Court Opinion

ID: 9961795
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-19 19:08:28.685843+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:18:55.627814
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Bell, 2024-Ohio-1502.]

                                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                          ADAMS COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,                                  :

        Plaintiff-Appellee,                     : CASE NO. 22CA1160

        v.                                      :

CHERITH BELL aka GAPI,                          : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

        Defendant-Appellant.                    :

_________________________________________________________________

                                           APPEARANCES:

Christopher Pagan, Middletown, Ohio, for appellant1.

Aaron E. Haslam, Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, West Union,
Ohio, for appellee.
___________________________________________________________________
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALIZED:4-12-24
ABELE, J.

        {¶1}     This is an appeal from an Adams County Common Pleas Court

judgment of conviction and sentence.                 Cherith Bell, aka Gapi,

defendant below and appellant herein, entered a guilty plea to

pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

        {¶2}     Appellant assigns three errors for review:

        1
        Different counsel represented appellant during the trial
court proceedings.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                        2

            FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:

            “BELL’S CONVICTION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE
            SHE RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE [IAC] AT
            THE PLEA PROCEEDING.”

            SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:

            “BELL’S CONVICTION WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER
            DUE PROCESS BECAUSE HER PLEA WAS NOT KNOWING,
            INTELLIGENT, OR VOLUNTARY.”

            THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:

            “BELL’S PRISON SANCTION WAS CONTRARY TO LAW.”

     {¶3}   Appellant and her late husband, Mizael Gapi, engaged in

and recorded sexual activity with a 14-year-old victim and

published the video to the victim.       After her husband entered a

guilty plea to pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor

in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(1), the trial court sentenced him

to serve an indefinite stated term of 8 to 12 years in prison.

During his incarceration, Gapi took his own life.

     {¶4}   An Adams County Grand Jury also returned an indictment

that charged appellant with (1) one count of pandering sexually

oriented matter involving a minor in violation of R.C.

2907.322(A)(1), a second-degree felony, and (2) one count of

disseminating matter harmful to juveniles with the finding that the

material or performance involved is obscene in violation of R.C.

2907.31(A)(1), a fifth-degree felony.       Appellant entered not guilty

pleas.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                       3

     {¶5}   Subsequently, appellant asked to set the matter for a

plea hearing.     At the hearing appellant acknowledged that she and

her late husband engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old

female.     Appellant stated that she “thought she was 16, almost 17.”

In addition, appellant stated that she intentionally recorded and

published the sex videos to the victim.     The trial court reviewed

the plea agreement, item by item, and explained the consequences of

a guilty plea, the maximum sentence, post-release control

consequences, sex offender registration requirements, financial

sanctions, and all rights appellant would waive.     Appellant then

entered a guilty plea to pandering sexually oriented matter

involving a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(1), a second-

degree felony.    The state dismissed count two of the indictment.

     {¶6}   At the sentencing hearing, the trial court also

acknowledged that it reviewed the pre-sentence investigation

report, the victim impact statements, and a summary of the pre-

sentence investigation report.     The victim’s mother spoke about the

severe impact on her daughter and family’s lives, along with

appellant and her father.     The court observed that appellant “had

oral, vaginal * * * sex * * * with the victim and the victim

performed * * * oral vaginal sex on * * * appellant,” and appellant

and her late husband “took video recordings of the encounters.”

     {¶7}   The trial court stated that, although appellant had shown

“some genuine remorse” and stated that she “had no intention of
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                      4

doing what [she] did,” the court noted “the inherent problem with

that statement is that there was a lot of calculations, curfews,

house arrest contacts in order to effectuate this encounter.”     The

court acknowledged that this case is a case that “keeps Judges up”

to balance the victims’ statements and the appellant’s family’s

statements.    Nevertheless, the court concluded, “there are times

when people do things so outlandish, so misguided, malicious,

undeserving, and that’s our world now somehow justified the things

that people attempt to do, in this case, you effectuated it.”     The

court further noted that the victim could not be restored, nor

could the court assist the desires of the appellant’s father, who

“is a good man and loves his daughter.”    However, the court pointed

out, “there must be punishment and in, in this court’s opinion it

must be harsh for the act some people when they do things beyond

the pale of comprehension.”

     {¶8}   The trial court then sentenced appellant to (1) serve an

indefinite stated term of 7 to 10 ½ years in prison, (2) serve a

mandatory post-release control term of up to five years, (3)

register as a tier two sex offender for 25 years, and (4) pay $300

restitution and costs.    This appeal followed.

                                  I.

     {¶9}   In her first assignment of error, appellant asserts that

trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel.    In
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                     5

particular, appellant contends that because the victim and

appellant’s late husband lied to appellant about the victim’s age,

appellant believed the victim “was a lawful sexual partner,” and,

thus, she lacked the mens rea required for pandering sexually-

oriented matter involving a minor.   Therefore, appellant argues,

her trial counsel did not perform reasonably based on her

misunderstanding of the mens rea element of pandering sexually

oriented matter involving a minor.

     {¶10} “Due process requires that a defendant's plea be made

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily; otherwise, the

defendant's plea is invalid.”   State v. Medina, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 109693, 2021-Ohio-1727, ¶ 6, citing State v. Bishop, 156 Ohio

St.3d 156, 2018-Ohio-5132, 124 N.E.3d 766, ¶ 10, citing State v.

Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462, ¶ 25.

See State v. Engle, 74 Ohio St.3d 525, 527, 660 N.E.2d 450 (1996),

citing Kercheval v. United States, 274 U.S. 220, 223, 47 S.Ct. 582,

71 L.Ed. 1009 (1927) (“When a defendant enters a plea in a criminal

case, the plea must be knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.

Failure on any of those points renders enforcement of the plea

unconstitutional under both the United State Constitution and the

Ohio Constitution.”); State v. Robinson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

110467, 2022-Ohio-1311, ¶ 20.

     {¶11} The standard of review for ineffective assistance of

counsel claims is de novo.   State v. Weaver, 171 Ohio St.3d 429,
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                    6

2022-Ohio-4371, 218 N.E.3d 806 ¶ 25, citing State v. Gondor, 112

Ohio St.3d 377, 2006-Ohio-6679, 860 N.E.2d 77.    However, a guilty

plea generally waives a defendant's right to claim that counsel’s

ineffectiveness prejudiced the defendant, except to the extent that

the ineffective assistance of counsel caused the defendant's plea

to be less than knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.    State v.

Williams, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100459, 2014-Ohio-3415, ¶ 11-12,

citing State v. Spates, 64 Ohio St.3d 269, 272, 595 N.E.2d 351

(1992), citing Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 267, 93 S.Ct.

1602, 36 L.Ed.2d 235 (1973).

    {¶12} To establish trial counsel’s ineffectiveness, a defendant

must show that counsel's performance was deficient and that the

deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.    State v. Bunch,

171 Ohio St.3d 775, 2022-Ohio-4723, 220 N.E.3d 773, ¶ 26, citing

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80

L.Ed.2d 674.   This requires showing that counsel made errors so

serious that counsel failed to function as the “counsel” guaranteed

the defendant by the Sixth Amendment.   Second, the defendant must

show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.    Id.

Thus, the question is whether counsel was deficient in her

representation of appellant.

    {¶13} In the context of a defendant who entered a guilty plea,

the defendant can prevail under this standard only by demonstrating

(1) deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                      7

below an objective standard of reasonable representation, that

caused the defendant's guilty plea to be less than knowing,

intelligent and voluntary, and (2) a reasonable probability that,

but for counsel's deficient performance, the defendant would not

have pled guilty to the offenses at issue and would have insisted

on going to trial.   State v. Khoshknabi, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

106117, 2018-Ohio-1752, ¶ 29.   “‘A reasonable probability is a

probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’”

State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 142, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989),

quoting Strickland at 694.

     {¶14} As a general matter, defense counsel's tactical decisions

and trial strategies — even “debatable” ones — do not constitute

ineffective assistance of counsel.    See, e.g., State v. Black,

2019-Ohio-4977, 149 N.E.3d 1132, ¶ 35 (8th Dist.); see also State

v. Conway, 109 Ohio St.3d 412, 2006-Ohio-2815, 848 N.E.2d 810, ¶

101, 111.   Therefore, reviewing courts “will ordinarily refrain

from second-guessing strategic decisions counsel make at trial,”

even where trial counsel's strategy was “questionable” and even

where appellate counsel argues that they would have defended

against the charges differently.     State v. Myers, 97 Ohio St.3d

335, 2002-Ohio-6658, 780 N.E.2d 186, ¶ 152; State v. Mason, 82 Ohio

St.3d 144, 169, 694 N.E.2d 932 (1998); State v. Murphy, 4th Dist.

Ross No. 07CA2953, 2008-Ohio-1744, ¶ 42.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                      8

       {¶15} In the case sub judice, appellant argues that her trial

counsel's failure to understand the mens rea requirements of R.C.

2907.322(A)(1) (pandering sexually oriented matter involving a

minor) and corresponding failure to advise her to plead guilty

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

juveniles) rendered her plea involuntary because it forced her to

accept a plea she would not otherwise have accepted when she should

have instead entered a guilty plea to disseminating matter harmful

to juveniles in violation of R.C. 2907.31.    Appellant thus contends

that trial counsel did not fully understand R.C. 2907.322(A)’s mens

rea.    Specifically, appellant argues that counsel did not

comprehend the difference between character and content.

       R.C. 2907.322(A)(1) provides:

       (A) No person, with knowledge of the character of the
       material or performance involved, shall do any of the
       following:

       (1) Create, record, photograph, film, develop, reproduce,
       or publish any material that shows a minor or impaired
       person participating or engaging in sexual activity,
       masturbation, or bestiality;

Thus, R.C. 2907.322(A)(1) requires that an offender have “knowledge

of the character of the material or performance involved.”    R.C.

2901.22(B) defines “knowledge,” and states, in relevant part, that

       [a] person has knowledge of circumstances when the person
       is aware that such circumstances probably exist. When
       knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is an
       element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a
       person subjectively believes that there is a high
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                    9

    probability of its existence and fails to make inquiry or
    acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning the fact.

Therefore, “to have knowledge, a person need only believe that

certain circumstances probably exist, not that they exist with 100%

certainty.”   State v. Duhamel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102346, 2015-

Ohio-3145, ¶ 36.   See also State v. Sotelo, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-

19-1240, 2020-Ohio-5368, (defendant acknowledged seeing a thumbnail

of a video of a child and forensic examination revealed defendant

deleted child pornography videos she sent to her boyfriend,

permitting jury to draw reasonable inference defendant knew of the

illicit nature of videos.); State v. Burgun, 56 Ohio St.2d 354,

364, 384 N.E.2d 255 (1978)(precise knowledge of contents of obscene

material not prerequisite to satisfy requirement of scienter to

sustain obscenity conviction and knowledge of character or nature

of obscene material is a constitutionally adequate indicium of

scienter to sustain a conviction.); State v. Jenkins, 1st Dist.

Hamilton No. C–040111, B–0105517–A, 2004-Ohio-7131, (sufficient

evidence of pandering obscenity when defendant knew of character of

the material in a videotape; state need not prove defendant knew

beforehand that materials would be judicially determined obscene).

    {¶16} In State v. Kraft, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-060238, 2007-

Ohio-2247, the First District concluded that to establish an R.C.

2907.322(A)(1) violation, the state must “prove that Kraft knew the

character of the material: that it involved a real minor engaging
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                         10

or participating in sexual activity.      The state does not need to

show that the defendant had precise knowledge of the contents of

the material,” Id. at ¶ 87, citing Burgun, supra, 56 Ohio St.2d at

364.     The court further observed, “A person has knowledge of

circumstances when he is aware that such circumstances probably

exist,” citing R.C. 2901.22(B), and the state may rely solely on

circumstantial evidence to prove that the defendant knew the

character of the material.     Id.

       {¶17} In the case sub judice, R.C. 2907.322(A)(1) required the

state to prove that appellant knew the character of the material

she published to the victim.     At her plea hearing, the trial court

asked appellant “how old was the girl?” Appellant replied, “She was

14 at the time.”     The court asked, “So, you, you knew at the time

she was a minor, less than 18 years of age?”      Appellant replied, “I

thought she was 16, almost 17.”      The court asked, “But you knew she

was less than 18 years of age?”      Appellant replied, “Yes.”    The

court then asked, “And did you create, record, photograph, film,

develop, reproduce, or publish material?”      Appellant replied, “Yes,

* * * record.”     Finally, the court asked, “And did you publish that

to anybody?     Did you send it to anybody?”   Appellant responded,

“Um, I sent it to the girl.”     When asked, “And that what you sent

and recorded, did it show the minor you’re referring to the girl

participating or engaging in sexual activity?,” appellant replied,

“Yes.”     The court then asked, “and what was the sexual activity?”
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                     11

Appellant, replied, “it involved me and her and her and my

husband.”   The court inquired, “And was it vaginal penetration of

your husband with, with his penis of her vagina?”     Appellant

replied, “Yes.”   The court further asked, “And your involvement,

did you with the, the minor, was it, um, the act of cunnilingus or

did you penetrate her in any way, albeit minimal with any of your

fingers or digits?”   Appellant replied, “Yes.”   Finally, the court

asked, “when you recorded this, * * * was it by accident or did you

intentionally record this act of sexual activity with a minor?”

Appellant replied, “Yes.”   When asked again, “it was intentional?”

Appellant replied, “Yes.”

    {¶18} Thus, it appears that appellant acknowledged (1) the

victim was a minor (under the age of 18) (R.C. 2907.01(M)), (2)

appellant personally recorded her late husband and herself engaging

in sex acts with the victim, and (3) appellant then published that

material when appellant transmitted that recording to the victim.

We believe that these facts sufficiently established that appellant

possessed the requisite mens rea for a pandering conviction

pursuant to R.C. 2907.322(A)(1).   Appellant created and published

the video knowing that the character of the video included “a minor

* * * participating or engaging in sexual activity * * * as

prohibited by R.C. 2907.322(1).”   Although we recognize appellant

acted at the behest of her late husband, we conclude that trial

counsel did not render a deficient performance.     Therefore, we
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                   12

conclude that no reasonable probability exists that, but for

counsel’s errors, appellant would not have entered a guilty plea.

    {¶19} Accordingly, based on the foregoing reasons, we overrule

appellant’s first assignment of error.

                                  II.

    {¶20} In her second assignment of error, appellant asserts that

she did not enter a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea.

Here, appellant claims that authorities led her to believe that “it

was irrelevant that [her late husband] and [the victim] conspired

to lie about [the victim’s] age and did so.”

    {¶21} In general, when deciding whether to accept a plea a

court must determine whether a defendant enters the plea knowingly,

intelligently, and voluntarily.   State v. McDaniel, 4th Dist.

Vinton No. 09CA677, 2010-Ohio-5215, ¶ 8.    “‘In considering whether

a guilty plea was entered knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily,

an appellate court examines the totality of the circumstances

through a de novo review of the record to ensure that the trial

court complied with constitutional and procedural safeguards.’”

(Emphasis sic.)   Id., quoting State v. Eckler, 4th Dist. Adams No.

09CA878, 2009-Ohio-7064, ¶ 48; State v. Hearn, 4th Dist. Washington

No. 20CA7, 2021-Ohio-594, ¶ 18; State v. Willoughby, 4th Dist.

Pickaway No. 20CA5, 2021-Ohio-2611, ¶ 32.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                    13

     {¶22} “Before accepting a guilty plea, the trial court should

engage in a dialogue with the defendant as described in Crim.R.

11(C).” McDaniel at ¶ 8, citing State v. Morrison, 4th Dist. Adams

No. 07CA854, 2008-Ohio-4913, ¶ 9.   Crim.R. 11(C)(2) provides:

     In felony cases the court may refuse to accept a plea of
     guilty or a plea of no contest, and shall not accept a plea
     of guilty or no contest without first addressing the
     defendant personally and doing all of the following:

     (a) Determining that the defendant is making the plea
     voluntarily, with understanding of the nature of the
     charges and of the maximum penalty involved and if
     applicable, that the defendant is not eligible for
     probation or for the imposition of community control
     sanctions at the sentencing hearing.

     * * *

     {¶23} Substantial compliance with Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(a) is

sufficient for a valid plea concerning nonconstitutional rights.

State v. Veney, 120 Ohio St.3d 176, 2008-Ohio-5200, 897 N.E.2d 621,

¶ 14. “‘Substantial compliance means that, under the totality of

the circumstances, appellant subjectively understood the

implications of his plea and the rights he waived.’”   McDaniel at ¶

13, quoting State v. Vinson, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 08AP-903,

2009-Ohio-3240, ¶ 6.   As the Supreme Court of Ohio explained in

State v. Clark, 119 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-3748, 893 N.E.2d 462,

¶ 32:

     When the trial judge does not substantially comply with
     Crim.R. 11 in regard to a nonconstitutional right,
     reviewing courts must determine whether the trial court
     partially complied or failed to comply with the rule. If
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                  14

    the trial judge partially complied, e.g., by mentioning
    mandatory postrelease control without explaining it, the
    plea may be vacated only if the defendant demonstrates a
    prejudicial effect.   The test for prejudice is “whether
    the plea would have otherwise been made.” If the trial
    judge completely failed to comply with the rule, e.g., by
    not informing the defendant of a mandatory period of
    postrelease control, the plea must be vacated. “A complete
    failure to comply with the rule does not implicate an
    analysis of prejudice.” (Emphasis sic.) (Citations
    omitted.)

    {¶24} “Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b) requires the trial court to inform

the defendant of the effect of his guilty or no-contest plea and to

determine whether he understands that effect.”   State v. Jones, 116

Ohio St.3d 211, 2007-Ohio-6093, 877 N.E.2d 677, ¶ 12; State v.

Griggs, 103 Ohio St.3d 85, 2004-Ohio-4415, 814 N.E.2d 51, ¶ 10-12.

“To satisfy the effect-of-plea requirement under Crim.R.

11(C)(2)(b), a trial court must inform the defendant, either orally

or in writing of the appropriate language of Crim.R. 11(B).”     Jones

at ¶ 25, 51.   Further, a trial court must also inform the defendant

that upon acceptance of his pleas, it “may proceed with judgment

and sentence.” Crim.R. 11(C)(2)(b).

    {¶25} In the case sub judice, appellant claims that her late

husband and the victim “conspired to lie about [the victim’s] age

and did so.”   Thus, appellant contends that authorities led her to

believe that this alleged conspiracy was irrelevant.   As the state

points out, however, the record is clear that appellant knew the

victim was under age 18 when she engaged in sexual activity, when
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                     15

she recorded the sexual activity, and when she published the video.

In addition, appellant contends that the trial court overlooked the

mens rea for pandering that required appellant to know the involved

character of the videos, but we believe that this argument has no

merit for the reasons outlined in the discussion of appellant’s

first assignment of error.

     {¶26} At the change of plea hearing in the case at bar, the

state agreed to dismiss count two of the indictment.    The trial

court addressed appellant, discussed the charges and maximum

sentence, and explained the various rights appellant would waive

with her guilty plea.   The court inquired whether appellant had

consulted with her attorney, whether she was satisfied with her

representation, and whether she had any questions regarding the

consequences of her plea.    Appellant indicated multiple times that

she understood her plea’s implications.   Further, appellant

acknowledged that she understood the allegations, the elements, and

the recommended sentence.    See State v. Jackson, 2023-Ohio-3895,

226 N.E.3d. 518 (4th Dist.), ¶ 37.

     {¶27} Therefore, after our review, we believe that the trial

court complied with the applicable rules.    Further, appellant

acknowledged that she understood the implications of her plea and

the various rights she would waive through a guilty plea.

Appellant, represented by counsel at the plea hearing, did not

assert her innocence, and nothing suggests any confusion or lack of
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                   16

understanding regarding the effect of her guilty plea.

    {¶28} Accordingly, because appellant failed to establish

prejudice, we conclude that appellant knowingly, voluntarily, and

intelligently entered her guilty pleas and we overrule appellant's

second assignment of error.

                                  III.

    {¶29} In her final assignment of error, appellant asserts that

at sentencing the trial court neglected to fully consider the

seriousness factors and improperly considered various extraneous

factors.

    {¶30} When reviewing felony sentences, appellate courts apply

the standard of review set forth in R.C. 2953.08(G)(2).     State v.

Prater, 4th Dist. Adams No. 18CA1069, 2019-Ohio-2745, at ¶ 12,

citing State v. Graham, 4th Dist. Adams No. 17CA1046, 2018-Ohio-

1277, at ¶ 13.     Under R.C. 2953.08(G)(2), “[t]he appellate court's

standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its

discretion.”     Instead, R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) specifies that an

appellate court may increase, reduce, modify, or vacate and remand

a challenged felony sentence if the court clearly and convincingly

finds either:

    (a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's
    findings under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13,
    division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or
    division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code,
    whichever, if any, is relevant;

    (b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                   17

“[C]lear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof

which is more than a mere ‘preponderance of the evidence,’ but not

to the extent of such certainty as is required ‘beyond a reasonable

doubt’ in criminal cases, and which will produce in the mind of the

trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought

to be established.”   Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d

118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.   Thus, an appellate

court may vacate or modify any sentence that is not clearly and

convincingly contrary to law if the appellate court concludes, by

clear and convincing evidence, that the record does not support the

sentence.

    {¶31} The Supreme Court of Ohio has summarized the

applicability of R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12 as follows:

    In Ohio, two statutory sections serve as a general guide
    for every sentencing. First, R.C. 2929.11(A) provides that
    the overriding purposes of felony sentencing “are to
    protect the public from future crime by the offender and
    others and to punish the offender.”      To achieve these
    purposes, the trial court “shall consider the need for
    incapacitating the offender, deterring the offender and
    others from future crime, rehabilitating the offender, and
    making restitution.”      Id.     The sentence must be
    “commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of
    the offender's conduct and its impact upon the victim, and
    consistent with sentences imposed for similar crimes
    committed by similar offenders.” R.C. 2929.11(B). * * *

    Second, R.C. 2929.12 specifically provides that in
    exercising its discretion, a trial court must consider
    certain factors that make the offense more or less serious
    and that indicate whether the offender is more or less
    likely to commit future offenses. * * *
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                    18

     [A]n offender's conduct is considered less serious when
     there are “substantial grounds to mitigate the offender's
     conduct, although the grounds are not enough to constitute
     a defense.” R.C. 2929.12(C)(4). R.C. 2929.12(C) and (E)
     also permit a trial court to consider “any other relevant
     factors” to determine that an offense is less serious or
     that an offender is less likely to recidivate.

State v. Day, 2019-Ohio-4816, 149 N.E.3d 122, ¶ 15 (4th Dist.),

quoting State v. Long, 138 Ohio St.3d 478, 2014-Ohio-849, 8 N.E.3d

890, ¶ 17–18.   This court has held that, generally, a sentence is

not contrary to law if a trial court considered the R.C. 2929.11

purposes and principles of sentencing, as well as the R.C. 2929.12

seriousness and recidivism factors, properly applied post-release

control, and imposed a sentence within the statutory range.   Prater

at ¶ 20; Graham at ¶ 16; State v. Perry, 4th Dist. Pike No.

16CA863, 2017-Ohio-69, ¶ 21; State v. Bowling, 4th Dist. Jackson

No. 19CA2, 2020-Ohio-813, ¶ 7.   Moreover, neither R.C. 2929.11 nor

2929.12 requires a trial court to make any specific factual

findings on the record.   State v. Jones, 163 Ohio St.3d 242, 2020-

Ohio-6729, 169 N.E.3d 649, ¶ 20, citing State v. Wilson, 129 Ohio

St.3d 214, 2011-Ohio-2669, 951 N.E.2d 381, ¶ 31.

     {¶32} In the case sub judice, at the sentencing hearing the

trial court referred to the R.C. 2929.11 purposes of felony

sentencing and stated that it had “considered the seriousness of

recidivism factors of R.C. 2929.12.”   The court further stated, “I

cannot restore the victim, I cannot restore [the victim’s mother],
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                      19

to a sense of comfort or closure, and I cannot assist the desires

of your father.”     Moreover, the court’s decision stated that it

considered both the R.C.2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 sentencing

factors.   A trial court's statement in its sentencing journal entry

that it considered the required statutory factors is alone

sufficient to fulfill its obligations under R.C. 2929.11 and

2929.12.   State v. Smith, 4th Dist. 22CA3, 22CA4, 2023-Ohio-681;

State v. Sutton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 102300 and 102302, 2015–

Ohio–4074, ¶ 72, citing State v. Clayton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

99700, 2014–Ohio–112, ¶ 9.

     {¶33} Appellant also asserts that the trial court relied on

extraneous factors and notes the court’s statement, “There is a

presumption of * * * a prison term and, * * * the court finds your

actions * * * to be literally beyond the pale of comprehension of

this court * * *.”    The court further stated, “I cannot restore the

victim.    I cannot restore [the victim’s mother] to * * * a sense of

* * * comfort or closure.”     Finally, the court stated, “I cannot

assist * * * the desires of your father who * * * is a good man and

loves his daughter.     But there must be punishment and * * * in this

court’s opinion it must be harsh for the act some people when they

do things beyond the pale of comprehension.”

     {¶34} Appellant cites State v. Bryant, 168 Ohio St.3d 250,

2022-Ohio-1878, 198 N.E.3d 68, ¶ 22 for the proposition that the

court based its sentence on a subjective factor, i.e., “beyond the
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                   20

pale of comprehension.”   Bryant, however, simply reiterates that a

court may not base a sentence on “impermissible considerations -

i.e., considerations that fall outside those that are contained in

R.C. 2929.11 and 2929.12.”   Id.   Here, the trial court’s statement

that appellant’s actions were “beyond the pale” was simply a

consideration during the portion of the sentencing hearing in which

the court analyzed the R.C. 2929.11 and R.C. 2929.12 factors.

     {¶35} Appellant does not explain how this statement constitutes

an improper reliance on extraneous factors.     Appellant’s actions

severely damaged a young girl and her family.     Thus, we believe the

court’s statement reflects to the seriousness of the offense

pursuant to R.C. 2929.12, nothing more.

     {¶36} Finally, appellant contends that the age of consent in

Ohio is 16 years old, R.C. 2907.04(A), and appellant’s late husband

and the victim “lied to [appellant] about [the victim’s] age.”

Thus, appellant asserts that she “cannot be punished for it.”     As

the state points out, however, regardless of whether appellant’s

late husband misled her to believe the victim’s age of 16 rather

than her actual age of 14, appellant nevertheless violated R.C.

2907.322(A) because the victim was a juvenile.     See R.C.

2907.01(M).

     {¶37} After our review, we believe that the trial court

complied with all pertinent sentencing requirements, reviewed and

considered the presentence investigation report, parties’
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arguments, victim impact statements and sentencing hearing

testimony, and arrived at a sentence that falls within the

statutory range.    Consequently, we conclude that the record

supports the trial court’s sentence and the sentence is not

contrary to law.

    {¶38} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we

overrule appellant's third assignment of error and affirm the trial

court’s judgment.

                                          JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
ADAMS, 22CA1160                                                   22

                          JUDGMENT ENTRY

     It is ordered that the judgment be affirmed.   Appellee shall
recover from appellant the costs herein taxed.

    The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

     It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court
directing the Adams County Common Pleas Court to carry this
judgment into execution.

     If a stay of execution of sentence and release upon bail has
been previously granted by the trial court or this court, it is
temporarily continued for a period not to exceed 60 days upon the
bail previously posted. The purpose of a continued stay is to
allow appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio an
application for a stay during the pendency of the proceedings in
that court. If a stay is continued by this entry, it will
terminate at the earlier of the expiration of the 60-day period, or
the failure of the appellant to file a notice of appeal with the
Supreme Court of Ohio in the 45-day appeal period pursuant to Rule
II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the appeal
prior to expiration of 60 days, the stay will terminate as of the
date of such dismissal.

     A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate
pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

    Hess, J. & Wilkin, J.: Concur in Judgment & Opinion

                                   For the Court

                                   BY:_____________________________
                                     Peter B. Abele, Judge

                         NOTICE TO COUNSEL

     Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a
final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal
commences from the date of filing with the clerk.