State v. Sharier , 2019 Ohio 3533 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Sharier, 2019-Ohio-3533.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF WAYNE )
STATE OF OHIO C.A. No. 18AP0015
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
STVEN B. SHARIER COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF WAYNE, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 2017 CRC-I 000042
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: September 3, 2019
CALLAHAN, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Steven Sharier, appeals his conviction by the Wayne County Court of
Common Pleas. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} On August 29, 2016, M.W. found an undated note in her teenage stepdaughter’s
bedroom that seemed to indicate that she had a romantic interest in a man named Steve. M.W.
learned that “Steve” probably referred to an adult friend of her stepdaughter’s mother. She then
confronted her stepdaughter, K.W., about the contents of the note. K.W. denied that she had
been sexually involved with the man to whom the note referred. A few days later, however,
K.W. left a note for her stepmother in which she apologized for lying and admitted that she had
gone to the home of a man named Steve during school hours and stated that “he made [her] have
sex with him.”
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{¶3} M.W. immediately pulled K.W. from school and drove her to the Wayne County
Sheriff’s Office. K.W. gave a statement to Lieutenant Ryan Koster, who used computer records
to identify Mr. Sharier as the suspect. Lieutenant Koster also referred K.W. to the Wayne
County Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview, which was conducted on September 13,
2016. In the next month, K.W. placed a controlled, recorded telephone call to Mr. Sharier after
initiating contact with him through a series of text messages. Mr. Sharier was interviewed by a
detective in January 2017, and shortly thereafter was charged with unlawful sexual contact with
a minor in violation of R.C. 2907.04(A).
{¶4} The State filed a motion in limine to exclude any extrinsic evidence related to
prior accusations of sexual abuse made by K.W. against another individual under Evid.R.
608(B). The trial court conducted a hearing on the motion and excluded all such evidence, but
did so based on application of State v. Boggs, 63 Ohio St. 3d 418 (1992). The case proceeded to
a jury trial that resulted in a verdict of guilty, and the trial court sentenced Mr. Sharier to five
years in prison. He then filed this appeal.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED [BY] NOT DISMISSING THE INDICTMENT
BASED ON INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.
{¶5} In his first assignment of error, Mr. Sharier urges this Court to articulate a
heightened standard of review to assess the sufficiency of the evidence. This Court declines to
do so.
{¶6} The due process secured by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution guarantees “that no person shall be made to suffer the onus of a criminal conviction
except upon sufficient proof—defined as evidence necessary to convince a trier of fact beyond a
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reasonable doubt of the existence of every element of the offense.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443
U.S. 307, 316 (1979). In applying this standard, courts do not evaluate credibility, and we make
all reasonable inferences in favor of the State. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St. 3d 259, 273 (1991).
{¶7} Mr. Sharier has not argued that the evidence at trial failed to meet this standard.
Instead, he urges this Court to adopt a heightened measure of sufficiency because of the
“sensitive, emotional, and now political nature” of sex offenses. The existing standard, however,
comports with due process and is applied in cases of all kinds. See, e.g., State v. Myers, 154
Ohio St. 3d 405, 2018-Ohio-1903, ¶ 132 (aggravated murder with death penalty specifications);
State v. Clinton, 153 Ohio St. 3d 422, 2017-Ohio-9423, ¶ 165, 177-181 (rape); State v. Tate, 140
Ohio St. 3d 442, 2014-Ohio-3667, ¶ 15-20 (gross sexual imposition and kidnapping). This same
standard is consistently applied when a defendant is convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a
minor. State v. Shank, 9th Dist. Medina No. 12CA0104-M, 2013-Ohio-5368, ¶ 21-25; State v.
Watson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25915, 2012-Ohio-1624, ¶ 5-7.
{¶8} This Court declines to depart from the standard of sufficiency set forth in Jackson
and Jenks. Mr. Sharier’s first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ALLOWING THE JURY TO KNOW
ABOUT THE ALLEGED VICTIM’S PAST UNSUBSTANTIATED SEXUAL
ABUSE ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE ADMITTED WERE FALSE.
{¶9} Mr. Sharier’s second assignment of error argues that the trial court erred by
excluding extrinsic evidence related to a prior allegation of sexual abuse that K.W. made against
a family member under the rape shield law. Mr. Sharier did not object in the trial court on this
basis, as he acknowledges, so he has forfeited all but plain error for purposes of appeal. See
Crim.R. 52(B).
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{¶10} Crim.R. 52(B) permits this Court to notice plain errors or defects that affected a
substantial right in the absence of an objection in the trial court. This Court can only notice plain
error when there has been a deviation from a legal rule that constitutes an obvious defect in the
trial proceedings that affected the outcome of the trial. State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St. 3d 21, 27
(2002). This Court notices plain error only in exceptional circumstances to prevent a manifest
miscarriage of justice. State v. Long, 53 Ohio St. 2d 91 (1978), paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶11} R.C. 2907.02(D), which sets forth Ohio’s rape shield law, provides:
Evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual activity, opinion evidence of
the victim’s sexual activity, and reputation evidence of the victim’s sexual activity
shall not be admitted under this section unless it involves evidence of the origin of
semen, pregnancy, or disease, or the victim’s past sexual activity with the
offender, and only to the extent that the court finds that the evidence is material to
a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not
outweigh its probative value.
See also R.C. 2907.05(E) (setting forth the rape shield law in the context of the offense of gross
sexual imposition). The rape shield law “render[s] inadmissible evidence of the rape victim’s
sexual activity with one other than the accused where the evidence: does not involve the origin of
semen, pregnancy, or disease, or the victim’s past sexual activity with the offender; is offered
simply to impeach the credibility of the victim; and is not material to a fact at issue in the case.”
State v. Ferguson, 5 Ohio St. 3d 160 (1983), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶12} When during cross-examination a victim admits to making a prior false rape
accusation, the trial court must conduct an in camera hearing to determine whether the rape
shield law prohibits further inquiry. Boggs, 63 Ohio St. 3d 418 at paragraph two of the syllabus.
If the trial court determines that sexual activity was not involved in the prior false accusation, the
trial court has the discretion to permit inquiry under Evid.R. 608(B). Id. at paragraphs one and
two of the syllabus. “[U]nder no circumstances would the defense be permitted to introduce
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extrinsic evidence.” Id. at 422, citing Evid.R. 608(B). As the State concedes, however, the rape
shield law does not apply to allegations of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. See State v.
Smiddy, 2d Dist. Clark No. 06CA0028, 2007-Ohio-1342, ¶ 34 (concluding that “had the General
Assembly intended for the rape shield language to be applicable to unlawful sexual conduct with
a minor, it would have included that provision in R.C. 2907.04.”). To the extent that the trial
court based its decision to exclude the evidence at issue under the rape shield law, that decision
was in error.
{¶13} This Court may only notice plain error when, “but for the error, the outcome of
the trial clearly would have been otherwise.” Long, 53 Ohio St. 2d 91 at paragraph two of the
syllabus. In this case, Mr. Sharier has not demonstrated that the result would have been
different had the trial court not applied the rape shield statute. To the extent that Mr. Sharier
complains that the trial court excluded the fact that K.W. is alleged to have made a prior false
accusation of sexual assault, this Court notes that he testified to this effect during his direct
examination without objection. When defense counsel inquired about Mr. Sharier’s conduct
during the controlled telephone call placed by K.W., he testified as follows:
Q: What else made you suspect it was a controlled call?
A. Well, I mean, after my wife had asked me if I knew of any charges being
dismissed against me or unsubstantiated, of course, it’s lingering in the back of
my head and then, randomly, out of the blue, I’m receiving text messages and
now a call?
Q: Okay.
A: She was also very vehement in asking sexual related [sic] questions which,
obviously put me on guard and then made me recall that she had previously gotten
someone else in trouble on the same regard.
Mr. Sharier’s own testimony, therefore, placed the allegation that K.W. had “previously gotten
someone else in trouble” for a sex offense before the jury. In addition, Mr. Sharier referenced
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prior allegations against several individuals during a recorded interview with Detective Alex
Abel that was played during trial and admitted into evidence. Given that the previous
accusations alleged to have been made by K.W. were before the jury, this Court cannot conclude
that the result of the trial would have been different had the trial court ruled otherwise.
{¶14} To the extent that Mr. Sharier argues that the trial court incorrectly excluded
extrinsic evidence related to the allegation, he also has not demonstrated that the result of the
trial would have been different but for reliance on the rape shield law. Although Evid.R. 608(A)
permits the introduction of opinion or reputation evidence related to a witness’s character for
untruthfulness, Evid.R. 608(B) provides that “[s]pecific instances of the conduct of a witness, for
the purposes of attacking or supporting the witness’s character for truthfulness, other than
conviction of crime as provided in Evid.R. 609, may not be proved by extrinsic evidence.” See
also State v. Kamel, 12 Ohio St. 3d 306 (1984), paragraph two of the syllabus (“[A] witness’[s]
credibility may not be impeached by extrinsic proof of specific instances of his conduct. Such
conduct may be inquired into only by the intrinsic means of cross-examination within the
guidelines set forth in Evid.R. 608(B).”). Prior allegations of sexual assault “are an entirely
collateral matter which may not be proved by extrinsic evidence.” Boggs at 422, citing Kamel at
paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶15} Mr. Sharier maintains that the trial court should have permitted him to introduce
“the children’s services records, social worker testimony, and perhaps testimony from [the prior
accused] and any other family members” because the prior accusation “was probative as to
whether she was telling the truth about Sharier.” Even without applying the rape shield statute,
however, that extrinsic evidence could not have been admitted as evidence of K.W.’s character
for untruthfulness. See Evid.R. 608(B); Boggs at 422.
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{¶16} Mr. Sharier has not demonstrated that the outcome of his trial would have been
different if the trial court had not relied on the rape shield law. This Court, therefore, cannot
notice plain error in this case. Mr. Sharier’s second assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY IMPOSING THE MAXIMUM PRISON
SENTENCE.
{¶17} In his final assignment of error, Mr. Sharier argues that the trial court should not
have imposed the maximum sentence. This Court disagrees.
{¶18} This Court may modify or vacate a felony sentence “only if it determines by clear
and convincing evidence that the record does not support the trial court’s findings under relevant
statutes or that the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.” State v. Marcum, 146 Ohio St. 3d 516,
2016-Ohio-1002, ¶ 1. With respect to maximum sentences, a trial court has “full discretion to
impose a prison sentence within the statutory range” and is “no longer required to make findings
or give * * * reasons for imposing maximum, consecutive, or more than the minimum
sentences.” State v. Mathis, 109 Ohio St. 3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, paragraph three of the syllabus.1
{¶19} “The overriding purposes of felony sentencing are to protect the public from
future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender using the minimum sanctions
that the court determines accomplish those purposes without imposing an unnecessary burden on
state or local government resources.” R.C. 2929.11(A). Trial courts have discretion in
fashioning felony sentences with consideration for the factors provided in R.C. 2929.12(B)-(F).
R.C. 2929.12(A). “R.C. 2929.12(B) includes factors that suggest that the offense is more
1
The Reagan Tokes Law, Am.Sub.S.B. No. 201, 2018 Ohio Laws 157, effective March
22, 2019, made substantive amendments to Ohio’s felony sentencing statutes with respect to
felonies of the first and second degree committed after the effective date of the amendments.
Those changes are not at issue in this appeal.
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serious. R.C. 2929.12(C) includes factors suggesting the offense is less serious. The recidivism
factors—factors indicating an offender is more or less likely to commit future crimes—are set
forth in R.C. 2929.12(D) and (E).” State v. Thrasher, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27547, 2015-Ohio-
2504, ¶ 5.
{¶20} Mr. Sharier does not dispute that his sentence is within the permissible range for
unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, which is a third-degree felony. See R.C. 2907.04(B)(3).
Instead, he has argued that the record does not support the sentence that the trial court imposed.
{¶21} R.C. 2929.12(B), in relevant part, provides that the following factors indicate that
an offender’s conduct is “more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense”:
(1) The physical or mental injury suffered by the victim of the offense due to the
conduct of the offender was exacerbated because of the physical or mental
condition or age of the victim.
(2) The victim of the offense suffered serious physical, psychological, or
economic harm as a result of the offense.
* * * [and]
(6) The offender’s relationship with the victim facilitated the offense.
Although the trial court did not utilize a presentence investigation, the trial court considered the
evidence at trial in addition to victim impact statements from K.W. and her father and
stepmother. In imposing the maximum sentence of sixty months in prison, the trial court noted
the psychological harm done to K.W., her tender age, her vulnerability given the instability of
her relationship with her mother, and the fact that Mr. Sharier took advantage of that situation in
the commission of the offense. The record supports the trial court’s exercise of its discretion to
impose the maximum sentence in this case. See Mathis, 109 Ohio St. 3d 54, 2006-Ohio-855, at
paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶22} Mr. Sharier’s third assignment of error is overruled.
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III.
{¶23} Mr. Sharier’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Wayne
County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Wayne, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy
of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
LYNNE S. CALLAHAN
FOR THE COURT
SCHAFER, J.
CONCURS.
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CARR, J.
DISSENTING.
{¶24} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s resolution of Sharier’s second
assignment of error. First, I question the majority’s application of the plain error standard in
light of Sharier’s objection to the trial court’s decision during the in camera hearing.
Irrespective, I cannot conclude that the error in prohibiting the cross-examination of K.W. about
sexual abuse allegations she made against her sibling and later retracted did not warrant reversal.
Credibility played a pivotal role in this case. Essentially, the case turned on whether the jury
believed K.W.’s or Sharier’s testimony. There was no physical evidence or corroborating
witnesses to verify either person’s whereabouts at the relevant time.
{¶25} As a basis to conclude the error did not warrant reversal, the majority points to
comments by Sharier during his recorded interview with police and the controlled phone call
which indicate that K.W. previously accused other people of wrongdoing and got them in
trouble. However, nothing in those comments would lead the jury to suspect that K.W. may
have made false accusations or later retracted her allegations. Thus, those comments would not
cause the jury to question K.W.’s truthfulness.
{¶26} Moreover, what the jury knew of the alleged abuse of K.W. by her sibling would
also not have caused the jury to question K.W.’s truthfulness. K.W. testified that she had never
claimed to have engaged in sexual activity with someone when it did not happen. Further, the
jury saw a note that indicated K.W.’s sibling molested her and heard K.W.’s stepmother testify
that, as far as she knew, charges were still pending against the sibling. Thus, the evidence about
the alleged abuse would not have called K.W.’s truthfulness into question.
{¶27} If Sharier had been permitted to cross-examine K.W. about the alleged abuse by
her sibling, the jury likely would have heard that K.W. had retracted her allegations. While the
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jury also would have likely heard K.W. assert that she was pressured to recant and that the
allegations were true, the jury should have been able to hear and evaluate that evidence,
particularly given the importance of credibility in this case.
{¶28} Because I cannot conclude that the error in prohibiting the cross-examination of
K.W. about these allegations did not warrant reversal, I respectfully dissent from the judgment of
the majority.
APPEARANCES:
DAVID V. GEDROCK, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
DANIEL R. LUTZ, Prosecuting Attorney, and ANDREA D. UHLER, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for Appellee.