The Ohio Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Eriquan Price, affirming his guilty verdicts for two counts of felonious assault and one count of having weapons while under disability. The court ruled that the evidence presented at trial supported the convictions and rejected Price's claims of self-defense.

This ruling affects Price, who was sentenced to four to six years in prison, and it may have broader implications for how self-defense claims are evaluated in similar cases. The court's decision emphasizes the importance of the evidence presented during trial and the credibility of witnesses.

Background

Eriquan Price faced charges stemming from a confrontation on August 11, 2025, involving another man, A.W., who had previously dated Price's girlfriend, T.S. The altercation occurred at T.S.'s apartment complex, where both men suffered gunshot wounds. Price was charged with felonious assault under Ohio law, which includes two counts of second-degree felonies and a third-degree felony for having weapons while under disability.

Five days before the trial, the prosecution disclosed a ballistics report that linked a gun found in T.S.'s car to the shooting incident. This disclosure came after the deadline set by Ohio's criminal rules, leading the State to request a continuance. Price's attorney objected, stating that they would not contest the gun's connection to the shooting but would argue self-defense instead. The trial proceeded without a continuance.

The Ruling

The Ohio Court of Appeals, led by Judge Kinsley, reviewed the case and affirmed the trial court's judgment. The court found that the jury had sufficient evidence to convict Price and that his claims of self-defense were not supported by the evidence. The court stated, "The jury did not lose its way in rejecting Price’s claim of self-defense, and his conviction for felonious assault was not against the manifest weight of the evidence."

Additionally, the court ruled that Price's trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to seek a continuance regarding the late-disclosed ballistics report. The court emphasized that the nature of the gun and its connection to the incident were not contested issues at trial, making the decision to proceed reasonable.

Impact

This ruling reinforces the standards for self-defense claims in Ohio, particularly the requirement that defendants must not be at fault in creating the altercation. The court's decision highlights that the burden of proof lies with the defendant to establish a self-defense claim, and if successful, the burden shifts to the prosecution to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

Price's case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in self-defense claims and the significance of witness credibility in jury trials. The court's ruling may influence future cases where defendants assert self-defense, particularly in situations involving weapons and prior relationships.

What's Next

Price's conviction can be appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, but details about any potential appeal were not available in the court filing. There are no related cases pending that were mentioned in the opinion.