State v. Ruf

Citations

• 2020 Ohio 3988

Syllabus

References at trial to appellant's being the victim's former step-father did not deprive him of a fair trial, and appellant's counsel did not provide ineffective assistance by failing to object to such testimony. The fact that appellant had been the victim's step-father for most of her life and that they maintained a father-daughter type of relationship explained why the victim did not want to have sex with appellant and made it more probable that she was substantially impaired when they did have sex. Therefore, testimony about the long-standing relationship between appellant and the victim was both relevant and admissible under Evid.R. 403(A). Judgment affirmed.