State v. Dye
695 N.E.2d 763
Ohio
1998
Check Treatment

Lead Opinion

Lundberg Stratton, J.

The issue presented in this case is whether a person in a position of authority over a child under thirteen may be convicted of rape of that child with force pursuant to R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (B) without evidence of express threat of harm or evidence of significant physical restraint. For the reasons stated below, we answer in the affirmative.

R.C. 2907.02 provides:

“(A)(1) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the spouse of the offender or who is the spouse of the offender but is living separate and apart from the offender, when any of the following applies:
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“(b) The other person is less than thirteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of the other person.
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“(2) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the offender purposely compels the other person to submit by force or threat of force.”
“(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of rape, an aggravated felony of the first degree. * * * If the offender under division (A)(1)(b) of this section purposely compels the victim to submit by force or threat of force, whoever violates division (A)(1)(b) of this section shall be imprisoned for life.”

R.C. 2901.01(A) defines the element of force as “any violence, compulsion, or constraint physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.”

This court considered the issue of force in State v. Eskridge (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304. In Eskridge, the defendant was convicted of raping his four-year-old daughter by force. This court reinstated the defendant’s conviction and held that “[t]he force and violence necessary to commit the crime of rape depends upon the age, size and strength of the parties and their relation to each other. With the filial obligation of obedience to a parent, the same degree of force and violence may not be required upon a person of tender years, as would be required were the parties more nearly equal in age, size and strength. (State v. Labus [1921], 102 Ohio St. 26, 38-39, 130 N.E. 161, 164.)” Id., paragraph one of the syllabus.

In Eskridge, the victim testified that the defendant removed her panties, and there was testimony that he laid her on the bed, both acts of compulsion and constraint that we found were independent of the act of rape. Id., 38 Ohio St.3d at 58, 526 N.E.2d at 306. Further, we emphasized the age difference and disparity in size between the defendant, a twenty-eight-year-old man, and the *327victim, a four-year-old child. We held that “[a] four-year-old child cannot consent to sexual conduct” and “[t]he victim * * * did not and could not have participated in the sexual conduct on her own free will.” Id.

Eskridge involved a father-child relationship, and we noted that the “ ‘youth and vulnerability of children, coupled with the power inherent in a parent’s position of authority, creates a unique situation of dominance and control in which explicit threats and displays of force are not necessary to effect the abuser’s purpose.’ ” Id., 38 Ohio St.3d at 59, 526 N.E.2d at 307, quoting State v. Etheridge (1987), 319 N.C. 34, 47, 352 S.E.2d 673, 681. We concluded that the defendant father held a position of authority over the victim daughter which did not require any explicit threats or displays of force. Id.

Later, in State v. Schaim (1992), 65 Ohio St.3d 51, 600 N.E.2d 661, we considered force in the context of a pattern of incest between a father and his twenty-year-old daughter. In finding that the state did not prove the elements of forcible rape, we held that “ [a] defendant purposely compels another to submit to sexual conduct by force or threat of force if the defendant uses physical force against that person, or creates the belief that physical force will be used if the victim does not submit. A threat of force can be inferred from the circumstances surrounding sexual conduct, but a pattern of incest will not substitute for the element of force where the state introduces no evidence that an adult victim believed that the defendant might use physical force against her. (State v. Eskridge [1988], 38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304, distinguished.)” (Emphasis added.) Id., at paragraph one of the syllabus.

Although we found insufficient evidence of force in Schaim, we recognized Eskridge’s continuing application in cases involving young children: “State v. Eskridge is based solely on the recognition of the amount of control that parents have over their children, particularly young children.” Id., 65 Ohio St.3d at 55, 600 N.E.2d at 665. We concluded that “[b]ecause of the child’s dependence on his or her parents, a child of tender years has no real power to resist his or her parent’s command, and every command contains an implicit threat of punishment for failure to obey.” Id.

We recognize that it is nearly impossible to imagine the rape of a child without force involved. Clearly, a child cannot be found to have consented to rape. However, in order to prove the element of force necessary to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment, the statute requires that some amount of force must be proven beyond that force inherent in the crime itself. Yet “ ‘[floree need not be overt and physically brutal, but can be subtle and psychological. As long as it can be shown that the rape victim’s will was overcome by fear or duress, the forcible element of rape can be established.’ ” Eskridge, 38 Ohio St.3d at 58-59, 526 N.E.2d at 306, citing State v. Fowler (1985), 27 Ohio App.3d 149, 154, 27 OBR *328182, 187, 500 N.E.2d 390, 395. In fact, R.C. 2907.02(B) requires only that minimal force or threat of force be used in the commission of the rape. Id., 38 Ohio St.3d at 58, 526 N.E.2d at 306.

In examining the age, size, and strength of the parties and their relation to each other, we clearly find sufficient evidence of force. We found insufficient evidence of force in Schaim, but that case involved a twenty-year-old adult who was no longer completely dependent on her parents and was more nearly her father’s equal in size, strength, and mental resources. In the present case, at the time of the rapes, the defendant was forty-four years old, while David was nine. Further, there was a clear disparity in the relative size and strength of the defendant and David. The defendant was a five-foot, nine-inch, one-hundred-thirty-five-pound man, while David was an approximately seventy-seven-pound child. In addition, David told Morstatter that the defendant said to him “he wouldn’t be [his] friend” if David told (someone about the abuse) and that David thought the defendant might hit him.

Aside from the evidence of physical force, the evidence of psychological force is substantial. The defendant contends that Eskridge may be distinguished due to the absence of a parent-child relationship between the defendant and David. We disagree. In Eskridge there was “ ‘a child being told to do something by an important figure of authority, and commanded not to tell anyone about it.’ ” Id., 38 Ohio St.3d at 59, 526 N.E.2d at 306, quoting Fowler, 27 Ohio App.3d at 154, 27 OBR at 187, 500 N.E.2d at 395. Consequently, we found nothing unreasonable about a finding that the child’s will was overcome and the forcible element of rape was properly established. Id.

In the present case, nine-year-old David was forced to submit to the authority of a forty-four-year-old man who was not his parent, but who stood in a position of authority over him. David’s mother had known the defendant for seven years and David had maintained a close relationship with the defendant over that time, visiting and staying at the defendant’s residence approximately once a week. David considered the defendant to be his friend until these events occurred. Clearly, the defendant was an important figure of authority in David’s life. In addition, just as in Fowler, the defendant told David to keep the sexual abuse a secret.

Most important, when David’s mother dropped David off at the defendant’s residence or when the defendant picked David up and took him to his home, David’s mother told him to mind the defendant, and not to aggravate him, or she would come and pick him up or the defendant would bring him home. The defendant claims that because this punishment or threat of punishment came from David’s mother and not the defendant himself, this somehow lessens the position of authority the defendant had over David. We find no rationale for this *329distinction. The defendant was clearly the authority figure to David when David was at the defendant’s home, which is where the sexual conduct took place.

Further, the defendant urges this court to make a distinction between biological parents (or other family members) who sexually abuse their children, and all other sexual abusers. Again, we see no reason for such a distinction. Unfortunately, due to divorce and custody arrangements, some children may see their biological parent(s) only once every few months or not at all, yet may spend eight to ten hours a day with a nonparental caregiver. Further, parents often leave their children in the care of others for a variety of reasons. When parents tell their children that the caregiver is in charge and that the children should mind the caregiver, that caregiver occupies the same position of authority as the parent traditionally would. Thus, to make a distinction on the basis of biology is wholly inappropriate and ignores the realities of our society.

The evidence showed that David’s mother told him that the defendant was in charge and David should mind him. Further, the evidence showed that while David was at the defendant’s house, the defendant would fondle David’s genitalia, turn David around and pull his pants down, sit on a bed and make David sit on his lap, or tell David to crouch before engaging in sex with him, make David engage in oral sex with him, and tell David to keep the sex a secret. Nonetheless, the court of appeals found this evidence was insufficient for a finding of force since a parent was not involved. We disagree.

We hold that a person in a position of authority over a child under thirteen may be convicted of rape of that child with force pursuant to R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (B) without evidence of express threat of harm or evidence of significant physical restraint.

Weighing the credibility of the witnesses was the job of the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 39 O.O.2d 366, 227 N.E.2d 212. David’s testimony, if believed, demonstrated a threat of force by the defendant sufficient to satisfy the requirements of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (B). Viewing the evidence presented by the state at trial in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found all of the elements of rape of a child under thirteen proven beyond a reasonable doubt, including the use of force or threat of force. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and reinstate the defendant’s convictions and life sentences.

Judgment reversed.

Moyer, C.J., Resnick, F.E. Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., concur. *330Douglas and Cook, JJ., concur separately.



Concurrence Opinion

Cook, J.,

concurring. I concur in the judgment of the majority. I would not

modify State v. Eskridge (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304, but would reconcile this case with Eskridge, using the following syllabus language:

Assessment of whether the defendant has compelled the victim to submit by an implicit threat of force under R.C. 2907.02(B) and State v. Eskridge requires a comparison of the age, size, and strength of the parties and their relation to each other. Even where the relationship between the defendant and the child victim is not one of parent and child, in assessing the totality of the circumstances, the factfinder may consider whether the defendant was an important figure of authority to the child victim. (State v. Eskridge [1988], 38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304, construed.)

Douglas, J., concurs in the foregoing concurring opinion.