State v. Wilson, Unpublished Decision (3-14-2005)
State v. Wilson, Unpublished Decision (3-14-2005)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, David Allen Wilson ("Wilson"), appeals the September 13, 2004 judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Union County finding him to be a child-victim predator and ordering him to register as such.{¶ 2} On October 9, 1986, Wilson was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape of a child less than thirteen years of age, by force, felonies of the first degree in violation of R.C.
{¶ 3} On September 13, 2004, the trial court held a sexual offender classification hearing. Wilson stipulated to the child-victim predator classification. At the conclusion of the proceedings, Wilson was determined to be a child-victim predator and was ordered to register pursuant to R.C.
The appellant was denied due process of law because his assistance ofcounsel was ineffective. The finding that appellant was a child-victim predator was contrary tothe record and is clear and plain error.
{¶ 4} In the interest of clarity and logic, we have chosen to address the second assignment of error first. In his second assignment of error, Wilson argues that the trial court's finding that Wilson was a child-victim predator was not supported by the record and is plain error. Wilson asserts that, despite his stipulation that his convictions fit the definition of child-victim predator, it was improper for the court to find him a child-victim predator.
{¶ 5} In its brief, the State agrees that the facts of the case fall squarely within the facts and holding of State v. Schuerman, 9th Dist. No. 03CA008468,
{¶ 6} In Schuerman, appellant pled guilty to six counts of gross sexual imposition, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 7} R.C.
(a) Subject to division (S)(2) of this section, any of the followingviolations or offenses committed by a person eighteen years of age orolder, when the victim of the violation is under eighteen years of ageand is not a child of the person who commits the violation:
(i) A violation of division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (5) of section
R.C.
{¶ 8} In Schuerman, the Court reasoned that since appellant had pled guilty to six counts of gross sexual imposition, in violation of R.C.
{¶ 9} Accordingly, Wilson's second assignment of error is sustained and the matter should be remanded to the trial court for a new sex offender adjudication.
{¶ 10} In his first assignment of error, Wilson argues that his counsel was ineffective for advising him to stipulate to a child-victim classification of which he could not be classified. Based on our determination of the first assignment of error, this argument is well taken.
{¶ 11} The burden is placed upon the defendant to show ineffectiveness of his trial counsel. The standard is set forth in Strickland v.Washington (1984),
{¶ 12} The general standard for counsel's performance is "reasonably effective assistance." Id. Therefore, Wilson is required to show that the performance of his counsel fell below "an objective standard of reasonableness." Id. at 688. This court must make the inquiry into the reasonableness of counsel's performance considering all of the circumstances in the case. Id. at 695. In addition, counsel's performance must be evaluated from the perspective of counsel at the time of the proceeding. Id.
{¶ 13} The presumption is in favor of counsel's conduct falling within the range of "reasonable professional assistance." Id. at 689. An error on the part of counsel will not warrant setting aside the judgment of the proceeding unless the error had an effect on that judgment. Id. at 691. In proving that he was prejudiced by his counsel's deficient performance, Wilson "must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that, were it not for counsel's errors, the result of the [proceeding] would have been different." State v. Bradley (1989),
{¶ 14} At the hearing on Wilson's sex offender classification, the prosecution sought a child-victim predator classification. Wilson's counsel told the court that based upon her examination of the statute, a child-victim predator classification was correct. The court then inquired whether Wilson stipulated to the classification, at which time Wilson indicated that he did. Wilson's counsel never raised any objection to the classification despite the fact that Wilson was not convicted of any of the offenses listed in R.C.
{¶ 15} Since Wilson's convictions were for offenses that are not within the enumerated statutory sections of R.C.
{¶ 16} Having found merit with the assignments of error, the judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Union County is reversed and the cause is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded. Cupp, P.J., and Shaw, J., concur.
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