Court Opinion

ID: 4190596
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-28 16:12:44.826045+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:42.077121
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Bohanna, 2017-Ohio-7003.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                     LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                     JUDGES:
                                                  Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee                        Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                                                  Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-
                                                  Case No. 16-CA-81
DANIEL N. BOHANNA

        Defendant-Appellant                       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                      Appeal from the Licking County Court of
                                              Common Pleas, Case No. 15 CR 775

JUDGMENT:                                     Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                        July 27, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                        For Defendant-Appellant

WILLIAM C. HAYES                              STEPHEN T. WOLFE
Licking County Prosecutor                     Wolfe Law Group, LLC
                                              1350 W. 5th Ave., Suite 124
By: PAULA M. SAWYERS                          Columbus, Ohio 43212
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
20 S. Second Street, Fourth Floor
Newark, Ohio 43055
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                            2

Hoffman, J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-appellant Daniel N. Bohanna appeals his conviction and

sentence entered by the Licking County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-appellee is the

state of Ohio.

                             STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}     Appellant and S.H. lived together in Pataskala, Ohio for eight years. The

parties share three children.

        {¶3}     On November 16, 2015, Appellant and S.H. drove to London Correctional

Institution. S.H. waited in the car while Appellant was on a tour of the institution. When

Appellant returned to the vehicle, he accused S.H. of cheating on him, hitting her in the

head as they drove home. S.H. attempted to leave the vehicle, but Appellant threatened

to kill her.

        {¶4}     Upon arrival at their residence, Appellant closed the garage door with the

vehicle running. S.H. alleges Appellant forced her to engage in sexual intercourse. He

then forced her to perform oral sex on him. Appellant continued to beat S.H. using his

fists, feet and wooden boards found in the garage.

        {¶5}     On November 17, 2015, S.H. called the Pataskala Police Department. Upon

arrival at the residence, S.H. told the officers Appellant beat her for three hours and raped

her multiple times. S.H. had visible black eyes and bruising on her arm. S.H. told the

officers Appellant became angry while they were driving home, hitting her. She tried to

jump out of the vehicle, but Appellant threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. Upon their

arrival at the residence, Appellant pulled into the garage, and began to punch and kick
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                         3

her. He then shut the garage door and turned on the car. S.H. suffered deadly levels of

carbon monoxide poisoning. Appellant then beat her with bunk bed boards, forced her to

remove her clothes and engaged in sexual intercourse multiple times. S.H. told the

officers Appellant later used his iPhone to search methods for reducing swelling and

making bruises disappear quickly.

          {¶6}   S.H. was transported by emergency squad to the hospital. The treating

physician documented bruising on S.H.’s body, including a black eye, bruising around her

mouth, ear, legs, arms, chests, ribs and back, as well as, dried blood in her ear. S.H. was

determined to have suffered from acute carbon monoxide poisoning. A rape kit was

collected and tested.

          {¶7}   On November 20, 2015, a warrant was issued for Appellant’s arrest.1

          {¶8}   On November 25, 2015, Appellant was indicted on two counts of rape, in

violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), felonies of the first degree; one count of kidnapping, in

violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) and/or (3) and/or (4), a felony of the first degree; and one

count of felonious assault, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and/or (2), a second degree

felony.

          {¶9}   On November 30, 2015, a search warrant was issued for Appellant’s iPhone

seized incident to his arrest.

          {¶10} On June 21, 2016, Appellant indicated he wished to proceed pro se, and

the trial court appointed stand-by counsel.

          {¶11} On July 1, 2016, Appellant filed a motion entitled Request to Seek Leave of

the Court. The motion sought leave to file pretrial motions due to issues created by prior

1
    Appellant’s iPhone was seized incident to his arrest.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                          4

counsel. On the same date, Appellant filed a motion entitled Motion to Strike State’s

Request to Preclude Sexual Conduct.2

       {¶12} On July 7, 2016, Appellant filed a motion to modify the charge of felonious

assault based upon defects in the charge.

       {¶13} On July 12, 2016, the trial court, via Judgment Entry, denied Appellant’s

motion for leave, as a blanket motion, finding Appellant had not served the motion(s) upon

any other party in the case, pursuant to Criminal Rule 49.

       {¶14} On July 21, 2016, Appellant filed a notice to the court requesting review of

all photo and media evidence.3,   4   On the same date, Appellant filed a motion to compel

the State to comply with discovery, a motion pertaining to the State’s certification of non-

disclosure, a response to the State’s amended motion for shield hearing or protective

order, and a motion to modify the charge of felonious assault based on defects to the

charge.

       {¶15} On August 19, 2016, Appellant filed a motion to dismiss case and request

for discharge of case due to delay in trial. Appellant argued his initial arrest was pursuant

to a defective charge of felonious assault, he was not read his Miranda rights, and the

existence of two agency case numbers. The State filed a response to the motion on

August 24, 2016.

2
  On July 6, 2016, the State filed a motion for an order requiring Appellant to comply with
Criminal Rule 49. Specifically, the State argued Appellant failed to serve the State of Ohio
with his pro se motions. The State filed an objection to the trial court granting a blanket
leave to file.
3
  The request indicates service on the State of Ohio via regular U.S. Mail.
4
  The request includes review of videos downloaded from Appellant’s cell phone, and the
download of the cell phone.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                        5

      {¶16} On August 31, 2016, Appellant filed a request for oral hearing on or before

the day of trial, and response to the State’s response to the Defendant’s motion to dismiss

case and request for discharge of case due to delay in trial.

      {¶17} Via Judgment Entry of August 31, 2016, the trial court ordered Appellant

may inquire of the victim’s sexual activity with him during the time frame from which

semen would be present, but no further. Appellant was permitted to question the victim

concerning their children and the circumstances in which she lives. The trial court further

overruled Appellant’s motion to dismiss the indictment due to alleged defects.5 6

      {¶18} The matter proceeded to jury trial. Via Judgment Entry of September 9,

2016, Appellant was convicted on all four counts, and the trial court imposed sentence.7

The trial court issued a nunc pro tunc entry on September 22, 2016.

      {¶19} Appellant appeals, assigning as error:

      {¶20} I. THE COURT ERRED WHEN IT ALLOWED IMPERMISSIBLE

HEARSAY TESTIMONY.

      {¶21} II. THE COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO ADDRESS THE

APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS PRIOR TO TRIAL.

      {¶22} III. THE JURY’S VERDICTS WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.

5
  The trial court further overruled Appellant’s motions with regard to speedy trial, jury
instruction, and discovery. The court overruled stand-by counsel’s request for withdrawal.
6
  The trial court’s August 31, 2016 Judgment Entry indicates the trial court felt it was
necessary to have the hearing on the record and in open court as there were many other
motions and issues to be resolved prior to the trial being conducted in less than eight
days.
7
  As Appellant has not assigned as error the sentence imposed by the trial court, we
summarily state the procedural history relative to sentencing.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                           6

       {¶23} IV. THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL WAS INSUFFICIENT

TO SUPPORT THE CONVICTIONS.

                                                 I.

       {¶24} In the first assignment of error, Appellant maintains the trial court erred in

allowing the testimony of the sexual assault nurse practitioner as impermissible hearsay.

       {¶25} Hearsay is defined as “a statement, other than one made by the declarant

while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter

asserted.” Evid.R. 801(C). Pursuant to Evid.R. 802, hearsay is inadmissible unless it falls

within an exception provided by the rules of evidence.

       {¶26} Evid.R. 803(4) allows, as an exception to the hearsay rule, the admission

of “[s]tatements made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describing

medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the inception or

general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent

to diagnosis or treatment.” The staff notes to the rule provide in pertinent part:

              The circumstantial guaranty of trustworthiness of this exception is

       derived from the assumption that a person will be truthful about his physical

       condition to a physician because of the risk of harmful treatment resulting

       from untruthful statements. * * * The exception is limited to those statements

       made by the patient which are reasonably pertinent to an accurate

       diagnosis and should not be a conduit through which matters of no medical

       significance would be admitted.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                        7

      Staff Notes to Evid.R. 803(4).

      {¶27} “The test under Evid.R. 803(4) goes solely to whether a statement was

made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment. If a statement is made for purposes

of diagnosis or treatment, it is admissible pursuant to Evid.R. 803(4).” State v. Dever, 64

Ohio St.3d 401, 414, 1992–Ohio–41, 596 N.E.2d 436.

      {¶28} In State v. Rose, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011–11–214, 2012–Ohio–5607,

the court explained at ¶ 42:

             In sexual assault cases such as the case at bar, there is often

      testimony from a sexual assault nurse. Similar to the dual role of a social

      worker interviewing a child who may be a victim of sexual abuse, these

      nurses often perform a dual role involving both medical diagnosis and

      treatment and the investigation and gathering of evidence. See State v.

      Arnold, 126 Ohio St.3d 290, 2010–Ohio–2742, ¶ 33, 933 N.E.2d 775

      (acknowledging the dual role of the social worker in interviewing a child who

      may be a victim of sexual abuse from both an investigatory and medical

      perspective). Only those statements made for the purpose of diagnosis and

      treatment are admissible under Evid.R. 803(4). See Arnold at ¶ 28; State v.

      Muttart, 116 Ohio St.3d 5, 2007–Ohio–5267, ¶ 47, 875 N.E.2d 944.

      Accordingly, the salient inquiry when determining whether a hearsay

      statement is admissible under Evid.R. 803(4), is whether the statement was

      made for purposes of diagnosis or treatment rather than for some other
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                      8

       purpose. See Muttart at ¶ 47. One such “other purpose” is the gathering of

       forensic information to investigate and potentially prosecute a defendant.

       Arnold at ¶ 33. To the extent that a victim's statement to a nurse is for

       investigative purposes in furtherance of such criminal prosecution, the

       statements will not fall within the hearsay exception under Evid.R. 803(4).

       {¶29} Dr. Justin Adkins, the treating emergency department physician at Mount

Carmel East, testified S.H. disclosed the sexual assault as part of her treatment for

injuries. Tr. at 307. He stated his job was to evaluate her injuries, and provide medical

treatment. Dr. Adkins testified,

              Q. Okay. What did you do at that point after determining the carbon

       monoxide level and what needed to be done to treat her?

              A. The normal process in the ER was that basically I placed her on

       oxygen to get her level down and monitored that to make sure it was going

       down appropriately, and then, after her imaging came back and there was

       no major injuries, I just allowed the process of the – police and the SANE

       nurse to collect evidence and everything and proceed.

       Tr. at 311.

       {¶30} S.H. was then referred to SANE nurse, Anna Kiser, for further evaluation.

Kiser testified as part of her examination she documented S.H.’s story and injuries. S.H.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                          9

described vaginal intercourse as part of the incident; therefore, Kiser conducted a sexual

assault evaluation kit. Kiser completed a rape kit, which was subsequently locked in a

filing cabinet for pick up by the police department. Kiser testified the SANE examination

lasted several hours due to the extensive injuries sustained. S.H., despite pain

medication, could not sit, stand or lay in one position due to significant pain. Tr. at 608.

       {¶31} The SANE evaluation was not used as part of Appellant’s subsequent

diagnosis and treatment. The record reflects S.H. spent the night in the hospital due to

carbon monoxide exposure, but was not evaluated again by Dr. Adkins. The record does

not reflect the SANE evaluation was subsequently provided to a medical doctor for further

diagnosis or medical treatment. Rather, Dr. Adkins testified S.H. was released after he

left his shift for the day. Tr. at 345. Accordingly, the testimony of Kiser was testimonial,

and not for the purpose of medical treatment and diagnosis. We find the trial court erred

in allowing the testimony as impermissible hearsay.

       {¶32} However, we find any error in the admission of the testimony was harmless.

The majority of Kiser’s testimony was duplicative of testimony of other witnesses,

including S.H. herself. The jury had ample evidence from numerous witnesses apart from

the impermissible hearsay testimony of Kiser upon which to base its verdict. See Shepard

v. United States (1933), 290 U.S. 96, 98, 54 S.Ct. 22, 23, 78 L.Ed. 196, 198 (Cardozo,

J.).

       {¶33} The first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                 II.

       {¶34} In the second assignment of error, Appellant asserts the trial court erred in

failing to address Appellant’s motion to suppress prior to trial.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                           10

       {¶35} Initially, we note, upon review of the record, Appellant did not assert a

motion to suppress his iPhone seized during his arrest, prior to trial. Appellant filed various

pretrial motions, none moving the trial court to suppress the iPhone.

       {¶36} Appellant, who proceeded pro se before the trial court, cites his August 31,

2016 motion requesting an oral hearing and responding to the State’s response to

Appellant’s motion to dismiss. Upon review, we find the August 31, 2016 “request” does

not challenge the admission of Appellant’s iPhone. Rather, Appellant claims the case

number contained on the BCI reports is in error and is evidence of untruthfulness and

inaccuracies. In addition, Appellant claimed his standby trial counsel appointed by the

trial court had not provided significant legal assistance. We do not find the August 31,

2016 filing tantamount to a motion to suppress the iPhone seized incident to Appellant’s

arrest or the warrant to search the downloaded files.

       {¶37} Prior to the commencement of trial, the following exchange occurred,

              MR. BOHANNA: My question is that evidence, any evidence from my

       iPhone should be—

              THE COURT: Are you asking that that not be allowed in?

              MR. BOHANNA: Yes, sir.

              ***

              [PROSECUTOR]: As to the iPhone, one, it’s—that would be a motion

       to suppress. That has not been brought before the Court in a timely manner.

       There was no motion for leave. It’s not addressed in this latest motion to

       dismiss.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                         11

              Secondly, also provided in the discovery was a search warrant for

       the download of that iPhone, Your Honor, that the Court had already

       addressed. So, again, that would more appropriately be a motion to

       suppress.

              MR. BOHANNA: And that’s what I stated at the beginning, Your

       Honor. I know it would be a suppression- evidence of suppression, but it

       correlates with all the other issues that I wanted to talk to you about, about

       the—

              THE COURT: Well, I’ll overrule your motion to request your iPhone

       seizure or evidence seized from the iPhone.

       Tr. at 47-49.

       {¶38} At trial, S.H. testified Appellant googled how to fix bruises or lessen swelling

on his iPhone. Tr. at 207.

       {¶39} Upon review, we find the trial court did not error in overruling Appellant’s

motion to suppress orally asserted on the day of trial. Appellant failed to timely raise the

issue before the trial court. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Appellant’s request to suppress the iPhone evidence.

       {¶40} The second assignment of error is overruled.

                                            III. and IV.

       {¶41} The third and fourth assignments of error raise common and interrelated

issues; therefore, we will address the arguments together.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                         12

       {¶42} In determining whether a verdict is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the appellate court acts as a thirteenth juror and “in reviewing the entire record,

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

and determines whether in resolving conflicts in evidence the jury ‘clearly lost its way and

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

a new trial ordered.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 1997–Ohio–52, 678

N.E.2d 541, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1983).

       {¶43} An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence

is to determine 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. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492,

paragraph two of the syllabus (1991).

       {¶44} Appellant was convicted of two counts of rape, in violation of R.C.

2907.02(A)(2), one count of kidnapping, in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) and/or (3)

and/or (4), and one count of felonious assault, in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and/or

(2).

       {¶45} Appellant assigns as error a manifest weight and sufficiency challenge as

to his conviction for felonious assault. Appellant does not challenge his convictions on

two counts of rape or one count of kidnapping. Therefore, we limit our analysis to the

argument raised as to the charge of felonious assault.

       {¶46} R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and (2) define felonious assault as,

              (A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                       13

              (1) Cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn;

              (2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to

        another's unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.

        {¶47} A “deadly weapon” is defined as “any instrument, device, or thing capable

of inflicting death, and designed for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as

a weapon.” R .C. 2923.11(A). (Emphasis added.) The statute is written in the conjunctive.

Therefore, the item must meet both parts of the definition: it must not only be capable of

inflicting death, it also must be either “designed for use as a weapon,” or possessed,

carried, or “used” as a weapon. The word “weapon” is not otherwise statutorily defined,

but commonly means an item that is used in “combat.” The way in which the item is

employed is thus the key. State v. Sommerfield, Cuyahoga Co. No. 84154, 2004-Ohio-

6101.

        {¶48} At trial, the State presented evidence the board used by Appellant during

the commission of the felonious assault was capable of causing death and serious

physical harm. Tr. at 325-326. In addition, it was a question of fact for the jury to

determine whether the wooden board used by Appellant was a deadly weapon within the

definition of R.C. 2923.11(A). We would not be inclined to alter the conclusion of the jury

upon this issue even if we were permitted to do so. State v. Pope, Logan Co. No. 8-89-

19, (1990). Appellant utilized the board as a weapon, which was capable of inflicting death

and serious physical harm.

        {¶49} S.H. testified at trial Appellant began punching her in the head immediately

upon leaving the tour. Appellant continued to punch S.H. in the head, back, ribs and face
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                       14

while driving home. Tr. at 200. Upon nearing their residence, S.H. testified she tried to

exit the vehicle, but upon reaching for the door handle, Appellant grabbed the back of her

hair, threatening to kill her. Tr. at 200.

       {¶50} At the residence, Appellant drove into the garage and closed the garage

door. He kicked S.H. several times, pulled her from the car, and continued to kick her in

the ribs, head and chest. Appellant told S.H. to stand up and take off her clothes. He then

hit her in the back with bunk bed boards, until the wood began breaking. Tr. at 202.

       {¶51} Appellant told S.H. to put her hands on the trunk of the car, and proceeded

to engage in vaginal intercourse with her. Appellant then ordered S.H. to get on her knees

and perform fellatio. When she would not open her mouth, Appellant punched her in the

mouth. He then forced himself into her mouth, until she vomited. Tr. at 203-205. S.H.

testified the encounter lasted approximately two to three hours. Tr. at 208.

       {¶52} The next morning, Appellant left for school and S.H. had difficulty breathing.

She went to a neighbors to call 911, as Appellant had taken her phone. Tr. at 208-209.

       {¶53} Dr. Justin Adkins testified at trial S.H. presented to the emergency

department seeking medical care. Dr. Adkins stated, “it appeared she had been assaulted

fairly severely.” Tr. at 306. She had obvious bruising on her face, multiple bruises on her

body, and was visibly upset. Dr. Adkins noted S.H. had bruising and swelling to the left of

her face, and her left eye. Tr. at 306. He further testified to her carbon monoxide

poisoning, as dangerously high. S.H.’s chest pain could have been caused by the carbon

monoxide or the chest wall injury she sustained. Tr. at 311. Dr. Adkins described the

bruising to S.H.’s back as about the size of a basketball. Tr. at 321. S.H. presented to

the emergency room with severe pain. Tr. at 323.
Licking County, Case No. 16-CA-81                                                       15

      {¶54} Dr. Adkins, and the treating SANE nurse testified at trial as to the medical

examination of S.H. and the significant injuries sustained.

      {¶55} The weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are left to the

sound discretion of the trier of fact. We find there was competent, credible evidence

presented by the State to find Appellant committed the offense of felonious assault

beyond a reasonable doubt.

      {¶56} The third and fourth assignments of error are overruled.

      {¶57} Appellant’s convictions and sentence entered by the Licking County Court

of Common Pleas are affirmed.

By: Hoffman, J.

Delaney, P.J. and

Baldwin, J. concur