State v. Colon, Unpublished Decision (3-9-2005)
State v. Colon, Unpublished Decision (3-9-2005)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} On June 10, 2004, the trial court sentenced appellant to an agreed prison term of four years on the five counts. The trial court further classified appellant as a child-victim predator the same day after a sexual offender classification hearing. Appellant timely appeals the classification, setting forth one assignment of error for review.
{¶ 4} Appellant argues that the trial court erred in classifying him as a child-victim predator, because the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that appellant is likely to engage in one or more sexually oriented offenses in the future. Specifically, appellant argues that a conviction for one sexually oriented offense is not sufficient in this case to support a finding by clear and convincing evidence that appellant is likely to reoffend. Even assuming that appellant is challenging his child-victim predator classification on the basis that the State failed to present clear and convincing evidence that appellant is likely to engage in one or more child-victim, rather than sexually, oriented offenses in the future, this Court disagrees.
{¶ 5} In reviewing the trial court's classification of a defendant as a childvictim predator, this Court adopts the clearly erroneous standard of review. See State v. Sees, 9th Dist. No. 21199, 2003-Ohio-249. Therefore, this Court will not reverse the child-victim predator classification, if there is "some competent, credible evidence" to support the trial court's determination that there is clear and convincing evidence that such classification is appropriate. Sees.
{¶ 6} R.C.
{¶ 7} Pursuant to R.C.
"* * * all references in the factors so identified in [R.C.
The factors in R.C.
"(a) The offender's * * * age;
"(b) The offender's * * * prior criminal * * * record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all [child-victim oriented] offenses;
"(c) The age of the victim of the [child-victim] oriented offenses for which sentence is to be imposed * * *;
"(d) Whether the [child-victim] oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed * * * involved multiple victims;
"(e) Whether the offender * * * used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the [child-victim] oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
"(f) If the offender * * * previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, * * * a criminal offense, whether the offender * * * completed any sentence * * * imposed for the prior offense * * * and, if the prior offense * * * was a sex offense or a [child-victim] oriented offense, whether the offender * * * participated in available programs for [child-victim] offenders;
"(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender * * *;
"(h) The nature of the offender's * * * sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context with the victim of the [childvictim] oriented offense and whether the sexual conduct, sexual contact, or interaction in a sexual context was part of a demonstrated pattern of abuse;
"(i) Whether the offender * * *, during the commission of the [childvictim] oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed * * *, displayed cruelty or made one or more threats of cruelty;
"(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's * * * conduct."
{¶ 8} Appellant relies on State v. Eppinger (2001),
{¶ 9} In the trial court's consideration of the relevant statutory factors, the trial court must "`discuss on the record the particular evidence and factors upon which it relies in making its determination regarding the likelihood of recidivism.'" State v. Cheetham, 8th Dist. No. 84193,
{¶ 10} In this case, the trial court found that appellant was 28 years old, while the two victims were 12- and 13-year old girls. R.C.
{¶ 11} The trial court further considered appellant's prior criminal record regarding all offenses, including the current convictions for rape, attempted rape, and two counts of gross sexual imposition, involving the 12- and 13-year old victims. R.C.
{¶ 12} The trial court considered appellant's alcohol consumption at the time of the commission of the abduction and appellant's attempt to induce the victims to drink with him. R.C.
{¶ 13} There was no evidence for the trial court to consider in regard to R.C.
{¶ 14} The trial court, however, further considered the nature of appellant's sexual conduct, sexual contact and interaction in a sexual context with the victims, noting appellant's convictions for both rape and gross sexual imposition in regard to the minor victims. R.C.
{¶ 15} Finally, the trial court found that the two child victims were in their own bedroom in their own home at the time of the commission of the child-victim oriented offense and the sexual assaults. R.C.
{¶ 16} Based on the record as a whole, this Court finds that the trial court's classification of appellant as a child-victim predator was supported by competent, credible evidence. There is competent, credible evidence to indicate that the State met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that appellant is likely to commit in the future one or more child-victim oriented offenses. Consequently, appellant's sole assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common Pleas, County of Lorain, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to appellant.
Exceptions.
Whitmore, P.J. Batchelder, J. concur.
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