Court Opinion

ID: 2705507
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 22:37:02.696211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:05.664983
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Wingate, 2013-Ohio-2079.]

STATE OF OHIO                     )                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                  )ss:                NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT                  )

STATE OF OHIO                                         C.A. No.    26433

        Appellee

        v.                                            APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                      ENTERED IN THE
JULIE M. WINGATE                                      COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                      COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
        Appellant                                     CASE No.   CR 10 21 3461

                                 DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: May 22, 2013

        MOORE, Presiding Judge.

        {¶1}     Defendant, Julie Wingate, appeals from her conviction in the Summit County

Court of Common Pleas. We affirm.

                                                 I.

        {¶2}     From 2007 to 2009, Ms. Wingate served as the treasurer for the Cuyahoga Falls

South Little League (“the League”). In 2011, the Summit County Grand Jury indicted Ms.

Wingate on a charge of grand theft, in violation of R.C. 2913.02(A)(1)/(A)(2)/(A)(3), for

allegedly depriving the League of a portion of its funds. Ms. Wingate pleaded not guilty to the

charge, and the case proceeded to a jury trial. The jury found Ms. Wingate guilty, and the trial

court imposed sentence in an entry issued on April 17, 2012. Ms. Wingate timely appealed from

the sentencing entry, and she now presents five assignments of error for our review. We have re-

ordered the assignments of error to facilitate our discussion.
                                                 2

                                                 II.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING [MS. WINGATE’S] RULE 29
       MOTION AS THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONVICT
       [HER].

       {¶3}    In her fourth assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that her conviction was not

supported by sufficient evidence. We disagree.

       {¶4}    The issue of whether a conviction is supported by sufficient evidence is a question

of law, which we review de novo. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386 (1997). When

considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the court must determine whether the

prosecution has met its burden of production. Id. at 390 (Cook, J. concurring). In making this

determination, an appellate court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the

prosecution:

       An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to
       support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to
       determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind
       of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. Circumstantial and

direct evidence “possess the same probative value[.]” Id. at paragraph one of the syllabus.

“Furthermore, if the State relies on circumstantial evidence to prove any essential element of an

offense, it is not necessary for such evidence to be irreconcilable with any reasonable theory of

innocence in order to support a conviction.” (Internal quotations omitted.) State v. Tran, 9th

Dist. No. 22911, 2006-Ohio-4349, ¶ 13.
                                                3

       {¶5}   Ms.    Wingate     was   convicted    of    grand   theft   in   violation   of   R.C.

2913.02(A)(1)/(A)(2)/(A)(3). The statute provides that:

       (A) No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall
       knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the
       following ways:

       (1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;

       (2) Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person
       authorized to give consent;

       (3) By deception[.]

       {¶6}   Here, as part of the State’s case-in-chief, it presented the testimony of Kelly

Bennett, Bruce Dickon, Patricia Rightley, John Potok, and Detective Chad Lengel.

       {¶7}   Ms. Bennett testified that she held the position of League treasurer commencing

in 2006, immediately prior to Ms. Wingate. When Ms. Bennett began her term as treasurer, she

opened a bank account for the League utilizing a check in the amount of $10,500 that was

provided to her by the previous treasurer. Ms. Bennett would routinely pay for the expenses of

the League using checks from this account. She would also reimburse individuals who had paid

for League expenses when the individual presented her with a receipt for the purchase. When

the League’s account grew to $24,000 in 2007, she became uncomfortable handling the

increased funds, and she relinquished the position. She then wrote a check to Ms. Wingate, who

had taken over the position, for the $24,000 in the account, following the same course as the

treasurer before her. She also provided Ms. Wingate with a ledger which listed the withdrawals

and deposits from the account.

       {¶8}   Mr. Dickon testified that he was the League’s president when Ms. Wingate took

over the position of treasurer. Ms. Wingate would occasionally correspond with Mr. Dickon and

the League’s board members regarding the League’s account. In 2009, when he was preparing
                                                4

to retire as the League’s president, he sent Ms. Wingate an email requesting the League’s bank

statements, a list of outstanding bills, and an accounting from a raffle. Mr. Dickon felt that Ms.

Wingate was uncooperative with providing the information, but she later provided him with an

itemized ledger. Mr. Dickon testified that the State’s Exhibit 6 was the ledger that Ms. Wingate

provided him. This exhibit indicates that $1,885.30 was in the League account at that time.

After Mr. Dickon made several requests for the bank records to which Ms. Wingate did not

respond, Mr. Dickon brought the ledger to the police department to seek assistance in obtaining

the rest of the financial records and to determine where the League’s funds were utilized. The

police department later returned the ledger to him, and he provided it to the League’s board.

       {¶9}    Ms. Rightley testified that she took over as treasurer after Ms. Wingate. When

she did so, she received a check for $1,800 from Ms. Wingate. She used this check along with a

donation and opened a new account for the League. Ms. Rightley also received outstanding

League bills, which exceeded the money remaining in the League’s account.

       {¶10} Mr. Potok testified that he took over as the League’s president when Mr. Dickon

resigned, and he continued the investigation of the League’s finances. In doing so, he reviewed a

ledger that was given to him, which he too identified as Exhibit 6. He provided the ledger to law

enforcement.

       {¶11} Detective Lengel investigated the League’s concerns regarding its funds. When

he commenced his investigation, he received the police file that contained a copy of a ledger,

which he verified was the ledger contained in State’s Exhibit 6. The detective also obtained and

reviewed the League’s bank records during the time period that Ms. Wingate served as treasurer.

These records were also admitted into evidence. Detective Lengel compared the bank records to
                                                5

the ledger and prepared a list of checks that were not accurately noted on the ledger. The parties

have referred to this list interchangeably as Appendix A and Exhibit 12.

       {¶12} The detective further testified that, after he prepared this list, he interviewed Ms.

Wingate at the police station, where she brought with her a ledger. The detective and Ms.

Wingate reviewed their ledgers against each other, and the detective determined that “they were

both the same.” Ms. Wingate also confirmed that the ledger the detective had was accurate.

They then reviewed the ledger line by line. When the detective asked Ms. Wingate what the

bank records would show relative to the ledger, she informed him that the records would reveal

payments made from the League account to her personal credit card. She informed him that

these payments were made to reimburse her for purchases she had made for the League.

However, Ms. Wingate acknowledged that she did not have receipts for those purchases.

Ultimately, Ms. Wingate advised the detective that “she might have padded some of the credit

card payments,” by approximately fifty percent over what she was due for reimbursements. The

detective asked if there were any payments made to Target from the League account, and she

denied that there were. The detective then showed her checks that had been written to Target

from the League account and revealed to her that he had obtained the bank records. He further

inquired as to several checks that had been made out to “Cash” totaling $2700. Ms. Wingate

could not recall why she had obtained those cash withdrawals.

       {¶13} In all, Detective Lengel testified to twenty-two checks that he concluded did not

coincide with the ledger. These included eight checks which were noted in the ledger as paid to

“Gordon Food Services” or “GFS.” The bank records demonstrated that two of these checks,

totaling $1346.08, had been paid to “Cardmember Services.” Four of these checks, totaling

$2300, had been paid to “Cash.” One of these checks, in the amount of $144.69, was paid to
                                               6

“Sam’s Club.” The remaining of these checks, in the amount of $97.42, was paid to “AT-T.”

The detective also testified to several discrepancies on the ledger of eleven checks which were

noted as paid to “Sam’s Club.” The bank records demonstrated that three of these checks,

totaling $1000, were paid to “Cash.” Six of these checks, totaling $4675.78, were paid to

“Cardmember Services.” One of the checks, in the amount of $1600, was paid to “Target.” The

remaining check, in the amount of $1000, was paid to Ms. Wingate. The detective further noted

discrepancies on three other entries: (1) a check in the amount of $1000, which was noted on the

ledger as paid to “Cash” for the “Night at the Races,” had actually been paid to “Target,” (2) a

check in the amount of $800 that was noted as paid toward tournaments was paid to “Cash,” and

(3) a check in the amount of $100, which was noted on the ledger as paid to “Wal-Mart,” had

actually been paid to “QVC,” an online shopping network.

       {¶14} The State then submitted into evidence statements from Ms. Wingate’s Visa card

account. The statements display payments which correlate in amount with seven of the checks

written to “Cardmember Services” referenced above, these checks totaling over $5400.

       {¶15} In arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support her conviction, Ms.

Wingate maintains that it was not beyond the scope of the League’s consent for her to make

reimbursements to herself through utilization of the League’s funds to make her personal

payments. However, the above evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State,

suggests that she was not due reimbursements. Exhibit 6 references a “[r]e-imbursement” made

to another individual in the “FOR” line. The checks in dispute are not indicated on Exhibit 6 as

reimbursements. Further, Mr. Dickon testified that he knew of no reason why Ms. Wingate, who

had control of the League’s funds, would need to “reimburse” herself for League expenses.

Moreover, Detective Lengel testified that Ms. Wingate acknowledged that she “padded” the
                                                   7

credit card payments by fifty percent and that she had no explanation for the cash payments.

Viewing the above evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude that there

existed evidence from which the jury could have reasonably inferred that Ms. Wingate intended

to purposefully deprive the League of its property by knowingly exerting control over the

League’s funds in a way that was beyond the scope of the League’s consent, in violation of R.C.

2902.13(A)(2).     As Mrs. Wingate was charged with grand theft pursuant to “R.C.

2913.02(A)(1)/(A)(2)/(A)(3),” and as there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction under

subsection (A)(2), it is unnecessary to address Ms. Wingate’s arguments regarding

inapplicability of subsection (A)(1) or regarding deception relative to subsection (A)(3). See

State v. Taylor, 9th Dist. No. 25490, 2011-Ohio-5009, ¶ 16 (concluding that it was unnecessary

to address arguments made relative to R.C. 2911.11(A)(1), when sufficient evidence existed to

support the conviction under R.C. 2911.11(A)(2), and where defendant was charged with

violation of subsection (A)(1) “and/or” (A)(2)).

       {¶16} Accordingly, Ms. Wingate’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V

       THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED [MS.] WINGATE’S RIGHTS TO DUE
       PROCESS AND A FAIR TRIAL WHEN IT ENTERED A JUDGMENT OF
       CONVICTION FOR THEFT, WHICH WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST
       WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH
       AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
       SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

       {¶17} In her fifth assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that her conviction was

against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.

       {¶18} When a defendant asserts that her conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence:
                                                 8

       an appellate court must 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 trier of fact 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. Otten, 33 Ohio App.3d 339, 340 (9th Dist.1986). In making this determination, this

Court is mindful that “[e]valuating the evidence and assessing credibility are primarily for the

trier of fact.” State v. Shue, 97 Ohio App.3d 459, 466 (9th Dist.1994), citing Ostendorf-Morris

Co. v. Slyman, 6 Ohio App.3d 46, 47 (8th Dist.1982) and Crull v. Maple Park Body Shop, 36

Ohio App.3d 153, 154 (12th Dist.1987).

       {¶19} In support of her fifth assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that the weight of

the evidence did not establish that she acted outside the scope of the League’s consent, because

the weight of the evidence did not demonstrate that she personally used the League’s funds

beyond what she was owed in reimbursements.

       {¶20} At trial, Mr. Potok acknowledged that he had utilized the League’s debit card for

personal expenses at gas stations, but he maintained that he did so in lieu of direct

reimbursement for items that he had purchased for the League after being unable to coordinate

his schedule with that of Ms. Rightley. Ms. Rightley confirmed that Mr. Potok utilized the

League’s account to make these purchases and that he did so because she had been unable to

coordinate with him to reimburse him for moneys the League owed him.

       {¶21} Based upon this testimony, Ms. Wingate has argued that “[t]here was no question

as to whether [she] was entitled to reimbursement for funds spent on behalf of the league to stock

the concession stand as it was common practice for members to purchase items on behalf of [t]he

League, only to obtain reimbursement at a later time.” However, here, the record is devoid of

evidence that Ms. Wingate made any purchases on behalf of the League utilizing her personal
                                                   9

funds. Based upon the evidence before it, the jury could have determined that many or all of the

discrepant checks were utilized for Ms. Wingate’s personal purchases, and that these checks did

not represent “reimbursements.” Mr. Dickon testified that he knew of no reason why Ms.

Wingate would need to ”reimburse” herself for purchases when she had, and was the only person

who had, control of the League’s account while she held position of treasurer. Although it is

possible that Ms. Wingate made purchases for the League from her own funds and reimbursed

herself with League funds in the same amount, based upon our review of the record we cannot

say that the jury lost its way in determining otherwise. See State v. Peasley, 9th Dist. No. 25062,

2010-Ohio-4333, ¶ 18 (“A conviction is not against the manifest weight because the [trier of

fact] chose to credit the State's version of events.”).

        {¶22} Based upon the foregoing, we conclude that this is not the exceptional case where

the jury created a manifest miscarriage of justice in finding Ms. Wingate guilty of grand theft.

Accordingly, Ms. Wingate’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.

                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

        THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHEN IT
        ADMITTED EVIDENCE THAT WAS NEVER AUTHENTICATED AND ITS
        WRONGFUL ADMISSION AFFECTED THE SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS OF
        [MS.] WINGATE.

        {¶23} In her first assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that the trial court erred in

admitting Exhibit 6 into evidence, as this exhibit was not properly authenticated. We disagree.

        {¶24} Trial courts possess broad discretion in determining the admissibility of evidence.

State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St.3d 239, 265 (1984), citing State v. Hymore, 9 Ohio St.2d 122, 128

(1967). As such, this court will not overturn a trial court’s evidentiary determination in the

absence of an abuse of discretion that resulted in material prejudice to the defendant. State v.

Ristich, 9th Dist. No. 21701, 2004-Ohio-3086, ¶ 9. An “abuse of discretion” connotes that the
                                                  10

trial court was arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable in its ruling. Blakemore v. Blakemore,

5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

       {¶25} Evid.R. 901(A) provides:

       The requirement of authentication or identification as condition precedent to
       admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter
       in question is what its proponent claims.

       {¶26}    This Court has held that the provision of Evid.R. 901:

       merely means that foundational evidence must be sufficient to constitute a
       rational basis for a jury decision and the primary evidence is what its proponent
       claims it to be. The proponent need not offer conclusive evidence as a foundation
       but must merely offer sufficient evidence to allow the question as to authenticity
       or genuineness to reach the jury. Once the judge determines that the threshold
       test of authentication has been met and submits the evidence to the jury, the jury
       may reject the authenticity of the evidence.

(Internal quotations and citations omitted.) State v. Caldwell, 9th Dist. No. 14720, 1991 WL

259529, *7 (Dec. 4, 1991). Here, Mr. Dickon testified that Exhibit 6 was the ledger that Ms.

Wingate provided to him in response to his request for the financial records. Based upon Mr.

Dickon’s testimony, there was sufficient evidence to allow the question as to the authenticity of

Ms. Wingate’s ledger to reach the jury. Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court abused its

discretion in allowing admission of the ledger.

       {¶27} However, Ms. Wingate has focused her argument on the traceability of Exhibit 6,

arguing that the State did not demonstrate how it came to be in the possession of the police

department. “The chain of custody relates to the authentication or identification process set forth

in Evid. R. 901(A)[.]” State v. Meyers, 9th Dist. No. 23864, 23903, 2008-Ohio-2528, ¶ 49.

However, “[t]he [S]tate is not required to prove a perfect, unbroken chain of custody.” Id.,

quoting State v. Semedo, 5th Dist. No.2006-CA-00108, 2007-Ohio-1805, ¶ 12. “A break in the

chain of custody, if any, goes to the weight or credibility of the evidence, and not its
                                                 11

admissibility.” Meyers at ¶ 49, quoting Semedo at ¶ 12. Because Ms. Wingate’s assignment of

error pertains to admissibility and not weight, her “chain of custody argument does not support a

finding that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting” the ledger. See Meyers at ¶ 49.

          {¶28} Accordingly, Ms. Wingate’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

          THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE TO PREVENT EXCLUDED EVIDENCE
          FROM REACHING THE JURY DURING CLOSING ARGUMENTS AND
          DELIBERATION IMPAIRED [MS.] WINGATE’S RIGHT TO A FAIR AND
          IMPARTIAL JURY.

          {¶29} In her second assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that the State engaged in

prosecutorial misconduct by referencing in closing argument Appendix A, which had been

excluded from evidence, and the trial court erred in purportedly allowing Appendix A to be

utilized by the jury during deliberations. We disagree.

          {¶30} In regard to allegedly improper remarks made by a prosecutor in closing

arguments, “[p]arties are granted latitude in closing arguments, and the question as to the

propriety of these arguments is generally considered one falling within the sound discretion of

the trial court.” State v. Frazier, 73 Ohio St.3d 323, 341 (1995), quoting State v. Loza, 71 Ohio

St.3d 61, 78 (1994). An abuse of discretion connotes that a trial court was unreasonable,

arbitrary, or unconscionable in its ruling. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219

(1983).     “The test regarding prosecutorial misconduct in closing arguments is whether the

remarks were improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected substantial rights of the

defendant.” Frazier at 341, quoting State v. Smith, 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14 (1984). “However,

some latitude is given to both parties in closing arguments so long as the statements are based on

evidence adduced at trial.” State v. Partin, 9th Dist. No. 19819, 2000 WL 960959, *4 (July 12,

2000).
                                               12

       {¶31} Here, at the close of the State’s case-in-chief, it offered into evidence Appendix

A, which we discussed above in response to Ms. Wingate’s fourth assignment of error,

consisting of the list prepared by Detective Lengel of the purported discrepancies between the

ledger admitted as Exhibit 6 and the bank records. Ms. Wingate objected to the admission of

Appendix A, and the Court sustained the objection and excluded it from evidence, finding that it

constituted an unnecessary summary. During the State’s closing argument, the State referenced

“24” League expenditures which Ms. Wingate mislabeled in the ledger.             Defense counsel

objected to this remark on the basis that there existed no testimony regarding “24” mislabeled

items. The State responded by asking, “Have you seen Appendix A?”

       {¶32} Ms. Wingate argues that the reference to an excluded exhibit prejudicially

affected her substantial rights. However, after the defense objection, which was overruled by the

trial court, the State then proceeded to list 22 check numbers for the jury, which it contended

were mislabeled in the ledger pursuant to Detective Lengel’s testimony. These check numbers

coincided with, and were supported by, the detective’s testimony. After closing arguments, the

trial court instructed the jury that the statements made during closing arguments were not

evidence. “In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that the jury followed the trial

court's instructions and only considered the evidence properly before it.” State v. Ha, 9th Dist.

No. 07CA0089-M, 2009-Ohio-1134, ¶ 48, citing State v. Manns, 169 Ohio App.3d 687, 2006-

Ohio-5802, ¶ 93 (2d Dist.).    Accordingly, we cannot discern in what manner Ms. Wingate’s

substantial rights were prejudicially affected by the reference to Appendix A.

       {¶33} Further, Ms. Wingate contends that, although Appendix A was excluded from

evidence, it was submitted to the jury. Ms. Wingate has reached this conclusion inferentially

based upon its inclusion in the appellate record. We decline to adopt the position that an
                                                13

excluded exhibit that is inexplicably included in the appellate record necessarily was presented to

the jury. See Hutchison v. Henderson, 9th Dist. No. 20862, 2002-Ohio-4521, ¶ 39, quoting In re

Hiltabidel, 9th Dist. No. 21009, 2002-Ohio-3627, ¶ 58 (“An appellant bears the burden of

affirmatively demonstrating error on appeal.”) Accordingly, Ms. Wingate’s second assignment

of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III

       THE TRIAL COURT’S COMMENT TO THE JURY WHICH
       CONTRADICTED WITNESS TESTIMONY WAS PREJUDICIAL TO [MS.]
       WINGATE’S RIGHT TO A FAIR, IMPARTIAL JURY TRIAL.

       {¶34} In her third assignment of error, Ms. Wingate argues that the trial court committed

plain error by commenting on the nature of Mr. Potok’s testimony. We disagree.

       During the defense’s closing argument, the following exchange occurred:

       [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: [Mr. Potok] lied in this courtroom. Took over as
       president, he got issued his own bank card, debit card that he uses at Sheetz, and
       now he’s taken over all the printing, sign making, banner making and uniform
       printing.

       [PROSECUTOR]: Objection.

       [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: He testified to that.

       [PROSECUTOR]: That wasn’t exactly what he testified to.

       THE COURT: Sustained. That was not the extent of his testimony.

Ms. Wingate maintains that the objection should not have been sustained because Mr. Potok did

testify that he performed all of the printing for the League, and he had been issued a debit card in

the name of the League, which he used at Sheetz. Further, Ms. Wingate argues that the comment

from the court that this was “not the extent of his testimony” compounded the error. Ms.

Wingate contends that in making this comment, the Court indicated its opinion of the content of

Mr. Potok’s testimony and undermined defense counsel.
                                                 14

        {¶35} “Challenged statements and actions of the trial judge in a criminal case will not

justify a reversal of the conviction, where the defendant has failed in light of the circumstances

under which the incidents occurred to demonstrate prejudice.” State v. Wade, 53 Ohio St.2d 182

(1978), paragraph two of the syllabus, vacated on other grounds 438 U.S. 911 (1978). See also

State v. Demus, 192 Ohio App.3d 181, 188, 2011-Ohio-124, ¶ 32 (2nd Dist.). In order to

determine whether a trial judge’s remarks were prejudicial to a defendant, courts apply the

following rules:

        (1) The burden of proof is placed upon the defendant to demonstrate prejudice, (2)
        it is presumed that the trial judge is in the best position to decide when a breach is
        committed and what corrective measures are called for, (3) the remarks are to be
        considered in light of the circumstances under which they are made, (4)
        consideration is to be given to their possible effect upon the jury, and (5) to their
        possible impairment of the effectiveness of counsel.

Id. at 188.

        {¶36} Here, the court’s comment pertained to the testimony of Mr. Potok in regard to his

involvement in the League and his utilization of the League account, which did not directly

involve Ms. Wingate.       Further, as set forth in our discussion of Ms. Wingate’s second

assignment of error above, the trial court instructed the jury that statements made during closing

arguments were not evidence. In addition, the trial court instructed the jury that if it believed the

court to have unintentionally expressed its views as to this case to disregard it. Based upon the

circumstances of this case and the instructions given by the court, we conclude that Ms. Wingate

has not established that she was prejudiced by the trial court’s remark, as was her burden. See id.

        {¶37} Accordingly, Ms. Wingate’s third assignment of error is overruled.

                                                 III.

        {¶38} Ms. Wingate’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
                                                15

                                                                              Judgment affirmed.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed to Appellant.

                                                     CARLA MOORE
                                                     FOR THE COURT

WHITMORE, J.
HENSAL, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

WARNER MENDENHALL, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

ALYSSA KEENY, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN DIMARTINO, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.