State v. Stacey

2009 Ohio 3816

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 3, 2009
• Docket: 13-08-44
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Stacey, 2009-Ohio-3816.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT SENECA COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 13-08-44

v.

PAUL N. STACEY, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeal from Seneca County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 07-CR-0207

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: August 3, 2009

APPEARANCES:

Allison M. Lawrence for Appellant

Rhonda L. Best for Appellee WILLAMOWSKI, J.

{¶1} The defendant-appellant, Paul N. Stacey, appeals the judgment of

the Seneca County Common Pleas Court convicting him of rape and ordering him

to serve a mandatory life sentence. On appeal, Stacey contends that Senate Bill 10

violates the ex post facto clause of the United States Constitution and the

retroactivity clause of the Ohio Constitution; that the trial court erred by not

instructing the jury on the lesser-included-offense of gross sexual imposition; that

the trial court erred by allowing the state to amend the indictment; and that he had

the ineffective assistance of trial counsel. For the reasons stated herein, the

judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

{¶2} On September 22, 2006, at approximately 5:30 or 5:45 a.m., Joleen

L. took her five-year old daughter, T.L., to the home shared by Stacey and his

wife, Kim, who babysat T.L. until she left for school. When T.L. arrived at

Stacey’s home, he got out of bed to watch her so Kim could continue to sleep. On

the couch in the living room, Stacey inserted his penis into her vagina and

ejaculated. T.L. went to school that day, and when she came home, she disclosed

the rape to her mother’s live-in boyfriend. Late that night, T.L. was taken to a

hospital in Toledo, Ohio, where a sexual assault nurse examiner completed an

examination. Forensic testing indicated the presence of Stacey’s DNA in T.L.’s

underwear and in her vaginal opening.

-2- {¶3} On July 31, 2007, a complaint was filed against Stacey alleging a

violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1), (B), rape. Stacey waived a preliminary hearing,

and on November 15, 2007, the Seneca County Grand Jury indicted him on one

count of rape, a violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), (B). Also on November 15,

2007, the court granted the state’s motion to amend the indictment to indicate that

the offense was a first-degree felony. On November 27, 2007, Stacey entered a

plea of not guilty at arraignment. During arraignment, the state made an oral

motion to amend the indictment, which had formerly indicated that the victim was

the spouse of the offender, to charge that the victim was not the spouse of the

offender. Defense counsel did not oppose the motion, and the court allowed the

amendment. A written motion was filed by the state on November 28, 2007,

which the court granted on November 29, 2007.

{¶4} The case culminated in a four-day jury trial. On November 20,

2008, the jury found Stacey guilty and found that the victim had been under the

age of 10 at the time of the offense. Immediately following the verdict, the court

held a joint sexual offender classification hearing and sentencing hearing. The

court classified Stacey as a Tier III sex offender and ordered him to serve a

mandatory term of life imprisonment. Stacey appeals the judgment of the trial

court, raising seven assignments of error.

-3- First Assignment of Error

The trial court’s retroactive application of Senate Bill 10 in classifying Appellant as a Tier III offender violates the ex post facto clause of the United States Constitution and the retroactivity clause of Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution.

Second Assignment of Error

The trial court committed plain error by failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of gross sexual imposition.

Third Assignment of Error

Insofar as the second assignment of error may have been waived by trial counsel’s failure to request an instruction on the lesser- included offense of gross sexual imposition, Appellant was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.

Fourth Assignment of Error

The trial court committed plain error when it allowed amendment of the indictment to charge an offense.

Fifth Assignment of Error

Insofar as the fourth assignment of error may have been waived by trial counsel’s failure to object in the trial court to the fact that the grand jury never charged Appellant with a crime, Appellant was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.

Sixth Assignment of Error

Trial counsel’s failure to object to repeated instances of inadmissible hearsay denied Appellant his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.

-4- Seventh Assignment of Error

Insofar as the court may deem the above errors non-prejudicial when taken alone, the cumulative effect of the errors at trial deprived Appellant of his constitutional right to a fair trial.

{¶5} For ease of analysis, we elect to consider the assignments of error

out of order. In the fourth assignment of error, Stacey contends he was prejudiced

by the state’s amendment of the indictment, which effectively converted a non-

offense to the offense of rape. Stacey argues that such amendment violates R.C.

2901.03(A), which states that conduct does not constitute a criminal offense unless

it is defined as an offense by the General Assembly, and Crim.R. 7(D) because the

amendment effectively changed the name or identity of the crime charged.

Essentially, Stacey argues that the prosecutor usurped the power of the grand jury

in amending the indictment to charge him with a criminal offense. In response,

the state contends that the error in the original indictment was a clerical error, and

its correction thereof did not change the name or identity of the offense charged.

{¶6} The original indictment stated as follows:

On or about the 22nd day of September 2006, in Seneca County, Ohio, PAUL N. STACEY did engage in sexual conduct with another, namely Jane Doe, who is his spouse, when the said Jane Doe was less than thirteen (13) years of age, namely five (5) years of age, whether or not the said Paul N. Stacey knew the age of the said Jane Doe.

SPECIFICATION: The Grand Jury do further find and specify that the victim, Jane Doe, under division (A)(1)(b) of this section was less than ten (10) years of age at the time of the commission of the offense, namely five (5) years of age.

-5- This being in violation of Section 2907.02(A)(1)(b), (B) of the Ohio Revised Code and against the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio.

PENALTY: The penalty for this offense is a sentence of life imprisonment with parole eligibility as stated in R.C. Section 2967.13(A)(5) and/or a fine of up to $20,000.00.

(Emphasis added). Indictment, Nov. 15, 2007. The indictment was amended on

November 15, 2007 to identify the offense as a first-degree felony. At Stacey’s

arraignment on November 27, 2007, the court indicated that “there was an oral

motion to amend the indictment.” Hearing Tr., Mar. 5, 2009, at 4:14-15. Defense

counsel stated that there was no objection to the amendment, and the court granted

the motion. Id. at 4:16-18. The state filed a written motion to amend the

indictment on November 28, 2007, and in its journal entry of November 29, 2007,

the court amended the language of the indictment from “who is his spouse” to “not

his spouse.”

{¶7} Since an objection was not raised in the trial court, and since any

alleged error in this case did not “result in multiple errors that [were] inextricably

linked to the flawed indictment[,]” we must use the plain-error standard. State v.

Colon, 119 Ohio St.3d 204, 2008-Ohio-3749, 893 N.E.2d 169, at ¶ 7, citing State

v. Colon, 118 Ohio St.3d 26, 2008-Ohio-1624, 885 N.E.2d 917, at ¶ 23. Plain

error will be recognized “‘with the utmost caution, under exceptional

circumstances and only to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.’” State v.

Landrum (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 107, 110, 559 N.E.2d 710, quoting State v. Long

(1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804, at paragraph three of the syllabus.

-6- Plain error will exist if the trial court deviated from a legal rule, the error

constituted an obvious defect in the proceedings, and the error affected a

substantial right of the accused. State v. Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 2002-Ohio-

68, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (internal citations omitted).

{¶8} Crim.R. 7(D) allows a trial court to amend an indictment “at any

time” so long as “no change is made in the name or identity of the crime charged.”

See also R.C. 2941.30. “An amendment to the indictment that changes the name

or identity of the crime is unlawful whether or not the defendant was granted a

continuance to prepare for trial; further, a defendant need not demonstrate that he

suffered any prejudice as a result of the forbidden amendment.” State v.

Fairbanks, 172 Ohio App.3d 766, 2007-Ohio-4117, 876 N.E.2d 1293, at ¶ 21,

citing Middletown v. Blevins (1987), 35 Ohio App.3d 65, 67, 519 N.E.2d 846. “A

trial court commits reversible error when it permits an amendment that changes

the name or identity of the crime charged.” Fairbanks, at ¶ 21, citing State v.

Kittle, 4th Dist. No. 04CA41, 2005-Ohio-3198, at ¶ 12; State v. Headley (1983), 6

Ohio St.3d 475, 478-479, 453 N.E.2d 716.

{¶9} “Where the ‘name’ of the crime remains the same, even after

amendment, there is no violation of Crim.R. 7(D) regarding that prohibition.”

State v. Craft, 181 Ohio App.3d 150, 2009-Ohio-675, 908 N.E.2d 476, at ¶ 23,

citing State v. Davis, 121 Ohio St.3d 239, 2008-Ohio-4537, 903 N.E.2d 609, at ¶

5; State v. Corrill (1999), 133 Ohio App.3d 550, 552, 729 N.E.2d 403; State v.

Dukes, 3d Dist. Nos. 1-02-64, 1-02-92, and 1-02-93, 2003-Ohio-2386, at ¶ 10. To

-7- determine if the “identity” of a crime has changed, the court must examine

whether the “penalty or degree” changed. Id. at ¶ 24, citing Davis, at syllabus.

{¶10} The language of the original and the amended indictments is set

forth above, with the original indictment asserting that the five-year-old victim

was Stacey’s spouse at the time of the offense. The error in the original

indictment was clearly clerical, and the amendment did not change the name or

identity of the crime charged for it was factually and legally impossible for T.L. to

be Stacey’s spouse. Stacey was already married at the time of the offense, so to

have been married to T.L. would have resulted in other criminal activity, namely

bigamy. R.C. 2919.01(A). Furthermore, a minor must obtain consent to marry,

and there was no evidence that such consent had been sought or obtained. R.C.

3101.01(A). Based on the factual and legal impossibility of T.L. being Stacey’s

spouse, we cannot find plain error because the clerical error in the original

indictment did not change the name or identity of the offense charged. See State

v. Sloane, 7th Dist. No. 06 MA 144, 2009-Ohio-1175, at ¶ 47-49 (trial court did not

err by allowing the state to file a superseding indictment, which added the

essential element that the victims were not the spouses of the defendant.). The

fourth assignment of error is overruled.

{¶11} In the second assignment of error, Stacey contends that the trial

court erred by not instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense of gross

sexual imposition. Stacey argues that the testimony of the nurse who administered

the rape kit essentially established reasonable doubt as to the element of

-8- penetration, and therefore he was entitled to the instruction on gross sexual

imposition, which requires sexual contact rather than sexual conduct.

{¶12} Stacey’s defense was that he had not committed any sexual act with

T.L. Trial Tr., Mar. 5, 2009, at 951; 971; 991. Stacey testified that he had not

raped or had sexual contact with T.L. and during closing argument, counsel’s main

contention was that Stacey had been set up; essentially a complete defense of

denial. Id. at 951; 971; 991; 1037. In his brief, Stacey focuses on the cross-

examination of Jane Sayers, the nurse who had performed the rape kit on T.L.

Stacey elicited testimony that T.L.’s hymen was intact, thus challenging the

element of penetration. On cross-examination, Sayers testified as follows:

Q: So there was [sic] no tears on the hymen? A: That’s correct. And as I previously said, it would be uncommon to find injury at that area. The hymen in – in that area is very elast – elasticized. It stretches a lot. Q: In – in regard to a five year old? A: Absolutely. Absolutely. It’s very – we rarely see injuries. Q: Okay. Well, on the reverse side, if, uhm, if no penis had been in there with regard to any kind of sexual assault as described by, uhm – as you were investigating, the hymen would also be intact, would it not? A: That’s correct. Q: So the fact that no tears were noted to the hymen would indicate that, uhm, that no penis had been in there, wouldn’t that also be the case? A: Well, I can’t say. I can only go by the history that was given to me and the findings that were found. And my his – the history that was given to me was consistent with the findings that were found. Q: Well, what would tears in the hymen – what would tears in the hymen indicate with you? ***

-9- A: I’ve seen tears in the hymen, uhm, from straddle injuries, uhm, any kind of injuries, the child falling off something onto it. I’ve seen tears from a sexual assault, uhm… Q: Wouldn’t tears in the hymen deduce, as you just said, a sexual assault with a penis? A: It could be. Yes, it could very well. Q: But also no tears in the hymen would mean that there was no sexual assault? A: I can’t say that for sure because of the history that was given to me. Q: I didn’t – I didn’t ask you for sure. I said it could mean there was no tears in the hymen, correct? *** A: That’s correct. Q: Which could mean that there was no sexual assault, which could mean – A: Yes. Yes, it could mean. Yes.

Trial Tr., at 384-386. Sayer’s testimony that an intact hymen could lead to the

conclusion that no penetration had occurred is the foundation of Stacey’s

argument that he was entitled to a jury instruction on the lesser-included offense of

gross sexual imposition.

{¶13} Gross sexual imposition is a lesser-included offense of rape. State v.

Lynch, 98 Ohio St.3d 514, 2003-Ohio-2284, 787 N.E.2d 1185, at ¶ 83, citing State

v. Johnson (1988), 36 Ohio St.3d 224, 522 N.E.2d 1082, at paragraph one of the

syllabus. However, “when a defendant presents a complete defense to the

substantive elements of the crime, such as an alibi, an instruction on a lesser

included offense is improper.” State v. Bethel, 110 Ohio St.3d 416, 2006-Ohio-

4853, 854 N.E.2d 150, at ¶ 137, citing State v. Strodes (1976), 48 Ohio St.2d 113,

117, 357 N.E.2d 375.

- 10 - {¶14} However, a defendant is entitled to an instruction on the lesser-

included-offense “‘only if, based on the evidence adduced by the state, the trier of

fact can find for the defendant * * * on some element of the greater offense which

is not required to prove the commission of the lesser offense and for the state on

the elements required to prove the commission of the lesser offense.’” Bethel, at ¶

138, quoting State v. Solomon (1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 214, 421 N.E.2d 139, at

paragraph two of the syllabus. “‘[I]f due to some ambiguity in the state’s version

of the events involved in a case the jury could have a reasonable doubt regarding

the presence of an element required to prove the greater but not the lesser offense,

an instruction on the lesser included offense is ordinarily warranted.’” Id., quoting

Solomon, at 221.

“‘While a trial court does have a duty to include instructions on lesser included offenses, a defendant still retains the right, through counsel, to waive such instructions. State v. Clayton (1980), 62 Ohio St.2d 45, 47, at fn. 2, 402 N.E.2d 1189. Given this right to waive jury instructions on lesser-included offenses, plain error does not lie where trial counsel failed to request jury instructions on lesser included offenses as a matter of trial strategy. Id. at 47, 402 N.E.2d 1189.’ State v. Davis, 9th Dist. No. 21794, 2004-Ohio-3246, at ¶ 18.”

State v. Pigg, 9th Dist. No. 24360, 2009-Ohio-2107, at ¶ 5. In this case, defense

counsel told the court he would not request an instruction for any lesser-included

offense. Trial Tr., at 999. Following Clayton, we find no plain error on this

record.

{¶15} Even if we were to consider the testimony presented at trial to

determine if an instruction on gross sexual imposition was warranted, there was no

- 11 - evidence that would have permitted the jury to find Stacey not guilty of rape but

guilty of gross sexual imposition. Sayers testified that during the examination, she

first uses her fingers to separate the victim’s labia majora, “which [are] the folds

that cover the opening, cover the inside of the, uhm, genitalia. And also there is

called the labia minora, which are the inner lips there. Uhm, we separate those a

little bit and look.” Id. at 351-352. She then “also use[s] something called labial

traction where we actually take our fingers and we pull the inner labia, outer labia,

away from the vaginal opening so that we’re able to see that opening and the

hymen area.” Id. at 352.

{¶16} Stacey’s argument is based on speculative testimony about the

condition of T.L.’s hymen. Even if we accept Sayer’s testimony elicited on cross-

examination, other than his denial of committing the offense, Stacey did not rebut

or challenge the evidence that his penis penetrated T.L.’s labia majora. Based on

Sayer’s testimony, it is clear that the labia majora are more external in the female

genitalia than the hymen, thus requiring an object, such as a penis, to pass the labia

majora before reaching the hymen. “This Court has previously held that vaginal

penetration is proved when any object is applied with sufficient force to cause the

labia majora to spread.” State v. Lindsey, 3d Dist. No. 8-06-24, 2007-Ohio-4490,

citing State v. Farr, 3d Dist. No. 13-06-16, 2007-Ohio-3136, at ¶ 17, citing State v.

Roberts, 10th Dist. No. C-040547, 2005-Ohio-6391, at ¶ 62, fn. 11; State v.

Brewer, 2d Dist. No. 03CA0074, 2004-Ohio-3572, at ¶ 31-32; State v.

Falkenstein, 8th Dist. No. 83316, 2004-Ohio-2561; State v. Grant, 2d Dist. No.

- 12 - 19824, 2003-Ohio-7240; State v. Blankenship (Dec. 13, 2001), 8th Dist. No.

77900; State v. Childers (Dec. 19, 1996), 10th Dist. No. 96APA05-640-640; State

v. Nivens (May 28, 1996), 10th Dist. No. 95 APA09-1236; State v. Ulis (July 22,

1994), 6th Dist. No. L-93-247; State v. Carpenter (1989), 60 Ohio App.3d 104,

573 N.E.2d 1206. As such, we cannot find plain error in the trial court’s decision

not to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of gross sexual imposition.

The second assignment of error is overruled.

{¶17} In the third, fifth, and sixth assignments of error, Stacey contends his

trial counsel was ineffective. In the third assignment of error, Stacey contends that

counsel was ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction on gross sexual

imposition, and that “any competent counsel would have sought to mitigate the

damage by offering the jury the opportunity to find his client guilty of a lesser-

included offense.” In the fifth assignment of error, Stacey argues that trial counsel

was ineffective for failing to object to the state’s motion to amend the indictment

to include the words “not the spouse” of the offender. In the sixth assignment of

error, Stacey challenges several alleged instances of inadmissible hearsay to which

trial counsel did not object. Stacey argues that counsel’s failure to object deprived

the trial court of the opportunity to exclude the hearsay evidence.

{¶18} In response to the third assignment of error, the state notes Stacey’s

refusal “to acknowledge any reason why his DNA would be on the crotch of

[T.L.’s] underwear, so, logically, trial counsel’s strategy of obtaining an acquittal

was in line with Appellant’s position that nothing at all of a sexual nature

- 13 - happened between Appellant and [T.L.].” The state claimed that the jury was able

to determine whether penetration occurred based on counsel’s attempts to disprove

penetration, his attempts to discredit the victim, and his attempts to create

reasonable doubt concerning medical and scientific evidence. In regard to the fifth

assignment of error, the state claims trial counsel knew Crim.R. 7(D) permitted

amendment of the indictment based on a clerical error. To rebut the sixth

assignment of error, the state contends that each example of alleged hearsay

mentioned by the defense on appeal fell within a hearsay exception. Specifically,

the state cites Evid.R. 803(2) to explain statements T.L. made to Joleen’s

boyfriend and statements T.L. made to Joleen. As to the statements T.L. made to

Kristine Konley, a nurse who examined T.L. at the Fostoria hospital, and

statements made to Sayers, the state contends that those statements were made for

medical diagnoses and are exceptions to hearsay under Evid.R. 803(4). The state

contends that trial counsel’s failures to object demonstrated his knowledge of the

Rules of Evidence and were not deficiencies.

{¶19} The Supreme Court of Ohio has established a two-part test to

determine if trial counsel was ineffective. First, the defendant must show that

counsel’s performance fell below objective standards of reasonable representation,

and second, the defendant must show resulting prejudice. State v. Dickinson, 3d

Dist. No. 11-08-08, 2009-Ohio-2099, at ¶ 20, citing State v. Bradley (1989), 42

Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373, at paragraph two of the syllabus. To show

prejudice, the defendant “must prove that there exists a reasonable probability that,

- 14 - but for counsel’s errors, the outcome at trial would have been different. Id., citing

Bradley, at paragraph three of the syllabus. “‘Reasonable probability’ is a

probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial.’” Id.,

quoting State v. Waddy (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 424, 433, 588 N.E.2d 819,

superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds as recognized by State

v. Smith (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 103, 684 N.E.2d 668.

{¶20} A defendant must also overcome the presumption that counsel is

competent and must show that counsel’s decisions were “not trial strategies

prompted by reasonable professional judgment.” Id. at ¶ 21, citing Strickland v.

Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674; State v.

Richardson, 3d Dist. No. 13-06-21, 2007-Ohio-115, citing State v. Hoffman

(1998), 129 Ohio App.3d 403, 407, 717 N.E.2d 1149. Even unsuccessful tactical

or strategic decisions will not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Id.,

citing State v. Carter (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 558, 651 N.E.2d 965. An

appellate court must review the totality of the circumstances and not isolated

instances of an allegedly deficient performance. Id., citing State v. Fritz, 3d Dist.

No. 13-06-39, 2007-Ohio-3138, at ¶ 35, citing State v. Malone (Dec. 13, 1989), 2d

Dist. No. 10564.

{¶21} This court has previously held that trial counsel’s failure to object

does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Turks, 3d Dist. No. 1-

08-44, 2009-Ohio-1837, at ¶ 43, citing State v. Conway (2006), 109 Ohio St.3d

412, 2006-Ohio-2815, 848 N.E.2d 810, ¶ 103. “Furthermore, trial counsel’s

- 15 - failure to object is generally viewed as trial strategy and does not establish

ineffective assistance.” Id., citing State v. McKinney, 11th Dist. No.2007-T-0004,

2008-Ohio-3256, at ¶ 191, citing State v. Hunt (1984), 20 Ohio App.3d 310, 311,

486 N.E.2d 108; State v. Gumm (1995), 73 Ohio St.3d 413, 428, 653 N.E.2d 253.

Based on this record, it appears that trial counsel’s strategy was to attain an

acquittal for his client, without giving the jury the opportunity to consider a lesser-

included offense for a serious charge concerning a five-year old victim. Counsel

attempted to discredit the victim, Joleen, Willie Jordan, and each nurse apparently

in an attempt to raise reasonable doubt and obtain an acquittal for his client. The

alleged hearsay statements were supported when the victim, T.L., testified and was

subject to cross-examination. On this record, we cannot find that Stacey was

prejudiced by the lack of objections to certain instances of alleged hearsay or by

counsel’s professional decision to seek an acquittal on his client’s behalf.

{¶22} As to the issue concerning the indictment, we presume that trial

counsel was aware of the law, including Crim.R. 7(D), the age of the victim,

which was established in the indictment, and the legal impossibility of the wording

of the original indictment. Counsel apparently opted not to object to the

amendment of the indictment and to otherwise fight the charge against his client.

We have previously held that “‘[i]neffective assistance does not exist merely

because counsel failed “to recognize the factual or legal basis for a claim, or failed

to raise the claim despite recognizing it.”’” State v. Tosco, 3d Dist. No. 9-08-21,

2009-Ohio-408, at ¶ 35, quoting State v. Malone (Dec. 13, 1989), 2d Dist. No.

- 16 - 10564, quoting Smith v. Murray (1986), 477 U.S. 527, 106 S.Ct. 2661, 91 L.Ed.2d

434. Even if counsel had objected, the outcome of the case would not have been

different considering the overwhelming evidence against Stacey.

{¶23} In the first assignment of error, Stacey contends that his

classification as a Tier III sex offender violates the ex post facto clause of the

United States Constitution and the retroactivity clause of the Ohio Constitution

because his offense was committed prior to the effective date of Senate Bill 10,

also known as the Adam Walsh Act. This court has previously found both

contentions to be misplaced based on State v. Cook (1998), 83 Ohio St.3d 404, 700

N.E.2d 570, and State v. Williams (2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 513, 728 N.E.2d 342, and

we are bound by the principle of stare decisis to our prior decisions. Holcomb v.

State, 3d Dist. Nos. 8-08-23, 8-08-24, 8-08-25, 8-08-26, 2009-Ohio-782, at ¶ 9,

citing In re Smith, 3d Dist. No. 1-07-58, 2008-Ohio-3234, at ¶ 26-35; 38; Downing

v. State, 3d Dist. No. 8-08-29, 2009-Ohio-1834, at ¶ 15, citing In re Copeland, 3d

Dist. No. 1-08-40, 2009-Ohio-190, at ¶ 11. The first assignment of error is

overruled.

{¶24} In the seventh assignment of error, Stacey argues that cumulative

errors deprived him of a fair trial. Having reviewed the record, we conclude

Stacey received a fair trial. See State v. Jones (2000), 90 Ohio St.3d 403, 422, 739

N.E.2d 300, citing State v. Lott (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 160, 166, 555 N.E.2d 293,

quoting United States v. Hastings (1983), 461 U.S. 499, 508-509, 103 S.Ct. 1974,

76 L.Ed.2d 96 (litigants are entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect trial.). We are also

- 17 - mindful of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s holding that errors do not “‘become

prejudicial by sheer weight of numbers.’” State v. Were, 118 Ohio St.3d 448,

2008-Ohio-2762, 890 N.E.2d 263, at ¶ 261, quoting State v. Hill (1996), 75 Ohio

St.3d 195, 212, 661 N.E.2d 1068. The seventh assignment of error is overruled.

{¶25} The judgment of the Seneca County Common Pleas Court is

affirmed.

PRESTON, P.J., concurs. ROGERS, J., concurs in Judgment, concurs in Judgment Only on Assignment of Error No. 1.

/jnc

- 18 -