Court Opinion

ID: 2699120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:00:10.863703+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:19.998819
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Mahone, 2012-Ohio-5461.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                    JUDGES:
                                                 Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
        Plaintiff-Appellee                       Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                                                 Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
-vs-
                                                 Case No. 12CAA030023
GARY MAHONE

        Defendant-Appellant                      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                      Appeal from the Delaware County Court of
                                              Common Pleas, Case No. 11CRI070392

JUDGMENT:                                     Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                       November 19, 2012

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                        For Defendant-Appellant

CAROL HAMILTON O'BRIEN                        SAMUEL H. SHAMANSKY
Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney          DONALD L. REGENSBURGER
GREGORY A. TAPOCSI                            523 South Third Street
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney                Columbus, Ohio 43215
140 N. Sandusky St., 3rd Floor
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                  2

Hoffman, J.

       {¶1}   Defendant-appellant Gary Mahone appeals his conviction for two counts

of sexual battery entered by the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff-

appellee is the state of Ohio.

                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

       {¶2}   On July 15, 2011, Appellant and J.W. attended a work related promotional

event where alcohol was served. Both Appellant and J.W. worked at Alum Creek RV,

and had a friendly relationship, often going out together after work. At the party, both

consumed alcohol.

       {¶3}   After the party concluded, several employees remained at the RV

dealership to clean up and hang out in the break room. While drinking with Appellant,

J.W. pulled her breasts out of her shirt and flashed Appellant, while covering her

nipples. J.W. admits to acting flirtatiously with Appellant throughout the evening.

       {¶4}   At 10:00 p.m., J.W.'s live-in boyfriend arrived to drive her home. The two

became involved in an argument, and it was determined J.W. would stay overnight at

the dealership and continue partying. Eventually, everyone left the premises except

J.W., at which point she telephoned Appellant and asked him to return.

       {¶5}   Upon arriving back at the premises, Appellant found J.W. in an upstairs

office, laying on a fold-out bed. He indicated she was "pretty much passed out" when

he returned. He testified he kissed her and stroked her, removing her pants, but she did

not reciprocate at any point during their encounter. He testified she raised her hips off

the bed in order for him to take off her pants. He stated her eyes were open, and she
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                    3

was motioning with her legs and hips. He rolled her onto her back, performed oral sex,

then had vaginal intercourse with her before ejaculating inside her vagina.

       {¶6}   J.W. testified she was unconscious during the sexual activity, and awoke

to find Appellant saying her name and ejaculating on her. She stated she was wearing

nothing but a shirt when she awoke. She later stated she had underwear on, but did not

recall Appellant replacing her underwear.

       {¶7}   As a result of the incident, Appellant was indicted on two counts of rape, in

violation of R.C. 2907.02, felonies of the first degree; and two counts of sexual battery,

in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(3), felonies of the third degree.

       {¶8}   The matter came on for a trial to the court on January 19, 2012, Appellant

having waived his right to a trial by jury. Following the presentation of the evidence, the

trial court found Appellant not guilty of the two rape counts, but guilty of two counts of

sexual battery, in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(3). The trial court scheduled the matter

for sentencing. On February 29, 2012, via judgment entry, the trial court sentenced

Appellant to a three year term of community control, community service, a fine and court

costs. The trial court also classified Appellant a Tier III sex offender registrant.

       {¶9}   Appellant now appeals, assigning as error:

       {¶10} “I. APPELLANT WAS CONVICTED IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE

SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A FINDING OF GUILTY, IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS

AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT OT THE UNITED STATES.

       {¶11} “II. THE TRIAL COURT CONVICTED APPELLANT EVEN THOUGH IT

DID NOT FIND THE STATE HAD PROVEN EACH ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO DUE
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                   4

PROCESS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE

UNITED STATES.

      {¶12} “III. APPELLANT’S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE, IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT OF DUE PROCESS AS

GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES.”

                                          I, II, and III.

      {¶13} Appellant's assigned errors raise common and interrelated issues;

therefore, we will address the arguments together.

      {¶14} Our review of the constitutional sufficiency of evidence to support a

criminal conviction is governed by Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct.

2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), which requires a court of appeals to determine whether

“after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational

trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Id.; see also McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S.120, 130 S.Ct. 665, 673, 175 L.Ed.2d

582(2010) (reaffirming this standard); State v. Fry, 125 Ohio St.3d 163, 926 N.E.2d

1239, 2010–Ohio–1017, ¶ 146; State v. Clay, 187 Ohio App.3d 633, 933 N.E.2d 296,

2010–Ohio–2720, ¶ 68.

      {¶15} Weight of the evidence addresses the evidence's effect of inducing belief.

State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386–387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997), superseded

by constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St

.3d 89, 684 N.E.2d 668, 1997–Ohio–355. Weight of the evidence concerns “the

inclination of the greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one

side of the issue rather than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                      5

having the burden of proof will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing the evidence in

their minds, they shall find the greater amount of credible evidence sustains the issue

which is to be established before them. Weight is not a question of mathematics, but

depends on its effect in inducing belief.” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541,

quoting Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed.1990) at 1594.

       {¶16} When a court of appeals reverses a judgment of a trial court on the basis

the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a “thirteenth

juror” and disagrees with the fact finder's resolution of the conflicting testimony. Id. at

387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 42, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 72

L.Ed.2d 652 (1982). However, an appellate court may not merely substitute its view for

that of the jury, but must find that “ ‘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, supra, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20

Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717, 720–721(1st Dist.1983). Accordingly, reversal

on manifest weight grounds is reserved for “‘the exceptional case in which the evidence

weighs heavily against the conviction.’” Id.

       {¶17} “[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against the

weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment and every reasonable

presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and the finding of facts. * * *

       {¶18} “If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the

reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent with the verdict

and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and judgment.”
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                     6

       {¶19} Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d

1273 (1984), fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Appellate Review, Section 60, at

191–192 (1978).

       {¶20} Appellant was convicted of two counts of violating R.C. 2907.03(A)(3),

which reads:

       {¶21} "(A) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another, not the

spouse of the offender, when any of the following apply:

       {¶22} "***

       {¶23} "(3) The offender knows that the other person submits because the other

person is unaware that the act is being committed."

       {¶24} Appellant testified at trial, when he arrived back at Alum Creek RV, he

found J.W. laying on a fold-out bed, "pretty much passed out." The following exchange

occurred at trial concerning Appellant’s interview by the investigating police officer:

       {¶25} “Q. And that interview was a fair and accurate representation of the

interview that you gave with Detective Yates on the day in question, right?

       {¶26} “A. Yes.

       {¶27} “Q. Didn’t you say that during that, I guess we’ll say interview, the lights

were off upstairs?

       {¶28} “A. Yes.

       {¶29} “Q. You also said that you felt [J.W.’s] hip muscles rising up during oral

sex?

       {¶30} “A. Yes.
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                  7

       {¶31} “Q. Listening to that interview, you didn’t mention that at all during the

interview with Detective Yates, correct?

       {¶32} “A. Correct.

       {¶33} “Q. You also didn’t mention anything about [J.W.’s] eyes being open as

well too?

       {¶34} “A. Correct.

       {¶35} “Q. You also didn’t mention anything about [J.W.] gathering up her clothes

and underwear?

       {¶36} “A. Correct.

       {¶37} “Q. You also didn’t mention anything about [J.W.] supposedly grinding on

your leg as well too?

       {¶38} “A. Correct.

       {¶39} “Q. You also talked about that [J.W.] grabbed your hand?

       {¶40} “A. Yes.

       {¶41} “Q. In the interview with Detective Yates, isn’t it correct when I say that

you told Detective Yates that you grabbed [J.W.’s] hand?

       {¶42} “A. I said we held hands.

       {¶43} “Q. I believe Detective Yates asked you - - at first you said you held

hands, but then Detective Yates indicated, did you grab her hand, and you responded in

affirmative; is that correct?

       {¶44} “A. Yes, uh-huh.

       {¶45} “Q. You also said during the course of your testimony there that, just to be

clear, that you took [J.W.’s] pants off in this case, right?
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                    8

        {¶46} “A. Yes.

        {¶47} “Q. You were that one who kissed her, you kissed her?

        {¶48} “A. Her arm.

        {¶49} “Q. She didn’t respond to you, correct?

        {¶50} “A. Correct. I kissed her arm.

        {¶51} “Q. You kissed her arm, she didn’t respond?

        {¶52} “A. Correct.

        {¶53} “Q. Nothing - - well, let’s go - - I’ll ask a question toward the end about

that.

        {¶54} “You laid down, no response from her, correct, when you laid down next to

her?

        {¶55} “A. No response?

        {¶56} “Q. She didn’t say anything to you?

        {¶57} “A. No.

        {¶58} “Q. Instead you started stroking her arm, correct?

        {¶59} “A. Stroking her hair.

        {¶60} “Q. Stroking her hair. What did you do to her arm?

        {¶61} “A. Kissed her arm.

        {¶62} “Q. Kissed her arm?

        {¶63} “A. Yeah.

        {¶64} “Q. She didn’t say anything verbally at that point, right?

        {¶65} “A. No.

        {¶66} “Q. She also didn’t respond to your advances at that time either, right?
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                      9

      {¶67} “A. No, correct.

      {¶68} “Q. So from there, you then rolled her over; isn’t that correct?

      {¶69} “A. I motioned which way I wanted her to turn and she rolled over, I didn’t

use force.

      {¶70} “Q. And this was in the dark room?

      {¶71} “A. With a window with a light on the outside of the window, yes.

      {¶72} “Q. But, you didn’t mention any of this motion previously, right, to

Detective Yates?

      {¶73} “A. I tried to answer his questions as best as possible over three hours - -

      {¶74} “Q. You didn’t mention that though, did you?

      {¶75} “A. Correct.

      {¶76} “Q. From there you then removed her pants; is that correct?

      {¶77} “A. Right.

      {¶78} “Q. Is that before or after you kissed her?

      {¶79} “A. After I kissed her arm.

      {¶80} “Q. And she didn’t respond to you as well too at that point?

      {¶81} “A. She responded by raising her hips up.

      {¶82} “Q. You didn’t mention that to Detective Yates, did you?

      {¶83} “A. No, sir.

      {¶84} “Q. You then performed oral sex on her, and you said the only response

you had, other than the hand, was her raising her hips up, correct?

      {¶85} “A. I’m sorry.
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                   10

         {¶86} “Q. Raising her hips, I guess, was her next response to your actions there,

right?

         {¶87} “A. Yes.

         {¶88} “Q. As you’re performing oral sex on her, and then also from there, you

said it proceeded to vaginal intercourse, right?

         {¶89} “A. Yes.

         {¶90} “Q. Once again, no verbal response from [J.W.] at this point, correct?

         {¶91} “A. Correct.

         {¶92} “Q. And then also you’re having sex with her - - correct me if I’m wrong - -

she’s lying down, correct?

         {¶93} “A. Yes.

         {¶94} “Q. On her back?

         {¶95} “A. Yes.

         {¶96} “Q. You are the one who - - she’s lying on her back, we’ll leave it right

there.

         {¶97} “From there you ejaculated on her, you said, or in her?

         {¶98} “A. On her?

         {¶99} “Q. On her or in her, I guess I was confused.

     {¶100} “A. In her.

     {¶101} “Q. And she didn’t say anything about giving you permission to do that?

     {¶102} “Did she say - - did she give you permission to do that?

     {¶103} “A. At the time just before it happened or when?
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                    11

       {¶104} “Q. Did she give you any verbal permission to do that, to ejaculate inside

her?

       {¶105} “A. She said she going to have sex with me earlier that day, yes.

       {¶106} “Q. She said that she was going to have sex with you earlier in the day?

       {¶107} “A. She told Michelle that either you have him or I will.

       {¶108} “Q. But, she didn’t say she was going to have sex with you that day, that

was merely her statement; isn’t that correct?

       {¶109} “A. That - -

       {¶110} “Q. Did you ever hear [J.W.] say the words to you, I want to have sex with

you, in those words?

       {¶111} “A. No, sir.

       {¶112} “Q. During the entire time period when you came back to Alum Creek RV

after she called you, you did not hear her make any verbal statement about wanting to

have sex with; isn’t that correct?

       {¶113} “The only - - answer that, please.

       {¶114} “A. She said said she would do me, quote, in the past, does that qualify?

       {¶115} “Q. Well, you didn’t mention anything about that to Detective Yates.”

       {¶116} Tr. at 199-204.

       {¶117} Based upon the evidence set forth in the record, we find Appellant's

convictions for sexual battery are neither against the manifest weight nor against the

sufficiency of the evidence. The evidence demonstrates the trial court did not clearly

lose its way in finding Appellant engaged in sexual conduct with J.W. while he knew or

should have known J.W. was unaware the act was being committed.
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                           12

    {¶118} The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

By: Hoffman, J. and

Gwin, P.J. concur,

Edwards, J. concurs separately

                                           s/ William B. Hoffman _________________
                                           HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                           s/ W. Scott Gwin _____________________
                                           HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                           ___________________________________
                                           HON. JULIE A. EDWARDS
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                                 13

EDWARDS, J., CONCURRING OPINION

       {¶119} I concur with the majority as to the disposition of this case but it is not

clear to me that the majority addresses one of the arguments made by appellant.

       {¶120} The majority did address the argument made by appellant that the State

failed to prove appellant knew J.W. was unaware of the acts committed. The majority

addresses this argument by quoting the transcript and concluding “…the trial court did

not clearly lose its way in finding appellant engaged in sexual conduct with [J.W.] while

he knew or should have known [J.W.] was unaware the act was being committed.” I

concur in this analysis.

       {¶121} I find the majority did not clearly address the additional argument

regarding the weight of the evidence made by appellant. Appellant argued that the

state did not prove the appellant knew that J.W. only submitted because she was

unaware the act was being committed. Appellant seems to be arguing that because

J.W. had earlier indicated an interest in having sex with the appellant, the state could

not prove the appellant knew that the only reason J.W. had sex with appellant was

because she was unaware of the act being committed. Appellant seems to argue that

an offender would not be guilty of sexual battery if the other person, though unaware of

the sexual conduct being committed on him/her, had indicated earlier a willingness to

have sex with the offender. In other words, appellant argues, appellant could have

believed that J.W. was a willing participant in the sexual conduct even though unaware

of its occurrence.

       {¶122} But, I reject this argument based on the wording of the statute.       The

statute does not say that the state must prove the offender knew that the only reason
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                               14

the victim submitted was because she was unaware of the activity. The statute says

that the state must prove the offender knew that “the other person submits because the

other person is unaware that the act is being committed.” The statute does not say the

offender must know that the other person submits only because the other person is

unaware, but rather that the offender must know that the other person is submitting

because the other person is unaware.

      {¶123} Therefore, I conclude that it was sufficient for the state to prove that

appellant knew J.W. was unaware of the act being committed in order to obtain a

conviction for sexual battery.   The statute clearly prohibits an offender from having

sexual conduct with a person the offender knows is unaware of the sexual conduct.

                             s/ Judge Julie A. Edwards_______

                                    Judge Julie A. Edwards
Delaware County, Case No. 12CAA030023                                            15

           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
                         FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                             :
                                          :
       Plaintiff-Appellee                 :
                                          :
-vs-                                      :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                          :
GARY MAHONE                               :
                                          :
       Defendant-Appellant                :        Case No. 12CAA030023

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion, the judgment of the trial

court is affirmed. Costs to Appellant.

                                          s/ William B. Hoffman _________________
                                          HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                          s/ W. Scott Gwin _____________________
                                          HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                          s/ Julie A. Edwards___________________
                                          HON. JULIE A. EDWARDS