State v. Shabazz, (Ohio 2011)

Ohio Supreme Court

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Summary


Speedy Trial; Manifest Weight; Receiving Stolen Property.

Summary


Speedy Trial; Manifest Weight; Receiving Stolen Property.

Text




[Cite as State v. Shabazz, 2011-Ohio-2260.]

    Court of Appeals of Ohio    EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA          JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION  No. 95021      STATE OF OHIO    PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE    vs.    KAREEM SHABAZZ    DEFENDANT-APPELLANT      JUDGMENT:  AFFIRMED        Criminal Appeal from the  Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas  Case No. CR-532608    BEFORE:   Blackmon, P.J., Celebrezze, J., and E. Gallagher, J.    RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED:      May 12, 2011          -i- 

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  2      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT    Stephen L. Miles  20800 Center Ridge Road  Suite 405  Rocky River, Ohio 44116      ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE    William D. Mason  Cuyahoga County Prosecutor    Jeffrey S. Schnatter  Brad S. Meyer  Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys  The Justice Center, 9th Floor  1200 Ontario Street  Cleveland, Ohio 44113          PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, P.J.:  {¶ 1}  Appellant Kareem Shabazz appeals the trial court’s denial of his  motion to dismiss and his subsequent convictions.   Shabazz assigns the  following errors for our review:  “I. The trial court erred by denying the appellant’s motion  to dismiss because his right to a speedy trial was  violated.”    “II. Appellant’s convictions were against the manifest  weight of the evidence.”   

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  3    {¶ 2}  Having reviewed the record and pertinent law, we affirm the trial  court’s decision and Shabazz’s convictions.    The apposite facts follow.  {¶ 3}  On December 30, 2009, as a result of a burglary at a home in  Maple Heights, Ohio and a robbery1 of a Dollar General store in the same  city, a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury issued a multi-count indictment against  Shabazz and his codefendant, David Merritt.  The grand jury indicted  Shabazz on six counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, four  counts of felonious assault, and two counts of receiving stolen property.    The  foregoing charges had one and three-year firearm specifications attached.        {¶ 4}  The grand jury also indicted Shabazz on one count of having  weapons while under disability. Shabazz pleaded not guilty at his  arraignment and numerous pretrials and continuances followed.   On  February 22, 2010, Shabazz waived his right to a jury trial on the charge of  having weapons while under disability.  The state dismissed the four counts  of felonious assault.  On March 15, 2010, a jury trial commenced on the  remaining charges; the next day, the trial court denied Shabazz’s motion to  dismiss for speedy trial violation.  Jury Trial                                                        1The jury subsequently found Shabazz not guilty of all the charges relating to  the robbery of the Dollar General store; thus, this opinion will contain only a  limited discussion of the testimony relating to the robbery.   

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  4    {¶ 5}  At trial, the state presented the testimony of 16 witnesses  including Kenneth Dostie, who testified that on April 21, 2009, his home in  Maple Heights, Ohio was burglarized.    Dostie also testified that the burglary  must have taken place between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM, while his  daughter was at school.    Dostie stated that numerous items were taken from  the house including, but not limited to, a red 1995 Ford Mustang automobile,  rare gold and silver coins, handcuffs, several watches, a television set, and a  black Harley Davidson leather jacket.  {¶ 6}  In addition, the burglar took a prescription bottle containing  Dostie’s medication, passports belonging to him and his daughter, vehicle  registration and insurance card for the 1995 Ford Mustang, the garage door  opener, keys to his 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle and 2004 Dodge Ram  truck.   Further, the burglar took a paycheck stub and other personal  papers.  {¶ 7}  Finally, after reporting the burglary to the Maple Heights Police  Department and providing them with a list of the rare coins that were taken  from the home, Dostie also contacted coin dealers, as well as pawn shops  throughout the area, to alert them of possible sales of his property.  {¶ 8}  Dostie’s daughter, Michelle, 2  testified that she returned home  from school on April 21, 2009, and found the garage door opened.  Michelle                                                    2We will refer to this witness by her first name because of the shared last 

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  5    immediately noticed that the red 1995 Ford Mustang was missing and that  the Harley Davidson motorcycle had been moved to the opposite side of the  garage.    Michelle called her father to inquire whether her aunt had borrowed  the Mustang.    Michelle’s father indicated that her aunt had not borrowed the  car and instructed her to check the house, while he called the police.  {¶ 9}  Rebecca Masters, the manager of Bedford Jewelry and Coin,  testified that on April 22, 2009, Shabazz, accompanied by another male,  entered her shop and attempted to sell her gold and silver coins, as well as a  silver bar.  Masters stated that Shabazz indicated that the items were from  an inheritance.   Masters had been alerted earlier that day by Dostie, who  faxed her a list of the coins that had been stolen from his home.  {¶ 10}  Masters testified that the individual who accompanied Shabazz to  the store asked to use her restroom, but she told him he could not, and  suggested he go to the restaurant next door.  Masters surreptitiously  signaled her niece to summon the police, while she feigned interest in the  coins by having Shabazz fill out paperwork and provide identification.      The  police arrived a short time later, arrested Shabazz and the other male, who  had gone next door to the restaurant.  {¶ 11}  Matthew Berger and William Blaha, officers with the Maple  Heights Police Department, testified that on April 22, 2009, they responded to                                                                                                                                                                name with her father.   

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  6    the Bedford Coin and Jewelry where they arrested Shabazz, as well as the  other male that had accompanied him to the store, and confiscated the items  Shabazz was trying to sell.      {¶ 12}  Patrolmen Berger and Blaha conducted an inventory tow sheet of  the vehicle Shabazz and his companion had traveled in to the coin store.    The  patrolmen found several items in the vehicle that had been taken from  Dostie’s home, including, but not limited to rolls of coins, passports belonging  to Dostie and his daughter, a prescription bottle, a Dell computer, garage door  opener, and four sets of keys.  {¶ 13}  Patrolman Justin Ludwig, also of the Maple Heights Police  Department, testified that on April 21, 2009, he responded to Dostie’s home  on report of a burglary.  Patrolman Ludwig testified that while he was at  Dostie’s home, he heard over the radio that a robbery had taken place at a  Dollar General store and the suspects had driven away in a red sports car.   Due to the very close vicinity of the burglary and the robbery, Patrolman  Ludwig notified dispatch that the vehicle involved in the robbery might be the  one that had been taken from Dostie’s home.  Patrolman Ludwig later  discovered Dostie’s red Ford Mustang a few blocks away from the Dollar  General store.  {¶ 14}  Crystal Gibson testified that she is the manager of the Dollar  General store located on Lee Road South in Maple Heights, Ohio.  Gibson 

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  7    testified that on April 21, 2009, two individuals entered the store and robbed  them at gunpoint.    Gibson stated that a tall, heavy set, black male, who was  wearing a sweatshirt with a flame on the front, brandished a shotgun, while  the other individual was wearing a black leather jacket and a bandana over  his face. Gibson testified that the second individual did not have a gun, but  came behind the counter and took the money out of the cash register.    Gibson stated the two individuals fled in a red sports car.  {¶ 15}  Shabazz’s codefendant, Merritt, testified that he agreed to testify  against Shabazz in exchange for a total prison sentence of 18 months.    Merritt testified that on April 21, 2009,  Shabazz contacted him and  indicated that he intended to commit a robbery.      Merritt met with Shabazz  around 11:00 in the morning, drove past a house that Shabazz indicated he  had just burglarized, and where he had obtained the red Ford Mustang.        {¶ 16}  Merritt stated that Shabazz gave him a shotgun and they drove  to the Dollar General store in the red Ford Mustang.   Merritt and Shabazz  entered the store, Merritt held the gun while Shabazz emptied the cash  register. They both fled the scene and returned to Shabazz’s apartment in  Maple Heights.    {¶ 17}  The jury found Shabazz guilty of one count of receiving stolen  property, but acquitted him of the remaining charges.  The trial court found  Shabazz guilty of having weapons while under disability.  On March 31, 

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  8    2010, the trial court sentenced Shabazz to prison terms of five years for  having weapons while under disability and one year for receiving stolen  property.    The trial court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.  Speedy Trial  {¶ 18}  In the first assigned error, Shabazz argues the trial court erred  when it denied his motion to dismiss for a violation of his right to a speedy  trial.   {¶ 19}  When an appellate court reviews an allegation of a speedy trial  violation, it “should apply a de novo standard of review to the legal issues but  afford great deference to any findings of fact made by the trial court.” State v.  Barnes, Cuyahoga App. No. 90847, 2008-Ohio-5472, ¶17.      {¶ 20}  The Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States  Constitution, and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution, guarantee a  criminal defendant the right to a speedy trial.  See, e.g., Barker v. Wingo  (1972), 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101; State v. O’Brien (1987),  34 Ohio St.3d 7, 516 N.E.2d 218.  In Barker, the United States Supreme  Court stated that “[a] balancing test necessarily compels courts to approach  speedy trial cases on an ad hoc basis.” Id. at 530. The court identified four  factors that courts should consider in determining whether the right to a  speedy trial has been violated: (1) the length of the delay; (2) the reason for 

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  9    the delay; (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right; and (4) prejudice to the  defendant. Id. at 530.  {¶ 21}  The Barker court determined, however, that the states are free to  prescribe a reasonable period within which to bring criminal defendants to  trial consistent with constitutional standards.  To that end, in order to  comply with the Barker decision, the Ohio General Assembly enacted R.C.  2945.71.  State v. Lewis (1990), 70 Ohio App.3d 624, 591 N.E.2d 854, citing  O’Brien.  {¶ 22}  R.C. 2945.71 requires that felony charges be brought to trial  within 270 days after a person’s arrest. R.C. 2945.71(C)(2). Once the statutory  limit has expired, the defendant has established a prima facie case for  dismissal. State v. Howard (1992), 79 Ohio App.3d 705, 607 N.E.2d 1121.    At  that point, the burden shifts to the state to demonstrate that sufficient time  was tolled pursuant to R.C. 2945.72. State v. Geraldo (1983), 13 Ohio App.3d  27, 468 N.E.2d 328.    If the state has violated a defendant’s right to a speedy  trial, then the court must dismiss the charges against the defendant. R.C.  2945.73(B).  {¶ 23}  Pursuant to R.C. 2945.72, however, speedy trial time may be  tolled by several events, including the following:  “(D) Any period of delay occasioned by the neglect or  improper act of the accused;   

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  10    “(E) Any period of delay necessitated by reason of a plea in  bar or abatement, motion, proceeding, or action made or  instituted by the accused;    “ * * *    “(G) Any period during which trial is stayed pursuant to  an express statutory requirement, or pursuant to an order  of another court competent to issue such order;    “(H) The period of any continuance granted on the  accused’s own motion, and the period of any reasonable  continuance granted other than upon the accused’s own  motion[.]”    {¶ 24}  In accordance with the speedy trial provisions, the statutory time  period begins to run on the date the defendant is arrested; however, the date  of arrest is not counted when computing the time period. State v. Masters, 172  Ohio App.3d 666, 2007-Ohio-4229, 876 N.E.2d 1007, citing State v. Stewart  (Sept. 21, 1998), 12th Dist. No. CA98-03-021.  If the defendant is  incarcerated following his arrest, each day spent in jail “on a pending charge”  acts as three days toward speedy trial time. R.C. 2945.71(E).  If he is not  incarcerated following his arrest, the speedy trial time is counted on a  one-for-one basis. State v. Thieshen (1977), 55 Ohio App.2d 99, 379 N.E.2d  622.  {¶ 25}  If the defendant is not arrested for the offense, speedy trial time  begins on the day he is served with the indictment. State v. Pirkel, Cuyahoga  App. No. 93305, 2010-Ohio-1858.    If a capias must be issued for the accused, 

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  11    speedy trial time is tolled for this time period. State v. Ennist, Cuyahoga App.  No. 90076, 2008-Ohio-5100.  {¶ 26}  A defendant’s demand for discovery or a bill of particulars tolls  the speedy trial period for a “reasonable time,” which this court has  interpreted to mean 30 days. State v. Byrd, Cuyahoga App. No. 91433,  2009-Ohio-3283;  State v. Barb, Cuyahoga App. No. 90768, 2008-Ohio-5877.   Conversely, a defendant’s failure to respond to a prosecution’s request for  reciprocal discovery, beyond a “reasonable time” for doing so, tolls the  running of speedy trial time pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(D). Byrd at ¶15, citing  State v. Palmer, 112 Ohio St.3d 457, 2007-Ohio-374, 860 N.E.2d 1011.  {¶ 27}  Motions filed by the defendant tolls the speedy trial time under  R.C. 2945.72(E) for a “reasonable period” to allow the state an opportunity to  respond and the court an opportunity to rule.  State v. Sanchez, 110 Ohio  St.3d 274, 2006-Ohio-4478, 853 N.E.2d 283.   In addition, the period is also  tolled by “[t]he period of any continuance granted on the accused’s own  motion, and the period of any reasonable continuance granted other than  upon the accused’s own motion[.]” R.C. 2945.72(H); State v. Baker (1993), 92  Ohio App.3d 516, 636 N.E.2d 363.      {¶ 28}  Further, pursuant to R.C. 2945.72(H), sua sponte continuances  requested by the court may toll speedy trial time. Pirkel.  “A sua sponte  continuance must be properly journalized before the expiration of the speedy 

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  12    trial period and must set forth the trial court’s reasons for the continuance.”   Id., quoting State v. Weatherspoon, 5th Dist. No. 2006CA0013,  2006-Ohio-4794. “The record of the trial court must * * * affirmatively  demonstrate that a sua sponte continuance by the court was reasonable in  light of its necessity or purpose.” State v. Lee (1976), 48 Ohio St.2d 208, 209,  357 N.E.2d 1095.  {¶ 29}  Finally, a motion to continue that is filed by the state may toll  speedy trial time so long as the trial record affirmatively demonstrates the  necessity for a continuance and the reasonableness thereof.  State v. Myers,  97 Ohio St.3d 335, 2002-Ohio-6658, 780 N.E.2d 186.  A prosecuting  attorney’s motion to continue based on the unavailability of a witness acts to  extend the speedy trial provisions if the length of the delay is reasonable.   State v. Saffell (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 90, 518 N.E.2d 934. Moreover, if the  state’s continuance is not reasonable, the continuance must be charged  against the state for speedy trial purposes.  State v. Nelson, 12th Dist. No.  CA2007-11-046, 2009-Ohio-555, citing State v. Baker, 12th Dist. No.  CA2005-05-017, 2006-Ohio-2516.  {¶ 30}  Applying all of the foregoing, we note that Shabazz was arrested  in Case No. CR-524126 on April 22, 2009.  Applying the speedy trial period  from the day after Shabazz’s arrest, the state was required to bring him to 

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  13    trial no later than Monday, January 18, 2010, unless that period was tolled  by some event as outlined above.      {¶ 31}  The record indicates that Shabazz was held in jail without bail  solely on the pending charges from April 23, 2009, until May 19, 2009, when  he filed a motion for discovery.    During this 27 day period, the time ran on a  three-for-one basis bringing the total to 81 days. R.C. 2945.71(E).      Shabazz’s  motion for discovery, filed on May 19, 2009, tolled the speedy trial time until  the state answered or for a reasonable time.    Sanchez, supra.  {¶ 32}  On June 1, 2009, a pretrial was held and Shabazz requested a  continuance until June 18, 2009, citing further discovery.   On June 18,  2009, the previously scheduled pretrial was continued to July 1, 2009, at  defendant’s request because his attorney was engaged in trial.   On July 1,  2009, a pretrial was held, but continued to July 14, 2009, at Shabazz’s  request.  On July 14, 2009, the pretrial was continued at Shabazz’s request  until July 22, 2009.  The above continuances at Shabazz’s request tolled the  time until July 22, 2009.  Thus, as of July 22, 2009, 81 days of Shabazz’s  speedy trial time had been exhausted.    {¶ 33}  On July 22, 2009, a pretrial was held, trial was scheduled for July  28, 2009, and Shabazz’s speedy trial began running again on a three-for-one  basis.  On July 28, 2009, the previously scheduled trial was reset to August  13, 2009, because the trial court was engaged in another trial.    As of August 

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  14    13, 2009, 22 calendar days elapsed on a three-for-one basis, for a total of 66  speedy trial days.  Thus, by August 13, 2009, 147 days of Shabazz’s speedy  trial time had been exhausted.      {¶ 34}  On August 13, 2009, pursuant to a joint request of the state and  Shabazz, the trial was continued to August 31, 2009.    The joint request tolled  the running of the speedy trial time.    In addition, the record indicates that as  of August 13, 2009, a foreign warrant3 was filed against Shabazz, which  means that he was no longer being held in jail solely on the pending charges.     Thus, from this point forward, the speedy trial days were counted  one-for-one.  {¶ 35}  On August 31, 2009, the state requested a continuance to  September 9, 2009.  Shabazz’s speedy trial time began running again and  ran for a total of 10 days.   Thus, as of September 9, 2009, 157 days of  Shabazz’s speedy trial time had been exhausted.  {¶ 36}  On September 9, 2009, Shabazz requested a continuance to  September 25, 2009, which operated to toll the speedy trial time.   On  September 29, 2009, Shabazz requested a continuance until October 6, 2009,  which further tolled the speedy trial time.  In addition, on September 29,  2009, Shabazz was arraigned on a new case.                                                        3 Shabazz was indicted on a separate case in another jurisdiction, which  triggered the one-for-one count.   

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  15    {¶ 37}  On October 6, 2009, a pretrial was conducted and Shabazz  requested a continuance until October 14, 2009, which continued the tolling of  his speedy trial time.  On October 14, 2009, a pretrial was conducted;  Shabazz requested a continuance until October 27, 2009, further tolling his  speedy trial time.  On October 27, 2009, Shabazz requested another  continuance to November 10, 2009, because of two new pending cases, which  continued the tolling of his speedy trial time.  {¶ 38}  On November 10, 2009, a pretrial was conducted and Shabazz  requested a two day continuance, which further tolled his speedy trial time.    On November 12, 2009, a pretrial was conducted and Shabazz’s trial was  scheduled for January 4, 2010.  Thus, as of November 12, 2010, Shabazz’s  speedy trial time began running again and continued running until the  scheduled date of trial.  Between November 12, 2009 and January 4, 2010,  63 calendar days had passed.  Thus, as of January 4, 2010, 220 days of  Shabazz’s speedy trial time had been exhausted.    {¶ 39}  On January 4, 2010, Shabazz requested a one day continuance of  trial, which again served to toll the running of his speedy trial time.   On  January 5, 2010, the trial was rescheduled to January 27, 2010, Shabazz’s  speedy trial time began running, and ran for 23 calendar days.  Thus, as of  January 27, 2010, 243 days of Shabazz’s speedy trial time had been  exhausted.   

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  16    {¶ 40}  On January 27, 2010, the case was called for trial, but Shabazz  requested a continuance to February 16, 2010, which operated to toll his  speedy trial time.  On February 9, 2010, Shabazz filed a motion to dismiss  for violation of his right to a speedy trial.    This motion to dismiss operated to  continue the tolling of his right to a speedy trial.    R.C. 2945.72(E).      {¶ 41}  On February 16, 2010, Shabazz requested a one day continuance  of the scheduled trial.  On February 17, 2010, Shabazz requested a  continuance until February 22, 2010, which operated to further toll the  running of his speedy trial time.  On February 22, 2010, the trial court  continued the trial to February 25, 2010, because it was engaged in another  trial.  On February 25, 2010, the trial court continued the trial to March 1,  2010, because it was still engaged in trial.    These two continuances operated  to restart the running of Shabazz’s speedy trial time.    Between February 22,  2010 and March 1, 2010, 8 calendar days elapsed.    Thus, as of March 1, 2010,  251 days of Shabazz’s speedy trial time had been exhausted.    {¶ 42}  On March 1, 2010, Shabazz requested a continuance of trial until  March 15, 2010, in order to obtain an expert consultation on the DNA  evidence.  Shabazz’s continuance operated to toll the running of his speedy  trial time.    On March 15, 2010, Shabazz’s trial commenced.    Thus, as of that  date, based on our review of the docket, 251 days of Shabazz’s speedy trial  time had been exhausted. 

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  17    {¶ 43}  In accordance with all of the foregoing, we conclude the trial court  properly denied Shabazz’s motion dismiss the indictment.  Based on our  calculation, and recognizing tolling events to the extent permitted by law,  events largely occasioned by Shabazz’s numerous continuances, 251 speedy  trial days elapsed in this matter, which is inside the statutory limit of 270  days.    Accordingly, we overrule the first assigned error.  Manifest Weight  {¶ 44}  In the second assigned error, Shabazz argues his convictions were  against the manifest weight of the evidence.  {¶ 45}  In  State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865  N.E.2d 1264, the Ohio Supreme Court addressed the standard of review for a  criminal manifest weight challenge, as follows:  “The criminal manifest-weight-of-the-evidence standard  was explained in State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380,  1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541. In Thompkins, the court  distinguished between sufficiency of the evidence and  manifest weight of the evidence, finding that these  concepts differ both qualitatively and quantitatively. Id.  at 386, 678 N.E.2d 541. The court held that sufficiency of  the evidence is a test of adequacy as to whether the  evidence is legally sufficient to support a verdict as a  matter of law, but weight of the evidence addresses the  evidence’s effect of inducing belief. Id. at 386-387, 678  N.E.2d 541. In other words, a reviewing court asks whose  evidence is more persuasive — the state’s or the  defendant’s? We went on to hold that although there may  be sufficient evidence to support a judgment, it could  nevertheless be against the manifest weight of the  evidence. Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541. ‘When a court of 

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  18    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 factfinder’s resolution of the conflicting  testimony.’  Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, citing Tibbs v.  Florida  (1982), 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 72 L.Ed.2d  652.”    {¶ 46}  In the instant case, Shabazz claims the jury lost its way in convicting him of  receiving stolen property and, likewise, the trial court lost its way in  convicting him of having weapons while under disability.  In making these  claims, Shabazz contends that both the trial court and the jury lost their way  by relying on the testimony of Merritt, who was promised an 18 month  sentence in exchange for his testimony, when, in reality, Merritt was facing  up to 90 years in prison on all the charges.  {¶ 47}  Preliminarily,  we  note  the  determination  of  weight  and  credibility  of  the  evidence  is  for  the  trier  of  fact.    State  v.  Chandler,  10th  Dist.  No.  05AP-415,  2006-Ohio-2070, citing State v. DeHass (1967), 10  Ohio  St.2d  230,  227  N.E.2d  212.    The  rationale  is  that  the  trier  of  fact  is  in  the  best  position  to  take  into  account  inconsistencies,  along  with  the  witnesses’  manner  and  demeanor,  and  determine  whether  the  witnesses’  testimonies are credible.    State v. Williams, 10th Dist. No. 02AP-35, 2002-Ohio-4503.    {¶ 48}  Accordingly, an appellate court may not substitute its view for that of the jury,  but our role “in resolving conflicts in the evidence” is to determine whether the jury lost its 

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  19    way thereby creating a manifest miscarriage of justice that requires a new trial.    Thompkins  at 387.      {¶ 49}  Here,  we  are  not  disposed  to  reach  such  a  conclusion.    At trial, Merritt  admitted that he was testifying against Shabazz in exchange for an 18 month  sentence, admitted that he had lied to detectives about his involvement in the  robbery, and admitted that he had previous convictions including, but not  limited to aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and assault on a peace  officer.  Both the jury and the trial court were in a position to observe  Merritt’s manner and demeanor and take into account any inconsistencies in  his testimony.  {¶ 50}  Significantly, given that the jury acquitted Shabazz on all the  charges relating to the robbery of the Dollar General store, they evidently  chose not to believe all of Merritt’s testimony.  Moreover, it is undisputed  that when Shabazz was arrested, while attempting to sell the coins, he was  found in possession of many of the other items that were taken from    Dostie’s  home.  Thus, whether the jury believed that it was Shabazz or Merritt who  burglarized Dostie’s home, it is without question that Shabazz was  attempting to sell and was in possession of property that was stolen.  As  such, Shabazz’s claim that the jury lost its way in finding him guilty of  receiving stolen property is unfounded. 

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  20    {¶ 51}  As it relates to Shabazz’s conviction for having weapons while  under disability, regardless of whether Merritt’s overall testimony was  suspicious, the trial court at least believed Merritt’s testimony that Shabazz  had a shotgun and gave it to him to use in the robbery.  State v. Morris,  Cuyahoga App. No. 94923, 2011-Ohio-824.  This possession by Shabazz is  enough to convict him of having a weapon while under disability. Id.   Accordingly, we overrule Shabazz’s second assigned error.  Judgment affirmed.  It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant its costs herein taxed.  The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.  It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this  judgment into execution.  The defendant’s conviction having been affirmed,  any bail pending appeal is terminated.    Case remanded to the trial court for  execution of sentence.  A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to  Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.                                                                                                                                                                                      PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, PRESIDING JUDGE      FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J., and  EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR   

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