State v. Kohlmeyer, Unpublished Decision (1-19-2001)
State v. Kohlmeyer, Unpublished Decision (1-19-2001)
Opinion of the Court
Defendant-appellant Charles Kohlmeyer appeals from the May 15, 2000, Entry of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas adjudicating him a sexual predator as defined in R.C.
It is from the trial court's May 15, 2000, Entry that appellant now prosecutes his appeal, raising the following assignments of error:
THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS DENIED THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF TRIAL COUNSEL TO PRESERVE CHALLENGES TO THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE MECHANISM, RETROACTIVITY AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF OHIO'S SEXUAL PREDATOR REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION LAW.
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED HARMFUL ERROR IN DETERMINING, BASED ON THE RECORD HEREIN, THAT THE STATE OF OHIO ESTABLISHED THAT THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS A SEXUAL PREDATOR, AS THE TERM IS DEFINED BY THE OHIO REVISED CODE.
(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 behavior characteristics that contribute to the offender's conduct." At the sexual predator hearing in the case sub judice, Kelly Miller, a probation officer for the Licking County Common Pleas Court who supervises and coordinates treatment for sexual offenders who are currently on probation, testified. Miller testified that after reviewing the court file and the information supplied by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, he determined that appellant was a sexual predator. Miller based his opinion on the intrusiveness of the offense, the age of the victim at the time of the offense (the victim was 12 years old at such time whereas appellant was forty), "the repeated nature of the offenses, a need for treatment and the lack of acceptance by — of responsibility for the offense by the defendant, . . ." Transcript of Hearing at 7. Appellant, Miller testified, had never completed any sexual offender treatment. Miller further testified that, in arriving at his opinion, he relied on a psychological report prepared in 1995 by the State of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation. The psychological report stated, in part, that "due to personality features, risk to female children cannot be overruled at this point in time." The examiner, in the psychological report, also voiced concerns that appellant denied any sexually deviant behavior and presented himself as the victim and that "[w]ithout completion of a formalized sex offender treatment program, . . . there is future risk of sexual acting-out." According to the psychological report, "[i]f released to parole supervision, he [appellant] should not become involved in relationships where young female children are present." As evidenced by the March, 2000, "Institution Summary Report" that was admitted at the hearing as appellee's Exhibit 3, appellant had not received any sexual offender treatment as of the date of the hearing. At the conclusion of the sexual predator hearing, the trial court stated as follows on the record: THE COURT: As has been pointed out by the assistant prosecutor, Mr. Oswalt, I presided over the jury trial, and I have also reviewed a transcript of the trial that's in the file. The Court takes into consideration in making a determination in this case the age of the victim at the time of the offense; the age of the defendant; and the relationship of the defendant with the victim. The Court also is taking into consideration the nature of the contact with the victim by the defendant and the nature of the offense. The Court notes the lack of remorse, lack of acceptance of responsibility. The defendant has maintained his innocence throughout the course of the trial and subsequent. The Court is concerned that there has been no treatment and that there is a finding that there is a need for treatment; that in this particular case, the danger — there is the danger of future sexual offenses. The Court also is taking into consideration the recommendation of Mr. Kelly Miller and his basis. Further, the Court takes into consideration the need for the victim and others to receive notification of the status of the defendant. The Court does find, not only by clear and convincing evidence, but I find beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant, because of these factors, is to be determined — is found to be a sexual predator. It is, therefore, the order of this Court that the defendant does have the duty to register as a sexual offender in the category as a sexual predator and to comply with all of the Revised Code Section requirements regarding that status.
Transcript of Hearing at 22-23. (Emphasis added). We find that the young age of the victim, appellant's relationship to the victim and his manipulation of the same, the intrusiveness of the offense on the victim, and the likelihood of reoffending all mitigate in favor of the trial court's decision adjudicating appellant a sexual predator. While appellant contends that the trial court never explicitly found that appellant was likely to reoffend, such a finding is implicit in the trial court's adjudication of appellant as a sexual predator. Accordingly, we find that the trial court considered the elements set forth in R.C.
Accordingly, the judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Edwards, J. Gwin, P.J. and Wise, J. concur
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