State v. Gehring, Unpublished Decision (4-12-1999)
State v. Gehring, Unpublished Decision (4-12-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION Defendant-appellant Timothy Michael Gehring appeals the April 29, 1998 Judgment Entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas adjudicating him a sexual predator. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE HOUSE BILL 180 PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM ON EX POST FACTO GROUNDS.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE HOUSE BILL 180 PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM ON RETROACTIVE APPLICATION GROUNDS.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE HOUSE BILL 180 PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIM ON DOUBLE JEOPARDY GROUNDS.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS BECAUSE HOUSE BILL 180 IS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE.
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CLASSIFYING APPELLANT AS A PREDATOR WITHOUT A RECORD OF CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE FINDING.
(a) The offender's age;
(b) The offender's prior criminal 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;
(d) Whether the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed involved multiple victims;
(e) Whether the offender used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
(f) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense, whether the offender completed any sentence imposed for the prior offense and, if the prior offense was a sex offense or a sexually oriented offense, whether the offender participated in available programs for sexual offenders;
(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender;
(h) The nature of the offender'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, during the commission of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed, displayed cruelty or made one or more threats of cruelty;
(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's conduct.
In Cook, the Ohio Supreme Court explained, "[a]t the hearing, the offender and the prosecutor have the opportunity to testify, present evidence, and call and examine witnesses and expert witnesses regarding the determination of whether the offender is a sexual predator." Cook, supra at 423. The trial court should follow this procedure in making a sexual predator determination. In the matter sub judice, the trial court, after hearing the arguments of counsel and reviewing the evidence presented at the April 27, 1998 hearing, stated: The Court has reviewed the evidence and is prepared to make a ruling at this time. While the court acknowledges that the Defendant is attempting to make great strides toward rehabilitation [ — ] in the matter of taking the course, you seem to have a sincere interest in advancing.
Nonetheless, the Court cannot ignore the fact that a special relationship did exist between you and the victim when you committed the crime.
The age differential, the victim was nine, perhaps ten years old at the time when you committed the offense. And you were 20 years her senior. Additionally, you committed this offense over a period of time. It wasn't a one-time offense. There were several instances involving the same victim. The family of the victim and you were friends.
The Court cannot ignore that even though there is some evidence which your attorney has presented to the Court to suggest that you were striving to overcome that, your tendency, that's good.
For purposes of this hearing, the Court is going to find that you are a sexual predator . . .
Transcript at 16-17.
The trial court analyzed the facts in light of the above-enumerated statutory factors. Appellant had a social relationship with the victim's parents; therefore, a special relationship existed between appellant and the victim. The trial court noted appellant's age relative to the victim's age, drawing attention to the fact the victim was a child of ten. Additionally, appellant's actions demonstrate a course of conduct because the offense was committed over a period of time and included more than one instance of sexual contact. We find these facts mitigate in favor of the trial court's decision. Accordingly, we find the trial court's classification of appellant as a sexual predator is supported by competent, credible evidence, and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Appellant's fifth assignment of error is overruled.
Accordingly, the judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
By: Hoffman, J. Wise, P.J. and Edwards, J. concur
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