State v. Rabenold, Unpublished Decision (12-8-2006)
State v. Rabenold, Unpublished Decision (12-8-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Appellant's single assignment of error states:
{¶ 3} "[1.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT CLASSIFIED APPELLANT AS A SEXUAL PREDATOR."
{¶ 4} In the early morning hours of June 27, 2005, the seventeen-year old victim awoke to appellant touching her leg under the blankets of her bed. Startled, the victim screamed and chased appellant as he ran, clad in only his boxers, one sock and a t-shirt, from her room. The victim's father awoke as well and chased appellant outside the residence where he detained him until the Perry Township police arrived.
{¶ 5} Appellant admitted to the police that he had entered the residence with the intention of performing oral sex on the victim. Appellant and the victim attended the same local high school, however, they had never spoken prior to the incident. Appellant reported that he disrobed in the driveway prior to entering the residence.
{¶ 6} Appellant was originally charged with attempted rape and burglary. Appellant initially pleaded not guilty. However, on February 8, 2006, appellant pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of gross sexual imposition and to the offense of burglary as charged. The trial court ordered a pre-sentence investigation and report be prepared and referred the case for a sexual predator evaluation.
{¶ 7} On March 24, 2006, a hearing was held to determine whether appellant should be adjudicated a sexual predator in accordance with R.C.
{¶ 8} Appellant claims that the trial court erred in its sexual predator classification because "no sexual act" occurred. We do not agree. Appellant pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition defined by statute as having sexual contact with another. R.C.
{¶ 9} Appellant also claims that the state failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that appellant should be labeled a sexual predator. According to R.C.
{¶ 10} "A trial court's sexual predator classification will not be reversed by an appellate court unless the manifest weight of the evidence fails to support the trial court's decision." State v.Grandbouche, 11th Dist. No. 2003-G-2543,
{¶ 11} The state relied solely on the report of Dr. Rindsberg, a licensed clinical psychologist, in support of its request for a sexual predator classification. The report recommended appellant be classified a sexual predator. The report detailed appellant's performance on the Static 99 test. The Static 99 test determines the actuarial risk for sexual recidivism. Appellant scored a 4 on this test, which corresponds to a moderate to high rate of risk of recidivism. The report also analyzed appellant's risk of offending again based on eight predicting characteristics. Appellant qualified as a high risk for all the predictors except two.
{¶ 12} Dr. Rindsberg also analyzed appellant's recidivism risk under the factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 13} R.C.
{¶ 14} "(a) The offender's * * * age;
{¶ 15} "(b) The offender's * * * prior criminal record * * * regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
{¶ 16} "(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;
{¶ 17} "(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;
{¶ 18} "(e) Whether the offender * * * used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;
{¶ 19} "(f) If the offender * * * 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;
{¶ 20} "(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender * * *;
{¶ 21} "(h) The nature of the offender'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;
{¶ 22} "(i) Whether the offender * * * 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;
{¶ 23} "(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's * * * conduct."
{¶ 24} It is not necessary for a trial court to find all the afore mentioned factors apply to an offender, or even a majority of the factors, prior to the classification as a sexual predator. State v.Swank (Dec. 21, 2001), 11th Dist. No. 98-L-049, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 5846, 16, see, also, Yodice, supra, at ¶ 13. "* * * [T]he defendant may be so adjudicated even if only one or two of these factors are present, so long as the totality of the circumstances provides clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is likely to commit a sexually-oriented offense in the future." Id.
{¶ 25} The court applied the R.C.
{¶ 26} The court also noted additional factors under R.C.
{¶ 27} The court also considered appellant's arguments against the classification, but found they were outweighed by the public interest. "Now, I understand being labeled a sexual predator may be a burden on the Defendant because of his young age, the Defense may consider it not to be fair, but there is another consideration here and that's to protect the community. * * * He may be young, but he showed within that young period of time, * * * six-month period of time, he has committed two sex related offenses. He certainly progressed from maybe Voyeurism not being dangerous, to something very serious." The trial court went on to declare appellant a sexual predator.
{¶ 28} Appellant has failed to demonstrate this classification was not supported by clear and convincing evidence. Rather, a review of the record supports the classification. Dr. Rindsberg's report clearly recommended the classification based on psychological testing and social factors which indicated a high rate for recidivism. Appellant's young age, the prior conviction for voyeurism, the confession of appellant's intentions that night, the time span between appellant's voyeurism conviction and the underlying offense, the mental health issues, the drug abuse: these are all factors that weighed heavily in favor of the sexual predator classification. We cannot conclude that the trial court lost its way in classifying appellant a sexual predator.
{¶ 29} Appellant's sole assignment of error is without merit.
{¶ 30} For the reasons stated in the Opinion of this court, the assignment of error is not well taken. It is the judgment and order of this court that the judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
WILLIAM M. O'NEILL, J.,
COLLEEN MARY O'TOOLE, J.,
concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.