State v. SwankState v. Swank
Lead Opinion
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Donald Swank (“appellant“) appeals from the trial court‘s decision rendered on August 29, 2003. Having reviewed the arguments of the parties and the pertinent law, we hereby affirm the lower court.
I.
{¶ 2} According to the facts in the case sub judice, E.F., the victim in this case, was raped by appellant and his wife for a period of approximately six years. The violations occurred from the time that the child was four-years-old until about the age of eleven. The victim would spend almost every weekend at the Swank residence over the six-year period. It was during these visits to the Swank residence that the victim was raped.1 At the time, the Swanks were family friends who served as weekend or overnight babysitters for the victim.
{¶ 3} The victim was abused on many different occasions. For example, on one occasion the victim recalled that appellant would hold her down by the shoulders while Maryanne Swank would hold her feet. The victim further indicated that appellant would be on top of her and would put his private part inside her private part. When asked if anything came out of his private part, she responded, “white stuff came out and he showed me when he wiped it on the bed.”2 The victim also indicated that appellant would touch her buttocks with his hands and kiss her cheek and mouth with his lips. She explained that, “he tried to use his tongue, but I held my mouth shut.”3 The victim was also asked if she was ever shown movies at the appellant‘s home. She explained that while they were touching her, the television was usually turned on to channel 22 and that there were movies with nude adults.4
{¶ 4} Social worker Altiere introduced an anatomically correct picture of a child about the victim‘s age and asked her to circle where appellant touched her. The victim circled the hair, shoulders, chest, stomach, vaginal area and buttocks. The victim was then shown an anatomically correct picture of an adult male and was asked to circle what appellant touched her with. The victim circled the mouth, stomach, hands, and penis. When shown an anatomically correct picture of an adult female, the victim was asked to circle what Maryanne Swank touched her with. The victim circled the mouth, breasts, and vagina.5
{¶ 5} Appellant threatened the victim and told her that if she informed anyone about the abuse, he would bury her in a hole in the backyard behind the garage.6 The victim recalled another time when the appellant threatened her. She explained that she was taking a bath at the Swank‘s home when appellant came into the bathroom and “put my head in the water” and stated “I‘m not playing with you — you better not say anything.”7 The victim stated, “I couldn‘t breathe much.” The victim estimated that she was five or six years old when this particular incident occurred.
{¶ 6} Appellant was indicted on March 4, 2003 by the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury with forty-two counts of rape in violation of
{¶ 7} On August 27, 2003, the court imposed sentences of six years on each of counts one and two, and two years on each of counts three through six. The sentences on counts one, two and three were ordered to run consecutively to one another, while the sentences on the remaining counts ran concurrently to one another as well as to the sentences on the other counts. Therefore, the complete sentence imposed by the lower court totaled fourteen years.
II.
{¶ 8} Appellant‘s first assignment of error states: “The trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences when it failed to make findings required by R.C.
{¶ 9} R.C.
“(4) If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison terms consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is necessary to protect the public from future crime or to punish the offender and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender‘s conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public, and if the court also finds any of the following:
“(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant to section
2929.16 ,2929.17 , or2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post-release control for a prior offense.“(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness of the offender‘s conduct.
“(c) The offender‘s history of criminal conduct demonstrates that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the offender.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 10} R.C.
{¶ 11} Thus, R.C.
{¶ 12} The record clearly demonstrates that the trial court met the requirements above before ruling that appellant would serve his sentences consecutively. The trial court did not invoke the exact words of the statute; however, that is not required by R.C.
{¶ 13} The exchange between the court and the parties during the August 27, 2003 sentencing hearing clearly demonstrates the trial court‘s compliance with the R.C.
“The Court: Okay. Well I know that you have no prior sentence — or prior felony convictions, and that there is a presumption that you should receive the minimum, which is a mandatory three years. But given the nature of this long history, and pattern of abuse, that would obviously demean the seriousness of the offense, and certainly would not protect other young children from your future behavior.
“You used your relationship, you offended this young victim, who was a neighbor. You invited her repetitively to spend the weekend at your house. You did assume the roll of a friend, maybe, or a relative of some extent, or you attempted to.
“This victim was five years old at the time that this abuse started. It happened, according to her, almost every weekend that she spent at your house, over a course of approximately six years. You physically threatened her with death if she informed anybody what was going on. You coerced your wife/co-defendant to help physically restrain the victim at certain times during these actions. You‘ve caused serious physical harm and emotional and mental harm to this victim, who now finds herself in foster care. You committed some acts of sexual abuse against her sister. And as you sit here today, despite pleading guilty, you‘ve attempted to minimize and/or deny your involvement in these offenses.
“Based upon those reasons, the court is going to impose consecutive sentences on the various counts. You pled guilty to counts one though six. Those are all rapes, first degree misdemeanors — I mean first degree felonies, excuse me.”8
{¶ 14} In the case sub judice, the trial court specifically determined that consecutive terms were necessary to protect the public in light of the nature of this long history and pattern of abuse. The consecutive sentences were not disproportionate and there were severe multiple offenses committed. Accordingly, based on the evidence, the trial court made the requisite findings and stated adequate reasons to support those findings as required by law. In addition, the court provided additional rationale regarding appellant‘s deplorable behavior and lack of remorse, further supporting the trial court‘s sentence.
{¶ 15} Appellant‘s first assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶ 16} Due to the substantial interrelation of appellant‘s second and sixth assignments of error and for the sake of judicial economy, they will be addressed together in this section. Appellant‘s second assignment of error states: “The trial court improperly considered uncharged acts as an aggravating factor at sentencing.” Appellant‘s sixth assignment of error states: “The trial court improperly considered uncharged acts as an aggravating factor in its sexual predator determination.”
{¶ 17} We find that the trial court did not improperly consider uncharged acts as an aggravating factor at sentencing or in its sexual predator determination. R.C.
{¶ 18} In the case sub judice, the trial court mentioned that appellant made sexual advances toward the victim‘s sister. However, if this was indeed error, it would only be harmless error. This is because the court relied on other additional factors set forth in the record before determining the appropriate classification and sentence for appellant.
{¶ 19} We find that the trial court acted properly. Accordingly, appellant‘s second and sixth assignments of error are overruled.
IV.
{¶ 20} Appellant‘s third assignment of error states: “The trial court failed to adequately ensure that its total sentence was proportionate to sentences being given to similarly situated offenders who have committed similar offenses.”
{¶ 21} We find that the trial court adequately ensured that its total sentence was proper. R.C.
“(A) A court that sentences an offender for a felony shall be guided by the overriding purposes of felony sentencing. The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the need for incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or both.
“(B) A sentence imposed for a felony shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes of felony sentencing set forth in division (A) of this section, commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender‘s conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes committed by similar offenders.
“(C) A court that imposes a sentence upon an offender for a felony shall not base the sentence upon the race, ethnic background, gender, or religion of the offender.”
{¶ 22} R.C.
{¶ 23} It is clear from the evidence and record previously discussed that the lower court considered the appropriate circumstances and utilized the proper factors with regard to the statutory requirements when sentencing appellant. Furthermore, appellant failed to demonstrate that his sentence was either disproportionate or inconsistent to sentences given in similar cases. There is nothing in the record which indicates that the trial court failed to consider the purposes and principles of R.C.
{¶ 24} We, therefore, overrule appellant‘s third assignment of error.
V.
{¶ 25} Appellant‘s fifth assignment of error states: “The evidence is insufficient, as a matter of law, to prove `by clear and convincing evidence’ that Mr. Swank `is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses.‘”
{¶ 26} We find that the evidence is sufficient as a matter of law to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that appellant is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses.
{¶ 27} R.C.
“(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:
“(a) The offender‘s or delinquent child‘s age;
“(b) The offender‘s or delinquent child‘s prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
“(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;
“(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;
“(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;
“(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;
“(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender or delinquent child;
“(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;
“(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;
“(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender‘s or delinquent child‘s conduct.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 28} The record in the case sub judice demonstrates that the trial court complied with the statutory mandates and properly considered the appropriate factors set forth in R.C.
{¶ 29} Therefore, we find that the evidence in the case sub judice constitutes clear and convincing evidence that appellant committed a sexually oriented offense and is likely to reoffend.
{¶ 30} Appellant‘s fifth assignment of error is overruled.
VI.
{¶ 31} Appellant‘s fourth assignment of error states: “R.C.
{¶ 32} R.C.
{¶ 33} In State v. Cook (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 404, the Ohio Supreme Court reviewed the appellate court‘s decision and determined that R.C.
{¶ 34} Appellant‘s fourth assignment of error is found to be without merit.
{¶ 35} Accordingly, appellant‘s six assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 36} The lower court‘s decision is hereby affirmed.
Michael J. Corrigan, A.J., concurs; Patricia Ann Blackmon, J., concurs in judgment only (separate concurring opinion attached.)
Concurrence Opinion
{¶ 37} I concur in judgment only and write separately because I do not believe that we should ignore the Ohio Supreme Court‘s holding in State v. Comer.10 State v. Comer holds “a trial court must clearly align each rationale with the specific finding to support its decision to impose consecutive sentences.”11 According to this court‘s most recent pronouncement on the subject in State v. Farraj,12 the failure to do so constitutes reversible error.
{¶ 38} In the past I interpreted Comer less literally in my opinion in State v. Cottrell.13 State v. Cottrell continues to have some support in this district.14 Nevertheless, the majority of judges in this district hold the trial court must specifically align each rationale with the specific finding.15
{¶ 39} The law in this district, as well as other districts, holds the trial court need not use the exact words of the sentencing statute.16 Comer did not alter this holding; consequently, the trial court may make findings without using the exact words of the statute and as such, satisfy the dictates of the consecutive sentencing statute.
{¶ 40} Here, the defense argued the trial court did not make the second finding relative to disproportionality; that is, the additional consecutive sentence was not disproportionate to the danger that the offender posed. In determining whether the consecutive sentence is proportional to the danger posed, the trial court must find not just the likelihood of future crimes, but must find the nature of the harm the offender might commit in the future. Here, the trial court found Swank threatened the child with death, coerced his wife into participating in the violence against this neighbor-girl, and sexually abused her sister; this, he did over a six-year period. To me, these findings meet the standard of finding the nature of harm he might commit in the future and sets forth the reason for the additional two years.
{¶ 41} Accordingly, I believe the finding and the reasons are sufficiently aligned as required by State v. Comer. I reach this conclusion because the historical case law, from this and other districts, alleviates the court from having to use the exact language of the statute. Consequently, in this case the finding and the reason are the same; thus alignment is met because of the commonality. I realize the finding and the reason might not always be the same in future cases; however, in this case, they are. Consequently, I concur in judgment only.