State v. Timm ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Timm, 2012-Ohio-410.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
SENECA COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 13-11-23
v.
JOSHUA R. TIMM, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Seneca County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 10-CR-0118
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: February 6, 2012
APPEARANCES:
John M. Kahler, II for Appellant
Derek W. DeVine and Rhonda L. Best for Appellee
Case No. 13-11-23
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Joshua R. Timm (“Timm”), appeals the
judgment entry of the Seneca Court County Court of Common Pleas, sentencing
him to prison after a jury found him guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a
minor. On appeal, Timm contends that there was insufficient evidence to support
the verdict; that the decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence; that
he was denied effective assistance of counsel; and that the trial court committed
plain error by not allowing evidence of his previous acquittal or mistrial to be
heard by the jury. For the reasons set forth below, the judgment is affirmed.
{¶2} On July 14, 2010 the Seneca County Grand Jury issued a three-count
indictment against Timm, charging him with engaging in sexual conduct with a
minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A), felonies of the fourth degree.1 Count One
of the indictment alleged digital penetration, Count Two alleged fellatio, and
Count Three alleged the insertion of his penis into the minor’s vagina.
{¶3} The minor (“A.W.” or “the victim”) was fourteen years old when she
attended a bonfire party with several of her teenage friends at the home of Timm’s
sister in June of 2009. A.W. was friends with Timm’s sister and planned to stay
1
The original indictment stated that offenses occurred on or about June 27, 2009. On October 1, 2010, the
indictment was amended to state that the offenses occurred on or about June 28, 2009, to reflect that the
incidents occurred later that night, after midnight.
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overnight after the party. Timm, who also was staying at the home, was twenty-
three years old at the time. A.W. had not known Timm prior to this party.
{¶4} A jury trial was held in October of 2010. That trial resulted in
acquittals on Counts One and Two. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous
verdict on Count Three and the trial court declared a mistrial on that count.
{¶5} A subsequent jury trial on Count Three was held on April 14 and 15,
2011. At the second trial, the State presented testimony from five witnesses:
A.W.; Detective Sergeant Kevin Reinbolt (“Detective Reinbolt”); the SANE nurse
who examined A.W.; an expert witness from Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal
Investigation (“BCI”); and an expert witness from the DNA testing laboratory.
The State also submitted several exhibits, including the detective’s report, the
nurse’s examination report, and the results of the laboratory and DNA testing.
{¶6} A.W. testified that throughout the evening at the party, she spent time
with Timm, joking around with him by grabbing his hat and sitting on his lap by
the bonfire. At some point late that night, she fell asleep on a couch while
watching television with Timm and others, including Timm’s two young children.
(Tr., p. 194-196.) When she woke up, she was on the couch with Timm, and he
was fondling her under the blanket. (Tr., p. 166.) Timm then said he was going
out to the garage for a cigarette and asked her to meet him there in about five
minutes. (Tr., p. 167.)
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{¶7} A.W. went to the garage and she and Timm talked for a while. He
listened while she told him about problems she was having in her life. Timm told
A.W. how beautiful she was and that she was a “special person.” (Tr. p. 168.)
A.W. testified that Timm made her feel good about herself, that he made her feel
comfortable with him, and that he made her feel like she could trust him. (Id.)
After they talked for a while longer, they kissed, and then he unzipped his pants
and asked A.W. to perform oral sex on him, which she did. (Id.) Then he
unzipped and pulled down her shorts, bent her over, put his penis inside her
vagina, and had sex with her. (Id.)
{¶8} After A.W. went home, her father questioned her about what had
happened at the party because some of A.W.’s friends had alerted her father that
something had occurred between A.W. and Timm. A.W. acknowledged that she
didn’t tell her parents about everything at first because she was afraid and
embarrassed to tell them the entire truth and worried about what they would think
of her. (Tr. pp. 171-172.)
{¶9} After A.W. eventually disclosed everything that had occurred, her
parents took A.W. to the hospital where Linda Detillion, RN, performed a rape kit
on A.W. The matter was also reported to the police. A.W.’s shorts were collected
by Detective Reinbolt and were subsequently submitted to laboratories for body
fluid and DNA testing. (Tr., p. 303-304.)
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{¶10} Detective Reinbolt testified about his investigation of the case, his
handling of the evidence, the results obtained from the DNA testing, and the
information he obtained from questioning Timm, A.W., and others involved in the
case. Detective Reinbolt acknowledged that the report A.W. initially gave at the
police department did not disclose the sexual activity that occurred in the garage.
(Tr., p. 136.) However, when A.W. gave her initial statement to Sergeant Hoerig,
her father was present. (Tr., p. 158.) A.W. indicated she was embarrassed to tell
the Sergeant everything while her father was there. Detective Reinbolt testified
that when he spoke with A.W. her father was not present and that she told him all
of the details of what had occurred that evening. (Id.)
{¶11} Linda Detillion, a registered nurse working at Mercy Hospital, was a
trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (“SANE”), and testified about her
examination of the victim and how she collected evidence for the rape kit. Ms.
Detillion’s report stated that she discovered evidence of sexual assault, including a
tear, redness, and chaffing in the vaginal area. (Tr., p. 221; Ex. 1-A.) Ms.
Detillion was not able to obtain all of the samples that are sometimes available
because the incident had occurred more than a day earlier and A.W. had showered
after she came home from the party.
{¶12} Natalie Saracco, a forensic scientist with the Ohio BCI, testified
concerning the procedures she used to obtain and preserve the DNA samples from
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the rape kit, from Timm’s control sample (provided from a cheek swab), and from
the shorts that A.W. was wearing that evening. Ms. Saracco testified that her
testing procedures discovered semen and sperm on the inside of the crotch area of
A.W.’s shorts, and she sent that material to Lab Corp for DNA testing.
{¶13} Shawn Weiss, an Associate Technical Director from Laboratory
Corporation of America (“Lab Corp.”), provided expert witness testimony
concerning the DNA testing performed on the evidence received from the BCI.
The results of the testing showed that the sperm extracted from the material from
A.W.’s shorts was consistent with the DNA profile from Timm. (Tr. at p. 303)
Mr. Weiss testified that the statistical probability that someone other than Timm
could be the source of the DNA in the sperm fraction extracted from the shorts
was less than one in more than 6.5 billion (the entire world’s population). (Tr. at
p. 304.) Mr. Weiss explained this further by testifying that this meant that unless
Timm had an identical twin, the semen on the victim’s shorts was Timm’s semen.
(Id.)
{¶14} On cross examination, Timm’s attorney attempted to discredit the
witnesses and show that A.W. was not to be believed because she had repeatedly
changed her story and had initially lied about what had occurred at the party.
Timm’s attorney also tried to establish that Timm did not know A.W.’s age.
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Detective Reinbolt acknowledged that A.W. looked several years older than she
was. (Tr. at p. 144.)
{¶15} The jury returned a verdict of guilty and a sentencing hearing was
held on May 31, 2011. The trial court sentenced Timm to fifteen months in
prison; it ordered that he pay restitution and register as a sex offender; and it
informed him that he would be subject to five years of postrelease control. It is
from this judgment that Timm now appeals, raising the following four assignments
of error for our review.
First Assignment of Error
There was insufficient evidence introduced at trial to support
the finding that [Timm] was guilty of having unlawful sexual
conduct with a minor in violation of Ohio Revised code Section
2907.04
Second Assignment of Error
The decision of the jury to find [Timm] guilty of unlawful sexual
conduct with a minor in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section
2907.04 is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Third Assignment of Error
[Timm] was denied effective assistance of counsel in violation of
his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments of
the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the
Ohio Constitution.
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Fourth Assignment of Error
The court committed plain error by not allowing any evidence of
the acquittal or mistrial to be heard by the jury.
First Assignment of Error
{¶16} In the first assignment of error, Timm contends that the State failed
to prove all of the essential elements of the offense. Timm argues that the State
failed to prove that there was sexual conduct between himself and the alleged
victim. In addition, Timm challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support
his conviction for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor because he asserts that the
State failed to prove that he either knew A.W.’s age or acted reckless in that
regard.
{¶17} When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, our inquiry focuses
primarily upon the adequacy of the evidence; that is, whether the evidence
submitted at trial, if believed, could reasonably support a finding of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. See State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 386, 1997–Ohio–
52, 678 N.E.2d 541, 546 (stating, “sufficiency is the test of adequacy”); State v.
Jenks (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574 N.E.2d 492, 503. The standard of
review is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found all the essential elements of
the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jenks, supra; Jackson v. Virginia (1979),
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443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560. This test raises a question of law
and does not allow the court to weigh the evidence. State v. Martin (1983), 20
Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717.
{¶18} Timm was found guilty of violating R..C. 2907.04, which states:
(A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall engage
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 that regard.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful sexual
conduct with a minor.
{¶19} First, regarding the element of sexual conduct between A.W. and
Timm, A.W. testified that “he unbuttoned and unzipped my pants, turned me
around and pulled my pants down to my ankles, bent me over, stuck his penis
inside my vagina and had sex with me.” (Tr., p. 168, 12-24.) A.W. claims that
she kept standing up and his penis would come out, but that “he bent me back
down, put it back in, put his penis back inside my vagina * * *,” and that he did so
repeatedly. (Tr., p. 169, 1-2.) Finally, the last time she stood up, “he pulled out
and he ejaculated.” (Tr., p. 169, 5-6.)
{¶20} Timm argues that there was insufficient evidence based on A.W.
previously telling “numerous versions” of what happened between her and Timm.
However, whether or not the jury believed A.W. goes to her credibility and the
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weight of the evidence. The State certainly provided sufficient evidence that, if
believed, could reasonably support a finding of sexual conduct, namely that Timm
had inserted his penis into A.W.’s vagina. See State v. Thompkins, supra.
Furthermore, there was physical evidence that verified that sexual conduct took
place. The SANE nurse testified that when she performed the rape kit on the
victim, A.W. indicated that penile-vaginal intercourse, with ejaculation, had
occurred. (Tr., p. 220.) Also, Ms. Detillion was able to observe a one centimeter
tear in the genital area, as well as redness and chaffing, and the victim indicated
that she was sore and tender in her genital area. (Tr., p. 221.) And, the analysis of
the semen and sperm found on A.W.’s shorts was a match with Timm’s DNA.
(Tr., p. 304.) There was ample evidence presented to the jury that Timm had
inserted his penis into her vagina.
{¶21} Timm further argues that there was insufficient evidence regarding
whether Timm knew A.W.’s age, or was at least reckless in that regard. Again,
there was significant evidence supporting that element. First, A.W. testified that
she had a conversation with Timm about their respective ages being fourteen and
twenty-three. (Tr., p. 163-164.) Second, the friends A.W. was with during the
party, including Timm’s fifteen-year-old sister and another girl he knew, were the
same age group as the victim. (Tr., p. 112.) And, when Timm was questioned by
Detective Reinbolt, he made statements to support this knowledge, including
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referring to the victim as a “little girl.” (Tr., p. 126). There was sufficient
evidence that Timm knew A.W.’s age, or at the very least, he was extremely
reckless about her age, to establish that element of the offense.
{¶22} A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence requires us to construe
the evidence, and all reasonable inferences, in favor of the prosecution. Based
upon this standard, we find that the evidence was sufficient to allow “any rational
trier of fact [to find] the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt.” See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560; Jenks, at
paragraph two of the syllabus. Timm’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶23} In the second assignment of error, Timm reiterates the arguments that
he made in the first assignment of error, and claims that the jury’s resolution of the
conflicting evidence was in error and against the manifest weight of the evidence.
He again claims that A.W.’s testimony was not credible and not to be believed.
{¶24} In determining if a conviction is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, an appellate court “review[s] 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 jury 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. Mendoza (2000), 137 Ohio App.3d 336, 346-
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347, 738 N.E.2d 822, quoting State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175,
485 N.E.2d 717, 720; see, also, State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380,
387, 678 N.E.2d 541, 546-547. A new trial should be granted only in the
exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against conviction.
Thompkins at 387; 678 N.E.2d 541.
{¶25} Although the appellate court acts as a “thirteenth juror,” it still must
give due deference to the findings made by the fact-finder. State v. Thompson
(1998), 127 Ohio App.3d 511, 529, 713 N.E.2d 456. The fact-finder, being the
jury, occupies a superior position in determining credibility. Id. When examining
witness credibility, “[t]he choice between credible witnesses and their conflicting
testimony rests solely with the finder of fact and an appellate court may not
substitute its own judgment for that of the finder of fact.” State v. Awan (1986),
22 Ohio St.3d 120, 123, 489 N.E.2d 277. To reverse the judgment of a trial court
on the weight of the evidence based upon a jury’s verdict, a unanimous
concurrence of all three judges on the reviewing panel is required. Thompkins, at
paragraph four of the syllabus.
{¶26} Based on all of the evidence presented, the jury could have
reasonably believed that Timm inserted his penis into the victim’s vagina.
Although A.W. did not immediately disclose that the sexual conduct occurred,
either to her parents or in the initial police report, she never denied it. A.W.
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offered a plausible explanation as to why she did not tell her parents what had
happened at first. She testified that she was afraid that they would be angry with
her and that she would lose their respect. Her testimony disclosed how her father
started to berate her and call her a “slut” when she admitted to kissing Timm, so
she was fearful of telling him more. The jury could have reasonably believed that
this was a believable explanation as to why A.W.’s later versions relating the
evening’s events were not consistent with her initial disclosures. The detective
also testified that it was very common for victims of sexual crimes to be hesitant
to tell everything that happened at first.
{¶27} Timm also claims that his DNA could have been on A.W.’s shorts as
a result of her sitting on his lap during the evening. However, the fact that the
semen and sperm were found on the inside of the crotch of the shorts, coupled
with A.W.’s testimony and that of the expert witnesses, certainly provides
sufficient evidence for a jury to infer that Timm’s semen was on the victim’s
shorts because she was wearing them pulled down during the sexual conduct with
Timm, and when he ejaculated, some of his semen was deposited on the inside
crotch area of the shorts.
{¶28} Based upon a thorough review of the record as a whole, we find
nothing that shows that the jury clearly lost its way in resolving any conflicts in
A.W.’s testimony or in the conclusions and inferences it made, based upon a
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considerable amount of corroborating and physical evidence. The second
assignment of error is overruled.
Third Assignment of Error
{¶29} Timm’s third assignment of error asserts that counsel was ineffective
in failing to object to “substantial amounts” of hearsay evidence that was admitted
at the hearing. Timm cites numerous examples of alleged hearsay testimony from
Detective Reinbolt, specifically when he testified as to what he had learned from
his interviews with A.W., A.W.’s father, Timm, and others he obtained
information from during his investigation.
{¶30} To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show
(1) deficient performance by counsel, i.e., performance falling below an objective
standard of reasonable representation, and (2) prejudice, i.e., a reasonable
probability that but for counsel's errors, the proceeding's result would have been
different. State v. Group, 98 Ohio St.3d 248, 2002-Ohio-7247, 781 N.E.2d 980,
¶132; State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, paragraphs two
and three of the syllabus; Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 687-688,
694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674. “A ‘reasonable probability’ is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the result of the proceeding.” State v.
Group, at ¶132. There is strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within
the wide range of reasonable professional assistance, and that strategy and tactical
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decisions exercised by defense counsel are well within the range of professionally
reasonable judgment and need not be analyzed by a reviewing court. State v.
Robinson (1996), 108 Ohio App.3d 428, 670 N.E.2d 1077.
{¶31} In reviewing the record as a whole, it is clear that trial counsel’s
strategy was to portray the victim as a liar who was out for revenge against Timm
for rejecting her romantic interest. Counsel wanted the jury to believe that A.W.
gave multiple, different stories about what had occurred to various people,
including law enforcement, her father, and hospital staff. In order to accomplish
this strategy trial counsel allowed, and actually elicited, accounts of what
happened, according to the victim, through multiple witnesses. Trial counsel’s
decision to allow these statements was nothing more than a part of that strategy
and certainly does not rise to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel. A
tactical decision by trial counsel, who as a licensed attorney is presumed to be
competent, is not by itself enough to show ineffective assistance of counsel simply
because the strategy did not result in an acquittal. State v. Clayton (1980), 62
Ohio St.2d 45, 48-49, 402 N.E.2d 1189.
{¶32} Additionally, these statements were not offered for the truth of the
matter, but were offered to explain the progression of the investigation and why
the detective spoke with certain individuals and how he obtained information and
evidence. Further, the victim actually testified regarding what happened and about
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the previous statements she gave to law enforcement, the nurse, and her father.
Therefore, any substantive information presented to the jury through these
statements was presented through the victim as well, providing for an opportunity
for cross-examination. As a result, even if counsel had failed to exclude any
hearsay statements, Timm cannot show any resulting prejudice. Therefore, the
Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.
Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶33} In his final assignment of error, Timm claims that the court
committed plain error by prohibiting any mention of his acquittal on the first two
counts of the indictment and by not allowing evidence or mention of the mistrial
on the remaining count that was before the jury in the instant case. Timm argues
that this was plain error in light of the fact that A.W. and other witnesses were
permitted to testify as to matters that he was acquitted of because the trial court
stated that A.W. would be permitted to testify again as to her version of the
underlying fact pattern and allegations of sexual conduct. (Tr. pp. 12-13.) Tim
complains that the State was “permitted to prosecute Appellant again on charges
that he was previously acquitted on” because A.W.’s testimony as to what
happened that evening included mention of the fact that Timm had fondled her
under the blanket and had asked her to perform oral sex. (Appellant’s Br., pp. 19-
20.)
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{¶34} Timm’s counsel did not object to the limitations ordered by the trial
court, so they are deemed waived on appeal, absent a showing of plain error.
“Crim.R. 52(B) states that ‘[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights
may be noticed although they were not brought to the attention of the court.’
Thus, there are ‘three limitations on a reviewing court's decision to correct an error
despite the absence of a timely objection at trial. First, there must be an error, i.e.,
a deviation from a legal rule. * * * Second, the error must be plain. To be ‘plain’
within the meaning of Crim.R. 52(B), an error must be an ‘obvious' defect in the
trial proceedings. * * * Third, the error must have affected ‘substantial rights.’
We have interpreted this aspect of the rule to mean that the trial court's error must
have affected the outcome of the trial.’” State v. Lynn, 129 Ohio St.3d 146, 2011-
Ohio-22, 950 N.E.2d 931, ¶13, quoting State v. Barnes (2002), 94 Ohio St.3d 21,
27, 759 N.E.2d 1240.
{¶35} Even when all three prongs are satisfied, a court still has discretion
whether or not to correct the error. Id. at ¶14; State v. Noling, 98 Ohio St.3d 44,
2002-Ohio-7044, 781 N.E.2d 88, ¶62. The Ohio Supreme Court “acknowledged
the discretionary aspect of Crim.R. 52(B) by admonishing courts to notice plain
error ‘with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to
prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.’” Barnes at 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240,
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quoting State v. Long (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 7 O.O.3d 178, 372 N.E.2d 804,
paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶36} The first step in finding plain error requires the existence of an error
– i.e., a deviation from a legal rule. See State v. Lynn, supra. However, Timm
has failed to cite any case law, rule, or statute in support of his claim that the
suppression of any reference to the prior acquittals/mistrial was an error. Timm
has failed to show how this type of evidence would ever be relevant and
admissible. See Evid. R. 402. “ ‘Relevant evidence’ means any evidence having
any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be
without the evidence.” Evid.R. 401. The outcome of the previous trial simply
indicates that a prior jury determined that the evidence did not prove the charge
beyond a reasonable doubt, not that the events did not actually occur.
{¶37} Timm was not tried again on the counts pertaining to digital
penetration and fellatio. The jury instructions were clearly focused on sexual
conduct meaning the insertion of a penis into a vagina. (Tr., p. 323.) The other
sexual acts and the previous jury’s findings concerning them, were irrelevant as to
Timm’s guilt or innocence regarding this particular act. In fact, testimony
concerning the other sexual behavior that A.W. engaged in that evening furthered
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Timm’s counsel’s trial strategy of showing that she had told different stories of
different sexual acts to different people.
{¶38} Furthermore, even if the results of the earlier trial somehow would
have been relevant to the case at hand, the second and third prongs of Civ.R. 52(B)
were not met because the exclusion of this information did not amount to an
obvious defect in the trial proceedings, nor did it affect Timm’s substantial rights.
Timm’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶39} Having found no error prejudicial to the Appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
ROGERS and PRESTON, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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