no requirement that an accused must be identified as the

perpetrator by a witness testifying in court or during a photo lineup. Id. The identity of the

accused as the perpetrator of the crime may be established by direct or circumstantial

evidence. Id. Circumstantial and direct evidence have the same probative value. State v.

Lee, 12th Dist. Fayette Nos. CA2020-09-014 and CA2020-09-015, 2021-Ohio-2544, ¶ 25.

       {¶ 21} Upon reviewing the record, we find that appellant's conviction for burglary is

supported by sufficient evidence and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Though the state's case was based on circumstantial evidence, the state presented ample

evidence that appellant was the man who broke into Peters' home and stole several items

on April 5, 2022.

       {¶ 22} Peters testified he told police he saw three white men walking up the street

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when he left his house at 12:30 p.m. The officer dispatched to Peters' home confirmed that

Peters mentioned the three men to him but testified that Peters also stated he did not know

if the three men were related to the burglary. The state presented evidence that a black

garbage bag was missing from Peters' kitchen and that a white and blue pillowcase with a

distinctive zigzag pattern was missing from one of Peters' bedroom pillows. The state

further presented surveillance videos from security cameras in the vicinity of Peters' home

as well as still shots taken from the videos.

       {¶ 23} The videos and still shots depict a man wearing a black t-shirt with a prominent

red and grey design on the front and a black leather vest, and sporting a tattoo on his right

wrist. The t-shirt and vest are very similar if not identical to the t-shirt and vest/jacket worn

by appellant on April 5, 2022, as depicted in the photographs taken of appellant at the gas

station. When arrested, appellant was in possession of a black leather vest matching that

of the burglar as depicted in the videos and still shots. A photo taken of appellant after his

arrest clearly shows a barbed-wire tattoo on his right wrist. Before the burglary, Peters had

a black garbage bag in his kitchen and two pillows on his bed with matching pillowcases;

after the burglary, the garbage bag and one of the pillowcases were missing. The post-

burglary videos and still shots show the man carrying a black garbage bag and a white and

blue pillowcase with a zigzag pattern identical to the other pillowcase in Peters' bedroom.

       {¶ 24} Combined together, the videos show the man walking on McKinley Avenue

past Peters' house, checking out an approaching car, crossing McKinley Avenue and

continuing to walk before turning back, recrossing McKinley Avenue next to Peters' house,

going behind the lattice fence where the backdoor of Peters' house is, remaining out of view

for 15 minutes, and finally emerging from behind the lattice fence with the black bag and

pillowcase. During a jail-telephone call to his mother, appellant admitted he was the man

depicted in the post-burglary still shot. Appellant was wearing a baseball cap in the videos

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which obscured his face. However, the jury was able to view the videos, look at appellant,

and determine for itself whether appellant was the man depicted in the videos and still shots.

State v. Littlejohn, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101549, 2015-Ohio-875, ¶ 33.

       {¶ 25} In light of the foregoing, we find that the evidence presented at trial does not

weigh heavily in favor of acquittal and that the jury did not clearly lose its way and create a

manifest miscarriage of justice in finding appellant guilty of burglary. Appellant's burglary

conviction is therefore supported by sufficient evidence and is not against the manifest

weight of the evidence.

       {¶ 26} Appellant's assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶ 27} Judgment affirmed.

       S. POWELL, P.J., and BYRNE, J., concur.

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