Court Opinion

ID: 3176822
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-11 18:30:23.541762+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:55.893590
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Hardman, 2016-Ohio-498.]
                      [Please see vacated opinion at 2015-Ohio-5141.]

                 Court of Appeals of Ohio
                               EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                              JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                      No. 102600

                                      STATE OF OHIO
                                                   PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                             vs.

                              DEAFRED C. HARDMAN
                                                   DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                   JUDGMENT:
                             REVERSED AND REMANDED

                                   Criminal Appeal from the
                            Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                                  Case No. CR-14-585663-B

        BEFORE: Keough, J., Celebrezze, P.J., and Kilbane, J.

        RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 11, 2016
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Robert L. Tobik
Cuyahoga County Public Defender
By: Cullen Sweeney
Assistant Public Defender
310 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
By: Holly Welsh
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ON RECONSIDERATION1

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J.:

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Deafred Hardman, 2 appeals his convictions. For the

reasons that follow, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

       {¶2} In 2014, Hardman and his codefendants, Charles Bullard and Emmanuel Leon

Johnson, were named in a five-count indictment stemming from activities involving a

15-year-old female.     Hardman was charged with one count each of compelling

prostitution and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He pleaded not guilty and was

appointed counsel. The case was tried before a jury, where the jury heard the following

evidence pertinent to the appeal.

       {¶3} On April 9, 2014, the 15-year-old victim ran away from home and spent

almost two weeks living with various men until police forced her home. During those

two weeks, the victim presented herself as a 20-year-old named “Tabitha,” had consensual

sexual relationships with numerous adult men, and appeared in an online advertisement

offering sexual services. Pertaining to her less than 24-hour interaction with Hardman,

the victim stated that when she met him, she was living with and having sexual relations

with three adult men. She told Hardman she was 20 years old.

       The original decision in this appeal, State v. Hardman, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
       1

No. 102600, 2015-Ohio-5141, released December 10, 2015, is hereby vacated. This
opinion, issued upon reconsideration, is the court’s journalized decision in this
appeal. See App.R. 22(C); see also S.Ct.Prac.R. 7.01.

       Hardman’s legal name is “Dealfred.”
       2
      {¶4} While her testimony was contradictory to other evidence and testimony, the

victim told the jury that Hardman introduced to her to a website called “Backpage,” where

she could make easy money. She testified that she used Hardman’s cell phone to take

pictures of herself and that Hardman posted the pictures on the Backpage ad he created for

her. The ad, which was admitted into evidence, included several pictures of the victim in

various states of undress. Furthermore, the ad indicated that the victim was 21 years old

and included a contact phone number, which was Hardman’s number. After creating the

page, the victim and Hardman picked up another female and drove to a motel.

      {¶5} At the motel, the victim engaged in sexual conduct with an unknown male for

money.   According to the victim, Hardman arranged the meeting and following the

encounter, she gave half of the money to Hardman. The victim also told the jury about

other encounters that Hardman arranged, but neither of those meetings involved sex.

Nevertheless, she testified that Hardman received some of the monies paid for these

encounters.

      {¶6} The victim also testified that she and Hardman had consensual sex three or

four times. According to the victim, they had sex at another male’s house, Hardman’s

cousin’s house, and then at the motel. Another witness testified that while he did not

witness the two having sex, both Hardman and the victim told the witness about it.

      {¶7} Hardman testified in his defense. He told the jury that another girl introduced

him to the victim when they were already at the motel. He denied his involvement with
the Backpage ad, including taking photographs of the victim. He also denied that he

engaged in sexual conduct with the victim.

      {¶8} The jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts, and the court sentenced him

to consecutive 18-month prison terms, for a total of 36 months incarceration. Hardman

now appeals, raising three assignments of error, which will be addressed out of order.

                                  I. Self-Representation

      {¶9} Following the testimony of the detective assigned to the case and the social

worker from Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, the victim

testified. During the middle of her testimony, Hardman personally expressed to the trial

judge that his attorney was not asking the questions he wanted his attorney to ask. The

court reminded Hardman that based on the rules of evidence, there are some questions that

are not proper for an attorney to ask. The court then offered Hardman the option of

representing himself in the case and advised that the court “could not stop [him] from

representing [himself].” (Tr. 360.) The court further stated that if Hardman chose to

represent himself, “there’s no going back and forth” on that decision. (Tr. 360.) The

court reminded Hardman, however, that his attorney was an experienced lawyer and not

required to ask any particular questions just because Hardman wanted him to.

      {¶10} Hardman inquired about self-representation — when he would have to assert

that right, and whether he could use the evidence provided by the state to his defense

attorney and witness statements. The trial court presented Hardman with the waiver of

counsel and advised him that he could use the evidence in accordance with the rules of
evidence.    Hardman indicated he needed time to review the waiver of counsel.

Thereafter, the court recessed for lunch.

       {¶11} Following the recess, Hardman indicated that he was going to keep his

attorney.   (Tr. 365.)   The trial court reiterated that he had a right to counsel, “but

likewise, I can’t force him on you. If you choose to represent yourself — .” (Tr. 365.)

Hardman again stated that he just wanted his attorney to “ask some important questions

that I definitely want asked, that’s all.” (Tr. 365.) The court then gave Hardman a sports

analogy where in basketball you have to follow the rules of the game. And in court, you

have to follow the rules, which his attorney knew and understood.

       {¶12} After another discussion off the record, Hardman expressed that he wanted to

represent himself. The court gave Hardman another recess to discuss his decision with

his attorney. Following the recess, Hardman stated he wanted to represent himself. The

trial court presented Hardman with the “Waiver of Right to Counsel and Expression of

Intent to Proceed Pro Se under Crim.R. 44.” The waiver — which explained his rights,

the charges he was facing, and the penalties associated therewith, and acknowledged that

he received the state’s discovery, the state has the burden of proof, the legal defenses

available, and the perils of proceeding pro se — was read in open court.

       {¶13} The waiver also included statements about standby counsel.        The court

advised Hardman that,

       I understand that this Court may appoint standby counsel for me but that
       standby counsel may only act on my behalf if I’m no longer representing
       myself, under [State v. Martin, 103 Ohio St. 3d 385, 2004-Ohio-5471, 816
N.E.2d 227].
       I know that I do not have the right to hybrid representation, that is I do not
       have the right to both represent myself and have an attorney, including
       standby counsel, represent me at the same time. Again, that’s under the
       [Martin] case.

(Tr. 373.)

       I further understand that if I elect to represent myself at trial I will not have
       the assistance of an attorney to help me comply with the applicable legal
       requirements, rules of evidence, and rules of procedure.

(Tr. 376.)

       {¶14} After being so advised, Hardman signed in open court the Crim.R. 44 waiver

of counsel presented to him. The court then inquired of Hardman’s defense attorney,

“were you intending on standing by as standby counsel or are you intending on leaving?”

(Tr. 378.) Counsel responded that he preferred “to be excused.” (Tr. 379.) The trial

court excused counsel from the case and immediately requested that the victim-witness be

recalled to the stand for trial to continue. No further discussion occurred about standby

counsel.

       {¶15} Hardman indicated that he was just now receiving the discovery materials

and that he had not read all the discovery. The court reminded him that was part of the

dangers of proceeding pro se, but now that he had the discovery, “as we go along, you can

review it as you see fit, I suppose.” (Tr. 379-380.) The court asked Hardman’s defense

attorney to confirm that he had provided Hardman with discovery; counsel, however,

admitted that he had only provided Hardman with the “counsel only” documents just then.
 Nevertheless, the court resumed the trial with the state continuing its direct examination

of the victim and Hardman proceeding without counsel, including standby counsel.

       {¶16} Following the close of the state’s case, the trial court advised Hardman of his

right to call witnesses and to testify, and he indicated he would be doing both. He did not

make a Crim.R. 29 motion for judgment of acquittal. After calling two witnesses and

testifying in his defense, Hardman rested his case. Again, he did not make a Crim.R. 29

motion for judgment of acquittal.

       {¶17} In his second assignment of error, Hardman contends that the trial court

committed reversible error and violated his state and federal due process rights and right to

counsel when the court (1) sua sponte raised the idea of self-representation mid-trial, (2)

included in its counsel waiver-colloquy a reference to the appointment of standby counsel,

(3) delegated the issue of acting as standby counsel to the discharged attorney, (4) failed to

appoint standby counsel, (5) failed to grant any continuance despite Hardman never seeing

discovery prior to trial, and (6) failed to grant any continuance when pro se representation

was ordered to begin in the middle of the victim’s testimony. We agree that Hardman’s

right to counsel was violated.

       {¶18} A defendant’s right to self-representation has long been recognized. Faretta

v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562 (1975). When a trial court is

presented with a request by a defendant to proceed pro se, the trial court must consider

whether the request is (1) timely and (2) unequivocal — that he knowingly, intelligently,

and voluntarily waives his right to counsel. State v. Halder, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
87974, 2009-Ohio-5940, ¶ 50; State v. Cassano, 96 Ohio St. 3d 94, 100, 2002-Ohio-3751,

772 N.E.2d 81.

       {¶19} After a trial has commenced, the decision about whether to grant a

defendant’s request to represent himself is within the discretion of the trial court. State v.

Kendrick, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 59381, 1991 Ohio App. LEXIS 5604 (Nov. 21, 1981),

citing Robards v. Rees, 789 F.2d 379, 384 (6th Cir.1986). “The appropriate criteria for a

trial judge to consider are the defendant’s reasons for the self-representation request, the

quality of the counsel representing the party, and the defendant’s prior proclivity to

substitute counsel.” State v. Reed, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-940315 and C-940322,

1996 Ohio App. LEXIS 4860 (Nov. 6, 1996), citing United States v. Matsushita, 794 F.2d
46, 51 (2d Cir.1986).

       {¶20} In this case, Hardman’s request to proceed pro se, which was prompted by

the trial court, was arguably untimely because it was made in the middle of trial.

Cassano, (finding defendant’s request to proceed pro se untimely when the request was

made three days prior to trial); United States v. Oakley, 853 F.2d 551, 553 (7th Cir.1988)

(request to proceed pro se after the third day of trial is untimely). Our review of the

record shows that at no time prior to this suggestion by the trial court did Hardman ever

express any dissatisfaction with his trial counsel or that he wished to have other counsel

appointed. Therefore, the trial court could have denied Hardman’s request to proceed pro

se on timeliness alone. Nevertheless, the trial court allowed Hardman to proceed pro se

and without standby counsel.
       {¶21} “In Ohio, a criminal defendant has the right to representation by counsel or

to proceed pro se with the assistance of standby counsel.” State v. Martin, 103 Ohio St. 3d
385, 2004-Ohio-5471, 816 N.E.2d 227, paragraph one of the syllabus. Standby counsel

serves as an important resource for pro se defendants by assisting them to navigate “the

basic rules of courtroom protocol” and to “overcome routine obstacles that stand in the

way of the defendant’s achievement of his own clearly indicated goals.” McKaskle v.

Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 184, 104 S.Ct.944, 79 L. Ed. 2d 122 (1984).              While hybrid

representation is prohibited, standby counsel is appointed to attend the trial and answer the

defendant’s questions regarding courtroom procedure. State v. Owens, 3d Dist. Allen No.

1-07-66, 2008-Ohio-4161, ¶ 26.

       {¶22} However, it has been established that a pro se defendant does not enjoy an

absolute right to standby counsel. State v. Gatewood, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2008 CA 64,

2009-Ohio-5610, ¶ 46; citing United States v. Kesser, 578 F.3d 897 (8th Cir.2009); see

also State v. Bloodworth, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26346, 2013-Ohio-248. This court further

noted that a pro se defendant does not have an absolute right to have the court advise him

of the assistance or possibility of standby counsel.       State v. Washington, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga Nos. 96565 and 96568, 2012-Ohio-1531, ¶ 10, citing Gatewood at id., citing

United States v. Mendez-Sanchez, 563 F.3d 935 (9th Cir.2009).

       {¶23} However, we agree with the Second District that whether the trial court

discussed the right to proceed pro se with the assistance of standby counsel and whether it

even considered appointing standby counsel are considerations that “may be a part of
analyzing a court’s decision to permit a [defendant] to proceed without counsel.”

Gatewood at id.

       {¶24} In this case and during the waiver-of-counsel colloquy, the trial court advised

Hardman that the court may appoint standby counsel. However, the trial court advised

that standby counsel would not “help [him] comply with the applicable legal requirements,

rules of evidence, and rules of procedure.” (Tr. 376.) This statement is contrary to

established case law. See McCaskle, supra and Owens, supra. The assistance of standby

counsel in this case is relevant because, as will be discussed, Hardman did not move for a

Crim.R. 29 motion for judgment of acquittal.        Standby counsel could have advised

Hardman to make this routine trial motion to preserve the argument for appeal.

       {¶25} Furthermore, the trial court did not ask Hardman whether he wished to have

standby counsel. Rather, the trial court asked appointed counsel if he “wanted to stay on

as standby counsel or be excused.” From the record, it appears that the trial court did not

consider appointing Hardman standby counsel after his appointed counsel chose to be

excused from the proceedings.

       {¶26} Because the trial court advised Hardman of the possibility of standby

counsel, it was an abuse of discretion not to inquire whether Hardman wished to have

standby counsel. If the trial court decides that standby counsel should not be made

available to a defendant, at the very least, the court should note on the record its reasons

for not providing standby counsel to the defendant. Because we must indulge every

reasonable presumption against the waiver of the fundamental constitutional right to be
represented by counsel, we conclude that the trial court erred in failing to discuss with

Hardman whether standby counsel was appropriate or necessary.

       {¶27} The trial court’s decision to not appoint standby counsel and to allow

appointed counsel to leave mid-trial is particularly troubling considering that the court was

not granting Hardman a continuance to review discovery materials and prepare for trial.

Despite Hardman and his appointed attorney admitting that Hardman had not reviewed all

of the discovery available to his attorney, the court immediately resumed the trial. When

the trial court allowed Hardman to proceed alone, the trial was at the pivotal point — the

state’s main witness, the victim, was in the middle of testifying. Furthermore, a mid-trial

dismissal of counsel leaves the door open for speculation by the jury.          See State v.

Bentley, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2000CA00147, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5041 (Oct. 30, 2000)

(finding no error by the trial court in denying a mid-trial request for self representation

because the effect of absent defense counsel leaves the jury to speculate why the defendant

was no longer represented by counsel).

       {¶28} Reviewing the circumstances of the case and the relevant law, we find the

trial court erred by not offering Hardman the assistance of standby counsel; thus denying

him his constitutional right to counsel. Accordingly, Hardman’s second assignment of

error is sustained.

                      II. Sufficiency of the Evidence — Age of the Victim

       {¶29} In his first assignment of error, Hardman contends that his conviction for

unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is not supported by legally sufficient evidence as
required by state and federal due process. Specifically, he contends that insufficient

evidence was presented to prove that he knew the victim was under the age of 16 or that he

was reckless with respect to her age.

       {¶30} We note that Hardman failed to move for a Crim.R. 29 motion for judgment

of acquittal after the state’s case and after he presented his defense. A review of the

relevant law reveals an inconsistent application of whether failing to move for a Crim.R.

29 judgment of acquittal during a jury trial waives any sufficiency argument on appeal.

See State v. Israel, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-07-170, 2011-Ohio-1474 (recognizing

inconsistent application of the reviewing standard).

       {¶31} In Dayton v. Rogers, 60 Ohio St. 2d 162, 163, 398 N.E.2d 781 (1979),

overruled on other grounds, State v. Lazzaro, 76 Ohio St. 3d 261, 667 N.E.2d 384 (1996),

the Ohio Supreme Court held that in a bench or non-jury trial, a defendant’s plea of not

guilty serves as a Crim.R. 29 motion. In State v. Carter, 64 Ohio St. 3d 218, 223, 594
N.E.2d 595 (1992), the court again determined that a defendant’s not guilty plea preserved

his right to object to alleged insufficiency of evidence proving a death penalty

specification involving a prior offense, which was tried to the bench. Id. at 221-223,

citing Rogers.

       {¶32} In State v. Jones, 91 Ohio St. 3d 335, 346, 744 N.E.2d 1163 (2001), the Ohio

Supreme Court seems to have expanded this concept. Jones, which involved a jury trial,

cited Carter for the proposition that “the defendant’s ‘not guilty’ plea preserved his right
to object to the alleged insufficiency of the evidence proving the prior offense [for a death

penalty specification].” Id. at 345, citing Carter at id.

       {¶33} As a result, a number of appellate districts, including this district, have relied

on both Jones and Carter for the proposition that a defendant does not need to make a

Crim.R. 29 motion for judgment of acquittal at any point during trial to preserve a

sufficiency argument on appeal. See State v. McSwain, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83394,

2004-Ohio-3292, ¶ 21; State v. Byrd, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 82145, 2003-Ohio-3958, ¶

16 (Crim.R. 29 arguments not waived because of not guilty plea in a jury trial); State v.

Coe, 153 Ohio App. 3d 44, 2003-Ohio-2732, 790 N.E.2d 1222 (4th Dist.), State v. Clutter,

7th Dist. Columbiana No. 03 CO 33, 2004-Ohio-1372.

       {¶34} However, a number of appellate districts, including this district, have

continued to rely on Rogers to find that only in bench or non-jury trials does the

defendant’s not guilty plea obviate the necessity for a Crim.R. 29 motion for judgment of

acquittal, and unless a defendant moves for acquittal pursuant to Crim.R. 29 during a jury

trial, he waives all but plain error regarding the issue of sufficiency of the evidence on

appeal. See State v. Ellsworth, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83040, 2004-Ohio-4092; State v.

Reid, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83206, 2004-Ohio-2018; State v. Evans, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 85396, 2005-Ohio-3847, ¶ 11; State v. Turner, 91 Ohio App. 3d 153, 157, 631 N.E.2d
1117 (1st Dist.1993); State v. Welch, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25921, 2014-Ohio-3349;

State v. Flory, 3d Dist. Van Wert No. 15-04-18, 2005-Ohio-2251, State v. Blausey, 5th

Dist. Licking No. 2006-CA-36, 2006-Ohio-5536; State v. Jeter, 6th Dist. Erie No.
E-02-047, 2004-Ohio-1332; State v. Campbell, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23078,

2006-Ohio-4977; State v. Boyle, 11th Dist. Portage Nos. 2003-P-0027, 2003-P-0028,

2003-P-0029, 2004-Ohio-1531.

       {¶35} Nevertheless, while there appears to be an inconsistent application of the

standard of review, “a conviction based on legally insufficient evidence constitutes a

denial of due process.” Israel at ¶ 10, citing State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380,

386-387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). Accordingly, if the evidence is insufficient, regardless

of whether we review the arguments for prejudicial error or plain error, the conviction

must be reversed. Israel at id., State v. McKinney, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 08AP-23,

2008-Ohio-6522, ¶ 37; State v. Palmer, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-050750,

2006-Ohio-5456, ¶ 7-8. Therefore, we will address the merits of the assignment of error.

       {¶36} The test for sufficiency requires a determination of whether the prosecution

met its burden of production at trial. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266,

2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12.      In determining whether the evidence is legally sufficient to

support the jury verdict as a matter of law, “[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing

the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could

have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State

v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus,

following Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). In

Jenks, the Ohio Supreme Court emphasized

       [w]here reasonable minds can reach different conclusions upon conflicting
       evidence, determination as to what occurred is a question for the trier of fact.
        It is not the function of an appellate court to substitute its judgment for that
       of the factfinder. Rather, upon appellate review, the evidence must be
       viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution.

Id. at 279.

       {¶37} In this case, whether we review this assignment of error for plain error or

prejudicial error, the result is the same — the state presented sufficient evidence to support

Hardman’s conviction. Hardman was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A), which prohibits a person who is eighteen years of age or

older from engaging “in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the

offender, when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but

less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is reckless in” regard to the person’s age.

       A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the
       consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that his conduct is
       likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person
       is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless indifference to
       the consequences, he perversely disregards a known risk that such
       circumstances are likely to exist.

 R.C. 2901.22(C).

       {¶38} The legislature intentionally based the definition of “recklessness” on the

likelihood, rather than the probability, of a certain result. State v. Young, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 85224, 2005-Ohio-3584, ¶ 17, citing R.C. 2901.22(C) Staff Notes.

“Something is ‘probable’ when there is more reason for expectation or belief than not,

whereas something is ‘likely’ when there is merely good reason for expectation or belief.”

Id.
       {¶39} Hardman contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he acted

recklessly because the victim told him she was 20 years old, and based on the

circumstances surrounding their interaction, he reasonably relied on that assertion. He

argues that the victim did not say or do anything to cause him to doubt her age, and

because the victim was engaging in sexual conduct with other older adults, he assumed she

was the age she indicated.

       {¶40} Hardman’s assumptions, however, are not enough to overcome a finding of

recklessness under these circumstances. State v. Young, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 85224,

2005-Ohio-3584, ¶ 18, citing State v. Hahn, 4th Dist. Washington No. 02CA22,

2003-Ohio-788 (upholding conviction where offender engaged in consensual sexual

conduct with minor he had just met, and knew nothing about, but thought was 16 or 17

years of age).

       {¶41} Although Hardman testified that he never asked the victim how old she was

or whether she had identification, the jury heard from him that he verified another girl’s

age by viewing her identification. Therefore, the jury could have inferred that Hardman’s

decision to engage in sexual conduct with the victim without making any attempt to

ascertain her age or to verify his assumption that she was 16 or older was reckless.

       {¶42} We agree with Hardman’s argument that the state had the burden of proving

he was reckless that the victim was under the age of 16, not that he was reckless that she

was under 20. However, the victim told Hardman that she was 20 years old. The jury

could have reasonably determined based on the victim’s appearance at both trial and in the
photographs admitted at trial, and her demeanor at trial, that these characteristics should

have caused Hardman to question whether she was actually age 20, or at the very least

make an attempt to ascertain her age.

       {¶43} We are guided by the presumption that the jury “is best able to view the

witnesses and observe their demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and use these

observations in weighing the credibility of proffered testimony.” Seasons Coal Co. v.

Cleveland, 10 Ohio St. 3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984). Appearance, demeanor, and

gestures of a victim can also be used to determine whether a defendant was reckless when

the age of the victim is a factor. See State v. Manns, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-138,

2004-Ohio-5578 (relying on the jury’s observation of the victim at trial in finding

sufficient evidence that the defendant acted recklessly regarding the victim’s age).

       {¶44} The victim, who was older at trial than at the time of the offense, testified at

trial and the jury was able to view her appearance and demeanor. These observations,

coupled with the jury’s view of the victim in the photographs taken by Hardman at the

time of the offense, were sufficient evidence for the jury to determine whether Hardman

acted recklessly regarding her age.

       {¶45} Therefore, construing the evidence at trial in a light most favorable to the

state, we find that Hardman’s conviction for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor was

based upon legally sufficient evidence. Although Hardman may not have known that the

victim was under the age of 16 when he engaged in sexual conduct with her, the evidence
at trial supports a finding that he was reckless regarding her age.             Accordingly,

Hardman’s first assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶46} Finding merit to Hardman’s second assignment of error and granting him a

new trial, his third assignment of error challenging the manifest weight of the evidence is

rendered moot. See, e.g., State v. Kozlosky, 195 Ohio App. 3d 343, 2011-Ohio-4814, 959
N.E.2d 1097 (8th Dist.) (unanimous decision reversing a jury verdict as against manifest

weight of the evidence affords the defendant a new trial; not discharge from those

offenses).

       {¶47} Judgment reversed; case remanded for new trial.

       It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee 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 common

pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, JUDGE

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J., and
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J., CONCUR