Court Opinion

ID: 4202035
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-09-08 13:14:24.424021+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:48.561488
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Conyer, 2017-Ohio-7506.]
                           STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO,                                )    CASE NO. 16 MA 0021
                                              )
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                   )
                                              )
VS.                                           )    OPINION
                                              )
MAURICE CONYER,                               )
                                              )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.                  )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                          Criminal Appeal from the Court of
                                                   Common Pleas of Mahoning County,
                                                   Ohio
                                                   Case No. 14 CR 1120

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee:                            Atty. Paul J. Gains
                                                   Mahoning County Prosecutor
                                                   Atty. Ralph M. Rivera
                                                   Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                   21 West Boardman St., 6th Floor
                                                   Youngstown, Ohio 44503

For Defendant-Appellant:                           Atty. Rhys B. Cartwright-Jones
                                                   42 N. Phelps St.
                                                   Youngstown, Ohio 44503-1130

JUDGES:

Hon. Carol Ann Robb
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Mary DeGenaro

                                                   Dated: August 28, 2017
[Cite as State v. Conyer, 2017-Ohio-7506.]
ROBB, P.J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-Appellant Maurice Conyer appeals from his finding of guilt
and sentence entered in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for two counts of
felonious assault and firearm specifications. Three issues are raised in this appeal.
The first issue is whether the trial court erred in allowing the admission of the 911 call
from an unidentified witness. The second issue is whether the trial court erred in
denying defense counsel’s motion to continue based on the need to investigate the
anonymous 911 call. The third issue is whether the trial court erred when it did not
merge the two felonious assault convictions. For the reasons expressed below, none
of these arguments have merit. The convictions are affirmed.
                                  Statement of the Facts and Case
        {¶2}     On July 21, 2014 Sharron Winphrie and her cousin Shayla Blair were
visiting another cousin at 118 Hilton Avenue. Tr. 172, 192. Appellant was also there.
Tr. 174-175, 193. Winphrie was driving her boyfriend’s car and backed into the
driveway behind Appellant’s car. Tr. 175, 181, 192, 193. A verbal altercation ensued
between Winphrie and Appellant. Tr. 175-176, 185-186, 194-195. Winphrie and
Blair got into Winphrie’s car and moved it so Appellant could leave the gathering. Tr.
186, 195. As Appellant was driving his red Chevy Impala past Winphrie’s car, he
allegedly shot four or five rounds at the vehicle. Tr. 176, 181, 186, 195-196, 197.
        {¶3}     Winphrie and Blair then drove to Winphrie’s house. Tr. 177, 201. She
called her boyfriend and then the police. Tr. 177, 201. In their interview with the
police, Winphrie and Blair stated Appellant shot at Winphrie’s car and Appellant was
driving a car with the license plate number REECE01. Tr. 143, 184, 193, 201. The
police investigated the license plate number and discovered Appellant owned a red
Chevy Impala with that license plate number. Tr. 143.
        {¶4}     A 911 call from an anonymous witness also confirmed the shooting.
State’s Exhibit 1. The caller stated shots were “just fired” at 118 Hilton Avenue.
State’s Exhibit 1. The caller indicated the shots came from a red Impala with the
license plate number REECE01. State’s Exhibit 1. When asked if he wanted police
                                                                                     -2-

to come to the scene, he stated no and indicated he was only calling to report the
incident. State’s Exhibit 1.
       {¶5}   As a result of the shooting and investigation, Appellant was indicted on
two counts of felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2)(D) with attendant
firearm specifications, R.C. 2941.145(A).      The indictment listed Shayla Blair and
Sharron Winphrie as victims of the felonious assaults. 10/30/14 Indictment.
       {¶6}   During the discovery process both the state and defense requested a
copy of the anonymous 911 call. Tr. 106. It was not given to the state until the day
before trial. Tr. 106. The state notified defense counsel and the defense received a
copy of the 911 call that same day. Tr. 106.
       {¶7}   On the day of trial, defense counsel moved to exclude the recording of
the 911 call. In the alternative, it asked for the court to grant a continuance so the
defense could investigate the call.
       {¶8}   The trial court denied the request to exclude the tape, but indicated it
would grant a continuance.      However, Appellant opposed the continuance and
indicated he wanted to proceed with the trial.        He made this choice after being
advised the recording would be admitted into evidence and played for the jury. The
trial court then denied the motion for continuance.
       {¶9}   After hearing the evidence, the jury found Appellant guilty of the
indicted charges. The case proceeded immediately to sentencing. The trial court
sentenced Appellant to an aggregate 13-year sentence. He received 5 years for
each felonious assault conviction to run consecutive to each other. The trial court
merged the firearm specifications convictions and sentenced Appellant to one 3-year
mandatory sentence. Pursuant to law, the 3-year firearm sentence was required to be
served prior to and consecutive to the other sentences. 2/4/16 J.E.
       {¶10} Appellant timely appeals the jury’s guilty verdict and the sentences.
                                 First Assignment of Error
       “The trial court erred in allowing in 911 audio without a foundation establishing
an unavailable witness and a prior opportunity to cross-examination.”
                                                                                       -3-

       {¶11} Appellant asserts the trial court erred when it allowed the 911 audio
from an anonymous caller to be played for the jury. He contends the statements
made by the caller were testimonial hearsay and were inadmissible under the
Confrontation Clause. In his opinion, the statements could not constitute an ongoing
emergency because the caller was speaking in the past tense, in a calm voice, and
the caller indicated he did not need the police to come to the scene.
       {¶12} The state disagrees and contends the 911 call was non-testimonial
because it was made in response to an ongoing emergency.
       {¶13} The Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause provides: “In all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to be confronted with the
witnesses against him.” The clause prohibits the admission of testimonial statements
of a non-testifying witness unless he was unavailable to testify and the defendant had
a prior opportunity for cross-examination. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53–
54, 124 S. Ct. 1354 (2004) (victim's recorded statement to police was testimonial).
The testimonial character of a statement separates it from other hearsay which is not
subject to the Confrontation Clause. Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 821–822,
126 S. Ct. 2266 (2006) (The 911 call during a domestic dispute was not testimonial
due to an on-going emergency. However, victim's statement after being separated
from husband and questioned by police was testimonial due to the primary purpose
of proving past events relevant to later criminal prosecution.).
       {¶14} Davis held that statements “are testimonial when the circumstances
objectively indicate that there is no such ongoing emergency, and that the primary
purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events potentially relevant to
later criminal prosecution.” Id. at 814. The Court specifically stated: “A 911 call, on
the other hand, and at least the initial interrogation conducted in connection with a
911 call, is ordinarily not designed primarily to ‘establis[h] or prov[e]’ some past fact,
but to describe current circumstances requiring police assistance.”          Id. at 827.
Statements made in response to questioning by a 911 operator are nontestimonial
where the “primary purpose” of the statements is to obtain assistance in an
emergency. State v. McGee, 1st Dist. No. C-150496, 2016-Ohio-7510, ¶ 16, citing
                                                                                        -4-

State v. Siler, 116 Ohio St. 3d 39, 2007–Ohio–5637, 876 N.E.2d 534, ¶ 24–25, and
Davis at 822.
          {¶15} Following Davis, the United States Supreme Court further explained
what constitutes an ongoing emergency. Michigan v. Bryant, 562 U.S. 344, 359, 131
S. Ct. 1143 (2011). The Bryant Court stated the ‘ongoing emergency’ “extends
beyond an initial victim to a potential threat to the responding police and the public at
large.”     Id. “[W]hether an emergency exists and is ongoing is a highly context-
dependent inquiry.” Id. at 363. Many factors come into play in objectively evaluating
the circumstances:

          An objective analysis of the circumstances of an encounter and the
          statements and actions of the parties to it provides the most accurate
          assessment of the “primary purpose of the interrogation.” The
          circumstances in which an encounter occurs—e.g., at or near the scene
          of the crime versus at a police station, during an ongoing emergency or
          afterwards—are clearly matters of objective fact. The statements and
          actions of the parties must also be objectively evaluated. That is, the
          relevant inquiry is not the subjective or actual purpose of the individuals
          involved in a particular encounter, but rather the purpose that
          reasonable participants would have had, as ascertained from the
          individuals' statements and actions and the circumstances in which the
          encounter occurred.

Id. at 360.
          {¶16} That said, the Bryant Court stressed the existence of an ongoing
emergency is one of the most important factors in assessing an interrogation's
primary purpose, because it focuses participants on something other than proof of
past events for purposes of criminal prosecutions, and the prospect of fabrication is
“presumably significantly diminished.” Id. at 361.         Whether there is an ongoing
emergency may depend in part on the weapon used. Id. at 364. Furthermore, “[a]n
assessment of whether an emergency that threatens the police and public is ongoing
                                                                                       -5-

cannot narrowly focus on whether the threat solely to the first victim has been
neutralized because the threat to the first responders and public may continue.” Id. at
363. “Domestic violence cases * * * often have a narrower zone of potential victims
than cases involving threats to public safety.” Id. at 344. An ongoing emergency can
exist after the original threat to the victim has ceased to exist if there is a potential
threat to police or the public, or the victim is in need of emergency medical services.
Cleveland v. Merritt, 2016-Ohio-4693, 69 N.E.3d 102, ¶ 10 (8th Dist.), citing Bryant at
376.
         {¶17} The anonymous 911 call before us occurred at 8:38 pm. The caller
sounded calm and indicated “we had some shots just fired here on Hilton Avenue,
around 118.” State’s Exhibit 1. The caller described the incident as a drive by
shooting; there were 3 or 4 shots fired from a moving car. State’s Exhibit 1. The
caller stated the car was a red Impala with the license plate number REECE01 and
the driver was a black male. State’s Exhibit 1.         After a discussion with other
witnesses, the caller stated there were two people in the red Impala. State’s Exhibit
1.     The caller then informed the 911 operator of the direction the vehicle was
traveling; the car traveled east on Hilton Avenue heading toward Erie Street. State’s
Exhibit 1. When asked if he wanted the 911 dispatcher to send the police, the caller
said he did not want to see the police, he just wanted “somebody here to look.”
State’s Exhibit 1.
         {¶18} Appellant focuses on the calm nature of the caller and the use of the
past tense to indicate this was not an ongoing emergency. This court disagrees with
that conclusion. Although the caller does use the past tense, he stated shots were
“just fired.” The use of the word “just” means it happened in close proximity in time to
when the call was made. Likewise, State’s Exhibit 1 contains the 911 call from the
victim, Winphrie. Her call occurred at 9:00 pm. She testified after the shooting she
drove home, called her boyfriend, and then called 911. Her explanation of when her
call occurred could indicate the anonymous caller called shortly after the shooting.
         {¶19} Furthermore, nothing in the caller’s description indicates this was a
domestic situation. Rather, this was a drive-by shooting. This posed an ongoing
                                                                                      -6-

threat to the public. Although the caller did not want to see the police, he did want
“somebody here to look.”       It is logical to think the caller wanted the police to
investigate the situation and find the shooter to ensure no other drive-by shootings
occurred.
       {¶20} Therefore,    considering    all   the   circumstances    objectively,   the
anonymous 911 call is non-testimonial and no violation of the Confrontation Clause
occurred.
       {¶21} However, even if it is considered testimonial, the error was harmless.
Both Winphrie and Blair testified to the same information that was relayed in the
anonymous 911 call. Winphrie stated Appellant drove a red Impala with license plate
number REECE01 and when he drove by her car he shot 4 or 5 rounds at the car. Tr.
193, 195-196, 197. She stated he was on Hilton Avenue, driving toward Erie Street.
Tr. 200. Blair testified Appellant drove a red Impala and shot at the car she and
Winphrie occupied. Tr. 176, 177, 181. Consequently, the anonymous call did not
provide any new information for the jury. Thus, any error in admitting the call was
harmless.
       {¶22} For the above stated reasons, this assignment of error is meritless.
                             Second Assignment of Error
       “The trial court erred in denying defense counsel’s motion to continue, the
basis of which was a need to prepare to confront the aforementioned 911 audio, on
the grounds that the defendant objected to the motion.”
       {¶23} “The grant or denial of a continuance is a matter that is entrusted to the
broad, sound discretion of the trial judge.” State v. Unger, 67 Ohio St. 2d 65, 423
N.E.2d 1078 (1981), syllabus.      In reviewing a trial court’s grant or denial of a
continuance, a reviewing court will not reverse the trial court’s decision absent an
abuse of discretion. Id. at 67. An abuse of discretion “implies that the court's attitude
is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.” State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St. 2d 151,
157, 404 N .E.2d 444 (1980).
       {¶24} An appellate court's review of a denial of a motion for a continuance
requires the application of a balancing test where we must weigh the trial court's
                                                                                   -7-

interest in controlling its docket and the public's interest in the prompt, efficient
dispatch of justice versus any prejudice to the moving party. Unger at 67. The Ohio
Supreme Court has articulated factors a trial court should consider in ruling on a
motion for continuance:

       [T]he length of the delay requested; whether other continuances have
       been requested and received; the inconvenience to litigants, witnesses,
       opposing counsel and the court; whether the requested delay is for
       legitimate reasons or whether it is dilatory, purposeful, or contrived;
       whether the defendant contributed to the circumstances which gives
       rise to the request for continuance; and other relevant factors,
       depending on the unique facts of each case.

Id. at 67–68.
       {¶25} In the case at hand, Defense counsel moved for a continuance to
review and investigation the anonymous 911 call. During the colloquy of whether to
grant the request for continuance, defense counsel explained he was just given the
recording of the 911 call the previous day and needed time to investigate the call. He
stated if the 911 call was introduced it would affect trial strategy and would be
damaging. The trial court indicated the 911 call would be admissible at trial, but was
willing to grant the motion for continuance. Appellant was present for the entire
discussion. However, not heeding his counsel’s advice, Appellant indicated he
wanted to go forward with the trial and he did not want a continuance. Therefore, the
trial court stated it would deny the request based on Appellant’s opposition to the
continuance.
       {¶26} Appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion in denying the
motion for continuance.    He admits he opposed the continuance.        However, he
contends his input should not have been considered because the decision was not
his to make. He asserts a continuance is a part of trial strategy and is a decision an
attorney can decide over a client’s objection.
                                                                                                      -8-

        {¶27} Appellant contends the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in McBreen
supports his argument and conclusion. In McBreen, the Court was asked to decide
whether counsel’s execution of a speedy trial waiver for the purpose of trial
preparation bound appellant. State v. McBreen, 54 Ohio St. 2d 315, 376 N.E.2d 593
(1978). McBreen was not aware or informed of the waiver. Id. at 316. The Court
found counsel had the authority to execute the waivers for purposes of trial
preparation, and McBreen was bound by the waivers. Id. at 319. In making that
ruling, the Court cautioned, “(c)ounsel's control * * * is not unlimited, and there are
certain fundamental protections guaranteed an accused which counsel may not
waive without his client's concurrence.” Id. at 320.1
        {¶28} McBreen could support a trial court’s decision to grant counsel’s motion
for a continuance when counsel does not confer or inform the client of the request for
a continuance. However, it does not necessarily support the conclusion that the trial
court abuses its discretion when it denies counsel’s request for a continuance
because the client does not want the continuance.
        {¶29} As stated above, the trial court is permitted to consider any other
relevant factors, depending on the unique facts of each case, when determining to
grant or deny a request for a continuance. Unger at 67-68. This could include a
defendant’s opinion of whether a continuance is needed. The trial court is in the best
position to determine whether a defendant understands counsel is requesting a
continuance for the purposes of trial preparation. The trial court is also in the best
position to determine if a defendant understands the implications of disagreeing with
counsel’s advice that a continuance is needed to prepare for trial.
        {¶30} In this case, the record indicates the trial court considered both of those
factors. There is a lengthy discussion on the record about counsel wanting a

        1The McBreen holding has been recently cited by the Second Appellate District. State v.

Reeves, 2d Dist. No. 2015-CA-12, 2016-Ohio-5540, ¶ 17 (stating “’for purposes of trial preparation, a
defendant's statutory right to a speedy trial may be waived, with or without the defendant's consent, by
the defendant's counsel.’ State v. King, 70 Ohio St. 3d 158, 160, 637 N.E.2d 903 (1994). However, ‘[t]o
be effective, an accused's waiver of his or her constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial must
be expressed in writing or made in open court on the record.’ Id. at 158.”).
                                                                                     -9-

continuance for trial preparation and why counsel believed it was needed. Tr. 106-
116. The trial court clearly indicated the 911 recording would be admitted at trial over
the defense’s objection. Tr. 114. On the basis of that ruling, defense counsel stated
a continuance was needed to investigate the 911 recording, find out who made the
call, and determine whether the defense should call that person as a witness. Tr.
109-110, 117. The trial court stated it would have granted the continuance if
Appellant had not opposed it and acknowledged Appellant was aware of the
implications of his decision:

       THE COURT: I think that accurately reflects the record that through no
       fault of the state the 911 tape was just received. Immediately upon
       state’s receipt of that evidence you were notified and provided a copy.
       You did request a continuance. Actually you moved to exclude it. The
       least restrictive sanction, if there were to be any sanction, would not be
       an exclusion of the 911 tape but a reasonable continuance in order for
       you to investigate it. * * * So you’re correct; the motion to exclude that
       911 tape is overruled. Your request for a continuance of the trial would
       have been granted but for Mr. Conyer, Mr. Conyer telling me that he did
       not want a continuance, understanding the impact of that to the case
       and the impact, of course, negatively—

       MR. ZENA [Defense Counsel]:         He listened to it, Your Honor.     He
       listened to the tape.

       THE COURT: And it cuts into your ability to defend him, but knowing
       that he would like to go forward. * * *

Tr. 118-119.
       {¶31} The record also indicates Appellant has a criminal record and
immediately prior to this trial he was convicted and sentenced in the federal system.
This indicates Appellant had some knowledge about the justice system.
                                                                                    -10-

       {¶32} Considering all the above, this court concludes the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in denying the continuance. There might be a situation where a
defendant does not show an understanding of the implications of counsel’s advice
where the denial of a continuance could amount to an abuse of discretion. However,
this is not that case.
       {¶33} Additionally, it is noted, any abuse in denying the continuance is invited
error. It is difficult to disregard the fact that the court indicated a continuance would
be granted; Appellant did not want the continuance; voiced his opposition to the
continuance to the trial court; and the trial court abided by his wishes. “Under the
settled principle of invited error, a litigant may not ‘take advantage of an error which
he himself invited or induced.’” State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 535-536, 747
N.E.2d 765. Thus, Appellant is foreclosed from asserting the trial court abused its
discretion when it did exactly what he wanted the court to do and had knowledge of
the implications of his decision.
       {¶34} In conclusion, this assignment of error is meritless.
                              Third Assignment of Error
       “The trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences as to a single-
transaction felonious assault.”
       {¶35} Appellant argues the felonious assault offenses are allied offense of
similar import, and as such the trial court erred in failing to merge the offenses for
purposes of sentencing. He asserts it was a single transaction and there was not a
separate animus for each offense.
       {¶36} The state disagrees. It contends there was a separate animus for each
victim and as such, the offenses do not merge.
       {¶37} Whether offenses constitute allied offenses of similar import subject to
merger under R.C. 2941.25 is a question of law that appellate courts review de novo.
State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St. 3d 482, 2012-Ohio-5699, ¶ 26-28. The burden is on
the defendant to establish his entitlement to merger. State v. Washington, 137 Ohio
St.3d 427, 2013-Ohio-4982, 999 N.E.2d 661, ¶ 18.
                                                                                     -11-

       {¶38} Appellant did not ask the court to merge the offenses. Thus, the plain
error standard of review applies. State v. Dean, 146 Ohio St. 3d 106, 2015-Ohio-
4347, 54 N.E.3d 80, ¶ 199. Plain error does not exist unless, but for some “obvious”
error committed by the trial court, the outcome of the trial would have been different.
State v. Johnson, 112 Ohio St. 3d 210, 2006-Ohio-6404, ¶ 31. “Notice 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. Long,
53 Ohio St. 2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.
       {¶39} Pursuant to R.C. 2941.25, a trial court shall not impose multiple
punishments for the same criminal conduct:

       (A)     Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
       constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or
       information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant
       may be convicted of only one.

       (B) Where the defendant's conduct constitutes two or more offenses of
       dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more offenses
       of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a separate
       animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain counts for
       all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of them.

R.C. 2941.25.
       {¶40} “In determining whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import
within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts must evaluate three separate factors –
the conduct, the animus, and the import.” State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St. 3d 114, 2015-
Ohio-995, paragraph one of the syllabus.         If any of the following are true, a
defendant's convictions do not merge and he or she may be sentenced for multiple
offenses: “(1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or significance—in other words,
each offense caused separate, identifiable harm, (2) the offenses were committed
separately, or (3) the offenses were committed with separate animus or motivation.”
Id. at ¶ 25.
                                                                                      -12-

       {¶41} The Ruff court explained:

       The defendant's conduct is but one factor to consider when determining
       whether multiple offenses are allied offenses of similar import pursuant
       to R.C. 2941.25(B). One justice in Johnson succinctly explained the
       idea of dissimilar import: “In practice, allied offenses of similar import
       are simply multiple offenses that arise out of the same criminal conduct
       and are similar but not identical in the significance of the criminal
       wrongs committed and the resulting harm.” Johnson, 128 Ohio St. 3d
153, 2010-Ohio-6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061, ¶ 64 (O'Connor, J., concurring
       in judgment). In other words, offenses are not allied offenses of similar
       import if they are not alike in their significance and their resulting harm.

Id. at ¶ 21.
       {¶42} “At its heart, the allied-offense analysis is dependent upon the facts of a
case because R.C. 2941.25 focuses on the defendant's conduct.”                Id. at ¶ 26.
Therefore, the analysis “may result in varying results for the same set of offenses in
different cases.” State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St. 3d 153, 2010-Ohio-6314, ¶ 52,
abrogated in part by Ruff at ¶ 30-33. Evidence presented at trial, during a plea
hearing, or sentencing hearing will reveal whether the offenses have similar import.
Ruff at ¶ 26.
       {¶43} Appellant was charged with felonious assault against two separate
victims. The jury found Appellant guilty of both charges.          Appellant states Ohio
reviewing courts have held felonious assaults that are part of a single occurrence and
do not cause injuries merge for purposes of sentencing.
       {¶44} That argument fails. The Ohio Supreme Court has clearly stated that
when there are multiple victims, a defendant can be convicted of multiple counts. Id.
(“When a defendant's conduct victimizes more than one person, the harm for each
person is separate and distinct, and therefore, the defendant can be convicted of
multiple counts.”). Likewise, this court on numerous occasions has determined if
there is more than one victim then the offenses do not merge. State v. Wright, 7th
                                                                                 -13-

Dist. No. 15 MA 92, 2017-Ohio-1211, ¶ 24; State v. Howard-Ross, 7th Dist. No.
13MA 168, 2016-Ohio-1438, ¶15-17; State v. Toney, 7th Dist. No. 14 MA 0083,
2016-Ohio-3296, ¶ 77-78; State v. White, 7th Dist. No. 14 MA 184, 2015-Ohio-5455,
¶ 20. Therefore, when there are multiple victims merger is not required.
      {¶45} Furthermore, the evidence indicates there was a separate and distinct
harm for each person. Blair and Winphrie had to move the car in order for Appellant
to leave the gathering. Appellant drove past the vehicle as he was leaving 118 Hilton
Avenue and fired 4 or 5 shots at the vehicle. The car had damage from bullets in the
hood of the car, the rear passenger side of the car, and in the passenger door.
State’s Exhibits 2, 3, 4, and 5. Additionally, both the front windshield and passenger
window were damaged from the bullets.        State’s Exhibits 2, 3, 4, and 5.     The
evidence indicates Appellant knew there were two people in the car when he fired the
shots. Thus, the harm for each victim was separate and distinct, and there was a
separate animus for each victim.
      {¶46} Accordingly, the offenses, as committed, are not allied offenses of
similar import. There was no error, plain or otherwise, committed when the trial court
failed to merge the offenses. This assignment of error lacks merit.
                                    Conclusion
      {¶47} All assignments of error are meritless. The convictions are affirmed.

Waite, J., concurs.

DeGenaro, J., concurs.