State of Ohio, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John C. Armor, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 16AP-532 (C.P.C. No. 87CR-860)
No. 16AP-533 (C.P.C. No. 87CR-424)
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
February 2, 2017
[Cite as State v. Armor, 2017-Ohio-396.]
SADLER, J.
(REGULAR CALENDAR)
Rendered on February 2, 2017
On brief: Ron O‘Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Steven L. Taylor, for appellee.
On brief: Todd W. Barstow, for appellant. Argued: Todd. W. Barstow.
APPEALS from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
SADLER, J.
{1} Defendant-appellant, John C. Armor, appeals from the judgment entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas classifying him as a sexual predator. For the following reasons, we affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{2} Appellant is a current inmate who has served nearly 30 years in prison for a multitude of aggravated robbery, burglary, and rape convictions in the 1980s. These convictions are hereafter grouped as “the 1982 cases” and “the 1987 cases” for ease of discussion.
{3} In the 1982 cases, appellant pleaded guilty to and was convicted of three counts of aggravated robbery arising from two cases. The trial court sentenced appellant
{4} Specifically, in the first case identified in the present appeal, No. 87CR-424 (No. 16AP-533), appellant was indicted on February 10, 1987 on two counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of robbery, and one count of felonious assault. The indictment arose from events occurring on two days in 1986. Allegedly, during the first incident, appellant burglarized an occupied structure, kidnapped the occupants, raped the female occupant five times, and committed felonious assault against the male occupant. Regarding the second incident, appellant allegedly burglarized an occupied structure, kidnapped the occupant, and committed gross sexual imposition against her. All the counts included a specification that appellant had been convicted of aggravated robbery in 1982.
{5} In the second case identified in the present appeal, No. 87CR-860 (No. 16AP-532), appellant was indicted on March 19, 1987 on one count of aggravated burglary, one count of attempted aggravated burglary, one count of kidnapping, one count of rape, and one count of possession of criminal tools. The indictment alleged that the events occurred on one day in September 1986 and one day in January 1987. Regarding the first incident, the indictment alleged that appellant burglarized an occupied structure, kidnapped the occupant, and raped her. For the second incident, appellant allegedly attempted to commit aggravated burglary while in possession of a criminal tool. All the counts included a specification that appellant had been convicted of aggravated robbery in 1982.
{6} The trial court ordered Nos. 87CR-424, 87CR-860, and several other 1987 numbered cases consolidated for trial. On January 11, 1988, appellant entered guilty pleas on the cases. Appellant pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of rape for No. 87CR-424, one count of attempted aggravated burglary and one count of rape for No. 87CR-860, and three additional counts of aggravated burglary under the separate cases numbers. A nolle prosequi was entered on all remaining counts.
{7} The trial court imposed an aggregate sentence of 13 to 25 years incarceration on all counts. The sentencing entries for both cases do not state the effect of appellant‘s parole violation on the 1982 cases on his sentence in the 1987 cases. The record shows that the same trial court judge later indicated that because appellant was on parole from two 1982 cases at the time of the 1986-1987 offenses, appellant‘s sentence in the 1987 cases ran consecutively to his sentence for the 1982 cases for “a total of 19 – 50 years and a max date of 3-13-2031.”1 (Appellant‘s Apr. 24, 2001 Mot., Attachment F.)
{8} Appellant was incarcerated on January 20, 1988. The record indicates that appellant appeared before the parole board in September 1995, and the board denied parole and set the next review date for November 2020.
{9} From 2001 to 2015, the record reflects that the trial court continued a sexual predator classification hearing for appellant several times. On July 31, 2001, the trial court filed an entry ordering the convey of appellant from the prison to the court “for a Determination Hearing pursuant to [R.C.] 2950.09” on August 15, 2001, and the return of service on the warrant to convey indicates that appellant was transported to the county jail as of August 8, 2001. On August 15, 2001, a court entry states that the “HB 180 (Sexual Predator) Hearing” is continued until October 16, 2005. On December 12, 2005, the trial court filed an entry ordering the convey of appellant from the prison to the court for an
{10} A criminal case processing sheet filed on May 10, 2016 states that the trial court scheduled an H.B. No. 180 hearing for appellant on June 2, 2016. The record shows that on June 2, 2016, the trial court appointed the original defense attorney in the
{11} The sexual predator classification hearing was ultimately conducted on June 22, 2016. Appellant attended the hearing and was represented by his original trial counsel. At the outset of the hearing, the trial court and counsel for both parties briefly spoke to the history of such hearings and the case at hand, noting that in about 2005, the Governor‘s office, through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (“ODRC“), began a series of requests to conduct sexual predator classification hearings. Counsel for both parties agreed that from the record they could not determine whether appellant already had an H.B. No. 180 sexual predator hearing, and appellant stated that he was brought in twice for hearings that were ultimately continued. Both parties agreed that the most expedient resolution would be to hold a hearing, and because no videotape of a previous hearing existed, the trial court judge proceeded with the hearing.
{12} Plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio, presented seven exhibits constituting the court records from the two 1982 cases and the five 1987 cases. Appellee argued that based on these exhibits, the court could determine that under
{13} Counsel for appellant did not challenge these exhibits or present evidence. Rather, defense counsel indicated that appellant asked him to argue the position that the statute does not apply to him because he already served the sentence for the rape cases, the state “did not have a hearing in time,” and, although he is still incarcerated, he is currently serving the sentence related to the 1982 parole violation. (Tr. at 11.)
{14} The trial court judge concluded that appellant qualified for classification as a sexual predator by clear and convincing evidence, reasoning:
In looking at the factors pursuant to [R.C.] 2950.09, taking into consideration the offenses, the multiple sexual offenses,
and the criminal history, also the fact that the victims had been threatened with a knife, according to the investigations performed by the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, I think the defendant would qualify as a sexual predator.
(Tr. at 13.)
{15} After the hearing, on June 29, 2016, a hearing notice for No. 87CR-424 addressed to appellant‘s former Columbus residence was returned to the clerk as not deliverable.
{16} Appellant filed a timely appeal to this court.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{17} Appellant presents three assignments of error:
- I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BY CLASSIFYING HIM AS A SEXUAL PREDATOR.
- II. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE WAS ADDUCED AT THE SEXUAL OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION HEARING TO SUPPORT THE FINDING THAT APPELLANT WAS A SEXUAL PREDATOR.
- III. APPELLANT‘S TRIAL COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE, THEREBY DENYING HIM HIS RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
III. DISCUSSION
A. First Assignment of Error
{18} Under the first assignment of error, appellant asserts two reasons why the trial court erred to his prejudice by classifying him as a sexual predator. First, appellant contends that he was not given proper notice of the hearing. Second, appellant contends the trial court failed to determine if he is required to register as a sexual predator considering his sentence for the 1987 cases allegedly expired. For the following reasons, we disagree with both arguments.
{19} Regarding the first argument, at the hearing appellant did not object to a lack of notice. Thus, any error is waived unless the plain error doctrine applies. State v. Madison, 10th Dist. No. 06AP-1126, 2007-Ohio-3547, ¶ 31. As a civil proceeding, the
{20} Notice is a prerequisite to conducting an H.B. No. 180 sexual offender classification hearing. Gowdy at 398-99. More specifically, “[d]efendants must have notice of the hearing in order to ‘have an opportunity to testify, present evidence, call and examine witnesses and expert witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses and expert witnesses regarding the determination as to whether the offender is a sexual predator.’ ” Id. at 398, citing
{21} However, a failure to give proper notice of the sexual offender classification hearing does not constitute reversible error in every circumstance. State v. McFadden, 10th Dist. No. 01AP-1476, 2003-Ohio-5027, ¶ 6, distinguishing Gowdy. An appellate court may consider the lack of an objection to notice at the sexual predator hearing as an indication that a defendant and his or her counsel received adequate notice of the hearing. State v. Cate, 8th Dist. No. 82985, 2004-Ohio-1107, ¶ 19-20; State v. Smith, 3d Dist. No. 3-2000-20 (Dec. 29, 2000). Furthermore, a judgment entry in the record showing that defense counsel was appointed in adequate time prior to the hearing supports a finding of notice. Id. (finding no plain error in notice of a sexual predator hearing where the record showed that defense counsel was appointed approximately one month prior to the hearing, no objection to notice was raised at the hearing, and the defendant never requested to present any additional evidence or argument to the court at the hearing).
{22} Appellant cites to Gowdy in support of the argument that he did not have adequate notice of the hearing. In Gowdy, the trial court judge set a sentencing hearing without mentioning that the same proceeding would determine his sexual offender classification. The appellate court determined that the trial court erred in failing to give the notice required by
{23} Here, several facts distinguish this case from Gowdy. An entry in the record shows that the trial court appointed defense counsel on June 2, 2016, nearly three weeks prior to the hearing and specifically states the appointment is to represent appellant for purposes of an H.B. No. 180 hearing. The record reflects that both appellant and his counsel were present at the hearing, and appellant does not contend he did not know about the sexual predator hearing. Neither appellant nor his counsel made any objection to the hearing proceeding on that date, and appellant did not ask to testify or request to gather or present additional evidence. Rather, appellant advanced the argument that the relevant sexual predator statute was inapplicable to him altogether. Considering the circumstances of this case, we find that the error in notice alleged by appellant does not involve “exceptional circumstances” for the civil plain error doctrine to apply. Goldfuss at syllabus.
{24} Appellant‘s second argument under this assignment of error asserts that the trial court failed to determine if he is required to register as a sexual predator considering he may have already served his sentence for the 1987 cases. Appellant contends that the record is not clear as to the order in which appellant is serving his sentences but that the “timing issue could be significant due to an anomaly in Megan‘s Law,” as stated in State v. Taylor, 100 Ohio St.3d 172, 2003-Ohio-5452. (Appellant‘s Brief at 4.)
{25} In Taylor, the Supreme Court addressed whether two appellants, Taylor and Wilson, who were already determined to be sexual predators, had to register as such
{26} Aside from appellant‘s waiver of this issue3 and the distinctions between Taylor and the facts of this case in which appellant concedes he has never been released from confinement, appellant fails to explain how this registration “anomaly” would impact his sexual predator classification—the question posed by the assignment of error. As stated in Taylor, “adjudication as a sexual predator is distinct from the duty to register.” Id. at ¶ 10. A court of appeals must resolve an appeal “on its merits on the assignments of error set forth in the briefs under App.R. 16.”
{27} Accordingly, for all the above reasons, appellant‘s first assignment of error is overruled.
{28} Under the second assignment of error, appellant challenges the evidence supporting the trial court‘s sexual predator classification finding. For the following reasons, we disagree with appellant‘s argument.
{29} In order for an offender to be designated a sexual predator under
{30} To determine whether an offender is likely to reoffend, the trial court must consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, those factors enumerated in
{31} “No requisite number of these factors must apply before a court finds an offender to be a sexual predator, and the trial court may place as much or as little weight on any of the factors as it deems to be appropriate.” State v. Reed, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-111, 2016-Ohio-1234, ¶ 8, discretionary appeal not allowed, 146 Ohio St.3d 1418, 2016-Ohio-3390, citing State v. Walker, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1107, 2005-Ohio-3540, ¶ 10; State v. Fears, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1164, 2005-Ohio-2960, ¶ 6. Thus, “even one or two of the factors are sufficient as long as the evidence of likely recidivism is clear and convincing.” Reed at ¶ 8, citing State v. McDonald, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-853, 2004-Ohio-2571, ¶ 8. See also S.E. at ¶ 10.
{32} This court recently set out the appellate standard of review in this context as follows:
An appellate court‘s review of a sexual predator determination must include a review of the record to determine whether the trier of fact had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the clear and convincing standard. State v. Williams, 10th Dist. No. 02AP-35, 2002-Ohio-4503, ¶ 90. ” ‘Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established. It is intermediate, being more than a mere preponderance, but not to the extent of such certainty as is required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases.’ ” State v. Eppinger, 91 Ohio St.3d 158, 164, 2001-Ohio-247, quoting Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 477 (1954). This court will not reverse a trial court‘s sexual predator judgment as being against the manifest weight of the evidence if there exists some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case to support that judgment. State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, ¶ 32.
Reed at ¶ 9 (citing to State v. Evans, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-605, 2008-Ohio-2422, ¶ 20, for its holding that trial court did not err in classifying appellant as a sexual predator). See also State v. Van Buskirk, 8th Dist. No. 101221, 2014-Ohio-5551, ¶ 14-16 (applying civil manifest weight standard articulated in Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, ¶ 32, in affirming sexual predator determination finding).
{33} Under this assignment of error, appellant does not dispute that he was convicted of a sexually oriented offense; rather, appellant challenges the alleged lack of evidence presented at the hearing showing that he was likely to commit other sexually oriented offenses. In doing so, appellant invokes the sufficiency and weight of the evidence and specifically argues that the evidence presented at the instant hearing fell short of the model procedure set forth in State v. Eppinger, 91 Ohio St.3d 158 (Mar. 28, 2001).
{34} In Eppinger, the trial court determined the defendant, who stood convicted of one sexually oriented offense involving a single adult victim, should be classified as a sexual predator. Id. at 163, 165. The Supreme Court found that the trial court abused its
{35} Within the opinion, the court set forth a “model” hearing “suggesting standards” to aid trial and appellate courts:
In a model sexual offender classification hearing, there are essentially three objectives. First, it is critical that a record be created for review. Therefore, the prosecutor and defense counsel should identify on the record those portions of the trial transcript, victim impact statements, presentence report, and other pertinent aspects of the defendant‘s criminal and social history that both relate to the factors set forth in
R.C. 2950.09(B)(2) and are probative of the issue of whether the offender is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. If the conviction is old, as in this case, the state may need to introduce a portion of the actual trial record; if the case was recently tried, the same trial court may not need to actually review the record. In either case, a clear and accurate record of what evidence or testimony was considered should be preserved, including any exhibits, for purposes of any potential appeal.Second, an expert may be required, as discussed above, to assist the trial court in determining whether the offender is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. Therefore, either side should be allowed to present expert opinion by testimony or written report to assist the trial court in its determination, especially when there is little information available beyond the conviction itself. While providing an expert at state expense is within the discretion of the trial court, the lack of other criteria to assist in predicting the future behavior of the offender weighs heavily in favor of granting such a request.
Finally, the trial court should consider the statutory factors listed in
R.C. 2950.09(B)(2) , and should discuss on therecord the particular evidence and factors upon which it relies in making its determination regarding the likelihood of recidivism. See State v. Thompson, supra. See, also, State v. Russell, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 1579 (Apr. 8, 1999), Cuyahoga App. No. 73237, unreported, 1999 WL 195657; State v. Casper, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 2617 (June 10, 1999), Cuyahoga App. Nos. 73061, 73064, 73062 and 73063, unreported, 1999 WL 380437. We are cognizant of our statement in State v. Cook, supra, that
R.C. 2950.09 does not require the court to list all criteria, but only to consider all relevant factors in making its findings. Id., 83 Ohio St. 3d at 426.
{36} Appellant‘s comparison of the evidence presented at his hearing to the model described by Eppinger does not result in reversible error on the present facts. Eppinger expressly poses such a model as a suggestion. Id. at 166; State v. Allen, 1st Dist. No. C-050010, 2006-Ohio-2338, ¶ 52 (discussing that “[w]hile courts are encouraged to follow the model, the failure of a trial court to strictly adhere to the three requirements of the ‘model hearing’ described in Eppinger does not, per se, result in reversal upon appeal“); State v. Druckenmiller, 3d Dist. No. 3-04-03, 2004-Ohio-6485, ¶ 11.
{37} Furthermore, since Eppinger, this court has repeatedly held that even one or two of the factors are sufficient as long as the evidence of likely recidivism is clear and convincing. Reed at ¶ 8; McDonald at ¶ 8; S.E. at ¶ 10. In this case, the trial court expressly stated that it looked at the statutory factors pursuant to
{38} Based on this record, we find that the state established by clear and convincing evidence that appellant was likely to commit another sexually oriented offense. Appellant‘s criminal record, including his several sexual offenses, and the multiple victims involved are considerations that constitute competent, credible evidence
{39} Accordingly, appellant‘s second assignment of error is overruled.
C. Third Assignment of Error
{40} Under the third assignment of error, appellant contends that his trial counsel was ineffective thereby denying him the right to effective assistance of counsel. We disagree.
{41} Although civil in nature,
{42} To demonstrate that counsel‘s performance was deficient, the defendant must show that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. State v. Canada, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-523, 2015-Ohio-2167, ¶ 89; State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St.3d 516, 524 (2001) (“To prevail on
{43} To demonstrate that the deficient performance prejudiced him, the defendant must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel‘s errors, the result of the trial would have been different. Strickland at 694. Conjectural evidence—predictions about what evidence could possibly be without a basis in the record—does not support a showing of prejudice to establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Oppong at ¶ 35.
{44} The failure to make either the deficiency or prejudice showing defeats a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Frye at ¶ 11, citing Strickland at 697. Thus, “a court need not determine whether counsel‘s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies. * * * If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we expect will often be so, that course should be followed.” Strickland at 697.
{45} Appellant argues that his trial counsel was deficient because he failed to properly investigate and present mitigating evidence to challenge his classification as a sexual predator. Appellant compares his trial counsel‘s actions with those model actions suggested in Eppinger, discussed above in the second assignment of error. Id. at 166. Appellant does not argue that trial counsel was ineffective for not establishing whether appellant had completed serving his sentence for the rapes and, as discussed in the first assignment of error, not objecting to a lack of notice of the hearing or objecting to registration requirements. Furthermore, appellant argues that the second Strickland
{46} Appellant does not set forth, and the record does not show, what information trial counsel‘s investigation would have revealed and whether such information could have aided appellant. As such, on this record, we cannot conclude that there was a reasonable likelihood of a different outcome had trial counsel taken appellant‘s suggested actions. Oppong at ¶ 35. Therefore, appellant has not demonstrated that due to the alleged deficient performance, there exists a reasonable probability that, but for counsel‘s errors, the result of the hearing would have been different. Because appellant failed to meet his burden under the prejudice prong of Strickland, appellant‘s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel necessarily fails. Frye at ¶ 11, citing Strickland at 697.
{47} Accordingly, appellant‘s third assignment of error is overruled.
IV. CONCLUSION
{48} Having overruled appellant‘s three assignments of error, we affirm the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
DORRIAN and HORTON, JJ., concur.
Judgment affirmed.