State v. Williams, Unpublished Decision (9-24-2004)
State v. Williams, Unpublished Decision (9-24-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On February 19, 1986, appellant, after watching a nineteen year old woman undress from a window, broke into and entered the victim's home and raped her. On April 8, 1986, appellant was indicted on four counts of rape, one count of aggravated burglary, one count of attempted aggravated burglary, and one count of kidnapping. On May 19, 1986, appellant pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of aggravated burglary. The trial court entered a nolle prosequi on the remaining charges. On the same date, appellant was sentenced to an indeterminate term of seven to twenty five years incarceration on both counts; the court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.
{¶ 3} On April 16, 2003, appellant appeared before the trial court for a sexual predator hearing arising from the rape charge to which he pleaded guilty. During the hearing, the court reviewed the exhibits submitted into evidence, including a psychological report prepared by Dr. Sandra McPherson and an H.B. 180 psychological assessment prepared by Dr. John Fabian of the Lake County Forensic Psychiatric Clinic. In its April 21, 2003 judgment entry, the lower court found that the state set forth clear and convincing evidence to adjudicate appellant a sexual predator. Appellant now appeals and assigns the following error for our consideration:
{¶ 4} "The trial court committed reversible error when it labeled the defendantappellant a sexual predator against the manifest weight of the evidence."
{¶ 5} R.C.
{¶ 6} "In making a determination * * * as to whether an offender * * * is a sexual predator, the judge shall consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to, all of the following:
{¶ 7} "(a) The offender's or delinquent child's age
{¶ 8} "(b) The offender's or delinquent child's prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offense including but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
{¶ 9} "(c) The age of the victim of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made;
{¶ 10} "(d) Whether the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made involved multiple victims;
{¶ 11} "(e) Whether the offender or delinquent child used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
{¶ 12} "(f) If the offender or delinquent child previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be, a criminal offense, whether the offender or delinquent child completed any sentence or dispositional order imposed for the prior offense or act and, if the prior offense or act was a sex offense or a sexually oriented offense, whether the offender or delinquent child participated in available programs for sexual offenders;
{¶ 13} "(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender or delinquent child;
{¶ 14} "(h) The nature of the offender's or delinquent child'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;
{¶ 15} "(i) Whether the offender or delinquent child, during the commission of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made, displayed cruelty or made one or more threats of cruelty;
{¶ 16} "(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's or delinquent child's conduct."
{¶ 17} During the sexual predator hearing, the court examined each of the R.C.
{¶ 18} "* * * under A, * * * Mr. Williams is now 43 years. That reduces the risk of recidivism. However, past behavior would certainly indicate that Mr. Williams is a risk to re-offend.
{¶ 19} "As far as B is concerned, we have two prior offenses of breaking and entering. We have admissions of voyeurism, * * * I don't think looking in people's window is normal behavior. Perhaps watching women undress may be normal behavior, but not — in secret, private, but that's not normal. * * *"
{¶ 20} The court reviewed factors (c), (d), and (e); however, did not attach any express weight thereto. The court continued:
{¶ 21} "F, Mr. Williams did participate in a sex offender education program.
{¶ 22} "* * *
{¶ 23} "Dr. Fabian has concluded that the offender has antisocial, sadistic and borderline personality traits, alcohol and cannabis dependency as well as voyeurism.
{¶ 24} "I don't know right now how Mr. Williams would have an alcohol and cannabis dependency after thirteen years considering the nature of those particular drugs. * * * Certainly a twelve, thirteen year hiatus would give Mr. Williams a good shot at breaking that problem or keeping that problem intact.2
{¶ 25} "No demonstrated pattern of abuse. This was a one time offense.
{¶ 26} "As far as cruelty goes, the act itself was cruel, dangerous, risk filled, broke in in the wee hours of the morning into an occupied house, saw this woman in the state of undress and went in and before he asked for any money raped her. Forcing fellatio twice and penetration of the vagina twice. All the while, all the while knowing that she, himself and the potential of the husband, the husband was at risk. All of these people were at risk in this particular situation. So the act itself I do find an act of cruelty."
{¶ 27} Moreover, during both the hearing and in its judgment entry, the court underscored that appellant has poor community adjustment abilities and the rape occurred a mere six days after appellant was released from prison.3 See, R.C.
{¶ 28} Appellant does not dispute the first prong of the R.C.
{¶ 29} First, with respect to R.C.
{¶ 30} Next, under R.C.
{¶ 31} The record indicates that the court was aware that rape conviction was appellant's only sexually oriented offense. We recognize that the commission of a single sexually oriented offense is not proof, without other evidence or other compelling facts, that the offender is a likely recidivist. State v.Griffin (2000),
{¶ 32} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 33} In relation to R.C.
{¶ 34} Under 2950.09(B)(3)(g), appellant acknowledges that Dr. Fabian determined that appellant was sadistic, an alcoholic, dependant on cannabis, and displayed borderline personality traits as well as voyeurism; however, appellant submits neither Dr. Fabian nor Dr. McPherson diagnosed him a pedophile or a psychopath, which, according to his psychological evaluation, are the two greatest risk factors for recidivism. In appellant's view, the court gave undue weight Dr. Fabian's determinations regarding his psychological profile.
{¶ 35} In relation to R.C.
{¶ 36} Finally, appellant acknowledges that Dr. Fabian found appellant to have a moderate to high risk to re-offend; however, appellant underscores Dr. McPherson's determination that he was only at a moderate risk to reoffend. Appellant notes that Dr. Fabian's findings, which included a diagnosis of voyeurism, permitted the court to conclude that his primary goal on the night of the incident was to watch the victim which led to her rape. Appellant argues that the court erroneously accepted Dr. Fabian's findings insofar as they contradicted those of Dr. McPherson's, which did not include the diagnosis of voyeurism.
{¶ 37} In determining whether a judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence, an appellate court engages in an independent review of the record, weighing the evidence and all reasonable inferences and determines whether the lower court clearly lost its way and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. State v. Martin (1983),
{¶ 38} Based on the record as a whole, this court finds that the state met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that appellant is likely to commit another sexually oriented offense. Moreover, we hold that the trial court properly conducted the necessary analysis pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 39} Appellant's rape conviction meets the initial legal prong of the sexual predator statute. Further, the trial court's finding that appellant is likely to commit another sexually oriented offense is supported by competent, credible evidence. Thus, the trial court did not err in adjudicating appellant a sexual predator. Appellant's sole assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 40} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Ford, P.J., concurs.
O'Neill, J., concurs in judgment only.
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