[Cite as State v. Martin, 2016-Ohio-989.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT HANCOCK COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 5-15-28
v.
GARY A. MARTIN, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Hancock County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 2014CR58
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: March 14, 2016
APPEARANCES:
Gene P. Murray for Appellant
Elizabeth H. Smith for Appellee Case No. 5-15-28
SHAW, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Gary A. Martin, appeals the August 24, 2015
judgment of the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas entering his conviction
for four counts of Rape and sentencing him to thirty-two years in prison. Martin
assigns as error the trial court’s overruling of his pre-sentence motion to withdraw
his guilty pleas.
{¶2} On March 4, 2014, the Hancock County Grand Jury returned a four
count indictment against Martin for Rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b),
involving a victim who is less than thirteen years of age, all felonies of the first
degree. The charges stemmed from allegations that from October to December
2013 Martin engaged in sexual conduct with his eleven-year-old adopted daughter,
B.M.
{¶3} Martin subsequently entered pleas of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
(“NGRI”) to all counts of the indictment. Specifically, Martin admitted to
engaging in sexual conduct with his daughter, but claimed that during the pertinent
times of the alleged offenses he was “under the direct and controlling personality
and judgment altering effects of psychotropic medication” prescribed for his
severe depression. (Doc. No. 9 at 1). Martin asserted that this medication caused
him to “not know the wrongfulness of the alleged offenses that he is accused of
committing.” (Id. at 2).
-2- Case No. 5-15-28
{¶4} The trial court ordered a psychiatric evaluation for criminal
responsibility be performed by the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center. On
May 28, 2014, Dr. Charlene Cassel, a clinical psychologist, conducted Martin’s
NGRI evaluation. Dr. Cassel reviewed several records relating to the investigation
of the case, including statements made by the victim and Martin’s wife.
{¶5} These records revealed that Martin’s wife first contacted law
enforcement on December 29, 2013, regarding the offenses when she discovered
from B.M. that Martin had engaged in sexual conduct with her. During family
movie night, Martin’s wife noticed B.M. leave the room several times to use the
bathroom. Finding this behavior peculiar, she followed B.M. into the restroom to
assist her and observed blood in the toilet. Upon further discussion, B.M.
described symptoms consistent with a yeast infection which prompted Mrs. Martin
to ask B.M. if she had been inappropriately touched by someone. B.M. initially
denied any sexual contact, but eventually disclosed that Martin had engaged in
numerous instances of sexual conduct with her. B.M. recalled Martin warning her
that it was their secret and not to tell anyone or they would both be in trouble.
B.M. claimed the sexual conduct consisted of vaginal and anal intercourse, as well
as cunnilingus and fellatio.
{¶6} Mrs. Martin immediately confronted her husband who admitted “to
doing things he was ashamed of” and acknowledged becoming aroused during
-3- Case No. 5-15-28
“cuddle time” with B.M. (Dec. 29, 2013, Narrative Supplement 0218 at 2).
Martin’s wife demanded he contact his counselor, who was treating him for severe
depression. Mrs. Martin overheard Martin’s conversation with his counselor,
during which he confessed to molesting B.M. on four occasions and to touching
B.M.’s vagina. (Id.). After the disclosure, Martin packed his belongings, left the
family home, and attempted to overdose on over-the-counter cold and pain
medication. When his suicide attempt failed, he checked into the emergency room
at the local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
{¶7} At the direction of law enforcement, Mrs. Martin took B.M. to the
emergency room to have a sexual assault nurse examination (“SANE”) performed.
The SANE findings revealed evidence of anal tearing and bleeding, as well as a
thin vaginal wall, all of which are associated with penal penetration. During her
examination, B.M. disclosed to the nurse that the first incident occurred in October
of 2013 and involved Martin licking her vagina. B.M. also described incidents
where Martin inserted his fingers in her vagina and had anal intercourse with her.
She further relayed to the nurse that Martin said it was their “secret” and not to tell
anyone or they would get in trouble.
{¶8} Dr. Cassel also reviewed records of B.M.’s interview at the Child
Advocacy Center where B.M. described similar accounts of oral, anal, and digital
penetration by Martin and the secrecy of these interactions.
-4- Case No. 5-15-28
{¶9} In preparation for the evaluation, Dr. Cassel interviewed Martin who
explained his family history of depression and suicide. Martin indicated that he
had been taking Zoloft (Sertraline) since 2007 to address his severe depression. In
September of 2013, Martin discussed switching antidepressants with his counselor
and family doctor due to the fact that he had lost interest in sexual activity while
on Zoloft. Martin’s family doctor prescribed him Wellbutrin (Bupropion), another
antidepressant.
{¶10} Martin relayed his account of the offenses to Dr. Cassel. He
explained that B.M. suffered from reactive attachment disorder (“RAD”) and he
engaged in “holding therapy” to assist her with this issue, which involved long
periods of holding or “cuddling” with the child. (Cassel Rpt. at 6). In October of
2013, during one of these holding therapy interactions, Martin claimed B.M. asked
him “what boys like to do.” (Id.). Martin expressed that he felt compelled by
voices in his head to be “helpful” and show her. (Id.). He then engaged in oral
sex with B.M. Martin described three more incidents during holding therapy
where B.M. asked questions about things of a sexual nature and he “helped” her
learn. He admitted to being sexually aroused during the incidents, but claimed he
was controlled by the voices in his head and did not comprehend the wrongfulness
of his actions at the time.
-5- Case No. 5-15-28
{¶11} On June 11, 2014, Dr. Cassel issued her report and opined to a
reasonable degree of psychological certainty that Martin was depressed and that
“this depression did not, at the time of the offense charged, prevent Mr. Martin
from knowing the wrongfulness of his behavior. He told his daughter that this had
to remain their secret or they would be in trouble.” (Cassel Rpt. at 10).
{¶12} Martin subsequently sought a second, independent psychological
evaluation of his NGRI pleas from psychologist Dr. Darlene Barnes on August 13
and 14, 2014. Dr. Barnes reviewed many of the same documents concerning the
investigation of the criminal case as Dr. Cassel, in addition to documents relating
to Martin’s inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment and therapy. Dr. Barnes
also interviewed Martin during which he admitted to engaging in oral sex with
B.M., but denied any other allegations of sexual abuse. During this evaluation,
Dr. Barnes specifically considered Martin’s defense that his abrupt cessation of
Zoloft and his quick transition to Wellbutrin caused him to have auditory
hallucinations compelling him to engage in sexual conduct with B.M. in order to
“help” her learn about sex, and that these “voices” in his head impaired his ability
to recognize the wrongfulness of his behavior at the time he committed the
offenses.
{¶13} In her report, Dr. Barnes thoroughly discussed several specific
criteria supporting her opinion and concluded “within a reasonable degree of
-6- Case No. 5-15-28
psychological certainty that Mr. Martin did not suffer any mental illness at the
time of the offenses for which he is charged. Mr. Martin did know the
wrongfulness of his behavior, but lacked the full comprehension of the gravity of
his crimes. Mr. Martin evidenced some slight impairment of judgment at the time
of the alleged crime; he had the capacity to consider alternatives; assess
benefits/risks; and make a decision, although there were some peripheral
difficulties in this process. Mr. Martin does not meet the criteria from the
American Law Institute Standard (ALI) for an insanity plea. Mr. Martin was
clinically evaluated and is considered to be (and is now) sane.” (Barnes Rpt. at
12).
{¶14} On January 12, 2015, nearly five months later and on the scheduled
date of trial, Martin pled guilty to four amended counts of Rape, in violation of
R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), as a result of the negotiated plea agreement. In exchange for
his guilty pleas, the prosecution agreed to amend the charges which retracted the
possibility of a life sentence and significantly reduced the sentencing range.1
{¶15} On February 25, 2015, Martin requested a continuance for the
scheduled March 5, 2015 sentencing hearing, and on March 3, 2015, Martin filed a
1 The original counts in the indictment were in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), which specified the victim was under the age of thirteen and carried a potential prison term of ten years to life, for a total of forty years to life if the sentences were to run consecutive. The amended charges, which stated violations of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) and specified rape by force or threat of force, carried a potential prison term of three to eleven years for a possible range of twelve to forty-four years if the terms were to run consecutive. The terms of the plea agreement included a joint recommendation of a minimum mandatory sentence of fifteen years and a maximum mandatory sentence of thirty-five years.
-7- Case No. 5-15-28
pre-sentence motion to withdraw his guilty pleas. As the basis for these motions,
Martin cited a pending third evaluation by a psychiatrist regarding the effects of
Wellbutrin on his criminal responsibility at the time the incidents occurred. The
State opposed both of Martin’s motions. The trial court granted Martin a
continuance and set a hearing on his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas.
{¶16} On April 8, 2015, Martin filed the report of psychiatrist Dr. Norman
Miller, who provided a third evaluation relating to Martin’s NGRI pleas.
{¶17} On May 14, 2015, the trial court conducted a hearing on Martin’s
motion to withdraw his guilty pleas, where Martin presented the testimony of Dr.
Miller in support of his motion. The record reveals that Dr. Miller was provided
with a more limited amount of records for his evaluation than the prior two
psychologists who examined Martin regarding his NGRI pleas. Specifically, Dr.
Miller reviewed a “Medical Expense Summary” from Wal-Mart pharmacy which
provided the dates on which Martin was last prescribed Zoloft and first prescribed
Wellbutrin. The record indicates that Martin’s family doctor provided him with a
90-day prescription for Zoloft in August 2013 and then started him on a 37-day
Wellbutrin regimen beginning in September of 2013.
{¶18} Dr. Miller also reviewed records from Martin’s psychosocial
assessment on December 30, 2013, when he was treated in the hospital after his
attempted suicide. Also included in his review were 2014 records from Martin’s
-8- Case No. 5-15-28
treating mental health professionals. Notably, these records were from
appointments that took place several months after the offenses occurred. Dr.
Miller relied on the narrative account he received from Martin during his interview
to complete his evaluation. Dr. Miller did not review any of the records relating to
the investigation that provided collateral accounts of the incidents from B.M.,
which were notably provided in the other NGRI evaluations, nor did he review any
records from Martin’s treating mental health professionals during the timeframe
the offenses occurred.
{¶19} Nevertheless, Dr. Miller concluded, based on his review of the
pharmacy records and Martin’s narration, that Martin’s family doctor abruptly—
and inappropriately—ceased Martin’s use of Zoloft in September of 2013 and then
placed Martin on Wellbutrin without proper assessment or monitoring. Dr. Miller
opined the following in his report and attested to similar statements on the record:
The Defendant Gary Martin is not guilty by reason of insanity. At the time of the sexual acts he suffered from severe depression and psychosis, he heard voices telling him to comply with the daughter’s requests to show him what boys do sexually.
Because of his depression and being prescribed bupropion [Wellbutrin] which increased his depression and caused psychosis, he did not understand the wrongfulness of his sexual act towards his adopted daughter.
He meant no harm to his daughter. He was trying to be helpful and to comply with her requests, and was severely depressed and psychotic and had impaired judgement from the depression
-9- Case No. 5-15-28
and the bupropion [Wellbutrin] at the time of his sexual acts towards his adopted daughter.
(Apr. 6, 2015, Miller Rpt. at 6). After hearing arguments from both sides, the trial
court took the matter under advisement.
{¶20} On July 28, 2015, the trial court issued a decision and judgment entry
thoroughly analyzing the factors related to a pre-sentence motion to withdraw a
guilty plea and determined that Martin failed to demonstrate his entitlement to
withdraw his guilty pleas.
{¶21} On August 17, 2015, the trial court sentenced Martin to a mandatory
eight-year prison sentence on each count to run consecutive for a mandatory
prison term of thirty-two years. Martin was also classified as a Tier III sex
offender.
{¶22} Martin now brings this appeal, asserting the following assignment of
error.
IN AN ABUSE OF ITS DISCRETION, THE TRIAL COURT ERRONEOUSLY DENIED THE DEFENDANT- APPELLANT’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEAS, WHEN THE (ONLY) FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST WHO EXAMINED AND EVALUATED THE DEFENDANT- APPELLANT, PERTINENT TO THE NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY PLEAS TO THE INDICTED CHARGES, SO DETERMINED THE GOOD CAUSE SHOWN FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE GUILTY PLEAS, TO WIT, THAT THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS LEGALLY INSANE AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSES, DUE TO HIS SEVERE MENTAL DISEASE OR DEFECT,
-10- Case No. 5-15-28
AND BECAUSE OF WHICH, HE DID NOT KNOW THE WRONGFULNESS OF HIS CHARGED ACTS.
{¶23} In his sole assignment of error, Martin raises three issues in support
of his claim that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to withdraw his
guilty pleas.
1. A Complete Defense
{¶24} Rule 32.1 of the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that “[a]
motion to withdraw a plea of guilty * * * may be made only before sentence is
imposed; but to correct manifest injustice the court after sentence may set aside
the judgment of conviction and permit the defendant to withdraw his or her plea.”
Generally, a motion to withdraw a guilty plea that is filed prior to sentencing will
be freely allowed. State v. Drake, 73 Ohio App.3d 640, 645 (8th Dist. 1991);
State v. Thomas, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1–08–36, 2008–Ohio–6067, ¶ 6.
{¶25} However, this does not mean that a motion to withdraw a guilty plea
will be granted automatically. Drake at 645. “A defendant does not have an
absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea prior to sentencing. A trial court must
conduct a hearing to determine whether there is a reasonable and legitimate basis
for the withdrawal of the plea.” State v. Xie, 62 Ohio St.3d 521, at paragraph one
of the syllabus (1992). It is within the sound discretion of the trial court to
determine whether there is a legitimate and reasonable basis for the withdrawal of
a guilty plea and, absent an abuse of discretion, the trial court’s decision on the
-11- Case No. 5-15-28
matter must be affirmed. Id. at 527. An abuse of discretion is more than an error
of judgment; it implies that the decision was “unreasonable, arbitrary, or
unconscionable.” State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157 (1980).
{¶26} Ohio Appellate Courts consider several factors when reviewing a
trial court’s decision to grant or deny a defendant’s pre-sentence motion to
withdraw a plea, including: (1) whether the withdrawal will prejudice the
prosecution; (2) the representation afforded to the defendant by counsel; (3) the
extent of the hearing held pursuant to Crim.R. 11; (4) the extent of the hearing on
the motion to withdraw the plea; (5) whether the trial court gave full and fair
consideration of the motion; (6) whether the timing of the motion was reasonable;
(7) the stated reasons for the motion; (8) whether the defendant understood the
nature of the charges and potential sentences; and (9) whether the accused was
perhaps not guilty or had a complete defense to the charges. State v. Lane, 3d
Dist. Allen No. 1–10–10, 2010–Ohio–4819, ¶ 21, citing State v. Griffin, 141 Ohio
App.3d 551, 554 (7th Dist. 2001).
{¶27} The gravamen of Martin’s complaint with respect to the withdrawal
of his guilty pleas is his contention that he has demonstrated a complete defense to
the charged Rape offenses. Specifically, Martin points to Dr. Miller’s opinion as
conclusively demonstrating that he met the standard for being found not guilty by
reason of insanity. Martin bases this claim on the fact that Dr. Miller was the only
-12- Case No. 5-15-28
psychiatrist to conduct an evaluation of him regarding his NGRI pleas. The trial
court thoroughly examined Dr. Miller’s testimony and report, in conjunction with
the two other evaluations, which were conducted prior to Martin pleading guilty.
Specifically, the trial court noted three aspects of Dr. Miller’s testimony and report
which undermined the strength of Martin’s position that he established a complete
defense to the charges based on the purported ill-effect of the lack of transition and
monitoring between antidepressant medications.
It is notable, however, that there are several concerns with Dr. Miller’s testimony. First, Dr. Miller did not receive police reports which included statements made by the Defendant and the victim in this matter which evidenced Defendant’s awareness of the wrongfulness of his conduct. Second, Dr. Miller did not have access to medical records of the Defendant from prior to the offense or during the period the offenses were alleged to have occurred. Third, the pharmacy records in Defendant’s Exhibit C do not demonstrate an abrupt cessation of Sertraline (Zoloft is the brand name for Sertraline). It appears that Defendant filled a 90-day prescription of Zoloft on August 23, 2013. Defendant filled his first Wellbutrin prescription on September 10, 2013. Since the Zoloft prescription would have been enough to last until November 21, 2013, well after Defendant filled the Wellbutrin, it is more plausible that a period of transition existed between Zoloft and Wellbutrin than an abrupt change. Considering the many nuances of Dr. Miller’s testimony, the Defendant does not necessarily have a complete defense to the charges before the Court.
(Doc. No. 94 at 4-5).
{¶28} On appeal, Martin argues that Dr. Miller’s opinion bears more
credibility on the issue of whether or not he can be held criminally accountable for
-13- Case No. 5-15-28
engaging in sexual conduct with his eleven-year old daughter than the opinions of
the other two evaluators of his NGRI pleas. Specifically, Martin asserts that
because the other evaluators were psychologists, and not experts on the subject of
pharmacology, they could not render a medical opinion on the effect of Zoloft
and/or Wellbutrin on his ability to know the wrongfulness of his conduct at the
time the offenses.
{¶29} However, the record supports the trial court’s concerns with Dr.
Miller’s opinion and testimony proving Martin met the standard for being found
not guilty by reason of insanity. Curiously, the defense never provided Dr. Miller
with the records detailing the investigation of the case, which included collateral
accounts of the incidents from B.M. Notably, these records were provided to the
two other psychologists, one of whom was specifically sought out and requested
by Martin to perform an evaluation, and the accounts contained in these records
were instrumental in the other two evaluators’ assessments of Martin’s criminal
responsibility for the offenses because they included statements made by Martin to
the victim indicating an awareness of the wrongfulness of his conduct at the time
he committed the offenses.
{¶30} On the stand, Dr. Miller maintained that the collateral accounts from
the victim and other witnesses were immaterial in determining whether Martin
experienced psychosis when he engaged in sexual conduct with B.M.
-14- Case No. 5-15-28
Nevertheless, the record demonstrates that without this evidence, Dr. Miller’s only
account of the offenses came from Martin which is the sole narrative he relied
upon in making his determination of Martin’s mental state at the time he
committed the offenses.
{¶31} Moreover, even though the record demonstrates that Martin was
being treated by mental health professionals for his severe depression at the time
he allegedly experienced these psychotic episodes, Dr. Miller did not review the
records from these professionals during the pertinent timeframe of the offenses,
which could have either corroborated, or negated, Martin’s account of auditory
hallucinations or “voices” compelling him to rape his daughter. Rather, Dr. Miller
only reviewed the records from Martin’s admission to the hospital after his wife
confronted him about the rapes and the records from the mental health
professionals treating Martin in 2014 several months after his hospitalization.
{¶32} Another component underpinning Dr. Miller’s opinion was his
criticism of Martin’s family doctor for failing to adequately monitor Martin’s
transition from Zoloft to Wellbutrin, which again was only supported by Martin’s
statements in the interview. There is nothing in the record to independently
buttress Martin’s allegations that his family doctor inappropriately transitioned
him to Wellbutrin. The remaining piece of evidence relied upon by Dr. Miller in
rendering his opinion that Martin was legally insane at the time he committed the
-15- Case No. 5-15-28
offenses was the pharmacy records, which indicated Martin’s family doctor
ordered a ninety-day prescription of Zoloft in August of 2013 and then ordered a
monthly regime of Wellbutrin to begin in September of 2013. This is critical to
Dr. Miller’s opinion because he determined that Martin’s purported abrupt
cessation of Zoloft and quick transition to Wellbutrin contributed to Martin’s
psychosis. Again, the only evidence provided in support of Martin’s contention
that he abruptly ceased taking Zoloft prior to beginning Wellbutrin was Martin’s
narration to Dr. Miller during the interview. As discussed by the trial court, the
pharmacy records do not conclusively support Martin’s account on this point.
{¶33} As for the remaining factors considered by the trial court in assessing
the merits of Martin’s motion to withdraw his plea, we note the record indicates
that the prosecution spent months preparing the young victim and other witnesses
for the jury trial prior to Martin accepting the plea deal at the last minute on the
scheduled date of trial. The record also demonstrates that Martin was represented
by competent counsel who was present with him during the plea negotiations and
the extensive Crim.R. 11 colloquy conducted by the trial court.
{¶34} The transcript from the plea hearing establishes that Martin clearly
understood the nature of the amended charges and the benefit of a reduced
sentencing range, with the potential of a life sentence being removed, by choosing
to plead guilty to the amended charges. Moreover, Martin admitted to taking
-16- Case No. 5-15-28
psychotropic medication—to wit: Zoloft, at the plea hearing and maintained that
the medication did not affect his ability to understand the intricacies of the plea
proceeding, including the rights he was waiving by entering a plea of guilty.2 At
the plea hearing, Martin also admitted to engaging in fellatio and cunnilingus with
B.M. on the four specified occasions without mentioning the effects of his
psychotic medication as a possible defense. Rather, the record demonstrates that
Martin waited to the proverbial “eleventh hour” before the sentencing hearing to
file his motion to withdraw his guilty pleas and attempt to secure a third evaluation
of his NGRI pleas.
{¶35} For all these reasons, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in finding that Martin failed to satisfy his burden in demonstrating he
had a legitimate and reasonable basis for the withdrawal of his guilty pleas.
Accordingly, we do not find the trial court’s decision to overrule Martin’s motion
to withdraw his pleas to be an abuse of discretion.
2. Formal Withdrawal of the NGRI Pleas
{¶36} Martin’s second argument on appeal focuses on his contention that
he never formally withdrew his NGRI pleas prior to entering his guilty pleas.
Notably, Martin fails to cite any authority in support of his suggestion that a
reversible error was made. Rather, Martin’s entire statement on this point is
2 It should be noted that at no time during the proceedings did Martin contend that he was not competent to stand trial. His arguments relating to his psychosis were limited to his mental state during the commission of the offenses.
-17- Case No. 5-15-28
presented in one sentence in his appellate brief. “Furthermore, it should be noted
and can be questioned as to whether or not, there is present anywhere in the
record, that Defendant-Appellant ever formally withdrew his pleas of Not Guilty
by Reason of Insanity, prior to entering his guilty pleas.” (Appt. Brief at 17). In
the interest of justice, we will briefly examine the issue raised despite the fact that
Martin has failed to provide any argument or supporting authority identifying a
lack of formal withdrawal of his NGRI pleas at his change of plea hearing as error.
{¶37} A plea of NGRI must be made in writing. Crim.R. 11(A) and R.C.
2943.04. NGRI is an affirmative defense that must be proven by a preponderance
of the evidence. State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160, ¶ 35; R.C.
2901.05(A). While the assertion of the defense is controlled by rule and statute,
there is no corresponding rule or statute governing its withdrawal.
{¶38} Precedent demonstrates that a defendant can withdraw the defense
formally, by entering a guilty or no-contest plea, by failing to pursue the defense,
or by pursuing a new defense at trial. See e.g., State v. Harris, Ohio St.3d 211,
2015-Ohio-166, ¶ 18; State v. Caudill, 48 Ohio St.2d 342, 342-43 (1976) (written
withdrawal of plea). State v. Langenkamp, 3d Dist. Shelby Nos. 17-07-08 and 17-
08-09, 2008-Ohio-1136, ¶¶ 28-29 (plea of no contest); State v. McQueeney, 148
Ohio App.3d 606, 2002-Ohio-3731, ¶ 34 (guilty plea). Accordingly, Martin’s
NGRI were formally withdrawn when he unequivocally entered guilty pleas to the
-18- Case No. 5-15-28
four amended counts of Rape. Therefore, we find no merit to Martin’s suggestion
that the trial court committed error on this basis.
3. Elements of the Offenses Pled on the Record
{¶39} In his last argument on appeal, Martin raises the following issue, and
again addresses the issue in one sentence without any citation to authority
identifying error. “Also, it should be noted that Defendant-Appellant Martin
admitted to different elements of offenses than what the prosecution recited it was
trying to prove, if the case was going to trial.” (Appt. Brief at 17).
{¶40} The indictment contained four counts of Rape each alleging Martin
“did engage in sexual conduct with another, one B.M., having a date of birth of
[October 2002], the daughter of the said Gary A. Martin and not the spouse of the
said Gary A. Martin, the aforesaid B.M. being less than thirteen (13) years of age.”
(Doc. No. 1). Notably, the language of the indictment tracks the elements stated in
the statute which only requires the offender engage in “sexual conduct” with the
victim R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b). “ ‘Sexual conduct’ means vaginal intercourse
between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio, and cunnilingus between
persons regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however
slight, of any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object into the
vaginal or anal opening of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to
complete vaginal or anal intercourse.” R.C. 2907.01(A).
-19- Case No. 5-15-28
{¶41} The prosecution later supplied Martin with a Bill of Particulars, at his
request, which further detailed the type of sexual conduct alleged in each count of
the indictment. This included statements alleging that on the four specified
occasions Martin engaged in sexual conduct by performing cunnilingus on B.M.,
by inserting his penis in her anal opening, by inserting his fingers in her vaginal
opening, and by inserting his penis in her anal opening.
{¶42} At the plea hearing, Martin admitted to engaging in sexual conduct
with B.M.—specifically, he admitted that he engaged in cunnilingus and fellatio
with B.M. on the four specified occasions, but denied that he engaged in anal
intercourse or digital penetration. Notably, Martin’s admission to oral sex
satisfied the element of sexual conduct alleged in all four Rape counts in the
indictment. As previously mentioned the amended charges to which Martin pled
guilty removed any mention of the victim’s young age and instead included an
element of force or threat of force, but did not amend the general allegation of
“sexual conduct” in the indictment.
{¶43} Nevertheless, the trial court carried out an extensive dialogue with
Martin on this issue at the change of plea hearing. Specifically, the trial court
went through each count and the particular conduct alleged to support the count
with Martin and the prosecutor, who recited the facts in evidence to support the
allegations which would have been presented if the case went to trial. Martin
-20- Case No. 5-15-28
specifically admitted to engaging in four acts of oral sex to satisfy the sexual
conduct element of the amended charges. The following are excerpts from this
exchange at the change of plea hearing.
Trial Court: Okay. So the State is contending in these four incidents there was either vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral—fellatio or oral sex called cunnilingus as to a victim. Now, the State says Judge, we don’t want you to worry about the age of the victim, but victim was in fact [B.M.], your adopted daughter, is that correct?
Martin: Yes, Your Honor.
Trial Court: Now, it’s my understanding as to count one the State is alleging on October 24th there was oral sex between you and the adopted daughter, is that correct?
Martin: At the end of October, yes, Your Honor.
Trial Court: Well, they’re saying October 24th.
WHEREUPON, the Defendant confers with his counsel.
Martin: Oral Sex, Your Honor.
Trial Court: Okay. Now, did you put her—put your penis in her mouth, or did you put your mouth on her genitalia?
Martin: The second one, Your Honor.
Trial Court: So you put your mouth on her vaginal area, her private parts, is that correct?
Martin: That’s correct, Your Honor.
Trial Court: And you understand that’s sexual conduct under Ohio law?
-21- Case No. 5-15-28
(Doc. No. 85 at 33-34).
Trial Court: It’s my understanding, [Defense Counsel], that the Defendant talks about only oral sex either fellatio or cunnilingus occurring between [B.M.] and him, is that correct?
Defense Counsel: That is correct, Your Honor. And that admissions [sic] for purposes of entering guilty pleas would compass [sic] counts one, two, three and four. With regard to two counts of oral sex with cunnilingus being two of the counts, and fellatio would be [the] other two counts. But there would be no admission to any vaginal intercourse with a penis and the vagina. No admission to any anal intercourse with the penis and the rectal area. No admission to any digital penetration with the fingers in the vagina.
Mr. Martin[’s] pleas would be limited to, so to speak, limited but would be with his cunnilingus and fellatio two of the counts and the other two counts would compass [sic] with four total counts of rape in this case. 3
(Id. at 36). Based on the foregoing, we do not find that the trial court erred in
accepting Martin’s guilty pleas based upon his admission to engaging in specific
acts with B.M. which constitute sexual conduct for purposes of the statute.
Accordingly, we find no error on this basis.
3 It should be noted that Martin was represented by the same defense counsel during plea proceeding as he is on this appeal. The record demonstrates that defense counsel specifically clarified the sexual conduct satisfying that element of each of the amended charges to which Martin pled guilty. Defense counsel did not raise any purported defect with the plea proceeding at the time Martin entered his pleas, despite his attempt to do so now on appeal.
-22- Case No. 5-15-28
{¶44} For all these reasons, the assignment of error is overruled and the
judgment and sentence of the trial court is affirmed.
PRESTON and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.
/jlr
-23-