Court Opinion

ID: 9944646
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-26 18:09:25.15693+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:07.851871
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Godsey, 2024-Ohio-629.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,
                                                          CASE NO. 1-22-59
       PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

       v.

DRAYVONTE M. GODSEY,                                      OPINION

       DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. CR2021 0012

                                      Judgment Affirmed

                           Date of Decision: February 20, 2024

APPEARANCES:

        April F. Campbell for Appellant

        John R. Willamowski, Jr. for Appellee
Case No. 1-22-59

MILLER, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Drayvonte Godsey (“Godsey”), appeals his

convictions in the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. Following a jury trial,

Godsey was found guilty of three offenses: robbery, domestic violence, and having

weapons while under disability. This appeal focuses on his robbery conviction. For

the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I.     FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       {¶2} Godsey and the victim, DeQuaisha Wilson (“Wilson”), have a son

together. On or about January 1, 2021, in Lima, Ohio, Godsey called Wilson to tell

her he was coming over to see their son, but Wilson told him their son was asleep,

thus implying he should not come over. Godsey came to the house anyway, and

Wilson opened the door because she did not want Godsey to break down her door.

       {¶3} According to Wilson’s trial testimony, Godsey came in, put his hands

on her, slapped her, hit her in the face and all over her body, and drug her down the

stairs by the leg while still beating her. Wilson’s phone was right beside her on the

stairs, and Godsey grabbed her phone and left. Wilson testified that she was not

reaching for the phone when Godsey took it (and he did not take it “aggressively”),

but Godsey did grab her phone as he was leaving. Wilson suffered injuries,

including a swollen face. Because Godsey had taken her phone, Wilson had to go

to another location around the corner from her home to call her mother for

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assistance. The phone was later returned to Wilson. Wilson made a report to the

police regarding what had occurred, and she also was interviewed by a detective

about it a few days later.1

         {¶4} The jury convicted Godsey of (1) having weapons while under

disability, in violation of R.C 2923.13(A)(3), a third-degree felony; (2) robbery, in

violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), a second-degree felony; and (3) domestic violence,

in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A), a first-degree misdemeanor.2                                Godsey was

sentenced accordingly for the three offenses. This appeal followed.

II.      ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

         {¶5} Godsey raises four assignments of error for our review:

                                         First Assignment of Error

         The State’s evidence that Godsey committed robbery was legally
         insufficient as a matter of law.

                                       Second Assignment of Error

         The evidence also weighed manifestly against convicting Godsey.

1
  At trial, the court called Wilson as a court witness, without objection. (June 6, 2022 Tr. at 3, 173). Wilson
was the first witness to testify during the trial.
2
  The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two counts of grand theft when the property is a firearm or
dangerous ordnance, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1) and (B)(4). Those two counts, as well as the weapons
under disability charge, arose from a November 2020 incident wholly separate from the January 1, 2021
incident involving the phone. Regarding those two counts, Wilson told police Godsey had taken her two
guns, but at trial she testified she actually had “misplaced the guns”—which “were in a tote” she had given
to Godsey without him knowing the guns were in the tote. (June 6, 2020 Tr. at 185, 190-92, 200).

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                                  Third Assignment of Error

       Godsey’s conviction should be reversed because his trial counsel was
       ineffective in a manner that prejudiced Godsey. Trial counsel failed to
       object to inadmissible hearsay through officers recounting what the
       victim told them. Trial counsel failed to object to inadmissible testimony
       through the detective about his expertise with domestic violence victims,
       despite it being damaging to Godsey’s defense and in violation of
       Crim.R. 16(K). Trial counsel failed to request a theft instruction for
       Godsey’s robbery count.

                              Fourth Assignment of Error

       The Court committed prejudicial error by not instructing the jury on
       the lesser included offense of theft, for Godsey’s robbery count.

III.   DISCUSSION

       A.     First Assignment of Error

       {¶6} In the first assignment of error, Godsey argues the State’s evidence that

he committed robbery was legally insufficient as a matter of law. At trial, Godsey

had moved for acquittal under Crim.R. 29 at the close of the State’s case-in-chief,

and he renewed that motion after deciding not to call witnesses in his defense. The

trial court denied the motions.

              1.     Standard of Review

       {¶7} “A motion for acquittal under Crim.R. 29(A) is governed by the same

standard as the one for determining whether a verdict is supported by sufficient

evidence.” State v. Tenace, 109 Ohio St.3d 255, 2006-Ohio-2417, ¶ 37, citing State

v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 553, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995) and State v. Thompkins,

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78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). A sufficiency challenge disputes

whether a party met its burden of production at trial. State v. Messenger, 171 Ohio

St.3d 227, 2022-Ohio-4562, ¶ 26. “In reviewing a record for sufficiency, ‘[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.’” Tenace at ¶ 37, quoting State v.

Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.

Thus, “[i]n assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, we do not resolve evidentiary

conflicts or assess the credibility of witnesses.” State v. Jackson, 3d Dist. Allen No.

1-22-27, 2023-Ohio-2193, ¶ 26; see also Jenks at 279.

              2.     Applicable Law

       {¶8} As stated above, Godsey was convicted of violating R.C.

2911.02(A)(2). The statute provides:

       (A) No person, in attempting or committing a theft offense or in
       fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, shall do any of the
       following: * * * (2) Inflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict
       physical harm on another[.]

The Committee Comment to the statute explains that “the difference between theft

and robbery is an element of actual or potential harm to persons.”

       {¶9} The statute “expressly predicates every robbery on the elements of a

completed or attempted ‘theft offense,’ including all culpable mental states.” State

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Case No. 1-22-59

v. Tolliver, 140 Ohio St.3d 420, 2014-Ohio-3744, ¶ 8. The applicable theft statute

provides:

       No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services,
       shall knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or
       services * * * [w]ithout the consent of the owner or person authorized
       to give consent[.]

R.C. 2913.02(A)(1). Thus, the culpable mental state for the theft offense here

“includes the mental states of ‘purpose’ and ‘knowingly.’” Tolliver at ¶ 9.

       {¶10} The State is not required to also prove a culpable mental state with

respect to robbery’s physical-harm element in R.C. 2911.02(A)(2)—at least when

the charge involves inflicting or threatening to inflict harm on another, as is the case

here. See id. at ¶ 10, 18, 22 (“[t]he section defining robbery makes clear which

elements of the offense require proof of culpability, and the force element in R.C.

2911.02(A)(3) is not one of them); compare R.C. 2911.02(A)(3) (“[u]se or threaten

the immediate use of force against another”) with R.C. 2911.02(A)(2) (“[i]nflict,

attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict physical harm on another”). Finally, the Ohio

Supreme Court has explained that determinations under the robbery statute are fact-

specific. State v. Thomas, 106 Ohio St.3d 133, 2005-Ohio-4106, ¶ 13 (“[o]ur

conclusion in this case is fact-specific, as all determinations under this statute [R.C.

2911.02(A)] must be”). This case is no exception.

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Case No. 1-22-59

       3.     Analysis

       {¶11} According to Godsey, because he “did not assault Wilson to

accomplish a theft, he should not have been convicted of robbery.” (Appellant’s

Brief at 1). While he concedes he committed assault and was therefore properly

convicted of domestic violence, Godsey argues he did not commit robbery because

he assaulted Wilson and then committed the theft of her phone. (Id. at 8). He also

asserts he “did not possess the specific intent to deprive Wilson of her phone and

did not facilitate depriving Wilson of her phone via the assault.” (Id.)

       {¶12} As an initial matter, the evidence shows Godsey is incorrect in

asserting he did not possess the specific intent to deprive Wilson of her phone. A

rational trier of fact certainly could have found the State proved, beyond a

reasonable doubt, that Godsey committed theft in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1).

Among other evidence, Wilson’s testimony at trial demonstrated that Godsey,

without consent from the injured Wilson, grabbed her phone and left her house with

it (depriving Wilson of both her property and its services).

       {¶13} Regarding Godsey’s allegation he did not intend to assault Wilson in

order to steal her phone, again, the State is not required to prove a culpable mental

state for inflicting physical harm on another. See R.C. 2911.02(A)(2); Tolliver, 140

Ohio St.3d 420, 2014-Ohio-3744, at ¶ 10. The robbery statute does not require the

State to provide evidence that the defendant inflicted physical harm in furtherance

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Case No. 1-22-59

of the purpose to commit the theft offense. Thomas, 106 Ohio St.3d 133, 2005-

Ohio-4106, at ¶ 13 (the robbery statute “plainly does not require” that the force

attendant to the theft offense be inflicted in furtherance of a purpose to deprive

another of property); State v. Stevens, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2020-P-0043, 2021-

Ohio-2643, ¶ 90 (based on Thomas, “the aggravated robbery statute does not require

evidence that [defendant] attempted to inflict serious physical harm in furtherance

of the theft offense”).3

         {¶14} The statute also does not require that the theft precede the physical

harm in order to commit physical-harm robbery. See R.C. 2911.02(A)(2); Stevens,

2021-Ohio-2643, at ¶ 77, 88-91 (rejecting the defendant’s argument that “the state

failed to present sufficient evidence of aggravated robbery because any harm to [the

victim] occurred prior to [defendant’s] alleged theft”); State v. Salvatore, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 49519, 1985 WL 8632, *4-5 (Sept. 26, 1985) (affirming robbery

conviction where, after beating and raping the victim, the defendant then took the

coins that had fallen from the victim’s pocket). In other words, it does not matter

whether Godsey physically harmed Wilson and then committed the theft versus

committed the theft and then physically harmed Wilson.

3
  The relevant portions of the robbery and aggravated robbery statutes, for purposes of this appeal, are
virtually identical. Compare R.C. 2911.02(A)(2) with R.C. 2911.01(A)(3); see also Stevens, 2021-Ohio-
2643, at ¶ 90 (explaining the robbery statute and aggravated robbery statute have similar statutory language).

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Case No. 1-22-59

       {¶15} Instead, the pertinent question becomes: in committing the theft

offense (i.e., depriving Wilson of her phone), did Godsey “[i]nflict, attempt to

inflict, or threaten to inflict physical harm on” Wilson.         R.C. 2911.02(A)(2).

Caselaw and a common sense reading of the robbery statute leads to the conclusion

that a defendant need not “[i]nflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict physical

harm on another” at the exact same instant that the defendant is physically taking

property from its owner in order to be found guilty of physical-harm robbery. Id.

We have previously said so in explaining that “‘simultaneously’ is not an element

of robbery.” State v. Prude, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-90-76, 1991 WL 216794, *3

(Sept. 16, 1991); see also State v. Osie, 140 Ohio St.3d 131, 2014-Ohio-2966, ¶

205-06 (rejecting arguments that “the intent to steal must coincide with the infliction

of physical harm on the victim” and that “physical harm afflicted before the

formation of an intent to commit theft does not elevate a subsequent theft into an

aggravated robbery”). However, the statute does require that a defendant “[i]nflict,

attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict physical harm on another” “in attempting or

committing a theft offense or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense.”

R.C. 2911.02(A)(2).

       {¶16} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the

prosecution, a rational trier of fact could find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that in

committing the theft offense, Godsey inflicted physical harm on Wilson. Id. It is

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Case No. 1-22-59

reasonable to view Wilson’s testimony as proving Godsey inflicted physical harm

on her in committing the theft offense (e.g., Godsey took the phone as he stopped

hitting the battered Wilson, then left). Wilson’s testimony does not show there was

a delay or lapse between Godsey afflicting physical harm on her and taking her

phone. In other words, a jury could reasonable find it was all part of a continuous

event, with the harm and theft taking place in the same immediate period of time.

       {¶17} The evidence here contrasts with, for example, an Eighth District case

where the appellate court found insufficient evidence the defendant committed

aggravated robbery. State v. Madera, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93764, 2010-Ohio-

4884, ¶ 23. In Madera, after the defendant put some of the victim’s money in his

pocket, the victim “sat on the couch for a period of time, and then he and [defendant]

began arguing again” and “[t]he argument escalated into a physical altercation.” Id.

at ¶ 22. The appellate court explained:

       Under these specific facts, we find that the lapse in time between the
       theft and the use of force by Madera on Gould is sufficient to justify
       reversal of Madera’s convictions for aggravated robbery. There was
       enough delay between the two actions that they could not be
       considered contemporaneous nor part of ‘a single continuous
       transaction.’

Id. at ¶ 23, citing State v. McDonald, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 78939, 2001 WL

1671151 (Dec. 6, 2001).

       {¶18} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the

prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of

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Case No. 1-22-59

robbery proven beyond a reasonable doubt here. Godsey’s first assignment of error

is overruled.

       B.       Second Assignment of Error

       {¶19} In the second assignment of error, Godsey argues that, even if the

evidence against him regarding the robbery charge was legally sufficient, his

conviction was against the manifest weight of the evidence. He bases this argument

on contentions that (1) “the only witness who was there, Wilson, testified credibly

that while Godsey took her phone after he committed assault, he did not assault her

to accomplish the theft,” and (2) “[t]he other evidence, introduced by way of the

detectives, was at most impeachment evidence, which the jury could not use

substantively to convict Godsey.” (Appellant’s Brief at 8-9).

                1.   Standard of Review

       {¶20} The “manifest-weight-of-the-evidence standard of review applies to

the state’s burden of persuasion.” Messenger, 171 Ohio St.3d 227, 2022-Ohio-

4562, at ¶ 26. “To evaluate a claim that a jury verdict is against the manifest weight

of the evidence, we review 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 jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest

miscarriage of justice that we must reverse the conviction and order a new trial.”

State v. Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-1562, ¶ 168, citing Thompkins, 78

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Ohio St.3d at 387. Yet, “[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.

              2.     Analysis

       {¶21} For the same reasons we rejected Godsey’s sufficiency-of-the-

evidence argument, we reject Godsey’s manifest-weight-of-the-evidence argument.

See, e.g., Salvatore, 1985 WL 8632, at *4-5 (affirming robbery conviction); Stevens,

2021-Ohio-2643, at ¶ 103-117 (same; aggravated robbery conviction was not

against the manifest weight of the evidence). Having evaluated the claim in

accordance with the standard above, we do not find the jury clearly lost its way and

created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that we must reverse the robbery

conviction and order a new trial.

       {¶22} As shown above, the trial testimony of Wilson—the only eyewitness

to the incident—supports convicting Godsey of physical-harm robbery.

Additionally, based on our review of the trial transcript, we do not agree with

Godsey’s assertion that Wilson testified Godsey did not assault her to accomplish

the theft. On the contrary, her testimony clearly established that Godsey inflicted

physical harm by dragging her down the stairs and by hitting her. Her testimony

also supports that, immediately after this assault, Godsey took her phone and left

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Case No. 1-22-59

the residence. This evidence alone is enough to support Godsey’s conviction

without resorting to the supporting testimony from the responding officer or

detective. Godsey’s second assignment of error is overruled.

       C.     Third Assignment of Error

       {¶23} In the third assignment of error, Godsey argues his trial counsel was

ineffective in a manner that prejudiced him. He submits three instances of alleged

ineffectiveness by his trial counsel: (1) failing to object to inadmissible hearsay

through officers recounting what Wilson told them; (2) failing to object to

inadmissible testimony by the detective who interviewed Wilson about his expertise

with domestic violence victims; and (3) failing to request a theft instruction for

Godsey’s robbery count.

              1.     Standard of Review and Applicable Law

       {¶24} To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, the appellant “must

show (1) deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling below an

objective standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would have been

different.” State v. Tench, 156 Ohio St.3d 85, 2018-Ohio-5205, ¶ 264.

       {¶25} Regarding the first requirement, “[i]n order to show counsel’s conduct

was deficient or unreasonable, the defendant must overcome the presumption that

counsel provided competent representation and must show that counsel’s actions

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were not trial strategies prompted by reasonable professional judgment.” State v.

Houston, 3d Dist. Shelby No. 17-10-06, 2010-Ohio-6070, ¶ 35, citing Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). “Counsel

is entitled to a strong presumption that all decisions fall within the wide range of

reasonable professional assistance.” Id., citing State v. Sallie, 81 Ohio St.3d 673,

675, 693 N.E.2d 267 (1998).        “Tactical or strategic trial decisions, even if

unsuccessful, do not generally constitute ineffective assistance.” Id. at ¶ 36, citing

State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965 (1995). “Rather, the errors

complained of must amount to a substantial violation of counsel’s essential duties

to his client.” Id.

       {¶26} Regarding the second requirement, “[p]rejudice results when ‘there is

a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of

the proceeding would have been different.’” Id., quoting State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio

St.3d 136, 141-42, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989).          “‘A reasonable probability is a

probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Id., quoting

Bradley at 142.

               2.     Analysis

                      i.    Officer and detective testimony regarding what
                            Wilson told them

       {¶27} Godsey first argues his “trial counsel was deficient in [his] consistent

failure to object to substantive hearsay” during the testimony at trial from both the

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Case No. 1-22-59

police officer and detective, “which connected Godsey to the crimes charged, and

[was] highly damaging to Godsey’s defense.” (Appellant’s Brief at 11). For

example, Detective Sean Neidemire (“Detective Neidemire”), who interviewed

Wilson a few days after the January 1, 2021 incident, testified that Wilson was not

completely consistent in what she had told him during the interview and what she

had testified to at trial. Namely, according to Detective Neidemire, Wilson had told

him in the interview that she had been seated on the stairs with her phone beside

her; she reached for her phone; Godsey snatched the phone from her; that is when

he dragged her down the stairs; and then Godsey left Wilson’s residence. (June 6,

2022 Tr. at 228-29).

       {¶28} Even assuming (without deciding) trial counsel was deficient in failing

to object to the testimony at issue, Godsey cannot show prejudice resulted. See State

v. Neyland, 139 Ohio St.3d 353, 2014-Ohio-1914, ¶ 253 (rejecting claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel because, “even if we assume that counsel were

deficient, no prejudice resulted”).    In other words, Godsey has not shown a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the proceeding’s result would

have been different. As shown above in our analysis overruling the first and second

assignments of error, Wilson’s testimony alone was adequate to convict Godsey of

the Robbery offense. In line with our prior analysis, we find that even had the trial

judge sustained an objection from Godsey’s trial counsel, struck the testimony at

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issue from the record, and instructed the jury to totally disregard it (or had the trial

judge permitted the testimony only as impeachment evidence and gave a limiting

instruction to the jury), the State’s evidence established the elements of robbery.

The confidence in the outcome at trial was not undermined. Therefore, we do not

find the failure to object to the testimony at issue constituted ineffective assistance

of counsel. See State v. Reynolds, 80 Ohio St.3d 670, 679, 687 N.E.2d 1358 (1998)

(even though counsel should have objected to certain testimony, counsel’s failure

to object did not rise to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel because

appellant could not show prejudice given that there was “no reasonable probability

that the outcome would have been different”).

                      ii.    Detective testimony regarding his expertise with
                             domestic violence victims

       {¶29} Godsey next argues that his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to

object to alleged expert testimony by someone who did not submit an expert report

(i.e., by someone not disclosed as an expert). Specifically, Godsey points to

Detective Neidemire’s testimony in which he allegedly “opine[s] about the

credibility of [Wilson’s] statements to the jury”—“claiming that it was typical of

victims of domestic violence to be ‘scared’ to testify’” and “‘afraid of the person

that’s assaulted them,” opining that “Wilson was ‘minimizing things,’” and

“vouch[ing] for the credibility of the first statements she made to the police.”

(Appellant’s Brief at 15, quoting June 6, 2022 Tr. at 231-32). According to Godsey,

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all of this testimony was expert testimony and, because Detective Neidemire did not

submit an expert report in accordance with Crim.R. 16, the testimony would have

been precluded at Godsey’s trial if not for his counsel’s ineffectiveness.

       {¶30} Even assuming (without deciding) that Detective Neidemire’s

testimony was improper, the failure to object to such testimony did not constitute

ineffective assistance of counsel.      Detective Neidemire’s testimony was not

prejudicial for the same reason the officer and detective testimony regarding what

Wilson told them in the police report and police interview was not prejudicial. We

find that, even had the trial judge sustained an objection from Godsey’s trial counsel,

struck the testimony from the record, and instructed the jury to totally disregard it,

it would not have made a difference. The confidence in the outcome at trial was not

undermined. Godsey “cannot show a reasonable probability that the alleged error

resulted in prejudice.” Tench, 156 Ohio St.3d 85, 2018-Ohio-5205, at ¶ 275.

                     iii.    Failure to request instruction on the lesser-included
                             offense of theft

       {¶31} Finally, Godsey argues ineffective assistance of counsel because his

trial counsel “did not request a theft instruction, despite it being a lesser included

offense to robbery.” (Appellant’s Brief at 16). This argument fails the first

requirement to establish ineffective assistance of counsel: deficient performance by

counsel. Godsey cannot show that his trial “counsel’s actions were not trial

strategies prompted by reasonable professional judgment.” Houston, 2010-Ohio-

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Case No. 1-22-59

6070, at ¶ 35. Again, “[c]ounsel is entitled to a strong presumption that all decisions

fall within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance,” and Godsey cannot

overcome that presumption regarding his trial counsel’s decision not to request a

theft instruction. Id.

       {¶32} The evidence at trial that Godsey committed theft was strong. The

evidence that he employed physical harm in committing the theft was a central issue

for the jury to decide. The trial transcript demonstrates Godsey’s trial counsel knew

this, focusing his argument to the jury on the timing of the theft and physical harm—

not whether there was a theft. Specifically, defense counsel told the jury: “timing

is pretty much everything in this case, the timing of the theft [of the phone] and the

assault.” (June 7, 2022 Tr. at 321). If the jury had agreed with defense counsel’s

arguments at trial regarding the robbery charge, then not only would Godsey have

been acquitted of robbery, but he would have avoided any potential conviction for

theft. In other words, it is apparent Godsey’s trial counsel pursued a complete

acquittal defense strategy at trial. Therefore, although ultimately unsuccessful, it

was not an unreasonable trial tactic for Godsey’s trial counsel not to request an

instruction on the lesser-included theft offense. See State v. Griffie, 74 Ohio St.3d

332, 333, 658 N.E.2d 764 (1996) (“[f]ailure to request instructions on lesser-

included offenses is a matter of trial strategy and does not establish ineffective

assistance of counsel”), citing State v. Clayton, 62 Ohio St.2d 45, 402 N.E.2d 1189

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(1980); see also State v. Blanton, 4th Dist. Adams No. 16CA1035, 2018-Ohio-1278,

¶ 128 (rejecting ineffective assistance of counsel argument; “[o]ften times, with

respect to ‘lesser-included offenses,’ defense counsel will make the strategic

decision not to request a lesser-included offense jury instruction in the hopes that

the jury will outright acquit the defendant on the charged offense, having not been

given the option to find guilt as to the lesser-included offense”).

       {¶33} Godsey’s third assignment of error is overruled.

       D.     Fourth Assignment of Error

       {¶34} In the fourth assignment of error, Godsey submits the trial court

committed prejudicial error by not instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense

of theft for the robbery count. He contends the trial court should have instructed the

jury on the lesser-included theft offense because the facts support a reasonable

conclusion that Godsey committed theft but not robbery. The parties do not dispute

theft is a lesser-included offense for physical-harm robbery under R.C.

2911.02(A)(2).

              1.      Standard of Review and Applicable Law

       {¶35} As shown in the third assignment of error, Godsey acknowledges his

trial counsel did not request a lesser-included theft instruction to robbery. It follows

that Godsey’s trial counsel also never objected to the court’s alleged failure to

instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense. Given this background, our review

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is limited to plain error. Crim.R. 30(A) (“[o]n appeal, a party may not assign as

error the giving or the failure to give any instructions unless the party objects before

the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter objected to and

the grounds of the objection”); State v. Skatzes, 104 Ohio St.3d 195, 2004-Ohio-

6391, ¶ 52 (defendant-appellant’s “failure to object to the instructions waives all but

plain error”); Clayton, 62 Ohio St.2d at 46 (reviewing for plain error whether the

trial court erred in failing to instruct on lesser-included offenses, where defendant’s

trial counsel had not raised an objection).

       {¶36} To qualify for plain-error relief, the appellant must establish: (1)

occurrence of an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal rule; (2) the error was plain, i.e.,

it was an obvious defect in the trial proceedings; and (3) the error affected the

appellant’s substantial rights, meaning the error “must have affected the outcome of

the trial.” State v. Morgan, 153 Ohio St.3d 196, 2017-Ohio-7565, ¶ 36. Yet, even

when an appellant establishes those three prongs, “[n]otice of plain error under

CrimR. 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; see also

Morgan, 2017-Ohio-7565, at ¶ 37; State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015-Ohio-

2459, ¶ 23 (“even if an accused shows that the trial court committed plain error

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affecting the outcome of the proceeding, an appellate court is not required to correct

it”).

               2.     Analysis

        {¶37} Plain error is not present here. The trial “court’s failure to provide jury

instructions on lesser-included or inferior-degree offenses does not amount to plain

error ‘[w]hen the decision not to request a particular jury instruction may be deemed

to be part of a reasonable trial strategy.’” State v. Lloyd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

109128, 2021-Ohio-1808, ¶ 41, quoting State v. Mohamed, 151 Ohio St.3d 320,

2017-Ohio-7468, ¶ 27. “‘Put differently, a trial court does not commit plain error

in failing to provide an unrequested jury instruction where the decision to not

request the instruction could be considered trial strategy.’” Id., quoting State v.

Jones, 4th Dist. Ross No. 16CA3574, 2018-Ohio-239, ¶ 27.

        {¶38} As shown in our third assignment of error, Godsey’s counsel did not

request a lesser-included theft instruction to robbery and it is apparent Godsey’s trial

counsel pursued a complete acquittal defense strategy at trial regarding the robbery

count. Again, this was a reasonable trial strategy. Therefore, the trial court did not

commit plain error in not providing the jury with the unrequested instruction. Lloyd

at ¶ 42 (“[h]aving determined that counsel’s decision not to request a jury instruction

on the lesser-included or inferior-degree offenses fell within a reasonable trial

strategy, we find the trial court did not commit plain error in failing to provide the

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Case No. 1-22-59

jury the unrequested instructions”); State v. Burks, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27423,

2015-Ohio-1246, ¶ 7 (“in light of [defendant’s trial] counsel’s decision not to

request lesser-included-offense instructions, the trial court’s failure to give them

does not amount to plain error”); Clayton, 62 Ohio St.2d at 47-48 (the fact that the

jury only received instructions on the charged offense did not amount to plain error).

         {¶39} Godsey’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

IV.      CONCLUSION

         {¶40} For the foregoing reasons, Godsey’s assignments of error are

overruled. Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars

assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the Allen County Court of Common

Pleas.

                                                                Judgment Affirmed.

ZIMMERMAN, J. and HESS, J., concur.

** Judge Michael D. Hess of the Fourth District Court of Appeals, sitting by
Assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

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