State v. Peterson

Citations

• 2024 Ohio 2903

Syllabus

Rape, sufficient evidence, manifest weight of the evidence, admission of evidence, abuse of discretion, hearsay, opinion testimony, consecutive sentences. Defendant was convicted of two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, and one count of endangering children. The verdicts were based on sufficient evidence through the testimony of the victim. The convictions were not against the manifest weight of the evidence because the victim delayed disclosure for three years where she could not leave the home. Further the victim's testimony was not so incredible as to undermine its weight. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing a recording of the victim's mother because it was nontestimonial hearsay not offered for the truth of the statements. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing a social worker to testify as to the manner in which child victims disclose sexual assaults and their reasons for delaying disclosure. Finally, the trial court made the findings to impose consecutive sentences and it cannot be said that the record clearly and convincingly does not support the imposition of consecutive sentences.