Court Opinion

ID: 2698160
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:46:21.899315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:45.149659
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Penny, 2014-Ohio-2293.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                       STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                :       JUDGES:
                                             :
                                             :       Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
        Plaintiff - Appellee                 :       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                             :       Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
                                             :
-vs-                                         :
                                             :
THOMAS E. PENNY, SR.                         :       Case No. 2013CA00245
                                             :
                                             :
        Defendant - Appellant                :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                             Appeal from the Stark County Court
                                                     of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                                     2013CR0674

JUDGMENT:                                            Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                    May 27, 2014

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                               For Defendant-Appellant

JOHN D. FERRERO                                      PAUL F. ADAMSON
Prosecuting Attorney                                 137 South Main Street, Suite 201
                                                     Akron, OH 44308
KATHLEEN O. TATARSKY
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Appellate Section
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 510
Canton, OH 44702
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                        2

Baldwin, J.

     {¶1}     Appellant Thomas E. Penny, Sr. appeals a judgment of the Stark County

Common Pleas Court convicting him of importuning (R.C. 2907.07(B)), illegal use of a

minor in nudity-oriented material or performance (R.C. 2907.323(A)(3)), and

disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile (R.C. 2907.31(A)(1)).

                            STATEMENT OF FACTS AND CASE

     {¶2}     In March of 2012, the mother of fourteen-year-old A.C. was looking at

A.C.’s cell phone. She found a nude picture of A.C. and an inappropriate message to

an older man. She contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

(NCMEC) and an investigation ensued.         A.C. lived in Florida, while appellant lived in

Stark County, Ohio. A.C. told law enforcement that she met appellant on Facebook.

Shortly after meeting appellant on Facebook, A.C. told appellant that she was 14 years

old. Appellant was 52 years old. At first they exchanged text messages and internet

messages about school classes, but eventually their conversations included graphic

and explicit discussions of sexual activity, and they sent each other nude photographs.

     {¶3}     On September 19, 2012, the Perry Township Police Department obtained

a search warrant for electronic devices at appellant’s residence.     Appellant’s wife and

ten-year-old daughter were home when police arrived to execute the warrant.

Appellant returned from the gym about 30 minutes later. He agreed to a recorded

interview with Det. Mindy Coleman, in which he admitted that he had been talking to

A.C. since she friended him on Facebook. He told Coleman that A.C. looked to him as

a father figure, and he claimed that he did not know how old she was. He admitted

sending “one or two” nude pictures to A.C.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                     3

      {¶4}   Appellant’s laptop computer and cell phone were submitted to forensic

examination, revealing numerous instances of sexually explicit text messages between

appellant and A.C., and nude photographs which A.C. took at appellant’s urging.

Appellant also messaged a friend of A.C.’s that he loved A.C. and that they had

discussed getting married, but he feared she would find someone else because she

was young.      Examination of his cell phone and A.C.’s phone also revealed that

appellant continued to contact A.C. after she told him she had been interviewed by law

enforcement. He used A.C.’s friend to continue talking to A.C., telling her to “stay

ahead of things” and delete text messages.

      {¶5}   Appellant was indicted by the Stark County Grand Jury on May 7, 2013,

with one count of importuning, one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented

material, and one count of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile. Appellant moved

to suppress items seized from the search of his home on the grounds that the affidavit

used to obtain the search warrant did not allege that appellant lived at the residence

address in the affidavit or that he owned the residence. The trial court overruled the

motion, finding that the affidavit as a whole was sufficient to support the search of the

address on Bramblebush Avenue in Massillon.

      {¶6}   The case proceeded to jury trial in the Stark County Common Pleas Court.

Appellant was convicted on all three charges. At the sentencing hearing, the victim

impact statement prepared by A.C.’s mother was read into the record, containing

information that the victim had become suicidal and was cutting herself as a result of

her relationship with appellant. Appellant was sentenced to 12 months incarceration for

importuning and 12 months incarceration for illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                         4

material, to be served consecutively. He was sentenced to 180 days on the charge of

disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, to be served concurrently.

      {¶7}    Appellant assigns four errors to this Court on appeal:

      {¶8}    “I.     THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING SUPPRESSION AS TO

THE EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE SEARCH OF 1835 BRAMBLEBUSH.

      {¶9}    “II.    THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT

THE GUILTY VERDICT ON COUNT ONE, IMPORTUNING.

      {¶10}   “III.   THE GUILTY VERDICT ON COUNT ONE, IMPORTUNING, WAS

CONTRARY TO THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

      {¶11}   “IV.     THE   TRIAL    COURT      ERRED       IN   IMPOSING       MAXIMUM

CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES ON COUNTS ONE AND TWO.”

                                                I.

      {¶12}   In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the court erred in

overruling his motion to suppress the search of his residence which led to the seizure of

his cell phone and computer. He argues that the affidavit used to obtain the search

warrant was faulty because it failed to connect appellant to the residence address

named in the affidavit. The trial court found that although the affidavit did not assert that

appellant lived at the residence subject to the search, it contained enough details when

taken as a whole to link appellant to the address on Bramblebush Avenue.

      {¶13}   The Ohio Supreme Court has set forth the following standard for our

review of a search warrant and accompanying affidavit:

      {¶14}   “In reviewing the sufficiency of probable cause in an affidavit submitted in

support of a search warrant issued by a magistrate, neither a trial court nor an appellate
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                        5

court should substitute its judgment for that of the magistrate by conducting a de novo

determination as to whether the affidavit contains sufficient probable cause upon which

that court would issue the search warrant. Rather, the duty of a reviewing court is simply

to ensure that the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause

existed. In conducting any after-the-fact scrutiny of an affidavit submitted in support of a

search warrant, trial and appellate courts should accord great deference to the

magistrate's determination of probable cause, and doubtful or marginal cases in this

area should be resolved in favor of upholding the warrant. (Illinois v. Gates [1983], 462
U.S. 213, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527 followed.)” State v. George, 45 Ohio St. 3d
325, 544 N.E.2d 640 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus.

      {¶15}   Further, the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule should not be applied so

as to bar the use in the prosecution's case-in-chief of evidence obtained by officers

acting in objectively reasonable reliance on a search warrant issued by a detached and

neutral magistrate but ultimately found to be unsupported by probable cause. Id. at

paragraph three of the syllabus, citing U.S. v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct. 3405, 82
L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984).

      {¶16}   The affidavit did not aver that appellant lived at the residence to be

searched, namely 1835 Bramblebush Avenue N.W., Massillon, Ohio. However, the

affidavit states that concealed in the residence are computers, cellular telephones,

ipods, ipads, image storage equipment, or otherwise obscene material and other

instrumentalities and fruits of the crimes of importuning, disseminating matter harmful to

juveniles, and/or illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. The affiant, Det.

Mindi Coleman, set forth facts concerning the text messages and emails exchanged
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                       6

between A.C., identified in the affidavit as “Jane Doe,” and appellant. The affidavit

concludes that the affiant believes there is probable cause to believe that the items are

being concealed in the residence at 1835 Bramblebush Avenue.

      {¶17}   Counsel for appellant conceded for purposes of the suppression hearing

that appellant lived at 1835 Bramblebush, and no evidence was presented at the

suppression hearing.     Rather, the trial court heard only the legal arguments of the

parties. Although the affidavit is lacking an allegation that appellant resided at this

address, the trial court found that from the detail provided on the activity conducted by

appellant and the request to search one address for the computers and cell phones

concealed there, common sense implies that there is a link between appellant and the

address even if the affidavit does not explicitly set forth how the affiant made that link.

Based on the highly deferential standard to be applied by both trial courts and appellate

courts in reviewing the issuance of a search warrant as set forth in George, supra, we

cannot find that the court erred in this determination.

      {¶18}   Further, although no evidence was taken by the court at the suppression

hearing, the evidence presented at trial would support a finding that the officer relied in

good faith on the warrant even if the warrant was unsupported by probable cause due to

the failure to directly link appellant to the residence address of the search. Det. Mindi

Coleman testified at trial that in March of 2012 when she received reports from the

NCMEC and the Lake County Florida Sheriff’s Office, she determined appellant’s

address to be Bramblebush in Perry Township. Tr. Vol. I, 119-120. Det. Coleman was

both the affiant of the affidavit in support of the search warrant and the officer who

executed the search warrant. Therefore, while the court did not rely on the “good faith”
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                       7

exception to the exclusionary rule as set forth in U.S. v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct.
3405, 82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984), the record reflects that the detective did act in objectively

reasonable reliance on the warrant which was issued in reliance on her affidavit.

      {¶19}   The first assignment of error is overruled.

                                             II., III.

      {¶20}   In his second and third assignments of error, appellant argues that the

state failed to present sufficient evidence of the crime of importuning, and that the jury

lost its way in convicting him of importuning. He specifically argues that there was no

evidence presented of any risk, significant or remote, that appellant’s “sexting” with A.C.

would result in sexual conduct with her, due to the geographic distance between them.

      {¶21}   In determining whether a verdict is against the manifest weight of the

evidence, the appellate court acts as a thirteenth juror and “in reviewing the entire

record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of

witnesses, and determines whether in resolving conflicts in evidence the jury ‘clearly

lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must

be reversed and a new trial ordered.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387,

1997-Ohio-52, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485
N.E.2d 717 (1983).

      {¶22}   An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the

evidence is to determine whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to

the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the

crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574
N.E.2d 492, paragraph two of the syllabus (1991).
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                         8

      {¶23}   Appellant was convicted of importuning in violation of R.C. 2907.07(B):

      {¶24}   “(B)(1) No person shall solicit another, not the spouse of the offender, to

engage in sexual conduct with the offender, when the offender is eighteen years of age

or older and four or more years older than the other person, and the other person is

thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, whether or not the

offender knows the age of the other person.”

      {¶25}   Pursuant to R.C. 2901.21(B), when a statute defining an offense neither

specifies the degree of culpability nor plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict

liability, recklessness is sufficient culpability to commit the offense.

      {¶26}   “Recklessness” is defined by R.C. 2901.22(C), which states:

      {¶27}   “A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the

consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that his conduct is likely to cause

a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to

circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, he perversely

disregards a known risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.”

      {¶28}   R.C. 2907.07(B) specifies no degree of culpability. Neither does it plainly

indicate a purpose to impose strict criminal liability, except with respect to the

perpetrator's knowledge of the victim's age. Therefore, in order to prove a violation of

R.C. 2907.07(B), the evidence must demonstrate that the behavior which is alleged to

constitute a solicitation for sexual conduct was performed recklessly.

      {¶29}   Appellant argues that he did not disregard a risk that his conduct would

cause a certain result, i.e. sexual conduct. He argues that there was no evidence

presented to suggest that sexual conduct would result from the exchange of text
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                         9

messages, as the victim was in Florida and he was in Ohio, with no discussion between

the two of meeting.

      {¶30}   Appellant has confused the behavior with which he must have acted with

the mental state of “recklessly.” The statute prohibits solicitation, not sexual conduct.

Therefore, the mental state of recklessly applies to the act of solicitation and whether he

disregarded the risk that his conduct would cause the result of solicitation of sexual

conduct, not whether he disregarded a risk of actual sexual conduct.

      {¶31}   In State v. J.W., 2nd Dist. Miami No. 04CA5, 2004-Ohio-3404, the

defendant argued that he did not act recklessly because there was no evidence that his

comment to the victim was intended to actually solicit oral sex.           In rejecting this

argument, the court stated:

      {¶32}   “In order to find that the Defendant acted recklessly, the trier of fact must

have been able to find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that when the Defendant made the

remark to the ten-year old victim the Defendant acted with a perverse disregard that his

conduct was likely to cause a certain result. In this instance, that result is a solicitation

to engage in oral sex. Whether he actually intended to solicit oral sex or the victim

believed that he'd been solicited is immaterial.” Id. at ¶20.

      {¶33}   Solicit within the meaning of the importuning statute means more than

simply to ask. State v. Jain, 3rd Dist. Auglaize No. 2-09-25, 2010-Ohio-1712, ¶12.

Solicit means to “seek, to ask, to influence, to invite, to tempt, to lead on, to bring

pressure to bear.” Id.

      {¶34}   The record is replete with messages appellant sent to A.C. in which he

invited her to engage in various forms of sexual conduct with him in very graphic and
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                       10

explicit language. Whether or not there was any risk of actual sexual conduct due to the

geographic distance between the two is immaterial to the crime of importuning, as

appellant need only act recklessly with regard to the actual act of solicitation, not to the

result of the solicitation.

      {¶35}    The second and third assignments of error are overruled.

                                                IV.

      {¶36}    In his final assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred

in sentencing him to maximum sentences for importuning and illegal use of a minor in

nudity-oriented material, and in sentencing him consecutively.

      {¶37}    The Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Kalish, 120 Ohio St. 3d 23, 2008–

Ohio–4912, 896 N.E.2d 124, set forth a two step process for examining felony

sentences. The first step is to “examine the sentencing court's compliance with all

applicable rules and statutes in imposing the sentence to determine whether the

sentence is clearly and convincingly contrary to law.” Id. at ¶ 4. If this first step is

satisfied, the second step requires that the trial court's decision be reviewed under an

abuse of discretion standard. Id. An abuse of discretion implies that the court's attitude

is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Id. at ¶ 19.

      {¶38}     R.C. 2929.12 sets forth the factors the court is to consider in felony

sentencing:

      {¶39}    “(A) Unless otherwise required by section 2929.13 or 2929.14 of the

Revised Code, a court that imposes a sentence under this chapter upon an offender for

a felony has discretion to determine the most effective way to comply with the purposes

and principles of sentencing set forth in section 2929.11 of the Revised Code. In
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                         11

exercising that discretion, the court shall consider the factors set forth in divisions (B)

and (C) of this section relating to the seriousness of the conduct, the factors provided in

divisions (D) and (E) of this section relating to the likelihood of the offender's recidivism,

and the factors set forth in division (F) of this section pertaining to the offender's service

in the armed forces of the United States and, in addition, may consider any other factors

that are relevant to achieving those purposes and principles of sentencing.

      {¶40}    “(B) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

regarding the offender, the offense, or the victim, and any other relevant factors, as

indicating that the offender's conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting

the offense:

      {¶41}    “(1) The physical or mental injury suffered by the victim of the offense due

to the conduct of the offender was exacerbated because of the physical or mental

condition or age of the victim.

      {¶42}    “(2) The victim of the offense suffered serious physical, psychological, or

economic harm as a result of the offense.

      {¶43}    “(3) The offender held a public office or position of trust in the community,

and the offense related to that office or position.

      {¶44}    “(4) The offender's occupation, elected office, or profession obliged the

offender to prevent the offense or bring others committing it to justice.

      {¶45}    “(5) The offender's professional reputation or occupation, elected office, or

profession was used to facilitate the offense or is likely to influence the future conduct of

others.

      {¶46}    “(6) The offender's relationship with the victim facilitated the offense.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                         12

      {¶47}    “(7) The offender committed the offense for hire or as a part of an

organized criminal activity.

      {¶48}    “(8) In committing the offense, the offender was motivated by prejudice

based on race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

      {¶49}    “(9) If the offense is a violation of section 2919.25 or a violation of section

2903.11, 2903.12, or 2903.13 of the Revised Code involving a person who was a family

or household member at the time of the violation, the offender committed the offense in

the vicinity of one or more children who are not victims of the offense, and the offender

or the victim of the offense is a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in loco parentis of

one or more of those children.

      {¶50}    “(C) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

regarding the offender, the offense, or the victim, and any other relevant factors, as

indicating that the offender's conduct is less serious than conduct normally constituting

the offense:

      {¶51}    “(1) The victim induced or facilitated the offense.

      {¶52}    “(2) In committing the offense, the offender acted under strong

provocation.

      {¶53}    “(3) In committing the offense, the offender did not cause or expect to

cause physical harm to any person or property.

      {¶54}    “(4) There are substantial grounds to mitigate the offender's conduct,

although the grounds are not enough to constitute a defense.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                    13

      {¶55}   “(D) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

regarding the offender, and any other relevant factors, as factors indicating that the

offender is likely to commit future crimes:

      {¶56}   “(1) At the time of committing the offense, the offender was under release

from confinement before trial or sentencing, under a sanction imposed pursuant to

section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or under post-release

control pursuant to section 2967.28 or any other provision of the Revised Code for an

earlier offense or had been unfavorably terminated from post-release control for a prior

offense pursuant to division (B) of section 2967.16 or section 2929.141 of the Revised

Code.

      {¶57}   “(2) The offender previously was adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant

to Chapter 2151. of the Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant to Chapter

2152. of the Revised Code, or the offender has a history of criminal convictions.

      {¶58}   “(3) The offender has not been rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree after

previously being adjudicated a delinquent child pursuant to Chapter 2151. of the

Revised Code prior to January 1, 2002, or pursuant to Chapter 2152. of the Revised

Code, or the offender has not responded favorably to sanctions previously imposed for

criminal convictions.

      {¶59}   “(4) The offender has demonstrated a pattern of drug or alcohol abuse that

is related to the offense, and the offender refuses to acknowledge that the offender has

demonstrated that pattern, or the offender refuses treatment for the drug or alcohol

abuse.

      {¶60}   “(5) The offender shows no genuine remorse for the offense.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                      14

      {¶61}   “(E) The sentencing court shall consider all of the following that apply

regarding the offender, and any other relevant factors, as factors indicating that the

offender is not likely to commit future crimes:

      {¶62}   “(1) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been adjudicated

a delinquent child.

      {¶63}   “(2) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had not been convicted

of or pleaded guilty to a criminal offense.

      {¶64}   “(3) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had led a law-abiding life

for a significant number of years.

      {¶65}   “(4) The offense was committed under circumstances not likely to recur.

      {¶66}   “(5) The offender shows genuine remorse for the offense.”

      {¶67}   The judge noted on the record at the sentencing hearing that the child

victim had become suicidal, and had started cutting herself after the contact with

appellant. She had a full year of therapy in order to stop harming herself. The victim’s

mother noted that her relationship with A.C. suffered and life became “unbearable” at

times. The judge noted that this was not an accident, but a long-term relationship, and

that the maximum sentence was necessary to send a message to the community that

Facebook should not be used to prey on young people. Tr. Sent. 15. The trial court

noted in the sentencing entry that the court considered the principles and purposes of

sentencing under R.C. 2929.11, and had balanced the seriousness and recidivism

factors of R.C. 2929.12.     The trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing

appellant to the maximum sentence on the convictions of importuning and illegal use of

a minor in nudity-oriented material.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                      15

      {¶68}   The    imposition   of   consecutive   sentences    is   governed   by   R.C.

2929.14(C)(4):

      {¶69}   “(4) If multiple prison terms are imposed on an offender for convictions of

multiple offenses, the court may require the offender to serve the prison terms

consecutively if the court finds that the consecutive service is necessary to protect the

public from future crime or to punish the offender and that consecutive sentences are

not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the

offender poses to the public, and if the court also finds any of the following:

      {¶70}   “(a) The offender committed one or more of the multiple offenses while the

offender was awaiting trial or sentencing, was under a sanction imposed pursuant to

section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code, or was under post-release

control for a prior offense.

      {¶71}   “(b) At least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or

more courses of conduct, and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple offenses

so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses

committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriousness

of the offender's conduct.

      {¶72}   “(c) The offender's history of criminal conduct demonstrates that

consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by the

offender.”

      {¶73}   In the sentencing entry, the court found that consecutive sentences were

necessary to protect the public from future crime and to punish appellant, and that

consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of appellant’s
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                                     16

conduct and the danger he poses to the public. The court further found that at least two

of the offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct, the harm

caused by the offenses was so great or unusual that no single prison term adequately

reflected the seriousness of his conduct, and that appellant’s history of criminal conduct

demonstrated that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from

future crime by appellant. In addressing consecutive sentencing during the sentencing

hearing, the court noted that appellant had been to prison before. The court stated that

consecutive sentencing was the only way to protect the community and to consider the

psychological harm caused to the victim. The court also expressed concern that once

appellant realized he was about to be caught, he contacted A.C. through her friend, and

then tried to get rid of the evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in

sentencing appellant to consecutive sentences.

      {¶74}   The fourth assignment of error is overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2013CA00245                                         17

      {¶75}   The judgment of the Stark County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.

Costs are assessed to appellant.

By: Baldwin, J.

Farmer, P.J. and

Wise, J. concur.