State v. Miller , 2019 Ohio 3423 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Miller, 2019-Ohio-3423.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
WARREN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2018-10-121
: OPINION
- vs - 8/26/2019
:
PAUL D. MILLER, :
Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL COURT
Case No. 18-05-CRB-3729
Steven M. Runge, 1 Benjamin Franklin Way, Franklin, Ohio, for appellee
Weisbrod Law Office, Alfred J. Weisbrod, P.O. Box 513, Dayton, Ohio 45409, for appellant
RINGLAND, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Paul Miller, appeals from his conviction for sexual imposition in the
Franklin Municipal Court. For the reasons detailed below, we affirm.
{¶ 2} On May 26, 2018, Miller went to karaoke night at JD Legends, a bowling,
concert, and music venue in Franklin. The dispute centers on sexual contact that Miller had
with the victim, a 16-year-old girl, which Miller denies. The victim and three of her cousins
(T.P., K.P., and H.P.) testified that Miller appeared intoxicated and paid extra attention to her
throughout the evening, which led to several uncomfortable interactions. Miller admitted to
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consuming alcohol, approximately four 23-ounce beers, but denied that he was intoxicated to
the point of drunkenness.
{¶ 3} The victim testified that Miller was "acting a little weird." The victim stated that
Miller called her a "fine girl" on multiple occasions. K.P. similarly testified that Miller praised
the victim and came up to her "quite a few times talking to her and saying that she was fine *
* * implying that she was cute." H.P. also observed Miller's behavior, stating that he paid a lot
of attention to the victim. Miller stated that he was just quoting song lyrics and acknowledged
that he may have "spooked" the victim but was merely trying to congratulate and encourage
her karaoke. Miller, who describes karaoke as his life's passion, testified that he always
congratulates singers to encourage them to sing and enjoy karaoke.
{¶ 4} The victim described the sexual contact as occurring very suddenly and out of
the blue. According to her, while she was in the karaoke room, Miller suddenly touched her
vagina and then grabbed K.P.'s, buttocks. After the contact, the victim stated that she "went
straight into shock," didn't know what to do, and was scared. K.P. also testified that she
observed Miller grab the victim's vagina and then walk by and place his hand on her own
"lower back butt area." Miller denied that he touched the victim's vagina or K.P.'s buttocks,
however he said that he may have patted their backs. Miller also surmised that the victim
and her family fabricated the sexual contact to get him ejected from the bar as a ruse to get
more opportunities to sing karaoke.
{¶ 5} Following the incident, the victim and K.P. exited the room. In the other room,
the victim and K.P. discussed what had just occurred and decided to inform security. Miller
was escorted from the premises and arrested by law enforcement.
{¶ 6} On May 29, 2018, Miller was named in a criminal complaint for sexual
imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.06(A)(1), a third-degree misdemeanor. The matter was
tried before the bench and the trial court found Miller guilty of the charged offense. Miller
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now appeals, raising two assignments of error for review.
{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 8} THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT THE TRIAL COURT
TO FIND APPELLANT GUILTY OF SEXUAL IMPOSITION BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT.
{¶ 9} In his first assignment of error, Miller argues that his conviction is not supported
by sufficient evidence. Miller's argument is without merit.
{¶ 10} Whether the evidence presented is legally sufficient to sustain a verdict is a
question of law. State v. Chapman, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2018-03-046, 2018-Ohio-4560, ¶
13. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence underlying a criminal conviction, an
appellate court examines the evidence to determine whether such evidence, if believed,
would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State
v. Intihar, 12th Dist. Warren CA2015-05-046, 2015-Ohio-5507, ¶ 9. The 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 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
In other words, "the test for sufficiency requires a determination as to whether the state has
met its burden of production at trial." State v. Boles, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2012-06-012,
2013-Ohio-5202, ¶ 34. When evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, this court must view
all evidence in the light most favorable to the state and "defer to the trier of fact on questions
of credibility and the weight assigned to the evidence." State v. Kirkland, 140 Ohio St.3d 73,
2014-Ohio-1966, ¶ 132.
{¶ 11} Sexual imposition is defined in R.C. 2907.06 and provides "[n]o person shall
have sexual contact with another, not the spouse of the offender * * * when * * * [t]he
offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other person, * * * or is reckless in
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that regard." The Revised Code 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."
R.C. 2907.01(B).
{¶ 12} Miller argues there was insufficient evidence that he touched the victim as
described, that the alleged touching was for the purposes of sexual arousal or gratification,
and that he knew his conduct would be offensive, or was reckless in that regard. Miller also
maintains that there was insufficient corroboration to support his conviction.
{¶ 13} Miller alleges the victim only testified that he touched her "private parts," which
he maintains is not an erogenous zone. However, following review of the trial testimony, we
disagree with Miller's position as the record plainly indicates that the victim specified that
Miller touched "her vagina." Though the victim initially stated that Miller touched her "private
part," she also confirmed, multiple times, that Miller touched her vagina. Thus, there is
sufficient evidence, along with corroboration discussed below, that Miller committed the
relevant act of touching the victim's vagina. Similarly, the evidence is sufficient to establish
that he knew his conduct would be offensive or was reckless in that regard.
{¶ 14} Furthermore, the evidence, if believed by the trier of fact, is sufficient to support
the finding that the sexual contact Miller had with the victim was for the purpose of his own
sexual gratification. The state presented evidence that Miller appeared intoxicated, was
paying special attention to the victim, and referred to her as a "fine girl" in a flirtatious
manner. Though Miller protests that he was merely singing the lyrics to a song, the issue of
whether Miller was merely singing lyrics or singing lyrics as a way of flirting with the victim
was a credibility determination for the trial court. In context of Miller's behavior throughout
the evening, the fixation on the victim, and the evidence of flirtation, the trial court considered
the nature of the touching and concluded the contact was for purposes of sexual arousal or
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gratification. There was sufficient evidence for that finding.
{¶ 15} Next, Miller argues that the state failed to sufficiently corroborate the victim's
allegations as required by R.C. 2907.06(B). Miller argues the "only possible corroborating
witness" is K.P., and, again, Miller erroneously argues that her statement makes no specific
reference to the alleged touching.
{¶ 16} Pursuant to R.C. 2907.06(B), "[n]o person shall be convicted of a violation of
[sexual imposition] solely upon the victim's testimony unsupported by other evidence." In
State v. Economo, 76 Ohio St.3d 56 (1996), the Ohio Supreme Court examined the
corroboration requirement of R.C. 2907.06(B). The Court held that R.C. 2907.06(B) "does
not mandate proof of the facts which are the very substance of the crime charged * * *." Id.
at 59. Further, the Court found that the corroborating evidence necessary to satisfy R.C.
2907.06(B) need not be independently sufficient to convict the accused, and it need not go to
every essential element of the crime charged. State v. Sanchez-Garza, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2016-02-036, 2017-Ohio-1234, ¶ 25. Slight circumstances or evidence that tends to
support the victim's testimony is satisfactory. Id.{¶ 17} In this case, K.P. testified that she observed Miller approach the victim and grab
her vagina. K.P. then stated that Miller walked by and touched her own "lower back butt
area." In addition to K.P.'s corroboration, the state introduced the testimony of the victim's
family present at JD Legends who observed Miller's conduct throughout the evening in
focusing and flirting with the victim. The trial court admitted the testimony of T.P., who
testified that shortly after the altercation, the victim appeared "shaken" and "shocked" and
told her that Miller "touched her in her privates."1 In sum, the state presented more than
sufficient evidence to corroborate the victim's testimony as required by R.C. 2907.06(B). As
1. The trial court admitted the victim's testimony on the basis that the statement was both a present sense
impression under Evid.R. 803(B)(1) and an excited utterance under Evid.R. 803(B)(2).
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a result, we find Miller's first assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
{¶ 18} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 19} APPELLANT'S SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
OF COUNSEL WAS VIOLATED WHEN COUNSEL FAILED TO INVESTIGATE AND
OBTAIN DISCOVERY FROM THE STATE.
{¶ 20} In his second assignment of error, Miller alleges that he received ineffective
assistance of counsel. Miller's argument is without merit.
{¶ 21} Counsel is strongly presumed to have rendered adequate assistance and made
all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. State v.
Hendrix, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-05-109, 2012-Ohio-5610, ¶ 14. To prevail on an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Miller must show his trial counsel's performance fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness and that he was prejudiced as a result.
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984).
{¶ 22} To demonstrate prejudice, Miller must establish that, but for his trial counsel's
errors, there is a reasonable probability that the result of trial would have been different.
State v. Kinsworthy, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2013-06-053, 2014-Ohio-1584, ¶ 42. A
"reasonable probability" is a probability that is "sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome." Id. The failure to make an adequate showing on either prong is fatal to an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Id.{¶ 23} In this case, Miller directs this court's attention to an interview between the
detective investigating the case and the victim. Miller alleges that the victim did not describe
the touching that occurred inside JD Legends. Instead, Miller argues that the victim only
stated that Miller touched her "private parts" and did not mention her vagina. Therefore,
Miller maintains that discussion of her vagina "comes into the case only after the detective
completes his interrogation and coaching of the witnesses."
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{¶ 24} However, according to the transcribed interview provided by Miller, he is once
again incorrect with respect to what occurred during the interview. The victim clearly told the
detective during interview that Miller touched her vagina. In pertinent part, the transcript of
the interview states:
Q. Okay. [Victim], why don't you tell me what happened tonight.
A. Well, we were all having a good time like singing and this guy
came in and he was like drunk like - - you know how drunk
people - -
Q. Uh-huh.
A.- - are? So I got done singing. I was walking towards the table
and that's when he came up and grabbed my - - you - - my
vagina.
Thus, Miller's claim that there was "no mention of her vagina" is contradicted by his own
evidence and his arguments in reliance thereof are clearly without merit.
{¶ 25} Miller then argues that there are references to a video of the scene at JD
Legends that purportedly failed to capture the alleged touching on video. Miller argues that
the video should have been obtained and used as exculpatory evidence on his behalf.
However, even if such a video exists, Miller fails to establish that there is a reasonable
probability that the result of the trial would have been different. Whether a video failed to
capture the relevant contact does not mean that the contact did not occur. In this case, the
trial court considered the credibility of all parties and witnesses and determined that Miller
was guilty of the offending crime. Miller cannot show there is a reasonable probability that
the result of trial would have been different.
{¶ 26} Accordingly, we do not find that Miller's trial counsel fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness on any of Miller's claims. In addition, Miller fails to demonstrate
prejudice that the result of the trial would have been different, but for any error by his trial
counsel. As a result, we find Miller's second assignment of error is without merit and is
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overruled.
{¶ 27} Judgment affirmed.
Hendrickson, P.J., and S. Powell, J., concur.
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