Daniel Lee Pierce v. State of Indiana , 2015 Ind. LEXIS 386 ( 2015 )

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
R. Patrick Magrath Gregory F. Zoeller
Madison, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Stephen R. Creason
Ryan D. Johanningsmeier
Deputy Attorneys General
Indianapolis, Indiana
In the
Indiana Supreme Court May 12 2015, 1:55 pm
No. 78S05-1407-CR-460
DANIEL LEE PIERCE,
Appellant (Defendant below),
v.
STATE OF INDIANA,
Appellee (Plaintiff below).
Appeal from the Switzerland County Circuit Court, No. 78C01-1201-FA-3
The Honorable W. Gregory Coy, Judge
On Petition to Transfer from the Indiana Court of Appeals, No. 78A05-1305-CR-211
May 12, 2015
Massa, Justice.
Daniel Pierce appeals his convictions for molesting his three young granddaughters,
arguing he was entitled to separate trials on the allegations of each individual victim. We are asked
to decide whether his offenses were joined not only for being “of the same or similar character”
but also because they were based “on a series of acts connected together” under Indiana Code
section 35-34-1-9(a)(2). Because we find Pierce’s abuse of girls in his care was sufficiently
connected, we hold he is not entitled to new and separate trials. We affirm Pierce’s convictions,
and we remand only for the purpose of resentencing on one count.
Facts and Procedural History
In November 2011, a caregiver discovered seven-year-old K.P. naked in a closet with her three-
year-old half-brother. She was taken to the Child Advocacy Center, and during a forensic interview,
K.P. indicated her grandfather, Daniel Pierce, had molested her. K.P. revealed Pierce would kiss her
on her mouth and touch her “front private” with his hand. Tr. at 48–49. He also tried to use his mouth
on her front private, but she “got away from him.” Tr. at 64. More than once, Pierce showed her “bad
stuff” with naked people doing “nasty stuff” on his computer. Tr. at 53–54. K.P. saw him touch his
penis with his hand. He tried to get her to touch his penis, getting “mad” and saying he would give her
a dollar, but she “never listened to him.” Tr. at 64. Pierce also joined her in the bathtub or shower.
Based on K.P.’s allegations, Detective Kip Main began a criminal investigation and
interviewed Pierce’s two step-granddaughters, V.H. and B.H., as well as his great niece, A.R. Twelve-
year-old V.H. regularly spent the night at Pierce’s house, usually by herself. One of those nights, she
fell asleep and awoke to Pierce on top of her, “rubbing [her] breasts and [her] vagina area”; despite her
attempts to push him off, “he just kept going on with it.” Tr. at 94. And on more than one occasion,
he placed his mouth on her vagina over her underwear. She would sometimes wear a piece of red
lingerie when Pierce would touch her. V.H. also saw Pierce “play” with his penis until “white stuff”
came out, which he would put in a cup. Tr. at 97. Thirteen-year-old B.H. would stay over at Pierce’s
house about twice a month. Once, while she was watching television on the bed, he laid down next to
her and “rubbed [her] back and [her] stomach and [her] boobs,” first over B.H.’s shirt and then
underneath it. Tr. at 73–74. Finally, fourteen-year-old A.R. said Pierce would hug her from behind
and cup her breasts for five or ten seconds. He also had her sit between his legs so he could rub her
stomach while they watched a movie. When Pierce drove her home after a visit, he told her a story
about his penis coming out of his pants.
2
Pierce’s wife, Lori, is paralyzed and requires care in their home. Several of Lori’s
caretakers observed Pierce interact with the girls in ways they did not think were appropriate.
Taffy Scudder noticed Pierce would have the girls sit in his lap, hug them, and “pat them on the
tush,” but he would push away the boys. Tr. at 86–87. While cleaning, Barbara Stout found a box
in Pierce’s closet that contained a printout of a pornography site called “Barely 18” showing very
young girls performing oral sex, and she found nightgowns with the straps tied to fit the girls.
Holly Taylor saw V.H. come out of Pierce’s bedroom wearing red, see-through lingerie. She also
found pornography in Pierce’s nightstand. When Brittany McGowand once walked into Pierce’s
bedroom, K.P. jumped up from laying in his lap with “this look on her face like she was in the
wrong.” Tr. at 146. Brittany, too, found pornography in Pierce’s nightstand. On two occasions,
Melody Reese found Pierce and K.P. in the bathroom while one or both of them were in the shower.
A month after K.P.’s interview at the Child Advocacy Center, Pierce was admitted to a mental
health facility, apparently due to stress over the allegations against him. From the facility, he contacted
Lori and asked her to remove his computers from the home. Lori’s caretaker Melody overheard
Pierce’s request and made arrangements for the computers to be delivered to law enforcement. The
internet history on Pierce’s computer showed visits to several pornographic websites with “an
overwhelming theme of young girls in compromising positions and videos related to that nature of
girls.” Tr. at 242. Some of the domain names visited included “PappaFuckMe.com,
FirstTimeWithDaddy.com, FuckMeDaddy.org, [and] TrickyOldTeacher.com.” Tr. at 245.
The State charged Pierce with ten counts: three of child molesting as a Class A felony
(Counts 1 1 and 9, naming V.H. as the victim, and Count 10, naming K.P. as the victim), five of
child molesting as a Class C felony (Count 2, naming V.H. as the victim, Count 3, naming K.P. as
the victim, Count 6, naming A.R. as the victim, and Counts 7 and 8, naming B.H. as the victim),
1
The State successfully moved to dismiss Count 1 with prejudice before trial.
3
and two of child solicitation as a Class D felony (Count 4, naming V.H. as the victim, and Count
5, naming K.P. as the victim). Pierce moved to sever the charges, but the trial court denied that
motion.
At trial, B.H. testified that Pierce showed her a movie “a long time ago” with “really nasty
stuff,” including “people [] having sex and stuff,” although she did not make that allegation in the
course of the investigation. Tr. at 80–81. B.H. said she had reported the incident to her stepmom,
who didn’t believe B.H. because a search of Pierce’s house revealed nothing. On
cross-examination, B.H. admitted she falsely denied watching pornography with Pierce when the
woman at the Child Advocacy Center asked her about “dirty movies.” Tr. at 82. B.H. explained
she had lied then because she was afraid she would “be in trouble” if she ever said “anything like
that again.” Tr. at 82. Based on that statement, Pierce’s counsel requested permission to make an
offer to prove prior allegations, arguing “it has to do with credibility.” Tr. at 82. But the trial court
denied that request. Pierce’s counsel then confronted B.H. with her statement to Detective Main,
to whom she had denied ever making prior allegations; B.H. admitted she had lied to the officer,
but insisted her trial testimony was the truth:
Q: So today now you say that there was something else even though
what I had asked you was “isn’t it true that Officer Main said that
you had made allegations before” and you said “no”?
A: Yeah but under oath I might as well tell the truth.
Tr. at 83.
At the close of the State’s case, the State consented to dismissing Count 10. The jury
convicted Pierce of all remaining counts except Count 6, the only charge that named as A.R.
victim. The trial court sentenced Pierce to thirty years (six suspended) for Count 9, four years (one
suspended) for each of Counts 2, 3, 7, and 8, and eighteen months (six suspended) for each of
Counts 4 and 5. The sentences for Counts 2, 4, and 9 were to run concurrently to each other, as
were the sentences for Counts 7 and 8 and Counts 3 and 5. But the sentences for each victim were
4
to run consecutive to each other, such that Pierce’s aggregate sentence was thirty-eight years (eight
suspended). The trial court also determined Pierce was a credit restricted felon.
Pierce appealed his convictions. He raised several issues, including a claim the trial court
erred by denying his motion for severance. In an unpublished opinion, a divided panel of our
Court of Appeals reversed Pierce’s convictions and remanded for new—and separate—trials.
Pierce v. State, No. 78A05-1305-CR-211, slip op. at 11, 3 N.E.3d 1087 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014)
(table). It concluded Pierce’s actions lacked a distinctive pattern showing he must be the
perpetrator; the offenses were joined merely because they were of the “same or similar character,”
so Pierce was entitled to severance under Indiana Code section 35-34-1-11(a). Id. at 7, 10. The
majority also considered and resolved several evidentiary issues it believed were “likely to recur
on remand.” Id. at 11. It held the trial court erred in denying Pierce the opportunity to make an
offer of proof during his cross-examination of B.H., id. at 12–13; the trial court abused its
discretion in admitting the domain names under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b), id. at 14–15; and
the trial court properly admitted witness testimony about pornography because it supported K.P.’s
allegation that Pierce showed her pornography, id. at 15. Judge Baker concurred in part, agreeing
for the most part with the disposition of the evidentiary issues, 2 and dissented in part, disagreeing
with the severance determination. Id. at 17 (Baker, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part).
He believed joinder was not based solely on the offenses being of the same or similar character
under § 35-34-1-9(a)(1), but instead the crimes were connected as part of a single plan to victimize
children over whom Pierce had control under § 35-34-1-9(a)(2). Id. at 17–18.
2
Judge Baker only disagreed with the majority’s ruling regarding the website names: he believed the names
were not propensity evidence but bolstered victim testimony, in the same way the admissible testimony
about pornography did. Pierce, slip. op. at 19 (Baker, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part).
5
We granted the State’s petition to transfer, thereby vacating the opinion below. Pierce v.
State, 11 N.E.3d 923 (Ind. 2014) (table); Ind. Appellate Rule 58(A).
Standard of Review
The degree of deference owed to a trial court’s ruling on a motion for severance depends
on the basis for joinder. Where the offenses have been joined solely because they are of the same
or similar character, a defendant is entitled to severance as a matter of right. Ind. Code
§ 35-34-1-11(a) (2008). The trial court thus has no discretion to deny such a motion, and we will
review its decision de novo. Jackson v. State, 938 N.E.2d 29, 36 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). But where
the offenses have been joined because the defendant’s underlying acts are connected together, we
review the trial court’s decision for an abuse of discretion. Craig v. State, 730 N.E.2d 1262, 1265
(Ind. 2000). 3
In deciding whether to admit or exclude evidence, we trust trial courts to exercise sound
discretion, and we will reverse such a decision only if we believe the court abused its discretion,
meaning its decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts in the record. Blount v.
State, 22 N.E.3d 559, 564 (Ind. 2014). We consider only evidence that is either favorable to the
3
Pierce does not present any argument, however, that—even if he was not entitled to severance as a matter
of right—the trial court abused its discretion by denying severance under the second half of Indiana Code
section 35-34-1-11(a) (“In all other cases the court, upon motion of the defendant or the prosecutor, shall
grant a severance of offenses whenever the court determines that severance is appropriate to promote a fair
determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence of each offense considering: (1) the number of offenses
charged; (2) the complexity of the evidence to be offered; and (3) whether the trier of fact will be able to
distinguish the evidence and apply the law intelligently as to each offense.”). Our review is therefore
limited to whether Pierce had an absolute right to separate trials for each victim. Booker v. State, 790
N.E.2d 491, 494 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
6
ruling or unrefuted and favorable to the defendant. Reaves v. State, 586 N.E.2d 847, 857 (Ind.
1992).
Although we find no Indiana precedent establishing a standard of review for claims of
insufficient evidence to support finding the defendant a credit restricted felon, we believe it makes
sense to apply the same standard of review we apply to claims of insufficient evidence to support
finding the defendant an habitual offender. See Harmer v. State, 455 N.E.2d 1139, 1141 (Ind.
1983). Accordingly, we consider this claim as we would any sufficiency claim. We neither
reweigh the evidence nor reevaluate the witnesses’ credibility; rather, we view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the verdict, and we will affirm that verdict unless we cannot find substantial
evidence of probative value to support it. Woods v. State, 939 N.E.2d 676, 677 (Ind. Ct. App.
2010), trans. denied, 950 N.E.2d 1197 (Ind. 2011).
We review questions of law, including interpretation of a sentencing statute, de novo.
Sloan v. State, 947 N.E.2d 917, 920 (Ind. 2011). When the statutory language is clear and
unambiguous, we give effect to its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. at 922. We strive to interpret
a statute consistently with the intent of the enacting legislature, insofar as we can discern it.
Walczak v. Labor Works–Ft. Wayne LLC, 983 N.E.2d 1146, 1154 (Ind. 2013).
I. Pierce Was Not Entitled to Severance.
Pierce argues he was entitled to a separate trial for each complaining witness pursuant to
Indiana Code section 35-34-1-11(a) and thus the trial court erred by denying his motion to sever
the charges against him. Under Indiana law:
Two (2) or more offenses may be joined in the same indictment or
information, with each offense stated in a separate count, when the
offenses:
(1) are of the same or similar character, even if not part of a single
scheme or plan; or
7
(2) are based on the same conduct or on a series of acts connected
together or constituting parts of a single scheme or plan.
Ind. Code § 35-34-1-9(a) (2008). But “whenever two (2) or more offenses have been joined for
trial in the same indictment or information solely on the ground that they are of the same or similar
character, the defendant shall have a right to a severance of the offenses.” Ind. Code
§ 35-34-1-11(a) (emphasis added). In other words, the defendant is not entitled to severance as of
right if subsection (9)(a)(2) is met.
Subsection (9)(a)(1) refers to the nature of the charged offenses; subsection (9)(a)(2) refers
to the operative facts underlying those charges. These two subsections are not coextensive:
offenses that are of the same or similar character may be premised on totally unrelated
circumstances and evidence. See 5 Wayne R. LaFave et al., Criminal Procedure § 17.1(b), at 7
(3d ed. 2007) (“Under a provision allowing joinder of offenses ‘of the same or similar character,’
it is permissible to join together several instances of the same crime, such as bank robbery, though
they were committed by the defendant at distinct times and places and not as part of a single
scheme.”). For example, although a defendant may be charged with multiple burglaries (the same
statutory offense), if the burglaries are factually distinct in terms of their timing, victims, method
of entry, transport vehicle, and types of items taken, they fit squarely under subsection (9)(a)(1)
but not (9)(a)(2), and severance is available as a matter of right. Maymon v. State, 870 N.E.2d
523, 526–28 (Ind. Ct. App.), clarified on reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 375 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). In some
instances, of course, crimes that are of the same or similar character may also be based a series of
connected acts. See, e.g., Jameison v. State, 268 Ind. 599, 601, 377 N.E.2d 404, 406 (1978) (“In
the case at bar the burglaries were of service stations on I-74 in Shelby County. In both entry was
gained by breaking a window and radios were stolen. Thus the crimes charged undoubtedly
constituted a series of connected acts.”), abrogated on other grounds, Mitchell v. State, 535 N.E.2d
498 (Ind. 1989).
To determine whether offenses warrant joinder under subsection (9)(a)(2), we ask whether
the operative facts establish a pattern of activity beyond mere satisfaction of the statutory elements.
It is well-settled that a common modus operandi and motive can sufficiently link crimes committed
8
on different victims. Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 690 N.E.2d 1141, 1145 (Ind. 1997). In Craig v. State,
the defendant molested two young girls in a strikingly similar way, by asking them to take a “taste
test,” covering their eyes with tape, inserting his penis into their mouths, and instructing them to
suck on it. 730 N.E.2d at 1264–65. And his common motive—“to satisfy [his] sexual desires”—
further tied the crimes. Id. at 1265. Because “[those] similarities [were] sufficient to establish that
the molestation of each victim was the handiwork of the same person,” the defendant had no
absolute right to severance. Id.
But establishing the defendant’s unique method of committing the crimes is not the exclusive
way of showing his acts are connected together. Offenses can also be linked by a defendant’s efforts
to take advantage of his special relationship with the victims. E.g., Turnpaugh v. State, 521 N.E.2d
690, 692 (Ind. 1988) (finding child molestation charges were connected together where the victims
were two young sisters who were overnight guests of the defendant); Booker v. State, 790 N.E.2d 491,
495 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (finding child molestation charges were connected together where the
defendant was hired to care for the two young victims). Our Court of Appeals found such a connection
where a Child Protective Services caseworker met two teenage boys through his work. Heinzman v.
State, 895 N.E.2d 716, 719 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). The defendant forced one of the boys to perform oral
sex, and he inappropriately touched the other, resulting in various sex offenses. Id. He had no right to
separate trials because the offenses were joined on the basis that he “abused his position as a
caseworker to perpetuate his child molesting scheme.” Id. at 721.
A common relationship between the defendant and the victims may even result in an
interconnected police investigation into the crimes, producing overlapping evidence. Blanchard
v. State, 802 N.E.2d 14, 25 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (finding crimes were connected where the death
of one of defendant’s sons was discovered during the investigation into the neglect of the other).
In Philson v. State, for instance, the defendant was charged with various offenses for molesting his
younger brother in a bathroom and raping his older sister in a closet. 899 N.E.2d 14, 16 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2008). Although the crimes were committed in different ways against different victims, they
were connected together because both were “against his siblings in the same house over the same
9
period, 2005–2006” and the “allegation with respect to the rapes of [his sister] surfaced in the
course of the investigation into the molestations of [his brother].” Id. at 17.
We find the incidents here share much more than their criminal category. Pierce wasn’t
charged with four unconnected child molestations; they were connected by his victims, his method,
and his motive. Just like the caretaker in Booker and the caseworker in Heinzman, Pierce exploited
his position of a trusted grandfather or great uncle by molesting young female family members in
his care. The investigation into allegations made by K.P. in her interview led police to identify
additional victims. Indeed, much of the evidence overlaps, as the various caretakers testified to
their observations of Pierce’s inappropriate behavior toward the girls. And Pierce’s method was
consistent. He invited each granddaughter to spend the night at his home, when no other children
would be present. He touched all four girls’ breasts or vaginas with his hands, attempting to use
his mouth on the vaginas of the two youngest girls. Regarding his motive, as in Craig, Pierce’s
activity toward all four girls was driven by his aim to fulfill his sexual desires.
We decline to require separate trials as of right where the defendant committed the same
crime, in substantially the same way, against similar victims. Because Pierce’s criminal acts were
sufficiently connected together, he was not entitled to severance.
II. None of the Evidentiary Issues Raised by Pierce Entitle Him to a New Trial.
Pierce contends his trial was unfair because the trial court improperly decided two
evidentiary issues. First, he alleges the trial court should have granted his request to make an offer
of proof regarding B.H.’s prior false allegations of molestation. Second, he argues the trial court
should have sustained his objection when the State introduced evidence of pornography discovered
in the forensic examination of his computer under Indiana Evidence Rules 404(b) and 702. Despite
Pierce’s failure to satisfy Indiana Appellate Rule 46, thereby hindering our review, we address the
merits of his arguments and determine none entitle him to a new trial.
10
A. Any Error in Excluding Pierce’s Proffered Impeachment Testimony Was Harmless.
Pierce claims the trial court abused its discretion by not permitting him to cross-examine
B.H. about her prior allegations and by denying him the opportunity to preserve her testimony in
the record through an offer of proof. The State counters Pierce waived this issue for our review
by failing to cite the portion of the record in which he claims B.H. opened the door to the
impeachment evidence. In the alternative, it argues any error was harmless because the jury
already had enough information demonstrating B.H.’s testimony was not particularly credible.
“The argument must contain the contentions of the appellant on the issues presented,
supported by cogent reasoning. Each contention must be supported by citations to the authorities,
statutes, and the Appendix or parts of the Record on Appeal relied on.” Ind. Appellate Rule
46(A)(8)(a). And specifically, “if the admissibility of evidence is in dispute, citation shall be made
to the pages of the Transcript where the evidence was identified, offered, and received or rejected.”
Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(d). A litigant who fails to support his arguments with appropriate
citations to legal authority and record evidence waives those arguments for our review. See City
of Indianapolis v. Buschman, 988 N.E.2d 791, 795 (Ind. 2013) (finding a party’s argument waived
for non-compliance with Rule 46). But whenever possible, “we prefer to resolve cases on the
merits” instead of on procedural grounds like waiver. Roberts v. Cmty. Hospitals of Indiana, Inc.,
897 N.E.2d 458, 469 (Ind. 2008). Thus, unless we find a party’s “non-compliance with the rule
sufficiently substantial to impede our consideration of the issue raised,” we will address the merits
of his claim. Guardiola v. State, 268 Ind. 404, 406, 375 N.E.2d 1105, 1107 (1978) (quoting Davis
v. State, 265 Ind. 476, 478, 355 N.E.2d 836, 838 (1976)).
Here, Pierce’s argument on this issue comprises a single paragraph of his Appellant’s Brief,
and that paragraph is utterly devoid of citations to anything at all. Pierce spills slightly more ink
on the subject in his Reply Brief and adds citations to the record, but still cites no legal authority
in support of his claim of error. His non-compliance with Rule 46 hampers our review of that
claim, and we could therefore find it waived if we chose. Nevertheless, in light of our preference
for resolving cases on their merits, we elect to consider the substance of Pierce’s argument.
11
Both the Federal Constitution and our Indiana Constitution guarantee a defendant’s right to
confront the witnesses against him. U.S. Const. amend. VI; Ind. Const. art. 1, § 13. This right is not
absolute; it is subject to reasonable limitations, which we trust our trial judges to impose. McCarthy
v. State, 749 N.E.2d 528, 533 (Ind. 2001). The exercise of that discretion, however, must be consistent
with due process. Id. at 533–36 (finding error, although not reversible, in denying defendant the
opportunity to cross-examine a witness about an event that may have motivated her to favor the
prosecution). To aid the trial court—and the reviewing appellate court—in determining the appropriate
scope of cross-examination, a party will often present an offer of proof. Littler v. State, 871 N.E.2d
276, 278 n.2 (Ind. 2007). “While a trial court may exercise reasonable discretion in determining the
timing and extent of such a motion, the court should very rarely completely deny a party’s request to
make an offer of proof, and then only upon clear abuse by the requesting party.” Id.Pierce sought to present an offer of proof, relevant to B.H.’s credibility, based on her
statement that she declined to report being shown pornography before trial because “like they were
saying to me that ‘if I was ever say something like again, you’re going to be in trouble.’” Tr. at
82. As a threshold matter, the trial court erred in completely denying Pierce the opportunity to
make that offer of proof; his line of questioning reasonably related to B.H.’s credibility, and there
is no evidence he abused the procedural tool. We note, however, although Pierce argues he was
deprived of the opportunity to show “B.H. had made false accusations,” Appellant’s Reply Br. at
3, a closer look at her testimony shows she did not make a prior false allegation of sexual abuse
but rather a prior false denial of sexual abuse. In fact, on the stand, B.H. insisted her prior
allegation, Pierce showed her video pornography, was true. What she admitted was only that,
during the investigation, she lied by denying she saw pornography when she really did. She did
so out of fear of “getting in trouble,” because her stepmom did not believe her.
Even assuming—without deciding—the trial court improperly limited Pierce’s
cross-examination of B.H., we find any error was harmless. Violations of the right to
cross-examine a witness are subject to harmless error analysis. Smith v. State, 721 N.E.2d 213,
219 (Ind. 1999). We will not reverse a conviction for an error that does not affect the substantial
rights of the defendant. Thomas v. State, 774 N.E.2d 33, 36 (Ind. 2002). “Where the wrongfully
12
excluded testimony is merely cumulative of other evidence presented, its exclusion is harmless
error.” Sylvester v. State, 698 N.E.2d 1126, 1130 (Ind. 1998). Here the jury heard enough
evidence to enable it to weigh B.H.’s credibility. Indeed, B.H. admitted she lied to Officer Main
during the investigation and admitted her statements at trial were inconsistent. Defense counsel
highlighted concerns about B.H.’s credibility in closing:
Her first interview she went to CAC and said nothing happened. In
fact, her allegations don’t come until a month or so later when
Officer Main has to convince her that something happened. He
admitted to having the conversation. She admitted to having the
conversation. He spent quite a bit of time telling her “something
happened to you, I know something happened to you, people have
told me something happened to you, you need to tell me, something
happened to you.” Very suggestive and inconsistent because, of
course, in the first place, nothing happened.
Tr. at 310–11.
Because we find evidence of B.H.’s prior allegations, if wrongfully excluded, had little to
no probable impact on the jury, the exclusion was harmless.
B. The Trial Court Did Not Err by Admitting the Evidence of Pornography and
Pornographic Domain Names.
Pierce claims the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence that individuals,
other than the victims, observed pornography in Pierce’s possession, and by admitting two
investigating officers’ testimony regarding pornography on Pierce’s computer. Although we find
Pierce’s Appellant’s Brief again falls short of what Rule 46 requires, in his Reply Brief he directs
us to two places in the record as forming the basis for his objections. First, during the forensic
examiner’s testimony, defense counsel objected to the report of Pierce’s computer “on the basis of
a couple of reasons. One is that I believe it is 404(b) for him. The other thing is that . . . I’m not
sure that you can say that it’s a scientifically accurate report . . . .” Tr. at 204. Second, when the
State asked Officer Main to give examples of the “concerning” websites included in the report,
13
defense counsel objected “that nobody can say how accurate this report is and so I don’t feel that
he would be able to testify to what’s in a report that’s not accurate, cannot be proved to be
accurate.” Tr. at 242. He cites no objection, and we see none, to any of the caretakers’ testimony
that they found pornography in Pierce’s room nor to their descriptions of what they saw depicted
in those images. 4 We thus limit our review to whether the forensic report was admitted in error
pursuant to Indiana Evidence Rules 404(b) and 702(b).
Evidence of a prior wrongful act is not admissible if its sole apparent purpose is to show
the defendant acted in conformity with that character. Ind. Evidence Rule 404(b); Wilson v. State,
931 N.E.2d 914, 919–20 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). But such evidence may be admissible “for other
purposes,” provided it survives Rule 403 balancing. Halliburton v. State, 1 N.E.3d 670, 681–82
(Ind. 2013). Here, testimony that a forensic analysis revealed pornography on Pierce’s computer
was not offered to prove Pierce’s character; it supported the young victims’ testimony that Pierce
exposed them to pornography, and the probative value of that evidence is not outweighed by any
danger of unfair prejudice. The prejudice side of the scale may tip slightly under the weight of
specific domain names. Yet, on these facts, we find the domain names admissible as well,
especially in light of the caretakers’ descriptions of child pornography, which were already
admitted into evidence without objection: Barbara saw “very young girls demonstrating how to
perform oral sex,” tr. at 112, printed from a website called “Barely 18,” tr. at 118; Holly saw “a
blond girl wearing white lingerie sitting on a stool with her legs open,” tr. at 120; and Brittany saw
images “of how to give a guy oral sex,” tr. at 148.
4
We acknowledge Pierce cites to one of his motions in limine as grounds for preserving his objection to all
evidence of pornography. That Motion, however, refers only to “pornography, and alleged child
pornography, found in the history and temporary files of a computer,” App. at 276; it makes no mention of
witness observations of pornographic images in print. Even if it did, such a motion would not by itself
preserve the issue for appellate review. Simmons v. State, 760 N.E.2d 1154, 1158 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)
(“In order to preserve error in the overruling of a pre-trial motion in limine, the appealing party must object
to the admission of the evidence at the time it is offered.”).
14
“Expert scientific testimony is admissible only if the court is satisfied that the expert
testimony rests upon reliable scientific principles.” Ind. Evidence Rule 702(b). Here, there were
minor variances in the findings of the two software programs used to create the forensic report of
Pierce’s internet history; Pierce objected, claiming the forensic examiner could not “prove whether
or not it’s scientifically accurate.” Tr. at 204. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion
in finding the software programs, which are commonly used by law enforcement, were based upon
reliable principles. Any dispute as to exactly when a website was visited goes to the weight of the
evidence not its admissibility, and it is open to attack on cross-examination.
Because we find the pornography evidence to be probative and reliable, we affirm the trial
court’s admitting it.
III. The Defendant Is a Credit Restricted Felon.
Pierce argues the trial court erred by determining he was a credit restricted felon. Our
General Assembly has defined “credit restricted felon” in pertinent part as “a person who has been
convicted of . . . child molesting involving . . . deviate sexual conduct . . . if: (A) the offense is
committed by a person at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and (B) the victim is less than twelve
(12) years of age.” Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-72 (Supp. 2013). Pierce contends this statute cannot
apply to him because the State failed to prove V.H. was under twelve years of age at the time of
the offense. We disagree.
The trial court entered a judgment of conviction against Pierce for Count 9, Class A felony
child molesting involving sexual deviate conduct against V.H. The charging information for Count
9 does not provide V.H.’s age at the time of the charged conduct, but it does state that conduct
occurred in “Fall 2009.” App. at 163. It also states Pierce was at least 21 years of age at that time.
V.H. was born in November of 1999. The laws of mathematics, as we presently understand them,
preclude her being more than ten years of age at the time of the charged conduct.
15
But Pierce contends we should disregard the date on the charging information in light of
Final Instruction No. 7: “The State is not required to prove that the crime charged was committed
during a particular time period alleged in the charging information.” App. at 320. Thus, he argues,
“it cannot be determined when the jury believed the conduct actually occurred,” and there is a
possibility the jury believed it occurred after V.H.’s twelfth birthday. Appellant’s Br. at 19. That
may be true as far as it goes, but it is not relevant.
“At the time of sentencing, a court shall determine whether a person is a credit restricted
felon.” Ind. Code § 35-38-1-7.8(a) (2012). The court must base that determination upon:
“(1) evidence admitted at trial that is relevant to the credit restrict status; (2) evidence introduced
at the sentencing hearing; or (3) a factual basis provided as part of a guilty plea.” Ind. Code
§ 35-38-1-7.8(b). As the statute makes plain, it is the trial court, and not the jury, that determines
whether a defendant is a credit restricted felon. Here, after hearing all the evidence presented at
trial and at the sentencing hearing, the trial court determined that V.H. “was less than twelve (12)
years of age at the time the Defendant committed the offenses against her.” App. at 363.
Therefore, it concluded, “The Defendant is a ‘credit restricted felon’ as that term is defined in I.C.
35-31.5-2-72.” App. at 364.
We believe there is substantial evidence of probative value to support that determination.
V.H. testified Pierce molested her in his apartment, but before her twelfth birthday, Pierce and his
wife moved from that apartment to a house. Thus, the molestation in the apartment must have
occurred when V.H. was less than twelve years of age. The trial court did not err by finding Pierce
was a credit restricted felon.
IV. The Trial Court Erred by Suspending Part of the Defendant’s Sentence.
Finally, on cross-appeal, the State argues the trial court violated a state statute when it suspended
six years of Pierce’s thirty-year sentence for Count 9, Class A felony child molesting of V.H.
16
If a person is: (1) convicted of child molesting . . . as a Class A
felony against a victim less than twelve (12) years of age; and (2) at
least 21 years of age; the court may suspend only that part of the
sentence that is in excess of thirty (30) years.
Ind. Code § 35-50-2-2(i) (2008). As we discussed above, the trial court found V.H. was less
than twelve years of age when Pierce committed the offenses against her, including Count 9,
Class A felony child molesting, and Pierce was at least twenty-one years of age at that time.
There is substantial evidence of probative value to support those findings. Therefore, Indiana
Code section 35-50-2-2(i) applies, the suspension is incompatible with the plain language of
that statute, and we must reverse Pierce’s sentence for Count 9 and remand to the trial court
for resentencing on that count.
Conclusion
We reverse Pierce’s sentence for Count 9, Class A felony child molesting of V.H., and remand
for resentencing consistent with our opinion today. In all other respects, we affirm the trial court.
Rush, C.J., and David, J., concur.
Rucker, J., concurs in result with separate opinion in which Dickson, J., concurs.
17
Rucker, J., concurring in result.
The question presented, as is the question in most cases involving motions to sever, is
whether the offenses were joined “solely” because they are the same or similar in character. Unless
the State otherwise concedes the point, it will always protest, “of course not,” the offenses were
not joined “solely” on that ground. Instead “other factors were present.” And so it goes here and
the majority agrees. I concur in the result reached by the majority but only because it is not
inconsistent with several cases decided by this Court as well as our Court of Appeals. I continue
to believe, however, “our traditional approach in resolving claims of severance fails to provide
meaningful guidance to either the bench or the bar, and thus lends itself to inconsistent results,
even where the facts are very similar.” Wells v. State, 983 N.E.2d 132, 137 (Ind. 2013) (Rucker,
J., dissenting from the denial of transfer). Employing our “traditional approach” 1 the Court of
Appeals in a divided opinion concluded the trial the court erred when it denied Pierce’s motion to
sever. Pierce v. State, No. 78A05-1305-CR-211, 2014 WL 288998, at *5 (Ind. Ct. App. Jan. 27,
2014), vacated. Employing the same approach this Court has reached the opposite conclusion.
Unfortunately we continue down this path of inconsistency. We would be well-advised to provide
greater clarity to an area of the law that remains in a state of confusion.
Dickson, J., concurs.
1
This approach entails “look[ing] at the facts in a given case, compar[ing] them to another case, and then
reach[ing] a conclusion based on the comparison.” Wells, 983 N.E.2d at 136 (citations omitted).