State v. Fanning, 437 N.E.2d 583 (Ohio 1982). · Go Syfert
State v. Fanning, 437 N.E.2d 583 (Ohio 1982). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
Quick Summary

An appellate court must accept a trial court's findings of fact if supported by competent, credible evidence but must independently determine if those facts satisfy the applicable legal standard.

After a defendant challenged an identification procedure, a speedy trial violation, and the lack of a jury instruction regarding the privilege against self-incrimination, the court addressed several issues. Regarding the identification, the court held that an appellate court must accept a trial court's findings of fact if supported by competent, credible evidence, though it must independently determine whether those facts satisfy the legal standard. Regarding the trial delay, the court found the continuance was reasonable as statutory time limits do not apply to retrials. Finally, the court held that while a trial judge has a constitutional duty to instruct the jury regarding a defendant's failure to testify upon proper request, the defendant's oral request was improper because it was not made in writing.

3,768 citation events (3,293 in the last 25 years) across 16 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1983 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
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Cited for
1 Ohio St. 3d at 20 Determining admissibility of identification testimony and jury instructions137 citing cases“the weight of the evidence and credibility of witnesses are primarily for the trier of the facts. this principle is applicable to suppression hearings as well as trials.”11 citing courts quote it · also cited as 437 N.E.2d at 584
  • State v. Crawford, Unpublished Decision (1-24-2005), 2005 Ohio 243 (Ohio Ct. App. 3d Dist. 2005).unpublished 3 cites
    (This principle is applicable to suppression hearings as well as trials.)
  • Cleveland v. McClairn, 2026-Ohio-3641.published
    Regarding factual determinations, “[a]n appellate court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” State v. Hawkins, 2019-Ohio- 4210, ¶ 16, citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 1…
  • State v. Browning, 2026-Ohio-3561.published
    Id.; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. McKim, 2026-Ohio-3378.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Burrie, 2026-Ohio-3098.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Wilkins, 2026-Ohio-2971.published
    “An appellate court must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Galloway, 2026-Ohio-2779.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Tripodo, 2026-Ohio-2695.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • Lakewood v. Tittl, 2026-Ohio-2413.published
    Regarding factual determinations, “[a]n appellate court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” State v. Hawkins, 2019-Ohio- 4210, ¶ 16, citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 1…
  • In re K.J., 2026-Ohio-2169.published
    “Questions of law are reviewed de novo without deference to the lower court’s legal conclusions.” State v. Harrison, 2021-Ohio-4465, ¶ 11 , citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
Show 127 more citing cases
  • State v. Workman, 2026-Ohio-2099.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Sickels, 2026-Ohio-1732.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308 ,314; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Coleman, 2026-Ohio-1701.published
    Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Stiffler, 2026-Ohio-1576.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Woods, 2026-Ohio-1204, 282 N.E.3d 230.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Cecil, 2026-Ohio-1100.published
    Thus, a reviewing court gives deference to and “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • Cleveland v. Glover, 2026-Ohio-1039.published
    “An appellate court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” State v. Tidwell, 165 Ohio St.3d 57, 60 (2021), citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Bennett, 2026-Ohio-698.published
    Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the 3 trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Clark, 2026-Ohio-447.published
    “An appellate court must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Jackson, 2026-Ohio-177.published
    State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308 , 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Miller, 2025-Ohio-5749.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Tower, 2025-Ohio-5593.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Gibson, 2025-Ohio-5497.published
    State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308 , 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Willey, 2025-Ohio-5496.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Woods, 2025-Ohio-5344.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308 , 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Cope, 2025-Ohio-5321.published
    “At a suppression hearing, the evaluation of evidence and the credibility of witnesses are issues for the trier of fact.” State v. Brooks, 75 Ohio St.3d 148, 154 (1996), citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • In re K.P., 2025-Ohio-4728, 272 N.E.3d 731.published
    Thus, on appeal, we must “ ‘accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.’ ” Leak at ¶ 12 , quoting Burnside at ¶ 8 , citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982). {¶ 19} With respe…
  • State v. Clark, 2025-Ohio-4709.published
    Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Reynolds, 2025-Ohio-4490.published 3 cites
    State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Brefford, 2025-Ohio-4436, 274 N.E.3d 707.published
    Thus, on appeal, we must “ ‘accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.’ ” Id., quoting Burnside at ¶ 8 , citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982). {¶ 15} With respect to the…
  • State v. Jones, 2025-Ohio-3011, 271 N.E.3d 1283.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Andrews, 2025-Ohio-2803.published
    Id.; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982); State v. Debrossard, 2015- Ohio-1054, ¶ 9 (4th Dist.).
  • State v. Jackson, 2025-Ohio-2622.published
    Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • Solon v. Moore, 2025-Ohio-2446.published
    “Consequently, an appellate court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Reynolds, 2025-Ohio-2347.published
    State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Davis, 2025-Ohio-2322.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Robinson, 2025-Ohio-2216.published
    Thus, a reviewing court “must accept the trial court’s findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Wolfe, 2025-Ohio-2096.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Allison, 2025-Ohio-1360.published
    State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Shannon, 2025-Ohio-1224.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308 , 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Duch, 2025-Ohio-1162.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Benefield, 2025-Ohio-1116.published
    See, State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); and, State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Hawkins, 2025-Ohio-929.published
    On appeal, we "must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence." Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Conner, 2025-Ohio-861.published
    State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982). {¶ 29} An appeal from a ruling on a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of fact and law.
  • State v. Sanders, 2025-Ohio-411.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Bond, 2025-Ohio-360.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982). {¶ 24} Bond argues the trial court's factual findings were not supported by competent, credible evidence and the evidence presented did not s…
  • State v. Edmonson, 2025-Ohio-176.published
    See State v. Dunlap, 1995-Ohio-243 ; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Church, 2024-Ohio-5931.published 2 cites
    See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308,314 (1995); State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20 (1982).
  • State v. Eley, 672 N.E.2d 640 (Ohio 1996).published
  • State v. Carrillo, 2013-Ohio-1608.published
  • State v. Bump, 2013-Ohio-1006.published
  • State v. Dillehay, 2013-Ohio-327.published
  • State v. Wangler, 2012-Ohio-4878.published
  • State v. Haas, 2012-Ohio-2362.published
  • In re T.W., 2012-Ohio-2361.published
  • State v. Courtney, 2012-Ohio-989.published
  • State v. Martin, 2014-Ohio-2948.published
  • State v. Gonzaliz, 2013-Ohio-5309.published
  • State v. Anderson, 2013-Ohio-4664.published
  • State v. Muller, 2013-Ohio-3438.published
  • State v. Lominack, 2013-Ohio-2678.published
  • State v. Poff, 2013-Ohio-5820.published
  • In re R.S., 2014-Ohio-3543.published
  • State v. Woodard, 2016-Ohio-1184.published
  • State v. Shine, 2016-Ohio-3123.published
  • State v. Hodge, 771 N.E.2d 331 (Ohio Ct. App. 7th Dist. 2002).published
  • State v. Thip, 2016-Ohio-4970.published
  • State v. Hahn, 2016-Ohio-7585.published
  • State v. Bolen, 2016-Ohio-7821, 76 N.E.3d 636.published
  • State v. Shaskus, 2016-Ohio-7942, 66 N.E.3d 811.published
  • State v. Crayton, 2017-Ohio-705, 86 N.E.3d 77.published
  • State v. Keyser, 2017-Ohio-1182.published
  • State v. Anders, 2017-Ohio-2589.published
  • State v. Hart, 2017-Ohio-4079.published
  • Zanesville v. Reaver, 2017-Ohio-4149.published
  • State v. Hamrick, 2017-Ohio-4211, 77 N.E.3d 467.published
  • State v. Elkins, 2017-Ohio-5554.published
  • State v. Jackson, 2018-Ohio-19.published
  • State v. Smith, 2018-Ohio-1564.published
  • State v. Stengel, 2018-Ohio-2286.published
  • State v. Mackim, 2018-Ohio-3033.published
  • State v. Dunlap, 2018-Ohio-3658.published
  • State v. Pattin, 2018-Ohio-3876.published
  • State v. Quintero, 2018-Ohio-5145.published
  • State v. Mullen, 2018-Ohio-5188.published
  • State v. Delong, 2018-Ohio-5262.published
  • Akron v. Burch, 2019-Ohio-121.published
  • State v. Huber, 2019-Ohio-270.published
  • State v. Swint, 2019-Ohio-1607.published
  • State v. Everett, 2019-Ohio-2397.published
  • State v. Foster, 2019-Ohio-2580.published
  • Willowick v. Osborne, 2019-Ohio-3235.published
  • State v. Reed, 2020-Ohio-3295.published
  • Mentor v. Morgan, 2021-Ohio-904.published
  • State v. Bray, 2021-Ohio-2049.published
  • State v. Stultz, 2021-Ohio-2232.published
  • State v. Peeks, 2021-Ohio-3045, 176 N.E.3d 432.published
  • State v. Snowberger, 2022-Ohio-279.published
  • State v. Cowans, 717 N.E.2d 298 (Ohio 1999).published
  • State v. Griffy, 2022-Ohio-2814.published
  • State v. Grondin, 2022-Ohio-3366.published
  • State v. Flack, 2022-Ohio-3861.published
  • State v. Howard, 2022-Ohio-3958, 200 N.E.3d 413.published
  • State v. Oliver, 2023-Ohio-1550, 214 N.E.3d 624.published
  • State v. Syed, 2023-Ohio-2154.published
  • State v. Nixon, 2023-Ohio-3457.published
  • State v. Tucholsky, 2023-Ohio-3292.published
  • State v. Ivery, 2023-Ohio-3495.published
  • State v. Pinckney, 2023-Ohio-4630.published
  • State v. Hayes, 2023-Ohio-4769.published
  • State v. Pierce, 2024-Ohio-1560.published
  • State v. Diaw, 2024-Ohio-2237.published
  • State v. Kirby, 2024-Ohio-2543.published
  • State v. Cobb, 2024-Ohio-2608.published
  • State v. Terry, 2024-Ohio-2723.published
  • State v. Robertson, 2024-Ohio-2848.published
  • State v. Alvarez, 2024-Ohio-3208, 249 N.E.3d 935.published
  • State v. Jackson, 2024-Ohio-4770.published
  • State v. Weaver, 2024-Ohio-5028, 256 N.E.3d 757.published
  • State v. Harper, 2024-Ohio-4981.published
  • State v. Gaither, 2024-Ohio-5777.published
  • State v. Foreman, 2025-Ohio-3307.published
  • State v. Wharton, 2025-Ohio-4485.published
  • State v. Hale, 2024-Ohio-4866, 249 N.E.3d 166.published
  • State v. Cowans, 87 Ohio St. 3d 68 (1999).published
  • State v. Rush, 2025-Ohio-4760.published
  • State v. Starcher, 2026-Ohio-15.published
  • State v. Sexton, 2026-Ohio-2636.published
  • State v. Green, 738 N.E.2d 1208 (Ohio 2000).published
  • State v. McCoy, Unpublished Decision (1-5-2006), 2006 Ohio 56 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2006).unpublished
  • State v. Honaker, 2007 Ca 00325 (11-24-2008), 2008 Ohio 6117 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2008).published
  • State v. Worstell, 2019-Ohio-5228.published
  • State v. Dunlap, 652 N.E.2d 988 (Ohio 1995).published
  • State v. Wilson, 659 N.E.2d 292 (Ohio 1996).published
  • State v. Hill, 661 N.E.2d 1068 (Ohio 1996).published
  • State v. Williams, 2003 Ohio 4164 (2003).published
  • State v. Brinkley, 824 N.E.2d 959 (Ohio 2005).published
1 Ohio St. 3d at 21 Determining constitutional standards for continuances and jury instructions4 citing cases“reasonableness under federal and state constitutions.”the opinion's own words at *21, quoted by 1 later opinions
  • State v. Little, 2025-Ohio-5436.published
    We agree that a mistrial is not a tolling event pursuant to R.C. 2945.71 because following a mistrial, R.C. 2945.71 does not apply, and the standard to be applied for speedy trial purposes is “reasonableness under federal and state constit…
  • State v. Roughton, 724 N.E.2d 1193 (Ohio Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1999).published
  • State v. McCain, 2016-Ohio-4992.published
  • State v. Rasheed, 2024-Ohio-3424.published
437 N.E.2d at 585 Failure to raise contemporaneous objection to challenge3 citing cases
Other citing cases1 with no pin cite or quoted language on record
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The State of Ohio
v.
Fanning
No. 81-679.
Ohio Supreme Court.
Jul 14, 1982.
Published opinion
437 N.E.2d 583
Mr. Simon L. Leis, Jr., prosecuting attorney, Mr. LeonardKirschner and Mr. James Applegate, for appellee., Ms. Alma Yaros, for appellant.
Brown, Celebrezze, Holmes, Krupansky, Locher, Reilly, Sweeney, Tenth.
Cited by 2,042 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 80%
Citer courts: Ohio Court of Appeals (1)
Reilly, J.

Appellant advances three propositions of law:

1. “It is a denial of due process of law for a trial court to overrule a motion[*20] to suppress the in-court identification of the defendant and permit identification testimony, when the totality of the evidence establishes that the pre-trial, pre-line-up photographic identification procedure was so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification.”

2. “The provisions of Revised Code 2945.71 et seq. are applicable to retrials, and therefore, a continuance of thirty days beyond the time requirements of R.C. 2945.71 is unreasonable where the appellant is confined and the reason for the continuance is to reduce the likelihood of overlapping jurors.”

3. “A defendant in a state criminal trial has the right under the privilege against compulsory self-incrimination protected by the Fifth Amendment as made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, upon request, to have the judge instruct the jury that the fact that the defendant did not testify cannot be considered for any purpose, the state trial judge having the constitutional obligation, upon proper request, to minimize the danger that the jury will give evidentiary weight to a defendant’s failure to testify.”

As to appellant’s first proposition of law, it is necessary to consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the identification. State v. Jackson (1971), 26 Ohio St. 2d 74 [55 O.O. 2d 127], paragraph two of the syllabus. Moreover, it is fundamental that the weight of the evidence and credibility of witnesses are primarily for the trier of the facts. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St. 2d 230 [39 O.O. 2d 366], paragraph one of the syllabus. This principle is applicable to suppression hearings as well as trials.

The trial court held that the appellant failed “*** to establish with sufficient preponderance here that there was any one-on-one confrontation prior to the lineup, ***.” This determination is supported by evidence presented at the hearing. The eyewitness and the officer both denied that such a confrontation occurred. The officer also denied that a picture was taken as claimed by appellant. Further, the record shows that the eyewitness had a brief but unobstructed view of his assailant at the time of the robbery. Therefore, noting that there was conflict in the testimony, applying “the totality of the circumstances” standard, we do not find error by the trial court in not finding the identification unduly suggestive. Thus, appellant’s first proposition of law is not well taken.

The issue presented in appellant’s second proposition of law is whether he was denied a speedy trial when a retrial, following a mistrial because of a hung jury, is scheduled 29 days after the trial date. R.C. 2945.71 requires that an accused who is in jail in lieu of bail on the pending charge be brought to trial within 90 days after arrest. Appellant’s first trial commenced 88 days after his arrest; the retrial began 120 days after arrest. R.C. 2945.72 provides that:

“The time within which an accused must be brought to trial, or, in the case of felony, to preliminary hearing and trial, may be extended only by the following:

(( * * *

[*21] “(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.”

The trial court correctly held that R.C. 2945.71 is. not applicable to retrials. It is noteworthy that the statute does not include any reference whatever to retrials. The standard to be applied, therefore, is basically reasonableness under federal and state constitutions. Considering the facts of this case, the 29-day continuance was reasonable. Thus, appellant’s second proposition of law is not well taken.

Finally, concerning appellant’s third proposition of law, the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Carter v. Kentucky (1981), 450 U.S. 288, is controlling in this case and would require reversal, if proper request for an instruction had been made to the trial court. In Carter, the United States Supreme Court held, at page 305, that a “trial judge has the constitutional obligation, upon proper request, to minimize the danger that the jury will give evidentiary weight to a defendant’s failure to testify,” and that a defendant has a right, under the privilege against compulsory self-incrimination guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment, to have the judge instruct the jury that defendant’s failure to testify cannot be considered for any purpose (id. at 300). Thus, based on this decision, the trial court has a mandatory constitutional duty, upon proper request, to give such a requested instruction.

Consequently, this court must overrule the determination in State v. Nelson (1973), 36 Ohio St. 2d 79 [65 O.O. 2d 222], paragraph three of the syllabus, wherein it was held that it was discretionary with the trial judge whether to instruct the jury on the defendant’s rights to elect not to testify. Since appellant’s case was pending on appeal at the time of the Carter decision, this court must apply the rule as announced in Carter. Linkletter v. Walker (1965), 381 U.S. 618, 639.

Nevertheless, Carter requires such an instruction only “upon proper request.” The record shows that appellant did not file a written special jury instruction request at the close of the evidence pursuant to Crim. R. 30. Since such a request must be in writing and made at the close of the evidence or at such earlier time as the court reasonably directs in order to be proper, appellant’s request was not proper. Therefore, appellant was not entitled to the requested special instruction under Carter, concerning the jury’s consideration of his failure to testify. Accordingly, appellant’s third proposition of law is not well taken.

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Appeals is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

W. Brown, Acting C.J., Sweeney, Locher, Holmes, C. Brown and Krupansky, JJ., concur. Reilly, J., of the Tenth Appellate District, sitting for Celebrezze, C.J.