In re T.W.

[Cite as In re T.W., 2018-Ohio-3275.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 106231

IN RE: T.W.
A Minor Child

JUDGMENT:
REVERSED; VACATED

Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Juvenile Division
Case No. DL 16100472

BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., E.T. Gallagher, P.J., and Jones, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 16, 2018
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

Brian J. Smith
John A. Sivinski
Sivinski & Smith, L.L.C.
20545 Center Ridge Road, Suite 215
Rocky River, Ohio 44116

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Michael C. O’Malley
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

By: Jillian J. Snyder
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Justice Center, 9th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Also listed:

For Mother

S.B., pro se
212 Lincoln Drive
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

For Father

H.W., pro se
4914 Lindsey Lane
Cleveland, Ohio 44143
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶1} T.W. appeals a delinquency adjudication for acts constituting: (1) kidnapping by

force, threat, or deception under R.C. 2905.01(A)(4); (2) gross sexual imposition under R.C.

2907.05(A)(4), as the lesser included offense of statutory rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b); and

(3) forcible rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(2). That adjudication is not sustained by sufficient

evidence.

{¶2} This case presents a particularly difficult review in light of the fact that it involves a

minor child as the named victim. Despite our concern for this child, or any child victim, we

nevertheless must apply the law to the facts of the case, and accept the end result of the analysis.

{¶3} The only evidence in support of the delinquency adjudication is the child’s

disclosure made to her mother and father (who disagreed as to the extent and nature of that

disclosure) and the child’s statements to an emergency, pediatric social worker employed by the

hospital where treatment was sought. The child’s statements describing the alleged sexual acts

were introduced under Evid.R. 807(A). The child disclosed to her mother and the social worker

that T.W., the child’s brother, asked her to perform fellatio on him and the victim placed her

mouth on T.W.’s genitals. Both the mother and the social worker clarified that the child spoke

of no force or compulsion. Father offered a more benign version of the disclosure, essentially

claiming that the child was tattling on T.W. for saying “suck” and that any sexual connotation

was injected through mother’s questioning. There is no medical evidence or other physical

evidence confirming the sexual abuse.

{¶4} In addition, the child’s mother testified that she observed a behavioral change in the
four-year-old toward the end of 2014 — the child exhibited disruptive and “clingy” behavior and

began wetting her bed. The state claimed that the trier of fact could infer from the behavioral

changes that a sexual assault occurred, but concedes that the mother could not explain the

possible causes of the behavioral change or whether the behavioral characteristics were indicative

of sexual abuse. T.W. presented an expert who testified that the behavioral characteristics

observed by the mother were not unique to abuse victims.

{¶5} We acknowledge that additional evidence was presented at an interlocutory

evidentiary hearing conducted under Evid.R. 807, such as the testimony of Shannon Sneed from

the Cuyahoga County Department of Child and Family Services (who did not testify at the

adjudicatory hearing) and the investigating police officer Gregory Patterson (who did testify in a

limited capacity, limited by Confrontation Clause issues). The trial court expressly precluded

either of those witnesses from substantively testifying to the sexual misconduct or the child’s

statements during the final adjudicatory hearing.

{¶6} We cannot consider the evidentiary hearing evidence for the purpose of determining

whether there is sufficient evidence in support of the adjudication of delinquency. The state

could have appealed that interlocutory decision to suppress the evidence under R.C. 2945.67(A)

in advance of the hearing if such evidence was necessary to a successful prosecution. In re

M.M., 135 Ohio St.3d 375, 2013-Ohio-1495, 987 N.E.2d 652, ¶ 48. As a result, there are two

pieces of evidence used to adjudicate T.W. delinquent — the child’s statements admitted under

Evid.R. 807(A) through the mother’s, father’s, and a hospital social worker’s testimony, and

mother’s statement that the victim exhibited behavioral changes at the end of 2014.

{¶7} In Ohio, Evid.R. 807 provides an exception to the general inadmissibility of hearsay

uttered by a child under the age of 12 that describes any sexual act performed by, with, or on the
child.1 This exception applies if (1) the court finds that the totality of the circumstances around

the making of the statement provides a particularized guaranty of trustworthiness comparable at

least to Evid.R. 803 and 804; (2) the child’s testimony is not reasonably obtainable by the

proponent of the statement; (3) there is “independent proof” of the sexual act; and (4) the

proponent of the statement has notified all other parties of the content of the statement at least ten

days before the trial or hearing. Evid.R. 807(A)(1)-(4). The rule is stated in the conjunctive.

In order for the out-of-court statements to be admitted under the rule, the proponent must

demonstrate all of the above.

{¶8} In this case, there is no independent proof of the sexual act as a foundation for the

evidence admitted at the adjudicatory hearing. The only substantive evidence of a sexual act

not derived from the child’s out-of-court statements, according to the state, is the mother’s

observation that the child exhibited a behavioral change toward the end of 2014, approximately a

year before she disclosed the alleged misconduct to the adults. Sneed and Officer Patterson

were precluded from testifying about their conversations with the child.

{¶9} Without expert testimony, the mother’s observations of the child’s behavioral

changes are not independent proof as contemplated under Evid.R. 807(A)(3). In State v.

Stowers, 81 Ohio St.3d 260, 262, 1998-Ohio-632, 690 N.E.2d 881, it was recognized that expert

testimony in sexual abuse cases is admissible to demonstrate that such behavior is consistent

with those observed in sexually abused children in general. That expert testimony is permitted

because a lay person lacks any specialized knowledge about behavioral characteristics of child

1
The state also references R.C. 2151.35(F) as a basis to admit the out-of-court statements made by the
victim. “R.C. 2151.35(F) is inconsistent with Article VIII of the Ohio Rules of Evidence and, as such, has no force
or effect.” In re Coy, 67 Ohio St.3d 215, 1993-Ohio-202, 616 N.E.2d 1105, paragraph one of the syllabus.
Evid.R. 807 is the exclusive mechanism for the admissibility of out-of-court statements by a child under the age of
12 at the time of the trial or hearing.
abuse victims and is unaware of how sexually abused children respond to sexual or other

physical abuse. Id., quoting State v. Boston, 46 Ohio St.3d 108, 128, 545 N.E.2d 1220 (1989)

(“‘Incest is prohibited in all or almost all cultures and the common experience of a juror may

represent a less-than-adequate foundation for assessing whether a child has been sexually

abused.’”). Although mother’s observations regarding her child’s behavioral characteristics are

admissible, the relevancy of such testimony is limited absent an expert qualified to explain the

significance of the noted observations.

{¶10} The state nevertheless argues that the trier of fact is capable of inferring that the

behavioral changes were caused by the sexual misconduct without expert testimony. If the

state’s argument was true, however, Stowers would not have permitted the use of expert

testimony to explain the significance of the behavioral observations. Expert testimony is

permitted only if the testimony “relates to matters beyond the knowledge or experience possessed

by lay persons or it dispels a misconception common among lay persons.” Evid.R. 702(A). If

a lay person were capable of inferring the causal connection between sexual abuse and observed

behavioral traits, no expert testimony would be permitted because the lay person was capable of

formulating a conclusion based on the evidence presented without the assistance of expert

testimony. State v. Garcia, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 79917, 2002-Ohio-4179, ¶ 44; Reynolds v.

Bauer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21179, 2006-Ohio-2912, ¶ 21 (the justification for expert

testimony is concerned with the jury’s ability to “draw proper inferences” from the facts in

evidence). The foundation of the Stowers decision precludes us from accepting the state’s

argument, and tellingly, the state has not cited a case in which any court has held that a lay

person may infer sexual or physical abuse from a victim’s behavior without an expert opinion.

{¶11} On this point, the state cites State v. Robertson, 9th Dist. Summit No. 19072, 2000
Ohio App. LEXIS 276, 14-15 (Feb. 2, 2000), claiming that a trier of fact can infer the occurrence

of a sexual assault from behavioral changes without expert testimony. In that case, however,

the state presented expert testimony to draw the necessary connection, and more important, the

offender had confessed to the misconduct, rendering the need for further independent proof

irrelevant. Id. at 14 (noting that the state presented a psychologist to testify that the victim’s

behavior was indicative of sexual abuse); accord In re S.H.W., 2d Dist. Greene No. 2015-CA-25,

2016-Ohio-841, ¶ 37. A confession to committing a crime constitutes independent proof. See,

e.g., State v. Hand, 107 Ohio St.3d 378, 2006-Ohio-18, 840 N.E.2d 151 (under the independent

proof prong of Evid.R. 801(D)(2)(e) for the purposes of proving a conspiracy, defendant’s

statements admitting to the conspiracy were independent proof of the conspiracy for the purposes

of introducing the coconspirator’s statements at defendant’s trial).

{¶12} In this case, there is no expert testimony demonstrating that the observed

behavioral characteristics are independent proof of a sexual act having occurred and there is no

confession. In response, the state claims that the child’s behavioral changes can be interpreted

in conjunction with her statements describing the sexual act under the Evid.R. 807(A) analysis.

See, e.g., State v. Owens, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 17394, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 641, 37 (Feb.

25, 2000) (victim’s behavior when “compounded” with the victim’s statements regarding the

sexual acts considered “independent” proof of the sexual acts); In re A.K., 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 26199, 2015-Ohio-30, ¶ 16 (relying on Owens); State v. Hall, 9th Dist. Summit No. 20089,

2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 178, 14 (Jan. 24, 2001) (victim’s statements about the sexual act using

anatomically correct dolls constituted “independent” proof of the sexual acts); but see State v.

Singleton, 2016-Ohio-4696, 69 N.E.3d 118, ¶ 23 (8th Dist.) (sexual assault nurse’s examination

revealing physical evidence of sexual abuse constituted independent proof of the sexual act).
We decline to adopt the proposition that an alleged victim’s statements describing the sexual act

can provide the context necessary to demonstrating the “independent proof.”

{¶13} Proof of the sexual act must be independent of the child’s statements describing the

sexual act. The term “independent proof” under Evid.R. 807(A)(3) “is comparable to the

independent proof requirement of the co-conspirator exception under Evid.R. 801(D)(2)(e).”

1991 Staff Notes, Evid.R. 807(A)(3). Traditionally, the “bootstrapping rule” from Evid.R.

801(D)(2)(e) precludes the state from presenting evidence of a conspiracy by admitting

statements of a coconspirator that established the conspiracy in the first place. Bourjaily v.

United States, 483 U.S. 171, 177, 107 S.Ct. 2775, 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987). Likewise, the state

cannot offer “independent proof” of a sexual assault having occurred that is solely based on an

inference that exists through consideration of the child’s statements describing the sexual act,

statements that would otherwise be inadmissible without the independent proof.

{¶14} The mother’s behavioral observations standing alone cannot be considered

independent proof of a sexual assault having occurred, especially considering the state’s

argument that the mother only testified as to her observations but could not explain what caused

the change or the significance of the characteristics noted. On this point, expert testimony was

required to establish the causal connection because a lay person would ordinarily be unaware of

how sexually abused children might respond to sexual or other physical abuse and because a lay

person does not possess the specialized knowledge or training to determine which behavioral

characteristics would be indicative of an assault. Stowers, 81 Ohio St.3d at 262,

1998-Ohio-632, 690 N.E.2d 881. Further, by using the child’s statements as the context within

which to consider the behavioral observation testimony, the state is bootstrapping — relying on

the child’s statements as the foundation of independent proof of the sexual act before
determining the admissibility of those statements. 2 The state failed to demonstrate the

admissibility of the child’s out-of-court statements describing the sexual act, and those

statements should have been excluded.

{¶15} The emphasis and detail the dissent places on the veractiy of the child suggests

that the child should have been deemed competent to testify in this case. The child’s “detailed

account” proffered through hearsay, is not relevant to the issues preserved for this appeal, which

focuses on the admissibility of the child’s statements under Evid.R. 807. “A hearsay statement

of a child declarant can be admitted under Evid.R. 807 without a determination of the child’s

competence to testify.” State v. Silverman, 121 Ohio St.3d 581, 2009-Ohio-1576, 906 N.E.2d

427, syllabus. Thus, the child’s ability to truly relate her impressions of the facts and

transactions is irrelevant to the admissibility of the hearsay. Although the record is unclear as to

the reason, the trial court deemed the child incompetent to testify at trial under Evid.R. 601 after

conducting an in camera interview of the child and the state did not timely appeal that decision.

We have not been asked to review the competency determination.

{¶16} Generally, any error with the admission of evidence would result in a new trial.

See, e.g., State v. Creech, 150 Ohio St.3d 540, 2016-Ohio-8440, 84 N.E.3d 981, ¶ 40 (affirming

appellate remand for a new trial without the tainted evidence). However, even if the problems

with Evid.R. 807(A) were ignored, the evidence presented at the adjudicatory hearing was

2
The dissent’s reliance on Sneed’s testimony as establishing the independent proof of the sexual act is
misplaced. Sneed’s assessment of the child’s veracity cannot be a basis to affirm the adjudication. The child’s
veracity cannot be bolstered by another witness. Boston, 46 Ohio St.3d 108, 545 N.E.2d 1220, at syllabus.
Further, as the dissent concedes, the conclusion that the state presented “independent proof” of the sexual act is
entirely dependent on the child’s statements describing the act in detail, statements that are not admissible without
independent proof of the sexual act. The child’s statements accurately describing the sexual acts of fellatio that
form the basis of the charges do not constitute independent proof of the sexual act having occurred — those are still
the child’s statements “describing any sexual act performed by, with, or on the child * * *” that are precluded unless
the state presents independent proof of the sexual act. Evid.R. 807(A).
insufficient to prove that T.W. committed acts constituting kidnapping by force, threat, or

deception under R.C. 2905.01(A)(4), gross sexual imposition under R.C. 2907.05(A)(4), or

forcible rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) as a matter of law.

{¶17} The standard of review for questions involving the sufficiency of the evidence in

delinquency adjudications is the same applied for felony defendants: the evidence and all

reasonable inferences are reviewed in favor of the state to determine whether any rational trier of

fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In

re D.C., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105433, 2018-Ohio-163, ¶ 3, citing In re Washington, 81 Ohio

St.3d 337, 339, 1998-Ohio-627, 691 N.E.2d 285, and In re J.S., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102800,

2015-Ohio-4990, ¶ 13. With respect to the kidnapping and rape charges, the state was required

to demonstrate some element of force. But, there is no evidence that T.W. forced or compelled

his sister to perform fellatio, or otherwise restrained her liberty in the process. The evidence,

considered in the light most favorable to the state, established that T.W. asked his sister to

perform fellatio, and she performed the sexual act. Sneed and Officer Patterson were precluded

from testifying as to the child’s statements and, thus, cannot be considered in determining

whether the state presented sufficient evidence.

{¶18} The state contends that the force or restraint aspect of the delinquency adjudication

was demonstrated based on the principle established in State v. Eskridge, 38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526

N.E.2d 304 (1988), and State v. Dye, 82 Ohio St.3d 323, 1998-Ohio-234, 695 N.E.2d 763. See,

e.g., State v. Eads, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87636, 2007-Ohio-539, ¶ 12 (relying on Eskridge and

its progeny as a basis to find that the state demonstrated force). In that line of cases, a person

may be convicted of rape with force under R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) without evidence of the express or

overt threat of harm or without evidence of significant physical restraint, if the offender is in a
position of authority over the victim. Id. at 329. The element of force can be implied if the

state demonstrates that the victim’s will was overcome by fear or duress based on the offender’s

position of authority. Id. at 327. In this case, the state failed to demonstrate the applicability

of Eskridge and its progeny.

{¶19} In In re L.R.F., 2012-Ohio-4284, 977 N.E.2d 138, ¶ 22 (8th Dist.), a ten-year-old

cousin was accused of “forcing” his six-year-old relative to perform fellatio on him. The older

relative threatened to tell the victim’s parents that the younger victim kissed another boy. Id. at

¶ 3. Similar to the current circumstances, there was no evidence of overt or psychological force,

no evidence of a filial relationship between the offender and alleged victim, and no evidence of

the offender having authority over the alleged victim. Id., citing In re N.K., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 82332, 2003-Ohio-7059, and In re D.L., 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-11-08, 2012-Ohio-1796, ¶

27. The only evidence presented was that the offender, who was under the age of 13, “asked”

the alleged victim to perform fellatio and she complied. Id. This was deemed insufficient to

sustain the rape with force conviction. Id. The state maintained that force was implied under

Dye and its progeny, but that argument was rejected based on the age of the offender and the

state’s inability to demonstrate that the older relative held a position of authority over the

younger one. Id. at ¶ 22.

{¶20} In this case, the mother claimed that the child exhibited behavioral changes before

T.W.’s 13th birthday. The state attempted to demonstrate the sexual conduct in part based on

that evidence. As a result, the state cannot rely on Eskridge or its progeny in demonstrating that

force was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In In re L.R.F., the court declined to extend the

holdings from Eskridge and Dye to offenders under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged

misconduct.
 {¶21} Regardless, even if T.W. was older than 13 at the time of the alleged misconduct,

there was no evidence that he was in a position of authority over his younger sister for the

purposes of implying force. We cannot create a per se rule, as the state suggests, that “force”

under R.C. 2907.02(A)(2) is demonstrated whenever sexual assaults are committed by an older

relative. There must be some evidence, for instance, that the offender has inherent power

through his position of authority over the victim, or that the force used was subtle and

psychological stemming from the filial-like relationship.

{¶22} In this case, the mother testified that the two children were always supervised by

adults. This demonstrates that T.W. was not burdened with the responsibility of caring for or

watching over his sister. Further, the sister was not told that T.W. was an authority figure.

See, e.g., Dye, 82 Ohio St.3d 323, 328, 1998-Ohio-234, 695 N.E.2d 763, citing Eskridge, 38

Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304 (the absence of parental relationship is not dispositive; the state

can demonstrate psychological force when the state demonstrates the offender is an authority

figure and the parents tell the victim to listen to the offender in the parents’ absence). The state

failed to introduce any evidence that T.W.’s sister was forcibly compelled to perform fellatio,

was forcibly restrained in the process, or had submitted to the sexual act through psychological or

implied force as defined in Eskridge and its progeny.

{¶23} Finally, the trial court improperly considered gross sexual imposition as a lesser

included offense of statutory rape under R.C. 2907.02(A)(1)(b), which is unconstitutionally

vague when applied against an offender who is under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged

misconduct. In re D.B., 129 Ohio St.3d 104, 2011-Ohio-2671, 950 N.E.2d 528, syllabus. We

acknowledge that gross sexual imposition may be a lesser included offense to statutory rape.

State v. Lynch, 98 Ohio St.3d 514, 2003-Ohio-2284, 787 N.E.2d 1185, ¶ 83-86. Consideration
of the lesser included offense is required, however, “only where the evidence presented at trial

would reasonably support both an acquittal on the crime charged and a conviction upon the lesser

included offense.” Ohio v. Thomas, 40 Ohio St.3d 213, 533 N.E.2d 286 (1988), paragraph two

of the syllabus.

{¶24} The evidence introduced in this case demonstrated that the child performed fellatio

on T.W. Rape is defined in terms of a person engaging in sexual conduct with another, which is

further defined to include vaginal or anal penetration, cunnilingus, or fellatio. R.C. 2907.01(A).

Gross sexual imposition is defined in terms of sexual contact, meaning the touching of an

erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region,

or, if the person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either

person. R.C. 2907.01(B). The acts of rape do not constitute acts of gross sexual imposition.

State v. Hlavsa, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93810, 2011-Ohio-3379, ¶ 21, citing State v. Johnson,

36 Ohio St.3d 224, 522 N.E.2d 1082 (1988); State v. Reid, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83206,

2004-Ohio-2018.

{¶25} A defendant is not entitled to seek a jury instruction on the lesser included offense

of gross sexual imposition when the evidence indicates that a rape occurred. Lynch at ¶ 83-86.

In Lynch, for example, the state demonstrated that the defendant vaginally penetrated the victim.

Id. The defendant sought an instruction on gross sexual imposition, arguing that the jury could

find that no penetration occurred when the defendant kissed and touched the victim’s genitals.

Id. The defendant, however, confessed to investigating officers that there was slight

penetration. Id. In light of that evidence, the Ohio Supreme Court concluded that the lesser

included offense of gross sexual imposition was not supported by the evidence. Id. Thus,

although it is conceivable that some sexual contact could occur in facilitating the sexual conduct,
there must be evidence of the sexual contact. Acts constituting sexual conduct are not

considered acts constituting sexual contact. To hold otherwise would invalidate every case in

which a defendant was denied the opportunity to have the trier of fact consider gross sexual

imposition during a rape trial for the want of evidence establishing sexual contact. See, e.g.,

Lynch.

{¶26} In this case, the only evidence presented involved allegations of the child

performing fellatio on T.W., generally defined as a “sexual act in which the mouth or lips come

into contact with the penis.” State v. Warman, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-02-029,

2017-Ohio-244, ¶ 36, citing State v. Vansickle, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2013-03-005,

2014-Ohio-1324, ¶ 88; State v. Carson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103286, 2016-Ohio-1126, ¶ 18.

There was no evidence demonstrating any form of sexual contact, as defined under R.C.

2907.01(B). The state presented an all-or-nothing case for rape as defined under R.C.

2907.01(A)(1)(b), and in this case, consideration of gross sexual imposition as a lesser included

offense of statutory rape was improper. Lynch, 98 Ohio St.3d 514, 2003-Ohio-2284, 787

N.E.2d 1185, at ¶ 86. Since the trial court acquitted T.W. of statutory rape and there was no

evidence demonstrating any sexual contact having occurred, the adjudication of delinquency for

acts constituting gross sexual imposition cannot be sustained.

{¶27} As a result of the foregoing, we reverse and the case is remanded to the trial court

to vacate the delinquency adjudication.

It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
 It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas

court, juvenile division, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this entry

shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

LARRY A. JONES, SR., J., CONCURS;
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE OPINION

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J., DISSENTING:

{¶28} I respectfully dissent because I believe T.W.’s delinquency adjudication is

supported by sufficient evidence and is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. I also

believe T.W.’s hearsay statements were admissible under Evid.R. 807.

{¶29} For clarity’s sake, it should be mentioned that T.W. raised the following five

assignments of error:

1. The trial court erred to the prejudice of T.W. when it allowed [Mother] to
testify regarding behaviors of J.W. that she believed were not normative or that
were evidence of sexual abuse without establishing that [Mother] had the requisite
knowledge to identify such behaviors or their relation to sexual abuse and without
a state expert to do so.

2. The trial court erred to the prejudice of T.W. when it permitted into evidence
hearsay statements of J.W. contrary to Evid.R. 807.

3. The trial court’s conviction of forcible rape and kidnapping lacked
evidentiary support and was contrary to both the sufficiency and manifest weight
of the evidence.

4. The trial court erred in convicting T.W. of gross sexual imposition, which is
constitutionally vague, is not a lesser included offense of statutory rape in these
circumstances, and which is contrary to both the sufficiency and manifest weight
of the evidence.

5. The trial court failed to merge allied offenses of similar import.
The majority’s decision to reverse the trial court’s judgment is based primarily on the third

assignment since the majority believes the evidence presented at the adjudicatory hearing was

inadequate to sustain T.W.’s delinquency adjudications.

{¶30} However, before addressing the manifest weight and sufficiency arguments, the

evidentiary issues in the case should be addressed in order to avoid confusing the evidentiary

questions under Evid.R. 807 with the state’s burden of proof at the adjudicatory hearing. T.W.

argues in the second assignment of error that the trial court erred in allowing witnesses to testify

about out-of-court statements J.W. made regarding the abuse. The trial court concluded that

J.W.’s statements were admissible under Evid.R. 807 after holding an evidentiary hearing

exclusively on that issue.

{¶31} It is important to note that we review the trial court’s decision to admit hearsay

under Evid.R. 807 for an abuse of discretion. State v. Singleton, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

103478, 2016-Ohio-4696, ¶ 21. When applying the abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing

court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. Vannucci v. Schneider, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 105577, 2018-Ohio-1294, ¶ 22.

{¶32} Under Evid.R. 807, an out-of-court statement made by a child who is under 12

years of age at the time of trial describing any sexual act performed by, with, or on the child is

not excluded as hearsay where (1) the child’s testimony is not reasonably obtainable by the

proponent of the statement, (2) there is independent proof of the sexual act, and (3) the court

finds that the totality of the circumstances surrounding the making of the statement provides

particularized guarantees of trustworthiness that make the statement at least as reliable as
statements admitted pursuant to the rules providing the general hearsay exceptions. Evid.R.

807(A); Singleton at ¶ 21.

{¶33} The majority found that J.W.’s hearsay statements failed to meet the requirements

for admissibility under Evid.R. 807 because there was no independent proof of the sexual act.

Notably, the trial court found that “J.W.’s clinginess, outbursts of anger, and disturbed sleep”

provided independent proof of sexual assault. I agree with the majority that these behaviors, by

themselves, are not enough to establish independent proof, particularly in the absence of expert

testimony to explain their significance. The record nevertheless contains independent proof of

sexual abuse beyond the alleged changes in J.W.’s behavior.

{¶34} J.W.’s knowledge of the appearance and functioning of male sexual organs is

enough to satisfy the independent proof requirement of Evid.R. 807. Shannon Sneed (“Sneed”),

a social worker with CCDCFS, testified at the Evid.R. 807 evidentiary hearing that she

interviewed J.W. approximately two weeks after J.W. disclosed the abuse to her parents. Sneed

questioned J.W. by herself in the kitchen of her home while her parents waited in the basement.

Regarding the interview, Sneed testified, in part:

Then I said, why did she go to the hospital? And she said that [T.W.] makes her
suck him. And at that point I got a forensic drawing of a male and asked her
where she sucked and she said — she pointed to the penis and said she put her
mouth on that part of the body.

* * *

She said that they go in the basement and he pulls his pants down and she sucks
him. She said this happened five to seven times, but she couldn’t remember
exactly how many. And she said that it always happens in the basement. And
she also said that he told her not tell anyone, but she wanted — but she told her
family anyway.
(Sept. 21, 2016 tr. 105.)
 {¶35} Sneed explained there are five factors she considers in making a disposition on

allegations of sexual abuse and that there are three possible dispositions. A disposition is

“unsubstantiated” if there is no evidence that the abuse or neglect occurred. A disposition is

“substantiated” if there is medical evidence, such as DNA evidence, to substantiate the

allegations. In this case, Sneed determined that J.W.’s allegations were “indicated,” meaning

that although there was no medical evidence corroborating the claims, the allegations were

reported consistently, and the victim was credible. (Sept. 21, 2016 tr. 109-110.)

{¶36} With respect to the factors considered in making a disposition, Sneed explained:

There are five key factors that we base our disposition on. There is access, the
access that the alleged perpetrator has to the victim. Number two is strategy for
enticement or force, does it match up with what the victim is saying. Three,
secrecy. Whether or not the alleged perpetrator told the victim not to tell anyone
or threatened him or her in any way. Number four is the detail of the disclosure
that the victim is able to provide. And five is the social context of what the child
is describing.

(Sept. 21, 2016 tr. 108-109.)

{¶37} Applying these factors, Sneed explained that T.W. had access to J.W. because they

were unsupervised in the basement of their home. T.W.’s strategy was to take advantage of the

unsupervised access in the basement. Sneed found the secrecy factor was met because T.W.

instructed J.W. not to tell anyone. Although J.W. was only five years old, she provided a

detailed account of the abuse. And finally, Sneed found it plausible that the abuse occurred in

the basement because they were left unsupervised in the basement for periods of time. (Sept. 21,

2016 tr. 105.)

{¶38} In addition to Sneed’s testimony, Officer Patterson testified that during his

investigation, he asked J.W. if anything came out of [T.W.] while she was sucking, and she told

him that “[T.W.] peed.” (Sept. 21, 2016 tr. 81.) Thus, although J.W. was only five years old,
she demonstrated an awareness of the appearance and sexual function of male genitalia that was

not appropriate for her age.

{¶39} Furthermore, there was no evidence that J.W. had a motive to lie or to fabricate

accusations against T.W., and J.W. spontaneously reported the abuse to her parents. A

five-year-old child could not spontaneously tell her parents that her brother made her suck his

penis, describe the act with detail, and know the sexual function of the penis unless she had a

sexual experience with it. Therefore, I believe this evidence was sufficient independent proof of

a sexual act.

{¶40} I also disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the adjudications finding T.W.

delinquent of rape and kidnapping were not sustained by sufficient evidence and were against the

manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶41} The test for sufficiency requires a determination of whether the prosecution met its

burden of production at trial. State v. Bowden, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92266,

2009-Ohio-3598, ¶ 12. The relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light

most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259,

574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus.

{¶42} In contrast to sufficiency, “weight of the evidence involves the inclination of the

greater amount of credible evidence.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d

541 (1997). While “sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy as to whether the evidence

is legally sufficient to support a verdict as a matter of law, * * * weight of the evidence addresses

the evidence’s effect of inducing belief.” State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202,

865 N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 25, citing Thompkins at 386-387. “In other words, a reviewing court asks
whose evidence is more persuasive — the state’s or the defendant’s?” Id. The reviewing

court must consider all the evidence in the record, the reasonable inferences, and the credibility

of the witnesses to determine “‘whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly

lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the conviction must be

reversed and a new trial ordered.’” Thompkins at 387, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d

172, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983).

{¶43} T.W. was adjudicated delinquent for having committed an act that would constitute

kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(4), if committed by an adult. R.C. 2905.01(A)(4),

provides, in relevant part:

No person, by force, threat, or deception, or, in the case of a victim under the age
of thirteen * * *, by any means, shall * * * restrain the liberty of the other person,
* * * [t]o engage in sexual activity, as defined in [R.C. 2907.01], with the victim
against the victim’s will[.]

T.W. argues there was no evidence that T.W. either removed J.W. to the basement or restrained

her liberty for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity. He asserts the only evidence was that

T.W. asked J.W. to perform the activity.

{¶44} However, the force and violence necessary to commit the crime of rape depends

upon the age, size, and strength of the parties, and their relation to each other. Ohio v. Eskridge,

38 Ohio St.3d 56, 526 N.E.2d 304 (1988), paragraph one of the syllabus. Ohio courts have held

that proof of physical restraint is not required in cases involving the rape of small children where

the child’s liberty may be restrained through the inherent social or psychological pressures of a

“trusted family member” who is “bigger and older than the child.” State v. May, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 94075, 2010-Ohio-5841, ¶ 19; see also State v. Weems, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
102954, 2016-Ohio-701, ¶ 25. Therefore, the lack of physical restraint, by itself, does not

establish insufficient evidence of kidnapping in this case.

{¶45} T.W. was adjudicated delinquent of rape in violation of R.C. 2907.02(A)(1), which

states that “[n]o person shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the offender purposely

compels the other person to submit by force or threat of force.” R.C. 2907.01(A) defines

“sexual conduct” as including fellatio. As previously stated in relation to kidnapping, the

physical force element of rape need not be overt because a small child can be overcome by

subtle, psychological forces. Eskridge at 58-59. Although T.W. was not J.W.’s father, he was

older and had significantly more power than J.W.

{¶46} In State v. Dye, 82 Ohio St.3d 323, 329, 695 N.E.2d 763 (1988), the Ohio Supreme

Court held that “a person in a position of authority over a child under thirteen may be convicted

of rape of that child with force * * * without evidence of express threat of harm or evidence of

significant physical restraint.” In reaching this conclusion, the court explained that “a child

cannot be found to have consented to rape.” Id. at 327.

{¶47} J.W. told Mother and Nakita Heard that T.W. wanted her to “suck him” and that

she complied with his request. Because J.W. was only five years old, she was incapable of

consenting to sexual conduct. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence that T.W. engaged in

conduct that would be considered rape and kidnapping, if committed by an adult.

{¶48} And T.W.’s rape and kidnapping convictions are not against the manifest weight of

the evidence. As previously stated, J.W. had no reason to fabricate the allegations of abuse and

she reported the abuse spontaneously. Additionally, J.W.’s descriptions of the abuse were

consistent every time she reported them. Nakita Heard, a social worker who interviewed J.W.
at University Hospitals the day she reported the abuse to her parents, testified at the adjudicatory

hearing about J.W.’s description of the abuse. She testified, in relevant part:

When she was telling me that he told her to suck it, she stood up and she pointed
to her genitalia area and like pointing like he told me to suck it, and she stood up
and pointed to that area.

{¶49} The consistency with which J.W. reported the abuse to her parents and health care
providers at University Hospitals coupled with her spontaneous report of the abuse makes J.W.’s
hearsay account of the abuse very credible. Moreover, there was no motive for this five-year-old
girl to falsely accuse her brother of wrongdoing. Therefore, I would find the delinquency
adjudications are not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and I would affirm the
delinquency adjudications.