State v. Shingleton

189 N.E.3d 720

, and State v. Jarvis,

167 Ohio St.3d 118

189 N.E.3d 754

),

both of which had found that applying Sierah’s Law to conduct occurring before the law’s

effective date did not violate the retroactivity provision in Article I, Section 28 of the Ohio

Constitution. Final Appealable Decision, Order and Entry Denying Defendant’s Motion

Regarding Enrollment in the Violent Offender Database (Dec. 16, 2021) (“Final Order”),

p. 2-3. The court also relied on our opinion in State v. Wright, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

28368,

2021-Ohio-4107

, which was issued shortly after Hubbard and Jarvis. Id. at p. 3.

The decision also reaffirmed the finding that Shingleton was a principal offender.

{¶ 13} On January 6, 2022, the OPD filed a request for the court to issue findings

of fact and conclusions of law concerning issues the court had not resolved. The court

then filed a decision on January 18, 2022, denying the request. Previously that day,

Shingleton had filed a notice of appeal from the December 16, 2021 judgment.2

{¶ 14} After the appeal was docketed as Montgomery App. No. 29363 (the current

appeal), Shingleton filed a motion asking that we transfer the preparation of summaries

of docket and judgment entries of Montgomery App. No. 28947 and the transcripts of

2 The notice of appeal was filed at 12:47 p.m. on January 18, 2022, and the court’s
decision on the request for findings of fact was filed at 3:21 p.m. on January 18, 2022.
Shingleton failed to file a notice of appeal concerning the January 2022 decision.
-6-

Montgomery C.P. No. 1981-CR-76 to the current appeal. We granted the motion, and

the pertinent records were thereafter transferred to this case. See State v. Shingleton,

2d Dist. Montgomery No. 29363 (Order, Apr. 6, 2022).

{¶ 15} With this background in mind, we will consider Shingleton’s assignments of

error.

III. As-Applied Retroactivity Claim

{¶ 16} Shingleton’s first assignment of error states that:

The Trial Court Erred When It Found That Mr. Shingleton’s As-

Applied Retroactivity Claim Was Barred by Hubbard and Jarvis.

{¶ 17} Under this assignment of error, Shingleton contends that the trial court erred

in declining to consider the merits of his as-applied retroactivity challenge. According to

Shingleton, the decisions of the Supreme Court of Ohio in Hubbard and Jarvis only

decided facial challenges to the VOD’s retroactivity, and as-applied challenges are still

viable.

{¶ 18} Before we consider this point, we must address the issue of which order

and issues may be considered in this appeal. Although the State has not challenged

jurisdiction, this is an issue we may raise on our own motion. E.g., Nemcic v. Phelps,

2014-Ohio-3952

19 N.E.3d 554

, ¶ 14 (2d Dist.).

          {¶ 19} Shingleton filed a request for findings of fact and conclusions of law on

January 6, 2022, and the trial court denied the request on January 18, 2022. The denial

occurred after Shingleton’s notice of appeal was filed, and no notice of appeal was filed
                                                                                           -7-


after the January 18, 2022 decision; instead, the notice of appeal that was previously filed

specified only an appeal from the December 16, 2021 decision.

       {¶ 20} An argument might be made that the notice of appeal was prematurely filed.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “when a party files a premature notice of appeal

of a judgment, it is not ineffective; it merely becomes effective once the judgment is final.”

State ex rel. Conrath v. LaRose, Ohio Slip Opinion No.

2022-Ohio-3594

, ___ N.E.3d ___,

¶ 15, citing App.R. 4(C) and State v. Craig,

159 Ohio St.3d 398

2020-Ohio-455

151 N.E.3d 574, ¶ 27

. However, the judgment in question here was a final judgment, as it

disposed of Shingleton’s facial and as-applied claims, found that the VOD applied to

Shingleton, and reaffirmed the court’s prior decision that Shingleton was the principal

offender and “must enroll in the VOD and abide by its regulations.” Final Order at p. 3.

The decision was final at that point, and if the court committed error in failing to consider

some arguments, any such error could be raised on appeal.

       {¶ 21} Furthermore, we cannot construe the notice of appeal to include the

judgment the trial court issued the same day.           Compare S. Christian Leadership

Conference v. Combined Health Dist.,

191 Ohio App.3d 405

2010-Ohio-6550

946 N.E.2d 282, ¶ 11

(2d Dist.) (construing notice of appeal to include omitted part of a

judgment even though it was not designated on the notice, based on appellant’s “intent

to appeal the entire judgment of dismissal” and the lack of prejudice to the other party).

{¶ 22} In his January 6, 2022 request for findings of fact, Shingleton specifically

stated that if the trial court filed a “subsequent entry addressing the remaining issues

[before January 18, 2022], undersigned counsel will file an appeal from the new entry
-8-

instead.” Request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (Jan. 6, 2022), p. 3.

While this indicates an intent to also appeal from any subsequent decision, we cannot

construe a notice of appeal to include matters that had not yet been decided. The proper

procedure would have been to file a second notice of appeal within 30 days after the trial

court filed the January 18, 2022 decision. However, this was not done. As a result, we

lack jurisdiction to consider the January 18, 2022 decision.

{¶ 23} We also note that the request for findings of fact referenced only the court’s

failure to address three issues: “(1) whether the VOD violated the Ex Post Facto Clause

of the United States Constitution, (2) whether the VOD violated the state or federal equal

protection clauses, or (3) whether the VOD as applied to Mr. Shingleton violated his due-

process rights.” (Footnote omitted.) Id. at p. 2.

{¶ 24} In this case, the trial court did not have a duty to issue findings of fact with

respect to these issues because it was not assuming “the role of factfinder.” State ex

rel. Drake v. Athens Cty. Bd. of Elections,

39 Ohio St.3d 40, 41

528 N.E.2d 1253

(1988).

Specifically, these matters involved issues of law and no disputed facts; the only points

raised in the as-applied context were that: (1) Shingleton’s conviction occurred in 1981,

close to 40 years before Sierah’s Law was enacted; and (2) the law unequally

distinguishes between persons under confinement as opposed to those who committed

crimes in the past but had been released. See Motion (Oct. 28, 2019), p. 3-4;

Memorandum in Support of October 28, 2019 Pro Se Motion (Aug. 11, 2021), at p. 8-9.

As noted, the trial court’s failure to address these issues are points that could be raised

on appeal. The reason is that any trial court error, including failure to decide an issue, is
-9-

a proper subject for appeal.

{¶ 25} In addition, Shingleton’s request for findings of fact and conclusions of law

was untimely. Civ.R. 52 provides that:

When questions of fact are tried by the court without a jury, judgment

may be general for the prevailing party unless one of the parties in writing

requests otherwise before the entry of judgment pursuant to Civ. R. 58, or

not later than seven days after the party filing the request has been given

notice of the court's announcement of its decision, whichever is later, in

which case, the court shall state in writing the findings of fact found

separately from the conclusions of law.

{¶ 26} We are applying Civ.R. 52 for two reasons: (1) the VOD motion is not a

criminal matter; it involves a registration statute that has been construed as a “ ‘ “valid

regulatory technique,” ’ ”; and (2) there is no rule of criminal procedure that applies. See

Jarvis,

167 Ohio St.3d 118

189 N.E.3d 754

, at ¶ 12, quoting Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 39. See also State v. Schlee,

117 Ohio St.3d 153

2008-Ohio-545

882 N.E.2d 431

, ¶ 10 (holding that “the plain

language of Crim.R. 57(B) permits a trial court in a criminal case to look to the Rules of

Civil Procedure for guidance when no applicable Rule of Criminal Procedure exists”).

        {¶ 27} The correct procedure in such situations is to dismiss “the motion pursuant

to Civ.R. 52 as being untimely filed.” State ex rel. Drake,

39 Ohio St.3d at 40

528 N.E.2d 1253

. An appeal could then be taken from the dismissal. This appeal would not

normally be part of the appeal from the original final judgment, since that judgment would
-10-

have already been filed. An exception could exist if the decision on the motion were filed

within 30 days after the original final order, and the notice of appeal included both

decisions. However, that was not the situation here.

{¶ 28} Based on the preceding discussion, our analysis will be confined to the

decision specified in the notice of appeal, i.e., the trial court’s December 16, 2021

decision. We will not consider the trial court’s January 18, 2022 Decision, as that

decision was not appealed and the time for doing so has lapsed. See App.R. 3(A) and

App.R.4(A). From a practical standpoint, however, the merits of the issues will still need

to be considered. Specifically, if the trial court failed to rule on a particular point that was

properly raised, and erred in doing so, we would need to decide if the error caused

prejudice requiring reversal. See Civ.R. 61.

{¶ 29} Turning now to the first assignment of error, Shingleton contends that “even

if a statute survives a facial challenge, it may still be unconstitutional as applied to some

persons.” Appellant’s Brief, p. 7. In response, the State claims that Hubbard and Jarvis

rejected the same argument that Shingleton is making about retroactivity. Appellee’s

Brief, p. 6.

{¶ 30} “A facial challenge alleges that a statute, ordinance, or administrative rule,

on its face and under all circumstances, has no rational relationship to a legitimate

governmental purpose. * * * Facial challenges to the constitutionality of a statute are the

most difficult to mount successfully, since the challenger must establish that no set of

circumstances exists under which the act would be valid. * * * If a statute is

unconstitutional on its face, the statute may not be enforced under any circumstances.”
-11-

(Citations omitted.) Wymsylo v. Bartec, Inc.,

132 Ohio St.3d 167

2012-Ohio-2187

970 N.E.2d 898, ¶ 21

.

       {¶ 31} “A party raising an as-applied constitutional challenge, on the other hand,

alleges that ‘the “application of the statute in the particular context in which he has acted,

or in which he proposes to act, would be unconstitutional. The practical effect of holding

a statute unconstitutional ‘as applied’ is to prevent its future application in a similar

context, but not to render it utterly inoperative.” ’ ” Id. at ¶ 22, quoting Yajnik v. Akron

Dept. of Health, Housing Div.,

101 Ohio St.3d 106

2004-Ohio-357

802 N.E.2d 632, ¶ 14

.

(Other citation omitted.)

       {¶ 32} The burden of proof in these two situations is also different. “To prevail on

a facial constitutional challenge, the challenger must prove the constitutional defect, using

the highest standard of proof, which is also used in criminal cases, proof beyond a

reasonable doubt.” State ex rel. Ohio Congress of Parents & Teachers v. State Bd. of

Edn.,

111 Ohio St.3d 568

2006-Ohio-5512

857 N.E.2d 1148, ¶ 21

, citing State ex rel.

Dickman v. Defenbacher,

164 Ohio St. 142

128 N.E.2d 59

 (1955), paragraph one of the

syllabus.

       {¶ 33} In contrast, “[t]o prevail on a constitutional challenge to the statute as

applied, the challenger must present clear and convincing evidence of the statute's

constitutional defect.”

Id.,

 citing Belden v. Union Cent. Life Ins. Co.,

143 Ohio St. 329

55 N.E.2d 629

 (1944), paragraph six of the syllabus.

       {¶ 34} We also note that a decision on “whether a statute or ordinance is

constitutional is a question of law that we review de novo.” (Citations omitted.) City of
                                                                                          -12-


Cleveland v. State,

157 Ohio St.3d 330

2019-Ohio-3820

136 N.E.3d 466

, ¶ 15. See

also Taylor-Jones v. Kettering Med. Ctr., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28624, 2021-Ohio-

738, ¶ 14.

       {¶ 35} In Hubbard, the Supreme Court of Ohio resolved a conflict between the

Fifth and Twelfth Appellate Districts concerning “whether the retroactive application of

‘Sierah's Law,’ R.C. 2903.41 through 2903.44, to offenders who committed their offenses

prior to the effective date of those provisions violates the Retroactivity Clause of Article

II, Section 28 of the Ohio Constitution.” Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 1. The court also noted that in addition to accepting a certified

conflict, it had “accepted Hubbard's discretionary appeal to review the following

proposition of law: ‘The retroactive application of Senate Bill 231 – Sierah's Law – is

unconstitutional as applied to offenses committed prior to the effective date of the statute.

Section 28, Article II of the Ohio Constitution.’ ” Id. at ¶ 9, citing State v. Hubbard,

159 Ohio St.3d 1427

2020-Ohio-3473

148 N.E.3d 569

.

       {¶ 36} The conflict cases each involved criminal conduct that occurred in 2018,

before Sierah’s Law became effective. Hubbard,

2021-Ohio-3710, at ¶ 6

; see also State

v. Jarvis,

2020-Ohio-1127

152 N.E.3d 1225, ¶ 1

 (5th Dist.), rev’d,

167 Ohio St.3d 118

189 N.E.3d 754

, ¶ 14. Both defendants were sentenced after the law

became effective and were given notice that they would be subject to registration with the

VOD. Hubbard at ¶ 6; Jarvis at ¶ 6.

       {¶ 37} In considering whether the VOD registration scheme was unconstitutional,

the court applied a two-part test “asking (1) whether the General Assembly expressly
                                                                                           -13-


made the statute retroactive and, if so, (2) whether the statute is substantive or remedial.”

Hubbard,

2021-Ohio-3710, at ¶ 14

, citing State v. Williams,

129 Ohio St.3d 344

, 2011-

Ohio-3374,

952 N.E.2d 1108, ¶ 8

.         After remarking that the General Assembly had

expressly made the VOD registration retroactive, the court then considered the

legislation’s specific terms and compared it to the sex offender statutory registration

schemes. Id. at ¶ 19-29.

       {¶ 38} As noted in Hubbard, “[t]he General Assembly enacted Sierah's Law to

require the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to establish and maintain the Violent

Offender Database and to make it available to federal, state, and local law-enforcement

officers.” Id. at ¶ 19, citing R.C. 2903.43(F)(2). “The database includes information

collected by county sheriffs from ‘violent offenders,’ a classification defined to include

offenders who, on or after March 20, 2019, (1) are convicted of or plead guilty to

aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, or second-degree-

felony abduction (or an attempt to commit, conspiracy to commit, or complicity in

committing any of those offenses) or (2) were serving a term of confinement for any of

those offenses on the law's effective date.”             Id., citing R.C. 2903.41(A) and

2903.42(A)(1).

       {¶ 39} “A registration-eligible offender is required to provide to the sheriff of his or

her county (1) the offender's full name and any alias used by the offender, (2) the

offender's residential address and the name and address of any place of employment or

school that the offender attends, (3) the offender's Social Security number and any

driver's license or state-identification card number, (4) the offense committed, (5) the
                                                                                         -14-


license-plate number, vehicle-identification number, and description of any vehicle owned

or operated by the offender or registered in the offender's name, and (6) a description of

the offender's scars, tattoos, or other distinguishing marks.” Id. at ¶ 20, citing R.C.

2903.43(C)(2). “The sheriff must photograph the offender, and the offender must provide

his or her fingerprints and palmprints.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.43(C)(3). “The offender

must update that information annually by reenrolling in the database, R.C. 2903.43(D)(1);

however, if the offender changes his or her address, he or she is required to inform the

sheriff of that change within three business days.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.43(E).

       {¶ 40} Further, the VOD “is not available to the public and may be accessed only

by federal, state, and local law-enforcement officers.”         Id. at ¶ 21, citing R.C.

2903.43(F)(2).   “The enrollment information retained by the sheriff regarding each

offender is a public record that may be inspected upon request, except that the offender's

Social Security number and driver's license or state-identification card number may not

be provided to the public.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.43(F)(3)(a) and (b). “The offender may

file a motion with the court of common pleas in the county in which he or she resides

requesting that any of the information be withheld from the public due to a threat to his or

her safety.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.43(F)(3)(c).

       {¶ 41} In addition, “Sierah's Law establishes a presumption that a violent offender

must enroll in the database in person, reenroll annually in person, and provide notice of

any change of address for ten years after the offender's initial enrollment.” Id. at ¶ 22,

citing R.C. 2903.42(A) and 2903.43(D)(1). “The offender may rebut the presumption by

proving that he or she was not the principal offender.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.42(A)(4).
                                                                                            -15-


Moreover, “[a] trial court may require the offender to enroll even if the offender establishes

that he or she was not the principal offender after it considers (1) whether the offender

has any prior convictions for an offense of violence and whether those offenses show that

the offender has a propensity for violence and (2) the results of a risk assessment, the

offender's degree of culpability or involvement in the offense, and the interests of the

public and safety.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.42(A)(4)(i) through (iv).

        {¶ 42} Finally, “[a] violent offender's reckless failure to comply with Sierah's Law is

a fifth-degree felony.”    Id. at ¶ 23, citing R.C. 2903.43(I). “The duty to enroll may be

extended when, on the state's motion, the court determines that the offender either has

been convicted of or pleaded guilty to another felony or any misdemeanor offense of

violence during the enrollment period or has violated a term or condition of a sanction

imposed under the offender's sentence.” Id., citing R.C. 2903.43(D)(2).

        {¶ 43} After comparing these provisions to the sex offender registry schemes that

had been upheld, the court found, for several reasons, that Sierah’s Law was not

unconstitutionally retroactive. Specifically, (1) VOD registration had less burdensome

duties, with registrations “less frequently and in fewer places”; (2) the VOD itself was not

a public record, and the public could not access it via the internet; (3) the VOD was only

available to law enforcement officers; (4) violent offenders did not have to suffer

community notification; and (5) available information that could be gained through a public

records request differed little from information already available in public records. Id. at

¶ 29.

        {¶ 44} Furthermore, the law did not retroactively increase punishment, since the
                                                                                          -16-


statutory language failed to reveal an intent to inflict punishment, and courts did not

impose enrollment as part of an offender’s sentence; instead, the court’s role was simply

to give offenders notice. Id. at ¶ 31. Other factors included that registration laws are

law enforcement techniques which assist investigation and protect public safety;

enrollment requirements do not impose affirmative disabilities or restraints (like prohibiting

residence near schools); and appearing in person to enroll once a year is a “ ‘de minimis

administrative requirement.’ ” Id. at ¶ 34, quoting State v. Cook,

83 Ohio St.3d 404, 418

700 N.E.2d 570

 (1998).

        {¶ 45} In Hubbard, the court also discounted criminal liability based on failure to

enroll. This was because other duties, like reporting child abuse, are enforced though

criminal penalties. Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

189 N.E.3d 720

, at

¶ 35. In addition, the court distinguished the enrollment requirement from traditional

types of punishment because it does not attach based on a scienter finding, does not

impose conditions on how violent offenders can live their lives, does not subject them to

things like random drug testing or warrantless searches, and does not involve polices like

deterrence and retribution. Id. at ¶ 36-39. Finally, the court stressed that requiring

offenders to enroll is not excessive compared to the regulatory purpose and that violent

offenders pose a risk to public safety that is not imaginary. Id. at ¶ 40-41. Accordingly,

the court concluded that “the application of Sierah's Law to violent offenders who

committed their offenses prior to its effective date does not violate the Retroactivity

Clause of the Ohio Constitution.” Id. at ¶ 45.

{¶ 46} Hubbard was a plurality decision, with two justices concurring in Justice
-17-

Kennedy’s opinion, one justice concurring in judgment only, and two justices concurring

with Justice Stewart’s dissent. Id. at ¶ 45-108. The dissent argued that Sierah’s Law

was punitive and unconstitutionally retroactive. In addition, the dissent claimed the

plurality failed to apply “the full ex post facto analysis” when considering whether the law

violated Ohio's Retroactivity Clause. Id. at ¶ 46-108 (Stewart, J., dissenting).

{¶ 47} On the same day Hubbard was decided, the court reiterated its holding by

reversing the Fifth District’s decision in Jarvis (the case that conflicted with the lower court

decision in Hubbard). See Jarvis,

167 Ohio St.3d 118

189 N.E.3d 754

at ¶ 2.

{¶ 48} In rejecting Shingleton’s as-applied challenge, the trial court noted in its

December 16, 2021 decision that:

Neither the Hubbard Court nor the Jarvis Court made a distinction,

or carved out an exception, for offenders who were sentenced to more than

a certain number of years prior to the effective date. For instance, the

holding was not that Sierah’s Law is unconstitutional as applied to

defendants sentenced more than 15 years ago, 20 years ago or 30+ years

ago. Rather, the holding of the Ohio Supreme Court was simply that “the

application of Sierah’s Law to conduct that occurred prior to the effective

date does not violate the Retroactivity Clause of Article II, Section 28 of the

Ohio Constitution.”

Final Order at p. 3, quoting Hubbard at ¶ 5, and Jarvis at ¶ 2.

{¶ 49} In arguing that the trial court erred, Shingleton raises no specific matters
-18-

other than to remark that “an as-applied retroactivity challenge would involve different

legal considerations, such as the time between one’s offense and the effective date of

Sierah’s Law.” Appellant’s Brief at p. 8. However, Shingleton fails to suggest how his

situation differs from that of any defendant who committed crimes or was imprisoned

before the law’s effective date. Furthermore, we fail to see how the length of time

between an offense and the law’s enactment has any bearing on whether the law is

unconstitutionally retroactive. Specifically, if a law is effective one year after a defendant

commits an offense as opposed to 20 years after the offense, the law itself is no less

“retroactive.” Fashioning a bright-line standard for when a law is “too” retroactive would

be impossible.

{¶ 50} As an example of how an as-applied challenge works, the Supreme Court

of Ohio decided that a statute of repose effective in 2005 did not violate a substantive

right of most plaintiffs and was not unconstitutionally retroactive. Groch v. Gen. Motors

Corp.,

117 Ohio St.3d 192

2008-Ohio-546

883 N.E.2d 377

, ¶ 188.                This repose

provision in R.C. 2305.10(C), as amended, prevented “a cause of action from accruing if

the product that caused an injury was delivered to an end user more than ten years before

the injury occurred.”

Id.

 Because the injured party’s cause of action never accrued, it

never became a vested right, and the statute, therefore, did not facially violate Article II,

Section 28 of the Ohio Constitution.

Id.

{¶ 51} In contrast, as applied to the specific facts of the case before the court, the

injured party’s cause of action did accrue and was vested before amended R.C.

2305,10(C) became effective. Specifically, the party was injured In March 2005, before
-19-

the amendment became effective in April 2005. The statute therefore interfered with a

vested right. And, due to the amendment, the injured party had only 34 days after his

injury to file an action. Id. at 189-191. The court found that this was unreasonable and

that the injured party should have two years after his date of injury to file suit. In this

particular case, since he had filed suit within this time, his action was not barred by the

statute of repose. Id. at ¶ 198-199.

{¶ 52} The only “facts” pertaining to an as-applied challenge in the case before us

are that Shingleton was convicted in 1981 and was in prison on March 20, 2019, when

Sierah’s Law became effective. Nothing distinguishes Shingleton from any other violent

offender who was subject to the law, whether, as the trial court noted, the sentence

occurred 15, 20, or 30 years earlier – or, as we pointed out, if the offender’s sentence

occurred a year earlier.

{¶ 53} We also note that we have reviewed all the cases which have cited either

Hubbard or Jarvis. Most involve recent situations, where a defendant committed crimes

shortly before the law’s effective date and either was in prison on the effective date or

was sentenced afterward. E.g., State v. Barrett, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 20CA011667, 2021-

Ohio-3956; Wright, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 28368,

2021-Ohio-4107

.             None of the

cases specifically discussed an as-applied challenge.      However, in no case did the

defendant’s retroactivity argument prevail.

       {¶ 54} A few cases involved defendants who had been imprisoned for substantial

periods of time. In one, a defendant had been found guilty of crimes in 1975, had been

sentenced to a prison term of 27 years to life, and was still in prison when Sierah's Law
                                                                                         -20-


became effective. See State v. Mason, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2020-P-0085, 2021-Ohio-

4571, ¶ 3.    After the trial court dismissed the defendant’s VOD motion for lack of

jurisdiction, the court of appeals reversed the judgment and remanded the case so the

trial court could address the defendant’s retroactivity argument. Id. at ¶ 9-10. While

Hubbard and Jarvis had been decided at that point, the court of appeals reserved any

ruling because the trial court had not yet ruled on retroactivity. Id. at ¶ 5. There is no

further history for Mason following the remand.

       {¶ 55} Our court also considered a case in which the defendant had been in prison

for a substantial period of time. See State v. Cochran, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2020-CA-43,

2021-Ohio-4589

. In that case, the defendant had pled guilty to various crimes, including

murder, in February 2000 and had been sentenced to an aggregate prison term of 30

years to life. Id. at ¶ 2. In 2020, the defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea

and then appealed from a decision overruling his motion. Id. at ¶ 5.

       {¶ 56} We affirmed the judgment, noting that:

              Cochran asserts that the application of Sierah's Law to him violates

       the Retroactivity Clause of Article II, Section 28 of the Ohio Constitution.

       Cochran seems to assert that such retroactive application constitutes a

       manifest injustice and, thus, the trial court abused its discretion by

       overruling his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. But, quite recently, the

       Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the retroactive application of Sierah's Law

       “to conduct that occurred prior to its effective date does not violate the

       Retroactivity Clause of Article II, Section 28 of the Ohio Constitution.”
                                                                                        -21-


       State v. Hubbard, Ohio Slip Opinion No.

, –– N.E.3d ––,

¶ 5. Given this conclusion, the retroactive application of Sierah's Law to

Cochran cannot constitute a manifest injustice warranting a withdrawal of

Cochran's February 2000 guilty plea.

Cochran also argues that, because the Sierah's Law requirements

were not part of the plea negotiations, there was no “meeting of the minds”

regarding the statute's registration requirements. From this, Cochran

seems to argue the parties’ failure to have negotiated and agreed to the

Sierah's Law requirements created a manifest injustice requiring that he be

allowed to withdraw the guilty plea.

When the Retroactivity Clause of the Ohio Constitution has not been

violated, the application of a consequence not in existence at the time a

plea was negotiated cannot, as a matter of law, trigger a conclusion that a

manifest injustice has occurred. As such, this portion of Cochran's

argument also fails.

Id. at ¶ 9-11.

{¶ 57} While none of the cited cases are specifically on point, we find no support

for the as-applied retroactivity challenge asserted here. Accordingly, the first assignment

of error is overruled.

III. Ex Post Facto Clause Claim

{¶ 58} Shingleton’s second assignment of error states that:
-22-

The Trial Court Erred When It Found That Mr. Shingleton’s Federal

Ex Post Facto Claim Was Barred by Hubbard and Jarvis.

{¶ 59} Under this assignment of error, Shingleton contends that the trial court failed

to address his federal ex post facto claim in its December 16, 2021 decision and then

erroneously concluded in the January 18, 2022 order that Hubbard and Jarvis had

rendered the ex post facto claim “moot.” Appellant’s Brief at p. 8-9.

{¶ 60} As discussed above, the trial court’s January 18, 2022 order is not properly

before us and will not be considered. The issue, therefore, is whether the trial court erred

in failing to address an ex post facto claim in its December 16, 2021 final order.

{¶ 61} Having reviewed the record, we conclude that Singleton waived this issue

by failing to properly raise it in the trial court. “It is well-settled that a litigant's failure to

raise issues for the trial court's determination waives those issues for purposes of appeal.”

(Citation omitted.) PHH Mtge. Corp. v. Ramsey,

2014-Ohio-3519

17 N.E.3d 629

, ¶ 41

(10th Dist.). See also Goldfuss v. Davidson,

79 Ohio St.3d 116

, 121,

679 N.E.2d 1099


(1997), and State v. Brewer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26153,

2015-Ohio-693

, ¶ 36.

{¶ 62} It is true that Shingleton mentioned the Ex Post Facto Clause of the Federal

Constitution in passing in his original pro se motion. See Motion (Oct. 28, 2019), at p. 2-

3. However, he made no specific arguments on this point. Furthermore, Shingleton’s

first appointed counsel made no ex post facto argument at all in the memorandum he filed

after being appointed. Instead, he mentioned only that Shingleton had contended that

enrollment in the VOD was “unconstitutional.” Defendant’s Supplemental Memorandum

(Feb. 7, 2020), p. 3. The main focus was that Shingleton was not the principal offender.
-23-

Id. at p. 2-3.

{¶ 63} In its responsive memorandum, the State did briefly mention ex post facto

in a single paragraph. State’s Memorandum (Feb. 28, 2020), p. 8. More important,

however, is the fact that after we remanded the case for lack of a final appealable order,

the memorandum filed by Shingleton’s counsel failed to make any specific argument

pertaining to the Ex Post Facto Clause. In fact, this memorandum was directed toward

the following matters:

Even if Sierah’s Law is facially constitutional, this Court should find that it

cannot be constitutionally retroactive as applied to Mr. Shingleton because

it burdens him based on thirty-seven year old conduct. * * * Applying

Sierah’s Law to Mr. Shingleton based on his 1981 conviction violates the

Retroactivity Clause of the Ohio Constitution, the Due Process Clause of

the United States Constitution, and Ohio’s equivalent due-process

provision. Article II, Section 28 (the Retroactivity Clause); the Due Process

Claus of the Ohio and United States Constitutions.

Memorandum In Support of October 28, 2019 Pro Se Motion (Aug. 11, 2021), at p. 2.

{¶ 64} Because Shingleton did not raise the Ex Post Facto issue appropriately in

the trial court, he has waived the issue. Notably, even where a party fails to address

issues in the trial court, we can consider them on appeal based on plain error. E.g., Clark

v. Beyoglides,

2021-Ohio-4588

182 N.E.3d 1212, ¶ 20

 (2d Dist.).             We have also

recognized that “even where waiver is clear, this court reserves the right to consider

constitutional challenges to the application of statutes in specific cases of plain error or
                                                                                           -24-


where the rights and interests involved may warrant it." Brewer, 2d Dist. Montgomery

No. 26153,

2015-Ohio-693

, at ¶ 36, citing In re M.D.,

38 Ohio St.3d 149

527 N.E.2d 286


(1988).

       {¶ 65} “In appeals of civil cases, the plain error doctrine is not favored and may be

applied only in the extremely rare case involving exceptional circumstances where error,

to which no objection was made at the trial court, seriously affects the basic fairness,

integrity, or public reputation of the judicial process, thereby challenging the legitimacy of

the underlying judicial process itself.” Goldfuss,

79 Ohio St.3d at 116

679 N.E.2d 1099

,

syllabus. No error of that type is involved here.

       {¶ 66} Other than arguing that the trial court’s mootness finding was wrong,

Shingleton’s sole argument on appeal is that the ex post facto claim is an open question

we should resolve. Having reviewed the law and the record, we disagree. This case

does not present exceptional circumstances warranting reversal based on the plain error

doctrine. There was also no error.

       {¶ 67} In the first place, the Supreme Court of Ohio has said on a number of

occasions that “[t]he Ex Post Facto Clause applies only to criminal statutes * * *.” State

ex rel. Sherrills v. Franklin Cty. Clerk of Courts,

92 Ohio St.3d 402

750 N.E.2d 594

 (2001),

citing State v. Cook,

83 Ohio St.3d 404, 415

700 N.E.2d 570

 (1998). Consistent with

this line of thought, the court has rejected a federal ex post facto challenge to the

“constitutionality of the 2003 version of R.C. Chapter 2950, the Sexual Offender

Registration and Notification Law.” State v. Ferguson,

120 Ohio St.3d 7

, 2008-Ohio-

4824,

896 N.E.2d 110

, ¶ 1-2 and 41-43.
                                                                                 -25-


{¶ 68} In this regard, the court made the following observations:

       Ferguson asserts that the S.B. 5 amendments, as applied to him,

violate federal constitutional protections against ex post facto laws. Our

analysis of this claim begins with the Supreme Court's decision in Seling v.

Young (2001),

531 U.S. 250

121 S.Ct. 727

148 L.Ed.2d 734

.

       In Young, a prisoner held in civil confinement pursuant to a state law

for sexually violent predators brought a petition for a writ of habeas corpus,

seeking release.

531 U.S. at 253

121 S.Ct. 727

148 L.Ed.2d 734

. A

federal appellate court had required the trial court to conduct an evidentiary

hearing on whether the conditions of Young's confinement rendered the

state law punitive as it applied to him. Young v. Weston (C.A.9, 1999),

192 F.3d 870, 876

. Reversing, the Supreme Court held that because the state

law was civil in nature, see In re Detention of Turay (1999),

139 Wash.2d 379, 414

986 P.2d 790

, it could not be deemed punitive “as applied” to a

single individual in violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause. Young,

531 U.S. at 267

121 S.Ct. 727

148 L.Ed.2d 734

.

       As noted earlier, we have found consistently that R.C. Chapter 2950

is a civil, remedial statute.   Pursuant to Young, it therefore cannot be

deemed unconstitutional on ex post facto grounds.         See

id.

   See also

Steinmetz v. Comm. College Dist. No. 529 Bd. of Trustees (1978),

68 Ill.App.3d 83, 86

24 Ill.Dec. 604

385 N.E.2d 745

 (“the constitutional

prohibition against Ex post facto laws concerns criminal matters solely and
                                                                                          -26-


       has no application to civil law”). We therefore reject Ferguson's ex post

       facto claim.

Ferguson at ¶ 41-43

.

       {¶ 69} In Hubbard, the court found that Sierah’s Law is remedial and, like other

offender registration schemes in Ohio, is not punitive in form or effect in a way that

transforms what was intended as a civil remedy into punishment. Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

138 Ohio St. 540, 544-545

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 24-45. Given these conclusions, it is

clear that Sierah’s Law “cannot be deemed unconstitutional on federal ex post facto

grounds.”

Ferguson at ¶ 43

.

       {¶ 70} We also note that the Eighth District Court of Appeals has specifically

considered and rejected an ex post facto claim. The court applied an “ ‘intent-effects’ ”

test that the dissent in Hubbard had discussed, which, in turn, was based on Smith v.

Doe,

538 U.S. 84

123 S.Ct. 1140

155 L.Ed.2d 164

 (2003). State v. Hutchins, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 109686,

2021-Ohio-4524, ¶ 13

, citing Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

, 2021-

Ohio-3710,

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 48 (Stewart, J., dissenting).

       {¶ 71} Given the conclusions in Hubbard as to the remedial and non-punitive

nature of Sierah’s Law, this analysis was unnecessary. Nonetheless, after applying the

“intents-effects” test, the Eighth District stated in Hutchins that “[b]ased on the Ohio

Supreme Court's findings [in Hubbard], we must hold Sierah's Law does not violate

Hutchins's constitutional protection against ex post facto laws pursuant to Article I,

Sections 9 and 10 of the United States Constitution.” Hutchins at ¶ 15. Thus, the only

Ohio case specifically discussing ex post facto in this context fails to support Shingleton’s
                                                                                           -27-


claim.

         {¶ 72} As a final matter, while not strictly on point, we have previously held, based

on Hubbard, that “the retroactive application of Sierah's Law to [the defendant] cannot

constitute a manifest injustice warranting a withdrawal of [his] February 2000 guilty plea.”

Cochran, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2020-CA-43,

2021-Ohio-4589, at ¶ 9

, citing Hubbard at ¶ 5.

{¶ 73} Accordingly, there is no basis for considering an ex post facto challenge

and no plain error or any error occurred. The second assignment of error therefore is

overruled.

IV. As-Applied Due Process Claim

{¶ 74} Shingleton’s third assignment of error states that:

The Trial Court Erred When It Deemed Mr. Shingleton’s As-Applied

Due-Process Claim Underdeveloped.

{¶ 75} Under this assignment of error, Shingleton contends that the trial court erred

in concluding that his as-applied due process claim was underdeveloped. Again, this

argument pertains to the court’s January 18, 2022 decision, which is not before us. Our

analysis, therefore, is whether the trial court erred in failing to consider this issue in its

December 16, 2021 final order.

{¶ 76} In contrast to the ex post facto issue, Shingleton did specifically mention in

his August 11, 2021 memorandum that applying Sierah’s Law to the 1981 conviction

violated the Due Process Clauses of the Ohio and United States Constitutions.

Memorandum in Support of Oct. 28, 2019 Pro Se Motion (Aug.11, 2021), at p. 2 and 8-9.
-28-

The argument in this context was simply that “ ‘the degree of retroactive effect’ resulting

from Sierah’s Law’s [sic] as applied to Mr. Shingleton violates his right to due process.”

Id. at p. 9, quoting E. Ents. v. Apfel,

524 U.S. 498, 506, 549

118 S.Ct. 2131

141 L.Ed.2d 451

(1998) (Kennedy, J. concurring in judgment only).

{¶ 77} On appeal, Shingleton has not addressed the merits of this argument; he

has focused on whether the trial court erred in finding in its January 2022 decision that

he did not sufficiently develop the due process argument. Appellant’s Brief at p. 11-12.

As noted, that decision is not properly before us.

{¶ 78} In responding to Shingleton’s brief, the State notes that Shingleton did not

indicate in the trial court whether his claim was based on procedural or substantive due

process. As to the former, the State notes that Shingleton was given proper notice of

the registration duty and had a hearing. Regarding substantive due process, the State

comments that this argument is merely a “retooled retroactivity/ex post facto argument,

which the trial court sufficiently addressed.” State’s Brief at p. 14. The State further

notes that Apfel was not decided under the Due Process Clause. Id. at p. 14-15.

{¶ 79} Because the trial court did not consider the due process issue, the issue,

again, is whether the court erred in failing to do so. Since Shingleton raised due process,

the court did err, but the question is whether the error was harmless, since “[t]he court at

every stage of the proceeding must disregard any error or defect in the proceeding which

does not affect the substantial rights of the parties.” Civ.R. 61.

{¶ 80} “The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that

the state shall not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of
-29-

law. Though it uses slightly different language, Article I, Section 16 of the Ohio

Constitution provides the same guarantee.” In re Adoption of H.N.R.,

145 Ohio St.3d 144

2015-Ohio-5476

47 N.E.3d 803, ¶ 24

, citing Direct Plumbing Supply Co. v. Dayton,

38 N.E.2d 70

 (1941).

       {¶ 81} There are two aspects to due process: procedural and substantive. “A

procedural-due-process challenge concerns the adequacy of the procedures employed

in a government action that deprives a person of life, liberty, or property.” Ferguson v.

State,

151 Ohio St.3d 265

2017-Ohio-7844

87 N.E.3d 1250

, ¶ 42. Shingleton has not

claimed that the procedures in Sierah’s Law are inadequate. We agree with the State

that Shingleton was provided with notice and a hearing.

       {¶ 82} As to substantive due process, “[w]hile the Due Process Clause of the

Fourteenth Amendment on its face would seem to be concerned with only the adequacy

of procedures employed when one is deprived of life, liberty, or property, the United States

Supreme Court has read it to include a substantive component that forbids some

government actions ‘regardless of the fairness of the procedures used to implement

them.’ ” Stolz v. J & B Steel Erectors, Inc.,

155 Ohio St.3d 567

2018-Ohio-5088

122 N.E.3d 1228, ¶ 13

, quoting Daniels v. Williams,

474 U.S. 327, 331

106 S.Ct. 662

88 L.Ed.2d 662

 (1986).

       {¶ 83} “In a substantive-due-process challenge, ‘[t]he first (and often last) issue

* * * is the proper characterization of the individual's asserted right.’ ” Id. at ¶ 14, quoting

Blau v. Fort Thomas Pub. School Dist.,

401 F.3d 381, 393

 (6th Cir.2005). (Other citation

omitted.) “Government actions that infringe upon a fundamental right are subject to strict
                                                                                            -30-


scrutiny, while those that do not need only be rationally related to a legitimate government

interest.”

 citing State v. Lowe,

112 Ohio St.3d 507

2007-Ohio-606

861 N.E.2d 512, ¶ 18

. Shingleton did not suggest below that a fundamental right is concerned, and we

find none. We also note the Supreme Court of Ohio’s finding that a similar sex offender

registration scheme involved “neither a suspect class nor a fundamental constitutional

right.” State v. Williams,

88 Ohio St.3d 513, 531

728 N.E.2d 342

 (2000). See also

State v. Gaeth,

2022-Ohio-2906

193 N.E.3d 1172, ¶ 9

 (6th Dist.) (applying a “rational

basis” test to the arson offender registry in R.C. 2909.15).

       {¶ 84} Instead of asserting that a fundamental right is involved, Shingleton argued,

as noted, that “ ‘the degree of retroactive effect’ resulting from Sierah’s Law’s [sic] violates

his right to due process.” Memorandum in Support of Oct. 28, 2019 Pro Se Motion (Aug.

11, 2021) at p. 9, quoting Apfel,

524 U.S. at 549

118 S.Ct. 2131

141 L.Ed.2d 451

.

However, as we stressed, the Supreme Court of Ohio has already held that Sierah’s Law

does not have an unconstitutionally retroactive effect. Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 2. Given Shingleton’s argument in the trial court

and here, we agree with the State that the due process argument is simply an attempt to

reframe a retroactivity argument that has been rejected.

{¶ 85} As a final matter, Apfel is irrelevant. Apfel involved a former coal operator’s

liability for payments to a combined fund for miners established by the 1992 Coal Act.

The operator (Eastern Enterprises) had been a signatory to prior funds but had

transferred its operations to another entity in 1965. Eastern claimed that “the Coal Act,

either on its face or as applied, violates substantive due process and constitutes a taking
-31-

of its property in violation of the Fifth Amendment.” Id. at 517. The court did not decide

the issue under substantive due process; instead, a plurality applied “the three factors

that traditionally have informed [the court’s] regulatory takings analysis.” Apfel at 529

and 537. The court decided that a taking of Eastern’s property had occurred, based on

economic impact (cumulative payment liability of 50 to 100 million dollars); the Act’s

interference with “Eastern’s reasonable investment-backed expectations”; and the fact

that the governmental action in the case was “quite unusual.” Id. at 529-537.

{¶ 86} As Shingleton notes, a concurring justice found the Coal Act

unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause. This justice also reasoned that the

takings analysis did not apply. Id. at 547. Four justices dissented from the plurality

opinion and would have found the Coal Act constitutional. Like Justice Kennedy, they

believed the plurality had viewed the dispute from the “wrong legal lens.” Id. at 554

(Breyer, J., dissenting). However, based on a variety of circumstances, these justices

concluded that it was not “fundamentally unfair for Congress to impose upon Eastern

liability for the future health care costs of miners whom it long ago employed – rather than

imposing that liability, for example, upon the present industry, coal consumers, or

taxpayers.” Id. at 566.

{¶ 87} Thus, even if one looks at Apfel from a substantive due process standpoint,

it does not support an argument that passage of a lengthy amount of time requires a

finding of unconstitutionality. Clearly it did not for the dissent in Apfel, as around 27 years

had passed between the time Eastern transferred its coal operations and when the Coal

Act was passed. And, the plurality did not rest its decision on substantive due process.
-32-

{¶ 88} The State has cited authority indicating that “[w]hen the U.S. Supreme Court

decides a case without a majority opinion, the court’s holding is limited to that which

decides the case on the narrowest grounds.” State’s Brief at p. 15, citing Marks v. United

States,

430 U.S. 188, 193

97 S.Ct. 990

51 L.Ed.2d 260

 (1977). As a result, the State

argues that Apfel’s value as precedent is restricted to cases involving the Takings Clause.


       {¶ 89} Federal courts have not unanimously followed Marks and have also

disagreed on the effect of any holding in Apfel. In this regard, the Eleventh Circuit Court

of Appeals remarked that:

              We note that the Supreme Court has commented that the Marks

       inquiry “has so obviously baffled and divided the lower courts.” Nichols v.

       United States,

511 U.S. 738, 746

114 S.Ct. 1921, 1927

128 L.Ed.2d 745


       (1994); see also Grutter v. Bollinger,

539 U.S. 306, 325

123 S.Ct. 2325, 2337

156 L.Ed.2d 304

 (2003). Courts of appeal have applied several

       different formulations of the Marks rule. Although this Court has recently

       applied one particular formulation, United States v. Robison,

505 F.3d 1208, 1219-22

 (11th Cir.2007), we need not in this case apply any particular

       formulation. This is so because Justice O'Connor's opinion for the plurality

       in Eastern Enterprises would not constitute binding authority (i.e., would not

       constitute the narrower ground) under any of the several formulations of the

       Marks inquiry.       We need not decide whether Justice Kennedy's

       concurrence constitutes the narrower ground, because we can assume
                                                                                         -33-


       arguendo that neither opinion constitutes the narrower ground, thus leaving

       us without binding authority, and leaving us with the obligation to

       independently evaluate the case law and determine for ourselves which

       approach is more consistent with the case law and more plausible.

Swisher Internatl., Inc. v. Schafer,

550 F.3d 1046, 1053-1054

 (11th Cir.2008). See also

United States v. Alcan Aluminum Corp.,

315 F.3d 179, 189

 (2d Cir.2003) (declining to

apply Apfel, because “[w]hen it is not possible to discover a single standard that

legitimately constitutes the narrowest ground for a decision on that issue, there is then no

law of the land because no one standard commands the support of a majority of the

Supreme Court”).

       {¶ 90} Given the disagreement over the effect of Apfel and even Marks, we find no

reason to wade into the federal quagmire and apply Apfel here. Swisher did go on to

decide that a takings analysis was inappropriate in cases involving “a mere monetary

obligation without regard to an identifiable property interest.” Swisher at 1056. As a

result, the court decided to use a due process analysis and stated that “[t]o prove that a

statute violates its due process rights, the aggrieved party must demonstrate that the

legislature has acted arbitrarily and irrationally.”   Id. at 1057, citing Usery v. Turner

Elkhorn Mining Co.,

428 U.S. 1, 15

96 S.Ct. 2882

49 L.Ed.2d 752

 (1976). “However, if

the government can show that the statute has a ‘legitimate legislative purpose furthered

by rational means,’ due process is satisfied.”

 quoting Gen. Motors Corp. v. Romein,

503 U.S. 181, 191

112 S.Ct. 1105

117 L.Ed.2d 328

 (1992). “When a statute has a

retroactive effect, the government must also prove that the statute's retroactive
                                                                                      -34-


application furthers a legitimate legislative purpose.”

 citing Pension Benefit Guar.

Corp. v. R.A. Gray & Co.,

467 U.S. 717, 730

104 S.Ct. 2709

81 L.Ed.2d 601

 (1984).

      {¶ 91} For the reasons mentioned, the Supreme Court of Ohio has already

indicated that Sierah’s Law is not unconstitutionally retroactive.   Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 45. As noted, Shingleton’s due process

argument simply parrots the retroactively argument that has been rejected. Even if that

were otherwise, there would be no reason to find that the law violates substantive due

process, given the comments in Hubbard as to the remedial, legitimate, and reasonable

nature of the registration requirements.

{¶ 92} Shingleton has not offered any reason why the legislature acted irrationally

in enacting Sierah’s Law or that the government did not have a legitimate purpose. As

we have already noted, the Hubbard decision indicates that the government’s purpose

was legitimate.

{¶ 93} Accordingly, even though the trial court erred in failing to address the due

process argument, the error did not affect Shingleton’s substantial rights, was not

prejudicial, and does not provide a basis for reversing the court’s decision. The third

assignment of error therefore is overruled.

V. Equal Protection

{¶ 94} Singleton’s fourth assignment of error states as follows:

The Trial Court Erred When It Deemed Mr. Shingleton’s Equal-

Protection Argument Underdeveloped.
-35-

{¶ 95} As with other assignments of error, Shingleton contends that he did raise

an equal protection argument below and that the trial court’s January 2022 decision

incorrectly found the argument insufficiently developed. As evidence, Shingleton points

to pages three and four of his initial pro se motion. At that point, Shingleton’s claim was

that the legislation violated equal protection because it distinguished between persons

who were imprisoned when the law became effective and those who were not. Motion

(Oct. 28, 2019), at p. 4. The documents that Shingleton’s counsel later filed make no

further mention of equal protection.

{¶ 96} Again, we consider only whether the trial court erred in failing to address

this issue in the December 16, 2021 decision. Since Shingleton raised equal protection

(although in little detail), the trial court did err in failing to discuss it. Again, the issue

becomes whether the error was prejudicial. E.g., Civ.R. 61.

{¶ 97} “The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that

‘[n]o State shall * * * deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the

laws.’ The Equal Protection Clause prevents states from treating people differently

under its laws on an arbitrary basis.” Williams,

88 Ohio St.3d at 529-530

728 N.E.2d 342

, quoting Harper v. Virginia State Bd. of Elections,

383 U.S. 663, 681

86 S.Ct. 1079

16 L.Ed.2d 169

 (1966) (Harlan, J., dissenting). “ ‘Whether any such differing treatment

is to be deemed arbitrary depends on whether or not it reflects an appropriate

differentiating classification among those affected; the clause has never been thought to

require equal treatment of all persons despite differing circumstances.’ ”


         {¶ 98} “Under the Equal Protection Clause, a legislative distinction need only be
                                                                                          -36-


created in such a manner as to bear a rational relationship to a legitimate state interest.”

 citing R Clements v. Fashing,

457 U.S. 957, 963

102 S.Ct. 2836

73 L.Ed.2d 508


(1982). “These distinctions are invalidated only where ‘they are based solely on reasons

totally unrelated to the pursuit of the State's goals and only if no grounds can be conceived

to justify them.’ ”

 “This rational basis analysis is discarded for a higher level of

scrutiny only where the challenged statute involves a suspect class or a fundamental

constitutional right.”


       {¶ 99} “ ‘Under the rational-basis standard, a state has no obligation to produce

evidence to sustain the rationality of a statutory classification.’ ” Columbia Gas Transm.

Corp. v. Levin,

117 Ohio St.3d 122

2008-Ohio-511

882 N.E.2d 400, ¶ 91

, citing Am.

Assn. of Univ. Professors, Cent. State Univ. Chapter v. Cent. State Univ.,

87 Ohio St.3d 55, 58, 60

717 N.E.2d 286

 (1999). “[S]tatutes are presumed to be constitutional and

* * * courts have a duty to liberally construe statutes in order to save them from

constitutional infirmities.” Eppley v. Tri-Valley Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn.,

122 Ohio St.3d 56

2009-Ohio-1970

908 N.E.2d 401, ¶ 12

, citing Desenco, Inc. v. Akron,

84 Ohio St.3d 535, 538

706 N.E.2d 323

 (1999).          Furthermore, “[t]he party challenging the

constitutionality of a statute ‘bears the burden to negate every conceivable basis that

might support the legislation.’ ” Pickaway Cty. Skilled Gaming, L.L.C. v. Cordray,

127 Ohio St.3d 104

2010-Ohio-4908

936 N.E.2d 944

, ¶ 20, quoting Columbia Gas Transm.

Corp. at ¶ 91.

       {¶ 100} As previously noted, the Supreme Court of Ohio found in Williams that sex

offenders were not within a suspect class, nor did the sex offender registration scheme
                                                                                        -37-


involve a fundamental right. Williams,

88 Ohio St.3d at 531

728 N.E.2d 342

. The court

therefore applied the rational basis analysis.

Id.

 Shingleton has not argued that the

more stringent scrutiny applies here, and we see no possible reason to use it, given the

decision in Williams.

       {¶ 101} In Williams, the court considered the same type of argument being made

here, i.e., that “R.C. Chapter 2950 [which created sex offender registration] denies equal

protection of the laws because the statute applies to those sex offenders who are currently

imprisoned, and not to those sex offenders who were released from prison prior to the

statute's enactment date.”   Id. The court rejected this argument, stating:

       The General Assembly could have rationally concluded, for example, that

       the burdens associated with locating sex offenders would have created an

       administrative and fiscal challenge that would have rendered the statute

       practically inoperative. See State v. Ward (1999),

130 Ohio App.3d 551, 566

720 N.E.2d 603, 614

. Regardless of the potential reasons for the

       enactment of the statute, however, the defendants have failed to present

       any arguments that negate the reasons that produced R.C. Chapter 2950.

       Accordingly, an equal protection challenge cannot be upheld. Heller [v.

       Doe], 509 U.S. [312] at 320, 113 S.Ct. [2637] at 2642, 125 L.Ed.2d [257] at

       271 [(1993)].

Williams,

88 Ohio St.3d at 531

728 N.E.2d 342

.

       {¶ 102} Like the affected registrants in Williams, Shingleton presented no

argument in the trial court beyond simply asserting that distinguishing between
                                                                                          -38-


incarcerated persons and those released from prison violates equal protection. In light

of the above comments in Williams, there is no possible way that the trial court’s failure

to rule on the issue prejudiced Shingleton.

       {¶ 103} We do note that later amendments to the sex offender registration statute

were held punitive and improperly retroactive. See Hubbard,

167 Ohio St.3d 77

, 2021-

Ohio-3710,

189 N.E.3d 720

, at ¶ 28 (discussing Ohio’s Adam Walsh Act, enacted in 2007,

and State v. Williams,

129 Ohio St.3d 344

2011-Ohio-3374

952 N.E.2d 1108, ¶ 16

, which

held that “ ‘the new registration, verification, and notification requirements established by

the Adam Walsh Act had become ‘so punitive that its retroactive application is

unconstitutional’ ”).

       {¶ 104} However, the 2007 statute is not the one found constitutional on equal

protection grounds in the 2000 decision in Williams,

88 Ohio St.3d at 531

728 N.E.2d 342

. It is also not the same as other offender registration statutes that have been upheld.

See Jarvis,

167 Ohio St.3d 118