State v. Starner ( 2009 )

[Cite as State v. Starner, 2009-Ohio-5770.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 9-09-01
v.
DANNY E. STARNER, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 08-CR-0097
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: November 2, 2009
APPEARANCES:
William S. Lazarow for Appellant
David J. Stamolis for Appellee
Case No. 9-09-01
SHAW, J.
{¶1} The defendant-appellant, Danny E. Starner (hereinafter “Starner”),
appeals the December 10, 2008 judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of
Marion County, Ohio, finding him guilty of eight counts of gross sexual
imposition and fourteen counts of rape and sentencing him to an aggregate
sentence of life imprisonment with parole eligibility after serving thirty years.
{¶2} The facts relevant to this appeal are as follows. Starner married
Nancy McDaniel sometime in the early 1990’s. At the time of their marriage,
Nancy had two daughters, Vicky and Yvonne. Vicky eventually had two children,
Doug, born April 26, 1995, and Meg, born May 28, 1998. Yvonne also had a
child, Emma, who was born on May 9, 1994.
{¶3} By age four, Emma was living with her father and step-mother and
visiting with Nancy and Starner on occasion. Two years later, Yvonne moved to
Pennsylvania and was unable to exercise her bi-weekend visitation with Emma.
Instead, Nancy and Starner began exercising these visitation periods with Emma.
For the next several years, Emma visited her grandmother and Starner, whom she
called “Poppy,” every other weekend.1
{¶4} In late June, 2007, Nancy was diagnosed with cancer, which was
found to be terminal in August of that year. During the next several months,
1
As Emma became older, these visitations did not always occur because Emma wanted to do more with her
friends. However, she continued to visit at least once a month from the time she was twelve until her
grandmother’s death.
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Vicky and Starner cared for Nancy as her condition deteriorated. On February 4,
2008, Nancy died. Shortly after Nancy’s death, Emma revealed that Starner
sexually abused her nearly every time she visited since she was six or seven years
old. These acts included him touching her breasts, vagina, and buttocks, having
her touch his penis, having her sit on top of him and move back and forth against
his penis, inserting his penis into her mouth, and him placing his mouth on her
vagina. Emma also revealed that Starner showed her photographs on his computer
of adults who were nude, both male and female, had her sit on his lap and watch
films of adults having sex, and took photographs of her both while she had her
clothing on and off. Further, Emma stated that Starner would ejaculate in a cup on
occasion, and they would look at his semen under a microscope.
{¶5} Emma further stated that the appellant also involved her cousins,
Doug and Meg, in at least one of these incidents by playing a game called “Truth
or Dare” and having the children touch one another. She stated that all of these
incidents occurred largely at her grandparents’ home, in a cornfield and/or a
stream nearby, and at an apartment building owned by Starner.
{¶6} Around the same time that Emma first disclosed this information,
her cousins, Meg and Doug, also revealed that Starner had engaged in sexual
activity with them. They disclosed that they would take walks with Emma and
Starner. During one of these walks, the children took their clothes off and played
in a stream. They then went to a nearby cornfield where the children and Starner
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pulled their pants and underwear down and played “Truth or Dare.” Starner’s
erect penis was exposed during this time. In this game, Starner had Emma and
Doug “French kiss” one another, had Emma touch Doug’s penis, had Doug touch
Emma’s vagina, and had Doug kiss Emma’s vagina.
{¶7} Based on these disclosures, a criminal investigation was conducted
by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. During this investigation, two search
warrants were executed on Starner’s home, one on February 20, 2008, and one on
March 5, 2008. The investigators seized numerous computers, hard drives, USB
drives, computer accessories, cameras, girls’ underwear, and a microscope in these
searches. Many of these items, including a DNA standard from Starner and
Emma, were sent to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
(“BCI”) for analysis. No DNA belonging to Starner was found on any of Emma’s
clothing that was seized pursuant to the warrant nor was any of his DNA found on
the microscope.
{¶8} A forensic analysis of the electronic equipment found numerous
photographs of Emma clothed, some of which show her in seemingly provocative
poses. However, no nude photographs of Emma or any other children were found.
The analysis did find several photographs of nude adults on the computer hard
drives. These photos contained images of various sexual acts being performed,
and several photos focused on the vaginal areas of the depicted subjects. In
addition, a program entitled “Evidence Eliminator” was found, as was evidence of
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its installation and use, on two of the computers seized from Starner’s home. This
program is designed to permanently remove files in their entirety from a hard
drive. Further analysis showed that Evidence Eliminator was last accessed on one
of the computers on the morning of February 20, 2008, the day of the first search
of Starner’s home.
{¶9} The analysis also discovered a number of sexually explicit stories on
the hard drives. The subject matter of the vast majority of these stories centered
around acts of incest and the molestation of children. Some of these stories also
had titles illustrative of their content. For instance, one such story was titled:
“Dirty Little Fuckers (Incest brother-sister-cousins/preteen/zoo sex girl-dog).”
{¶10} On March 5, 2008, Starner was indicted on thirteen counts of gross
sexual imposition in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), all third degree felonies, and
nineteen counts of rape of a child under the age of thirteen in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(1)(b), all first degree felonies. Six of the rape charges included
additional specifications that the victim was less than ten years of age at the time
of the offense, rendering these charges eligible for the imposition of sentences of
life in prison. Starner was re-indicted on April 30, 2008, for all of the same
offenses. The purpose of this indictment was to include a mens rea for each
offense in accordance with a recent decision of the Ohio Supreme Court.
{¶11} The case progressed through discovery, and Starner retained his own
computer expert to review the evidence and BCI’s conclusions. Throughout these
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proceedings, counsel for Starner filed numerous motions, including a motion in
limine to prevent the State from introducing “as evidence at trial, or use in cross-
examination of witnesses, the term ‘Evidence Eliminator.’” This motion, along
with several others not at issue in this appeal, was heard by the trial court on
September 29, 2008, but the trial court reserved its ruling on the issue until the
time of the trial.
{¶12} The trial in this matter was held from October 20-24, 2008, and
concluded on October 27, 2008. Prior to beginning voir dire, the trial court
overruled Starner’s motion in limine as to the use of the term “Evidence
Eliminator.” A jury was then seated and trial commenced.
{¶13} During its case-in-chief, the State presented eighteen witnesses,
including Emma, Doug, Meg, Vicky, and Emma’s father. The State also called
the BCI computer analyst, Jim Hawke, who testified about the Evidence
Eliminator program as well as other findings he made in his analysis.
Additionally, the prosecution introduced numerous exhibits, including the
computer equipment and the sexually explicit stories previously referenced.
{¶14} Counsel for Starner made a motion for acquittal, pursuant to
Criminal Rule 29, after the State rested its case. This motion was denied, but the
State then moved to dismiss four counts of gross sexual imposition and five counts
of rape, four of which included life specifications. Without objection, this motion
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was granted. Defense counsel then presented nine witnesses and one exhibit on
behalf of Starner.
{¶15} At the conclusion of closing arguments by the parties, the State
moved to dismiss an additional count of gross sexual imposition. The jury was
then instructed on the remaining twenty-two counts. On October 27, 2008, the
jury returned verdicts of guilty on each charge.
{¶16} On November 24, 2008, the court held a sentencing hearing. Starner
was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on each of the eight counts of gross
sexual imposition (Counts 2 and 6-12). These sentences were ordered to run
concurrently to one another. He was also sentenced to a term of life in prison on
the two counts of rape of a child under the age of ten (Counts 17 and 19), which
were ordered to run concurrently with one another.2 Ten of the rape counts were
given ten-year sentences (Counts 21-30), and the last two rape counts were given
terms of imprisonment of ten years to life (Counts 31-32).3 These twelve rape
counts were ordered to run concurrently to one another. However, this group of
counts, the gross sexual imposition group of counts, and the rape of a child under
the age of ten group of counts were all ordered to run consecutively to each other
for an aggregate sentence of thirty years to life in prison.
2
An offender sentenced to life imprisonment for these two offenses is eligible for parole after serving ten
years under the statute in effect at the time these offenses were committed.
3
The last two counts of rape occurred after January 2, 2007, which placed them under a different
sentencing scheme than the other ten counts.
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{¶17} This appeal followed, and Starner now asserts four assignments of
error.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I:
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT DEPRIVED DANNY
STARNER OF HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE
FIFTH, SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO
THE U.S. FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 1, § 2,
10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING THE STATE
TO INTRODUCE IMPROPER AND PREJUDICIAL
COMPUTER TESTIMONY. AS A RESULT, THE TRIAL
COURT VIOLATED STARNER’S RIGHTS AS
GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, SIXTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, § 2, 10 AND 16 OF THE
OHIO CONSTITUTION.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. III:
THE RESPRESENTATION PROVIDED TO DANNY
STARNER FELL FAR BELOW THE PREVAILING NORMS
FOR COUNSEL IN A CRIMINAL CASE, WAS
UNREASONABLE, AND AFFECTED THE OUTCOME IN
VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS AS WELL AS ART. I, § 2, 9,
10, AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. IV:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ENTERING JUDGMENT
AGAINST DANNY STARNER SINCE THE EVIDENCE WAS
INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN A CONVICTION AND THE
CONVICTION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT
OF THE EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH
AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S.
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FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND ART. I, §2, 10, AND 16 OF
THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
{¶18} For ease of discussion, we elect to address the assignments of error
out of the order in which they were presented.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶19} In his second assignment of error, Starner maintains that the trial
court erred in allowing the testimony of Agent Jim Hawke of BCI regarding the
use of the Evidence Eliminator program. Specifically, he asserts that Agent
Hawke should not have been permitted to testify as to what the program is capable
of doing and how it is marketed. In support of this contention, Starner asserts that
this testimony failed the Daubert test for scientific reliability. See Daubert v.
Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993), 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786.
{¶20} Initially, we note that the admission of evidence is left to the
discretion of the trial court and will be reviewed on an abuse of discretion basis.
State v. Awkal (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 324, 667 N.E.2d 960. However, at the trial,
counsel for Starner only objected to the reference to the name “Evidence
Eliminator” and to the reference to the marketing information found on the
program’s website. Counsel never objected to the qualifications of Agent Hawke
in computer forensics, to his testimony that he found this program on a computer
recovered from Starner’s home, to his testimony about the program’s capabilities,
or to the admission of any evidence pursuant to Daubert, supra.
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{¶21} Failure to object at trial to the admission of evidence waives any
claim of error absent plain error. State v. Williams (1977), 51 Ohio St.2d 112, 364
N.E.2d 1364.
Pursuant to Crim.R. 52(B), plain errors or defects which affect
substantial rights may be grounds for reversal even though they
were not brought to the attention of the trial court. Notice of
plain error, however, applies only under exceptional
circumstances to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice....
“Plain error does not exist unless it can be said that but for the
error, the outcome of the trial would clearly have been
otherwise.” State v. Moreland (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 58, 62, 552
N.E.2d 894, 899.
State v. Phillips, 74 Ohio St.3d 72, 83, 656 N.E.2d 643, 1995-Ohio-171. Thus, it
is within these constructs that we examine this assignment of error.
{¶22} In the case sub judice, Agent Hawke testified that his analysis of the
computers that were seized revealed that Evidence Eliminator was installed on two
of them. State’s Exhibit 1, a SunPro computer found in Starner’s kitchen, showed
that Evidence Eliminator Version 6 was installed on the computer on January 8,
2008. Agent Hawke also found remnants of an earlier version of Evidence
Eliminator on this computer. The analysis of this exhibit also revealed that this
program was accessed several times, including at approximately 7:29 a.m. on the
day Starner’s home was first searched. In addition, multiple compact discs
containing this program, labeled State’s Exhibits 22A and 23A, were recovered
from Starner’s home.
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{¶23} Agent Hawke testified that Evidence Eliminator is “marketed as a
program to delete and overwrite data basically so that – to delete – we call it
antiforensic program to delete the tools that I use in the laboratory to get the data
back. It makes it so that I can’t find the data because it’s destroyed.” (Trial Trans.
p. 616.) No objection to this testimony was made. He also testified that “one of
the things it does is it overwrites data that’s on the hard drive.” (id. at 617.) No
objection to this testimony was made. He went on to testify that Evidence
Eliminator advertises that “it defeats the forensic tools we have to use to get the
data back to be used as evidence or information in an investigation.” (id. at 623.)
The defense objected to this testimony based upon hearsay. This objection was
overruled as not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted, but rather being
offered as to how it was marketed. The trial court also instructed the jury that it
was not offered as to the truth of what was being asserted in its marketing but
merely as to what the advertising for it was.
{¶24} Contrary to Starner’s assertions in his brief to this Court, the
testimony about the marketing of Evidence Eliminator had nothing to do with any
expert scientific testing or other such specialized information. Anyone with basic
computer skills could find the website on the Internet and view how it is marketed.
Thus, the Daubert test for scientific reliability was unnecessary.
{¶25} The only question remaining is whether this testimony was relevant
and, if so, whether its probative value was substantially outweighed by its
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prejudicial effect. Evidence Rule 402 allows for the admission of all relevant
evidence. However, Evid.R. 403 prohibits the use of relevant evidence when “its
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, of
confusion of the issues, or of misleading the jury.” As the Ohio Supreme Court
observed:
[I]t is fair to say that all relevant evidence is prejudicial. That is,
evidence that tends to disprove a party’s rendition of the facts
necessarily harms that party’s case. Accordingly, the rules of
evidence do not attempt to bar all prejudicial evidence-to do so
would make reaching any result extremely difficult. Rather,
only evidence that is unfairly prejudicial is excludable.
(Emphasis sic.) State v. Crotts, 104 Ohio St.3d 432, 820 N.E.2d 302, 2004-Ohio-
6550, at ¶ 23; see, also, Weissenberger’s Ohio Evidence Treatise (2007 ed.) 107-
08, Section 403.3 (stating: “If unfair prejudice simply meant prejudice, anything
adverse to a litigant’s case would be excludable under Rule 403. Emphasis must
be placed on the word ‘unfair’”).
{¶26} Emma reported that photographs had been taken of her in states of
dress and undress, that the defendant showed her photographs of nude women
engaging in sexual acts, and had shown her pornographic videos on the computer.
Based upon this information, inter alia, a search of the computers and other
equipment was conducted. Although photos of Emma clothed and photographs of
nude women engaging in sexual acts were found in the computer analysis, no nude
photos of Emma or pornographic videos were discovered. However, Evidence
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Eliminator was found on two of the computers and was accessed on multiple
occasions, including during Nancy’s illness and after her death.
{¶27} This program’s purported advantage over other programs designed
to clear hard drive space, such as “File Shredder,” was that it left no traces of the
items removed and defeated forensic computer analysis technology, hence its
name: “Evidence Eliminator.” Thus, its name was not innocuous. The relevance
of a program like Evidence Eliminator was that it served as a possible explanation
for there being no photographs of Emma undressed or any other children and no
pornographic videos.
{¶28} Moreover, this program was accessed after Nancy’s death and after
Emma and the other children told of the abuse, as well as when Nancy was ill. In
addition, the hard drive that contained several pornographic photos of women,
several photos of Emma, some of which were in provocative states, and numerous
erotic stories was found in the attic. However, this drive had been accessed as
recently as February 16, 2008. Thus, it could not have been in the attic for more
than four days before it was seized.
{¶29} All of this combined to create an inference that Starner acted in ways
to conceal any criminal wrongdoing, i.e. consciousness of guilt. Further, it served
to explain why the police could not locate other items to corroborate Emma’s
account of her abuse by Starner. Therefore, the existence of this program, its use,
and its name were relevant.
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{¶30} In addition, its relevancy was not substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice. The defense presented a theory that Emma and the
other two children lied about being abused by Starner because their mothers were
upset that Starner received the bulk of their mother’s estate and that the abuse
never occurred. The testimony regarding Evidence Eliminator, its actual name
and advertising hook, and the fact that it was used, as well as other evidence,
served to create an inference that Emma was not fabricating her abuse because
Starner had a mechanism by which he could have destroyed nude photos of her
and other items he believed were problematic. Accordingly, this evidence was not
unfairly prejudicial, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this
evidence.
{¶31} We also find that the portions of Agent Hawke’s testimony to which
there were no objections did not rise to the level of plain error. As previously
noted, plain error is to be used in circumstances to prevent a manifest miscarriage
of justice. Here, all three children testified, and the jury was able to witness their
demeanor and evaluate their candor. Further, the adult pornography and
provocatively posed photos of Emma corroborated portions of Emma’s testimony
and statements at the hospital. In addition, the sixty-one erotic stories mostly of
incest and child molestation found on the hard drive in Starner’s home, which was
last accessed when he was the sole resident of the home, indicated a specific
interest in the subject-matter. Therefore, this Court cannot find that, but for the
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error in the admission of this testimony, the outcome of the trial would clearly
have been otherwise. Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
First Assignment of Error
{¶32} Starner’s first assignment of error involves prosecutorial
misconduct. Here, Starner asserts that the prosecution engaged in two different
acts of misconduct. First, he maintains that the prosecution engaged in
misconduct by introducing testimony concerning the Evidence Eliminator
program, which he asserts was inadmissible. Thus, he contends that the
prosecution sought a conviction based upon passions and prejudices of the jury
rather than upon the evidence. Second, Starner maintains that the prosecution
engaged in misconduct during closing arguments by commenting on Starner’s
failure to testify on his own behalf.
{¶33} “The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether remarks were
improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected substantial rights of the
accused. The touchstone of analysis is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability
of the prosecutor.” State v. Jones, 90 Ohio St.3d 403, 420, 739 N.E.2d 300, 2000-
Ohio-187 (internal citations omitted). An appellate court should consider several
factors in making this determination: “(1) the nature of the remarks, (2) whether an
objection was made by counsel, (3) whether corrective instructions were given by
the court, and (4) the strength of the evidence against the defendant.” State v.
Braxton (1995), 102 Ohio App.3d 28, 41, 656 N.E.2d 970. The reviewing court
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should also ask whether the misconduct was an isolated incident in an otherwise
properly tried case. Id. A prosecutor’s misconduct will not be considered grounds
for reversal unless the misconduct has deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Id.{¶34} As to the issue of the prosecutor’s use of the Evidence Eliminator
program, we cannot find that the prosecutor’s conduct was improper given our
discussion of the second assignment of error. Therefore, we find no merit as to
this issue.
{¶35} The second issue concerns the prosecutor’s statements regarding
Starner’s failure to testify. The specific challenged conduct occurred during the
State’s rebuttal closing argument, in which the following transpired:
MR. SLAGLE: * * *
Now, I mean, I also just – Mr. Mills starts – from Voir dire he
has said it’s impossible to prove innocence. He’s not under a
burden to prove innocence. But it’s not impossible to prove
innocence anymore –
MR. WALDECK: Objection, Your Honor.
COURT: Overruled. Go ahead.
MR. SLAGLE: It’s not impossible to prove innocence. You
know, allegation made, you did the crime at a certain time,
evidence is presented you didn’t do it, evidence is presented you
weren’t there, you can prove –
MR. WALDECK: Renew my objection.
COURT: Overruled. That’s enough.
MR. SLAGLE: They’re not under a burden to do that. But
don’t let ’em mislead you on that.
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(Trial Trans. pp. 1168-9.) Starner maintains that by making these statements, the
prosecution implied that if Starner was not guilty of these offenses, he would have
testified.
{¶36} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “it is improper for a
prosecutor to comment on the defendant’s failure to testify.” State v. Twyford, 94
Ohio St.3d 340, 355, 763 N.E.2d 122, 2002-Ohio-894, citing Griffin v. California
(1965), 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229. “The question is ‘whether the language used
was manifestly intended or was of such character that the jury would naturally and
necessarily take it to be a comment on the failure of the accused to testify.’” State
v. Webb, 70 Ohio St.3d 325, 328-29, 1994-Ohio-425, 638 N.E.2d 1023, quoting
Knowles v. United States (10th Cir. 1955), 224 F.2d 168, 170.
{¶37} In the case sub judice, the statements at issue occurred at the onset of
the State’s rebuttal closing, directly after the defense ended its closing with the
following request of the jury:
Each one of you I’m asking to consider for yourselves, are you
satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt, not just – got a lot of
evidence here folks, but beyond a reasonable doubt that Dan
Starner is guilty of these things with the understanding that it’s
impossible to prove innocence.
(Trial Trans. p. 1168.) In addition, defense counsel made two other such remarks.
During voir dire, the defense asked the jury about reasonable doubt and the
presumption of innocence. Defense counsel included the following statement in
this discussion: “I’m not gonna be asking you to find innocent, because I think it’s
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almost impossible for me to do and I’ve done a lot of trials and it’s really
impossible.” (id. at 148.) Also, in an earlier portion of closing argument, defense
counsel stated: “One of the problems defense has in every case is the inability to
prove innocence, but we bring up something which is a reasonable doubt and we
get explanations from the prosecution[.]” (id. at 1151.)
{¶38} The prosecutions remarks were directed at the defense’s contention
that innocence was impossible to show. The prosecutor gave a specific example
of an allegation that a crime occurred at a certain time and that a person could
show he/she was not there at that time. The prosecutor also stated that it was not
the burden of the defense to do so, but that it was not impossible to prove
innocence as the defense claimed.
{¶39} The State is permitted to challenge “the weight of the evidence
offered in support of an exculpatory theory presented by the defense.” State v.
Collins, 89 Ohio St.3d 524, 528, 733 N.E.2d 1118, 2000-Ohio-231. “Such
comments do not imply that the burden of proof has shifted to the defense, nor do
they necessarily constitute a penalty on the defendant’s exercise of his Fifth
Amendment right to remain silent.” Id. at 527-28, 733 N.E.2d 1118. Similarly, in
this case, the prosecutor was challenging a claim that innocence was impossible to
prove. He was not implying that the burden of proof shifted to Starner, which he
expressly denied, or that Starner would or should have testified if he was innocent.
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Thus, in the foregoing context, these comments did not amount to prosecutorial
misconduct, and the first assignment of error is overruled.
Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶40} In his fourth assignment of error, Starner maintains that the evidence
on all twenty-two counts was insufficient to sustain convictions and the findings of
guilt as to each were against the manifest weight of the evidence. Reviewing a
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence requires this Court to examine the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. The Ohio Supreme Court
has set forth the sufficiency of the evidence test as follows:
[A]n appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of
the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the
evidence admitted at trial and determine whether such evidence,
if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 273, 574 N.E.2d 492.
{¶41} Alternatively, an appellate court’s function when reviewing the
weight of the evidence is to determine whether the greater amount of credible
evidence supports the verdict. State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678
N.E.2d 541, 1997-Ohio-52. In reviewing whether the trial court’s judgment was
against the weight of the evidence, the appellate court sits as a “thirteenth juror”
and examines the conflicting testimony. Id. In doing so, this Court must review
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the entire record, weigh the evidence and all of the reasonable inferences, consider
the credibility of witnesses, and determine whether in resolving conflicts in the
evidence, the factfinder “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. Andrews, 3rd Dist. No. 1-05-70, 2006-Ohio-3764, citing State v.
Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717; Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541. Further, we must be mindful that the credibility to
be afforded the testimony of the witnesses is to be determined by the trier of fact.
State v. Dye, 82 Ohio St.3d 323, 329, 695 N.E.2d 763, 1998-Ohio-234; State v.
Frazier, 73 Ohio St.3d 323, 652 N.E.2d 1000, 1995-Ohio-235.
{¶42} Upon review of the record, we find that Starner made his Crim.R. 29
motion at the close of the state’s case, proceeded to present evidence on his behalf,
and then failed to renew his motion for acquittal at the conclusion of all of the
evidence. Thus, he has waived all but plain error as to the sufficiency of the
evidence. See State v. Jones, 91 Ohio St.3d 335, 346, 744 N.E.2d 1163, 2001-
Ohio-57. As previously stated, in order to find plain error, there must be a
deviation from a legal rule, the error must be an “obvious” defect in the trial
proceedings, and the error must affect a defendant’s “substantial rights.” State v.
Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240, 2002-Ohio-68. Reversal on plain
error is to be used “with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and
only to prevent a manifest miscarriage” of justice. Id.-20-
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{¶43} Starner was charged with multiple counts of gross sexual imposition
and rape, involving multiple victims, time periods, and locations. We will address
each count as outlined by the indictment, bill of particulars, and the jury
instructions.
{¶44} To prove the charge of gross sexual imposition in Count 2 of the
indictment, the State had to show that Starner purposely caused two or more other
persons to have sexual contact when one of the other persons was less than
thirteen years of age whether or not Starner knew the age of the other person. See
R.C. 2907.05(A)(4). “Sexual contact” is defined as “any touching of an erogenous
zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttocks, 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).
{¶45} This count was alleged to have occurred between June 1, 2006
through December 31, 2007, in a field near 3908 Whetstone River South, Marion,
Ohio, and involved the allegation that Starner caused Doug, who was eleven or
twelve at the time of the offense, to rub the vagina of Emma, who was twelve or
thirteen at the time, and caused Emma to rub Doug’s penis.
{¶46} Emma testified at trial that she was born on May 9, 1994. The
alleged time frame of June 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007, placed her age at either
twelve or thirteen years of age. This time frame created a question as to the
required element that the other person was under the age of thirteen at the time of
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the offense. However, the other child involved, Doug, testified that he turned
thirteen on April 26, 2008, which established his birth date as April 26, 1995. As
such, he would have been either eleven or twelve during the alleged time frame.
Given this information, at least one, if not both, of the other persons was under the
age of thirteen.
{¶47} Emma, Doug, and Meg all testified in regards to Count 2. Emma
testified as follows. She recalled taking a walk with Starner and her cousins, Doug
and Meg, approximately a month before Nancy became sick in the fall of 2007.
She stated that that they walked to a stream and a cornfield near Starner’s home
and that Starner called each child one-by-one behind a bush and had them remove
their clothing. The three children waded in the stream without their clothes while
Starner remained clothed. They then put their clothes back on and walked to a
nearby field, which was planted with corn at the time. At the cornfield, they
played a game called “Truth or Dare.” During this game, the children and Starner
all had their pants down. Starner then dared Emma to touch Doug’s penis with her
mouth, which she did. Starner also dared Doug to touch Emma’s vagina with his
mouth and to rub her vagina, which he did. Starner also dared the two to kiss each
other with open mouths, which they did.
{¶48} Emma testified that she showed this field to Deputy John
Butterworth of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. She also identified State’s
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Exhibit 30D as a photograph of the field and State’s Exhibit 30I and 30K as
photographs of the stream where this incident occurred.
{¶49} Doug, who was in seventh grade at the time of Starner’s trial, also
testified about this incident. He recalled taking a walk with Emma, Meg, and
Starner to a nearby creek. At the creek, the children took their clothes off and
waded in the water. They then put their clothes back on and started walking back
to Starner’s home through a cornfield. At the time, the corn was tall and it was
near harvest time, approximately September. He also stated that it was warm
enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt but that the water was kind of cold. In
addition, he thought he was in fifth or sixth grade when this occurred.
{¶50} Once at the cornfield, all four began playing “Truth or Dare,” and all
four, including Starner, had their pants and underwear down. Someone dared
Doug to rub Emma’s vagina,4 which he did. Although he could not remember
who made this dare, he stated that he did not believe it was one of the three
children. Someone also dared Emma to rub Doug’s penis, which she did. He
further stated that neither he nor Emma made this dare and that he did not think
Meg made this dare, leaving Starner as the only other possibility. Emma and
Doug were also dared to “French kiss,” meaning “tongue/tongue kissing,” which
they did. (Trial Trans. pp. 374, 378.) Doug also kissed the top of Emma’s vagina.
4
Doug used the term “private” in referring to both of the body parts that he and Emma touched and kissed.
When asked what Emma does from her private and what he does from his private, he answered, “pee.”
(Trial Trans. p. 378.) Thus, we elect to substitute his use of the term “private” with “vagina” and “penis,”
with respect to each child’s genitalia.
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Once again, he did not believe that any of the children issued this dare, leaving
only Starner. Doug further testified that Starner’s penis was “[s]ticking up a little
bit” rather than “hanging between his legs[.]” (id. at 379.)
{¶51} Doug testified that he showed the cornfield where this occurred to
Deputy Butterworth. He also testified that he did not tell anyone what happened
immediately thereafter, but finally revealed the incident after being repeatedly
asked by his mother and step-mother whether Starner did anything to hurt or scare
him. During cross-examination, Doug explained that his mother would ask him
every time he was with her whether Starner did anything to hurt him and he
“finally gave in.” (id. at 385.) However, in re-direct, Doug was asked why he
decided to tell his mom what had happened. He responded, “Well, I thought it
over and it was a pretty nasty thing I was trying to keep quiet, so if I told my mom
then maybe she could fix it.” (id. at 399.) He also testified that he did not tell his
mom or the jury anything merely to make his mom happy and that everything he
told the jury and his mom was true. (id.)
{¶52} Lastly, Meg testified about this incident. At the time she testified,
Meg was ten-years-old and in the fourth grade. She testified that she took walks
with Emma, Doug, and Starner, and that something happened that she did not like
on one of these walks. As she began to testify about the incident, she was crying
and the prosecution had to tell her that it was okay and to take deep breaths. In
fact, the court had trouble ruling on defense objections because of Meg’s
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“emotional state” and informed the defense that he was going to have to give the
State a little latitude because of her condition. (Trial Trans. p. 309.)
{¶53} Meg stated that they walked to the water, and they took their clothes
off to play in the water. After the water, they put their clothes back on and went to
the cornfield. Meg testified that the corn was yellow, “[l]ike it was ready to be
picked[,]” and this happened the previous summer or fall. (id. at 314.)
{¶54} At the cornfield, someone suggested that they play “Truth or Dare.”
All four, including Starner, had their pants and underwear down. The dares
involved Emma kissing Doug and touching one another and some were initiated
by Emma. She also testified that Starner put Doug’s penis to Emma’s vagina.5
She testified that Emma and Doug were kissing when this occurred and that
Starner was the one who dared them to kiss. Meg also saw Emma touch Doug. In
addition, she testified that she could see Starner’s penis while in the cornfield and
that “it was tan and it kind of looked like a fat stick.” (id. at 320.) She further
indicated that his penis was sticking out (“straight across horizontal”). (id. at 315.)
{¶55} Meg also testified that Starner told her “‘don’t tell anybody because
then he’ll get in big trouble and then’ – I forgot the other part.” (id. at 316.) She
kept this secret for a couple of months and then told her mother. She also testified
that she told her mother and somebody at Children’s Services and that she told
them the truth. Further, she thought Starner was a nice guy but that she felt
5
Similarly to Doug, Meg used the term “private,” and stated that they pee with their private spots.
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Case No. 9-09-01
“miserable” about what happened in the cornfield because she did not like the
things that he did to them. (id.)
{¶56} During cross-examination, she admitted that she testified that it
happened only once but “[w]hen I think back a little bit more, it did happen more
than once.” (id. at 317.) She also testified that the weather was a little chilly and
that the incident she described happened in 2007.
{¶57} The State also presented the testimony of Doug’s and Meg’s mother,
Vicky. She testified that her mother, Nancy, married Starner sometime in 1992 or
1993. She testified that she visited the Starner home quite often after her mother
was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2007. She usually brought her
children, and she would mostly stay with her mother. Starner was also present
during these times. She further testified that her mother died on February 4, 2008,
and that after her mother’s funeral, Emma said something while riding in the car
with her that disturbed her. This prompted her to ask her children if there was
anything she needed to know about Starner. They initially denied anything
happening but eventually told her what happened.
{¶58} On cross-examination, the defense asked several questions about
Nancy’s death, her estate, and whether Vicky and/or her sister were upset that
Starner received the bulk of Nancy’s estate. However, Vicky testified that she did
not have any issues with Starner at the time of Nancy’s death, that she appreciated
how well he took care of her mother when Nancy was dying, and that all she ever
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wanted from Nancy’s home was a few of the items that actually belonged to her
but that she had left behind when she moved. She further testified that she did not
expect to receive anything of value because she knew the bills for her mother’s
medical care were quite high and that the properties owned by Nancy and Starner
were “mortgaged to the maximum.” (Trial Trans. at 458.) As to any disputes, she
acknowledged that her sister, Emma’s mother, had some disputes with Starner
over items, such as some Lenox crystal wine glasses, but that she had no similar
disputes.
{¶59} Deputy Butterworth, who was assigned by the Marion County
Sheriff’s Office to investigate this case, also testified. Regarding location, he
testified that Starner’s home was located at 3915 Richland Road in Marion
County, Ohio. Further, he went to the cornfield at issue on Whetstone River South
on at least two separate occasions. On one occasion, he met with Emma, and she
identified the field as the one where the acts alleged in Count 2 occurred. On
another occasion, he met with Doug and Meg, and they identified the same field as
the one where the acts alleged in Count 2 occurred. Deputy Butterworth testified
that this field was located in Marion County, Ohio, approximately one-half to one
mile away from Starner’s residence. In addition, the parties stipulated that this
field, which was farmed by the Neidhart family, was located within Marion
County, Ohio.
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{¶60} In addition to Vicky’s testimony about Starner’s marital status, the
parties also stipulated that Starner was married to Nancy and was never married to
Emma or Doug, both of whom were children.
{¶61} Lastly, Jill Neidhart, the member of the Neidhart family who
documents what the family plants each year in its fields and reports that
information to the Farm Service Agency, testified that in 2007, the family planted
corn in the seven-acre field on Whetstone River South that was testified to by
Deputy Butterworth and the three children, and that this corn would have been
harvested by her husband in late October of that year. Additionally, her report of
the 2007 crop, marked as State’s Exhibit 34, was admitted into evidence.
{¶62} In light of all this testimony, there was sufficient evidence that, if
believed, would convince the average mind of Starner’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt on this count. All three children testified to the nature of the contact,
including that Doug touched Emma’s vagina and Emma touched Doug’s penis.
There was also testimony that Starner had an erection during this time. Emma
expressly testified that Starner issued the dares that resulted in the touching
between her and Doug, and Doug and Meg implied through their answers about
who was present and who did not give the dares that Starner issued these dares.
All three children also testified that corn was planted in the field, that it was close
to harvest time, and that it happened shortly before or while Nancy was ill. This
testimony, coupled with Neidhart’s testimony that corn was planted in the
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Whetstone field in 2007, placed the time frame of this incident in late summer or
early fall of 2007, when Doug was twelve. Thus, after viewing the evidence in a
light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of Count 2, gross sexual imposition, proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.
{¶63} Counts 6-12 allege the same offense (gross sexual imposition), same
time frame, and same victim. However, various forms of “sexual contact” are
alleged. The time frame provided on each of these counts was between May 9,
2001, and May 8, 2007, and are alleged to have occurred against Emma when she
was between the ages of seven and twelve. The location provided in the bill of
particulars and jury instructions was Starner’s home at 3915 Richland Road,
Marion County, Ohio, for Counts 6-10, and an apartment building owned by
Starner at 331 East Church Street in Marion County, Ohio, for Counts 11 and 12.
{¶64} To prove Count 6, the State had to show that during the alleged time
frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his spouse
and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew Emma’s
age. The alleged contact in this count was the touching of Emma’s vagina.
{¶65} To prove Count 7, the State had to show that during the alleged time
frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his spouse
and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew Emma’s
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age. The alleged contact in this count was Starner touching Emma’s vagina with
his penis.
{¶66} To prove Count 8, the State had to show that during the alleged time
frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his spouse
and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew Emma’s
age. The alleged contact in this count was the touching of Emma’s breast.
{¶67} To prove Count 9, the State had to show that during the alleged time
frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his spouse
and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew Emma’s
age. The alleged contact in this count was the touching of Emma’s vagina.
{¶68} To prove Count 10, the State had to show that during the alleged
time frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his
spouse and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew
Emma’s age. The alleged contact in this count was the touching of Emma’s
buttocks.
{¶69} To prove Count 11, the State had to show that during the alleged
time frame, Starner purposely had sexual contact with Emma, who was not his
spouse and who was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not Starner knew
Emma’s age. The alleged contact in this count was the touching of Emma’s
vagina.
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{¶70} To prove Count 12, the State had to show that during the alleged
time frame, Starner purposely caused Emma, who was not his spouse and who was
less than thirteen years of age, to have sexual contact with him by having her
touch his penis, whether or not Starner knew Emma’s age.
{¶71} As previously noted, Emma testified that she was born on May 9,
1994. Thus, she would have turned seven-years-old on May 9, 2001, the first date
alleged and would not have turned thirteen-years-old until May 9, 2007, one day
after the last date alleged in these counts. As to each of these counts, Emma
testified that when she was around six-years-old, Starner began touching her
“inappropriately.” (Trial Trans. pp. 227-8.) This began with him touching her
chest and her buttocks and then he would touch her vagina. She also testified that
he would begin by touching her over her clothes but that he would then touch her
underneath her clothes. Emma stated that after touching her he would “lay his
penis on his stomach and have me sit on it[,]” while both were completely nude.
(id. at 231.) Starner would also have her move back and forth toward him while
she was sitting on top of him and that sometimes he would place his hands on her
hips and move her in this manner. According to her testimony, his penis would
get bigger during this time and that “white stuff” would come out of his penis. (id.
at 233.)
{¶72} Emma also testified that when she was “about 8 or 9,” Starner began
having her touch his penis. Specifically, he would have her move her hands up
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and down on his penis while both were nude. When she did this, his penis became
bigger and he would ejaculate. She also testified that Starner bought her a
microscope for Christmas one year because she liked CSI. At times, he would
have her rub his penis until he ejaculated into a cup, which they would then place
under the microscope to examine his sperm. Additionally, Emma testified that
Starner had her shower with him approximately seven or eight times and that he
touched her vagina, breasts, and buttocks during these showers. However, during
these showers, Starner did not ejaculate.
{¶73} Emma testified that these acts occurred nearly every time she visited
her grandmother and Starner and that she visited them every other weekend. She
also testified that these acts would usually happen in Starner’s bedroom when her
grandmother was shopping, at work, or in school but that on at least one occasion,
he did these things in the kitchen and in the living room. More specifically, she
testified that on one occasion, Starner had her sit naked on a chair in the kitchen,
close her eyes, and guess what he was placing on her vagina. Although she stated
that she thought it was his finger, when she opened her eyes, his penis was on her
vagina. (id. at 238.)
{¶74} She also testified that some of these acts would occur at an
apartment building where Starner’s daughter, Dani, lived. Emma testified that she
began cleaning the apartments when she was nine to earn money to attend horse
camp. However, Starner would pay her extra money when they were at the
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apartments if she would touch his penis. He also would touch her vagina and her
breasts during these times. However, she stated that the acts at the apartment
building only occurred two to three times and that she was nude only one or two
times at the apartment building. Further, these acts occurred in vacant apartments
in the building.
{¶75} Emma never revealed this abuse until her grandmother died. She
testified that she was in the car with her mother on the way to get clothes for
Nancy’s funeral when her mother asked if Starner had ever done anything that
made her uncomfortable. At that time, she asked her mother if they could discuss
it later, and her mother did not ask her again. However, shortly thereafter, Emma
was hospitalized for a cyst. While at the hospital, her father asked her a similar
question after he spoke with her mother. Once again, Emma did not want to say
anything to him, but instead, she spoke to a counselor at the hospital and told her
about these incidences.
{¶76} Emma testified that she felt more comfortable speaking to a woman
and to someone outside of her family because she did not “want to see the reaction
on their [her family’s] face when [she] told them.” (id. at 272.) She stated that
she was scared that her family would be mad, that Starner had told her that they
would both get in trouble, and that she was afraid that she would get in trouble
because she “let it happen or something like that.” (id.) Emma also testified that
when the abuse began, she thought it was normal, but she first became aware that
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it was wrong when she watched a video in school when she was about twelve-
years-old.
{¶77} During cross-examination, Emma admitted that she still did not
report the abuse even after watching the school video and realizing that it was
wrong. She also testified that the kitchen where one of the incidences occurred
was well-lit and not hidden. In addition, she testified that the door to the home
was not kept locked and anyone could have entered at any time. Emma also could
not recall a specific time of day or day of the week when any of these incidences
occurred. Further, she acknowleged sitting on Starner’s lap at his home and
telling him she loved him while visiting Nancy during the last week of her life.
Emma admitted to asking Starner to buy her some horses during this visit and to
becoming upset with him when he told her “no.”
{¶78} She also admitted that she enjoyed spending time with Nancy and
Starner, had good times with Starner, loved Starner, and wanted to continue to see
him even after her grandmother died. Additionally, she felt closer to Starner than
she did to her mother.
{¶79} In addition to Emma’s testimony, the State presented the testimony
of Emma’s father, Jarrett. Jarrett testified that Emma was born on May 9, 1994.
When Emma was approximately six or seven-years-old, she began going to the
Starner home every other weekend to visit with Nancy and Starner. At that time,
Emma’s mother was moving to Pennsylvania, and Jarrett wanted Emma to have a
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Case No. 9-09-01
relationship with that side of her family. This visitation consistently occurred until
Emma was approximately twelve-years-old. By this time, Jarrett testified, Emma
was desirous of spending more time with her friends, so visitations were reduced
to once a month.
{¶80} On cross-examination, Jarrett testified that Emma always seemed to
enjoy spending time with Nancy and Starner and that Emma always had the choice
to visit or not visit the Starners. He further testified that he had no knowledge of
any inappropriate behavior by Starner and that he would not have allowed Emma
to go to the Starner home if he had thought she was being hurt. He also admitted
to telling the defense’s investigator that he had concerns that Emma’s mother had
put her up to making these allegations when he heard of them.
{¶81} The State also presented the testimony of Arden Witt, who worked
in the revenue operations department of First Energy Ohio Edison. She testified
that 331 Church Street, an apartment building to which First Energy supplied
electricity, is located in Marion County, Ohio. Witt also testified that Dani Starner
continuously received the electricity billing for an apartment in that building from
September 12, 2002, until April 17, 2008.6
{¶82} In light of all this testimony, there was sufficient evidence that, if
believed, would convince the average mind of Starner’s guilt beyond a reasonable
6
Witt also testified that Dani Starner changed apartments within the same building on two occasions during
this time frame and at some point informed First Energy that she had wed and changed her name on her
billing to Dani Bristel.
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Case No. 9-09-01
doubt of Counts 6-12. Each location was in Marion County, Ohio. Emma
recalled these acts of touching occurring nearly every visit she had with Starner
beginning from approximately the year 2000 and continuing until she was
approximately twelve. A conservative calculation of the number of weekends
alleged in the indictment and testified to by Emma places the number of times
Starner perpetrated these acts at over 100, well beyond the seven acts for which
Starner was found guilty. These acts included her touching Starner’s penis with
her hand, him touching her vagina, breasts, and buttocks, and him touching his
penis to her vagina by having her sit on him while both were naked and at least
once where he placed his penis on her vagina and had her guess what was against
her. Further, as previously noted, there was no dispute that Emma was not
Starner’s spouse or that she was less than thirteen years of age. Thus, after
viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of Counts 6-12, gross sexual
imposition, proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
{¶83} To prove Counts 17 and 19, both of which were for rape, the State
had to show that Starner purposely engaged in sexual conduct, specifically
cunnilingus, with Emma, who was not his spouse, when she was less than thirteen
years of age, whether or not he knew her age. In addition, the State had to show
that these counts occurred in Marion County, Ohio (each was alleged to have
occurred at 3915 Richland Road, Marion, Ohio). Count 17 was alleged to have
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occurred on or about July 1, 2003, to December 31, 2003, and Count 19 was
alleged to have occurred on or about January 1, 2004, to May 8, 2004. As
previously noted, both of these counts contained additional specifications that
Emma was under the age of ten at the time of the respective offenses.
{¶84} Counts 21 to 32, each a charge of rape, required the State to prove
that Starner purposely engaged in sexual conduct with Emma, who was not his
spouse, when she was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not he knew her
age. The State also had to prove that these offenses occurred in Marion County,
Ohio (each was alleged to have occurred at 3915 Richland Road, Marion, Ohio),
and when these occurred. Each of these counts covered a specific five to six-
month time period and involved a certain form of sexual conduct.
{¶85} The time frame alleged in Counts 21 and 22 was from on or about
May 9, 2004, to December 31, 2004. Count 21 involved the act of cunnilingus,
and Count 22 involved the act of fellatio.
{¶86} The time frame alleged in Counts 23 and 24 was from on or about
January 1, 2005, to June 30, 2005. Count 23 involved the act of cunnilingus, and
Count 24 involved the act of fellatio.
{¶87} The time frame alleged in Counts 25 and 26 was from on or about
July 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005. Count 25 involved the act of cunnilingus,
and Count 26 involved the act of fellatio.
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Case No. 9-09-01
{¶88} The time frame alleged in Counts 27 and 28 was from on or about
January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006. Count 27 involved the act of cunnilingus, and
Count 28 involved the act of fellatio.
{¶89} The time frame alleged in Counts 29 and 30 was from on or about
July 1, 2006, to January 1, 2007. Count 29 involved the act of cunnilingus, and
Count 30 involved the act of fellatio.
{¶90} The time frame alleged in Counts 31 and 32 was from on or about
January 2, 2007, to May 8, 2007. Count 31 involved the act of cunnilingus, and
Count 32 involved the act of fellatio.
{¶91} In addition to providing the previously detailed testimony, Emma
testified that Starner eventually began to place his mouth on her vagina. She
stated that neither one of them would be wearing any clothes and that Starner
would have her lie down on his bed and then “put his mouth on [her] vagina and
move his tongue around” in her vagina. (Trial Trans. p. 234.) She testified that
this was the type of act that occurred most often involving her body.
{¶92} Emma also testified that Starner later began to have Emma put her
mouth around his penis and move her head up and down. During these acts, his
penis became larger and “white stuff” would come out. (id. at 236.) Emma also
testified that Starner had her swallow the “white stuff” once and that she
“gagged.” (id.) She further stated that this was the type of act involving his body
that occurred most often. Lastly, Emma testified that his act of putting his mouth
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Case No. 9-09-01
on her vagina and her act of putting her mouth around his penis occurred “[p]retty
much every weekend” since she was “[p]robably about 10.” (id. at 276-7.)
However, during cross-examination, Emma explained that Starner began putting
his mouth on her vagina when she was eight or nine-years-old.
{¶93} In light of all this testimony, there was sufficient evidence that, if
believed, would convince the average mind of Starner’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt of Counts 17, 19, and 21-32. Each incident occurred at Starner’s home in
Marion County, Ohio. Emma recalled that these acts occurred nearly every visit
she had with Starner beginning approximately from when she turned eight in the
year 2002, or nine in the year 2003, and continuing until she was approximately
twelve in the years 2006 to 2007. A conservative calculation of the number of
weekends alleged in the indictment and testified to by Emma places the number of
times Starner perpetrated these acts at over 75, well beyond the fourteen acts for
which Starner was found guilty. These acts included both cunnilingus and fellatio.
Further, as previously noted, there was no dispute that Emma was not Starner’s
spouse or that she was less than thirteen years of age. In addition, Emma’s
testimony placed at least two acts of cunnilingus as occurring when she was under
ten years of age. Thus, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of
Counts 17, 19, and 21-32, rape, proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Case No. 9-09-01
{¶94} For all these reasons, the fourth assignment of error in regards to the
sufficiency of the evidence is overruled as to all twenty-two counts.
{¶95} Our review does not end here, however, as Starner also challenges
the manifest weight of the evidence on each count. As previously noted, this
Court sits as the “thirteenth juror” and weighs the evidence and all reasonable
inferences therefrom. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541.
{¶96} In addition to the aforementioned testimony from Agent Hawke,
Deputy Butterworth, Emma, Doug, Meg, Vicky, Jarrett, Arden Witt, and Jill
Neidhart, the State presented twenty-nine photographs of Emma, some in
provocative poses, which were all placed on the hard drives when she was twelve,
according to each of their respective “created dates.” (State’s Exh. 27a). Emma
testified that Starner took these photos of her, told her how to pose in some of
them, and also took photos of her while she was nude.
{¶97} Emma further testified that Starner showed her videos of adults
having sex and showed her photographs of both men and women “showing their
private areas” while completely naked. (Trial Trans. pp. 239-40.) She also
testified that Starner would walk around without his clothes on sometimes and
spoke with her about becoming a nudist. Specifically, she testified that Starner
told her that he could not have her be a nudist at that time without her father’s
permission and that he knew her father would not give her permission but that
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Case No. 9-09-01
when she turned eighteen, he would take her to a nude beach. He also showed her
photographs of people on a nudist beach.
{¶98} The State also introduced the pornographic photographs of adults
engaging in sexual activity and of numerous women posing nude that Agent
Hawke found on Starner’s computer equipment. (State’s Exh. 27a.) Included in
these photographs was a picture of a group of seventeen nude adults posing in the
water along a beach with some other nude people in the background who appeared
to be sunbathing on the beach.
{¶99} In addition, the State submitted the sixty-one sexually explicit
stories, most of which involved acts of molestation and/or incest with young
children, which were found on the hard drive in the attic. (State’s Exhibits 27b
30-91.) The State also submitted photographs of the exterior and interior of
Starner’s home, photographs of the field, the inventory lists of items seized from
Starner’s home during the execution of the search warrants, the testimony of the
officers who conducted the searches, the computer equipment that was seized,
printouts from Evidence Eliminator’s website, Nancy’s employment attendance
records for the years 2005-2007, Nancy’s college class schedule from the spring
semester of 2006 until the fall semester of 2007, which included Saturday classes,
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Emma’s medical records from Children’s Hospital, and the testimony of various
other witnesses.7
{¶100} One such witness was Ann Underwood, the school nurse for
Emma when she was in fifth grade. Underwood testified that she speaks with fifth
graders at her school about communicable diseases, which includes a discussion of
“good touch/no touch areas” and the showing of videos about the physical
development of girls and boys and one about reproduction. (Trial Trans. pp. 490-
1.) She testified that Emma attended this class in May of 2006. She also testified
during cross-examination that Emma never reported any abuse by Starner to her
and had never been told that Emma reported being sexually abused to any school
officials.
{¶101} Kerri Marshall, a social worker at Columbus Children’s
Hospital, also testified on behalf of the State. She testified that she works in the
Children’s Assessment Center, a clinic at the hospital that specializes in treating
children when there are allegations of abuse, and her duties include interviewing
those children and reporting the information she obtains to the doctor to assist in
the medical examination of the child. In the course of her eight years of
employment in this field, she has interviewed approximately 2,900 children and
has become familiar with different things that arise in sexual abuse cases, such as
7
Included in these witnesses was a representative of Nancy’s employer, State Farm Insurance, who
testified that Nancy began her employment with State Farm in November of 1994, that the company began
keeping attendance records electronically in 2005, and that Nancy’s absences from work were not
excessive or otherwise out of the ordinary from other employees.
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the grooming of children by photographing them, buying them gifts, giving them
money, and keeping secrets between the child and abuser.
{¶102} Marshall also testified that in many instances the child and
perpetrator have bonded, the child usually expresses no hatred toward the
offender, and some children continue to express love for the offender. She further
testified that children also are told that the child and/or offender will “get in
trouble” if the child tells and that children may fear that they will be held
responsible for allowing it to happen and/or fear that they will be blamed for
“tearing [their] family apart.” (Trial Trans. p. 328.)
{¶103} On February 14, 2008, she interviewed Emma at the
Children’s Assessment Center. Emma came to the Children’s Assessment Center
on that date after reporting to another social worker during her hospitalization on
the 9th of February that she had been sexually abused. Marshall made a written
report of her interview with Emma, which was admitted at trial as State’s Exhibit
31.
{¶104} During the interview, Emma reported much of the
information to which she testified at the trial regarding the touching of her body
and Starner’s body, the acts of cunnilingus and fellatio, the time he had her
swallow his ejaculate and her reaction to this, the incident involving her cousins,
the locations of these incidences, the incident in the kitchen, that this began when
she was approximately six-years-old and ended when she was twelve or thirteen,
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that he told her that they would both get into trouble if anyone found out, that
Starner took several photos of her both clothed and unclothed, that he showed her
pornographic videos and photos of adults, and that they looked at his sperm under
a microscope. She also disclosed, and later testified, that when she questioned
Starner or objected to his actions, he would ignore her for awhile. Emma also
revealed to Marshall that towards the end of this abuse, Starner told her that if she
ever felt like she wanted to have sex, meaning vaginal intercourse, that he would
do that with her, a statement she also testified to at trial.
{¶105} Emma made many other disclosures to Marshall to which she
did not testify at trial as well, including that Starner penetrated her vagina and
anus with his finger and that he had her take a picture of her own vagina. She also
described an incident where Starner wanted to show her “what it would feel like if
someone kidnapped me[,]” and he put his sock in her mouth and put tape over her
mouth. (State’s Exh. 31.) However, when she began gagging because the sock
was big, he removed the tape and the sock. Emma also stated that there were
multiple times in the cornfield with Starner and her cousins and that Starner
touched all three of them in their private areas and that the children resisted this
touching. She also told Marshall that Starner wanted Meg to put her mouth on
Doug’s penis but that Meg refused and that she touched Meg’s vagina with her
hands.
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{¶106} After this interview, Emma was physically examined by
Kristen Upton, a nurse practitioner, under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan
Thackeray, a child abuse pediatrician. This examination included an examination
of Emma’s anal and vaginal areas. Nurse Upton made no abnormal findings.
{¶107} Dr. Thackeray testified that 95-96% of girls who have been
sexually abused have normal “anal genital examinations.” (Trial Trans. pp. 362-
3.) He explained that many times the abuse is not reported until quite a while after
the abuse has occurred and that any damage that may have been found will often
have healed by the time the child reports the abuse and is examined. He further
explained that the genital tissue heals very rapidly. In addition, some forms of
abuse would not cause injury, such as touching, kissing, or exposure to
pornography, or the abuse may not have occurred in a violent manner due to the
relationship between the victim and perpetrator. Moreover, Dr. Thackeray
explained that the vagina, and in particular the ring of tissue called the “hymen,” is
highly elastic and designed to stretch to allow the body to prepare for childbirth at
some point in time. Therefore, this area often times will not appear abnormal even
if penetration of some sort has occurred. Thus, he concluded that Nurse Upton’s
findings were consistent with the history provided by Emma. However, during
cross-examination, Dr. Thackeray admitted that the lack of findings in Emma’s
examination were also consistent with a child who had suffered no abuse at all.
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{¶108} In Starner’s case-in-chief, he presented the testimony of
several witnesses, including two school guidance counselors and one school
principal. David Hinds, Doug’s school counselor for the last two years, and Jim
Boyd, Meg’s school counselor for the last three years, both testified that neither
child reported being sexually abused to them or to any other school officials and
that neither saw any signs or behaviors in the children that would indicate they
were sexually abused. Likewise, Lynn Hursey, Emma’s school principal during
the 2006-2007 school year, testified that Emma never reported any sexual abuse to
her or any other school official and that she did not notice any signs or behaviors
that would indicate Emma was being sexually abused.
{¶109} However, on cross-examination, all three admitted to having
limited contact with the children and to being responsible for many children in
their scope of employment. They also admitted to having little to no contact with
children who they know have been sexually abused, acknowledged that sexual
abuse is often unreported, and that it was possible that they each interacted with
students who might very well have been sexually abused and they did not know.
They further acknowledged that they were not testifying that the children were or
were not sexually abused by Starner.
{¶110} Starner also presented the testimony of two forensic scientists
from BCI. Travis Worst testified that he tested various items submitted by the
Marion County Sheriff’s Office in this case for the presence of bodily fluids, such
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as semen, amylase, blood, urine, and feces. In the cup of one bra, he found
amylase, a substance found in saliva and some other bodily fluids. He cut out the
portion of the bra where he found the amylase, packaged it, and stored it for DNA
testing. He also found amylase in a pair of white girls’ underwear. However, he
testified that this coincided with a brown stain in the underwear and that amylase
is also found in feces so he did nothing more with the underwear. Other than these
two findings, Worst found no other bodily fluids on any of the items submitted.
{¶111} The portion of the bra containing amylase and the white
underwear with amylase found on it were then tested for DNA. Emily Draper, a
DNA forensic scientist, testified that she did not participate in examining the items
in this case but that she was a technical reviewer on the case and was testifying as
to the results in this case because the actual examiner was on his honeymoon. The
DNA found in both the bra and the underwear did not belong to Starner or to
Emma. In addition, the DNA found in the bra belonged to two different people.
However, no other comparison standards were given to BCI to attempt to
determine whose DNA it was.
{¶112} On cross-examination, Worst testified that he has frequently
not found any semen and/or amylase when examining multiple items in sexual
abuse cases and that he would not expect to find bodily fluids on clothing where
the type of abuse was the touching of one body part to another, such as a hand to a
breast. Additionally, he testified that his examination could not determine whether
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semen or amylase had ever been on one or more of these items because they could
have been washed. Draper testified during cross-examination that amylase can
easily transfer onto clothing when someone is talking or living in a household with
other people in close proximity. Further, she testified that DNA testing is
expensive and that BCI has such a backlog of DNA requests that it has had to put
guidelines and priorities on what it will test. As to the underwear, Emma testified
that it did not belong to her.
{¶113} The defense also presented the testimony of James Denton,
the auctioneer who sold Nancy’s property the April following her death. Denton
testified that one of Starner’s step-daughters approached him before the auction
and wanted to know why he was there and to object to the auction. In addition,
both of Starner’s step-daughters made statements during the auction about the
charges pending against Starner, and Denton had to ask them to stop making these
types of statements, a situation he had not previously encountered during an
auction.
{¶114} Dr. Kevin Haney also testified for the defense. Dr. Haney, a
family physician, testified that Starner came to him on February 29, 2008,
complaining of sexual dysfunction. Starner told him that he was married, had
difficulty in his sexual life with his wife, his wife was ill, and “that he had a long
term history of not being able to be aroused and perform sexually.” (Trial Trans.
pp. 969-70.) Dr. Haney examined Starner and did a blood draw to run a
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Case No. 9-09-01
chemistry panel to determine the cause of his dysfunction. The results showed
that Starner’s testosterone level was below 350, specifically it was 310. Dr. Haney
further testified that this level, coupled with the history Starner provided, indicated
a condition called hypogonadism, which means low sex hormones. People with
this condition typically have low energy, low drive, low motivation, decreased
arousal, decreased ejections, and frequency decreased ejection force and strength.
In addition, Dr. Haney testified that to a reasonable degree of medical probability
he would not expect Starner to be able to get a normal erection and that it would
be unlikely to expect any ejaculation at all. (id. at 974-5). He was also unaware of
any method by which Starner could have reduced his testosterone level. To treat
Starner, Dr. Haney testified that Starner needed testosterone replacement either
through injection or patches for at least six months to increase his levels.
{¶115} During cross-examination, Dr. Haney admitted that he could
not state conclusively that Starner could not get an erect penis. Further, he
acknowledged that Starner’s low testosterone level did not mean he was incapable
of getting an erection and that he was taking into account both the testosterone
level and the information provided to him by Starner to reach his medical
conclusions. Moreover, he testified that if he had been given the description that
the children gave of Starner’s penis at the cornfield, that this would change his
opinion about Starner’s complete level of impotence. However, it would not
necessarily have changed his diagnosis of hypogonadism because people with this
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condition can still “get erections or versions of erections.” (id. at 982.) He also
acknowledged that the first time he saw Starner was nine days after February 20,
2008.
{¶116} The last person to testify on Starner’s behalf was Greg Kelly,
the computer expert retained by the defense. Kelly testified that he reviewed the
information given to him by BCI, including the report of Agent Hawke’s findings,
forensic images of the twelve computers and various portable drives seized from
Starner’s home, and a number of discs. Much of his testimony was similar to that
provided by Agent Hawke as to what was found on the computer equipment.
{¶117} However, the bulk of his testimony focused on Evidence
Eliminator. Specifically, he testified that its function is similar to an entire host of
programs with less innocuous names that are designed to securely delete files and
other activity on a computer, such as Window Washer, C Cleaner, and Cyber
Scrub. (Trial Trans. p. 1008.) Further, the general public uses these programs,
and Evidence Eliminator’s use is becoming more common as people become more
aware of what things can be found on a computer. He also testified that he found
no evidence on the computers that Evidence Eliminator’s website, which marketed
the program, had ever been accessed by one of the computers.
{¶118} Evidence Eliminator also has the ability to automatically log
all of the tasks it performs, but by default this feature is not turned on. In this
case, the kitchen computer with this program on it had multiple tasks logged,
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which had to be performed manually. The files that were securely deleted,
according to the log, included some text files, only one picture, and some
temporary files. He also testified that the last access date of a file can be done by
an individual or a process, such as the routine, pre-set running of an antivirus
program, defragmentation program, or other application applied to all files.
{¶119} During cross-examination, Kelly testified that his company
received a retainer fee of $5,000.00, which was fully used, and a second payment
of $5,000.00, which was currently being used to fund his analysis and testimony,
in this case. He acknowledged that the hard drive found in the attic with the erotic
stories and the majority of the pornographic photographs and photographs of
Emma found on it was last accessed by connecting it to the kitchen computer on
February 16, 2008, and that there was no way to tell whether Evidence Eliminator
had been used on that hard drive unless someone manually elected to save a log of
such activity. In addition, the version of Evidence Eliminator he found on the
kitchen computer was installed on January 8, 2008, and this version had a log of
its tasks. However, another version of this program was previously installed on
April 9, 2007, and he could find no log of its tasks.
{¶120} Kelly also conceded that a person could transfer files to a
computer space such as a recycle bin and then use Evidence Eliminator to clean
the recycle bin and there would be no way to determine the names or types of files
that were in the recycle bin at the time the bin was securely deleted. He also
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testified that Evidence Eliminator deleted a variety of documents out of different
drives from January 8, 2008 until February 18, 2008, and that on February 18,
2008, alone, this program cleaned out eighty-four files from the recycle bin. Kelly
further testified that someone had to have been at the keyboard each and every one
of these days directing what files Evidence Eliminator was to delete rather than
this program having been pre-set to automatically run. Moreover, he conceded
that the report provided to the court by his employee, Nick Ventura, indicated that
everything done with Evidence Eliminator during this time frame was “done from
the Dan user account.” (Trial Trans. pp. 1074-5.)
{¶121} Given all of this testimony, this Court does not find that 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. To the contrary, the children
gave detailed accounts of at least one incident at the cornfield, which matched one
another in many aspects from wading in the stream, whose clothes were off and at
what point, the game that was played, who touched who, and the condition of
Starner’s penis. The differences in their respective versions of events were
minimal and were reasonable in light of their different locations in the cornfield
and because, as noted by both Emma and Meg, this type of incident happened
more than once. Furthermore, they testified that this happened in a cornfield, near
harvest time, just before or during Nancy’s illness, and the corroborating witnesses
established that the field where the children said this occurred had corn planted in
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it when Nancy was ill, which would have been harvested in late October. In
addition, Starner had ample access to these children without the presence of any
other adult.
{¶122} Emma also provided many specific details about the abuse
she suffered for years, how it progressed, the types of things she and Starner
would do, and where these things happened. Although Emma’s statements to the
social worker included more acts than her testimony revealed and was more
detailed as to the walks in the field with her cousins, this does not render these two
accounts contradictory to one another. Rather, Emma’s testimony centered largely
around the charges brought by the State and indicted by the grand jury. The fact
that she revealed more incidences than were ultimately charged does not make her
testimony unreliable.
{¶123} In fact, many of the details she provided to the social worker
were later supported by the evidence found in the investigation: she said Starner
had her look at pictures of women’s vaginas and other nude photos of adults
engaged in sexual activity, BCI found those on his computer; she said he took
photos of her, BCI found those on the computer; she said Starner showed her a
photo of nudists on a beach, BCI found a photo of that on his computer; she said
sometimes he would abuse her in an apartment building where his daughter lived
and was able to identify the building, First Energy confirmed that his daughter
occupied an apartment in that building during the relevant time frame; she said
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Case No. 9-09-01
they would look at his sperm under a microscope, the investigators found a
microscope in his home; she said she thought this activity was normal until she
watched a video at school when she was twelve, her school nurse confirmed in
May of 2006, the month Emma turned twelve, she held a class that discussed
inappropriate touching and showed videos of human reproduction and the
development of boys and girls.
{¶124} Although no nude photographs of Emma and no pornographic
videos were found, this also does not discount Emma’s testimony because there
were any number of opportunities to discard these and varying reasons why these
were not found, including through a program such as Evidence Eliminator. Emma
also testified that she saw him delete nude photos of her and that in at least one of
the nude photos of her, Starner deleted it because he told her that the police would
be able to see the freckles on her legs and know it was her even without seeing her
face. In addition, the lack of physical findings during Emma’s anal genital exam
was consistent with the types of activity she disclosed and the failure to
immediately report the abuse. The same is also true for the fact that Starner’s
bodily fluids were not found on the clothing that was seized or the microscope
because of the ability to wash these items and the nature of the contact.
{¶125} Not only were there corroborating witnesses and evidence for
Emma’s testimony, there were other details that cannot be overlooked. Starner
had sixty-one erotic stories largely consisting of graphic tales of the molestation of
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young children and of incestuous relationships. There was also no evidence, only
innuendo by the defense, that the mothers of the children, Starner’s stepdaughters,
were outraged that Starner received the bulk of their mother’s estate. Indeed, they
indisputably appeared to have been upset at the auction of this property in April of
2008. However, the statements they made about the charges against Starner and
believing that the auctioneer should not be there could be as equally, if not more
so, explained by them being upset that he abused their children and was now
auctioning their mother’s property to possibly help pay for his legal defense as he
was incarcerated at the time.
{¶126} In short, the twenty-two verdicts of guilty were not against
the manifest weight of the evidence. Therefore, the fourth assignment of error is
overruled in its entirety.
Third Assignment of Error
{¶127} Starner asserts in his third assignment of error that his right to
the assistance of counsel was violated because each of his three trial attorneys was
ineffective. In support of this contention, he maintains that trial counsels’
performances were ineffective in a variety of ways: (1) counsel failed to timely
and adequately object to the misconduct of the prosecution; (2) counsel failed to
renew its objection to the State’s presentation of testimony about Evidence
Eliminator; (3) counsel failed to object to an improper jury instruction about
Evidence Eliminator; (4) counsel failed to timely and adequately move for
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judgments of acquittal. In addition, Starner contends that even if these
deficiencies were not prejudicial, when evaluated individually, their cumulative
effect was prejudicial.
{¶128} When considering the issue of ineffective assistance of
counsel when a trial has taken place, a reviewing court must consider “whether the
accused, under all the circumstances * * * had a fair trial and substantial justice
was done.” State v. Calhoun, 86 Ohio St.3d 279, 289, 714 N.E.2d 905, 1999-
Ohio-102. In addition, attorneys licensed by the state of Ohio are presumed to
provide competent representation. State v. Hoffman (1998), 129 Ohio App.3d 403,
407, 717 N.E.2d 1149.
{¶129} Ohio has also adopted the two-part test for determining
whether a criminal defendant has been denied the effective assistance of counsel
established by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington
(1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052. See State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d
136, 538 N.E.2d 373, paragraph two of the syllabus. “A convicted defendant must
first show that his attorney’s performance ‘fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness,’ and must then show that ‘there is a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different.’” State v. Dixon, 152 Ohio App.3d 760, 790 N.E.2d 349, 2003-
Ohio-2550, at ¶ 39, quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
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Case No. 9-09-01
{¶130} As to the first prong of the test, courts are to afford a high
level of deference to the performance of trial counsel. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d at
142, 538 N.E.2d 373. The second prong regarding reasonable probability requires
a probability sufficient to undermine the confidence in the outcome of the trial. Id.{¶131} Even assuming arguendo that all three of Starner’s trial
attorneys’ performances fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,8 given
this Court’s decisions as to the first, second, and fourth assignments of error,
Starner’s contentions fail the second prong required by Bradley and Strickland that
there be a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the
results of the proceeding would have been different. Furthermore, as previously
outlined, the record demonstrates that Starner had a fair trial and substantial justice
was done. Thus, the third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶132} For all of these reasons, the judgment of the Court of
Common Pleas of Marion County, Ohio, is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
PRESTON, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.
/jnc
8
This assumption should not be construed as a finding that trial counsels’ performances fell below an
objectively reasonable standard. Rather, we need not discuss this prong in light of the other assignments of
error.
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