Court Opinion

ID: 2700121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:14:21.984579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:42.160757
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re J.T., 2011-Ohio-3324.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                      LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                                  JUDGES:
                                                   Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
J.T.,                                              Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                                                   Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
DELINQUENT CHILD
                                                   Case No. 10-CA-134

                                                   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Appeal from the Licking County Court of
                                               Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
                                               No. A2010-0313

JUDGMENT:                                      Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                         June 30, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Appellee                                   For Appellant

KENNETH W. OSWALT                              TODD W. BARSTOW
Licking County Prosecutor                      4185 East Main Street
                                               Columbus, Ohio 43213
BY: RACHEL OKTAVEC
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
20 S. Second Street, Fourth Floor
Newark, Ohio 43055

                                               Guardian Ad Litem

                                               THOMAS GORDON
                                               8026 Woodstream Dr., N.W.
                                               Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                            2

Hoffman, J.

         {¶1}   Appellant J.T., a minor child, appeals his adjudication in the Licking

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of

Ohio.

                              STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

         {¶2}   While seventeen years-old and a student at Licking Heights High School,

Appellant was arrested for incidents involving several classmates at school.1

         {¶3}   On April 28, 2010, the State filed a complaint in the Licking County Court

of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, charging Appellant with six counts of sexual

imposition, two counts of menacing and one count of voyeurism. The matter proceeded

to a bench trial on July 12, 2010. The State dismissed all the counts except for two

counts of sexual imposition.        Via Judgment Entry of July 12, 2010, the trial court

adjudicated Appellant delinquent of one count of sexual imposition, and one count of

disorderly conduct, a lesser included offense. On October 25, 2010, the trial court

conducted a dispositional hearing. Via Judgment Entry of the same date, the trial court

classified Appellant a Tier I sexual offender.

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

         {¶5}   “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF DUE

PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE ONE SECTION TEN OF THE

OHIO CONSTITUTION BY FINDING HIM GUILTY OF SEXUAL IMPOSITION AS THAT

1
    Additional facts will be included in our analysis of Appellant’s first assignment of error.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                       3

VERDICT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND WAS ALSO

AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

      {¶6}     “II. THE APPLICATION OF S.B. 10 VIOLATES THE UNITED STATES

CONSTITUTION’S PROHIBITION AGAINST CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS.

EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.”

                                                I.

      {¶7}     An appellate court reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence examines the

evidence admitted at trial and determines whether, after viewing the evidence most

favorably to the state, the jury could have found the essential elements of the crime

proven beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273. “On

review for sufficiency, courts are to assess not whether the state's evidence is to be

believed, but whether, if believed, the evidence against a defendant would support a

conviction.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 390, 1997–Ohio–52 (Cook, J.,

concurring).

      {¶8}     In contrast, a court reviewing the manifest weight observes the entire

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

the witnesses and determines whether, in resolving conflicts in the 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. Schlee (Dec. 23, 1994), 11th Dist.

No. 93–L–082. “The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be exercised only in

the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the conviction.” State

v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175. An appellate court must defer to the factual
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                        4

findings of the jury regarding the weight to be given to the evidence and credibility of the

witnesses. State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, paragraph one of the syllabus.

       {¶9}    Appellant was adjudicated delinquent of sexual imposition, in violation of

Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.06(A)(1):

       {¶10} “(A) No person shall have sexual contact with another, not the spouse of

the offender; cause another, not the spouse of the offender, to have sexual contact with

the offender; or cause two or more other persons to have sexual contact when any of

the following applies:

       {¶11} “(1) The offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other

person, or one of the other persons, or is reckless in that regard.”

       {¶12} Revised Code Section 2907.01(B) defines “sexual contact” as “any

touching of an erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh,

genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if the person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of

sexually arousing or gratifying either person.”

       {¶13} At the July 12, 2010 adjudicatory hearing P.W., an alleged victim in this

matter, testified:

       {¶14} “Q. Okay. And you started not being friends, correct?

       {¶15} “A. Right. We would get into - -

       {¶16} “Q. And why is that?

       {¶17} “A. We would get into arguments very often and he would harass me all

the time. He would call me names, and he would violate my privacy, and I would

always tell him to stop but he wouldn’t listen.

       {¶18} “Q. And how would he violate your privacy?
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                    5

      {¶19} “A. He would, like, graze my legs, and try and give me shoulder

massages, trying to move up to my chest, and he would - - then I’d tell him no and then

he’d get mad. And then, when he would get mad, he would call me names and start

making fun of me and then causing us to get into another argument.

      {¶20} “Q. And did he - - when you said he tried to touch your breasts, did he

touch your breasts?

      {¶21} “A. Yes.

      {¶22} “Q. How did he do that?

      {¶23} “A. He came from over top.

      {¶24} “Q. What do you mean, like - -

      {¶25} “A. Like he would move from my shoulders and then move down. He

would graze and then I would tell him to stop.

      {¶26} “Q. And he’d touch your breasts - -

      {¶27} “A. Yes.

      {¶28} “Q. - - actually? And when was that?

      {¶29} “A. I remember the one incident - - it happened over multiple times, but the

one incident I can actually put a date on was right after winter break, because we were

in study hall and my boyfriend had just left the classroom and we started dating then,

so, that’s how I remember the exact date.

      {¶30} “Q. Oh, okay.

      {¶31} “A. So it was right after winter break?

      {¶32} “Q. Right after winter break? And did you report it then?
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                         6

          {¶33} “A. No, I just - - I pretty much ignored it because I would tell him to stop,

and then he’d stop for a while, and then he’d keep - - he would – he was consistent - -

          {¶34} “Q. How - -

          {¶35} “A. - - about trying.

          {¶36} “Q. And how often did he touch your breasts?

          {¶37} “A. About - - he would try about once a week, but he wouldn’t - - I wouldn’t

let him do it very often, because I would tell him to stop. I would yell at him then we’d

get into another argument.

          {¶38} “Q. Okay. And - - but he succeeded once and that was over your shirt - -

          {¶39} “A. Yeah.

          {¶40} “Q. - - not under?

          {¶41} “A. Huh-uh.

          {¶42} “Q. Okay. And did he know that this was offensive to you? What did you

tell him about that?

          {¶43} “A. I made it clear. I made it very clear that I did not want him touching me

at all.

          {¶44} “Q. And how did you do that?

          {¶45} “A. I would scream at him and tell him to stop.”

          {¶46} Tr. at 15-18.

          {¶47} Another student at Licking Heights High School, C.B., testified to

witnessing the incidents:

          {¶48} “Q. Did you - - what did you – did you see [J.T.] do anything to [P.N.]?

          {¶49} “A. I saw her - - saw him grope her.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                    7

      {¶50} “Q. What do you mean ‘grope her’?

      {¶51} “A. Touch her breasts and her bottom.

      {¶52} “Q. And when did you see that?

      {¶53} “A. English and algebra.

      {¶54} “Q. So, it would happen more than once?

      {¶55} “A. Yes.

      {¶56} “Q. Do you know when it happened?

      {¶57} “A. Not the exact date, no.

      {¶58} “Q. Did it happen this school year?

      {¶59} “A. Yes.

      {¶60} “* * *

      {¶61} “Q. And, so, he touched her breasts a few times?

      {¶62} “A. Yes.

      {¶63} “Q. Was this over or under the clothes?

      {¶64} “A. Over.

      {¶65} “Q. And were [P.N.] and [J.T.] ever dating?

      {¶66} “A. No.”

      {¶67} Tr. at 36-38.

      {¶68} Another student, S.H., testified:

      {¶69} “A. Yeah, like he would come up and, like, hug me and I’d tell him to, like,

let go because, like, he wouldn’t let go. And he’d just keep going and finally he’d, you

know, stop and then he’d, like, give me a look like what the heck?
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                         8

         {¶70} “And like we went on this school field trip and I came back - - and we had

to dress nice, so, I had a skirt on about to my knees. And he was, you know, trying to

look up my skirt and stuff. And I was like - - you know, and he was like calling me, like,

sexy and stuff. And like, I don’t know, just to me it was like - - made me uncomfortable

around him because, I don’t know, it’s just - - I don’t think anybody should be doing that,

especially if you don’t know somebody that well because I don’t - - like I had a class with

him but I didn’t know him as a person that well.

         {¶71} “Q. And how is he trying to look up your skirt?

         {¶72} “A. He was sitting at his desk and he - - and I walked by and he was like,

you know, going like that. I was just like, you know, what are you doing?

         {¶73} “Q. And, when he hugged you, did - - where were his hands?

         {¶74} “A. Like he would wrap around me, like, squeeze me really tight. So it was

like - - you know, like - - -almost like I couldn’t move. And I would be like, you know, like

stop, okay - - or, okay, that’s enough kind of thing and he just wouldn’t stop.

         {¶75} “Q. Okay. Did he touch you in any inappropriate places?

         {¶76} “A. One time he touched my butt and he, like, grazed my chest, but I don’t

know if the chest thing was on purpose or an accident.

         {¶77} “Q. Okay. And what did you tell him when he was trying to look up your

skirt?

         {¶78} “A. To stop.

         {¶79} “Q. Did he know that it was bothering you?

         {¶80} “A. I don’t know, but I thought he would get the idea when I gave him that

look like stop doing that and stuff, but he didn’t I guess.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                        9

      {¶81} “Q. And you’re not married to [J.T.], right?

      {¶82} “A. No.

      {¶83} “Q. I know that’s a ridiculous question. What were the kind of things that

[J.T.] was saying to you when he was talking to you?

      {¶84} “A. Well, if I wouldn’t talk to him or something like that, he would call me - -

      {¶85} “Q. It’s okay.

      {¶86} “A. - - a bitch. And, you know, I’d just be like, okay, cause I didn’t do

anything; or he’d just mess around and call me that because of something. And then

he’d be like, well, I’m just kidding. But you shouldn’t mess around with something like

that, because somebody could really think you’re mad at them.

      {¶87} “* * *

      {¶88} “Q. How many times are you alleging that [J.T.] touched you

inappropriately?

      {¶89} “A. He only touched me inappropriately twice. But like the action, like the

hugging and stuff, got a - - that was a little uncomfortable, and the names he called me,

and looking up my skirt.

     {¶90}   Tr. at 54-57; 66-67.

     {¶91}   Another student A.L. testified,

     {¶92}   “Q. How did he touch you?

     {¶93}   “A. Just kind of like . . .

     {¶94}   “Q. It’s okay. I know this is hard but you’ll have to explain it to everyone

so that they can hear you.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                       10

     {¶95}    “A. Like he would do like a back massage thing and his hands would go

down like - - or try to go down my shirt, I guess.

     {¶96}    “Q. Okay. If you can kind of describe that - - how that was working.

     {¶97}    “A. Like he would be behind me and I’d be in front, I guess. Like I’d be - -

just be sitting in a chair. And I guess he would come up to me and he would do that,

sort of act like he had - - his hands would be on my shoulders and then they would, like,

start going down. And, you know, at that point I would tell him to stop.

     {¶98}    “Q. Okay. And, so, during the massage his hands didn’t stay on your

shoulder - - shoulders?

     {¶99}    “A. No. No.

     {¶100} “Q. Okay. And where did they end up?

     {¶101} “A. About like right here, but I would stop him because they - - yeah.

     {¶102} “* * *

     {¶103} “Q. What other physical contact did you have with him during the year?

     {¶104} “A. Like he would sort of kind of, like, touch them like straight on, I guess.

     {¶105} “Q. Okay. What do you mean ‘sort of, kind of, and then them’?

     {¶106} “A. My breasts as ‘them’.

     {¶107} “Q. Okay.

     {¶108} “A. Like - - just kind of - - not really straight on, more so like a bump, but

that’s where his hands would end up.

     {¶109} “Q. Okay. Can you describe the situation that that happened in?

     {¶110} “A. In the hallway walking from class to class or maybe on the bus.

     {¶111} “Q. And what do you mean his hands ended up there?
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                     11

     {¶112} “A. Like he would bump into me and his hands would, like, go out and

grab them.

     {¶113} “* * *

     {¶114} “Q. Okay. And on the bus how did that happen? And if you can show us -

-

     {¶115} “A. It was the same sort of back massage thing he was - - like he would be

behind me. * * *

     {¶116}   “A. He would be behind me and it would kind of go - - it would start like

that and I’m kind of like, you know, trying to get him off my shoulders by moving my

shoulders. And then it would go, like, about this far and then I’d just take his hands and

I’d move them.

     {¶117} “Q. And, so, on the bus you said that he touched your breasts. Did he

touch your breasts on the bus? I’m sorry, I just want a clarification.

     {¶118} “A. He attempted to. I mean - - “

     {¶119} Tr. at 79-80; 81-82; 85-88.

     {¶120} Appellant argues the evidence failed to prove the “physical contact” was

for sexual arousal or gratification which is necessary to establish “sexual contact”.

However, there is no requirement there be direct testimony regarding sexual arousal or

gratification. State v. Astley (1987), 36 Ohio App.3d 247, 523 N.E.2d 322; State v. Cobb

(1991), 81 Ohio App.3d 179, 610 N.E.2d 1009; In Re Anderson (1996), 116 Ohio

App.3d 441, 688 N.E.2d 545; State v. Brady (July 9, 2001), Stark App.

No.2000CA00223, 2001 WL 815574. In the absence of direct testimony regarding

sexual arousal or gratification, the trier of fact may infer Appellant was motivated by
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                     12

desires for sexual arousement or gratification from the “type, nature and circumstances

of the contact, along with the personality of the defendant.” State v. Cobb (1991), 81

Ohio App.3d at 185, 610 N.E.2d 1009; State v. Brady, supra (citing Cobb ).

     {¶121} Based upon the testimonial evidence set forth above, Appellant frequently

engaged in inappropriate touching of female classmates, often while offering to

massage or hug them. We find there is substantial credible evidence from which the

trier-of-fact could find all the elements of sexual imposition have been met, and

Appellant’s adjudication is not against the manifest weight nor sufficiency of the

evidence.

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

                                                   II.

     {¶123} In the second assignment of error, Appellant maintains his classification

as a Tier I sexual offender is unconstitutional.

     {¶124} However, in State v. Cook, the Ohio Supreme Court determined the sex

offender registration statutes are remedial in nature, not criminal and punitive. State v.

Cook (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 404.

     {¶125} In In re Adrian R., this Court cited Cook, holding:

     {¶126} “Moreover, in State v. Cook (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 404, supra, the Ohio

Supreme Court found the former version of R.C. 2950 constitutional. Senate Bill 10

amended R.C. 2950 so that classification is no longer based on an individualized

analysis. Instead, classification is now based on the type of crime committed. In

addition, Senate Bill 10 increased the reporting requirements.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                      13

     {¶127} “In Cook, the Ohio Supreme Court determined that the old system

effective in 1997 was ‘retroactive’ because it looked to the prior conviction as a starting

point for regulation. Cook, 83 Ohio St.3d at 410. Even so, the Court upheld the old

system because it had a valid remedial and non-punitive purpose. The Cook court

determined that Ohio's sex offender statutes did not violate the Ex Post Facto clause of

the United States Constitution, finding:

     {¶128} “R.C. Chapter 2950 serves the solely remedial purpose of protecting the

public. Thus, there is no clear proof that R.C. Chapter 2950 is punitive in its effect. We

do not deny that the notification requirements may be a detriment to registrants, but the

sting of public censure does not convert a remedial statute into a punitive one. Kurth

Ranch, 511 U.S. at 777, 114 S.Ct. at 1945, 128 L.Ed.2d at 777, fn. 14. Accordingly, we

find that the registration and notification provisions of R.C. Chapter 2950 do not violate

the Ex Post Facto Clause because its provisions serve the remedial purpose of

protecting the public. Cook, 83 Ohio St.3d at 423.***

     {¶129} “***We also find that Senate Bill 10 does not amount to cruel and unusual

punishment. In Cook, supra, the Supreme Court concluded that sexual offender

notification and registration requirements are not punitive in nature; rather, they are

remedial measures designed to protect the public. Therefore, such measures do not

implicate the protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Cook, at 423. See also,

State v. Keibler, Auglaize App. No. 2-99-51, 2000-Ohio-1666.”

     {¶130} Pursuant to this Court’s precedent in In re Adrian R., we overrule

Appellant’s second assignment of error.
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                          14

     {¶131} The judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division, is affirmed.

By: Hoffman, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Edwards, J. concur

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

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

                                       s/ Julie A. Edwards___________________
                                       HON. JULIE A. EDWARDS
Licking County, Case No. 10-CA-134                                                15

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

IN THE MATTER OF:

J.T.,

DELINQUENT CHILD                           :
                                           :
                                           :
                                           :
                                           :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                           :
                                           :
                                           :        Case No. 10-CA-134

        For the reasons set forth stated in our accompanying Opinion, the judgment of

the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed. Costs

assessed 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