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2025 Ohio 2045

State v. Craft

Ohio Court of Appeals

Decided June 9, 2025

Ohio Court of Appeals · decided 2025-06-09

Plain error; Evidence; Due Process; Polygraph Examination; Cumulative Error Doctrine; Merger. The trial court did not commit plain error by permitting evidence that defendant-appellant was asked to submit to a polygraph examination. The trial court did not commit plain error by permitting evidence that the defendant-appellant did not voluntarily provide law enforcement with the passcode to unlock his phone. Because the trial court did not commit multiple errors at defendant's trial, the cumulative-error doctrine does not apply. The trial court did not err by failing to merge defendant-appellant's convictions for felonious assault and discharging a firearm at or into a habitation.

Relies on State v. Long · State v. Adams · State v. Barnes

Decided 2025-06-09

[Cite as State v. Craft, 
2025-Ohio-2045
.]




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




STATE OF OHIO,
                                                     CASE NO. 3-23-44
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

   V.

DAKOTA CRAFT,                                        OPINION AND
                                                     JUDGMENT ENTRY
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.




                Appeal from Crawford County Common Pleas Court
                                Criminal Division
                           Trial Court No. 23-CR-0244

                                       Judgment Affirmed

                                Date of Decision: June 9, 2025




APPEARANCES:

         William T. Cramer for Appellant

         Matthew E. Crall for Appellee
Case No. 3-23-44



MILLER, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Dakota Craft (“Craft”), appeals the November 2,

2023 judgment entry of sentencing of the Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       {¶2} On August 8, 2023, Craft was indicted on six counts: Count One of

felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), a second-degree felony; Count

Two of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation in violation of R.C.

2923.161(A)(1), a second-degree felony; Count Three of intimidation of an

attorney, victim, or witness in a criminal case in violation of R.C. 2921.04(B)(2), a

third-degree felony; Count Four of having weapons while under disability in

violation of R.C. 2923.13(A)(2), a third-degree felony; and Counts Five and Six of

tampering with evidence in violation of R.C. 2921.12(A)(1), third-degree felonies.

Counts One, Two and Five each included a firearm specification.               At his

arraignment on August 10, 2023, Craft entered not-guilty pleas to the counts in the

indictment.

       {¶3} A jury trial was held on October 19-20 and 23-24, 2023. At trial,

Bobbilee Perry (“Perry”) testified that she lived at 410 South Union Street in Galion,

Ohio on May 23, 2023 with her boyfriend, her eight children, and her boyfriend’s

parents. That morning, she awoke to gunshots. Although initially Perry did not




                                          -2-
Case No. 3-23-44


believe that her house had been shot, shortly thereafter, she recognized that her

house had been targeted when she noted bullet holes in her wall and television.

       {¶4} Investigators at the scene observed a bullet hole in the window and one

in the siding of the house at 410 South Union Street. Several days later, they learned

of a third bullet entry in the garage behind the house. Law enforcement also

collected three shell casings from the scene. Detective Robert Bukey recovered a

bullet from inside Perry’s dresser and another bullet in the sheets of the bed that

Perry and her boyfriend, Dusty Harris (“Harris”) were sleeping in at the time of the

shooting.

       {¶5} Although Perry was initially unsure of who fired a gun into her house,

she detailed that she soon began to suspect Craft. Perry recalled an incident two

days earlier where she and Harris were working outside on the deck of their house.

Perry’s friend Karrie Murphy (“Karrie”) and her husband Brandon Murphy

(“Brandon”), who had one time stayed at 410 South Union, were also present that

evening helping Perry and Harris work on their deck and socializing. While

working outside, Perry noticed Craft and his girlfriend Victoria Loftis (“Loftis”)

walking down the alley by 410 South Union together and laughing. The sighting of

Craft and Loftis was uncomfortable because Brandon and Loftis had previously

been involved romantically while Brandon and Karrie were separated. As a result,

there was a sustained period of “bad blood” and “anger” between Karrie and Loftis.

(Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 263-264).

                                         -3-
Case No. 3-23-44


       {¶6} Karrie became upset at Loftis and Craft’s presence, and Karrie followed

Loftis around the corner, taunting her. Eventually, Karrie initiated a physical

altercation with Loftis, and Perry, Harris, and Brandon followed Karrie and became

involved in the altercation. However, Craft attempted to break up the fight and Craft

and Loftis walked away.

       {¶7} At 12:03 a.m. on May 23, 2023, Karrie sent Craft a message on

Facebook messenger stating “Tf [sic] you sending me a friend request for? Nah

nvm just tell your dirty bitch I ain’t done with her yet.” (State’s Ex. C). At 4:30

a.m., Craft responded to Karrie’s message saying “Idk who you even are lmao.”

(Id.). Within an hour, the shooting at 410 South Union occurred. Karrie testified

that she believed Craft had the mistaken belief that she and her family resided at

410 South Union Street.

       {¶8} Loftis testified that on the morning of May 23, 2023, she and Craft were

staying in the garage of Craft’s mother’s house at 543 McDonald in Galion and had

been staying there for several weeks. She described the location at 543 McDonald

as being only a few blocks away from 410 Union Street and recalled that because

Craft did not have a working vehicle, their main method of transportation was

walking. Craft was in the business of selling drugs and Craft was using drugs,

including steroids, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and marijuana.

       {¶9} Loftis recalled that on the morning of May 23, 2023, she awoke around

4:30 or 5:00 a.m. concerned that Craft was not in bed. She got up and attempted to

                                         -4-
Case No. 3-23-44


locate him. Eventually, she observed Craft getting on his bicycle and leaving.

Loftis was unsure of where he was going. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later,

Craft returned “out of breath” and “sweating.” (Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at

308-309). Loftis testified that in the time that Craft was gone on his bike, she heard

three gunshots coming from the direction of Perry and Harris’s house. Accordingly,

Loftis suspected that Craft shot at Perry and Harris’s house. Loftis testified that

Craft later admitted to her that he shot three rounds through the front door of the

house.

         {¶10} When Craft got off his bike, she noticed that Craft had “bulk”

consistent with a firearm on his waistband. (Id. at 341). Then, Craft asked Loftis

to go with him to “ditch the bike.” (Id. at 310). After abandoning the bike at a

nearby trailer park, Craft and Loftis returned home. Loftis testified that she had

seen Craft with a gun before and described the firearm as a black handgun with a

snakeskin design on the handle grips.

         {¶11} Loftis recalled that, on the morning of the shooting, she was in the

shower when the police arrived at 543 McDonald to ask questions. Loftis recalled

that Craft came into the bathroom to tell her the cops were there and to warn her to

“be cool” and “keep my fucking mouth shut.” (Id. at 313). Loftis stated that she

did not tell the police that morning that Craft shot up the house because she

understood Craft’s statement to be a threat and she did not want him to hurt her.



                                         -5-
Case No. 3-23-44


       {¶12} According to Loftis, in the weeks leading up to the shooting in May,

Craft was using steroids, THC, acid, and DMT. With respect to Craft’s steroid use,

Loftis testified that she observed that Craft’s steroid use caused him to act “angry”

and that it seems like he had “roid rage.” (Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 323).

       {¶13} On June 28, 2023, several weeks after the shooting, Loftis was arrested

on unrelated charges. While she was incarcerated, Loftis continued to communicate

with Craft, who was also incarcerated. In one of the communications, Loftis stated,

“Just remember who kept quiet bro...” (State’s Ex. F-1). Craft responded to the

message by stating “I know and just remember who trie[d] to keep you out of jail

and better your life [for real].” (State’s Ex. Nos. F-2, F-3).

       {¶14} Eventually, Loftis spoke to law enforcement about her observations

the morning of the shooting. In exchange for her truthful testimony, the State

offered her a deal dismissing pending charges in her unrelated case. (State’s Ex. P).

       {¶15} Several additional witnesses testified regarding Craft’s use of steroids

and other drugs. Notably, Matthew Fargo (“Fargo”), a longtime friend of Craft,

testified that he and Craft communicated frequently on the Facebook Messenger

platform regarding various subjects, including their anabolic steroid use.

       {¶16} In a June 9, 2023 conversation, Craft told Fargo that the steroids “made

me do some bad shit.” (State’s Ex. N). Craft then sent Fargo two Facebook

messages which Craft subsequently deleted. (Id.). However, Fargo recalled that

the deleted messages may have been links to articles regarding the shooting in

                                          -6-
Case No. 3-23-44


Galion. (Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 403). Fargo testified that Craft then told

him in person that he “shot a house up in Galion.” (Id. at 406).

       {¶17} Detective Patrick testified that information obtained from search

warrants of Craft’s phone and Facebook accounts indicated that he viewed the

Galion Police Department website approximately 48 times between May 26, 2023

and July 8, 2023. According to Detective Patrick, the records law enforcement

obtained started on May 1, 2023, but Craft did not begin searching the Galion Police

Department Facebook page until after the shooting.

       {¶18} State’s Exhibit K-3, a recording of a phone conversation between Craft

and his mother was also played at trial. During that conversation, Craft instructed

his mother to delete the information on his phone by performing a factory reset of

the device.

       {¶19} At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Craft guilty on all counts.

However, the jury found Craft not guilty of the firearm specification associated with

Count Five.

       {¶20} On November 1, 2023, Craft appeared for sentencing. The trial court

sentenced Craft to a combination of consecutive and concurrent sentences for an

aggregate term of 20 to 24 years in prison.

       {¶21} Craft filed a notice of appeal on November 27, 2023. He raises four

assignments of error for our review. For ease of discussion, we address his first and

second assignments of error together.

                                         -7-
Case No. 3-23-44


                            First Assignment of Error

       The trial court committed plain error by permitting the
       prosecution to present evidence that appellant refused to take a
       polygraph.

                           Second Assignment of Error

       The trial court violated the Due Process rights of appellant by
       permitting the prosecution to present evidence that appellant
       refused to unlock his phone for the police.

       {¶22} In his first two assignments of error, Craft argues that the trial court

erred by allowing two pieces of evidence. In his first assignment of error, Craft

argues that the trial court erred by permitting evidence suggesting that Craft refused

to take a polygraph test. In his second assignment of error, Craft challenges the trial

court’s decision to permit testimony that Craft refused to provide law enforcement

with the PIN to unlock his cell phone. For the reasons that follow, we disagree.

                                    Relevant Law

       {¶23} Generally, the admission or exclusion of evidence lies within the trial

court’s discretion, and a reviewing court should not reverse absent an abuse of that

discretion and material prejudice. State v. Conway, 
2006-Ohio-2815
, ¶ 62, citing

State v. Issa, 
93 Ohio St.3d 49, 64
 (2001). An abuse of discretion implies that the

trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably. State v. Adams, 
62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157
 (1980).

       {¶24} However, at trial, Craft did not object to the evidence which he now

assigns error, nor did he request the trial court issue a limiting instruction with

                                          -8-
Case No. 3-23-44


respect to the evidence. Accordingly, we review the admission of the evidence for

plain error. State v. Davis, 
2017-Ohio-2916, ¶ 23
 (3d Dist.). See also State v.

Banner, 
2010-Ohio-5592
, ¶ 17 (8th Dist.). We recognize plain error “‘with the

utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a manifest

miscarriage of justice.’” State v. Landrum, 
53 Ohio St.3d 107, 111
 (1990), quoting

State v. Long, 
53 Ohio St.2d 91
 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus. For plain

error to apply, the trial court must have deviated from a legal rule, the error must

have been an obvious defect in the proceedings, and the error must have affected a

substantial right. State v. Barnes, 
94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27
 (2002). Under the plain

error standard, the appellant must demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability

that, but for the trial court’s error, the outcome of the proceeding would have been

otherwise. State v. West, 
2022-Ohio-1556, ¶ 35-36
. See also State v. McAlpin,

2022-Ohio-1567, ¶ 90
 (“McAlpin could not establish plain error, because he cannot

show a reasonable probability that but for standby counsel’s actions, the jury would

have acquitted him.”).

                              Polygraph Examination

       {¶25} We turn first to Craft’s argument that the mention of a polygraph test

was plain error. “[T]o find plain error in this case we must determine that the error

in admitting the testimony regarding the polygraph test affected the outcome of the

trial.” 
Banner at ¶ 19
.



                                         -9-
Case No. 3-23-44


       {¶26} “The results of a polygraph examination may be admissible at trial

only under limited conditions.” Id. at ¶ 20. Furthermore, “the mere offer or refusal

to undergo such test should also be excluded because unwarranted inferences are

likely to be drawn as to the defendant’s guilt or innocence.” State v. Bates, 
1982 WL 5268
, *4 (8th Dist. Apr. 1, 1982).

       {¶27} At trial, the State offered a video recording of Detective Patrick’s

jailhouse interrogation of Craft. The quality of the audio was very poor, rendering

much of Craft’s statements intelligible. As a result, Detective Patrick summarized

Craft’s portion of their conversation.

       [State]:             There you offered to have [Craft] submit to a
                            polygraph?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [State]:             What is his response to you?

       [Det. Patrick]:      He is not hesitant, but he agrees to do it and then
                            in my opinion quickly justifies the fact that he
                            uses steroids, so his heart rate would be elevated
                            almost making any excuse in case it came back
                            and he failed.

       [State]:             He says to you his hea[r]t rate would be elevated
                            and he checks it three times a day?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [State]:             It is in the hundreds or something like that?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [Another portion of State’s Exhibit G-4 was played.]

                                         -10-
Case No. 3-23-44



       [State]:             There he says he checks his heart rate because he
                            doesn’t want to die, is that what you heard?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [State]:             You ask him then why do you use steroids?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [State]:             And what is his reply?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Because I just do.

       [Another portion of State’s Exhibit G-4 was played.]

       [State]:             All right. Detective, is it fair to say you offer the
                            polygraph, he talks about the steroid use, he asks
                            about it being today and your reply is what?

       [Det. Patrick]:      It is not going to be today.

       [State]:             Once you reply it is not going to get him out of
                            jail today, what does he do?

       [Det. Patrick]:      He leans forward and then I think he makes the
                            comment, all right, let’s go.

       [State]:             So he was willing to do that if it kept him out
                            today?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

(Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 481-482).

       {¶28} Craft argues that the above testimony and the accompanying video

referencing the polygraph test constituted plain error. However, here, there was no

direct evidence that Craft submitted to a polygraph examination or the results of any


                                        -11-
Case No. 3-23-44


examination, if, in fact, one was given. State v. Jones, 
2014-Ohio-674, ¶ 21
 (10th

Dist.). “At most, the unexpected evidence of a ‘test’ permits an inference that

defendant may have taken a polygraph and that he may have failed.” 
Id.
 Indeed,

the jury could have favorably interpreted Craft’s willingness to submit to a

polygraph examination.

       {¶29} After reviewing the references to the polygraph test in the context of

the trial, we do not find the references to the offer for a polygraph test affected the

outcome of the trial. First, Craft’s steroid use and the resulting effects of the drugs

was central to the State’s theory that Craft was under the influence of high levels of

steroids at the time of the shooting which caused him to experience increased

aggression. Further, a reasonable inference from the testimony detailed above is

that Craft did agree to a polygraph test, but that the State decided not to administer

one. Specifically, Detective Patrick states that Craft is “not hesitant” to take a

polygraph test and that he is willing to take a test that day.

       {¶30} Furthermore, given the overwhelming evidence of Craft’s guilt,

including the Facebook messages sent to Karrie immediately prior to the shooting,

Loftis’s testimony regarding her observations of Craft the morning of the shooting

and his subsequent statements to her, and Fargo’s statements regarding Craft’s

admission, we do not find that the reference to the offer of a polygraph examination

constituted plain error.

       {¶31} Craft’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                          -12-
Case No. 3-23-44


                                  Phone PIN code

       {¶32} In his second assignment of error, Craft alleges that the trial court

committed plain error by presenting evidence that Craft did not provide

investigating officers with the PIN to unlock his cell phone.

       {¶33} Craft contends that his right to due process was violated when the State

presented evidence that he did not provide law enforcement with the PIN code

allowing law enforcement to access his phone. However, any alleged constitutional

violation is subject to harmless error review. State v. Angus, 
2017-Ohio-1100
, ¶ 29-

30 (4th Dist.).

       {¶34} Here, the State played a recording of Detective Patrick’s jail house

interview with Craft. See State’s Exhibit G-4. However, due to the poor audio

quality of the video, at trial, the State again asked Detective Patrick to summarize

the statements in the short video clip.

       [State]:             This whole back and forth about his pin code for
                            the phone, because of [it being] hard to hear, can
                            you summarize for the jury what [Craft] said in
                            response to what you said?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Can you play it back again? It was kind of a little
                            hard to be able to sum it up.

       [State’s Exhibit G-4 played for jury]

       [State]:             All right. Before we get to the next topic to finish
                            this audio up, what is going on back and forth
                            with him and the phone?



                                          -13-
Case No. 3-23-44


       [Det. Patrick]:      Basically I’m asking for the pin code because
                            sometimes when you send it off in order to try to
                            get into the phone sometimes it can break. We
                            try to give everybody the opportunity to
                            cooperate. He didn’t want to do that and when I
                            told him I didn’t want him to be upset in case the
                            phone came back broke[n], he said it was a $40
                            phone from Wal-Mart. He didn’t care about it.

       [State]:             He wouldn’t give you his pin code, didn’t care if
                            you broke it?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

       [State]:             You have got to do your job?

       [Det. Patrick]:      Yes.

(Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 482-483).

       Then, in closing arguments, the State made the following statement:

       Ultimately, when you are looking at not just the credibility of
       everything else, what does he do to get away with this crime? He
       refuses to give them his phone password, which in and of itself you
       are allowed to do that, right? But there is nothing in my phone, but
       I’m not going to let you look into it. . .

(Oct. 19-20 & 23-24, 2023 Tr. at 616).

       {¶35} However, after reviewing the statements in concert with the

overwhelming evidence of Craft’s guilt, we do not find that the statements affected

the outcome of the trial. To the extent that the statements suggest that Craft is

cognizant of incriminating information on the phone, we find that the State

presented additional, stronger evidence to that end. Notably, the State presented

evidence that Craft instructed his mother to perform a factory reset of his phone in

                                         -14-
Case No. 3-23-44


an effort to erase incriminating information. Furthermore, the State presented

evidence that Craft erased some messages from his phone and on the Facebook

Messenger platform in an effort to conceal potentially incriminating information

from investigators. Accordingly, an error, if any, was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt.

         {¶36} Moreover, as detailed in the discussion of Craft’s arguments relating

to the reference to a potential polygraph examination, in light of the overwhelming

evidence of Craft’s guilt, we do not find that the statements regarding Craft’s refusal

to provide investigators with the passcode to his phone affected the outcome of the

proceeding. Accordingly, we do not find that the inclusion of the evidence at issue

constituted plain error.

         {¶37} Craft’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                             Third Assignment of Error

         Cumulative error from the improper evidence that appellant
         refused to take a polygraph and refused to provide the police with
         access to his phone deprived appellant of a fair trial.

         {¶38} In his third assignment of error, Craft argues that he was deprived of

a fair trial due to the cumulative effect of the alleged errors outlined in his first two

assignments of error. We disagree.

         {¶39} Under the cumulative-error doctrine, “a conviction will be reversed

when the cumulative effect of errors in a trial deprives a defendant of a fair trial

even though each of the numerous instances of trial court error does not individually

                                          -15-
Case No. 3-23-44


constitute cause for reversal.” State v. Spencer, 
2015-Ohio-52, ¶ 83
 (3d Dist.). “To

find cumulative error, a court must first find multiple errors committed at trial and

determine that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome below would have

been different but for the combination of the harmless errors.” In re J.M., 2012-

Ohio-1467, ¶ 36 (3d Dist.). Here, we have not found that the trial court committed

any errors, let alone, multiple harmless errors. Therefore, the cumulative-error

doctrine does not apply. See State v. Jamison, 
2016-Ohio-5122, ¶ 40
 (9th Dist.),

abrogated on other grounds, State v. Haynes, 
2022-Ohio-4473
 (“If there [are] not

multiple errors, . . . the cumulative error doctrine does not apply.”); State v.

Carpenter, 
2019-Ohio-58, ¶ 104
 (3d Dist.), citing State v. Bertuzzi, 2014-Ohio-

5093, ¶ 110 (3d Dist.).

       {¶40} Craft’s third assignment of error is overruled.

                           Fourth Assignment of Error

       The trial court erred by refusing to merge felonious assault and
       discharging a firearm at or into a habitation.

       {¶41} In his fourth assignment of error, Craft argues that the trial court erred

by failing to merge his convictions for felonious assault and discharging a firearm

at or into a habitation. He argues that by failing to merge the convictions, the trial

court misconstrued the statute for discharging a firearm at or into a habitation.




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Case No. 3-23-44


                             Allied-Offenses Review

      {¶42} We review de novo whether offenses are allied offenses of similar

import.   State v. Tall, 
2023-Ohio-1853, ¶ 7
 (3d Dist.).       “De novo review is

independent, without deference to the lower court’s decision.” State v. Hudson,

2013-Ohio-647, ¶ 27
 (3d Dist.).

      R.C. 2941.25, Ohio’s multiple-count statute, provides:

      (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to
      constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the
      indictment or information may contain counts for all such offenses,
      but the defendant may be convicted of only one.

      (B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses
      of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or more
      offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or with a
      separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may contain
      counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of
      all of them.

      The Supreme Court of Ohio has directed the use of a three-part test to

determine whether a defendant can be convicted of multiple offenses:

      As a practical matter, when determining whether offenses are allied
      offenses of similar import within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25, courts
      must ask three questions when the defendant’s conduct supports
      multiple offenses: (1) Were the offenses dissimilar in import or
      significance? (2) Were they committed separately? and (3) Were they
      committed with separate animus or motivation? An affirmative
      answer to any of the above will permit separate convictions. The
      conduct, the animus, and the import must all be considered.

State v. Ruff, 
2015-Ohio-995
, ¶ 31.




                                      -17-
Case No. 3-23-44


       {¶43} “[T]wo or more offenses of dissimilar import exist within the meaning

of R.C. 2941.25(B) when the defendant’s conduct constitutes offenses involving

separate victims or if the harm that results from each offense is separate and

identifiable.” Id. at ¶ 23. “At its heart, the allied-offense analysis is dependent upon

the facts of a case because R.C. 2941.25 focuses on the defendant’s conduct.” Id.

at ¶ 26. “[A] defendant’s conduct that constitutes two or more offenses against a

single victim can support multiple convictions if the harm that results from each

offense is separate and identifiable from the harm of the other offense.” Id.

       {¶44} The term “animus” means “purpose or, more properly, immediate

motive.” State v. Logan, 
60 Ohio St.2d 126, 131
 (1979), abrogation recognized in

Ruff. “Like all mental states, animus is often difficult to prove directly, but must be

inferred from the surrounding circumstances.” 
Id.
 “Thus, the manner in which a

defendant engages in a course of conduct may indicate distinct purposes.” State v.

Whipple, 
2012-Ohio-2938, ¶ 38
 (1st Dist.). “Courts should consider whether facts

appear in the record that ‘distinguish the circumstances or draw a line of distinction

that enables a trier of fact to reasonably conclude separate and distinct crimes were

committed.’” 
Id.,
 quoting State v. Glenn, 
2012-Ohio-1530, ¶ 9
 (8th Dist.).

                                       Analysis

       {¶45} In support of his assignment of error, Craft argues that the trial court

erred by failing to merge his convictions for felonious assault and discharging a

firearm. He argues that, in so doing, the trial court “misconstrues” the statue for

                                         -18-
Case No. 3-23-44


discharging a firearm into a habitation. He contends that because that statute is

allegedly designed to protect against harm to people who “are likely to be in the

structure, not to protect the structure itself” that “the import of discharging a firearm

at or into a habitation is really no different than felonious assault.” (Appellant’s

Brief at 22). We disagree.

          {¶46} Contrary to Craft’s assertion, “[i]t is well-settled that improperly

discharging a firearm into a habitation and an associated assault charge are not allied

offenses of similar import.” State v. Fisher, 
2024-Ohio-4484, ¶ 220
 (8th Dist.). See

also State v. Grayson, 
2017-Ohio-7175, ¶ 24-25
 (8th Dist.); State v. Scott, 2018-

Ohio-3791, ¶ 35 (8th Dist.). “This is because the ‘harm caused by improperly

discharging a firearm into a habitation is to the “occupied structure” itself,’ whereas

the harm from a felonious assault is to an individual.” 
Id.,
 quoting Grayson at ¶ 24-

25.

          {¶47} Irrespective of whether Craft’s intent when firing into the house, and

more specifically, the room where Perry and Harris were sleeping, was to injure the

occupants, the violation of discharging a firearm into a habitation occurred when

Craft fired the gun into the house. Further, although not required for a conviction

for discharging a firearm into a habitation, the shots also endangered Perry, Harris,

and the other occupants of the home. State v. Lambert, 
2021-Ohio-17, ¶ 62
 (2d

Dist.).



                                          -19-
Case No. 3-23-44


       {¶48} Even if the offenses of felonious assault and discharging a firearm into

a habitation were committed with the same conduct and animus, they involved

separate, identifiable victims, and the harm caused by the improper discharge was

distinct from the harm experienced by the occupants of the home. Id. at ¶ 63.

Accordingly, the trial court did not err by denying Craft’s request to merge his

convictions for improper discharge into a habitation and felonious assault. See

Grayson at ¶ 25
.

       {¶49} Craft’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

                                    Conclusion

       {¶50} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the Crawford County

Court of Common Pleas.

                                                                Judgment Affirmed


WALDICK, P.J. and ZIMMERMAN, J., concur.

/jlm




                                        -20-
Case No. 3-23-44




                            JUDGMENT ENTRY

       For the reasons stated in the opinion of this Court, the assignments of error

are overruled and it is the judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the

trial court is affirmed with costs assessed to Appellant for which judgment is hereby

rendered. The cause is hereby remanded to the trial court for execution of the

judgment for costs.

       It is further ordered that the Clerk of this Court certify a copy of this Court’s

judgment entry and opinion to the trial court as the mandate prescribed by App.R.

27; and serve a copy of this Court’s judgment entry and opinion on each party to the

proceedings and note the date of service in the docket. See App.R. 30.




                                            Mark C. Miller, Judge



                                            Juergen A. Waldick, Judge



                                            William R. Zimmerman, Judge

DATED:
/jlm




                                         -21-

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