State v. Blackford

[Cite as State v. Blackford, 2013-Ohio-1632.]

COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
:
ZAAVAN BLACKFORD : Case No. 2012CA00146
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Canton Municipal
Court, Case No. 2012CRB2391

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: April 22, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

ANTHONY RICH CRISTIN ROUSH
218 Cleveland Avenue, SW 200 West Tuscarawas Street
P.O. Box 24218 Suite 200
Canton, OH 44701-4218 Canton, OH 44702
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 2

Farmer, J.

{¶1} On June 13, 2012, appellant, Zaavan Blackford, was charged with one

count of criminal trespass in violation of R.C. 2911.21. Appellant was discovered on the

property of Skyline Terrace, a government subsidized housing authority, in the

apartment of Tommy Cleveland. Appellant did not have a visitor's pass and was not

allowed to be on the property.

{¶2} On July 25, 2012, appellant filed a motion to dismiss, claiming Skyline

Terrace could not ban certain people from the property thereby limiting a tenant's right

to invite people to the property. A hearing was held on July 30, 2012. By judgment

entry filed same date, the trial court denied the motion. The trial court filed a

supplemental judgment entry on July 31, 2012.

{¶3} A jury trial commenced on July 31, 2012. The jury found appellant guilty

as charged. By judgment entry filed July 31, 2012, the trial court sentenced appellant to

thirty days in jail, twenty-five days suspended in lieu of good behavior for two years.

{¶4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

I

{¶5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION

TO DISMISS BECAUSE A LANDLORD CANNOT PROHIBIT A TENANT'S INVITED

GUESTS FROM BEING PRESENT ON THE PROPERTY."
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 3

II

{¶6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION

FOR A MISTRIAL BECAUSE TESTIMONY WAS ELICITED IN VIOLATION OF THE

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION IN LIMINE."

III

{¶7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADOPTING THE GUILTY FINDING AS

THE FINDING WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE

EVIDENCE."

I

{¶8} Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss

because he had permission to enter Mr. Cleveland's apartment. We disagree.

{¶9} Appellant was charged with criminal trespass in violation of R.C.

2911.21(A)(1) which states, "[n]o person, without privilege to do so, shall***[k]nowingly

enter or remain on the land or premises of another." "Privilege" is defined in R.C.

2901.01(A)(12) as, "an immunity, license, or right conferred by law, bestowed by

express or implied grant, arising out of status, position, office, or relationship, or growing

out of necessity."

{¶10} In its July 31, 2012 supplemental judgment entry denying appellant's

motion to dismiss, the trial court found Mr. Cleveland understood that appellant could

not be in his apartment without a visitor's pass:

Defendant argued that a representative of a subsidized government

housing complex can not exclude an invitee of a lessee and that a criminal
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 4

trespass conviction can not hold under these circumstances. Defendant

presented the testimony of Tommy Cleveland on his behalf. Mr.

Cleveland testified that he invited Defendant to his apartment on June 12,

2012. Mr. Cleveland testified that he was without knowledge that

Defendant was not permitted on the premises on June 12, 2012. The

Court found the testimony of Mr. Cleveland not credible after Mr.

Cleveland was shown two letters from the landlord prior to June 12, 2012

warning Mr. Cleveland to not allow Defendant on the property.

***

Finally, Defendant had been previously charged with criminal

trespass in the same apartment complex in April of 2012 and had been

warned not to return (see Canton Municipal Court Case 2012 CRB 1514).

{¶11} We note the weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the

witnesses are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Jamison, 49 Ohio St.3d 182 (1990).

The trier of fact "has the best opportunity to view the demeanor, attitude, and credibility

of each witness, something that does not translate well on the written page." Davis v.

Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 418, 1997-Ohio-260.

{¶12} During the hearing on the motion to dismiss, Mr. Cleveland admitted

appellant came over to see him because he was not feeling well and they were meeting

up to go to church to obtain food. July 30, 2012 T. at 13. He claimed they were going

to go to the office to obtain a visitor's pass after the office opened and after they

returned from the church. Id. at 14. Mr. Cleveland claimed he was not aware that
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 5

appellant was not permitted to be on the property. Id. at 12. He denied receiving letters

dated April 20, and May 10, 2012 informing him that appellant was not permitted to be

in his apartment. Id. at 16-19.

{¶13} It was appellant's position that he was an invited guest of Mr. Cleveland's

and therefore could not be arrested for criminal trespass.

{¶14} The criminal complaint filed June 13, 2012 stated appellant "was found to

be on the property of Skyland Terrace and has been advised in the past he is not

allowed to be on said property." Appellant was not charged with criminal trespass on

the premises of Mr. Cleveland.

{¶15} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's

motion to dismiss.

{¶16} Assignment of Error I is denied.

II

{¶17} Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial

because of a violation of the trial court's in limine order. We disagree.

{¶18} The decision to grant or deny a motion for mistrial rests in the sound

discretion of the trial court. State v. Simmons, 61 Ohio App.3d 514 (9th Dist. 1989). In

order to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was

unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment.

Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217 (1983).

{¶19} On July 30, 2012, appellant filed a motion in limine to exclude evidence of

his other crimes/bad acts. The prosecutor sought to explain why appellant was on

Skyline Terrace's "banned list." July 31, 2012 T. at 7. The trial court found any
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 6

testimony of appellant's prior bad acts would be prejudicial and ordered the prosecutor

not to elicit testimony as to why appellant was banned from the property. Id. at 12.

{¶20} During the testimony of Skyline Terrace's assistant manager, Carmen

Freeze, the prosecutor asked her about the letters sent to Mr. Cleveland regarding

unauthorized visitors. Id. at 79-80. The prosecutor asked Ms. Freeze how she was

able to obtain appellant's identity and she responded, "[w]e have a police log of any

arrests that are made on the property." Id. at 80. An objection was made which the trial

court sustained. Id.

{¶21} We find the question asked was not meant to elicit a banned response,

but was inadvertent.

{¶22} During the jury instructions, the trial court specifically informed the jury of

the following (T. at 123):

Evidence does not include any statements that were stricken by the

court or which you were instructed to disregard. Such statements are not

evidence and must be treated as though you never heard them. You must

not speculate as to why an objection was sustained to any question or

what the answer to such question might have been because these are

questions of law and rest solely on the court.

{¶23} We find the trial court's instruction was sufficient to clear up any possible

prejudice.
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 7

{¶24} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

appellant's motion for mistrial.

{¶25} Assignment of Error II is denied.

III

{¶26} Appellant claims his conviction was against the sufficiency and manifest

weight of the evidence. We disagree.

{¶27} On review for sufficiency, a reviewing court is to examine the evidence at

trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would support a conviction. State

v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259 (1991). "The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the

evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have

found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt." Jenks at

paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). On

review for manifest weight, a reviewing court is to examine the entire record, weigh the

evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and

determine "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 and

a new trial ordered." State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175 (1983). See also, State

v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 1997-Ohio-52. The granting of a new trial "should be

exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the

conviction." Martin at 175.

{¶28} Appellant argues he was on the property at the express request of Mr.

Cleveland and intended to obtain a visitor's pass as soon as the office opened.

Appellant argues this does not constitute knowingly being on the premises of another
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 8

without privilege to do so. R.C. 2911.21. It appears appellant is arguing he has some

sort of qualified immunity to obtain a visitor's pass.

{¶29} State's Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 were warning letters to Mr. Cleveland about

the necessity for visitor's passes. A letter dated May 10, 2012 specifically mentioned

appellant as an unauthorized resident. July 31, 2012 T. at 70. Ms. Freeze testified

appellant was not eligible for a visitor's pass. Id. at 78. Mr. Cleveland had been told

that appellant was not eligible. Id. at 100.

{¶30} Canton Police Officer Mark Diels testified there are approximately fifteen

"No Trespassing" signs posted around the entire complex. Id. at 90. On April 14, 2012,

Officer Diels observed appellant on the property with no visitor's pass and escorted him

off the property. Id. at 92. Officer Diels told appellant he was not allowed on the

property. Id. On the day of appellant's arrest, Officer Diels observed appellant outside

of Mr. Cleveland's apartment and as he approached in his police car, appellant went

inside the apartment. Id. at 91-92. Officer Diels asked appellant to exit the apartment

and cited him for trespassing. Id. at 92.

{¶31} Appellant argues a tenant has the right to invite whomever to his/her

apartment. However, Mr. Cleveland's apartment is a HUD subsidized property

governed by the Visitor Pass Policy. Id. at 69, 72.

{¶32} Appellant also argues he was on his way to obtain a pass after the office

opened. We, as well as the jury did, find this argument to be disingenuous. Appellant

was aware that he could not obtain a visitor's pass from his previous conversation with

Officer Diels.
Stark County, Case No. 2012CA00146 9

{¶33} In a case similar to the case sub judice, State v. Dubose, 117 Ohio App.3d

219, 222 (7th Dist. 1997), we concur with our brethren when they concluded, "[t]he

prosecution established beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant-appellant,

without any privilege to do so, knowingly entered and remained on the land of the

Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority when he had previously been ordered not

to do so."

{¶34} Upon review, we find sufficient evidence to support the conviction for

criminal trespass and no manifest miscarriage of justice.

{¶35} Assignment of Error III is denied.

{¶36} The judgment of the Canton Municipal Court of Stark County, Ohio is

hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Delaney, J. concur.

s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________

s/ W. Scott Gwin_________________

s/ Patricia A. Delaney______________

JUDGES

SGF/sg 319
[Cite as State v. Blackford, 2013-Ohio-1632.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
ZAAVAN BLACKFORD :
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2012CA00146

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Canton Municipal Court of Stark County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to

appellant.

s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________

s/ W. Scott Gwin_________________

s/ Patricia A. Delaney______________

JUDGES