State v. Czajka, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999)
State v. Czajka, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Vincent Czajka, defendant-appellant, appeals from the judgment of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, Case No. CR-299885, in which the trial court determined that defendant-appellant was a "sexually oriented offender" pursuant to R.C. 2950 et seq. Defendant-appellant assigns five errors for this courts review.Defendant-appellant's appeal is not well taken.
On August 5, 1993, the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury returned a four-count indictment against defendant-appellant. The first count of the indictment charged defendant-appellant with kidnaping of Donna Biven in violation of R.C.
Subsequently, a jury trial commenced in October, 1993. During trial, testimony was presented to demonstrate that defendant-appellant choked Donna Biven to the point of unconsciousness, forced Ms. Biven to drive him to an area of Cleveland in which defendant-appellant believed that he could purchase crack cocaine and forced Ms. Biven to withdraw money from an automatic teller machine so that defendant-appellant would have the necessary funds to purchase the illegal drugs. Similarly, further testimony was presented to demonstrate that defendant-appellant physically assaulted Carol Arvejeh and forced her to engage in unwanted sexual relations on July 24, 1993.
At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found defendant-appellant guilty of the lesser offenses of abduction, in violation of R.C.
On June 4, 1997, the trial court conducted a hearing pursuant to H.B. 180 and R.C. 2950 et seq., the purpose of which was to determine whether defendant-appellant should be classified as a "sexual predator" under R.C.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court determined by clear and convincing evidence that defendant-appellant was a "sexually oriented offender" since the underlying criminal offenses were committed for the purpose of committing sexual violence against two female victims. Accordingly, the trial court ordered that defendant-appellant supply address registration and verification annually for the next ten years pursuant to R.C.
On July 3, 1997, defendant-appellant filed a timely notice of appeal from the judgment of the trial court.
Defendant-appellant's first assignment of error states:
I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN DETERMINING THAT APPELLANT WAS A "SEXUALLY ORIENTED OFFENDER" WHERE APPELLANT WAS NOT CONVICTED OF A SEXUALLY ORIENTED OFFENSE AS DEFINED IN R.C.
2950.01 .
Defendant-appellant argues, through his first assignment of error, that the trial court erred in determining that he should be classified as a "sexually oriented offender." Specifically, it is defendant-appellant's position that abduction, R.C.
R.C.
(3) Regardless of the age of the victim of the offense, a violation of section
2903.01 ,2903.02 ,2903.11 , or2905.01 of the Revised Code, or division (A) of section2903.04 of the Revised Code, that is committed with the purpose to gratify the sexual needs or desires of the offender.
In the case sub judice, defendant-appellant was convicted of the felonious assault of Ms. Carol Arvajeh in violation of R.C.
Defendant-appellant's first assignment of error is not well taken.
Defendant-appellant's second assignment of error states:
II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN DETERMINING THAT APPELLANT WAS A "SEXUALLY ORIENTED OFFENDER" WITH CONSEQUENT REGISTRATION FOR TEN YEARS, SINCE CHAPTER 2950, AS AMENDED, DOES NOT ALLOW THIS DETERMINATION TO BE MADE IN CASES IN WHICH A DEFENDANT IS INCARCERATED PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF H.B. 180.
Defendant-appellant argues, through his second assignment of error, that the trial court erred in determining that he was a sexually oriented offender. Specifically, defendant-appellant maintains that R.C.
Pursuant to R.C. 2950 et seq., a sexually oriented offender is a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexually oriented offense as defined by R.C.
In the case herein, a review of R.C.
Defendant-appellant's second assignment of error is not well taken.
Defendant-appellant's third assignment of error states:
III. H.B. 180, AS APPLIED TO APPELLANT, CONSTITUTES DOUBLE JEOPARDY, IN VIOLATION OF THE
FIFTH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLEI , SECTION10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
Defendant-appellant's fourth assignment of error states:
IV. H.B. 180, WITH ITS LEGISLATED STIGMA OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION, CONSTITUTES CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, IN VIOLATION OF THE
EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLEI , SECTION9 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
Defendant-appellant's fifth and final assignment of error states:
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONCLUDING THAT THE OHIO RULES OF EVIDENCE ARE INAPPLICABLE TO H.B. 180 PROCEEDINGS.
Having a common basis in both law and fact, this court shall consider defendant-appellant's third, fourth and fifth assignments of error simultaneously.
Defendant-appellant argues, through his third, fourth and fifth assignments of error, that H.B. 180 constitutes an unconstitutional deprivation of his right against double jeopardy and that the notification provision contained therein constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Defendant-appellant maintains further that the trial court erred by concluding that the Ohio Rules of Evidence do not apply to H.B. 180 proceedings.
In the case herein, a thorough review of the record from the trial court and the briefs of counsel demonstrates that defendant-appellant's assigned errors concerning the constitutionality of R.C. 2950 are without merit in light of the recent Ohio Supreme Court decision in State v. Cook (1998),
Similarly, the Cook decision addressed the applicability of the Ohio Rules of Evidence to R.C. 2950 hearings as follows:
Evid.R. 101(C) excepts application of the Rules of Evidence, including the hearsay rule, from certain proceedings, such as miscellaneous criminal proceedings. Among those listed as specifically excepted from the Rules of Evidence are proceedings for extradition or rendition of fugitives; sentencing; granting or revoking probation; issuance of warrants for arrest; criminal summonses, and search warrants; and proceedings with respect to release on bail or otherwise. Evid.R. 101 (C). A sexual predator determination hearing is similar to sentencing or probation hearings where it is settled that the Rules of Evidence do not strictly apply. A determination hearing does not occur until after the offender has been convicted of the underlying offense. Further, the determination hearing is intended to determine the offender's status, not to determine the guilt or innocence of the offender. Accordingly, we hold that the Ohio Rules of Evidence do not strictly apply to sexual predator determination hearings. Thus reliable hearsay, such as a presentence investigation report, may be relied upon by the trial judge.
Id. at 425. Clearly, the trial court did not err in concluding that the Ohio Rules of Evidence are not applicable to H.B. 180 proceedings.
For the foregoing reasons, defendant-appellant's third, fourth and fifth assignments of error are not well taken.
Judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant its costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution. The defendant's conviction having been affirmed, any bail pending appeal is terminated. Case remanded to the trial court for execution of sentence.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
MICHAEL J. CORRIGAN,. JUDGE
SPELLACY, P.J., and BLACKMON, J., CONCUR.
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