State v. Mendez

Citations

• 2020 Ohio 3031

Syllabus

Ineffective assistance of counsel manifest weight of the evidence insufficient evidence burglary intimidation criminal damaging telecommunications harassment. Convictions for burglary, intimidation, telecommunications harassment, and criminal damaging were affirmed. The burglary and intimidation convictions were not against the manifest weight of the evidence and sufficient evidence supported the intimidation and criminal damaging convictions. Defendant-appellant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel where counsel's remark in opening statement that he did not like defendant was part of a broader tactical trial strategy and did not invite the jury to speculate that defendant had admitted guilt off the record. Defendant-appellant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel where counsel's cross-examination of the victim was within the scope of the direct-examination and did not needlessly introduce damaging testimony.