State v. Gurley

[Cite as State v. Gurley, 2018-Ohio-4152.]

COURT OF APPEALS
LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO, : JUDGES:
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Plaintiff - Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs- :
:
PATRICK GURLEY, : Case No. 18-CA-16
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Licking County
Municipal Court, Case No.
18CRB00024

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: October 11, 2018

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

TRICIA M. MOORE MAX SUTTON
40 W. Main Street 3 N. 3rd Street
Newark, Ohio 43055 Newark, Ohio 43055
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 2

Baldwin, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Patrick Gurley appeals his conviction and sentence

from the Licking County Municipal Court. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} On January 3, 2018, appellant was charged with one count of assault in

violation of R.C. 2903.13, a misdemeanor of the first degree, and one count of disorderly

conduct in violation of R.C. 2917.11, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. At his

arraignment on January 4, 2018, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to both charges.

{¶3} A bench trial was held on February 13, 2018 at which appellant appeared

pro se. Ronald Smith testified that he was a porter at the Travel America (TA) Truck Stop

in Hebron, Ohio and ran the truck lot. He testified that he was working on January 3, 2018

when it came to his attention that a truck was blocking another truck in. He testified that

one of the trucks belonged to appellant and the other to Mr. Umidjon Ishnazarov. Mr.

Ishnazarov came into the truck stop and told Smith that appellant was blocking in his truck

so that he could not leave. When asked what he did, Smith testified as follows:

{¶4} A: Um…he [Ishnazarov] was parked over by the diesel islands by the truck

service station and I told him to pull around and to stop where his trailer was and I would

run after him and he pulled up to it and I saw Mr. Gurley [appellant] walking his dog and I

walked up to him and asked him if he could please move his truck and then he started

yelling at me and the other truck driver.

{¶5} Transcript at 10.

{¶6} According to Smith, where appellant’s truck was parked made it difficult for

the other driver to leave.
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 3

{¶7} Smith testified that he approached appellant and asked him to move his

truck and that appellant yelled at him, swore at him and started walking up to him in an

aggressive manner. Smith testified that he told appellant when appellant was walking

towards him that it was not worth getting all worked up about and that “I was happy to go

back to where I was as long as we could just both move on our way.” Transcript at 13.

However, that did not stop appellant from coming at him. Another truck driver stood in-

between the two and asked appellant politely to stop. According to Smith, appellant

“pushed both of us and then I went to grab the other guy and started pulling him away

before it got any worse and then as I was pulling the other guy away he punched both

of us in the face.” Transcript at 11. The other guy was Umidjon Ishnazarov. Smith testified

that, as a result, his glasses were bent a little and he had to bend them back into shape.

After the police were called, Smith filled out a police report.

{¶8} On cross-examination, Smith testified that when he came out with the other

truck driver, he saw appellant standing between the trucks over by the grass walking his

dog. He testified that appellant’s truck was in a legal parking space and was blocking

Ishnazarov’s dropped trailer which was in a legal parking place. When asked by appellant

if, when Smith was pulling Ishnazarov away, he had noticed that Ishnazarov had appellant

by the shirt collar, Smith testified that he did not.

{¶9} On redirect, Smith testified that after the assault, appellant “turned around

and grabbed his dog and put the dog in the truck and then grabbed out a small metal pipe

and started swinging it around” and he had the other truck driver move his truck so that

appellant could not leave the scene. Transcript at 24.
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 4

{¶10} Deputy Dan Pennington testified that on January 3, 2018, he responded to

a possible assault at the TA Truck Stop on Lancaster Road. Smith, appellant and

Ishnazarov were all still at the scene and Smith showed the Deputy his bent glasses. The

Deputy then made contact with appellant who was still inside his truck and ordered him

out of the truck and cuffed him. The following testimony was adduced when Deputy

Pennington was asked what appellant advised him about the incident:

{¶11} A: He said that the person asked him to move his truck because it was

blocking the other driver’s truck in and he said that he was more than happy to do it but

he was going to do it after he was done walking his dog because he was going to leave

and then he said the other drive approached him and began pushing him.

{¶12} Q: And did he say anything about throwing a punch?

{¶13} A: He did throw a punch after he was pushed.

{¶14} Q: Okay and who did he say that punch hit?

{¶15} A: He said that it hit the other driver I believe.

{¶16} Q: Did he mention um…in your report did he ever mention anything about

striking Ronald [Smith]?

{¶17} A: I don’t recall.

{¶18} Q: Okay if I show you a report would that refresh your recollection?

{¶19} A: Yes it would.

{¶20} Q: Can you take a look at that and let me know when you are finished?

{¶21} A: Okay yes.

{¶22} Q: And did that refresh your recollection as to what Mr. Gurley told you?

{¶23} A: Yes it did.
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 5

{¶24} Q: And what did he tell you?

{¶25} A: He said that he swung at the driver and he missed the driver and that he

struck Ronald [Smith].

{¶26} Transcript at 27-28. After collecting statements from everyone, Deputy

Pennington arrested appellant for assault.

{¶27} On cross-examination, Deputy Pennington testified that appellant was

initially hostile when he got out of his truck, was swearing and yelling at him and was

uncooperative. Appellant eventually complied and the Deputy walked him to the car.

{¶28} Appellant testified at trial on his own behalf. He testified that he owned his

own truck and that he knew that he had blocked the truck in, but that he told the two men

that he was leaving as soon as his dog was finished going the bathroom. Appellant

testified that as he was walking toward his truck, the two men came between him and his

truck and that appellant again said that he was leaving and also told Ishnazarov that his

trailer was in a no parking zone. According to appellant, Ishnazarov then grabbed him by

the shirt and claimed to be parked in a legal parking zone. Appellant testified that he

knocked Ishnazarov’s hands off of him and told him not to touch him. Appellant denied

ever striking Ronald Smith, but testified that he was only trying to knock Ishnazarov’s

hands off of him and that Ishnazarov’s hand struck Smith. He further testified that

Ishnazarov followed him to his truck and that appellant grabbed his metal tire thumper

and “I spun it around and I said leave me alone.” Transcript at 40. Appellant claimed that

he was “provoked” to do what he did and had acted in self-defense.

{¶29} At trial, appellant was asked to read the statement that he wrote for the

police on the date in question. The following is an excerpt from his testimony at trial:
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 6

{¶30} Q: Could you just read it word for word what you wrote?

{¶31} A: Okay when employee got closer to me the truck driver got between us

and shoved me back. I said don’t put your hands on me and he then shoved me with

something hard. I then swung at him in a self-defense motion missing him and grazing

the employee at the same motion.

{¶32} Q: Okay and in that statement you say you struck Mr. Smith in the same

motion?

{¶33} A: Uh…it says I… closer to me and drove the guy between us and the guy

shoved me back and I… don’t put your hands on me and I then swung at him in a self-

defense motion missing him and grazing the employee is what I say here.

{¶34} Q: Okay that is different from your testimony today wouldn’t you agree with

that?

{¶35} A: No I would not agree with that.

{¶36} Q: Huh okay….

{¶37} A: It is all in motions.

{¶38} Transcript at 45-46.

{¶39} Appellant denied waiving the tire thumper at Smith and Ishnazarov and

testified that he just held it up while telling them to leave him alone. According to appellant,

“And he said go ahead hit me one time come on hit me one time”, but admitted that he

did not put such information in his statement to police. Trial Transcript at 47.

{¶40} Appellant admitted that he never called the police to report the incident.

{¶41} While Ishnazarov was subpoenaed, he never appeared for trial.
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 7

{¶42} The trial court, at the conclusion of the testimony, found appellant guilty of

both offenses. Appellant was sentenced to ten (10) days in jail and fined a total of

$350.00.

{¶43} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal:

{¶44} “I. APPELLANT’S CONVICTIONS WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY

SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND WERE CONTRARY TO THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF

THE EVIDENCE.”

{¶45} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN NOT OFFERING

APPELLANT HIS RIGHT OF ALLOCUTION PRIOR TO SENTENCING.”

I

{¶46} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that his convictions for

assault and disorderly conduct were against the sufficiency and manifest weight of the

evidence.

{¶47} The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the evidence

are both quantitatively and qualitatively different. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380,

1997–Ohio–52, 678 N.E.2d 541, paragraph two of the syllabus. The standard of review

for a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is set forth in State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio

St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991) at paragraph two of the syllabus, in which the Ohio

Supreme Court held as follows:

An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the

evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence

admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would

convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 8

doubt. 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.

{¶48} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the court of appeals functions as the “thirteenth juror,” and after “reviewing 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 overturned and a new trial ordered.” State v. Thompkins, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387.

Reversing a conviction as being against the manifest weight of the evidence and ordering

a new trial should be reserved for only the “exceptional case in which the evidence weighs

heavily against the conviction.” Id.

{¶49} 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. DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 237 N.E.2d

212 (1967). 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, 674 N.E.2d 1159.

{¶50} In the case sub judice, appellant was convicted of assault in violation of R.C.

2903.13 and disorderly conduct in violation of R.C. 2917.11. R.C. 2903.13 stated, in

relevant part as follows: “(A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause

physical harm to another or to another's unborn.” In turn, R.C. 2917.11 states, in relevant

part, as follows:” (A) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 9

alarm to another by doing any of the following:(1) Engaging in fighting, in threatening

harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior;…”.

{¶51} With respect to the charge of assault, appellant argues that there was

insufficient evidence of physical harm to Ronald Smith. Appellant argues that Smith did

not describe any injury, illness or physiological impairment.

{¶52} However, as is stated above, R.C. 2903.13 prohibits knowingly attempting

to cause physical harm to another. There was testimony at trial that appellant approached

Ronald Smith and Umidjon Ishnazarov in an aggressive and hostile manner and pushed

both of them and that appellant punched Smith in the face, causing damage to his

glasses. There was thus testimony that appellant intended to cause physical harm to

another. With respect to the charge of disorderly conduct, there was testimony that

appellant, after being asked to stop his violent behavior prior to the assault, continued his

disorderly conduct and after the assault, grabbed a metal tire thumper out of his truck and

was waiving it around at the victim.

{¶53} We find, based on the foregoing, that there was sufficient evidence

supporting the convictions. With respect to manifest weight, we note that the trial court,

as trier of fact, was in the best position to assess credibility and clearly did not find

appellant credible. In fact, the trial court stated on the record, that it did not believe

appellant’s testimony and that believed the witnesses’ testimony over appellant’s

testimony, including his testimony that he acted in self-defense.

{¶54} In short, we find that 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
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 10

crimes of assault and disorderly conduct proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that the

trial court did not lose its way in convicting appellant.

{¶55} Based on the foregoing, appellant’ first assignment of error is, therefore,

overruled.

II

{¶56} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, argues the trial court erred in

denying him his right to allocution pursuant to Crim.R. 32.

{¶57} Crim. R. 32 addresses the trial court's duty upon imposition of sentence.

The rule provides, in relevant part, as follows:

{¶58} “(A) Imposition of sentence. Sentence shall be imposed without

unnecessary delay. Pending sentence, the court may commit the defendant or continue

or alter the bail. At the time of imposing sentence, the court shall do all of the following:

{¶59} “(1) Afford counsel an opportunity to speak on behalf of the defendant and

address the defendant personally and ask if he or she wishes to make a statement in his

or her own behalf or present any information in mitigation of punishment....”

{¶60} In the case sub judice, the trial court stated on the record after finding

appellant guilty that “You have a right to make a statement before I sentence you, Do you

care to make a statement sir?” Appellant, in response, stated as follows “Well actually

here it is my word against his.” Transcript at 50. The trial court then sentenced appellant.

{¶61} Based on the forgoing, we find that the trial court did not deny appellant the

right to allocution pursuant to Crim.R. 32.

{¶62} Appellant’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Licking County, Case No. 18-CA-16 11

{¶63} Accordingly, the judgment of the Licking County Municipal Court is affirmed.

By: Baldwin, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Delaney, J. concur.