[Cite as State v. Ballard,
2024-Ohio-6074.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MAHONING COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
STEVIE ASHAUDE LYDELL BALLARD,
Defendant-Appellant.
OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
Case No. 24 MA 0033
Criminal Appeal from the
Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio
Case No. 2021 CR 00794
BEFORE:
Cheryl L. Waite, Carol Ann Robb, Mark A. Hanni, Judges.
JUDGMENT:
Affirmed.
Atty. Gina DeGenova, Mahoning County Prosecutor and Atty. Edward A. Czopur,
Assistant Prosecutor, for Plaintiff-Appellee
Atty. Michael A. Partlow, for Defendant-Appellant
Dated: December 18, 2024
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WAITE, J.
{¶1} Appellant Stevie Ashaude Lydell Ballard appeals a February 23, 2024
judgment entry of the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas convicting him on
various offenses related to a shooting incident. Appellant argues that the court improperly
permitted introduction of statements made by a witness who did not testify, and allowed
testimony regarding prior bad acts. Appellant also challenges the manifest weight of the
evidence supporting his convictions. For the following reasons, Appellant’s arguments
are without merit and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Factual and Procedural History
{¶2} The incident occurred on November 18, 2021, outside of the Westminster
Apartment complex in Austintown. A Jeep pulled up near the complex and the driver
spoke to Appellant briefly. Appellant pulled a firearm from his waistband and exchanged
gunfire with the driver. After several rounds were fired, the Jeep drove away and
Appellant fled on foot, continuing to fire as he left the area. While multiple shots were
fired, no one was injured.
{¶3} Several officers were dispatched to the area around 9:28 a.m. Because the
officers did not know whether the shooting was an isolated incident or part of a larger
violent spree, they focused on learning the names of the individuals involved, and their
locations. However, by the time the officers arrived, they had no information about a
suspect and both individuals involved had left the area.
{¶4} Police were able to locate two women who had information about the
shooting. The first, Sharon Berry, actually witnessed the shooting, and was able to
identify Appellant as one of the men involved. Berry explained she had been outdoors at
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the time of the shooting. Berry informed officers that she saw Appellant, with whom she
was familiar, walking on the sidewalk and then saw a white Jeep pull up near the complex.
She noticed that the Jeep’s driver remained in the vehicle. She saw Appellant and the
driver engage in a conversation. She observed Appellant pull a firearm from his
waistband and fire at the vehicle. Appellant and the driver then exchanged fire. She ran
inside as she saw the Jeep pull away and Appellant flee on foot while he continued firing.
{¶5} Berry’s identification of Appellant was a central issue during trial. While she
admittedly did not see the shooter’s face, because it was covered by some sort of winter
mask, she knew it was him because of her general familiarity with him, having seen him
previously around the neighborhood. She described Appellant as wearing grey
sweatpants and a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket at the time of the shooting. She told
officers that his girlfriend’s vehicle, which she had seen him in several times, was a tan
or gold-colored compact car.
{¶6} She explained to officers that she frequently observed Appellant coming
and going from the complex, which is across the street from her home. She noted that
she paid particular attention to him, as once she saw him remove a firearm from his
waistband and place it in the trunk of his girlfriend’s vehicle. She later saw him return to
the trunk and retrieve the firearm, returning it to his waistband.
{¶7} Another neighbor also witnessed the shooting. Neither Berry nor the
second neighbor could provide any information about the other participant, the driver of
the Jeep. They were able to describe the vehicle as a white-colored Jeep. They informed
officers that the Jeep had been parked in a neighbor’s driveway, and that they believed
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that neighbor knew the Jeep’s driver, who was the second suspect. They informed
officers that the neighbor in question drove a black sedan.
{¶8} Officers went to the residence described by Berry and the other neighbor
and observed the black sedan driving down the road towards that residence. Officers
approached the sedan and spoke to the driver, Chuntelle Price. Price was initially
reluctant to provide any information due to fear for her safety, but Officer Kriebel informed
her that she could remain anonymous. After receiving this assurance, she advised Officer
Kriebel that the man in the white Jeep was Tray Hill, and identified Appellant as “Stevie
Calhoun.” She showed Officer Kriebel Appellant’s Instagram page, which contained his
photograph.
{¶9} Officer Joshua Watkins of the Austintown Police Department patrolled the
area the day after the shooting and observed a gold-colored car consistent with the
description of Appellant’s girlfriend’s car provided by Berry. Officer Watkins followed it to
the apartment complex and watched Appellant exit the vehicle, and later, get back inside
as a passenger. After the vehicle pulled away, Officer Watkins initiated a traffic stop,
where Appellant was apprehended without incident. Hill’s Jeep was also located, and he
was likewise apprehended. He was tried separately for his participation in the shooting
and details related to his involvement are not relevant to this appeal.
{¶10} On December 16, 2021, Appellant was jointly indicted with a codefendant,
Malik Lenear. The following offenses applied to Appellant, alone: count one, aggravated
burglary, a felony of the first degree in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(1), (B) with a three
year attenuated firearm specification in violation of R.C. 2941.145(A); count two, felonious
assault, a felony of the second degree in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), (D)(1)(a) with a
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three year attenuated firearm specification in violation of R.C. 2941.145(A); count three,
having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
2923.13(A)(2), (B); count four, felonious assault, a felony of the second degree in violation
of R.C. 2903.11(A)(2), (D)(1)(a) with a three year attenuated firearm specification in
violation of R.C. 2941.145(A); count five, discharge of firearm on or near a prohibited
premises, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C. 2923.162(A)(3), (C)(2) with a
three year attenuated firearm specification in violation of R.C. 2941.145(A); count six,
having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree in violation of R.C.
2923.13(A)(2), (B), and count seven, carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth
degree in violation of R.C. 2923.12(A)(2). The weapons disability charges stem from two
juvenile cases, 16 JA 01375 JUV and 17 JA 01442 JUV, where Appellant was adjudicated
on two offenses that, if committed by an adult, would have been a felony of violence.
{¶11} From the time of indictment, this matter has had a lengthy and unique
procedural history. On June 2, 2023, the parties reached a plea agreement. Appellant
agreed to plead guilty to counts one, four, and six in exchange for dismissal of the
remaining counts. However, on September 15, 2023, the trial court sustained Appellant’s
motion to withdraw this plea and preparation for trial commenced.
{¶12} Apparently, two witnesses, Price and Brandon Pendland, ceased to
cooperate with the state and failed to attend scheduled interviews, leading the prosecutor
to become concerned about their trial attendance as key witnesses. On the state’s
motion, the trial court held a hearing to determine if a recognizance bond was necessary
to secure their attendance, however, Pendland failed to appear and a warrant was issued
for his arrest. As to Price, the court ordered a $1,000 bond to secure her attendance, and
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required her to wear a GPS monitoring device. The state could not locate Pendland, and
was forced to dismiss counts one, two, and three of the indictment, each of which
pertained to crimes where Pendland was the victim. Because Pendland failed to
cooperate, the record does not contain much information as to these crimes.
{¶13} Appellant waived jury trial on the single weapons disability charge
remaining. Following a two day trial, the jury convicted Appellant on all offenses that
remained (counts four, five, six, and seven). The court found Appellant guilty of the
weapons disability charge.
{¶14} On February 23, 2024, the court imposed the following: an indefinite
sentence of one to two years of incarceration on count four (felonious assault) and three
years for the attenuated firearm specification, one year of incarceration on count five
(discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises) and three years on the
attenuated firearm specification, one year of incarceration on count six (weapons
disability), and one year of incarceration on count seven (concealed carry). As required
by law, the court ordered the firearm specifications to run consecutive and prior to the
sentences on the remaining convictions. The court then ordered all of these sentences
to run consecutively, for an aggregate total of eleven to twelve years of incarceration, with
credit for 624 days served.
{¶15} On appeal, we note that resolution of this matter has been considerably
delayed by Appellant and his counsel. Appellant filed a thirty-day extension to file his
brief, however, this court granted only twenty days due to the age of the case. Appellant
then filed a second motion for extension, seeking an additional fifteen days. This request
was granted in full, and we noted that this was Appellant’s final extension. Despite this,
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counsel then filed a request for an additional seven days due to an appeal he was in the
process of working on in another appellate district. This Court granted the motion and
allowed for an additional four days for a total of eleven extra days. Despite receiving
several extensions and our admonishment that “no further extensions will be given,”
Appellant requested a fourth extension. While this was still pending, Appellant did file his
brief, well beyond all deadlines. In the interest of justice, this Court accepted his brief
instanter. Appellant’s brief was filed a total of eighty-one days after the last transcript was
filed.
{¶16} Oral argument was scheduled in this matter for October 2, 2024. The
scheduling entry was mailed to the parties on August 5, 2024. On September 23, 2024,
Appellant’s counsel filed a motion to continue the hearing. Although the motion was
untimely and further delayed the matter, again in the interest of justice, we granted the
motion.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING HEARSAY TESTIMONY
FROM MS. PRICE.
{¶17} Appellant argues that the state offered statements made by Ms. Price
linking him to the alias “Stevie Calhoun” at trial, despite the fact that Ms. Price did not
testify. The statements were introduced to the jury through the bodycam video of the
officer. Appellant contends that these statements are inadmissible hearsay and also run
afoul of the confrontation clause. Appellant explains that as Ms. Price did not witness the
shooting, her statements to police cannot be considered as an excited utterance.
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Additionally, because these statements implicated Appellant as the shooter, the
confrontation clause prohibits the statements from being admissible.
{¶18} The state responds that the statements are admissible pursuant to the
“present sense impression” exception to hearsay. The state highlights the timeline of the
incident: officers were dispatched to the scene at 9:38 a.m. and officers spoke to Price
at 10:04 a.m. When officers located Ms. Price, approximately one-half of an hour had
passed and Appellant had not been fully identified, as his name was not known. At the
time officers spoke to Ms. Price, the following facts are relevant: firearms were used to
commit a crime, the shooters remained at large, the shooting occurred in a residential
neighborhood during the daytime hours and in a well-traveled area, police responded
quickly to the scene and were actively investigating, and the statement at issue was made
at the scene and not in the police station. The state concludes that all of these facts show
there was an ongoing emergency which required police to act quickly to apprehend the
shooter before another incident could occur.
{¶19} While the parties disagree whether any of the hearsay exceptions apply,
Appellant takes particular exception to the present sense impression exception. “Hearsay
is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing,
offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” State v. Given, 2016-Ohio-
4746, ¶ 24 (7th Dist.), citing Evid.R. 801(C). “Hearsay is generally not admissible, except
as provided by the United States or Ohio Constitutions, by statute, or court rule.” Id.,
citing Evid.R. 802. A trial court's evidentiary rulings are reviewed for an abuse of
discretion where there has been a proper objection. State v. Mauldin,
2010-Ohio-4192,
¶ 70 (7th Dist.).
Case No. 24 MA 0033
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{¶20} Pursuant to Evid.R. 803(1), a present sense impression constitutes “[a]
statement describing or explaining an event or condition made while the declarant was
perceiving the event or condition, or immediately thereafter unless circumstances indicate
lack of trustworthiness.” A present sense impression is properly an exception to the
hearsay rule even when the declarant is available as a witness. Id. In essence, such
statement is considered more trustworthy, as it is based on a person’s immediate
perception of an event.
{¶21} Generally, in reviewing whether a statement falls within this exception, two
circumstances surrounding the statement are reviewed: (1) whether the declarant made
the statement to a person capable of verifying the information, and (2) whether the
statement was made in close proximity in time to the perceived event. Given at ¶ 32.
{¶22} As to the first prong, Officer Kriebel immediately took steps to corroborate
Price’s identification of Appellant. He obtained Appellant’s Instagram account from Price
and compared a photograph in the account to Appellant’s BMV records. He also
discovered Appellant’s Facebook account, and compared photographs found there as
well. He then arranged a photo array lineup, where Berry, who earlier identified the
shooter, successfully identified Appellant. While Price knew Appellant as “Stevie
Calhoun,” police were able to use their prior familiarity with Appellant along with his social
media photographs and references contained within social media to an apparent
nickname to link the name “Stevie Calhoun” to “Stevie Ballard,” Appellant’s legal name.
{¶23} As to the second prong, Price spoke to police approximately one-half of one
hour after the shooting. At this time, officers were attempting to learn the identity of the
shooters, who remained at large. The officers spoke to Ms. Price close in time to the
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shooting. This testimony was properly admitted under the present sense impression
exception to the hearsay rule.
{¶24} At the time Officer Kriebel first made contact with Ms. Price, he had already
learned from Ms. Berry that the driver of the white Jeep (Tray Hill) had been parked in
Price’s driveway sometime prior to the shooting. Price initially refused to provide his
name, but after receiving assurances that she could remain anonymous, she informed
Officer Kriebel that the man in the white Jeep was Tray Hill. She was also able to identify
the other man who was likely the shooter. She identified Appellant, whom she knew as
“Stevie Calhoun” and showed the officer Appellant’s Instagram page, which contained
Appellant’s photo.
{¶25} The Confrontation Clause affords a criminal defendant the right “to be
confronted with the witnesses against him.” U.S. Constitution, Sixth Amendment.
“Pursuant to the United States Supreme Court, the confrontation clause bars ‘admission
of testimonial statements of a witness who did not appear at trial unless he was
unavailable to testify, and the defendant had had a prior opportunity for cross-
examination.’ ” State v. Williams, 2021-Ohio-1285, ¶ 63 (7th Dist.), quoting Crawford v.
Washington,
541 U.S. 36 (2004).
{¶26} The state relies on the “ongoing emergency” analysis to support this
testimony. Although not cited by the parties, the Eighth District recently addressed an
analysis of this hearsay exception in State v. Johnson, 2023-Ohio-445 (8th Dist.).
The existence of an emergency or the parties’ perception that an
emergency is ongoing is among the most important circumstances that
courts must take into account in determining whether an interrogation is
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testimonial because statements made to assist police in addressing an
ongoing emergency presumably lack the testimonial purpose that would
subject them to the requirement of confrontation. … [T]he existence and
duration of an emergency depend on the type and scope of danger posed
to the victim, the police, and the public. “[W]hether an emergency exists
and is ongoing is a highly context-dependent inquiry.” (Internal citations
omitted)
Id. at ¶ 39.
{¶27} The Johnson court defined the term “emergency”:
An “emergency” is “an unforeseen combination of circumstances or
the resulting state that calls for immediate action,” “an urgent need for
assistance or relief.” Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, available at
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emergency (accessed Jan.
20, 2023); see also Wex, Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute,
available at https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/emergency (accessed Jan.
20, 2023) (defining “emergency” as “an urgent, sudden, and serious event
or an unforeseen change in circumstances that necessitates immediate
action to remedy harm or avert imminent danger to life, health, or property;
an exigency”).
Id. at ¶ 52.
{¶28} The state cites to State v. Craig, 2020-Ohio-1102 (7th Dist.). In Craig, law
enforcement responded to a shooting that occurred in front of a Walmart store. The
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shooter fled in a vehicle, leaving the victim at the scene. This Court determined the
situation amounted to an ongoing emergency, because the statement was given “in the
minutes after the shooting where the scene at the store was chaotic, the shooting victim
was yelling that he was going to die, and his friend (who was steps away from the shooting
as it occurred) was speaking to law enforcement who had just arrived on scene. The
stability of the state of affairs at the scene was as yet unknown. The shooter had not
been apprehended, and his immediate fleeing from the scene in a motor vehicle mere
minutes before represented an emergency situation and a danger to the public.” Id. at
¶ 43.
{¶29} While certain aspects of Craig are similar, the facts are not completely
analogous, as in Craig we heavily relied on the chaos surrounding a situation where there
was a severely injured victim and the statement was made by his friend, who witnessed
the incident. Neither of these facts are present, here. In its own way, however, the instant
situation did have chaotic elements. An incident erupted in front of a residence in broad
day in a heavily travelled neighborhood where multiple shooters participated, and both of
those participants had recently fled the scene. There is undisputed testimony that an
ongoing emergency existed. A shooting had occurred approximately one-half hour earlier
and both shooters were at large, their identities unknown. The motive for the shooting,
and whether another shooting may be imminent, was also unknown to police. Ms. Price,
the witness whose statement is at issue, was herself concerned that the shooter may
return and attempt to “shoot up” her house.
{¶30} In addition to present sense impression, the testimony at issue also shows
the course of the ongoing investigation and is part of that investigation. The issue in this
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matter is similar to State v. Williams, 2021-Ohio-1285 (7th Dist.). In Williams, a detective
testified that a certain witness’ testimony was consistent with that of her friend, who
provided a statement to police but did not testify at trial. The friend did not see the incident
occur, but learned what had happened from the eyewitness. She informed investigating
officers that the eyewitness wanted to tell the truth, but feared for her safety. After this,
police reinterviewed the eyewitness. This time, they believed she told the truth, as it
matched what she had earlier told her friend. The state used the eyewitness statement,
even though she did not testify, to explain why they found the testifying witness (her
friend) was believable.
{¶31} We held that the detective properly testified about the statement made by a
witness who did not appear at trial. This was permissible, as it constituted the next step
of the investigation. We explained the investigatory “next step” exception:
The “next step” exception discussed in James is more fully described
within State v. Ricks, 136 Ohio St.3d 356,
2013-Ohio-3712,
995 N.E.2d
1181. “Law-enforcement officers may testify to out-of-court statements for
the nonhearsay purpose of explaining the next investigatory step.” State v.
Beasley, 153 Ohio St.3d 497,
2018-Ohio-493,
108 N.E.3d 1028, ¶ 172,
citing State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio St.3d 261,
2016-Ohio-5735,
70 N.E.3d
508, ¶ 186. “Testimony to explain police conduct is admissible as
nonhearsay if it satisfies three criteria: (1) the conduct to be explained is
relevant, equivocal, and contemporaneous with the statements, (2) the
probative value of the statements is not substantially outweighed by the
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danger of unfair prejudice, and (3) the statements do not connect the
accused with the crime charged.” Ricks, supra, at ¶ 27.
Id. at ¶ 68.
{¶32} Here, Officer Kriebel’s testimony regarding Ms. Price’s statement pertains
to steps he took during the investigation. One critical aspect of the investigation was to
learn the identity of the shooters. At the time, police had already had some evidence
implicating Appellant (although they did not know his name), and they were next
attempting to learn the identity of the second shooter. Thus, Ms. Price’s statement was
relevant. Because police already had statements linking Appellant to the crime, and Ms.
Price’s statement only provided them with an alias for Appellant, her statement served to
supplement Ms. Berry’s actual eyewitness identification. The probative value of her
statement, which gave police Appellant’s alias, was not outweighed by unfair prejudice.
{¶33} Importantly, Price did not witness the shooting. Investigators already had a
lead as to the shooter’s identity based on Berry’s statements. Berry was also provided a
photo array and identified Appellant’s photograph with one hundred percent surety. She
also described the vehicle Appellant used, where he was ultimately apprehended and
arrested. Thus, while Berry’s evidence primarily identified Appellant and connected him
to the shooting, Price assisted the investigation by telling the officers the name of the
second suspect and the alias of the man she believed was most likely the initial shooter,
Appellant.
{¶34} Accordingly, Appellant’s first assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY
PERMITTING DETECTIVE MCGLYNN’S TESTIMONY CONCERNING A
PRIOR INVESTIGATION HE HAD CONDUCTED ALLEGEDLY
INVOLVING APPELLANT.
{¶35} Appellant contends that Detective Sergeant Greg McGlynn was improperly
permitted to testify regarding a prior bad act on the part of Appellant. Appellant explains
that the detective was asked about his familiarity with the names “Stevie Calhoun” and
“Beno,” to which he replied, “[p]rior to the investigation, I was investigating a case where
Beno was involved in an incident at 69 Westminster.” (Trial Tr., p. 441.)
{¶36} The state responds that nothing in the detective’s statement implicated
Appellant in a prior criminal offense. The statement was fairly broad, and left open the
possibility that “Beno” was the victim or a witness to the “incident.” There was no
explanation as to what manner Appellant may have been “involved.”
{¶37} Preliminarily, we note that the defense immediately objected to the
testimony and Det. McGlynn gave no further testimony relating to the prior incident. We
also note that the testimony specifically referred to Appellant’s alias and apparent
nickname, and did not mention Appellant’s legal name. While evidence was offered
linking Appellant to the name “Beno,” it was for the jury to determine whether sufficient
and credible evidence was submitted to show Appellant was the same person as “Beno.”
{¶38} Regardless, as noted by the state, Det. McGlynn’s statement in no way
implicated Appellant in a “bad act.” The question asked whether the detective was familiar
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with the name “Beno,” and he responded only that “Beno” had been “involved” in “an
incident.”
{¶39} In Ohio, generally speaking, evidence of a prior bad act is inadmissible.
This law is found in Evid.R. 404(B) which provides:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove
the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It
may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
mistake or accident. In criminal cases, the proponent of evidence to be
offered under this rule shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial, or
during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the
general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial.
{¶40} However, there are exceptions to this rule, and some instances of prior bad
acts may be admissible. “The admission of such [other-acts] evidence lies within the
broad discretion of the trial court, and a reviewing court should not disturb evidentiary
decisions in the absence of an abuse of discretion that created material prejudice.” State
v. Morris, 2012-Ohio-2407, ¶ 14.
{¶41} The Ohio Supreme Court created a three-step analysis when reviewing the
admissibility of a prior bad:
The first step is to consider whether the other acts evidence is
relevant to making any fact that is of consequence to the determination of
the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
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Evid.R. 401. The next step is to consider whether evidence of the other
crimes, wrongs, or acts is presented to prove the character of the accused
in order to show activity in conformity therewith or whether the other acts
evidence is presented for a legitimate purpose, such as those stated in
Evid.R. 404(B). The third step is to consider whether the probative value of
the other acts evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice. See Evid.R 403.
State v. Williams, 2012-Ohio-5695, ¶ 20.
{¶42} As to the first prong, there is no question that Appellant’s alias is relevant,
as it eventually led officers to his true identity.
{¶43} As to the second prong, Det. McGlynn never described Appellant’s role in
his prior investigation, and certainly never said Appellant was the suspect. In addition,
no information was provided as to that investigation, or whether it resulted in further legal
action.
{¶44} As to the third prong, the testimony was offered to show Det. McGlynn’s
familiarity with Appellant, whom he knew as Beno. The officers were shown a photograph
of Appellant, but were given a different name. The officers’ familiarity with Appellant and
his alias or nickname led them to his true identity.
{¶45} Because Det. McGlynn’s testimony did not identify Appellant as a
participant in a prior bad act, but merely stated that he was “involved” in some undefined
way in a prior “incident,” the testimony was not impermissible. Appellant’s second
assignment of error is also without merit and is overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS ARE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT
OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶46} Appellant argues that there is no real evidence that he was the shooter. He
first complains there was a lack of physical evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints, and
no gun was ever found, so no gun linked him to the crime. He questions the value of Ms.
Berry’s identification, as she admittedly did not see his face and recognized him solely by
his mannerisms and his walk, but did not specify what was distinctive about his walk. He
also claims that she described the shooter as wearing a grey hoodie, while he was found
wearing a black hoodie. He contends that he fully cooperated with the investigation.
{¶47} In response, the state explains that Ms. Berry was very familiar with
Appellant, as she routinely saw him in the area and was familiar with his girlfriend and his
vehicle. She testified that she was one hundred percent sure he was the shooter. The
state contradicts Appellant’s argument regarding the clothing worn by Appellant, as the
state accurately contends Berry described the shooter as wearing a black hoodie and
gray pants, which is what Appellant wore at the time he was apprehended. The state
cites Berry’s positive identification of Appellant in a photo array and officers’ familiarity
with Appellant. The state also raises the investigator’s ability to verify Appellant’s identify
by comparing his photographs on his social media accounts with his BMV photographs.
{¶48} Weight of the evidence concerns “the inclination of the greater amount of
credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue rather than the other.”
(Emphasis deleted.) State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387 (1997). It is not a
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question of mathematics, but depends on the effect of the evidence in inducing belief. Id.
Weight of the evidence involves the state's burden of persuasion.
Id. at 390 (Cook, J.
concurring). The appellate court reviews the entire record, weighs the evidence and all
reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses, and determines whether, in
resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed. State v. Lang, 2011-Ohio-
4215, ¶ 220, citing Thompkins, at 387. This discretionary power of the appellate court to
reverse a conviction is to be exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence
weighs heavily against the conviction.
Id.
{¶49} “[T]he weight to be given the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses
are primarily for the trier of the facts.” State v. Hunter, 2011-Ohio-6524, ¶ 118, quoting
State v. DeHass,
10 Ohio St.2d 230 (1967), paragraph one of the syllabus. The trier of
fact is in the best position to weigh the evidence and judge the witnesses' credibility by
observing their gestures, voice inflections, and demeanor. Seasons Coal Co. v.
Cleveland,
10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80 (1984). The jurors are free to believe some, all, or none
of each witness' testimony and they may separate the credible parts of the testimony from
the incredible parts. State v. Barnhart,
2010-Ohio-3282, ¶ 42 (7th Dist.), citing State v.
Mastel,
26 Ohio St.2d 170, 176 (1971). When there are two fairly reasonable views of the
evidence or two conflicting versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, we will
not choose which one is more credible. State v. Gore,
131 Ohio App.3d 197, 201 (7th
Dist. 1999).
{¶50} This record contains an overwhelming amount of evidence linking Appellant
to the shooting. Berry provided the key evidence, which included her photo array
Case No. 24 MA 0033
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identification and a description of the type of vehicle Appellant would likely be using.
Appellant was found in that vehicle, and was wearing the clothes Berry had described to
police in her description of the shooter, contrary to what Appellant now asserts. Officers
were able to link Ms. Berry’s descriptions to Appellant’s name by piecing together an alias
provided by Ms. Price and using certain officers’ familiarity with Appellant and his
nickname. Although Ms. Price did not know Appellant’s actual last name, officers were
able to use photographs from the Instagram page she showed them to compare to BMV
photographs, as they were familiar with Appellant.
{¶51} Accordingly, Appellant’s third assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
Conclusion
{¶52} Appellant argues that the court improperly permitted statements to be
introduced made by a witness who did not testify, and allowed testimony regarding
evidence of prior bad acts. Appellant also challenges the manifest weight of the evidence
in support of his convictions. For the reasons provided, Appellant’s arguments are without
merit and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Robb, P.J. concurs.
Hanni, J. concurs.
Case No. 24 MA 0033
[Cite as State v. Ballard, 2024-Ohio-6074.]
For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, Appellant’s assignments of
error are overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment
of the Court of Common Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs waived.
A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate in
this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that a
certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into execution.
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
This document constitutes a final judgment entry.
