State v. Byrd, Unpublished Decision (7-24-2003)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 24, 2003
DocketNo. 82145.
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Byrd, Unpublished Decision (7-24-2003) (State v. Byrd, Unpublished Decision (7-24-2003)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
State v. Byrd, Unpublished Decision (7-24-2003), (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION.
{¶ 1} Defendant Andrew Byrd appeals from his convictions for two counts of gross sexual imposition. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for re-sentencing.

{¶ 2} On May 16, 2002, defendant was indicted for one count of gross sexual imposition allegedly committed against a fourteen-year-old girl, and for one count of gross sexual imposition allegedly committed against a fifteen-year-old girl. The matter proceeded to a jury trial on September 18, 2002.

{¶ 3} With regard to the charge involving the fourteen-year-old girl, the state's evidence demonstrated that the girl, her father, his girlfriend, and the girlfriend's children were living at a house on Hancock Avenue in Cleveland with the defendant. The girl testified that the defendant is her godfather and that in October or November 2001, he tried to get her to join the "Dick `em down" club. The girl explained that the club members' main objective is to have sex with the most women, and that in order to be admitted, she would have to sleep with its president, the defendant. The girl further testified that one night in November or December 2001, she had fallen asleep on the couch in the downstairs livingroom with a two year-old who also lived a the Hancock Avenue House. The girl stated that she was sleeping on her stomach and the two-year-old was asleep at the other end of the couch. At some point during the night, the two year-old had been moved from the couch. The defendant then sat where the two-year-old had been and placed the girl's legs over his lap. The girl testified that as she began to awaken, she felt the defendant touching her leg, then touching vaginal area over her clothing. By the time she was fully awake, he was touching her vaginal area under her clothing. The girl further testified that after she awoke, the defendant pretended to be sleeping and moved his hand away, and she went to the dining room. At this point, her father's girlfriend, Sandra Khalaf, came downstairs to get the two year-old and asked the older girl what was wrong. She did not tell anyone what had happened until a few months later.

{¶ 4} The girl further testified that she warned the fifteen year-old girl who later became the complainant in the second incident, to stay away from the defendant.

{¶ 5} The fourteen-year-old girl's family subsequently moved to West Virginia. When they returned to Cleveland in March 2002, she learned of the incident allegedly involving the fifteen year-old and went to the police to "help out" the second complainant.

{¶ 6} Also, with regard to the charge set forth in the first count of the indictment involving the fourteen year-old girl, Sandra Khalaf testified that on the night of the incident, she observed the girl asleep on the couch with the two year-old. At around 3:00 a.m., she heard the two year-old cry. She went downstairs and noticed that the two year-old was on the floor and that the defendant was sitting next to the fourteen year-old and had one of her legs draped across his lap. She returned upstairs to prepare a place for the two year-old to sleep, then came back downstairs to get the child. After bringing the two year-old upstairs, she came downstairs for a third time to tell the fourteen year-old to go to sleep in her own bedroom. By this time, the fourteen year-old was sitting in the dining room. According to Khalaf, the girl appeared frightened but would not discuss the incident until the family had moved to West Virginia. With regard to the second count of the indictment involving the fifteen year-old girl, the state's evidence demonstrated that the fifteen year-old girl lived with her mother on Hancock Avenue and that her father lived across the street with the defendant and the defendant's girlfriend. The fifteen year-old testified that prior to the incident, while she and the fourteen year-old were smoking marijuana with the defendant, he invited them to join the "Dick `em down" club. She further stated that the fourteen year-old had warned her to be careful around the defendant.

{¶ 7} Later, in February 2002, defendant's girlfriend, Stacey Dowling, invited her to come over to drink with her. The girl joined her father, her father's friend Ronnie, Dowling, defendant, and another friend named Doris at the house where defendant lived. The group drank brandy and vodka. The fifteen year-old drank shots and conversed with the defendant about his relationship with Dowling. As the party ended, Dowling called the girl's mother and asked if the girl could spend the night there. Her mother permitted the girl to stay but reminded her that she had to be at school the following day.

{¶ 8} The girl then took a shower, changed into pajamas and watched television in a downstairs bedroom. Dowling asked the defendant to come upstairs with her but he did not immediately do so. According to the fifteen year-old, the defendant came in to her room to talk to her. He then went upstairs to Stacey's room and the fifteen year-old went to sleep. When she awoke, she felt someone touching her thigh, then touching her vaginal area over her clothing, and she jumped up and ran to Dowling.

{¶ 9} The girl did not see the person who had touched her but believed that it was defendant. She told Dowling what had happened, then told her father the next morning. She went to her mother's house to speak with her but her mother was not home, and she reported the matter to her sister, Misty. Misty later reported the matter to the girls' mother, who then called the police.

{¶ 10} The fifteen year-old girl subsequently spoke to Det. Alan Strickler of the Cleveland Police sex crimes unit, and also informed him of the incident involving the fourteen year-old girl. Stricker took statements from the girls and also spoke with the defendant. Defendant denied the incident and explained that his landlord, a relative of one of the girls, was attempting to evict him from the Hancock Avenue home.

{¶ 11} The defense presented the testimony of Karen Boyd. Boyd testified that the property was owned by her mother. Through a power of attorney, Boyd had leased it to the defendant. Boyd's sister subsequently obtained a new power of attorney and wanted to evict the defendant. According to Boyd, her sister did not like defendant because he refused to obtain drugs for her.

{¶ 12} The matter was submitted to the jury and defendant was convicted of both counts of gross sexual imposition. The trial court sentenced him to concurrent one year terms of imprisonment. He now appeals and assigns six errors for our review. For the sake of convenience, we shall address defendant's assignments of error out of their predesignated order.

{¶ 13} Defendant's second assignment of error states:

{¶ 14} "The trial court erred by failing to dismiss on its own motion the charges of gross sexual imposition when the state failed to establish the element of force."

{¶ 15} Within this assignment of error, defendant asserts that his conviction must fail because the state did not establish the element of force needed to establish a violation of R.C. 2907.05(A)(1).

{¶ 16} As an initial matter we note that the failure to timely file a Crim.R. 29(A) motion during a jury trial does not waive an argument on appeal concerning the sufficiency of the evidence. See Statev. Jones (2001),

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Byrd, Unpublished Decision (7-24-2003), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-byrd-unpublished-decision-7-24-2003-ohioctapp-2003.