State v. Tebcherani, Unpublished Decision (11-22-2000)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 22, 2000
DocketC.A. No. 19535.
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Tebcherani, Unpublished Decision (11-22-2000) (State v. Tebcherani, Unpublished Decision (11-22-2000)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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State v. Tebcherani, Unpublished Decision (11-22-2000), (Ohio Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

This cause was heard upon the record in the trial court. Each error assigned has been reviewed and the following disposition is made: Appellant-defendant Matilda Tebcherani appeals the verdict rendered in the Common Pleas Court of Summit County convicting her of one count of compelling a child under the age of thirteen to submit to felonious sexual penetration. We affirm.

I.
On November 19, 1998, Tebcherani was indicted on five counts of felonious sexual penetration, in violation of R.C. 2907.12(A)(1)(b), for acts that were alleged to have occurred between March of 1993 and June 30, 1996, and five counts of rape, in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(2), alleged to have occurred between July 1, 1996 and April 1998. All of the charges concerned the same victim. Each felonious sexual penetration count alleged that Tebcherani had purposely compelled her victim, who was under thirteen years of age, to submit by force or threat of force, in violation of R.C. 2907.12(A)(1)(b). The victim alleged that Tebcherani was her babysitter and that Tebcherani repeatedly committed these violations when Tebcherani babysat her. Tebcherani tendered a not guilty plea.

On February 22, 1999, a jury found Tebcherani guilty on one count of felonious sexual penetration, and acquitted her on the Cbalance of the charges. The trial court sentenced her to life in prison, in accordance with R.C. 2907.12(A)(1)(b) and (B).

Tebcherani timely appeals, asserting eight assignments of error. They have been rearranged for ease of discussion.

II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE

THE JUDGMENT OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE WAS VOID AS A MATTER OF LAW, AS IT WAS BASED UPON A VERDICT THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND VOID FOR VAGUENESS AND UNRESPONSIVENESS, AND WHICH DID NOT PROPERLY AND LAWFULLY CONSTITUTE A FINDING OF GUILTY OF FELONIOUS SEXUAL PENETRATION UPON WHICH A LIFE SENTENCE, OR ANY SENTENCE, COULD BE RENDERED.

In assignment of error one, Tebcherani contends that the verdict is void and must be vacated because, she asserts, it fails "to address and respond to the central issues of the case, and to find the specific and essential elements necessary before a life sentence or any sentence could be imposed[.]" Her contention is based on the fact that the verdict form (1) omits language that Cthe jury must find that the victim was under the age of thirteen, and (2) instead of stating that the jury found that Tebcherani "purposely compell[ed] the victim to submit by force or threat of force," states that Tebcherani "did use force during the commission of the Felonious Sexual Penetration." Tebcherani is correct in asserting that the verdict form was defective, however the errors were not outcome-determinative, and hence, not a ground for reversal.

Tebcherani was charged with five identical counts of purposely compelling a person under the age of thirteen to submit to felonious sexual penetration by force or threat of force. Felonious sexual penetration is an aggravated felony of the first degree. R.C. 2907.12(B). It carries a life sentence if the defendant is found to have purposely compelled a person less than thirteen years of age to submit to the felonious sexual penetration by force or threat of force. R.C. 2907.12(B). Therefore, as Tebcherani correctly points out, "it is essential that the jury's verdict clearly demonstrate that it found" that the victim was under the age of thirteen, and that appellant purposely compelled the victim to submit by force or threat of force. Tebcherani argues that the jury verdict does not reflect that it found her guilty of either of these requirements and therefore the verdict is void.

In determining whether the jury was adequately informed of its responsibility under R.C. 2907.12(A)(1)(b) and (B), this Court is obligated to view the jury instructions including the verdict forms in their entirety. See State v. Hill (1995), 73 Ohio St.3d 433, 439, citingState v. Lorraine (1993), 66 Ohio St.3d 414, 425 and State v. Landrum (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 107, 122.

The indictment charging Tebcherani with five identical counts of felonious sexual penetration was read to the jury during the court's instructions:

MATILDA TEBCHERANI on or about March, 1993 through the 30th day of June, 1996, * * * did commit the crime of FELONIOUS SEXUAL PENETRATION, in that she, did without privilege to do so, insert any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus, or other object, to-wit: finger into the vaginal or anal cavity of [the victim], who was not the spouse of MATILDA TEBCHERANI or who was the spouse but was living separate and apart, when [the victim] was less than thirteen years of age, whether or not MATILDA TEBCHERANI knew the age of such person and did purposely compel said [victim] by force or threat of force, in violation of Section 2907.12(A)(1)(b) of the Ohio Revised Code, AN AGGRAVATED FELONY OF THE FIRST DEGREE [.]

The verdict form is titled "INDICTMENT FOR FELONIOUS SEXUAL PENETRATION (3/93 — 6/30/96)," and reads: "We the Jury * * * find the Defendant, MATILDA TEBCHERANI GUILTY of the offense of Felonious Sexual Penetration. We further find the Defendant, MATILDA TEBCHERANI, DID use force during the commission of the Felonious Sexual Penetration."

In analyzing the obviously incomplete verdict form, we look to other courts that have faced similar situations. For example, in State v.Giles (July 14, 1994), Cuyahoga App. No. 65731, unreported, the defendant was indicted on, among other things, several charges of gross sexual imposition. The trial court properly charged the jury with respect to the elements of the crime of gross sexual imposition but erroneously stated that the charge was gross sexual penetration. Ohio law does not recognize the crime of gross sexual penetration. Id. After the mistake was pointed out, the trial judge instructed the jury that he misspoke. However, the jury verdict form contained the language of gross sexual penetration and the jury found the defendant guilty. Id. The defendant moved for acquittal on that count arguing that the judgment was void because he could not be convicted of a crime that is not recognized in Ohio law. The trial court denied the motion based on the fact that the jury had been properly charged as to the elements of gross sexual imposition, and sentenced defendant according to the gross sexual imposition statute.Id.

The Eighth District Court of Appeals found that the verdict was responsive to the issues submitted to the jury. Id. The appellate court reasoned that "although the jury verdict form stated gross sexual penetration, it is not disputed that the jury was properly charged with the elements of the crime of gross sexual imposition and, thus, the verdict can be given force and effect." Id.

In State v. Davie (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 311, 326

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Tebcherani, Unpublished Decision (11-22-2000), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-tebcherani-unpublished-decision-11-22-2000-ohioctapp-2000.