State v. Jackson

[Cite as State v. Jackson, 2015-Ohio-5490.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO :
: Appellate Case No. 26050
Plaintiff-Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 12-CR-56
v. :
: (Criminal Appeal from
GEORGE E. JACKSON : Common Pleas Court)
:
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 29th day of December, 2015.
...........
MATHIAS H. HECK, JR., by KIRSTEN A. BRANDT, Atty. Reg. No. 0070162, Montgomery
County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division, Montgomery County Courts Building, P.O.
Box 972, 301 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee
MARSHALL G. LACHMAN, Atty. Reg. No. 0076791, 75 North Pioneer Boulevard,
Springboro, Ohio 45066
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
FAIN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant George E. Jackson appeals from his conviction on two
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counts of Rape of a Child Under 13, ten counts of Gross Sexual Imposition of a Child
Under 13, three counts of Importuning, one count of Illegal Use of A Minor in Nudity-
oriented Materials, one count of Possession of Criminal Tools, eight counts of Pandering
Sexually-oriented Materials Involving a Minor (solicit/possess), four counts of Pandering
Obscenity Involving a Minor (buy/possess), three counts of Pandering Sexually-oriented
Materials Involving a Minor (create/reproduce/publish), and three counts of Pandering
Obscenity Involving a Minor (create/reproduce/publish). Jackson raises five assignments
of error. First, Jackson contends that the trial court erred by not conducting a hearing
before overruling his motion in limine and excluding evidence of the victim’s prior false
accusations of sexual abuse. Jackson further argues that his convictions are tainted by
the ineffective assistance of counsel. Jackson alleges that the trial court erred in
overruling his motion to withdraw his plea without conducting a hearing, and that his
convictions are against the manifest weight of the evidence and are not supported by
sufficient evidence.
{¶ 2} The State contends that the convictions are supported by credible and
sufficient evidence and that Jackson received effective assistance of counsel. The State
further argues that the trial court properly excluded evidence of prior accusations made
by the victim, and properly overruled the motion to allow Jackson to withdraw his plea.
{¶ 3} We conclude that the trial court did not err in excluding the victim’s prior
accusations of sexual abuse against a different offender, without holding a hearing, in
view of the fact that the defense made no proffer of the falsity of those accusations. We
also conclude that the court did not err by not conducting a hearing before overruling the
motion to withdraw the plea, since Jackson failed to present a reasonable and legitimate
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basis for the withdrawal of the plea. We further conclude that defense counsel was not
ineffective, that sufficient evidence was presented to support the verdicts, and that the
verdicts are not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly, the judgment
of the trial court is Affirmed.
I. The Alleged Sex Offenses
{¶ 4} C.T. began dating Jackson in December, 2011, after meeting at a roller
skating rink. Jackson, C.T. and her daughter, D.S., attended an all-night skating party on
New Year’s Eve, then went to Jackson’s apartment in Dayton. The victim, D.S., testified
that both before and after the skating party, at three different times, Jackson touched her
body, kissed her lips and breasts, touched her buttocks, and “fingered” her vagina under
her clothes. At the time, D.S. was eleven years old. After D.S. reported these events to
her mother, the police were contacted, and D.S. was interviewed at Care House.
{¶ 5} A search warrant was sought in furtherance of investigating Jackson for
rape charges, to obtain from Jackson’s apartment, “cell phones, cameras, video recording
equipment, computers and hard drives, Wii Game Systems, any nude, explicit
Photographs of minor children or adults, and digital media storage devices, I-pod,
portable masseuse table/bed and any and all evidence associated with the sexual assault
investigation.” The affidavit stated that the facts were based on statements made by the
victim and her mother that Jackson had a collection of photographs and other images on
three cell phones that depicted different body parts of unidentified women and juvenile
girls. As a result of the search of Jackson’s apartment, the police seized an iPod, three
iPhones, an LG cell-phone, four portable hard drives, video recording equipment, four
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CD/DVDs, nine mini video tapes, and other personal items. Based on the contents found
in the cell phones, computers and the videotapes, additional offenses were discovered
regarding a separate victim, N.C.
{¶ 6} In 2009, Jackson lived in a Dayton suburb with his wife. At that time, N.C.
was six years old and periodically visited their home. The videotape seized from the
search warrant of Jackson’s home depicts Jackson helping N.C. undress, N.C. taking a
shower, Jackson applying soap to the boy’s body, washing the boy’s penis, and holding
the boy up so the camera could capture a clear view of the boy’s genitals. N.C. was initially
interviewed at Care House by a female detective, then later interviewed by a male police
detective. N.C. reported to the male detective that Jackson had touched him
inappropriately a number of times, giving specific details about numerous instances when
Jackson made sexual contact with him.
II. The Course of Proceedings
{¶ 7} Jackson was charged with numerous sex offenses under three separate
indictments, which were referred to in the record as Indictments A, B and C. The charges
in Indictment A are in connection with offenses committed against the minor victim D.S.
In Indictment A, Jackson was charged with two counts of Rape, felonies of the first
degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) (person under the age of 13); two counts of
Importuning, felonies of the third degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.07(A); and seven
counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, felonies of the third degree, in violation of R.C.
2907.05(A)(4).
{¶ 8} The charges in Indictment B are in connection with the offenses committed
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against the minor victim N.C. In Indictment B, Jackson was charged with one count of
Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Materials, a felony of the second degree, in
violation of R.C. 2907.323(A)(1); one count of Importuning, a felony of the third degree,
in violation of R.C. 2907.07(A); and five counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, felonies of
the third degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(4).
{¶ 9} The charges in Indictment C all relate to images found in Jackson’s cell
phones, computers or other electronic devices. Indictment C charged Jackson with three
counts of Possession of Criminal Tools, felonies of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C.
2923.24(A); seventeen counts of Pandering Sexually-oriented Materials Involving a Minor
(solicit/possess), felonies of the fourth degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(5); eight
counts of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, felonies of the fourth degree, in violation
of R.C. 2907.321(A)(5); one count of Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a
Minor (create/produce), a felony of the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.323(A)(3);
five counts of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor (create, reproduce, publish),
felonies of the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.321(A)(1); three counts of
Pandering Sexually-oriented Materials Involving a Minor (create/reproduce/publish),
felonies of the second degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.322(A)(1); one count of Illegal
Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented Materials (create/produce), a felony of the second
degree, in violation of R.C. 2907.323(A)(1); and one count of Illegal Use of a Minor in
Nudity-oriented Materials (possess/view), a felony of the fifth degree, in violation of R.C.
2907.323(A)(3).
{¶ 10} Jackson filed a motion to suppress all evidence obtained from Jackson’s
computers, cell phones, other electronic devices and the video recording equipment,
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including the testimony of N.C. At the hearing on the motion to suppress, no witnesses
testified but defense counsel and the State agreed that “the sole issue was for the Court
to determine whether the four corners of the affidavit contained probable cause to justify
the search of the items named in the search warrant.” Transcript of Motions hearing,
1/31/13, pg. 5. The trial court overruled in part, and sustained in part, the motion to
suppress, finding that the affidavit in support of the search warrant did not provide the
police with probable cause to seize the electronic devices, other than the cell phones.
After the trial court suppressed the evidence necessary to prove some of the charges in
Indictment C, the State agreed to nolle 13 counts in Indictment C, and the court dismissed
those counts.
{¶ 11} Subsequent to the court’s ruling on the motion to suppress, Jackson filed
a motion to dismiss the charges in Indictment B supported by the videotape seized
pursuant to the search warrant, on the grounds that the court’s suppression ruling
excluded all evidence seized other than the cell phones. The trial court agreed that the
affidavit for the search warrant did not support probable cause for the seizure of the
videotape, but the trial court, in overruling the motion to dismiss found that the good-faith
exception applied, by stating as follows:
And, the Court finds that, again, on this good faith exception, as the
court found in the court’s suppression decision that there is no evidence
that Detective Mary Lou Phillips misled the issuing - - the magistrate judge
who issued the search warrant. The issuing judge did not wholly abandon
his judicial role. And the Court finds that Detective Phillips’ affidavit was not
so lacking in indicia of probable cause that the videotape would contain
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evidence of the Defendant’s sexual activity with D.S, as to make the belief
in the existence of that probable cause unreasonable. So the good faith
exception applies.
Transcript, Motions hearing 1/31/13, pg. 7.
{¶ 12} The trial court also denied the defense motion to suppress the testimony
of N.C. Jackson had argued that the police interview of the minor victim N.C. would not
have taken place without the unlawful seizure of the electronic equipment, and the
officers’ review of the videotape and location of the child depicted in the videotape. The
trial court found that Jackson’s position for the motion relied on facts outside the record,
as no testimony was taken at the suppression hearing. The trial court also stated that the
“but for” argument, [but for the illegally seized videotape, the child victim, N.C. would not
have been discovered] is insufficient as a matter of law, not only because the videotape
was legally seized but also because the necessary evidentiary factors to consider the
suppression of testimony of a live witness were not presented. Transcript, Motions
hearing 1/31/13, pg.10, citing U.S. v. Ceccolini, 435 U.S. 268, 98 Sup. Ct. 1054,
55 L.Ed.2d 268 (1978). State v. Wipf, 397 F. 3d 677 (8th Cir. 2005).
{¶ 13} Prior to trial, Jackson filed a motion in limine, asking the court to allow
evidence of a previous incident, reported to the police, when the minor victim D.S.
accused another individual of sexual contact, to support Jackson’s defense of an
alternative suspect. The State argued that the rape shield law applied to prevent the
disclosure of any evidence of the victim’s past sexual activity, that the incidents were not
sufficiently similar and that its admission would be unduly prejudicial. The trial court
adopted the State’s arguments and overruled the defense motion without conducting a
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hearing. Dkt. #146.
{¶ 14} Jackson filed a motion to sever the trials on the three indictments. The trial
court agreed to conduct separate trials for the charges identified in Indictments A and B,
related to two different victims, but found that the charges under Indictments A and C
should be tried together, based on an assumption that the victim, D.S, in Indictment A,
would testify that she was shown the cell phone images that form the evidentiary basis
for the charges in Indictment C. Transcript, Motions hearing 1/31/13, pg. 29. In its analysis
of the motion to sever, the trial court agreed with the State’s position that the cell-phone
images are admissible under Evid. R. 404(B), “as the facts of the alleged sexual activity
of the Defendant with D.S., which is the subject of Indictment A is inextricably related to
the cellphone evidence. And therefore, the cellphone is admissible pattern evidence
under [Evid. R.] 404(B), and that the State has satisfied the other acts test.” Id.{¶ 15} Once it was decided that the cell-phone images would be admissible in the
trial on the Indictment A charges, Jackson pled no contest to nineteen of the counts
charged in Indictment C. At the plea hearing, the court specifically advised Jackson that
his decision to plead did not necessarily mean that the cell-phone images would not be
seen by the jury hearing the charges brought against him in Indictment A, because it
would still depend on whether the State offers a sufficient foundation for admission.
Jackson acknowledged that he understood this admonition. Dkt. #211 at pg. 25.
{¶ 16} After the plea hearing, the State filed a motion in limine asking the court to
allow the cell-phone images into evidence at the trial on the Indictment A charges, based
on Evid. R. 404(B). Jackson opposed the motion, arguing that none of the photos are of
similar conduct, and the photos are therefore insufficient to prove common scheme,
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motive or intent. At the final pre-trial conference the trial court verbally overruled the
State’s motion, acknowledging that it had incorrectly assumed in its ruling on the motion
to conduct separate trials, that the victim in the Indictment A charges saw the cell-phone
images that were the evidentiary support for the charges in Indictment C. The trial court
adopted the defense position that the cell-phone images were not admissible under Evid.
R. 404(B), relying on the holding in State v. Knisley, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22897,
2010-Ohio-116.
{¶ 17} After the plea hearing, the State filed a motion to allow the admission of
the cell-phone images during the trial on the Indictment B charges. Jackson opposed the
motion on the basis that the admission of photos of other children, not the victim in the
trial, would be more prejudicial than probative. The trial court agreed with the defense
argument and sustained the motion, adopting the reasoning of Jackson’s memorandum
in opposition to the State’s motion in limine. Dkt #184.
{¶ 18} At the conclusion of the trial on the charges in Indictment A, Jackson
moved to dismiss the charges, based on Crim R. 29. At the conclusion of the trial on the
Indictment B charges, Jackson made a Crim. R. 29 motion for an acquittal of all charges.
Both motions were overruled. After completion of the jury trial on the charges in Indictment
A, verdicts of guilty were rendered on all eleven counts. After completion of the jury trial
on the charges in Indictment B, verdicts of guilty were rendered on all counts except for
a finding of not guilty on the charge of Gross Sexual Imposition in Count 2.
{¶ 19} After convictions were rendered against Jackson from the separate jury
trials for the charges in Indictments A and B, but prior to sentencing, Jackson moved to
withdraw his plea to the charges contained in Indictment C. Jackson argued that his plea
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was not knowingly and intelligently made, because he was under the mistaken impression
that the victim, D.S., would be testifying that she saw the cell-phone images during the
trial on the Indictment A charges. The trial court denied the motion to withdraw the plea
on the basis that: (1) Jackson fully understood the nature of the 19 charges in Indictment
C, and the potential sentences for convictions of such charges; (2) Jackson’s delay in
filing the motion to withdraw his plea was egregious; and (3) there was no factual basis
to Jackson’s claim of innocence.
{¶ 20} Based on the convictions from all three indictments, Jackson was
sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment totaling 23 years to life. From his conviction
and sentence, Jackson appeals.
III. The Trial Court Properly Excluded Evidence of the Victim’s Prior
Accusations of Sexual Misconduct
{¶ 21} For his First Assignment of Error, Jackson alleges:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE APPELLANT’S
MOTION IN LIMINE TO PERMIT EVIDENCE OF PRIOR FALSE
ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE WITHOUT CONDUCTING AN IN
CAMERA HEARING
{¶ 22} Jackson contends that his motion to allow the admission of evidence from
the victim regarding her previous accusations of sexual misconduct was improperly
overruled without a hearing. A trial court has discretion to determine whether a witness
may be asked on cross-examination about specific acts of conduct that are “clearly
probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness.” Evid.R. 608(B). State v. Chaney, 169 Ohio
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App.3d 246, 2006-Ohio-5288, 862 N.E.2d 559, ¶ 5 (3d Dist.). A court abuses its
discretion by acting in a manner that is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. State
ex rel. Askew v. Goldhart, 75 Ohio St.3d 608, 610, 665 N.E.2d 200 (1996). Decisions
are unreasonable if they are not supported by a sound reasoning process. AAAA Ents.,
Inc. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161, 553
N.E.2d 597 (1990).
{¶ 23} Jackson relies on the holding of the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v.
Boggs, 63 Ohio St. 3d 418, 588 N.E. 2d 813 (1992), which directs trial courts to conduct
an in camera hearing to determine the admissibility of a rape victim’s prior false rape
accusations. In Boggs, the Supreme Court of Ohio provides guidance for balancing the
objective of the rape shield statute, R.C. 2907.02 (D), which protects the privacy of a rape
victim’s prior sexual activity, with the legitimate goal of a criminal defense strategy to test
the credibility of the rape victim. The Boggs court explains that an in camera hearing
should be conducted at the pre-trial stage to determine if the prior accusations are
unfounded and, if so, whether the conduct involves sexual activity that is inadmissible
pursuant to the rape shield law. Id. at ¶ 2 of the syllabus. Jackson had filed a pre-trial
motion asking the court to allow the admission of the victim’s testimony of her prior
accusations, which was overruled. Neither Jackson’s pre-trial motion, nor his proffer at
trial, provided the trial court with any proof or verifiable allegation that the victim’s prior
accusations of a sexual assault were demonstrably false, or even that there was a
reasonable probability of falsity. To the contrary, the proffer made at trial acknowledges
that the victim’s prior accusations actually resulted in a no-contest plea by the alleged
offender.
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{¶ 24} In State v. Hall, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25794, 2014-Ohio-2094, we
applied the holding of Boggs, and remanded the cause for an in camera hearing to
determine the admissibility of a rape victim’s prior accusations after the defense proffered
evidence of two witnesses who would testify that the victim had made prior accusations
of sexual assaults and later recanted her accusations. Id. at ¶ 13. Based on that proffer,
we found that the trial court was required to conduct an in camera hearing to allow the
defense to ask the victim whether she had made prior false accusations of sexual abuse,
and if the answer was yes, the defense must be given the opportunity to prove that the
prior accusations were false. Id. at ¶ 16. In the case before us, the trial court was not
required to conduct a hearing, because no proffer of the falsity of the prior accusations
was made. Therefore, Jackson’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.
IV. Jackson’s Trial Counsel Was Not Ineffective
{¶ 25} For his Second Assignment of Error, Jackson alleges:
APPELLANT WAS DENIED HIS CONSTITUIONALLY
GUARANTEED RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
{¶ 26} Jackson contends that defense counsel was ineffective because: (1) he
failed to object to the lack of any testimonial evidence at the suppression hearing; (2) in
the motion to suppress, he failed to specifically identify the videotape as the evidence he
was seeking to suppress; (3) in his motion to dismiss, he failed to provide evidentiary
support for allegations that the victim would not have been found for the Indictment B
charges, but for the seizure of the videotape; (4) he failed to file a second motion to
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suppress to present evidence at a hearing to support the link between the improper
seizure of the videotape and the live testimony of the victim; and (5) he failed to proffer
evidence at trial of the victim’s prior false accusations, which were the subject of the pre-
trial motion in limine that was overruled by the court.
{¶ 27} To reverse a judgment based on ineffective assistance, the record must
support a finding that defense counsel's performance was deficient, and that a reasonable
probability exists that, but for counsel's omissions, the outcome would have been
different. State v. Jones, 1st Dist. Hamilton No.C-130359, 2014-Ohio-3110, ¶ 27, citing
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984);
State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraphs two and three
of the syllabus.
{¶ 28} Jackson has not established that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s
deficient performance to the extent that the outcome would have been different. We agree
that the trial court properly applied the “good faith” exception to the exclusionary rule to
allow the admission of the videotape evidence obtained from the search warrant. See,
e.g., State v. Perez, 2015-Ohio-1753, 32 N.E. 3d 1010 (2d Dist). Therefore, we conclude
that a different outcome would not have resulted if defense counsel had presented
testimony at the suppression hearing, if he had specified the videotape as the evidence
to be suppressed, or if he had filed a second motion to suppress.
{¶ 29} Jackson has not established that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure
to present evidence in support of the motion to dismiss Indictment B on the basis that but
for the wrongfully seized videotape, the police would not have discovered the identity of
the victim. Since the videotape was not wrongfully seized, the basis of the motion was
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unfounded, so that no testimony linking the videotape to the discovery of the victim would
have made a difference in the outcome of the motion.
{¶ 30} Jackson has not established that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure
to proffer evidence at trial of the victim’s prior false accusations of sexual misconduct.
The record does reflect that a proffer was made, but the proffer included an admission
that the accused offender pled no contest to the charges. Jackson has not alleged or
supported a claim that any evidence was available to support the falsity of the victim’s
accusations that could have been presented by his counsel. Defense counsel cannot be
found to be ineffective by failing to present or proffer evidence that does not exist.
{¶ 31} Jackson’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
V. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse its Discretion in Overruling
Jackson’s Motion to Withdraw his Pleas
{¶ 32} Jackson’s Third Assignment of Error alleges as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO WITHDRAW NO CONTEST PLEAS.
{¶ 33} Jackson contends that the trial court erred by failing to conduct a hearing
before overruling his motion to withdraw his plea. The Supreme Court of Ohio has stated
that a trial court should hold a hearing on a motion to withdraw a plea “unless it is clear
that denial of the motion is warranted.” State v. Wilson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26354,
2015-Ohio-1584, ¶ 19, citing State v. Francis, 104 Ohio St.3d 490, 2004-Ohio-6894, 820
N.E.2d 355, ¶ 51.
{¶ 34} We recently reviewed the law applicable to the review of rulings on motions
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to withdraw pleas:
Crim.R. 32.1 provides: “A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty or no
contest may be made only before sentence is imposed; but to correct a
manifest injustice the court after sentence may set aside the judgment of
conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea.” Under the
foregoing rule, a pre-sentence motion to vacate a guilty plea “should be
freely and liberally granted.” State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, 527, 584
N.E.2d 715 (1992). Nevertheless, even under the pre-sentence standard,
the right to withdraw a plea is not absolute and a trial court retains discretion
to overrule a pre-sentence plea-withdrawal motion. Id. The pre-sentence
standard, however, is far more lenient than the “manifest injustice” standard
applicable to post-sentence motions. State v. Fugate, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 21574, 2007-Ohio-26, ¶ 10.
***
But even under the more lenient pre-sentence standard, “a
defendant must show a reasonable and legitimate basis for the withdrawal
of the plea.” * * * “A change of heart is not enough,” and a trial court's finding
regarding a defendant's true motivation is entitled to deference. * * *
Likewise, a trial court's ultimate decision to grant or deny a pre-sentence
motion to withdraw a guilty plea is subject to review for an abuse of
discretion. Fugate, at ¶ 10.
State v. DeJesus, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2015-CA-4, 2015-Ohio-4111, ¶ 16, citing State v.
Simpson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24266, 2011-Ohio-6181, ¶ 7, 10.
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{¶ 35} In the case before us, the trial court determined that the motivation of
Jackson’s motion to withdraw his plea was the failure of his strategy to use the plea as a
means to exclude the evidence from the Indictment C charges from being used as
evidence in the trials on the charges brought under Indictments A and C. In denying
Jackson’s motion to withdraw his plea, the trial court issued a 29-page opinion, which
reviewed the complete transcript of the plea hearing. Dkt. #210. In lieu of conducting a
hearing on the motion to withdraw, the trial court accepted as true the factual allegations
asserted by Jackson in his motion. Specifically, the trial court acknowledged that the
court’s decision not to sever the counts in Indictment A and C was based on a factually
inaccurate assumption that the victim in Indictment A would testify that she saw the
images on Jackson’s cell phone that are the evidentiary basis for the charges in
Indictment C. The trial court also acknowledged that Jackson’s plea was entered one
week after the court overruled the motion to sever the trials, and that one day after the
plea was entered, the State informed Jackson that the victim had not been shown the
cell-phone images. The trial court acknowledged that based on this new information,
Jackson immediately realized that since the trial on Indictment A charges would not
include any reference to the images, the two indictments would not have been joined for
one trial. It was significant to the trial court that although this realization was made in
February, he did not ask to withdraw his plea until nine months later, after guilty verdicts
were rendered in the trials on the Indictment A and B charges.
{¶ 36} In evaluating whether a trial court has abused its discretion in overruling a
motion to withdraw a plea, we have reviewed the following nine factors set forth in State
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v. Fish, 104 Ohio App. 3d 236, 240, 661 N.E. 2d 788 (1st Dist. 1995):
(1) whether the accused is represented by highly competent counsel,
(2) whether the accused was given a full Crim.R. 11 hearing before
entering the plea, (3) whether a full hearing was held on the motion,
(4) whether the trial court gave full and fair consideration to the
motion, (5) whether the motion was made within a reasonable time,
(6) whether the motion sets out specific reasons for the withdrawal,
(7) whether the accused understood the nature of the charges and
possible penalties, (8) whether the accused was perhaps not guilty
of or had a complete defense to the charge or charges, and (9)
whether the state is prejudiced by withdrawal of the plea.
State v. Massey, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2015-CA-1, 2015-Ohio-4711, ¶ 11. See
also State v. Spurgeon, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2014-CA-12, 2014-Ohio-4849, ¶¶ 15-
16; State v. Preston, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25393, 2013-Ohio-4404; State v
Berry, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2013-CA-34, 2014-Ohio-132, ¶ 33, quoting State v.
Hess, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24453, 2012-Ohio-961, ¶ 18. Consideration of the
foregoing factors involves a balancing test, and no single factor is dispositive.
Preston at ¶ 20.
{¶ 37} The record supports that Jackson was represented by competent counsel
and that he was afforded a full hearing before he entered his plea, at which the court took
appropriate steps to assure that Jackson understood the nature of the charges and the
possible penalties. It is significant that at the plea hearing, the trial court specifically
admonished Jackson that his decision to plea did not mean either that the evidence from
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the charges not going to trial because of his plea would be, or would not be, admitted at
the trial on charges brought under Indictment A, and Jackson acknowledged that he
understood. The fact that the motion to withdraw was not made until the day set for
sentencing, which was nine months after the defense was notified that the State would
not present the evidence from the Indictment C charges at the trial on the charges from
Indictment A, lends support for concluding that the true motivation for Jackson’s motion
was simply a change of heart, which does not present a reasonable and legitimate basis
for withdrawing a plea. The only question remaining is whether the trial court abused its
discretion by not conducting a hearing on the motion to withdraw the plea, given the fact
that the motion failed to present a reasonable and legitimate basis for withdrawing the
plea, accepting as true all factual allegations upon which the motion is based, and the
fact that the trial court gave full and fair consideration to the motion. Under these unique
circumstances, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling
the motion without a hearing. The hearing would have served no useful purpose, since
the trial court accepted as true Jackson’s factual allegations, but found those allegations
insufficient to support a withdrawal of his plea.
{¶ 38} Jackson’s Third Assignment of Error is overruled.
VI. The Convictions Are Supported by Sufficient Evidence
{¶ 39} For his Fourth Assignment of Error, Jackson alleges as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OVERRULING APPELLANT’S
MOTION FOR ACQUITTAL SINCE THE STATE FAILED TO SUPPLY
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AS TO ALL THE ELEMENTS NECESSARY TO
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SUPPORT THE CHARGES AGAINST THE DEFENDANT
{¶ 40} Jackson contends that the trial court erred in overruling his Crim.R. 29
motions for judgment of acquittal. Specifically with regard to the motion made in the first
trial on the Indictment A charges, Jackson alleges that the evidence is insufficient to
establish that the offenses occurred on the dates specified in the Bill of Particulars, and
that based on inconsistencies in the victim’s report of the offenses, no rational trier of fact
could find her testimony credible. With respect to the motion made at the second trial
regarding the charges in Indictment B, Jackson specifically alleges that inconsistencies
in the victim’s testimony rendered his credibility unworthy of belief, such that no rational
trier of fact could have found Jackson guilty.
{¶ 41} “Reviewing the denial of a Crim. R. 29 motion * * * requires an appellate
court to use the same standard as is used to review a sufficiency of the evidence claim.”
State v. Cokes, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26223, 2015-Ohio-619, ¶ 23 (internal citation
omitted). When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, he is arguing
that the State presented inadequate evidence on at least one element of the offense to
sustain the verdict as a matter of law. State v. Hawn, 138 Ohio App.3d 449, 471, 741
N.E.2d 594 (2d Dist. 2000). “ ‘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. The relevant inquiry is whether, after
viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact
could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable
doubt.’” State v. Morefield, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26155, 2015-Ohio-448, ¶ 18, quoting
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State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶ 42} At trial, the defense argued that the evidence presented at the first trial on
the Indictment A was insufficient because the victim’s testimony regarding the timing of
the sexual misconduct did not match the dates alleged in the Bill of Particulars, which
specified that the events happened between December 31, 2011 and January 2, 2012.
Dkt. #31. On cross-examination, the victim, D.S., did agree that the first incident with
Jackson happened one or two days before the incident on New Year’s Eve. At trial,
Jackson argued that he was prejudiced by this change in the date of the alleged offense,
because he might have been able to pursue an alibi defense if he had known that the
victim would testify to an earlier date of the offense. It has been held that precise times
and dates are not essential elements of an offense, and therefore the failure to provide
dates and times in an indictment is not grounds for its dismissal. State v. Sellards, 17
Ohio St. 3d 169, 478 N.E. 2d 781 (1985). We have held that “an allowance for inexactitude
in the date and time of the offense is permissible, and must be made especially in cases
involving the sexual abuse of young children where there are several instances of abuse
spread out over an extended time period.” State v. Bolling, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
20225, 2005-Ohio-2509, ¶ 36. Therefore, the fact that the testimony of a young child was
not precise as to the time and date of an assault, but within a reasonable range of the
dates specified in a Bill of Particulars is sufficient to prove the statutory elements of the
sex offense.
{¶ 43} Jackson also argues that the testimony of both victims (in the A & B
indictments) was so inconsistent with prior statements given to police during their
interviews at Care House, that no rational trier of fact could have found Jackson guilty
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based on such unreliable testimony. We disagree. Viewing the evidence in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, the record does contain sufficient evidence from the victims
to prove all the elements of the offenses.
{¶ 44} In the first trial on the Indictment A charges, the victim’s testimony covered
all the essential elements of two counts of Rape, as set forth in R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b),
when she stated that Jackson twice “fingered her vagina on the inside,” at a time when
she was less than 13 years old. Trial Transcript, May 20, 2013, pgs. 137-149. This
statement meets the element of engaging in “sexual conduct,” as defined by R.C. 2907.01
(A), which includes the insertion of any body part into the vaginal opening of another. The
victim’s testimony covered all the essential elements of two counts of Importuning, as set
forth in R.C. 2907.07, when she stated that Jackson twice asked her to “suck his penis.”
This meets the definition of soliciting a person under 13 to engage in “sexual activity” as
defined by R.C. 2907.01 (C). The victim’s testimony covered all the essential elements of
seven instances of Gross Sexual Imposition, as defined by R.C. 2907.05, when she
testified that Jackson had kissed her, and touched her breasts, vaginal area, and buttocks
on three separate occasions. Contact with each separate area of the victim’s body meets
the definition of a separate charge of “sexual contact,” defined in R.C. 2907.01(B) as any
touching of an erogenous zone of another for the purpose of sexual gratification.
{¶ 45} In the second trial on the Indictment B charges, the victim’s testimony
covered all the essential elements of one count of Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-oriented
Materials, as set forth in R.C. 2907.323(A)(1), by the admission of the videotape that
depicted Jackson engaging in sexual contact with the victim in the shower. The victim’s
testimony covered all the essential elements of one count of Importuning, as set forth in
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R.C. 2907.07(A), when he stated that Jackson asked him to put his mouth on his penis.
Trial Transcript, Oct. 30, 2013, at pg. 240. All the essential elements of five counts of
Gross Sexual Imposition, as set forth in R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), were presented through the
testimony of the victim when he described at least five different occasions and locations,
between the ages of 5 and 8, when Jackson touched the victim’s penis with his hand, or
touched his penis to the victim’s buttocks. Trial Transcript, Oct. 30, 2013, at pgs. 224-
245.
{¶ 46} Based on our review of the record, we conclude that the convictions are
supported by sufficient evidence. Jackson’s Fourth Assignment of Error is overruled.
VI. The Verdicts Are Not Against the Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶ 47} For his Fifth Assignment of Error, Jackson alleges as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT’S VERDICTS SHOULD BE REVERSED AS
THEY WERE AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶ 48} Jackson contends that his convictions are against the manifest weight of
the evidence for the same reasons raised in his Fourth Assignment of Error, that
inconsistencies in the testimony of the victims rendered their testimony unreliable. Unlike
the previous assignment of error, in consideration of this argument, we are required to
review the entire record, weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, and consider
the credibility of the witnesses. State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St. 3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160,
840 N.E. 2d 1032, ¶ 39.
{¶ 49} In determining whether a verdict is against the manifest weight of the
evidence, the appellate court acts as a “thirteenth juror.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
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St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). Under this standard of review, the appellate court
weighs the evidence in order to determine whether the trier of fact “clearly lost its way
and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed
and a new trial ordered.” Id.{¶ 50} Weighing the credibility of victims who are young children, particularly
when a long period of time elapses between the incident and the police interview or the
trial is a difficult task. We recognize that “the trier of fact is better situated than an appellate
court to view witnesses and to observe their demeanor, gestures, voice inflections and to
use those observations in weighing credibility.” State v. Lewis, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
01CA2787, 2002 WL 368625 (Feb. 25, 2002). “A trier of fact is free to believe all, part
or none of the testimony of each witness.” Id. at *3, citing State v. Long, 127 Ohio App.3d
328, 713 N.E.2d 1 (4th Dist. 1998). Although the testimony of the victims in the present
case does contain inconsistencies, we do not find that the jury lost its way in deciding to
believe the portions of the victims’ testimony identifying Jackson and describing his
conduct that met the elements of the charged offenses.
{¶ 51} Jackson’s Fifth Assignment of Error is overruled.
VII. Conclusion
{¶ 52} All assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment of the trial
court is Affirmed.
.............
FROELICH, P.J., and HALL, J., concur.
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Copies mailed to:
Mathias H. Heck
Kirsten A. Brandt
Marshall G. Lachman
Hon. Dennis J. Langer