State v. Ryan , 116 N.E.3d 170 ( 2018 )

[Cite as State v. Ryan, 2018-Ohio-4739.]
COURT OF APPEALS
DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO JUDGES:
Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J
Plaintiff – Appellee Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-
Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011
DAVID T. RYAN
Defendant – Appellant O P I N IO N
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Appeal from the Delaware County Court
of Common Pleas, Case No. 17 CR I 02
0052
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 26, 2018
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
CAROL HAMILTON O’BRIEN DONALD GALLICK
Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney 190 North Union Street – #102
Akron, Ohio 44304
DOUGLAS N. DUMOLT
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
140 N. Sandusky Street, 3rd Floor
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 2
Hoffman, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant David T. Ryan appeals the judgment entered by the Delaware
County Common Pleas Court convicting him of forty-four counts of pandering obscenity
involving a minor (R.C. 2907.321(A)(1)) and thirty-six counts of pandering sexually
oriented material involving a minor (R.C. 2907.322(A)(1)), and sentencing him to an
aggregate term of incarceration of four years. Appellee is the state of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On April 26, 2016, an email with attachments was sent from an email
address associated with Appellant to the same email address. America Online (AOL)
flagged the email because the attachments potentially contained child pornography. AOL
forwarded the email to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
{¶3} Upon reviewing the email and attachments, NCMEC forwarded the email to
Sergeant Jeff Zech, commander of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) taskforce. Sgt. Zech opened the file to verify it met the definition of child
pornography. Upon so determining, he forwarded the information to Delaware County,
where Appellant resided.
{¶4} Det. Jason Campbell of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department
searched online databases and determined Appellant lived alone. He performed physical
surveillance of Appellant’s residence for several days, for six to eight hours at a time. He
noted no persons leaving or entering the residence, and determined Appellant was the
only person residing there. He checked from his phone or i-pad for unsecured wifi
networks accessible from Appellant’s residence, and found none.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 3
{¶5} Upon determining Appellant was the sole resident at the address and his
wifi network was secured, Det. Campbell drafted a search warrant. Police seized
numerous items from Appellant’s residence pursuant to the warrant. On a computer and
an external hard drive in his home office, they found numerous videos and images of child
pornography. Several of the images were located in a user-created file labeled “Doves”
which was present on the desktop of the Mac computer recovered from Appellant’s home
office. Additional files containing child pornography were located in the “pictures” file on
the computer. Analysis of the computer further revealed Google searches physically
typed into the computer on numerous dates, including “underage teen porn,” “kiddy teen
anal,” “forced innocent teen sex,” “young teen raped,” and “preschool girls in thongs.” Tr.
333-338. A drawer in the desk where the computer was located contained a butt plug, a
twisted dildo, “boy butter,” and panties. Pieces of Appellant’s mail were also found on the
desk, and the photos on the computer included one of Appellant seated at the desk using
the computer.
{¶6} Appellant’s cell phone was seized from his person. The phone was linked
to the email address associated with the file flagged by AOL. Further, a search of the
device revealed on the date police executed the search warrant on Appellant’s residence,
he was searching online for the definition of pandering and for information on how to
delete past searches and other internet activity.
{¶7} On February 1, 2017, the Delaware County Grand Jury returned an 82-
count indictment charging Appellant with pandering obscenity involving a minor and
pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. Prior to trial, Appellant’s motion
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 4
to suppress was overruled, and the State’s motion in limine to exclude the testimony of
Appellant’s expert was granted.
{¶8} The case proceeded to jury trial. At the beginning of the second day of trial,
the parties stipulated the photographs and videos in counts one through eighty satisfied
the content requirement of the statute in question and would constitute a violation of said
statute.
{¶9} Appellant testified at trial he was rarely home. He testified he had an alarm
system but rarely armed it, and many people have the password to disarm it. He further
testified he has a spare key hidden outside, and many people know where the key is. He
allowed people to access the house when he was not home to do work on the house, to
watch his dogs, and to feed his fish. He testified a registered sex offender who lived in
his neighborhood had access to the house when Appellant was not home, and he
believed this person was responsible for the items found on the computer.
{¶10} The state dismissed counts 81 and 82, and the remaining 80 counts were
submitted to the jury. Appellant was convicted of all counts and sentenced to four years
incarceration on each count, to be served concurrently.
{¶11} It is from the December 29, 2017 judgment of conviction and sentence
Appellant prosecutes his appeal, assigning as error:
“I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S
MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE AS THE TRIAL COURT
ERRONEOUSLY FOUND THAT THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF
PRIVACY WHEN USING A PRIVATE COMPANY FOR EMAIL
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 5
COMMUNICATION AND THAT A PRIVATE COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO
FORWARD EMAIL CONTENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT A
WARRANT.
“II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION
BY BARRING APPELLANT’S EXPERT WITNESS FROM TESTIFYING AT
A TRIAL.
“III. APPELLANT WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONS OF OHIO AND THE UNITED STATES AS
HIS TRIAL COUNSEL COMMITTED MULTIPLE ERRORS DEPRIVING
APPELLANT OF EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
“IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING THE CRIMINAL
RULE 29 MOTION AS TO ALL COUNTS, AND ADDITIONALLY AS TO
COUNT EIGHTY, AS THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AS TO
APPELLANT KNOWINGLY POSSESSING CONTRABAND.
“V. THE CONVICTIONS ARE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT
OF THE EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE RECORD DOES NOT PROVE
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT APPELLANT KNOWINGLY
POSSESSED ILLEGAL IMAGES.
“VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ADDRESSING
DEFENDANT’S ARGUMENT THAT THE COUNTS SHOULD MERGE
INTO 15 CONVICTIONS AS ALLIED OFFENSES OF SIMILAR IMPORT.”
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 6
I.
{¶12} Appellant argues the court erred in overruling his motion to suppress
evidence taken from his home pursuant to the search warrant. He argues AOL, as a
mandatory reporter of child pornography pursuant to federal law, is a state actor and could
not review his emails without a search warrant. He further argues even if AOL is a private
actor, the subsequent review of the email attachments by NCMEC and police exceeded
the scope of the AOL search, as they reviewed more photographs than AOL.
{¶13} There are three methods of challenging on appeal a trial court's ruling on a
motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact. In
reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said
findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio
St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App.3d 486, 597 N.E.2d
1141(1991); State v. Guysinger, 86 Ohio App.3d 592, 621 N.E.2d 726(1993). Second, an
appellant may argue the trial court failed to apply the appropriate test or correct law to the
findings of fact. In that case, an appellate court can reverse the trial court for committing
an error of law. State v. Williams, 86 Ohio App.3d 37, 619 N.E.2d 1141 (1993). Finally,
assuming the trial court's findings of fact are not against the manifest weight of the
evidence and it has properly identified the law to be applied, an appellant may argue the
trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate or final issue raised in the motion to
suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an appellate court must independently
determine, without deference to the trial court's conclusion, whether the facts meet the
appropriate legal standard in any given case. State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App.3d 93, 641
N.E.2d 1172 (1994); State v. Claytor, 85 Ohio App.3d 623, 620 N.E.2d 906 (1993);
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 7
Guysinger, supra. As the United States Supreme Court held in Ornelas v. U.S., 517 U.S.
690, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 1663, 134 L.Ed.2d 911 (1996), “... as a general matter
determinations of reasonable suspicion and probable cause should be reviewed de novo
on appeal.”
{¶14} When ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier
of fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate the credibility
of witnesses. See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308, 314, 1995–Ohio–243, 652 N.E.2d
988; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982).
{¶15} When a motion to suppress attacks the validity of a search conducted under
a warrant, the burden of proof is on the defendant to establish the evidence obtained
pursuant to the warrant should be suppressed. State v. Dennis, 79 Ohio St.3d 421, 426,
683 N.E.2d 1096 (1997).
{¶16} Appellant argues because AOL has mandatory reporting requirements
imposed by federal law, we should find the company to be a state actor, required to obtain
a search warrant before opening attachments to Appellant’s email. Federal courts have
uniformly rejected this argument as to private internet service providers. See, e.g., U.S.
v. Stratton, 229 F. Supp. 3d 1230, 1237 (D. Kan. 2017) (Sony was not an agent of the
government when it complied with federal law in reporting suspected child pornography
to NCMEC which was transmitted over its Playstation network); U.S. v. Miller, No. CV 16-
47-DLB-CJS, 2017 WL 2705963 (E.D. Ky. 2017) (Google is not a government agent in
identifying and forwarding suspected child pornography to NCMEC); U.S. v. Wilson, No.
3:15-CR-02838-GPC, 2017 WL 2733879 (Google’s extensive screening process
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 8
constituted a private search of email account); U.S. v. Reddick, No. 17-41116, 2018 WL
3949510(5th Cir. 2018) (Microsoft Skydrive’s PhotoDNA search is a private search).
{¶17} We agree with the trial court the search of Appellant’s email was a private
search. As a private search, the Fourth Amendment is not implicated unless the scope
of the subsequent search by the state actors exceeded AOL’s search:
The Fourth Amendment’s proscriptions on searches and seizures
are inapplicable to private action. United States v. Tosti, 733 F.3d 816, 821
(9th Cir. 2013) (citing United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 113–14
(1984)). “Once frustration of the original expectation of privacy occurs, the
Fourth Amendment does not prohibit governmental use of the now-
nonprivate information.” Id. (quoting Jacobsen, 466 U.S. at 117). Rather,
the Fourth Amendment “is implicated only if the authorities use information
with respect to which the expectation of privacy has not already been
frustrated.” Id. (quoting Jacobsen, 466 U.S. at 117). Accordingly, any
“additional invasions of ... privacy by the government agent must be tested
by the degree to which they exceed[ ] the scope of the private search.” Id.(quoting Jacobsen, 466 U.S. at 115).
{¶18} Wilson, supra, *8.
{¶19} Appellant argues in the instant case, the government search exceeded
AOL’s private search because AOL opened only one of the photo attachments to the
email, while NCMEC and Sgt. Zech opened all of the attachments.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 9
{¶20} As noted earlier, the burden of proof was on Appellant to establish the
evidence obtained pursuant to the warrant should be suppressed. Appellant did not
establish AOL opened only one of the attachments to the email. The Cyber Tipline Report
provided by NCMEC answers the question, “Was File Reviewed by Company?” in the
affirmative. Sgt. Zech testified at the suppression hearing, “It looks to – from reviewing
the items, it primarily looks like one image in particular was flagged.” Supp. Tr. 27-28.
The fact AOL flagged one particular image does not demonstrate AOL did not open the
remaining attachments to the same email.
{¶21} Further, the search warrant affidavit states in pertinent part:
2. This tip was submitted to NCMEC by AOL, Inc, in which email
account dtrryan@aol.com sent an image known to contain child
pornography to the same email account. The file was identified as
“p6069744.jpeg” and depicts a prepubescent female with her underwear
pulled down leaning over on a bed with her vagina and buttocks exposed.
3. AOL, Inc. did report this email address being registered to David
T. Ryan.
4. Additional images sent by the same dtrryan@aol.com email
address contains similar images with other prepubescent females in various
stages of nude and undress. The IP address used to send the images was
reported as 24.192.72.135.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 10
{¶22} The photograph described in paragraph 2 is the photograph flagged by AOL
in its tip to NCMEC, and by itself provides sufficient probable cause on which to issue the
search warrant. Although additional images are referred to in paragraph 4, we find the
trial court did not err in finding the one photograph provided the probable cause necessary
for the search warrant.
{¶23} In any event, we find the officers clearly acted in good faith in relying on the
warrant, and therefore the exclusionary rule does not apply. U.S. v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897,
917, 104 S.Ct. 3405, 82 L.Ed. 2d 677 (1984). It is clear from the cyber tip AOL reviewed
and described at least one image attached to the email. The description of the image,
set forth above, was sufficient probable cause on which the warrant could issue. Even
striking any reference of the other images from the affidavit, there was probable cause
for the issuance of the search warrant, and police relied on the warrant in good faith.
{¶24} We find the trial court did not err in overruling Appellant’s motion to
suppress.
{¶25} The first assignment of error is overruled.
II.
{¶26} In his second assignment of error, Appellant argues the court abused its
discretion in granting Appellee’s motion in limine to prevent his expert, Keith Singleton,
from testifying. We disagree.
{¶27} Prior to trial, Appellant provided the state a one-page report of the expert,
stating the expert was expected to testify his opinion was the information provided during
discovery fails to conclude Appellant’s IP address was verifiable as the point of origin for
the basis of the warrant, the history related to browser activity may not conclusively point
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 11
to Appellant, the log file entries do not conclusively show event activity on Appellant’s
email account, the investigation did not go far enough, the computer and data were not
carefully investigated, and Appellant’s computer was not scanned for a virus or malware.
Appellee filed a motion in limine to exclude his testimony.
{¶28} The court held a hearing at which the expert witness testified. Mr. Singleton
testified he formed his opinion solely from the summaries provided by Appellee in
discovery, as examining the source material itself would have been too time consuming.
The court granted the motion in limine, finding the witness failed to perform his own testing
in the case and did not avail himself of the opportunity to examine the underlying data.
Further, the witness admitted he had not used law enforcement software for eighteen
years.
{¶29} Appellant did not attempt to call the witness at trial, nor did he proffer his
testimony. The grant or denial of a motion in limine does not, in and of itself, preserve
error for purposes of appeal. State v. Hall, 57 Ohio App.3d 144, 145 (1989). If a trial court
grants a motion in limine, the party dissatisfied with that ruling is nevertheless required to
attempt to introduce the challenged evidence at trial in order to preserve any error for
review. This is because a trial court's ruling on a motion in limine does not actually
determine whether the evidence is admissible. Id. at 145-6. Rather, a ruling in limine
prevents a party from injecting improper evidence into the proceedings until the court is
able to decide, in the context of the other evidence at trial, whether the evidence indeed
is admissible. Id. at 146.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 12
{¶30} Because Appellant failed to preserve the error on appeal, we must find plain
error in order to reverse. The Ohio Supreme Court has recently clarified the standard of
review for plain error:
Crim.R. 52(B) affords appellate courts discretion to correct “[p]lain
errors or defects affecting substantial rights” notwithstanding an accused's
failure to meet his obligation to bring those errors to the attention of the trial
court. However, the accused bears the burden to demonstrate plain error
on the record, State v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014–Ohio–4034,
19 N.E.3d 900, ¶ 16, and must show “an error, i.e., a deviation from a legal
rule” that constitutes “an ‘obvious' defect in the trial proceedings,” State v.
Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002).
Even if the error is obvious, it must have affected substantial rights,
and “[w]e have interpreted this aspect of the rule to mean that the trial
court's error must have affected the outcome of the trial.” Id. We recently
clarified in State v. Rogers, 143 Ohio St.3d 385, 2015–Ohio–2459, 38
N.E.3d 860, that the accused is “required to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the error resulted in prejudice—the same deferential
standard for reviewing ineffective assistance of counsel claims.” (Emphasis
sic.) Id. at ¶ 22, citing United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74,
81–83, 124 S.Ct. 2333, 159 L.Ed.2d 157 (2004).
If the accused shows that the trial court committed plain error
affecting the outcome of the proceeding, an appellate court is not required
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 13
to correct it; we have “admonish[ed] courts to notice plain error ‘with the
utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent a
manifest miscarriage of justice.’ ” (Emphasis added.) Barnes at 27, 759
N.E.2d 1240, quoting State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804(1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶31} State v. Thomas, 152 Ohio St.3d 15, 92 N.E.3d 821, 2017–Ohio–8011, ¶¶
32–34.
{¶32} We find Appellant has not demonstrated a reasonable probability of a
change in the outcome of the trial had the witness testified. His testimony and report
were based solely on the summaries provided in discovery; he had not examined the data
or equipment himself. Further, his report is vague, pointing only generally to potential
problems in the investigation, rather than to specific problems with the analysis of the
data.
{¶33} Further, Appellant was able to cross-examine the State’s witnesses
concerning these potential shortcomings in the investigation as set forth in Singleton’s
report. Mark Ludlow, the operations analyst from AOL who flagged the original email
image, testified on cross-examination he could not affirmatively identify Appellant as the
person who was logged into his account when the email was sent, and could not confirm
the email originated from Appellant’s home address. Tyler Zvolanek, from WOW Internet
Cable and Phone, testified on cross-examination he could not testify to whether there was
a secure router in Appellant’s home. Sgt. Zech admitted on cross-examination he did not
examine the router or the modem.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 14
{¶34} Appellant presented evidence of possible other suspects who had access
to the home, including a registered sex offender who lived in the neighborhood. He
testified other people had access to his email address. He testified the computer was not
password protected. Further, the IP addresses in the WOW records and AOL email were
both in evidence for the jury to draw its own conclusion concerning the match.
{¶35} Appellant addressed most of the vague concerns set forth in Singleton’s
report by cross-examination and his own testimony at trial, yet the jury found Appellant
guilty on all counts. In the absence of any specific testimony by Singleton to point to
specific errors in the analysis of the computer data which would tend to exculpate
Appellant, we find the court did not commit plain error in granting Appellee’s motion in
limine to exclude the testimony of Singleton.
{¶36} The second assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶37} In his third assignment of error, Appellant argues his trial counsel was
ineffective.
{¶38} A properly licensed attorney is presumed competent. State v. Hamblin, 37
Ohio St.3d 153, 524 N.E.2d 476 (1988). Therefore, in order to prevail on a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must show counsel's performance fell below
an objective standard of reasonable representation and but for counsel’s error, the result
of the proceedings would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674(1984); State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d
373 (1989). In other words, appellant must show counsel’s conduct so undermined the
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 15
proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied upon as having
produced a just result. Id.{¶39} Appellant first argues counsel was ineffective for failing to file a notice of
alibi pursuant to Crim. R. 12.1. However, he does not explain who his alibi witness would
be, and the record does not demonstrate he had an alibi witness which counsel failed to
identify. While Appellant testified he was rarely home, he did not pinpoint where he was
on the dates and times the files in question were created. Further, the files were created
at all times of the day and night, and on fifteen different days, over a period of years
making an alibi defense difficult to present. We find counsel was not ineffective for failing
to file a notice of alibi concerning an unidentified alibi witness or witnesses.
{¶40} Appellant also argues counsel was ineffective for failing to compel discovery
to allow Mr. Singleton, the expert witness discussed in assignment of error two, to
personally examine the evidence rather than the summaries provided in discovery. He
argues counsel should have taken steps to ensure Mr. Singleton had access to the actual
evidence, and then requested a second voir dire of the witness. He further argues Mr.
Singleton prepared a second report stating Appellant’s email was used 23 hours a day,
suggesting someone else had access to the account, which counsel made no attempt to
use at trial.
{¶41} The record of the motion in limine hearing demonstrates the actual data was
available for Mr. Singleton to review through the prosecutor’s office. However, he testified
he did not have time to examine the data himself. 8/22/17 Tr. 49, 54. Singleton stated
he would love to do a full investigation but there was no time. Therefore, the record does
not demonstrate a motion to compel and a second hearing would have resulted in the
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 16
court allowing the witness to testify, as the witness had access to the information, but
chose not to do a full investigation due to time restraints. Further, Appellant testified at
trial other people had access to his email account, rendering the expert’s opinion
someone else may have had access to the account cumulative; therefore of limited value.
As discussed in the second assignment of error, Appellant has not demonstrated a
reasonable probability of a change in the outcome had the witness been permitted to
testify.
{¶42} Appellant next argues counsel was ineffective for failing to request a bill of
particulars because of the broad range of dates set forth in the indictment, which impaired
his ability to present an alibi defense. The indictment in the instant case sets forth a date
range for each file starting with the date it was created and ending on the date the
computer or hard drive was seized. Further, each count specifies which file located on
the computer or hard drive is associated with that count. The State filed a discovery
certification on February 16, 2017. Counsel for Appellant referred to the dates “stated in
discovery” during a discussion of amending certain charges, suggesting he received
information regarding the dates associated with each count in discovery. Tr. 12. Nothing
in the trial transcript suggests counsel for Appellant was surprised by the evidence the
State presented concerning file creation dates and times. Appellant has not
demonstrated a reasonable probability of a change in the outcome had counsel requested
a bill of particulars.
{¶43} Appellant next argues counsel was ineffective for failing to subpoena a
registered sex offender who lived in Appellant’s neighborhood and had access to
Appellant’s house. The record does not demonstrate what this witness would testify to if
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 17
called. Appellant offered testimony the registered sex offender lived near his residence
and had full access to the home, thus creating a suggestion he was the person who
downloaded the pornographic material on Appellant’s devices without actually calling the
witness, who likely would have denied doing so on the witness stand. We find no
ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to subpoena this witness under the second
prong of the Strickland test.
{¶44} Finally, Appellant argues the cumulative effect of counsel’s errors resulted
in prejudice. In that we have found no basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
upon review of each of Appellant's assertions, there can be no cumulative effect. State v.
Thorne, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2003CA00388, 2004-Ohio-7055, ¶ 73.
{¶45} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.
IV., V.
{¶46} In his fourth and fifth assignments of error, Appellant argues the judgment
is not supported by sufficient evidence and is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
He argues the State presented no evidence on Count 80. He argues there is insufficient
evidence as to counts one through eighty to demonstrate he knowingly possessed the
contraband, and further the judgment finding he knowingly possessed the material on his
computer and external hard drive is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶47} An appellate court's function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence
is to determine whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
proven beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492,
paragraph two of the syllabus (1991).
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 18
{¶48} In determining whether a verdict is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, the appellate court acts as a thirteenth juror and “in reviewing the entire record,
weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses,
and determines whether in resolving conflicts in evidence the jury ‘clearly lost its way and
created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and
a new trial ordered.’” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 1997-Ohio-52, 678
N.E.2d 541, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1983).
{¶49} Appellant was convicted of forty-four counts of pandering obscenity
involving a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.321(A)(1):
(A) No person, with knowledge of the character of the material or
performance involved, shall do any of the following:
(1) Create, reproduce, or publish any obscene material that has a
minor as one of its participants or portrayed observers[.]
{¶50} He was further convicted of thirty-six counts of pandering sexually oriented
material involving a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(1):
(A) No person, with knowledge of the character of the material or
performance involved, shall do any of the following:
(1) Create, record, photograph, film, develop, reproduce, or publish
any material that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity,
masturbation, or bestiality[.]
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 19
{¶51} As to counts one through eighty, the parties entered a written stipulation the
materials met the definition of prohibited materials set forth in the statute. The only
dispute was whether Appellant knowingly created the files containing the prohibited
material.
{¶52} As to Count 80, Appellant argues there was no testimony supporting this
count. While Sgt. Zech testified in detail to the material charged in most counts of the
indictment, he did not testify specifically as to Count 80. However, Count 80 of the
indictment charges Appellant with pandering obscenity relating to a file titled
Concubina_105.jpeg. This file is located in State’s Exhibit 1, a flash drive admitted into
evidence at trial, containing the email which triggered the instant investigation. Mark
Ludlow, the operations analyst at AOL who flagged the email and authenticated the
exhibit, testified he reviewed each of the attachments to this email before he forwarded
the email and attachments to NCMEC. He testified each of the attached images, which
would include the file charged in Count 80, contained images of child sexual exploitation.
Agent Amanda Saxton of ICAC testified she reviewed the images contained in the email
to confirm it contained child pornography prior to commencing the criminal investigation.
Further, the parties stipulated the material in Count 80 violated R.C. 2907.321(A)(1). We
find there was sufficient evidence presented by the State to support the conviction on
Count 80.
{¶53} As to the remaining counts, Appellant argues he did not download the files
with knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved. He argues the
State did not present sufficient evidence he was the person who downloaded the material.
Although Appellant couches his argument in terms of the mens rea of “knowingly,” he is
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 20
actually arguing failure to prove identity; i.e., the State failed to prove he was the person
who downloaded and possessed the material found on his computer and hard drive.
{¶54} The State presented evidence all of the material was found downloaded on
the computer in Appellant’s home, or on the external hard drive in his home. Nine of the
images had been emailed from Appellant’s email address to his email address. Det.
Jason Campbell of the Delaware Sheriff’s Department conducted surveillance on the
home for several days, and did not see anyone entering or leaving the residence. He
further checked for an unsecure wifi connection, and did not find one. He testified in a
drawer of the desk where the computer was located in Appellant’s home, police found
“boy butter,” a butt plug, a twisted dildo, and girls’ panties, and a photo of the contents of
the drawer was admitted into evidence. Further, he testified all of the mail found on the
desk was addressed to Appellant.
{¶55} Sgt. Jeff Zech testified the circumstantial evidence in the case points to
Appellant as the perpetrator. The “Doves” file attached to the email flagged by AOL was
also located on the desktop of the computer, where it could be seen upon starting the
computer, and the images were backed up to the external hard drive. The material was
downloaded over a period of years, not in a single incident. Files existed on the computer
for six months to a year before the computer was seized. One of the photographs found
in the computer was a picture of Appellant sitting at the desk, using the computer. A
search of Appellant’s phone seized from his person demonstrated at the time police were
executing the search warrant on his residence, Appellant was searching the definition of
“pandering” online, and later the same day he searched for information on how to delete
past searches and other internet activity.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 21
{¶56} We find the evidence presented by the State was sufficient, if believed by
the jury, to find Appellant was the perpetrator of the crimes charged.
{¶57} Appellant further argues the judgment is against the manifest weight of the
evidence because there is reasonable doubt as to who accessed Appellant’s computer,
there is a possibility the router was used by remote, and there is a likelihood the registered
sex offender living in the neighborhood entered the home and committed the crimes.
{¶58} We find the jury did not lose its way in finding Appellant guilty on all counts.
As discussed above, the State presented circumstantial evidence Appellant was the
person who downloaded the files found on his computer and sent the email from and to
his email address with the images attached. Appellant testified he did not put the material
on his computer or send the email with the attached “Doves” file, and he believed the sex
offender living in the neighborhood was responsible. He testified he was rarely home,
and many people had access to his home and computer, including the sex offender living
in the neighborhood. The jury rejected Appellant’s theories as to how the evidence might
have ended up on his computer without his knowledge or participation. We find the jury
did not lose its way, in light of all the evidence presented by the State, in finding his
testimony to not be credible, and the judgment is not therefore against the manifest weight
of the evidence.
{¶59} The fourth and fifth assignments of error are overruled.
VI.
{¶60} In his sixth assignment of error, Appellant argues the court erred in failing
to consider his argument the offenses committed on the same day are allied offenses,
and thus he could be convicted of only fifteen counts, not eighty.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 22
{¶61} The Ohio Supreme Court clarified the test courts should employ when
deciding whether two or more offenses are allied offenses that merge into a single
conviction under R.C. 2941.25 in State v. Ruff, 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015–Ohio–995, 34
N.E.3d 892, ¶ 25, describing its decision in State v. Johnson, 128 Ohio St.3d 153, 2010–
Ohio–6314, 942 N.E.2d 1061 as “incomplete.” Id. at ¶ 16. Johnson directed courts to
focus on the defendant's conduct when evaluating whether offenses are allied. The Ruff
court held when determining whether allied offenses that merge into a single conviction,
the court must first examine the defendant's conduct. Ruff at ¶ 25. Multiple offenses do
not merge if (1) the offenses are dissimilar in import or significance, (2) the offenses were
committed separately, or (3) the offenses were committed with separate animus or
motivation. Id. at syllabus. With respect to the first factor, the court explained two or more
offenses are dissimilar within the meaning of R.C. 2941.25(B) “when the defendant's
conduct constitutes offenses involving separate victims or if the harm that results from
each offense is separate and identifiable.” Id. at syllabus.
{¶62} At the sentencing hearing, counsel for Appellant appeared to argue he could
only be convicted of one crime, because it was possible the pictures and videos were all
downloaded on a single date:
But, Your Honor, I think the merger issue is the most significant here.
That when you have an indictment with such a broad range of dates. We
don’t know, I don’t think, we don’t know how many of these dates
overlapped. I mean, I’m looking at some notes I took regarding the
indictment. Some of them are a year and a half, I know that’s not
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 23
uncommon in these kinds of cases, but do we know that 15 dates of creation
mean that 15 different days these files were downloaded on to Dr. Ryan’s
computer? Again, looking at it in the abstract, just looking at it from the legal
filing, it doesn’t appear obvious to me.
Now, if the Court has notes and says well no, this witness says he
testified beyond a reasonable doubt this image came on this day and this
image case on that day, then perhaps the merger argument would be
defeated, and the holding of State versus Roth (phonetic) wouldn’t apply.
But in the absence of some sort of testimony like that, it’s certainly possible,
and considering – I bring up the rule of lenity, if we can’t say otherwise that
these were all created on all these different days, then I would ask the Court
to consider this as one crime. I know these two statutes, I know you have
a Pandering Sexually Oriented Material and Pandering Obscenity, so you
can certainly say those are different crimes. But are one of them a lessor
[sic] included offense or the other? Perhaps not. But I think the dates of
offenses is crucial to this sentencing hearing. And unless there’s something
in the record that I – obviously I’ve not seen the trial transcript as of yet –
saying these are all on different dates, I would say it’s certainly possible that
whoever downloaded these – I know the jury said it was Dr. Ryan – but that
these crimes occurred on a single date.
{¶63} Sent. Tr. 14-16.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 24
{¶64} Appellant now argues the eighty convictions should merge into fifteen,
based on the dates of the offenses.
{¶65} This Court has previously rejected the argument posited by Appellant,
finding each individual image constitutes a separate offense:
We find the multiple offenses of pandering sexually oriented matter
involving a minor in the case do not merge. We thus join with multiple other
Ohio appellate court districts which have found that “multiple convictions
are allowed for each individual image because a separate animus exists
every time a separate image or file is downloaded and saved.” State v.
Duhamel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102346, 2015–Ohio–3145, ¶ 62, citing
State v. Mannarino, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98727, 2013–Ohio–1795, ¶ 53;
see also, State v. Eal, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP–460, 2012–Ohio–1373,
¶ 93. The selection of each individual video or image is a separate decision.
Id.
{¶66} State v. Starcher, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2015CA00058, 2015-Ohio-5250, ¶ 35.
{¶67} We find the trial court did not err in rejecting Appellant’s argument the
offenses merged, as each count represented an image or video, and a separate animus
exists every time a separate image or file is downloaded or saved.
Delaware County, Case No. 18 CAA 01 0011 25
{¶68} The sixth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶69} The judgment of the Delaware County Common Pleas Court is affirmed.
By: Hoffman, P.J.
Baldwin, J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur