State v. Bender ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. Bender, 2020-Ohio-722.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
UNION COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 14-19-22
v.
JASON G. BENDER, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Union County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 2018-CR-0168
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: March 2, 2020
APPEARANCES:
Charles A. Koenig for Appellant
David W. Phillips and Melissa A. Chase for Appellee
Case No. 14-19-22
ZIMMERMAN, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Jason G. Bender (“Bender”), appeals the May 29,
2019 judgment entry of sentence of the Union County Court of Common Pleas. We
affirm.
{¶2} This case stems from a June 28-29, 2018 incident during which Bender
restrained the victim, K.W., with ropes around her neck, arms, and legs, and by
binding her hands and feet with ratchet straps and suspending her from the rafters
of a basement ceiling, then brutally beating and raping her. On July 13, 2018,
Bender was indicted on four counts: Count One of felonious assault in violation of
R.C. 2903.11(A)(1), (D)(1)(a), a second-degree felony, with a firearm specification
under R.C. 2941.145(A); Count Two of kidnapping in violation of R.C.
2905.01(A)(3), (C)(1), a first-degree felony, with a sexual-motivation specification
under R.C. 2941.147(A) and a sexually violent predator specification under R.C.
2941.148(A); Count Three of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), (B), a first-
degree felony, with a sexually violent predator specification under R.C.
2941.148(A) and a criminal-gang-activity specification under R.C. 2941.142(A);
and Count Four of having weapons while under disability in violation of R.C.
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2923.13(A)(2), (B), a third-degree felony.1 (Doc. No. 1). Bender appeared for
arraignment on July 24, 2018 and entered pleas of not guilty. (Doc. No. 13).
{¶3} On January 9, 2019, the State filed a motion requesting that the trial
court declare K.W. a court’s witness. (Doc. No. 42).
{¶4} On April 22, 2019, the State filed a motion to dismiss the sexually
violent predator specification alleged in Counts Two and Three and the criminal-
gang-activity specification alleged in Count Three of the indictment, which the trial
court dismissed that same day. (Doc. Nos. 75, 76).
{¶5} The case proceeded to a jury trial on April 22-24, 2019. On April 24,
2019, the jury found Bender guilty of all the counts and specifications in the
indictment. (Doc. Nos. 78, 79, 80, 81). (See also Doc. No. 84). On May 29, 2019,
the trial court sentenced Bender to 7 years in prison on Count One, 10 years in prison
on Count Two, 10 years in prison on Count Three, 30 months in prison on Count
Four, and 3 years in prison on the firearm specification. (Doc. No. 87). The trial
court ordered Bender to serve consecutively the prison terms imposed under Counts
One, Two, and Three, and the firearm specification. (Id.). Further, the prison term
imposed as to Count Four was ordered to be served concurrently to the consecutive
prison terms imposed as to Counts One, Two, and Three, and the firearm
1
On April 17, 2019, the State filed a motion to amend the indictment to correct a typographical error, which
the trial court amended on April 22, 2019. (Doc. Nos. 70, 77). On April 29, 2019, the State filed a second
motion to amend the indictment (to which Bender did not object), which the trial court granted that same
day. (Doc. Nos. 82, 83).
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specification for an aggregate sentence of 30 years in prison. (Id.). The trial court
also classified Bender as a Tier III sex offender. (Doc. No. 88).
{¶6} Bender filed a notice of appeal on June 18, 2019 and raises three
assignments of error for our review. (Doc. No. 93).
Assignment of Error No. I
Appellant was deprived of his constitutional rights to due process
and to confront his accusers in violation of the Fifth, Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and
Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution, as a consequence of
the trial court permitted [sic] hearsay testimony from a medical
witness regarding statements in the medical record that were not
admissible under any hearsay exception, thereby preventing
appellant from exercising his right to confront in a meaningful
way.
{¶7} In his first assignment of error, Bender argues that the trial court erred
by admitting testimony of Andi Stevens (“Stevens”), a forensic nurse coordinator
and sexual assault nurse examiner (“SANE”) with OhioHealth, as to statements
made to her by K.W. Bender argues that the admission of Stevens’s testimony (i.e.,
K.W.’s statements) violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution. He further argues that Stevens’s
testimony was inadmissible hearsay evidence.
Standard of Review
{¶8} Generally, the admission or exclusion of evidence lies within the trial
court’s discretion, and a reviewing court should not reverse absent an abuse of
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discretion and material prejudice. State v. Conway, 109 Ohio St. 3d 412, 2006-Ohio-
2815, ¶ 62, citing State v. Issa, 93 Ohio St. 3d 49, 64 (2001). An abuse of discretion
implies that the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably. State
v. Adams, 62 Ohio St. 2d 151, 157 (1980). “However, we review de novo evidentiary
rulings that implicate the Confrontation Clause.” State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio St. 3d
261, 2016-Ohio-5735, ¶ 97. “De novo review is independent, without deference to
the lower court’s decision.” State v. Hudson, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-12-38, 2013-
Ohio-647, ¶ 27, citing Ohio Bell Tel. Co. v. Pub. Util. Comm. of Ohio, 64 Ohio St. 3d
145, 147 (1992).
Analysis
{¶9} We will begin by addressing whether the admission of Stevens’s
testimony violated Bender’s Sixth Amendment rights. The Confrontation Clause to
the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, made applicable to the
states by the Fourteenth Amendment, provides that “‘[i]n all criminal prosecutions,
the accused shall enjoy the right * * * to be confronted with the witnesses against
him * * * .’” Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 42, 124 S. Ct. 1354 (2004),
quoting the Confrontation Clause. See also State v. Maxwell, 139 Ohio St. 3d 12,
2014-Ohio-1019, ¶ 34; State v. McNeal, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-01-158, 2002-Ohio-
2981, ¶ 43, fn. 13.
The United States Supreme Court has interpreted [the Sixth
Amendment right to confrontation] to mean that admission of an out-
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of-court statement of a witness who does not appear at trial is
prohibited by the Confrontation Clause if the statement is testimonial
unless the witness is unavailable and the defendant has had a prior
opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Maxwell at ¶ 34, citing Crawford at 53-54. The United States Supreme Court “did
not define the word ‘testimonial’ but stated that the core class of statements
implicated by the Confrontation Clause includes statements ‘made under
circumstances which would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the
statement would be available for use at a later trial.’” Id., quoting Crawford at 52.
{¶10} “Only testimonial hearsay implicates the Confrontation Clause.”
McKelton at ¶ 185. “‘[T]estimonial statements are those made for “a primary
purpose of creating an out-of-court substitute for trial testimony.”’” Id., quoting
Maxwell at ¶ 40, quoting Michigan v. Bryant, 562 U.S. 344, 358, 131 S. Ct. 1143
(2011). That is, “[t]o rank as ‘testimonial,’ a statement must have a ‘primary
purpose’ of ‘establish[ing] or prov[ing] past events potentially relevant to later
criminal prosecution.’” Bullcoming v. New Mexico, 564 U.S. 647, 659, 131 S. Ct.
2705, 2714 (2011), fn. 6, quoting Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 822, 126 S. Ct.
2266 (2006). “The key issue is what constitutes a testimonial statement: ‘It is the
testimonial character of the statement that separates it from other hearsay that, while
subject to traditional limitations upon hearsay evidence, is not subject to the
Confrontation Clause.’” State v. Hood, 135 Ohio St. 3d 137, 2012-Ohio-6208, ¶ 33,
quoting Davis at 821. Nevertheless, “[t]here is also no dispute that the
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Confrontation Clause ‘does not bar the use of testimonial statements for purposes
other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted.’” State v. Ricks, 136 Ohio
St.3d 356, 2013-Ohio-3712, ¶ 18, quoting Crawford at 59, and citing Williams v.
Illinois, 567 U.S. 50, 57-58, 132 S. Ct. 2221 (2012).
{¶11} In this case, Bender argues that the trial court erred by admitting
Stevens’s testimony regarding statements made to her by K.W.—namely, a
“narrative history” provided to Stevens’s by K.W. at the hospital. However, even
if any of K.W.’s statements to Stevens were testimonial in nature, there was no
constitutional error since the victim testified at trial and was subject to cross-
examination. “Admission of testimonial statements against a party is a
constitutional error when that party does not have the opportunity to cross-examine
the declarant.” State v. Durdin, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 14AP-249, 2014-Ohio-
5759, ¶ 30, citing State v. Arnold, 126 Ohio St. 3d 290, 2010-Ohio-2742, ¶ 36, citing
Crawford at 68. “Consequently, the Confrontation Clause does not require
exclusion of prior statements of a witness who testifies at trial.” State v. Lykins, 4th
Dist. Adams No. 18CA1079, 2019-Ohio-3316, ¶ 90, citing California v. Green, 399
U.S. 149, 164, 90 S. Ct. 1930 (1970), and citing Arnold at ¶ 66, State v. Powell, 132
Ohio St. 3d 233, 2012-Ohio-2577, ¶ 64, State v. Kersbergen, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2014-10-218, 2015-Ohio-3103, ¶ 68, State v. Gray, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2011-09-176, 2012-Ohio-4769, ¶ 48, and State v. Isa, 2d Dist. Champaign No.
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07-CA-37, 2008-Ohio-5906, ¶ 16. Therefore, because K.W. testified at trial, and
Bender was able to fully cross-examine her regarding her out-of-court statements,
Stevens’s testimony did not violate the Confrontation Clause under the facts
presented. Id. at ¶ 91; State v. Rose, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2011-11-214, 2012-
Ohio-5607, ¶ 47, citing Gray at ¶ 48.
{¶12} Having determined that Stevens’s testimony was not barred by the
Confrontation Clause, we must now address whether her testimony was admissible
under the Ohio Rules of Evidence. See State v. Martin, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No.
2015AP0010, 2016-Ohio-225, ¶ 52, citing State v. Jones, 135 Ohio St. 3d 10, 2012-
Ohio-5677, ¶ 165. See also Lykins at ¶ 92. Hearsay is defined as “a statement, other
than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in
evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” Evid.R. 801(C). Hearsay is
generally not admissible unless an exception applies. Evid.R. 802. “Evid.R. 803 is
one such rule which permits the admission of certain hearsay statements even
though the declarant is available as a witness.” Dayton v. Combs, 94 Ohio App. 3d
291, 300 (2d Dist.1993). Under Evid.R. 803, the following hearsay statements are
admissible: (1) present sense impression; (2) excited utterance; (3) then existing
mental, emotional, or physical condition; and (4) statements for the purpose of
medical diagnosis or treatment.
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{¶13} “As relevant here, Evid.R. 803(4) provides an exception for
‘[s]tatements made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describing
medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the inception
or general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably
pertinent to diagnosis or treatment.’” State v. Remy, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2017-CA-
7, 2018-Ohio-2857, ¶ 44, quoting Evid.R. 803(4). “The hearsay rules except
statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment due to the
inherent reliability underlying the nature of those statements.” Lykins at ¶ 94. See
also State v. Muttart, 116 Ohio St. 3d 5, 2007-Ohio-5267, ¶ 39. “[S]tatements made
for the purpose of medical diagnosis and treatment are considered reliable because
‘“facts reliable enough to be relied on in reaching a diagnosis have sufficient
trustworthiness to satisfy hearsay concerns.”’” Lykins at ¶ 95, quoting State v.
Dever, 64 Ohio St. 3d 401, 411 (1992), quoting McCormick, Evidence, Section 250
(4th Ed.1992), and citing Muttart at ¶ 41. “Thus, ‘“[i]f a statement is made for
purposes of diagnosis or treatment, it is admissible pursuant to Evid.R. 803(4).”’”
Id., quoting Muttart at ¶ 37, quoting Dever at 414.
{¶14} “In sexual assault cases such as the case at bar, there is often testimony
from a sexual assault nurse. Similar to the dual role of a social worker interviewing
a child who may be a victim of sexual abuse, these nurses often perform a dual role
involving both medical diagnosis and treatment and the investigation and gathering
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of evidence.” Rose, 2012-Ohio-5607, at ¶ 42, citing Arnold, 126 Ohio St. 3d 290,
2010-Ohio-2742, at ¶ 33. “Only those statements made for the purpose of diagnosis
and treatment are admissible under Evid.R. 803(4).” Id., citing Arnold at ¶ 28 and
Muttart at ¶ 47. See also State v. Hartman, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26609, 2016-
Ohio-2883, ¶ 51. “Accordingly, the salient inquiry when determining whether a
hearsay statement is admissible under Evid.R. 803(4), is whether the statement was
made for purposes of diagnosis or treatment rather than for some other purpose.”
Rose at ¶ 42, citing Muttart at ¶ 47. “One such ‘other purpose’ is the gathering of
forensic information to investigate and potentially prosecute a defendant.” Id.,
citing Arnold at ¶ 33. “To the extent that a victim’s statement to a nurse is for
investigative purposes in furtherance of such criminal prosecution, the statements
will not fall within the hearsay exception under Evid.R. 803(4). Rather, such
statements are considered ‘testimonial’ and implicate the Confrontation Clause.”
Id., citing Arnold at ¶ 28, citing State v. Siler, 116 Ohio St. 3d 39, 2007-Ohio-5637,
¶ 2.
{¶15} We conclude that Stevens’s testimony was properly admitted as a
statement made by a victim for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment. See
State v. Wallace, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-10-20, 2011-Ohio-1728, ¶ 18. At trial,
Stevens testified that her “role as a Forensic Nurse [is to] do a history of the events
from the assault that” caused the victim to seek medical treatment. (Apr. 22, 2019
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Tr., Vol. I, at 122). Specifically, she testified that the “history of events” “helps
guide [her] exam looking for injuries, helping with diagnosis and further treatment
that may need to be done * * * and, also, safety planning, if the patient is to be
discharged.” (Id.). Importantly, Stevens testified that (as a part of her “history of
events”), she “take[s] a more narrative history” from the patient, which is “important
for [her] to provide appropriate medical treatment * * * .” (Id. at 127). Stevens
then testified to the narrative that she documented from K.W. (See id. at 128-132).
{¶16} Although narrative accounts may reveal information subsequently
used by law enforcement in a criminal prosecution, “[n]arrative accounts can be
reasonably pertinent in establishing a potential diagnosis or treatment.” State v.
Warman, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-02-029, 2017-Ohio-244, ¶ 70 (Piper, J.,
concurring). See also id. (“Even though the victim’s narrative account offered to
medical personnel can subsequently be used by law enforcement in a criminal
prosecution does not prevent the statement from being admitted into evidence
pursuant to Evid.R. 803(4).”), citing State v. Thomas, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
101202, 2015-Ohio-415, ¶ 24. Indeed, “[a] description of an abusive encounter has
consistently been determined to be within the scope of statements offered for
medical treatment or diagnosis.” Id. at ¶ 71, citing State v. Diaz, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 103878, 2016-Ohio-5523, ¶ 33-34. That is, “[a] narrative account containing
peripheral details as the victim recounts abusive activities can be made for the
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primary purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment.” Id., citing State v. Williams,
1st Dist. Hamilton No. C140199, 2015-Ohio-3968, ¶ 31-34. Specifically, “[a]
patient’s statements concerning how the alleged rape occurred can be relevant to
show the ‘general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as
reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment.’” Wallace at ¶ 18, quoting Evid.R.
803(4). “For example, the victim’s statements may guide medical personnel to the
particular area(s) of the victim’s body to be examined for injury, as well as indicate
which areas may need more immediate treatment than others.” Id., citing State v.
Menton, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 70, 2009-Ohio-4640, ¶ 51. Therefore,
based on the evidence before us, we conclude that K.W.’s statements contained in
the narrative (as presented through Stevens’s testimony) were for the purpose of
medical treatment or diagnosis. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
admitting Stevens’s testimony. See id.
{¶17} Even if we were to conclude that Stevens’s testimony was
inadmissible hearsay, the error would be harmless. See id. at ¶ 21. “‘Any error in
the admission of hearsay is generally harmless where the declarant of the hearsay
statement is cross-examined on the same matters and the seemingly erroneous
evidence is cumulative in nature.’” Id., quoting In re M.E.G., 10th Dist. Franklin
Nos. 06AP-1256, 06AP-1257, 06AP-1258, 06AP-1263, 06AP-1264, and 06AP-
1265, 2007-Ohio-4308, ¶ 32. Indeed, as we previously addressed, the victim was
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present at trial and subject to cross-examination, and the jury was able to assess her
credibility. See id.; State v. Ceron, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99388, 2013-Ohio-5241,
¶ 61; Rose, 2012-Ohio-5607, at ¶ 48, citing State v. Cappadonia, 12th Dist. Warren
No. CA2008-11-138, 2010-Ohio-494, ¶ 20.
{¶18} Moreover, Bender’s argument that Stevens’s testimony was
inadmissible hearsay because “Nurse Stevens [sic] primary reason for performing
her specialized exam on [K.W.] was to obtain evidence of a crime” is misplaced.
(Appellant’s Brief at 12). See Wallace at ¶ 19; Rose at ¶ 42. Instead, Bender’s
argument is relevant to whether the victim’s statements were testimonial for
purposes of the Confrontation Clause. See Wallace at ¶ 19; Rose at ¶ 42. However,
because we already concluded that no Confrontation Clause violation occurred in
this case, Bender’s argument is specious.
{¶19} For these reasons, Bender’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
Appellant was deprived of his constitutional rights to due process
and effective assistance of counsel in violation of his Fifth, Sixth
and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution
and Section 10, Article I of the Ohio Constitution, when the trial
court called the victim as a court witness pursuant to Evid.R. 614,
and, further, when appellant’s trial counsel failed to object to the
court calling the victim pursuant to Evid.R. 614.
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{¶20} In his second assignment of error, Bender argues that his trial counsel
was ineffective for failing to object to the trial court designating K.W. as a court’s
witness.
Standard of Review
{¶21} A defendant asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must
establish: (1) the counsel’s performance was deficient or unreasonable under the
circumstances; and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. State v.
Kole, 92 Ohio St. 3d 303, 306 (2001), citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
687, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984). In order to show counsel’s conduct was deficient or
unreasonable, the defendant must overcome the presumption that counsel provided
competent representation and must show that counsel’s actions were not trial
strategies prompted by reasonable professional judgment. Strickland at 687.
Counsel is entitled to a strong presumption that all decisions fall within the wide
range of reasonable professional assistance. State v. Sallie, 81 Ohio St. 3d 673, 675
(1998). Tactical or strategic trial decisions, even if unsuccessful, do not generally
constitute ineffective assistance. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St. 3d 545, 558 (1995).
Rather, the errors complained of must amount to a substantial violation of counsel’s
essential duties to his client. See State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d 136, 141-142
(1989), quoting State v. Lytle, 48 Ohio St. 2d 391, 396 (1976), vacated in part on
other grounds, 438 U.S. 910, 98 S. Ct. 3135 (1978).
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{¶22} “Prejudice results when ‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.’” State v. Liles, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-13-04, 2014-Ohio-259, ¶ 48, quoting
Bradley at 142, citing Strickland at 691. “‘A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Id., quoting Bradley at 142
and citing Strickland at 694.
Analysis
{¶23} On appeal, Bender alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to object to the trial court designating K.W. as a court’s witness. Under
Evid.R. 614(A), “[t]he court may, on its own motion or at the suggestion of a party,
call witnesses, and all parties are entitled to cross-examine witnesses thus called.”
The purpose of calling a witness as a court’s witness is to allow for a proper
determination in a case where a witness is reluctant or unwilling to testify, or there
is some indication that the witness’s trial testimony will contradict a prior statement
made to police. State v. Renner, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25514, 2013-Ohio-5463,
¶ 23, citing State v. Curry, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89075, 2007-Ohio-5721, ¶ 18;
State v. Arnold, 189 Ohio App. 3d 507, 2010-Ohio-5379, ¶ 18 (2d Dist.). “The prime
candidate is a victim and an eyewitness who will not otherwise cooperate with the
party originally planning to call him.” Renner at ¶ 23, citing Curry at ¶ 18.
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{¶24} In this case, prior to the start of trial, the State filed a motion requesting
that the trial court call K.W. as its witness under Evid.R. 614(A). In support of its
motion, the State represented to the trial court that since the time that K.W. was
interviewed by law enforcement regarding the June 28-29, 2018 incident, K.W.
“remain[ed] somewhat reluctant to testify due to the nature of th[e] matter and [was]
somewhat difficult to reach.” (Doc. No. 42). The State further represented, “It is
believed that the victim was not supportive of law enforcement becoming involved
in this matter and may be uncooperative regarding her testimony and what she may
or may not recall.” (Id.). At trial, prior to calling K.W. to the stand, the State
(outside the presence of the jury) again requested (and Bender’s trial counsel did
not object) that the trial court call K.W. as its witness. The State argued that it “had
difficulty locating” K.W.; “difficulty communicating with” K.W.; and “issued a
subpoena on the day of the trial that it was scheduled for last time in order to make
sure that she” appeared at trial. (Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 69). Based on this
evidence, it was not error for the trial court to designate K.W. as its witness. See
Renner at ¶ 26; State v. Kiser, 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-03-028, 2005-Ohio-2491,
¶ 13, 16; State v. Marshall, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 01CA007773, 2001 WL 1647706,
*2 (Dec. 26, 2001). Because it was not error for the trial court to designate K.W. as
its witness, Bender’s trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object.
{¶25} Bender’s second assignment of error is overruled.
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Assignment of Error No. III
The evidence adduced at trial is insufficient as a matter of law to
support appellant’s conviction on the charge of rape.
{¶26} In his third assignment of error, Bender argues that his rape conviction
is based on insufficient evidence. In particular, Bender contends that his rape
conviction is based on insufficient evidence because the State presented insufficient
evidence that he compelled K.W. to engage in sexual conduct by force or threat of
force.
Standard of Review
{¶27} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at
trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average
mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio
St.3d 259 (1981), paragraph two of the syllabus, superseded by state constitutional
amendment on other grounds, State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St. 3d 89 (1997). Accordingly,
“[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. “In deciding if the
evidence was sufficient, we neither resolve evidentiary conflicts nor assess the
credibility of witnesses, as both are functions reserved for the trier of fact.” State v.
Jones, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-120570 and C-120571, 2013-Ohio-4775, ¶ 33,
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citing State v. Williams, 197 Ohio App. 3d 505, 2011-Ohio-6267, ¶ 25 (1st Dist.).
See also State v. Berry, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03, 2013-Ohio-2380, ¶ 19
(“Sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy rather than credibility or weight
of the evidence.”), citing Thompkins at 386.
Analysis
{¶28} R.C. 2907.02 sets forth the offense of rape and provides, in relevant
part: “No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the offender
purposely compels the other person to submit by force or threat of force.” R.C.
2907.02(A)(2). Bender does not dispute that he engaged in sexual conduct with
K.W.; rather, he argues that the State presented insufficient evidence that he
purposely compelled K.W. to engage in that sexual conduct by force or threat of
force. As a result, we need only address those elements of forcible rape: (1) whether
Bender purposely compelled K.W. to engage in sexual conduct, and (2) whether
Bender did so by force or threat of force. See State v. Stevens, 3d Dist. Allen No.
1-14-58, 2016-Ohio-446, ¶ 14.
{¶29} In addressing the force-or-threat-of-force language under the rape
statute, the Supreme Court of Ohio clarified that “[a] defendant purposely compels
another to submit to sexual conduct by force or threat of force if the defendant uses
physical force against that person, or creates the belief that physical force will be
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used if the victim does not submit.” State v. Schaim, 65 Ohio St. 3d 51 (1992),
paragraph one of the syllabus.
A person acts purposely when it is the person’s specific intention to
cause a certain result, or, when the gist of the offense is a prohibition
against conduct of a certain nature, regardless of what the offender
intends to accomplish thereby, it is the offender’s specific intention to
engage in conduct of that nature.
R.C. 2901.22(A). “Force” is defined as “any violence, compulsion, or constraint
physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.” R.C.
2901.01(A)(1). A victim “need not prove physical resistance to the offender” in
order to demonstrate force. R.C. 2907.05(D).
{¶30} In rape cases in which the victim is not a child, the State “must prove
force or threat of force either through direct evidence of such or by inference where
the defendant overcame the victim’s will by fear and duress.” State v. Rupp, 7th
Dist. Mahoning No. 05 MA 166, 2007-Ohio-1561, ¶ 33. See also Stevens at ¶ 20
(“‘[T]he key inquiry for determining whether the State presented sufficient evidence
on the element of force is whether the “victim’s will was overcome by fear or
duress.”’”), quoting State v. Wine, 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2-12-01, 2012-Ohio-2837,
¶ 40, quoting In re Forbess, 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2-09-20, 2010-Ohio-2826, ¶ 40,
citing State v. Heft, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-09-08, 2009-Ohio-5908, ¶ 88, citing State
v. Eskridge, 38 Ohio St. 3d 56, 58-59 (1988). “[I]f the defendant created the belief
that physical force will be used in the absence of submission, then threat of force
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can be inferred”—that is, a “threat of force includes both explicit and implicit
threats” because “[n]othing in the rape statute requires the threat of force to be direct
or express.” Rupp at ¶ 33. See also Schaim at paragraph one of the syllabus (“The
“force or threat of force” element “can be inferred from the circumstances
surrounding sexual conduct.”); State v. Worrell, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 04AP-410,
2005-Ohio-1521, ¶ 43 (“Thus, ‘[a] defendant purposely compels another to submit
to sexual conduct by force or threat of force’ by creating ‘the belief that physical
force will be used if the victim does not submit’ to the defendant’s actions.”), rev’d
in part on other grounds, sub nom. In re Ohio Criminal Sentencing Statutes Cases,
109 Ohio St. 3d 313, 2006-Ohio-2109, quoting Schaim at paragraph one of the
syllabus. “In order for a defendant to overcome his victim’s will by fear or duress,
the defendant would have had to engage in sufficient behavior toward the victim.
This behavior is objective and its effect is viewed in light of the totality of facts and
circumstances existing at the time of the alleged rape.” Rupp at ¶ 41. See also
Stevens at ¶ 21 (“‘[T]he amount of force [necessary to prove forcible rape under
R.C. 2907.02(A)(2)] must be examined in light of the circumstances.’”), quoting
State v. Runyons, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-91-30, 1992 WL 136196, *2 (June 9, 1992).
{¶31} On appeal, Bender contends that the State presented insufficient
evidence that he purposely compelled K.W. to submit to the sexual conduct by force
or threat of force because K.W.’s testimony that she “thought that her having sex
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with [Bender] might calm him down and stop him from hitting her” “shows that she
did this knowingly and consensually.” (Appellant’s Brief at 24). Specifically,
Bender contends that there is insufficient evidence of the force-or-threat-of-force
element based on K.W.’s testimony because her testimony reveals that “[s]he may
not have wanted to have sex with [Bender], and her reasons for doing so may have
been far from romantic, but the sex was not forced upon her.” (Id.).
In fact, the statement Nurse Stevens said [K.W.] made to her, that
having sex with [Bender] ‘usually’ makes things better and makes
[Bender] leave her alone, shows that this sort of sexual behavior
between [Bender] and [K.W.] is not unique to the events of June 28-
29, but appears to be a normal part of their non-traditional
relationship.
(Id.).
{¶32} Bender’s argument is misplaced. See Worrell at ¶ 45 (concluding that
the victim’s “failure to physically resist does not negate the forcible element of the
rapes”), citing State v. Hurst, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 98AP-1549, 2000 WL 249110,
*4 (Mar. 7, 2000); Rupp at ¶ 42 (noting that “a victim need not risk physical damage
or even death to later prove that she was raped”). K.W.’s testimony does not negate
the forcible element of rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(2); rather, K.W.’s testimony is
sufficient evidence that Bender overcame her will by fear and duress. See State v.
Thomas, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-17-1266, 2019-Ohio-1916, ¶ 28 (“This testimony
was relevant, because it provided context for the rape and tended to explain R.I.’s
lack of resistance by demonstrating Thomas’s use of physical abuse, past and
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present, to force her compliance.”). Indeed, that Bender concedes that K.W. “may
not have wanted to have sex with” him is illustrative of the implicit threat to compel
K.W. to engage in sexual conduct.
{¶33} At trial, K.W. testified that (at the time of the incident) she was in a
romantic relationship with Bender and the two were living together. (Apr. 23, 2019
Tr., Vol. I, at 74-75). K.W. testified that (during the evening of June 28, 2018), she
and Bender began arguing after Bender discovered that she was moving her things
out of the residence that she shared with him. (Id. at 82). The State presented
evidence that the argument progressed into a physical altercation during which
Bender “tied [her] up down in the basement” by placing “ropes” “around [her] neck
and arms and legs,” then by binding her hands and her feet with “ratchet straps” and
suspending her from the rafters. (Id. at 84-85); (Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 128);
(State’s Ex. 4). Then, Bender “continued hitting” her with “[h]is fist”; “a piece of
wood”; “a pole”; a slingshot; a pan; and a gun. (Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 85-86);
(Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 130); (State’s Ex. 4). “Bender had [her] sit there on all
fours kicking [her] and then he used a back whip. It’s a leather strap with heavy
objects on it. Leather strap with rebar and a ball bearing on it.” (Apr. 23, 2019 Tr.,
Vol. I, at 130-131); (State’s Ex. 4). K.W. “had to sit there on [her] hands and knees
when he put the knife * * * in her vagina.” (Id. at 131); (Id.). Stevens also testified
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that K.W. reported to her that Bender bit her arm. (Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at
127); (State’s Ex. 4).
{¶34} According to Stevens, K.W. reported that Bender would not permit
her to eat or sleep because “that is part of the game, too.” (Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol.
I, at 132); (State’s Ex. 4). The State also presented evidence that (at some point
during the assault), K.W. was naked and that Bender would not return K.W.’s
clothes to her. (Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 130); (State’s Ex. 4). Moreover, K.W.
testified that Bender forced her to cut off her hair, then he used “clipper things” to
make it shorter. (Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 89-90). (See also Apr. 23, 2019 Tr.,
Vol. I, at 131); (State’s Ex. 4). K.W. further testified that she was screaming during
the assault but Bender put “rags and bandanas” in her mouth to muffle her screams.
(Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 131). (See also Apr. 23, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 129);
(State’s Ex. 4). According to K.W., Bender hit and kicked her over her entire body
and that the altercation lasted “until the next morning.” (Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I,
at 86, 89). Importantly, K.W. testified that she was “scared” of Bender during the
June 28-29, 2018 incident. (Id. at 127).
{¶35} Mindful of her fear, K.W. testified that she engaged in sexual conduct
(“more than once”) with Bender during the assault “because [she] thought it would
calm him down.” (Id. at 88). K.W. reported to Stevens that “[u]sually [engaging in
sexual conduct with Bender] makes things better and he leaves [her] alone for a little
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bit when [she] do[es] it,” but that “[i]t turned worse” in this instance. (Apr. 23, 2019
Tr., Vol. I, at 131); (State’s Ex. 4). K.W. testified that she eventually escaped by
running and hiding from Bender, then having a neighbor take her to Burger King
for help. (Apr. 22, 2019 Tr., Vol. I, at 93-94). According to K.W., she requested
that her friend take her to a hospital in another county because she was afraid that
Bender would find her at the local hospital. (Id. at 95).
{¶36} Based on the totality of the circumstances of this case, a rational trier
of fact could infer that K.W.’s state of fear or duress during a prolonged period of
torture was such that she was compelled to submit to the sexual conduct to end the
torture. See Thomas, 2019-Ohio-1916, at ¶ 27 (concluding that the victim’s
testimony “regarding past incidents of physical abuse” and that she engaged in
sexual conduct with Thomas because “she wanted the abuse to end and for Thomas
to leave” was relevant to whether Thomas purposely compelled the victim to engage
in sexual conduct by force or threat of force). See also State v. Rucker, 1st Dist.
Hamilton No. C-110082, 2012-Ohio-185, ¶ 17 (concluding that evidence that
Rucker struck the victim with belts—even if the beatings occurred at times other
than the sexual assaults—was relevant to whether the victim’s will had been
overcome by fear or duress); Hurst, 2000 WL 249110, at *4 (Mar. 7, 2000) (noting
that the absence of physical resistance “highlights the frightful experiences and
threat of force present during the sexual encounter”). Accordingly, a rational trier
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of fact could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Bender engaged in conduct
which would overcome K.W.’s will by fear or duress and, therefore, that Bender
purposely compelled K.W. to engage in sexual conduct by force or threat of force.
Consequently, Bender’s rape conviction is based on sufficient evidence, and his
third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶37} 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
SHAW, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.
/jlr
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