Court Opinion

ID: 4437785
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-12 18:09:20.753243+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:47.280994
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. G.F., 2019-Ohio-3673.]

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                   TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State of Ohio,                                   :

                 Plaintiff-Appellee,             :            No. 18AP-201
                                                           (C.P.C. No. 06CR-7733)
v.                                               :
                                                        (REGULAR CALENDAR)
[G.F.],                                          :

                 Defendant-Appellant.            :

                                           D E C I S I O N

                                   Rendered on September 12, 2019

                 On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Steven L.
                 Taylor, for appellee. Argued: Steven L. Taylor.

                 On brief: Elizabeth N. Gaba, for appellant. Argued:
                 Elizabeth N. Gaba.

                   APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

BROWN, J.
          {¶ 1} G.F., defendant-appellant, appeals the judgment of the Franklin County
Court of Common Pleas, in which the court denied his motion for leave to file motion for
new trial.
          {¶ 2} A more detailed recitation of the underlying facts of this case can be found
in State v. [G.F.], 10th Dist. No. 07AP-999, 2008-Ohio-6677 ("G.F. I"). In summary, the
victim, D.W., was a four-year-old male child. Appellant is not D.W.'s biological father but
financially supported him and maintained a father-son relationship. D.W.'s mother is
C.W., and his biological father was D.L. Appellant also has a biological child, E.A., with a
No. 18AP-201                                                                             2

different woman, and was awarded temporary emergency custody of E.A., who was four
years old at the time, on March 15, 2006.
       {¶ 3} On March 21, 2006, D.W. told C.W. that appellant put his penis in D.W.'s
mouth. D.W. stated appellant also put his penis in E.A.'s mouth. Appellant denied doing
so. On October 18, 2007, appellant was found guilty, pursuant to a jury trial, of rape of a
child under 10 years of age with regard to D.W., and the trial court sentenced him to a
mandatory life sentence.
       {¶ 4} Appellant appealed, and this court affirmed the judgment in G.F. I. The
Supreme Court of Ohio declined jurisdiction in State v. [G.F.], 121 Ohio St.3d 1475, 2009-
Ohio-2045. Appellant twice filed applications for reopening, which this court denied on
December 29, 2009, and June 15, 2010. We also denied appellant's application for
reconsideration of our denial of his second application to reopen.
       {¶ 5} On July 28, 2014, appellant filed a 52-page "instanter motion for new trial,"
pursuant to Crim.R. 33(A)(2) and (6). On August 5, 2014, the State of Ohio, plaintiff-
appellee, filed a memorandum opposing appellant's motion for new trial. In the
memorandum, the state noted that because his motion was beyond the 14-day time limit
for new trial motions based on Crim.R. 33(A)(2), and beyond the 120-day time limit for
new trial motions based on Crim.R. 33(A)(6), appellant was required to file a motion for
leave to file a delayed motion for new trial but failed to do so. The state also noted that
appellant failed to file a motion for leave to exceed Loc.R. 12.01 of the Court of Common
Pleas of Franklin County, General Division 15-page limit.
       {¶ 6} On August 11, 2014, appellant filed a 42-page motion for leave to file motion
for new trial and motion for leave to exceed page limitation for both the instanter motion
and motion for leave. The trial court granted appellant leave to exceed the page limit and,
on August 26, 2014, the state filed a motion requesting an extension of time until
September 24, 2014 to file a memorandum contra appellant's motion for leave. The state
filed its memorandum contra on September 19, 2014. On November 3, 2014, appellant
filed a 20-page reply memorandum, which exceeded the 7-page limit under Loc.R. 12.02.
       {¶ 7} On February 20, 2018, the trial court filed a decision and entry in which it
denied appellant's motion for leave to file motion for new trial and declined to consider
the reply memorandum because it exceeded the 7-page limit. Although the trial court did
No. 18AP-201                                                                               3

not expressly grant the state's motion for extension of time, it did consider the state's
September 19, 2014 memorandum in the decision.
       {¶ 8} Appellant appeals, asserting the following three assignments of error:

               [I.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF
               APPELLANT AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN FORMING
               A DECISION BASED IN PART ON A CONSIDERATION OF
               THE STATE'S MEMORANDUM CONTRA, WHEN THE
               COURT NEVER GRANTED THE STATE AN EXTENSION TO
               FILE ITS MEMORANDUM CONTRA LATE.

               [II.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF
               APPELLANT AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT
               REFUSED TO CONSIDER APPELLANT'S REPLY, FILED
               NOVEMBER 3, 2014.

               [III.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF
               APPELLANT AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN DENYING
               APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE MOTION
               FOR NEW TRIAL AND IN NOT CONSIDERING THE
               MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL, EITHER AS A RULE 33
               MOTION OR A POSTCONVICTION PETITION.

(Emphasis sic.)

       {¶ 9} Appellant argues in his first assignment of error the trial court erred when it
considered the untimely memorandum contra filed by the state because the court never
granted the state an extension to file its untimely memorandum contra. Appellant claims
the state's memorandum contra should have been deemed a nullity and ignored.
       {¶ 10} As explained above, on August 11, 2014, appellant filed his motion for leave
to file motion for new trial. On August 26, 2014, the state filed a motion requesting an
extension of time to file a memorandum contra appellant's motion for leave, and the state
filed its memorandum contra on September 19, 2014. In denying appellant's motion for
leave to file motion for new trial in its February 20, 2018 decision, the court considered
the state's memorandum contra but never expressly granted the state's motion for
extension of time.
       {¶ 11} We find appellant's argument without merit. Appellant is correct that,
generally, when a trial court fails to rule on a motion, as is the case here, the motion will
be presumed denied for purposes of appellate review. See In re L.M., 10th Dist. No. 10AP-
No. 18AP-201                                                                                4

445, 2010-Ohio-5447, ¶ 27, citing Vahdati'bana v. Scott R. Roberts & Assocs., L.P.A., 10th
Dist. No. 07AP-581, 2008-Ohio-1219. However, such presumption may be rebutted when
the court implicitly grants the motion for extension of time by rendering a decision that
makes clear the court considered the underlying pleading. See, e.g., State v. Washington,
11th Dist. No. 95-P-0025 (Apr. 4, 1997) (even though the court never ruled on the motion
for extension of time to file the petition, it implicitly granted the motion for extension
when it denied appellant's petition). This concept has been applied in other
circumstances, as well. See, e.g., J.M. v. A.M., 2d Dist. No. 2015-CA-92, 2016-Ohio-1261,
fn. 1 (although the juvenile court did not issue an express ruling on the motion to amend,
it implicitly granted the motion, since it ultimately ruled on the request for shared
parenting contained within the motion to amend); Henricksen v. Henricksen, 7th Dist.
No. 17 MA 0044, 2017-Ohio-9050, ¶ 24 (the trial court's grant of summary judgment was
an implicit grant of the motion to amend answer); State v. Glover, 8th Dist. No. 102828,
2016-Ohio-2833 (finding it was clear from the record the trial court implicitly granted
leave to file a motion for new trial by setting the matter for hearing, considering the merits
of his motion, and then ruling in his favor). For these reasons, we find the trial court did
not err when it considered the state's memorandum contra. Appellant's first assignment
of error is overruled.
       {¶ 12} Appellant argues in his second assignment of error the trial court erred
when it refused to consider his November 3, 2014 reply in determining his motion for
leave and motion for new trial. Appellant asserts the state did not claim surprise or undue
prejudice as a result of the violation, and its decision prevented the case from being
decided on the merits of his full argument.
       {¶ 13} We disagree with appellant's argument. Loc.R. 12.01, 12.02, and 12.03
provide:
              12.01

              A supporting or opposing memorandum or brief, including
              administrative appeals, shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages
              exclusive of any supporting documents. Any supporting or
              opposing memorandum or brief which exceeds fifteen (15)
              pages shall not be considered without prior leave of the Court.
No. 18AP-201                                                                                 5

              12.02

              A reply memorandum or brief including administrative
              appeals shall not exceed seven pages and shall be restricted to
              matters in rebuttal. Any reply memorandum or brief which
              exceeds seven pages shall not be considered without prior
              leave of the Court.

              12.03

              A motion for leave to file a memorandum or brief in excess of
              the page limitations set forth in 12.01 and 12.02 above shall be
              made no later than seven days prior to the time for filing the
              brief.

              Such motion shall set forth the unusual and extraordinary
              circumstances which necessitate exceeding the page
              limitation.

       {¶ 14} Here, appellant's 20-page reply was well in excess of the 7-page limit in
Loc.R. 12.02. Loc.R. 12.02 plainly provides that "[a]ny reply memorandum or brief which
exceeds seven pages shall not be considered without prior leave of the Court." Appellant
did not seek prior leave of the court. Furthermore, pursuant to Loc.R. 12.03, such prior
leave to exceed the page limitations must be made at least seven days before the filing of
the brief. Appellant did not comply with this mandate either. In addition, Loc.R. 12.03
provides that, in such a motion, the appellant must "set forth the unusual and
extraordinary circumstances which necessitate exceeding the page limitation." Appellant
obviously failed to comply with this requirement, as well. Significantly, appellant's motion
for leave to file a delayed motion for new trial was a lengthy 42 pages, pursuant to leave by
the court to file a long brief, but the state's memorandum contra was within the 15-page
limitation set forth in Loc.R. 12.01. Given appellant presented a 42-page argument
initially, while the state's memorandum contra was within the 15-page limit of the local
rule, appellant faced a significant hurdle to setting forth any unusual or extraordinary
circumstances that demonstrated the need for a 20-page reply. Also, appellant was clearly
aware of the page limitations set forth in the local rules, as he already utilized the local
rules to seek leave to file his motion for leave to file a long brief. In the end, appellant
clearly failed to follow the local rules in filing his non-compliant reply, and the trial court
had appellant's initial 42-page motion from which to fairly judge the merits of appellant's
No. 18AP-201                                                                                 6

argument. Given these circumstances, we cannot find the trial court erred when it
declined to consider appellant's reply that exceeded the page limitations as set forth in the
local rules. Appellant's second assignment of error is overruled.
       {¶ 15} Appellant argues in his third assignment of error the trial court erred when
it denied his motion for leave to file a motion for new trial under Crim.R. 33. "In
considering a trial court's denial of a motion for leave to file a motion for new trial, this
court employs an abuse of discretion standard." State v. Anderson, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-
831, 2014-Ohio-1849, ¶ 7 ("Anderson II"), citing State v. Anderson, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-
133, 2012-Ohio-4733, ¶ 9 ("Anderson I"). A trial court abuses its discretion when its
decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Id., citing Blakemore v.
Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983). "A review under the abuse-of-discretion
standard is a deferential review. It is not sufficient for an appellate court to determine that
a trial court abused its discretion simply because the appellate court might not have
reached the same conclusion or is, itself, less persuaded by the trial court's reasoning
process than by the countervailing arguments." State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-
Ohio-2407, ¶ 14.
       {¶ 16} Appellant moved the trial court for leave to file a delayed motion for new
trial on the grounds set forth in Crim.R. 33(A)(1), (2), and (6). " 'In considering a trial
court's denial of a motion for leave to file a motion for new trial, this court employs an
abuse of discretion standard.' " State v. Armengau, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-355, 2017-Ohio-
197, ¶ 6, quoting Anderson II at ¶ 7. A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is
unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Armengau at ¶ 6, citing Blakemore. "A
review under the abuse-of-discretion standard is a deferential review. It is not sufficient
for an appellate court to determine that a trial court abused its discretion simply because
the appellate court might not have reached the same conclusion or is, itself, less
persuaded by the trial court's reasoning process than by the countervailing arguments."
State v. Morris, 132 Ohio St.3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, ¶ 14. "[H]owever, where the trial
court has misstated the law or applied the incorrect law, giving rise to a purely legal
question, our review is de novo." Shaffer v. OhioHealth Corp., 10th Dist. No. 03AP-102,
2004-Ohio-63, ¶ 6.
No. 18AP-201                                                                                7

       {¶ 17} Pursuant to Crim.R. 33(A), a new trial may be granted on motion of the
defendant for an enumerated list of causes "affecting materially his substantial rights."
Crim.R. 33(A). Appellant moved the trial court for leave to file a delayed motion for new
trial under grounds set forth in Crim.R. 33(A)(1), (2), and (6).
       {¶ 18} Under Crim.R. 33(A)(1), a trial court may grant a motion for new trial based
on "[i]rregularity in the proceedings * * * because of which the defendant was prevented
from having a fair trial." Under Crim.R. 33(A)(2), a trial court may grant a motion for new
trial based on "[m]isconduct of the jury, prosecuting attorney, or the witnesses for the
state." A motion for a new trial under Crim.R. 33(A)(1) and (2) must be filed within 14
days after the verdict was rendered, unless clear and convincing proof shows the
defendant was unavoidably prevented from filing his motion for new trial within that 14-
day period. Crim.R. 33(B).
       {¶ 19} Under Crim.R. 33(A)(6), a trial court may grant a motion for new trial based
on the discovery of new evidence material to the defense that the defendant could not,
with reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced at trial. State v. Graggs, 10th
Dist. No. 13AP-852, 2014-Ohio-1195, ¶ 5. " 'Newly discovered evidence' is 'evidence of
facts in existence at the time of trial of which the party seeking a new trial was justifiably
ignorant.' " State v. Holzapfel, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-17, 2010-Ohio-2856, ¶ 20, quoting
State v. Love, 1st Dist. No. C-050131, 2006-Ohio-6158, ¶ 43.
       {¶ 20} A motion for new trial based on newly discovered evidence must be filed
within 120 days after the jury verdict or the court's judgment. Crim.R. 33(B). However, a
trial court may grant a motion for leave to file a motion for new trial based on newly
discovered evidence beyond the 120-day deadline in certain circumstances. First, the
court must determine whether the defendant has met his burden of establishing by clear
and convincing proof that he or she was " 'unavoidably prevented from the discovery of
the evidence upon which he must rely.' " Graggs at ¶ 5, quoting Crim.R. 33(B). "[A] party
is unavoidably prevented from filing a motion for new trial if the party had no knowledge
of the existence of the ground supporting the motion for new trial and could not have
learned of the existence of that ground within the time prescribed for filing the motion for
new trial in the exercise of reasonable diligence." State v. Walden, 19 Ohio App.3d 141,
145-46 (10th Dist.1984). Second, the trial court must determine whether the party seeking
No. 18AP-201                                                                               8

leave under Crim.R. 33 filed the motion for leave within a reasonable time after
discovering the evidence supporting the motion under the circumstances. Armengau at
¶ 16; State v. Warren, 2d Dist. No. 26979, 2017-Ohio-853, ¶ 40.
       {¶ 21} Whether the defendant was unavoidably prevented from discovering the
asserted new evidence or was reasonably delayed in filing a motion for leave may require
a hearing. "If the defendant provides documents that on their face support the defendant's
claim that discovery of the evidence was unavoidably delayed, the trial court must hold a
hearing to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable
delay." State v. Bush, 10th Dist. No. 08AP-627, 2009-Ohio-441, ¶ 8; Warren at ¶ 48. See,
e.g., State v. Alexander, 11th Dist. No. 2011-T-0120, 2012-Ohio-4468, ¶ 4, 21 (finding trial
court abused its discretion in not holding a hearing on motion for leave to file delayed
motion for new trial where recanting affidavit of state's witness stated he lied at trial and
that he "recently" approached defendant and offered to recant his testimony). Otherwise,
the trial court may exercise its discretion regarding whether to hold a hearing on a
defendant's motion for leave to file a motion for new trial. Armengau at ¶ 33 (finding trial
court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellant's motion for leave to file a delayed
motion for new trial without holding an evidentiary hearing where appellant's affidavit
failed to allege facts which would excuse his failure to timely file a motion for new trial);
State v. Redd, 6th Dist. No. L-13-1087, 2013-Ohio-5181, ¶ 10, appeal not accepted, 138
Ohio St.3d 1436, 2014-Ohio-889; State v. McConnell, 170 Ohio App.3d 800, 2007-Ohio-
1181, ¶ 19 (2d Dist.). See, e.g., Bush (finding trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying defendant's motion for leave to file a motion for new trial without an evidentiary
hearing where co-defendant's recanting affidavit exonerated defendant but nothing in the
affidavit supported the conclusion that defendant could not have obtained the
information within 120 days of trial and no evidentiary materials were otherwise provided
on this point).
       {¶ 22} In the present case, the jury rendered its verdict in the criminal trial on
October 18, 2007. Because appellant did not file his motion for new trial within either
time frame stated in Crim.R. 33(A)(1), (2), and (6), Crim.R. 33(B) required appellant to
seek leave from the trial court before filing his motion for new trial.
No. 18AP-201                                                                              9

       {¶ 23} In denying appellant's motion for leave to file a motion for new trial, the
trial court found appellant was not unavoidably prevented from discovering the evidence
that formed the basis of the motion. We agree with the trial court.
       {¶ 24} Appellant presents several different arguments under this assignment of
error. Appellant claims he was unavoidably prevented from raising these arguments
within 120 days because of the state's insistence on denying information to the defense.
Appellant asserts he requested, on November 15, 2006, from the state, pursuant to Brady
v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), D.W.'s recorded statements, C.W.'s criminal record, and
any other information from Franklin County Children Services Enforcement Agency
("FCCSEA"), Center for Child and Family Advocacy, and the Grove City Police
Department that would be inconsistent with or refute D.W.'s claims. Appellant argues the
state provided none of this information even though it had all of it in its possession.
       {¶ 25} Appellant's first argument is that there is no physical evidence and the
entire case is based on the statement of a four-year-old child, D.W., who was five years old
at the time of trial. Appellant points out D.W.'s testimony and statements were
inconsistent, and E.A. testified he never saw appellant put anything in D.W.'s mouth.
However, these arguments go to the underlying merits of the motion for new trial and not
the merits of the motion for leave to file his untimely motion for new trial.
       {¶ 26} Appellant next argues the state did not provide "Brady" material to him
regarding D.W.'s possible biological father, D.L., who lived in the same apartment
complex as D.W. Although D.L. has a past history of alleged sexual abuse when he was 14
years old involving a 7-year-old victim, which appellant admits the state minimally
disclosed through discovery, D.L. also has an extensive adult criminal history. A woman
once filed a petition for domestic violence that claimed D.L. physically and sexually
assaulted her. Appellant claims the state did not disclose this later information. However,
appellant was not unavoidably prevented from discovering this evidence. Initially,
appellant does not contend he was unaware of D.L.'s criminal and sexual assault history.
Furthermore, it is mere speculation that any records relating to D.L.'s criminal and sexual
assault history are exculpatory as related to the present case. There is nothing to support
the theory that D.L. committed the actual abuse against D.W. in the present case. In
addition, these records were public records which were freely and equally available to
No. 18AP-201                                                                             10

appellant. See State v. Stoutamire, 11th Dist. No. 2008-T-0108, 2009-Ohio-6228, ¶ 37
(court records are matters of public record, and were discoverable by the defense in
preparation of trial); State v. Ross, 9th Dist. No. 23028, 2006-Ohio-4352, ¶ 27 (Brady
does not require that a party disclose information which is part of a public record).
Therefore, this argument is without merit.
       {¶ 27} Appellant next argues the Grove City Police purposely failed to investigate
T.W.'s alleged sexual assault of E.A., which occurred shortly after D.W.'s accusation.
Appellant points out T.W. was the babysitter of both boys and had court documented
psychiatric sex-related offenses, and the state refused to investigate her or disclose her
history of psycho-sexual violence, even after appellant reported to the police that he had
caught T.W. molesting E.A. Appellant claims he did not know until he filed his motion for
new trial in 2014 that T.W. had been indicted for burglary and theft in 2001, and she
underwent court-ordered psychiatric treatment in relation to that case. Appellant claims
the state never disclosed this information.
       {¶ 28} However, appellant was not unavoidably prevented from discovering this
evidence. As to T.W.'s alleged sexual assault of E.A., appellant himself made the report to
the police; thus, he was aware of the accusation. As for T.W.'s past criminal and
psychiatric history, this claim suffers from the same deficiencies as discussed above with
regard to D.L. That T.W. was the true perpetrator of the abuse at issue in this case is pure
speculation, and T.W.'s past criminal history was of public record and available to
appellant. Therefore, this argument is without merit.
       {¶ 29} Appellant also argues that, in violation of Brady, C.W.'s children services
background was not fully provided to appellant, including she had previously alleged that
one of her other children had been sexually assaulted by that child's father, but the
allegation was determined to be unfounded. Appellant asserts he did not obtain this
information until 2014. However, as pointed out by the state, appellant fails to support his
theory with evidentiary documentation, and he is merely speculating about what
transpired in the juvenile case involving C.W. and the other child. Furthermore, even if
C.W. lied in the other case, appellant presents nothing to suggest that C.W. fabricated the
story in the present case. Therefore, we find this argument without merit.
No. 18AP-201                                                                              11

       {¶ 30}   Appellant next argues that even if no Brady violation occurred here, he
was still entitled to a new trial based on ineffective assistance of trial and appellate
counsel. "Ineffective assistance of trial counsel may be raised as a ground for a new trial
under Crim.R. 33(A)(1) 'irregularity in the proceedings.' " State v. Farley, 10th Dist. No.
03AP-555, 2004-Ohio-1781, ¶ 11. To establish a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel,
a defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient and that counsel's
deficient performance prejudiced him. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
(1984). The failure to make either showing defeats a claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel. State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 143 (1989), quoting Strickland at 697.
("[T]here is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance claim to approach the
inquiry in the same order or even to address both components of the inquiry if the
defendant makes an insufficient showing on one."). A tactical decision by trial counsel,
who as a licensed attorney is presumed to be competent, is not by itself enough to show
ineffective assistance of counsel simply because the strategy did not result in an acquittal.
State v. Clayton, 62 Ohio St.2d 45, 48-49 (1980).
       {¶ 31}   In the present case, appellant argues his counsel never developed the
obvious motive for C.W.'s and D.L.'s accusations against him. He claims he is the
biological father of E.A., and the biological father of D.W. according to FCCSEA. He
argues that only six days after he was awarded emergency custody and named legal
custodian of E.A., C.W. and D.L. accused him of sexual abuse of D.W. He asserts that C.W.
and D.L. concocted the accusations fearing he would also seek custody of D.W. He points
out that C.W. had reason to fear he would seek custody of D.W. because she was an
alcoholic and stripper, and had a history with children services.
       {¶ 32} However, appellant was clearly aware of these circumstances of both E.A.
and D.W. at the time of the present accusations. More importantly, the record reveals no
indication that C.W. and D.L. were aware appellant had been granted temporary custody
of E.A. prior to the accusations. Furthermore, there is nothing in the record to suggest the
circumstances that led appellant to be granted temporary custody of E.A. would also apply
to his custody of D.W., so that C.W. and D.L. would fear appellant would be granted
custody of D.W. The record shows the basic underlying custodial circumstances with E.A.
and D.W. were, in fact, fundamentally different. D.W. and E.A.'s mothers were different.
No. 18AP-201                                                                               12

E.A.'s mother abandoned E.A., and E.A. was already living with appellant. D.W. was living
with C.W. Appellant's argument is without merit.
       {¶ 33}   Similarly, appellant also asserts his counsel failed to investigate and
pursue the evidence related to D.L., T.W., and C.W. However, this decision was a strategic
decision. Appellant has presented no convincing argument or evidence to suggest either
D.L. or T.W. abused D.W. or that D.L. and C.W. fabricated the abuse claims based on a
fear of losing custody of D.W. These were weak arguments based on pure speculation.
Instead, appellant's counsel pursued a sound strategy of arguing the abuse never occurred
at all. Counsel did pursue the argument that C.W. coerced D.W. into making up the rape
allegation, and that argument had a clear evidentiary basis, which arose from D.W.'s
statement that C.W. told D.W. she would "whoop" him if he did not tell her what
happened. The other theories appellant raises are not based on any evidence and would
have muddied the simpler trial strategy that the abuse never happened and D.W.'s claim
was not credible. Therefore, for all of the foregoing reasons, we find the trial court did not
err when it denied appellant's motion for leave to file motion for new trial. Appellant's
third assignment of error is overruled.
       {¶ 34}   Accordingly, appellant's three assignments of error are overruled, and the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
                                                                        Judgment affirmed.

                           SADLER and DORRIAN, JJ., concur.

                              _____________________