Court Opinion

ID: 4524406
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-10 14:09:23.892744+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:09.632212
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Gray, 2020-Ohio-1402.]

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

 STATE OF OHIO                                   :
                                                 :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                      :    Appellate Case No. 2019-CA-7
                                                 :
 v.                                              :    Trial Court Case No. 2018-CR-279
                                                 :
 CHARLES H. GRAY                                 :    (Criminal Appeal from
                                                 :    Common Pleas Court)
         Defendant-Appellant                     :
                                                 :

                                           ...........

                                           OPINION

                              Rendered on the 10th day of April, 2020.

                                           ...........

JAMES D. BENNETT, Atty. Reg. No. 0022729, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Darke
County Prosecutor’s Office, 504 South Broadway, Suite 3, Greenville, Ohio 45331
      Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

BYRON K. SHAW, Atty. Reg. No. 0073214, 4800 Belmont Place, Huber Heights, Ohio
45424
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

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

WELBAUM, J.
                                                                                       -2-

       {¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Charles H. Gray, appeals from his conviction in the

Darke County Court of Common Pleas for aggravated robbery with a firearm specification

and misuse of credit cards. In support of his appeal, Gray challenges the trial court’s

denial of his motion for mistrial premised upon certain statements made by one of the

State’s witnesses. Gray also advances arguments effectively assailing the weight of the

evidence in support of his convictions. Finally, Gray opposes the trial court’s refusal to

afford him and co-defendant, Michael Keeton, separate trials. Finding no error, the

judgment of the trial court will be affirmed.

                        I.     Facts and Course of Proceedings

       {¶ 2} On the morning of December 5, 2018, Johnny Wright awoke and decided to

head to a local store to make a purchase. At the time, 67-year-old Wright resided at a

homeless shelter in Greenville. He walked to an ATM and withdrew $40 cash, then

continued to a Family Dollar Store where he purchased a phone card.

       {¶ 3} On his way back to the shelter, Wright realized he was being followed by a

man on foot. The stranger caught up with him and put a gun to his back, demanding

money. Wright turned around, at which time the stranger pushed him to the ground and

pointed the weapon at his chest. Wright handed over his remaining cash and his wallet.

The assailant took the items and ran off, disappearing around a corner. Wright was

shaken up, but uninjured. He immediately reported the incident to the police.

       {¶ 4} Wright told police his assailant was outfitted in a black coat, black hoodie,

and stocking hat. He was also wearing a black plastic mask that obscured his face from

the nose down. Wright was unable to identify his assailant from a photo lineup.
                                                                                         -3-

       {¶ 5} The next day, police learned that Wright’s stolen debit card had been used

at three different establishments in the hours following the robbery. Lead detective Ryan

Benge of the Greenville Police Department followed up with Wright’s bank to gather

details. The card was used at Fifth Third Bank and Chase Bank branches in Greenville,

and at a business known as Casey’s General Store in Union City. Surveillance videos

obtained from the locations revealed a trio of individuals arriving in a distinctive black

Chevrolet Impala, and using Wright’s debit card and stolen funds. One of the three wore

a black stocking hat, black jacket, and blue jeans. That man was later identified as Indiana

resident Charles Gray. His cohorts were Michael Keeton and Palestine resident Alicia

Wiedmaier.

       {¶ 6} On December 20, 2018, a Darke County Grand Jury returned identical

indictments against Gray and Keeton. Count one charged aggravated robbery in violation

of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), a first-degree felony, and was accompanied by a three-year

firearm specification. See R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(a)(ii)/R.C. 2941.145. Count two charged of

misuse of credit cards under R.C. 2913.21(B)(2)/(D)(4), a fifth-degree felony. Wiedmaier

was also indicted, but those charges were dropped in exchange for her testimony against

Gray and Keeton.

       {¶ 7} Subsequent to the indictments, the State moved to consolidate the cases

against Gray and Keeton for trial. The trial court granted the motion over Keeton’s

objection. The matter proceeded to trial in June 2019, whereupon both men were found

guilty as charged.1 The trial court sentenced Gray to serve an aggregate term of seven

1. Keeton separately appealed his conviction and sentence. See State v. Michael A.
Keeton, 2d Dist. Darke No. 2019-CA-8, 2020-Ohio-950.
                                                                                        -4-

years in prison, including a mandatory three-year term on the firearm specification and a

consecutive four-year term on the aggravated robbery count. Gray was ordered to pay

court costs and expenses on the misuse of credit cards count.

       {¶ 8} Gray now appeals, raising three assignments of error, which we will address

out of order for ease of analysis.

                II.   The Propriety of Joinder and Denial of Severance

       {¶ 9} In his third assignment of error, Gray contends that joinder of trials in this

case was solely based upon convenience and was therefore improper. Gray notes that

Ohio law disfavors joinder of offenses solely because they are of a same or similar

character, particularly where unrelated offenses involve different times, locations, and

witnesses. Here, according to Gray, separate trials were warranted because the alleged

crime spree spanned different times and locations. We find these arguments to be

unpersuasive.

                                     Standard of Review

       {¶ 10} At trial, counsel for Keeton renewed his pretrial motion for severance.

Although the record is not clear, it seems the trial court understood that counsel for Gray

joined in the severance motion and treated Gray as doing such. We will thus review the

trial court’s denial of severance for an abuse of discretion. State v. Ramsey, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25264, 2013-Ohio-2124, ¶ 17. An abuse of discretion connotes a

decision that was arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable. State v. Russell, 2d Dist.

Clark No. 2011-CA-10, 2012-Ohio-4316, ¶ 27, quoting Hufman v. Hair Surgeon, Inc., 19
Ohio St. 3d 83, 87, 482 N.E.2d 1248 (1985).
                                                                                          -5-

                                           Analysis

       {¶ 11} Crim.R. 8(B) governs joinder of co-defendants. The rule provides, in

pertinent part, that

              [t]wo or more defendants may be charged in the same indictment,

       information or complaint if they are alleged to have participated in the same

       act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions constituting

       an offense or offenses, or in the same course of criminal conduct.

       {¶ 12} In its appellate brief and below, the State explained that the computerized

docketing system for the Darke County Court of Common Pleas is not equipped to accept

joint indictment of multiple defendants as contemplated by Crim.R. 8(B). All criminal cases

in Darke County must be charged individually and accorded their own case numbers.

Thereafter, the proponent of joinder is tasked with moving for consolidation of the cases.

Despite this variation in procedure, the Criminal Rules implicated vis-à-vis joinder and

severance are the same. See id. See also Crim.R. 13 (providing that “[t]he court may

order two or more indictments or informations or both to be tried together, if * * * the

defendants could have been joined in a single indictment or information”); Crim.R. 14

(providing for relief from prejudicial joinder).

       {¶ 13} It is well established that joinder of defendants is favored in the eyes of the

law, for this procedural tool “conserves judicial and prosecutorial time, lessens the

expenses of multiple trials, diminishes the inconvenience to witnesses, and minimizes the

possibility of incongruous results from successive trials before different juries.” State v.

Payne, 10th Dist. Franklin Nos. 02AP-723 and 02AP-725, 2003-Ohio-4891, ¶ 27, citing

State v. Thomas, 61 Ohio St. 2d 223, 225, 400 N.E.2d 401 (1980). Nonetheless, the law
                                                                                         -6-

recognizes that an otherwise proper joinder may prejudice a defendant’s right to a fair

trial, requiring severance under Crim.R. 14. State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St. 3d 160, 163, 555
N.E.2d 293 (1990), quoting State v. Torres, 66 Ohio St. 2d 340, 421 N.E.2d 1288 (1981),

syllabus. The burden lies with the defendant to affirmatively establish that he will suffer

prejudice by said joinder. State v. Brinkley, 105 Ohio St. 3d 231, 2005-Ohio-1507, 824
N.E.2d 959, ¶ 29, citing Torres at syllabus.

       {¶ 14} Gray’s argument that separate trials were in order because the crime spree

spanned a period of hours and different locations misses the mark. Both Keeton and Gray

were charged with identical offenses and specifications arising from the same series of

events. Compare State v. Bundy, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 02 CA 211, 2005-Ohio-3310,

¶ 57 (trial court did not abuse its discretion in declining to sever trials for multiple co-

defendants charged in an aggravated robbery and conspiracy case in view of the fact that

each of the counts in their respective indictments arose from the same series of

transactions). Furthermore, the fact that Gray was charged as the principal and Keeton

as an accomplice did not affect the propriety of joinder under the facts and circumstances

of this case.

       {¶ 15} Similarly, Gray’s insistence that convenience was the sole factor

underscoring the trial court’s joinder decision is unsupported by the record. The

investigation into the robbery of Wright necessarily entailed an overlap of evidence,

witnesses, and law enforcement efforts with regards to Gray and Keeton. Joint trial of the

two men furthered aims exceeding simple convenience. It served to advance the

customary goals of judicial and prosecutorial economy, decreased expense, and

minimized chance of incongruous results. See Thomas at 225.
                                                                                          -7-

       {¶ 16} Finally, the trial court instructed the jury that the evidence against Gray and

Keeton was to be considered separately and each verdict rendered individually. Juries

are presumed to follow instructions. State v. Jones, 90 Ohio St. 3d 403, 414, 739 N.E.2d
300 (2000). Gray has directed our attention to nothing in the record to rebut this

presumption.

       {¶ 17} In view of the above, we cannot say that the trial court exceeded the bounds

of its discretion in joining the cases against Gray and Keeton for trial. Gray’s third

assignment of error is overruled.

                        III.   Manifest Weight of the Evidence

       {¶ 18} Though phrased in terms of sufficiency, Gray’s second assignment of error

actually challenges the weight of the evidence supporting his convictions. Gray maintains

that the record does not support that he was the assailant who robbed Wright. Specifically,

Gray points to the fact that Wright was unable to identify his mask-wearing assailant in

the photo lineup. Gray further submits that no DNA evidence linked him to the pilfered

wallet or its stolen contents. Finally, Gray argues that the record does not support that a

firearm was used in the robbery, particularly where no firearm was ever found by law

enforcement. These contentions lack merit.

                                    Standard of Review

       {¶ 19} Unlike an attack on the sufficiency of the evidence, “[a] weight of the

evidence argument challenges the believability of the evidence and asks which of the

competing inferences suggested by the evidence is more believable or persuasive.”

(Citation omitted.) State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22581, 2009-Ohio-525, ¶ 12.
                                                                                          -8-

In conducting a manifest weight review, this Court scrutinizes the entire record, weighs

the evidence and all reasonable inferences flowing therefrom, considers the credibility of

the witnesses, and determines whether the jury clearly lost its way in resolving evidentiary

conflicts culminating in a manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio

St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), citing State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175,

485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). Accord State v. Drummond, 111 Ohio St. 3d 14, 2006-

Ohio-5084, 854 N.E.2d 1038, ¶ 193.

       {¶ 20} It is well accepted that “[t]he discretionary power to grant a new trial should

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

the conviction.” Thompkins at 387. “The fact that the evidence is subject to different

interpretations does not render the conviction against the manifest weight of the

evidence.” State v. Adams, 2d Dist. Greene Nos. 2013 CA 61, 2013 CA 62, 2014-Ohio-

3432, ¶ 24, citing Wilson at ¶ 14.

       {¶ 21} As we have previously observed, “ ‘[b]ecause the factfinder * * * has the

opportunity to see and hear the witnesses, the cautious exercise of the discretionary

power of a court of appeals to find that a judgment is against the manifest weight of the

evidence requires that substantial deference be extended to the factfinder’s

determinations of credibility. The decision whether, and to what extent, to credit the

testimony of particular witnesses is within the peculiar competence of the factfinder, who

has seen and heard the witness.’ ” State v. Winbush, 2017-Ohio-696, 85 N.E.3d 501, ¶ 59

(2d Dist.), quoting State v. Lawson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16288, 1997 WL 476684,

*4 (Aug. 22, 1997).

                   Aggravated Robbery and Firearm Specification
                                                                                           -9-

       {¶ 22} In pertinent part, the aggravated robbery statute criminalizes the

commission of a theft offense while possessing and brandishing or using a deadly

weapon. R.C 2911.01(A)(1). The attendant firearm specification in Gray’s indictment

requires the imposition of a mandatory three-year prison term where one engages in such

behavior. R.C. 2929.14(B)(1)(a)(ii)/R.C. 2941.145. Our review of the record reveals a

breadth of competent, credible evidence in support of Gray’s aggravated robbery

conviction and the attached firearm specification.

       {¶ 23} To begin, Wright told police that his assailant was wearing a black coat,

black hoodie, stocking hat, and a black plastic mask. It is true that Wright was unable to

identify his assailant from a police lineup due to the fact that the mask obscured too much

of the man’s face. It is equally true that Gray was not pictured in the lineup. Surveillance

videos obtained from the two banks, a nearby motel, and the general store consistently

showed Gray, Keeton, and Weidmaier pull up in the distinctive black Chevrolet Impala.

Gray wore a black stocking hat, black jacket, and blue jeans. This aligned with Wright’s

description of his assailant’s clothing. Detective Benge seized a black stocking hat that

had been secured as Gray’s property when he was booked into the Darke County Jail on

the arrest warrant in this case. Even more condemning, Gray’s neck tattoos could be seen

in the surveillance videos. Tattoos make for distinguishing identifiers at times, particularly

where situated in an area of the body not quite so commonly seen.

       {¶ 24} Wiedmaier was the first individual identified by police in the video obtained

from Casey’s General Store. Detective Benge happened to overhear a police dispatch

describing a suspicious-looking black Impala in the driveway of Wiedmaier’s Palestine

residence. Believing it sounded like the same vehicle from the Casey’s video, he and his
                                                                                        -10-

partner responded to the scene. The vehicle was a match. Peering inside, they could see

items from Casey’s General Store. After the house’s inhabitants failed to answer the front

door, Detective Benge had the car towed to the police station. A subsequent search

yielded a cup from Casey’s General Store, scratch-off lottery tickets purchased from the

store, and a receipt from Hibbett Sports. Wright’s wallet was also seized from the vehicle,

where it had been wrapped in blue latex gloves.

         {¶ 25} The detectives learned that the black Impala was registered to an Indiana

woman by the name of Michelle Rosser. They visited Rosser, who indicated she allowed

Keeton to borrow the car a week prior and he never returned it. Rosser identified both

Keeton and Gray from still shots pulled from the Casey’s General Store surveillance

video.

         {¶ 26} One week after the robbery, Detective Benge interviewed Alicia Wiedmaier

at her residence. Based upon the information she provided, the detective obtained arrest

warrants for Gray and Keeton. Detective Benge received the surveillance video from

Chase Bank nearly two weeks into the investigation. The video showed the black Impala

parking at a nearby Dollar General Store. Gray approached and used the Chase ATM

wearing a black coat, hat, black mask, jeans, and a black Franklin batting glove. Police

recovered the batting glove from the Impala.

         {¶ 27} Detective Benge also received surveillance video from Fifth Third Bank and

a nearby motel. The same black Impala pulled into the Fifth Third parking lot. Gray could

be seen using the victim’s debit card at the ATM. He was wearing the same black stocking

hat, black mask, black jacket, and jeans. His neck tattoos were also visible in the video.

         {¶ 28} Much of the defense’s case focused upon attempts to discredit key witness
                                                                                         -11-

Alicia Wiedmaier. The 32-year-old mother of five had an extensive criminal record and

was struggling with drug addiction when she met Gray and Keeton. At the time of trial,

Wiedmaier was being held in the Darke County Jail awaiting extradition to Oklahoma for

an unrelated offense. In exchange for her testimony against Gray and Keeton, the State

agreed to grant her immunity and dismiss the charges against her arising from the instant

matter. Detective Benge opined that, although Wiedmaier was untruthful on some details,

the overwhelming corroborative evidence she provided aligned with the victim’s rendition

of events precipitating the robbery.

       {¶ 29} According to Wiedmaier’s testimony, the trio was hanging out at her

residence in Palestine on the morning in question, ingesting drugs and discussing their

need to procure some cash. They settled upon trying to sell methamphetamine to some

of Wiedmaier’s contacts in Greenville. The group climbed into the black Impala Keeton

borrowed from a friend and headed out.

       {¶ 30} Wiedmaier testified that they were driving around town when they saw a

man at an ATM withdrawing money. That man was Johnny Wright. Keeton gave Gray a

black handgun, and Gray donned a facemask. According to Wiedmaier, Gray was

wearing a black shirt, jeans, and a sock hat. He got out of the car and started following

the man on foot.

       {¶ 31} At some point, Gray returned to the car after losing sight of Wright. The trio

spotted the man as he was leaving a Family Dollar Store, and Gray resumed tailing him

on foot. Wright picked up his pace, apparently aware he was being followed. Keeton

parked the car nearby, at which time Wiedmaier saw Gray standing over the victim and

wielding the gun. After seizing the man’s property, Gray got back into the car and said he
                                                                                        -12-

“thought the mother f * * *er was going to make me shoot him. He wouldn’t give me his

wallet.” (Tr. 284).

       {¶ 32} Wiedmaier indicated that Gray changed the pin number on one of the

victim’s cards and withdrew cash from two ATMs. The trio continued on to Hibbett Sports,

where Keeton purchased a few items. Next, the crew traveled to Union City to explore

selling methamphetamine. While there, they used Wright’s debit card and stolen cash to

purchase lottery tickets and other items from Casey’s General Store. Wiedmaier identified

still shots taken from surveillance video depicting her, Gray, and Keeton inside the

establishment. The cohorts left the store and, after ingesting drugs at a nearby residence,

returned to Wiedmaier’s house in Palestine. Roughly one week later, Detective Benge

came to Wiedmaier’s residence to interview her about the robbery.

       {¶ 33} Detective Benge retrieved Wright’s stolen wallet from the black Impala.

Wright furnished a DNA sample for the detective via buccal swab. The sample made its

way to forensic scientist Allison Gapinski of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. On

appeal, Gray focuses upon the first of three DNA reports produced by Gapinski in

connection with the case. The initial report indicated that a DNA specimen collected from

the wallet was unsuitable for comparison because it contained a mixture of genetic

material from three or four individuals. But the DNA evidence did not begin and end with

the first report.

       {¶ 34} The second report complemented Wright’s DNA with a more targeted

specimen collected from the wallet’s interior. This swabbing revealed a mixture from at

least five people. Even so, Gapinski was able to distinguish three major contributors, one

of whom was Wright. She did not yet have buccal swabs from any other individuals to
                                                                                          -13-

which to compare the sample.

       {¶ 35} The third report concerned DNA collected from Gray and Keeton after their

respective arrests. When those swabs were compared to the targeted DNA sample from

inside the wallet, both Gray and Keeton emerged as major contributors.

       {¶ 36} Finally, Wiedmaier gave Detective Benge bullets from the gun she said

Gray used in the robbery, which she shot at her residence after the spree. The gun itself

was never recovered. Though there was some discrepancy in the record concerning

whether the gun was a revolver or a semiautomatic pistol, this does not warrant reversal

on manifest weight grounds. The remaining evidence in support of Gray’s guilt was simply

too overwhelming.

       {¶ 37} In view of the credible evidence detailed above, we conclude that Gray’s

robbery conviction and the attendant firearm specification were not against the manifest

weight of the evidence.

                                 Misuse of Credit Cards

       {¶ 38} Though Gray did not expressly challenge the weight of the evidence

supporting his conviction for misuse of credit cards, we note that the record contains

copious competent and credible evidence in support of that conviction as well. In relevant

part, the statute concerning misuse of credit cards prohibits an individual from fraudulently

obtaining property or services by use of a stolen credit card. R.C. 2913.21(B)(2).The

offense is elevated to a fifth-degree felony where the victim is an elderly person or a

disabled adult. R.C. 2913.21(D)(4).

       {¶ 39} Victim Johnny Wright’s testimony that he was 67 years old at the time of the
                                                                                           -14-

robbery was undisputed. Wright indicated his wallet contained his driver’s license, Social

Security card, ATM card, and a debit card, among other items. Wright’s monthly Social

Security benefits were deposited into the account connected to the debit card. When he

contacted his bank after the robbery, Wright learned that the pin number on the card had

been changed and $300 withdrawn from the account.

       {¶ 40} Per Wiedmaier’s testimony, Gray used Wright’s personal information

garnered from his driver’s license and Social Security card to change the pin number on

the debit card. As stated, Gray was readily identified in surveillance videos withdrawing

money from ATMs at Fifth Third Bank and Chase Bank. Surveillance video pulled from

Casey’s General Store similarly showed Gray holding the stolen debit card and using it

to purchase items. Later in the investigation, the manager from Casey’s General Store

provided Detective Benge with the receipt for the transaction wherein Gray used the

stolen debit card. Again, this review demonstrates an overwhelming amount of credible

evidence in favor of Gray’s guilt on the misuse of credit cards count in the indictment.

       {¶ 41} The above analysis compels the conclusion that the jury did not lose its way

in rendering a guilty verdict against Gray on all counts. Gray’s second assignment of error

is overruled.

                                IV.     Motion for Mistrial

       {¶ 42} Gray’s first assignment of error criticizes the trial court’s refusal to grant a

mistrial due to certain incriminating statements elicited by the State during the direct

examination of Alicia Wiedmaier.

       {¶ 43} Gray refrained from taking the witness stand at trial to avoid the unearthing
                                                                                            -15-

of his criminal record. Despite this exercise of privilege, Gray contends, the State was

allowed to introduce inadmissible character evidence through Wiedmaier. Specifically,

Wiedmaier testified that the trio attempted to sell methamphetamine on the day of the

robbery, and that Gray made a statement about not wanting to go back to prison. Gray

decries these references as other acts evidence which violated the presumption against

admissibility memorialized in Evid.R. 404(B) and R.C. 2945.59. He concludes that the

resultant prejudice denied him a fair trial.

                                    Standard of Review

       {¶ 44} Typically, we employ an abuse of discretion standard in reviewing a trial

court’s decision granting or denying a motion for mistrial. State v. Sanders, 2016-Ohio-

4724, 66 N.E.3d 1239, ¶ 56 (2d Dist.), quoting State v. Garner, 74 Ohio St. 3d 49, 59, 656
N.E.2d 623 (1995). Because defense counsel objected to the comment about Gray not

wanting to return to prison, this standard guides our review of the trial court’s refusal to

grant his motion for mistrial on that basis.

       {¶ 45} Conversely, Wiedmaier’s          comment   about   the   trio   trying   to   sell

methamphetamine did not draw an objection from defense counsel. Our review

concerning the trial court’s refusal to grant a mistrial premised on this comment is

governed by the plain error standard. Plain error results where there is an obvious

deviation from a legal rule which affected the outcome of the proceedings. State v. Kline,

2d Dist. Champaign No. 2009-CA-02, 2010-Ohio-3913, ¶ 5, quoting State v. Rohrbaugh,

126 Ohio St. 3d 421, 2010-Ohio-3286, ¶ 6. As always, “[n]otice of plain error under Crim.R.

52(B) is to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only

to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.” State v. McShann, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
                                                                                       -16-

27803, 2019-Ohio-4481, ¶ 46, quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St. 2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804

(1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.

                                        Analysis

        {¶ 46} Evid.R. 404(A) codifies what is commonly referred to as “the propensity

rule,” meaning character evidence is generally inadmissible to prove action in conformity

therewith. State v. Zuern, 32 Ohio St. 3d 56, 59, 512 N.E.2d 585 (1987). As this Court

previously explained, “[i]t is improper to admit evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts

by a defendant, wholly independent of the offense for which he is on trial. * * * This is

known as the propensity rule, and it prohibits using evidence of other acts of wrongdoing

to establish that a defendant committed the acts charged in the indictment.” State v.

Ratliff, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19684, 2003-Ohio-6905, ¶ 16.

        {¶ 47} Viewed through this lens, we agree with the State’s position that the

statements in question cannot properly be described as impermissible propensity

evidence. Wiedmaier’s testimony on these points described the actions and deliberations

undertaken in furtherance of the trio’s plan to acquire money immediately precipitating

the robbery of Wright. See Evid.R. 404(B). Moreover, the State did not endeavor to prove

that Gray was attempting to engage in the sale of drugs on the day in question, nor did it

actively seek to establish a link between Gray’s prior stint in prison and the offenses at

hand.

        {¶ 48} Even if we were to find that Wiedmaier’s reiteration of Gray’s comment

about prison were inadmissible or prejudicial, we note that the trial court sustained

defense counsel’s objection thereto and immediately instructed the jury to disregard the
                                                                                      -17-

comment. Curative instructions are generally viewed as sufficient to remedy the risk of

undue prejudice. See, e.g., State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St. 3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, 983
N.E.2d 1278, ¶ 24; State v. Wharton, 4th Dist. Ross No. 09CA3132, 2010-Ohio-4775,

¶ 26-28. Juries are presumed to follow instructions. See Jones, 90 Ohio St. 3d at 414, 739
N.E.2d 300. The granting of a mistrial on the basis of this fleeting, swiftly-remedied

statement would have been disproportionate to any harm occasioned thereby. See State

v. Trimble, 122 Ohio St. 3d 297, 2009-Ohio-2961, 911 N.E.2d 242, ¶ 174-75.

       {¶ 49} Moreover, even if the disputed statements were excised from the record,

the remaining evidence against Gray was overwhelming. Our disposition of Gray’s

second assignment of error demonstrates as much. After scrutinizing the entire record,

we are unpersuaded that the statements complained of herein occasioned material

prejudice in a manner requiring reversal.

       {¶ 50} Finding neither an abuse of discretion nor plain error in the trial court’s

denial of the motion for mistrial, Gray’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                    V.      Conclusion

       {¶ 51} Having overruled Gray’s three assignments of error, the judgment of the

trial court is hereby affirmed.

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

TUCKER, P.J. and DONOVAN, J., concur.
                        -18-

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James D. Bennett
Byron K. Shaw
Hon. Jonathan P. Hein