State v. [C.W.]

[Cite as State v. [C.W.], 2018-Ohio-1479.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 15AP-1024
(C.P.C. No. 14CR-6301)
v. :
(REGULAR CALENDAR)
[C.W.], :
Defendant-Appellant. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on April 17, 2018
On brief: Michael DeWine, Attorney General, Katherine
Mullin, and Jocelyn K. Lowe, for appellee.
On brief: Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and
Stephen P. Hardwick, for appellant.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
BROWN, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, C.W., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County
Court of Common Pleas, entered pursuant to a jury verdict, finding him guilty of numerous
counts of rape, gross sexual imposition, and sexual battery. For the reasons which follow,
we affirm.
{¶ 2} On November 7, 2014, appellant was indicted on a 54-count indictment in
Auglaize County, Ohio. The indictment included charges for rape, in violation of R.C.
2907.02(A)(1)(b) and/or (A)(2), gross sexual imposition, in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1)
and/or (A)(4), sexual battery, in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(1) and/or (A)(5), and one
count of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, in violation of R.C.
No. 15AP-1024 2
2907.322(A)(1) and/or (A)(3). Several of the counts included sexually violent predator
specifications pursuant to R.C. 2941.148.
{¶ 3} Although the events giving rise to the indictment occurred in Auglaize
County, the Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas concluded that a fair and impartial
trial could not be held in that court. As such, the court ordered that venue be transferred to
Franklin County. A jury trial on the charges commenced October 6, 2015.
{¶ 4} The sole victim of the charges was appellant's stepson, N.F. Appellant
married N.F.'s mother, L.A., when N.F. was three or four years old. At that time, appellant
and L.A. filed for and received custody of N.F. from his biological father. Appellant and L.A.
had a child, C.A.W. who was four and one-half years younger than N.F. The family lived in
the country near Wapakoneta, Ohio.
{¶ 5} L.A. worked days as a school teacher, and appellant worked second or third
shifts at a factory. As such, appellant would care for N.F. during the day when N.F. was a
child. N.F. testified that, even during his early childhood, appellant "always acted like he
didn't want [N.F.] there." (Tr. Vol. II at 21.) N.F. recalled being four years old and asking
for some shampoo while taking a shower, and appellant walking in and "smack[ing] [N.F.]
over the head." (Tr. Vol. II at 16.) When N.F. started kindergarten, he would become
"physically sick to [his] stomach knowing [he] was going home" to appellant. (Tr. Vol. II at
23.) N.F. would frequently vomit or urinate himself when he was around appellant. When
N.F. vomited or urinated himself, appellant would become upset and spank N.F.
{¶ 6} When N.F. was young, appellant would use just his hand for spankings. As
N.F. got older, appellant began to use belts or paddles made out of wood to spank N.F.
Appellant would have N.F. watch as he crafted the paddle he was about to use for a
spanking. N.F. described how "terrifying" it was knowing "what's coming before it even
happens," and how appellant would "drill[] holes in [the paddle] so it was more * * *
aerodynamic." (Tr. Vol. II at 37.) During these spankings, appellant "usually would tell
[N.F.] to pull down [his] pants and grab [his] ankles, so [N.F.] would be standing up and
holding [his] ankles." (Tr. Vol. II at 26.) N.F. had to "take" the spanking "and not fall down
when [appellant] hit [him]." (Tr. Vol. II at 26.) N.F. would have to "sit in the bathtub with
cold water" after a paddling "to try to keep the swelling and the bruising down." (Tr. Vol. II
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at 38.) Appellant would paddle N.F. for any reason or no reason; N.F. often did not know
"why [he] was receiving this treatment." (Tr. Vol. II at 27.)
{¶ 7} N.F. explained how appellant continuously made him "feel worthless." (Tr.
Vol. II at 28.) Appellant would tell N.F. that he was "stupid, retarded, dumb, like [his] life
didn't matter. Like when he told [N.F. he] never should have been born. Or [he] should
have been a come stain on the sheets." (Tr. Vol. II at 28.) C.A.W. noted that "the verbal
abuse" was "almost constant for [N.F.]." (Tr. Vol. III at 20.)
{¶ 8} One of N.F.'s chores during his middle school years was to "clean up the dog
poop area" outside. (Tr. Vol. II at 45.) N.F. once missed picking up a piece, and appellant
grabbed N.F. "by the back of [his] neck and he shoved [his] face in the pile of dog poop, and
he took his other hand and shoved some in [N.F.'s] mouth, [and] told [him] to eat it." (Tr.
Vol. II at 46.) N.F. confirmed that he ate the dog feces. L.A. witnessed this event, and
confirmed that appellant "took [N.F.'s] face and shoved it down on the ground in the dog
feces and made him eat it." (Tr. Vol. III at 143.)
{¶ 9} Children services became involved twice during N.F.'s childhood; once due to
the extent of bruising N.F. had from a paddling, and once after L.A. came home to find that
N.F. had "swelling on his lip and a bruise." (Tr. Vol. III at 79.) Caseworkers from the
Auglaize County Children Services department testified at trial regarding the agency's
involvement with N.F. during the early nineties. The agency ultimately concluded that,
although "there was abuse," the abuse was "not to the point to maintain active involvement
with the family." (Tr. Vol. III at 70.) The agency "encouraged the mother to consider
alternative babysitting arrangements for her son instead of having [appellant] in charge of
him." (Tr. Vol. III at 87.)
{¶ 10} As N.F. got older, the physical abuse became more intense. N.F. recalled
appellant pressing pressure points on his body to inflict pain, slamming N.F. against doors,
and repeatedly "punching [N.F.] in the chest so [he] would bounce off the door." (Tr. Vol.
II at 43.) Appellant once threw N.F. against a door so hard that N.F.'s head hit the door,
and N.F. "ended up going to the hospital for stitches in the back of [his] head." (Tr. Vol. II
at 43.) N.F. recalled times where appellant would grab him by his "throat and he would hold
[him] up against the door, off [his] feet." (Tr. Vol. II at 43.)
No. 15AP-1024 4
{¶ 11} Appellant opened a metal fabrication shop on the family's property around
2000, and N.F. would help appellant in the shop. N.F. explained that, if he did not put the
tools away correctly, appellant would "hit [N.F.] over the head, like with his hands, or smack
[him] in the face. He would punch [N.F.] in the throat." (Tr. Vol. II at 54-55.) N.F. recalled
appellant kicking him "in the groin when [they] were in the shop," hard enough that it left
a bruise in that area that lasted "a week or two." (Tr. Vol. II at 55.) N.F. described appellant
once hitting him in the shin with a "wrench or tool" and "it left, like, a cartilage or a bone
chip or whatever on [his] shin." (Tr. Vol. II at 57.) Appellant once threw "a circular saw
blade at [N.F.'s] head. Like it went right by [his] head and it stuck in the wall." (Tr. Vol. II
at 61.) C.A.W. noted that appellant told him he threw "saw blades at [N.F.]," and C.A.W.
recalled seeing the "circular saw blades" that were "stuck in the drywall and they were still
there." (Tr. Vol. III at 22.)
{¶ 12} When N.F. was around 12 years old, appellant started to sexually abuse him.
The first incident occurred on a day when N.F. "stayed home sick from school." (Tr. Vol. II
at 80.) Appellant and N.F. were in the living room, and appellant told N.F. to take his
clothes off. Appellant "started playing with [N.F.'s] genital area before he started
performing oral on [him]." (Tr. Vol. II at 77.) N.F. did not orgasm, and appellant told N.F.
that maybe he had not "hit maturity yet, or [he] wasn't old enough to * * * ejaculate." (Tr.
Vol. II at 79.) Appellant then "pulled down his pants and he sat on the couch. And then he
told [N.F.] to start playing with his penis before he told [N.F.] to perform oral on him." (Tr.
Vol. II at 79.) Appellant ejaculated in N.F.'s mouth, and N.F. stated that he was "too afraid
to spit it out so [he] swallowed it." (Tr. Vol. II at 79.) N.F. testified to several other instances
of fellatio, noting that the "normal routine" was that appellant "performed oral sex on [N.F.]
and then [N.F.] would perform oral sex on him." (Tr. Vol. II at 84.)
{¶ 13} As time went on, the sexual abuse went further. N.F. explained that, when he
was in high school, appellant came into his bedroom and "started with, you know, the usual,
him playing with me, performing oral sex on me. He had me perform oral sex on him. But
at the same time, same incident, he had told me to bend over the bed while I was standing
and he was going to perform anal sex on me." (Tr. Vol. II at 86.) Appellant "put his penis
inside of [N.F.'s] ass." (Tr. Vol. II at 86.) Appellant asked N.F. "if he could come inside of
[him]," and N.F. was "too afraid to say no, so [he] said yes." (Tr. Vol. II at 87.) N.F. testified
No. 15AP-1024 5
that appellant performed anal intercourse on him several times, and that appellant also had
N.F. "perform anal intercourse on him." (Tr. Vol. II at 91.)
{¶ 14} When N.F. was "in either tenth or eleventh grade," L.A. became involved in
the sexual abuse. (Tr. Vol. II at 100.) N.F. explained that "[t]he first time it happened"
appellant and L.A. had gone out for the night. (Tr. Vol. II at 100.) When they returned,
appellant woke N.F. up and explained that L.A. was "in the [bed]room and there was going
to be sexual activity of some sort." (Tr. Vol. II at 100.) Appellant took N.F. to appellant's
and L.A.'s "bedroom. And [L.A.] was lying on the bed, on her back. And [appellant] told
[N.F.] to perform oral sex on her." (Tr. Vol. II at 100.) N.F. did as he was told, and stated
that L.A. was "moaning a little and, like, moving her legs a little bit like it was pleasurable"
as he performed oral sex on her. (Tr. Vol. II at 102.) Appellant then told N.F. "to perform
intercourse on her," but N.F. "could not get erect, and so it did not happen," and N.F. was
"sent back to bed." (Tr. Vol. II at 102.)
{¶ 15} N.F. explained that "[a] couple of months" after the first incident, "basically
the exact same thing" happened again. (Tr. Vol. II at 103.) On this incident, however, N.F.
was "more erect than the previous time" and did have intercourse with L.A. (Tr. Vol. II 104.)
N.F. stated that he engaged in sexual activity with appellant and L.A. "at least two more
times" after this second incident; N.F. recalled "ejaculating in [L.A.] three times total." (Tr.
Vol. II at 104, 106.)
{¶ 16} C.A.W. testified that he recalled being home with his mother, father, and half-
brother, and being "told to go upstairs and turn on the music." (Tr. Vol. III at 29.) As C.A.W.
went up to his room, he saw appellant, L.A., and N.F. go into appellant's and L.A.'s
bedroom. While in his room, C.A.W. "heard [his] mother moaning, making sexual sounds,"
so he turned "the music off to see if it was actually what [he] was hearing, to confirm it, and
it was." (Tr. Vol. III at 29.) C.A.W. recalled a different time when they were all home, and
appellant "told [C.A.W.] to go outside and play. And then the three of them walked in the
bedroom." (Tr. Vol. III at 30.)
{¶ 17} L.A. testified regarding the sexual conduct that occurred with N.F. and
appellant. L.A. stated the first time it happened, she went out to a bar with appellant and
came home "drunk." (Tr. Vol. III at 154.) Appellant undressed L.A. in their bedroom, then
left and returned with N.F. L.A. stated that appellant told N.F. to touch her breasts, and
No. 15AP-1024 6
then told L.A. to give N.F. "oral sex. [Appellant] then had [N.F.] go down on [L.A.]. [She]
witnessed the two of them giving each other oral sex. [Appellant] then showed [N.F.] how
to get on top of [L.A.] and told [N.F.] to have sex with [her]." (Tr. Vol. III at 154-55.) L.A.
stated appellant was "directing" everyone on what to do. (Tr. Vol. III at 155.)
{¶ 18} Although L.A. testified to this first incident, L.A. stated that over the "years,
[she had] just repressed so much in [her] mind, that [she could not] recall what happened
on the other occasions." (Tr. Vol. III at 160.) Appellant and L.A. divorced shortly after N.F.
graduated from high school and left the home in 2003. A couple of years after the divorce,
L.A. told her counselor about what she "did with [her] son," and informed her counselor
that the sexual activity with N.F. and appellant occurred "four times." (Tr. Vol. III at 160.)
{¶ 19} L.A. informed the jury that she had been charged with criminal charges
resulting from these incidents. Pursuant to a plea bargain, L.A. pled guilty "to three charges
of sexual battery, and one charge of obstructing official business," and agreed to testify
truthfully in this case. (Tr. Vol. III at 130.)
{¶ 20} Appellant took the stand and confirmed that "[a] lot" of the testimony
regarding him "disciplining" N.F. was accurate. (Tr. Vol. IV at 48-49.) Appellant admitted
that the "spanking and stuff," and also when he "put [N.F.'s] head against the door, that
was physical abuse." (Tr. Vol. IV at 86.) Appellant explained, however, that he was forced
to be "the disciplinarian" parent, since L.A. "would not touch him." (Tr. Vol. IV at 54.)
Appellant stated he would discipline N.F. by "shov[ing] him down," or "crack[ing] him right
upside the temple just to shut him up," but that he never "beat [N.F.] with a fist," never
"open-faced him, and [he] never beat him on the body." (Tr. Vol. IV at 57.)
{¶ 21} Appellant testified that N.F. "lied," and that "[t]here was no sexual activities"
that ever occurred between him and N.F. (Tr. Vol. IV at 55, 92.)
{¶ 22} N.F. joined the army after he graduated high school and, while in the army,
N.F. would call appellant "every once in a while * * * and wanted money." (Tr. Vol. IV at
61.) Appellant testified that "altogether, in between the different times," he sent N.F. "three
to four grand." (Tr. Vol. IV at 61.) After N.F. was discharged from the army, he briefly
returned to the house in Wapakoneta for a couple of months, and then moved to New Jersey
for work. Appellant stopped giving N.F. money when N.F. was in New Jersey. Appellant
No. 15AP-1024 7
stated that "the day [he] quit giving [N.F.] money [they] got in a big argument." (Tr. Vol. IV
at 66.) N.F. disclosed the abuse to police after he had moved to New Jersey.
{¶ 23} The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the pandering charge, and
returned verdicts of guilty on the remaining charges. Following a separate hearing, the jury
also found appellant guilty of the sexually violent predator specifications. The court
imposed an aggregate sentence of 4 consecutive life sentences, plus 105 years in prison to
be served consecutively to the life sentences.
{¶ 24} Appellant appeals, assigning the following four errors for our review:
[I.] [Appellant's] rights to due process and a fair trial were
violated when the trial court allowed the State to present
cumulative, overly prejudicial evidence about prior bad acts.
[II.] [Appellant's] rights to due process and a fair trial were
violated when the trial court allowed the State to cross-
examine [appellant] regarding prior bad acts the trial court
had previously barred the State from presenting to the jury as
they constituted cumulative and overly prejudicial.
[III.] [Appellant] was deprived of his constitutional right to
the effective assistance of counsel.
[IV.] The trial court erred in submitting verdict forms for
Counts 24, 25, 44, 45, 46, and 47 to the jury as the description
on the verdict forms permitted jurors to convict [appellant] on
multiple counts for the same conduct. The trial court
compounded this error when it sentenced [appellant] on
multiple counts for the same conduct and ran those sentences
consecutively. Both errors violate double jeopardy
protections.
{¶ 25} Appellant's first and second assignments of error both assert the trial court
erred by admitting evidence of appellant's prior bad acts. Appellant's first assignment of
error concerns the physical abuse evidence; appellant's second assignment of error
concerns specific instances of violence.
{¶ 26} A trial court's decision regarding the admissibility of other-acts evidence is
an evidentiary determination that rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. State
v. Morris, 132 Ohio St. 3d 337, 2012-Ohio-2407, syllabus. "Appeals of such decisions are
considered by an appellate court under an abuse-of-discretion standard of review." Id.
No. 15AP-1024 8
" 'Abuse of discretion' has been described as including a ruling that lacks a 'sound reasoning
process.' " Id. at ¶ 14, quoting AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community Urban
Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St. 3d 157, 161 (1990). See also State v. Brady, 119 Ohio
St.3d 375, 2008-Ohio-4493, ¶ 23.
{¶ 27} Appellant notes his trial counsel did not object to the physical abuse evidence
and, thus, waived all but plain error. State v. Hanna, 95 Ohio St. 3d 285, 2002-Ohio-2221,
¶ 84; Crim.R. 52(B).
{¶ 28} "Generally, extrinsic acts may not be used to prove the inference that the
accused acted in conformity with his other acts or that he has a propensity to act in such a
manner." State v. Smith, 49 Ohio St. 3d 137, 140 (1990). However, Evid.R. 404(B) permits
other-acts evidence for other purposes, including but not limited to the purposes identified
in the rule. Id. See also Morris at ¶ 13. The rule provides that "[e]vidence of other crimes,
wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action
in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof
of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
mistake or accident." Evid.R. 404(B). See also R.C. 2945.59.
{¶ 29} "Another consideration permitting the admission of certain other-acts
evidence is whether the other acts 'form part of the immediate background of the alleged
act which forms the foundation of the crime charged in the indictment' and are 'inextricably
related' to the crime." Morris at ¶ 13, quoting State v. Curry, 43 Ohio St. 2d 66, 73 (1975).
Thus, "[e]vidence of other crimes may be presented when" those crimes tend "logically to
prove any element of the crime charged." State v. Horsley, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-350, 2006-
Ohio-1208, ¶ 24.
{¶ 30} To determine the admissibility of the other-acts evidence, a court must first
"consider whether the other acts evidence is relevant to making any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be
without the evidence." State v. Williams, 134 Ohio St. 3d 521, 2012-Ohio-5695, ¶ 20, citing
Evid.R. 401. Second, a court must "consider whether evidence of the other crimes, wrongs,
or acts is presented to prove the character of the accused in order to show activity in
conformity therewith or whether the other acts evidence is presented for a legitimate
purpose, such as those stated in Evid.R. 404(B)." Id. Finally, the court must "consider
No. 15AP-1024 9
whether the probative value of the other acts evidence is substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice." Id., citing Evid.R. 403.
{¶ 31} A number of the rape charges at issue charged appellant pursuant to R.C.
2907.02(A)(2), which provides that "[n]o person shall engage in sexual conduct with
another when the offender purposely compels the other person to submit by force or threat
of force." "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).
{¶ 32} To prove the force element of a sexual offense, the state must establish force
beyond that force inherent in the crime itself. State v. Griffith, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-1042,
2006-Ohio-6983, ¶ 17, citing State v. Dye, 82 Ohio St. 3d 323 (1998). However, the "force
and violence necessary to commit the crime of rape depends upon the age, size and strength
of the parties and their relation to each other." State v. Eskridge, 38 Ohio St. 3d 56 (1988),
paragraph one of the syllabus. In cases involving parents or stepparents sexually abusing
their children, the force " 'need not be overt or physically brutal, but can be subtle and
psychological. As long as it can be shown that the rape victim's will was overcome by fear
or duress, the forcible element of rape can be established.' " Id. at 58-59, quoting State v.
Fowler, 27 Ohio App. 3d 149, 154 (8th Dist.1985). See also Griffith at ¶ 17; Dye at 326.
Compare State v. Schaim, 65 Ohio St. 3d 51 (1992), paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶ 33} Thus, evidence of a defendant's prior acts of violence may demonstrate why
a victim's will was overcome by their fear of the defendant, and thereby establish the force
element of a rape charge. See State v. Williamson, 8th Dist. No. 80982, 2002-Ohio-6503,
¶ 23 (noting the "evidence of the physical violence that occurred in the household [was]
relevant to and probative of the method of control used by defendant to rape and sexually
abuse the victim"); State v. Jordan, 2d Dist. No. 26163, 2016-Ohio-603, ¶ 21 (holding that
the "other-acts evidence" of the defendant's violent acts was "relevant to the element of
force"); State v. Scott, 5th Dist. No. 11CA80, 2012-Ohio-3482, ¶ 28-29 (noting the evidence
indicating that the defendant killed the victim's baby sister "was offered to show the victim's
state of mind; * * * and why she was in fear of [defendant]," and thus was not "improper
propensity evidence, but instead tend[ed] to show an element of the crime [of rape], force").
{¶ 34} N.F. explained he did not want to engage in the sexual acts with appellant,
but stated he "never questioned what" appellant told him to do, because if he questioned
No. 15AP-1024 10
appellant that "results to physical violence or physical abuse." (Tr. Vol. II 108.) Thus, the
physical abuse evidence demonstrated N.F.'s will was overcome by his fear of appellant,
and explained why N.F. did not resist appellant's demands for sexual activity.
{¶ 35} Additionally, during N.F.'s testimony, the court provided the jury with the
following limiting instruction:
Let me just advise you that I have permitted testimony on the
direct examination of this witness dealing with alleged prior
bad acts on behalf of the [appellant] in this case. I did not admit
that evidence to show that [appellant], if he did commit a bad
act before, he acted in conformance with that action with
respect to [N.F.] and the matters that you are to decide, the
sexual-related offenses.
But I have permitted that to be introduced for the purpose of
showing [N.F.'s] state of mind and whether he was fearful of
[appellant]. So you can only consider it for that purpose and
that purpose only.
(Tr. Vol. II at 69-70.)
{¶ 36} We presume the jury followed the court's instruction. State v. Jones, 135 Ohio
St.3d 10, 2012-Ohio-5677, ¶ 194. Appellant argues the trial court's failure to reiterate the
limiting instruction when other witnesses testified to the physical abuse, or to reiterate the
instruction in the final jury instructions, amounts to plain error. Although " 'the failure to
give any limiting instruction constitutes plain error,' " here the trial court did provide the
jury with a limiting instruction the first time the other-acts evidence was presented. State
v. Shaw, 2d Dist. No. 21880, 2008-Ohio-1317, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Tisdale, 2d Dist. No.
19346, 2003-Ohio-4209, ¶ 47 (noting that " '[t]he limiting instruction should be given at
the time the "other acts" evidence is received' "). Accordingly, we do not find plain error.
{¶ 37} The evidence of physical abuse was relevant to a fact of consequence, as it
established the force element of the rape charges. Williams at ¶ 20. The evidence was not
presented to prove appellant acted in conformity therewith, and the court instructed the
jury the evidence was not to be used for that purpose. Id. The probative value of the
evidence was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, and any
danger of unfair prejudice was reduced by the court's limiting instruction. Id. at ¶ 24.
No. 15AP-1024 11
{¶ 38} Appellant further argues that, even if N.F.'s testimony of the physical abuse
was admissible, the additional evidence from L.A., C.A.W., and children services
caseworkers regarding the physical abuse deprived him of a fair trial. However, appellant
testified N.F. had lied about all of the sexual abuse allegations. The testimony from the other
witnesses corroborated N.F.'s testimony regarding the physical abuse and, thus, served to
bolster N.F.'s credibility. Evidence which impeaches or bolsters witness credibility "is of
consequence to the action because it might determine whether the jury believes a particular
witness." State v. Moore, 40 Ohio St. 3d 63, 65 (1988).
{¶ 39} Moreover, appellant admitted his methods of disciplining N.F. constituted
physical abuse. In closing, defense counsel relied on the fact that appellant "freely told" the
jury that "his methods of disciplining [N.F.] were not good," to bolster appellant's
credibility. (Tr. Vol. V at 94.) The defense also argued the years of physical abuse, coupled
with appellant cutting N.F. off financially, provided N.F. with the motivation to fabricate
the sexual abuse allegations against appellant. (See Tr. Vol. V at 94-95.)
{¶ 40} To the extent that some of the physical abuse evidence may have been
unnecessarily cumulative, the admission of such evidence amounts to harmless error. A
defendant is entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect one. State v. Williams, 38 Ohio St. 3d 346,
349 (1988). "The harmless-error doctrine recognizes the principle that the central purpose
of a criminal trial is to decide the factual question of the defendant's guilt or innocence,"
and thus focuses "on the underlying fairness of the trial rather than on the virtually
inevitable presence of immaterial error." Id. An error is harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt when the remaining evidence, standing alone, constitutes overwhelming proof of
defendant's guilt. Id. See also State v. Tucker, 10th Dist. No. 00AP-670, 2002-Ohio-3274,
¶ 44; Morris at ¶ 32; Crim.R. 52(A).
{¶ 41} The evidence of the crimes for which the jury returned guilty verdicts was
considerable. In addition to N.F.'s detailed description of each sexual act, L.A. testified to
the sexual activity that occurred between herself, N.F., and appellant, and C.A.W. provided
circumstantial evidence that sexual activity occurred between appellant, L.A., and N.F.
Accordingly, as the record contains overwhelming evidence of appellant's guilt on the sex
crimes, any error in the admission of physical abuse evidence was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt.
No. 15AP-1024 12
{¶ 42} Appellant's second assignment of error asserts the trial court erred when it
allowed plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio, to cross-examine appellant about specific acts of
violence. Prior to trial, appellant filed a motion in limine asking the court to exclude
evidence indicating appellant had molested his sister when they were children, and that he
shot and killed a number of family pets. The court addressed the motion on the first day of
trial, stating it would "withhold ruling on whether that evidence will be admissible until
such time as the State plans on calling the witness to testify." (Tr. Vol. I at 13-14.)
{¶ 43} During appellant's direct examination, appellant stated that, although he
"had a temper with [N.F.] or anybody else," he was "not a violent person." (Tr. Vol. IV at
50.) Appellant reiterated on cross-examination that he was not a violent person. (See Tr.
Vol. IV at 121.) The state asked the court if it could "talk about the acts of violence that [it
was] aware of," since appellant had "declared on the stand that he [was] not a violent
person." (Tr. Vol. IV at 113.) The court told the state it could inquire about both topics.
{¶ 44} The state asked appellant if he considered shooting animals on his property
violence. Appellant responded he "didn't consider it violence," and stated he had shot and
killed "[a] couple pets," noting that one was "a rottweiler," and one was a "black lab." (Tr.
Vol. IV at 122-23.) Appellant denied that he made N.F. kill his own pet dog. Appellant
admitted that he "threw a pitchfork" at some goats, and that he shot "[a] little horse." (Tr.
Vol. IV at 123.) Appellant denied ever sexually abusing his sister.
{¶ 45} Although "the prosecution may not initiate questioning to establish a
criminal defendant's propensity for violence in a trial for violent offenses," a defendant
"may introduce testimony, through himself or others, of a relevant character trait that
would tend to prove he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion." State v.
Eldridge, 12th Dist. No. CA2002-10-021, 2003-Ohio-7002, ¶ 41, citing Evid.R. 404(A). "In
a trial involving a violent offense, that character trait is typically for peacefulness." Id. When
a defendant introduces evidence of a particular character trait, "the defendant 'opens the
door' for the prosecution, which is then permitted to rebut or impeach this character
evidence on cross examination." Id. at ¶ 42, citing Evid.R. 405(A). "The cross-examination
may include inquiry into relevant specific instances of conduct." Id., citing Evid.R. 405(A).
No. 15AP-1024 13
{¶ 46} Appellant argues he did not open the door for the state to inquire about the
specific instances of violence, as the state could have relied on the physical abuse evidence
to impeach appellant's claim that he was not a violent person. We disagree.
{¶ 47} Appellant testified there were "things that led up to the temper" he had
toward N.F. (Tr. Vol. IV at 51.) Appellant explained that N.F. "lied a lot," and was "cunning.
He was good at telling fibs and just get[ting] things going." (Tr. Vol. IV at 55.) Appellant
described N.F. as not "a quiet little boy. He had a mouth on him, liked to use it," and stated
that N.F. "always challenged" him. (Tr. Vol. IV at 56.) Appellant explained that when N.F.
"would want to confront [appellant on] why not to do" something appellant had asked N.F.
to do, appellant's "reaction was to discipline him." (Tr. Vol. IV at 57.)
{¶ 48} Thus, appellant testified N.F.'s conduct essentially provoked him to use
physically violent means of discipline. Accordingly, when appellant testified that, in
general, he was not a violent person, he opened the door for the state to ask about specific
instances of violence which were directed toward victims other than N.F. See State v.
Higgins, 2d Dist. No. 18974, 2002-Ohio-4679, ¶ 39 (noting that "[w]hen Higgins testified
that he [was] not a violent person, he put into issue his propensity for violence," and
"[e]vidence concerning this trait of his character became admissible").
{¶ 49} Based on the foregoing, appellant's first and second assignments of error are
overruled.
{¶ 50} Appellant's third assignment of error asserts he was deprived of his
constitutional right to the effective assistance of trial counsel. To establish a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must satisfy a two-prong test. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Appellant must show that: (1) defense counsel's
performance was so deficient that he was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed under
the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and (2) that defense counsel's
errors prejudiced defendant. Id. To show prejudice, a defendant must establish a
reasonable probability that, but for his counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the trial
would have been different. Id. at 694. The failure to make either showing defeats a claim of
ineffectiveness of trial counsel. Id. at 697.
{¶ 51} In Ohio, a properly licensed attorney is presumed competent. State v.
Monford, 190 Ohio App. 3d 35, 2010-Ohio-4732, ¶ 78 (10th Dist.), citing Vaughn v.
No. 15AP-1024 14
Maxwell, 2 Ohio St. 2d 299, 301 (1965). Matters of trial strategy and even debatable trial
tactics do not establish ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. at ¶ 79, citing State v. Conway,
109 Ohio St. 3d 412, 2006-Ohio-2815, ¶ 101.
{¶ 52} Appellant asserts his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the
physical abuse evidence, failing to request a limiting instruction for each witness that
testified to the physical abuse, and in failing to request a final jury instruction regarding the
physical abuse evidence.
{¶ 53} " 'A competent trial attorney may well eschew objecting * * * in order to
minimize jury attention to the damaging material.' " State v. Mundt, 115 Ohio St. 3d 22,
2007-Ohio-4836, ¶ 90, quoting United State v. Payne, 741 F.2d 887, 891 (7th Cir.1984).
See also State v. Franklin, 97 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2002-Ohio-5304, ¶ 42 (noting that "[a]
reasonable attorney may decide not to interrupt his adversary's argument as a matter of
strategy"). "The failure to raise nonmeritorious objections is not deficient performance."
State v. Drew, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-467, 2008-Ohio-2797, ¶ 43. Furthermore, a defendant
must establish that the ultimate outcome of the trial would have been different had the
objection been made. State v. Topping, 4th Dist. No. 11CA6, 2012-Ohio-5617, ¶ 81.
{¶ 54} Similarly, "the decision not to request a limiting instruction is sometimes a
tactical one." Schaim at 61, fn. 9. See also State v. Rawls, 10th Dist. No. 03AP-41, 2004-
Ohio-836, ¶ 42 (noting that counsel may choose not to "request an instruction on other acts
evidence" in order "to avoid drawing additional attention to the other acts testimony");
State v. Griesmar, 11th Dist. No. 2009-L-061, 2010-Ohio-824, ¶ 33-34.
{¶ 55} The physical abuse evidence was admissible pursuant to the three-part
Williams test. Id. at ¶ 20. The defense also relied on the physical abuse evidence to argue
that N.F. had a motive to fabricate the sexual abuse allegations. Accordingly, counsel's
choice not to object to the physical abuse evidence, or to request additional limiting
instructions on the physical abuse evidence, were tactical decisions which do not support
an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
{¶ 56} Appellant asserts that his counsel was deficient in failing to object during
closing argument, "when the State argued that the prior bad acts evidence was proof that
'we' can count on [N.F.]" (Appellant's Brief at 54.) During closing, the prosecutor noted L.A.
and C.A.W. had corroborated much of N.F.'s testimony, and that N.F.'s testimony of the
No. 15AP-1024 15
physical abuse was further "corroborated when we got Children's Services records. So what
that tells us is that we can count on [N.F.] to give us reliable, accurate history." (Tr. Vol. V
at 58-59.)
{¶ 57} A prosecutor may comment in closing arguments on what the evidence has
shown and what reasonable inferences the prosecutor believes may be drawn from it. State
v. Lott, 51 Ohio St. 3d 160, 166 (1990). A prosecutor does not improperly vouch for a
witness's credibility by arguing that, based on the evidence, a witness was "a reliable witness
to the simple events she witnessed, that she lacked any motive to lie, [or] that her testimony
was not contradictory." State v. Green, 90 Ohio St. 3d 352, 373-74 (2000). See also State v.
Clay, 7th Dist. No. 08 MA 2, 2009-Ohio-1204, ¶ 141 (noting that "[l]imiting objection
during closing is a trial tactic to avoid trying to draw attention to statements").
{¶ 58} The prosecutor's comment was not improper vouching. The prosecutor fairly
commented on the evidence from L.A., C.A.W., and children services caseworkers, who all
corroborated N.F.'s testimony regarding the physical abuse. Counsel was not deficient in
failing to object to the comment.
{¶ 59} Appellant asserts defense counsel was deficient in failing to object to the
following statement from the prosecutor during closing argument: "I guess in any rape case,
the victim has to be lying. Right? Because if the victim is telling the truth, then the defendant
has trouble. Right? So every defense in a rape case is the victim is lying, and then" the
defense has to "try to scramble to figure out a reason why." (Tr. Vol. V at 109.)
{¶ 60} Counsel was not deficient in failing to object to this statement, as the
prosecutor was fairly responding to appellant's testimony that N.F. had lied about the
sexual abuse allegations. Moreover, there is no reasonable probability that, had counsel
objected, the result of the trial would have been different. State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St. 3d
136 (1989).
{¶ 61} Appellant argues that counsel was deficient in failing to object to a comment
the prosecutor made during appellant's cross-examination. The state asked appellant if he
believed that N.F.'s frequent vomiting and urinating himself as a child were stress related.
Appellant stated "[s]omething was going on," and the prosecutor noted "I would agree with
that." (Tr. Vol. IV at 96, 97.) This comment did not express any belief "regarding the guilt
of the accused." Lott at 166. Rather, the statement merely agreed with appellant's response.
No. 15AP-1024 16
Trial counsel could have reasonably chosen not to object to avoid drawing undue attention
to the prosecutor's brief and fleeting comment.
{¶ 62} Appellant lastly asserts his counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the
verdict forms and in failing to "request neutral language on the verdict forms." (Appellant's
Brief at 56.) The verdict forms contained captions to identify which conduct was associated
with each count.
{¶ 63} "Verdict captioning [is] not an improper practice." State v. Himes, 7th Dist.
No. 08 MA 146, 2009-Ohio-6406, ¶ 31. Verdict captioning "avoids problems such as double
jeopardy issues in cases of a hung jury on some offenses but not others. It is not deficient
performance to fail to object to these labels merely because the indictment did not specify
the type of sexual conduct." Id. See also State v. Harwell, 2d Dist. No. 25852, 2015-Ohio-
2966, ¶ 60 (noting that "[l]abeling verdict forms is a rational way to identify which verdict
is for which offense").
{¶ 64} Appellant argues the captions on the verdict forms "insinuate[d] that
[appellant] was guilty." (Appellant's Brief at 56.) Appellant identifies the following captions
as "inflammatory[:] * * * 'Fellatio-Victim on Defendant, [L.A.] Present' for Count 49,
* * * 'Anal Intercourse – Defendant on Victim, Defendant's Bedroom Incident' for
Count 27, [and] 'Fellatio – Defendant on Victim – 1st Anal Incident' for Count 17."
(Emphasis sic.) (Appellant's Brief at 56.)
{¶ 65} The verdict captions reasonably identified the parties involved, the conduct
at issue, and the location to identify which acts related to which charge. See Himes at ¶ 30-
31; State v. West, 8th Dist. No. 95331, 2012-Ohio-3151, ¶ 41. Notably, due to the nature of
the sex crimes at issue in the instant case, it was necessary to identify which party was
performing, and which party was receiving, the sexual conduct at issue. Appellant also fails
to identify the language he believes defense counsel should have proffered to the court.
{¶ 66} The verdict captions did not insinuate appellant's guilt. Rather, the captions
tracked the evidence presented during trial. If the jury believed the defense's evidence that
N.F. had fabricated the allegations, the jury retained its independence to return verdicts of
not guilty. See State v. Amos, 7th Dist. No. 07 BE 22, 2008-Ohio-7138, ¶ 47. As the language
in the verdict captions was not inflammatory, defense counsel was not deficient in failing
to object to the verdict forms on that basis.
No. 15AP-1024 17
{¶ 67} Although appellant argues the failures of his trial counsel should be
considered cumulatively, because none of appellant's individual claims of ineffective
assistance have merit, appellant cannot establish a right to relief simply by joining those
claims together. State v. Dean, 146 Ohio St. 3d 106, 2015-Ohio-4347, ¶ 296.
{¶ 68} Based on the foregoing, appellant's third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 69} Appellant's fourth assignment of error asserts the trial court erred in
submitting some of the verdict forms to the jury, as the captions on the verdict forms
allowed the jury to convict appellant on multiple counts for the same conduct, in violation
of double jeopardy.
{¶ 70} The Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution, applied to the
states through the Fourteenth Amendment, and additionally guaranteed by Article I,
Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution, protects a defendant against multiple punishments for
the same offense. State v. Ollison, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-95, 2016-Ohio-8269, ¶ 28. See also
State v. Hall, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-957, 2006-Ohio-2742, ¶ 16; Ohio v. Johnson, 467 U.S.
493, 498 (1984). The General Assembly has codified the Double Jeopardy Clause protection
against multiple punishments through the allied offenses statute, R.C. 2941.25. State v.
Ruff, 143 Ohio St. 3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, ¶ 12.
{¶ 71} R.C. 2941.25(A) provides that, where a defendant's same conduct "can be
construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or
information may contain counts for all such offenses, but the defendant may be convicted
of only one." Where, however, the defendant's conduct "constitutes two or more offenses of
dissimilar import," or "results in two or more offenses of the same or similar kind
committed separately or with a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information
may contain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicted of all of
them." R.C. 2941.25(B). " '[A] "conviction" consists of a guilty verdict and the imposition of
a sentence or penalty.' " (Emphasis sic.) State v. Williams, 148 Ohio St. 3d 403, 2016-Ohio-
7658, ¶ 17, quoting State v. Whitfield, 124 Ohio St. 3d 319, 2010-Ohio-2, ¶ 12. Thus, "once
the sentencing court decides that the offender has been found guilty of allied offenses of
similar import that are subject to merger, R.C. 2941.25 prohibits the imposition of multiple
sentences." Id. at ¶ 19.
No. 15AP-1024 18
{¶ 72} Appellant did not object to the language on the verdict forms, or to the court's
imposition of sentence. Accordingly, we review for plain error. "Notice of plain error * * *
is to be taken with the utmost caution, under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent
a manifest miscarriage of justice." State v. Long, 53 Ohio St. 2d 91 (1978), paragraph three
of the syllabus. "For a court to notice plain error, the error must be an obvious defect in a
trial's proceedings, it must have affected substantial rights, and it must have affected the
outcome of the trial." State v. Steele, 138 Ohio St. 3d 1, 2013-Ohio-2470, ¶ 30, citing State
v. Eafford, 132 Ohio St. 3d 159, 2012-Ohio-2224, ¶ 11. Even if an error satisfies these three
requirements, "Crim.R. 52(B) states only that a reviewing court 'may' notice plain forfeited
errors; a court is not obligated to correct them." State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St. 3d 21, 27
(2002).
{¶ 73} Appellant asserts that "[b]ased on the State's description of the incidents
written on the verdict forms to differentiate the Counts, Counts 22 and 23 are the same
charges for the same conduct from the same incident as Counts 24 and 25," and that
"Counts 34, 35, 36, and 37 are the same charges for the same conduct from the same
incident as Counts 44, 45, 46, and 47." (Appellant's Brief at 59.) Appellant further argues
the court failed to "merge the sentences for these counts, but imposed multiple
punishments for the same conduct." (Appellant's Brief at 59-60.)
{¶ 74} Count 22 charged appellant with rape and Count 23 charged appellant with
sexual battery. The caption on the verdict forms for both Counts 22 and 23 was "ANAL
INTERCOURSE – DEFENDANT ON VICTIM – VICTIM'S BEDROOM INCIDENT,
DEFENDANT EJACULATED ON VICTIM'S BACK." (Verdict Forms, R. at 196-97.) Counts
24 and 25 charged appellant with rape and sexual battery, respectively, and the caption on
the verdict forms for these counts was "ANAL INTERCOURSE – DEFENDANT ON
VICTIM – VICTIM'S BEDROOM INCIDENT, VICTIM AND DEFENDANT FACING EACH
OTHER." (Verdict Forms, R. at 198-99.)
{¶ 75} N.F. explained that, during the first incident of anal intercourse in his
bedroom, appellant ejaculated inside of him. N.F. described another incident of anal
intercourse occurring in his bedroom where appellant "pulled out and he ejaculated on
[N.F.'s] back." (Tr. Vol. II at 89.) This incident supports the charges in Counts 22 and 23.
N.F. then described "another time," in his bedroom, on a "different time and day," where
No. 15AP-1024 19
appellant had N.F. "lay on the bed with [his] legs up and [his] butt * * * facing toward the
edge of the bed. And then [appellant] was standing, performing anal on [N.F.], and playing
with [his] penis at the same time." (Tr. Vol. II at 88.) This incident supports the charges in
Counts 24 and 25.
{¶ 76} The trial court merged Count 22 with Count 23, and merged Count 24 with
Count 25. (See Sentencing Entry at 2.) The court sentenced appellant to ten-year terms of
imprisonment on both Count 22 and Count 24, to be served "consecutive with each other
and consecutive with all other counts." (Jgmt. Entry at 2.) As separate conduct supports
the charges, the trial court properly merged the lesser-included offenses into the greater
offenses, and sentenced appellant only on the greater offenses. Appellant's contentions
regarding these charges lack merit.
{¶ 77} Counts 34 and 35 charged appellant with rape and sexual battery,
respectively, and the caption on the verdict forms for these counts stated "CUNNILINGUS
– TIME WITH THE PILL INCIDENT." (Verdict Forms, R. at 206-07.) Counts 36 and 37
charged appellant with rape and sexual battery, respectively, and the caption on the verdict
forms for these counts stated "VAGINAL INTERCOURSE – TIME WITH THE PILL
INCIDENT." (Verdict Forms, R. at 208-09.) Counts 44 and 45 charged appellant with rape
and sexual battery, respectively, and the caption on the verdict forms for these counts stated
"CUNNILINGUS – 3RD INCIDENT." (Verdict Forms, R. at 212-13.) Counts 46 and 47
charged appellant with rape and sexual battery, respectively, and the caption on the verdict
forms for these counts stated "VAGINAL INTERCOURSE – 3RD INCIDENT." (Verdict
Forms, R. at 214-15.)
{¶ 78} These charges concerned the conduct involving L.A., N.F., and appellant.
N.F. testified that "[t]he first time it happened," N.F. performed oral sex on L.A., and
appellant instructed N.F. to have intercourse with L.A, but N.F. "could not get erect, and so
it did not happen." (Tr. Vol. II at 100, 102.)
{¶ 79} N.F. explained that "[a] couple months" after the first incident, appellant
woke N.F. up in the night and told him that L.A. "was waiting for [them]." (Tr. Vol. II at
103.) N.F. explained that he "was instructed to perform oral on her again. * * * And then
have intercourse with her, which somewhat happened. [N.F.] had a hard time staying erect
again, but more - - [he] was more erect than the previous time." (Tr. Vol. II at 104.)
No. 15AP-1024 20
{¶ 80} N.F. stated that the "third time is when [he] was able to stay erect. And
[appellant] instructed that [he] try to come inside [L.A.], which [he] eventually did." (Tr.
Vol. II at 104-05.) N.F. explained that, on "the third time," before they "went into the
bedroom that time, [appellant] had taken [him] into the kitchen and given [him] a pill with
some water." (Tr. Vol. II at 133.) However appellant "explained it," N.F. understood that
the pill was to help him "to stay erect." (Tr. Vol. II at 133.) This incident supports the vaginal
intercourse charges in Counts 36 and 37.
{¶ 81} N.F. described L.A. performing fellatio on him during a time "when there was
a lot of back and forth between [L.A.] performing oral on [N.F.] and [appellant], and
[appellant] performing oral on - - on [N.F.] and her, and [N.F.] performing oral on both of
them." (Tr. Vol. II at 105.)
{¶ 82} N.F. never testified to cunnilingus preceding the time with the pill incident.
However, in the final incident where there was "a lot of back and forth," N.F. testified he
performed "oral" on L.A. (Tr. Vol. II at 105.) Notably, Counts 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, and 53 all
concern the fellatio that occurred during the back and forth incident, but there is no
separate charge for the cunnilingus from that incident. (See Verdict Forms, R. at 216-21.)
Thus, the cunnilingus from the back and forth incident supports the conduct charged in
Counts 34 and 35.
{¶ 83} The conduct charged in Counts 44, 45, 46, and 47 was rape and sexual
battery. The cunnilingus and vaginal intercourse N.F. described as occurring during the
second incident supports the conduct charged in these counts. In N.F.'s timeline, the third
incident was the time with the pill incident. None of the verdict forms relating to the
conduct between appellant, L.A., and N.F. contain the caption "2nd incident." (See Verdict
Forms, R. at 204-22.)
{¶ 84} Accordingly, the caption on the verdict forms for Counts 44, 45, 46, and 47
should have stated 2nd incident rather than 3rd incident; and the caption on the verdict
forms for Counts 34 and 35 should have identified the cunnilingus as occurring during the
back and forth incident rather than the time with the pill incident. However, the verdict
captions at issue do not present the manifest miscarriage of justice necessary to support a
showing of plain error. N.F. testified to conduct which supports each of the charges at issue.
The trial court also properly instructed the jury as to the elements of each charge. (See Tr.
No. 15AP-1024 21
Vol. V at 122-87); Himes at ¶ 36-37 (noting that the "verdict form need not state each of the
essential elements" of the offense; rather, "this is the function of jury instructions"); R.C.
2945.11.
{¶ 85} Accordingly, because the record contains evidence which separately supports
the conduct charged in each count, appellant fails to establish prejudice, and the
misstatements in the verdict captions do not amount to plain error. Compare State v.
Brown, 9th Dist. No. 25077, 2010-Ohio-4453, ¶ 16 (holding that the defendant "forfeited
any argument with regard to the verdict form itself by failing to object to it at trial," and the
record failed to demonstrate "any prejudice as a result of the incorrect citation included in
the caption of the jury's verdict form").
{¶ 86} The trial court merged Count 34 with Count 35, Count 36 with Count 37,
Count 44 with Count 45, and Count 46 with Count 47. (See Sentencing Entry at 2.) The
court sentenced appellant to respective ten-year terms of imprisonment each on Counts 34,
36, 44, and 46, to be served "concurrent with each other, and consecutive with all other
counts." (Jgmt. Entry at 2.) Accordingly, as separate conduct supports the counts, the court
merged the lesser-included offenses into the greater offenses and sentenced appellant only
on the greater offenses. Appellant fails to demonstrate a double jeopardy violation.
{¶ 87} Based on the foregoing, appellant's fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 88} Having overruled appellant's four assignments of error, we affirm the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Judgment affirmed.
SADLER and LUPER SCHUSTER, JJ., concur.
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