State v. Little

[Cite as State v. Little, 2016-Ohio-8398.]

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

STATE OF OHIO,
CASE NO. 1-16-29
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v.

LARISCO L. LITTLE, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. CR 2015 0339

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: December 27, 2016

APPEARANCES:

Linda Gabriele for Appellant

Kenneth J. Sturgill for Appellee
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WILLAMOWSKI, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Larisco Little (“Little”) appeals the decision of the

Allen County Court of Common Pleas finding the defendant guilty of one count of

domestic violence in violation of R.C. 2919.25(A), (D)(4). On appeal, Little raises

three assignments of error: 1) the trial court erred by admitting hearsay in violation

of Little’s right to confrontation; 2) the trial court erred by entering a verdict against

the manifest weight of the evidence; 3) and the State committed a manifest

miscarriage of justice in its closing argument. For the reasons set forth below, the

judgment of the lower court is affirmed.

{¶2} On September 6, 2015, Shirley Jones (“Jones”) was in her home when

she heard a commotion outside her house. Tr. 80. She went to her door where she

saw the two children of YJ and Little, her neighbors. Id. At trial, Jones testified

that the children were crying and “asked [her] if [she] could call the police because

their mom was bleeding and their dad was fighting their mom.” Tr. 81. In response,

she called 9-1-1 and reported a domestic disturbance. Tr. 82. The recording of this

9-1-1 call was later admitted into evidence and captured Jones saying, “The kids

just ran over here wanting me to call. They said their dad’s over there beating on

their mama.” Ex. 8. Patrolman Matt Boss (“Boss”) responded to this report of

domestic violence in progress. Tr. 51, 53. Boss later testified that approximately

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ten to fifteen minutes transpired between receiving the call and reaching the reported

address. Tr. 53.

{¶3} After Boss arrived on the scene, he approached YJ, who was standing

outside of her home. At trial, Boss testified that YJ looked “defeated” and “in pain.”

Tr. 52. He observed signs of a struggle: YJ had a cut on her arm, blood on her neck

and hands, and a laceration on the back of her head. Tr. 52, 55. Boss then asked

YJ what had happened. Tr. 56. Boss testified at trial that YJ told him “[t]hat Larisco

Little grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head into a glass dining room table.”

Id. Boss then called for medical assistance and began searching for Little. Tr. 57.

YJ permitted the police to clear her house, but Little was not inside. Id. Boss began

searching the vicinity and found Little wandering roughly one block away from YJ’s

home. Id. Boss then arrested Little. Doc. 1.

{¶4} Later that day, Little called his mother from jail on a recorded line. Tr.

121. In this conversation, Little said, “She kept on pushing my buttons, mama.”

Ex. 9. He then said, “I pushed her, and she hit the table, mama. That—that was a

mistake.” Id. On September 8, 2015, Little was charged with domestic violence

under R.C. 2919.25(A). On April 21, 2016, Detective Kent Miller served a

subpoena on YJ that ordered her to appear before the court as a witness on May 3,

2016. Tr. 29. However, YJ did not appear for the trial. Tr. 30. The prosecution

proceeded by calling Boss to testify and asked Boss what YJ told him during their

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initial encounter. Tr. 56. The defense objected to the admission of this evidence as

hearsay. Id. The court, however, overruled the objection, finding the statement was

nontestimonial and admissible as “either an excited utterance or a statement to

Patrolman Boss for purposes of the emergency treatment of her.” Tr. 111-112.

{¶5} The State then called Jones, YJ’s neighbor, to testify. Tr. 79. During

her testimony, the defense objected when Jones began stating what the children told

her. Tr. 80. The court, however, overruled the objection and admitted the

statements of the children. Id. Several times in his closing argument, the prosecutor

referenced Jones’s earlier testimony regarding what the children had said at Jones’s

house and related the children as saying, “Help, help, my daddy’s beating up my

mommy and she’s bleeding; call 9-1-1.” Tr. 209, 211. In the closing argument, the

prosecutor also referenced records of Little’s two prior convictions, which were

admitted into evidence to prove an element of the charged crime. Tr. 227. Ex. 6, 7.

See R.C. 2919.25(D)(4). The jury found Little guilty of domestic violence, and

Little was sentenced on June 13, 2016. Doc. 71.

{¶6} On appeal, Little raises three assignments of error.

First Assignment of Error

The trial court erred in admitting hearsay statements in violation
of the defendant-appellant’s right to confrontation.

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Second Assignment of Error

The verdict of the trial court was against the manifest weight of
the evidence since the State of Ohio failed to prove each and every
element of the crime of domestic violence beyond a reasonable
doubt.

Third Assignment of Error

The closing argument by the State of Ohio created a manifest
miscarriage of justice violating the defendant-appellant’s right to
a fair trial.

First Assignment of Error

{¶7} In his first assignment of error, Little challenges the admission of

hearsay into evidence in violation of his right to confrontation. While the wording

of this assignment of error primarily addresses the alleged violation of Little’s right

to confrontation, the arguments in Little’s brief also question the admissibility of

these hearsay statements. For this reason, we will first consider whether the

admission of the hearsay statements was proper under the rules of evidence. State

v. Dever, 64 Ohio St.3d 401, 415, 596 N.E.2d 436 (1992).1 We will then consider

whether the admission of these statements violated Little’s rights under the

Confrontation Clause. Id.

1
Dever was decided prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford, which overruled the Roberts
framework for deciding Confrontation Clause cases. Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 60, 124 S.Ct.
1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004). However, the process of determining the admissibility of hearsay statements
under the rules of evidence prior to determining their acceptability under the Confrontation Clause has
remained consistent. See State v. Muttart, 116 Ohio St.3d 5, 2007-Ohio-5267, 875 N.E.2d 944, ¶ 31, 57.
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Admission of Hearsay Statements

{¶8} “‘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.” Evid.R. 801(C). Hearsay is typically inadmissible unless the statement

falls into a hearsay exception. Evid.R. 802. “An appellate court’s review of the

admission of evidence is limited to a determination as to whether the trial court

abused its discretion.” State v. Hawkey, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-14-03, 2016-Ohio-

1292, ¶ 63, quoting Rigby v. Lake Cty., 58 Ohio St.3d 269, 271, 569 N.E.2d 1056

(1991). “An abuse of discretion has been described as an unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable decision.” State v. Harris, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-99-14, 1999 WL

797159 (Sept. 30, 1999), citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450

N.E.2d 1140 (1983).

The Testimony of Patrolman Matt Boss

{¶9} The first statement Little challenges was made by YJ to Boss. At trial,

Boss testified that YJ told him “[t]hat Larisco Little grabbed her by her hair and

slammed her head into a glass dining room table.” Tr. 56. This statement appears

to have been admitted as a nontestimonial, excited utterance. Tr. 112. Excited

utterances are an exception to the general rule excluding hearsay statements

“because excited utterances are the product of reactive rather than reflective

thinking and, thus, are believed [to be] inherently reliable.” State v. Ducey, 10th

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Dist. Franklin No. 03AP-944, 2004-Ohio-3833, ¶ 17, citing State v. Taylor, 66 Ohio

St.3d 295, 612 N.E.2d 316 (1993). This exception covers “statement[s] relating to

a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of

excitement caused by the event or condition.” Evid.R. 803(2).

{¶10} A statement falls within the excited utterance exception and has,

therefore, indicia of reliability when

the trial judge reasonably finds (a) that there was some
occurrence startling enough to produce a nervous excitement in
the declarant, which was sufficient to still his reflective faculties
and thereby make his statements and declarations the
unreflective and sincere expression of his actual impressions and
beliefs, and thus render his statement or declaration spontaneous
and unreflective, (b) that the statement or declaration, even if not
strictly contemporaneous with its exciting cause, was made before
there had been time for such nervous excitement to lose a
domination over declarant's reflective faculties so that such
domination continued to remain sufficient to make his statements
and declarations the unreflective and sincere expression of his
actual impressions and beliefs, (c) that the statement or
declaration related to such startling occurrence or the
circumstances of such startling occurrence, and (d) that the
declarant had an opportunity to observe personally the matters
asserted in his statement or declaration.

Hawkey at ¶ 63, quoting Potter v. Baker, 162 Ohio St. 488, 124 N.E.2d 140 (1955).

{¶11} When evaluating statements under this test, “[t]here is no per se

amount of time after which a statement can no longer be considered to be an excited

utterance.” Taylor at 303. Rather, “each case must be decided on its own

circumstances.” State v. Duncan, 53 Ohio St.2d 215, 219, 373 N.E.2d 1234 (1978).

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“The central requirements are that the statement must be made while the declarant

is still under the stress of the event and the statement may not be a result of reflective

thought.” Taylor at 303. Further, excited utterances can be made in response to

questioning which: (1) is neither coercive nor leading, (2)
facilitates the declarant’s expression of what is already the
natural focus of the declarant’s thoughts, (3) and does not destroy
the domination of the nervous excitement over the declarant’s
reflective facilities.

State v. Tebelman, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-09-01, 2010-Ohio-481, ¶ 31, quoting

State v. Wallace, 37 Ohio St.3d 87, 93, 524 N.E.2d 466 (1988).

{¶12} Here, the statement YJ made to Boss meets the four elements of an

excited utterance. First, YJ did endure a startling experience. When Boss

approached YJ, she had just emerged from a verbal and physical altercation. She

had sustained injuries to her head, her arm, and was bleeding. Boss testified that YJ

still appeared “[d]efeated,” “somewhat” excited, and “in pain.” Tr. 52. Second,

YJ’s comments were made, at most, ten to fifteen minutes after the startling event.

Boss testified that he arrived at the scene of the incident within ten to fifteen minutes

of receiving Jones’s call. Tr. 53. We know Jones’s call was placed as the incident

was still unfolding since the children reported to Jones what they had just seen. Tr.

81. See Cleveland v. Colon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87824, 2007-Ohio-269, ¶ 5.

Third, YJ’s statements were directly related to the altercation since she was telling

the responding officer what had transpired. Boss said she told him that “Larisco

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Little grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head into a glass dining room table.”

Tr. 56. Fourth, YJ’s statements related her personal observations to Boss as she was

the victim of the incident she described. Id.

{¶13} Further, there is no evidence that Boss asked leading questions. He

sought only to find out what had happened. Tr. 53. Boss’s interaction with YJ

merely elicited what was likely already on her mind: the physical injuries she

sustained and how she got them. Tr. 55-56. These statements were the result of

Boss’s initial interaction with YJ; this conversation occurred as Boss was

determining how to procure medical assistance for YJ, whether YJ or the first

responders were still in danger, and the whereabouts of the perpetrator. Id. At that

point, it does not appear that YJ had time to reflect upon or rehearse statements for

a police interrogation. Thus, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion as

these hearsay statements were admissible under Evid.R. 803(2).

Statement of Children to Shirley Jones

{¶14} The second challenged statement was made by Little’s children to

Jones. Tr. 81. On appeal, the State argues this falls within the present sense

impression exception, which permits “statement[s] 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.”

Evid.R. 803(1). This rule assumes that “statements or perceptions, describing the

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event and uttered in close temporal proximity to the event, bear a high degree of

trustworthiness.” State v. Dixon, 152 Ohio App.3d 760, 2003-Ohio-2550, 790

N.E.2d 349, ¶ 12, quoting Cox v. Oliver Machinery Co., 41 Ohio App.3d 28, 35,

534 N.E.2d 855 (12th Dist.1987). For this reason,

[t]he key to the statement's trustworthiness is the spontaneity of
the statement, either contemporaneous with the event or
immediately thereafter. By making the statement at the time of
the event or shortly thereafter, the minimal lapse of time between
the event and statement reflects an insufficient period to reflect
on the event perceived—a fact which obviously detracts from the
statement's trustworthiness.

State v. Upshaw, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-02-46, 2003-Ohio-5756, ¶ 7, quoting Cox at

35.

{¶15} In this case, the children’s statements to Jones fall squarely within the

present sense impression exception. According to Jones, the children “ran over” to

her house, Exhibit 8; “[were] beating at the windows and doors” of her home, Tr.

80; and “[were] crying.” Tr. 81. The children’s statements described what they had

witnessed firsthand immediately prior to arriving at Jones’s door. These statements

were contemporaneous with the unfolding altercation between Little and YJ.

Having seen their mother bleeding and injured, these children were seeking

emergency assistance and were asking Jones to “call the police.” Id. These children

did not have time to reflect upon their statements before speaking and do not appear

to have had a motivation outside of helping their mother, giving these statements

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compelling indicia of trustworthiness. Thus, we find the trial court did not abuse its

discretion as these hearsay statements were admissible under Evid.R. 803(1).

Confrontation Clause Analysis

{¶16} Next, we will determine whether either of these “statement[s]...should

have been excluded under the Confrontation Clause as construed in Crawford.”

Cleveland v. Colon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87824, 2007-Ohio-269, ¶ 16, citing

Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 54, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004).

See United States v. Hadley, 431 F.3d 484, 498 (6th Cir. 2005).

“Evidence...admissible at trial as a hearsay exception...may nonetheless be

inadmissible because it violates a defendant’s right of confrontation.” Dever at 415.

“The question of whether a criminal defendant’s rights under the Confrontation

Clause have been violated is reviewed under a de novo standard.” State v. Douglas,

3d Dist. Marion No. 9-05-24, 2005-Ohio-6304, ¶ 39, citing United States v.

Robinson, 389 F.3d 582, 592 (6th Cir. 2004).

{¶17} The Confrontation Clause guarantees the right of defendants in

criminal cases “to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” Crawford at 38.

Since a witness is a person who “bear[s] testimony,” Id. at 51, quoting 2 N. Webster,

An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), “the Confrontation

Clause applies only to testimonial statements.” State v. Muttart, 116 Ohio St.3d 5,

2007-Ohio-5267, 875 N.E.2d 944, ¶ 59, citing State v. Stahl, 111 Ohio St.3d 186,

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2006-Ohio-5482, 855 N.E.2d 834, ¶ 15. For testimonial hearsay to be admitted, the

witness must be “unavailable to testify, and the defendant [must have] had a prior

opportunity for cross-examination.” Crawford at 54. With nontestimonial hearsay,

however, “the States [have] flexibility in the development of hearsay law.” Id. at

68.

The Testimony of Patrolman Matt Boss

{¶18} When out-of-court statements made to law enforcement are at issue,

the primary purpose test applies. State v. Siler, 116 Ohio St.3d 39, 2007-Ohio-5637,

876 N.E.2d 534, ¶ 28.2 Under this test,

[s]tatements are nontestimonial when made in the course of police
interrogation under circumstances objectively indicating that the
primary purpose of the interrogation is to enable police assistance
to meet an ongoing emergency. They are testimonial when the
circumstances objectively indicate that there is no such ongoing
emergency, and that the primary purpose of the interrogation is
to establish or prove past events potentially relevant to later
criminal prosecution.

State v. Perkins, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-10-36, 2011-Ohio-2705, ¶ 4, quoting Davis

v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 822, 126 S.Ct. 2266, 165 L.Ed.2d 224 (2006). An

ongoing emergency does not necessarily end when the police arrive. Cleveland v.

Merritt, 2016-Ohio-4693, --- N.E.3d ---, ¶ 18 (8th Dist).

2
In Siler, the court held that the objective witness test generally applies to out-of-court statements made to
people other than law enforcement. The primary purpose test, however, generally applies to situations where
out-of-court statements are made to law enforcement during interrogations. Siler at ¶ 28-29.
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{¶19} To determine whether an ongoing emergency exists, courts must

“objectively evaluate the circumstances in which the encounter occurs and the

statements and actions of the parties.” Michigan v. Bryant, 562 U.S. 344, 369, 131

S.Ct. 1143, 179 L.Ed.2d 93 (2011). “The court should consider the primary purpose

of both the declarant and the interrogator.” State v. Diggle, 3d Dist. Auglaize No.

2-11-19, 2012-Ohio-1583, ¶ 25, citing Bryant at 1160. This analysis “cannot

narrowly focus on whether the threat solely to the first victim has been neutralized

because the threat to the first responders and public may continue.” Id. at 1158.

Further, formal questioning may suggest the emergency situation has subsided

whereas informal interrogation may suggest the police were “address[ing] what they

perceived to be an ongoing emergency.” Id. at 1166. Regarding the victim, any

potential injuries may shed light on his or her intentions. Id. at 1161. However, this

“inquiry [regarding the victim’s physical state] is still objective because it focuses

on the understanding and purpose of a reasonable victim in the circumstances of the

actual victim.” Id.

{¶20} In this case, we find YJ’s statements to Boss were nontestimonial

under the primary purpose test. When Boss arrived, his primary purpose was to

determine how to address what was, from his standpoint as a first responder, an

ongoing emergency. See Bryant at 1160. Boss sought information from YJ to

obtain appropriate medical assistance for her injuries, to determine whether the

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threat of immediate danger had subsided, and to identify who the attacker was. Tr.

56-57. See State v. Pettway, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 91716, 2009-Ohio-4544;

Colon v. Taskey, 414 Fed.Appx. 735 (6th Cir. 2010). Further, this interview was

informal, taking place at the location where Boss first encountered YJ and indicating

Boss perceived this situation as an ongoing emergency. See State v. Knecht, 12th

Dist. Warren No. CA2015-04-037, 2015-Ohio-4316, ¶ 25.

{¶21} While the victim and perpetrator were separated at the time of the

interview, the ongoing emergency continued as Boss did not know whether Little

was present on the scene or if the area was secure. Id. See Cleveland v. Williams,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101588, 2015-Ohio-1739; State v. Sanchez, 8th Dist. Nos.

93569 and 93570, 2010-Ohio-6153. Compare with Toledo v. Green, 2015-Ohio-

1864, 33 N.E.3d 581 (6th Dist.) (holding no ongoing emergency existed when police

knew exactly where the perpetrator was and the altercation had already ended);

Toledo v. Sailes, 180 Ohio App.3d 56, 2008-Ohio-6400, 904 N.E.2d 543 (6th Dist.).

Boss then cleared YJ’s residence and found that Little was at large. Tr. 58. The

police searched for and apprehended Little around one block away from YJ’s

residence. Id.

{¶22} Further, YJ’s statements were made “with the primary purpose of

enabling the police to ‘meet an ongoing emergency,’ i.e., to apprehend the person

involved.” Colon at ¶ 23. YJ was also injured and in need of medical attention. Tr.

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52, 55. While these injuries were not life threatening, they do provide the context

for her statements. She spoke with Boss to enable him to obtain proper medical

assistance; we find it unlikely that she or any reasonable person in this situation

would perceive this interaction with law enforcement as being primarily a means

for police to collect statements for later use at trial.

{¶23} Altogether, the surrounding circumstances of this situation show that

Boss had few alternatives to an informal interview to procure the basic information

he needed to proceed responsibly. Boss appears to have obtained these statements

to serve as the basis for further, responsive police action; these statements do not

seem to have been taken for the primary purpose of documenting past events for

later prosecution. See Colon at ¶ 20; Merritt at ¶ 13. Compare Hammon v. Indiana,

547 U.S. 813, 126 S.Ct. 2266, 165 L.Ed.2d 224 (2006) (holding statements were

testimonial where officers arrived after the emergency ceased and simultaneously

questioned the spouses separately in different rooms). See Merritt at ¶ 13-14. For

these reasons, we find admission of this statement at trial did not violate Little’s

right to confrontation.

Statement of Children to Shirley Jones

{¶24} While the primary purpose test applies to statements made to law

enforcement, the Ohio Supreme Court has “adopted the ‘objective-witness test’ for

out-of-court statements made to a person who is not law enforcement.” State v.

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Jones, 135 Ohio St.3d 10, 2012-Ohio-5677, 984 N.E.2d 948, ¶ 161, citing Stahl at

¶ 36. Under this test, testimonial statements are those

made “under circumstances which would lead an objective
witness reasonably to believe that the statement would be
available for use at a later trial.” Crawford, 541 U.S. at 52, 124
S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177. In determining whether a statement
is testimonial for Confrontation Clause purposes, courts should
focus on the expectation of the declarant at the time of making the
statement; the intent of a questioner is relevant only if it could
affect a reasonable declarant's expectations.

Stahl at ¶ 36. Statements to persons outside of law enforcement are “much less

likely to be testimonial than statements to law enforcement officers.” Ohio v. Clark,

135 S.Ct. 2173, 2180, 192 L.Ed.2d 306, 83 U.S.L.W. 4484 (2015). Further,

“[s]tatements by very young children will rarely, if ever, implicate the Confrontation

Clause.” State v. Saltz, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-14-33, 2015-Ohio-3097, ¶ 34,

quoting Clark at 2182.3

{¶25} The statements Little’s children made to Jones were nontestimonial.

As these children urgently cried to Jones for assistance, they were undoubtedly

thinking about helping their injured mother; we find it unlikely that their young

minds were contemplating the role their statements could play in criminal litigation.

The children merely said what was necessary to obtain assistance for their mother

3
Saltz involved a child who was four years old at the time the hearsay statements were made. Saltz at ¶ 5.
Clark involved a child who was three years old. Clark at ¶ 2182.
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in the midst of a traumatic, emergency situation. Given that these statements were

uttered to a neighbor who was not affiliated with law enforcement and by young

children who were seeking help for their mother, we find that the admission of this

evidence did not violate Little’s right to confrontation. For these reasons, we

overrule Little’s first assignment of error.

Second Assignment of Error

{¶26} In his second assignment of error, Little argues that the verdict of the

trial court was against the manifest weight of the evidence. To evaluate this type of

challenge,

an appellate court “review[s] 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 and a
new trial ordered.

State v. Wilder, 3d Dist. Van Wert No. 15-15-08, 2016 -Ohio- 251, 58 N.E.3d 421,

¶ 18, quoting State v. Mendoza, 137 Ohio App.3d 336, 738 N.E.2d 822 (3d Dist.

2000).

{¶27} “A reviewing court must, however, allow the trier of fact appropriate

discretion on matters relating to the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the

witnesses.” State v. Torman, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-15-10, 2016-Ohio-748, ¶ 7,

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

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of the syllabus. “Only in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs heavily

against the conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court's

judgment.” State v. Haller, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1–11–34, 2012–Ohio–5233, ¶ 9,

quoting State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011–Ohio–6524, ¶ 119.

{¶28} Little was convicted of domestic violence. R.C. 2919.25(A) states,

“No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or

household member.” At trial, the prosecution introduced a recording of Little

talking to his mother in which he said, “She [YJ] kept on pushing my buttons,

mama.” Ex. 9. He also said, “I pushed her, and she hit the table, mama. That—that

was a mistake.” Id. Little reveals in this tape that he knowingly chose to undertake

an action that was likely to cause physical harm. The testimony of Boss and the

photographic evidence of YJ’s injuries after the incident indicate that Little’s actions

resulted in physical harm. Tr. 55. Ex. 3, 4, 5.

{¶29} Jones’s testimony of what the children reported to her further connects

Little to the injuries YJ sustained. In the 9-1-1 call, Jones states that the children

“just ran over here wanting me to call. They said their dad’s over there beating on

their mama.” Ex. 8. At trial, Jones said Little’s children told her that “their mom

was bleeding and their dad was fighting their mom.” Tr. 81. These statements point

to Little as the cause of YJ’s injuries. The testimony of Jones also indicates that YJ

was a member of Little’s household under Ohio law as YJ and Little had children

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together. Tr. 79-80. Lastly, the prosecution introduced records of Little’s two prior

convictions for domestic violence to establish that Little “has…been convicted of

two or more offenses of domestic violence.” Ex. 6, 7. See R.C. 2919.25(D)(4).

Based on this evidence, we find that the jury could reasonably have found the

testimony of Jones and Boss to be credible and, with Little’s admission to his

mother, could reasonably have found Little to be guilty. Thus, the second

assignment of error is overruled.

Third Assignment of Error

{¶30} In his third assignment of error, Little argues that statements in the

prosecution’s closing argument constituted a manifest miscarriage of justice. In

general, “the State has ‘wide latitude’ in its closing argument.” Call at ¶ 15, citing

State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St.3d 239, 473 N.E.2d 768 (1984). “The State is largely

free to comment on ‘what the evidence has shown and what reasonable inferences

may be drawn therefrom.’” Id., quoting State v. Lott, 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 165, 555

N.E.2d 293 (1990).

The test for prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument is
[1] whether the remarks made by the prosecutor were improper
and, if so, [2] whether they prejudicially affected a substantial
right of the accused. State v. Siefer, 3d Dist. No. 5–09–24, 2011–
Ohio–1868, ¶ 46, citing White, 82 Ohio St.3d at 22, 693 N.E.2d 772.

State v. Klein, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-12-09, 2013-Ohio-2387, ¶ 60. For this

determination,

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an appellate court should consider[four factors:] (1) the nature of
the remarks, (2) whether an objection was made by counsel, (3)
whether corrective instructions were given by the court, and (4)
the strength of the evidence against the defendant. Johnson at ¶
87, quoting State v. Braxton, 102 Ohio App.3d 28, 41, 656 N.E.2d
970 (8th Dist.1995).

State v. Potts, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-16-03, 2016-Ohio-5555, ¶ 84. “We evaluate

the allegedly improper statements in the context of the entire trial.” Klein at ¶ 60,

citing, State v. Treesh, 90 Ohio St.3d 460, 464, 739 N.E.2d 749 (2001), citing State

v. Keenan, 66 Ohio St.3d 402, 410, 613 N.E.2d 203 (1993).

An improper comment does not affect a substantial right of the
accused if it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury
would have found the defendant guilty even without the improper
comments. Id., citing State v. Smith, 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 15, 470
N.E.2d 883, (1984).

Klein at ¶ 60. “To establish prejudice, a defendant must show that a reasonable

probability exists that, but for the prosecutor's improper remarks, the result of the

proceeding would have been different.” State v. Liles, 3d Dist. No. 1-14-61, 2015-

Ohio-3093, ¶ 31, quoting State v. Porter, 4th Dist. Meigs No. 10CA15, 2012–Ohio–

1526, ¶ 20, citing State v. Landrum, 53 Ohio St.3d 107, 112, 559 N.E.2d 710,

(1990). “Unless the statement made by the prosecutor in argument to a jury is so

misleading or untruthful that the defendant's rights are prejudiced, which deprives

him of a fair and impartial trial, the claimed error cannot be considered prejudicial.”

State v. Singleton, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2002–L–077, 2004-Ohio-1517, quoting State

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v. Daugert, 11th Dist. No. 89–L–14–091, 1990 WL 94835 (June 29, 1990) (citations

omitted).

{¶31} If the defense does not object during closing arguments, then “all but

plain error” is waived. State v. Fairley, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-03-41, 2004-Ohio-

2616, ¶ 23. Under Crim.R. 52(B), a finding of plain error “requires that there be a

deviation from a legal rule, the error be an ‘obvious’ defect in the trial proceedings,

and the error must have affected a defendant's ‘substantial rights.’” Id., citing State

v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240, 2002–Ohio–68. “We recognize

plain error ‘with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to

prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.’” Call at ¶ 17, quoting State v. Landrum

(1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 107, 559 N.E.2d 710.

{¶32} “Accordingly, plain error exists only in the event that it can be said

that ‘but for the error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been otherwise.’”

Klein at ¶ 58, citing State v. Biros, 78 Ohio St.3d 426, 431, 678 N.E.2d 891 (1997).

“Thus, prosecutorial misconduct constitutes plain error only if it is clear that the

defendant would not have been convicted in the absence of the improper

comments.” Call at ¶ 17, citing State v. Slagle, 65 Ohio St.3d 597, 606, 605 N.E.2d

916 (1992); State v. Johnson, 46 Ohio St.3d 96, 102, 545 N.E.2d 636 (1989).

{¶33} Little’s first argument alleges the State engaged in prosecutorial

misconduct by misstating the statements that Little’s children made to Jones. At

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trial, Jones testified in court that Little’s children told her “their mom was bleeding

and their dad was fighting their mom.” Tr. 81. On the 9-1-1 recording admitted

into evidence, Jones stated, “The kids just ran over here wanting me to call. They

said their dad’s over there beating on their mama.” Ex. 8. In closing arguments,

the prosecutor referenced these statements on five occasions. Tr. 209, 211, 212,

227. He related Jones as saying the children exclaimed to her, “Help, help, my

daddy’s beating up my mommy and she’s bleeding; call 9-1-1.” Tr. 209.

{¶34} Considering the four factors from Braxton, we find that the

prosecutor’s comments in closing arguments do not constitute prosecutorial

misconduct. First, the prosecutor’s remarks appear to be a mere misstatement that

conflates Jones’s in-court testimony and Jones’s remarks on the 9-1-1 recording.

Both of these statements had been admitted earlier by the court at trial, and the jury

was permitted to consider both statements as evidence. Tr. 81-82. The prosecutor’s

imprecision was not misleading or prejudicial. Second, the defense did not object

to these misstatements during closing arguments, waiving “all but plain error.”

Fairley, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-03-41, 2004-Ohio-2616, ¶ 23. Third, although the

court did not issue an instruction specifically addressing these remarks, the court

gave a jury instruction that explained the closing arguments were not evidence. Tr.

231. The jurors had the exact quotations in evidence as they made their

determination. We are to presume the jurors acted in accordance with these

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instructions. Potts at ¶ 89, quoting State v. Vanloan, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2008-

10-259, 2009-Ohio-4461, 2009 WL 2762756, ¶ 38 (citations omitted). Finally, the

prosecution presented a variety of evidence to connect Little to YJ’s injuries. See

Potts at ¶ 86, citing State v. Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040747, 2005-Ohio-

6772, ¶ 28. This included the statements of YJ to Boss, the statements of Little’s

children to Jones, and photographic evidence. Tr. 56, 81. Ex. 8. The evidence also

includes Little’s recorded admission that he “pushed [YJ], and she hit the table.”

Ex. 9. See State v. Behun, 11th Dist. Portage No 1880, 1988 WL 142040 (Dec. 30,

1988) (holding there was no reversible error where the trial court overruled

defense’s objection during closing arguments after the prosecution misquoted

admitted statements; the appeals court found the jury would have found defendant

guilty absent the misquotations).

{¶35} Even if the comments were improper, we cannot see how the absence

of these remarks would have changed the jury’s determination given the larger

context of the trial and the evidence presented by the prosecution. While Little

establishes that these remarks were inexact, he does not explain how exact

quotations in the State’s closing argument would have affected the verdict. Thus,

the defense does not demonstrate how these remarks prejudiced the defendant. See

Potts at ¶ 86, citing State v. Williams, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040747, 2005-Ohio-

6772, ¶ 28. Even if these misstatements were removed from closing arguments,

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there was overwhelming evidence from which the jury could have found Little

guilty. Consequently, these remarks did not affect the defendant’s substantial rights

and do not amount to plain error. See State v. Steele, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2003–

11–276, 2005-Ohio-943, ¶ 64.

{¶36} Little’s second allegation of prosecutorial misconduct surrounds the

prosecution’s use of the records of Little’s two prior convictions during the state’s

closing arguments. In closing arguments, the prosecutor stated, “You saw the

evidence—the entries. He’s got two prior convictions for Domestic Violence. All

the elements have been met.” Tr. 227. Under R.C. 2919.25(D)(4), the state had to

prove that the defendant had two prior convictions for domestic violence or a similar

crime listed in 2919.25(D)(3) to obtain a felony conviction. See State v. Allen, 29

Ohio St.3d 53, 54-55, 506 N.E.2d 199 (1987); State v. Gordon, 28 Ohio St.2d 45,

276 N.E.2d 243 (1971). The statement itself shows he is referencing these two prior

convictions to show “[a]ll the elements have been met.” Tr. 227. Thus, this

statement was not improper. State v. McCoy, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2001CA00125,

2002 WL 571686 (April 15, 2002). Compare State v. Henton, 121 Ohio App.3d

501, 700 N.E.2d 371, (11th Dist.1997). Further, the court issued a jury instruction

that stated

Evidence was received that the defendant was previously convicted
of Domestic Violence. The evidence was received because the prior
convictions are an element of the offense charged. It was not
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received, and you may not consider it, to prove the character of the
defendant in order to show that he acted in conformity with that
character.

Tr. 236. Since the prosecution had to present evidence of two prior convictions to

elevate the domestic violence charged to a felony conviction, this statement did not

prejudice Little’s substantial rights and does not constitute plain error. We,

therefore, overrule the third assignment of error.

{¶37} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant in the particulars

assigned and argued, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Allen County

is affirmed.

Judgment Affirmed

SHAW, P.J. and PRESTON, J., concur.

/hls

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