State v. Swank, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2001)
State v. Swank, Unpublished Decision (12-21-2001)
Opinion of the Court
On August 8, 1997, appellant was indicted by the Lake County Grand Jury on one count of rape of a twelve year old girl, a felony in the first degree, in violation of R.C.
On December 16, 1997, appellant withdrew his former plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to one count of rape without the force specification. The trial court accepted appellant's plea by judgment entry on December 24, 1997. The trial court then referred the matter to the probation department for the preparation of a presentence investigation report and requested a victim impact statement.
Prior to sentencing, the matter came on for a hearing to determine whether appellant was a sexual predator. The trial court found, by clear and convincing evidence, that appellant was a sexual predator as defined in R.C.
From this judgment appellant appeals, asserting three assignments of error for our consideration:
"[1.] R.C.
2950.09 (B) is unconstitutionally vague, thus denying defendant-appellant due process of law[.]"[2.] The finding that the defendant-appellant is a sexual predator was against the manifest weight of the evidence[.]
"[3.] By sentencing the appellant pursuant to Sections
2967.11 and2967.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, as amended by senate Bill 269, the trial court relied on unconstitutional legislation and instituted an unlawful sentence."In the first assignment of error, appellant challenges the constitutionality of R.C.
2950.09 , Ohio's version of New Jersey's Megan's Law. Specifically, appellant contends that the statute is unconstitutionally vague as it gives the trial court virtually no guidance as to which party has the burden of proof, nor how strong a showing is required for a defendant to be adjudicated a sexual predator.
The Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Williams (2000),
Under the second assignment of error, appellant presents two separate issues for our review.
First, appellant maintains that the exhibits introduced by the state, to-wit: the presentence investigation report, the victim impact statement, the psychological evaluation, and the police report, should not have been admitted at the sexual predator hearing because this evidence was not properly authenticated under Evid.R. 901.
Before addressing the merits of appellant's argument, we note that he never made an objection as to the authenticity of the documents at the sexual predator hearing. In fact, no objection was made at all when the documents were admitted into evidence. Consequently, appellant waived this issue absent plain error. Crim.R. 52(B). Plain error occurs when, but for the error, the outcome would clearly be otherwise. State v. Cook
(1998),
Before a document may be received into evidence, it must be properly authenticated under either under Evid.R. 901 or 902. See Evid.R. 901(A).2 The general purpose behind authenticating documents is to prove that the writing is what the proponent claims it to be. See Evid.R. 901(A). See, also, State v. White (1989),
However, in Cook, supra, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that the rules of evidence do not strictly apply to sexual predator hearings:
"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 bail or otherwise. Evid.R. 101(C). A sexual predator determination hearing is similar to sentencing or probation hearings where it is well 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 the Ohio Rules of Evidence do not strictly apply to sexual predator hearings. Thus, reliable hearsay, such as a presentence investigation report, may be relied upon by the trial judge. (Emphasis added.) Cook at 425. See, also, State v. King (Dec. 29, 2000), Geauga App. No. 99-G-2237, unreported, at 3, 2001 WL 20720, at 3; State v. Wade (Dec. 29, 2000), Trumbull App. No. 99-T-0061, unreported, 2001 WL 20799. At 5.
In applying the above to the instant case, we determine that any error in admitting unauthenticated documents that otherwise appear reliable and trustworthy does not rise to the level of plain error.3 Appellant does not contend that the documents were untrustworthy or inaccurate copies of the original. Nor does he suggest that the result would have been different had the documents been properly authenticated. Rather, appellant merely suggests that the state did not meet the procedural requirement of authenticating the documents when they were submitted into evidence.
While the trial court may have technically erred in considering unauthenticated documents, we conclude that such does not constitute reversible error when there is nothing in the record to indicate that the documents are untrue or unreliable copies of the original. See, e.g.,Internatl. Bhd. of Electrical Workers v. Smith (1992),
Appellant also argues that he did not have an opportunity to cross-examine the authors of the documents to challenge the accuracy of the information contained therein in violation of his constitutional rights to due process.
The procedural requirements for a sexual predator hearing are set forth in R.C.
"* * * At the hearing, the offender and the prosecutor shall have the opportunity to testify, present evidence, call and examine witnesses and expert witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses and expert witnesses regarding the determination as to whether the offender is a sexual predator. The offender shall have the right to be represented by counsel and, if indigent, the right to have counsel appointed to represent the offender." (Emphasis added.)
Thus, "the offender has the opportunity to attack evidence that contains statements not subject to cross-examination, has the opportunity to call his or her own witnesses, present his or he own evidence, and counter any erroneous information presented by the state." State v. Bailey (July 15, 1999), Franklin App. No. 98AP-1132, unreported, 1999 WL 553830.
Here, except for the victim impact statement, appellant admitted during the sexual predator hearing that he had seen the police report, presentence investigation report, and psychological report.4 Thus, appellant had the opportunity to attack the contents of these documents not subject to cross-examination by furnishing his own evidence or presenting his own experts and/or witnesses, including himself, and those people who produced the documentary evidence. Yet, appellant failed to do so, and his rights to cross-examine and confront witnesses were not violated. See, e.g., State v. Mullins (Apr. 12, 2001), Franklin App. Nos. 00AP-775 and 00AP-776, unreported, 2001 WL 360174, at 2; State v.McFadden (Oct. 6, 1999), Summit App. No. 19065, unreported, 1999 WL 812935, at 2; Bailey, supra; State v. Baughman (May 4, 1999), Franklin App. No. 98AP-929, unreported, 1999 WL 290704, at 3; State v. Hargis (Feb. 11, 1999), Cuyahoga App. No. 72540, unreported, 1999 WL 84058, at 1.
Although not raised as an issue on appeal, we take notice of the fact that appellant did not have access to the contents of the victim impact statement.5 We are mindful that R.C.
The purpose of the victim impact statement is to apprise the trial court of the "economic loss suffered by the victim * * * [and] identify any physical injury[,] * * * any change in the victim's personal welfare or familial relationship * * * and any psychological impact experienced by the victim or the victim's family as a result of the offense * * *." R.C.
However, the victim and her mother also submitted a letter to the trial court explaining how the rape has affected their lives. These statements were not otherwise reflected in the record, and appellant was not given access to its content. Despite that fact, appellant did not suffer prejudice therefrom.
It is evident from the trial court's judgment entry that while the court considered the victim impact statement, the facts ultimately relied upon by the trial court were otherwise reflected in the police report, psychological evaluation and presentence investigation report to which appellant had access. As such, the victim impact statement could not have had a significant impact on the trial court's ultimate decision to label appellant a sexual predator. Nor did the victim impact statement contain material information that was not otherwise reflected in the record. Accordingly, under these particular facts, plain error did not occur when appellant was not provided an opportunity to review this particular victim impact statement.
Furthermore, as noted above, the Supreme Court in Cook, supra, found that pursuant to Evid.R. 101(C), the rules of evidence do not strictly apply in a sexual predator hearing. However, that does not mean that the rules of evidence do not apply in an appropriate degree. Rather, they apply with less formality as long as there is some indicia of trustworthiness. Therefore, reliable hearsay, such as a presentence investigation report, victim impact statement, or a forensic report prepared by a psychologist in determining whether an offender is a sexual predator, normally could be relied upon by the trial court. Cook at 425;King at 3; State v. Southerland (Dec. 30, 1999), Butler App. No. CA99-01-013, unreported, 1999 WL 1279304, at 3. By analogy, a police report could be relied upon as well if the court found there to be an indicia of reliability. In contrast, a victim impact statement may contain much information that is materially prejudicial, with little to support its reliability. However, in the instant matter, the statements made in the victim impact statement were consistent with the statements made in the police report.
In summation, the evidence presented at the sexual predator hearing, to-wit: the police report, the presentence investigation report, the psychological evaluation, and the victim impact statements, fall within the category of reliable hearsay. There is nothing in the record before this court to raise suspicion with respect to the reliability of these documents.
In the second issue presented under the second assignment of error, appellant claims that the trial court's sexual predator determination was against the manifest weight of the evidence. According to appellant, the state did not present clear and convincing evidence to show that he was likely to commit a sexually oriented offense in the future.
A trial court's sexual predator determination will not be reversed by an appellate court unless the manifest weight of the evidence fails to support the trial court's decision. Cook at 426. As such, this court must review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses and "`determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [trier of fact] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.'" State v.Thompkins (1997),
R.C.
In making a determination as to whether a defendant is a sexual predator, the trial court must state which factors under R.C.
In fact, a trial court may find an offender to be a sexual predator "even if only one or two statutory factors are present, so long as the totality of the relevant circumstances provides clear and convincing evidence that the offender is likely to commit a future sexually-oriented offense." (Emphasis added.) State v. Clutter (Jan. 28, 2000), Washington App. No. 99CA19, unreported, 2000 WL 134730, at 3. "While a trial court has no specific obligation to delineate the underlying reasons why it found certain factors were applicable, it is required to reference the relevant factors either in its judgment entry or on the record during the `sexual predator' hearing." Strickland at 2.
Further, in order for the trial court to adjudicate the offender as a sexual predator, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the offender is a sexual predator. R.C.
In its decision, the trial court relied on the following factors to adjudicate appellant to be a sexual predator:
"[1.] The defendant is thirty-one (31) years of age; thirty (30) years of age at the time of the offense;
"[2.] The defendant has no prior felony record;
"[3.] The victim of the sexually oriented offense was twelve (12) years of age at the time of the crime;
"[4.] The defendant has been diagnosed with mental disabilities as set forth in the psychiatric evaluation prepared and submitted by the Lake County Psychiatric Clinic;
"[5.] That the nature of the offender's sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context was violent and involved forcible sexual conduct upon the minor victim;
"[6.] The Court finds a lack of remorse of [sic] the part of the defendant."
A review of the record shows that the victim was twelve years old at the time of the rape, and was apparently an acquaintance of appellant. According to the police version contained in the presentence investigation report, the victim was at the home of a family friend when appellant came into the residence. While appellant and the victim spoke in an office, he became loud and violent, and ordered the victim to lay on the floor. Appellant then took her shorts and underpants off and raped the victim.
When questioned by officials at the probation department during the presentence interview, appellant relayed an entirely different scenario of events. According to appellant, he and the victim were playfully wrestling in the office for about a half an hour. Appellant then claimed that the victim "wanted it" and told him "let's do it." Appellant further insisted that the sexual act between him and the victim was consensual in nature, and that he did not use any force or make physical threats against the victim.
Even during the psychological evaluation, appellant maintained that the victim was the aggressor. While appellant admitted that he believed the victim was only fifteen or sixteen years old, he failed to consider the consequences of his behavior.
The psychological evaluation also reported that in 1987, appellant was admitted into the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute ("the Institute") for fire setting behavior and making false phone calls to the fire department. At the time of this hospitalization, appellant was twenty years old. The records from the institute indicated that appellant sought immediate gratification of his needs, and was diagnosed with atypical impulse control disorder, mild mental retardation, and mixed personality disorder.
Moreover, appellant's "self-reporting cannot be relied upon in terms of obtaining accurate information about his sexual orientation or sexual fantasies. For example, he denie[d] ever having sexual thoughts about the alleged victim of the crime * * *." As a result, the expert performing the psychological evaluation was unable to make an assessment or prediction regarding appellant's future inappropriate sexual behavior.
After having reviewed the record, we determine that clear and convincing evidence was presented to support the trial court's determination that appellant was a sexual predator. The young age of the victim, combined with appellant's acquaintance with the victim, the violent and forcible nature of the sexual conduct, appellant being "apt to respond to impulses[,]" the lack of genuine remorse, appellant's belief that the victim was the aggressor and "wanted it," and appellant's failure to consider the consequences of his behavior all demonstrate his propensity to engage in such acts in the future.
For these reasons, we conclude that the trial court properly adjudicated appellant to be a sexual predator. Accordingly, appellant's second assignment of error is not well-taken.
In the final assignment of error, appellant raises several different challenges to the constitutionality of R.C.
As to this point, the Supreme Court of Ohio has already fully considered the merits of appellant's arguments. In State ex rel. Bray v.Russell (2000),
In light of the foregoing, the trial court's reference to bad time in the sentencing judgment was improper. Accordingly, appellant's third assignment of error is meritorious to this extent.7
Additionally, under the third assignment of error, appellant makes several arguments challenging the constitutionality of R.C.
First, appellant claims that R.C.
R.C.
Further, a review of recent case law indicates that the Supreme Court of Ohio has already considered appellant's argument. In Woods, supra, the court rejected the argument that R.C.
In light of our determination that R.C.
Appellant's final due process challenge is that R.C.
In his final argument under this assignment of error, appellant maintains that the imposition of post-release control after he has served his full sentence violates his right to be free from double jeopardy. We disagree.
Although Woods was primarily concerned with whether R.C.
However, in State v. Martello (Apr. 20, 2001), Ashtabula App. No. 2000-A-0026, unreported, 2001 WL 409508, at 3, we held that "when a defendant is sentenced for a violation of his post-release control, and imposition of the sentence creates a situation where the defendant is forced to serve more than his original sentence, jeopardy attaches and precludes a conviction on the charge of escape." That is, when a person is sentenced to additional time in jail, that time cannot be considered a mere reinstatement of a term of his original sentence because the original sentence had already been served in its entirety. Id.
After reconsidering Woods as it relates to R.C.
Based on the foregoing analysis, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the matter is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Specifically, the trial court is instructed to vacate its prior sentencing judgment and issue a new judgment which does not contain any reference to the imposition of bad time. In all other respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
FORD, P.J., NADER, J., concur.
"The court may disregard an assignment of error presented for review if the party raising it fails to identify in the record the error on which the assignment of error is based or fails to argue the assignment separately in the brief, as required under App.R. 16(A)."
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