Court Opinion

ID: 2698845
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:56:14.954092+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:24.513993
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Moore, 2013-Ohio-2185.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                      JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO                                 :       Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                                              :       Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                         Plaintiff-Appellee   :       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                              :
-vs-                                          :
                                              :       Case No. CT2012-0047
KENNETH L. MOORE                              :
                                              :
                    Defendant-Appellant       :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Criminal appeal from the Muskingum
                                                  County Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                                  CR2012-0177

JUDGMENT:                                         Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           May 28, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                            For Defendant-Appellant

ROBERT SMITH                                      DAVID A. SAMS
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney                    Box 40
27 North Fifth Street                             West Jefferson, OH 43162
Zanesville, OH 43701
[Cite as State v. Moore, 2013-Ohio-2185.]

Gwin, P.J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-appellant           Kenneth   Moore    [“Moore”]   appeals   from   his

convictions and sentences for three counts of Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity Oriented

Material or Performance.

                                            Facts and Procedural History

        {¶2}     On August 15, 2012, Moore appeared before the Muskingum County

Court of Common Pleas with court-appointed counsel and entered a plea of "guilty" to a

Bill of Information, which charged him with three counts of Illegal use of a Minor in

Nudity Oriented Material or Performance, in violation of R.C. Section 2907.323(A)(3),

felonies of the fifth degree. Pursuant to a written plea agreement, the state agreed to

recommend that Moore receive an aggregate prison term of one year.

        {¶3}     On September 10, 2012, Moore returned to court for sentencing. At that

time, the Court found Moore to be a Tier I offender and advised Moore of his reporting

responsibilities. The Court then ordered that Moore serve a prison term of one year on

each of the three counts to be served concurrently. The Court then informed the Moore

that he was subject to a mandatory period of post release control for five (5) years upon

his release from prison.

                                               Assignments of Error

        {¶4}     Moore raises three Assignments of Error,

        {¶5}     “I. THE BILL OF INFORMATION WAS STRUCTURALLY INSUFFICIENT

CONTRARY TO OHIO LAW AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS AS

IT FAILED TO ALLEGE THE ELEMENT OF RECKLESSNESS, THAT THE OFFENSE

IN QUESTION WAS A SEXUALLY ORIENTED OFFENSE UNDER CHAPTER 2950 OF
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                   3

THE REVISED CODE AND THAT THE MATERIAL IN QUESTION WAS EITHER A

LEWD EXHIBITION OR THAT IT GRAPHICALLY FOCUSED ON THE GENITALS AND

WAS NOT POSSESSED OR VIEWED FOR EITHER A BONA FIDE PURPOSE OR

WITH WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT AS REQUIRED BY R.C. 2907.323(A)(3)(a-b).

      {¶6}   “II. THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT'S CONVICTION AND SENTENCE

FOR THE ILLEGAL USE A MINOR IN NUDITY-ORIENTED MATERIAL UNDER R.C.

2907.323(A)(3) AND HIS RESULTING CLASSIFICATION AS A TIER I SEX

OFFENDER ARE VOID AS THE BILL OF INFORMATION FAILED TO ALLEGE THE

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS THAT THE MATERIAL IN QUESTION WAS EITHER A

LEWD EXHIBITION OR THAT IT GRAPHICALLY FOCUSED ON THE GENITALS AND

THAT IT WAS EITHER NOT POSSESSED FOR A BONA FIDE PURPOSE OR WITH

WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT CONTRARY TO OHIO LAW AND THE STATE AND

FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.

      {¶7}   “III.   THE   PLEA     WAS      UNKNOWING,         UNINTELLIGENT        AND

INVOLUNTARY CONTRARY TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.”

                                               I.

      {¶8}   Moore argues in his first assignment of error that his bill of information was

void. Subsumed within this generalized objection are two challenges 1). the bill of

information did not specify the requisite mens rea element of recklessness required for

a conviction of Illegal use of a Minor in Nudity Oriented Material or Performance, in

violation of R.C. Section 2907.323(A)(3); and 2). The bill of information failed to give

notice that the offenses in question were sexually oriented offenses.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                 4

                                1. Failure to include mens res.

      {¶9}   Recklessness is the culpable mental state required to constitute a violation

of R.C. 2907.323(A)(3). State v. Young, 37 Ohio St.3d 249, 525 N.E.2d 1363(1988),

reversed on other grounds by Osborne v. Ohio, 495 U.S. 103, 110 S.Ct. 1691, 109

L.Ed.2d 98(1990); Accord, State v. Tooley, 114 Ohio St.3d 366, 2007-Ohio-3698, 872

N.E.2d 894, ¶37.

      {¶10} In State v. Horner, the Ohio Supreme Court held in the syllabi,

             (1) an indictment that charges an offense by tracking the language

      of the criminal statute is not defective for failure to identify a culpable

      mental state when the statute itself fails to specify a mental state,

      overruling State v. Colon, 118 Ohio St.3d 26, 2008-Ohio-1624, 885 N.E.

      2d 917, and State v. Colon, 119 Ohio St.3d 204, 2008-Ohio-3749, 893

      N.E.2d 169;

             (2) by failing to timely object to a defect in an indictment, a

      defendant waives all but plain error on appeal, overruling State v. Colon,

      118 Ohio St.3d 26, 2008-Ohio-1624, 885 N.E. 2d 917[.]

126 Ohio St.3d 466, 2010-Ohio-3830, 935 N.E.2d 26, paragraph one and two of the

syllabus.

      {¶11} In the case at bar, the trial court accepted Moore's plea. There was no jury

impaneled and therefore, no argument was made alleging this to be a strict liability

offense nor was a jury improperly instructed. Competent counsel represented Moore

and Moore, with the assistance of counsel, entered into a negotiated plea. Moore was

sentenced pursuant to that negotiated plea. Moore did not object and therefore failed to
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                 5

preserve his claim that the indictment against him was constitutionally defective. See,

State v. Ellis, Fifth Dist. No. 2007-CA-46, 2008-Ohio-7002, ¶26. Therefore, this Court

may analyze the error in this case pursuant to the Crim.R. 52(B) plain error analysis. As

the United States Supreme Court observed in Puckett v. United States, 526 U.S. 129,

129 S.Ct. 1423, 173 L.Ed.2d 266, (2009),

              If an error is not properly preserved, appellate-court authority to

       remedy the error (by reversing the judgment, for example, or ordering a

       new trial) is strictly circumscribed. There is good reason for this; “anyone

       familiar with the work of courts understands that errors are a constant in

       the trial process, that most do not much matter, and that a reflexive

       inclination by appellate courts to reverse because of unpreserved error

       would be fatal.”

556 U.S. at 134. (Citation omitted).

              [A]n appellate court may, in its discretion, correct an error not

       raised at trial only where the appellant demonstrates that (1) there is an

       error; (2) the error is clear or obvious, rather than subject to reasonable

       dispute; (3) the error affected the appellant’s substantial rights, which in

       the ordinary case means it affected the outcome of the district court

       proceedings; and (4) the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or

       public reputation of judicial proceedings.

United States v. Marcus, 560 U.S. 258, 130 S.Ct. 2159, 2164,176 L.Ed.2d 1012

(Internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The Ohio Supreme Court pertinently

addressed when structural error analysis should be used in State v. Perry,
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                   6

              We emphasize that both this court and the United States Supreme

       Court have cautioned against applying a structural-error analysis where,

       as here, the case would be otherwise governed by Crim.R. 52(B) because

       the defendant did not raise the error in the trial court. See Hill, 92 Ohio

       St.3d at 199, 749 N.E.2d 274; Johnson, 520 U.S. at 466, 117 S.Ct. 1544,

       137 L.Ed.2d 718. This caution is born of sound policy. For to hold that an

       error is structural even when the defendant does not bring the error to the

       attention of the trial court would be to encourage defendants to remain

       silent at trial only later to raise the error on appeal where the conviction

       would be automatically reversed. We believe that our holdings should

       foster rather than thwart judicial economy by providing incentives (and not

       disincentives) for the defendant to raise all errors in the trial court-where,

       in many cases, such errors can be easily corrected.

101 Ohio St.3d 118, 802 N.E.2d 643, 2004-Ohio-297, ¶23. Thus, the defendant bears

the burden of demonstrating that a plain error affected his substantial rights and, in

addition that the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of

judicial proceedings. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123

L.Ed.2d 508(1993); State v. Perry, 101 Ohio St.3d at 120, 802 N.E.2d 643. Even if the

defendant satisfies this burden, an appellate court has discretion to disregard the error.

State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240(2002); State v. Long, 53 Ohio

St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804(1978), paragraph three of the syllabus; Perry, supra, at 118,

802 N.E.2d at 646.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                   7

      {¶12} Under the circumstances of the case at bar, there is nothing in the record

to show that Moore was prejudiced. Moore received the aggregate sentence he had

agreed upon in exchange for his pleas of guilty. We find any error in the bill of

information’s failure to specify the requisite mens rea element of recklessness was

harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

           2. Notice that the offenses in question were a sexually oriented offense.

      {¶13} Moore next asserts that the bill of Information is defective because it did

not apprise him that he was charged with sexually oriented offenses, and therefore, he

was not placed on notice that he would become subject to the classification and

reporting requirements of Chapter 2950.

      {¶14} In the case at bar, the record clearly establishes that the trial court advised

Moore before accepting his plea that “you will be deemed a Tier I registrant for sex

abuse—Tier I sex abuse registrant.” (T. Plea, Aug. 15, 2012 at 6). Moore acknowledged

that he would be deemed a Tier I registrant. (Id.) The trial court informed Moore that he

would be required to register each year for 15 years. Moore acknowledged that he

understood. (Id.) The trial judge further advised Moore of the potential consequences

should he fail to meet the rules and regulations of a Tier I sexual offender. (Id. at 7).

Moore acknowledged that he understood. (Id.)

      {¶15} Prior to sentencing, the trial judge informed Moore as follows,

             THE COURT: Do you understand, Mr. Moore, with your plea of

      guilty and finding of guilty, by sentencing you on these specific charges

      that you - - that I am finding you to be a Tier I sex offender?

             [MOORE]: Yes sir, I do.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                   8

              THE COURT: And as such, you are required, for a period of 15

       years, to annually verify your location and your whereabouts with the

       Sherriff’s department?

              [MOORE]: Yes sir, Mr. Rankin explained.

              THE COURT: And that’s for a period of 15 years?

              [MOORE]: Yes sir, I understand.

              THE COURT: And you understand that if you fail to meet the rules

       and requirements set forth in this form and being a Tier I registrant, if you

       fail you meet those requirements, that alone can lead to additional felony

       charges and an additional or potential prison sentence?

       [MOORE]: Yes sir. That’s fine.

       THE COURT: Do you have any questions about that?

       [MOORE]: No sir, I don’t.

T. Sent. Sept. 10, 2012 at 4-5. Moore did not indicate his disapproval or confusion to the

trial court upon being informed by the trial court that he would be found to be a Tier I

registrant with the attendant duties and responsibilities.

       {¶16} In the case at bar, if Moore did not understand that he faced a registration

and reporting requirement before the plea, he certainly knew it immediately afterward

and could have objected to the plea at that time if he had been surprised by it or prior to

sentencing which occurred at a later date.

       {¶17} Given the record, we further find that Moore has failed to demonstrate that

he was prejudiced by any failure to include within the bill of information that offenses in

question were sexually oriented offenses. Based upon the record of the case before us,
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                       9

we find any error in the failure to include within the bill of information that the offenses in

question were sexually oriented offenses was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

       {¶18} Moore’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                  II.

       {¶19} In his second assignment of error, Moore argues that the bill of information

was defective because the bill of information failed to allege that the material in question

was either a lewd exhibition or that it graphically focused on the genitals as required by

2907.323.

       {¶20} Crim.R. 7(B) provides that the indictment shall contain a statement that

may be in the words of the applicable section of the statute, provided the words of the

statute charge an offense, or in words sufficient to give the defendant notice of all the

elements of the offense with which the defendant is charged.

       {¶21} R.C. 2907.323(A)(3) provides that no person shall “possess or view any

material or performance that shows a minor who is not the person's child or ward in a

state of nudity.” The statute has been construed “as reaching only nudity that either

constitutes a lewd exhibition or involves a graphic focus on the genitals.” State v.

Young, 37 Ohio St.3d 249, 525 N.E.2d 1363(1988), reversed on other grounds by

Osborne v. Ohio, 495 U.S. 103, 110 S.Ct. 1691, 109 L.Ed.2d 98(1990). While Osborne

may limit the proof of “a state of nudity” to lewdness or graphic focus on the genitals, in

order to meet a constitutional objective, it does not alter the elements of R.C.

2907.323(A)(1). “[S]tate of nudity” is not a separate element but merely defines that

element in R.C. 2907.323(A)(1) and (A)(3). The indictment as worded properly sets forth

offenses under Ohio law and satisfied Crim.R. 7(B). State v. Sullivan, 2d Dist. No.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                 10

23948, 2011-Ohio-2976, ¶27; Accord, State v. Videen, 2nd Dist. No. 25183, 2013-Ohio-

1364, ¶47; State v. O’Connor, 12th Dist. No. CA2001-08-195, 2002-Ohio-4122, ¶31;

State v. Dolman, 6th Dist. No. WM-10-007, 2010-Ohio-5505, ¶34; Contra, State v.

Moss, 1st Dist. C-990631, 2000 WL 376434(Apr. 14, 2000)(finding that while the

indictment mirrored the language of R.C. 2907.323(A)(3), the indictment failed to allege

that the material forming the basis of the charge was lewd or graphically focused on the

genitals. The court found such an allegation to be a “judicially engrafted” element of the

crime in light of State v. Young. Therefore, the court concluded that the facts alleged in

the indictment were insufficient to state a punishable offense). The O'Connor court

found, however, that Moss's interpretation of Young was invalid because “it is only the

legislature, not the judiciary,” that “has the power to engraft or enact additional

elements” of an offense. O’Conner, 2002-Ohio-4122, ¶30. See, also, Moss, Hildebrandt,

P.J., dissenting; Dolman, 2010-Ohio-5505, ¶34.

      {¶22} In the case at bar, Moore plead guilty. “[A] defendant who has entered a

guilty plea without asserting actual innocence is presumed to understand that he has

completely admitted his guilt.” State v. Griggs, 103 Ohio St.3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, 814

N.E.2d 51, syllabus. In the case at bar, the bill of information charged each offense in

the words of the statute. The purpose of a bill of information is to give the accused

adequate notice of the crime charged. State v. Buehner, 110 Ohio St.3d 403, 853

N.E.2d 1162, 2006–Ohio–4707, ¶7. An indictment or bill of information is sufficient if it

contains the elements of the offense charged, fairly informs the defendant of the charge,

and enables the defendant to plead an acquittal or conviction in bar of future

prosecutions for the same offense. Id. at ¶ 9. As applied to the present case, the bill of
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                    11

information cites to R.C. 2907.323(A)(3) and tracks the statutory language of the

charged offenses. This is sufficient. An admission to the facts of a bill of information that

alleges the depiction of a “state of nudity” includes by definition an admission to

lewdness or graphic focus on the genitals.

       {¶23} Moore’s second assignment of error is overruled.

                                                III.

       {¶24} In his third assignment of error, Moore asserts that he did not voluntarily

and knowingly waive his right to a jury trial because he was not apprised that a jury

decision of guilty would have to be unanimous and that he would be able to help his

attorney select a jury, including removing jurors both for cause and without cause.

       {¶25} Initially, there is no explicit requirement in Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) that a

defendant be informed of his right to a unanimous verdict. State v. Simpson, 10th App.

No. 07AP-929, 2008-Ohio-2460, ¶11. Further, several courts, including the Ohio

Supreme Court, have held there is no requirement that a trial court inform a defendant

of his right to a unanimous verdict. See, e.g., State v. Ketterer, 111 Ohio St.3d 70, 855

N.E.2d 48, 2006-Ohio-5283, ¶68 (the trial court was not required to specifically advise

defendant on the need for juror unanimity); State v. Fitzpatrick, 102 Ohio St.3d 321, 810

N.E.2d 927, 2004-Ohio-3167, 44-46 (accused need not be told that jury unanimity is

necessary to convict and to impose sentence); State v. Barnett, 1st Dist. No. C-060950,

2007- Ohio-4599, ¶ 6; State v. Smith, 5th Dist. No. CT2007-0073, 2008-Ohio-3306, ¶27.

       {¶26} It is also well established that a defendant need not have a complete or

technical understanding of the jury trial right in order to knowingly and intelligently waive
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                                 12

it. State v. Bays, 87 Ohio St.3d 15, 20, 716 N.E.2d 1126(1999). In State v. Jells, the

Ohio Supreme Court held:

              There is no requirement in Ohio for the trial court to interrogate a

       defendant in order to determine whether he or she is fully apprised of the

       right to a jury trial. The Criminal Rules and the Revised Code are satisfied

       by a written waiver, signed by the defendant, filed with the court, and

       made in open court, after arraignment and opportunity to consult with

       counsel.

53 Ohio St.3d 22, 25-26, 559 N.E.2d 464(1990).

       {¶27} Here, Moore indicated he was fully apprised of his rights, and he executed

a written plea of guilty. Nothing in the record rebuts the presumption that this written

guilty plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made.

       {¶28} For all the above reasons, we find the trial court did not err when it failed

to inform Moore of his right to a unanimous jury verdict, and, based upon the totality of

the circumstances, we conclude Moore entered his plea voluntarily. The trial court

clearly complied with the mandates of Crim. R. 11(C).
Muskingum County, Case No. CT2012-0047                                             13

      {¶29} Moore’s third assignment of error is overruled.

      {¶30} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Court

of Common Pleas, Muskingum County, Ohio is affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Farmer, J., and

Wise, J., concur

                                            _________________________________
                                            HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                            _________________________________
                                            HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                            _________________________________
                                            HON. JOHN W. WISE

WSG:clw 0513
[Cite as State v. Moore, 2013-Ohio-2185.]

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO

                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO                                    :
                                                 :
                            Plaintiff-Appellee   :
                                                 :
                                                 :
-vs-                                             :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                                 :
KENNETH L. MOORE                                 :
                                                 :
                                                 :
                        Defendant-Appellant      :       CASE NO. CT2012-0047

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of

the Court of Common Pleas, Muskingum County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to appellant.

                                                     _________________________________
                                                     HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                                     _________________________________
                                                     HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                                     _________________________________
                                                     HON. JOHN W. WISE