State v. Dumas, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 18, 1999
DocketNo. 98AP-581
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Dumas, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999) (State v. Dumas, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Dumas, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999), (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Defendant-appellant, Charles A. Dumas, appeals his conviction in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas following a jury trial in which he was found guilty of rape and rape by force, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b) and (A)(2), an aggravated felony of the first degree.

During the time period in question, appellant lived with his girlfriend, Michelle Dillon, and her two daughters, four-year-old Tene and three-month-old Dessa, at 6865 Greenleaf Drive, Apt. E-2 in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Appellant had been living with the Dillons for approximately three months and routinely watched the children while Michelle was at work. On October 29, 1997, Michelle left for work between 9:35 and 9:45 a.m. Michelle's place of work was approximately a seven minute walk from the apartment. As Michelle was leaving the apartment for work, she noticed that the construction workers who were renovating the apartment complex were re-shingling the apartment buildings and throwing the old shingles to the ground. Because of the ongoing construction work, Michelle told appellant, who was watching the girls that day, not to let Tene play outside.

Michelle testified that she called home at lunch to check on her younger daughter Dessa, who suffered from a rare skin disease requiring regular administration of medications, and also to check on Tene who was coming down with a cold. Michelle returned home shortly after 6:00 that evening. Michelle testified that appellant was sitting on the edge of the couch and that Tene was lying on the far side of the couch on her side. Michelle testified that, when she entered the apartment, appellant left almost immediately thereafter, and that she then touched Tene on the head and went upstairs to check on Dessa. Michelle then went back downstairs and sat down next to Tene. At that time, appellant telephoned Michelle from Kristy Hercenberg's apartment in the same complex to tell Michelle that he had given Tene some cold medication. After the telephone call, Michelle again sat down next to Tene. Michelle testified that Tene was whimpering or sobbing. Michelle asked Tene if her head or stomach was hurting, to which Tene answered no. Michelle asked what was hurting and Tene responded that her "coochie hurts." Michelle testified that coochie is Tene's term for vagina. Michelle then asked why her coochie hurt and Tene said that "Charles told me not to tell you." (Tr. 180.) Michelle testified that she could tell that Tene was scared by her facial expressions.

Michelle told Tene that "mommy and Tene don't keep secrets from each other and she needs to tell me anything." Tene then told Michelle that appellant had "put his coochie in her coochie." (Tr. 180.) Michelle took Tene to the bedroom and, upon removing Tene's panties, saw that Tene had a bloody panty liner in her underwear. When Michelle removed the panties, blood ran out and down Tene's legs. Michelle called her brother and then the Reynoldsburg police. The police arrived within twenty minutes. Appellant returned to the apartment five minutes before the police arrived, but Michelle was afraid to ask him about Tene until she saw the police arrive. Upon the arrival of the police, but before they entered the apartment, Michelle asked appellant why he "did that to Tene." Appellant replied, "Do what?" Michelle responded, "Why did you hurt her?" To which appellant responded, "I didn't molest that girl." (Tr. 184.)

Upon the arrival of the police, appellant voluntarily went to the police station and made a statement. During the course of the investigation, appellant offered written and oral statements to law enforcement officers. In a written statement made on October 29, 1997, appellant indicated that, on the day in question, he sent Tene out to play and she returned to the house about one or two hours later, crying. Appellant stated that Tene complained to him that "her butt was hurting and somebody was sticking her and her butt was hurting and her head." (Tr. 347.) Appellant further indicated that he gave her medicine and told her to lie down on the couch. Appellant explained that later he saw a red stain on Tene's shorts, took her into the bathroom, noticed blood in her underwear and gave her a bath, which stopped the bleeding. Appellant then put a panty liner in her underwear. Appellant agreed with Michelle that he left the apartment shortly after she arrived home.

The police searched the apartment for evidence and Tene was subsequently taken to Children's Hospital. At the hospital, Michelle and Tene met briefly with a triage nurse. At this time, Lynn Finefrock, a clinical social worker employed with the hospital, met with Michelle and Tene to assess the situation. Finefrock testified that, when a child is brought into the hospital with possible sexual abuse injuries, the child is first seen by a triage nurse who obtains a brief description of the problem. If sexual abuse is indicated, then Finefrock is the next person the family meets. Finefrock's role in the Emergency Department at Children's Hospital is to obtain background information from the incoming patient and the patient's family.

Finefrock testified that, upon meeting Michelle and Tene, she asked Tene why she was at the hospital. Tene replied that, "Charles had put his coochie in her coochie. He had moved up and down. He had made her wet. And the wetness was blood." (Tr. 386.) Finefrock realized that Tene was in need of immediate medical attention and took her to an examination room. Finefrock put Tene's information on an abuse form and advised the nurse and the physician of Tene's need for medical attention. Tene's injuries were extensive, requiring surgery.

Appellant was subsequently arrested and charged with rape. The jury found appellant guilty of rape by force and he was sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment. On appeal, appellant asserts seven assignments of error:

"ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1:

"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND THEREBY DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION BY OVERRULING APPELLANTS CRIM.R. 29 MOTION FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL, AS THE STATE FAILED TO OFFER SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE EACH AND EVERY ELEMENT OF RAPE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

"ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2:

"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND THEREBY DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION BY FINDING DEFENDANT GUILTY, AS THE VERDICTS FOR THE CHARGE OF RAPE WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.

"ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 3:

"THE TRIAL COURT DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF HIS RIGHT TO CONFRONT HIS ACCUSERS AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION BY PERMITTING IMPROPER HEARSAY STATEMENTS TO BE ADMITTED AT TRIAL IN VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF EVIDENCE.

"ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 4:

"THE TRIAL COURT DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 10

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Dumas, Unpublished Decision (2-18-1999), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-dumas-unpublished-decision-2-18-1999-ohioctapp-1999.