State v. Roeder, Unpublished Decision (10-21-1999)
State v. Roeder, Unpublished Decision (10-21-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Although this appeal was submitted on the accelerated calendar, we elect to issue a full opinion pursuant to Loc.R. 12(5).
Defendant-appellant appeals from the judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Allen County denying his motion to dismiss further proceedings and adjudicating him a sexual predator pursuant to O.R.C. Chapter 2950 et seq.
On November 16, 1990, appellant plead guilty to one court of Rape, a violation of R.C. §
This appeal presents two assignments of error challenging appellant's adjudication as a sexual predator on the following grounds:
Assignment of Error Number One
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2950 et seq., as applied to defendant-appellant, is unconstitutional in that it violates defendant's protections of Section I, Article I and Section
16 , ArticleI of the Ohio Constitution as decided in State v. Williams (Jan. 29, 1999), Lake App. No. 97-L-191.
The trial court determination that defendant was a sexual predator, as defined in Ohio Revised Code2950.09 (E), is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.
Assignment of error number one is overruled on the authority of State v. Fisher (Sept. 2, 1999), Allen App. No. 1-99-23, unreported, wherein we considered an identical assignment of error and held, based on the authority of State v. Cook (1998),
In his second assignment of error, appellant argues that his classification as a sexual predator is against the manifest weight of the evidence. In other terms, appellant asserts that the evidence adduced at the Sexual Predator Hearing is insufficient to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is a sexual predator.
R.C.
[T]hat measure of 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.
State v. Schiebel (1990),
R.C.
`Sexual predator' means 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.
In determining whether a sex offender is a sexual predator, a judge shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, those contained in R.C.
The trial court found, after weighing all of the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, that appellant was a sexual predator based upon several factors which were set forth at relative length on the record. The factors considered by the trial court included:
(a) Appellant's age is 38;
(b) The victim's age was 9;
(c) The number of victims was 1;
(d) Appellant used his advanced age to overcome the will of the victim;
(e) Appellant failed to complete any available programs for sexual offenders;
(f) Appellant made a 9 year old victim submit to anal intercourse, sodomy, and vaginal intercourse on numerous occasions;
(g) Appellant used his position as boyfriend of the victim's mother to be able to accomplish the offense(s);
(h) Appellant, as "stepfather figure" used cruelty in discipline by "grounding" her and handcuffing victim to bed; would make victim take down her pants and then strike her with a belt;
(i) Additional behavioral characteristics contributing to appellant's conduct: relationship with victim facilitated offense; evidence of deviant sexual behavior; evidenced need for control and dominance; callous exploitation of another.
Despite this rather extensive list in support of his sexual predator adjudication, appellant maintains that it was against the manifest weight of the evidence to classify him as a sexual predator. More specifically, appellant asserts there was insufficient evidence presented to establish by the requisite burden that he was likely in the future to engage in one or more sexually oriented offenses.
After examining the record and relevant factors contained in R.C. §
Finding no error prejudicial to appellant, in the particulars assigned and argued, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Allen County is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
HADLEY and WALTERS, JJ., concur.
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