State v. Kilbarger ( 2014 )

[Cite as State v. Kilbarger, 2014-Ohio-2341.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
FAYETTE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
CASE NO. CA2013-04-013
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
OPINION
: 6/2/2014
- vs -
:
DANIEL L. KILBARGER, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM FAYETTE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. 12CRI00210
Jess C. Weade, Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney, John M. Scott, Jr., 110 East Court
Street, Washington C.H., Ohio 45160, for plaintiff-appellee
Gabriel P. Moorman, 212 North Broadway Street, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for defendant-
appellant
M. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Daniel Kilbarger, appeals his conviction in the Fayette
County Court of Common Pleas for rape and gross sexual imposition.
{¶ 2} In October 2012, appellant was indicted on four counts of rape (all first-degree
felonies) and five counts of gross sexual imposition (all fourth-degree felonies). The state
alleged that appellant sexually abused a family member from September 2009 to September
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2012. The victim is a mentally impaired young man with an IQ below 70. The victim was 16
years old when the abuse began, and 19 years old when it ended.
{¶ 3} A jury trial was held in April 2013. On April 5, 2013, appellant was found guilty
on all counts as charged. He was subsequently classified as a Tier III sex offender and
sentenced to 22 years in prison.
{¶ 4} Appellant now appeals, raising one assignment of error:
{¶ 5} APPELLANT'S CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF
THE EVIDENCE.
{¶ 6} Appellant argues his conviction for rape and gross sexual imposition was
against the manifest weight of the evidence because the state failed to prove that the victim's
ability to consent was substantially impaired because of a mental condition.
{¶ 7} In determining whether a conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, this court, reviewing the entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable
inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving
conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest
miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. State v.
Popp, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-05-128, 2011-Ohio-791, ¶ 32. An appellate court will not
reverse a judgment as against the manifest weight of the evidence in a jury trial unless it
unanimously disagrees with the jury's resolution of any conflicting testimony. State v. Bailey,
12th Dist. Butler No. CA2002-03-057, 2003-Ohio-5280, ¶ 22. When reviewing the evidence,
an appellate court must be mindful that the original trier of fact was in the best position to
judge the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given the evidence. Id.{¶ 8} Appellant was convicted of rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(c), which
states in relevant part:
No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is
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not the spouse of the offender * * * when the other person's
ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a
mental or physical condition * * *, and the offender knows or has
reasonable cause to believe that the other person's ability to
resist or consent is substantially impaired because of a mental or
physical condition[.]
{¶ 9} Appellant was also convicted of gross sexual imposition, in violation of R.C.
2907.05(A)(5), which states in relevant part:
No person shall have sexual contact with another, not the
spouse of the offender; [or] cause another, not the spouse of the
offender, to have sexual contact with the offender * * * when the
ability of the other person to resist or consent * * * is substantially
impaired because of a mental or physical condition * * *, and the
offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the
ability to resist or consent of the other person * * * is substantially
impaired because of a mental or physical condition[.]
{¶ 10} Although it is not defined in the Ohio Criminal Code, "the phrase 'substantially
impaired' * * * must be given the meaning generally understood in common usage." State v.
Zeh, 31 Ohio St.3d 99, 103 (1987). Substantial impairment "must be established by
demonstrating a present reduction, diminution or decrease in the victim's ability, either to
appraise the nature of his conduct or to control his conduct." Id. at 103-104; State v. Bai,
12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-05-116, 2011-Ohio-2206, ¶ 53.
{¶ 11} Substantial impairment may be proven by the victim's own testimony, allowing
the trier of fact to observe and evaluate the victim's ability to either appraise or control his
conduct, and by the testimony of others who have interacted with the victim. Bai at ¶ 54;
State v. Daniels, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25808, 2011-Ohio-6414, ¶ 6. A substantial-
impairment determination is made on a case-by-case basis, with great deference to the fact-
finder. Bai at ¶ 53, citing State v. Brown, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-09-15, 2009-Ohio-5428.
{¶ 12} By court order, the victim was evaluated by Dr. David Hrinko, a psychologist, for
the purpose of determining the victim's ability to consent given his mental condition. At trial,
Dr. Hrinko testified that the victim "suffered from a cognitive disability or significantly below
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average cognitive functioning," was "a little slow mentally," had difficulty grasping abstract
concepts (such as whether his father was a good father or a bad father), and "was clearly
retarded," whether it was mildly or moderately. Dr. Hrinko also testified that while there is no
diagnostic tool for determining one's ability to consent to sex because of a mental condition,
in the case of the victim,
[b]ecause of his cognitive disability, he showed clear evidence of
impairment in his ability to understand the implications of
choices. He had clear difficulties understanding the long term
consequences of actions and choices. And he had difficulty
therefore making reasonable decisions that would have
significant impact on him. As a result, I felt that he was not
capable of making a reasonable and well informed decision
about whether or not to engage in sexual activities.
{¶ 13} Peggy Zimmerman, the Special Education Director for the Washington Court
House City Schools, testified the victim started to attend the Washington Court House High
School when he was a ninth or tenth grader. Zimmerman testified that while in high school,
the victim could not follow the core curriculum as he needed significant adaptations and
modifications to learn and retain knowledge, and was instead placed in the Functionally
Essential Life Skills Curriculum. Under that curriculum, the victim did not learn algebra,
geometry, or statistics; rather, he learned to measure (cups, half cups, inches), count money,
and tell time. Likewise, because his reading skills were "very basic[,] lower than third grade
level," the victim learned to make a grocery list, write a very simple letter, "write his legal
signature," and read a simple recipe while in high school.
{¶ 14} Zimmerman testified the victim was "mentally retarded," with an IQ of 70 or
below, and had "adaptive deficits in multiple areas," such as in his "ability to problem solve or
think things through." The victim graduated from high school in May 2012, after taking the
alternate assessment form of the Ohio Graduation Test. Zimmerman explained that this
particular test involved tasks developed by the school intervention specialist that were
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specifically designed to match the victim's level of functioning in reading, math, science, and
social studies. Zimmerman also testified that when she met the victim's family for a
conference before graduation, she recommended that the victim be placed under
guardianship.1
{¶ 15} Appellant asserts the victim was not substantially impaired because the victim
had a checking account and his own cellphone, played basketball and understood the rules
of the game, is an excellent video game player who can read the instructions in the manual
and look up advantageous codes online, and enjoyed hanging out with appellant and never
told anyone otherwise, including after the sexual abuse started.
{¶ 16} We find that the foregoing evidence is "not particularly probative" on the issue
of whether, at the time of the rape and gross sexual imposition incidents, "the victim had the
ability to appraise the nature of the sexual conduct that occurred." State v. Robinson, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 21317, 2003-Ohio-5360, ¶ 14. Moreover, the victim testified that the
checking account was opened by appellant; both appellant and the victim could access the
account; and the victim no longer has a checking account or a cellphone. The victim also
testified that he plays basketball for the Special Olympics and that he did not know whether
the basketball rules he knew were identical to the NBA rules. With regard to video games,
the victim testified appellant would, at times, help him with the instructions.
{¶ 17} The victim also testified that although he enjoyed hanging out with appellant,
having an erection or being anally penetrated was not "what [he] wanted to be doing." The
victim further testified he did not tell on appellant because he was concerned that if he did,
the nice things he did with and received from appellant would stop. The record shows that
appellant bought the victim clothes and new games for his X Box 360, took him to his favorite
1. At trial, the victim's mother testified that the victim cannot live on his own and that she was seeking
guardianship of her son.
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restaurants, and took him to the movie theatre.
{¶ 18} Upon a thorough review of the record, we find the jury did not lose its way in
finding that the victim was substantially impaired at the time of the offenses because of his
mental condition. We note the jury was able to observe the victim testify on the witness
stand and thus, was able to assess the victim's mental condition and his ability to appraise or
control his conduct. The victim's testimony shows he gave simple descriptions and answers.
The record also shows that at times, both the prosecutor and defense counsel had to
rephrase questions so that the victim could understand and answer them.
{¶ 19} We therefore find that appellant's conviction for rape and gross sexual
imposition was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Appellant's assignment of
error is overruled.
{¶ 20} Judgment affirmed.
RINGLAND, P.J., and HENDRICKSON, J., concur.
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