Opinion ID: 3204405
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: {¶ 14} In 1996, the General Assembly enacted Megan’s Law, which revised R.C. Chapter 2950 and established a comprehensive system of classifying sex offenders into three categories: sexually oriented offenders, habitual sex offenders, and sexual predators. Former R.C. 2950.09, 146 Ohio Laws, Part II, 2618. {¶ 15} Then, in 2007, the General Assembly enacted the Adam Walsh Act, which “repealed Megan's Law, effective January 1, 2008, and replaced it with new standards for sex-offender classification and registration pursuant to the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, Section 16901 et seq., Title 42, U.S.Code.” Bundy v. State, 143 Ohio St.3d 237, 2015-Ohio-2138, 36 N.E.3d 158, ¶ 5. This scheme, which the General Assembly codified in R.C. Chapter 2950, divides sex offenders into Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III sex or child-victim offenders. R.C. 2950.01(E) through (G). {¶ 16} In Williams, this court considered whether the Adam Walsh Act could constitutionally be retroactively applied to an offender who committed a sex 5 SUPREME COURT OF OHIO offense prior to its enactment. We concluded that the Adam Walsh Act, part of which was expressly made retroactive, is punitive, and “as applied to defendants who committed sex offenses prior to its enactment, violates Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution, which prohibits the General Assembly from passing retroactive laws.” Williams at ¶ 16 and at the syllabus. {¶ 17} Subsequently, we clarified that only persons who commit their underlying offense on or after the effective date of the Adam Walsh Act can be constitutionally subjected to its requirements. In re Bruce S., 134 Ohio St.3d 477, 2012-Ohio-5696, 983 N.E.2d 350. R.C. 2950.15 {¶ 18} R.C. 2950.15 provides: (A) As used in this section   , “eligible offender” means a person who is convicted of, pleads guilty to, was convicted of, or pleaded guilty to a sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense, regardless of when the offense was committed, and is a tier I sex offender/child-victim offender   . (B) Pursuant to this section, an eligible offender may make a motion to the court of common pleas    requesting that the court terminate the eligible offender’s duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code. (Emphasis added.) {¶ 19} While R.C. 2950.15(A) explicitly states that a person qualifies as an eligible offender “regardless of when the offense was committed,” that statement is ineffective by itself to qualify an individual as an eligible offender unless that offender is also a Tier I sex offender, because the statute uses the conjunction “and,” which imposes a dual requirement to effect its application. 6 January Term, 2016 {¶ 20} The record contains no evidence that Von has been classified as a Tier I sex offender or child-victim offender. To the contrary, the documentation attached to his motion for a preliminary injunction demonstrates that he has been previously classified as a Megan’s Law offender, not an Adam Walsh Act offender. And therefore, he is not a Tier I sex offender. {¶ 21} As established by this court in Williams and In re Bruce S., the tier classification system of the Adam Walsh Act cannot be constitutionally applied to Von or other sex offenders who committed offenses prior to its effective date, regardless of when they are convicted or sentenced. {¶ 22} The claim that the remedy of severance would permit Megan’s Law offenders to be reclassified as Adam Walsh Act Tier I offenders for the purpose of having their Megan’s Law duties terminated is inconsistent with Williams, In re Bruce S., and the plain language of R.C. 2950.15(B), which permits eligible offenders to request termination of their “duty to comply with sections R.C. 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code.” Notably, the legislature made no reference to Megan’s Law, which is indicative of its intent that those offenders are not eligible for termination of those registration duties. {¶ 23} Accordingly, Von and other sex offenders who committed their offenses prior to January 1, 2008, the effective date of the Adam Walsh Act, cannot be constitutionally classified pursuant to it and therefore cannot be “eligible offenders” as defined by R.C. 2950.15(A).