Keeney v. State
Keeney v. State
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 1} In 1986, petitioner-appellant, Jeff Keeney,
{¶ 3} Under the Megan’s Law’s version of R.C. 2950.01(D)(3), felonious assault was a sexually oriented offense when it was committed “with a purpose to gratify the sexual needs or desires of the offender.”
{¶ 4} On July 13, 2001, the trial court entered an order in Keeney’s criminal case captioned “Entry Finding Defendant Is Not a Sexual Predator; Finding Defendant Is Not a Habitual Sex Offender.” The entry stated, “This matter came before this Court for sexual predator determination to be made pursuant to Section 2950.09. Based on the information provided by the Department of
{¶ 5} In 2007, the General Assembly enacted Am.Sub.S.B. No. 10 (“Senate Bill 10”) to implement the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. Senate Bill 10 provides that offenders who have committed sexually oriented offenses that are not registration-exempt are to be placed in tiers based solely on the offense committed.
{¶ 6} Keeney was notified that he had been reclassified under Senate Bill 10 as a Tier III sex offender and that he was required to register with the local sheriff every 90 days for life.
{¶ 7} Keeney has appealed, raising six assignments of error that challenge the constitutionality of Senate Bill 10. Keeney first argues that he was acquitted of rape and, therefore, that the offense of felonious assault for which he was convicted in 1986 did not contain a “sexual motivation” element. Keeney argues that his felonious assault did not qualify as a sexually oriented offense because there was never a finding that his crime had been committed with a sexual
{¶ 8} R.C. 2950.01(B)(1) defines “sex offender” as a person who has been convicted of a sexually oriented offense. Felonious assault is a “sexually oriented offense” only when it is committed with a sexual motivation.
{¶ 9} At the hearing on Keeney’s R.C. 2950.031(E) petition, the state argued that the entry of July 13, 2001, constituted a finding by the previous trial court that Keeney was a sexually oriented offender and, therefore, that he had committed felonious assault with a sexual motivation. In overruling Keeney’s R.C. 2950.031(E) petition, the trial court accepted the state’s argument and found that the previous trial court had found Keeney to be a sexually oriented offender. But the entry of July 13, 2001, did not constitute a determination by the previous trial court that Keeney was a sexually oriented offender or that his offense was committed with a sexual motivation. The entry merely stated that Keeney was not a sexual predator or a habitual sexual offender. It made no statement as to whether Keeney was a sexually oriented offender or whether his offense had been committed with a sexual motivation.
{¶ 10} A review of the record reveals that there has never been a judicial determination that Keeney’s offense was committed with a sexual motivation. No hearing was held to address the question whether Keeney committed his crime for the purpose of gratifying his sexual needs or desires. The record before this court does not indicate that Keeney has been convicted of a sexually oriented
{¶ 11} The assignments of error are sustained solely for the reasons set forth in this decision. The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and Keeney is hereby discharged from any duty to register as a sex offender under R.C. Chapter 2950.
Judgment reversed.
. Keeney’s first name appears as Jeffrey only on the notice of appeal. On all other documents Keeney is listed as Jeff.
. State v. Clay, 177 Ohio App.3d 78, 2008-Ohio-2980, 893 N.E.2d 909.
. In 2003, the legislature replaced "committed with the purpose to gratify the sexual needs or desires of the offender" with "committed with a sexual motivation.” "Sexual motivation” as defined in former R.C. 2971.01 (J) "means a purpose to gratify the sexual needs or desires of the offender.”
. Former R.C. 2950.09(C)(1).
. Former R.C. 2950.09(C)(2)(a).
. Id.; former R.C. 2950.09(C)(2)(b).
. State v. Hayden, 96 Ohio St.3d 211, 2002-Ohio-4169, 773 N.E.2d 502.
. Sewell v. State, 181 Ohio App.3d 280, 2009-Ohio-872, 908 N.E.2d 995, at ¶ 2.
. R.C. 2950.01(A)(4).
. R.C. 2971.01(J).
. There is some confusion in the record about how Keeney was notified of his reclassification under Senate Bill 10. Keeney’s counsel indicated that Keeney had moved out of and then back into Ohio and that he had been reclassified at that time. The prosecutor stated that Keeney had received a notice from the Ohio Attorney General stating that he had been reclassified as a Tier III sex offender.
. R.C. 2950.01(A)(4).
. State v. Florer, 5th Dist. No. 2005-CA-47, 2006-Ohio-4441, 2006 WL 2474345; State v. McClellan, 10th Dist. No. 01 AP-1462, 2002-Ohio-5164, 2002 WL 31160074, at ¶ 15; State v. Slade (Dec. 28, 1999), 10th Dist. No. 98AP-1618, 1999 WL 1262051.
. State v. Barksdale, 2nd Dist. No. 19294, 2003-Ohio-43, 2003 WL 77115.
. State v. Nagy, 8th Dist. No. 90400, 2008-Ohio-4703, 2008 WL 4263349, at ¶ 40, citing State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264, at ¶ 20; State v. Childs (2001), 142 Ohio App.3d 389, 755 N.E.2d 958.
. State v. Small, 162 Ohio App.3d 375, 2005-Ohio-3813, 833 N.E.2d 774, at ¶ 19.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.