In re E.M.P.

2024 Ohio 237
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 23, 2024
Docket23CA23
StatusPublished

This text of 2024 Ohio 237 (In re E.M.P.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re E.M.P., 2024 Ohio 237 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

[Cite as In re E.M.P., 2024-Ohio-237.]

COURT OF APPEALS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: E.M.P. : JUDGES: : : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J. : Hon. John W. Wise, J. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : : Case No. 23CA23 : : : : : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. DL20230052

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 23, 2023

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:

GENYLYNN COSGROVE KRISTOPHER K. HILL ASST. FAIRFIELD CO. PROSECUTOR GRAHAM & GRAHAM CO., LPA 239 W. Main St., Ste. 101 17 N. Fourth St., P.O. Box 340 Lancaster, OH 43130 Zanesville, OH 43702-0340 Fairfield County, Case No. 23CA23 2

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Appellant minor E.M.P. appeals from the May 15, 2023 Entry of the Fairfield

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. Appellee is the state of Ohio.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} The following facts are adduced from the record of appellant’s bench trial

before the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division.

{¶3} This case arose on February 15, 2021, when Jane Doe and appellant, her

stepbrother, were both 15 and living in a home in Muskingum County, Ohio, with Mother,

Father, and two young siblings. Mother and Father were out of town for a short vacation.

Step-Grandmother was at the house babysitting the younger siblings with the help of Jane

Doe and appellant.

{¶4} An unidentified friend of Step-Grandmother was also present; at some

point, this person provided Jane and appellant with a bottle of vodka. Jane testified she

tasted alcohol before, but did not regularly drink and had never been “drunk.” At first,

Jane poured the vodka into a shot glass and drank at least six shots, but then poured the

remainder into a soda can and a soda bottle that she continued to drink from.

{¶5} Jane helped Step-Grandmother prepare the younger siblings for bed. Jane

testified she was unsteady and held herself up against a wall, but Step-Grandmother did

not ask if anything was amiss. Appellant told Jane to “slow down” on the vodka because

the effects would creep up on her.

{¶6} Jane went to her bedroom and spoke to her boyfriend, “J.J.,” on the phone.

J.J. could tell Jane was drunk and told her to stay in her room and go to sleep; he assumed Fairfield County, Case No. 23CA23 3

she followed his advice, although he realized later she eventually left the house and was

45 minutes away.

{¶7} Jane and appellant were friends before their parents married and had the

same friend group at school, although Jane didn’t know appellant’s Girlfriend well. While

still in her bedroom, Jane Facetimed on her phone with Girlfriend and their mutual friend

John Roe, both also minors at the time. John Roe was a neighbor and rode the bus with

Jane and appellant. Jane and appellant made plans to sneak out of the house that night

to go to Girlfriend’s house after everyone was asleep.

{¶8} Girlfriend testified Jane was “obviously drunk” during the Facetime chat,

describing Jane laying on the floor “with her behind hanging out” and slurring her words.

T. 170. Jane was at first in bed and then on the floor during the Facetime chat. At some

point, appellant came into Jane’s bedroom and joined her on the Facetime call.

{¶9} Girlfriend testified appellant took the phone away from Jane because she

was “being too much,” talking about wanting to have sex with John Roe due to issues she

was having with J.J. Appellant took Jane’s phone from her and ended the Facetime chat.

{¶10} Jane testified appellant ended the Facetime chat when he realized she was

so drunk she was falling asleep. Jane was laying on her stomach on the bed; she testified

appellant propped her legs up and pulled her pants down. She asked him what he was

doing. Appellant said “you’re fingering yourself” but appellant placed his own fingers in

her vagina. Jane was intoxicated but realized she was not doing this to herself. She

straightened her legs to push appellant off and said “this isn’t happening.” Appellant took

his belt and pants off, and his penis was out. Jane testified appellant penetrated her

vagina with his penis; she is sexually active and was aware of what intercourse felt like. Fairfield County, Case No. 23CA23 4

She continued to straighten her legs and pushed appellant off. Appellant put his clothes

back on and said, “Let’s go.”

{¶11} Jane accompanied appellant to a cemetery down the street from their house

where they were picked up in a car by Girlfriend’s family member. Jane accompanied

appellant to Girlfriend’s house, where the three sat in Girlfriend’s bedroom with John Roe.

Girlfriend testified she and appellant were on her bed, and Jane and John Roe were on

the floor. Jane testified John Roe “tried” to have sex with her.

{¶12} Girlfriend described events at her house in more detail. She said Jane

brought alcohol with her and was the only one drinking. Girlfriend did not notice any

strange behavior between appellant and Jane; Jane did not seem to be in fear of

appellant, or angry with him, or unwilling to be around him. She said Jane was “not all

the way drunk;” the trial court asked for clarification and Girlfriend said Jane was

“conscious” and could speak, but “wanted to have sex with everyone” for revenge on her

boyfriend, J.J. Girlfriend claimed Jane “begged” to have sex with John Roe and he

complied, although he was unsure because she was drunk.

{¶13} Jane was eventually dropped off at the cemetery and she walked home.

Shortly after arriving home, around 5:00 a.m., Police Chief Rodney Walters knocked on

her door in response to a report of a sexual assault. Jane answered the door to Walters,

keeping her voice down because everyone was asleep. Walters advised Jane someone

reported she was sexually assaulted and Jane said she didn’t want to talk about it.

Walters testified he could tell Jane had been drinking, but she was able to speak

coherently and was not stumbling. After conversation with Step-Grandmother, Walters Fairfield County, Case No. 23CA23 5

transported Jane to Genesis (fka Bethesda Hospital) for examination by a SANE and

preparation of a rape kit.

{¶14} Jane first told Walters she didn’t want to talk about it, then admitted she was

“messed with” sexually, but only by John Roe. She said appellant was part of the group

drinking together, but did not tell Walters appellant sexually assaulted her. Walters first

learned of the allegations against appellant when he observed Jane’s forensic interview

at Harcum House.

{¶15} Jane arrived at Genesis around 6:45 and met with the SANE, who testified

at trial. Jane told the SANE she had too much to drink was laying down when an assailant

inserted his fingers and penis in her vagina. The SANE prepared swabs and collected

evidence for a rape kit which she gave to Walters.

{¶16} Jane was subject to a forensic interview at Harcum House Child Advocacy

Center on February 24, 2021, and the interviewer was appellee’s witness at trial. The

interviewer testified she is part of a multi-disciplinary team who questions child victims of

alleged sexual assault to prevent the child from repeating the allegations and being re-

traumatized. Jane disclosed penetration by penis and fingers of two assailants, one of

whom she identified as her stepbrother, appellant.

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