State v. Dyer, Unpublished Decision (9-21-2007)
State v. Dyer, Unpublished Decision (9-21-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Appellant was referred to the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center for a sexual offender classification evaluation pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 3} Appellant submitted one assignment of error for review:
{¶ 4} "The Court Erred In Adjudicating Appellant A Sexual Predator, Pursuant To Ohio Revised Code §
{¶ 5} The Ohio Supreme Court recently clarified the standard of review applicable to sex offender classifications. "Because sex-offender-classification proceedings under R.C. Chapter 2950 are civil in nature, a trial court's determination in a sex-offender-classification hearing must be reviewed under a civil manifest-weight-of-the-evidence standard and may not be disturbed when the judge's findings are supported by some competent, credible evidence." State v. Wilson,
{¶ 6} Sex offenders may be classified into one of three categories: sexual predators, habitual sexual offenders, and sexually oriented offenders. R.C.
{¶ 7} At a classification hearing, a trial court is required to consider the statutory factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 8} "In making a determination under divisions (B)(1) and (4) of this section as to whether an offender or delinquent child is a sexual predator, the judge shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
{¶ 9} "(a) The offender's or delinquent child's age;
{¶ 10} "(b) The offender's or delinquent child's prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;
{¶ 11} "(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; *Page 4
{¶ 12} "(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;
{¶ 13} "(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;
{¶ 14} "(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;
{¶ 15} "(g) Any mental illness or mental disability of the offender or delinquent child;
{¶ 16} "(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;
{¶ 17} "(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;
{¶ 18} "(j) Any additional behavioral characteristics that contribute to the offender's or delinquent child's conduct." R.C.
{¶ 19} At the hearing, a court "should discuss on the record the particular evidence and factors upon which it relies in making its determination regarding the likelihood of recidivism." State v.Carpenter, 6th Dist. No. L-04-1195,
{¶ 20} At appellant's classification hearing, Dr. Gregory Forgac, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, and Dr. Charlene Cassel, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, testified and submitted written reports assessing appellant's potential recidivism. The trial court admitted both written reports into evidence. Dr. Forgac based his assessment on an interview and appellant's scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2. He testified that appellant presented as "relatively normal," and found "nothing that would indicate severe psychological/psychiatric disturbance." He also completed a Static-99, an "actuarial instrument" used to predict the likelihood of sex offense recidivism based on a person's static history; Dr. Forgac testified that the Static-99 is generally accepted in the psychological community, used routinely in sex offender evaluations. Appellant's results showed a medium high risk, with a 40 percent chance of *Page 6 recidivism and a 50 percent chance of violent recidivism over a 15 year period of time; this score did not account for appellant's plea sub judice.
{¶ 21} Of the factors listed in R.C.
{¶ 22} Dr. Cassel also conducted one interview with appellant, reviewed his records, administered the MMPI and the Static-99, and submitted a written report evaluating appellant's likelihood of recidivism which was admitted into evidence. Her Static-99, like Dr. Forgac's, showed appellant had a medium-high risk for reoffending. She also completed the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, designed to detect psychopathy, with appellant. For the Hare, she asked certain questions of appellant in the interview and then scored the extent of characteristics on a scale; therefore, the results were based on her subjective perceptions. Appellant scored a 30 on the Hare, the cutoff point for psychopathy; Dr. Cassel indicated this was "high." Appellant scored the highest on the Hare factor which represented a chronically unstable and antisocial lifestyle. A subject's score above 30 points results in an 80 percent probability of recidivism. In her report, Dr. Cassel found seven factors of R.C.
{¶ 23} The trial court did not list the R.C.
{¶ 24} Although the trial court did not separately discuss each (or any, for that matter) of the factors of R.C.
{¶ 25} Further, upon review of the evidence considered by the trial court, we find ample competent, credible evidence supports the conclusion that appellant is more likely than not to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. Appellant points to the lack of applicable factors, namely, that he had no prior sexually oriented convictions, that he was not afflicted with a mental illness or disability, that he did not use drugs or alcohol, threats or acts or cruelty in the commission of the offense, and that he has not demonstrated a pattern of abuse. The trial court did, however, consider the factors found by two psychological reports which found more factors applicable rather than inapplicable. State v. Henry, 6th Dist. No. WD-05-047,
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski P.J., William J. Skow, J., Thomas J. Osowik, J. CONCUR. *Page 1
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.