Court Opinion

ID: 4027053
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-22 18:09:07.157199+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:26:01.088025
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Wright, 2016-Ohio-5465.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                HARDIN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                               CASE NO. 6-15-14

        v.

DANIEL RAY WRIGHT, AKA
DANNY RAY WISECUP,                                        OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                  Appeal from Hardin County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CRI20152082

                                      Judgment Affirmed

                            Date of Decision: August 22, 2016

APPEARANCES:

        Todd A. Workman for Appellant

        Jason M. Miller for Appellee
Case No. 6-15-14

PRESTON, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Daniel Ray Wright, aka Danny Ray Wisecup

(“Wright”), appeals the October 19, 2015 judgment entry of sentence of the Hardin

County Court of Common Pleas. He argues that his convictions for complicity to

burglary and complicity to theft are based on insufficient evidence and against the

manifest weight of the evidence. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       {¶2} On June 23, 2015, the Hardin County Grand Jury indicted Wright on

Count One of burglary in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), a second-degree felony,

Count Two of theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1), (B)(2), a fifth-degree felony,

and Count Three of receiving stolen property in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A), a

fifth-degree felony. (Doc. No. 1). The indictment stemmed from the theft and resale

of personal property from a residence, in which Wright was alleged to have

participated or assisted with his codefendants, Amy Wells (“Wells”) and Vickie

Collins (“Collins”). (See Doc. No. 25).

       {¶3} The case proceeded to a jury trial on October 14, 2015. (Oct. 14, 2015

Tr. at 2). At trial, Counts One and Two were amended to complicity to burglary

and complicity to theft, respectively. (See Doc. No. 42); (Oct. 14, 2015 Tr. at 2).

The jury found Wright guilty of Counts One, Two, and Three. (Oct. 14, 2015 Tr. at

250-252); (Doc. Nos. 37, 38, 39). At Wright’s sentencing hearing on October 15,

2015, the trial court concluded that Counts One and Two are allied offenses, and the

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State elected to proceed for sentencing purposes as to Count One. (Oct. 15, 2015

Tr. at 34); (Doc. No. 45). The trial court sentenced Wright as to Counts One and

Three and filed its judgment entry of sentence on October 19, 2015. (Oct. 15, 2015

Tr. at 33-36); (Doc. No. 45).

         {¶4} On November 19, 2015, Wright filed a notice of appeal.1 (Doc. No.

54). He raises two assignments of error for our review, which we address together,

as Wright does in his brief.

                                    Assignment of Error No. I

         The trial court/jury erred to the prejudice of the
         defendant/appellant in entering a guilty verdict to the offenses of
         Burglary and Theft as the evidence was insufficient to support the
         convictions.

                                   Assignment of Error No. II

         The trial court/jury erred to the prejudice of the
         defendant/appellant in entering a guilty verdict to the offenses of
         Burglary and Theft as the verdicts are not supported by the
         manifest weight of the evidence.

         {¶5} In his first and second assignments of error,2 Wright argues that his

convictions for complicity to burglary and complicity to theft are against the

1
  This court granted Wright’s motion for leave to file a delayed appeal.
2
  The assignments of error stated here are taken from the statement of the assignments of error presented for
review in Wright’s brief. They differ from the assignments of error as stated in the argument section of
Wright’s brief. There, Wright states in his first assignment of error that he is challenging his burglary and
receiving-stolen-property convictions, and he states in his second assignment of error that he is challenging
only his burglary conviction. However, a reading of his argument suggests that he is challenging his
complicity-to-burglary and complicity-to-theft convictions, as suggested in his statement of the assignments
of error presented for review.

                                                    -3-
Case No. 6-15-14

manifest weight of the evidence. Wright argues, “[T]here is absolutely no evidence

that Appellant knowingly obtained or exerted control over the property of another.

Thus, without this critical mental element, a theft never occurred. Without this theft,

a burglary could not have occurred.” (Appellant’s Brief at 11). In other words,

Wright argues that he did not know that a theft offense was committed by his

codefendants, Wells and Collins; therefore, Wright argues, he cannot be guilty of

complicity to burglary or complicity to theft.

       {¶6} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the

evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at

trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average

mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio

St.3d 259 (1981), paragraph two of the syllabus, superseded by state constitutional

amendment on other grounds, State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St. 3d 89 (1997), fn.4.

Accordingly, “[t]he 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 proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. “In deciding

if the evidence was sufficient, we neither resolve evidentiary conflicts nor assess the

credibility of witnesses, as both are functions reserved for the trier of fact.” State v.

Jones, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-120570 and C-120571, 2013-Ohio-4775, ¶ 33,

citing State v. Williams, 197 Ohio App. 3d 505, 2011-Ohio-6267, ¶ 25 (1st Dist.).

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Case No. 6-15-14

See also State v. Berry, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03, 2013-Ohio-2380, ¶ 19

(“Sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy rather than credibility or weight

of the evidence.”), citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 386 (1997).

       {¶7} On the other hand, in determining whether a conviction is against the

manifest weight of the evidence, a reviewing court must examine the entire record,

“‘weigh[ ] the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider[ ] the credibility of

witnesses and determine[ ] whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [trier

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

the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.’” Thompkins at 387,

quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175 (1st Dist.1983). A reviewing

court must, however, allow the trier of fact appropriate discretion on matters relating

to the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses. State v. DeHass,

10 Ohio St. 2d 230 (1967), paragraph one of the syllabus. When applying the

manifest-weight standard, “[o]nly in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs

heavily against the conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court’s

judgment.” State v. Haller, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-11-34, 2012-Ohio-5233, ¶ 9,

quoting State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St. 3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, ¶ 119.

       {¶8} Wright was convicted of complicity to burglary, complicity to theft, and

receiving stolen property. In this appeal, Wright challenges only his complicity-to-

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Case No. 6-15-14

burglary and complicity-to-theft convictions.     R.C. 2911.12, Ohio’s burglary

statute, provides, in relevant part:

       (A) No person, by force, stealth, or deception, shall do any of the

       following:

       ***

       (2) Trespass in an occupied structure or in a separately secured or

       separately occupied portion of 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

       * * *.

R.C. 2911.12(A)(2). R.C. 2913.02, Ohio’s theft statute, provides, in relevant part:

“No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall

knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the

following ways: (1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give

consent * * *.” R.C. 2913.02(A)(1). “A person acts knowingly, regardless of

purpose, when the person is aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a

certain result or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of

circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.”

R.C. 2901.22(B).

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       {¶9} R.C. 2923.03, Ohio’s complicity statute, provides, in relevant part: “No

person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense,

shall do any of the following: * * * Aid or abet another in committing the offense *

* *.” R.C. 2923.03(A)(2). The Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Johnson defined

how a defendant may be convicted of complicity by aiding and abetting:

       To support a conviction for complicity by aiding and abetting

       pursuant to R.C. 2923.03(A)(2), the evidence must show that the

       defendant supported, assisted, encouraged, cooperated with, advised,

       or incited the principal in the commission of the crime, and that the

       defendant shared the criminal intent of the principal. Such intent may

       be inferred from the circumstances surrounding the crime.

93 Ohio St. 3d 240 (2001), syllabus. See also State v. Schaeffer, 3d Dist. Seneca No.

13-14-34, 2015-Ohio-3531, ¶ 18, quoting Johnson at syllabus. “‘Evidence of aiding

and abetting may be shown by either direct or circumstantial evidence, and

participation in criminal intent may be inferred from presence, companionship, and

conduct before and after the offense is committed.’” State v. Rowe, 3d Dist. Seneca

No. 13-10-14, 2011-Ohio-5739, ¶ 32, quoting State v. Gragg, 173 Ohio App. 3d 270,

2007-Ohio-4731, ¶ 21 (12th Dist.).

       {¶10} In challenging his complicity-to-burglary and complicity-to-theft

convictions on appeal, Wright addresses only the “knowingly obtain or exert control

                                         -7-
Case No. 6-15-14

over * * * the property” element of theft. Theft served as the underlying offense for

the complicity-to-burglary offense. Therefore, in light of the amended indictment

charging Wright with complicity to burglary and complicity to theft, the questions

presented in this appeal are whether there is sufficient evidence that Wright

knowingly aided or abetted another in obtaining or exerting control over the

property and whether the manifest weight of the evidence weighs against the

presence of that element. See State v. Howland, 12th Dist. Fayette No. 2006-08-

035, 2008-Ohio-521, ¶ 48.

       {¶11} The State called Wells as a witness. (Oct. 14, 2015 Tr. at 66). Wells

is currently incarcerated at Dayton Correctional Institution for violating post-release

control in another case and for the burglary for which she and Wright are

codefendants. (Id. at 67-69). Wells pled guilty to the burglary offense. (Id. at 69).

According to Wells, on “a couple different occasions,” she, Wright, and Collins

discussed a plan to take items from the home of Joshua Tudor (“Tudor”) and his

fiancée, Ashley Roberts (“Roberts”), in Forest, Ohio. (Id. at 70-71, 74-75, 77, 92).

Roberts was a friend of Wells. (Id. at 72). Wells elaborated, “I mean we all three

talked about what we were gonna do. [Wright] was gonna drop us off, me and

[Collins] were gonna go in, get stuff, come back out, and [Wright] would pick us

up.” (Id. at 77). Wells testified that they “were just waiting to get some gas money

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Case No. 6-15-14

to go over there and get it, to do it.” (Id. at 75). According to Wells, the plan to go

to Tudor and Roberts’s house was Wells’s idea. (Id. at 74).

       {¶12} Wells testified that on February 16, 2015, Wright and Collins picked

her up from her boyfriend’s house, and the three of them went to Tudor and

Roberts’s house. (Id. at 70-73). They went in Wright’s green Thunderbird, and

Wright was driving. (Id. at 71). Wells testified that they had “just enough gas,” and

“everybody was getting pissed” because Wells could not remember where Tudor

and Roberts’s house was. (Id. at 75-76). According to Wells, they eventually found

the house around lunch time, when they knew Roberts would not be home, and

Wright dropped off Wells and Collins. (Id. at 76-77). Wells testified that she broke

the window next to the back door to gain entry to the house, then she and Collins

gathered up items in the house and carried them out of the house. (Id. at 78-82).

According to Wells, Wright was waiting in his vehicle, and Wells and Collins put

the items in the trunk of Wright’s vehicle. (Id. at 82). Wells testified that they then

went “[e]verywhere” to see if anyone wanted to buy the items and ultimately sold

several of the items. (Id. at 83-86). According to Wells, Wright, Wells, and Collins

all had input concerning the asking prices of the items. (Id. at 88).

       {¶13} Wells testified that when Hardin County Sheriff’s Office Detective

Matt Douglas (“Douglas”) first interviewed her about two months after they broke

into Tudor and Roberts’s house, she told Douglas that Roberts “let [them] break in

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Case No. 6-15-14

her house.” (Id. at 91). According to Wells, she told Douglas that because she had

“already been to prison for burglary before” and “didn’t want to catch another

burglary.” (Id.). Wells added that, at her sentencing hearing for the burglary, she

said the story she initially told Douglas about having permission was not true. (Id.

at 92, 94). Wells testified that neither Tudor nor Roberts gave her permission to go

into their house that day. (Id. at 92). According to Wells, she never told Collins

that she had permission to enter the house.3 (Id. at 92-93). Wells described what

transpired when Collins learned that Wells told Douglas that Roberts gave them

permission to break in:

         We were in the county jail and she’s like I’m gonna take it to trial, and

         she had heard my statement, what my statement was, ‘cause she got

         her discovery pack back, and she was like oh good, that’s what we can

         say, we can say [Roberts] said we could go in there. So I was like

         alright. Well then I thought they’re not gonna go with that. I mean

         because [Wright] didn’t know that story that we were saying, so

         [Wright] couldn’t go with the story too. You know what I mean?

         [Wright] didn’t know that I had said that. I don’t know if he got his

3
 The prosecuting attorney also asked Wells if she ever told Wright that she had permission to enter the house.
(Oct. 14, 2015 Tr. at 92). The record reflects that Wells gave a nonverbal response, “Hmmph.” (Id.). We
are unable to discern whether this was a positive or a negative response.

                                                    -10-
Case No. 6-15-14

       discovery pack back or not, but then when it came down to it I’m not

       going to take it to trial and get hurt for lying.

(Id. at 93). Wells added that, when she, Collins, Wright, and others were being

transported in a van from the jail to a court hearing, she made the suggestion that

they say Roberts allowed them to break into the house: “I made the suggestion, I,

in the van, made the suggestion that we say [Roberts] let us break in her house. That

was my suggestion, my idea.” (Id. at 94-95). According to Wells, Wright “was like

I’m taking it to trial.” (Id. at 95). Wells testified that, once they sold all of the stolen

items, she, Wright, and Collins split the money three ways. (Id. at 96).

       {¶14} On cross-examination, Wells testified that when Douglas interviewed

her, the first thing she told him was that it was not a burglary. (Id. at 100-101). She

testified that she and Roberts were “pretty close friends” who spoke multiple times

a day. (Id. at 107-108). Wells acknowledged that she told Douglas that Roberts

was addicted to “Perc thirties” and that she and Roberts scammed and connived to

get money for their habits. (Id. at 101-104). This included Roberts taking Tudor’s

iPod, “her kid’s iPods,” and Tudor’s “Anarchy DVD set” and selling them;

however, Wells was not with Roberts when she took things from Tudor’s house.

(Id. at 104, 107). Wells admitted that she told Douglas that Roberts had “some

major debts.” (Id. at 104-105). Wells acknowledged that she told Douglas that

Roberts was going to leave the house unlocked and put items in a clothes basket

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Case No. 6-15-14

near the couch for Wells to take. (Id. at 105-106, 108-109). Wells admitted that

she told Douglas that when she and Collins entered the house, Collins “started

looking around at other stuff,” and Wells redirected Collins to get only what they

were there to get. (Id. at 106). Wells told Douglas that, while the three-way split

was supposed to be one-third for Wells, one-third for Wright and Collins together,

and one-third for Roberts, they did not give Roberts her money. (Id. at 106, 109).

Wells admitted that she has “been in prison quite a bit,” including for kidnapping

her son and for burglary. (Id. at 110). Wells acknowledged that she received a

prison term of four years and ten months for the burglary of Tudor and Roberts’s

house. (Id.). Wells insisted, however, “It’s not a deal. It wasn’t for testifying

against anybody. * * * At the end he said * * * if you take this sentence, you have

to testify truthfully against your co-defendants, which I would’ve did [sic] anyway.”

(Id. at 117).

       {¶15} Douglas also testified for the State. (Id. at 141). Douglas investigated

the burglary of Tudor and Roberts’s house. (Id. at 144). Douglas testified that

Wright was a subject of interest to him after Douglas learned from local pawn shops

that Wright and Collins attempted to sell items there. (Id. at 154-155). Douglas

first interviewed Wright on February 19, 2015, when he was stopped by police and

transported to the sheriff’s office. (Id. at 154). According to Douglas, Wright

denied any involvement with the theft and explained that, on February 16, 2015, he,

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Case No. 6-15-14

Collins, and Wells “went to Scioto Village [apartments] for a big electronics score”

where Wright “was going to go buy some stuff.” (Id. at 159-160). This was contrary

to text messages on Wells’s phone, which indicated that “they were going to sell

items.” (Id. at 160-161). According to Douglas, when he asked Wright at which

apartment he attempted to buy items, Wright “drew a blank” and “didn’t want to

cooperate.” (Id. at 161). In Douglas’s investigation, he concluded that Wright, at

one point, was in possession of the reported stolen items and sold or attempted to

sell them. (Id. at 167-170).

       {¶16} On cross-examination, Douglas testified that, within two days of the

burglary, Roberts was “pointing the finger” at Wells. (Id. at 171-172). According

to Douglas, when he first interviewed Wells, the first words out of her mouth were

that this was not a burglary but a “set up deal.” (Id. at 173). When asked if Wells’s

story seemed credible, Douglas responded, “Yes, I mean I take everybody –

everybody’s got a story.” (Id. at 174).

       {¶17} Wright called one witness: Collins. (Id. at 181). Collins testified that

she is serving time at a community-based correctional facility resulting from a plea

she made as to the burglary of Tudor and Roberts’s house. (Id. at 181-182). When

asked why she went to Tudor and Roberts’s house, Collins testified that Wells told

her that Roberts was “real bad on pills” and wanted them to “take some stuff out of

the house and take it and sell it, and she would give [them] half the money for it.”

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Case No. 6-15-14

(Id. at 183). When asked by Wright’s counsel if it was “an inside job,” Collins

responded, “Yes.” (Id.). According to Collins, when she and Wells entered the

house, “there was a white little basket with some stuff in it, but [Collins] and Amy

Wells went in separate rooms” and “just grabb[ed] like games,” such as “Xboxes”

and “a Wii.” (Id. at 184). When asked by Wright’s counsel why they took those

items as opposed to anything else, Collins testified, “Because that was, that was the

deal.” (Id.). According to Collins, they were supposed to sell the items they took

from the house and “split it three ways” between Collins, Wells, and Roberts. (Id.

at 185). Collins testified that Wright was not to receive a cut, and “[h]e didn’t have

no part of it.” (Id. at 186). Collins testified that Wright did not know about the deal

and that “[b]asically, [Collins] asked him to give [them] a ride.” (Id. at 185). Collins

clarified that Wright did not know about the deal at the time she and Wells went

into the house; however, when they came out of the house, “he was asking questions

about stuff” and knew about the deal afterwards. (Id. at 185-186). According to

Collins, Wells kept Roberts’s share. (Id. at 186).

       {¶18} On cross-examination, Collins admitted that she and Wright have been

in a romantic relationship for “[a]bout three – three, four years,” including on

February 16, 2015—the day Wells and Collins burglarized Tudor and Roberts’s

house. (Id. at 186-187). When asked if their romantic relationship existed on the

day Collins testified at trial, Collins responded, “Kinda, yeah.” (Id. at 187). Collins

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Case No. 6-15-14

admitted that she did not want to see Wright convicted. (Id.). Collins elaborated on

what she told Wright before they went to Tudor and Roberts’s house:

       He actually – I did discuss, tell him like me – asked him to give us a

       ride, because he had a license and it’s his car. So I asked him, you

       know, ‘cause we was hooked on heroin, and I asked him if he would

       give me and Amy Wells a ride to go get some dope. That’s where he

       thought he was taking us.

(Id. at 188). Collins added that she initially told Wright “just never mind” when she

and Wells came out of the house with the electronic devices and Wright asked about

the items, and Wright “got mad about it.” (Id.). According to Collins, “as [they]

started going to Kenton, then [she] started to tell him [Collins] and [Wells] did

something bad” and confessed to Wright. (Id.). When asked why she told Wright

that they did something bad if she thought they had permission to enter the house,

Collins testified that it did not dawn on her until she saw Wells’s actions at the house

that they were breaking in. (Id. at 189-190). When asked why she did not tell

Wright beforehand if she believed they had permission to enter the house, Collins

testified, “He’d be like no” and would not have agreed to it. (Id. at 190-191).

Collins admitted that, throughout her contact with law enforcement during this case,

she did not mention having permission from anyone to go into Tudor and Roberts’s

house and that the day of her trial testimony was the first day she mentioned it. (Id.

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at 191). According to Collins, she lied to Douglas “like the day after [they] did it”

and told him she “didn’t know nothin’ about it” because, by then, she “already knew

[she] was in the wrong.” (Id. at 191).

       {¶19} We first review whether the State presented sufficient evidence that

Wright knowingly aided or abetted another in obtaining or exerting control over the

property. See State v. Velez, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-13-10, 2014-Ohio-1788, ¶ 68,

citing State v. Wimmer, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-98-46, 1999 WL 355190, *1 (Mar.

26, 1999). We conclude that it did. Wells testified that it was her idea to take items

from Tudor and Roberts’s house and that, on a couple of occasions, she discussed

the plan with Wright and Collins. The plan was for Wright to drop off Wells and

Collins, for Wells and Collins to take items from the house, and for Wright to pick

up Wells and Collins when they came out with the items. Wells, Wright, and Collins

executed the plan together, with Wright driving Wells and Collins to Tudor and

Roberts’s house, waiting on them while they were inside, and driving the getaway

car when they came out with the items. The story about having permission from

Roberts to take items from the house was hatched by Wells after they were caught.

       {¶20} Wells’s testimony alone constitutes sufficient evidence that Wright

knowingly aided and abetted Wells and Collins in obtaining or exerting control over

the property. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a

rational trier of fact could have found that the prosecution proved beyond a

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Case No. 6-15-14

reasonable doubt that, by driving Wells and Collins to and from Tudor and Roberts’s

house, knowing that Wells and Collins intended to take items from the house

without permission, Wright aided and abetted them in obtaining or exerting control

of Tudor and Roberts’s property. State v. Tate, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2010-L-145,

2011-Ohio-6848, ¶ 68 (stating that “[a]n overt act of assistance, such as driving a

getaway car, if proven, is enough to show a defendant aided and abetted in an

underlying crime” and holding that the defendant’s convictions were supported by

sufficient evidence). See also State v. Street, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-98-15, 1998
WL 735870, *4 (Oct. 21, 1998) (“[D]riving a getaway car can be considered

evidence of aiding and abetting.”). Therefore, Wright’s complicity-to-burglary and

complicity-to-theft convictions are supported by sufficient evidence.

       {¶21} We next address whether Wright’s complicity-to-burglary and

complicity-to-theft convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence—

specifically, whether the manifest weight of the evidence weighs against the

presence of the “knowingly obtain or exert control over * * * the property” element.

See Velez at ¶ 76. As we discussed above, Wells testified that Wright knew

beforehand that the plan was for Wells and Collins to enter Tudor and Roberts’s

house to take property, with Wright dropping them off and picking them up. Indeed,

Wells, Wright, and Collins executed the plan, and it was not until after they were

caught that Wells fabricated the story that Roberts gave her permission. Weighing

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against Wright’s convictions, Wright’s counsel called Wells’s credibility into

question because her story changed. She initially told Douglas that they received

permission from Roberts to take the items from the house; however, she recanted

that version of the events and entered into a plea agreement with the State, receiving

a sentence of four years and ten months in prison for the burglary.

       {¶22} Wright argues that Collins’s testimony weighs against Wright’s

convictions and is consistent with the story Wells initially told Douglas; however,

Collins’s testimony does not weigh against Wright’s convictions as heavily as

Wright suggests. Collins testified that Wells told her that Roberts wanted them to

take items from Tudor and Roberts’s house and sell the items. That was “the deal,”

according to Collins. She also testified that Wright did not know about the deal at

the time Wells and Collins went into the house; however, he knew about the deal

after they came out of the house with the items. The State called Collins’s story and

credibility into question on cross-examination. Collins admitted that she knew,

based on Wells’s actions once they entered and were inside Tudor and Roberts’s

house, that they were breaking in without permission. She also testified that, after

she and Wells got back into the car with the items from the house, Collins confessed

to Wright that they had just broken in to the house without permission. Collins also

admitted that she is in a romantic relationship with Wright and does not want to see

him convicted. Finally, Collins admitted that it was not until the day of her

                                        -18-
Case No. 6-15-14

testimony at trial that she mentioned that she and Wells had permission to enter the

house.

         {¶23} There undeniably is a conflict between Wells’s and Collins’s versions

of the events—specifically, as to whether and when Wright knew that Wells and

Collins were breaking into Tudor and Roberts’s house and taking items without

permission. However, as we stated above, even under Collins’s versions of the

events, the jury could have inferred that Wright drove Wells, Collins, and the stolen

items away from the house knowing that they were obtained without permission.

Indeed, even after learning the items were taken without permission, he proceeded

to sell or attempt to sell them. As we concluded above, driving the getaway car is

an overt act of assistance amounting to aiding and abetting. See Tate, 2011-Ohio-

6848, at ¶ 68; Street, 1998 WL 735870, at *4.

         {¶24} Moreover, to the extent this case hinges on Wells’s and Collins’s

credibility, “[i]t is axiomatic that the trier of fact is in the best position to take into

account inconsistencies, along with the witnesses’ manner and demeanor, and

determine whether the witnesses’ testimony is credible.” State v. Miller, 3d Dist.

Seneca No. 13-12-52, 2013-Ohio-3194, ¶ 48, citing State v. Thompson, 3d Dist.

Crawford No. 3-10-23, 2011-Ohio-3631, ¶ 13, citing Seasons Coal Co. v.

Cleveland, 10 Ohio St. 3d 77, 80 (1984). Accordingly, because the jury was in the

best position to resolve issues of credibility, and because evidence weighs in favor

                                           -19-
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of the convictions, we cannot conclude that the trier of fact clearly lost its way and

created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the convictions must be reversed

and a new trial ordered. Wright’s convictions for complicity to burglary and

complicity to theft are not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       {¶25} Wright’s first and second assignments of error are overruled.

       {¶26} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                                 Judgment Affirmed

SHAW, P.J. and ROGERS, J., concur.

/jlr

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