[Cite as State v. Lewis, 2019-Ohio-4193.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

STATE OF OHIO 

 Plaintiff-Appellee 

-vsCODY M. LEWIS 

 Defendant-Appellant 

JUDGES: 

: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. 

: Hon. John W. Wise, J. 

: Hon. Earle E. Wise, J. 

: 

: 

: Case No. 2019CA0009 

: 

: 

: OPINION 

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal appeal from the Coshocton 

Municipal Court, Case No. CRB1800807 

 A-C 

JUDGMENT: Affirmed 

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: October 10, 2019 

APPEARANCES: 

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant 

ROBERT SKELTON JAMES ONG 

Coshocton Law Director 201 North Main Street 

760 Chestnut Street Uhrichsville, OH 44683 

Coshocton, OH 43812 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 2 

Gwin, P.J. 

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Cody M. Lewis [“Lewis”] appeals his sexual offender 

registration status after a no contest plea in the Coshocton County Municipal Court. 

Facts and Procedural History 

{¶2} On or about October 15, 2018, Lewis was charged with three counts of 

Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2907.04(B)(2), 

misdemeanors of the first degree. 

{¶3} On April 24, 2019, Lewis waived presentation of facts and stipulated to a 

finding of guilty. (T. at 6)1. Despite the waiver, the state introduced a statement of facts. (T. 

at 6-8). The state further informed the trial court as follows, 

MR. SKELTON: I mean, this very easily could have been charged as three 

felonies. So – 

THE COURT: But it wasn’t? 

MR. SKELTON: It wasn’t because it was sent to our office because the 

prosecutor assumed that he [Lewis] would get more jail time in Municipal 

Court than if he was charged with felonies. So, that’s why we took it up here. 

T. at 3. 

{¶4} Lewis was sentenced to ninety days on Count One and Count Two; 

concurrent and ninety days on Count Three, consecutive to Counts One and Two. The 

Court impose a fine of $200 and court costs on Counts One and Two, and $200 without 

costs on Count Three. In addition, the trial court ordered Lewis to register as a Tier I 

Sexual Offender, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 2950.01(E)(1)(b). 

 1 For clarity, the transcript of the April 24, 2019 Change of Plea, Disposition, and Sexual Predator 

Hearing will be referred to as “T.” 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 3 

Assignment of Error 

{¶5} Lewis raises one assignment of error, 

{¶6} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN REQUIRING 

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT TO REGISTER AS A TIER I SEXUAL OFFENDER.” 

Law and Analysis 

{¶7} In his sole assignment of error, Lewis argues that he pled to unlawful sexual 

conduct with a minor as a first-degree misdemeanor, which requires the offender to be 

less than four years older than the victim. Lewis further contends that because lack of 

consent to the sexual conduct is not an element of the crime itself the court may not 

consider a lack of consent in determining his sexual offender classification under R.C. 

2950.01. [Appellant’s Brief 3-5]. Therefore, Lewis argues that he could not be sentenced 

to register as a Tier I Sexual Offender. 

STANDARD OF APPELLATE REVIEW. 

{¶8} Lewis’s arguments center on an issue of law, not the discretion of the trial 

court. “‘When a court’s judgment is based on an erroneous interpretation of the law, an 

abuse-of-discretion standard is not appropriate. See Swartzentruber v. Orrville Grace 

Brethren Church, 163 Ohio App.3d 96, 2005-Ohio-4264, 836 N.E.2d 619, ¶ 6; Huntsman 

v. Aultman Hosp., 5th Dist. No. 2006 CA 00331, 2008-Ohio-2554, 2008 WL 2572598, ¶ 

50.’ Med. Mut. of Ohio v. Schlotterer, 122 Ohio St.3d 181, 2009-Ohio-2496, 909 N.E.2d 

1237, ¶ 13.” State v. Fugate, 117 Ohio St.3d 261, 2008-Ohio-856, 883 N.E.2d 440, ¶6. 

Because the assignment of error involves the interpretation of a statute, which is a 

question of law, we review the trial court’s decision de novo. Med. Mut. of Ohio v. 

Schlotterer, 122 Ohio St.3d 181, 2009-Ohio-2496, 909 N.E.2d 1237, ¶ 13; Accord, State 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 4 

v. Pariag, 137 Ohio St.3d 81, 2013-Ohio-4010, 998 N.E.2d 401, ¶ 9; Hurt v. Liberty 

Township, Delaware County, OH, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 17 CAI 05 0031, 2017-Ohio7820, ¶ 31. 

ISSUE FOR APPEAL. 

Whether under Ohio law an offender convicted of a first-degree misdemeanor 

offense of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor in violation of R.C. 2904.07(a) and (b)(2) 

can be sentenced as a Tier I sex offender pursuant to R.C.2950.01(E)(1)(b). 

{¶9} In the case at bar, Lewis was originally charged with, pled no contest and 

was found guilty in the Coshocton County Municipal Court of three counts of Unlawful 

Sexual Conduct With a Minor, in violation of Ohio Revised Code 2907.04(B)(2), 

misdemeanors of the first degree. Lewis is more than four years older than his victim is. 

T. at 7. However, the state voluntarily chose to charge Lewis with misdemeanor violations 

because the prosecutor assumed that Lewis would get more jail time in Municipal Court 

than if he was charged with felonies. T. at 3. The decision whether to prosecute and what 

charge to file is within the prosecutor's discretion. See State ex rel. Jones v. Garfield 

Heights Municipal Court, 77 Ohio St.3d 447, 448, 1997–Ohio–256, 674 N.E.2d 1381, 

citing Mootispaw v. Eckstein, 76 Ohio St.3d 383, 385, 1996–Ohio–389, 667 N.E.2d 1197. 

Such decisions are not normally subject to judicial review. Id. 

Sexual-offender Reporting and Notification Requirements Increase the 

Punishment on the Person Convicted.

{¶10} The sex-offender reporting and notification requirements contained in R.C. 

Chapter 2950 are punitive in nature because they impose additional criminal punishment on 

those convicted of sexually oriented offenses. State v. Williams, 88 Ohio St.3d 513, 528, 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 5 

728 N.E.2d 342 (2000); State v. Raber, 134 Ohio St.3d 350, 2012-Ohio-5636, 982 N.E.2d 

684, ¶23. 

{¶11} The offense of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 

2907.04 qualifies as a “sexually oriented offense” under the following circumstances set 

forth in R.C. 2950.01(A): 

(A) “Sexually oriented offense” means any of the following violations or 

offenses committed by a person, regardless of the person’s age: 

(1) A violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 

2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, or 

2907.323 of the Revised Code; 

(2) A violation of section 2907.04 of the Revised Code when the 

offender is less than four years older than the other person with whom the 

offender engaged in sexual conduct, the other person did not consent to the 

sexual conduct, and the offender previously has not been convicted of or 

pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the 

Revised Code or a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code; 

(3) A violation of section 2907.04 of the Revised Code when the 

offender is at least four years older than the other person with whom the 

offender engaged in sexual conduct or when the offender is less than four 

years older than the other person with whom the offender engaged in sexual 

conduct and the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty 

to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or 

a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code; 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 6 

* * * 

{¶12} R.C. 2950.01(E)(1)(b) provides that a person who commits unlawful sexual 

conduct with a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04 is a Tier I sex offender when: 

 (E) “Tier I sex offender/child-victim offender” means any of the 

following: 

(1) A sex offender who is convicted of, pleads guilty to, has been 

convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to any of the following sexually oriented 

offenses: 

* * * 

(b) A violation of section 2907.04 of the Revised Code when the 

offender is less than four years older than the other person with whom the 

offender engaged in sexual conduct, the other person did not consent to the 

sexual conduct, and the offender previously has not been convicted of or 

pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the 

Revised Code or a violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code; 

* * * 

{¶13} Under current law, an offender who commits a sexually oriented offense is 

found to be either a “sex offender” or a “child-victim offender.” Depending on what crime 

the offender committed, they are placed in Tier I, Tier II or Tier III. The tiers dictate what 

the registration and notification requirements are. R.C. 2950.01. Judges no longer have 

discretion to determine which classification best fits the offender. See, State v. Bodye, 126 

Ohio St.3d 266, 2010-Ohio-2424, 933 N.E.2d 753, ¶22. Unlike the earlier “labeling” 

classification system under Megan’s Law, 146 Ohio Laws, Part II, 2560, in which a judge 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 7 

could consider the characteristics of an offender before sentencing, “tier” classification is 

based solely upon the offense for which a person is convicted and the judge has no 

discretion to modify the classification. State v. Williams, 129 Ohio St.3d 344, 2011-Ohio3374, 952 N.E.2d 1108, ¶ 20. Accord, State v. Blankenship, 145 Ohio St.3d 221, 2015-

Ohio-4624, 48 N.E.3d 516, ¶11. 

{¶14} The elements of the offense of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor exist 

when a person who is eighteen years of age or older engages in sexual conduct with 

another, who is not the spouse of the offender, when the offender knows the other person 

is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is 

reckless in that regard. R.C. 2907.04(A). 

{¶15} However, as can be observed from R.C. 2907.04, neither the relative age 

difference between the victim and the other person nor whether the sexual conduct was 

consensual or non-consensual are elements of the crime of Unlawful Sexual Conduct 

with a Minor. R.C. 2907.04 defines the offense of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, 

without reference to the degree of the crime or act committed by the person and sets forth 

all that the state must prove to secure a conviction. However, R.C. 2907.04 further 

provides for different degrees of the offense, 

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful sexual conduct 

with a minor. 

(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this 

section, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the fourth degree. 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 8 

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the 

offender is less than four years older than the other person, unlawful sexual 

conduct with a minor is a misdemeanor of the first degree. 

(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4) of this section, if the 

offender is ten or more years older than the other person, unlawful sexual 

conduct with a minor is a felony of the third degree. 

(4) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to 

a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, or 2907.04 of the Revised Code or a 

violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, unlawful sexual 

conduct with a minor is a felony of the second degree. 

Emphasis added. Similarly, R.C. 2950.01(A) defines a “sexually oriented offense” as 

one in which the offender is less than four years older than the other person and the other 

person did not consent.” Thus, Lewis would properly be classified as a Tier I sex offender 

if he was less than four years older than his victim, and the sexual conduct was not

consensual; and he would not be properly classified as a sex offender at all and would have 

no registration/reporting requirements if he was less than four years older than his victim 

and the sexual conduct was consensual. 

{¶16} Earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court emphasized that “[a]s this 

Court has repeatedly explained, any ‘increase in a defendant's authorized punishment 

contingent on the finding of a fact’ requires a jury and proof beyond a reasonable doubt * * 

*.” United States v. Haymond, ––– U.S. ––––, 139 S.Ct. 2369, 2379, 204 L.Ed.2d 897 

(2019), quoting Ring v. Arizona, 536 U. S. 584, 602, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 

(2002). In the case at bar, as already noted the difference is whether Lewis is required to 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 9 

register as a Tier I sexual offender or is not required to register at all. Thus, it can hardly be 

denied that the finding concerning whether or not the sexual conduct was consensual has 

the potential to increase Lewis’s punishment. 

{¶17} As the Ohio Supreme Court has observed in an analogous situation, 

 R.C. 2913.02(A) defines theft without reference to value and sets 

forth all that the state must prove to secure a conviction. Subsection (B)(2) 

of the statute classifies theft as a misdemeanor of the first degree but also 

states, “If the value of the property or services stolen is five hundred dollars 

or more and is less than five thousand dollars or if the property stolen is any 

of the property listed in section 2913.71 of the Revised Code, a violation of 

this section is theft, a felony of the fifth degree.” 

 While the special findings identified in R.C. 2913.02(B)(2) affect the 

punishment available upon conviction for the offense, they are not part of 

the definition of the crime of theft set forth in R.C. 2913.02(A). 

 We recently considered a jury’s special enhancement finding in State 

v. Fairbanks, 117 Ohio St.3d 543, 2008-Ohio-1470, 885 N.E.2d 888, which 

concerned an enhancement to the offense of failing to comply with an order 

or signal of a police officer in violation of R.C. 2921.331(B). This statute’s 

structure parallels that of the theft statute in that R.C. 2921.331(B) defines 

the offense as follows, “No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as 

willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible 

signal from a police officer to bring the person’s motor vehicle to a stop,” 

while R.C. 2921.331(C)(3) classifies the offense as “a misdemeanor of the 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 10 

first degree.” Moreover, R.C. 2921.331(C)(4) and (5) identify special 

findings that enhance the degree of the offense. For example, R.C. 

2921.331(C)(5)(a) provides: 

 “A violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree 

if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds any of the following by proof beyond 

a reasonable doubt: 

“ * * * 

 “(ii) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a 

substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.” 

 We stated, “If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that a 

substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property actually 

resulted from defendant’s conduct, then the enhancement is established. 

This is purely a question of fact concerning the consequences flowing from 

the defendant’s failure to comply. * * * It is analogous to determining whether 

the offense occurred in daylight or in darkness or whether the place where 

it occurred was dusty or wet. It is simply a finding of the presence or 

absence of a condition.” 117 Ohio St.3d 543, 2008-Ohio-1470, 885 N.E.2d 

888, ¶ 11. 

 Similarly, we hold that the value of stolen property is not an essential 

element of the offense of theft but, rather, is a finding that enhances the 

penalty of the offense. As such, it is submitted to a fact-finder for a special 

finding in order to determine the degree of the offense. 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 11 

State v. Smith, 121 Ohio St.3d 409, 2009–Ohio–787, 905 N.E.2d 151, ¶¶ 6-13. 

(Emphasis added.). 

{¶18} R.C. 2950.01(A) clearly sets forth the special finding a fact-finder must find 

in order to determine the sexual offender registration requirements. As it relates to the 

case at bar, that the sexual conduct was or was not consensual. As the Ohio Supreme 

Court has observed in Smith, the relative ages of the parties to one another and whether 

the sexual conduct was or was not consensual is to be submitted to the fact-finder for a 

special finding in order to determine not only the degree of the offense but also the sexual 

offender reporting requirements under R.C. 2950.01(E)(1)(b). 

{¶19} Because the trial court ordered Lewis to register as a Tier I sexual offender in 

accordance with the misdemeanor conviction for Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a minor 

pursuant to R.C. 2907.04(B)(2), the only issue is whether or not the sexual conduct was 

consensual. 

{¶20} On that issue, prior to accepting Lewis’ plea the state presented an 

explanation of the circumstances of the offense. R.C. 2937.07, which governs the taking 

of misdemeanor pleas, provides that in pleading no contest to a misdemeanor, “it shall 

constitute a stipulation that the judge * * * may make a finding of guilty or not guilty from 

the explanation of circumstances [.]” See State v. Waddell, 71 Ohio St.3d 630, 631, 646 

N.E.2d 821(1995). A no contest plea may not be the basis for a finding of guilt without 

an explanation of circumstances that includes a statement of the facts that support all of 

the essential elements of the offenses. Cuyahoga Falls v. Bowers, 9 Ohio St.3d 148, 

151, 459 N.E.2d 532(1984).The right to an explanation of circumstances is not abrogated 

by Crim.R. 11. Cuyahoga Falls v. Bowers 9 Ohio St.3d 148, 150, 459 N.E.2d 532(1984). 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 12 

{¶21} In the case at bar, the state provided the following explanation of 

circumstances, 

 The state wants to put not only the victim's requests on the record but 

also some of the facts. The victim's mother wants a no-contact order, wants 

the defendant to have to register, wants the Court to know that her daughter 

has had this day burned into her memory. She has been through depression, 

suicidal. She has been going to two counseling meetings every week. She's 

distraught over this. 

 The facts of the case are that on — the defendant was friends with her 

older brother. And, using that trust, entered the home. While the young girl 

was asleep, he entered her bedroom, woke her up, began to kiss her. That 

was the first time. 

 The next time he began to kiss her and fondle her. The next time he 

comes in, and according to the victim's statements, she told him no, but he 

said it would be all right, and he proceeded to have sex with her. 

 The time after that, the brother was out getting something from his 

truck, and he stuck his penis in her mouth. 

 And then the time after that, the brother was upstairs talking to the 

mother, and he violated her from behind. 

 This girl — you know, the offense clearly fits an F-4. She was over 14, 

but he was more than four years older than her. She is now scarred for life. 

And, you know, the fact that we are going to impose upon him for the next 15 

years that he has to register as an offender, good. I think everybody who has 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 13 

a 14-year-old daughter wants him registering as an offender so they know 

where he is at, so he is nowhere around them. And that’s a good thing. But 

how this offense can destroy a young girl like that and not qualify for jail time, 

I just have no idea. I mean, why do we have a jail if we’re not going to put 

people in it who destroy someone’s life like he has. That’s why we have jails, 

to keep put people in it who destroy someone’s life like he has. That’s why 

we have jails, to keep predators like him from the rest of our law-abiding 

society. I mean, if we’re not going to put him in jail, who do we put in jail? 

 T. at 6-8. 

{¶22} Lewis did not object, request a hearing or present evidence to challenge the 

state’s facts. Although the trial court did not expressly mention it, the state’s rendition of the 

facts clearly support a finding that the sexual conduct was not consensual. Although the 

issue of whether the sexual conduct was consensual under R.C. 2950.01(E)(1)(b) is a 

special finding a fact-finder must find in order to determine the sexual offender reporting 

requirements of the offense, because the trial court was the trier of fact in this case, the 

trial court could properly determine the issue of consent or lack thereof. 

Conclusion. 

{¶23} The trial court properly ordered Lewis to be classified as a Tier I sexual 

offender in accordance with R.C. 2950.01(E)(1)(b). Lewis’s sole assignment of error is 

overruled. 
Coshocton County, Case No. 2019CA0009 14 

{¶24} The judgment of the Coshocton County Municipal Court is affirmed. 

By Gwin, P.J., 

Wise, John, J., and 

Wise, Earle E., J., concur 

 

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