[Cite as State v. Bundy,
2012-Ohio-3934.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PIKE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 11CA818
vs. :
ERIC LAPAUL BUNDY, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
Defendant-Appellant. :
APPEARANCES:
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT: Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Sarah G.
LoPresti, Ohio Assistant Public Defender, 250 East Broad
Street, Suite 1400, Columbus, Ohio 43215
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: Robert Junk, Pike County Prosecuting Attorney, 100 East 2nd
Street, Waverly, Ohio 45690
CRIMINAL CASE FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALIZED: 8-20-12
ABELE, P.J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a Pike County Common Pleas Court judgment of conviction
and sentence. The jury found Eric L. Bundy, defendant below and appellee herein, guilty of (1)
reckless homicide, in violation of R.C. 2905.041, along with an R.C. 2941.141 firearm specification
and an R.C. 2941.145 specification that appellant used a firearm to facilitate the offense;1 (2)
1
The indictment did not contain the R.C. 2941.145 specification that appellant used a firearm to facilitate the offense.
Instead, the indictment contained an R.C. 2941.146 specification that appellant committed the offense that includes, as an
essential element, purposely or knowingly causing or attempting to cause the death of or physical harm to another and that was
committed by discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle other than a manufactured home. Pencil lines were drawn through
the R.C. 2941.146 specification. The state, however, did not seek to amend this specification. Nothing else appears in the
record on appeal to indicate that the R.C. 2941.146 specification was amended to an R.C. 2941.145 specification. Because no
one has raised this issue on appeal, we do not address it. We simply note the discrepancy between the jury’s verdict and the
PIKE, 11CA818 2
improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, in violation of R.C. 2923.16(B); and (3) receiving
stolen property, in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A).
{¶ 2} Appellant assigns the following errors for review:
FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED MR. BUNDY’S RIGHTS TO
DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR TRIAL BY ENTERING JUDGMENT
OF CONVICTION FOR RECKLESS HOMICIDE, WHEN THE
JURY’S DETERMINATION THAT MR. BUNDY HAD NOT
ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST
WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”
SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
“THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND
DEPRIVED ERIC BUNDY OF HIS RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS
UNDER THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE
OHIO CONSTITUTION WHEN IT INSTRUCTED THE JURY
THAT THE STATE MAY REBUT THE PRESUMPTION OF
SELF-DEFENSE BY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE
DEFENDANT DID NOT MEET THE THREE ELEMENTS OF THE
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE OF SELF-DEFENSE.”
{¶ 3} Appellant’s conviction stems from an unfortunate sequence of events that culminated
in the fatal shooting of Richard “Pig” Harris. In April 2010, appellant had been living with Pig’s
{¶ 4} brother, Brandon Harris, a reputed drug dealer. Appellant claimed to be Brandon’s
“bodyguard.” On April 19, 2010, appellant became angry with Brandon for leaving him home
without money. Appellant then decided to steal Brandon’s gun, along with some cocaine and
indictment.
PIKE, 11CA818 3
Percocet. Appellant intended to sell the items in order to obtain money.
{¶ 5} When Brandon returned home, he and Pig discovered the missing gun and drugs.
They suspected appellant had stolen them and decided to find appellant to retrieve the items.
{¶ 6} In the meantime, appellant contacted Shawn Fyffe, another reputed drug dealer, to
ask for assistance to sell the items. The Harris brothers also had contacted Fyffe to ask about
appellant’s whereabouts. After Fyffe advised the Harris brothers that he had just spoken with
appellant, the Harris brothers requested Fyffe to arrange a meeting with appellant without letting
appellant know about the Harris brothers involvement. Fyffe agreed. Fyffe and appellant
decided to rendevous at an abandoned parking lot.
{¶ 7} Appellant and his brother, Charles “Chucky” Bundy, arrived at the designated
location and remained in their vehicle. When Fyffe and the Harris brothers (along with Brandon’s
girlfriend, Lauren Smith) arrived, the Harris brothers immediately exited the vehicle and ran to the
Bundy vehicle. At that point, the sequence of the events is disputed. It is undisputed, however,
that appellant shot a gun that resulted in Pig’s death.
{¶ 8} Each of the five witnesses to the shooting had a different account. Appellant
claimed that Brandon punched out the passenger side window with the butt of a gun and that
Brandon and Pig were dragging him out of the vehicle. He stated that he told Chucky to “go go
go,” as he fired the gun in the air. He claimed that the shooting was an accident.
{¶ 9} Chucky stated that two or three guys jumped out of the Harris vehicle. He claimed
that one of them jumped on the top of the car, pointed a gun at appellant, and stated, “your [sic]
fucken [sic] dead.” Chucky stated that “they” busted the window and then starting hitting
appellant and trying to pull him out of the vehicle. Chucky claimed that he put the car in reverse
PIKE, 11CA818 4
and “took off.” He stated that he was unaware appellant had discharged the gun.
{¶ 10} Brandon admitted that he punched out the window, but disputed appellant’s claim
that he did so with a gun. Brandon stated that he used his hand to punch through the window.
Brandon claimed that appellant fired the gun and shot Pig at the same time that he started to punch
out the window. Brandon further disputed appellant’s claim that he and Pig were trying to pull
him out of the vehicle. Brandon stated that he and Pig were standing next to each other on the
passenger side, where appellant was seated.
{¶ 11} Lauren Smith, Brandon’s girlfriend, stated that Brandon and Pig exited the car and
went to the passenger side of the Bundy vehicle. She explained that “as Brandon hit the window, I
seen [sic] a gunshot go off in the passenger side.”
{¶ 12} Shawn Fyffe stated that Pig and Brandon jumped out of the vehicle. He saw
Brandon proceed to the driver’s side and Pig to passenger side. He stated that both Brandon and
Pig were punching the window. He saw a window shatter and then heard the gunshot.
{¶ 13} A Pike County Grand Jury returned an indictment that charged appellant with: (1)
murder, in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A), along with an R.C. 2941.141 firearm specification and an
R.C. 2941.146 specification that appellant committed a felony that includes, as an essential
element, purposely or knowingly causing or attempting to cause the death of or physical harm to
another and that was committed by discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle other than a
manufactured home; (2) improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, in violation of R.C.
2923.16(B)2; and (3) receiving stolen property, in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A).
2
This count of the indictment also contains a firearm specification. Lines, however, have been drawn across it.
Appellant moved to dismiss this firearm specification, and on October 25, 2010, the court granted the motion.
PIKE, 11CA818 5
{¶ 14} At trial, appellant asserted that pursuant to R.C. 2901.05(B) (the “castle doctrine”),
he presumptively acted in self-defense. Appellant claimed that he was entitled to the self-defense
presumption because Brandon and Pig were in the process of unlawfully entering the vehicle that
he occupied at the time he shot Pig. Appellant asserted that Brandon’s action of breaking the
window and Brandon’s and Pig’s actions of attempting to drag him from the vehicle demonstrated
that they were in the process of unlawfully entering the vehicle.
{¶ 15} The state, however, disputed appellant’s argument that he was entitled to the R.C.
2901.05(B) self-defense presumption. To support its theory that appellant was not entitled to the
self-defense presumption, the state noted that the coroner, Dr. Gretel C. Stephens,3 testified that
the bullet that killed Pig entered his body in the left pectoral region and traveled through his body
from right to left. She stated that the bullet perforated his lungs, heart and pulmonary artery and
that the wound was “fairly quickly fatal.” The state suggested that her testimony shows that
appellant knew how to shoot to kill, that he intended to do so when he shot Pig, and that the
shooting was not an “accident,” as appellant claimed.
{¶ 16} On cross-examination, appellant’s counsel asked Dr. Stephens whether the bullet
trajectory was “consistent with [the victim] leaning towards the muzzle of the gun at the time that
it fired.” Dr. Stephens stated that it was consistent with that scenario. Counsel additionally
questioned whether she found any glass fragments on the bullet. She stated that she did not.
Appellant suggested that this testimony indicated that Pig was leaning toward the vehicle at the
3
The transcript spells Dr. Stephens' name as “Mona Gretal Stevens.” Dr. Stephens explained that her full name is
“Mona Gretal Case Harlan Stevens.” In her autopsy report, she writes her name as “Gretel C. Stephens.” We have used
what we presume to be her common name and its correct spelling, as stated in her written report.
PIKE, 11CA818 6
time appellant discharged the weapon and that appellant fired the gun after Brandon had punched
out the window.
{¶ 17} The state further relied upon the eyewitness accounts that appellant discharged the
gun at approximately the same time that Brandon was striking the window. The state argued that
this evidence showed that appellant fired the weapon before anyone attempted to enter the vehicle
that he occupied, and thus, this evidence defeated his claim of presumptive self-defense under R.C.
2901.05(B). The state additionally asserted that even if the evidence showed that Brandon’s fist
had entered, or was in the process of entering, the vehicle, the evidence did not support appellant’s
claim that Pig had entered, or was in the process of entering, the vehicle. The state contended that
because the victim, Pig, was not in the process of entering the vehicle, the self-defense
presumption did not apply.
{¶ 18} At the close of all the evidence, appellant moved for a judgment of acquittal
regarding the murder count. He argued that the evidence demonstrated that he presumptively
acted in self-defense under R.C. 2901.05(B). Appellant asserted that the presumption applied
because (1) he was lawfully in the vehicle, (2) he was not at fault, and (3) Brandon tried to
unlawfully enter the vehicle. The court denied appellant’s motion.
{¶ 19} During closing argument, the state did not dispute that Brandon punched the
window. The state did, however, observe that the evidence conflicted as to whether appellant
discharged the gun before, during, or after the time that Brandon punched out the window.
Moreover, the state asserted that appellant was not entitled to the self-defense presumption because
the evidence failed to show that the victim, Pig, was in the process of unlawfully entering the
vehicle when appellant shot him. The state observed that Brandon punched the window, “[b]ut
PIKE, 11CA818 7
[appellant] didn’t shoot Brandon.” The state argued that according to Brandon and Lauren, Pig
was not reaching into the vehicle when appellant shot him.
{¶ 20} Appellant’s counsel asserted that the evidence demonstrated that Brandon and Pig
jointly attacked the vehicle in which appellant was a lawful passenger, broke the window and then
tried to drag appellant out of the vehicle.4 He contended that these facts show that appellant
presumptively acted in self-defense under R.C. 2901.05(B). Counsel pointed to the coroner’s
testimony that the angle of Pig’s gunshot wound suggested that he was leaning forward in an
attempt to “go after” appellant at the time he was shot. Counsel further argued that the coroner’s
testimony shows that the gunshot did not travel through the glass window before entering Pig’s
body, which would refute Brandon’s claim that appellant shot the gun at the same time as
Brandon’s fist contacted the window. Appellant additionally asserted that the state’s witnesses
were not credible. He noted that neither Brandon nor Fyffe told the law enforcement officers a
consistent story when interviewed. Brandon changed his story at least twice, and Fyffe changed
his three times. Counsel contended that Lauren was not credible because she claimed to be
ignorant of Brandon’s involvement with drugs, yet she had been dating him for approximately four
years and had a child with him.
{¶ 21} Before the trial court instructed the jury, appellant requested the following jury
instruction:
“The defendant is presumed to have acted in self defense when using
4
We observe that appellant’s assertion that the Harris brothers acted jointly raises the specter of the doctrine of
transferred intent self-defense. State v. Howard, 4th Dist. No. 07CA2948, 2007-Ohio-6331, ¶¶30-33; Katz, Ohio Criminal
Law, Section 88:6. Appellant, however, did not raise this particular argument. We express no opinion as to its applicability
to this case or the merits of the doctrine.
PIKE, 11CA818 8
defensive force that was intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to
another if the person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process
of entering or had entered unlawfully and without privilege to do so, the vehicle
occupied by the defendant.
The state claims the presumption that the defendant acted in self defense
when using defensive force that was intended or likely to cause death or great bodily
harm to another does not apply. This presumption does not apply if the state
proves by the greater weight of the evidence that: A) either the person against whom
the defensive force was used had a right to be in the vehicle; or, B) the defendant
used the defensive force while in a vehicle and he was unlawfully, and without
privilege to be in that vehicle.”
The trial court did not use appellant’s requested instruction, but instead instructed the jury:
“The Defendant is presumed to have acted in self-defense when using
defensive force that was intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to
another if the person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process
of entering or had entered unlawfully and without privilege to do so, the vehicle
occupied by the Defendant. … The State claims the presumption that the
Defendant acted in self-defense when using defensive force that was intended or
likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another does not apply. … The
presumption does not apply if the State proves by the greater weight of the evidence
that either the person against whom the defensive force was used had a right to be in
the vehicle or the Defendant used the defensive force while in a vehicle and he was
unlawfully and without privilege to be in that vehicle. This presumption is a
rebuttable presumption. … If the rebuttable presumption applies, then the State
bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to prove the
Defendant did not act in self-defense by proving by the greater weight of the
evidence that the Defendant was at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the
death of [the victim]. … Only a Defendant who was not at fault in creating the
situation giving rise to the affray may resort to the use of force. The not-at-fault
requirement means that the Defendant must not have been the first aggressor in the
incident. The not-at-fault requirement does not require a showing that the
Defendant played no part in criminal activity. Involvement in criminal activity
does not preclude raising self-defense. The not-at-fault requirement requires the
Defendant to show that he was not at fault in creating the situation that gave rise to
the death, that is that the Defendant had not engaged in such wrongful conduct
toward the assailant that the assailant was provoked to attack the Defendant. If the
rebuttable presumption does not apply, then in order to establish the defense of
self-defense, the Defendant bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the
evidence to establish that the Defendant was not at fault in creating the situation
giving rise to the death of [the victim] …; and if the rebuttable presumption does
not apply, then in order to establish the defense of self-defense, the Defendant bears
PIKE, 11CA818 9
the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to establish that the
Defendant had reasonable grounds to believe, and an honest belief, even if
mistaken, that he was in immediate danger of death or great bodily harm, and that
his only reasonable means of escape from such danger was by the use of deadly
force; and if the rebuttable presumption does not apply, then in order to establish the
defense of self-defense, the Defendant bears the burden by a preponderance of the
evidence to establish that the Defendant had not violated any duty to retreat to avoid
the danger. If the rebuttable presumption does not apply, the Defendant had a duty
to retreat if he was at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the death of [the
victim], or did not have reasonable grounds to believe, and an honest belief, that he
was in immediate or imminent danger of death or great bodily harm or that he had a
reasonable means of escape from that danger other than by the use of deadly force.
The Defendant no longer had a duty to retreat if he retreated, escaped, or withdrew
from the situation, or reasonably indicated his intention to retreat, escape or
withdraw from the situation and no longer participate in it; and he then had
reasonable grounds to believe, and an honest belief, that he was in immediate or
imminent danger of death or great bodily harm; and the only reasonable means of
escape from that danger was by the use of deadly force, even though he was
mistaken as to the existence of that danger. A person who lawfully … is an
occupant in his vehicle or who lawfully is an occupant in a vehicle owned by his
immediate family member has no duty to retreat before using self-defense. …
If the rebuttable presumption applies, and if the weight of the evidence of
self-defense is equally balanced, or if you are unable to determine which side has
adduced the preponderance of the evidence on the issue of self-defense, then the
State has not rebutted the presumption that [the] Defendant … acted in
self-defense, and you must find [the defendant] not guilty of Murder and not guilty
of Reckless Homicide.”
{¶ 22} After instructing the jury, the trial court asked whether either party had any
objections. Defense counsel stated: “We would just ask to preserve our initial filing that we’ve
made requesting … McClellan Instruction in 427.”
{¶ 23} On October 28, 2010, the jury (1) found appellant not guilty of murder, but guilty of
the lesser included offense of reckless homicide, in violation of R.C. 2903.041; (2) found that
appellant committed the offense with a firearm on or about his person or under his control and that
he used the firearm to facilitate the commission of the offense; (3) found appellant guilty of
improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, in violation of R.C. 2923.16(B); and (4) found
PIKE, 11CA818 10
appellant guilty of receiving stolen property, in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A). This appeal
followed.
I
{¶ 24} In his first assignment of error, appellant asserts that sufficient evidence does not
support his reckless homicide conviction and that his conviction is against the manifest weight of
the evidence. In particular, appellant contends that the evidence shows that he presumptively
acted in self-defense and “[a]s such, no rational trier of fact could have found all the essential
elements of reckless homicide beyond a reasonable doubt.” Appellant thus asserts that the trial
court should have determined that the state failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain his
conviction.
{¶ 25} Appellant additionally argues that the jury’s reckless homicide conviction is against
the manifest weight of the evidence when the greater weight of the evidence shows that he
presumptively acted in self-defense. Appellant contends that the manifest weight of the evidence
shows that Pig (1) was in the process of unlawfully and without privilege to do so entering, or had
unlawfully and without privilege entered, the vehicle that appellant occupied, (2) Pig did not have a
right to be in the vehicle and (3) appellant was not in the vehicle unlawfully. Appellant more
specifically argues that Pig
“engaged in a course of conduct in which Pig drove his car up to [appellant]’s, got
out of the car and ran up to [appellant]’s window. Moreover, the autopsy
suggested that [Pig] was leaning forward toward the gun when it was fired. And
although Brandon Harris was the one who punched through the car window, he
testified that [Pig] was standing directly next to him, so close that their arms were
touching. Pig had made explicit threats against [appellant], and he participated in
the attack equally with his brother. The record displays abundant evidence that
[Pig] was in the process of entering [appellant]’s car.”
PIKE, 11CA818 11
{¶ 26} Appellant further asserts that the state failed to rebut the self-defense presumption.
He claims that the state may rebut the presumption only if one of the two circumstances set forth in
R.C. 2901.05(B)(2) applies: (1) that Pig had a right to be in the vehicle; or (2) that appellant used
defensive force while in the vehicle unlawfully. Appellant asserts that the record contains
absolutely no evidence that either of these two circumstances applied and, therefore, that the state
failed to rebut the self-defense presumption.
{¶ 27} Appellant next argues that even if the R.C. 2901.05(B) self-defense presumption
does not apply, his conviction is nevertheless against the manifest weight of the evidence. He
asserts that the manifest weight of the evidence shows that he acted in self-defense because (1) he
was not at fault in creating the situation, (2) appellant had a reasonable belief that he was in
imminent danger, and (3) he did not violate a duty to retreat.
{¶ 28} The state asserts that the jury’s determination that the R.C. 2901.05(B) self-defense
presumption is inapplicable is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The state observes
that conflicting evidence exists as to whether Pig was in the process of unlawfully entering the
vehicle. It contends that the jury obviously rejected appellant’s interpretation of the evidence–that
Pig was attempting to unlawfully enter the vehicle.
A
STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶ 29} Initially, we observe that within his first assignment of error, appellant uses both the
sufficiency-of-the-evidence and manifest-weight-of-the evidence standards of review. The two
standards, however, represent legally distinct concepts. State v. Elmore, 111 Ohio St.3d 515,
PIKE, 11CA818 12
2006-Ohio-6207,
857 N.E.2d 547, ¶44; State v. Puckett,
191 Ohio App.3d 747,
2010-Ohio-6597,
947 N.E.2d 730, ¶29.
1
Sufficiency of the Evidence
{¶ 30} A claim of insufficient evidence invokes a due process concern and raises the
question whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict as a matter of law. State
v. Diar, 120 Ohio St.3d 460,
2008-Ohio-6266,
900 N.E.2d 565, 113, citing State v. Thompkins,
78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386,
678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). In reviewing such a challenge, “[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.” 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} The sufficiency-of-the-evidence standard is inapplicable when a defendant raises an
affirmative defense as justification for the crime. See State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57,
2006-Ohio-160,
840 N.E.2d 1032, ¶38, quoting Jackson,
443 U.S. at 324 (stating that the
sufficiency of the evidence standard “‘must be applied with explicit reference to the substantive
elements of the criminal offense’”); State v. Wilson, 8th Dist. No. 97350,
2012-Ohio-1952, ¶¶35
and 39. Whether a defendant established an affirmative defense does not relate to whether the
state presented sufficient evidence to support the essential elements of the crime charged, but
instead, it seeks to relieve the defendant of criminal responsibility. Wilson at ¶39, quoting State v.
Dykas,
185 Ohio App.3d 763,
2010-Ohio-359,
925 N.E.2d 685, ¶18 (stating that “‘a defendant
PIKE, 11CA818 13
claiming self-defense does not seek to negate an element of the offense charged but rather seeks to
relieve himself from culpability’”). As the Hancock court explained, the
sufficiency-of-the-evidence standard “‘does not implicate affirmative defenses [such as
self-defense], because proof supportive of an affirmative defense cannot detract from proof beyond
a reasonable doubt that the accused had committed the requisite elements of the crime.’” Hancock
at ¶37, quoting Caldwell v. Russell,
181 F.3d 731, 740 (C.A.6, 1999).
{¶ 32} In the case at bar, appellant does not dispute whether the state presented sufficient
evidence regarding the essential elements of reckless homicide. Rather, he disputes whether the
jury should have rejected a reckless homicide conviction when he presented evidence of
presumptive self-defense, an affirmative defense. Because this argument does not challenge the
sufficiency of the state’s evidence to establish the elements of reckless homicide, we find it
inappropriate in the sufficiency-of-the evidence context. We do, however, find it cognizable
under a manifest-weight-of-the evidence standard.
2
Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶ 33} When an appellate court considers a claim that a conviction is against the manifest
weight of the evidence, the court must dutifully examine the entire record, weigh the evidence, and
consider the credibility of witnesses. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387. Accord State v. Hunter,
131 Ohio St.3d 67,
2011-Ohio-6524,
960 N.E.2d 955, ¶119. A reviewing court must bear in
mind, however, that credibility generally is an issue for the trier of fact to resolve. See State v.
PIKE, 11CA818 14
Issa,
93 Ohio St.3d 49, 67,
752 N.E.2d 904 (2001); State v. DeHass,
10 Ohio St.2d 230,
227
N.E.2d 212 (1967), paragraph one of the syllabus. “‘Because the trier of fact sees and hears the
witnesses and is particularly competent to decide “whether, and to what extent, to credit the
testimony of particular witnesses,” we must afford substantial deference to its determinations of
credibility.’” Barberton v. Jenney,
126 Ohio St.3d 5,
2010-Ohio-2420,
929 N.E.2d 1047, ¶20,
quoting State v. Konya, 2nd Dist. No. 21434,
2006-Ohio-6312,¶6, quoting State v. Lawson, 2nd
Dist. No. 16288 (Aug. 22, 1997). Thus, we leave the issues of weight and credibility of the
evidence to the fact finder, as long as there is a rational basis in the record for its decision. State
v. Picklesimer, 4th Dist. No. 11CA9,
2012-Ohio-1282, ¶24. Accord State v. Howard, 4th Dist. No.
07CA2948,
2007-Ohio-6331, ¶16 (“We will not intercede as long as the trier of fact has some
factual and rational basis for its determination of credibility and weight.”).
{¶ 34} Once the reviewing court finishes its examination, the court may reverse the
judgment of conviction only if it appears that the fact-finder, when resolving the conflicts in
evidence, “‘clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the
conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting
State v. Martin,
20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175,
485 N.E.2d 717 (1983). If the prosecution presented
substantial evidence upon which the trier of fact reasonably could conclude, beyond a reasonable
doubt, that the essential elements of the offense had been established, the judgment of conviction is
not against the manifest weight of the evidence. E.g., State v. Eley,
56 Ohio St.2d 169,
383
N.E.2d 132 (1978), syllabus. Thus, “‘”[w]hen conflicting evidence is presented at trial, a
conviction is not against the manifest weight of the evidence simply because the jury believed the
prosecution testimony.”’” State v. Cooper,
170 Ohio App.3d 418,
2007-Ohio-1186, 867 N.E.2d
PIKE, 11CA818 15
493, ¶17, quoting State v. Mason, 9th Dist. No. 21397,
2003-Ohio-5787, ¶17, quoting State v.
Gilliam, 9th Dist. No. 97CA6757 (Aug. 12, 1998). Instead, a reviewing court should find a
conviction against the manifest weight of the evidence only in the “‘exceptional case in which the
evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’” Thompkins,
78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting
Martin,
20 Ohio App.3d at 175. Accord State v. Lindsey,
87 Ohio St.3d 479, 483,
721 N.E.2d 995
(2000).
B
RECKLESS HOMICIDE
{¶ 35} R.C. 2903.041 sets forth the essential elements of reckless homicide: “No person
shall recklessly cause the death of another ….”
{¶ 36} Appellant does not dispute the quantity or quality of the state’s evidence regarding
the elements necessary to establish the reckless homicide charge. Instead, he asserts that his
reckless homicide conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence because the greater
weight of the evidence shows that he presumptively acted in self-defense under R.C. 2901.05(B).
Appellant contends that a reasonable factfinder only could conclude that the Harris brothers were
in the process of unlawfully entering the vehicle that he occupied at the time he shot Pig. As such,
he argues that the jury should have found that he acted in self-defense under R.C. 2901.05(B), the
“castle doctrine.”
C
SELF-DEFENSE
{¶ 37} “Self-defense is an affirmative defense that, if proved, relieves a defendant of
criminal liability for the force that the defendant used.” State v. Kozlosky, 195 Ohio App.3d 343,
PIKE, 11CA818 16
2011-Ohio-4814,
959 N.E.2d 1097, ¶22. “‘The burden of going forward with the evidence of an
affirmative defense, and the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, for an
affirmative defense, is upon the accused.’” State v. Nucklos,
121 Ohio St.3d 332,
2009-Ohio-792,
904 N.E.2d 512, ¶7, quoting R.C. 2901.05(A).
{¶ 38} To establish self-defense, the defendant bears the burden to prove, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that “‘(1) the defendant was not at fault in creating the violent
situation, (2) the defendant had a bona fide belief that she was in imminent danger of death or great
bodily harm and that her only means of escape was the use of force, and (3) that the defendant did
not violate any duty to retreat or avoid the danger.’” State v. Goff, 128 Ohio St.3d 169,
2010-Ohio-6317,
942 N.E.2d 1075, ¶36, quoting State v. Thomas,
77 Ohio St.3d 323, 326,
673
N.E.2d 1339 (1997). The “elements of self-defense are cumulative. … [Thus, i]f the defendant
fails to prove any one of these elements by a preponderance of the evidence he has failed to
demonstrate that he acted in self-defense.” State v. Jackson,
22 Ohio St.3d 281, 284,
490 N.E.2d
893 (1986) (emphasis sic). Accord State v. Cassano,
96 Ohio St.3d 94, 2002–Ohio–3751,
772
N.E.2d 81, ¶73; State v. Hargrave, 4th Dist. No. 11CA907,
2012-Ohio-798, ¶16.
{¶ 39} R.C. 2901.05(B)(1), however, relieves the defendant’s burden to prove the
foregoing three elements. Under R.C. 2901.05(B), a defendant is rebuttably presumed to have
acted in self-defense
“when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily
harm to another if the person against whom the defensive force is used is in the
process of unlawfully and without privilege to do so entering, or has unlawfully and
without privilege to do so entered, the residence or vehicle occupied by the person
using the defensive force.”
This rebuttable presumption means that the defendant no longer carries the initial burden to
PIKE, 11CA818 17
produce evidence that (1) the defendant was not at fault in creating the violent situation, (2) the
defendant had a bona fide belief that she was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and
that her only means of escape was the use of force, and (3) that the defendant did not violate any
duty to retreat or avoid the danger. Instead, the rebuttable presumption, by definition, presumes
the existence of these facts.
{¶ 40} For the presumption to apply, a defendant must establish that (1) the person against
whom the defendant used defensive force was in the process of unlawfully entering, or had
unlawfully entered, the residence or vehicle that the defendant occupied, (2) the defendant was in
the vehicle lawfully, and (3) the victim did not have a right to be in the vehicle. If the
presumption applies, the state may rebut it. R.C. 2901.05(B)(3); State v. Wilson, 8th Dist. No.
97350, 2012-Ohio-1952, ¶43 (construing complementary statute, R.C. 2901.09(B), the
no-duty-to-retreat statute); State v. Petrone, 5th Dist. No. 2011CA67,
2012-Ohio-911, ¶73
(recognizing that state may rebut presumption by showing that defendant at fault and did not have
bona fide belief that defendant in imminent danger and that only means of escape was use of
force).
1
The Jury Rationally Rejected
the Self-defense Presumption
{¶ 41} In the case sub judice, appellant argues that the greater weight of the evidence
shows that (1) he was in the vehicle lawfully, (2) Pig did not have a right to be in the vehicle, and
(3) Pig was in the process of entering the vehicle. The state contends that conflicting evidence
exists as to whether Pig was in the process of entering the vehicle and that the jury rationally
PIKE, 11CA818 18
determined that the evidence supported a finding that Pig was not in the process of entering the
vehicle.
{¶ 42} At trial, two witnesses testified about the altercation that Pig was not in the process
of entering the vehicle when appellant shot him. Brandon stated that appellant discharged the gun
at the same time that Brandon’s fist hit the window. Lauren testified similarly. Brandon stated
that Pig was standing next to him outside the vehicle and that neither one attempted to drag
appellant out of the vehicle. Lauren also stated that she did not see Brandon or Pig attempt to drag
appellant out of the vehicle. Brandon’s and Lauren’s version of the altercation conflicts with
appellant’s.
{¶ 43} Appellant claims that Brandon and Pig attempted to drag him out of the vehicle.
He points to the coroner’s testimony that the bullet trajectory was consistent with Pig leaning
towards the vehicle and to her testimony that the bullet found in Pig’s body did not contain glass
fragments. Appellant argues that the coroner’s testimony thus leads to the inferences that (1) Pig,
by leaning towards the vehicle, must have been reaching in and attempting to drag him out, and (2)
appellant did not shoot the weapon until after Brandon had broken the window. The jury,
however, rationally could have discredited appellant’s story and concluded that Brandon’s and
Lauren’s version of the altercation was more credible than appellant’s. Even if the jury believed
that Pig was leaning forward, it did not necessarily have to believe that Pig was in the process of
unlawfully entering the vehicle. Likewise, if the jury believed that Brandon broke the glass before
appellant fired the weapon, it did not necessarily have to believe that Pig was in the process of
unlawfully entering the vehicle. As the state observed, Brandon, not Pig, broke the window.
Appellant did not shoot Brandon. Instead, he shot Pig.
PIKE, 11CA818 19
{¶ 44} The jury also may have rejected appellant’s version of the altercation because
appellant was not credible. Appellant initially claimed that he shot Pig by “accident,” yet the
gunshot wound showed that appellant shot Pig “center mass” and that it was almost immediately
fatal. The jury could have thus inferred that appellant did not tell the truth when he stated that he
shot Pig by “accident.” It then may have determined that the rest of his story was untruthful.
{¶ 45} In sum, we cannot state that the jury, in resolving the conflicting evidence, clearly
lost its way when it determined that appellant was not entitled to the self-defense presumption.
State v. Clellan, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-1043, 2010-Ohio-3841 (holding that defendant not entitled to
self-defense presumption when evidence conflicted as to whether the victim was in the process of
entering the vehicle); Petrone at ¶73 (concluding jury could have rejected self-defense presumption
when conflicting evidence presented as to whether victim tried to enter defendant’s vehicle). See
State v. Miller, 12th Dist. No. CA2009–10–138, 2010–Ohio–3821 (stating that altercation
occurring outside of one’s vehicle, with no attempt by the victim to enter the defendant’s vehicle,
does not implicate the Castle Doctrine).
2
Even if the Presumption Applied, the Jury Could Have
Rationally Determined that the State Rebutted It
{¶ 46} In the case sub judice, the jury could have also determined that the presumption
applied, but that the state rebutted the presumption by a preponderance of the evidence. Appellant
argues that the jury could not have determined that the state rebutted the presumption because the
state failed to offer any evidence that (1) Pig had a right to be in the vehicle, or (2) appellant was
unlawfully in the vehicle. Appellant claims that the only way the state may rebut the presumption
is by showing one of the two foregoing circumstances. Resolving this issue requires us to
PIKE, 11CA818 20
interpret the statute.
a
Statutory interpretation
{¶ 47} The interpretation of a statute is a question of law that we review de novo. In re
Adoption of B.M.W., 4th Dist. No. 10CA899, 2010–Ohio–5214, ¶13.
“The primary goal of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to
the legislature’s intent in enacting the statute. The court must first look to the plain
language of the statute itself to determine the legislative intent. We apply a statute
as it is written when its meaning is unambiguous and definite. An unambiguous
statute must be applied in a manner consistent with the plain meaning of the
statutory language.”
State v. Lowe, 112 Ohio St.3d 507,
861 N.E.2d 512, 2007–Ohio–606, ¶9 (citations omitted).
{¶ 48} While courts must liberally construe criminal statutes in the accused’s favor, R.C.
2901.04(A), “‘courts do not have the authority to ignore the plain and unambiguous language of a
statute under the guise of either statutory interpretation or liberal construction; [instead], the court
must give effect to the words utilized.’” State v. Snowden, 87 Ohio St.3d 335, 336,
720 N.E.2d
909 (1999), quoting Morgan v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth.,
68 Ohio St.3d 344, 347,
626 N.E.2d 939
(1994). Accord Doe v. Marlington Loc. Sch. Dist. Bd. Of Educ.,
122 Ohio St.3d 12,
2009-Ohio-1360,
907 N.E.2d 706, ¶29. Thus, if the meaning of a statute is unambiguous and
definite, a court must apply it as written and no further interpretation is necessary. Mathews v.
Waverly, 4th Dist. No. 08CA787, 2010–Ohio–347, ¶23, citing State ex rel. Savarese v. Buckeye
Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn.,
74 Ohio St.3d 543, 545,
660 N.E.2d 463 (1996).
{¶ 49} In the case at bar, we believe that the meaning of R.C. 2901.05(B) is plain and
unambiguous.
PIKE, 11CA818 21
b
R.C. 2901.05(B)
R.C. 2901.05(B) states:
(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, a person is presumed to have
acted in self defense or defense of another when using defensive force that is
intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if the person
against whom the defensive force is used is in the process of unlawfully and without
privilege to do so entering, or has unlawfully and without privilege to do so entered,
the residence or vehicle occupied by the person using the defensive force.
(2)(a) The presumption set forth in division (B)(1) of this section does not
apply if the person against whom the defensive force is used has a right to be in, or
is a lawful resident of, the residence or vehicle.
(b) The presumption set forth in division (B)(1) of this section does not
apply if the person who uses the defensive force uses it while in a residence or
vehicle and the person is unlawfully, and without privilege to be, in that residence
or vehicle.
(3) The presumption set forth in division (B)(1) of this section is a rebuttable
presumption and may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.
{¶ 50} We believe that the statute plainly and unambiguously permits the state to rebut the
self-defense presumption by means other than R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)(a) or (b). Contrary to
appellant’s argument, a plain reading of the statute does not suggest that the legislature intended
R.C. 2901.05(B)(2) to be the only means by which the state may rebut the presumption. The plain
language of the statute does not limit the state’s ability to rebut the presumption. Instead, R.C.
2901.05(B)(2)(a) and (b) set forth the circumstances under which the presumption is wholly
inapplicable.5 Those subsections do not purport to limit the state’s ability to rebut the
5
While it is not our role to write the statute, we observe that at least two other states make the self-defense
presumption inapplicable when the accused is engaged in criminal activity. Mich.Comp.Laws. 780.951 (stating that the
self-defense presumption does not apply when the individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force is engaged in
the commission of a crime or is using the … occupied vehicle to further the commission of a crime”); Ky.Rev.Stat.
503.055(1)(c) (stating that the presumption does not apply if “[t]he person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful
PIKE, 11CA818 22
presumption, but instead, they state when the presumption does not apply. A different section,
R.C. 2901.05(B)(3), states that the presumption is rebuttable, without delineating any particular
means by which the state may rebut the presumption. It also does not limit the state’s ability to
rebut the presumption to those circumstances set forth in R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)(a) or (b). By not
specifying the manner in which the state may rebut the presumption, we believe that the legislature
intended to allow the state to rebut the presumption as it would rebut any other presumption–i.e.,
by presenting evidence that is countervailing to the presumed facts. See, generally, In re
Guardianship of Breece, 173 Ohio St. 542, 555-556,
184 N.E.2d 386 (1962) (discussing
presumptions and effect of rebuttable presumptions). If the legislature intended otherwise, it
could have used express language to state that the state may rebut the presumption only if it shows
one of the two R.C. 2901.05(B)(2) circumstances. Thus, we disagree with appellant that the
statute means that the state can rebut the presumption only by showing that one of the two
circumstances set forth in R.C. 2901.05(B)(2) applies.
{¶ 51} Furthermore, the effect of the self-defense presumption is to negate the defendant’s
burden to produce evidence that he was not at fault, that he had a reasonable belief of imminent
danger and that his only means of escape was the use of force, and that he did not violate a duty to
retreat. If a defendant establishes the self-defense presumption, then he need not present evidence
regarding these three elements. Instead, the presumption, by definition, presumes that the
defendant was not at fault, that he had a reasonable belief of imminent danger and that the only
activity or is using the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity”). This seems like a smart rule,
as we hardly think the self-defense presumption is intended to allow, for example, rival drug dealers or gangs, to use this
presumption as an excuse for the murder of their rivals.
PIKE, 11CA818 23
means of escape was the use of force, and that he did not violate a duty to retreat. To rebut that
presumption the logical conclusion is that the state would need to show that the defendant was at
fault, that he did not have a reasonable belief of imminent danger, or that he violated a duty to
retreat. See Wilson at ¶¶43-44 (discussing state’s rebuttal evidence using three elements of
common law self-defense, not R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)(a) and (b)); Petrone at ¶73 (same).
{¶ 52} Further support for our decision may be found in an Attorney General Publication,
Ohio’s Concealed Carry Laws and Application (Rev. Apr. 27, 2012), 21-22.6 The publication
states:
“The law presumes you to have acted in self-defense or defense of another
when using deadly force if the victim had unlawfully and without privilege entered
or was in the process of entering the residence or vehicle you occupy. The
presumption does not apply if the defendant was unlawfully in that residence or
vehicle. The presumption does not apply if the victim had a right to be in, or was a
lawful resident of, the residence or vehicle.
The presumption of self-defense is a rebuttable presumption. The term
‘rebuttable presumption’ means the prosecutor, and not the defendant, carries the
burden of producing evidence contrary to the facts that the law presumes.
However, a rebuttable presumption does not relieve the defendant of the burden of
proof. If the prosecutor provides sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant
created the confrontation or that the use of deadly force was not reasonably
necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm, then the presumption of
self-defense no longer exists.”
Thus, the Attorney General interprets the statute in the same way.7 That is, R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)
6
This publication is available at
http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/files/Publications/Publications-for-Law-Enforcement/Concealed-Carry-Publications/Co
ncealed-Carry-Laws-Booklet.aspx.
7
This does not suggest that we are bound by the Attorney General’s interpretation. State ex rel. Data Trace
Information Servs., LLC v. Cuyahoga Cty. Fiscal Officer, 131 Ohio St.3d 255,
2012-Ohio-753,
963 N.E.2d 1288, ¶57, quoting
State ex rel. Van Dyke v. Pub. Emps. Retirement Bd.,
99 Ohio St.3d 430,
2003-Ohio-4123,
793 N.E.2d 438, ¶40 (“‘Attorney
General opinions are not binding on courts; at best, they are persuasive authority.’”).
PIKE, 11CA818 24
states when the presumption does not apply. It does not, however, limit the state’s ability to rebut
the presumption. R.C. 2901.05(B)(3) allows the state to use traditional means to rebut the
presumption.
{¶ 53} Although appellant cites the pattern jury instructions to support his argument, those
instructions are not binding upon this court. State v. Nucklos, 171 Ohio App.3d 38,
2007-Ohio-1025,
869 N.E.2d 674, ¶57 (stating that the Ohio jury instruction handbook is “a
respected and authoritative source of the law, but it is merely a product of the Ohio Judicial
Conference and not binding on the courts”). Moreover, we do not believe that the pattern jury
instructions regarding the self-defense presumption impose limits on the state’s ability to rebut that
presumption. The pattern instructions read:
“2. Presumption–Described. The defendant is presumed to have acted in
(self defense) (defense of another) when using defensive force that was (intended)
(likely) to cause death or great bodily harm to another if the person against whom
the defendant force was used (was in the process of entering) (had entered),
unlawfully and without privilege to do so, the (residence) (vehicle) occupied by the
defendant.
3. Presumption–Rebuttable. The state claims the presumption that the
defendant acted in (self defense) (defense of another) when using defensive force
that was (intended) (likely) to cause death or great bodily harm to another does not
apply. This presumption does not apply if the state proves by the greater weight of
the evidence that
(A) the person against whom the defensive force was used (had a right to be
in) (was a lawful resident of) the (residence) (vehicle).
(B) the defendant used the defensive force while in a (residence) (vehicle)
and he/she was unlawfully, and without privilege to be, in that (residence)
(vehicle).”
This instruction, like the statute, delineates two circumstances when the statute does not apply. To
the extent the instructions can be construed to imply that these are the only two means by which
the state may rebut the presumption under R.C. 2901.05(B)(3), we believe that the instruction is
PIKE, 11CA818 25
not a correct statement of the law.
{¶ 54} Having clarified the means by which the state may rebut the presumption, we can
now consider whether the jury could have found the presumption applicable, but that the state
rebutted it. The jury may have believed that Pig was in the process of unlawfully entering the
vehicle, yet determined that appellant was not in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm
and his only means of escape was to shoot the gun.
{¶ 55} The second element of self-defense requires a defendant to show that the defendant
had a bona fide belief that he was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that his
only means of escape was the use of deadly force. Goff at ¶36. This second element “is a
combined subjective and objective test.” Thomas, 77 Ohio St.3d at 330. The person’s belief
must be objectively reasonable under the circumstances and he must subjectively believe he needed
to resort to force to defend himself.
Id. at 330–331.
“The objective part of the test requires consideration of ‘whether, considering all of
the defendant’s particular characteristics, knowledge, or lack of knowledge,
circumstances, history, and conditions at the time of the attack,’ a reasonable person
would believe that danger was imminent.”
State v. Hendrickson, 4th Dist. No. 08CA12, 2009-Ohio-4416, ¶30, quoting State v. Keith, Franklin
App. Nos. 08AP-28, 08AP-29,
2008-Ohio-6122, ¶23, citing Thomas,
77 Ohio St.3d at 330. The
subjective part requires consideration of whether the defendant himself actually believed that he
was in imminent danger.
Id.
{¶ 56} Another component contained within the second element is the defendant’s bona
fide belief that the use of force was the only means of escape. Part of this entails a showing that
the defendant used “only that force that is reasonably necessary to repel the attack.” Hendrickson
PIKE, 11CA818 26
at ¶23, citing State v. Williford, 49 Ohio St.3d 247, 249,
551 N.E.2d 1279 (1990), citing State v.
McLeod,
82 Ohio App. 155, 157,
80 N.E.2d 699 (1948). In other words, a defendant must show
that “that the degree of force used was ‘warranted’ under the circumstances and ‘proportionate’ to
the perceived threat.” Hendrickson at ¶31, citing State v. Palmer,
80 Ohio St.3d 543, 564,
687
N.E.2d 685 (1997). “If … the amount of force used is so disproportionate that it shows an
‘unreasonable purpose to injure,’ the defense of self-defense is unavailable.” State v. Macklin, 8th
Dist. No. 94482,
2011-Ohio-87, ¶27, quoting State v. Speakman, Pickaway App. No. 00CA035,
2001-Ohio-2437.
{¶ 57} This rule applies even if a defendant is attacked in his residence or vehicle. A
defendant who is attacked in his or her residence or vehicle does not possess a license to kill.
Attorney General Publication, supra, at 21-22 (stating that “being a lawful occupant of a residence
or vehicle is not a license to use deadly force against an attacker,” but instead, “[t]he person who is
attacked, without fault of his own, may use deadly force only if he reasonably and honestly
believed that deadly force was necessary to prevent serious bodily harm or death.”).8 Instead, the
defendant may only use deadly force if necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury. Thomas,
77 Ohio St.3d at 327 (stating that defendant attacked in own home may use deadly force “if
necessary”); State v. Seymour, 4th Dist. No. 90CA38 (Nov. 9, 1993) (rejecting argument that
defendant may use “any force necessary to repel her attacker”); State v. Miskimins,
435 N.W.2d
8
The Attorney General’s Publication further explains:
“If the person does not [reasonably and honestly believe[] that deadly force was necessary to
prevent serious bodily harm or death], he should not use deadly force. Again, if it does not put your life or
the life of others in danger, you should withdraw from the confrontation if it is safe for you to do so.”
PIKE, 11CA818 27
217, 222 (S.D.1989), quoted in State v. Pelligrino, 577 N.W.2d 590, 595 (S.D.1998) (stating that
“[h]ome is a shelter and a refuge, not ‘a free-fire zone’”). “‘Any civilized system of law
recognizes the supreme value of human life, and excuses or justifies its taking only in cases of
apparent absolute necessity.’” Pelligrino,
577 N.W.2d at 596, quoting People v. Jones,
12 Cal.
Rptr. 777, 780 (1961). Thus, when “‘the character and manner of the [attack] do not reasonably
create a fear of great bodily harm, there is no cause for the exaction of human life.’”
Id., quoting
People v. Ceballos,
12 Cal.3d 470,
116 Cal. Rptr. 233, 238,
526 P.2d 241, 246 (1974).
{¶ 58} This rule does no violence to the castle doctrine. Contrary to popular opinion, the
castle doctrine is not intended to be a license to kill. See Attorney General Publication, supra.
Instead, under the castle doctrine, the amount of force a defendant used to repel the attacker is
presumptively reasonable. The castle doctrine presumes that the amount of force used was
necessary and unavoidable. Thus, when a defendant is attacked in his home or vehicle, the
defendant “‘”may use all necessary force to eject the intruder, whom [the defendant] may kill in
doing it, if this extreme measure seems unavoidable.”’” Pelligrino, 577 N.W.2d at 596, quoting
Russell v. State,
54 So. 361 (Fla.1911), quoting 1 Bishop’s Crim. Law, Section 859. “On the
other hand, people ‘do not hold their lives at the mercy of unreasonable fears or excessive caution
of others, and if from such motives human life is taken, there is no justification.’”
Pelligrino at
597, quoting Harris v. State,
104 So.2d 739, 744 (Fla.Ct.App.1958). The state, therefore, may
rebut the presumption that the defendant’s use of force was necessary and unavoidable.
{¶ 59} In the case at bar, we believe that the jury may have found that appellant’s use of
deadly force was unnecessary and avoidable. The jury may have believed that instead of using
deadly force, (i.e., shooting the gun), appellant could have escaped the confrontation simply by
PIKE, 11CA818 28
telling his brother to drive away from the Harris brothers. The vehicle in which appellant was
seated provided him with a means of escape. Had he and his brother left the scene, the shooting
may never have happened. Under these circumstances, the jury could have found the self-defense
presumption rebutted.
{¶ 60} This is not to suggest that appellant had a duty to retreat. Under R.C. 2901.09,9
appellant had no duty to retreat while in his vehicle. We believe, however, that the
no-duty-to-retreat rule, like the castle doctrine, is not a license to kill.
{¶ 61} Additionally, the jury could have determined that it was not objectively reasonable
for appellant to believe that Pig posed an imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.
Appellant was seated in a vehicle with a gun. Pig was standing outside the vehicle, and, according
to the state’s witnesses, was unarmed. Moreover, some of the state’s witnesses disputed
appellant’s claim that Pig was attempting to drag him from the vehicle. They stated that they did
not see Pig attempt to drag appellant from the vehicle. Thus, the jury may have concluded that the
evidence failed to demonstrate that appellant reasonably felt an imminent danger of death or great
bodily harm. Consequently, we disagree with appellant that the state could not have rebutted the
self-defense presumption when it failed to present evidence that one of the two R.C. 2901.05(B)(2)
circumstances applied. Instead, the jury may have determined that the state rebutted the
presumption by demonstrating that appellant used more force than reasonably necessary or that it
9
R.C. 2901.09(B) states:
For purposes of any section of the Revised Code that sets forth a criminal offense, a person who
lawfully … is an occupant of that person’s vehicle or who lawfully is an occupant in a vehicle owned by an
immediate family member of the person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense or defense
of another.
PIKE, 11CA818 29
was not objectively reasonable for appellant to have believed that Pig posed an imminent danger of
death or great bodily harm.
{¶ 62} For these same reasons, we reject appellant’s argument that the manifest weight of
the evidence establishes that he acted in accordance with the traditional notion of self-defense.
Even using the traditional elements of self-defense without regard to the castle doctrine, the jury
may have found that appellant used more force than reasonably necessary or that it was not
objectively reasonable for appellant to believe that Pig posed an imminent danger of death or great
bodily harm. Consequently, based upon our review of the record, we cannot state that the jury
clearly lost its way when it rejected appellant’s self-defense theory.
{¶ 63} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we overrule appellant’s first
assignment of error.
II
{¶ 64} In his second assignment of error, appellant asserts that the trial court abused its
discretion by instructing the jury that the state could rebut the self-defense presumption by
establishing that appellant did not meet the three common law self-defense elements. Appellant
argues that once the R.C. 2901.05(B) presumption applies, the statute allows the state to rebut the
presumption in only two ways: (1) by showing that the person against whom the defendant used
defensive force had a right to be in the vehicle; or (2) the defendant used defensive force while in
the vehicle unlawfully. He contends that if the presumption applies, the state cannot rebut the
presumption by demonstrating that he did not act in accordance with common law self-defense.
Appellant thus asserts that the trial court’s instruction to the jury was a misstatement of the law.
{¶ 65} Initially, we question whether appellant properly preserved this alleged error. He
PIKE, 11CA818 30
filed proposed jury instructions that mirrored the Ohio Pattern Jury Instructions, which do not
include language that the state may rebut the presumption by presenting evidence regarding the
three self-defense elements. After the court finished instructing the jury, counsel stated that it
requested, “McClellan Instruction in 427.” The record does not reveal the specifics of this
instruction. Moreover, appellant has not pointed to the record where he specifically questioned
whether the court’s self-defense rebuttal instructions were correct. Instead, he raised a general
objection that the court should have given his requested instruction.
{¶ 66} Under Crim.R. 30(A) “a party may not assign as error the giving or failure to give
any instruction unless the party objects before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating
specifically the matter objected to and the grounds of the objection.” (Emphasis added). When a
party fails to properly object, then the party waives all but plain error. See State v. Conway, 109
Ohio St.3d 412, 2006–Ohio–2815,
848 N.E.2d 810, ¶51; State v. Underwood (1983),
3 Ohio St.3d
12,
444 N.E.2d 1332, syllabus. In the case at bar, appellant generally objected to the court’s
failure to give his requested instruction. Appellant did not, however, specifically object to the
court’s rebuttal instructions. Thus, except for plain error, appellant has waived this issue.
{¶ 67} Plain error exists when the error is plain or obvious and when the error “affect[s]
substantial rights.” Crim.R. 52(B). The error affects substantial rights when “‘but for the error,
the outcome of the trial [proceeding] clearly would have been otherwise.’” State v. Litreal, 170
Ohio App.3d 670, 2006–Ohio–5416,
868 N.E.2d 1018, ¶11, quoting State v. Barnes,
94 Ohio St.3d
21, 27, 2002–Ohio–68,
759 N.E.2d 1240. Courts ordinarily should take notice of plain error “with
utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances, and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of
justice.” State v. Gardner,
118 Ohio St.3d 420, 2008–Ohio–2787,
889 N.E.2d 995, ¶78; State v.
PIKE, 11CA818 31
Patterson, 4th Dist. No. 05CA16, 2006–Ohio–1902, ¶13. A reviewing court should consider
noticing plain error only if the error “‘“seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation
of judicial proceedings.”’” Barnes,
94 Ohio St.3d at 27, quoting United States v. Olano,
507 U.S.
725, 736,
113 S.Ct. 1770,
123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993), quoting United States v. Atkinson,
297 U.S.
157, 160,
56 S.Ct. 391,
80 L.Ed. 555 (1936). In the case sub judice, we do not believe that plain
error exists.
{¶ 68} Generally, a trial court has broad discretion to decide how to fashion jury
instructions. The trial court must not, however, fail to “fully and completely give the jury all
instructions which are relevant and necessary for the jury to weigh the evidence and discharge its
duty as the fact finder.” State v. Comen, 50 Ohio St.3d 206,
553 N.E.2d 640 (1990), paragraph two
of the syllabus. Additionally, a trial court may not omit a requested instruction, if such instruction
is “‘a correct, pertinent statement of the law and [is] appropriate to the facts ….’” State v.
Lessin,
67 Ohio St.3d 487, 493,
620 N.E.2d 72 (1993), quoting State v. Nelson,
36 Ohio St.2d 79,
303 N.E.2d 865 (1973), paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 69} “In examining errors in a jury instruction, a reviewing court must consider the jury
charge as a whole and ‘must determine whether the jury charge probably misled the jury in a matter
materially affecting the complaining party’s substantial rights.’” Kokitka v. Ford Motor Co., 73
Ohio St.3d 89, 93,
652 N.E.2d 671 (1995), quoting Becker v. Lake Cty. Mem. Hosp. W.,
53 Ohio
St.3d 202, 208,
560 N.E.2d 165 (1990). Whether the jury instructions correctly state the law is a
question of law which we review de novo. State v. Neptune, 4th Dist. No. 99CA25 (Apr. 21,
2000).
{¶ 70} In the case sub judice, we do not believe that the trial court misstated the law when
PIKE, 11CA818 32
it instructed the jury that it could find that the state rebutted the self-defense presumption if it
found that (1) appellant was at fault, (2) appellant did not hold an honest and reasonable belief that
he was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that the use of force was his only
means of escape, and (3) appellant violated a duty to retreat. As we explained under our
discussion of appellant’s first assignment of error, we do not agree with appellant’s assertion that
R.C. 2901.05(B)(3) limits the state’s ability to rebut the presumption to only those circumstances
specified under R.C. 2901.05(B)(2). Instead, we believe that the state may rebut the presumption
by proving that the defendant did not act in accordance with the three elements necessary to
establish self-defense. For these reasons, the trial court’s jury instructions were not erroneous,
plain or otherwise.
{¶ 71} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we overrule appellant’s second
assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
PIKE, 11CA818 33
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the judgment be affirmed and that appellee recover of appellant the costs
herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Pike County
Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
If a stay of execution of sentence and release upon bail has been previously granted, it is
continued for a period of sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of said stay is to
allow appellant to file with the Ohio Supreme Court an application for a stay during the pendency
of the proceedings in that court. The stay as herein continued will terminate at the expiration of
the sixty day period.
The stay will also terminate if appellant fails to file a notice of appeal with the Ohio
Supreme Court in the forty-five day period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of
the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, if the Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the appeal prior to
the expiration of said sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules
of Appellate Procedure.
Harsha, J.: Concurs in Judgment & Opinion
McFarland, J.: Concurs in Judgment Only
For the Court
PIKE, 11CA818 34
BY:
Peter B. Abele
Presiding Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the
time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.
