2005 Ohio 3358 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2005
Lead Opinion
{¶ 2} In 1989, appellant pleaded guilty to attempted rape and kidnapping. He was sentenced to two indefinite prison terms of five to fifteen years, to be served concurrently. He was still imprisoned at the time of his sexual predator hearing on February 6, 2004.
{¶ 3} The victim was the only witness at the hearing. She testified that on the night of the offense, she was walking along a road in Wood County when a truck pulled up alongside her and the passenger asked her if she needed a ride. (It was established that appellant was the driver and the passenger was appellant's co-defendant.) The victim responded that she did not want a ride, and the truck began to pull away. The truck then backed up, and the passenger grabbed the victim by the neck and threw her into the truck. According to the victim, appellant held her down while the passenger removed her clothes and digitally penetrated her. She testified that appellant drove all around in an effort to confuse her as to their whereabouts. The victim was resisting the entire time and tried to escape out a window. She testified that appellant told her that she "should have come with them the first time they asked" her.
{¶ 4} At some point, the truck got stuck in a ditch. Appellant left the scene to get help with the truck. As appellant was leaving, the passenger was in the act of raping the victim. At the hearing, the victim nodded affirmatively when asked if appellant knew that the passenger was raping her. Appellant left the scene "several times" to get help with the truck. At times when appellant had brought someone back to the truck, the passenger was dragging the victim through bean fields and gagging her, ordering her not to scream. Once when appellant had returned to the truck, the passenger restrained the victim while appellant tried to rape her, but he was unable to because the victim resisted. Appellant did, however, fondle the victim's vaginal area and perform oral sex on her. He spoke to her in a very "vulgar" manner and told her that they should "tie [her] to the bumper of his truck and drag [her] through the bean field." By the end of the ordeal, the passenger had raped the victim several times. Appellant did nothing to help her.
{¶ 5} On cross-examination, defense counsel asked the victim about the statement she gave to the probation department during appellant's presentence investigation. Counsel asked why the victim's statement in the report did not include a statement that appellant had threatened to drag her behind his truck. The victim testified that she did not have a clear recollection of that interview and responded that perhaps the investigator did not ask about any threats. When asked whether her recollection would have been clearer shortly after the incident than it was now, the victim indicated that her recollection was clearest when she was speaking with detectives and prosecutors right after the incident occurred. On redirect, she testified that she spoke of the threats to both the police and the prosecutor right after the incident. Finally, the victim conceded that appellant agreed to the protection order the victim requested and that he has never threatened her since the incident.
{¶ 6} Following the hearing, the trial court found appellant to be a sexual predator. Appellant now appeals, setting forth the following assignment of error for our review:
{¶ 7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CLASSIFYING APPELLANT AS A SEXUAL PREDATOR BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT SUCH A CLASSIFICATION."
{¶ 8} The Ohio Supreme Court recently considered the nature of sexual predator hearings. See State v. Eppinger (2001),
{¶ 9} "[A] person who has been convicted of or who has pled guilty to committing one sexually oriented offense is not necessarily likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. One sexually oriented offense is not a clear predictor of whether that person is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses, particularly if the offender is not a pedophile. Thus, we recognize that one sexually oriented conviction, without more, may not predict future behavior. Therefore, the appointment of an expert may be warranted to aid the trial court in determining the likelihood of recidivism." (Emphasis in original.) Id. at 162.
{¶ 10} Therefore, in deciding whether recidivism is likely, the trial court shall consider all relevant evidence, which in a "model" proceeding would include an adequate record of the underlying offense, a consideration of the factors enumerated in R.C.
{¶ 11} Sexual predator hearings are governed by statute, and R.C.
{¶ 12} "If a person was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a sexually oriented offense that is not a registration-exempt1 sexually oriented offense prior to January 1, 1997, if the person was not sentenced for the offense on or after January 1, 1997, and if, on or after January 1, 1997, the offender is serving a term of imprisonment in a state correctional institution, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall do whichever of the following is applicable:
{¶ 13} "(a) If the sexually oriented offense was an offense described in division (D)(1)(c) of section
{¶ 14} "(b) If division (C)(1)(a) of this section does not apply, the department shall determine whether to recommend that the offender be adjudicated a sexual predator. In making a determination under this division as to whether to recommend that the offender be adjudicated a sexual predator, the department shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, all of the factors specified in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section. If the department determines that it will recommend that the offender be adjudicated a sexual predator, it immediately shall send the recommendation to the court that sentenced the offender. * * *."
{¶ 15} Both of these subdivisions apply. Under R.C.
{¶ 16} The term "sexual predator," as relevant to this case, means a person who "has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing a sexually oriented offense that is not a registration-exempt sexually oriented offense and is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses." R.C.
{¶ 17} R.C.
{¶ 18} "(3) In making a determination under divisions (B)(1) and (4) of this section as to whether an offender or delinquent child is a sexual predator, the judge shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
{¶ 19} "(a) The offender's or delinquent child's age;
{¶ 20} "(b) The offender's or delinquent child's prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
{¶ 21} "(c) The age of the victim of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made;
{¶ 22} "(d) Whether the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made involved multiple victims;
{¶ 23} "(e) Whether the offender or delinquent child used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
{¶ 24} "(f) If the offender or delinquent child previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be, a criminal offense, whether the offender or delinquent child completed any sentence or dispositional order imposed for the prior offense or act and, if the prior offense or act was a sex offense or a sexually oriented offense, whether the offender or delinquent child participated in available programs for sexual offenders;
{¶ 25} "(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender or delinquent child;
{¶ 26} "(h) The nature of the offender's or delinquent child's sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context with the victim of the sexually oriented offense and whether the sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context was part of a demonstrated pattern of abuse;
{¶ 27} "(i) Whether the offender or delinquent child, during the commission of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made, displayed cruelty or made one or more threats of cruelty;
{¶ 28} "(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's or delinquent child's conduct."
{¶ 29} A trial court need not find all of the factors in order to classify an offender as a sexual predator. See, e.g., State v. Fenton
(May 26, 2000), 6th Dist. No. OT-99-035. However, a trial court's determination that an offender is a sexual predator must be supported by clear and convincing evidence, R.C.
{¶ 30} "[T]hat measure or degree of proof which is more than a mere `preponderance of the evidence,' but not to the extent of such certainty as is required `beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases, and which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established." Cross v. Ledford
(1954),
{¶ 31} In this case, the trial court made the following findings:
{¶ 32} "The court finds that the Defendant will become 39 years of age in May of 2004 and that the offender's prior criminal record was not extensive prior to these offenses. However, he was convicted of attempted rape and kidnapping in the instant offense. That the age of the Defendant at the time of the offense was 23, and that the victim was 18 years of age at the time of the instant offense. The Court further finds that there were multiple offenses, both in the sense of the two offenses for which the Defendant was convicted, and also the fact that there were multiple sexual acts, all of which could be separate counts, in all of which the Defendant aided and abetted. The Court further finds that there were not multiple victims, but that there were multiple offenses and that the co-defendants worked in conjunction with each other. The Court further finds that the factor concerning the use of drugs or alcohol to impair the victim does not apply. The Court further finds that the offender had no prior conviction of a sexual offense, nor was there any mental illness or mental disability. The Court categorizes, with regard to the nature of the sexual conduct or interaction as a demonstrated pattern of abuse, that this was the behavior of two men, working in conjunction with each other, assisting each other in committing multiple sexual offenses with the same victim. The use of violence does demonstrate a pattern of abuse, albeit confined to a number of hours. Further, that during the commission of the offense, the offender used threats and cruelty in the instant offense, and attributed to the defendant and co-defendant, a total lack of regard for the victim's feelings. Further, the Court finds that the total scenario, factually, clearly fits the scenario of a predator, where the co-defendants worked in conjunction. The Court finds that the Defendant is likely to commit one or more sexually oriented offenses."
{¶ 33} Appellant contends in his assignment of error that the record does not clearly and convincingly support a finding that he is a sexual predator based solely on the facts of the underlying offense. As stated earlier, a "model" sexual predator hearing requires that the trial court consider the record of the underlying offense, the factors in R.C.
{¶ 34} We agree with the trial court that appellant displayed cruelty in threatening the victim. See R.C.
{¶ 35} Appellant cites a persuasive case from the Cuyahoga County Court of Appeals, which, under similar circumstances, held that the facts of the underlying offense were not sufficient to establish that the defendant was likely to commit another sexually oriented offense. SeeState v. Winchester (2001),
{¶ 36} This is one of those cases in which expert testimony may have aided the court. However, neither the state nor appellant introduced expert testimony, appellee acknowledging at the hearing that expert testimony would not have helped the state. Appellee now contends in its brief that, in the event we find the evidence insufficient to establish appellant as a sexual predator, we must remand the case for further proceedings to focus on appellant's "present condition." According to appellee, it should not be "faulted" just because appellant failed to present expert testimony. Appellant cites several cases to support his request for remand. See Eppinger,
{¶ 37} Upon due consideration, we find that substantial justice has not been done the party complaining, and the decision of the Wood County Court of Common Pleas is reversed. Appellee is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal for which sum judgment is rendered against appellee on behalf of Wood County and for which execution is awarded. See App.R. 24.
JUDGMENT REVERSED.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4, amended 1/1/98.
Pietrykowski, J. Skow, J. Concur.
Parish, J. Concurs and Writes Separately.
Concurrence Opinion
{¶ 38} I reluctantly concur with the result reached by the majority in this case. However, I disagree with the reasoning expressed in the majority opinion as follows.
{¶ 39} First, Ohio courts have held that, in cases where the evidence that a defendant is "likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses" relates only to the defendant's underlying conviction, such evidence is insufficient to support a finding the defendant is a sexual predator. See State v. Ward (1999),
{¶ 40} Second, it is undisputed that appellant committed a sexually oriented offense. The majority describes appellant's crimes as "horrific" and "cruel." Accordingly, I would reverse the trial court's judgment and remand the case for a determination, based on the existing record, as to whether appellant should be classified as a sexual oriented offender or a habitual sex offender.
