Court Opinion

ID: 9949523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-11 20:10:14.153539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:26:36.365995
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Huffman, 2024-Ohio-889.]

                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  LAKE COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                    CASE NO. 2023-L-057
CITY OF EASTLAKE,

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,              Criminal Appeal from the
                                                  Willoughby Municipal Court
        - vs -

MICHAEL HUFFMAN, SR.,                             Trial Court No. 2022 CRB 01795

                 Defendant-Appellant.

                                             OPINION

                                      Decided: March 11, 2024
                                        Judgment: Affirmed

Jackie O’Donnell, City of Eastlake Prosecuting Attorney, 35150 Lakeshore Blvd.,
Eastlake, OH 44095 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Hector G. Martinez, Jr., and Richard J. Perez, 4230 State Route 306, Suite 240,
Willoughby, OH 44094 (For Defendant-Appellant).

JOHN J. EKLUND, J.

        {¶1}     Appellant, Michael Huffman, Sr., appeals his conviction of Sexual

Imposition, a third-degree misdemeanor in violation of R.C. 2907.06(A)(1).          For the

following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the Willoughby Municipal Court.

        {¶2}     On appeal, Appellant raises five assignments of error: (1) The State failed

to preserve and produce Appellant’s recorded interview with the Eastlake Police

Department; (2) the trial court erred in not imposing a sanction on the State for failing to

produce evidence; (3) the trial court erred in denying Appellant’s Crim.R. 29 motion for
acquittal; (4) Appellant’s conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence; (5)

the trial court gave the jury an incorrect instruction on the definition of “purposely.”

       {¶3}   After a review of the record and applicable case law, Appellant’s

assignments of error are without merit. Appellant’s video recorded interview was only

potentially useful, and the detective did not act in bad faith in failing to preserve it. The

trial court did not err when it denied Appellant’s request to impose sanctions for failing to

preserve the recording because Appellant did not demonstrate that the failure to preserve

was willful, that foreknowledge of the recording’s loss would have benefited him in the

preparation of a defense, and that he was prejudiced. Appellant’s conviction was not

against the manifest weight of the evidence because a reasonable jury could find that

Appellant had sexual contact with the victim knowing that the sexual contact was

offensive to her. Because Appellant's conviction was not against the manifest weight of

the evidence, there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction. Finally, the trial

court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury on the definition of “purposely”

because “purpose” is not included in R.C. 2907.06(A)(1) and the court is not required to

give jury instructions that are repetitive or may confuse the jury.

       {¶4}   On August 11, 2022, a complaint was filed against Appellant for committing

Sexual Imposition. Appellant pled not guilty.

       {¶5}   On February 22, 2023, Appellant moved to dismiss, asserting that his due

process rights had been violated because the State failed to preserve and produce his

recorded interview with Detective Fawcett from the Eastlake Police Department.

       {¶6}   Before trial commenced, the court held an oral hearing on Appellant’s

motion. Detective Fawcett testified that she conducted an interview with Appellant on

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July 21, 2022 in relation to the incident leading to his conviction. She testified that

typically, the detectives are required to file a request to preserve recorded interviews.

But, she did not request to preserve Appellant’s interview. Detective Fawcett said that

her failure to request to preserve the recorded interview “was an honest mistake. I had

multiple interviews that day, which is no excuse. And I was dispatched to another call for

service minutes later. Unfortunately, it was an inadvertent human error.” Detective

Fawcett testified that upon realizing that the video had not been preserved, the police

department attempted to recover the recording, but was not successful. She stated that

during his interview, Appellant denied the allegations against him. Detective Fawcett also

wrote a report following the interview as to what Appellant told her.

       {¶7}   The court denied Appellant’s motion to dismiss. It found that the recorded

interview was not materially exculpatory, but rather was potentially useful to the defense.

The court also found that the State did not act in bad faith in failing to preserve the

recorded interview and found “the testimony of the detective credible in that as she was

called away, failed to preserve the recording. So the motion to dismiss is denied.”

       {¶8}   On February 27, 2023, a jury trial commenced. The victim, Hilary Quellos,

testified that on July 19, 2022 at approximately 7:00 p.m., she visited the Offshore Bar

and Grille to see her boyfriend, Theodore Shepard, who was tending bar. The victim

occasionally worked at the bar, but also visited the bar approximately “once a week” for

social reasons. When she entered the bar, she greeted Appellant and his friend, Kirk

Heintz, by hugging them and kissing them on the cheek. She knew Appellant and Mr.

Heintz as acquaintances because she had tended bar at a different bar in the area years

prior to the incident. The victim interacted with Appellant throughout the night and walked

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over to say goodbye to him before leaving. She testified that during this interaction,

Appellant “grabbed me by my ear, and he like kind of pulled me in to his chest. * * * Then

he touched my butt.     Like the first time was just a touch.”       She described it as

“uncomfortable” and “terrible” and she “told him to stop, knock it off.” She claimed that

Appellant then touched her buttocks again. The victim described the second touching as

“painful” because he placed his hands lower and “he put his hand where it was actually

his fingers were like on top of my [public region] pushing hard, it hurt.” She reacted by

pushing his hands away from her body. Mr. Heintz then commented that the victim’s

“[breasts] had gotten smaller, they were gone.” Following this statement, Appellant

“grabbed” her breasts and told her that she was “hot.” The victim “awkwardly” “giggled”

and walked away.

      {¶9}   The State offered, as an exhibit, the bar’s video surveillance of the incident.

The victim pointed to the moment in the video where Appellant was “touching my ear,

grabbing me into his chest, grabbing my behind the first time, grabbing my behind the

second time, where he puts it further in, and him touching my breast.”

      {¶10} Appellant left the bar shortly after the incident. The victim stayed at the bar

to tell her friend Carolyn Karnak, who was tending bar, about what had happened because

she was upset. Mr. Shepard had ended his shift before the incident occurred and was

already home when the victim returned to her residence that evening. She told him that

Appellant had “grabbed” her pubic region. She then called the police department to report

the incident. Two peace officers arrived. Officer Otallah testified that the victim was

“upset” and “crying” when they arrived. The victim told the officers that Appellant had

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touched her buttocks, but did not mention him touching her breasts. A police investigation

began.

       {¶11} Detective Fawcett testified at trial. Before her testimony, defense counsel

objected to Detective Fawcett testifying and moved the court to impose sanctions on the

State for failing to preserve the recorded interview.       The court denied the motion,

explaining: “* * * the Court is not going to issue a sanction. I do agree that what's going to

happen here is that there is going to be cross examination regarding the failure to

preserve the evidence for the case. And so the sanction, if any, could be left to a jury

determination here.” Detective Fawcett reiterated, this time in front of the jury, that

Appellant denied all allegations. Detective Fawcett also interviewed Mr. Heintz. She

testified that Mr. Heintz’ statement regarding the night in question did not match the

surveillance footage.

       {¶12} The State rested its case. Appellant moved for acquittal under Crim.R. 29.

The court denied the motion.

       {¶13} Gary Silc testified that he was at the Offshore Bar and Grille on July 21,

2022 sitting next to Appellant and Mr. Heintz when the incident allegedly occurred. Mr.

Silc testified that he did not witness Appellant touching the victim, nor did he hear her tell

Appellant to “stop.” Mr. Heintz testified that he did not see Appellant touch the victim.

       {¶14} Appellant elected to testify at trial. He denied touching the victim’s breasts

or pubic region. He admitted to giving her “three pats on the back, whatever you want to

call it.” He testified that he did not touch the victim’s buttocks for either person’s sexual

gratification.

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       {¶15} The defense rested its case and renewed its Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal.

The court again denied the motion. The court next considered which jury instructions to

submit to the jury. Defense counsel offered a definition of “purposely,” explaining: “What

we're asking the Court to include is the lines, to do an act purposely, is to do it intentionally

and not accidentally. The purpose and intent mean the same thing. Those two lines are

just clarifying for the jury.” Defense counsel also asked the court to include “the purpose

with which a person does an act, is known only to that person, unless he or she expresses

it to others or indicates it by his or her conduct.” After a discussion on the language, the

court decided:

              So I'm going to give them instruction, the original instruction
              from OJI, on the definition of purposely, that we have
              discussed and there has been no objection to, that a person
              acts purposely when it is the person's specific intention to
              cause a result or engage in conduct of a certain nature. It must
              be established in this case that at the time in question, there
              was a presence in the mind of the defendant to be specific
              intentional to sexual arouse or gratify either person. I am going
              to exclude completely the intent language, the quote
              "additional" language under OJI, so there will be nothing
              included. I will include paragraph five, under the purpose with
              which a person does an act or brings about a result is
              determined from the manner in which it was done, the means
              used, and all the other facts and circumstances in evidence.

       {¶16} The court further clarified that “because the mens rea of the offense is

sexual imposition knowingly [sic]. * * * or recklessly * * * Which we have given them both

of those instructions. My concern in giving this additional instruction is that it is not -- it

becomes unclear at that point to the jury. So that's going to be my ruling * * *.”

       {¶17} The jury returned its verdict and found Appellant guilty of committing Sexual

Imposition. On April 11, 2023, the court held a sentencing hearing. It imposed a $500.00

fine, sentenced Appellant to 60 days in jail with 50 days suspended, placed Appellant on
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Case No. 2023-L-057
18 months of community control, and notified him that he must register as a tier I sex

offender.

       {¶18} Appellant timely appealed and raises five assignments of error. For clarity

and ease of discussion, we may address multiple assignments together.

       {¶19} First assignment of error: “Appellant’s due process rights under the Fifth,

Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments were violated when the State failed to preserve and

produce his video recorded interview with the Eastlake Police Department and the trial

court erred in denying Appellant’s motion to dismiss.”

       {¶20} We review a trial court's decision on a motion to dismiss under a de novo

standard of review. State v. Palivoda, 11th Dist. No.2006-A-0019, 2006-Ohio-6494, at ¶

4. “The court of appeals is bound to accept factual determinations of the trial court made

during the suppression hearing so long as they are supported by competent and credible

evidence.” State v. Hines, 11th Dist. No.2004-L-066, 2005-Ohio-4208, at ¶ 14, citing

State v. Serls, 118 Ohio App.3d 739, 741, 693 N.E.2d 1184 (5th Dist. 1997). “Accepting

the trial court's determination of the factual issues, the court of appeals must conduct a

de novo review of the trial court's application of the law to those facts.” Id.

       {¶21} Under this assignment of error, Appellant first asserts that the trial court

erred in finding that his recorded interview was potentially useful and not materially

exculpatory.

       {¶22} The State's failure to preserve materially exculpatory evidence is a violation

of a defendant's due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States

Constitution. See Arizona v. Youngblood, 488 U.S. 51, 55-58, 109 S.Ct. 333, 102 L.Ed.2d

281 (1988) * * *. The burden rests with the defendant to prove that the evidence in

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Case No. 2023-L-057
question was materially exculpatory. State v. Jackson, 57 Ohio St.3d 29, 33, 565 N.E.2d

549 (1991). Evidence is deemed materially exculpatory only if “there is a reasonable

probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the

proceeding would have been different.” State v. Johnston, 39 Ohio St.3d 48, 529 N.E.2d

898 (1988), paragraph five of the syllabus * * *. “A ‘reasonable probability’ is a probability

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id.

       {¶23} However, “evidence is not materially exculpatory if it is merely potentially

useful to the defense.” State v. Lewis, 70 Ohio App.3d 624, 634, 591 N.E.2d 854 (4th

Dist.1990). “* * * The failure to preserve evidence that is merely potentially useful violates

a defendant's due process rights only if the police or prosecution acted in bad faith.” State

v. Keith, 79 Ohio St.3d 514, 523, 684 N.E.2d 47 (1997). “The term ‘bad faith’ generally

implies something more than bad judgment or negligence. ‘It imports a dishonest

purpose, moral obliquity, conscious wrongdoing, breach of a known duty through some

ulterior motive or ill will partaking of the nature of fraud.’” State v. Wolf, 154 Ohio App.3d

293, 797 N.E.2d 109, 2003-Ohio-4885, ¶ 14 (7th Dist.), quoting Hoskins v. Aetna Life Ins.

Co., 6 Ohio St.3d 272, 276, 452 N.E.2d 1315 (1983).

       {¶24} The recorded interview between Appellant and Detective Fawcett was only

potentially useful to the defense and not materially exculpatory. If the evidence had been

preserved and disclosed to the defense, the proceedings’ outcome would not have been

different. Both Appellant and Detective Fawcett testified to what Appellant had said

during the interview: that he denied the accusations against him.            The jury heard

testimony that Appellant has maintained (since the police first questioned him) that he did

not touch the victim on her breasts or pubic region. The jury’s hearing the interview first-

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Case No. 2023-L-057
hand would not have provided any new information to assist in Appellant’s defense. Upon

a de novo review, we find that there was ample competent and credible evidence to

support the court’s finding that the recorded interview was only potentially useful to the

defense and not materially exculpatory.

       {¶25} Appellant also argues that even if the evidence was potentially useful and

not materially exculpatory, the trial court erred because the police department acted in

bad faith by failing to preserve the recorded interview.       As noted above, bad faith

“generally implies something more than bad judgment or negligence.” Id. Detective

Fawcett testified that her failing to request to preserve the evidence was “an honest

mistake” and “human error” because she had been dispatched on another case shortly

after her interview with Appellant ended. While Detective Fawcett’s actions may have

been negligent, there was no evidence of a dishonest purpose, moral obliquity, conscious

wrongdoing, or ulterior motive.

       {¶26} Appellant asserts that the State and police department acted in bad faith

because he requested the video recording on August 26, 2022, a time at which the police

department still retained a copy of the recording. Yet, Detective Fawcett testified that she

thought at the time that she had requested to preserve the recording and did not realize

until three months before trial that she had not. Importantly, upon realizing that Detective

Fawcett did not request to preserve the recording, the police department attempted

(unsuccessfully) to recover it. We cannot find that Detective Fawcett, or the police

department, acted in bad faith for failing to preserve the recorded interview.

       {¶27} Appellant also argues that he was “forced” to testify at trial to clarify

Detective Fawcett’s testimony and what the video would have shown if it had been

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Case No. 2023-L-057
preserved. Appellant’s argument is unpersuasive. Detective Fawcett testified the same

as Appellant: that he denied the allegations against him. Further, “[w]hether or not a

defendant testifies is a tactical decision.” State v. McKay, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2001-

A-0008, 2002-Ohio-3960, at ¶ 43. “[T]he ultimate decision of whether a defendant will

testify on his own behalf is the defendant's.” Id. at ¶ 44. There was no inclination (in this

record) that Appellant was “forced” in any way to testify, but rather that he elected his

right to testify and deny the allegations.

       {¶28} Appellant’s first assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶29} Second assignment of error: “The trial court erred by failing to impose a

sanction for the State of Ohio’s violation of Rule 16 of the Ohio Rules of Criminal

Procedure.”

       {¶30} We review a denial of a motion for sanctions for the spoliation of evidence

under an abuse of discretion standard. See Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. General Motors Corp.,

6th Dist. Ottawa No. 94OT017, 1994 WL 590566 (Oct. 28, 1994).

       {¶31} Abuse of discretion is a term of art.       It connotes a court's exercise of

judgment that neither comports with reason nor the record. State v. Underwood, 11th

Dist. Lake No. 2008-L-113, 2009-Ohio-208, ¶ 30, citing State v. Ferranto, 112 Ohio St.

667, 676-678 [148 N.E. 362] (1925). Stated differently, an abuse of discretion is “the trial

court's ‘failure to exercise sound, reasonable, and legal decision-making.’” State v. Raia,

11th Dist. Portage No. 2013-P-0020, 2014-Ohio-2707, ¶ 9, quoting State v. Beechler, 2d

Dist. Clark No. 09-CA-54, 2010-Ohio-1900, ¶ 62, quoting Black's Law Dictionary 11 (8th

Ed.Rev.2004). “When an appellate court is reviewing a pure issue of law, ‘the mere fact

that the reviewing court would decide the issue differently is enough to find error[.] * * *

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Case No. 2023-L-057
By contrast, where the issue on review has been confined to the discretion of the trial

court, the mere fact that the reviewing court would have reached a different result is not

enough, without more, to find error.’” Id., quoting Beechler at ¶ 67. When applying the

abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of

the trial court. Pons v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 66 Ohio St.3d 619, 621, 614 N.E.2d 748

(1993).

       {¶32} Crim.R. 16 controls the discovery process, the purpose of which is “to

provide all parties in a criminal case with the information necessary for a full and fair

adjudication of the facts, to protect the integrity of the justice system and the rights of

defendants, and to protect the well-being of witnesses, victims, and society at large.” See

Crim.R. 16(A). The trial court has discretion to determine an appropriate sanction for a

discovery violation. See Crim.R. 16(L); State v. Darmond, 135 Ohio St.3d 343, 2013-

Ohio-966, 986 N.E.2d 971, ¶ 33. If a party fails to comply with Crim.R. 16 or with an order

issued pursuant to the rule, the court may “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).

       {¶33} In exercising its discretion in imposing a sanction for a discovery violation,

the court must consider (1) whether the failure to disclose was a willful violation of Crim.R.

16; (2) whether foreknowledge of the undisclosed material would have benefited the

defendant in the preparation of a defense; and (3) whether the defendant was prejudiced.

Darmond at ¶ 35, citing State v. Parson, 6 Ohio St.3d 442, 453 N.E.2d 689 (1983),

syllabus; State v. Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-160196 and C-160197, 2016-Ohio-

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Case No. 2023-L-057
8123, ¶ 11. When imposing a discovery sanction, the court must impose the least severe

sanction that is consistent with the purpose of the rules of discovery. Id. at syllabus, citing

Lakewood v. Papadelis, 32 Ohio St.3d 1, 511 N.E.2d 1138 (1987).

       {¶34} In this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s

motion to impose sanctions on the State for failing to preserve the recorded interview.

The trial court considered whether the failure to preserve was willful and found Detective

Fawcett’s testimony that she made “an honest mistake” credible. The court did not

specifically state whether foreknowledge of the undisclosed material would have

benefited the defendant in the preparation of a defense. The court’s failure to make a

determination is harmless error. The video would not have benefitted Appellant’s defense

because it only revealed that he has maintained that the allegations against him were

untrue. The trial court considered whether Appellant was prejudiced, but determined that

he was not because he could refute Detective Fawcett’s testimony on cross-examination.

The trial court’s considerations were not unreasonable or arbitrary, and it did not abuse

its discretion in denying Appellant’s motion to impose sanctions.

       {¶35} Appellant’s second assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶36} Third assignment of error: “The trial court erred in denying Appellant’s

motion for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29(A).”

       {¶37} Fourth assignment of error: “The trial court erred when it returned a verdict

of guilty against the manifest weight of the evidence.”

       {¶38} “The court on motion of a defendant or on its own motion, after the evidence

on either side is closed, shall order the entry of a judgment of acquittal of one or more

offenses charged in the indictment, information, or complaint, if the evidence is insufficient

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Case No. 2023-L-057
to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses.” Crim.R. 29. Under Crim.R. 29(A),

“a court shall not order an entry of judgment of acquittal if the evidence is such that

reasonable minds can reach different conclusions as to whether each material element

of a crime has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Bridgeman, 55 Ohio

St.2d 261, 381 N.E.2d 261 (1978), at syllabus.          “Thus, when an appellant makes

a Crim.R. 29(A) motion, he or she is challenging the sufficiency of the evidence

introduced by the state.” State v. Patrick, 11th Dist. Trumbull Nos. 2003-T-0166, 2003-

T-0167, 2004-Ohio-6688, ¶ 18.

       {¶39} “‘Sufficiency’ is a term of art meaning that legal standard which is applied to

determine whether the case may go to the [factfinder] or whether the evidence is legally

sufficient to support the [factfinder’s] verdict as a matter of law.” State v. Thompkins, 78

Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), citing Black's Law Dictionary (6 Ed.1990)

1433. The appellate court’s standard of review for sufficiency of evidence is to determine,

after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, whether a rational

trier of fact could find the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable

doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the

syllabus.

       {¶40} When evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, we do not consider its

credibility or effect in inducing belief. Thompkins at 387. Rather, we decide whether, if

believed, the evidence can sustain the verdict as a matter of law. Id. This naturally entails

a review of the elements of the charged offense and a review of the State’s evidence.

State v. Richardson, 150 Ohio St.3d 554, 2016-Ohio-8448, 84 N.E.3d 993, ¶ 13.

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Case No. 2023-L-057
         {¶41} Evaluating the weight of the evidence is different. There, we independently

review all the credible evidence offered at trial, consider whether its greater weight

supports one side of an issue rather than the other and whether, upon weighing it all, it

clearly indicates that the party having the burden of proof was entitled to a verdict in its

favor.

         {¶42} Whereas sufficiency relates to the evidence’s adequacy, weight of the

evidence relates to the evidence’s persuasiveness. Id. The reviewing court “weighs the

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

determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [factfinder] clearly lost its

way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be

reversed and a new trial ordered. The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be

exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the

conviction.” State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist. 1983).

         {¶43} The trier of fact is the sole judge of the weight of the evidence and the

credibility of the witnesses. State v. Landingham, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2020-L-103, 2021-

Ohio-4258, ¶ 22, quoting State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197 N.E.2d 548 (1964). The

trier of fact may believe or disbelieve any witness in whole or in part, considering the

demeanor of the witness and the manner in which a witness testifies, the interest, if any,

of the outcome of the case and the connection with the prosecution or the defendant. Id.,

quoting Antil at 67. This court, engaging in the limited weighing of the evidence introduced

at trial, is deferential to the weight and factual findings made by the factfinder. State v.

Brown, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2002-T-0077, 2003-Ohio-7183, ¶ 52, citing Thompkins at

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390 and State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraph two of

the syllabus.

       {¶44} A finding that a judgment is supported by the manifest weight of the

evidence necessarily means the judgment is supported by sufficient evidence. State v.

Arcaro, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2012-A-0028, 2013-Ohio-1842, ¶ 32.

       {¶45} We begin by analyzing whether it was against the manifest weight of the

evidence for the jury to find Appellant guilty of committing Sexual Imposition in violation

of R.C. 2907.06(A).

       {¶46} R.C. 2907.06(A)(1) provides, in relevant part, that “[n]o person shall have

sexual contact with another, not the spouse of the offender * * * when * * * [t]he offender

knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other person * * * or is reckless in that

regard.”

       {¶47} “Sexual contact” means “any touching of an erogenous zone of another,

including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if the person is a

female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.” R.C.

2907.01(B).

       {¶48} The Ohio Revised Code does not define sexual arousal or gratification.

“Whether a touching is for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal is a question of

fact to be inferred from the type, nature, and circumstances surrounding the contact.”

State v. Mack, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-050968, 2006-Ohio-6284, ¶ 9. This court has

previously held that “[a] touching alone is not sufficient for a conviction, but it can be

strong evidence of intent.” State v. Griffiths, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2000-T-0131, 2002

WL 5307, *3 (Dec. 28, 2001), citing In re Anderson, 116 Ohio App.3d 441, 444 (12th

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Dist.1996). “There is no requirement that there be direct testimony regarding sexual

arousal or gratification.” State v. Meredith, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2004-06-062, 2005-

Ohio-062, ¶ 13.

       {¶49} Appellant’s conviction for Sexual Imposition was not against the manifest

weight of the evidence.      The Offshore Bar and Grille’s surveillance video showed

Appellant touching the victim on her buttocks and breasts. The victim testified that

Appellant touched her on her buttocks, breasts, and pubic region. Appellant even testified

that he touched the victim’s buttocks. While the defense presented testimony from

witnesses that they did not see Appellant touch the victim or heard her ask him to stop,

the jury was free to believe or disbelieve any testimony.

       {¶50} The jury could also infer that Appellant knew the contact was offensive to

the victim. The victim testified that she tried pushing Appellant’s hands away from her

and told him to stop. Carolyn Karnak testified that the victim was upset and crying after

Appellant had touched her.

       {¶51} Lastly, it was not against the manifest weight of the evidence for the jury to

conclude that Appellant’s touching the victim was for the purpose of sexual gratification

or arousal. The nature and circumstances surrounding the incident are informative. The

jury heard more evidence than only that Appellant had touched the victim on her breasts,

pubic region, and buttocks.     The victim testified that Appellant commented on her

appearance and indicated that he found her attractive. Appellant and Kirk Heintz both

discussed the victim’s breasts. Appellant also pulled the victim’s head close to his chest.

Considering the nature and circumstances, a reasonable jury could find that Appellant

had sexual contact with the victim for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal.

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       {¶52} Upon review, this is not the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.    Because Appellant's conviction was not against the

manifest weight of the evidence, there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction.

       {¶53} Appellant’s third and fourth assignments of error are without merit.

       {¶54} Fifth assignment of error: “The trial court erred in instructing the jury on the

definition of purposely.”

       {¶55} “An appellate court reviews a trial court's decision to give a particular set of

jury instructions under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Martens, 90 Ohio App.3d

338, 343, 629 N.E.2d 462 (3d Dist.1993). If, however, the jury instructions incorrectly

state the law, then an appellate court will conduct a de novo review to determine whether

the incorrect jury instruction probably misled the jury in a matter materially affecting the

complaining party's substantial rights. State v. Kovacic, 11th Dist. No. 2010-L-018, 2010-

Ohio-5663, 2010 WL 4722443, ¶ 17.

       {¶56} “Jury instructions are critically important to assist juries in determining the

interplay between the facts of the case before it and the applicable law.” State v. Griffin,

141 Ohio St.3d 392, 2014-Ohio-4767, 24 N.E.3d 1147, ¶ 5. “A trial court's instructions to

a jury must correctly, clearly, and completely state the law applicable to the case.” State

v. Orians, 179 Ohio App.3d 701, 2008-Ohio-6185, 903 N.E.2d 656, ¶ 10 (3d Dist.). In

examining a challenge to a jury instruction, “[t]he relevant principle * * * is not one of

abstract correctness, but is whether an instruction - even if a correct statement of law - is

potentially misleading.” State v. White, 142 Ohio St.3d 277, 2015-Ohio-492, 29 N.E.3d

939, ¶ 52. Thus, an appellate court “must determine whether the jury charge probably

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Case No. 2023-L-057
misled the jury in a matter materially affecting the complaining party's substantial rights.”

Becker v. Lake Cty. Mem. Hosp. W., 53 Ohio St.3d 202, 208, 560 N.E.2d 165 (1990).

       {¶57} Appellant does not assert that the jury instruction of “purposely” incorrectly

stated the law, but rather that the court erred in omitting language he requested.

       {¶58} Upon a de novo review, the court’s jury instruction did not incorrectly state

the law. The court instructed the jury that:

              A person acts purposely when it's the person's specific
              intention to cause a certain result or engage in conduct of a
              certain nature. It must be established in this case that at the
              time in question there was present in the mind of the
              defendant a specific intention to sexually arouse or gratify
              either person. The purpose with which a person does an act
              or brings about a result is determined from the manner in
              which it is done, the means used and all the other facts and
              circumstances in evidence.

       {¶59} R.C. 2901.22(A) provides: “A person acts purposely when it is the person's

specific intention to cause a certain result, or, when the gist of the offense is a prohibition

against conduct of a certain nature, regardless of what the offender intends to accomplish

thereby, it is the offender's specific intention to engage in conduct of that nature.”

       {¶60} The first line of the jury instruction here is an almost verbatim recitation of

the statutory definition. The court did not incorrectly state the law when it instructed the

jury on “purposely.”

       {¶61} We now review the court’s jury instruction to determine whether it abused

its discretion when it did not adopt Appellant’s proposed definition of “purposely.”

       {¶62} Appellant’s proposed jury instruction (with emphasis added to distinguish

the difference between the instruction given to the jury) provided:

              A person acts purposely when it's the person's specific
              intention to cause a certain result. It must be established in
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Case No. 2023-L-057
              this case that at the time in question there was present in the
              mind of the defendant a specific intention to sexually arouse
              or gratify either himself or the other person. Purpose is a
              decision of the mind to do an act with a conscious intent to
              produce a specific result. To do an act purposely is to do it
              intentionally and not accidentally. Purpose and intent mean
              the same thing. The purpose with which a person does an act
              is known only to that person unless he/she expresses it to
              others or indicates it by his/her conduct. The purpose with
              which a person does an act or brings about a result is
              determined from the manner in which it is done, the means
              used and all the other facts and circumstances in evidence.

       {¶63} Appellant first contends that the court should have included in its jury

instruction that “purpose” is an essential element of Sexual Imposition. First, Appellant’s

proposed instruction did not include that. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in

failing to include that statement because (1) the jury instruction given was a correct

statement of the law; and (2) the court cannot be expected to add a sentence that

Appellant never requested. Second, “purposefulness” is only indirectly related to the

charged offense through the use of its term “sexual contact,” which includes the element

of “purpose.” In short, the court instructed the jury that it must find Appellant had sexual

contact with the victim; the jury was not misled.

       {¶64} Appellant next argues that his proposed jury instruction on “purpose” was

“the exact jury instruction from the Ohio Jury Instructions and should have been included

by the trial court in the charge to the jury.”

       {¶65} Notably, Ohio Jury instructions (“OJI”) are not a source of binding legal

authority but “are helpful as an example of the generally accepted interpretation” of state

law. State v. Ferguson, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-640, 2008-Ohio-3827, ¶ 47, quoting

State v. Gardner, 118 Ohio St.3d 420, 2008-Ohio-2787, 889 N.E.2d 995, ¶ 97 (Lanzinger,

J., dissenting). “Strict compliance with OJI is not mandatory; deviation from OJI does not
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Case No. 2023-L-057
necessarily constitute error by a trial court.” State v. Smith, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2009-

02-038, 2010-Ohio-1721, ¶ 14.

       {¶66} It did not constitute an abuse of discretion in this case because the

instruction was an accurate statement of the law.

       {¶67} Appellant also asserts that the trial court erred in omitting additional

language on “intent.” Specifically: “Purpose is a decision of the mind to do an act with a

conscious intent to produce a specific result.        To do an act purposely is to do it

intentionally and not accidentally. Purpose and intent mean the same thing. The purpose

with which a person does an act is known only to that person unless he/she expresses it

to others or indicates it by his/her conduct.”

       {¶68} Appellant contends that the trial court’s omitting the above language misled

the jury and “diluted” the State’s burden in proving the mens rea of “purpose.” The trial

court instructed the jury that “[i]t must be established in this case that at the time in

question there was present in the mind of the defendant a specific intention to sexually

arouse or gratify either person.” It instructed the jury on the statutory definition of “sexual

contact” (as an element of the offense) which included the requirement of “purpose.”

Importantly, the jury was instructed that sexual contact was an essential element the State

had to prove to convict Appellant, and what that meant. That it was not in the precise

terms Appellant would have used does not demonstrate an abuse of discretion. Under

Ohio law, “[t]he trial court is not required to include proposed jury instructions which are

repetitive and would simply confuse the jury.” State v. Ossege, 2014-Ohio-3186, 17

N.E.3d 30, ¶ 40 (12th Dist.).

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Case No. 2023-L-057
       {¶69} Appellant’s proposed instruction was repetitive in its relation of “intent” to

“purpose.” In other words, the jury was not misled because it knew (and was instructed)

that it must have found that Appellant acted with a “specific intention.” Appellant’s

proposed instruction also could have confused the jury on the required mens rea. The

court instructed the jury on “knowingly” and “recklessly” because they are included within

R.C. 2907.06(A)(1). “Purpose” is only contained secondarily within the definition of

“sexual contact.”    Neither R.C. 2907.06(A)(1) nor the definition of “sexual contact”

mentions “intent.”

       {¶70} Moreover, jury instructions are to be “appropriate to the facts of the case.”

State v. Turner, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-04-21, 2004-Ohio-6489, ¶ 35. “An appellate court

reviewing jury instructions must examine the specific charge at issue in the context of the

entire charge, and not in isolation.” Orians, 179 Ohio App.3d 701, 2008-Ohio-6185, 903

N.E.2d 656, at ¶ 10. The specific charge here, Sexual Imposition, requires the purpose

of the sexual contact to be for sexual gratification or arousal. As noted above, “it is

sufficient to present circumstantial evidence from which the finder of fact can infer the

purpose of the act was for sexual gratification * * *.” State v. Breland, Ashtabula App.

No.2003-A-0066, 2004-Ohio-7238, ¶ 24. Instructing the jury that “[t]he purpose with

which a person does an act is known only to that person unless he/she expresses it to

others or indicates it by his/her conduct” could have confused the jury by suggesting that

it could not consider circumstantial evidence.

       {¶71} For the foregoing reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in not

charging the jury with Appellant’s proposed jury instruction of “purposely.”

       {¶72} Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is without merit.

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      {¶73} We affirm the judgment of the Willoughby Municipal Court.

EUGENE A. LUCCI, P.J.,

MATT LYNCH, J.,

concur.

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