State v. Stanifer, Unpublished Decision (5-11-1998)
State v. Stanifer, Unpublished Decision (5-11-1998)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant-appellant, Michael Stanifer, appeals his classification as a sexual predator pursuant to R.C.While serving his prison sentence, appellant was recommended by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for classification as a sexual predator under R.C.
Assignment of Error No. 1:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT'S MOTION CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION
2950.09 .
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding R.C.
Assignment of Error No. 2:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING DEFENDANT A SEXUAL PREDATOR.
Appellant argues that the trial court's determination that he is a sexual predator is against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.
Appellant's sexual predator classification was made pursuant to R.C.
A sexual predator is defined as a "person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing a sexually oriented offense and is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses." R.C.
That measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of fact 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 required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases. It does not mean clear and unequivocal. Where the degree of proof required to sustain an issue must be clear and convincing, a reviewing court will examine the record to determine whether the trier of fact had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the requisite degree of proof.
Cross v. Ledford (1954),
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in considering evidence presented by Mr. Jolivette, an adult probation officer, who prepared the presentence investigation of appellant. At the sexual predator hearing, appellant objected to Jolivette's testimony concerning a report prepared by Catholic Social Services which was included in the presentence investigation. The report stated that appellant was "at medium risk to sexually reoffend. He should not be in any unsupervised situation with children." However, the trial court allowed Jolivette to testify at trial and further allowed the presentence investigation to be admitted holding:
It was part of the PSI and part of the original information that was provided to the court. And it's also information provided to the court by Catholic Social Services at the request of the [appellant], so it will be admitted as part of the material and the information that the court's gonna [sic] consider in this matter.
We agree with the trial court that a presentence investigation properly admitted in a previous hearing may be considered in a sexual predator hearing.
We have reviewed the record and find that the trial court properly considered the presentence report and the oral statements made by counsel. The trial court enumerated the factors that it considered under R.C.
Based upon the record of the hearing, we find that the trial court's determination that appellant is a sexual predator is supported by clear and convincing evidence. See State v. Striley (Dec. 29, 1997), Clermont App. No. CA97-05-046, unreported. Appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
POWELL, P.J., and KOEHLER, J., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.