Court Opinion

ID: 2699854
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:10:29.904667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:42.121047
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Robinson, 2011-Ohio-5802.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                      STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                    JUDGES:
                                                  Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee,                       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                                  Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
v.
                                                  Case No. 2011CA00061
ANDREW D. ROBINSON,

        Defendant-Appellant.                      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Appeal from the Stark County Court of
                                               Common Pleas, Case No. 2010CR1749A

JUDGMENT:                                      Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                        November 7, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                         For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO                                ANTHONY K. KAPLANIS
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY,                          701 Courtyard Center
STARK COUNTY, OHIO                             116 Cleveland Ave. NW
                                               Canton, Ohio 44702

By: RONALD MARK CALDWELL
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Appellate Section
110 Central Plaza, South, - Suite 510
Canton, Ohio 44702-1413
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                      2

Hoffman, P.J.

       {¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Andrew D. Robinson appeals his conviction entered

by the Stark County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.

                          STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

       {¶ 2} On November 14, 2010, Appellant accompanied his friend, Cornell

Wallace, to the M&K Market in Massillon, Ohio. Wallace lured Maroune Sassi, an

employee of the store, outside to arrange a purchase of cigarettes. Appellant then

approached Maroune from behind, hitting him in the head with a gun, and then pointing

the gun at him.

       {¶ 3} Ron Gilbert, a store employee who had arrived early for work and was

waiting in his vehicle for his shift to begin, observed the altercation. Gilbert, a former

Marine who had previously served three tours of duty, pulled his gun inside his vehicle,

then shot Appellant in the groin from the window.

       {¶ 4} Appellant immediately fled the scene, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

The police were able to follow the blood trail to a nearby apartment, where Appellant

was then apprehended and arrested.

       {¶ 5} Following a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of felonious assault, with

an accompanying firearm specification. The trial court sentenced Appellant to eleven

years in prison.

       {¶ 6} Appellant now appeals, assigning as error:

       {¶ 7} “I. THE TRIAL COURT’S FINDING OF GUILTY OF FELONIOUS

ASSAULT WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND WAS

NOT SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.”
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                       3

      {¶ 8} Our review of the constitutional sufficiency of evidence to support a

criminal conviction is governed by Jackson v. Virginia (1979), 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99

S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, which requires a court of appeals to determine whether

“after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational

trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Id.; see also McDaniel v. Brown (2010), ––– U.S. ––––, 130 S.Ct. 665, 673, 175

L.Ed.2d 582 (reaffirming this standard). See, State v. Clay, 187 Ohio App.3d 633, 933

N.E.2d 296, 2010–Ohio–2720 at ¶ 68.

      {¶ 9} Jackson thus establishes a two-step inquiry for considering a challenge to

a conviction based on sufficiency of the evidence. First, a reviewing court must consider

the evidence presented at trial in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Jackson,

443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560. This means that a court of appeals

may not usurp the role of the finder of fact by considering how it would have resolved

the conflicts, made the inferences, or considered the evidence at trial. See Id. at 318–

319, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560. Rather, when “faced with a record of

historical facts that supports conflicting inferences” a reviewing court “must presume-

even if it does not affirmatively appear in the record-that the trier of fact resolved any

such conflicts in favor of the prosecution, and must defer to that resolution.” Id. at 326,

443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560; see also McDaniel, ––– U.S. ––––, 130

S.Ct. at 673–674, 175 L.Ed.2d 582; United States v. Nevils (C.A.9, 2010), 548 F.3d 802.

      {¶ 10} Second, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the

prosecution, the reviewing court must determine whether this evidence, so viewed, is

adequate to allow “any rational trier of fact [to find] the essential elements of the crime
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                        4

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560;

State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541; State v. Jenks

(1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492. See, State v. Clay, supra at ¶ 70.

       {¶ 11} This second step protects against rare occasions in which “a properly

instructed jury may * * * convict even when it can be said that no rational trier of fact

could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 317, 99 S.Ct. 2781,

61 L.Ed.2d 560. More than a “mere modicum” of evidence is required to support a

verdict. Id. at 320, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (rejecting the rule that a conviction be

affirmed if “some evidence” in the record supports the jury's finding of guilt). At this

second step, however, a reviewing court may not “ ‘ask itself whether it believes that the

evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,’ “ Id. at 318–319, 99

S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, quoting Woodby v. INS (1966), 385 U.S. 276, 282, 87 S.Ct.

483, 17 L.Ed.2d 362, only whether “ any ” rational trier of fact could have made that

finding, Id. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560.

       {¶ 12} Manifest weight of the evidence claims concern the amount of evidence

offered in support of one side of the case, and is a jury question. We must determine

whether the jury, in interpreting the facts, so lost its way that its verdict results in a

manifest miscarriage of justice, State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 387, 678

N.E.2d 541, 1997–Ohio–52, superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds

as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 1997–Ohio–355, 684 N.E.2d 668. On

review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is “to examine the entire record, weigh the

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

determine whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                        5

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

reversed. The discretionary power to grant a new hearing should be exercised only in

the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the judgment.” State

v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, citing State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio

App.3d 172, 175. Because the trier of fact is in a better position to observe the

witnesses' demeanor and weigh their credibility, the weight of the evidence and the

credibility of the witnesses are primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967), 10

Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212, syllabus 1.

       {¶ 13} In Thompkins, the Ohio Supreme Court held “[t]o reverse a judgment of a

trial court on the basis that the judgment is not sustained by sufficient evidence, only a

concurring majority of a panel of a court of appeals reviewing the judgment is

necessary.” Id. at paragraph three of the syllabus. However, to “reverse a judgment of a

trial court on the weight of the evidence, when the judgment results from a trial by jury, a

unanimous concurrence of all three judges on the court of appeals panel reviewing the

case is required.” Id. at paragraph four of the syllabus; State v. Miller (2002), 96 Ohio

St.3d 384, 2002–Ohio–4931 at ¶ 38, 775 N.E.2d 498.

       {¶ 14} Appellant argues his conviction for felonious assault with a firearm

specification, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), is against the manifest weight and

sufficiency of the evidence, we disagree. The statute reads:

       {¶ 15} “(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

       {¶ 16} “***

       {¶ 17} “(2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's

unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance.”
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                   6

      {¶ 18} Mr. Gilbert testified at trial:

      {¶ 19} “Q. Okay. So Maroune and this gentleman are directly to your right?

      {¶ 20} “A. To my right.

      {¶ 21} “Q. And where was the Cougar at?

      {¶ 22} “A. The Cougar was parked diagonally from me.

      {¶ 23} “* * *

      {¶ 24} “A. He notices me, saw me sitting in the truck and walked over to me.

      {¶ 25} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 26} “A. He asks for a light for his Black & Mild.

      {¶ 27} “Q. Does he come to which side of your truck?

      {¶ 28} “A. He comes to the driver window.

      {¶ 29} “Q. Okay. So immediately to your left?

      {¶ 30} “A. Yes, immediate left.

      {¶ 31} “Q. Okay. Asks you - -

      {¶ 32} “A. Started talking to me about what I was doing there, why I was posted

outside the store. Asks me where he could score some weed at, and my answers were,

you know, I am just waiting for work to start and I stopped that a while ago.

      {¶ 33} “Q. Okay. Did you give him a light?

      {¶ 34} “A. Yes, I did give him a light.

      {¶ 35} “Q. Okay. At the time that you were observing all of this and even at the

time that he was talking to you, did you still think that something was unusual?

      {¶ 36} “A. It was a little fishy.

      {¶ 37} “* * *
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                          7

      {¶ 38} “Q. When you are saying the individual, the one who had just come up

and talked to you?

      {¶ 39} “A. The one who just talked to me.

      {¶ 40} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 41} “A. Walked around the back of the truck.

      {¶ 42} “Q. Your truck?

      {¶ 43} “A. My truck, over to Maroune’s car.

      {¶ 44} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 45} “A. As soon as he gets there, not even two seconds after he got there, he

grabs Maroune by the hoodie that he was wearing on the lapel.

      {¶ 46} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 47} “A. And slams him against the car.

      {¶ 48} “Q. Okay. Does Maroune stay standing?

      {¶ 49} “A. Maroune looks terrified.

      {¶ 50} “Q. Okay. Is he on his feet, though?

      {¶ 51} “A. Maroune is on his feet.

      {¶ 52} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 53} “A. As soon as he slammed him against the car, Maroune looks at me.

      {¶ 54} “Q. Okay.

      {¶ 55} “A. Looks very, very scared.

      {¶ 56} “Q. Okay. What do you see the individual do?

      {¶ 57} “A. He starts kind of like not really fighting with him, but trying to get away.

      {¶ 58} “Q. Maroune does?
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                        8

       {¶ 59} “A. Maroune does.

       {¶ 60} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 61} “A. That’s when the one that grabbed him reaches up with a pistol and hits

him on the top of the head.

       {¶ 62} “Q. Okay. Did you see where he got the pistol?

       {¶ 63} “A. The pistol was like in this waistband.

       {¶ 64} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 65} “A. Because when he grabbed Maroune and hit him against the car, he

leaned back.

       {¶ 66} “Q. Okay. Could you see at the time he leaned back - -

       {¶ 67} “A. No.

       {¶ 68} “Q. - - could you see what he was pulling?

       {¶ 69} “A. No. I didn’t see a firearm. I didn’t see a knife. I didn’t see anything at

that time.

       {¶ 70} “Q. When if at any point could you see?

       {¶ 71} “A. I saw the firearm as soon as he lifted it up over his head and hit

Maroune in the head with it.

       {¶ 72} “Q. Okay. So he hit Maroune in the head with it.

       {¶ 73} “Where is Maroune at this point?

       {¶ 74} “A. Maroune, as soon as after he got hit on the top of the head, fell down

to the ground.

       {¶ 75} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 76} “A. He was out of sight.
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                     9

       {¶ 77} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 78} “A. That was the last I seen of Maroune.

       {¶ 79} “Q. How many strikes did you see?

       {¶ 80} “A. Only one.

       {¶ 81} “Q. He struck him where?

       {¶ 82} “A. He hit him on the top of the head, and Maroune immediately went

forward and down.

       {¶ 83} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 84} “A. As soon as that had happened, I had already grabbed my gun.

       {¶ 85} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 86} “A. I took aim. I told him to freeze. He had his gun aimed down at

Maroune, so I fired.

       {¶ 87} “He already showed that he was doing bodily harm to another individual. I

know Maroune.”

       {¶ 88} Tr. at 154; 155-156; 159-162.

       {¶ 89} Cornell Wallace testified at trial:

       {¶ 90} “Q. You are facing each other, and at some point he has reached in the

car to put the cigarettes in?

       {¶ 91} “A. Yes.

       {¶ 92} “Q. What does he do after he puts the cigarettes in the car?

       {¶ 93} “A. He not all the way in, but he come back out; and he start pulling money

out to give me the money for them.

       {¶ 94} “Q. Okay. So he reaches into his pocket?
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                     10

       {¶ 95} “A. Yes.

       {¶ 96} “Q. And when he starts pulling money out, does he give you the money?

       {¶ 97} “A. Not yet. Well, when he pulled it out, he gave it to me.

       {¶ 98} “Q. Okay.

       {¶ 99} “A. He started to give it to me, but he is taking a long time in getting the

money, you know what I’m saying, or whatever.

     {¶ 100} “Q. Okay. What is he doing?

     {¶ 101} “A. He had like two piles of money. He has some big money and he has

some little money, and he was trying to find the little money to give to me.

     {¶ 102} “Q. Okay. What were you selling the cigarettes for?

     {¶ 103} “A. Like $20 or $10 or something like that.

     {¶ 104} “Q. Okay. What happens while he is doing that?

     {¶ 105} “A. Robinson came back from behind while we was sitting right there and

just started whiling him up.

     {¶ 106} “Q. Whiling up, what do you mean by that?

     {¶ 107} “A. Like grabbed the dude and hit him.

     {¶ 108} “Q. Okay. What do you do when that happens?

     {¶ 109} “A. I am shocked. I’m like oh. So then I am backing up a little bit.

     {¶ 110} “Q. Okay.

     {¶ 111} “A. And I see this dude in his pickup truck. He been sitting there the whole

time. And I look over like by him and he got a gun.

     {¶ 112} “Q. Uh-huh.

     {¶ 113} “A. And I see the gun and I’m like whew, and then I hear a shot go off.
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                                      11

     {¶ 114} “Q. And what do you do?

     {¶ 115} “A. I just run. I bounced. I keep running and running and running.

     {¶ 116} “And then I see these people and I give them $50 to take me home.”

     {¶ 117} Tr. at 231-233.

     {¶ 118} Officer Jason McCune of the Massillon Police Department then testified he

responded to the residence where Appellant was subsequently apprehended, and

Appellant’s own admission to being shot. Tr. at 250-252.

     {¶ 119} Based upon the above testimony and the record, we find Appellant’s

conviction for felonious assault with an attendant firearm specification is not against the

manifest weight nor the sufficiency of the evidence. Eyewitness testimony and the

testimony of Appellant’s co-defendant demonstrate Appellant approached Maroune

from behind with a weapon and inflicted serious physical injury to his person with a gun.

     {¶ 120} Appellant’s sole assignment of error is overruled.

     {¶ 121} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By: Hoffman, P.J.

Wise, J. and

Delaney, J. concur                           s/ William B. Hoffman________________
                                             HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                             s/ John W. Wise______________________
                                             HON. JOHN W. WISE

                                             s/ Patricia A. Delaney _________________
                                             HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00061                                              12

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                        FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                            :
                                          :
      Plaintiff-Appellee,                 :
                                          :
v.                                        :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                          :
ANDREW D. ROBINSON,                       :
                                          :
      Defendant-Appellant.                :        Case No. 2011CA00061

      For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion, the judgment of the Stark

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs to Appellant.

                                          s/ William B. Hoffman _________________
                                          HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                          s/ John W. Wise _____________________
                                          HON. JOHN W. WISE

                                          s/ Patricia A. Delaney _________________
                                          HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY