State v. McCray

[Cite as State v. McCray, 2014-Ohio-2289.]

COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
:
-vs- :
: Case No. 2013CA00133
MICHAEL J. MCCRAY :
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Stark County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2013-
CR-00290

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: May 27, 2014

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
JOHN D. FERRERO ANTHONY KOUKOUTAS
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY 116 Cleveland Avenue N.W.
BY: RENEE WATSON 808 Courtyard Centre
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Canton, OH 44702
110 Central Plaza South, Ste. 510
Canton, OH 44702-1413
[Cite as State v. McCray, 2014-Ohio-2289.]

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant Michael McCray [“McCray”] appeals his convictions and

sentences after a jury trial in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas on one count of

murder and one count of felonious assault.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} Late on December 14, 2012, McCray and his girlfriend Miranda Lynn met

up with Jermaine Taylor and his girlfriend Maria Gamble at Frame's, a bar in Canton.

The two couples drank until the bar closed. All four then climbed into Gamble's

Trailblazer and relocated to The Friendly Corner on 15th Street in Canton.

{¶3} Kyle Mills’ family owns the Friendly Corner. Gamble and Mills had once

dated. Before the group could enter the bar, it was necessary for McCray and Taylor to

first obtain permission from Mills for Gamble to enter in the company of another man.

Mills gave his blessing and the two couples entered the bar.

{¶4} At the door, bouncer Dwayne Jackson patted McCray down and

discovered a knife. McCray was advised he had to leave the knife at the door or take it

outside. McCray initially elected to leave the knife with Jackson, but then returned

shortly to claim it, went outside for about 10 minutes and returned without the knife.

{¶5} The four ordered drinks and hung out for about 30 minutes before Gamble

went to the restroom. On her way back to her seat, Mills stopped her, whispered "nigger

lover" in her ear and poured beer over her head. The bouncers and the bar owner's

sister, Jennifer Williams, stepped in to diffuse the situation. All patrons were then asked

to leave the bar.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 3

{¶6} After the patrons were ejected from the bar, another fight erupted in the

parking lot between McCray, Taylor and several other men. Bouncer Aaron Hamfick set

about breaking it up. Lynn got in the middle of the fight and Hamrick saw a light-skinned

black man punch her. Hamrick tossed the man backwards and told him to leave "before

the law shows up."

{¶7} Williams was outside while this was going on and saw Lynn involved in the

fight. Williams knew Lynn and was concerned for her safety. She saw Lynn get punched

and fall to the ground. Williams extracted Lynn from the fray and got her to Gamble's

truck.

{¶8} Taylor managed to extract himself from the fight and run to Gamble's

vehicle where the women were waiting. He got in the driver's seat and drove up beside

McCray who was still fighting. Before McCray got into the Trailblazer, he announced to

the crowd he would be back to kill whoever punched Lynn.

{¶9} While all this was going on, Russell "Joey" Young was staggering around

outside, falling-down drunk. He was not part of the fight involving McCray and Taylor,

but at one point, Williams observed McCray screaming at Young demanding to know

why Young "hit [his] bitch." Once the fight broke up and McCray and company left,

Hamrick told Young he needed to go home and steered him towards his Chevy

Suburban.

{¶10} Taylor sped away from the Friendly Comer with Gamble in the passenger

seat and McCray and Lynn in the back seat. He drove to his mother's house to get rid of

some drugs he was carrying. Gamble took over driving again and went back to the bar.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 4

{¶11} Gamble pulled up in the alley by the bar. The four spotted Young in the

parking lot sitting in the driver's seat of the Suburban with the door open. McCray leapt

out of the vehicle and approached the Suburban, knife in hand. Taylor followed. Taylor

and Young "had words" and Taylor punched Young in the face. Young "didn't seem like

he wanted to fight" so Taylor returned to the Trailblazer.

{¶12} McCray, however, slashed the tires on the passenger side of the

Suburban. He then went after Young. McCray stabbed Young several times in the thigh,

his face and eye, and in the neck. In the process, McCray cut his own hand open. He

then slashed the driver's side tires. Finally, he went to the passenger side of the vehicle,

removed the ignition key and left Young.

{¶13} Returning to Gamble's Trailblazer, McCray got in the backseat behind

Gamble and exclaimed, "What the fuck did I just do?" He started crying and talked

about killing himself as Gamble sped away. When Gamble got to Navarre Street,

McCray and Lynn got out of the truck and took off running.

{¶14} Meanwhile, a woman pounded on the door at the Friendly Comer and

alerted those inside that there was a man in the alley dying. Williams and others ran out

to investigate. Williams observed a young man lying in the alley in a hooded sweatshirt

so blood-soaked, she initially thought it was red. She then recognized the man as

Young. Williams, an LPN, rendered what assistance she could until EMS arrived.

{¶15} Young was transported to Aultman hospital where he later died of massive

blood loss.

{¶16} McCray and Lynn went to Cynthia Besozzi's home. Besozzi is Lynn's

grandmother. Besozzi cleaned and dressed a cut on McCray's hand that he said he
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 5

received in a fight. The cut was deep, and she encouraged him to go to the hospital

because it needed stitches. McCray declined, stating he did not like hospitals. Besozzi

put a patch and butterflies on the wound and wrapped it.

{¶17} Canton Police Officer Jeff Weller processed the crime scene at The

Friendly Corner. He noted two blood trails. One leading from the Suburban to the front

door of an adjacent home and from that home to the alley where Young was found. He

also noted the flattened tires on the Suburban and that there appeared to be blood

around the slash marks in the tires on the driver's side. Weller further observed two

separate patches of blood on the front passenger side door, one on the door handle and

one near the door handle. Weller took swabs of the blood he observed on the Suburban

and sent them to the crime lab for analysis.

{¶18} Sergeant Victor George also responded to the crime scene. In attempting

to identify Young, George learned that the Suburban was registered to a John Coburn

and Young had the vehicle because he was doing some repair work on the vehicle for

Coburn. He also gathered information that resulted in the identification of McCray,

Taylor, Lynn and Gamble as those involved in Young's death.

{¶19} On December 17, 2012, George located Taylor and Gamble and took

them into custody. He also impounded Gamble's Trailblazer.

{¶20} Canton Police crime scene investigator Thomas Wasilewski processed the

Trailblazer. The rear driver's side seat appeared bloodstained in three areas.

Wasilewski cut those areas out of the seat and sent them to the crime lab for analysis.

He did not observe blood in any other area of the vehicle.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 6

{¶21} On December 24, 2012, McCray appeared with his attorney at the Canton

Police Department to turn himself in. Sergeant George noted that McCray had a healing

laceration on his right hand, Crime scene officer Randy Weirich photographed McCray's

hands and obtained a DNA standard from McCray.

{¶22} P.S. Sreenivasa Murthy, M.D. performed an autopsy on Young. Murthy

concluded that the primary cause of death was multiple stab wounds with

exsanguinations and the secondary cause was acute alcohol intoxication. Murthy further

concluded that the manner of death was homicide. He sent a dried blood sample to the

crime lab for DNA comparison.

{¶23} Criminalist Jennifer Creed of the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab

performed DNA comparison and testing on the crime scene swabs and the bloodstained

fabric swatches from Gamble's vehicle.

{¶24} State's exhibits 3A-3D and 4 are the swabs taken by Officer Weller from

the exterior of the Chevy Suburban. McCray is the source of the bloodstains on the front

driver's side tire (Exhibit 3D) and driver's side passenger door (Exhibit 4). The blood

collected from the rear driver's side tire (Exhibit 3C) contained a mixture of two DNA

profiles and both McCray and Young possible contributors to that mixture.

{¶25} There were two bloodstains on the exterior passenger side of the

Suburban. Officer Weller collected State's Exhibit 3A from the front door handle,

McCray is the source of that stain. State's Exhibit 3B was collected from the front door

and Young is the source of that stain. Young was the source of the bloodstains on the

front seats of the Suburban as well as the blood trails outside the vehicle.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 7

{¶26} State's Exhibits 6A-6D are the pieces of fabric excised from the rear seat

of Gamble's Trailblazer. McCray is the source of those stains. Officers were unable to

locate the murder weapon.

{¶27} As a result of his actions, the Stark County Grand Jury indicted McCray on

one count of murder and one count of felonious assault. At trial, the state presented 12

witnesses. McCray testified on his own behalf.

{¶28} At trial, McCray admitted he sliced the tires on the Suburban, but claimed

the purpose was not rendering Young helpless. Rather, he claimed he vandalized the

vehicle because he knew it was Coburn's truck and he and Coburn have a stormy

history. He denied stabbing anyone, and claimed he sliced his hand open when he tried

to stab the tire tread instead of the sidewall, causing his hand to slide down the knife.

{¶29} According to McCray, Taylor killed Young while McCray was busy

flattening the tires. McCray testified that he sliced the passenger side tires, first rear,

then front and cut his hand slicing the first tire.

{¶30} McCray explained how his blood got on the passenger side door. McCray

claimed it was while he was cutting the front passenger tire that he "heard a commotion"

on the other side of the vehicle and instead of just looking over the hood, opened the

passenger side door to see what was happening. This is when he claimed he first

noticed Young and that he and Taylor are engaged in a shouting match. McCray stated

he then walked to the driver's side and sliced the front tire before pulling Taylor away

from Young. McCray testified he observed blood squirting out of Young's neck and

Taylor was covered in Young's blood.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 8

{¶31} McCray testified that he was the first one to return to the Trailblazer. He

claimed he watched Taylor strip off his blood-soaked t-shirt as he walked in front of the

truck before getting into the front passenger side vehicle, holding the blood-soaked shirt

in his lap. Yet he told the jury he never saw Taylor with a knife and no blood was found

in the front seat.

{¶32} After hearing all the evidence and deliberating, the jury convicted McCray

as charged. The state agreed that felonious assault and aggravated murder were allied

offenses that would merge for sentencing and elected to proceed to sentencing on the

murder charge. The court subsequently sentenced McCray to incarceration for 15 years

to life.

Assignment of Errors

{¶33} McCray raises four assignments of error,

{¶34} “I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY NOT GIVING

ADMONITIONS EVERY TIME THE JURY WAS GIVEN A RECESS AND ALLOWED

TO LEAVE THE COURTROOM.

{¶35} “II. THE APPELLANT RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF

COUNSEL WHEN HIS TRIAL ATTORNEY FAILED TO OBJECT TO THE LACK OF

ADMONITIONS GIVEN TO THE JURY.

{¶36} “III. THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS FOR MURDER AND

FELONIOUS ASSAULT WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

{¶37} “IV. THE DEFENDANT'S CONVICTIONS FOR MURDER AND

FELONIOUS ASSAULT WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE

EVIDENCE.”
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 9

I.

{¶38} In his first assignment of error, McCray complains that the trial court erred

when it failed to properly admonish the jury before every recess in accordance with R.C.

2945.34.

{¶39} McCray did not object and therefore failed to preserve his claim.

Accordingly, this Court may analyze the error in this case pursuant to the Crim.R. 52(B)

plain error analysis. As the United States Supreme Court observed in Puckett v. United

States, 526 U.S. 129, 129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266, (2009),

“If an error is not properly preserved, appellate-court authority to

remedy the error (by reversing the judgment, for example, or ordering a

new trial) is strictly circumscribed. There is good reason for this; “anyone

familiar with the work of courts understands that errors are a constant in

the trial process, that most do not much matter, and that a reflexive

inclination by appellate courts to reverse because of unpreserved error

would be fatal.”

556 U.S. at 134. (Citation omitted).

[A]n appellate court may, in its discretion, correct an error not

raised at trial only where the appellant demonstrates that (1) there is an

error; (2) the error is clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable

dispute; (3) the error affected the appellant’s substantial rights, which in

the ordinary case means it affected the outcome of the district court

proceedings; and (4) the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or

public reputation of judicial proceedings.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 10

{¶40} United States v. Marcus, 560 U.S. 258, 130 S.Ct. 2159, 2164,176 L.Ed.2d

1012 (Internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The Ohio Supreme Court

pertinently addressed when structural error analysis should be used in State v. Perry,

We emphasize that both this court and the United States Supreme

Court have cautioned against applying a structural-error analysis where,

as here, the case would be otherwise governed by Crim.R. 52(B) because

the defendant did not raise the error in the trial court. See Hill, 92 Ohio

St.3d at 199, 749 N.E.2d 274; Johnson, 520 U.S. at 466, 117 S.Ct. 1544,

137 L.Ed.2d 718. This caution is born of sound policy. For to hold that an

error is structural even when the defendant does not bring the error to the

attention of the trial court would be to encourage defendants to remain

silent at trial only later to raise the error on appeal where the conviction

would be automatically reversed. We believe that our holdings should

foster rather than thwart judicial economy by providing incentives (and not

disincentives) for the defendant to raise all errors in the trial court-where,

in many cases, such errors can be easily corrected.

101 Ohio St.3d 118, 802 N.E.2d 643, 2004–Ohio–297, ¶23. Thus, the defendant bears

the burden of demonstrating that a plain error affected his substantial rights and, in

addition that the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of

judicial proceedings. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123

L.Ed.2d 508(1993); State v. Perry, 101 Ohio St.3d at 120, 802 N.E.2d 643. Even if the

defendant satisfies this burden, an appellate court has discretion to disregard the error.

State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240(2002); State v. Long, 53 Ohio
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 11

St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804(1978), paragraph three of the syllabus; Perry, supra, at 118,

802 N.E.2d at 646.

{¶41} R.C. 2945.34 states,

If the jurors are permitted to separate during a trial, they shall be

admonished by the court not to converse with, nor permit themselves to

be addressed by any person, nor to listen to any conversation on the

subject of the trial, nor form or express any opinion thereon, until the case

is finally submitted to them.

{¶42} The failure by a court to perform its statutory duty of admonishing the jury

concerning their conduct while separated during the trial, does not constitute reversible

error, where it is not shown that the jury were in fact guilty of misconduct or indiscretions

and where it further appears that counsel for plaintiff in error observed the omission and

did not call the attention of the court to the omission. Warner v. State, 104 Ohio St. 38,

135 N.E. 249(1922), syllabus; accord, Kolotich v. State, 104 Ohio St. 156, 157, 135

N.E.2d 544(1922); State v. Eidi, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-92-104, 1994 WL 30511(Feb. 4,

1994); State v. Hall, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 34522, 1976 WL 190785( Jan. 29, 1976).

{¶43} The record in the case at bar shows that the jury was thoroughly informed,

at the beginning of the trial and several times thereafter, of its obligation not to discuss

the case or to make any final decision about the case until the jury was excused for

deliberation.

{¶44} McCray has no evidence that any member of the jury violated the

restrictions established in R.C. 2945.25. McCray has demonstrated no prejudice

resulting from the error.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 12

{¶45} McCray’s first assignment of error is overruled.

II.

{¶46} In his second assignment of error, McCray contends his trial counsel

rendered ineffective assistance when he failed to object to the trial court's incomplete or

absent jury admonitions.

{¶47} The standard for reviewing claims for ineffective assistance of counsel

was set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d

674(1984). Ohio adopted this standard in the case of State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d

136, 538 N.E.2d 373(1989). These cases require a two-pronged analysis in reviewing a

claim for ineffective assistance of counsel.

{¶48} First, we must determine whether counsel's assistance was ineffective;

i.e., whether counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable

representation and violate any of his essential duties to the client. If we find ineffective

assistance of counsel, we must then determine whether the defense was actually

prejudice by counsel's ineffectiveness such that the reliability of the outcome of the trial

is suspect. This requires a showing that there is a reasonable probability that but for

counsel's unprofessional error, the outcome of the trial would have been different. We

apply the Strickland test to all claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, either trial

counsel, or appellate counsel. State v. Blacker, 5th Dist. No. 2005-CA-41, 2006-Ohio-

5214.

{¶49} Recently, the United States Supreme Court discussed the prejudice prong

of the Strickland test,
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 13

It is not enough “to show that the errors had some conceivable

effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Id., at 693, 104 S.Ct. 2052.

Counsel’s errors must be “so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair

trial, a trial whose result is reliable.” Id., at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052.

“Surmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an easy task.” Padilla v.

Kentucky, 559 U.S. ––––, ––––, 130 S.Ct. 1473, 1485, 176 L.Ed.2d 284

(2010). An ineffective-assistance claim can function as a way to escape

rules of waiver and forfeiture and raise issues not presented at trial, and

so the Strickland standard must be applied with scrupulous care, lest

“intrusive post-trial inquiry” threaten the integrity of the very adversary

process the right to counsel is meant to serve. Strickland, 466 U.S., at

689–690, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Even under de novo review, the standard for

judging counsel’s representation is a most deferential one. Unlike a later

reviewing court, the attorney observed the relevant proceedings, knew of

materials outside the record, and interacted with the client, with opposing

counsel, and with the judge. It is “all too tempting” to “second-guess

counsel’s assistance after conviction or adverse sentence.” Id., at 689,

104 S.Ct. 2052; see also Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 702, 122 S.Ct. 1843,

152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002); Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 372, 113

S.Ct. 838, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993). The question is whether an attorney’s

representation amounted to incompetence under “prevailing professional

norms,” not whether it deviated from best practices or most common

custom. Strickland, 466 U.S., at 690, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 14

Harrington v. Richter, __U.S.__, 131 S.Ct. 770, 777-778, 178 L.Ed.2d 624(2011).

{¶50} “‘The failure to object to error, alone, is not enough to sustain a claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel.’” State v. Fears, 86 Ohio St.3d 329, 347, 715 N.E.2d

136(1999), quoting State v. Holloway, 38 Ohio St.3d 239, 244, 527 N.E. 2d 831(1988).

Accord, State v. Hale, 119 Ohio St.3d 118, 2008-Ohio-3426, 892 N.E.2d 864, ¶233. A

defendant must also show that he was materially prejudiced by the failure to object.

Halloway, 38 Ohio St.3d at 244, 527 N.E.2d 831.

{¶51} As noted in our disposition of McCray’s first assignment of error, McCray

has no evidence that any member of the jury violated the restrictions established in R.C.

2945.25. McCray has demonstrated no prejudice resulting from the error.

{¶52} Because we have found no instances of prejudice in this case, we find

McCray has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s performance.

{¶53} McCray’s second assignment of error is overruled.

III & IV

{¶54} Because McCray’s third and fourth assignments of error each require us

to review the evidence, we shall address the assignments collectively.

{¶55} McCray's third assignment of error challenges the sufficiency of the

evidence; his fourth assignment of error contends his convictions are against the

manifest weight of the evidence produced by the state at trial. Specifically, McCray

contends the state failed to prove he was the man who assaulted Young. McCray

further contends that because there was conflicting testimony as to who actually

assaulted Young, the jury lost its way when it convicted him of the offenses.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 15

{¶56} Our review of the constitutional sufficiency of evidence to support a

criminal conviction is governed by Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct.

2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), which requires a court of appeals to determine whether

“after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational

trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Id.; see also McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S. 120, 130 S.Ct. 665, 673, 175 L.Ed.2d

582(2010) (reaffirming this standard); State v. Fry, 125 Ohio St.3d 163, 926 N.E.2d

1239, 2010–Ohio–1017, ¶146; State v. Clay, 187 Ohio App.3d 633, 933 N.E.2d 296,

2010–Ohio–2720, ¶68.

{¶57} Weight of the evidence addresses the evidence's effect of inducing belief.

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), superseded

by constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio

St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668, 1997-Ohio–355. 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. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party

having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing the evidence in

their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible evidence sustains the issue,

which is to be established before them. Weight is not a question of mathematics, but

depends on its effect in inducing belief.” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541,

quoting Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed. 1990) at 1594.

{¶58} When a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis

that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a

“’thirteenth juror’” and disagrees with the fact finder’s resolution of the conflicting
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 16

testimony. Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102

S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). However, an appellate court may not merely

substitute its view for that of the jury, but must find that “‘the jury clearly lost its way and

created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and

a new trial ordered.’” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State v.

Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721(1st Dist. 1983).

Accordingly, reversal on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “‘the exceptional case

in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.’” Id.

“[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against

the weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every

reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the

finding of facts.

***

“If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the

reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent

with the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and

judgment.”

Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn.

3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192 (1978).

{¶59} McCray does not dispute that the victim died of multiple stab wounds. He

admits that he was at the bar at the time of the incident. McCray did not claim self-

defense or provocation. McCray admitted that he possessed a hunting knife while in the

parking lot of the bar. McCray testified that he did demand to know “who hit his bitch.”
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 17

McCray’s main argument is there was insufficient evidence to identify him as the

assailant in the stabbing of Russell Young.

{¶60} Aaron Hamrick testified that he heard McCray say, “We’ll be back and who

ever hit my girl friend, I’m gonna kill.” (2T. at 232). Testimony was presented that

McCray and Taylor fought with the victim. Maria Gamble testified that upon returning to

the bar after the initial confrontation, McCray had a knife in his hand upon leaving her

vehicle. (2T. at 185). Gamble testified that when McCray returned to the vehicle he was

upset, crying and saying, “What the fuck did I just do?” (2T. at 185) He further talked of

killing himself. (2T. at 185; 262).

{¶61} State's exhibits 3A-3D and 4 are the swabs taken by Officer Weller from

the exterior of the Chevy Suburban. McCray is the source of the bloodstains on the front

driver's side tire (State’s Exhibit 3D) and driver's side passenger door (State’s Exhibit 4).

The blood collected from the rear driver's side tire (State’s Exhibit 3C) contained a

mixture of two DNA profiles and both McCray and Young possible contributors to that

mixture. (4T at 414; 418-421).

{¶62} There were two bloodstains on the exterior passenger side of the

Suburban. Officer Weller collected State's Exhibit 3A from the front door handle,

McCray is the source of that stain. State's Exhibit 3B was collected from the front door

and Young is the source of that stain. (4T at 415-418; State's Exhibit 16A).

{¶63} Young was the source of the bloodstains on the front seats of the

Suburban as well as the blood trails outside the vehicle. (4T. at 422-425; State's Exhibit

16A).
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 18

{¶64} If the state relies on circumstantial evidence to prove an essential element

of an offense, it is not necessary for “such evidence to be irreconcilable with any

reasonable theory of innocence in order to support a conviction.” State v. Jenks, 61

Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574 N.E. 2d 492(1991), paragraph one of the syllabus,

superseded by State constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated in State v.

Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668(1997). “Circumstantial evidence and direct

evidence inherently possess the same probative value [.]” Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at

paragraph one of the syllabus. Furthermore, “[s]ince circumstantial evidence and direct

evidence are indistinguishable so far as the jury's fact-finding function is concerned, all

that is required of the jury is that i[t] weigh all of the evidence, direct and circumstantial,

against the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.“ Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at 272,

574 N.E. 2d 492. While inferences cannot be based on inferences, a number of

conclusions can result from the same set of facts. State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 168,

555 N.E.2d 293(1990), citing Hurt v. Charles J. Rogers Transp. Co, 164 Ohio St. 329,

331, 130 N.E.2d 820(1955). Moreover, a series of facts and circumstances can be

employed by a jury as the basis for its ultimate conclusions in a case. Lott, 51 Ohio

St.3d at 168, 555 N.E.2d 293, citing Hurt, 164 Ohio St. at 331, 130 N.E.2d 820.

{¶65} Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, we

conclude that a reasonable person could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that

McCray committed the crimes of murder and felonious assault. We hold, therefore, that

the state met its burden of production regarding each element of the crimes of murder

and felonious assault, and, accordingly, there was sufficient evidence to support

McCray's convictions for murder and felonious assault.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 19

{¶66} As an appellate court, we are not fact finders; we neither weigh the

evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is

relevant, competent and credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base his or

her judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries, 5th Dist. Stark No. CA–5758, 1982 WL 2911(Feb.

10, 1982). Accordingly, judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence

going to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed as being against the

manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction, 54 Ohio St.2d

279, 376 N.E.2d 578(1978). The Ohio Supreme Court has emphasized: “‘[I]n

determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against the weight of the

evidence, every reasonable intendment and every reasonable presumption must be

made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts. * * *.’” Eastley v. Volkman, 132

Ohio St.3d 328, 334, 972 N.E. 2d 517, 2012-Ohio-2179, quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc.

v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio

Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 603, at 191–192 (1978). Furthermore, it is

well established that the trial court is in the best position to determine the credibility of

witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, 9th Dist. No. 21004, 2002–Ohio–3405, ¶ 9, citing

State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St .2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212(1967).

{¶67} Ultimately, “the reviewing court must determine whether the appellant or

the appellee provided the more believable evidence, but must not completely substitute

its judgment for that of the original trier of fact ‘unless it is patently apparent that the fact

finder lost its way.’” State v. Pallai, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 198, 2008-Ohio-6635,

¶31, quoting State v. Woullard, 158 Ohio App.3d 31, 2004-Ohio-3395, 813 N.E.2d 964

(2nd Dist. 2004), ¶ 81. In other words, “[w]hen there exist two fairly reasonable views of
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 20

the evidence or two conflicting versions of events, neither of which is unbelievable, it is

not our province to choose which one we believe.” State v. Dyke, 7th Dist. Mahoning

No. 99 CA 149, 2002-Ohio-1152, at ¶ 13, citing State v. Gore, 131 Ohio App.3d 197,

201, 722 N.E.2d 125(7th Dist. 1999).

{¶68} The weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses

are issues for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d

212(1967), paragraph one of the syllabus; State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-

Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶118. Accord, Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80,

62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); Marshall v. Lonberger, 459 U.S. 422, 434, 103 S.Ct.

843, 74 L.Ed.2d 646 (1983).

{¶69} The jury as the trier of fact was free to accept or reject any and all of the

evidence offered by the parties and assess the witness’s credibility. "While the jury may

take note of the inconsistencies and resolve or discount them accordingly * * * such

inconsistencies do not render defendant's conviction against the manifest weight or

sufficiency of the evidence." State v. Craig, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 99AP-739, 1999 WL

29752 (Mar 23, 2000) citing State v. Nivens, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 95APA09-1236,

1996 WL 284714 (May 28, 1996). Indeed, the jury need not believe all of a witness'

testimony, but may accept only portions of it as true. State v. Raver, 10th Dist. Franklin

No. 02AP-604, 2003-Ohio-958, ¶21, citing State v. Antill, 176 Ohio St. 61, 67, 197

N.E.2d 548 (1964); State v. Burke, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-1238, 2003-Ohio-2889,

citing State v. Caldwell, 79 Ohio App.3d 667, 607 N.E.2d 1096 (4th Dist. 1992).

Although the evidence may have been circumstantial, we note that circumstantial

evidence has the same probative value as direct evidence. State v. Jenks, supra.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 21

{¶70} We find that this is not an “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541,

quoting Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d at 175, 485 N.E.2d 717. The jury neither lost his way

nor created a miscarriage of justice in convicting McCray of the charges.

{¶71} Based upon the foregoing and the entire record in this matter, we find

McCray’s convictions were not against the sufficiency or the manifest weight of the

evidence. To the contrary, the jury appears to have fairly and impartially decided the

matters before them. The jury as a trier of fact can reach different conclusions

concerning the credibility of the testimony of the state’s witnesses and McCray. This

court will not disturb the jury's finding so long as competent evidence was present to

support it. State v. Walker, 55 Ohio St.2d 208, 378 N.E.2d 1049 (1978). The jury heard

the witnesses, evaluated the evidence, and was convinced of McCray’s guilt.

{¶72} Finally, upon careful consideration of the record in its entirety, we find that

there is substantial evidence presented which if believed, proves all the elements of the

crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

{¶73} McCray’s third and fourth assignments of error are overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00133 22

{¶74} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Wise, J., and

Delaney, J., concur