Court Opinion

ID: 4023874
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-12 15:09:23.471214+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:43.964863
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hagler, 2016-Ohio-5350.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                    MONTGOMERY COUNTY

 STATE OF OHIO                                     :
                                                   :
         Plaintiff-Appellee                        :   C.A. CASE NOS. 26548 and 26549
                                                   :
 v.                                                :   T.C. NO. 12CR0879 and 12CR1772
                                                   :
 SHAWN M. HAGLER                                   :   (Criminal Appeal from
                                                   :    Common Pleas Court)
         Defendant-Appellant                       :
                                                   :

                                              ...........

                                             OPINION

                   Rendered on the ___12th___ day of __ August___, 2016.

                                              ...........

KIRSTEN A. BRANDT, Atty. Reg. No. 0070162 and MEAGAN D. WOODALL, Atty. Reg.
No. 0093466, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, 301 W. Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton,
Ohio 45422
      Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee

CHARLES M. BLUE, Atty. Reg. No. 0074329, 401 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, Ohio 45429
    Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                             .............

FROELICH, J.

        {¶ 1} In this consolidated appeal, Shawn M. Hagler appeals from his convictions

in Case No. 2012 CR 879 for intimidation of a witness and domestic violence and in Case

No. 2012 CR 1772 for burglary, intimidation of a crime victim, failure to comply with an

order or signal of a police officer, and domestic violence. The trial court sentenced him
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to concurrent sentences totaling 36 months in Case No. 2012 CR 879, to be served

consecutively to an aggregate sentence of 10½ years in Case No. 2012 CR 1772.

Hagler’s driver’s license was suspended for 20 years, and he was ordered to pay court

costs. For the following reasons, the trial court’s judgments will be affirmed.

                           I. Factual and Procedural History

       {¶ 2} The State’s evidence at trial revealed the following facts.

       {¶ 3} Hagler was in a relationship with Shameekia Arnold for seven years, and they

have two children together. Arnold and Hagler began living together in 2006, when

Arnold was pregnant with their first child. In March 2012, Hagler and Arnold lived with

their children on Reading Road in Dayton.

       {¶ 4} On March 19, 2012, Kettering Police Officer Ryan Vandegrift observed a

Cadillac Escalade travelling at approximately 60 mph in a residential area of Kettering

with a speed limit of 35 mph. Vandergrift followed the vehicle several miles towards

Dayton and, after running the vehicle’s license plate, learned that the vehicle was

registered to Arnold. On orders from his sergeant, Officer Vandegrift stopped chasing

the vehicle, but he and other Kettering and Dayton police officers proceeded to the

Reading Road address to which the vehicle was registered.

       {¶ 5} Before the police arrived at her address, Arnold received a telephone call

from her brother, Jerome, asking her to open the driveway gate. Arnold opened the gate,

and the Escalade drove to the front of the detached garage for her house.          Arnold

testified that Hagler was driving the vehicle; her brother was in the passenger seat.

       {¶ 6} Police officers arrived at the address soon thereafter and noticed an

Escalade parked in the driveway.       Three individuals were at the residence: Arnold,
                                                                                         -3-

Jerome, and Hagler. The three were detained, and car keys were located in the front

pocket of Hagler’s pants. Both Hagler and Jerome appeared to be intoxicated. Both

men were arrested.

       {¶ 7} On April 16, 2012, Hagler was indicted for failure to comply with an order or

signal of a police officer, arising from the March 19, 2012 incident. State v. Hagler,

Montgomery C.P. No. 2012 CR 879.

       {¶ 8} In the overnight hours of April 30, 2012, Arnold and Hagler got into an

argument about Hagler’s court case concerning the events of March 19. Arnold stated

that Hagler was upset that Arnold had given a statement to the police that Hagler had

been driving the Escalade. Arnold testified that the argument continued into the morning

hours (approximately 6:30 a.m.), when she was preparing to get her children to day care

and herself to a nursing orientation. Hagler followed her around, continuing to talk about

how he “felt about everything.” Arnold got into her van and started to pull into the street.

Hagler jumped into the passenger seat and hit her in the jaw and the side of her head.

Arnold jumped out of the van and ran down the street.

       {¶ 9} Arnold called 911 as she ran down the block. At 6:33 a.m., an individual

driving by heard a woman in nursing scrubs asking for someone to call the police; the

individual also called 911. Dayton Police Officer Rob Durcil responded to a report of a

possible assault at Arnold’s address. Officer Durcil made contact with Arnold, and noted

that she had a chipped tooth and swelling on her face.

       {¶ 10} After the April 30 incident, Arnold told Hagler that he was no longer welcome

at their residence, and within a few days, Hagler removed his belongings from the house.

Arnold’s sister, Taja, and Taja’s two children began to live at the home.
                                                                                             -4-

       {¶ 11} On May 25, 2012, Hagler was indicted in Case No. 2012 CR 879 on

additional charges of intimidation of a crime victim (by force/threat) and domestic

violence, based on his conduct on April 30.

       {¶ 12} At approximately 5:00 a.m. on June 8, 2012, Arnold and Taja were

awakened by the sound of someone at the front door. As Arnold was getting ready to

look out the window, Hagler came in through the door, without permission, and walked

through the house to Arnold’s bedroom. Arnold testified that Hagler was “just yelling and

like grabbing me and pulling and pushing me. And he almost put me through a glass

table, my coffee table.” Hagler took Arnold’s phone from her hand and slammed it

against the wall, breaking it.

       {¶ 13} After Hagler broke Arnold’s phone, Taja got her cell phone to call 911. Taja

tried to pretend that she was calling her children’s father. When Hagler noticed that Taja

was making a phone call, he “instantly” came over to her, hit her on the chin with a closed

fist, and tried to take Taja’s phone; Arnold took the opportunity to run out of the house.

       {¶ 14} Hagler noticed that Arnold was gone, and he ran after her, yelling at her.

When Arnold was about three houses away, Hagler “got close to [her]” and hit her.

Arnold fell to the ground, and Hagler repeatedly punched her, pulled her hair, and dragged

her along the sidewalk. When neighbors came outside, Hagler released Arnold, and she

ran toward the neighbors.

       {¶ 15} A police cruiser arrived at the scene while Arnold stood near her neighbors.

Hagler got into his Escalade and began to drive away. One of the police officers, Officer

William McReynolds, stood in the roadway in front of the vehicle, put his hand up, and

yelled an order for Hagler to stop. Hagler drove toward the officer, causing the officer to
                                                                                           -5-

jump out of the way. McReynolds radioed other officers for assistance. After briefly

checking on the other individuals present, McReyolds also began to pursue Hagler.

Although the Escalade was found crashed a short distance away, Hagler was not

apprehended that day. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

       {¶ 16} On October 12, 2012, Hagler was indicted for burglary (occupied

structure/person present), intimidation of a crime victim (force/threat), failure to comply

with an order or signal of a police officer (fleeing felony), and domestic violence, all based

on his conduct on June 8, 2012. State v. Hagler, Montgomery C.P. No. 2012 CR 1772.

Hagler was ultimately arrested on March 18, 2014.

       {¶ 17} The trial court consolidated Hagler’s two cases, and they were jointly tried

to a jury in December 2014. Hagler waived counsel and represented himself at trial.

The jury acquitted Hagler of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, as

charged in Case No. 2012 CR 879. He was found guilty of the remaining six charges.

As stated above, Hagler received concurrent sentences totaling 36 months in Case No.

2012 CR 879 and an aggregate sentence of 10½ years in Case No. 2012 CR 1772, to be

served consecutively for a total of 13½ years in prison.          Hagler appeals from his

convictions.

       {¶ 18} Hagler died during the pendency of this appeal. Pursuant to App.R. 29(A),

the State moved to substitute Hagler’s appellate counsel as the party/representative for

Hagler. We granted the State’s motion. State v. Hagler, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos.

26548 & 26549, Decision and Entry (Nov. 2, 2015). Accordingly, despite Hagler’s death,

this matter is properly before us for review on the merits of Hagler’s appeal.

       {¶ 19} Hagler raises one assignment of error, which pertains solely to his
                                                                                         -6-

conviction for burglary in Case No. 2012 CR 1772. In the absence of any assignments

of error relating to Case No. 2012 CR 879, the judgment in Case No. 2012 CR 879 will

be affirmed without further discussion.

                      II. Jury Instruction on Burglary: Unanimity

      {¶ 20} Hagler’s assignment of error states:

      The instruction to the jury pertaining to unanimity on an element of the

      offense of burglary, combined with a misstatement of law by the prosecutor

      concerning such unanimity, denied the Appellant a fair trial and due process

      of law under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States

      Constitution and Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of

      Ohio.

      {¶ 21} In his sole assignment of error, Hagler claims that he was denied a fair trial,

because the trial court improperly instructed the jury on burglary by stating that the jury

need not be unanimous about the underlying offense.           He further claims that the

prosecutor also misstated the law regarding unanimity.

      {¶ 22} Hagler was indicted for burglary, in violation of R.C. 2911.12(A)(2), which

states that “[n]o person, by force, stealth or deception, shall * * * (1) Trespass in an

occupied structure or in a separately secured or separately occupied portion of an

occupied structure, when another person other than an accomplice of the offender is

present, with purpose to commit in the structure or in the separately secured or separately

occupied portion of the structure any criminal offense.” The indictment identified the

Reading Road address as the occupied structure, Arnold as the other person present,

and assault as the criminal offense that Hagler had a purpose to commit.
                                                                                       -7-

       {¶ 23} Hagler requested a bill of particulars. The State responded:

              Specifically, the State will prove that on June 8, 2012, in Montgomery

       County, Ohio, the Defendant entered the residence located at * * * Reading

       Road, by force, stealth or deception, when another person, other than the

       accomplice of the offender, was present with the purpose to commit any

       criminal offense, specifically the offenses of Assault, Domestic Violence,

       Menacing, Criminal Damaging, Disorderly Conduct and Intimidation of an

       Attorney, Victim or Witness in a Criminal Case.

       {¶ 24} During the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor described the evidence

in support of the burglary offense, as follows:

              The elements of burglary are these. We know it was June 8th. * * *

       City of Dayton * * *. The Defendant, Shawn Hagler.

              And I want to talk about force. Force is not breaking the door down.

       You’re going to get an instruction from the Judge. You don’t have to break

       a door to commit burglary. You have to open it. That’s enough force.

              When another person is present, Shameekia and Taja Arnold -- this

       Defendant even told you that Shameekia and Taja were in the home that

       morning -- with purpose to commit in the structure any criminal offense.

       You heard from Shameekia and you heard from Taja. This Defendant

       committed domestic violence to Shameekia Arnold and he assaulted Taja

       Arnold when he punched her in the face.

              You need to know that criminal intent can be formed at any point

       while you’re trespassing. This Defendant didn’t have to go in there thinking
                                                                                      -8-

      he was going to punch Taja in the face. He just had to do it, knowingly,

      once he was inside.

             This Defendant didn’t need to go inside that house, thinking he was

      going to punch Shameekia or grab her face or push her to the ground. He

      just had to do it when he was in there. And you’re further going to be

      instructed -- you don’t even have to agree completely that each of them did

      it. You just have to agree that he committed the offense. Some of you

      can agree that Taja was punched. Some of you can agree that Shameekia

      was punched. As long as all of you agree that this Defendant committed a

      criminal offense inside that house, he committed burglary.

      {¶ 25} The State revisited the elements for burglary in its rebuttal closing

argument. With respect to intent, the prosecutor stated:

             [The prosecutor] explained to you that that intent to cause a criminal

      offense doesn’t need to be proven beforehand. That intent can form after

      he’s already done that trespass. We don’t need to prove that he wanted to

      go over there to punch her. We don’t need to improve that it was -- prove

      that it was his purpose to go over there and punch her or Taja.

             We don’t have to prove that he even wanted to punch Taja or

      Shameekia before he got there. He trespassed because he wasn’t allowed

      to be there and then he assaulted both of those women. That’s what the

      burglary’s about. What he did once he trespassed into that home and

      trespass – he’s not allowed to be there and he goes in there. He used

      force by opening the door. He told you he opened the door. * * *
                                                                                         -9-

      {¶ 26} After closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury on the offenses of

which Hagler was charged. The trial court addressed the intent portion of the burglary

offense and whether the jury needed to be unanimous as to intent, explaining:

             * * * Before you can find the Defendant guilty of burglary, you must

      find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 8th day of June, 2012

      and in Montgomery County, Ohio, the Defendant by force, stealth, or

      deception trespassed in an occupied structure located at * * * Reading

      Road, Dayton, Ohio, or in a separately secured or separately occupied

      portion of the occupied structure, when another person, to wit, Shameekia

      Arnold, other than an accomplice of the Defendant, was present with

      purpose to commit therein any criminal offense.

             A Defendant may form the purpose to commit a criminal offense at

      any point during the -- a course of the trespass.

             ***

             You may consider whether the Defendant had the purpose to commit

      in the occupied structure, either of two different offenses. Either assault or

      domestic violence.

             Before you can find the Defendant had the purpose to commit in the

      occupied structure the offense of assault, you must find beyond a

      reasonable doubt that the Defendant had the purpose to knowingly cause

      or attempt to cause physical harm to Taja Arnold.

             ***

             In addition, as I indicated you may also consider whether the
                                                                                         -10-

       Defendant had the purpose to commit in the occupied structure, the offense

       of domestic violence.

              You must find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 8th

       day of June, 2012 and in Montgomery County, Ohio, the Defendant

       knowingly caused physical harm to Shameekia Arnold, a family or

       household member.

              ***

              Jurors are not required to unanimously agree on the specific criminal

       offense the Defendant intended to commit any occupied structure.

       Instead, all jurors must agree that the Defendant intended to commit an

       offense in the occupied structure.

       {¶ 27} On appeal, Hagler claims that the trial court misstated the law when it

instructed the jury regarding unanimity on the intent element of burglary and that this error

was compounded by misstatements of law by the prosecutor during the State’s closing

arguments.

       {¶ 28} “ ‘[A] defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed on all elements that

must be proved to establish the crime with which he is charged.’ Jurors must also

unanimously agree that the defendant is guilty of the offense charged before the jury can

return a guilty verdict.” (Citations omitted.) State v. Gardner, 118 Ohio St. 3d 420, 2008-

Ohio-2787, 889 N.E.2d 995, ¶ 37; see Crim.R. 31(A).

       {¶ 29} The Ohio Supreme Court has made clear that, although Crim.R. 31(A)

requires juror unanimity on each element of an offense, jurors “need not agree to a single

way by which an element is satisfied.” Gardner at ¶ 38. The court explained:
                                                                                           -11-

             In determining whether the state has impermissibly interfered with a

      defendant’s Crim.R. 31(A) right to juror unanimity and the due process right

      to require that the state prove each element of the offense beyond a

      reasonable doubt, the critical inquiry is whether the case involves

      “alternative means” or “multiple acts.”

             “ ‘ “In an alternative means case, where a single offense may be

      committed in more than one way, there must be jury unanimity as to guilt

      for the single crime charged. Unanimity is not required, however, as to the

      means by which the crime was committed so long as substantial evidence

      supports each alternative means. In reviewing an alternative means case,

      the court must determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found

      each means of committing the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

             “ ‘ “In multiple acts cases, on the other hand, several acts are alleged

      and any one of them could constitute the crime charged. In these cases,

      the jury must be unanimous as to which act or incident constitutes the crime.

      To ensure jury unanimity in multiple acts cases, we require that either the

      State elect the particular criminal act upon which it will rely for conviction, or

      that the trial court instruct the jury that all of them must agree that the same

      underlying criminal act has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” ’ ”

(Citations omitted.) Gardner at ¶ 48-50.

      {¶ 30} Addressing the offense of burglary specifically, the supreme court held that

Ohio’s burglary statutes proscribe a single crime that may be carried out in more than

one manner or method. Gardner at ¶ 63. Thus, a jury is not required to unanimously
                                                                                          -12-

agree as to the underlying offense that a defendant intends to commit in the course of a

burglary. Id.; see also State v. Eicholtz, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2012-CA-7, 2013-Ohio-302,

¶ 22-23.

       {¶ 31} More recently, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected another defendant’s claim

that he was denied the right to a unanimous jury verdict on aggravated burglary because

the jury was not instructed on the specific criminal offense that he intended to commit

inside the residence. State v. Fry, 125 Ohio St. 3d 163, 2010-Ohio-1017, 926 N.E.2d
1239. In Fry, the jury instructions, which tracked the language of the statute, stated,

“[Y]ou must find beyond a reasonable doubt that * * * the defendant did, by force, stealth,

or deception, trespass in an occupied structure * * * with the purpose to commit in said

structure, a criminal offense.” Relying on Gardner, the supreme court found no plain

error and held that “Fry was not deprived of a unanimous verdict when the jury was not

instructed on the specific offense he intended to commit inside the residence.” Fry at ¶

124.

       {¶ 32} Based on Gardner and Fry, we find no error in the trial court’s jury instruction

on burglary or in the prosecutor’s statements during closing arguments that the jury need

not agree as to whether Hagler intended to commit domestic violence against Arnold

and/or assault her sister. The State asserted that Hagler had the purpose to commit an

assault against Arnold and/or her sister, Taja, and based on the evidence, the jury could

have reasonably concluded that Hagler intended to commit an assault against both

women; the State’s evidence established that, due to the nature of the relationship

between Hagler and Arnold, an assault on Arnold would constitute domestic violence.

The trial court did not err in failing to require the jury to be unanimous as to which
                                                             -13-

underlying offense Hagler intended to commit.

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

                                    III. Conclusion

      {¶ 34} The trial court’s judgments will be affirmed.

                                    .............

FAIN, J. and WELBAUM, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

Kirsten A. Brandt
Meagan D. Woodall
Charles M. Blue
Hon. Mary Katherine Huffman