Court Opinion

ID: 2707370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-05 13:29:44.719377+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:43.649558
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Bowden, 2014-Ohio-158.]

                                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                               ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                   ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO,                                 :        OPINION

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,           :
                                                        CASE NO. 2013-A-0040
        - vs -                                 :

SHARRON L. BOWDEN,                             :

                 Defendant-Appellant.          :

Criminal Appeal from the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2012
CR 742.

Judgment: Affirmed.

Thomas L. Sartini, Ashtabula County Prosecutor and Shelley M. Pratt, Assistant
Prosecutor, Ashtabula County Courthouse, 25 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH
44047 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Thomas Rein, Leader Building, #940, 526 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 (For
Defendant-Appellant).

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-appellant, Sharron L. Bowden, appeals his conviction, following

a jury trial, for Felonious Assault. The issues before this court are whether it was

reversible error for police officers to give opinion testimony that Bowden was involved in

the assault; whether it was reversible error to allow an officer to testify that Bowden was

originally arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant; whether it was reversible

error for the court to prohibit the defense from inquiring about possible rape allegations;
and whether the conviction was supported by the sufficiency and the weight of the

evidence when based solely on the victim’s testimony. For the following reasons, we

affirm the decision of the court below.

       {¶2}   On January 17, 2013, Bowden was indicted by the Ashtabula County

Grand Jury on a single count of Felonious Assault, a felony of the second degree in

violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1). As charged in the Indictment, Bowden, “[o]n or about

[November 17, 2012], in the City of Ashtabula * * * did knowingly cause serious physical

harm to * * * Erin Lesneski * * *.”

       {¶3}   On January 25, 2013, Bowden entered a plea of not guilty.

       {¶4}   On May 6 and 7, 2013, a jury trial was held. The following witnesses

appeared and gave testimony on behalf of the State:

       {¶5}   Erin Lesneski testified that, on November 17, 2012, she had planned to

attend a fish fry with her friend, Akiya Jackson. Instead, Lesneski was driven by a

friend, named Jack, to Bowden’s residence on West 38th Street, off Station Avenue.

Lesneski had dated Bowden for “a couple weeks” in October, and did not feel

comfortable being there. Initially, Lesneski remained in Jack’s car, but went inside after

Bowden assured her that “you’re okay” and “no problems.”

       {¶6}   There were several persons at the residence drinking alcohol. Lesneski

admitted to being intoxicated. Bowden introduced his “new girlfriend” to Lesneski as

Amy (later identified as Alexis Lou Newsome). Lesneski had met Amy previously at

Bowden’s residence and they “didn’t really care for each other.”

       {¶7}   At some point in the evening, Lesneski went upstairs to use the bathroom.

As she was returning downstairs, Jack called Lesneski into an upstairs bedroom and

                                            2
“tried to entice [her] into bed.”   Lesneski asked that she be driven to the fish fry.

Bowden entered the bedroom and began yelling at Lesneski because “something

wasn’t right” with curtains or blinds in the bedroom and Bowden “was very particular

about his mother’s house.” When he saw Jack in the bedroom, Bowden began to call

Lesneski “vulgar names,” shoved her, and pulled her pants (blue jeans) completely off.

Amy entered the bedroom and “everybody * * * started arguing.”

       {¶8}   At this point, Lesneski “tried to leave.” Bowden pushed Lesneski down the

stairs, and he and Amy began “punching and kicking” her. Lesneski crawled out the

front door while Bowden was “yelling things” at her and threw something. Outside,

Lesneski stood up and began running and walking toward U.S. Route 20. Lesneski was

“bleeding * * * severely,” had an eye swollen shut, “could barely breathe,” and was

“staggering because [she] was beaten so severely.”

       {¶9}   Lesneski was able to flag down a police cruiser. She directed the officer

to Bowden’s house but, initially, only identified Amy as the assailant “because [she] was

upset, * * * scared, and * * * hysterical.” Lesneski was eventually taken to MetroHealth

Medical Center in Cleveland, where she was treated for multiple hematomas around her

head, a broken nose, and cervical sprain.

       {¶10} Akiya Jackson testified that she had planned to meet Lesneski at a fish

fry, but that Lesneski never arrived.

       {¶11} Patrolman Christopher Defina of the Ashtabula Police Department testified

that, on the evening of November 17, 2012, he was located at West 43rd Street and

Route 20 when he noticed a woman “stumbling down the sidewalk,” “her face covered

in blood,” and wearing “what appeared * * * a black dress.” Lesneski was hysterical and

                                            3
advised Defina that she had been assaulted by a girl named Amy at Bowden’s

residence.    After an ambulance arrived for Lesneski, Defina went to Bowden’s

residence at 623 West 38th Street, accompanied by other police officers.

       {¶12} Outside, Patrolman Defina found a black jacket in the driveway, noticed

blood on the front storm door, and was advised of a light being turned on and off

upstairs. Defina knocked on the front door and, after about fifteen to twenty minutes,

Bowden opened the door. Bowden did not comply with Defina’s order to step outside.

Another officer arrested Bowden and Defina entered the residence. In the upstairs

bedroom, Defina noted that the blinds were disrupted, there was a pair of blue jeans

(inside out) on the floor, and a small refrigerator had blood on its door. Defina also

noted that a handrail on the stairs was pulled out of the wall.

       {¶13} The following day, Patrolman Defina interviewed Bowden. According to

Bowden, Lesneski was having sex with Jack Patton upstairs and came downstairs “half

naked” and “flaunting her stuff.” Lesneski’s conduct made Newsome jealous so she

“beat up the victim.” Beyond this, Bowden “didn’t really say much about it.” Defina

found no evidence of a struggle occurring in the downstairs living room, which he

described as “very orderly.” Defina noted that Bowden had a scratch on the side of his

neck, which Bowden claimed Newsome had given him prior to Lesneski’s arrival.

       {¶14} Lieutenant Dennis Dibble of the Ashtabula Police Department testified

that, on the evening of November 17, 2012, he assisted Patrolman Defina’s

investigation of the assault on Lesneski. Dibble described Bowden’s demeanor on the

night in question as “very agitated, giving a hard time, * * * “[t]elling [the officers] that

[they] didn’t have a right to be there.”

                                             4
       {¶15} Inside Bowden’s residence, Lieutenant Dibble found Newsome hiding

underneath a bed in the basement. In an upstairs bedroom, he noted “some blood on a

* * * bedspread,” “curtains ripped down,” “blood * * * on a small refrigerator by the bed,”

and “Ms. Lesneski’s other shoe in the same bedroom along with her pants, which were

inside out.” Dibble also observed “a handrail in the hallway which had been ripped from

the wall.”

       {¶16} Patrolman Jason Erwin of the Ashtabula Police Department testified that

he assisted Patrolman Defina and Lieutenant Dibble in the investigation of the assault.

Early on the morning of November 18, 2012, Erwin interviewed Bowden.                In this

interview, Bowden stated that Lesneski had arrived at his residence with Jack Patton

and that, during the course of the evening, they had gone upstairs to have sex. At

some point, Bowden went upstairs and noticed that a curtain rod had been knocked off

the wall in the bedroom. Bowden told Lesneski to fix it and she refused. During this

exchange, Newsome “came upstairs and the two females started arguing, and that

escalated into a physical fight.”

       {¶17} Patrolman Erwin noted that “there was a scrape or scratch on [Bowden’s]

neck that was still fresh,” which Bowden claimed “happened between him and his girl,”

i.e., Newsome.

       {¶18} Later that morning, Patrolman Erwin interviewed Lesneski upon her

release from MetroHealth.       In this interview, she claimed that both Bowden and

Newsome had assaulted her.

       {¶19} That evening, Patrolman Erwin interviewed Bowden a second time with

Patrolman Defina present. On this occasion, Bowden stated that the incident happened

                                            5
downstairs and that he watched the fight from the living room couch. When asked

about the blood in the upstairs bedroom, Bowden stated that Lesneski “must have gone

upstairs to look for her pants.”

       {¶20} At the close of the State’s case, Bowden moved the trial court for acquittal,

which the court denied.

       {¶21} The jury returned a guilty verdict for Felonious Assault.

       {¶22} On June 27, 2013, the trial court issued its Judgment Entry of Sentence,

imposing a prison term of four years, three years of mandatory post-release control, and

restitution in the amount of $25,331.

       {¶23} On July 23, 2013, Bowden filed his Notice of Appeal. On appeal, Bowden

raises the following assignments of error:

       {¶24} “[1.] The State failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction

against Appellant.”

       {¶25} “[2.] Appellant’s conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence.”

       {¶26} “[3.] Appellant was denied a fair trial by the witness’ improper comments

while testifying.”

       {¶27} “[4.] The trial court erred when it admitted other acts testimony in violation

of R.C. 2945.59, Evid.R. 404(B) and Appellant’s rights under Article I, Section 10 of the

Ohio Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

       {¶28} “[5.] The trial court erred in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth

Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio

Constitution which provide rights to confrontation and cross-examination when it did not

                                             6
permit Appellant to inquire about the rape allegations made by the victim to the police in

this case.”

       {¶29} Bowden’s first assignment of error asserts that there was insufficient

evidence to support a conviction for Felonious Assault.

       {¶30} “The court on motion of a defendant or on its own motion, after the

evidence on either side is closed, shall order the entry of a judgment of acquittal of one

or more offenses charged in the indictment, information, or complaint, if the evidence is

insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses.” Crim.R. 29(A). “The

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.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574

N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia, 443

U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).

       {¶31} Bowden raises several arguments: there is no reliable evidence that he

committed any crime; there is no sustainable evidence that he caused Lesneski serious

physical harm; and there is no evidence that he had any criminal intent.

       {¶32} In order to convict Bowden of Felonious Assault, the State was required to

prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he “knowingly * * * [c]ause[d] serious physical

harm to another.” R.C. 2903.11(A)(1).

       {¶33} Contrary to Bowden’s arguments, Lesneski’s testimony that he shoved,

punched, and kicked her, thereby causing the injuries amply attested by witness

testimony and photographic evidence, is sufficient to sustain his conviction.        With

respect to serious physical harm, it is well-established that this element may be

                                            7
reasonably inferred “[w]here injuries to the victim are serious enough to cause him or

her to seek medical treatment.”       (Citations omitted).     State v. Littlejohn, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 95380, 2011-Ohio-2035, ¶ 21; State v. Higgins, 9th Dist. Summit No.

26120, 2012-Ohio-5650, ¶ 17 (cases cited). With respect to intent, “[i]t is a fundamental

principle that a person is presumed to intend the natural, reasonable and probable

consequences of his voluntary acts.” State v. Johnson, 56 Ohio St.2d 35, 39, 381

N.E.2d 637 (1978).     Lesneski’s injuries were the natural, reasonable, and probable

consequence of being shoved, punched, and kicked. Bowden’s intent to cause them is

reasonably inferred.

       {¶34} The first assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶35} Under the second assignment of error, Bowden attempts to discredit

Lesneski’s testimony as that of a “drunken victim,” who only identified him as an

assailant after the police had been to his house.

       {¶36} “To reverse a judgment of a trial court on the weight of the evidence

[under Section 3(B)(3), Article IV of the Ohio Constitution], when the judgment results

from a trial by jury, a unanimous concurrence of all three judges on the court of appeals

panel reviewing the case is required.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 678

N.E.2d 541 (1997), paragraph four of the syllabus. “Weight of the evidence concerns

‘the inclination of the greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support

one side of the issue rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party

having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing the evidence in

their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible evidence sustains the issue

which is to be established before them. Weight is not a question of mathematics, but

                                             8
depends on its effect in inducing belief.’” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at 387, quoting Black’s

Law Dictionary 1594 (6 Ed.1990).

      {¶37} An appellate court determining whether a verdict is against the manifest

weight of the evidence must consider all the evidence in the record, the reasonable

inferences, the credibility of the witnesses, and whether, “in resolving conflicts in the

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.” Id., quoting State v.

Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983).

      {¶38} In the present case, the jury did not lose its way so as to create a manifest

miscarriage of justice by crediting Lesneski’s testimony. Lesneski’s intoxication and

failure to initially identify Bowden as an assailant do not render her testimony wholly

unbelievable or incredible, although they have some bearing on its weight. Lesneski’s

account of the assault is consistent with the physical evidence found at Bowden’s

residence. Bowden’s account of the incident, as related through the police officers’

testimony, was self-contradictory and inconsistent with the physical evidence.       The

greater weight of credible evidence supports Bowden’s conviction.

      {¶39} The second assignment of error is without merit.

      {¶40} In the third assignment of error, Bowden contends that he was denied a

fair trial by the admission of opinion testimony as to his veracity given by the State’s

witnesses.

      {¶41} “[A] trial court is vested with broad discretion in determining the

admissibility of evidence in any particular case, so long as such discretion is exercised

in line with the rules of procedure and evidence.” Rigby v. Lake Cty., 58 Ohio St.3d

                                            9
269, 271, 569 N.E.2d 1056 (1991). Where defense counsel fails to object at trial, the

admission of testimony must constitute plain error, defined as error that is obvious and

outcome-determinative, to justify reversing the judgment or conviction. State v. Land,

129 Ohio St.3d 512, 2011-Ohio-4215, 954 N.E.2d 596, ¶ 108; Crim.R. 52(B) (“[p]lain

errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not

brought to the attention of the court”).

       {¶42} Bowden relies upon a line of cases which stand for the proposition that “[a]

police officer’s opinion that an accused is being untruthful is inadmissible.” State v.

Davis, 116 Ohio St.3d 404, 2008-Ohio-2, 880 N.E.2d 31, ¶ 122. Under this line of

cases, statements such as the defendant was being deceptive/untruthful or, conversely,

vouching for the credibility of the State’s witnesses, are improper.         Id. at ¶ 123

(detective testified that defendant “was being very deceptive”); State v. Carpenter, 12th

Dist. Clermont No. CA2012-06-041, 2013-Ohio-1385, ¶ 23 (detective testified that he

“was not getting the complete truth” from the defendant and that “there was some

deception there”); State v. Vanek, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2002-L-130, 2003-Ohio-6957, ¶

37 (detective “gave his personal opinion as to the truth of Ziburis’s statements to the

Mentor Police Department”). This court has recognized the likelihood of the jury being

influenced by a police officer’s opinion regarding a witness’ credibility. State v. Withrow,

11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2011-A-0067, 2012-Ohio-4887, ¶ 47.

       {¶43} In a similar line of cases, Ohio appellate courts have held that it is

reversible error to allow a witness to testify or comment on the credibility of another

witness. State v. Bajaj, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 03 CO 16, 2005-Ohio-2931, ¶ 72 (“[i]t

is reversible error to admit testimony from a purported expert or lay witness attesting to

                                            10
the believability of another’s statements”); State v. Kovac, 150 Ohio App.3d 676, 2002-

Ohio-6784, 782 N.E.2d 1185, ¶ 32 (2nd Dist.) (“the trial court errs when it permits a lay

witness to testify concerning another witness’ veracity”); State v. Huff, 145 Ohio App.3d

555, 561, 763 N.E.2d 695 (1st Dist.2001) (“[t]he opinion of a witness as to whether

another witness is being truthful is inadmissible”).

        {¶44} Although opinion testimony regarding the truthfulness of a witness is

inadmissible, a witness may give “testimony in the form of opinions or inferences * * *

which are (1) rationally based on the perception of the witness and (2) helpful to a clear

understanding of the witness’ testimony or the determination of a fact in issue.” Evid.R.

701. “Testimony in the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is not

objectionable solely because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of

fact.” Evid.R. 704. Construing Evidence Rules 701 and 704, the Ohio Supreme Court

has observed that “[t]estimony expressing an opinion on whose version is more likely to

be true would certainly aid the jury in reaching its conclusion.” State v. Crotts, 104 Ohio

St.3d 432, 2004-Ohio-6550, 820 N.E.2d 302, ¶ 27.

        {¶45} In the first instance, Lesneski testified that her relationship with Bowden

had been sexual. The prosecutor asked her, without objection: “So if [Bowden] told the

police officers that he never had sex with you, that’d be a lie?” Lesneski answered

affirmatively. Bowden claims this question allowed Lesneski to offer her opinion that he

is a liar.

        {¶46} The type of question posed to Lesneski, often referred to as a “were they

lying” question, has been widely condemned in most federal and state jurisdictions.

United States v. Schmitz, 634 F.3d 1247, 1268-1269 (11th Cir.2011) (primarily

                                             11
addressing whether such questions may properly be asked of a criminal defendant);

United States v. Dickens, 6th Cir. No. 09-4529, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 14800, 12 (July

19, 2011) (“the general principle that credibility determinations are meant for the jury,

not witnesses, applies” when “asking a defendant whether other witnesses are lying”);

State v. Leutschaft, 759 N.W.2d 414, 420-422 (Minn.App.2009) (cases cited); Liggett v.

Colorado, 135 P.3d 725, 729-732 (Colo.2006) (cases cited).             Such questions are

criticized for eliciting information (whether another witness is lying) beyond the testifying

witness’ competence and invading the jury’s province with respect to witness credibility.

Schmitz at 1269; Liggett at 731-732. Even in jurisdictions relatively tolerant of “were

they lying” questions, such questions are recognized as “hav[ing] no probative value

and [being] argumentative because they do not assist the jury.” Leutschaft at 421.

       {¶47} We are aware of no Ohio cases directly addressing the propriety of such

questions.

       {¶48} Although disfavored, such questioning is generally subject to a harmless

error analysis, or, in the present case, a plain error analysis. Schmitt at 1268; Liggett at

733. Here, the issue of whether Lesneski and Bowden had sex during their October

relationship is irrelevant to the issue of Bowden’s guilt. While Lesneski opined that

Bowden was lying, her opinion on this point was minimally prejudicial. The only material

discrepancy between Lesneski’s testimony and Bowden’s statements to the police was

whether Bowden participated in the assault. Since Bowden did not testify at trial, the

jury’s estimation of Lesneski’s credibility was crucial. Lesneski’s opinion as to whether

Bowden was lying on a collateral issue does little to either bolster or impinge her own

credibility. The case law primarily focuses on the situation where police officers proffer

                                             12
their opinion of the defendant’s or some other witness’ credibility or the situation where

the defendant is forced to testify that other witnesses are lying. In these situations, the

defendant is placed in a “no-win” situation: “If the defendant says the other witness is

lying, then the defendant is put in the position of calling someone a liar, a particularly

unenviable state when the other witness is a law enforcement officer. * * * If the

defendant says a contradictory witness is not lying, then a fair inference is that the

defendant is lying.” State v. Graves, 668 N.W.2d 860, 872 (Iowa 2003). In the present

matter, this sort of prejudice is not operative. As a witness, Lesneski did not enjoy the

natural deference or confidence that is accorded to police officers. Nor does Lesneski’s

claim to have slept with the man who she identified as her assailant inspire confidence

in her testimony on the latter point. Lesneski’s opinion that Bowden lied about an

irrelevant aspect of their former relationship, at most, amounted to a distraction in the

jury’s consideration of whether Lesneski was lying about Bowden’s participation in the

assault.

      {¶49} Bowden challenges the following question posed, without objection, by the

prosecutor to Patrolman Defina, following his testimony that Bowden claimed the

incident happened downstairs: “Are you aware that [Bowden] had made a previous

statement to Jason Erwin that was contrary to what he told you?” Defina responded:

“I’m aware of it. I was not present when that statement [to Erwin] was made.” Defina’s

testimony that he was aware of a prior inconsistent statement made by Bowden does

not constitute an impermissible opinion as to the veracity of either statement. State v.

Adrian, 168 Ohio App.3d 300, 2006-Ohio-4143, 859 N.E.2d 1007, ¶ 55 (2nd Dist.) (a

sheriff’s “statement that Adrian’s version of events appeared inconsistent with [a prior]

                                            13
recorded conversation * * * did not constitute an opinion that Adrian was lying to the

officers”); State v. Burchett, 12th Dist. Preble Nos. CA2003-09-017 and CA2003-09-

018, 2004-Ohio-4983, ¶ 20 (“Deputy Bratton’s testimony expressed to the jury merely

that Murray had offered two conflicting statements”).

       {¶50} Bowden challenges the following statement made by Patrolman Defina,

without objection, explaining why he returned to Bowden’s residence after Bowden

claimed that the assault occurred downstairs, rather than upstairs: “I simply went back

to the house to obtain any evidence in [Bowden’s] defense. I was trying to make sure

that he wasn’t telling me the truth [sic].”   The initial search of Bowden’s residence

focused on the upstairs bedroom, where Bowden initially claimed the incident took place

and where evidence, such as Lesneski’s blood and pants, were found. When Bowden

changed the location of the assault to the downstairs living room, the police officers

conducted another search of the residence, focusing on the living room.       Defina’s

statement was not an opinion regarding Bowden’s truthfulness, but an explanation for

the second search of the residence. State v. Patterson, 3rd Dist. Hancock No. 5-11-15,

2012-Ohio-2839, ¶ 89 (detective’s testimony that, “after law enforcement began to

theorize that Patterson fired the weapon * * *, he re-interviewed Trausch * * * was

properly admitted for the purpose of showing the investigatory process”); State v.

Monroe, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94768, 2011-Ohio-3045, ¶ 34 (“an officer is not

vouching for a witness[’]s credibility by explaining the investigative procedure he

followed”).

       {¶51} Bowden challenges the following exchange between the prosecutor and

Patrolman Defina, without objection:

                                           14
       {¶52} Prosecutor: Is there any doubt in your mind whatsoever that an

              assault occurred?

       {¶53} Ptl. Defina:    An assault definitely occurred.

       {¶54} Prosecutor: And that either one or both of them participated in this

              assault?

       {¶55} Ptl. Defina:    Someone participated in the assault, yes.

       {¶56} Prosecutor: I’m talking about the two suspects.

       {¶57} Ptl. Defina:    Yes.   There’s not a doubt in my mind that they

              participated in it.

       {¶58} Bowden raises a similar challenge to testimony elicited, without objection,

from Lieutenant Dibble:

       {¶59} Prosecutor: And in response to the [defense attorney’s] question

              about [the anticipated] charges, do you decide what charges are

              filed against people that you arrest?

       {¶60} Lt. Dibble:     Not that we file, no. * * * All we can do is an initial

              recommendation for charges.

       {¶61} Prosecutor: Alright.     And in this case when the Defendant was

              taken into custody, did you believe that he had participated in a

              felonious assault?

       {¶62} Lt. Dibble:     Yes.

       {¶63} Bowden characterizes this testimony as impermissible opinion testimony

as to his guilt. While the police officers testified to their belief that Bowden took part in

the assault, Lieutenant Dibble and Patrolman Defina both observed Lesneski’s condition

                                             15
on the night of the assault, were present when Bowden was taken into custody, and

participated in the search of Bowden’s residence. Based on their investigation, they

concluded that Bowden was involved in the assault so as to charge him with that crime.

Compare State v. Trefney, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2011-P-0032, 2012-Ohio-869, ¶ 45

(deputy’s “testimony that she believed she had probable cause to prepare the charge

for domestic violence and arrest Mr. Trefney is permissible under Evid.R. 701”).

       {¶64} Assuming, arguendo, that Lieutenant Dibble’s and Patrolman Defina’s

testimony was improper, it was harmless error and, therefore, did not rise to the level of

plain error.   Lesneski’s testimony and Bowden’s vacillating explanation of events

provided compelling evidence of Bowden’s guilt, rendering the police officers’ testimony

harmless.

       {¶65} The third assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶66} In the fourth assignment of error, Bowden contends the following

testimony elicited from Patrolman Erwin constituted “evidence of other crimes, wrongs,

or acts,” impermissible under Evidence Rule 404(B) “to prove the character of a person

in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith.”         Erwin testified, without

objection, as follows:

       {¶67} [Bowden] seemed intoxicated, highly confrontational, agitated. As

               soon as he was removed from the house for safety purposes

               everybody was handcuffed and secured on the front porch. He was

               screaming and yelling obscenities, that we had no right to be there,

               he didn’t do anything wrong, that we couldn’t go in his house. We

               had no right to handcuff him. To the point where we couldn’t even

                                            16
              speak amongst ourselves to figure out what to do next. We found

              out that he did have a misdemeanor warrant at the time so we just

              decided to place him under arrest and put him in the back seat of a

              patrol car where he couldn’t be any more of a disturbance.

       {¶68} We find no error. The reference to Bowden’s outstanding misdemeanor

warrant was not proffered as character evidence, but merely to explain his removal from

the residence during the investigation. Nothing was revealed about the identity of the

underlying charge and Patrolman Erwin’s testimony was the sole reference to an

outstanding warrant. Our holding is consistent with that of other appellate courts in

similar situations. State v. Warren, 4th Dist. Ross No. 12CA3324, 2013-Ohio-3542, ¶ 34

(Evid.R. 404(B) was not violated where “nothing was revealed about the specific crime

charged” and “[t]here was also no attempt to show appellant acted in conformity with

criminal behavior by introducing the evidence of an outstanding warrant”); State v.

Southam, 3rd Dist. Henry No. 7-12-04, 2012-Ohio-5943, ¶ 20 (the deputy’s “brief and

inadvertent [reference to ‘a couple of warrants’] in this case was not the type of

testimony about ‘prior bad acts’ that is usually prohibited in Evid.R. 404”).

       {¶69} The fourth assignment of error is without merit.

       {¶70} Bowden contends, in his fifth and final assignment of error, that the trial

court erred by not allowing him to cross-examine Lesneski about rape allegations that

she allegedly made against him.

       {¶71} “Cross-examination shall be permitted on all relevant matters and matters

affecting credibility.” Evid.R. 611(B). “The limitation of such cross-examination lies

                                             17
within the sound discretion of the trial court, viewed in relation to the particular facts of

the case.” State v. Acre, 6 Ohio St.3d 140, 145, 451 N.E.2d 802 (1983).

       {¶72} In the present case, counsel for Bowden argued before the court that “the

Defendant on the night of the incident made statements to the Ashtabula Police that

according to the police reports provided in discovery, indicate that at some point in time

initially Mr. Bowden was considered a rape suspect.”          Counsel wanted to question

Lesneski regarding the rape allegations to emphasize “the fact that the Defendant told a

number of different stories.”

       {¶73} The trial judge responded by stating that it was the court’s understanding

that the possibility of rape was raised by third persons involved in the investigation, not

by Lesneski herself, and that Lesneski never adopted these statements or otherwise

claimed to have been raped on the night in question. To allow cross-examination on the

issue, the court concluded, would not significantly bear on Lesneski’s credibility while

confusing to the jury.

       {¶74} Counsel for Bowden argued, more specifically, that the rape allegation

was contained in Lieutenant Dibble’s written police report, and that it “would have

clearly had to come from [Lesneski], which would show that again her stories are

inconsistent.”

       {¶75} The trial court again refused Bowden’s counsel:

       {¶76} The only comment the Court might have is what you were reading *

                 * * doesn’t give any indication of where or how [Lieutenant Dibble]

                 may have come up with that, and certainly it’s not attributed to the

                 victim in his report, whatever he was thinking. I mean, there is

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             evidence in this case also that her pants were pulled off. We have

             her version of what, how that came to be.             But I mean, she’s

             walking around in the street with nothing on except a t-shirt.         I

             mean, I think it would be reasonable for somebody to think this

             could be a sex offense, even if she didn’t say a word about it. But

             it’s not a sex offense, and I think again it would just be confusing to

             the jury if we start going into that kind of thing.

      {¶77} We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s ruling. If the allegation of

rape cannot be fairly attributed to Lesneski and the issue was not raised on direct

examination, it is within the court’s discretion to prohibit the defense from raising the

issue on cross-examination.

      {¶78} The fifth and final assignment of error is without merit.

      {¶79} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of

Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs to be taxed against appellant.

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,

CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,

concur.

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