State v. Ibrahim, Unpublished Decision (8-10-2004)

2004 Ohio 4220
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 10, 2004
DocketCase No. 03AP-900.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 2004 Ohio 4220 (State v. Ibrahim, Unpublished Decision (8-10-2004)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Ibrahim, Unpublished Decision (8-10-2004), 2004 Ohio 4220 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Mustafa Abdi Ibrahim, appeals from the August 14, 2003 judgment entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas adjudicating him as a sexual predator pursuant to R.C. Chapter 2950. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

{¶ 2} On March 11, 2003, appellant was indicted on one count of aggravated burglary, one count of kidnapping, one count of gross sexual imposition, and one count of rape. On June 24, 2003, appellant pled guilty to gross sexual imposition and to the stipulated lesser-included offense of attempted rape. Upon application of appellee, State of Ohio ("the State"), the aggravated burglary and kidnapping counts of the indictment were dismissed. The trial court sentenced appellant to an aggregate term of five years' incarceration.

{¶ 3} On August 8, 2003, the trial court conducted a hearing to determine if appellant should be classified as a sexual predator. The trial court noted on the record that it considered the presentence investigation report ("PSI") and the psychological evaluation of appellant conducted by Dr. Kristen E. Haskins. (Revocation and Sentencing Hearing, August 8, 2003, Tr. 9.) On August 14, 2003, the trial court issued a judgment entry adjudicating appellant to be a sexual predator. Appellant timely appeals, assigning the following sole assignment of error:

The trial court erred in classifying appellant as a sexual predator where the factual critieria to warrant such a designation were not present.

{¶ 4} Recently, this court in State v. Messer, Franklin App. No. 03AP-169, 2004-Ohio-2127, articulated the proper standard of review for an appellate court on an appeal from a sexual predator adjudication hearing. Because sexual predator adjudication hearings "`necessarily arise in the context of an antecedent criminal conviction, and are largely concerned with an assessment of past criminal conduct by a defendant and his potential for future criminal conduct,'" the criminal standard of review of manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence was appropriate. Id. at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Morrison (Sept. 20, 2001), Franklin App. No. 01AP-66, and citing State v. Baron, Cuyahoga App. No. 80712, 2002-Ohio-4588 (applying criminal manifest weight of the evidence standard of review); see, also,State v. Bolin (June 15, 2001), Montgomery App. No. 18605.

{¶ 5} Under the manifest weight of the evidence standard of review, the court of appeals, after reviewing the entire record, weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses, and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, there was such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered. See State v. Thompkins (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, quoting State v. Martin (1983), 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175; see, also, Columbus v. Henry (1995), 105 Ohio App.3d 545, 547-548;Morrison, supra. With respect to sufficiency of the evidence, sufficiency is the legal standard applied to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain a verdict as a matter of law. Thompkins, at 386.

{¶ 6} In his sole assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court erred by classifying him a sexual predator. A sexual predator is defined as a person who has been convicted of or pled guilty to committing a sexually oriented offense and is likely to engage in the future in one or more sexually oriented offenses. R.C. 2950.01(E). Since rape is considered a sexually oriented offense, the issue becomes whether the State proved, by clear and convincing evidence, that appellant is likely to engage in future sexually oriented offenses. State v. Eppinger (2001),91 Ohio St.3d 158, 163; State v. Cook (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 404,423-424.

{¶ 7} In this case, appellant does not dispute that he was convicted of a sexually oriented offense; rather, he does contend the state failed to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is likely to reoffend. An appellate court reviewing a finding that an appellant is a sexual predator must examine the record to determine whether the trier of fact had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the clear and convincing standard. State v.Williams, Franklin App. No. 02AP-35, 2002-Ohio-4503, at ¶ 90. "`Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established. It is intermediate, being more than a mere preponderance, but not to the extent of such certainty as is required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases.'"Eppinger, at 164, quoting Cross v. Ledford (1954),161 Ohio St. 469, 477. This court will not reverse a trial court's sexual predator judgment as being against the manifest weight of the evidence if there exists some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case to support that judgment. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Constr. Co. (1978),54 Ohio St.2d 279; State v. Hudson, Delaware App. No. 02 CAA 12065, 2003-Ohio-7049, at ¶ 99.

{¶ 8} R.C. Chapter 2950 was implemented to protect the safety and general welfare of the people of this state. Former R.C. Chapter 2950; State v. McKenna, Franklin App. No. 03AP-177,2003-Ohio-5997; Eppinger, at 165. In determining whether an offender is a sexual predator, R.C. 2950.09(B)(3)1 requires the trial court to consider all relevant factors, including those enumerated in the statute. Eppinger, at 166;State v. Maser (Apr. 20, 1999), Franklin App. No. 98AP-689. The factors of R.C. 2950.09(B)(3) are:

(a) The offender's or delinquent child's age;

(b) The offender's or delinquent child's prior criminal or delinquency record regarding all offenses, including, but not limited to, all sexual offenses;

(c) The age of the victim of the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made;

(d) Whether the sexually oriented offense for which sentence is to be imposed or the order of disposition is to be made involved multiple victims;

(e) Whether the offender or delinquent child used drugs or alcohol to impair the victim of the sexually oriented offense or to prevent the victim from resisting;

(f) If the offender or delinquent child previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be, a criminal offense, whether the offender or delinquent child completed any sentence or dispositional order imposed for the prior offense or act and, if the prior offense or act was a sex offense or a sexually oriented offense, whether the offender or delinquent child participated in available programs for sexual offenders;

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Bluebook (online)
2004 Ohio 4220, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ibrahim-unpublished-decision-8-10-2004-ohioctapp-2004.