State v. Bowman, Unpublished Decision (12-13-2002)
State v. Bowman, Unpublished Decision (12-13-2002)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} At the park, Bowman threw Whitehead against a fence and ordered her to take off her pants. Whitehead removed one of her shoes, and Bowman punched her in the face. Whitehead then removed one pant leg, and Bowman grabbed her by the neck and slammed her to the ground. Bowman got on top of her and ordered her to give him her rings, which she did. Bowman then forced vaginal intercourse. During the rape, Whitehead saw a man running around a nearby running track and called out for help. Bowman immediately jumped up, and Whitehead was able to run away from Bowman.
{¶ 4} Whitehead ran and knocked on several doors until Mildred Gaston opened her door. Gaston testified that on the evening of October 19, 2001, she heard banging on her door and looked out the window to see a woman screaming. She let Whitehead inside and then noticed that Whitehead had no clothes on from the waist down. Whitehead collapsed on the floor, screaming and crying. Gaston called 911, and Whitehead explained to the 911 operator that she had been raped. Several days later, Whitehead picked Bowman out of a police photo lineup.
{¶ 5} Wendy Jodice, a sexual-assault nurse, testified that Whitehead's explanation of what had happened was consistent with the trauma suffered to Whitehead's cervix inside her vagina. Bowman's DNA profile matched the DNA profile obtained from sperm found on a vaginal swab taken from Whitehead.
{¶ 7} The legal concepts of weight of the evidence and sufficiency of the evidence are distinct.1 In an appeal based on the weight of the evidence, the appellate court acts as a thirteenth juror and must determine whether the trier of fact lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be overturned and a new trial ordered.2 When the appeal is based on the sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate court must determine whether the evidence submitted was legally sufficient to support all the elements of the offense charged.3 Specifically, the court must determine whether any rational factfinder, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the state, could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.4
{¶ 8} Bowman was convicted of rape, under R.C.
{¶ 9} Bowman argues that the state did not establish that the sexual intercourse in the park was nonconsensual. Bowman admits that force was used, but claims that it could have just been "rough sex." The Jerry Springer television program is cited for the proposition that some individuals like "rough sex."
{¶ 10} Whitehead testified that a complete stranger grabbed her from behind, forced her to walk to a park while slapping and punching her, slammed her to the ground, robbed her, and raped her. The state produced evidence of injuries to Whitehead's face and trauma to her vagina, and evidence that Whitehead ran to strangers' homes looking for help while only half-dressed.
{¶ 11} Though Jerry Springer's television program might be cited for all sorts of weirdness, we cannot conceive that this case was other than a forcible rape and robbery of a complete stranger. The rape conviction was supported by sufficient evidence and was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. We conclude that it was not either a manifest miscarriage of justice nor was there insufficient evidence for the trial court to convict Bowman of rape.
{¶ 13} Bowman argues that the state failed to prove that he exerted control over Whitehead's property without her consent. He argues that when Whitehead ran away from him, she abandoned her belongings. Further, Bowman claims that the record does not indicate that Bowman actually took any of Whitehead's personal belongings away from the scene. These arguments are equally bizarre and feckless.
{¶ 14} Whitehead testified that, at the park, Bowman punched her, slammed her to the ground, and demanded that she remove her rings and give them to him, which she did. It is irrelevant that Whitehead later ran away from the scene or what Bowman did with the property. We conclude that Bowman's conviction for robbery was not against the manifest weight of the evidence or based on legally insufficient evidence. Accordingly, Bowman's first and second assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 16} The Ohio Supreme Court has set forth standards for a trial court to follow in a sexual-offender-classification hearing, stating that such standards are designed to assist the appellate court in reviewing the evidence. The trial court should (1) provide a record for appellate review that relates to the issue of whether the offender is likely to recidivate; (2) allow the presentation of expert opinion to assist the trial court in its determination; and (3) consider the ten factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 17} Here, the trial court held a proper sexual-offender-classification hearing. At the hearing, the state submitted the testimony from the trial for the purpose of establishing the facts of the offense. The state also submitted the court clinic report and the presentence-investigation report. The trial court then considered the R.C.
{¶ 18} After reviewing the record, we hold that the trial court had sufficient evidentiary material before it to produce a firm conviction or belief that Bowman was likely to commit another sexual offense, and that its determination that Bowman is a sexual predator was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly, Bowman's third assignment of error is overruled, and the trial court's judgment is affirmed.
Hildebrandt and Winkler, JJ., concur.
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