State v. Coombs, Unpublished Decision (10-16-2002)
State v. Coombs, Unpublished Decision (10-16-2002)
Opinion of the Court
This cause was heard upon the record in the trial court. Each error assigned has been reviewed and the following disposition is made:
{¶ 1} Appellant Lorel Coombs has appealed from a decision of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas that designated her a sexual predator under R.C.
{¶ 3} Most of the sexual contact involved Appellant's eight-year-old daughter, A.C., and fourteen-year-old babysitter, J.L. Appellant admitted that she allowed Cavins to have sexual contact with her daughter; he placed a vibrator on the vagina of the eight-year-old and Appellant admits that she also participated in the sex act. Appellant's eleven-year-old son, R.C., was present at this time as well. As to the sexual conduct involving J.L., Appellant allowed Smelko to have intercourse with the young girl in Appellant's home while Appellant was present. Appellant was also present when Smelko performed oral sex on J.L.; apparently this occurred while Appellant and other juveniles were playing a game. In addition, Appellant admitted to participating in the making of a pornographic video with J.L., Cavins, Smelko, and another adult male.
{¶ 4} After Appellant, Smelko, and Cavins were arrested for the above-described activities, Appellant continued to communicate with her co-defendants through the mail system. She wrote and received letters in jail; some of the letters gave a detailed description of the sexual conduct that occurred in Appellant's trailer. The letters Appellant received from Smelko discussed possible trial strategies — he wanted each defendant to lie to protect their co-defendants. The police were informed of these letters and obtained a search warrant to search Appellant's jail cell. A search was conducted and the police uncovered numerous letters (some of which were not included in the first search warrant). The police then obtained another search warrant, but by this time Appellant had either destroyed or sent the letters to Cavin's mother for safekeeping.
{¶ 5} Appellant, along with Smelko and Cavins, was indicted on six separate indictments because of the illicit conduct.1 Only three of the six indictments against Appellant are pertinent to the discussion of the instant appeal, however.
{¶ 6} In Case No. 00CR057703, in which Appellant was indicted on April 26, 2000, by the Lorain County Grand Jury, Appellant was indicted on four counts: corruption of a minor, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 7} On September 27, 2000, the Grand Jury indicted Appellant in Case Nos. 00CR056595 and 00CR056599.3 In Case No. 00CR056599, Appellant was indicted for tampering with evidence, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 8} In Case No. 00CR056595, Appellant was indicted on two counts of gross sexual imposition, a violation of R.C.
{¶ 9} During the sexually violent predator specification trial, Appellant waived her right to a jury trial and the trial was heard before the trial court. Additionally, the specification trial was consolidated to include co-defendants Smelko and Cavins. After the trial, the trial court acquitted Appellant, Smelko, and Cavins of the specification in case number 00CR056595. The trial court immediately proceeded to a sexual predator hearing for case numbers 00CR056599 and 00CR057703. The trial court adjudged Appellant and her co-defendants sexual predators. A sentencing hearing4 took place after the sexual predator hearing and Appellant was sentenced to three years imprisonment for each count of gross sexual imposition and two months for each count of child endangering.
{¶ 10} Appellant has timely appealed the sexual predator adjudication, asserting two assignments of error.
{¶ 11} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO APPELLANT'S PREJUDICE IN VIOLATION OF THEFOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE ONE SECTION TEN AND SIXTEEN OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION BY ADJUDICATING APPELLANT A SEXUAL PREDATOR IN THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE."
{¶ 12} In her first assignment of error, Appellant has contended that there was insufficient evidence to prove that she is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. Appellant has based this contention on the fact that the evidence adduced at the hearing failed to meet several statutory factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 13} In State v. Eppinger (2001),
{¶ 14} "In a model sexual offender classification hearing, there are essentially three objectives. First, it is critical that a record be created for review. Therefore, the prosecutor and defense counsel should identify on the record those portions of the trial transcript, victim impact statements, presentence report, and other pertinent aspects of the defendant's criminal and social history that both relate to the factors set forth in R.C.
2950.09 (B)(2) and are probative of the issue of whether the offender is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. * * * [A] clear and accurate record of what evidence or testimony was considered should be preserved, including any exhibits, for purposes of any potential appeal.{¶ 15} "Second, an expert may be required * * * to assist the trial court in determining whether the offender is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses.
{¶ 16} "* * *
{¶ 17} "Finally, the trial court should consider the statutory factors listed in R.C.
2950.09 (B)(2) and should discuss on the record the particular evidence and factors upon which it relies in making its determination regarding the likelihood of recidivism." (Emphasis added.) Eppinger,91 Ohio St.3d at 166 .
{¶ 18} The trial court is only required to consider each factor listed in R.C.
{¶ 19} In the instant case, it is clear that the trial court failed to create such a record. During the sexual predator hearing for case numbers 00CR056599 and 00CR057703, the trial court stated:
{¶ 20} "Again, at this point we are dealing with a lower standard of poof than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and we are not dealing with the issue as to whether the Defendant, or a Defendant, is likely to commit a sexually violent offense, but a sexually-merely a sexually oriented offense in the future.
{¶ 21} "The evidence does support this by clear and convincing evidence as to each and every one of the three Defendants.
{¶ 22} "The Court does find that each Defendant is hereby classified as a sexual predator."
{¶ 23} In adjudicating Appellant a sexual predator, the trial court simply noted the different burden of proof attached to the adjudication of Appellant as a sexual predator as opposed to a determination that Appellant is a sexually violent predator.6 It failed to properly consider any of the statutory factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 24} This Court notes that the trial court provided a lengthy analysis of the facts it found relevant in acquitting Appellant of the sexually violent predator specification. However, a trial court cannot simply rely on a sexually violent predator specification analysis as a proper basis for determining that Appellant is a sexual predator. The statutory factors employed in a sexually violent predator specification are quite distinct from the statutory factors employed in a sexual predator hearing. See R.C.
{¶ 25} Furthermore, we find Appellant's constitutional arguments without merit. Appellant failed to raise the issue of the constitutionality or application of R.C.
{¶ 26} Accordingly, we find that Appellant's first assignment of error has merit.
{¶ 27} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW BY DISREGARDING THE MANDATE OF R.C.2949.14 AND DENYING DEFENDANT CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED."
{¶ 28} This assignment of error has been rendered moot. Appellant's two hundred fourteen days of jail time credit was credited nunc pro tunc to the one year sentence Appellant received in Case No. 00CR056482, as evidenced by the trial court's journal entry dated June 10, 2002.
SLABY, P.J., BATCHELDER, J. CONCUR.
In Case No. 00CR056482, Appellant was indicted on two counts: tampering with evidence, a violation of R.C.
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